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.

Police in Palashbari, Gaibandha, arrested one person following an alleged attack on officers inside the local police station on the night of March 25, 2026. The incident reportedly occurred when several members of Jamaat-e-Islami’s youth wing entered the station to file a written complaint over a government-allotted shop. A dispute broke out after they pressed for immediate action, leading to a physical altercation that left at least eight police personnel, including the officer-in-charge, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, and a female constable, injured. The injured officers received primary treatment at Palashbari Upazila Health Complex.

Police said the attackers assaulted the officer-in-charge and launched an unprovoked attack on unarmed officers. Jamaat youth leaders claimed two of their members were also injured. A case was filed naming nine individuals and 10–12 unidentified persons. Jamaat’s local secretary termed the attack regrettable and said organizational and legal actions would follow. Local political and social groups, including the BNP and its affiliates, condemned the incident.

Authorities confirmed that one suspect, identified as Tahidul Islam Kanan of Gridharipur village, was detained after the case was filed.

Malaysia will introduce tougher regulations for foreign workers beginning in June 2026, requiring significantly higher minimum salaries to qualify for work visas. In some cases, the minimum wage threshold will nearly double. The government will also impose a time limit on how long employers can sponsor the same visa holder. The decision came without prior notice, raising uncertainty among expatriates about long-term plans such as buying homes or cars.

Malaysia, which transformed into one of Southeast Asia’s major economies after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in the 1960s, currently hosts about 2.1 million registered foreign workers. Most are employed in manual labor, earning around 1,700 ringgit per month, while a smaller group works in high-paying sectors like finance, semiconductors, and oil and gas. The government’s latest five-year national policy warns that continued reliance on low-skilled foreign labor could hinder technological advancement.

Analysts and business leaders noted that the new policy could raise costs for companies dependent on mid-level expatriate labor but may also encourage local workforce development if implemented effectively.

The Central Board of Film Certification in India has blocked the screening of the Tunisian film 'The Voyage of Hind Rajab', which was nominated for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars. The Guardian reported that the board cited 'political sensitivity' as the reason for withholding clearance. The film’s Indian distributor, Manoj Nandwana of Joy Bhiratra Entertainment, said he submitted the film for certification in February, planning a March 6 release before the Oscars. A board member reportedly warned that the film could strain India-Israel relations, a claim Nandwana rejected.

The film, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, is based on the real-life story of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who died during an Israeli attack in Gaza in 2024. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, receiving a 20-minute standing ovation and winning the Silver Lion award. The film has already been released in several Western countries with close ties to Israel.

The decision has sparked strong reactions in India. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized the move on social media, calling it 'shameful' and an attack on freedom of expression. Analysts suggested the decision may reflect India’s growing diplomatic alignment with Israel under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The censor board has not issued an official statement.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested two individuals in connection with the shooting death of Jubo Dal leader Golam Kibria in Dhaka’s Mirpur Pallabi area. According to a message from RAB’s Legal and Media Wing on Friday, the suspects were detained with a foreign revolver and ammunition. RAB stated that the arrestees were involved in the killing mission, and further details would be disclosed at a press conference at the RAB-4 headquarters.

Kibria, who served as the member secretary of Pallabi Thana Jubo Dal and was also involved in the medical equipment trade, was shot dead on November 17 of the previous year. Three masked assailants entered a hardware and sanitary store in Mirpur’s Block B and shot him at close range before fleeing in a battery-run rickshaw, injuring the driver while escaping.

Following the incident, Kibria’s wife, Sabiha Akter Dina, filed a murder case with Pallabi Police Station, naming five accused and mentioning seven to eight unidentified individuals as being involved in the attack.

Since the onset of the war, Iran has significantly increased its oil revenue, earning about $139 million per day in March, up from $115 million in February. The country has benefited from rising global oil prices and reduced price discounts on its Iranian Light crude, which is now sold at only $2.10 below Brent, the narrowest gap in nearly a year. Iran’s oil exports have reached around 1.6 million barrels per day, close to pre-war levels, with tankers loading at Kharg Island and passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, Iran has maintained its economic flow, weakening the impact of military pressure. The United States has temporarily suspended some sanctions on Iranian oil shipments to stabilize global prices. Richard Nephew of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy noted that current U.S. actions appear to encourage Iranian oil sales rather than restrict them.

Iran is also exporting from the Jask terminal outside the Strait of Hormuz and collecting up to $2 million in transit fees from commercial vessels passing through the strait.

A mobile court in Sherpur fined a trader for illegally storing 18,000 liters of diesel in a residential building. The operation took place late Thursday night, March 26, 2026, in the Gopalbari area of Sherpur town. Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan imposed a fine of 10,000 taka on Tapas Nandi, owner of M/s Shimla Traders, after discovering a large underground tank used to store the fuel without environmental clearance.

According to court sources, Tapas Nandi and Shafiqul Islam Helal had been running a business by storing diesel in a 25,000-liter tank beneath the five-story residential building. Acting on intelligence, the district administration’s mobile court conducted the raid and found about 18,000 liters of diesel stored illegally. The court ordered the removal of the fuel and tank by Friday.

Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan stated that the fine was imposed for selling flammable substances without proper authorization and that the removal process would be closely monitored to ensure the safety of residents.

A devastating fire broke out on Thursday afternoon, March 26, in the Shura Bathan field area near Mia Bagan of Harinakundu upazila in Jhenaidah, burning down four betel leaf farms. Local residents estimated that the blaze caused a total loss of around six lakh taka for four farmers — three brothers named Mamun, Masum, and Ruhul, and another farmer, Emran Hossain.

According to local sources, the fire started suddenly in one of the farms and quickly spread to adjacent ones due to strong winds. Despite efforts by locals to control the flames, all four farms were completely destroyed before the fire was extinguished. Emran Hossain said he had taken loans from several institutions to run his farm and is now uncertain about repaying them.

Harinakundu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Kibria Hasan stated that a police investigation into the incident is ongoing. He added that the fire appears to be an accident rather than an act of sabotage.

The ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel has shaken the global economy, with developing nations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East facing severe inflationary pressure. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy facilities have triggered a fuel crisis, hitting import-dependent economies the hardest. Countries from Pakistan to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and from Jordan to Egypt and Ethiopia, are struggling to manage the fallout.

Pakistan, which imports 80 percent of its fuel from Gulf states, has seen its reserves of petrol and diesel plummet within weeks of the conflict. The government has reduced working days in public offices, closed schools, and limited fuel use for businesses. Although Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rejected a proposal to raise fuel prices before Eid, experts warn that prolonged conflict could paralyze economic activity. Bangladesh, which imports 95 percent of its fuel, is also facing shortages, with some districts already closing pumps despite rationing.

Egypt has ordered early shop closures to conserve electricity, while a Washington-based analysis identified Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Ethiopia, and Zambia as the most vulnerable to inflation caused by the energy crisis.

A robber was killed and a businessman injured during a mugging attempt in Khulna’s Dighalia upazila late Thursday night. The incident occurred near the Deyara Steamer Ghat area when four robbers tried to snatch money from businessman Touhidul Islam as he was returning home after closing his grocery and flexiload shop. During a scuffle, one robber accidentally shot his accomplice, identified as Sagar, son of Khokon from Deyara.

Locals rescued the injured Sagar and Touhidul Islam and took them first to the upazila health complex and later to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared Sagar dead. The businessman sustained minor injuries to his right shoulder from gunpowder burns but is reportedly out of danger.

Police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest the other robbers involved in the incident.

A devastating fire broke out at Boalkhali Market in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari district early Friday, March 26, around 3 a.m., destroying at least 35 shops. According to local sources, the blaze started suddenly in one shop and quickly spread to nearby stores, causing panic among traders and residents.

Multiple fire service units responded promptly, joined by army personnel from the Dighinala zone and local residents, to bring the fire under control after several hours of effort. Despite their work, the fire completely gutted dozens of shops. Business owners reported losing all their goods, with initial estimates suggesting damages worth four to five crore taka.

Fire Service Station Officer Mukul Kumar Nath said the fire was brought under control shortly after 3:10 a.m. The exact cause remains unknown, though an electrical short circuit is suspected. Authorities are conducting an investigation to determine the source of the blaze.

Global oil prices declined following US President Donald Trump’s announcement to delay a planned strike on Iranian energy facilities by ten days. The decision was made public on Friday, after which both Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) showed downward trends in international markets. As of 2:30 a.m. GMT, Brent crude dropped 1.5 percent to 93.07 dollars per barrel, while WTI fell 1.8 percent to 106.12 dollars per barrel.

Market analysts noted that the postponement provided temporary relief but warned that concerns over a prolonged conflict continued to unsettle the oil market. The overall sentiment remained cautious, with traders monitoring geopolitical developments closely.

The short-term decline in prices reflected immediate market reactions to reduced expectations of imminent military escalation, though analysts suggested that volatility could persist amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has found major discrepancies in journalist Munni Saha’s fixed deposit accounts and summoned her for questioning. According to the report, she was interrogated on July 30, 2024, after investigators detected inconsistencies involving about Tk 12 crore in her fixed deposits. The ACC also revealed that Tk 120 crore was withdrawn from one of her accounts after August 5, 2024, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. The Financial Intelligence Unit has frozen her accounts over alleged irregular transactions.

The ACC reported that Saha’s total assets amount to Tk 13.81 crore, while her declared income stands at Tk 3.24 crore. Her husband, Kabir Hossain, reportedly holds Tk 16.67 crore in assets against an income of Tk 8.17 crore. Investigators allege that Saha earned money through illegal means and attempted to transfer it abroad, violating the Money Laundering Prevention Act of 2012. She has not provided satisfactory explanations for the discrepancies and requested more time.

An ACC commissioner stated that the investigation is expected to conclude within a month despite reported lobbying efforts to halt the probe.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced on Wednesday that it will increase prices by up to 8 percent for several retail and commercial services, citing higher transportation costs caused by rising global fuel prices linked to the Iran war. The new rates, pending approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission, will take effect on April 26 and remain in place until January 17, 2027. The price hike will apply to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select services.

USPS stated that transportation expenses have risen and that competitors have also imposed various surcharges. Earlier, delivery company UPS introduced a fuel surcharge on March 2, while FedEx continues to adjust its fuel surcharges based on gasoline prices in the United States. According to the motor club AAA, the average price of regular gasoline in the US has increased by 33.6 percent since the war began on February 28, while diesel prices have risen by 43 percent. Jet fuel prices have also climbed significantly since the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran began.

The USPS adjustment reflects broader cost pressures across the logistics sector as energy markets react to the ongoing conflict.

Bangladesh’s aviation sector is facing severe pressure after the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) raised jet fuel prices twice in March 2026, increasing the domestic rate from 112.41 to 202.29 taka per liter and the international rate from 0.7384 to 1.3216 dollars per liter. The 80 percent rise within just 16 days has forced private airlines to raise fares by up to 1,200 taka on domestic routes and more on international ones. Airlines warn that several routes may be suspended due to declining passenger demand and rising operational costs.

Industry representatives, including the Aviation Operators Association of Bangladesh, have criticized the price hike as unjustified, noting that Bangladesh’s jet fuel prices are now far higher than in neighboring countries. They argue that there is no supply shortage, as 25 oil tankers arrived recently with fuel purchased at previous rates. Experts warn that the sudden increase will strain airline finances, reduce passenger growth, and disrupt operational stability.

The higher fuel costs are also expected to affect cargo transport and overall economic activity, particularly for smaller and newer airlines struggling to manage expenses.