The Supreme Court Bar Association of Bangladesh has postponed its 2026–2027 executive committee election to May 13 and 14. The decision was made at a special meeting held on Sunday at the association’s South Hall after candidates and general members requested that the election not be held during Ramadan. The election was originally scheduled for March 11 and 12, with nomination submission and withdrawal deadlines already announced.

According to the earlier schedule, nomination forms were sold from February 19, with submissions accepted until March 1 and withdrawals allowed until March 4. The special meeting suspended that timetable, and the association stated that a new schedule will be issued in line with the revised voting dates. The election will fill 14 posts, including president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, joint secretaries, and executive members.

The last election took place on March 6–7, 2024, and was marred by violence and allegations of vote rigging. Following political changes on August 5, an ad hoc committee was formed to manage the association’s affairs until the next election.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before Khamenei could attack him. Trump made the statement in an interview with ABC News, saying Iran had tried twice to target him but he struck first. His remarks are being linked to an alleged 2024 assassination attempt against him involving Iran.

Iranian media confirmed that Khamenei was killed in recent U.S. and Israeli strikes that began on Saturday, February 28. The attacks reportedly caused extensive damage in Iran. Semi-official news agencies Tasnim and Fars confirmed Khamenei’s death on Sunday, March 1.

Following the death, Iran’s government declared seven days of public holiday and forty days of national mourning, marking a significant moment of political and regional tension.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has publicly questioned President Donald Trump’s decision to order an attack on Iran. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Sanders wrote that Trump justified the strike by claiming Iran should not possess nuclear weapons, a reasoning Sanders appeared to challenge.

Referring to statements made in June, Sanders noted that Trump had previously declared Iran’s nuclear facilities completely destroyed after a 12-day conflict. He concluded his post with the remark, “Vietnam, Iraq, Iran. Another lie, another war,” suggesting skepticism toward the administration’s justification for military action.

The post adds to ongoing debate in the United States over the rationale and transparency behind recent military operations targeting Iran.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir held a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma at the minister’s secretariat office in Dhaka on Monday, March 2, 2026. The meeting began around 11:30 a.m., with the Indian envoy received by the ministry’s senior information officer. A press briefing is scheduled to follow the meeting.

The discussion marks another engagement between Bangladesh and India at the ministerial level, reflecting ongoing diplomatic and trade interactions. The source notes that the meeting took place in an official setting, continuing a pattern of bilateral consultations between the two neighboring countries.

Further details about the agenda or outcomes of the meeting were not disclosed in the source, but a briefing to journalists is expected after the session concludes.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will hold a press conference on Monday morning to address the joint US-Israel military operation, marking the first official briefing by a senior American official since the operation began on Saturday. According to AFP, the Pentagon announced on social media that the briefing will take place at 8 a.m. local time, with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane also attending.

The White House stated on Sunday that Hegseth will visit Congress on Tuesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to brief lawmakers on the progress of the operation. The opposition Democratic Party has criticized the administration, claiming it was not consulted before the operation began.

The joint forces of the United States and Israel launched attacks in Iran on Saturday. Iranian state media confirmed on Sunday that the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a strike in Tehran.

Four defeated candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have filed cases in the High Court alleging vote rigging in the 13th national parliamentary election. The candidates are Sohel Hossain Kaykobad from Kurigram-2, Saiful Islam from Rangpur-6, Emdadul Haque Bhorsa from Rangpur-4, and Major General (Retd.) Md. Sharif Uddin from Rajshahi-1. The information was confirmed by court sources on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Earlier, on Sunday, March 1, the High Court ordered the preservation of ballot papers and result sheets for Rajshahi-4 and Pabna-4 constituencies after taking into account similar allegations of vote rigging. The Election Appeal Tribunal, led by Justice Zakir Hossain, accepted the petitions and set May 11 for the next hearing. These petitions were also filed by defeated BNP candidates.

Previously, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had filed petitions in the High Court alleging vote rigging in three constituencies: Dhaka-6, Dhaka-7, and Gaibandha-4.

Iran has declared that it will not engage in discussions with the United States. The country’s National Security Council Secretary, Ali Larijani, made the statement on Monday through a post on the social media platform X. His remarks came after U.S. media reports claimed that Iran was pushing to restart nuclear negotiations with Washington.

Larijani rejected a Wall Street Journal report alleging that, following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he had urged renewed nuclear talks through Omani mediators. He dismissed the report as false and reaffirmed that Iran would not hold talks with the United States.

The statement underscores Tehran’s continued resistance to U.S. diplomatic overtures amid ongoing speculation about possible backchannel efforts to revive nuclear discussions.

More than five million people live in Bangladesh’s southwestern coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat, where livelihoods depend on fishing and the Sundarbans. These communities face recurring natural disasters, waterlogging, salinity intrusion, and a lack of safe drinking water and healthcare. Despite previous mega projects, implementation hurdles and political changes have slowed progress. The newly formed government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is now being urged to take urgent, sustainable measures to protect agriculture, ensure freshwater access, and strengthen embankments.

The article highlights worsening conditions for fishers and forest-dependent workers due to pollution, illegal fishing with poison, and renewed threats from forest bandits in the Sundarbans. Many families are losing income and migrating to cities. Farmers are struggling as saline water damages croplands, reducing rice production and arable land. Health and education services remain inadequate, particularly for women exposed to high salinity and for children lacking access to schools.

The author calls for the government to prioritize employment, environmental protection, healthcare, and education in coastal areas, and to restore the region’s role in national economic growth.

At least 21 people have been killed in the past 15 months in Raozan upazila of Chattogram amid an ongoing power struggle between two influential BNP leaders. Police reports indicate that 15 of the victims were BNP activists, and at least 15 killings stemmed directly from political disputes. More than 350 people have been shot during this period, marking the highest level of political violence in a single upazila in recent times.

The conflict intensified after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, when rival factions led by MP Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury and former district convener Golam Akbar Khondkar reactivated their networks. Both groups have allegedly formed armed teams and attempted to influence local police, leading to slow investigations. Police have identified a pattern of motorcycle-based masked gunmen carrying out targeted killings within seconds, often near police posts.

Authorities have arrested one suspect in the latest killing of Jubo Dal leader Abdul Majid, while both BNP factions claim to have urged stricter administrative action to curb the escalating violence.

A BNP activist was reportedly injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Awami League supporters in Burirdanga Union’s Ward No. 3 of Mongla upazila, Bagerhat. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, in the Chalabunia area. The injured man, identified as 47-year-old Monoj Shil, is currently receiving treatment at Mongla Upazila Health Complex, confirmed Officer-in-Charge Shahinur Rahman Shahin.

According to local sources, residents rushed to the scene after hearing screams and found Monoj Shil lying on the ground, bleeding. He alleged that Awami League ward general secretary Robi Roy and two or three associates attacked him while attempting to seize his 10-katha fish enclosure. Monoj claimed he was beaten when he tried to resist and that his family was later threatened. He said the assault was revenge for an earlier incident on the 5th.

Awami League leader Robi Roy denied the allegations, saying he was injured while trying to stop the fight. Police stated that legal action would follow upon receiving a written complaint.

Incidents of post-election violence have persisted across Bangladesh following the 13th parliamentary election. Reports from multiple districts describe ongoing clashes, injuries, and deaths involving supporters of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and independent candidates. In Chuadanga’s Jibannagar, a Jamaat leader’s death in a clash with BNP activists led to a protest march demanding arrests within 24 hours. Police confirmed one death and said a case is being processed. Similar unrest has been reported in Bagerhat, Jhenaidah, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Natore, Jessore, and Pabna.

In Bagerhat, repeated confrontations among BNP, Jamaat, and independent supporters have left one person dead and over a hundred injured since the election. In Jhenaidah’s Kaliganj, clashes at a BNP office injured police officers, while in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon, attacks on homes of opposition activists were reported. Other districts saw factional disputes over local dominance, fisheries, and tender allocations.

Authorities in several areas stated that cases have been filed and investigations are ongoing, though tensions remain high and political groups continue to hold protests demanding justice for victims.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Ma’sud announced that preparations for local government elections will begin after Eid. He made the statement on Sunday at the Election Building in Agargaon, Dhaka, while attending the Best Reporting Award ceremony organized by the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy. He said the Election Commission remains active year-round, organizing parliamentary, presidential, and local elections. The commission is awaiting the first parliamentary session to decide whether local polls will be held under party symbols or on a non-partisan basis.

Ma’sud emphasized that the commission is committed to conducting fair elections in accordance with the law. He also noted that journalists play a vital role in improving the commission’s work through constructive criticism. During the event, three reporters were recognized for excellence in online, television, and print categories.

Separately, the Election Commission has taken steps to move National Voter Day from March 2 to March 1. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed that a letter has been sent to the Cabinet Division regarding the change, which aims to align with earlier observances and regional decisions.

The Supreme Court Bar Association of Bangladesh has postponed its 2026–2027 executive committee election to May 13 and 14. The decision was made at a special meeting held on Sunday at the association’s South Hall after candidates and general members requested that the election not be held during Ramadan. The election was originally scheduled for March 11 and 12, with nomination submission and withdrawal deadlines already announced.

According to the earlier schedule, nomination forms were sold from February 19, with submissions accepted until March 1 and withdrawals allowed until March 4. The special meeting suspended that timetable, and the association stated that a new schedule will be issued in line with the revised voting dates. The election will fill 14 posts, including president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, joint secretaries, and executive members.

The last election took place on March 6–7, 2024, and was marred by violence and allegations of vote rigging. Following political changes on August 5, an ad hoc committee was formed to manage the association’s affairs until the next election.

The Bangladesh government convened a high-level meeting to determine immediate actions following escalating conflict in the Middle East after a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Prime Minister Tarek Rahman met with ministers and senior officials to review the situation and instructed them to ensure the safety of Bangladeshi workers in the region and maintain energy security. The government emphasized proactive measures to manage potential disruptions in remittance inflows and fuel supply.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud stated that Bangladesh is working to safeguard its energy sector, noting that current reserves and supply contracts should prevent short-term shortages. Energy Adviser Humayun Kabir said the country’s fuel stock is sufficient for now, and there is no cause for panic. Officials confirmed that Bangladesh has about 45 days of refined fuel reserves and ongoing import contracts through June, minimizing immediate risks from the closure of the Hormuz Strait.

Prime Minister Rahman is personally monitoring the situation, directing ministries to protect expatriate workers and assist stranded passengers. Economists warned that prolonged conflict could affect remittance inflows and foreign reserves if disruptions persist.

India’s main opposition party, the National Congress, has strongly condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing it as a joint attack by the United States and Israel. In a statement issued on Saturday, the party called the incident an assassination carried out without a formal declaration of war and said it violated international law and diplomatic norms. The Congress warned that such actions could deepen the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and severely disrupt regional stability.

The Indian central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has not yet issued an official statement on Khamenei’s death. While the government expressed concern over rising tensions in the Middle East, it avoided direct comment on the killing. The situation deteriorated further on Saturday following a series of retaliatory missile strikes among the United States, Israel, and Iran.

India has historically maintained warm diplomatic ties with Iran, particularly in energy imports, regional trade, and strategic projects such as the Chabahar Port. The government’s silence following Khamenei’s death has sparked political debate in New Delhi.