From midnight tonight, all fishing activities will be suspended for two months in six rivers, including the Padma and Meghna in Chandpur, to protect hilsa fry and other fish species. The government will provide each of the 9,100 registered fishermen in Matlab North upazila with 160 kilograms of rice in four installments during the ban period. Violators may face one to two years in prison, a fine of up to 5,000 taka, or both.

The fishing ban, enforced every March and April since 2006, aims to increase hilsa production and ensure safe movement of juvenile fish. During this period, fishing, buying, selling, storing, and transporting fish are strictly prohibited across 30 kilometers from Shatnol to Amirabad Bazar and 70 kilometers up to Charbhairabi in Haimchar. Joint operations will be conducted by the local administration, fisheries department, naval police, coast guard, and navy.

Officials and researchers emphasized that administrative enforcement alone is insufficient for long-term sustainability unless fishermen’s financial security is ensured. Awareness campaigns and strict monitoring will continue throughout the ban period.

Farmers in Nakla upazila of Sherpur have become distressed due to an artificial shortage of DAP fertilizer and sales at prices higher than the government-fixed rate. Despite normal supply, several BADC and BCIC-approved dealers allegedly bypassed buffer warehouses and unloaded fertilizers directly into their own storage facilities. Reports suggest that some warehouse officials colluded with dealers to reduce transport costs and share profits from the irregularities.

Local sources said that Nakla has 10 BCIC-approved and 70 BADC-approved fertilizer dealers. On Sunday morning, locals and journalists intercepted two dealers storing fertilizers illegally, leading to the seizure of about 49 tons of urea by agricultural officials and police. Farmers complained that DAP fertilizer, officially priced at Tk 1,050, was being sold for Tk 1,400, while other fertilizers were also overpriced. Dealers were accused of creating an artificial shortage to raise prices.

Sherpur’s deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension stated there was no real shortage of DAP fertilizer and that delays in imported fertilizer transport might cause temporary issues. He added that allegations of overpricing were under investigation and action would be taken if proven.

The Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project in Dalia, Nilphamari, built to boost northern Bangladesh’s agricultural economy, has become nearly waterless. Despite extensive canals, sluice gates, and control structures built at a cost of thousands of crores of taka, the project is now ineffective due to insufficient water flow in the Teesta River. Field visits revealed that the riverbed has turned into sandbanks, with dry season flows dropping to as low as 500 cusecs at Dalia, compared to over 200,000 cusecs during monsoon. Officials attribute the crisis to heavy upstream water withdrawal through India’s Gajoldoba Barrage.

The project covers 766 kilometers of canals across 12 upazilas in Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Dinajpur, with 95 percent of expansion work reportedly completed. However, water has yet to reach most canals, leaving them dry. Farmers say they now rely on shallow machines and diesel pumps, doubling irrigation costs to 2,000–2,500 taka per bigha, compared to 200–300 taka if river water were available.

Experts and river activists stress that infrastructure alone cannot revive the project without fair transboundary water sharing and long-term reservoir planning to store monsoon water.

The East India Company, once the foundation of British colonial rule in India, has permanently closed after declaring bankruptcy. The company, which had been revived in London as a luxury goods brand, failed to overcome financial difficulties and ceased operations. Reports indicate that in October 2025, a liquidator was appointed, and the company owed more than £600,000 to its parent entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, along with significant tax and employee liabilities. Its Mayfair store and website have since been closed.

The company, originally founded in 1600 under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, had dominated trade across India and Asia before being dissolved by the British Parliament in 1874. Indian entrepreneur Sanjiv Mehta had purchased the rights to the company’s name in 2010, relaunching it as a retailer of premium tea, chocolate, and spices. The revival had drawn global attention as a symbolic reversal of colonial history.

The closure marks the end of a modern chapter for a name long associated with both global trade innovation and colonial exploitation.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has suspended the trial launch of its Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) service. The company confirmed the decision in an official Facebook post on Friday, February 27, 2026, citing unavoidable reasons. BTCL stated that customers will be informed later about the marketing of MVNO SIM cards.

Earlier, BTCL had announced that its MVNO SIM and triple-play packages combining voice, data, and content would be available from February 15 at sales centers in Ramna, Gulistan, and Gulshan. The company had also inaugurated the trial of an unlimited quad-play service under the MVNO model on February 3 at its Ramna office. The government had granted BTCL approval for the experimental MVNO network on November 25 of the previous year.

BTCL had planned to provide mobile services using Teletalk Bangladesh Limited’s network infrastructure under the MVNO model, which allows service without owning a mobile network. The suspension delays the company’s planned entry into the mobile service market.

Newly appointed administrator Abdus Salam announced his plan to transform Dhaka South City into a clean and green city. He made the declaration on Friday at Lalbagh Hriday Party Center during a brief speech before an iftar event organized by Ward 24 BNP under Lalbagh Police Station. Salam urged residents to keep household and shop waste in designated spots for collection by city workers and warned that contractors charging more than 100 taka for waste collection would lose their approval.

He said the initiative follows the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to make both Dhaka South and Dhaka North clean and green cities. Salam emphasized preserving Old Dhaka’s heritage, including its food culture and historical sites, to attract local and foreign visitors. He also pledged strict action against extortion, mugging, and drug-related crimes, regardless of the offenders’ political affiliations or influence.

Addressing public health concerns, Salam noted the growing mosquito problem in Dhaka and said the city corporation would intensify mosquito control and dengue eradication efforts.

The government has imposed a two-month ban on all fishing activities in six rivers of Chandpur, including the Padma and Meghna, to conserve juvenile hilsa (jatka) and boost overall hilsa production. The restriction begins after midnight on February 28 and will remain in effect throughout March and April. During this period, 9,100 fishermen in Matlab North upazila will receive 160 kilograms of rice each in four installments, while they focus on repairing boats and nets.

The ban, in place annually since 2006, covers a 30-kilometer stretch from Shatnol to Amirabad Bazar and a 70-kilometer area up to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar. Fishing, trading, storing, or transporting fish is strictly prohibited. Violators face one to two years in jail, fines up to 5,000 taka, or both. Joint enforcement drives will be conducted by the local administration, fisheries department, naval police, coast guard, and navy.

Experts noted that while the ban helps protect jatka, ensuring long-term benefits requires financial security for fishermen. Authorities have pledged strict monitoring throughout the sanctuary period.

WhatsApp is introducing a new message scheduling feature that allows users to write and set messages in advance for automatic delivery at a chosen date and time. The feature is currently being tested in the iOS beta version 26.710.72, with an Android rollout expected soon. Users can schedule greetings, reminders, or work-related messages without needing to be online when the message is sent.

The new option, available under the 'Chat Info' screen, lets users view all scheduled messages, edit their content, or delete them before sending. This feature aims to help users manage busy schedules and avoid forgetting important dates or communications. It marks the first time in WhatsApp’s 17-year history that users can schedule messages directly within the app.

By automating message delivery, WhatsApp seeks to make personal and professional communication more convenient, reducing the need for external reminders or third-party scheduling tools.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat announced that the government is committed to ensuring halal animal protein such as meat, milk, and eggs reach people at affordable prices. He made the statement on Friday, February 27, 2026, while inaugurating a distribution program at Dewanganj Kamil Madrasa field in Jamalpur, aimed at supporting low-income families during the holy month of Ramadan.

The minister explained that demand for animal products rises during Ramadan, increasing financial pressure on poor households. To address this, the government has launched the initiative to make these essential items available at fair prices. Temporary sales centers have been set up across the upazila to distribute the products daily within fixed hours.

According to the announcement, the program will continue until the 27th of Ramadan, ensuring that a large number of people can access affordable meat, milk, and eggs throughout the period.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh must increase taxes and boost investment to manage the country’s difficult economic situation. Speaking on Friday afternoon while inspecting land for a government hospital near the Marine Drive area of Patenga in Chattogram, he emphasized that without investment, employment opportunities cannot be created. He said the BNP government’s major program focuses on generating employment and that both domestic and foreign investments are being encouraged.

The minister added that the government is also working to improve education quality and bring major reforms to the health sector, fulfilling promises made before the election. He mentioned that the upcoming budget will prioritize employment creation. Plans include establishing a general hospital with specialized units, a nursing institute, and a technologist institute in the Marine Drive area to address shortages in these sectors.

He further noted that several potential sites are under consideration for the hospital project, and the government will select the most suitable one after evaluating all factors.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast a gradual rise in temperature across the country starting from March 1. According to its regular bulletin issued on February 27, both daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to increase slightly, with fluctuations in nighttime temperatures during the first week of March. The department also noted that the heat will intensify gradually as the month progresses.

Meteorologist Kazi Zebunnesa stated that temperatures are already increasing, with Sandwip recording the highest temperature of 33 degrees Celsius the previous day. She added that the feeling of heat will become more noticeable from early March and may rise further in the latter half of the month as the spring season continues. The department also indicated the possibility of rain or thundershowers in parts of the Sylhet division in early March.

The lowest temperature recorded in the country on February 27 was 13.1 degrees Celsius, while Dhaka’s minimum temperature stood at 19 degrees Celsius, according to the department’s report.

Bangladesh experienced three earthquakes within a span of 39 hours, with tremors felt across the country including the capital Dhaka. The latest quake struck on Friday at 1:53 p.m., registering a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the epicenter was in Satkhira, while the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a similar magnitude of 5.3.

Earlier, on Thursday at 12:04 p.m., another earthquake was felt in various parts of the country, originating in India’s Sikkim region, about 455 kilometers northwest of Dhaka. That event measured 4.6 on the Richter scale. A day before, on Wednesday night, another quake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded. Additionally, a mild 4.0 magnitude tremor had been felt in Sylhet on February 10.

Assistant meteorologist Farzana Sultana described the latest quake as moderate, noting that its epicenter was in Ashashuni, Satkhira, approximately 188 kilometers southwest of Dhaka. Authorities have not reported any major damage or casualties so far.

Fresh allegations of corruption and nepotism have emerged in the Jet A-1 underground pipeline project in Narayanganj. The project, designed to supply aviation fuel to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, has been linked to companies allegedly influenced by Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, a former security adviser to Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death for genocide. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) initiated the project in 2017 through a contract with the Navy Welfare Foundation Trading Company Limited (NKFTCL), but repeated delays, cost disputes, and contractor changes have plagued its progress.

Initially valued at Tk 183.77 crore, the project faced multiple route changes and cost escalation requests from subcontractors China Machinery Engineering Construction Corporation and Baraka Engineering Limited. After disagreements over revised pricing, NKFTCL attempted to hand over the project to Buildstone Construction Company Limited, allegedly linked to Siddiq, at a higher estimated cost. Following the July revolution, the interim government reassigned the project to Engineering Construction Battalion 24 with a reduced budget of Tk 420 crore.

Energy experts have warned that political interference could jeopardize fuel security. BPC officials expressed concern that ongoing corruption investigations against Siddiq may further delay the project’s completion.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern over whether the newly appointed governor of Bangladesh Bank can perform his duties independently and free from conflicts of interest. In a statement issued on Thursday, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman questioned the impartiality of a governor who is a businessman involved in the ready-made garment and housing sectors, and who previously rescheduled loans for his own enterprises. TIB noted that the appointment was made hastily and raised doubts about the governor’s ability to act independently of business lobbies and loan defaulters.

The statement further highlighted that a large portion of parliament members and cabinet ministers are businesspersons, many of whom are loan defaulters. TIB warned that appointing a businessperson with a history of loan rescheduling to lead the central bank could send a negative signal nationally and internationally. The organization also argued that the appointment contradicts the ruling party’s electoral pledge to ensure good governance and transparency in the banking sector.

TIB cautioned that the decision could undermine efforts to restore stability, curb inflation, and strengthen financial discipline, especially at a time when the economy faces significant challenges.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that citizens have been left with a heavy debt burden due to past decisions in the power sector. Speaking on Thursday, February 26, at the ministry’s conference room during the handover ceremony of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) executive committee, he said it is better to endure hardship than to remain trapped in debt.

The minister criticized previous governments for failing to follow earlier policy guidelines that limited private participation in power generation to 35 percent. He noted that private involvement has now reached 82 percent, reducing government control and increasing financial liabilities. He also highlighted inefficiencies such as idle power plants requiring capacity payments and a rise in system loss from 6 percent to 10 percent over 19 years. Each percentage point of system loss equals about 5 million taka in losses.

Tuku said the government aims to reduce system loss to 3 percent, starting with a directive to bring it down to 5 percent. He added that discussions are underway with private power producers to reach a balanced solution without raising electricity prices.