Chevron has temporarily suspended production at Israel’s Leviathan gas field following joint U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliation. The Israeli Ministry of Energy ordered the shutdown as a precautionary measure, according to Al Jazeera. The Leviathan field, located in the Mediterranean Sea, is one of Israel’s largest natural gas sites.

The report states that expansion work was underway to raise the field’s annual production capacity to about 21 billion cubic meters as part of a $35 billion export agreement with Egypt. Chevron, the U.S. energy company operating the site, confirmed that its facilities at both Leviathan and the nearby Tamar gas field remain secure.

No further details were provided on the specific reasons for the temporary suspension or when production might resume.

Gold prices in Bangladesh have reached a new record after the Bangladesh Jewellers Samity (Bajus) announced another increase. According to a Bajus notice issued on Monday, March 2, 2026, the price of 22-carat gold rose by up to Tk 5,424 per bhori, bringing the new rate to over Tk 274,000. The revised prices took effect from 10:30 a.m. the same day.

The notice also detailed updated rates for other categories: 21-carat gold is now priced at Tk 261,682 per bhori, 18-carat at Tk 224,299, and traditional gold at Tk 183,533. Alongside gold, silver prices have also been raised. The new price for 22-carat silver is Tk 7,173 per bhori, while 21-carat, 18-carat, and traditional silver are priced at Tk 6,682, Tk 5,890, and Tk 4,432 respectively.

The latest adjustment reflects continued upward movement in the local precious metals market, with Bajus implementing the new rates nationwide from Monday morning.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Mazid, former secretary and chairman of the National Board of Revenue, emphasized that zakat can play a vital role in implementing effective social safety programs in Bangladesh. Writing on March 2, 2026, he described social security as an essential component of a welfare state, aimed at supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. He noted that Islam introduced zakat to ensure equitable wealth distribution and reduce economic inequality, requiring wealthy Muslims to allocate a fixed portion of their assets to the poor.

The article explains that zakat, when properly collected and distributed, can alleviate hunger, poverty, and unemployment by providing basic needs to the underprivileged. It highlights that zakat covers various assets, including money, gold, livestock, and agricultural produce, and serves both moral and economic purposes. The author recalled that early Islamic governance treated zakat as a mandatory social obligation.

Dr. Mazid argued that current informal zakat practices fail to empower recipients, often turning them into dependents. He suggested that a government-led, institutionalized zakat collection and distribution system could significantly reduce national poverty levels.

Japan’s stock market suffered a sharp decline on Monday following military strikes by the United States and Israel in Iran, which reignited global economic concerns. According to AFP reports from Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index dropped 2.07 percent to 57,628.07 points in early trading, marking a significant setback at the start of the week.

Analysts attributed the fall to heightened tensions in the Middle East, which have created uncertainty and fear among investors. The resulting anxiety has spread across Asian markets, leading to widespread caution. Many investors have reportedly adopted a wait-and-see approach as they monitor the evolving situation.

The report noted that the sudden and steep decline reflects the sensitivity of regional markets to geopolitical developments, particularly those involving energy-producing regions like the Middle East.

Crude oil prices rose sharply on Monday following a US-Israel strike on Iran that disrupted supply and limited investor access to oil. Brent crude jumped about 13 percent in a single day, while the international benchmark increased nearly 5 percent. By midday in Tokyo, the price per barrel reached 76.48 dollars, according to Al Jazeera.

Asian stock markets opened lower as investors reacted to the oil price surge. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong fell around 1 percent, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped about 1.5 percent. In the United States, stock futures traded outside regular hours also showed significant losses, with both the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite down roughly 0.7 percent.

The developments suggested a volatile trading day ahead for global markets as energy costs spiked and geopolitical tensions heightened following the attack on Iran.

Serious allegations have surfaced over the use of substandard bricks and sand in a Tk 3.73 crore road construction project in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria. The project, under the Local Government Engineering Department’s (LGED) rural development initiative for Comilla, Chandpur, and Brahmanbaria districts, covers a 1,500-meter stretch from Guniouk Union Parishad to Bengauta. The contractor, E Smart Construction Ltd, owned by Khairul Hasan, is accused of ignoring instructions to use quality materials, prompting anger among local residents.

Locals claim the work, initially slow, suddenly accelerated to conceal irregularities. On-site observations confirmed workers using low-quality bricks and sand for the guide wall. Representatives of the contractor admitted using the materials supplied by the owner. The supervising officer, Arif Hossain, promised to prevent such practices in the future. Upazila Engineer Aminul Islam Mridha said repeated warnings failed to stop the use of poor materials, while District Executive Engineer Ibrahim Khalil assured that necessary action would be taken after consulting the upazila engineer.

The incident has raised concerns about oversight and accountability in rural infrastructure projects under LGED.

Residents of Fatullah in Narayanganj have temporarily stopped construction work on the Mukterpur-Panchabati flyover, alleging the use of substandard materials. The suspension began on Friday morning at the Kashipur section, where locals accused the contractor of using ordinary concrete instead of RCC and low-quality bricks. They demanded that authorities inspect the site before work resumes, citing concerns of irregularities and corruption in the mega project.

According to residents, poor-quality materials were being used in several parts of the flyover from the Samrat Cinema area to the Kashipur Union Parishad. They claimed that despite informing officials, no one had visited the site. Project Director Wahiduzzaman confirmed that evidence of substandard materials had been found and that the contractor had been asked for an explanation.

The Mukterpur-Panchabati six-lane highway project spans about 10.37 kilometers, including 9.6 kilometers of elevated expressway. Initially budgeted at Tk 2,659 crore, the cost was later raised to about Tk 3,300 crore, with completion extended to June 2026. Two Chinese firms are implementing the project.

Iran has shut down the strategic Hormuz Strait following joint attacks by the United States and Israel, disrupting a key global maritime route for energy transport. The closure has already slowed international sea trade and raised concerns of an impending energy crisis in Bangladesh, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern countries for crude oil, refined fuel, LPG, and LNG imports. Officials warn that prolonged conflict in the region could severely impact Bangladesh’s energy supply chain and increase import costs.

According to shipping and energy officials, around 15 vessels carrying fuel and gas for Bangladesh pass through the Hormuz Strait each month. Although Bangladesh’s refined fuel imports do not directly use the route, the countries supplying them depend on crude oil shipments through it. The closure is expected to raise freight costs and delay shipments, affecting both energy and trade sectors. Industry leaders have urged energy conservation and increased reserves to mitigate potential shortages.

Experts caution that if the Middle East conflict continues, Bangladesh’s limited 25–26-day fuel storage capacity could lead to severe disruptions. They recommend expanding reserves and promoting public austerity to withstand the crisis.

State Minister for Industries, Commerce, and Jute and Textiles Md. Shariful Alam said the government is prepared to handle any potential impact from the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. Speaking to journalists after visiting Boro Bazar in Kishoreganj on Sunday afternoon, he noted that while the global energy-dependent market may face some effects, the government remains alert. He added that although prices of some goods rose at the start of Ramadan, the market situation is now stable.

The minister said market monitoring has been strengthened nationwide to ensure price stability and protect consumers’ purchasing power. He emphasized that measures are being taken to prevent unjustified price hikes. Teams from the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) are conducting regular monitoring and enforcement drives.

During his visit, the minister interacted with traders and buyers, reviewed the overall market situation, and later inspected TCB’s mobile truck sales operations. He also attended meetings with local officials and journalists and joined an iftar with orphans at a local madrasa.

Global oil prices jumped sharply following US and Israeli attacks in Iran, which have pushed the Middle East into renewed conflict. According to Reuters, Brent crude rose nearly 10 percent in over-the-counter trading on Sunday, reaching around 80 dollars per barrel. Analysts warned that if the current instability continues, crude prices could hit 100 dollars per barrel by Monday.

Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS, told Reuters that any military strike tends to drive oil prices higher, but the key concern now is the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The strait handles about 15 to 20 percent of the world’s total oil, condensate, and petroleum products, and over 30 percent of liquefied natural gas shipments.

Parmar added that if the Strait of Hormuz faces prolonged disruption, oil prices could rise beyond 100 dollars per barrel. The majority of oil transported through the strait goes to Asia, with the rest to Europe, including about 24 percent of China’s total LNG imports.

ICT, Posts, Telecommunications, Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapon announced that the government will create employment opportunities for one million young people in the ICT sector. He made the statement on Saturday morning while inaugurating a road construction project in Madhupur, Tangail. The minister said the government, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, has been working from the first day to deliver development and services to people's doorsteps.

Swapon added that he aims to make Madhupur-Dhanbari a peaceful and safe area, free from extortion, terrorism, and illegal occupation, as part of his election pledges. He inaugurated the construction of a 700-meter road from Sathi Mor in Madhupur to ease long-standing public suffering in the town center. He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward crime and expressed his desire to earn public trust through welfare-oriented development.

Local administrative officials, political leaders, and freedom fighters were present at the event, reflecting cooperation between government and community representatives in implementing local development initiatives.

Advance ticket sales for long-distance buses ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr will begin on March 3. Passengers will be able to purchase tickets for travel between March 12 and the day before Eid. The decision was announced at a meeting of the Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association held in Gabtoli, Dhaka, and confirmed by the association’s secretary, Shubhankar Ghosh Rakesh.

Rakesh stated that tickets will be available both at physical counters and online from the morning of March 3. Passengers can select their preferred bus and seat through the designated website. He emphasized that fares must comply with the rates set by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), and the same rates will apply online. Every ticket counter will be required to display the BRTA-approved fare chart.

To prevent black-market ticket sales, CCTV cameras have been installed at various counters. Rakesh added that any irregularities detected will lead to legal and administrative action by both authorities and the owners’ association.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has criticized the government for taking what it called a weak step in appointing the new governor of Bangladesh Bank. At a media briefing held on Saturday at the CPD office in Dhanmondi, Research Director Khondaker Golam Moazzem said the appointment process lacked transparency and that the state had the opportunity to select a more acceptable candidate. He emphasized that a stronger and more credible procedure should have been followed for such an important position.

Moazzem noted that discussions and criticisms have emerged regarding the current governor’s links to loan defaults and special privileges, suggesting that alternative candidates could have been considered to avoid controversy. He also highlighted the need for a clear qualification framework and a formal vetting process for future appointments. CPD praised former governor Ahsan H. Mansur for his reform efforts despite challenges and suggested that retaining experienced leadership could have been beneficial.

The organization further recommended establishing a legal basis and specific criteria for future appointments, similar to India’s Reserve Bank selection process, and warned against loosening financial market regulations amid existing sectoral weaknesses.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin Putul announced that the Family Card initiative aims to make families economically self-reliant. Speaking at Natore Circuit House on Saturday, February 28, 2026, she said the card will be issued in the name of the senior female member of each family, such as a mother or sister. The project is designed to be universal, with no specific target group, and will gradually include all families.

Sharmin explained that previous welfare cards, including widow, elderly, agricultural, and maternity allowances, faced corruption during distribution. To address this, the government plans to move toward an integrated system that consolidates all benefits into a single card. The Family Card will provide 2,500 taka per family, a higher amount than existing cards.

Initially, the program will prioritize extremely poor, poor, and lower-income families based on a proximity test and scoring system, with eventual expansion to middle- and upper-income groups.

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has formally accepted Bangladesh’s request to delay its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category by three years and has begun reviewing the proposal. The matter was discussed during the CDP’s five-day meeting in New York, and officials indicated that a final decision could take several weeks. Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the Enhanced Monitoring Mechanism subcommittee, confirmed receipt of the government’s letter but clarified that acceptance of the request does not mean approval, as the committee will first assess the justifications provided.

The Economic Relations Division sent the formal application on February 18, citing global and domestic disruptions that hindered preparation for graduation. The letter referenced the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Middle East instability, global financial tightening, and slow trade recovery. Domestically, it mentioned financial irregularities, political changes in July 2024, and pressure from hosting displaced Myanmar nationals, all contributing to economic instability.

According to CDP sources, a preliminary assessment report may be ready within two weeks, with a final recommendation expected by September following approval from the UN General Assembly.