The new government of Bangladesh has launched a nationwide anti-drug campaign following directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir stated that the Prime Minister’s instruction is clear: there will be no drugs in society. The police have already begun implementing this directive through special operations across the country. The initiative aims to make Bangladesh drug-free, addressing a growing social concern that has alarmed parents and communities.

A recent survey by Bangladesh Medical University, supported by the Department of Narcotics Control, found that 8.2 million people—4.88 percent of the population—are addicted to drugs, with 92 percent aged between 8 and 25. Cannabis, yaba, and phensedyl are the most commonly used substances, while ice, LSD, and cocaine are spreading among affluent groups. The report identified 29 border districts as high-risk entry points, with drugs entering mainly from Myanmar and India.

The government’s strategy includes law enforcement operations, community awareness, and youth engagement through education, sports, and employment programs. Local leaders and citizens are urged to form committees to support the campaign and help identify drug hotspots.

Serious allegations have surfaced over the use of substandard bricks and sand in a Tk 3.73 crore road construction project in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria. The project, under the Local Government Engineering Department’s (LGED) rural development initiative for Comilla, Chandpur, and Brahmanbaria districts, covers a 1,500-meter stretch from Guniouk Union Parishad to Bengauta. The contractor, E Smart Construction Ltd, owned by Khairul Hasan, is accused of ignoring instructions to use quality materials, prompting anger among local residents.

Locals claim the work, initially slow, suddenly accelerated to conceal irregularities. On-site observations confirmed workers using low-quality bricks and sand for the guide wall. Representatives of the contractor admitted using the materials supplied by the owner. The supervising officer, Arif Hossain, promised to prevent such practices in the future. Upazila Engineer Aminul Islam Mridha said repeated warnings failed to stop the use of poor materials, while District Executive Engineer Ibrahim Khalil assured that necessary action would be taken after consulting the upazila engineer.

The incident has raised concerns about oversight and accountability in rural infrastructure projects under LGED.

Authorities in Jamalpur recovered 1,444 liters of edible oil belonging to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) from an abandoned warehouse once owned by a local Awami League leader. The operation was carried out on Sunday evening at Bagherhata Bottola area by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and law enforcement agencies. The oil, stored in 722 bottles of two liters each, was found buried under bricks inside the warehouse of the late Jahurul Islam Monsur, a former joint general secretary of the district Awami League.

According to officials, the oil had been illegally stockpiled to create an artificial shortage in the market. Two individuals, Shahin and Swadhin Babu, were detained for questioning in connection with the incident. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) stated that an investigation is underway to identify all those involved, and legal action will follow once the inquiry is complete.

The discovery has caused widespread public concern in the area, with local residents demanding swift and strict action against those responsible.

Police in Dhaka have disclosed horrifying details of a murder following the recovery of dismembered body parts from different parts of the city. According to officials, the victim, identified as Obaidullah from Shibpur in Narsingdi, was allegedly killed by his roommate, Shahin, on the night of February 27. The killing reportedly stemmed from long-standing resentment over household chores and repeated arguments. After the murder, Shahin allegedly cut the body into seven pieces and disposed of them across several locations, including Paltan, the stadium area, and Kamalapur.

At a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road, Motijheel Division Deputy Commissioner Harun-or-Rashid said police identified the victim through fingerprint analysis after finding two severed hands near the stadium. Investigators later recovered other body parts from various sites and continued searching for the remaining pieces. Police stated that Shahin confessed to the crime during interrogation, describing how disputes over cigarettes, food, and loud phone conversations escalated into violence.

Authorities are continuing operations to locate the remaining body parts and complete the investigation.

Police from Kotwali Model Station in Sylhet arrested seven members of an alleged mugging gang during a raid in the city on Sunday, March 1. The operation took place inside a drain near Rongmahal Tower in the Bandar Bazar area, where officers also recovered locally made sharp weapons used in the crimes.

According to Sylhet Metropolitan Police, the detainees had been involved in multiple mugging incidents across different parts of the city. Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement conducted the targeted operation and seized four sharp knives from the suspects. The arrested individuals are from various areas of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Sunamganj districts.

A case has been filed at Kotwali Model Police Station in connection with the incident, and police stated that the detainees will be presented before the court.

Residents of Fatullah in Narayanganj have temporarily stopped construction work on the Mukterpur-Panchabati flyover, alleging the use of substandard materials. The suspension began on Friday morning at the Kashipur section, where locals accused the contractor of using ordinary concrete instead of RCC and low-quality bricks. They demanded that authorities inspect the site before work resumes, citing concerns of irregularities and corruption in the mega project.

According to residents, poor-quality materials were being used in several parts of the flyover from the Samrat Cinema area to the Kashipur Union Parishad. They claimed that despite informing officials, no one had visited the site. Project Director Wahiduzzaman confirmed that evidence of substandard materials had been found and that the contractor had been asked for an explanation.

The Mukterpur-Panchabati six-lane highway project spans about 10.37 kilometers, including 9.6 kilometers of elevated expressway. Initially budgeted at Tk 2,659 crore, the cost was later raised to about Tk 3,300 crore, with completion extended to June 2026. Two Chinese firms are implementing the project.

Iran has shut down the strategic Hormuz Strait following joint attacks by the United States and Israel, disrupting a key global maritime route for energy transport. The closure has already slowed international sea trade and raised concerns of an impending energy crisis in Bangladesh, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern countries for crude oil, refined fuel, LPG, and LNG imports. Officials warn that prolonged conflict in the region could severely impact Bangladesh’s energy supply chain and increase import costs.

According to shipping and energy officials, around 15 vessels carrying fuel and gas for Bangladesh pass through the Hormuz Strait each month. Although Bangladesh’s refined fuel imports do not directly use the route, the countries supplying them depend on crude oil shipments through it. The closure is expected to raise freight costs and delay shipments, affecting both energy and trade sectors. Industry leaders have urged energy conservation and increased reserves to mitigate potential shortages.

Experts caution that if the Middle East conflict continues, Bangladesh’s limited 25–26-day fuel storage capacity could lead to severe disruptions. They recommend expanding reserves and promoting public austerity to withstand the crisis.

Construction of crop protection embankments in the haor areas of Sunamganj has not been completed within the scheduled timeframe, raising concerns among farmers about potential crop losses. According to regulations, the work was to be finished between December 15 and February 28, but only 78 percent was reportedly completed by the deadline. The Water Development Board (WDB) extended the deadline by 15 days, though field visits revealed slower progress and incomplete sections in several upazilas.

Officials and locals cited poor coordination between the WDB and local administration, delays in forming and approving project committees, and payment complications as reasons for the delay. Allegations also surfaced of project approvals without public hearings, excessive allocations for low-risk embankments, and spending on unnecessary projects. In Tahirpur’s Matian Haor, key embankments remain unfinished, with farmers warning that early floods could submerge vast croplands.

Local organizations, including Haor Bachao Andolon and environmental groups, accused authorities of irregularities and corruption. The WDB attributed the delay partly to election-related disruptions but assured that work would be completed within the extended period.

The death toll from Saturday’s attack on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, has risen to 153, according to a spokesperson for the country’s Ministry of Education, as reported by the judiciary-approved Mizan News Agency. Earlier, the Minab prosecutor had confirmed 95 deaths from the same incident.

The attack took place at Shajareh Tayebeh Girls’ School in Minab, located in Iran’s Hormozgan province. According to the Hormozgan governor’s office, 170 students were enrolled in the school’s morning shift, raising fears that the number of casualties could increase further. No additional details about the nature of the attack or those responsible were provided in the report.

Authorities have not yet released further information about the investigation or possible motives behind the attack, leaving uncertainty about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

State Minister for Industries, Commerce, and Jute and Textiles Md. Shariful Alam said the government is prepared to handle any potential impact from the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. Speaking to journalists after visiting Boro Bazar in Kishoreganj on Sunday afternoon, he noted that while the global energy-dependent market may face some effects, the government remains alert. He added that although prices of some goods rose at the start of Ramadan, the market situation is now stable.

The minister said market monitoring has been strengthened nationwide to ensure price stability and protect consumers’ purchasing power. He emphasized that measures are being taken to prevent unjustified price hikes. Teams from the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) are conducting regular monitoring and enforcement drives.

During his visit, the minister interacted with traders and buyers, reviewed the overall market situation, and later inspected TCB’s mobile truck sales operations. He also attended meetings with local officials and journalists and joined an iftar with orphans at a local madrasa.

Global oil prices jumped sharply following US and Israeli attacks in Iran, which have pushed the Middle East into renewed conflict. According to Reuters, Brent crude rose nearly 10 percent in over-the-counter trading on Sunday, reaching around 80 dollars per barrel. Analysts warned that if the current instability continues, crude prices could hit 100 dollars per barrel by Monday.

Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS, told Reuters that any military strike tends to drive oil prices higher, but the key concern now is the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The strait handles about 15 to 20 percent of the world’s total oil, condensate, and petroleum products, and over 30 percent of liquefied natural gas shipments.

Parmar added that if the Strait of Hormuz faces prolonged disruption, oil prices could rise beyond 100 dollars per barrel. The majority of oil transported through the strait goes to Asia, with the rest to Europe, including about 24 percent of China’s total LNG imports.

Large numbers of dead fish have been floating in the Shitalakkhya River in Narsingdi for several days, alarming local residents and fishermen. Although some initially collected the dead fish, many now fear the river could soon become devoid of aquatic life. The deaths have been recurring annually around this time, coinciding with reduced water levels and increased pollution.

According to local sources, toxic liquid waste and chemicals from nearby factories in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka and Gazipur districts are contaminating the river through connecting waterways. The pollution has turned the water black and foul-smelling, severely threatening biodiversity and destroying native fish species. Environmental activists have tried to raise awareness, but authorities have yet to take strong enforcement measures to stop factories from dumping untreated waste.

Officials from the Department of Environment in Narsingdi said they will send letters to inspect factories in Kaliganj and Kapasia upazilas of Gazipur after reports linked their chemical discharge to the fish deaths. Environmental groups warn that without urgent action, aquatic life in the Shitalakkhya may not survive future pollution cycles.

Bangladesh’s Jamuna River in Bogura is facing a severe navigability crisis during the dry season, reportedly due to India’s upstream water control. Local sources said eight river routes have already closed, disrupting transport and causing major hardship for residents. Sandbars have emerged across the river, and ferry operators report that even small boats are struggling to move. Around 200,000 people in 141 riverine villages are suffering from the loss of waterway connectivity.

Officials from the Water Development Board said the Jamuna’s average depth has dropped from about 9.5 meters to around 2 meters, mainly because of dam construction in India and China. The river’s Bangladesh section covers 220 kilometers of its 4,000-kilometer length. Local residents described losing homes and farmland to erosion and facing unemployment during the dry months.

Authorities acknowledged that while dredging has been planned for the Bangali River, no government project currently exists for the Jamuna. Engineers warned that continued upstream damming could turn the region into a desert unless natural water flow is restored.

Bangladesh’s Jamuna River in the Bogura region is facing severe navigability problems due to reduced water flow from India. Local sources report that eight river routes have already been closed this dry season, disrupting transport and increasing hardship for residents. Sandbars have emerged across the river, making navigation nearly impossible and isolating communities dependent on river transport.

Officials from the Water Development Board said the Jamuna’s average depth has dropped from about 9.5 meters to around 2 meters, largely due to dam construction in upstream countries including India and China. The river’s Bangladesh section spans 220 kilometers of its total 4,000-kilometer length. Local boatmen and leaseholders said even small boats now struggle to move, affecting livelihoods in 141 riverine villages with over 200,000 people.

Authorities acknowledged the crisis, noting that while the Bangali River is under a dredging program, no such project exists for the Jamuna. Engineers warned that continued upstream water control could turn the region into a desert-like area unless natural water flow is restored.

A journalist was assaulted during an iftar event organized by the Gana Odhikar Parishad in Dashmina, Patuakhali, on Saturday evening. The incident occurred at the Dashmina Government Model Secondary School field shortly after the iftar, in the presence of the party’s president and State Minister Nurul Haque Nur. According to reports, members of the party’s student and youth wings attacked Safayet Hossain, the local correspondent of the Daily Manabzamin, after he filmed a commotion over the distribution of iftar items.

The event was held to welcome Nurul Haque Nur on his first visit to Dashmina after assuming his ministerial role in the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Following the assault, local BNP activists rescued the injured journalist and took him to the Dashmina Upazila Health Complex, where doctors admitted him for treatment.

Nurul Haque Nur said he heard about the disorder during food distribution but was unaware of any attack on a journalist. Dashmina Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hasnain Parvez stated that police were sent to the hospital and an investigation would be conducted.