Nine international human rights organizations have sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging the abolition of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The letter, dated March 16, 2026, was also addressed to Law Minister Asaduzzaman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. The groups include Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Fortify Rights, Article Nineteen, CPJ, and Civicus.

In the letter, the organizations acknowledged that the new BNP-led government faces major challenges but viewed this period as an opportunity for long-term human rights reforms. They noted that during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, serious violations such as enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings were reported. Although such incidents have declined since her fall, the groups said arbitrary detentions and attacks on journalists, religious minorities, and cultural institutions have not fully stopped.

The letter also called for effective measures to protect the rights of more than one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and recommended establishing a strong, independent National Human Rights Commission. Several policy and legal reform suggestions were included to strengthen human rights protections.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Shafiquur Rahman, has praised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s canal excavation program. In a Facebook post on Monday, March 16, he commended the initiative, describing it as a positive step toward restoring the country’s waterways and addressing long-standing environmental challenges.

Dr. Rahman noted that Bangladesh was once known as a riverine nation where rivers played a vital role in transport, agriculture, and fisheries. However, he said that after independence, many rivers, canals, and wetlands were filled up, leading to reduced water flow and increased flooding. He cited the impact of the Farakka Barrage and unplanned development as major causes of the current water management crisis.

He emphasized that effective dredging and transparency in development projects are essential to restore navigability and ensure lasting benefits. According to him, canal excavation will only yield real results if the rivers regain their natural flow and vitality.

The High Court has ordered the preservation of ballot papers and result sheets for the Mymensingh-6 (Fulbaria) constituency. The directive was issued by a single bench of Justice Mohammad Ali on Monday, March 16, 2026, after accepting a petition filed by BNP candidate Md. Akhtarul Alam challenging the election results. The court also issued notices to the respondents in the case.

Advocates Laxman Biswas and Md. Shamim Darji represented the petitioner during the hearing. The Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the same constituency is Kamrul Hasan Milon. The petition was filed under Section 49 of the Representation of the People Order, which allows for election petitions to be heard by an election tribunal formed under the High Court.

The court’s order ensures that the election materials remain secured while the petition is under judicial consideration, marking an early procedural step in the legal review of the constituency’s election outcome.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Cuba is very interested in making a deal with the United States and suggested it could happen soon. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, noting that discussions with Cuba are underway but that his administration will first focus on resolving issues with Iran before turning full attention to Havana.

Trump’s comments come as Washington has been increasing pressure on Cuba’s communist government for several months. In January, the U.S. placed the island under an oil blockade, cutting off its fuel supply, and Trump previously labeled Cuba an “extraordinary threat” to the United States. The decades-long economic embargo remains in place.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed last Friday that his government has held talks with the United States over bilateral differences, though he did not disclose details. The developments follow Washington’s recent actions in the Caribbean, including the ouster of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, whose government had relied on Cuba for cheap oil.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman visited the graves of his grandparents during his visit to Dinajpur on Monday. After inaugurating a canal re-excavation program in Sahapara area of Kaharol upazila, he paid respects at the graves of his grandmother Begum Taiyeba Majumdar, grandfather Iskandar Majumdar, and Begum Khaleda Zia’s cousin Meem. He stood silently for a while, offering prayers for the departed souls. Local BNP leaders, activists, and several administrative officials were present during the visit.

Earlier the same day, Tarique Rahman inaugurated the Sahapara canal re-excavation program and planted trees along the canal bank. He also attended a rally organized by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Dinajpur District BNP. The government has launched a nationwide initiative to excavate and re-excavate rivers, canals, and water bodies as part of its election pledges. The Dinajpur event marked the simultaneous inauguration of excavation work on 54 canals across the country.

The program aims to improve water management and restore natural waterways, aligning with the government’s broader environmental and development goals.

The government of Bangladesh has announced significant changes in the leadership of three key law enforcement agencies. According to separate notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, new chiefs have been appointed for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Special Branch (SB) of police.

As per the ministry’s order signed by Deputy Secretary Tawsif Ahmed of Police Branch-1, Chattogram Range DIG Ahsan Habib Palash has been appointed as the new Director General of RAB. Sardar Nurul Amin, Additional IGP (HRM) at Police Headquarters, has been made the head of the Special Branch. Additionally, Additional IGP Mosleh Uddin Ahmed has been assigned as the new chief of the CID.

The reshuffle marks a coordinated move by the government to reorganize top positions within the police force, as reflected in the official notifications issued on March 16, 2026.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government will excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across Bangladesh over the next five years. He made the announcement on March 16, 2026, at Balrampur Sahapara in Kaharol, Dinajpur, while inaugurating the re-excavation of a 12-kilometer canal under a nationwide program. The initiative, titled 'Nationwide River, Canal, and Reservoir Excavation and Re-excavation,' aims to improve water access and agricultural productivity.

Rahman stated that despite economic challenges caused by war in the Middle East, the BNP government continues to fulfill its electoral promises. He said that once the Sahapara canal project is completed, 31,000 farmers will gain access to irrigation water for 1,200 hectares of land, directly benefiting about 350,000 people. The program simultaneously launched excavation work on 54 canals across the country.

The opposition leader welcomed the canal excavation initiative, marking a rare instance of bipartisan support for a major government development project.

A protest rally was held in Chunarughat, Habiganj, demanding the withdrawal of Deputy Ranger Syed Ashik Ahmed, the acting officer of the Habiganj Forest Department’s special team. The rally took place at noon on Monday at the South Bus Stand, organized by the Chunarughat Timber Traders Welfare Association.

Speakers at the rally accused Syed Ashik Ahmed of harassing timber traders through extortion, false cases, and intimidation. One trader alleged that a disabled man named Shanu Mia was falsely implicated in a case following the seizure of a tractor on March 5 in Bagiyargaon, Gazipur Union, and that the tractor and driver were released after a payment of 25,000 taka. The protesters claimed that traders who refused to pay regular bribes faced threats and obstacles to their business operations.

The rally was presided over by association president Abul Hossain Mahalder and conducted by Mir Saheb Ali of Jamaat-e-Islami. Several local political leaders attended and demanded that the deputy ranger be withdrawn within 48 hours, warning of a larger movement if the demand was not met.

Professor Dr. S.M.A. Faiz, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, has submitted his resignation to the Ministry of Education, citing health issues that prevent him from fulfilling his administrative duties. The resignation letter was submitted on Monday, March 16, 2026, to the Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division. In his letter, Dr. Faiz requested to be relieved from his position on humanitarian and health grounds.

Dr. Faiz had assumed office as UGC Chairman on September 5, 2024. His resignation comes less than six months into his tenure. The Ministry of Education is currently processing the next steps regarding his resignation. Before joining the UGC, Dr. Faiz had a long academic career, beginning in 1973 as a faculty member in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Dhaka. He also served as the 26th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka (2002–2009) and as the sixth Chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (1993–1998).

Government employees in Bangladesh are set to begin a continuous seven-day holiday from Monday, centered around the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr. Many workers were seen at the Secretariat on Sunday preparing to leave for their hometowns, with some already departing early due to long travel distances. Several private institutions have also started their Eid holidays from the same day.

The extended holiday period, from March 17 to 23, follows a Cabinet decision on March 5 approving an additional holiday on March 18. The Ministry of Public Administration had earlier fixed March 19 to 23 as Eid holidays, based on the tentative date of March 21 for Eid-ul-Fitr, depending on moon sighting. With the inclusion of holidays on March 17 for Shab-e-Qadr and March 18, government employees will enjoy seven consecutive days off.

According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on March 7, all government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, and private offices across the country will remain closed during this period.

Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the northern region, has described the appointment of district council administrators based on party affiliation as the first step toward autocracy. He made the remarks on Sunday night through a post on his verified Facebook account, criticizing the government’s decision to appoint administrators in 42 district councils on partisan grounds.

In his post, Sarjis compared the current situation to a previous interim government that appointed only one city corporation administrator, which the BNP had then labeled as the destruction of democracy. He argued that the current appointments are entirely undemocratic and urged the government to immediately hold local government elections under an elected administration. He also called for an end to what he described as the politics of looting through partisan appointments.

Sarjis further warned that appointing party loyalists as administrators to gain political advantage and later electing them would mark the beginning of an autocratic political blueprint.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran is desperate to reach a deal, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. He added that while Iran wants an agreement, he does not believe Tehran is ready to take the necessary steps. Trump also mentioned that despite Iran’s threats of retaliation, he is in discussions with other countries about protecting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Trump’s claim, saying Tehran has not requested any ceasefire or negotiations. He stated that Iran sees no reason to talk with the United States under current circumstances and is prepared to defend itself as long as needed. In an interview with CBS News, Araghchi said Iran was attacked even while engaged in talks, calling the conflict a war of choice by President Trump and the U.S.

The exchange underscores continuing U.S.-Iran tensions over security in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader regional standoff, with both sides maintaining firm positions against compromise.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate a nationwide canal excavation program in Dinajpur on Monday, marking the start of another election pledge by the BNP government before completing its first month in office. The event will take place at Balrampur Sahapara in Kaharol upazila, where the prime minister will launch the initiative by reopening a 12-kilometer canal. The program aims to restore silted and dead canals across the country to improve irrigation systems and reduce waterlogging during the monsoon season.

According to government sources, the initiative also seeks to strengthen canal-based rural economies through fish farming and duck rearing. Experts believe the project will enhance agricultural productivity, mitigate flooding, and help maintain ecological balance. The program will be implemented jointly by the Water Resources Ministry, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, and BADC. Preparations and security measures have been completed in Dinajpur ahead of the prime minister’s visit, which includes a public rally, grave visits, and an iftar gathering.

The canal excavation initiative follows the legacy of late President Ziaur Rahman, who launched a similar program in 1977 to boost rural development and agricultural output.

The government has extended the tenure of the National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre (NTMC) by one year, despite a prior recommendation from the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances to dissolve the controversial surveillance agency. The decision, issued on February 20, 2026, allows NTMC to continue operations until new telecommunications regulations are implemented. Meanwhile, the promised restructuring of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), including a name and uniform change to the Special Intervention Force (SIF), has seen no visible progress.

Experts and rights advocates have expressed concern that the NTMC’s vast data archives—containing call records, location data, and social media information—lack a transparent plan for disposal or transfer. Critics argue that extending NTMC’s mandate without a clear roadmap risks erasing evidence related to past disappearances. The Commission of Inquiry had earlier identified both NTMC and RAB as central to human rights abuses under the previous administration and recommended their dissolution or deep reform.

Analysts warn that the government’s delay in reforming these institutions undermines public expectations of accountability and may prolong a culture of impunity surrounding surveillance and extrajudicial actions.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary and Rangpur-4 MP Akhtar Hossain has blamed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for the failure to implement the Constitutional Reform Council. He made the remarks on Sunday while addressing an iftar event organized by the National Professional Alliance at a restaurant in Bijoy Sarani, Dhaka.

Hossain argued that citing constitutional reasons to block reforms is inconsistent, pointing out that other constitutional changes have been made based on public sentiment. He also criticized Salahuddin Ahmed for not adhering to the conditions of the July Charter despite previously advocating for them. NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari added that those opposing reforms under the pretext of constitutional constraints should be replaced in the 2029 election by reform-minded representatives.

Speakers at the event, including NCP leaders Alaudin Mohammad and Faridul Haque, reiterated their commitment to fighting corruption, extortion, and terrorism in politics, emphasizing that their struggle for reform would continue.