Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said a delegation will travel to Kolkata to question two suspects in the murder case of Osman Hadi, once consular access is granted. She made the statement on Monday while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

Earlier, Bangladesh had requested consular access after India’s West Bengal Police Special Task Force arrested the main suspect and his associate in the case. On March 9, the minister stated that communication had already been established with the Kolkata Deputy Commissioner and that Bangladesh would proceed once access was approved. She also mentioned that the two countries have a prisoner exchange agreement that could be used if the suspects are confirmed.

The arrests took place on the night of March 7, when Indian police detained Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alomgir Hossain in Bongaon, a border area of West Bengal, following an operation linked to the murder of Inquilab Manch convener Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.

Akij Bicycle, a subsidiary of Akij Venture Group, has launched its first export consignment to the Netherlands on March 12, 2026. The company described the shipment as a historic step for Bangladesh’s growing bicycle industry, which has been expanding rapidly in recent years. The export marks the brand’s entry into the global market while maintaining international production standards.

According to the company, this export initiative will help earn foreign currency for Bangladesh and create 1,000 new jobs. Akij Bicycle stated that sending locally manufactured, high-quality bicycles abroad will strengthen the country’s industrial base and enhance its global reputation. The company began operations in May 2023 and has quickly established itself as a trusted brand in the domestic market.

Akij Bicycle also plans to expand its exports to other developed countries, including markets across Europe, as part of its long-term growth strategy.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu MP said the government is working to connect all canals with rivers to increase production. He emphasized that there is no alternative to canal renovation and re-excavation for resolving waterlogging, reducing pollution, improving irrigation, and boosting production. The government has taken an initiative to re-excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals. He made these remarks on Monday while inaugurating the excavation of Dadana Canal in Mirerpol area of Daganbhuiyan upazila in Feni.

The minister added that all canals across the country will be identified and their boundaries demarcated, with five government departments jointly working in the field. Party leaders and activists have been urged to cooperate with the officials. The event was presided over by Feni Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque, with several local officials and political representatives attending as special guests.

Under the B-Strong project, seven kilometers of the Dadana Canal will be re-excavated, bringing 320 hectares of land under cultivation. According to the administration, this will increase crop production worth around Tk 100 crore.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has warned that no influential person will be spared if found occupying government-owned canals. Speaking on Monday in Mirsharai, Chattogram, he said the government is ensuring transparency in project implementation and will not tolerate corruption. His remarks came after inaugurating the re-excavation of the Bamansundar canal under a nationwide initiative launched by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman to restore canals, rivers, and water bodies across 54 districts.

The minister said the program aims to strengthen environmental protection and climate resilience, continuing the canal excavation initiative started by late President Ziaur Rahman. The government plans to excavate about 20,000 kilometers of canals, with 1,200 kilometers targeted for completion within six months. In Mirsharai, a three-kilometer section of the Bamansundar canal is being re-excavated.

He added that the project will bring 15,000 hectares of land under cultivation, increasing annual crop output by 5,000 metric tons and reducing waterlogging. Trees will be planted along canal banks to boost the local economy and help Bangladesh benefit from global carbon credit mechanisms.

Bangladesh Bank has announced that all banks will remain closed for seven consecutive days from Tuesday, March 17 to Monday, March 23, due to the combined government and weekly holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr. However, to facilitate salary and bonus payments for garment workers, selected bank branches in industrial areas will remain open on March 18 and 19. The directive was issued through a recent circular from the central bank.

According to the circular, branches in Dhaka, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Valuka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram will operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a prayer break between 1:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Transactions will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The circular also states that bank branches, sub-branches, and booths located in sea, land, and airport port areas must remain open 24 hours a day throughout the week.

To ensure limited import and export activities during the holidays, banks in port and customs areas are instructed to coordinate with local administration and relevant authorities, except on Eid day itself.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has extended the deadline for submitting the investigation report in the war crimes case concerning the killing of 11 people, including student leader Wasim, during the July uprising in Chattogram. The case involves former Chattogram-6 MP A B M Fazle Karim Chowdhury and several others. The new submission date has been set for April 12, following an order issued on Monday by a three-member panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar.

Other tribunal members include Justices Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. The accused, including Fazle Karim, were brought to the tribunal from prison for the scheduled hearing. The prosecution had earlier sought an eight-week extension on January 12 to complete the investigation report.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Saimum Reza Talukder has resigned following allegations that he demanded one crore taka in bribes from Fazle Karim’s family in exchange for bail. After audio recordings of the alleged demand surfaced, a five-member fact-finding committee was formed on March 10, and defense lawyers have called for a reinvestigation of the case.

Mohammad Ayub Mia has resigned from his position as chairman of the board of directors of Sammilit Islami Bank PLC, a state-owned financial institution in Bangladesh. He submitted his resignation letter on Monday, March 16, 2026, to the secretary of the Financial Institutions Division under the Ministry of Finance, citing personal reasons for his decision.

Sammilit Islami Bank was formed through the merger of five liquidity-strapped banks: EXIM Bank, Social Islami Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, and Union Bank. The bank has an authorized capital of Tk 40,000 crore and a paid-up capital of Tk 35,000 crore, of which the government contributed Tk 20,000 crore, while the remaining Tk 15,000 crore is expected to come from depositors’ shares.

Mohammad Ayub Mia, a former government secretary, had been appointed as the first chairman of Sammilit Islami Bank on December 7 of the previous year.

Commerce, Industry, Textile and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that a fact-finding committee will be formed after Eid to examine unacceptable differences between retail and wholesale prices of essential and agricultural goods. He said the government remains alert to ensure that price variations do not reach unreasonable levels. The committee will include representatives from business, professional, and administrative sectors and will hold public hearings with consumers and traders.

The minister made the remarks on Monday morning while inaugurating the excavation of Champatali Canal in Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet. He noted that Sylhet is mainly a single-crop area where irrigation shortages and waterlogging limit agricultural output. The canal re-excavation is expected to bring about 1,500 bighas of land under cultivation and help control floods.

He added that saplings of various tree species will be planted along both banks of the canal, and local residents will begin to benefit from increased crop production, flood control, and afforestation within the first year.

China has called on the United States to immediately correct what it described as 'wrong trade practices' following Washington’s launch of new trade investigations. The appeal came after bilateral discussions in Paris last week, where Beijing formally raised its concerns with U.S. representatives. The investigations, announced by Washington, target 60 economies including China, examining whether measures against forced labor restrict U.S. trade. They follow another U.S. probe focused on industrial overcapacity involving 16 trading partners.

China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a statement urging the U.S. to amend its approach and resolve disputes through dialogue. It described the latest investigations as 'unilateral, arbitrary, and discriminatory,' accusing Washington of attempting to create trade barriers. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also criticized the investigations as a 'political maneuver.'

The trade inquiries are expected to take several months to complete. Meanwhile, Washington said former President Donald Trump plans to visit China from March 31 to April 2, though Beijing has not confirmed the dates. The visit could be delayed due to the Middle East conflict, Trump told the Financial Times.

Continuous heavy rain and hailstorm over the past three days have damaged Boro paddy fields in the haor areas of Sunamganj district. The hail has flattened and broken rice plants, while cracks have appeared in several crop protection embankments. Waterlogging has developed in many areas, raising fears of crop loss among local farmers. The affected upazilas include Sunamganj Sadar, Madhyanagar, Tahirpur, Jagannathpur, and Dharmapasha, where hailstones were seen covering roads, courtyards, and farmlands.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, about 223,511 hectares of land were cultivated with Boro rice this season, with an expected yield of 1.4 million metric tons. However, around 370 hectares of crops, including rice, maize, and vegetables, have already been damaged. Farmers expressed concern that delayed government funding slowed embankment repairs, leaving some areas without proper compaction or grass cover. Officials from the Water Development Board confirmed minor cracks in several embankments but said repair work was underway and there was no immediate threat to crops.

Local farmers reported severe waterlogging in low-lying fields and said continued bad weather could further endanger the harvest.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated a nationwide canal excavation program on March 16, 2026, in Balarampur Sahapara of Kaharol, Dinajpur. The initiative began with the re-excavation of a 12-kilometer canal and will cover 54 districts across the country. The program aims to restore silted and nearly dead canals to improve irrigation systems, reduce waterlogging during monsoon seasons, and strengthen canal-based rural economies through fish farming and duck rearing.

According to the report, experts believe that restoring canals will enhance agricultural productivity, mitigate floods and waterlogging, and help maintain local environmental balance. The event was organized by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Dinajpur District BNP, attended by local leaders, officials, and residents. Speakers at the gathering said the re-excavation would improve water drainage and irrigation, benefiting local farmers.

Residents expressed optimism that the project would reduce dependence on groundwater and electricity for irrigation, while reviving agricultural activities in the region.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has introduced an online system allowing taxpayers to apply for extensions in filing their income tax returns. According to an NBR notice issued on Monday, registered users of the e-return system can log in and use the 'Time Extension' menu to submit applications before March 31. The respective tax commissioner will review and either approve or reject the request online. Approved applicants can file their returns within the extended period without penalties or additional charges.

For taxpayers not required to file returns online, written applications for extensions can be submitted to the relevant tax commissioner before March 31, who may grant up to 90 additional days. These taxpayers may also choose to apply online if they prefer. The current tax year’s filing deadline for individual taxpayers has already been extended to March 31.

NBR reported that around five million individual taxpayers are registered in the e-return system, and approximately 4.1 million have already submitted their returns for the 2025–2026 tax year.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to inaugurate a nationwide canal excavation program covering 54 districts on Monday, March 16, 2026. The launch will take place at 11:30 a.m. in Sahapara canal under Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur district. Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister will distribute goats among poor and underprivileged families and address a public gathering.

According to the plan, the first phase of the project will excavate 1,200 kilometers of canals over six months, with a long-term goal of dredging 20,000 kilometers of rivers, canals, and wetlands within five years. The initiative aims to improve water management and rural livelihoods across the country.

As part of his schedule, the Prime Minister will travel from Saidpur Airport to Balrampur in Kaharol, visit family graves in Dinajpur in the afternoon, attend a civic meeting, and join an iftar and prayer event before returning to Dhaka in the evening.

A fire broke out in the power car of the Ramna commuter train stationed at Parbatipur Railway Junction in Dinajpur around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday night. According to railway sources, the incident occurred while repair work was underway at the meter-gauge wash pit. Sparks from welding during train lighting repair reportedly fell into oil stored inside the compartment, causing the fire to spread rapidly through the generator and power car.

Firefighters from the Parbatipur Fire Service and Civil Defense Station responded promptly with two units and managed to bring the blaze under control after about an hour of effort. Most of the interior of the power car was burned, though no casualties were reported. Railway police, security forces, and officials from various departments assisted in controlling the situation.

The station master confirmed that no investigation committee had yet been formed, while attempts to contact the Lalmonirhat Railway DRM for further details were unsuccessful. The railway authorities have begun assessing the cause and extent of the damage.

Iranian police have arrested 500 individuals accused of supplying information to the country’s enemies, according to a statement made on Sunday by Police Chief Ahmadreza Radan. He said many of those detained were involved in serious incidents and had allegedly shared footage and photographs of potential attack sites with hostile entities. Authorities did not disclose when the arrests took place.

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian media had reported that several people were detained across multiple regions, though details were limited. The announcement underscores heightened security measures and the government’s focus on countering alleged espionage and internal threats.

No further information was provided about the identities of the detainees or the specific nature of the incidents, leaving key aspects of the case undisclosed.