India has raised cooking gas prices as global energy markets reel from ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In Kolkata, the price of a 14-kilogram LPG cylinder rose from 879 to 939 rupees, while the 19-kilogram commercial cylinder increased by 114 rupees to 1,990 rupees. The new rates took effect on Saturday, March 7, across West Bengal, intensifying pressure on household budgets.

According to the LPG Distributors Association spokesperson Bijonbihari Biswas, supply to large customers has been temporarily restricted, and similar measures may soon apply to users of 19-kilogram cylinders. Distributors reportedly have only four to five days of gas stock left. Many residents have begun turning to wood-fired stoves as an alternative amid the price hike.

Stakeholders warn that if the conflict continues, gas prices could rise further. Local consumers expressed concern that the higher costs are straining family finances, with few affordable alternatives available.

A young man named Samad Ahmed, aged 22, was killed in a knife attack during an arbitration meeting in Sikandarpur village under Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet on Friday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. when a dispute over a local road between two groups escalated into violence. Police detained six individuals suspected of involvement in the attack.

According to police and eyewitnesses, Samad Ahmed was the son of Abdul Khalik of Sikandarpur village. The conflict had been ongoing between Samad’s family and those of Rahim Ullah’s son Abdus Sattar and Abdul Jabbar. The arbitration meeting was arranged to resolve the dispute, but tensions rose and Samad was stabbed by members of the opposing group. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Osmaninagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Murshedul Alam Bhuiyan confirmed the incident, stating that legal action will be taken against those involved. The body was sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Bangladesh Bank has received a set of recommendations from leading economists to help the country withstand potential economic shocks stemming from rising tensions in the Middle East. At a meeting held on Saturday, chaired by newly appointed Governor Mostakur Rahman, eight prominent economists advised keeping the policy interest rate unchanged, preserving foreign exchange reserves, and seeking alternative energy sources outside the Middle East.

The economists warned that recent military tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States could disrupt global energy supplies and increase pressure on Bangladesh’s economy through higher fuel costs, reduced remittance inflows, and dollar shortages. They emphasized the need to avoid policies that could worsen inflation, which remains high, and urged proper implementation of social safety programs such as the Family Card initiative.

Additional recommendations included accelerating the release of foreign loans, exploring energy imports from Brunei and Singapore, and forming a crisis management committee to provide regular briefings and prevent public panic. The governor pledged integrity in his role and directed banks to act free from political influence.

A court has sought permission from the Ministry of Public Administration to file a case against Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md. Sarowar Alam for alleged non-cooperation in a murder investigation and violation of court orders. The case relates to the killing of a youth named Tajuddin during an anti-discrimination student movement in Sylhet on August 4, 2024. Tajuddin’s wife filed a murder case, and the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) was assigned to investigate. Despite repeated requests, the DC allegedly failed to provide information about the executive magistrate on duty and the order under which shots were fired.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) submitted its report, but the district administration remained silent, stalling the investigation. On February 8, the court ordered the DC to explain within 15 working days why legal action should not be taken for obstructing justice. However, no response was received by March 1. Senior Judicial Magistrate Sudipta Talukdar observed that the DC’s conduct violated multiple sections of the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

The ministry has been directed to obtain legal approval by April 15, 2026, and inform the court. The court’s strong stance has sparked wide discussion in Sylhet.

Bangladesh has received a major relief as 15 cargo ships carrying fuel, gas, and industrial raw materials have begun arriving at Chattogram Port despite fears of disruption in the Hormuz Strait due to the ongoing Iran-Israel-US conflict. According to port authorities, 12 of the ships have already docked, while the remaining three are expected within the week. The shipments include liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and clinker for the cement industry.

The tension around the Hormuz Strait escalated after a joint US-Israel strike on Iran on February 28, followed by Tehran’s warnings. About 20 percent of global oil and LNG supplies pass through this route, making it crucial for Bangladesh, which imports from seven Gulf countries. Four LNG ships from Qatar crossed the strait before the conflict intensified, while one more remains inside awaiting passage.

Officials noted that while current shipments have arrived safely, continued instability could complicate future cargo movements through the strait, potentially affecting Bangladesh’s energy imports.

Twelve ships that departed through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman before the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States, and Israel have reached the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port. Three more vessels are expected to arrive within the week. Among the arrivals, four are carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), two contain liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and nine are loaded with clinker, a raw material for the cement industry.

According to Khairul Alam Sujon, former director of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, these ships left the Middle East before navigation through the Hormuz Strait was halted due to the conflict. He added that several other ships are still en route, while a few remain near or inside the strait.

Sujon stated that the government, shipping lines, vessel owners, cargo owners, and mariners are closely monitoring the war situation. If threats in the Hormuz Strait subside, normal maritime operations are expected to resume quickly.

Police in Sunamganj arrested six individuals from a gambling den in Shomadnagar village under Rangarchar Union early Friday morning. The raid was conducted around 4 a.m. by officers from the Sunamganj Sadar Model Police Station following a tip-off. The suspects were reportedly caught playing cards at the one-story brick house of Jamal Mia in the village.

According to police sources, the detainees include residents from Shomadnagar, Bongao, and Rampur villages. The arrested individuals were identified as Jamal Mia, Shamsul Haque, Mohammad Delwar Hossain, Md. Yasin, Shah Alam, and Rahim Ali. Police said preparations are underway to file a case against them under the gambling law.

The operation highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts in Sunamganj to curb illegal gambling activities in local communities.

Police in Noakhali’s Begumganj upazila arrested two armed suspects with a foreign-made pistol and two rounds of ammunition. The arrests took place around 1:05 a.m. on Friday night at Kanchihata Sardar Dighi Par Mor in Amanullapur Union. The operation was confirmed on Saturday afternoon by Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Abu Tayeb Md. Arif Hossain.

The detainees were identified as Forhad Islam Fahim, 20, and Tajul Islam Suman, 34, both residents of Amanullapur Union’s Ward No. 1. Police said the Begumganj team was on patrol for warrant execution and recovery of illegal arms and drugs when they spotted three suspicious men near a tea stall. Two were caught after a chase, and one escaped. A pistol and two live cartridges were recovered from Fahim’s possession.

Begumganj police confirmed that a case under the Arms Act has been filed against the two detainees and their absconding accomplice. The arrested men were sent to court on Saturday afternoon.

A sudden shortage of petrol has been reported across multiple filling stations in Rangpur Division, where customers claim a syndicate is deliberately withholding fuel to create an artificial crisis. Despite government instructions on fuel distribution limits, petrol has become unavailable at most pumps, forcing consumers to buy octane instead. In response, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the district administration launched joint drives, fining and warning pump owners for non-compliance.

On Saturday, long queues formed at petrol stations as motorcyclists and car owners struggled to refuel. Several customers accused pump owners of hoarding petrol to manipulate prices, while some station managers argued that supply disruptions were due to depot closures on Friday and Saturday. However, mobile courts found evidence of petrol being withheld despite available stock.

The mobile court fined the Shapla Uniq Petrol Pump Tk 10,000 and the City Petrol Pump Tk 20,000 for creating artificial shortages. Officials confirmed that sufficient fuel supply exists and urged the public not to panic or buy excessively. The inspection drives will continue across all pumps in Rangpur.

Foreign oil companies have begun withdrawing their employees from Iraq’s oil fields, according to footage obtained by Reuters showing workers crossing the Safwan border into Kuwait. A security guard from the US oil company Halliburton, Mohammad Ta’meh, told Reuters that foreign staff left Iraq due to the deteriorating security situation and will decide their next steps from Kuwait.

Another US oil producer, HKN Energy, halted oil production on Friday after reports of attacks by terrorist groups. The withdrawals and production halt come as oil fields across the region have become targets during a week-long conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The developments highlight the growing instability in Iraq’s energy sector and the potential disruption to regional oil operations as security threats intensify.

A mobile court in Singra upazila of Natore fined a trader named Md. Rubel for illegally hoarding 10,000 liters of fuel to create an artificial shortage. The operation was conducted on Saturday afternoon in the Ningoin area of Singra municipality, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Abdullah Al Rifat. The court imposed a fine of Tk 5,000 on Rubel, owner of Satata Traders, after discovering the fuel stored underground in a water tank.

In separate drives at Sherkol and Hatianandah markets, District Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan Dipu fined three other traders Tk 8,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act. Local authorities stated that some dishonest traders were attempting to manipulate the market by creating a false fuel crisis.

Officials confirmed that similar operations would continue to prevent artificial shortages and protect consumers from unfair pricing practices.

Bangladesh’s macroeconomic stability is under significant pressure, according to Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). Speaking on Saturday at a shadow parliament debate titled “Economic Stability to Meet Public Expectations” held at the FDC auditorium in Dhaka, she said the economy is at a stage that requires transformation. The event was organized by Debate for Democracy and chaired by its chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron.

Dr. Khatun highlighted multiple challenges including high inflation, limited fiscal space, stagnation in private investment, monetary risks, heavy debt burden, energy sector stress, political uncertainty, and both domestic and global pressures. She emphasized that macroeconomic discipline is essential to restore stability. The newly elected government, she noted, faces major tasks such as restoring stability, strengthening governance, rebuilding investor confidence, and creating employment.

She added that the government has outlined goals to reshape the economy, aiming for a one-trillion-dollar size by 2034, increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio, boosting investment, and expanding social protection through family and farmer cards. She stressed the need for coordinated monetary and fiscal policies to control demand pressures and stabilize inflation expectations.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified surveillance along the Sunamganj border to curb illegal fuel smuggling amid global instability and fluctuating international fuel prices. Starting Friday morning, March 6, additional checkpoints, special patrols, and intelligence monitoring were deployed across several border areas. Inspections of suspected vehicles have also been reinforced to detect and prevent smuggling activities.

According to BGB, heightened vigilance has been placed at three land customs (LC) points under the Sunamganj battalion’s jurisdiction. The measures aim to stop trucks carrying stones and coal from illegally transporting fuel on their return trips. The commander of the 28 BGB Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A K M Zakaria Kadir, stated that the force will continue its operations to prevent fuel smuggling and other unlawful activities along the border.

The strengthened monitoring reflects BGB’s ongoing efforts to maintain border security and ensure compliance with trade and fuel regulations in the region.

Four people were arrested by Kalabagan police at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka on Saturday morning during a procession marking the March 7 observance. The group of about 30 to 40 people had started their march from Dhanmondi 27 and were heading toward Dhanmondi 32 to place flowers when police intervened. The procession dispersed following the police obstruction.

According to Kalabagan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Fazle Ashiq, the four detainees—three women and one man—were taken into custody under the Anti-Terrorism Act and later sent to court. The arrests occurred as the group carried flowers during their procession to the historic site.

The report did not include further details about the identities of the detainees or the specific reasons for applying the Anti-Terrorism Act in this case.

The 59th Battalion of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has launched strict fuel inspections on India-bound trucks at the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj. The initiative began on Saturday amid global fuel instability caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East. BGB teams are measuring fuel levels in trucks entering from India and rechecking them when the vehicles return after unloading goods to ensure no excess fuel is taken back.

Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria, commanding officer of the 59 BGB Battalion, stated that the operation aims to prevent any smuggling of Bangladeshi fuel into India. He said the double-checking system will discourage smugglers and help protect national resources. The BGB official added that the inspection campaign will continue regularly in the public interest.

The move reflects Bangladesh’s broader efforts to safeguard domestic energy security and curb illegal fuel outflow during a period of international market volatility.