Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening Bangladesh’s bilateral and multilateral relations based on mutual respect, trust, and cooperation. Speaking at an iftar reception for diplomats at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka on Friday, he said prosperity is built through collaboration, not isolation. Ambassadors, foreign mission representatives, cabinet members, and lawmakers attended the event.

Rahman outlined his administration’s priorities, including easing business regulations, attracting responsible investment, and promoting public-private partnerships to drive growth. He emphasized transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures as foundations of democratic governance. The government plans to expand vocational education, introduce a third language in curricula, and extend preventive healthcare to rural areas to ensure equitable development.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s position at a critical juncture, the prime minister said the goal is to build a diversified, technology-driven, and sustainable economy that empowers women, creates jobs, and fosters entrepreneurship. He also urged support for Bangladesh’s candidate, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, for the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly session for 2026–27.

Indian drug syndicates have changed tactics as Bangladeshi law enforcement tightens control over Phensedyl smuggling. According to the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), three new codeine-based syrups—Bronokof C, Choco Plus, and Win Corex—are being produced in at least ten Indian border districts and trafficked into eight Bangladeshi frontier districts. Though some shipments have been seized, the syrups remain largely unrecognized as narcotics, raising concern among authorities.

DNC officials said the syrups contain codeine phosphate, the same addictive ingredient found in Phensedyl, and are being relabeled and exported despite being banned in India. The agency has identified 62 factories and 374 traffickers involved, and plans to formally request India to shut down the production centers. Border Guard Bangladesh has intensified surveillance, but officials admit earlier appeals to India yielded little progress.

Recent intelligence reports warn that Bronokof C is spreading fastest through Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, while Win Corex is entering through Jessore. Experts caution that the lower price and easy availability of these syrups could worsen addiction among youth if cross-border coordination does not improve.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance has announced preparations to play a constructive and responsible opposition role in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. Following the February 17 oath-taking of its 77 members, Jamaat Amir and Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared the party’s intention to support government initiatives that serve national interests while opposing actions deemed harmful to the people. The alliance aims to replace confrontational politics with a positive, issue-based approach both inside and outside parliament.

Jamaat has already organized training sessions for its newly elected MPs to familiarize them with parliamentary procedures, committee functions, and legislative responsibilities. The sessions, held on February 18–19 in Dhaka, were designed to prepare members for effective participation in debates, bill reviews, and oversight activities. Party leaders, including Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and MPs Mufti Amir Hamza and Kamal Hossain, emphasized their commitment to constructive politics and public service.

The alliance’s leadership stated that their goal is to establish a culture of responsible opposition similar to that seen in developed democracies, ensuring that parliament becomes a meaningful center for national dialogue and accountability.

The Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) has developed two new Aman rice varieties named 'BINA Dhan-27' and 'BINA Dhan-28', marking a new milestone in the country’s rice research. The varieties were officially approved for nationwide cultivation at the 115th meeting of the National Seed Board held at the Ministry of Agriculture. With these additions, BINA’s total number of developed rice varieties has reached 28.

'BINA Dhan-27' is the country’s first high-yielding Aman rice resistant to blast disease, incorporating two effective resistance genes, Pi9 and Pish. The variety grows 95–100 centimeters tall, resists lodging in strong winds, and yields six to 6.5 tons per hectare on average, reaching up to seven tons under favorable conditions. 'BINA Dhan-28' is a zinc-enriched, aromatic, medium-slender rice developed through marker-assisted backcrossing, containing 24.83 milligrams of zinc per kilogram.

Researchers said 'BINA Dhan-28' matures in 120–125 days, yields about 6.5 tons per hectare, and produces fluffy, tasty rice with 27.42% amylose content. BINA officials believe these varieties will enhance farmers’ income, improve nutritional security, and reduce production costs.

Long queues formed at petrol pumps across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet and Rajshahi, as consumers rushed to buy fuel amid fears of supply disruption and price hikes linked to the ongoing Middle East war. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) imposed limits on daily fuel sales by vehicle type to prevent artificial shortages, assuring that national reserves remain sufficient. Some pumps temporarily closed due to excessive demand, while others restricted sales per customer.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud urged the public not to panic, saying fuel stocks and supply are stable. State Minister for Energy Anindya Islam Amit announced that a rationing system for fuel sales would begin Sunday to ensure long-term stability. BPC reiterated that no government decision had been made to raise prices and warned against overcharging.

The surge in demand followed reports of regional conflict after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, which led to retaliatory strikes and closure of the Hormuz Strait. Authorities expect the situation to normalize soon as imports and domestic distribution continue under regular schedules.

Climate change has become a harsh daily reality for Bangladesh, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. Rising global temperatures are directly and indirectly affecting rivers, agriculture, forests, biodiversity, and human life. The country’s northwestern Barind region is already showing early signs of dryness and desertification, prompting warnings from international climate and desertification researchers that the area may gradually turn into a desert.

In response, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has set four key criteria for assessing climate impacts: identifying the most affected populations, determining regions most prone to natural disasters, evaluating population exposure to risk, and reviewing adaptation measures taken by affected areas or countries. Based on these indicators, Bangladesh is now facing a multidimensional crisis encompassing environmental, social, and economic challenges.

The situation underscores the urgency for comprehensive adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable ecosystems such as the Sundarbans and safeguard communities from escalating climate threats.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka has canceled 245 flights between February 28 and March 6, 2026, following temporary airspace closures in several Middle Eastern countries. The closures were triggered by retaliatory attacks involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. On Friday alone, 33 flights were canceled, according to airport authorities.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) reported that flight cancellations began on February 28, with 23 flights canceled that day, followed by 40 on March 1, 46 on March 2, 39 on March 3, 28 on March 4, and 36 on March 5. The affected flights included routes operated by Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Air Arabia, Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, US-Bangla Airlines, Gulf Air, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and Emirates.

Authorities have not indicated when normal flight operations will resume, as the situation depends on developments in Middle Eastern airspace restrictions.

NCP chief organizer and Comilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah emphasized the need to ensure desired healthcare services at the grassroots level during a visit to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex on Friday. Speaking to journalists after inspecting the facility and attending a health committee meeting—the first in 17 years—he said the hospital faces shortages of doctors, staff, and equipment. The last such meeting was held in 2009, and he announced that meetings will now be held in the first week of every month.

Abdullah noted that the 50-bed hospital often accommodates over 100 inpatients daily and sees about 1,000 patients per day, with only five active doctors. He highlighted issues such as inadequate residential facilities for doctors, insufficient sanitation staff, and limited medical equipment including ECG and digital X-ray machines. Decisions were made to address these problems and to recruit more doctors and cleaners.

He added that two new doctors will join on Sunday and that the hospital building will be rebuilt into a four-story structure with a six-crore taka allocation expected by 2029.

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) announced that the government has not yet made any decision to increase fuel prices amid the current crisis. The statement, signed by BPC Secretary Shahina Sultana and issued on Friday, emphasized that fuel must be sold at government-fixed prices and that charging extra under the pretext of crisis is a legal offense. It also noted that fuel prices are set by the government at the beginning of each month.

The BPC further stated that reports have emerged of some consumers attempting to stockpile fuel by purchasing more than necessary from dealers and filling stations. The matter has come to the attention of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and other relevant authorities. To reduce public fear, the BPC assured that fuel imports and distribution across the country are continuing as scheduled, with regular shipments arriving and supplies being sent to depots by rail wagons and tankers.

The corporation expressed hope that a sufficient buffer stock of fuel will be established in the country within a short period.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that achieving a global standard in information sharing is essential for delivering modern government services. He stated that such progress would allow talent to flourish even at the village level. The minister made these remarks on Friday while addressing an iftar gathering organized by the Dhaka Reporters Unity, where the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli was also present.

Swapan noted that information sharing currently operates through a hybrid system and that in today’s device-based society, the exchange of information has become much more extensive. He emphasized the need for regular consultations with journalists to address issues facing the media sector.

The minister added that solving media-related problems requires a proper understanding of their structure, comparing it to diagnosing and treating an illness. He urged journalists to submit specific proposals to help resolve their professional challenges.

A sudden rush for fuel gripped Sylhet city on Thursday night and Friday as rumors spread that global tensions in the Middle East could trigger a rise in fuel prices. Long queues formed at petrol pumps, with many buyers attempting to stock up on petrol, octane, and diesel. Some stations began rationing fuel, limiting sales to 200 taka per motorcycle. Dealers said the panic buying created an artificial shortage, though supplies remained adequate and normal distribution was expected to resume by Sunday.

Fuel traders and pump owners confirmed that the government had fixed prices for March—diesel at 100 taka, kerosene at 112, petrol at 116, and octane at 120 taka per liter—and no price increase was planned mid-month. They urged consumers not to crowd stations unnecessarily, noting that depots remain closed on weekends, which temporarily constrained supply.

Officials from the Sylhet division’s petrol pump owners’ association and the national petroleum dealers’ body reiterated that there was no actual shortage and appealed for patience until regular supply resumes.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, visited petrol pumps in Dhaka’s Asad Gate area on Friday, March 6, 2026, following a sudden increase in fuel demand. The surge came amid rumors about supply disruptions and price hikes linked to the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. During his inspection, the minister urged citizens not to purchase or store extra fuel, assuring that the country has sufficient reserves and that supply remains stable.

He emphasized that there is no reason for panic and that the government is closely monitoring the situation to ensure steady distribution. The minister also called on drivers and the general public to avoid spreading unnecessary fear regarding fuel availability. His visit aimed to raise awareness and counter misinformation circulating in the market.

Authorities reiterated that fuel supply across Bangladesh remains normal and that the government is maintaining constant oversight to prevent any artificial crisis.

Production at the Ghorashal-Polash Urea Fertilizer Factory in Narsingdi has been suspended due to the ongoing gas shortage in Bangladesh. The environmentally friendly plant, one of Southeast Asia’s major urea producers, stopped operations at 3 p.m. on March 4, 2026. The shutdown has sparked fears of fertilizer shortages during the peak Boro rice cultivation season. Built at a cost of about Tk 15,000 crore, the plant began operations in 2024 with a daily capacity of 2,800 metric tons of urea.

According to factory officials, the plant had been running at full capacity since its inauguration, producing 2,846 metric tons in the last 24 hours before closure. The facility requires 71–72 MMCFD of gas for continuous production but can operate with 52–53 MMCFD. Currently, about 525,000 metric tons of fertilizer remain in storage. Authorities have not confirmed when production will resume, as gas supply remains uncertain.

The factory management expressed hope that gas supply will be restored soon to resume production and maintain timely loan installment payments derived from fertilizer sales.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam stated that although political leadership has changed in Bangladesh, the lives of ordinary people have not improved. Speaking at an iftar event organized by Khelafat Majlis at Fars Hotel and Resorts in Dhaka’s Paltan area on Friday evening, he remarked that the country’s leadership now ends speeches with 'Bangladesh Zindabad' instead of 'Joy Bangla', symbolizing only a shift in party dominance rather than real progress.

Nahid Islam alleged that incidents of violence against women and rape have increased across the country since the BNP formed the government. He cited a case in Noakhali’s Hatiya, where a woman was allegedly assaulted for voting for the Shapla symbol. He criticized civil society and women’s rights activists for remaining silent on these issues.

He emphasized that despite others’ silence, the National Citizen Party will continue to speak out for people’s rights. Senior NCP leaders, including chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari and spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, attended the event.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that the July uprising would be defended even at the cost of life. Speaking as chief guest at an iftar event organized by Khelafat Majlis at Fars Hotel and Resorts in Dhaka, he said the survival of the interim government, national election, and newly formed administration depended on preserving the July spirit. He pledged unity to protect the July ideals and prevent any return to fascism or impunity.

Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, presiding over the event, accused the new government of engaging in divisive politics over the July Charter and referendum. He warned that attempts to politicize the referendum through the courts would have serious consequences. Azad urged the government to honor its commitments as a signatory to the July Charter and to introduce a bill in the first parliamentary session to form a constitutional reform council.

Azad also condemned attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, calling for global solidarity with Iran and unity among Muslim nations against aggression.