The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has initiated the process for disbursing Boishakhi allowances to MPO-listed teachers and employees across Bangladesh ahead of the Bengali New Year. The electronic fund transfer (EFT) bill submission option has been activated in the DSHE’s software, allowing institutions to submit bills online. This move is expected to ensure timely payments and remove uncertainty for several hundred thousand teachers and staff before the festival.

According to the DSHE’s EMIS Cell, the activation of the online submission system aims to prevent technical complications and guarantee that all eligible recipients receive their allowances on schedule. EMIS Cell programmer Md. Zahir Uddin urged teachers and employees to submit their bills as soon as possible to expedite the process.

While the Boishakhi allowance process is progressing, the proposal for March salaries has not yet reached the Ministry of Education. Bill submissions for March salaries began on Wednesday and will continue until Saturday, after which the verified bills are expected to be sent to the ministry by mid or late next week.

A fire broke out on the ferry ‘Keramat Ali’ anchored at Paturia Ghat No. 4 in Manikganj on Friday evening. The blaze reportedly started from the ferry’s silencer pipe while it was docked. Witnesses said sparks were seen coming from the pipe, causing panic among passengers and crew as smoke spread quickly. The ferry staff managed to bring the fire under control before it could spread further.

After receiving the report, the ghat authorities informed the fire service, whose members later extinguished the fire completely. No major damage or casualties were reported, but ferry operations were temporarily suspended for safety reasons.

Initial assessments suggest that excessive engine heat or a mechanical fault may have caused the fire. Authorities have launched an investigation and will inspect the ferry’s mechanical condition before resuming its operation.

A total of 5,000 metric tons of diesel arrived in Bangladesh from India’s Numaligarh Refinery in Assam through a cross-border pipeline, reaching the Parbatipur railhead depot in Dinajpur late Thursday night. The delivery was confirmed Friday by the depot’s assistant in-charge, who said the transfer took about 60 hours. The diesel was distributed Friday morning to the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna depots, with Padma receiving 18,500 metric tons.

According to official sources, the pipeline was established under a 15-year agreement signed on October 22, 2017, between Bangladesh and India to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply for irrigation and transport in eight northern districts. The agreement allows Bangladesh to import up to 180,000 metric tons of diesel in 2026. So far, 5,000 metric tons arrived in February and another 5,000 on March 11.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has proposed importing an additional 50,000 tons of diesel through the same pipeline within the next four months to meet growing demand.

The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has announced that individuals providing specific information about illegal fuel stockpiling will receive rewards. The decision, disclosed on Friday, March 27, 2026, aims to prevent an artificial fuel crisis across the country. Vigilance teams have already been formed in all districts to monitor fuel supply and identify illegal storage activities.

According to the ministry, a formal reward announcement will be made soon to encourage citizens to share concrete complaints and suggestions. Field-level operations have begun to curb illegal hoarding, including a raid in Chattogram’s Patenga area where approximately 6,000 liters of diesel stored in 30 drums were seized.

Authorities stated that district administrations are now taking strict measures to maintain discipline in the energy sector and ensure normal supply. All fuel depots, petrol pumps, and traders are under close surveillance, and similar operations will continue regularly in the public interest.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir stated that all incidents of killings, including those involving police personnel, occurring before and after August 5 will be prosecuted according to law. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon during a press briefing at the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police headquarters in response to journalists’ questions.

The police chief urged citizens to obey the law to build a peaceful and civilized society. He criticized the tendency of young people to block roads and protest frequently, saying such actions harm everyone. Fakir also highlighted issues such as high youth unemployment, capital flight affecting banks, and the resulting rise in crimes like drug abuse and snatching. He reaffirmed the police’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy against drugs.

Addressing a question on fuel shortages and black market sales, the IGP said that collecting fuel from a few petrol pumps and selling it at a slightly higher price brings little profit, emphasizing the need for moral awareness in society.

The Petrol Pump Owners Association has urged the public to remain calm amid recent fuel shortages across Bangladesh, assuring that the supply situation will return to normal from Saturday. The association issued a statement on Friday, requesting consumers not to panic and to collect fuel as usual.

According to the statement, the temporary fuel shortage occurred because the regular supply chain was disrupted during March due to an unusually high number of government holidays. This led to some petrol pumps running out of stock in several parts of the country. The association’s convener, Syed Sajjadul Karim Kabul, described the current rush at petrol stations as unprecedented in his 50 years of business and called for restraint from consumers.

The association reaffirmed that the supply process has already been restored and that full normalization is expected from Saturday, easing the temporary disruption experienced earlier in the week.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit announced that the Bangladesh government is providing a daily subsidy of Tk 16.7 billion on fuel to reduce public hardship. He made the statement on Friday at a meeting held at the Jessore Deputy Commissioner’s office during a check distribution event for distressed and underprivileged individuals organized by the Department of Social Services.

The minister said that despite global instability, the government has no plan to raise fuel prices, as such an increase would raise costs for electricity, public transport, and food, putting pressure on ordinary citizens. He added that while many countries have raised fuel prices, Bangladesh has maintained stable prices and ensured normal supply. The government has also secured sufficient fuel supply until April and initiated efforts to maintain a 90-day reserve.

Amit further mentioned that the government is implementing its election pledges, including the launch of the Family Card program and plans to introduce a Farmer Card on Pahela Baishakh. The event concluded with financial aid checks distributed to 153 distressed individuals.

Police in Ranisankail, Thakurgaon, arrested a 25-year-old Hindu man named Bidhan Roy on Friday afternoon for allegedly posting a derogatory comment about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Facebook. The arrest took place in Parkunda village under Nekmarad Union, where Roy, son of Malin Chandra Roy, resides.

According to police, the Facebook post quickly spread across various platforms, sparking tension in the area. Law enforcement officers, with assistance from local residents, detained the suspect to prevent further unrest. Officer-in-Charge Amanullah Al Bari confirmed the arrest and said the accused was sent to jail through the court.

Police are currently verifying the authenticity of the incident, and authorities reported that the situation in the area has returned to normal.

Police have arrested Jamaat-e-Islami leader Engineer Mizanur Rahman Mizan, aged 35, in connection with a case filed over the assault and altercation involving police officers at Palashbari Police Station in Gaibandha. The arrest was confirmed on Friday afternoon by Officer-in-Charge Sarwar Alam Khan. Mizan was detained early Friday morning from his home in Gridharipur village during a joint operation by Palashbari police and the Detective Branch.

According to the report, Mizanur Rahman Mizan serves as the current secretary of the professional wing of Palashbari Upazila Jamaat and is the son of Golam Mostafa. He previously held positions as the municipal Jamaat amir and president of the upazila unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir. The case stems from a March 25 incident when several Jamaat youth leaders visited the police station to submit a complaint, leading to a confrontation and attack that injured eight police officers, including the OC.

Following the incident, a case was filed naming nine individuals and several unidentified others. The Palashbari Upazila Jamaat branch has formed an internal investigation committee to review the matter.

A young man named Russel Biswas, aged 25, was critically injured after being attacked with sharp weapons inside the Kotalipara Upazila Health Complex in Gopalganj on Friday morning. The assault occurred around 8:30 a.m. when several men allegedly entered the hospital and attacked him. Russel, son of Jamal Biswas from Barshapara village, was later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment due to his critical condition.

According to local sources, a long-standing land dispute between Jamal Biswas and his brother Panna Biswas had led to a violent clash the previous evening. Family members said Russel could not be admitted to the hospital that night out of fear of further attacks. The next morning, he was taken to the hospital under local supervision, where the assailants allegedly struck again, injuring him severely before fleeing.

Police said no formal complaint had been filed yet, but legal action would follow upon receiving one. The accused individuals, including Panna Biswas and his associates, were reported to be on the run.

Police in Chattogram recovered 6,000 liters of diesel from an open market in the Madrasah Gate area under Patenga Police Station on Friday afternoon. One trader was arrested during the operation. Officer-in-Charge Mostafa Ahmed confirmed that the raid was conducted based on a tip-off, leading to the discovery of 30 large drums, each containing about 200 liters of diesel. The fuel was being stored without valid documentation.

According to police, the detained trader claimed to be a wholesale fuel dealer but failed to show any authorization. The seized diesel has been taken to the police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the purpose of the stockpile. Local traders said drums had been arriving at a temporary shop for several days, but they were unaware of the large quantity being stored.

Police estimate the market value of the recovered fuel to be several crore taka. Preparations are being made to file a case under the Fuel Storage and Sale Control Act and related regulations, and the arrested trader will be sent to court.

Global crude oil prices rose above $110 per barrel on March 27, 2026, as fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East intensified. Brent crude futures reached $110.12 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate stood at $94.85. The market is assessing the risk of prolonged supply interruptions, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil and LNG shipments.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has created severe instability in energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and LNG flows, is now under heavy strain, with traffic reportedly near a standstill. Investors are focusing more on the potential for a long-term conflict than on daily diplomatic developments.

According to the International Energy Agency, the current supply shock is more severe than the combined impact of the 1970s oil crisis and the Russia-Ukraine gas disruptions. Reuters reported that global oil supply has fallen by about 11 million barrels per day.

A mobile court operation near Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport on Friday, March 27, 2026, led to the seizure of approximately six tons of illegally stored diesel. The raid, conducted between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., uncovered around 30 drums of diesel along with three pumps used for loading and unloading fuel. The operation was based on intelligence from the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and the National Security Intelligence (NSI).

Officials estimated the market value of the seized diesel at around 1.8 million taka. Authorities are working to identify those involved in the illegal storage and have begun preparations to file a case. Mobile court officials warned that illegal fuel hoarding and supply could destabilize the national energy sector and pledged to continue similar enforcement actions.

Local residents said that secret fuel storage had been ongoing in the airport area for a long time, but they expect the recent strict administrative measures to bring the situation under control. Intelligence agencies reportedly plan to continue operations against illegal fuel stockpiles across the country.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that power stations are sometimes closed due to demand fluctuations rather than fuel shortages. He made the remarks on Friday, March 27, 2026, after inspecting a 68-megawatt solar power plant in Sirajganj. The minister explained that power generation is being maintained according to current demand, and no disruptions occurred during Ramadan. He added that temporary outages caused by storms should not be considered load-shedding.

Tuku also addressed the recent surge in fuel demand, noting that petrol pumps are running out of fuel quickly because people are stockpiling due to the ongoing war. He assured that fuel supply remains stable and said he has spoken with district administrators and police officials who are monitoring the situation. The minister acknowledged that corruption and black marketing are contributing to the sudden increase in demand, and reported that two individuals have already been detained in Sirajganj, with arrests occurring elsewhere in the country.

Officials from the Sirajganj 68-megawatt solar power plant and the district commissioner were present during the minister’s visit.

Former Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Lieutenant General (Retd.) Sheikh Mamun Khaled was arrested late Wednesday night from his residence in Mirpur DOHS, Dhaka, by the Detective Branch of police. He was produced before a court on Thursday, which granted a five-day remand in connection with a murder case. The arrest follows allegations that he misappropriated army officers’ deposits and built a vast business network known as the Sublime Group using embezzled funds.

According to the report, Mamun Khaled, while overseeing the Jalshiri housing project, signed multiple contracts with a private developer and allegedly diverted large sums intended for army officers. Thousands of serving and retired officers reportedly lost hundreds of crores of taka. He is accused of establishing at least seven companies, including Sublime Network, Sublime IT, and Sublime Bangladesh, during his tenure at DGFI. Additional allegations include misuse of government property and manipulation of project expenses.

Court documents also cite his alleged role in a 2010 incident in Rupganj that disrupted the Jalshiri project and in a shooting incident linked to political violence, now under investigation.