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.

ICT, Posts, Telecommunications, Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapon announced that the government will create employment opportunities for one million young people in the ICT sector. He made the statement on Saturday morning while inaugurating a road construction project in Madhupur, Tangail. The minister said the government, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, has been working from the first day to deliver development and services to people's doorsteps.

Swapon added that he aims to make Madhupur-Dhanbari a peaceful and safe area, free from extortion, terrorism, and illegal occupation, as part of his election pledges. He inaugurated the construction of a 700-meter road from Sathi Mor in Madhupur to ease long-standing public suffering in the town center. He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward crime and expressed his desire to earn public trust through welfare-oriented development.

Local administrative officials, political leaders, and freedom fighters were present at the event, reflecting cooperation between government and community representatives in implementing local development initiatives.

Advance ticket sales for long-distance buses ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr will begin on March 3. Passengers will be able to purchase tickets for travel between March 12 and the day before Eid. The decision was announced at a meeting of the Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association held in Gabtoli, Dhaka, and confirmed by the association’s secretary, Shubhankar Ghosh Rakesh.

Rakesh stated that tickets will be available both at physical counters and online from the morning of March 3. Passengers can select their preferred bus and seat through the designated website. He emphasized that fares must comply with the rates set by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), and the same rates will apply online. Every ticket counter will be required to display the BRTA-approved fare chart.

To prevent black-market ticket sales, CCTV cameras have been installed at various counters. Rakesh added that any irregularities detected will lead to legal and administrative action by both authorities and the owners’ association.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has criticized the government for taking what it called a weak step in appointing the new governor of Bangladesh Bank. At a media briefing held on Saturday at the CPD office in Dhanmondi, Research Director Khondaker Golam Moazzem said the appointment process lacked transparency and that the state had the opportunity to select a more acceptable candidate. He emphasized that a stronger and more credible procedure should have been followed for such an important position.

Moazzem noted that discussions and criticisms have emerged regarding the current governor’s links to loan defaults and special privileges, suggesting that alternative candidates could have been considered to avoid controversy. He also highlighted the need for a clear qualification framework and a formal vetting process for future appointments. CPD praised former governor Ahsan H. Mansur for his reform efforts despite challenges and suggested that retaining experienced leadership could have been beneficial.

The organization further recommended establishing a legal basis and specific criteria for future appointments, similar to India’s Reserve Bank selection process, and warned against loosening financial market regulations amid existing sectoral weaknesses.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will begin a 10-day special mosquito control 'crash program' from Sunday across its 10 regions. The initiative was announced by DSCC Administrator Md. Abdus Salam during an emergency meeting with health department officials at Nagar Bhaban Auditorium. He declared a 'zero tolerance' stance against negligence, failure, or corruption in mosquito control operations and said he would personally inspect the activities.

The meeting was called following a recent rise in mosquito infestation in DSCC areas. Officials emphasized ensuring the effectiveness of insecticides, following proper methods, and strengthening field-level monitoring. The health department was instructed to work in coordination with the waste management division and to raise public awareness. Mobile courts may be deployed if Aedes mosquito larvae are found.

Discussions also covered training for mosquito control workers and testing new, more effective insecticides. The administrator directed that strict legal action be taken against any public or private establishment that fails to act even after repeated warnings.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin Putul announced that the Family Card initiative aims to make families economically self-reliant. Speaking at Natore Circuit House on Saturday, February 28, 2026, she said the card will be issued in the name of the senior female member of each family, such as a mother or sister. The project is designed to be universal, with no specific target group, and will gradually include all families.

Sharmin explained that previous welfare cards, including widow, elderly, agricultural, and maternity allowances, faced corruption during distribution. To address this, the government plans to move toward an integrated system that consolidates all benefits into a single card. The Family Card will provide 2,500 taka per family, a higher amount than existing cards.

Initially, the program will prioritize extremely poor, poor, and lower-income families based on a proximity test and scoring system, with eventual expansion to middle- and upper-income groups.

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has formally accepted Bangladesh’s request to delay its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category by three years and has begun reviewing the proposal. The matter was discussed during the CDP’s five-day meeting in New York, and officials indicated that a final decision could take several weeks. Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the Enhanced Monitoring Mechanism subcommittee, confirmed receipt of the government’s letter but clarified that acceptance of the request does not mean approval, as the committee will first assess the justifications provided.

The Economic Relations Division sent the formal application on February 18, citing global and domestic disruptions that hindered preparation for graduation. The letter referenced the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Middle East instability, global financial tightening, and slow trade recovery. Domestically, it mentioned financial irregularities, political changes in July 2024, and pressure from hosting displaced Myanmar nationals, all contributing to economic instability.

According to CDP sources, a preliminary assessment report may be ready within two weeks, with a final recommendation expected by September following approval from the UN General Assembly.

From midnight tonight, all fishing activities will be suspended for two months in six rivers, including the Padma and Meghna in Chandpur, to protect hilsa fry and other fish species. The government will provide each of the 9,100 registered fishermen in Matlab North upazila with 160 kilograms of rice in four installments during the ban period. Violators may face one to two years in prison, a fine of up to 5,000 taka, or both.

The fishing ban, enforced every March and April since 2006, aims to increase hilsa production and ensure safe movement of juvenile fish. During this period, fishing, buying, selling, storing, and transporting fish are strictly prohibited across 30 kilometers from Shatnol to Amirabad Bazar and 70 kilometers up to Charbhairabi in Haimchar. Joint operations will be conducted by the local administration, fisheries department, naval police, coast guard, and navy.

Officials and researchers emphasized that administrative enforcement alone is insufficient for long-term sustainability unless fishermen’s financial security is ensured. Awareness campaigns and strict monitoring will continue throughout the ban period.

Farmers in Nakla upazila of Sherpur have become distressed due to an artificial shortage of DAP fertilizer and sales at prices higher than the government-fixed rate. Despite normal supply, several BADC and BCIC-approved dealers allegedly bypassed buffer warehouses and unloaded fertilizers directly into their own storage facilities. Reports suggest that some warehouse officials colluded with dealers to reduce transport costs and share profits from the irregularities.

Local sources said that Nakla has 10 BCIC-approved and 70 BADC-approved fertilizer dealers. On Sunday morning, locals and journalists intercepted two dealers storing fertilizers illegally, leading to the seizure of about 49 tons of urea by agricultural officials and police. Farmers complained that DAP fertilizer, officially priced at Tk 1,050, was being sold for Tk 1,400, while other fertilizers were also overpriced. Dealers were accused of creating an artificial shortage to raise prices.

Sherpur’s deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension stated there was no real shortage of DAP fertilizer and that delays in imported fertilizer transport might cause temporary issues. He added that allegations of overpricing were under investigation and action would be taken if proven.

The Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project in Dalia, Nilphamari, built to boost northern Bangladesh’s agricultural economy, has become nearly waterless. Despite extensive canals, sluice gates, and control structures built at a cost of thousands of crores of taka, the project is now ineffective due to insufficient water flow in the Teesta River. Field visits revealed that the riverbed has turned into sandbanks, with dry season flows dropping to as low as 500 cusecs at Dalia, compared to over 200,000 cusecs during monsoon. Officials attribute the crisis to heavy upstream water withdrawal through India’s Gajoldoba Barrage.

The project covers 766 kilometers of canals across 12 upazilas in Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Dinajpur, with 95 percent of expansion work reportedly completed. However, water has yet to reach most canals, leaving them dry. Farmers say they now rely on shallow machines and diesel pumps, doubling irrigation costs to 2,000–2,500 taka per bigha, compared to 200–300 taka if river water were available.

Experts and river activists stress that infrastructure alone cannot revive the project without fair transboundary water sharing and long-term reservoir planning to store monsoon water.

The East India Company, once the foundation of British colonial rule in India, has permanently closed after declaring bankruptcy. The company, which had been revived in London as a luxury goods brand, failed to overcome financial difficulties and ceased operations. Reports indicate that in October 2025, a liquidator was appointed, and the company owed more than £600,000 to its parent entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, along with significant tax and employee liabilities. Its Mayfair store and website have since been closed.

The company, originally founded in 1600 under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, had dominated trade across India and Asia before being dissolved by the British Parliament in 1874. Indian entrepreneur Sanjiv Mehta had purchased the rights to the company’s name in 2010, relaunching it as a retailer of premium tea, chocolate, and spices. The revival had drawn global attention as a symbolic reversal of colonial history.

The closure marks the end of a modern chapter for a name long associated with both global trade innovation and colonial exploitation.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has suspended the trial launch of its Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) service. The company confirmed the decision in an official Facebook post on Friday, February 27, 2026, citing unavoidable reasons. BTCL stated that customers will be informed later about the marketing of MVNO SIM cards.

Earlier, BTCL had announced that its MVNO SIM and triple-play packages combining voice, data, and content would be available from February 15 at sales centers in Ramna, Gulistan, and Gulshan. The company had also inaugurated the trial of an unlimited quad-play service under the MVNO model on February 3 at its Ramna office. The government had granted BTCL approval for the experimental MVNO network on November 25 of the previous year.

BTCL had planned to provide mobile services using Teletalk Bangladesh Limited’s network infrastructure under the MVNO model, which allows service without owning a mobile network. The suspension delays the company’s planned entry into the mobile service market.

Newly appointed administrator Abdus Salam announced his plan to transform Dhaka South City into a clean and green city. He made the declaration on Friday at Lalbagh Hriday Party Center during a brief speech before an iftar event organized by Ward 24 BNP under Lalbagh Police Station. Salam urged residents to keep household and shop waste in designated spots for collection by city workers and warned that contractors charging more than 100 taka for waste collection would lose their approval.

He said the initiative follows the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to make both Dhaka South and Dhaka North clean and green cities. Salam emphasized preserving Old Dhaka’s heritage, including its food culture and historical sites, to attract local and foreign visitors. He also pledged strict action against extortion, mugging, and drug-related crimes, regardless of the offenders’ political affiliations or influence.

Addressing public health concerns, Salam noted the growing mosquito problem in Dhaka and said the city corporation would intensify mosquito control and dengue eradication efforts.

The government has imposed a two-month ban on all fishing activities in six rivers of Chandpur, including the Padma and Meghna, to conserve juvenile hilsa (jatka) and boost overall hilsa production. The restriction begins after midnight on February 28 and will remain in effect throughout March and April. During this period, 9,100 fishermen in Matlab North upazila will receive 160 kilograms of rice each in four installments, while they focus on repairing boats and nets.

The ban, in place annually since 2006, covers a 30-kilometer stretch from Shatnol to Amirabad Bazar and a 70-kilometer area up to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar. Fishing, trading, storing, or transporting fish is strictly prohibited. Violators face one to two years in jail, fines up to 5,000 taka, or both. Joint enforcement drives will be conducted by the local administration, fisheries department, naval police, coast guard, and navy.

Experts noted that while the ban helps protect jatka, ensuring long-term benefits requires financial security for fishermen. Authorities have pledged strict monitoring throughout the sanctuary period.