An inspector of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) was shot during an anti-drug operation at Syedabad Bus Terminal under Jatrabari Police Station in Dhaka on Monday, March 2, 2026. The injured officer, identified as Siddiqur Rahman, 40, was struck in the left leg when suspected drug dealers opened fire after detecting the presence of a DNC special team from the Khilgaon region. He was immediately taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors confirmed he is out of danger but preparing for surgery to remove the bullet.

Following the incident, a tense atmosphere prevailed in Syedabad and nearby areas. Police from Jatrabari Station and additional DNC forces launched a combing operation to apprehend the attackers. Eyewitnesses reported panic among commuters as gunfire erupted in the crowded terminal.

A senior DNC official reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on drugs and vowed legal action against those responsible, stating that the suspects have been identified and the operation to arrest them is ongoing.

Three members of a fraud ring arrested in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, were presented before the Amli Gobindaganj (Chowki) Court on March 1, 2026, following a police case. The accused were identified as Didarul Mia, 21, Liton Akand, 26, and Moktar Ali, 19. Police confirmed the arrests under FIR No. 32 dated July 22, 2025, and GR Case No. 331. The arrests followed a special operation led by Second Officer Mir Kayes in Taluk Rahimapur area of Darbast Union.

During the operation, police and joint forces detained two suspects while others fled. A search of the house led to the seizure of one smartphone, three button phones, and a white Tenda router. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects impersonated government officials to defraud citizens of social allowance funds through mobile payment services.

Police stated that the investigation is ongoing and requested that the accused remain in custody until its completion. The case is being overseen by Gobindaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haque.

Bangladesh Railway will start selling advance train tickets for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr from Tuesday, March 3. On the first day, tickets for March 13 journeys will be available. According to the railway schedule, tickets for March 14 to 19 will be released sequentially from March 4 to March 9.

All tickets for Eid travel will be sold exclusively online this year. To make the ticket purchase process easier for passengers, Bangladesh Railway has decided that tickets for intercity trains operating in the western region will be available from 8 a.m., while tickets for trains in the eastern region will go on sale from 2 p.m.

The decision aims to streamline the ticketing process and manage the high demand for train travel during the Eid holiday period.

An allegation has surfaced in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur district that a man named Billal Hossain, identifying himself as a youth leader, has occupied a government canal and is constructing a permanent building. The incident occurred in Brahmpara village of Kanchanpur Union, where Billal, a tea seller, has reportedly been continuing the construction for about a month along the Ramganj-Hajiganj road at Katakhali without any official intervention.

Local residents said Billal has been using his claimed political identity to exert influence and continue the work. In response, Billal stated that many influential people have already occupied government canals and built structures, and he is doing the same on Water Development Board property. He added that some people visited the site but did not ask him to stop the work.

Ramganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farashid Bin Enam confirmed receiving reports about the illegal occupation at Katakhali and said that legal action will be taken soon.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdur Muktadir has expressed commitment to further strengthen and expand bilateral trade relations with India. He made the remarks on Monday, March 2, after a courtesy meeting with the Indian High Commissioner at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The Indian envoy also emphasized India’s interest in deepening ties with Bangladesh’s new government and enhancing people-to-people connections.

During the meeting, both sides discussed mutual cooperation in digital infrastructure and technology exchange to boost the existing trade volume of around 11 billion dollars, including 9.5 billion in imports and 1.5 billion in exports. They also focused on reopening closed border haats and improving land border infrastructure. India showed interest in using the newly built land port at Sabroom, while discussions were held on making operations at Benapole and other ports more efficient.

The minister added that Bangladesh has applied to the United Nations to extend its LDC graduation timeline and that the process is ongoing. He also noted that while there are concerns about possible disruptions in the Hormuz Strait, there is currently no threat to essential imports or fuel supplies.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has announced that MPO-listed teachers will receive their festival allowance ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr 2026. In a notice signed by Professor B M Abdul Hannan, the acting Director General of DSHE, all educational institutions were instructed to submit their festival allowance bills by March 4.

The directive, issued on March 2, aims to ensure timely disbursement of the Eid bonus for teachers under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme. The DSHE emphasized that heads of institutions must comply with the submission deadline to facilitate smooth processing of the payments.

This announcement brings relief to thousands of MPO-affiliated teachers who were awaiting confirmation of their Eid bonus payments.

Bangladesh’s export earnings declined by 12 percent in February, according to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Monday. The fall contributed to a 3.15 percent drop in total export income during the first eight months of the 2025–26 fiscal year compared with the same period last year. Total exports from July to February stood at 31.91 billion US dollars, down from 32.92 billion dollars a year earlier.

EPB attributed the overall decline to disruptions in port operations, the national election, and reduced demand in major global markets. The ready-made garment sector, which remains the country’s largest export earner, brought in 25.8 billion dollars during the period, marking a 3.73 percent decrease year-on-year. Within this sector, knitwear products continued to outperform woven garments.

Despite the overall downturn, several sectors including leather and leather goods, jute and jute products, home textiles, light engineering, and frozen fish recorded positive year-on-year growth. The United States remained Bangladesh’s largest export destination, with shipments totaling 5.87 billion dollars, up 0.74 percent, while exports to China rose by 19.12 percent.

Chevron has temporarily suspended production at Israel’s Leviathan gas field following joint U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliation. The Israeli Ministry of Energy ordered the shutdown as a precautionary measure, according to Al Jazeera. The Leviathan field, located in the Mediterranean Sea, is one of Israel’s largest natural gas sites.

The report states that expansion work was underway to raise the field’s annual production capacity to about 21 billion cubic meters as part of a $35 billion export agreement with Egypt. Chevron, the U.S. energy company operating the site, confirmed that its facilities at both Leviathan and the nearby Tamar gas field remain secure.

No further details were provided on the specific reasons for the temporary suspension or when production might resume.

A suspected robber was killed and seven others were injured in a mob beating early Saturday in Palashi village under Puthia upazila of Rajshahi. According to police, the group of eight allegedly entered the village in a truck carrying lock-cutting tools and local weapons, apparently preparing for a robbery. Villagers, suspecting their intent, detained them and beat them before setting fire to their pickup van. The injured were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where one was declared dead.

Rajshahi Superintendent of Police Mohammad Naimul Hasan confirmed the incident, stating that the group had entered the village at dawn with tools and weapons. He said a case would be filed soon and that the injured suspects would be shown arrested once their condition improves.

The police have begun an investigation into the incident, focusing on the circumstances of the mob attack and the alleged robbery attempt.

Three individuals, including Shamim Hossain, general secretary of the Mongla Government College unit of the student organization Chhatra Dal, were arrested in Mongla, Bagerhat, on March 1 under the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025. The arrests were made by the Jessore Detective Branch (DB) police during separate operations in the Port Municipality area based on secret information. The detainees were identified as Shamim Hossain (26), Rubel Hawlader (24), and Shahadat Gazi (30), all residents of the municipality.

Authorities reported finding evidence on their mobile phones linking them to online scam and gambling platforms. The suspects allegedly used SIM cards registered under different national identity numbers while operating the scam. Police have begun legal proceedings and are examining seized devices for further evidence.

Bagerhat district DB officials stated that strict measures against online fraud and cybercrime will continue. Local residents expressed concern that such illegal activities could harm the community’s social and economic stability.

Gold prices in Bangladesh have reached a new record after the Bangladesh Jewellers Samity (Bajus) announced another increase. According to a Bajus notice issued on Monday, March 2, 2026, the price of 22-carat gold rose by up to Tk 5,424 per bhori, bringing the new rate to over Tk 274,000. The revised prices took effect from 10:30 a.m. the same day.

The notice also detailed updated rates for other categories: 21-carat gold is now priced at Tk 261,682 per bhori, 18-carat at Tk 224,299, and traditional gold at Tk 183,533. Alongside gold, silver prices have also been raised. The new price for 22-carat silver is Tk 7,173 per bhori, while 21-carat, 18-carat, and traditional silver are priced at Tk 6,682, Tk 5,890, and Tk 4,432 respectively.

The latest adjustment reflects continued upward movement in the local precious metals market, with Bajus implementing the new rates nationwide from Monday morning.

Seven police officers, including a female constable, were injured in an attack in Nijmaona village of Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila on Sunday evening, March 1. The incident occurred when a team from Tangail Sadar Police Station, assisted by Sreepur police, attempted to arrest two suspects, Monir Hossain and his son Adil, wanted in a kidnapping case. As the suspects were being handcuffed and placed in a police vehicle, their relatives shouted that the officers were fake police and robbers, prompting locals to attack.

During the assault, the crowd tried to snatch the detainees from police custody. The injured officers received treatment at Sreepur Upazila Health Complex and were later released. Additional police from Sreepur arrived to control the situation and arrested four people, including the two suspects. Two women were detained in connection with the attack, and a case is being processed.

According to local police officials, the situation was brought under control after reinforcements arrived, and legal proceedings are underway regarding the assault and attempted rescue.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Mazid, former secretary and chairman of the National Board of Revenue, emphasized that zakat can play a vital role in implementing effective social safety programs in Bangladesh. Writing on March 2, 2026, he described social security as an essential component of a welfare state, aimed at supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. He noted that Islam introduced zakat to ensure equitable wealth distribution and reduce economic inequality, requiring wealthy Muslims to allocate a fixed portion of their assets to the poor.

The article explains that zakat, when properly collected and distributed, can alleviate hunger, poverty, and unemployment by providing basic needs to the underprivileged. It highlights that zakat covers various assets, including money, gold, livestock, and agricultural produce, and serves both moral and economic purposes. The author recalled that early Islamic governance treated zakat as a mandatory social obligation.

Dr. Mazid argued that current informal zakat practices fail to empower recipients, often turning them into dependents. He suggested that a government-led, institutionalized zakat collection and distribution system could significantly reduce national poverty levels.

Japan’s stock market suffered a sharp decline on Monday following military strikes by the United States and Israel in Iran, which reignited global economic concerns. According to AFP reports from Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index dropped 2.07 percent to 57,628.07 points in early trading, marking a significant setback at the start of the week.

Analysts attributed the fall to heightened tensions in the Middle East, which have created uncertainty and fear among investors. The resulting anxiety has spread across Asian markets, leading to widespread caution. Many investors have reportedly adopted a wait-and-see approach as they monitor the evolving situation.

The report noted that the sudden and steep decline reflects the sensitivity of regional markets to geopolitical developments, particularly those involving energy-producing regions like the Middle East.

Crude oil prices rose sharply on Monday following a US-Israel strike on Iran that disrupted supply and limited investor access to oil. Brent crude jumped about 13 percent in a single day, while the international benchmark increased nearly 5 percent. By midday in Tokyo, the price per barrel reached 76.48 dollars, according to Al Jazeera.

Asian stock markets opened lower as investors reacted to the oil price surge. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong fell around 1 percent, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped about 1.5 percent. In the United States, stock futures traded outside regular hours also showed significant losses, with both the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite down roughly 0.7 percent.

The developments suggested a volatile trading day ahead for global markets as energy costs spiked and geopolitical tensions heightened following the attack on Iran.