A mortar shell was found at a scrap shop in Ekrampur, Kishoreganj, on Tuesday night. The shop owner, Tutul Mia, noticed the explosive among other discarded items and immediately called emergency services. Police secured the area, and army personnel later placed the shell in a sand-filled container. Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed that the shop has been sealed for safety, and an investigation is underway.

A tragic accident on the Jessore-Benapole highway claimed the lives of three people, including a woman and a child, when an ambulance collided head-on with a motorized van. The deceased have been identified as Nazma Khatun (50), Hasan Iqbal (30), and Ratna Khatun (12), all passengers of the van. Two others were injured. According to Officer-in-Charge Babul Rahman Khan, the accident occurred when the ambulance, traveling towards Benapole, crashed into the van coming from the opposite direction. Authorities have sent the bodies to the morgue, while the injured are receiving treatment at a local hospital.

A group of anti-discrimination activists surrounded a Christian missionary office in Keshabpur, Jessore, on Tuesday following the death of an indigenous student. The protestors allege that 15-year-old Rajerang Tripura was subjected to abuse and murdered. Last Friday night, her body was found hanging from a window grille inside a residential room of the mission. The Christian Outreach Central Foundation of Bangladesh houses 44 indigenous girls for education, including Rajerang. While mission officials claim she died by suicide due to pressure from her family to continue her studies, her family asserts they were not informed about her death until four days later.

A 16-year-old boy was severely beaten by an enraged mob in Khilkhet’s Madhyapara after being accused of raping a five-year-old child in a nearby open field. When police intervened to detain the suspect, tensions escalated, leading to an attack on law enforcement officers. The officer in charge of the investigation, along with four others, sustained injuries, while another group of 7-8 police officers was briefly held hostage by locals. The mob also vandalized police vehicles. The accused is currently receiving medical treatment.

In an attempt to end the Russia-Ukraine war, former U.S. President Donald Trump held a nearly two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to CNN, the discussion aimed to persuade Putin to agree to a 30-day temporary ceasefire and make concessions, including withdrawing Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territories. However, Putin was reportedly reluctant to accept the proposal. Trump also hinted at allowing Russia to retain control over Ukrainian land, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Eighteen Bangladeshis who fell victim to human trafficking are set to return home today. They had been trapped in Myanmar’s notorious scam centers, where they were forced into cybercrime activities. Traffickers initially lured them to Thailand with false promises of jobs before selling them to Myanmar’s criminal networks. Their release was secured through relentless diplomatic efforts by the Bangladesh government, BRAC, and the foreign ministry. They are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on a flight scheduled for 12:45 AM tonight.

In Dinajpur’s Fulbari, a woman and her six-year-old daughter died by hanging themselves from the same rope after the mother faced accusations of adultery. The deceased were identified as Laki Akter (28) and her daughter Mariam Akter (6). Local youths saw a 54-year-old man, Azizul Islam, leaving Laki’s house, leading to questions and a scheduled arbitration meeting. Before the meeting could take place, Laki’s husband Moharram Ali was assaulted by a group of men. Distressed, Laki took her daughter’s life before ending her own. The family later handed over Moharram to the police.

In Kurigram’s Nageshwari, a mentally challenged woman was raped, and the public handed over the perpetrator to the police. According to locals, 28-year-old Babar Ali lured the 50-year-old woman into a maize field by offering fish before committing the crime. The villagers caught him in the act, tied him to a tree, and called the police, who later took the suspect into custody. The rape victim is currently undergoing medical examination.

On Monday, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, the leader of Myanmar’s armed group ARSA, along with six accomplices. The detained individuals include Mostak Ahmad (66), Salimullah (27), Asmaul Hosna, Hasan (15), and Moniruzzaman (24). Authorities recovered cash amounting to BDT 2.1 million, a sharp knife, and a steel chain from them. The suspects were handed over to Siddhirganj police station, where an FIR was filed against them. Reports suggest that they had been holding secret meetings in Narayanganj and Mymensingh for subversive activities.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sajjad Ali announced that motorcycle patrols would be increased in city alleys to curb crime. He stated that police efforts have significantly reduced snatching incidents, and this progress must be maintained. The commissioner emphasized that supporting police units would also have the authority to make arrests. Additionally, he assured that police would respond within an hour of a general diary (GD) entry and provide an immediate flash report from the crime scene. Ahead of Eid, he urged city residents to take additional security measures for their homes and businesses.

Students and activists at Dhaka University staged a protest against the Israeli airstrikes that killed over 400 Palestinians, violating the ceasefire agreement. The protesters called on Muslim-majority countries to send military support to Gaza to protect Palestinians.

They also urged the International Criminal Court to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders responsible for war crimes. The demonstration was organized by student groups that have been holding a continuous sit-in protest for 34 days, demanding the banning of the Awami League and its allied organizations.

Fifteen Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport while attempting to enter Malaysia by posing as cricketers. The Border Control and Security Agency detained them on Monday after they arrived wearing cricket jerseys and presented fake tournament invitations to deceive immigration officers.

An investigation revealed that the invitation letters were fraudulent, and there was no scheduled cricket tournament between March 21 and 23. The detainees also attempted to secure a sponsor as their guarantor, but the person in question admitted to having no knowledge of any such tournament.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Tawhid Hossain has labeled US intelligence official Tulsi Gabbard’s comments about minority persecution in Bangladesh and the rise of an Islamic Caliphate as “serious and misleading.” He stated that the response from the Chief Adviser’s Office reflects the official position of the Foreign Ministry. “Tulsi Gabbard’s remarks are damaging to Bangladesh’s image and reputation. Bangladesh is globally recognized for its peaceful and inclusive practice of Islam and has made significant progress in combating extremism and terrorism,” the office stated.

Election Commission (EC) officials have postponed their planned ‘Operational Halt’ protest scheduled for Wednesday. This decision follows a letter to the government advocating for the retention of National ID (NID) services under the EC, as well as discussions within the Consensus Commission. The government has proposed forming a ‘Civil Registration Commission’ to streamline NID services, while the Electoral Reform Commission has recommended an independent constitutional body called the ‘National Citizen Data Commission.’ Last Thursday, EC employees staged a ‘Stand for NID’ demonstration at central and field offices. If no visible progress is made, the ‘Operational Halt’ protest may be reinstated on March 19.

Adviser Mahfuz Alam has stated that Bangladesh’s approach to tackling communal violence could serve as a model for the region. He warned that the rise of Islamophobia, religious intolerance, and communal violence would be detrimental to all South Asian nations. “Since July, Bangladesh has taken strict measures to prevent communal violence. Most incidents were politically motivated rather than purely communal,” he noted. Alam emphasized that the vision of communal harmony, as upheld by figures like Dara Shikoh, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and Kazi Nazrul Islam, must prevail. He urged all communities to reject extremism and Islamophobia in the region.