The trial of the 2019 FR Tower fire case in Dhaka, which killed 26 people and injured 71, has encountered delays as several accused have approached the High Court seeking to halt proceedings. One accused, BNP leader Tajvirul Islam, has already obtained a stay order on the trial. The case, currently under the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, began in August last year after charges were framed against seven defendants. The next hearing for witness testimony is scheduled for April 5.

The case was filed following the March 28, 2019 fire at the FR Tower on Banani’s Kamal Ataturk Avenue. After investigation, police charged eight individuals in December 2022, excluding Rupayan Group chairman Liakat Ali Khan Mukul. The court later ordered further investigation by the Police Bureau of Investigation. Two of the accused have since died.

Defense lawyers argue that the accused were flat owners, not involved in the building’s construction, and that the real culprits were excluded from the charge sheet. The prosecution maintains readiness to proceed with witness testimony unless the High Court’s stay order prevents it.

A major fire broke out on Sunday afternoon at the BD Food BD Sea Foods cold storage in Chattogram’s Sagorika area. The blaze spread rapidly throughout the facility after it started suddenly, fueled by a large stock of fish stored inside. Fire Service and Civil Defense units from Agrabad and Bandar stations initially responded, but as the situation worsened, the number of deployed units increased to eight. After nearly two hours of continuous effort, firefighters managed to bring the fire under control.

According to Fire Service Deputy Director Md. Jasim Uddin, more than two thousand tons of fish and cartons were stored in the cold storage, intensifying the flames. Firefighters faced difficulties due to narrow passages inside the facility while removing cartons, clearing smoke, and reducing internal heat. Preliminary reports indicated that no one was trapped inside during the incident, though rescue teams continued to search the area to confirm. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities are assessing the extent of the damage.

A Dhaka court has ordered a six-day remand for retired Lieutenant General and former MP Masud Uddin Chowdhury in a human trafficking case filed at Paltan Police Station. The order was issued on Sunday, March 29, 2026, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam after the accused was produced before the court following a previous five-day remand. The investigating officer, DB Police Sub-Inspector Md. Raihanur Rahman, had sought a seven-day remand for further interrogation.

According to the prosecution, Chowdhury’s name appears in the case’s first information report, which accuses him of involvement in a syndicate that dominated the overseas labor market and extorted large sums from recruiting agencies. The plaintiff, Altab Khan, owner of Afia Overseas, alleged that the group forced him to pay Tk 12.56 crore and caused business losses worth Tk 20 crore. The defense argued that there were no specific allegations beyond the FIR and that the repeated remands were intended to humiliate the 72-year-old accused.

The court granted six days of remand, citing the need to question Chowdhury about agency selection processes, FWCMS operations, and recovery of embezzled funds.

A Tk 14 crore sanitary landfill and waste treatment plant in Kishoreganj town remains non-operational three years after its completion, leaving the facility buried under heaps of garbage. Located beside the Bhairab–Mymensingh regional highway, the site emits a strong stench, polluting the environment and damaging nearby farmland. Despite being built with Asian Development Bank funding in late 2022, the project’s modern pumps and filtration systems now lie idle and deteriorating.

Kishoreganj Municipality’s administrator, Zebun Nahar Shammi, acknowledged the problem and said the project became defunct because waste was not properly separated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories. She added that reviving the facility would cost nearly as much as its original construction but assured that efforts are underway to resolve the issue quickly. Meanwhile, 20 to 25 truckloads of municipal waste continue to be dumped daily beside the highway, worsening pollution.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon’s Kishoreganj district president, Advocate Hamida Begum, warned that without a permanent solution, the environmental and public health situation could become even more severe.

Kenya’s National Police Service reported on Saturday that the death toll from weeks of heavy rain and flooding has risen to 108. The floods, which began on March 6, have caused extensive damage across the East African nation, sweeping away vehicles, disrupting air travel, and damaging electrical infrastructure. Authorities said more than 2,700 families have been displaced nationwide.

Although rainfall intensity has decreased in some areas, police warned that poor drainage and waterlogging continue to pose flooding risks. In early March, overnight downpours in Nairobi led to flash floods that killed at least 23 people, swept away dozens of cars, and disrupted flights at the city’s main airport. Since then, fatalities and damage have continued to rise throughout the month.

Meteorologists and environmental scientists cited global warming as a factor worsening floods and droughts across East Africa. A 2024 World Weather Attribution study found that climate change has doubled the likelihood of destructive rainfall in the region.

Aviation Security (Avsec) officials seized 153 gold bars from the cargo compartment toilet of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The seizure took place on Saturday night, according to an airport authority statement released on Sunday. The flight, BG-348, had arrived from Dubai around 9 p.m. and was parked at boarding bridge C-2. No arrests were made in connection with the incident.

Authorities said the aircraft had been under surveillance based on intelligence information before landing. After arrival, a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and Avsec personnel was conducted. During the search, officials found the gold bars wrapped in white cloth behind a toilet panel in the cargo hold. Each bar weighed 116 grams, totaling 17.784 kilograms, with an estimated market value of about Tk 38 crore.

The seized gold has been handed over to the airport customs authorities. Intelligence agencies have launched a detailed investigation to identify those involved in the smuggling attempt.

Police in Naogaon recovered 325 rounds of .303 rifle ammunition buried underground in a crop field in Badalgachhi upazila. The discovery was made on Sunday morning, March 29, 2026, in Deuliya village under Adhaipur Union. Local farmers found the ammunition while digging soil and immediately informed the police, who then retrieved the bullets from the site.

According to the investigation officer of Badalgachhi Police Station, the ammunition was found in an abandoned condition. The bullets were hidden beneath the soil and were noticed accidentally by the farmers during their fieldwork. Law enforcement officials collected all 325 rounds from the location for further examination.

Authorities have not yet disclosed how the ammunition came to be buried in the area or whether any investigation has been launched to trace its origin.

The government has decided to appoint 'tag officers' at petrol pumps across the country to ensure the normal supply of fuel and prevent illegal hoarding or artificial shortages. These officers will perform 13 specific duties, including recording daily stock levels, verifying fuel quantities received from depots, monitoring sales registers, and checking the accuracy of dispensing machines. They will also inspect storage capacities, detect unauthorized tanks or installations, and ensure transparency in the supply chain from depots to consumers.

According to the directive, tag officers must oversee daily operations such as measuring fuel deliveries, reconciling depot receipts, and confirming that retail sales begin within one hour of receiving fuel. They are also required to report on compliance issues, including whether pumps are open, registers are accurate, and cash memos are issued. Each pump must update its stock at least three times a day, and violations may lead to warnings, mobile court actions, or temporary suspensions.

The initiative aims to strengthen monitoring of fuel distribution and maintain stability in the energy supply chain nationwide.

In Kano, northern Nigeria, second-hand electronics imported from Europe, America, and Asia are flooding markets like Sabon Gari, where low-income buyers seek affordable appliances. Many of these goods, often near the end of their lifespan, arrive damaged or fail shortly after purchase, worsening the country’s growing electronic waste problem. According to the United Nations, about 60,000 tonnes of used electronics enter Nigeria annually, with at least 15,700 tonnes already defective upon arrival.

The trade, largely driven by exporters from Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, China, the United States, and Ireland, often violates the Basel Convention, which restricts hazardous waste exports to developing nations. Informal recyclers in Kano dismantle broken devices without protection, exposing themselves to toxic substances such as mercury and refrigerant gases banned in Western countries. Health experts warn of serious respiratory, neurological, and reproductive risks linked to such exposure.

Despite Nigeria’s environmental regulations and inspections, weak enforcement and loopholes allow mislabeled shipments to enter the country. Environmental advocates and traders call for stricter border checks, certification systems, and international accountability to curb the inflow of unsafe electronic waste.

Egypt has ordered all shops, restaurants, and shopping centers to close by 9 p.m. each night for one month starting Saturday. The government said the measure aims to conserve energy as fuel prices have surged due to the ongoing war in Iran. Street lighting and advertising illumination will also be reduced, and employees will be allowed to work from home one day a week during April to save energy.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated that Egypt’s petrol expenses more than doubled between January and March, reaching 2.5 billion dollars. Although Egypt is not directly involved in the conflict, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, leaving the import-dependent country vulnerable to shortages.

Hotels and tourist resorts are exempt from the restrictions, as tourism accounts for about one-tenth of Egypt’s economy. Essential services such as hospitals, schools, and factories will also remain unaffected by the work-from-home directive.

A major fire erupted at a cold storage facility in the Sagorika area of Chattogram on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The blaze spread rapidly throughout the warehouse, filling the surrounding area with thick smoke and causing panic among local residents. Eight units of the Fire Service are currently working tirelessly to bring the fire under control.

According to the Fire Service control room, multiple units were dispatched immediately after receiving the alert. As the intensity of the fire increased, additional units were deployed in phases. Rescue teams are also searching the facility to determine whether any workers or employees remain trapped inside.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and assessments are underway to estimate the extent of the damage.

The government of Bangladesh has decided to abolish the monthly rental or meter charge for electricity prepaid meters. The announcement was made by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Sunday afternoon while speaking to reporters. He said the decision was taken to address long-standing dissatisfaction among consumers over extra charges on prepaid meters.

According to the minister, many users have been paying a fixed amount each month as meter rent or maintenance charge during recharge, even though the actual cost of the meters had already been recovered. The Ministry of Power stated that in the past, irregularities and excessive spending in meter procurement had placed an unfair financial burden on consumers. The current government aims to ensure transparency in the power sector and reduce costs for users.

Officials said the removal of the charge is part of broader efforts to make electricity services more consumer-friendly and restore public trust in the sector.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has ordered retired Lieutenant Generals Mamun Khaled and Masud Uddin Chowdhury to appear before the court on April 7. The order was issued around 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Mamun Khaled, a former director general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), has been shown arrested in a disappearance case, while Masud Uddin Chowdhury has been shown arrested in a case related to a July killing incident.

Earlier in the morning, the prosecution filed petitions to show both retired officers arrested in their respective cases. The tribunal granted the petitions and subsequently issued the order for their appearance. The proceedings were conducted under the jurisdiction of International Crimes Tribunal-2.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 7, when both accused are expected to be presented before the tribunal as per the court’s directive.

A fuel station manager was killed in Narail’s Tularampur area after being allegedly run over by a truck driver following a dispute over fuel availability. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Saturday when the driver, identified as Sujat Molya, reportedly attacked the manager, Nahid Sardar, after being told that diesel was unavailable at the Messrs Tanvir Filling and Gas Station. Nahid’s companion, Jihadul, was seriously injured in the attack.

Police and witnesses said the driver had earlier argued with the manager and threatened him before waiting near the station. When Nahid and his friend left on a motorcycle, the driver allegedly chased them and ran them over about 150 to 200 yards from the station along the Jessore-Narail highway. Nahid died on the spot, and his injured companion was first taken to Narail Sadar Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka’s Pangu Hospital.

Highway police confirmed that the accused driver fled with the truck. Efforts are underway to apprehend him, and legal action has been initiated.

A severe energy shortage triggered by the Middle East war has forced the shutdown of India’s $6.5 billion ceramic production hub in Morbi, Gujarat. The once-bustling factories now stand idle, with only a few workers loading the last shipment produced three weeks ago. The disruption stems from the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has halted gas supplies critical to ceramic manufacturing.

According to the local producers’ association, most factories in Morbi, which accounts for about 80 percent of India’s ceramic output, have been closed for nearly a month due to the gas crisis. The industry, valued at around $8.1 billion, employs roughly 400,000 workers who are now affected. Factory owners report that both propane and natural gas supplies have dwindled, forcing them to suspend operations.

Advisers to the Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association said about 550 factories have stopped production, with only a few operating where gas is still available. The shutdown is expected to continue until April 15, raising concerns of domestic shortages as inventories decline from April onward.