Bangladesh’s Minister for Road, Bridge, Rail and Shipping Sheikh Robiul Alam announced that during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr travel period, Bangladesh Railway will carry around 42,000 passengers daily. He made the statement on Friday after inspecting Kamalapur Railway Station on the first day of Eid travel. To ensure smooth journeys, the railway has added 124 additional coaches, 14 more for meter-gauge lines, and five pairs of special trains on broad-gauge routes.

The minister said advance ticket sales began on March 3 and continued until March 20, with all 36,000 daily tickets sold online. Despite the system’s capacity, about 3.7 million people attempted to buy tickets each day. Passengers were given five to fifteen minutes to complete payments after booking. The minister assured that all genuine buyers received tickets fairly.

He also warned against passengers traveling on train roofs, a recurring issue during Eid rushes, and stated that strict measures are being taken to prevent it, though occasional incidents may still occur due to heavy crowds.

A severe traffic jam stretching about 10 kilometers has formed on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway’s Cumilla section, particularly from Cumilla Cantonment to Nimsar, causing extreme suffering for thousands of passengers. The congestion began around noon on March 13, 2026, reportedly due to ongoing road repair work at the Amtali area of the highway, according to Moynamoti Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Abdul Mumin.

Passengers were stranded for hours, with many forced to walk to their destinations under intense heat during Ramadan. Local residents and business owners expressed anger over the slow progress of the repair project, which covers only 1,365 meters but carries a contract value of Tk 17 crore. They accused the contractor, Hock Enterprise, of poor performance and criticized the Roads and Highways Department for lack of oversight.

Highway police officials said vehicles slowed down near the repair zone, causing the long tailback. They are currently working to ease the congestion and restore normal traffic flow.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid travel rush, the 13-kilometer stretch between Elenga and the Jamuna Bridge on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna highway has again become a major concern. Despite completion of the four-lane expansion from Joydebpur to Elenga, the remaining section toward the bridge remains unfinished, causing severe traffic jams during past Eid journeys. Ongoing flyover and underpass construction in Elenga, combined with heavy vehicle pressure, is expected to worsen congestion this year.

Project officials said construction delays have led to frequent traffic gridlocks, with only half of the work completed so far. The contractor has requested a one-year extension, and authorities plan to open the northbound service lane for Eid travelers. Police in Tangail have deployed 1,000 officers to manage traffic and prevent robberies, which occurred during last year’s holiday period.

Traffic pressure is expected to peak on March 17 and 18, as thousands of vehicles head north. Police have pledged to keep unfit vehicles off the road and strengthen highway patrols to ensure safe travel during the festival.

The Bangladesh Police have released a set of safety guidelines to ensure a secure and smooth celebration of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. In a special message issued from the Police Headquarters on Thursday, citizens were urged to plan their travel early, avoid risky transport practices, and follow traffic and safety rules. Passengers were advised not to travel on vehicle rooftops or goods carriers, to use zebra crossings or foot overbridges, and to avoid accepting food or drinks from strangers.

Drivers were instructed to avoid overspeeding, reckless overtaking, and driving while fatigued or unwell. Similar guidance was issued for waterway and railway travelers, emphasizing the use of life jackets, adherence to weather forecasts, and avoidance of overcrowding. Launch and speedboat owners were told to ensure proper licensing, safety equipment, and to suspend operations during adverse weather.

The police also provided emergency contact numbers for various departments, including highway, railway, and river police, as well as the Rapid Action Battalion, urging citizens to seek assistance when necessary.

Bangladeshi student Rafiqul Islam has received the Student Affairs Leadership Award from City University Malaysia. The award recognizes international students for leadership, organizational skills, and contributions to student welfare. The recognition was presented at the university’s multipurpose auditorium during the Nuzul Al-Quran Gathering and Iftar event, where four students from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Yemen, and Africa were honored.

Rafiqul has been active in various student organizations and international programs. He is the founding director of the CityU Bangladeshi Youth Club and previously served as joint organizational secretary of the Bangladesh Students Organization Malaysia. He also works as a judge for the Asia Pacific Robot Alliance and treasurer of the university’s Faculty of Information Engineering. Currently, he serves as central secretary of the Bangladeshi Youth Alliance Malaysia and volunteers with JCI Malaysia and SDG-related initiatives.

At the same event, Rafiqul and his peers received special recognition for their innovative event management project “Zevento.” University officials expressed interest in integrating such digital projects into the student portal, highlighting their potential for future international use.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued strict travel directives ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure safe and smooth journeys for millions leaving and entering the capital. In a public notice signed by Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar on March 12, DMP announced that from March 17 to 23, 2026, all general trucks, covered vans, and lorries will be barred from highway movement. Vehicles carrying essentials, perishables, medicines, garments, fuel, and fertilizers are exempt from this restriction.

The DMP also urged citizens to avoid several major routes, including the Dhaka–Mymensingh, Dhaka–Chattogram, Gabtoli-bound, and Dhaka–Mawa highways, unless necessary. Transport operators were instructed not to pick up or drop passengers outside terminals, overcharge fares, or sell the same seat to multiple passengers. Drivers must not drive more than five consecutive hours or eight hours daily and must avoid reckless driving, substance use, or mobile phone use while driving.

Passengers were advised to stay alert, avoid accepting food or drinks from strangers, and use footbridges or zebra crossings when crossing roads. The DMP requested public cooperation and provided emergency contact through terminal police control rooms or the national hotline 999.

Advocate Tazul Islam, former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, has announced the death of his father, Mohammad Fazlul Haque Khan. The news was confirmed through a verified Facebook post by Tazul Islam on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in which he shared that his father had passed away and requested prayers for his departed soul.

Tazul Islam previously served as Chief Prosecutor of the reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal for one and a half years. Under his leadership, the prosecution submitted 24 formal charges related to crimes against humanity committed in July–August before the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Trials of these cases are ongoing in Tribunal-1 and Tribunal-2, with verdicts already delivered in three cases.

The announcement marks a personal loss for the former prosecutor, who remains known for his role in advancing war crimes prosecutions in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Navy has intensified security measures across the country’s maritime boundaries and sea routes to ensure the safety of fuel-carrying vessels. According to a statement issued on Thursday, naval patrols and surveillance have been reinforced in areas near Chattogram port, deep-sea zones, and key maritime routes used for energy transport. The initiative aims to safeguard vessels carrying LNG, LPG, petrol, diesel, jet fuel, and crude oil, thereby maintaining uninterrupted import and export operations.

As part of the enhanced security, warships and high-speed boats have been deployed, while maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters continue aerial surveillance. These platforms are being used for continuous monitoring, enabling safe anchoring, navigation, and port operations for fuel carriers. The Navy clarified that no specific sabotage threats have been identified, describing the move as a precautionary measure to strengthen national energy transport security.

Special operational teams have also been kept ready to counter potential sabotage, piracy, smuggling, or other illegal activities. The Navy is coordinating with port authorities, the Coast Guard, law enforcement agencies, and energy companies to ensure comprehensive maritime security.

The Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has extended the deadline for filling out forms for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Examination 2026. According to a notice signed by the board’s examination controller, S M Kamal Uddin Haider, students can now complete their form submission with a late fee until March 31.

The notice stated that the last date for both form submission and payment of fees through the 'Sonali Seba' system has been extended to March 31. Earlier, the form fill-up process began on March 1 and continued until March 9, while fee submission was open until March 10.

The extension provides additional time for students who missed the initial deadline to complete their registration for the upcoming HSC examination under the Dhaka Education Board.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education of Bangladesh has issued the 'Primary Scholarship Examination Policy 2026' to evaluate meritorious students in primary education. Signed by Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, the policy was published on the Directorate of Primary Education’s website. Under the new rules, the scholarship exam will now carry a total of 400 marks, and all related activities from 2026 will follow this policy. The 2025 exam will also be held under this framework as a special arrangement.

According to the policy, up to 40 percent of fifth-grade students from each school, based on their fourth-grade cumulative results, can participate. Participation is mandatory for all government primary schools, while private schools must follow the NCTB curriculum and be active in the IPEMIS system. The exam will cover Bangla, English, Mathematics, Bangladesh and Global Studies, and Primary Science, each worth 100 marks. Two types of scholarships—Talent Pool and General—will be awarded, maintaining equal gender representation and separate quotas for government and private institutions.

A national steering committee and local-level committees will oversee the exams, with strict disciplinary measures for irregularities. All previous scholarship policies, including that of 2008, have been repealed.

World Bank’s Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, Jean Pesme, met with Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan in Dhaka on Tuesday to discuss strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and the World Bank in accelerating education sector reforms and improving overall education quality.

During the meeting, the minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening education from primary to higher levels, emphasizing that improving quality and expediting ongoing development projects remain top priorities. Both sides reviewed current World Bank-supported initiatives and discussed key challenges such as literacy, teacher training, and student performance.

The meeting also explored future collaboration areas including digital education, skill development, multimedia and smart classrooms, and enhanced research support in universities. The minister expressed gratitude for the World Bank’s continued partnership and reiterated the government’s determination to modernize and reform the education system.

The Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) has declared a five-day holiday for newspaper industry employees during Eid-ul-Fitr. The announcement was made on Tuesday through a notice signed by NOAB President A K Azad. According to the notice, the holiday will run from March 19 to March 23, 2026.

As a result of this schedule, no newspapers will be published from March 20 to March 24, 2026. The decision applies across the newspaper sector and is intended to allow workers to observe the Eid festival with their families.

The announcement provides clarity for newspaper employees and readers regarding publication schedules during the upcoming Eid period.

A massive traffic jam stretching about 30 to 35 kilometers has paralyzed the Comilla section of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway since Tuesday morning. The congestion, mainly on the Chattogram-bound lane from Daudkandi to Comilla Cantonment, caused severe suffering for thousands of passengers. Highway police officials said the jam resulted from slow road repair work and a blockade by garment workers demanding unpaid wages.

Workers from Chandina Denim Garments blocked the highway near Harikhola Mazar area after not receiving three months of salaries and bonuses. The protest quickly expanded, halting traffic across Daudkandi, Gauripur, Chandina, Nimsar, and Cantonment areas. Passengers, including women, children, and the elderly, were seen walking to their destinations under intense heat during Ramadan.

Police later intervened to clear the blockade and restore movement. The factory’s CEO, Jahangir Alam, said workers would receive January salaries by Thursday and February wages with Eid bonuses by March 16, blaming an unnamed group for inciting the protest.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) under the Ministry of Education has issued ten directives for all educational institutions under its jurisdiction. According to a recent circular signed by Professor Dr. Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, each institution will organize a one-day training program titled 'Scientific Lifestyle Development and Mental Health Service Activities' for teachers and students. The initiative will be implemented free of cost in collaboration with the non-governmental organization Quantum Foundation under a memorandum of understanding.

The directives include forming a monitoring pool in each institution to ensure daily practice after the training, providing counseling services as per the manual, and involving Bangladesh Scouts as volunteers. Institutions may also include parents in the program if deemed necessary for awareness on non-communicable disease prevention and mental health protection. Regional education officials will assist in coordinating the implementation.

The program aims to promote mental well-being and healthy lifestyle practices among students and teachers through structured meditation and counseling sessions guided by the Quantum Foundation’s manual.

The Ministry of Health of Bangladesh has decided to suspend all classes and examinations at both public and private medical colleges starting Tuesday. The decision was made on Monday during a meeting at the ministry, according to the Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education, Professor Dr. Nazmul Hossain. The suspension will remain in effect until after the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, when academic activities are expected to resume.

A formal notice has already been issued, confirmed the ministry’s public relations officer Mahmudul Hasan. The move follows a government directive aimed at conserving electricity and fuel nationwide in response to the ongoing war in the Middle East, which has affected energy supplies. The Ministry of Education had earlier announced a similar suspension for all public and private universities across the country.

The coordinated closures reflect the government’s broader strategy to manage energy consumption during a period of heightened global uncertainty and domestic energy-saving measures.