The district administration in Narayanganj seized 9,100 liters of illegally stored diesel in Siddhirganj on Tuesday night. The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Rashed Khan in the Godnail area. Following the seizure, a mobile court sentenced one individual to two months in jail for involvement in the illegal fuel storage.

According to district administration sources, the raid was conducted based on confidential information. The seized fuel was found stored without authorization, prompting immediate legal action. Executive Magistrate Rashed Khan stated that similar drives will continue to curb illegal fuel hoarding in the area.

The operation reflects ongoing enforcement efforts by local authorities to prevent unauthorized fuel trading and ensure compliance with energy regulations in Narayanganj.

Police in Meherpur district seized 5,375 liters of diesel allegedly stored illegally during a late-night raid in Dakshin Shalika village, a border area under Meherpur Sadar upazila. The operation took place around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, led by Additional Superintendent of Police Zaminur Rahman, with teams from Sadar Police Station and the Detective Branch participating. The diesel was found in 25 barrels inside a warehouse belonging to Farabi Traders.

The owner of Farabi Traders, Abu Sufian, was taken into police custody for questioning following the seizure. According to Meherpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir, the confiscated fuel was discovered in a shop’s storage facility in the village’s western neighborhood. The operation was based on a tip-off received by law enforcement.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the source of the diesel or whether additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested a total of 54 individuals in separate special operations conducted in the Jatrabari and Hazaribagh areas of the capital. The operations took place on Tuesday and targeted people allegedly involved in various criminal activities. Police also recovered illegal drugs during the raids.

According to Jatrabari Police Station, 11 suspects were detained from different parts of the area, and officers seized 100 grams of cannabis, nine yaba tablets, and 44 packets of heroin. In Hazaribagh, police arrested 43 individuals and recovered 33 packets of cannabis and 27 yaba tablets. All detainees have been sent to court following the arrests.

Assistant Police Commissioner Arifa Akhter Preeti from DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division stated that such operations will continue to maintain law and order in the city.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced in parliament that the newly introduced Family Card program will enhance women’s control over household assets. The card will be issued in the name of the female head of each family, ensuring that assistance is directly spent on food, nutrition, emergency healthcare, and education. Rahman said this initiative will strengthen women’s decision-making power and social status within families, contributing to broader empowerment across society.

Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker A.B.M. Mosharraf Hossain during a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, the Prime Minister explained that the program began on March 10 across 15 wards in 13 districts. So far, 37,814 female-headed families have received allowances under the scheme. An additional 30,000 families are expected to be included within the current fiscal year.

Rahman added that over the next four years, the Family Card program will gradually expand to cover 40 million families nationwide, aiming to institutionalize women’s economic participation and household leadership.

Retail traders in Bangladesh have alleged that edible oil companies are deliberately creating an artificial shortage of bottled soybean oil to raise prices amid an ongoing fuel crisis. They claim that companies have sharply reduced supply over the past six weeks, citing international price increases and lower profit margins. The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association recently requested the Ministry of Commerce and the Tariff Commission to adjust prices, but the government has not yet held any meeting or made a decision.

Visits to markets in Dhaka and surrounding areas revealed that one- and two-liter bottles of soybean oil are scarce, while five-liter bottles are available in limited quantities. Retailers report reduced commissions and declining profits, leading to lower sales interest. Some shops are selling oil above the maximum retail price. Wholesale prices of loose soybean and palm oil have also risen by about five taka per kilogram.

Consumer rights group CAB criticized the situation, blaming weak government oversight and syndicate activities for the artificial crisis. It warned that companies are using supply cuts and commission reductions to pressure the government into approving price hikes.

Farmers in multiple districts of Bangladesh are facing severe difficulties due to an ongoing diesel shortage that has disrupted irrigation during the peak Boro cultivation season. Reports from Rajshahi, Kurigram, Sherpur, Khulna, and Manikganj show that many irrigation pumps and agricultural machines have stopped operating because of fuel scarcity. Farmers say they are unable to water their fields on time, leading to drying crops and fears of reduced yields. In some areas, diesel prices have risen sharply above government rates, while retail pumps report having no stock.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, large portions of farmland in Rajshahi and other regions depend on diesel-powered irrigation systems. In Rajshahi alone, over 21 percent of irrigated land relies on diesel pumps. The shortage has also affected transportation in riverine areas like Manikganj, where engine boats have stopped running, disrupting vegetable supply and driving up market prices.

Farmers and local officials warn that if diesel supply does not normalize soon, Boro rice and vegetable production could face significant setbacks this season.

Bangladesh is experiencing a severe fuel shortage with no sign of improvement, leaving vehicle owners and drivers struggling to obtain petrol and diesel. Many filling stations in Dhaka and across the country remain closed most of the day, causing a sharp decline in road traffic. Despite this, the government insists that it has 192,919 tons of fuel in reserve and has approved the import of an additional 150,000 tons. Officials claim the supply is stable and that 25 percent more fuel is being imported compared to last year.

The government attributes the crisis to illegal hoarding, black market trading, and panic buying following regional tensions. Authorities have conducted 3,559 raids, recovering nearly 296,000 liters of fuel and imposing fines and jail terms. However, petrol pump owners dispute the government’s claims, saying they receive less than half their required supply and face unrest and security threats at stations.

To ease the shortage, the government has approved emergency purchases of 260,000 tons of fuel and is seeking U.S. approval to import six lakh tons from Russia, while maintaining domestic prices through subsidies.

Authorities in Meherpur district detained a man named Moyazzem Hossain from Fatepur village for allegedly storing 800 liters of diesel illegally. The seizure and arrest took place on the night of March 31, 2026, and the suspect was handed over to Meherpur Sadar Police Station along with the confiscated fuel.

According to Assistant Commissioner Entamul Haque of the Meherpur district administration, the operation was conducted following complaints from local residents. Law enforcement recovered the diesel from the suspect’s residence during the raid. Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir of Meherpur Sadar Police Station confirmed that legal proceedings are underway regarding the illegal storage of diesel.

Officials stated that the confiscated fuel has been secured, and further legal action against the detainee is in process.

A severe fuel shortage has gripped Dinajpur district, mirroring the nationwide crisis. Long queues of vehicles have been forming daily at filling stations, with many drivers expressing frustration over the lack of fuel. The situation has led to verbal altercations, clashes, and even a death caused by heatstroke while waiting for fuel.

In response, the district administration has intensified operations against illegal fuel hoarding and irregularities across several upazilas. On March 29, a mobile court fined Messrs Shamim Traders in Fulthola Bazar Tk 50,000 for storing 11,000 liters of petrol, exceeding its approved limit of 4,500 liters. The excess 6,500 liters were sold at government-fixed prices. Earlier, on March 28, another mobile court in Birganj seized 350 liters of diesel and 30 liters of octane, sentencing one person to seven days in jail and a Tk 5,000 fine.

Authorities have deployed monitoring officers to all 24 filling stations in Sadar upazila to ensure proper fuel distribution. The district administration stated that strict surveillance and continued operations aim to stabilize the situation soon.

Global energy prices have risen sharply following the outbreak of war involving Iran, with Brent crude oil climbing from 73 to nearly 117 dollars per barrel. The wholesale price surge has pushed up retail fuel costs worldwide, affecting both developed and developing economies.

In the United States, average petrol prices have increased by more than one dollar to exceed four dollars per gallon, marking the highest level in four years. The United Kingdom has seen petrol prices rise by 14 percent and diesel by 27 percent. South Asian nations such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have introduced fuel rationing systems, while Slovenia became the first European Union country to adopt similar measures last week.

Australia has halved its fuel tax for three months to ease the burden on consumers and introduced temporary free public transport in two states to reduce car usage.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita has announced that the government plans to reopen Bogura Stolport and Lalmonirhat Airport as domestic airports. She made the statement on Tuesday afternoon during a question-and-answer session in the National Parliament in response to a query from Jamalpur-2 lawmaker A. E. Sultan Mahmud Babu.

The minister also said that a feasibility study and planning have been completed to upgrade Saidpur Airport into a regional airport. The project includes the construction of an international-standard terminal building, runway expansion, and other necessary infrastructure improvements.

These initiatives are part of the government’s broader plan to enhance regional air connectivity and improve aviation infrastructure across Bangladesh, according to the minister’s parliamentary statement.

Police in Dhanbari, Tangail, have arrested a 16-year-old boy named Asif on charges of slaughtering and selling dog meat. The arrest followed the recovery of a slaughtered dog’s head and other parts from beneath an abandoned bed at a meat seller’s stall in the town’s raw market area. The operation was conducted on Saturday by the Dhanbari Upazila Executive Officer Miz Nurjahan Akter Sathi and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Sayem Imran.

Authorities said CCTV footage from the scene helped identify Asif as a suspect. He was detained on Monday, March 29, and later sent to Tangail District Jail. Police reported that during initial questioning, Asif admitted involvement in the slaughter and sale of dog meat.

Law enforcement officials stated that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest others connected to the incident. Another accused person with an existing arrest warrant was also sent to jail the same day. The case has caused significant public concern in the local area.

In Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet, attacks, vandalism, and looting were reported following the murder of Samad Ahmad. Two separate complaints were filed—one in the Sylhet Senior Judicial Magistrate Court by Sajna Begum on March 16, and another at Osmaninagar Police Station by Laila Begum on March 28. The incidents have created severe tension and fear in the area.

According to the reports, Samad Ahmad was killed on March 8 during a village arbitration meeting over a road dispute. His wife, Dolly Begum, filed a murder case naming 13 accused and several unidentified persons. Police have arrested six suspects, but the main accused, Sakil Mia, remains at large. The police officer in charge said operations are continuing to arrest him soon.

Following the murder, Sajna Begum’s and Laila Begum’s homes were attacked and looted by unidentified groups. The accused parties deny involvement, claiming the allegations are fabricated. Local residents have urged urgent administrative intervention to restore law and order.

The SME Foundation will provide Tk 125 crore in loans to cottage, micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs in Bangladesh’s agro-based and food processing sectors. The financing, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be distributed through banks and financial institutions at a maximum interest rate of 9 percent. The agreement was signed on March 31, 2026, at the headquarters of Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BIFFL) in Dhaka.

Under the agreement, funds from BIFFL’s Food Value Chain Improvement Project will be used to finance entrepreneurs on easy terms. The initiative, operated with JICA’s assistance, aims to strengthen the food value chain, ensure food security, and enhance entrepreneurial skills. Women entrepreneurs will receive special priority. The program covers fruit, vegetable, and spice processing, rice and pulse milling, edible oil and seed processing, organic fertilizer, and biopesticide production, along with related wholesale, logistics, and retail sectors.

The initiative also includes financing for machinery purchase, factory upgrades, and warehouse construction, as well as training and technical support. It is expected to strengthen the food value chain, reduce import dependence, expand export opportunities, and create rural employment.

A banned Chhatra League leader has been accused of severely beating a 76-year-old freedom fighter, Wahiduzzaman Naimul, in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj on Tuesday afternoon. The attack allegedly took place in front of the Gist Polytechnic Institute near the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Naimul suffered broken limbs and deep head injuries from sharp weapons and was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses said the assault occurred during a land measurement dispute involving Naimul and a local group. The accused, Tuhin Pradhan, a former assistant secretary of Gazaria upazila Chhatra League and vice president of Donia College unit, reportedly led 10–12 attackers. Naimul claimed Tuhin and his associates ambushed him after a local arbitration meeting and continued to threaten him later that night.

Dr. Sharmin Sultana of Gazaria Upazila Health Complex confirmed Naimul’s critical condition, citing multiple fractures and severe head injuries. Police said they visited the scene and would take legal action based on the complaint, while attempts to contact the accused were unsuccessful.