Bangladeshi musician Haider Hossain has dismissed rumors of his death that spread on social media last Saturday evening. Several Facebook groups and pages circulated fake photo cards, some even using the names of news outlets. The artist spoke to the media, saying he was embarrassed by the situation and had been receiving nonstop phone calls. He confirmed that he is healthy and described the rumors as undesirable and inappropriate.

The false reports caused widespread concern among his fans, prompting Haider Hossain to clarify the matter himself. A few years earlier, he had made headlines due to health complications. In June 2022, he was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack and had a stent placed in his heart. Haider Hossain is a significant figure in Bangladesh’s band music history, co-founding the band Winning and later collaborating with pop icon Azam Khan.

The incident highlights how quickly misinformation can spread online, especially regarding public figures, and underscores the need for responsible social media behavior.

Six sound grenades were recovered from a bag near the main gate of the Supreme Court in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon. Police were alerted after suspicious objects were spotted near the Chief Justice’s entrance. The area was quickly cordoned off, and security was heightened. The grenades were later defused at Suhrawardy Udyan by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police bomb disposal unit after examination.

According to court and eyewitness sources, the bomb disposal team arrived around 2 p.m., safely removed the grenades, and collected evidence for investigation. The devices have been taken into police custody for further analysis. Authorities have not yet identified who placed the grenades or their motive.

Following the incident, law enforcement agencies have reinforced security around the Supreme Court premises. Police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those responsible for the attempted security breach.

A 26-year-old man was killed in a mob beating early Sunday, March 8, 2026, in the Jalakuri Koraitola area of Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. According to local reports, three men arrived on a motorcycle and attempted to rob a pedestrian at knifepoint. When residents intervened, two of the suspects fled, leaving one behind who was caught and beaten to death by the crowd. The motorcycle used in the attempted robbery was later set on fire by the angry mob.

Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Barik confirmed that the suspect died before police arrived at the scene. Authorities have not yet identified the deceased but are working to determine his identity.

Police investigations are ongoing to identify the victim and locate the two other suspects who escaped.

Maize cultivation in Sherpur’s Sreebordi upazila has reached record levels this season, with 1,315 hectares brought under cultivation across ten unions—an increase of about 600 hectares from last year. Favorable weather conditions have raised expectations of a bumper harvest, according to local agricultural officials. Farmers in key unions such as Kakilakura, Velua, Sreebordi Sadar, and Tatihati have led the expansion.

Officials noted that rising demand for maize as food, livestock, and poultry feed, along with its relatively low susceptibility to pests, has encouraged farmers to shift from rice to maize. Farmers reported average yields of 30 to 35 maunds per bigha, with production costs around 25,000 taka per bigha. They also use maize stalks as fuel and leaves as cattle feed, making the crop more profitable than rice.

However, some farmers complained that fertilizer shortages and high DAP prices could reduce profits. The upazila agriculture officer described maize as a highly profitable crop with low maintenance needs and said its cultivation is likely to continue increasing if its diverse uses expand further.

A construction worker named Nairul Islam, aged 26, was killed when a wall collapsed on him during drain construction work in the Courtpara neighborhood near the Dhaka bus stand area of Chapainawabganj municipality on Sunday, March 8, 2026, around 11 a.m. The deceased was the son of the late Saiful Islam from Begula village in Gobratala Union of Sadar upazila.

According to local sources, Nairul had been working on a municipal drainage project since morning when a nearby residential wall suddenly collapsed, burying him underneath. He died on the spot as a result of the incident. Police from Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station later visited the site.

Officer-in-Charge Nure Alam confirmed that legal procedures are underway following the fatal accident, which occurred during the ongoing drain construction work.

Eight fuel-carrying ships transporting LNG, LPG, and chemical products have reached Bangladesh’s maritime boundary and Chattogram Port after crossing the Hormuz Strait. Four of the vessels have already anchored at the outer mooring, while the remaining four are expected to arrive by March 14. The Chattogram Port Authority confirmed the arrivals on Sunday, noting that the ships successfully passed through the Hormuz Strait on February 28, before the onset of conflict in Iran and the Middle East.

According to port sources, the shipments include LNG carriers from Qatar’s Ras Laffan Port and LPG and chemical carriers from Oman’s Sohar Port. The vessels Al Zour, Al Jasassiya, Lusail, and others brought tens of thousands of tons of LNG and LPG. Two Liberia-flagged ships carrying LNG are also due to dock on March 11 and 14. The port authority stated that fuel vessels are being given priority for berthing and unloading to ensure timely handling.

The arrival of these ships is part of a total of 15 vessels that recently entered Bangladesh’s waters carrying energy and industrial raw materials.

In Jhenaidah, angry students set fire to three buses and vandalized a fuel pump on Saturday night following the killing of Al Miraj Nirab, chief organizer of the Jhenaidah Sadar unit of the anti-discrimination student movement. Police said Nirab was beaten to death by workers at Taj Filling Station after an argument over fuel purchase. The incident triggered violent protests at the central bus terminal, where buses of J Line, JR, and Royal Paribahan were burned. Firefighters later brought the blaze under control.

At the same time, protesters attacked and vandalized Srijoni Fuel Pump at Arappur Bus Stand, owned by Awami League leader Harunur Rashid. Abu Hasnat Tanaim, joint member secretary of The Red July organization, condemned the killing and demanded a fair investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible. Nirab’s foster father, Abul Kashem, also demanded justice, saying his son was beaten for protesting discriminatory fuel sales.

Police reported that the situation is now under control, with additional forces, RAB, and army patrols deployed across Jhenaidah to prevent further unrest.

In Dinajpur’s Khansama upazila, the age-old practice of plowing fields with bulls is rapidly disappearing as modern agricultural machinery takes over. Once a common sight across rural Bangladesh, the bond between farmers and their cattle symbolized the country’s agrarian heritage. Today, tractors and power tillers dominate the fields, leaving only a few farmers still using bulls for plowing.

The shift reflects the broader transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture through technological advancement. While modern tools have made farming faster and easier, they have also displaced traditional methods that were integral to rural life and culture. Agricultural experts note that bull-driven plowing remains an important part of the nation’s farming history and cultural identity.

Some observers believe that alongside embracing new technology, efforts should be made to preserve this traditional practice as a living symbol of Bangladesh’s rural heritage.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that while the country’s overall default loans fell by Tk 870 billion in the last quarter of the previous year, five merged banks saw their non-performing loans rise by Tk 65 billion. The combined default loans of these banks—Exim, Social Islami, First Security Islami, Global Islami, and Union Bank—reached Tk 1.66 trillion, accounting for 84.22 percent of their total loans.

Officials attributed the increase to financial misconduct by former bank leaders Nazrul Islam Mazumder and Saiful Alam, who allegedly took large sums under various names and failed to repay. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit reported that S. Alam Group alone withdrew Tk 1.02 trillion from these banks. Persistent liquidity shortages and capital deficits led the government to merge the five institutions.

Bangladesh Bank has been working for a year on the merger, including legal and policy preparations, asset and liability reviews, and simulation exercises for a new state-owned Shariah-based bank. The merged entity will have Tk 350 billion in paid-up capital, of which Tk 200 billion will come from the government and Tk 150 billion from deposit-to-share conversions.

A sudden and severe shortage of petrol and octane has hit filling stations across Barishal city and surrounding areas since late Friday night. Motorists have been forced to return empty-handed as most stations display signs announcing the unavailability of fuel. Long queues formed at the few stations with limited supplies, leading to frustration and altercations between drivers and station staff.

Station owners attribute the crisis to panic buying, saying drivers are purchasing three to four times their usual fuel needs amid fears of a broader shortage linked to conflict in the Middle East. Some customers, however, accuse station owners of hoarding fuel for profit. Managers at several stations confirmed that petrol and octane stocks were depleted by Friday night, leaving only diesel available.

Officials from Meghna Petroleum’s Barishal depot said the shortage resulted from excessive demand rather than supply failure and assured that the situation should normalize within a few days once new shipments arrive.

At least 15 ships carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and raw materials for the cement industry have reached Bangladesh’s maritime boundary after crossing the Hormuz Strait. Twelve of the vessels have already arrived at Chattogram Port, while the remaining three are expected within the week. The ships managed to pass through the strait just before it was closed following a joint Israel–United States attack on Iran.

According to port and energy officials, the vessels include four carrying LNG, two with LPG, and nine transporting cement raw materials such as clinker, gypsum, limestone and stone. The arrivals have eased concerns over potential fuel shortages amid regional tensions. One LPG ship named Sevan arrived from Oman’s Sohar Port with 22,172 tons of LPG, while another, GYMM, carried 19,316 tons. Two LNG carriers, Al Zour and Al Jassaniya, arrived from Qatar with about 126,000 tons of LNG. Additional ships are expected from Qatar and other Gulf ports in the coming days.

Officials cautioned that risks remain, as two LNG carriers and one crude oil vessel are still stranded beyond the Hormuz Strait.

Bangladesh has become the world’s second-largest supplier of online gig work, following India, according to studies by the ILO, Oxford Internet Institute, and the World Bank. With an estimated 1–1.2 million active freelancers, the country’s youth are increasingly engaged in digital platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. This expansion has reduced unemployment pressure and improved individual financial stability. The gig economy now spans both urban and rural areas, contributing around USD 1–1.2 billion annually to foreign exchange reserves.

However, the rapid, unregulated growth has exposed weaknesses in skill quality, professionalism, and infrastructure. Many Bangladeshi gig workers remain in low-skill, low-pay roles that are being replaced by AI tools like ChatGPT, Canva AI, and Google AutoML. Language barriers, missed deadlines, and lack of contract knowledge have also weakened client confidence. Unlike the EU, Bangladesh lacks social protection, health insurance, or pension systems for gig workers, prompting the ITUC to label such economies as “digital sweatshops.”

The article stresses the need for high-value skill development in AI, data science, and blockchain, along with policy reforms to ensure stable internet, secure payment systems, and inclusion of gig work in national labor frameworks.

Bangladesh is facing widespread public anxiety and long queues at petrol stations amid global oil market instability caused by war in the Middle East. The government has urged citizens to conserve fuel and electricity, while the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) introduced rationing measures citing limited reserves. Despite official assurances of adequate supply, many stations have closed temporarily due to overwhelming demand, with reports of altercations and threats against pump operators.

According to BPC officials, the country currently holds reserves for 10 days of diesel, 17–18 days of octane, 13 days of petrol, 90 days of furnace oil, and 52 days of jet fuel, with additional shipments arriving at Chattogram port. The government is also importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) at higher spot market prices to maintain electricity supply during Ramadan and the irrigation season. Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to review the situation and announced plans to explore alternative import sources.

Authorities have deployed mobile courts to monitor fuel distribution and warned against panic buying, emphasizing that current reserves are sufficient and supply will continue normally.

A youth named Al Miraz Nirab, a joint chief organizer of the anti-discrimination student movement in Jhenaidah Sadar, was beaten to death at a petrol pump in Jhenaidah on Saturday night. The incident occurred at Messrs Taj Filling Station near the central bus terminal when Nirab came to buy fuel. Police said he arrived around 8 p.m. with a plastic bottle, but the pump staff refused to sell fuel that way. Later, seeing another person being served in a bottle, Nirab protested, leading to an altercation. The employees then beat him with sticks, causing fatal injuries. He was taken to Jhenaidah Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Three employees have been detained by RAB-6.

Nirab, aged 23, was from Barobazar’s Badurgacha village in Kaliganj upazila and ran a fast-food business near Jhenaidah Government Boys’ School. He was also a second-year honors student at Jhenaidah Government KC College. Police said the detainees are being interrogated and legal action will follow after investigation.

The filling station is owned by Harunur Rashid, also known as Srijoni Harun, a former district council chairman and expelled Awami League leader.

A senior journalist, Zahid Iqbal, was allegedly harassed by a mob in Dhaka’s Nikunja area on Saturday evening after publishing a report on road occupation. The incident occurred near Jamtala’s Zahid Iqbal Chattar, where local resident Nurul Islam’s son, Md. Sabuj, is accused of leading a group that surrounded and threatened the journalist. Police from Khilkhet station, led by Sub-Inspector Ujjal, visited the scene following the incident.

CCTV footage reportedly shows around 30 people encircling Zahid Iqbal and intimidating him, while some of his friends were also threatened. Witness Matiur Rahman Swapon said the group demanded deletion of the published report and issued an ultimatum. Zahid Iqbal explained that the report highlighted how part of a narrow road in Nikunja had been illegally walled off, worsening public movement.

Khilkhet Police Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim confirmed that an investigation is underway and legal action will be taken against those responsible. Local residents identified several others allegedly involved and called for strict action, saying such intimidation undermines democratic values and press freedom.