Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher MP, has alleged that former adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has become a key witness to what he described as election engineering during the February 12 polls. Speaking at a press briefing at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar on Thursday, he said Rizwana Hasan’s recent remarks confirmed the manipulation claims.

Dr. Taher questioned whether the then interim government or the current administration had colluded to prevent Jamaat-e-Islami from emerging as a major political force. He alleged that officials such as DCs, SPs, TNOs, OCs, and presiding officers were appointed to ensure a predetermined outcome. He urged the government to interrogate Rizwana Hasan to clarify the full situation and inform the nation.

He further mentioned that Jamaat had previously accused several advisers of involvement in election irregularities, naming Rizwana Hasan and Khalilur Rahman. Senior Jamaat leaders, including Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, were present at the briefing.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called for the cancellation of the appointment of Mostakur Rahman as the new governor of Bangladesh Bank. The organization made the demand at a press conference held on Thursday morning at its headquarters in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that the appointment of a businessman and controversial figure to such a key position has already drawn criticism from various quarters. TIB urged the government to revoke the appointment and select a qualified, non-controversial, and competent individual for the role.

During the same event, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman noted that the newly formed government has initiated several new measures but refrained from commenting on them at this stage. When asked about the recent resignation of the outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman, he said that the ACC’s structure and functions are defined by law and that the ruling party should appoint a neutral person to the chairmanship and other key positions.

Several senior TIB officials, including advisers and directors, were present at the press conference.

The administrator of Cumilla City Corporation (CUSC), Md. Shah Alam, has been accused of frequently being absent from his office during official hours, reportedly spending most weekdays in Dhaka for official purposes. However, inquiries revealed that he was not present at the relevant ministries as claimed. His irregular attendance has allegedly led to delays in administrative decisions and increased difficulties for city residents seeking municipal services.

The issue arises despite Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive requiring all government officials to attend office on time. During a week-long inspection, Shah Alam was reportedly not found in his office on any of three working days. City residents and former officials expressed concern that such absenteeism undermines service delivery and public trust. The city’s chief executive officer confirmed the administrator was in Dhaka but could not provide further details.

Local Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury stated he would question Shah Alam about his irregular attendance. Citizens believe regular presence by the administrator could improve efficiency and responsiveness in civic services.

The Cabinet Division of Bangladesh has decided to declare March 18, 2026, as a public holiday in connection with the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. With this decision, government officials and employees will enjoy a total of seven consecutive days off during the festival. The announcement was made on Thursday morning following a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, according to State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj.

Depending on the sighting of the Arabic month of Shaban, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be celebrated on March 21. The government had earlier set March 19 to 23 as general holidays for Eid. Additionally, March 17 is already a holiday for Shab-e-Qadr, and the newly declared March 18 holiday bridges the gap, creating a continuous seven-day break.

The extended holiday period is expected to facilitate nationwide travel and family gatherings during the festival, according to the official announcement.

Nepal began voting on Thursday in a parliamentary election that has drawn attention for its potential to reshape the country’s political alignment between India and China. The contest features key figures including former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party (UML), former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa, and Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The Election Commission pledged to announce results within 24 hours of collecting ballots from 165 constituencies.

Observers doubt any party will secure a majority, citing Nepal’s long history of unstable governments since the monarchy’s fall in 1990. The 2025 Gen Z movement that forced Oli’s resignation continues to influence the political landscape, with Shah emerging as a prominent anti-establishment and India-critical figure. Analysts note that Oli’s UML remains China-leaning, while India has refrained from commenting directly on the election but continues to monitor developments closely.

Experts suggest that regardless of the outcome, Nepal’s next government will need to maintain cooperative ties with India to ensure economic stability and development.

A violent clash erupted between two local factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Hakimpur village of Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah, on Wednesday night, March 4, 2026. The confrontation, reportedly over local dominance, left at least 23 people injured and resulted in the vandalism of three homesteads. Police arrived promptly to bring the situation under control and transported the injured to Shailkupa Health Complex and Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital.

According to police, the conflict involved supporters of Bokul Biswas, president of the Hakimpur Union BNP, and Tarun Biswas, president of the Union Swechchhasebak Dal. The dispute had been ongoing over influence in the area and escalated into violence when both sides armed themselves with local weapons. The incident spread panic throughout the village.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that the situation is now under control, with additional police deployed to prevent further clashes. Patrols have been intensified to maintain order in the affected area.

Hundreds of young people gathered at the Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) shrine area in Sylhet on Wednesday night, chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi’s killing. The demonstration erupted after Tarawih prayers, coinciding with the presence of Nasir Uddin Patwari, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), who had attended a party iftar and prayers at the Dargah Jame Mosque.

As Patwari and other NCP leaders prayed, crowds of youths assembled in the shrine courtyard and nearby streets, filling the area with chants such as “We want justice for Hadi’s murder.” The protest reflected growing anger over the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a prominent activist of the July–August movement and a candidate for Dhaka-8, who was shot dead on December 12 after Friday prayers.

According to the report, Patwari is touring various parts of the country during Ramadan, meeting people after Tarawih prayers. His supporters have been voicing demands for justice for Hadi and for a country free from extortion.

Nepal began voting on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to elect a new parliament, marking the first national election since the government fell six months ago following a deadly anti-corruption uprising. The vote, running until 5 p.m. local time, is being described as one of the most competitive since the end of the civil war in 2006. Around 19 million registered voters are choosing representatives to replace the interim government that has ruled since the September 2025 protests.

The 2025 Gen Z–led movement began as opposition to a temporary social media ban but grew into a nationwide campaign against corruption and economic mismanagement, resulting in at least 77 deaths and the fall of former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s administration. Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki urged citizens to vote without fear, while thousands of security personnel were deployed to maintain order.

Over 3,400 candidates are contesting 165 directly elected seats in the 275-member lower house, with the remaining 110 to be allocated by party lists. Analysts expect no single party to win an outright majority, and preliminary results are expected within 24 hours.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur held a meeting in Dhaka with a six-member delegation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan. The meeting took place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, during Kapur’s official visit to Bangladesh.

Paul Kapur arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, March 3, 2026, via Delhi for a two-day visit. Upon arrival, he was received by officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Dhaka. On Wednesday, March 4, he met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid, Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. Kapur also attended a discussion session with a business delegation that evening.

The meetings were part of Kapur’s scheduled engagements during his visit to Bangladesh, focusing on diplomatic and bilateral discussions with government and political representatives.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapoor held a meeting in Dhaka with a five-member delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The meeting took place during his official visit to Bangladesh.

Kapoor arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, March 3, 2026, after traveling from Delhi for a two-day visit. He was received at the airport by officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Dhaka. On Wednesday, March 4, he met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid, Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. He also attended a discussion with a business delegation that evening.

The series of meetings formed part of Kapoor’s broader diplomatic engagements in Dhaka, focusing on bilateral and regional issues, though specific discussion details were not disclosed in the source.

The United States Senate has rejected a proposal aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations in Iran. The measure, which sought to restrict Trump’s ability to launch further military actions without congressional approval, failed by a vote of 47 in favor and 53 against. Lawmakers were largely divided along party lines during the vote.

The proposal called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from conflicts unless Congress explicitly authorized their involvement. Previous attempts to impose such limits had also failed, and even if this initiative had succeeded, it remained unclear how much it would have altered the course of the conflict. Democrats argued that Trump had bypassed Congress and offered inconsistent justifications for military actions, while most Republicans opposed the measure but indicated they might reconsider if the conflict expanded.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the same issue tomorrow. Some senators told reporters that if the war continues for several more weeks, they may be more inclined to support future efforts to restrict presidential war powers.

The Kishoreganj District Bar Association election concluded on Wednesday with candidates from the BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Forum winning nine out of fourteen posts. Voting took place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the District Bar Association building, and results were announced later that night. Advocate Mizanur Rahman was elected president, while Advocate Aminul Islam Ratan was re-elected general secretary for the sixth consecutive term.

The Nationalist Lawyers Forum fielded candidates for eleven positions and secured victories in nine, including key posts such as vice president, library secretary, cultural secretary, auditor, and three member positions. Five Awami League-leaning independent candidates won the remaining posts, including one vice president, two joint general secretaries, and two members. Senior lawyer Md. Idris Ali served as the chief election commissioner.

The results indicate continued influence of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum within the Kishoreganj legal community, with Ratan maintaining his leadership role for multiple terms.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada cannot completely rule out participation in a possible war against Iran. He made the remark during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, emphasizing that the possibility of involvement cannot be entirely dismissed.

Earlier, Carney had commented that attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran were not consistent with international law. However, he also affirmed that Canada would stand by its allies, suggesting a balancing stance between legal concerns and alliance commitments.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, though Carney did not specify any immediate military decisions or actions.

In Rangpur, members of the July fighters and families of martyrs have expressed fear after Awami League leaders and activists, whose activities were previously banned, allegedly began threatening plaintiffs and witnesses following their release on bail. The families claim that these individuals, accused in murder and sedition cases, are moving freely and issuing warnings to those involved in the cases. They also accuse the police of remaining inactive despite repeated complaints.

According to local sources, several Awami League leaders in Gangachara, Pirgacha, and Badarganj upazilas are openly engaging in political activities and intimidating witnesses. Allegations suggest that some police officers and BNP leaders are supporting or overlooking these actions, allowing the accused to operate publicly. Concerns have grown that this situation could lead to serious incidents if arrests are not made.

Police officials, including the Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the DIG of Rangpur Range, stated that law enforcement will act according to legal directives and that no offenders will be spared. Civil society representatives and university academics have urged authorities to arrest those involved in the July violence.

A majority of members in the United States Senate have expressed support for President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran. They voted to block a bipartisan proposal that sought to require congressional authorization for any further military action against Iran and to halt aerial combat operations. According to Al Jazeera, the Senate voted 52 against and 47 in favor of the measure, preventing it from advancing.

The blocked proposal, known as the War Powers Resolution, aimed to restrict the president’s ability to engage in hostilities without congressional approval. If passed, it would have required the withdrawal of US forces from ongoing operations in Iran unless Congress explicitly authorized them. Similar attempts had been made previously but also failed to pass.

The Senate’s decision effectively maintains the president’s authority to continue military actions in Iran without new congressional approval, leaving the scope of future operations unchanged for now.