The International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka has scheduled April 6 for the hearing on charge framing against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and four others in a case over the 2016 killing of nine youths in Mirpur’s Jahaj Bari area. The tribunal, chaired by Golam Mortuza Mojumdar with two other members, issued the order after the accused failed to appear despite prior summons. Two of the eight accused, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque and former DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, are in custody, while the others remain absconding.

According to the case details, the victims—mostly madrasa students—were allegedly abducted and detained in secret facilities before being killed in a staged anti-terror operation at the so-called “Jahaj Building” on July 25, 2016. The prosecution claims the accused conspired to fabricate the militant raid and later falsified evidence to justify the killings.

The charges include crimes against humanity, with allegations that senior officials, including Hasina and Kamal, failed to act against subordinates and instead rewarded them with state honors.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque has filed a petition in the High Court challenging the result of the Dhaka-16 constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The petition is expected to be heard by a single bench led by Justice Md Zakir Hossain. Haque, a former captain of the Bangladesh national football team and BNP candidate, lost to Jamaat-e-Islami’s Md Abdul Baten by a margin of 3,361 votes. Baten received 88,828 votes, while Haque secured 85,467.

Despite his defeat, Aminul Haque was appointed as a technocrat State Minister in the new BNP-led government. More than 15 other candidates have also filed similar petitions in the High Court challenging election results. The court has ordered the preservation of ballots and related materials for these constituencies.

Under Section 49 of the Representation of the People Order, the High Court forms an election tribunal to hear petitions alleging electoral irregularities. Justice Md Zakir Hossain’s bench is currently handling these election-related petitions as part of its civil jurisdiction.

A total of 300 international flights from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have been canceled over the past nine days due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. On Sunday alone, 26 flights were canceled, while 36 flights operated on a limited scale. The Civil Aviation Authority’s public relations officer Muhammad Kawsar Mahmud confirmed the information in a press release.

The cancellations began on February 28, with daily disruptions continuing through March 7. Countries including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan have temporarily closed their airspace, causing major disruptions to flights bound for those destinations. Airlines affected include Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Fly Dubai, and Saudia Airlines.

Thousands of passengers, particularly migrant workers traveling to the Middle East, have been stranded or faced uncertainty as visa deadlines approach. Authorities said flight operations will gradually return to normal once the regional situation stabilizes.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power and Energy, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, announced that electricity prices will not rise for now, despite public fears fueled by opposition claims linking potential hikes to the ongoing war. Speaking at an event organized by the Northern Region Student Forum at the National Press Club on Sunday, he said the country’s fuel reserves are increasing as two oil tankers have anchored to deliver supplies.

The minister explained that one tanker has already anchored and another was expected later in the day, which will further boost reserves. However, he emphasized that rationing will continue until the war ends to ensure sustainable consumption. He urged citizens and party members to remain vigilant against fuel smuggling and black-market activities.

Tuku reiterated that although reserves are improving, prudent management is essential to maintain stability until supply chains normalize. The government aims to balance fuel availability with responsible usage during the uncertain duration of the conflict.

The government will ensure that workers receive their wages and bonuses before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced on Sunday. He made the statement after a meeting on law and order held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, which also discussed preparations for Eid-ul-Fitr and Independence Day.

The minister said the discussions focused on maintaining law and order during the Eid period, particularly in the garment sector and road transport, to ensure a smooth and comfortable holiday journey. Two separate meetings were held to address these issues. To coordinate efforts, the additional inspector general of industrial police has been designated as the focal point to work with BGMEA, labor representatives, and transport authorities.

The government’s coordinated approach aims to prevent disruptions and ensure public comfort during the festive season, according to the minister’s briefing.

A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed in a case involving over Tk 11 crore in alleged illegal assets. On Sunday, March 8, 2026, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez accepted the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) charge sheet and ordered the warrant as Benazir remains absconding. The court also directed authorities to submit a report on the arrest by March 30, according to court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain.

The ACC had filed the case on December 15, 2024, through Deputy Director Hafizul Islam, accusing Benazir of acquiring wealth beyond known income sources, concealing asset information, and money laundering. The charge sheet, submitted on November 30, 2025, stated that Benazir declared assets worth Tk 12.2 crore, but investigators found evidence of property totaling Tk 15.68 crore.

According to the ACC findings, Benazir’s legitimate income accounted for Tk 6.59 crore, leaving Tk 11.04 crore in unexplained wealth. The report alleges he concealed the origins and ownership of these funds through various bank accounts and business ventures.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 22 bank accounts belonging to former Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naeem Nizam, his wife Farida Yasmin, and their child. The accounts, holding a total of Tk 42.18 million, were blocked following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was issued on Sunday, March 8, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, according to court officials.

The ACC’s assistant director Md Rakibul Hayat filed the petition, citing ongoing investigations into allegations of illegal wealth accumulation and money laundering abroad involving Naeem Nizam, Farida Yasmin—also a former reserved-seat MP—and former Kaler Kantho editor Imdadul Haq Milan. The petition stated that the accused were allegedly attempting to transfer or conceal movable assets linked to them and their associated entities.

The court issued the freeze order after a hearing, determining that the measure was necessary to ensure a fair and effective investigation into the allegations.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said that irregularities and corruption in the environmental sector will no longer be tolerated. He made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to journalists at the Feni Circuit House. The minister warned that anyone involved in such misconduct will be held accountable. He also announced that the traditional method of brick production using burnt clay will be phased out, with a gradual shift toward environmentally friendly block bricks.

Mintoo emphasized the government’s firm stance on protecting the environment and improving public living standards. He said a 180-day special action plan has been adopted to combat climate change impacts, including a nationwide tree-planting campaign from May to August. Expressing concern over Dhaka’s severe air pollution, he noted that it ranks among the worst globally and harms both public health and the economy.

The minister stressed that reducing pollution is a collective national responsibility, not just a government task. He urged transparency and accountability in all development activities to ensure genuine progress across the country.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has confirmed that the process of bringing back Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir, the main suspects in the murder of Inquilab Mancha convener Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, is underway. According to earlier reports by news agency ANI, the two suspects were arrested by the Special Task Force of West Bengal Police.

Hadi was shot in Dhaka on December 12 and later taken to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18. His death sparked nationwide outrage, prompting the government to declare a state mourning in his memory. Police investigations identified Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain among several others as suspects in the case.

Investigators also found over 127 crore taka in suspicious transactions linked to Faisal Karim Masud and his associates. On December 23, a court ordered the freezing of their bank accounts and imposed a travel ban on Faisal. Based on preliminary findings, CID has launched a separate inquiry into possible money laundering activities connected to the case.

The Ministry of Education has announced that all English-medium schools across Bangladesh will remain closed starting Monday, March 9, 2026. The closure, declared ahead of the holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, was confirmed in a statement signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Shirin Akter of the Secondary and Higher Education Division’s Private Secondary-1 branch.

According to the statement, the decision was made unanimously in a meeting chaired by the Education Minister with representatives of English-medium schools. The schools will stay closed until the government-declared Eid holidays. The ministry said the move aims to ease public inconvenience in major cities, including Dhaka, during Ramadan.

Two special directives accompanied the announcement. Schools following foreign curricula must continue mandatory examinations as per their pre-announced schedules, and all coaching centers—both Bangla and English-medium—must suspend operations during this period.

The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police arrested two main suspects in the murder of Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi. The arrests took place early Sunday, March 8, in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, near the India-Bangladesh border. The detainees, identified as Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Hossain, were accused of killing Hadi and fleeing to India through the Meghalaya border. They were reportedly planning to return to Bangladesh when captured.

According to the STF, both suspects had entered India illegally after committing serious crimes, including extortion and murder, in Bangladesh. Acting on confidential information, police conducted a late-night operation in Bongaon and detained them. A case has been filed, and the suspects were presented before court and placed in police custody.

Hadi, spokesperson for the ‘Inquilab Moncho’ and a key figure in the July Movement, was shot in Dhaka’s Paltan area on December 12 of the previous year. Authorities had earlier frozen the bank accounts of Masud, his company, and family members as part of the investigation.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated an inquiry against the removed Managing Director of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Md. Abdus Salam Bapari, on allegations of laundering money abroad. CID Special Police Superintendent (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan confirmed the development on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Preliminary findings indicate that Abdus Salam Bapari, who joined Dhaka WASA as an assistant engineer in 1991, allegedly transferred illicitly acquired funds overseas. He is accused of purchasing substantial immovable and movable assets in Canada, the United States, and other countries under his own name, his wife’s name, and those of associates. Investigators found that in 2018, he and his wife, Mahbubunnecha, bought a house in Toronto, Canada, valued at approximately 200 million Bangladeshi taka.

CID stated that the investigation is being conducted under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, and the Money Laundering Prevention Rules, 2019, to determine legal action based on the findings.

The Ministry of Education has announced that all universities across Bangladesh will remain closed from Monday, March 9, following a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The decision aims to conserve electricity by advancing the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. The announcement was made on Sunday, March 8, according to the ministry.

This move marks an unusual initiative by the government to address power-saving concerns nationwide. By bringing forward the holiday period, the authorities expect to reduce electricity consumption during a time of increased demand. The closure applies to all universities in the country, both public and private, as part of the broader energy conservation effort.

Further details about the duration of the closure and related academic adjustments were not provided in the initial announcement.

A Dhaka court has ordered the publication of a gazette directing British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and former RAJUK assistant legal adviser Sardar Mosharraf Hossain to appear before the court in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegedly obtaining a flat illegally in Gulshan. The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz on March 8, with March 29 set for submission of a report on the matter.

Earlier, on February 18, the court accepted the charge sheet against Siddiq and Hossain and issued arrest warrants. On February 26, the court also directed Interpol to issue a red notice for Siddiq’s arrest. The ACC filed the case on April 15 of the previous year, accusing Siddiq and two former RAJUK officials of misusing power to occupy and register a flat in Eastern Housing Limited’s Gulshan-2 project without payment.

The ACC later submitted the charge sheet on December 11 under multiple sections of the Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. Siddiq had previously been sentenced to six years in prison in three separate cases related to plot allocation fraud.

NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has alleged that a culture of harassment through false cases, similar to that of the Awami League, has re-emerged. Speaking at the NCP’s Barishal divisional iftar and prayer gathering on Sunday at Halima Khatun Government Girls’ High School field, he claimed that a false case had been filed against Nasiruddin Patwari and warned that such actions would not silence party members.

Nahid Islam stated that the BNP should not emulate the Awami League, describing the BNP as an anti-fascist party that had stood on the streets during mass uprisings. He cautioned that if the BNP compromised with the Awami League or India and sheltered corrupt individuals, the NCP would resist on the streets. He also urged local leaders to prepare for upcoming local government elections, saying that while the party accepted alleged manipulation in national polls for the sake of stability, it would not tolerate irregularities in local elections.

The event was attended by NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib, and National Youth Power convener Tarikul Islam.