Fuel unloading has started from six ships at Chattogram Port, with four more vessels currently within Bangladesh’s maritime boundary. According to port authorities, the ships are carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), various fuel oils, and industrial raw materials. Additional four ships are expected to arrive within the week, ensuring that fuel supplies remain stable for the next one and a half months.

Despite the stable supply outlook, port authorities have expressed concerns about possible sabotage attempts targeting fuel-carrying vessels. The Navy and Coast Guard have been instructed to take special measures to secure ships anchored offshore. Officials recalled that after the fall of the fascist government during the August 5, 2024 uprising, four fuel ships were damaged in mysterious explosions.

Currently, fifteen fuel vessels are positioned within the port’s waters, including tankers carrying LPG, LNG, gas, high-sulfur oil, chemicals, crude oil, and diesel. Two tankers from Singapore recently arrived, and three more are scheduled to reach the port by mid-March.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned that a closure of the strategically vital Hormuz Strait could lead to a significant rise in global food prices. The organization stated in an analytical report released on Tuesday that such a disruption would increase the cost of living worldwide, with the greatest impact falling on low-income populations.

According to the report, higher energy, fertilizer, and transport costs could drive up food prices, putting marginalized communities under severe pressure. UNCTAD’s data show that the strait is essential for global trade, carrying 38 percent of the world’s crude oil, 29 percent of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and 19 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG). It also plays a key role in food security, as one-third of all fertilizer shipped globally passes through this route.

The findings highlight the vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical disruptions in critical maritime corridors such as the Hormuz Strait.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has proposed the largest oil reserve release in its history to stabilize global oil prices, which have surged due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The Wall Street Journal reported the proposal on Tuesday, citing relevant officials. According to AFP, the report noted that IEA member countries released 182 million barrels of oil in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the newly proposed release could exceed that amount.

The proposal was presented at an emergency meeting of energy officials from the IEA’s 32 member countries on Tuesday. A final decision on the plan is expected on Wednesday. The move reflects growing concern among member states about the impact of geopolitical tensions on global energy markets.

If approved, the release would mark an unprecedented intervention by the IEA to counteract supply disruptions and price volatility caused by the regional conflict.

The Chattogram Port Authority has requested special security measures from the Navy and Coast Guard to protect 15 fuel-carrying ships currently anchored at various jetties and outer moorings. The request follows concerns that domestic and foreign groups might attempt sabotage amid ongoing instability. Four additional ships are expected to arrive within the week, ensuring sufficient fuel supply for the next one and a half months, according to port officials.

Officials cited past incidents of mysterious explosions on four fuel tankers following the fall of the previous government in August 2024 as a reason for heightened vigilance. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) confirmed that the country currently holds enough LNG, LPG, diesel, and crude oil to meet demand for six weeks. Customs authorities have also been instructed to expedite documentation and berthing processes for incoming tankers.

A coordination meeting involving the Navy, Coast Guard, and port stakeholders has already been held to reinforce security. While no specific sabotage intelligence has been reported, the port authority emphasized that the enhanced measures are precautionary to prevent potential disruptions in the energy sector.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman will inaugurate a nationwide program for the excavation and re-excavation of rivers, canals, and water bodies on March 16. The launch event will take place in Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur district, as confirmed by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam after a meeting with the Prime Minister on March 10.

According to the state minister, the initiative will be formally launched in 54 other districts on the same day, with local ministers and members of parliament leading the events alongside local administrations. The program is designed as a four-year project aimed at excavating 20,000 kilometers of canals, in line with the Prime Minister’s electoral pledge.

The announcement underscores the government’s focus on improving water management and rural infrastructure through large-scale excavation efforts across the country.

The government has launched the Family Card program to strengthen the economic position and confidence of women-led households, with mobile financial service Nagad playing a key role in fund distribution. Prime Minister Tarek Rahman inaugurated the initiative on Tuesday morning at Karail slum, where 6,451 families across 13 districts received a total of Tk 16.2 million through Nagad in the pilot phase.

The program, a pre-election pledge, aims to provide Tk 2,500 monthly financial assistance to poor families in various districts and city corporation areas. Initially, it is being implemented in 15 wards across city corporations, municipalities, and unions in 13 districts. Data from 51,805 families were collected, followed by field verification to prevent duplicate or ineligible beneficiaries, such as government employees or pensioners.

Priority is given to women-headed families to enhance the financial capacity of marginalized women. Officials from Nagad expressed gratitude to the government for selecting the service to distribute funds under this flagship initiative, which is expected to improve living standards for low-income households.

India has imposed strict controls on natural and cooking gas supplies due to disruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments caused by the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The directive, issued by the Indian Ministry of Energy, aims to ensure balanced distribution and uninterrupted supply to priority sectors. Restaurant owners have expressed concern that the restrictions could force widespread closures across the country.

According to the ministry’s order, LNG supply will prioritize households, the transport sector, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production. Other sectors such as fertilizer and tea industries will receive only 70 to 80 percent of their usual gas demand, depending on availability. To offset the shortfall, gas supplies to petrochemical plants and power stations will be reduced partially or entirely.

Several Indian industries, including ceramics and tiles, have already reported reduced gas supply affecting production. Restaurants and hotels across India fear operational disruptions as the government continues to prioritize domestic gas use amid the Middle East conflict.

Fuel traders in Sylhet have withdrawn their strike that was called following an attack and stabbing of a petrol pump employee in the city. The decision was announced at a press conference on Tuesday at the divisional office of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association. Leaders said the strike was lifted after authorities assured them of swift justice for the attackers and improved security for pump workers and establishments.

The association leaders criticized the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s (BPC) new marketing policy, which they said reduces fuel supply by 25 percent compared to the average volume lifted between March and June of the previous year. They argued that despite adequate octane and petrol production from Sylhet’s gas field condensate, the policy has disrupted normal supply to pumps, causing public anger and occasional clashes.

The traders warned that unless the policy is revised, they would keep pumps open but suspend fuel lifting from depots, potentially hampering marketing operations.

Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government is giving special importance to ensuring irrigation facilities to increase agricultural production. He made the statement on Tuesday afternoon while laying the foundation stone for the 'Bangshikhal excavation from Jangail Surma River to Bolaura Jilkar Haor' project in Sylhet Sadar upazila. The minister later inaugurated the excavation work.

According to Muktadir, once the six-kilometer-long canal is completed, about six thousand hectares of farmland will come under irrigation coverage. This will enable farmers to produce additional crops, raise their income, and contribute to the country’s overall food production. The project aims to address the recurring problem of water shortages during the dry season that limits crop yields in the Sylhet region.

The minister added that the government is committed to fulfilling its electoral pledges and has already initiated several development programs within 21 days of assuming office, including the distribution of family cards in various parts of the country.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has affirmed that the recovery of funds laundered abroad during the previous Awami League government will continue under the interim administration and beyond. Speaking at a meeting with chief executives of 37 banks on Tuesday, he said political pressure would not halt the process, emphasizing that retrieving public money remains the central priority. The meeting reviewed progress on repatriating illicit funds and discussed next steps for the banking sector.

Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) Chairman and City Bank Managing Director Masrur Arefin told reporters that banks accused of involvement in money laundering have already hired eight to ten international law firms to pursue legal cases abroad. He noted that legal experts estimate the recovery process could take three to five years, but expressed optimism about eventual success.

The interim government has also formed 11 investigation teams to probe alleged corruption, bribery, and money laundering involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family and ten major business groups. The Anti-Corruption Commission leads the investigations, supported by the CID, NBR, BFIU, and the Attorney General’s Office.

The price of the US dollar rose sharply in Bangladesh on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Banks that had been buying dollars from foreign exchange houses at Tk 122.30–122.35 are now paying Tk 122.90. As a result, the import rate has climbed to Tk 123, up from Tk 122.50 a week earlier. According to bank sources, the increase is linked to higher demand for dollars ahead of a seven-day Eid holiday when banks will remain closed.

Officials explained that importers are rushing to settle letters of credit before the holiday period. The situation has been compounded by the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which has disrupted industries and bank branches in Middle Eastern regions with large Bangladeshi communities. Foreign remittance houses are offering higher rates due to this uncertainty, further pushing up the dollar price.

A senior business executive warned that the sudden rise could fuel inflation, while a deputy managing director of a private bank urged the central bank to act promptly to prevent a dollar shortage. Bangladesh Bank data show the interbank rate rose to Tk 122.58, and the open market rate reached Tk 125.80.

Singer Asif Akbar has been acquitted in a case filed over possession of foreign liquor without a license. The verdict was delivered on Monday, March 9, by Judge Ayesha Akhter Mousumi of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-2 after concluding the final arguments. The case had been ongoing for eight years. Following the verdict, Asif expressed satisfaction, saying the allegation was baseless and that he had received justice after a long legal battle.

According to court sources, the prosecution failed to prove the charges, leading to Asif’s acquittal. The case originated from a 2018 incident when four bottles of foreign liquor were recovered from his office during his arrest in another case. A separate case was later filed at Tejgaon Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act of 2018.

Asif stated that he respected the court process and refrained from politicizing the issue. He thanked his family, fans, and supporters for enduring the long ordeal, calling the verdict a relief for them all.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC, a state-owned company under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, has announced two special incentive packages to make international bandwidth use more affordable. The initiative, effective from March 10, 2026, aims to support the government’s election pledge of ensuring fast and reliable internet for all. Internet service providers (ISPs), international internet gateways (IIGs), and telecom operators will benefit from reduced costs when purchasing new bandwidth capacity.

Under the first package, customers purchasing new IPLC capacity on the SEA-ME-WE-4 Cox’s Bazar–Singapore route will receive bonus capacity—such as 100G free for every 200G purchased or an additional 10G for each 10G bought. Customers with outstanding dues can also qualify if they submit post-dated checks with a repayment schedule within 2026. The offer applies only to new capacity purchases on a first-come, first-served basis.

The second package, effective April 1, 2026, offers up to 70% free limited destination bandwidth for prepaid customers with zero dues under the company’s IP transit service. The company expects these incentives to lower bandwidth prices below Tk 90 per megabit and support the growth of a knowledge-based digital economy.

A total of 367 international flights have been canceled at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka since February 28, 2026, due to the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh confirmed that 32 flights were canceled on Tuesday alone. Countries including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan have closed their airspace, disrupting air connectivity from Bangladesh.

According to official data, 335 flights were canceled in the first ten days, with daily cancellations ranging from 23 to 46 flights. Airlines affected include Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Jazeera, Flydubai, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and US-Bangla Airlines. The cancellations have caused uncertainty for expatriate Bangladeshis facing visa complications and travel disruptions.

US-Bangla Airlines announced plans to resume flights on the Sharjah route from March 13 and the Abu Dhabi route from March 14, operating multiple weekly flights using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The airline continues to operate flights to Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Muscat and plans to restart services to Doha soon.

Iran has assured Bangladesh that oil and LNG tankers bound for the country will not face obstruction while passing through the Hormuz Strait, despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The assurance came after Bangladesh contacted Iran over concerns about energy supply disruptions through one of the world’s most critical maritime routes. Energy ministry officials said the move has eased immediate concerns about fuel supply stability.

A tanker carrying 27,000 tons of diesel from Singapore arrived at Chattogram port on Monday, with four more vessels carrying about 120,000 tons expected this week. To meet April’s demand, the government has initiated direct purchases of around 300,000 tons of diesel from alternative sources, as long-term contracts face uncertainty due to the war. Bangladesh currently supplies about 9,000 tons of diesel daily against a normal demand of 12,000 tons.

China and India have expressed willingness to support Bangladesh in addressing potential fuel shortages. The government has strengthened market monitoring and directed local administrations to prevent hoarding and irregularities.