Production at two major fertilizer factories in Chattogram—Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO)—was temporarily halted from 3 p.m. Wednesday following a government directive due to an ongoing gas shortage. Authorities said the decision was made after gas pressure dropped to levels that made normal production impossible.

According to factory sources, CUFL typically produces around 1,100 to 1,200 metric tons of urea fertilizer daily, while KAFCO has a daily capacity of about 1,725 metric tons of urea and 1,500 metric tons of ammonia. With gas supply suspended, this large-scale production has been stopped. Officials explained that fertilizer production is entirely gas-dependent, and operating under low pressure could damage machinery, prompting the temporary shutdown for safety reasons.

Although the sudden halt has raised some concern about fertilizer supply, officials assured that production will resume quickly once gas supply stabilizes to ensure market availability.

A growing number of Bangladeshi citizens have been drawn into Russia’s war in Ukraine, often through deception and coercion. According to testimonies collected by BBC Bangla, young men were lured with promises of high-paying jobs or permanent residency, only to find themselves forced into combat after arriving in Russia. Some, like Mohon Miaji from Munshiganj, joined the Russian army believing they would work in non-combat roles but were sent to the front lines instead. Many have been killed, injured, or gone missing, leaving families in Bangladesh without information or support.

Investigations revealed that trafficking networks, including Bangladeshi and Indian intermediaries, transported recruits via Middle Eastern countries before taking them to Russia. Victims reported being forced to sign Russian-language contracts they could not read, effectively binding them to military service. The networks allegedly confiscated passports, withheld salaries, and extorted additional payments by promising to move soldiers to safer zones. Families of victims described severe emotional and financial distress, with some losing their only breadwinners.

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry confirmed that several nationals remain active in the conflict, with many unaccounted for or permanently disabled.

Residents of Uttar Manipur village in Gharamora Union, Homna upazila of Cumilla, staged protests demanding the arrest of those responsible for the brutal killing of a mother and two children. Sixteen days have passed since the February 16–17 night when unidentified assailants entered the home of expatriate Zahidul Islam and slit the throats of his wife Papia Akter Sukhi, their four-year-old son Hossain, and five-year-old nephew Zubair. Police recovered the bodies from three separate rooms and completed autopsies, but no arrests have been made.

The killings have sparked fear and anger in the community. On Wednesday, locals held a human chain, protest march, and rally at Uttar Manipur Bazaar, chanting for justice and demanding exemplary punishment for the killers. Speakers, including family members and local figures, condemned the crime and urged authorities to identify and arrest the perpetrators quickly.

Homna police said multiple teams from PBI, DB, CID, and RAB are investigating but have yet to find clues or suspects. The lack of progress has deepened frustration among residents and the victims’ families.

Former president of the Rupsha Upazila unit of the Labor Party and ex-president of the Rupsha–Bagerhat Inter-District Road Transport Workers Union, Masum Billah, was shot and hacked to death by assailants in Khulna on the night of March 4. The attack occurred around 9 p.m. in front of a shoe showroom at Dakbangla intersection. Locals rushed him to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police arrested one suspect, Ashok Ghosh, at the scene and recovered a foreign pistol and ammunition.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, six to seven attackers carried out the killing as a contract operation. Deputy Police Commissioner (South) Tajul Islam said the group had divided payment among themselves before the attack. The detained suspect confirmed that seven people were involved, armed with firearms and sharp weapons. Police believe the killing was financially motivated.

Investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the remaining suspects involved in the planned murder.

Energy economist Ed Hirs has warned that global oil prices could soar to 150 dollars per barrel due to ongoing military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran. Speaking to Al Jazeera, the University of Houston lecturer said that if even half of the oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, prices could reach that level. He cautioned that such a scenario could occur if the US Navy fails to ensure the safety of tankers navigating the strait.

Hirs noted that the impact is already visible in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, where prices rose by more than 40 percent on the first day of the attacks. Between Monday and Tuesday, natural gas prices in several European countries nearly doubled. Diesel prices have also increased sharply, prompting gas-dependent nations to stockpile petroleum, which is affecting future energy orders in some US states.

He further warned that the New England region of the United States could face significant challenges, potentially increasing domestic pressure on the Donald Trump administration ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The closure of the Hormuz Strait following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran has triggered global concerns over energy supply disruptions. The strait, a key route for global oil transport, has been shut down for strategic reasons, leaving at least 700 oil tankers stranded in Middle Eastern ports. Among them is a vessel carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil for Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s Eastern Refinery, which remains stuck at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port. Another shipment scheduled from the UAE on March 22 is also at risk of delay, raising fears of a raw material shortage at Bangladesh’s only state-owned refinery.

Eastern Refinery officials warned that if crude oil shipments fail to depart within the next week, production could halt, intensifying pressure on Bangladesh’s fuel market. Energy experts have urged immediate exploration of alternative routes and suppliers, suggesting Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Port and refined oil imports from Singapore, Malaysia, China, or Indonesia. Current reserves can sustain operations for about a month, but prolonged disruption could severely impact national energy security.

Fuel prices have already surged globally, with diesel rising from USD 85 to 118 per barrel within days, reflecting the mounting crisis.

Bangladesh’s economy is under severe strain due to declining investment, employment shortages, revenue deficits, and falling export earnings. The situation has worsened following a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran that triggered regional conflict, driving up global oil and LNG prices and threatening supply chains. Iran’s retaliatory strikes on neighboring Gulf countries have further destabilized the Middle East, raising fears of a deep economic crisis in Bangladesh if the conflict continues.

Analysts note that Bangladesh is almost entirely dependent on imported crude oil and LNG, mainly from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and production halts in Qatar have disrupted supply routes, pushing prices higher. Experts recommend austerity measures, prioritizing essential spending, and exploring alternative energy sources such as Malaysia and Brunei. They also urge short- and medium-term plans to ensure energy and food security.

The conflict threatens remittance inflows from the Middle East, where about one million Bangladeshi workers are employed, and could disrupt garment exports to Europe due to shipping route blockages. Analysts warn that prolonged instability may severely impact reserves, trade balance, and currency stability.

The Ministry of Social Welfare has finalized the 'Family Card Piloting Implementation Guideline-2026', which will be officially launched by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman on March 10 at the Karail slum in Dhaka. The program was initially planned for Bogura but was shifted due to the upcoming by-election in Bogura-6. The finalized policy excludes families with government pensioners, car or air-conditioner owners, government employees, and large business owners from eligibility.

According to the guideline, priority will be given to landless and homeless families, households with disabled members, and marginalized groups such as hijra, bede, and ethnic minorities. Eligible women beneficiaries will receive funds directly into their mobile wallets or bank accounts. The existing TCB card will be integrated into a dynamic social registry, enabling access to food aid and future benefits like education stipends and agricultural subsidies.

The pilot project will cover 13 diverse areas with a budget of 21.1 million taka, aiming to reach 6,500 poor families initially and expand to 20 million families. The long-term goal is to transform the Family Card into a universal social ID card by 2030.

Fourteen fishermen abducted nearly three weeks ago in the Sundarbans have been released after paying ransoms ranging from 70,000 to 80,000 taka each. They returned to their respective fishing islands on March 3. The freed fishermen worked under four fish traders from Narikelbaria and Shelar Char. However, twelve fishermen belonging to two other traders, Rafiqul and Khalek of Alorkol, remain captive.

The abductions occurred on February 12 and 16, when two separate pirate groups led by Karim Sharif and by Jahangir and Suman attacked fishing trawlers in the eastern Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal. According to an audio message from fish trader Arif Hossain Mithu, the bandits released fourteen fishermen after receiving ransom payments but continue to hold twelve others.

Forest Ranger Milton Roy stated that the pirates have threatened to launch further abductions if their extortion demands are not met. Despite ongoing joint operations led by the Coast Guard to eliminate piracy in the Sundarbans, the Sharankhola Range remains largely unaffected, prompting calls for immediate action in the area.

A European Union official stated on Wednesday that the ongoing war involving Iran has not disrupted Europe's oil supply. Despite the conflict, the official noted that oil continues to flow normally to EU member states. However, the rising price of oil remains a major concern for the bloc, as it could affect economic stability if the trend continues.

According to Reuters, the official added that EU member states are not planning any immediate measures in response to the current oil market situation. The statement comes amid reports of nearly 200 tankers stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and other regional tensions including a Hezbollah attack on Israel Aerospace Industries’ headquarters.

The EU’s position suggests a cautious approach, focusing on monitoring market developments rather than taking emergency action at this stage.

A man named Babu Sheikh, aged 50, has confessed to attempting to kill seven-year-old Jannatul Naima Ira by slitting her throat in Sitakunda, Chattogram. He gave his statement under Section 164 before Chattogram Court-1 on Wednesday afternoon, confirmed the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Kamruzzaman. The incident, which occurred on Monday at Chandranath Hill, sparked widespread discussion across the country.

Investigators said Babu Sheikh lured Ira with food and took her to a remote spot about 1,250 feet up the hill, where he tortured her and attempted to kill her by slitting her throat. The child fought for her life for two days before dying on Tuesday. A video circulated that day showed the accused walking with Ira toward the hill, leading police to arrest him that night.

District Police Superintendent Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan stated that the incident likely stemmed from a family dispute. Police recovered chocolates, a blood-stained dress, and the knife used in the attack. Authorities are investigating whether others were involved.

Israel’s Ministry of Finance reported that the country could face economic losses of about $3 billion per week due to the ongoing war with Iran. The ministry stated on Wednesday that restrictions under the Home Front Command’s ‘red’ alert have limited workplace attendance, closed schools, and mobilized reserve forces, leading to an estimated weekly loss of 9.4 billion shekels starting next week.

The conflict intensified after a joint U.S.-Israel strike in Iran last Saturday killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. In response, Tehran launched retaliatory attacks targeting U.S. bases and Israeli facilities across the Middle East, according to Reuters.

The ministry’s projection highlights the severe economic strain Israel faces as military operations and emergency restrictions disrupt normal economic activity.

QatarEnergy, the world’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has declared force majeure for its affected buyers after halting LNG and related product output. The company announced on Monday that production at its facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City was suspended due to military attacks on those sites.

According to QatarEnergy, the force majeure declaration releases it from liability for failing to meet supply obligations caused by events beyond its control. The announcement immediately triggered a sharp reaction in global energy markets, with benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices rising by about 50 percent, and benchmark Asian LNG prices increasing by roughly 39 percent.

Given Qatar’s central role in global LNG supply, the production shutdown has had a significant impact on international energy markets, intensifying concerns over supply stability and price volatility.

City Bank PLC, one of Bangladesh’s leading sustainable banks, has signed the United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), becoming a member of the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). The announcement was made on March 4, 2026. Through this move, City Bank aims to align its operations with global standards for sustainable finance and responsible banking practices.

The PRB, developed by UNEP FI in collaboration with banks worldwide, provides a global framework for aligning banking strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Established in 1992, UNEP FI connects financial institutions with the United Nations to advance sustainable finance, currently working with over 550 banks and insurers globally.

As a PRB signatory, City Bank will integrate responsible banking principles into its business strategy, risk management, and decision-making processes. The bank will assess and disclose its environmental and social impacts, set measurable targets in key areas, and enhance transparency and accountability in line with international practices.

More than 4 million taxpayers have submitted online income tax returns for the 2025–26 fiscal year in Bangladesh, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Of them, 2.2 million, or about 55 percent, filed zero returns, declaring income below the taxable threshold. Among these, 1.44 million are male and 765,197 are female taxpayers. The NBR noted that while income up to 350,000 taka is tax-free for general taxpayers, the limit is higher for women, senior citizens, third gender individuals, and persons with disabilities.

Despite being below the taxable limit, many taxpayers are required to file returns to access 24 types of services. The NBR warned that some individuals intentionally underreport income to file zero returns and may face legal action. Historically, up to 70 percent of returns were zero, indicating a decline this year. The NBR also provided detailed breakdowns of income ranges and surcharge payments.

Online e-filing has been made mandatory this fiscal year, except for elderly, disabled, expatriate, and certain other taxpayers. The filing deadline, extended for the fourth time, is now set for March 31, 2026.