Journalists in Kishoreganj formed a human chain on Friday, March 6, 2026, protesting a violent attack on two reporters who were covering news related to the auction at the historic Pagla Mosque. The demonstration took place at Akhra Bazar in the district town, where participants demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.

The injured journalists were Khairul Alam Faisal of Channel 24 and Faizul Islam Bhuiyan Pinku of Global Television. According to reports, a syndicate allegedly involved in buying mosque-donated items at low prices attacked the journalists when they went to gather information. The victims were rescued by mosque Ansar members and taken to hospital. Later, Pinku filed an attempted murder case naming eight individuals and several unidentified others.

Police confirmed that two suspects, Jibon and Mona, have been detained, and efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining accused. Authorities expressed optimism about bringing all perpetrators to justice soon.

The Islamic University (IU) administration has declared a one-day mourning on Saturday, March 7, following the killing of Asma Sadia Runa, chairperson and assistant professor of the Department of Social Welfare. According to an emergency notice signed by Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Manjurul Haque on Thursday night, the decision was taken after Runa was stabbed to death in her office on Wednesday, March 4, allegedly by an employee of her department.

The notice stated that the university community is deeply shocked by the brutal killing of Asma Sadia Runa. All members of the university have been requested to wear black badges on the day of mourning as a mark of respect. In addition, the university administration organized a prayer session after Friday prayers at the central mosque for the salvation of the deceased teacher’s soul.

The university’s declaration of mourning reflects the institution’s collective grief and solidarity following the tragic incident within its campus.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a money laundering case against Jubo League leader and former ward councillor Md. Tajul (Taijul) Islam Chowdhury alias Bappi. The case, lodged on March 5 at Pallabi Police Station, accuses him of embezzling around Tk 2.5 crore through extortion and fraud in Dhaka’s Pallabi area. CID alleges that Tajul controlled transport, street markets, garment waste trading, and cable businesses to accumulate illicit wealth.

According to CID’s investigation, Tajul claimed to have earned Tk 3.83 crore between 2014 and 2024 from garment, fish, and brick businesses, while his declared assets and expenditures did not match his actual holdings worth Tk 4.27 crore. The agency found Tk 1.55 crore in unexplained wealth and identified his brick kiln in Bagerhat’s Morelganj as illegally established. CID also discovered falsified audit reports and concealed property values during land purchases.

CID stated that it continues to prioritize financial crime investigations and has frozen over Tk 6.33 lakh in Tajul’s bank accounts under court orders.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s Burn Unit senior nurse Nahida Akter Boby, aged 29, was found dead at a rented apartment in the capital’s Chankharpul area on the night of March 5. Police recovered her body hanging from a ceiling fan with a scarf. Investigators said the incident appears to be linked to prolonged domestic abuse, as three handwritten notes left by Nahida describe severe physical and mental torture allegedly inflicted by her husband Ilias and his family members.

In the notes, Nahida accused her husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law Sumi, and a relative named Shawkat Hossain of driving her to suicide through continuous humiliation and violence. She described being beaten “like a dog” and mentally harassed, while also detailing her husband’s extramarital affairs allegedly supported by his family. Nahida had previously filed a case in 2023 over similar abuse, after which Ilias was jailed but later reconciled with her.

Police said the suicide notes are being verified and efforts are underway to arrest the absconding husband. Nahida’s family is preparing to file a case for abetment of suicide.

The Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh reported that 447 people were killed and 1,181 injured in 448 road accidents across the country in February 2026. Additionally, 26 people died and 11 were injured in 34 railway accidents, while four died and five were injured in six waterway incidents. In total, 477 people were killed and 1,197 injured in 488 transport-related accidents nationwide. The report, signed by the association’s secretary general Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, was based on monitoring of national, regional, and online media.

The highest number of road accidents occurred in Dhaka Division with 113 incidents, resulting in 115 deaths and 387 injuries, while Barishal Division recorded the lowest with 22 accidents, 19 deaths, and 85 injuries. Motorcycles were involved in 33.7% of total accidents and accounted for 37.36% of fatalities. The report identified multiple causes, including poor road management, unregulated vehicles, lack of road signs, and reckless driving.

The association recommended measures such as improved driver training, digital enforcement of traffic laws, better road infrastructure, and the formation of a national expert task force to enhance road safety management.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar signed the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka on Friday to honor Iran’s late Supreme Religious Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During the signing, he conveyed deep condolences on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami to the government and people of Iran.

Porwar stated that influential Muslim religious leaders are always remembered with respect in the history of the Muslim Ummah. He prayed for divine mercy upon them and for patience and strength for those affected. Referring to ongoing global conflicts, he expressed sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and emphasized that no political goal can justify such deaths. He urged all parties to act with restraint, wisdom, and humanity.

He was accompanied by Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem Arman, foreign affairs adviser to Jamaat Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. They expressed solidarity with the people of Iran and the wider Muslim Ummah, praying for peace, prosperity, justice, and stability across the Middle East and the Muslim world.

In Haimchar upazila of Chandpur, cultivation of black cumin on previously fallow char lands has opened new opportunities for local farmers. Due to low production costs and high profitability within a short period, black cumin is now being called the 'black diamond' by farmers. According to the upazila agriculture office, cultivation has expanded from just one hectare last year to 18 hectares this year.

Farmers are growing the crop on sandy-loam soils after the rice harvest, supported by two government projects: the Modern Agricultural Technology Expansion Project in Bangladesh’s Char Areas and the Sustainable Agricultural Technology Expansion Project in the Cumilla region. These initiatives provide materials and technical assistance to farmers.

Officials noted that the soil’s pH level of 6.5 to 7.0 is ideal for black cumin cultivation. The Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Chandpur expressed optimism that with proper marketing systems, Haimchar could become a major production hub for black cumin in the future.

President Md. Shahabuddin stated that Bangladesh has returned to the path of democracy through the sacrifice of thousands of lives. He emphasized that to fulfill the aspirations of the martyrs, the nation must advance in knowledge, science, and technology while achieving economic self-reliance to build a self-sufficient Bangladesh.

Speaking on Friday morning at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka during the National Jute Day 2026 event, the President called on farmers to adopt advanced, high-yield cultivation methods for jute production. He urged entrepreneurs to innovate modern, quality, and user-friendly health products based on market demand and to take initiatives for producing and marketing affordable jute bags.

Addressing the young generation, the President encouraged them to strengthen the 'Made in Bangladesh' brand through startups and innovation, connecting with global e-commerce platforms to open new opportunities for the country.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a protest rally in Dhaka on Friday after the Juma prayers, demanding the arrest and interrogation of former advisers Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Dr. Khalilur Rahman. The party accuses them of manipulating the people's mandate through alleged election engineering. The demonstration will take place at the north gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolitan South.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar will attend the rally as the chief guest, alongside other central and metropolitan leaders. The information was confirmed by Ashraful Alam Imon, Assistant Media Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jamaat-e-Islami.

The protest is part of Jamaat’s ongoing political activities in the capital, reflecting its continued opposition stance and calls for accountability regarding alleged election irregularities.

A joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran has triggered widespread conflict across the Middle East, severely disrupting global energy and transport systems. Several sea and air routes have been closed, pushing up fuel prices and forcing shipping companies to reroute vessels. Sea-Land Shipping has already raised container transport charges on the China-Bangladesh route by USD 200–300 per 40-foot container, while other companies are preparing similar increases. Additional war surcharges are expected to be announced soon, threatening Bangladesh’s export and import sectors, especially the ready-made garment industry.

Sources report that the closure of the Hormuz Strait, a key energy transport route controlled by Iran, has left about 140 mother vessels carrying 350,000 containers stranded in the Gulf region. Shipping operators are reorganizing routes through longer paths such as the Cape of Good Hope, increasing costs by at least 35 percent and adding 12–15 days to delivery times. Air freight rates have also risen by up to USD 3.5 per kilogram, with airlines avoiding several Middle Eastern countries for safety reasons.

Industry representatives warn that rising freight costs could sharply increase export expenses, deepening the crisis for Bangladesh’s garment sector.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has called for the immediate formation of a constitutional reform council, warning that key state institutions are being systematically politicized. He made the remarks on Thursday evening at an iftar event in a Gulshan hotel, organized in honor of foreign diplomats to mark the NCP’s founding anniversary.

Nahid Islam alleged that the reform process promised under the July Charter has been disrupted, accusing the government of politicizing major state bodies such as Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission. He emphasized that the establishment of the reform council is clearly stated in the July Charter and urged the international community to take note of the situation. According to him, depoliticizing state institutions is essential to ensure they serve public welfare.

His statement reflects growing opposition concern over institutional neutrality and the pace of promised political reforms under the July Charter framework.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis central Naib-e-Ameer Maulana Rezaul Karim Jalali has called on the government to immediately implement the recently concluded referendum verdict and the July Charter. He made the remarks on Thursday, March 5, during a discussion, prayer, and iftar gathering organized by the party’s Sylhet district branch at Talotola in Sylhet city.

During the event, Jalali emphasized that the people of the country are eagerly waiting to see the implementation of the referendum verdict and the July Charter, warning that the public will not tolerate any delay. He also highlighted the spiritual significance of the holy month of Ramadan, describing it as the month of the Quran’s revelation and urging everyone to stay connected with the Quran for success in this world and the hereafter.

The meeting was presided over by Sylhet district president Maulana Muhammad Iqbal Hossain and attended by several senior leaders of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and allied parties, including former MP Maulana Advocate Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury and other local political and religious figures.

Police in Gazipur recovered the body of Kamruzzaman Molla, 65, vice president of the Citizens for Good Governance (Sujon) Gazipur district branch, who was found dead with his hands and feet tied and a rope around his neck. The body was discovered beside a road in the Dhirashram area under Gazipur Metropolitan’s Sadar Police Station. The incident was confirmed by Officer-in-Charge Aminul Islam on Thursday.

According to police and family members, Molla went missing on Wednesday after visiting the Gazipur court for a case-related matter. When he did not return home, relatives began searching for him. Later that night, locals found a body by the roadside, which was identified as Molla’s. His brother said he had no known disputes but suggested possible business-related enmity. Sujon’s general secretary described Molla as a responsible and active leader, while police suspect he was strangled before his body was dumped.

The body was sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Molla’s son filed a case, and police said the investigation is ongoing to uncover the motive and perpetrators.

Hasanat Abdullah, the chief organizer (southern region) of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and a member of parliament, has issued an apology after a video of him making objectionable comments about a senior BNP leader spread on social media. In a post on his verified Facebook account on Thursday night, he acknowledged the incident and expressed regret, noting that a child’s voice was also heard in the video, making the matter more sensitive.

Abdullah explained that the video had been recorded during the election period and was originally intended for a closed group, but it was later circulated widely online. He offered an unconditional apology, stating that such behavior was inappropriate and pledging to prevent similar incidents in the future. He emphasized the importance of maintaining decency and harmony in political discourse.

The NCP leader further stated that in post-fascist politics, personal attacks and the spread of hatred or hostility should not be tolerated, reaffirming his commitment to healthy, tolerant, and responsible political practices.

Road Transport, Bridges, Rail and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced that garment factories will grant holidays in phases ahead of Eid to prevent excessive travel pressure. He made the statement at a press conference following a meeting on Eid travel held at the Secretariat on Thursday afternoon. The minister emphasized that no unethical advantage or extortion will be tolerated during the holiday period, and any unregistered group collecting money from owners or workers will face immediate action.

The minister said that around 15 million people are expected to leave Dhaka within two to three days before Eid, posing a major challenge. To ensure smooth travel, all relevant agencies, transport owners, workers’ associations, and law enforcement bodies have been instructed to remain vigilant. He warned that any transport charging fares above the fixed rate would face penalties, including possible route permit cancellation.

Authorities will also control illegal parking, roadside stalls, and unfit vehicles on highways. The minister added that additional BRTC buses will be kept ready if needed to ensure passengers reach their destinations safely.