The verdict in the Rampura war crimes case, scheduled for announcement today, has been postponed after the prosecution requested a four-week delay to submit new evidence against the accused. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam stated that after assuming his role, he discovered additional evidence that he deemed necessary to present in the interest of justice. The application was submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, with Justices Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members.

The tribunal had earlier fixed today’s date for the verdict on February 15. The case involves charges of crimes against humanity during the July uprising, including the shooting of Amir Hossain and the killing of two others. Fourteen witnesses testified for the prosecution, while accused Chanchal Chandra testified in his defense. The prosecution completed its arguments on January 29, asserting that evidence and witness statements proved the involvement of five accused individuals, four of whom remain absconding.

The tribunal had formally framed charges against the five accused on September 18 last year, following the submission of the formal charge on August 7.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Ahmed announced that the government will soon publish a list of extortionists and terrorists and launch an operation against them. He stated that maintaining law and order remains the government’s biggest challenge. The minister made these remarks on Wednesday afternoon while speaking to journalists.

He emphasized that, unlike the previous government, the current administration will not use the police force for political purposes. The statement signals a renewed focus on law enforcement and accountability in tackling criminal networks.

Further details of the planned operation and the list of individuals involved have not yet been disclosed, but the announcement suggests that action will begin shortly.

Democratic Congress member Pramila Jayapal stated that there is no evidence Iran poses an imminent threat to the United States. She made the remarks after a House briefing on the Iran war, saying that no justification had been provided for an attack on Iran. Jayapal criticized the lack of a clear strategy regarding the conflict and noted that lawmakers were not informed about how long the war might last. She emphasized that congressional approval is required before initiating any war and warned of potential casualties.

Jayapal further argued that the justification for attacking Iran is weak and called for a congressional vote on the matter, insisting that Congress must decide on any war-related action. Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 1,097 civilians have been killed in Iran since February 28 amid ongoing violence. The report also claimed that 104 attacks occurred in the past 24 hours, targeting military bases, medical centers, and residential areas.

The developments highlight growing concern in Washington over the direction of US policy toward Iran and the humanitarian toll of escalating violence inside Iran.

The Cabinet Division of Bangladesh has issued a new circular requiring all government, semi-government, autonomous, and semi-autonomous officials and employees to remain in their offices from 9:00 to 9:40 AM daily. The directive, signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani and dated March 2, 2026, aims to enhance citizen service delivery, administrative efficiency, and inter-departmental coordination. Previous circulars on similar attendance requirements were issued in 2019 and 2021.

According to the circular, many officials fail to arrive on time due to participation in official or personal programs such as seminars, workshops, or visits to banks and hospitals, which disrupts communication and affects public service and the government’s image. The new rule instructs authorities to ensure that official programs do not interfere with the mandatory attendance period.

The directive exempts certain categories, including teachers not in administrative roles, roster-duty staff in hospitals or security institutions, emergency service providers, and law enforcement personnel on field duty. Officials are prohibited from leaving the workplace without written permission from the authority.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of disregarding the American people and failing to follow proper procedures before initiating a conflict with Iran. Speaking after a congressional briefing, Murphy said the Trump administration had engaged in a war whose outcome remains uncertain.

Murphy stated that officials described the situation as an open engagement that has not yet fully begun but could lead to more American casualties. He added that the administration refused to rule out deploying ground troops. According to Murphy, this approach demonstrates contempt for the American public, as the administration believes it can wage one of the largest Middle East wars since Iraq and Afghanistan without a single congressional vote or debate.

Murphy’s remarks highlight growing concerns among lawmakers about executive overreach and the lack of congressional authorization for military actions in the region.

Political analyst and Jedaal Television presenter Ali Alizadeh stated that Iran possesses sufficient resources to sustain a prolonged war compared to the United States and Israel. Speaking from London, he said Iran’s defense strategy is far less expensive than Western air defense systems, as the country produces missiles and drones domestically at low cost. According to him, if the conflict continues, it will likely benefit Iran.

Alizadeh referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of preparing for a four- to five-week war, noting that the 12-day Israel-U.S. war against Iran last June showed that each additional day of fighting would become harder for Israeli citizens. He added that as Israel and U.S. missile defense systems and other supplies deplete, their next steps will be uncertain.

He further argued that Israel dragged Trump into the conflict and that Trump underestimated Iran’s resilience. Alizadeh described Iran’s government as patient and strong, suggesting that Trump is realizing he has been cornered by a joint war effort.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman in Dhaka on Wednesday morning. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during Kapur’s official visit to Bangladesh. Earlier, he met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid, and later in the day he was scheduled to meet Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud. Kapur was also expected to attend a dinner and exchange views with business representatives.

According to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit will cover bilateral and geopolitical issues, including the implementation of a recently signed trade agreement and discussions on a proposed security pact. The visit follows a congratulatory message from US President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman emphasizing trade and defense cooperation. Kapur is accompanied by Laura Anderson, Senior Economic Adviser at the US Department of State.

The United States seeks to finalize two defense agreements, GSOMIA and ACSA, with Bangladesh, with talks on GSOMIA reportedly progressing. The visit may also address the repatriation of undocumented Bangladeshis from the US.

On Wednesday morning, State Minister for Land Barrister Kaiser Kamal conducted an unannounced inspection at the Siddhirganj Union Land Office in Narayanganj. Arriving at 9:10 a.m., he discovered that no officials were present and the office was locked. The minister waited for about half an hour on the office veranda before expressing his frustration over the absence of staff during official hours.

Kamal described the situation as unacceptable and warned that strict action would be taken against those neglecting their duties. He emphasized that a government elected by the people must work for the people and that any irregularities or corruption would not be tolerated.

The incident highlights the minister’s focus on administrative accountability and his stance against negligence within government offices.

The US Senate is scheduled to vote today on a proposal to limit the president’s authority to declare war. The debate on the bill is set to begin at 11 a.m. local time, with a vote expected at 4 p.m. If passed, the measure would restrict President Donald Trump’s ability to unilaterally initiate military action without congressional approval.

The proposal comes amid growing criticism that Trump ordered strikes on Iran without authorization from Congress. The move has triggered a heated debate over whether the president has the legal authority to undertake such significant military operations independently. According to The New York Times, some lawmakers have expressed opposition to Trump’s decision.

Iran has accused President Trump of acting to please Israel rather than serving the interests of the American people, further heightening regional and political tensions surrounding the issue.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. Iran-based media outlet Iran International reported on Wednesday that the Assembly of Experts made the decision under pressure from the country’s Revolutionary Guard.

According to Fars News Agency, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel, will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad. The 86-year-old leader had served as Iran’s top religious authority for 36 years before his death. He was born in Mashhad and had expressed his wish to be buried at the Imam Reza shrine complex there.

The exact time of the burial has not yet been announced, but preparations are reportedly underway in Mashhad, which holds deep religious significance for Iranians.

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is alive and unharmed despite widespread rumors of an assassination attempt, according to sources cited by Iran International on Tuesday, March 3. The sources said Ahmadinejad suffered no physical injuries and has been moved to a secure location for safety reasons.

Confusion about his status spread across Iranian media following recent Israeli attacks, with some outlets falsely claiming he had been killed while others could not confirm the reports. The contradictory information fueled speculation about his whereabouts and condition.

Ahmadinejad served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013 and was known as a hardline leader critical of Western policies. His controversial 2009 re-election triggered nationwide protests, marking one of the most turbulent periods in Iran’s recent political history.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the administration’s position on the war with Iran, countering criticism over the justification for military action. He stated that President Donald Trump decided to attack Iran because he viewed it as a unique opportunity to achieve mission success. Speaking before a closed-door briefing for lawmakers on Tuesday, Rubio emphasized that the president was determined not to strike first, clarifying his earlier remarks that had drawn strong reactions.

Rubio previously said Trump believed Israel was determined to act and wanted the United States to strike Iran first to prevent potential retaliation against American bases and operations in the region. He reiterated that American troops would not be put at risk and argued that there was no way the Iranian government would acquire nuclear weapons under Trump’s watch.

Rubio’s comments have further fueled ongoing debate over the US administration’s Iran policy and military strategy.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and former adviser to the interim government, announced that he will make his bank statement public on Wednesday, March 4. The declaration came after the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sought details of his bank accounts. Mahmud made the announcement in a verified Facebook post shortly after midnight on March 3, stating that he had already submitted his income and asset records to the Cabinet Division before resigning from his advisory post.

Later that night, Mahmud told the media that questions had arisen about whether the disclosure of his bank information was lawful. He reiterated his plan to release the statement himself to maintain transparency. Mahmud previously served as adviser for the Local Government and Youth and Sports ministries in the interim government and resigned on December 10 before the 13th national election.

The move follows growing scrutiny of political figures’ financial transparency, though the source does not specify any official response from the BFIU or other authorities.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to sever all trade relations with Spain after the country refused to allow its military bases to be used for an attack on Iran. Speaking to reporters following a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said Spain had behaved disgracefully and announced that he had instructed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent to halt all transactions with Spain.

Trump also sharply criticized the United Kingdom for taking a similar stance. His remarks indicate growing tensions between Washington and key European allies over military cooperation related to Iran. The statements were reported by Al Jazeera and published by the outlet Amar Desh on March 4, 2026.

The threat to end trade ties marks a significant escalation in U.S.–Spain relations, potentially affecting economic and diplomatic cooperation if implemented.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has requested all banks to provide detailed information on the accounts of Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and former adviser to the interim government. The directive was issued on Monday through official letters sent to all banks, asking for account opening forms, transaction records, and other related data within three working days.

According to the report, the request was made based on a complaint received by the BFIU. Asif Mahmud previously served as an adviser to the ministries of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, and Youth and Sports during the interim government period.

The BFIU’s move indicates an ongoing financial inquiry, though the nature of the complaint or the scope of the investigation has not been disclosed in the report.