Candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami have filed cases with the High Court alleging vote rigging in the 13th national parliamentary election. According to court sources on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the BNP candidate from Mymensingh-1 and Jamaat candidates from Narayanganj-2, Narayanganj-3, Lalmonirhat-1, and Lalmonirhat-2 constituencies lodged the petitions. The cases are scheduled to be heard by a single bench led by Justice Md Zakir Hossain.

Earlier, candidates from Kurigram-2, Rangpur-6, Rangpur-4, and Rajshahi-1 constituencies had also filed similar cases. On 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 allegations of vote rigging, setting May 11 for the next hearing.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had previously filed petitions over alleged irregularities in three other constituencies—Dhaka-6, Dhaka-7, and Gaibandha-4—indicating a growing number of legal challenges following the election.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that the United States has no intention of engaging in a long-term conflict with Iran. In an interview with Fox News, he said President Donald Trump’s main objective is to ensure that Iran never develops nuclear weapons. Vance emphasized that the administration’s approach aims to prevent Iran’s nuclear ambitions without repeating the prolonged military engagements seen in Iraq or Afghanistan.

He added that President Trump seeks not only to contain Iran during his second term but to guarantee that the country is permanently prevented from obtaining nuclear arms. According to Vance, achieving this goal would require fundamental changes within Iran’s governing system. He also criticized Tehran’s nuclear program, claiming that its facilities are designed for weapons development despite Iran’s assertions of civilian use.

Vance reiterated that Trump would not allow the United States to become entangled in another years-long conflict, underscoring a strategy focused on deterrence rather than occupation or extended warfare.

An emergency press briefing was held at the central office of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday night, where Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair emphasized that the issue of the July National Charter should be made clear to the nation. He stated that the reform proposals had been passed by nearly two-thirds majority and were now a matter for the national parliament, which is scheduled to convene on March 12. Zubair warned against attempts to shift the issue to the courts, arguing that such actions in the past had deepened national crises.

Advocate Shishir Md. Monir explained that two writ petitions had been filed challenging the July National Charter Implementation Order 2025 and the referendum process. He argued that the petitions were politically motivated and aimed at obstructing parliamentary discussion by making the issue sub judice. Monir questioned why only the referendum was being challenged while the national election, held on the same day, was not. He maintained that the matter was political and should be resolved through political consensus rather than judicial intervention.

Both leaders cautioned that using the judiciary to settle political disputes could undermine democratic processes and repeat past mistakes.

Iqbal Chowdhury, a victim of enforced disappearance, testified as the third witness in a case involving alleged abductions and torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) or 'Aynaghar' during the Awami League’s fifteen-year rule. His testimony was recorded on Monday before the International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar with Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as the other member. Iqbal described being abducted from his Mohammadpur home on May 7, 2018, by plainclothes men identifying themselves as law enforcement officers.

He recounted being blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken to an unknown location where he was confined in a small, dimly lit room. The room had a metal-barred door, a wooden door, and a constantly running exhaust fan. Iqbal said he felt as though he had been buried alive. His statement was halted when he became emotional and unwell during the testimony.

The case names Sheikh Hasina and twelve current and former army officers, who have reportedly been sentenced to death in connection with the alleged JIC disappearances and torture incidents.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapoor is arriving in Dhaka today, Tuesday, for a three-day visit aimed at discussing the future of Dhaka-Washington relations. His trip comes two weeks after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new government assumed office. According to the draft schedule, Kapoor will arrive from New Delhi tonight and begin meetings on Wednesday with US Embassy officials, followed by discussions with several Bangladeshi ministers, including those of foreign, home, energy, and commerce. He will also meet business representatives and political leaders before attending an iftar hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign ministry officials said the visit will cover bilateral and geopolitical issues, including implementation of a recently signed trade agreement and the proposed security pact between the two countries. Economic cooperation will be a key focus, with senior economic adviser Laura Anderson accompanying Kapoor. Defense cooperation is also expected to feature prominently, as the US seeks to finalize two defense agreements, GSOMIA and ACSA. The visit may also address the repatriation of undocumented Bangladeshis from the United States.

The discussions are expected to shape the next phase of Bangladesh-US relations, particularly in trade, defense, and migration cooperation.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and opposition whip, warned that rejecting the referendum verdict through court intervention would lead to dire consequences. He made the remarks on Monday evening at an iftar gathering organized by the NCP in Chattogram. Nahid said the issue of reform had already been settled through the referendum, but attempts were being made to overturn the people’s verdict in court.

He questioned whether the interim government’s security adviser was rewarded with a ministerial post by the BNP for election engineering and alleged that both domestic and foreign forces had been conspiring since August 5 to weaken the student movement. Nahid also stated that NCP activists would resist any attempt by the Awami League to resume political activities, asserting that the two parties could not coexist.

Other NCP leaders accused the BNP of rejecting the referendum results, conspiring with the “July Charter,” and fostering lawlessness. They warned that the party would face public resistance if it continued such actions.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has alleged that the United States launched a military attack on Iran under pressure from Israel and Saudi Arabia. In a Facebook post published yesterday, Sanders claimed that both countries influenced Washington’s decision to carry out the strike against Iran.

In his post, Sanders accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of killing 72,000 people in Gaza, most of whom he said were women and children. He also described Saudi Arabia as a brutal dictatorship where dissent is not tolerated. Sanders questioned the logic of seeking to bring “freedom” to Iran through the influence of such leaders, suggesting that few would believe such a justification.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and follow recent U.S. actions affecting consular services in Saudi Arabia, according to the same source.

The government has declared Dr. Muhammad Yunus, outgoing Chief Adviser of the interim government, as a 'Very Important Person' (VIP) for one year. The decision was announced in a government gazette on February 10, 2026, under Section 2(a) of the Special Security Force Act, 2021. As a result, Dr. Yunus will continue to receive top-level security and protocol from the Special Security Force (SSF) even after stepping down from his position. The order, signed by Secretary Md. Saifullah Panna on behalf of the President, took immediate effect.

According to the gazette, the arrangement ensures Dr. Yunus’s personal safety and reflects the government’s respect for his international stature. While extending VIP privileges to a departing Chief Adviser is not new in Bangladesh, this time the duration has been significantly extended compared to previous instances. In 2006, a similar status was granted for only three months to the then outgoing Chief Adviser.

The decision underscores the government’s intent to maintain high-level security for Dr. Yunus during the post-transition period.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has formed two separate committees to oversee reform implementation and monitor the trial process of the July massacre and enforced disappearances. The announcement was made on Sunday night through a press release signed by Sadia Farzana Dina from the party’s office cell and published on NCP’s verified Facebook page.

According to the release, the reform implementation committee will be led by party member-secretary Akhtar Hossain, with joint convener Sarowar Tushar as deputy head. The committee will coordinate and supervise reform proposals, monitor progress, and liaise with relevant stakeholders. The second committee, formed to monitor the trial of the July massacre and disappearances, will be headed by southern region chief coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, with joint convener Mujahidul Islam Shakin as deputy head. It includes victims’ relatives, legal professionals, and party members.

The trial monitoring committee will observe judicial progress, maintain communication with affected families, and prepare necessary recommendations, according to party sources.

The High Court bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Anwarul Islam concluded the hearing on a writ petition seeking suspension of the implementation of the July Charter on Monday. The court announced that its order on the matter will be delivered today, Tuesday. Acting Attorney General Arshadur Rauf and Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque represented the state, while senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim and Syed Mamun Mahbub argued for the petitioner.

The writ petition, filed on February 18 by Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akand, challenges the legality of the July National Charter, calling it unconstitutional and unlawful. The petition also seeks an order to halt its implementation. The Election Commission, the Speaker of the National Parliament, and the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary were named as respondents.

Separately, another writ petition challenging the legality of the February 13 referendum and seeking cancellation of its results has been filed by lawyer ABM Ataul Majid Touhid and is awaiting hearing.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam announced the start of a renewed movement against judicial bias, corruption, and dominance. Speaking on Monday at the NCP’s iftar and prayer gathering at the King of Chittagong Convention Center in Panchlaish, Chattogram, he alleged that attempts were being made to use the courts politically to nullify the public mandate from the July referendum that formed the current government. He warned that politicizing the judiciary would have dire consequences.

Nahid Islam urged the government to implement the referendum’s verdict and begin building a new Bangladesh based on the people’s decision. He also called for strong resistance in Chattogram against extortion, land grabbing, and corruption, emphasizing that success would require participation beyond Dhaka-based leadership. The event was attended by NCP leaders Akhtar Hossain, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Hasnat Abdullah, as well as local political figures including the Chattogram City mayor and members of parliament from constituencies 15 and 16.

The remarks reflect the NCP’s growing focus on judicial reform and anti-corruption efforts as part of its broader political agenda.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam warned that NCP activists would obstruct any attempt by the Awami League to resume political activities anywhere in Bangladesh. Speaking as chief guest at an iftar event in Chattogram on March 2, 2026, he declared that NCP and Awami League could not coexist. Nahid also alleged that efforts were underway to overturn the results of a reform referendum through the courts and cautioned that such actions could have serious consequences.

He further questioned the government’s handling of a recent assassination case and suggested that public suspicion was growing about foreign influence and political manipulation. Nahid urged NCP members to prepare for upcoming local government elections. Other NCP leaders, including Akhtar Hossain, Hasnat Abdullah, and Nasir Uddin Patowary, echoed criticism of the ruling BNP, accusing it of rejecting the referendum outcome and fostering corruption and violence.

Speakers at the event emphasized forming NCP committees across cities and warned against any resurgence of fascism or attempts to restore the Awami League to power.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that a database will be created to regulate media access to the Bangladesh Secretariat. Speaking at a meeting organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) in Dhaka on Monday, he said the government plans to issue one or more entry cards per media house to manage access efficiently. He added that accreditation cards would be provided under policy guidelines if any journalist is unfairly excluded.

Swapan explained that the initiative aims to simplify journalists’ entry procedures while maintaining security. He said discussions had been held with the Home Minister on easing the access system and that representatives from media organizations would be consulted before finalizing the plan. The minister emphasized that each media house should designate specific representatives for Secretariat coverage to ensure accountability and reduce unnecessary entry pressure.

He also noted that the new system would help the government maintain accurate records of which media houses send personnel to the Secretariat, improving coordination and transparency in press access management.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the party aims to build a compassionate society where everyone loves one another, regardless of familiarity. He made the remarks on Monday at an iftar event organized by the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Kakrail, Dhaka. The event was chaired by the federation’s central president A N M Shamusul Islam and conducted by general secretary Advocate Atikur Rahman.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that fear of Allah is essential for establishing such a humane society and called on the federation to work sincerely for the real welfare of workers. He urged both employers and workers to maintain proper relations, describing them as complementary to each other. He also criticized those who incite conflict for personal gain, saying such actions hinder social harmony and progress.

He further noted that the federation’s mission to protect workers’ rights has only just begun and encouraged continued efforts toward justice and mutual respect in society.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed Revolutionary Guards General Majid Ebnolreza as the acting defense minister following the death of the previous minister in a joint Israeli and U.S. attack, according to Al Jazeera. The announcement was made by presidential communications adviser Mehdi Tabatabai through a post on social media platform X, confirming the president’s directive.

The appointment aims to ensure continuity in the operations of the defense ministry and to strengthen coordination in addressing the current situation. The decision comes amid heightened regional tensions following the reported attack that killed the former defense minister.

The move is expected to stabilize the ministry’s leadership and maintain Iran’s defense readiness during a period of uncertainty.