Police in Noakhali have arrested eight people in connection with the killing of teenage gang leader Md. Nirab in the Andarchar area of Sadar upazila. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon following a dispute over territorial control and drug sales. Nirab was attacked in the Bangla Bazar area of Purba Maizchara village and later died while receiving treatment at Noakhali General Hospital. On Monday afternoon, the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court ordered the suspects to be sent to jail.

According to police and local sources, Nirab was involved in various criminal activities including theft, robbery, extortion, and illegal occupation. He was known locally as both a drug dealer and a gang leader. Following the incident, Abdul Gani, the victim’s father, filed a case with Sudharam Police Station on Sunday night naming 22 individuals as accused. Police subsequently detained eight of them for investigation.

Authorities continue to investigate the case to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the killing.

The Chattogram district administration seized 25,000 liters of illegally stored diesel from the Faujdarhat area on Monday evening. The operation took place in the Chalimpur residential area, where officials discovered three tanks filled with stolen fuel. Despite the recovery, no individuals involved in the illegal storage were arrested during the raid.

According to the district administration, the raid was conducted based on confidential information at a tin-fenced site near the Chalimpur residential gate. Alongside hundreds of oil drums, three large tanks containing the stolen diesel were found. The report indicates that the operation targeted a group allegedly trading stolen fuel using tanks labeled with the names Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna.

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Zahidul Islam Miah stated that the government is taking strict action against illegal fuel hoarders, with around fifty cases filed so far. He also assured that the government maintains an adequate reserve of fuel.

A Dhaka court has granted a six-day remand for dismissed Lieutenant Colonel Afzal Naser, a former officer of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), in connection with the murder of Delwar Hossain. The order was issued on Monday, March 30, 2026, by Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasib Ullah Piyash after a hearing. The investigating officer, DB Sub-Inspector Kofil Uddin, had sought a seven-day remand, supported by Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki.

During the hearing, the prosecution alleged that Afzal Naser had previously participated in the arrest and torture of political figures, including Tarique Rahman, and obstructed medical treatment for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The defense lawyer, Helal Uddin, argued that there were no specific allegations against his client and requested bail, noting that Naser had been dismissed from service and was working at United Group for livelihood.

According to the case file, Delwar Hossain was shot during an anti-discrimination student movement in Mirpur on July 19, 2024, and died two days later. His wife filed the murder case on July 6, 2025.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, told the national parliament on Monday that the country currently has no fuel shortage. He stated that fuel supply has been increased compared to the same period last year, ensuring greater availability across the country. The minister emphasized that the government is working tirelessly to maintain public comfort and stability in energy supply.

Mahmud noted that the world is going through a period of instability due to international conflicts and geopolitical tensions, which have created uncertainty in global energy transportation and supply. He said that despite these global challenges, Bangladesh has taken timely and appropriate measures under the Prime Minister’s supervision to safeguard domestic energy security.

According to the minister, when the current government took office on February 17, the diesel reserve stood at 206,000 tons, which has since risen to 218,000 tons. Between February 17 and March 29, 482,000 tons of diesel were sold, yet reserves still increased, indicating effective import planning and management.

Electricity, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud and State Minister Anindya Islam Amit held a meeting with officials and employees of the Rural Electrification Board (REB) on Monday at the Brigadier Sabihuddin Ahmed Auditorium of the organization. The meeting was chaired by REB Chairman Major General S M Zia-ul-Azim, with Power Division Secretary Farzana Momtaz also in attendance.

During the session, REB representatives presented ongoing activities and achievements in electricity distribution, noting the board’s establishment in 1977 to expand rural electrification. The minister directed the REB chairman to resolve existing issues between the board and rural electricity cooperatives promptly and emphasized that no initiative would be taken to weaken the institution. Instead, efforts would focus on ensuring reliable and quality electricity services.

Secretary Farzana Momtaz suggested measures to improve service quality, including installing fault locators for quick power restoration after storms, reducing distribution line length to minimize system loss, and promoting solar pumps to save fuel. She also instructed submission of new project proposals to develop a modern and sustainable distribution system.

Journalist Shawkat Mahmud has been shown arrested in an anti-terrorism case filed at Shahbagh Police Station in connection with the launch of the organization 'Manch 71'. The order was issued on Monday, March 30, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana following a police petition. State lawyer Shamsuddoha Suman confirmed the court’s decision. Before the order, Mahmud was produced before the court, and the investigating officer, Inspector Md Akhtar Morshed, requested that he be shown arrested as an accused identified during the investigation.

According to the case statement, 'Manch 71' was formed on August 5 of the previous year to prevent distortion of Bangladesh’s Liberation War history. As part of its activities, a roundtable discussion was held on August 28 at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. During the event, a group of individuals entered the venue, created chaos, and confined some participants, including Abdul Latif Siddique and Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman. Police later detained 16 people and a case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act by Sub-Inspector Amirul Islam.

The case petition stated that showing Mahmud arrested was necessary for proper investigation and justice.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita said the government aims to transform Biman Bangladesh Airlines into a profitable and passenger-friendly organization through collective efforts. She made the remarks on Monday at a views-exchange meeting with the airline’s officials and employees at Balaka in Kurmitola, where State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present.

Addressing the staff, the minister emphasized that their salaries come from passengers’ payments, urging them to treat passengers with due respect. She mentioned plans to link promotions with performance monitoring, fill vacant posts quickly, and improve salary and benefits to satisfactory levels. The state minister added that the current government is people-oriented and democratic, aiming to make Biman a model institution.

The meeting discussed short- and long-term plans for the airline’s development, including adding new aircraft, increasing wheelchairs for elderly and special-needs passengers, and strengthening connections between domestic and international flights. After the meeting, the ministers inspected the Biman Flight Catering Centre to check cleanliness standards.

RAB-12 members arrested two individuals in Sirajganj’s Salonga area with counterfeit currency worth 1,269,700 taka. The detainees were identified as Robiul Islam, 20, and Abul Hasan, 29, both residents of Berabajua village in Raiganj upazila. The arrests were announced by RAB-12 Commander Additional DIG Md. Atikur Rahman Mia during a press briefing at the Sirajganj headquarters on Monday afternoon.

According to RAB-12, the operation was conducted on Sunday afternoon near the New Mayer Anchol Hotel in Hatikumrul following a tip-off about illegal trading of fake notes. The suspects were initially caught with 5,000 taka in counterfeit bills and two mobile phones. Based on their information, RAB later recovered an additional 1,264,700 taka in fake notes from a rented house in Dhopakandi area.

During preliminary questioning, the detainees reportedly admitted to running a counterfeit currency business across Sirajganj and nearby areas for an extended period. A case has been filed against them at Salonga Police Station.

Former Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Abdul Jalil Mandal was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Monday evening from his residence in the capital’s Sabujbagh area. According to DB sources, he was wanted in a case related to the 2013 violence and casualties at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, for which an arrest warrant had been issued earlier. The arrest was carried out based on that warrant.

DB Chief Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrest, stating that Mandal was accused in a case filed with the International Crimes Tribunal over the Shapla Chattar incident. He added that the former police official would be produced before the court. Police sources said the investigation into the case had recently gained momentum, leading to renewed legal actions against those involved.

Abdul Jalil Mandal served as CMP Commissioner from 2014 to 2016 and previously held senior positions in the CMP, Rapid Action Battalion, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Police in Fatullah, Narayanganj recovered a foreign-made pistol, a magazine, and seven rounds of live ammunition from an abandoned spot in front of the Ria Gop International Cricket Stadium on Monday morning. The operation was conducted around 10:30 a.m. by Sub-Inspector Ferdousur Rahman Imon and his team from Fatullah Model Police Station following a tip-off. No arrests have been made so far.

According to the Officer-in-Charge Abdul Mannan, the incident occurred amid a dispute between two local groups over unloading waste materials from the nearby Super Star factory. When one group gathered near a garment factory, locals chased them, prompting the suspects to flee and leave behind the weapon. Police have launched an investigation to trace the source of the firearm and identify those involved. Legal proceedings are underway.

Local residents reported that the conflict began when a man named Hamza was loading waste materials onto a truck and a rival group arrived, sparking the altercation that led to the recovery of the weapon.

A mobile court in Amtali upazila of Barguna fined the owner of Rahman Filling Station ten thousand taka for delivering less fuel than the paid amount. The operation was conducted on Sunday afternoon by Md. Ashraful Alam, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate of Amtali. The owner, Abdur Rahman Talal, was penalized after the inspection confirmed the irregularity.

According to the magistrate, the fine was imposed following a complaint that the station sold only 800 grams of fuel instead of one liter. He stated that such drives would continue to ensure fairness in fuel distribution and protect consumer rights.

The incident highlights ongoing monitoring efforts by local administration to prevent fraudulent practices in fuel sales and maintain transparency in commercial transactions.

A joint team of the district administration, BSTI, and police conducted a raid at Anwar Zakaria Filling Station Limited on Portlink Road in Chattogram’s Halishahar area on Monday afternoon. The operation, led by an executive magistrate, began at 2 p.m. and uncovered 1,250 liters of octane and 14,000 liters of diesel, despite the station claiming to have suspended fuel sales.

Officials at the site said the fuel station had declared it was out of stock, but nearly 15,000 liters of fuel were found in storage tanks and a hidden storeroom. The team cross-checked the stock register and storage records to verify whether the fuel exceeded permitted limits. Station owner Md. Belal stated that his business was cooperating fully with the authorities and denied any wrongdoing, suggesting any discrepancies might be due to misunderstanding.

Fuel sales at the station were partially halted during the operation, causing traffic congestion on Portlink Road and nearby areas. Some customers alleged that the station had long been accused of short-measuring fuel.

Bangladesh and New Zealand have agreed to explore a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to expand trade and investment ties. The proposal came during a meeting between Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay on the sidelines of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A press release from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed the discussion, which emphasized enhancing trade relations and sending a positive signal to investors.

During the meeting, Minister Muktadir highlighted Bangladesh’s goal of deeper integration into the global value chain and its efforts to foster a business-friendly environment. He reiterated Bangladesh’s interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and sought New Zealand’s support. McClay praised Bangladesh’s geopolitical importance and economic potential, assuring cooperation with other RCEP members to facilitate Bangladesh’s inclusion.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening friendly relations and exploring new areas of economic collaboration. McClay accepted an invitation to visit Bangladesh later this year to continue discussions on trade and investment opportunities.

The government has directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to investigate the legality of operations by three private submarine cable companies—Summit Communications Limited, Metacore Subcom Limited, and CdNet Communications—and their jointly formed consortium, Bangladesh Private Cable System. The directive, issued by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, seeks a detailed report on whether the consortium was formed with prior approval and if it complies with licensing and government guidelines.

The three companies received individual submarine cable licenses in September 2022 to break the state monopoly in the sector. They later formed a consortium to establish a 1,300-kilometer submarine cable link with Singapore to meet growing internet demand. However, officials have raised concerns that the consortium may have violated licensing rules and posed digital security risks.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC’s managing director criticized the consortium, alleging non-compliance with fiber installation requirements and potential security risks due to the planned cable’s proximity to Myanmar’s waters. The government indicated that licenses could be revoked if violations are confirmed.

British officials have warned that global food prices could rise due to the economic impact of the ongoing war involving Iran. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet business leaders at Downing Street on Monday to discuss the issue. The warning follows Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has already driven up oil prices and raised concerns about fertilizer costs, according to a maritime analyst.

Lars Jensen, founder and CEO of shipping consultancy Vespucci Maritime, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that 20 to 30 percent of the world’s seaborne fertilizer originates from the Persian Gulf region. He cautioned that this disruption could cause food prices to increase rapidly, particularly in poorer countries. The UK’s National Farmers Union also warned that higher fuel and fertilizer costs would inevitably push up domestic food prices.

The discussions at Downing Street are expected to focus on mitigating the potential economic fallout and ensuring stability in the UK’s food supply chain.