The Chattogram Port Authority has requested special security measures from the Navy and Coast Guard to protect 15 fuel-carrying ships currently anchored at various jetties and outer moorings. The request follows concerns that domestic and foreign groups might attempt sabotage amid ongoing instability. Four additional ships are expected to arrive within the week, ensuring sufficient fuel supply for the next one and a half months, according to port officials.

Officials cited past incidents of mysterious explosions on four fuel tankers following the fall of the previous government in August 2024 as a reason for heightened vigilance. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) confirmed that the country currently holds enough LNG, LPG, diesel, and crude oil to meet demand for six weeks. Customs authorities have also been instructed to expedite documentation and berthing processes for incoming tankers.

A coordination meeting involving the Navy, Coast Guard, and port stakeholders has already been held to reinforce security. While no specific sabotage intelligence has been reported, the port authority emphasized that the enhanced measures are precautionary to prevent potential disruptions in the energy sector.

The government has launched the Family Card program to strengthen the economic position and confidence of women-led households, with mobile financial service Nagad playing a key role in fund distribution. Prime Minister Tarek Rahman inaugurated the initiative on Tuesday morning at Karail slum, where 6,451 families across 13 districts received a total of Tk 16.2 million through Nagad in the pilot phase.

The program, a pre-election pledge, aims to provide Tk 2,500 monthly financial assistance to poor families in various districts and city corporation areas. Initially, it is being implemented in 15 wards across city corporations, municipalities, and unions in 13 districts. Data from 51,805 families were collected, followed by field verification to prevent duplicate or ineligible beneficiaries, such as government employees or pensioners.

Priority is given to women-headed families to enhance the financial capacity of marginalized women. Officials from Nagad expressed gratitude to the government for selecting the service to distribute funds under this flagship initiative, which is expected to improve living standards for low-income households.

India has imposed strict controls on natural and cooking gas supplies due to disruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments caused by the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The directive, issued by the Indian Ministry of Energy, aims to ensure balanced distribution and uninterrupted supply to priority sectors. Restaurant owners have expressed concern that the restrictions could force widespread closures across the country.

According to the ministry’s order, LNG supply will prioritize households, the transport sector, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production. Other sectors such as fertilizer and tea industries will receive only 70 to 80 percent of their usual gas demand, depending on availability. To offset the shortfall, gas supplies to petrochemical plants and power stations will be reduced partially or entirely.

Several Indian industries, including ceramics and tiles, have already reported reduced gas supply affecting production. Restaurants and hotels across India fear operational disruptions as the government continues to prioritize domestic gas use amid the Middle East conflict.

Fuel traders in Sylhet have withdrawn their strike that was called following an attack and stabbing of a petrol pump employee in the city. The decision was announced at a press conference on Tuesday at the divisional office of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association. Leaders said the strike was lifted after authorities assured them of swift justice for the attackers and improved security for pump workers and establishments.

The association leaders criticized the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s (BPC) new marketing policy, which they said reduces fuel supply by 25 percent compared to the average volume lifted between March and June of the previous year. They argued that despite adequate octane and petrol production from Sylhet’s gas field condensate, the policy has disrupted normal supply to pumps, causing public anger and occasional clashes.

The traders warned that unless the policy is revised, they would keep pumps open but suspend fuel lifting from depots, potentially hampering marketing operations.

Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government is giving special importance to ensuring irrigation facilities to increase agricultural production. He made the statement on Tuesday afternoon while laying the foundation stone for the 'Bangshikhal excavation from Jangail Surma River to Bolaura Jilkar Haor' project in Sylhet Sadar upazila. The minister later inaugurated the excavation work.

According to Muktadir, once the six-kilometer-long canal is completed, about six thousand hectares of farmland will come under irrigation coverage. This will enable farmers to produce additional crops, raise their income, and contribute to the country’s overall food production. The project aims to address the recurring problem of water shortages during the dry season that limits crop yields in the Sylhet region.

The minister added that the government is committed to fulfilling its electoral pledges and has already initiated several development programs within 21 days of assuming office, including the distribution of family cards in various parts of the country.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has affirmed that the recovery of funds laundered abroad during the previous Awami League government will continue under the interim administration and beyond. Speaking at a meeting with chief executives of 37 banks on Tuesday, he said political pressure would not halt the process, emphasizing that retrieving public money remains the central priority. The meeting reviewed progress on repatriating illicit funds and discussed next steps for the banking sector.

Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) Chairman and City Bank Managing Director Masrur Arefin told reporters that banks accused of involvement in money laundering have already hired eight to ten international law firms to pursue legal cases abroad. He noted that legal experts estimate the recovery process could take three to five years, but expressed optimism about eventual success.

The interim government has also formed 11 investigation teams to probe alleged corruption, bribery, and money laundering involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family and ten major business groups. The Anti-Corruption Commission leads the investigations, supported by the CID, NBR, BFIU, and the Attorney General’s Office.

The price of the US dollar rose sharply in Bangladesh on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Banks that had been buying dollars from foreign exchange houses at Tk 122.30–122.35 are now paying Tk 122.90. As a result, the import rate has climbed to Tk 123, up from Tk 122.50 a week earlier. According to bank sources, the increase is linked to higher demand for dollars ahead of a seven-day Eid holiday when banks will remain closed.

Officials explained that importers are rushing to settle letters of credit before the holiday period. The situation has been compounded by the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which has disrupted industries and bank branches in Middle Eastern regions with large Bangladeshi communities. Foreign remittance houses are offering higher rates due to this uncertainty, further pushing up the dollar price.

A senior business executive warned that the sudden rise could fuel inflation, while a deputy managing director of a private bank urged the central bank to act promptly to prevent a dollar shortage. Bangladesh Bank data show the interbank rate rose to Tk 122.58, and the open market rate reached Tk 125.80.

A total of 367 international flights have been canceled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka since February 28, 2026, due to the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh confirmed that 32 flights were canceled on Tuesday alone. Countries including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan have closed their airspace, disrupting air connectivity from Bangladesh.

According to official data, 335 flights were canceled in the first ten days, with daily cancellations ranging from 23 to 46 flights. Airlines affected include Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Jazeera, Flydubai, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and US-Bangla Airlines. The cancellations have caused uncertainty for expatriate Bangladeshis facing visa complications and travel disruptions.

US-Bangla Airlines announced plans to resume flights on the Sharjah route from March 13 and the Abu Dhabi route from March 14, operating multiple weekly flights using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline continues to operate flights to Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Muscat and plans to restart services to Doha soon.

Iran has assured Bangladesh that oil and LNG tankers bound for the country will not face obstruction while passing through the Hormuz Strait, despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The assurance came after Bangladesh contacted Iran over concerns about energy supply disruptions through one of the world’s most critical maritime routes. Energy ministry officials said the move has eased immediate concerns about fuel supply stability.

A tanker carrying 27,000 tons of diesel from Singapore arrived at Chattogram port on Monday, with four more vessels carrying about 120,000 tons expected this week. To meet April’s demand, the government has initiated direct purchases of around 300,000 tons of diesel from alternative sources, as long-term contracts face uncertainty due to the war. Bangladesh currently supplies about 9,000 tons of diesel daily against a normal demand of 12,000 tons.

China and India have expressed willingness to support Bangladesh in addressing potential fuel shortages. The government has strengthened market monitoring and directed local administrations to prevent hoarding and irregularities.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has started selling advance tickets for its Eid-ul-Fitr special bus service from Tuesday, March 10. The initiative aims to ensure safe, comfortable, and affordable travel for homebound passengers during the upcoming Eid holidays. The information was announced in a press release signed by BRTC’s Public Relations Officer, Mostakim Bhuiyan.

According to the release, passengers can purchase advance tickets for various routes from the respective BRTC depots. The special Eid bus service will officially begin on March 16. BRTC stated that the program is designed to reduce passenger suffering and provide cost-effective travel options during the busy holiday period.

The corporation has also urged the public to take advantage of the Eid special service to ensure a smoother travel experience during the festive season.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has cancelled Eid-ul-Fitr holidays for customs houses, directing that import and export activities continue on a limited scale during the holiday period. Only on the day of Eid will customs stations remain closed. The directive, signed by NBR’s Second Secretary (Customs Policy) Rezaul Karim, was issued on Monday.

According to the circular, the decision aims to ensure uninterrupted import and export trade across the country. Customs houses in Dhaka, Chattogram, Benapole, ICD Kamalapur, Mongla, and Pangaon have been instructed to maintain limited operations from March 17 to 23, excluding the Eid day. Similar instructions were also sent to excise and VAT commissionerates in Dhaka (North, West, East, and South), Chattogram, Rajshahi, Jashore, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Cumilla.

The NBR’s move seeks to balance the need for continuous trade flow with the observance of Eid festivities, ensuring that essential import-export processes are not disrupted during the holiday period.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government will distribute Family Cards to 40 million households across Bangladesh within the next five years. He made the statement on Tuesday morning at the Family Card inauguration ceremony held at the T&T playground near Karail slum in Banani, Dhaka. His wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, was present, and the event was chaired by Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain.

Rahman said the initiative has already started in 14 locations nationwide, with about 37,000 women currently participating. In the Karail, Vashantek, and Saat Tola areas, around 15,000 women have already received the benefits of the Family Card. He emphasized that empowering women-headed households is essential for national development, as half of the country’s population is female.

The Prime Minister added that the Family Card program fulfills an election promise, achieved within a month of taking office, and reflects the government’s commitment to accountability to the people.

The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has requested the formation of a Tk 3,000 crore special fund to protect the country’s housing sector from the impact of ongoing global conflicts. REHAB leaders formally presented the proposal during a meeting with the new Bangladesh Bank Governor, Md. Mostakur Rahman, at the central bank’s headquarters on Tuesday. The delegation included REHAB President Md. Wahiduzzaman, Senior Vice President Liaquat Ali Bhuiyan, Vice President-1 Lion M.A. Awal, and directors Md. Kamrul Islam and Miraj Muktadir.

During the meeting, REHAB representatives described the current challenges facing the housing industry, citing rising construction material costs, financing difficulties, and market uncertainty caused by global instability. They emphasized that the housing sector is vital to the national economy, linking more than 250 related industries. REHAB also urged the introduction of low-interest, long-term housing loans for middle- and lower-middle-income groups and the simplification of bank loan approval processes.

Governor Rahman listened to the proposal and assured that the central bank would consider appropriate measures. REHAB leaders expressed optimism that the proposed fund would boost investment and make home ownership more accessible.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has announced that motorcycle ride-share drivers in metropolitan areas will be allowed to purchase up to five liters of octane or petrol per day. The decision was detailed in a press release signed by BPC Secretary Shahina Sultana on March 10, 2026.

According to the announcement, the fuel distribution will follow three specific conditions. Drivers must receive a purchase receipt specifying the fuel type, quantity, and price each time they buy fuel. They must also submit the original copy of the previous purchase receipt when refueling again. Additionally, the motorcycle’s registration number and driver information must be verified with the ride-sharing app before fuel is supplied.

BPC stated that only those who comply with these conditions will be eligible to collect up to five liters of fuel daily from filling stations within metropolitan areas.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Textiles, Jute, Industry and Commerce, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, stated that there is currently no concern about rising commodity prices, even though the Iran-Israel war may affect trade. He noted that if sea routes remain closed for a long time, transportation costs could increase. The minister made these remarks on Tuesday afternoon after distributing family cards at a program held at M A Rup Junior School field in Kulanj Union of Dirai upazila, Sunamganj.

He explained that the family card distribution fulfills a promise made by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to build a poverty-free Bangladesh, launched just a month after the election. The initiative was designed to avoid any political bias. Muktadir added that the government is working to create an investment-friendly environment to boost employment and purchasing power, addressing past stagnation in investment.

At the event, 697 women from three villages in Kulanj Union received family cards. Several members of parliament and local officials attended the program, and beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the prime minister.