An interdepartmental committee of the Chattogram district administration conducted an on-site inspection at GPH Ispat Limited in Sitakunda to investigate allegations of environmental pollution, hill stream filling, and encroachment on government roads and water channels. The seven-member committee, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Sakhawat Jamil Soikat, visited the factory and surrounding areas for several hours on Wednesday.

Local residents alleged that GPH Ispat has long occupied government roads and natural water flow paths between Kumira and Banshbaria unions, causing persistent waterlogging in several villages and severe disruption to public movement. They also complained about noise pollution from high-decibel machinery. Despite repeated complaints to local and district authorities, no resolution had been achieved until the committee was formed in November last year.

Assistant Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun stated that the team inspected multiple points for about one and a half hours to verify claims of stream filling and road occupation. The findings will be compiled and submitted to senior officials for further action.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Jahir Uddin Swapon announced that the President’s upcoming address to the first session of the National Parliament, scheduled to begin on March 12, will reflect the government’s welfare-oriented initiatives. He said the speech will particularly emphasize key programs such as the Family Card, Farmer Card, and agricultural loan waivers.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday, March 5, after a Cabinet meeting, the minister explained that the Cabinet has prepared to ensure the government’s initiatives are properly represented in the President’s address. Discussions also covered the implementation of various promises and programs already undertaken by the government.

Swapon added that the Prime Minister will soon convene a meeting with relevant ministries to discuss the global war situation, with the finance, power, and energy ministers expected to attend. Regarding public uncertainty over Eid holidays, he said the Cabinet Secretary will provide official information on the matter.

Ahsan Ullah has resigned from his position as Adviser to the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. According to the report, he submitted his resignation letter to the new governor on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. His decision came shortly after the appointment of a new governor, which followed the removal of Ahsan H. Mansur on February 25.

The report states that Ahsan Ullah faced internal criticism from several senior officials on the day the new governor was appointed. He cited this pressure as the reason for his resignation and did not return to the office afterward. The government appointed Mostakur Rahman as the new governor on the same day Ahsan H. Mansur left the central bank. Rahman is described as a businessman and a member of the BNP’s election management committee.

The leadership reshuffle at Bangladesh Bank has drawn attention amid reports of growing tension and concerns about the country’s economic situation, as noted by experts in the same publication.

Former administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Mohammad Ejaz, has clarified reports about the city’s treasury being empty. In a Facebook post on Thursday, March 5, 2026, he stated that upon handing over his responsibilities on February 10, 2026, he left more than Tk 1,260 crore in the DNCC fund. He said the amount was distributed across 26 accounts of the corporation.

Ejaz explained that he had served as administrator for a one-year contractual term and completed his tenure by leaving what he described as a financially strong DNCC. He emphasized that the city corporation was in a sound financial position when he departed.

In his post, Ejaz also expressed optimism that the current DNCC team would continue to perform well and contribute to building a better Dhaka.

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued an urgent directive for candidates whose nominations were suspended in the 48th BCS (Special) Examination 2025. According to a notice released on Thursday, March 5, 2026, these candidates must submit their BMDC certificates by filling out a mandatory Google form between March 5 and March 31.

The PSC stated that even those who have already submitted hard copies of their certificates must also complete the online form. Applications from suspended nominees will not be accepted after March 31. The 48th BCS (Special) written examination was held on July 18 of the previous year, and the final results were published on September 11. A total of 2,820 candidates were nominated for the post of Assistant Surgeon and 300 for Assistant Dental Surgeon.

The directive aims to finalize pending nominations and ensure all required documentation is properly submitted within the specified timeframe.

Road Transport, Bridges, Rail and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam stated that collecting money for welfare funds by registered and legal owners’ or workers’ associations cannot be considered extortion. He made the remarks at a press conference following a meeting on Eid travel preparations at the Secretariat on Thursday afternoon. The minister emphasized that no unethical benefits will be allowed during the Eid travel period.

Responding to questions about whether the government is legitimizing extortion in the transport sector, the minister clarified that if any unregistered or unauthorized group collects money arbitrarily, it will be treated as extortion and immediate action will be taken. He added that all relevant agencies, transport associations, and law enforcement bodies have been holding meetings to ensure safe and comfortable Eid travel. The minister warned that no extra fares or roadside extortion will be tolerated.

Sheikh Robiul Alam also said that about 15 million people are expected to leave Dhaka within two to three days before Eid, posing a major challenge. Authorities will remain more active than ever, with coordinated preparations, additional BRTC buses, and staggered factory holidays to ease travel pressure.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon has directed officials of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) to ensure that teachers from different regions do not have to visit multiple offices unnecessarily to resolve administrative matters. He issued the directive while addressing a meeting with DSHE officials at the directorate’s auditorium on Thursday afternoon.

The minister emphasized the need for timely resolution of teachers’ salary, pension, leave, transfer, training, and higher education issues. He called for the introduction of digital automation and modern methods to make service delivery faster and more efficient. To ensure transparency and eliminate lobbying in transfer processes, he instructed the adoption of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based software system.

Dr. Milon also urged the creation of a digital platform to help service seekers identify the appropriate desk or officer for their issues. He encouraged open discussion and cooperation among officials to build a more effective and transparent administrative environment. DSHE officials raised some limitations of the current online systems, and the minister instructed that these be resolved promptly.

Popular television presenter and producer Hanif Sanket and renowned singer Bashir Ahmed (posthumously) have been named recipients of Bangladesh’s highest civilian honor, the Independence Award 2026. The award recognizes individuals and institutions for their distinguished contributions at the national level. The final list of awardees was approved on Thursday, March 5, during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tareque Rahman at the Secretariat, according to Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani.

The list places A.K.M. Hanif (Hanif Sanket) at number seven and Bashir Ahmed at number eight. Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female head of government, will also receive the award posthumously for her contributions to independence, democracy, and women’s education. The Independence Award, instituted in 1977, is presented annually on March 26 to honor the memory of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.

The recognition underscores the government’s continued effort to honor individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to national life and development.

The Government of Bangladesh has introduced changes to the official protocol followed during the Prime Minister’s foreign departures and returns. According to a regulation signed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Nasimul Gani under the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday, March 5, 2026, only four officials will now be present at the airport during these occasions. They include the senior-most minister of the cabinet, the Chief Whip of the National Parliament, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Previously, the protocol required attendance from cabinet members, chiefs of the armed forces, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new directive marks a significant reduction in the number of officials involved in these ceremonial proceedings.

The change reflects a formal decision by the government to streamline state protocol during the Prime Minister’s official and state visits abroad and upon return to the country.

Global digital operator VEON Limited has partnered with the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation to jointly finance innovative digital projects in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The agreement was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed during the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Present at the signing were GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officer and Foundation President John Giusti, Jazz CEO Amir Ibrahim, and Banglalink CEO Erik Aas.

Under the agreement, Jazz and Banglalink will co-finance selected Bangladeshi and Pakistani startups during the 2026 funding round. In addition to financial support, VEON and its subsidiaries will contribute to ecosystem development and capacity building, enabling selected ventures to expand more rapidly.

The GSMA Innovation Fund identifies and supports startups in developing countries that address socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Projects are selected through a transparent and competitive process following each funding round announcement, with final selections made after rigorous evaluation by the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation.

Three officials, including Toyota Bangladesh Managing Director Premit Singh, have been granted bail after surrendering before a Dhaka court in a case alleging fraud and breach of trust. The other two officials are Akio Ogawa, Vice President of Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific, and Asif Rahman, General Manager of Toyota Tsusho Corporation. The bail was granted on March 5, 2026, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam, with each posting a bond of 1,000 taka.

The case was filed on July 9, 2025, by Shafiul Islam on behalf of Navana Limited, accusing the officials of engaging in fraudulent activities that harmed Navana’s business interests. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly presented biased reports on market conditions and performance to undermine Navana’s exclusive distributorship of Toyota vehicles in Bangladesh. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) later confirmed the allegations in its report.

The PBI report stated that the accused intentionally delayed vehicle production and withheld mandatory manufacturer invoices, disrupting Navana’s import and supply operations and causing financial and reputational damage to the company.

The Cabinet Division has issued an 11-point directive instructing all government offices to conserve electricity and fuel amid the current global crisis. The circular, sent on Thursday to all senior secretaries, divisional commissioners, and deputy commissioners, mandates that air conditioners be set at 25 degrees Celsius or above and that all decorative lighting be avoided. It also calls for responsible energy use by officials and employees across government, autonomous, statutory, and corporate offices.

The directive emphasizes maximizing natural light during daytime, using only half of existing lighting, and switching off unnecessary electrical devices such as fans, air conditioners, and computers when not in use. It further requires that all electrical equipment be turned off after office hours and that energy-efficient devices be prioritized. The use of official vehicles should be limited to save fuel.

The Cabinet Division requested all relevant authorities to ensure that these measures are implemented across their respective offices and agencies to promote national energy conservation.

The government of Bangladesh has announced that bus operators charging fares above the approved rate will have their route permits canceled. The decision was made at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, when around 15 million people are expected to travel from Dhaka to rural areas. The measures aim to ensure smooth and safe travel during the holiday period.

Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam said that heavy vehicles will be banned on highways from three days before Eid until three days after. Mobile courts will monitor fare compliance, prevent extortion, and enforce road discipline. Repairs on national highways and key city roads must be completed ten days before Eid, and 207 traffic congestion points identified by highway police will be addressed in advance.

The government will also install CCTV and searchlights at five major Dhaka terminals and link them to control rooms. Additional steps include banning unfit vehicles, preventing overloading, keeping toll plazas operational, and ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply during the holiday period.

A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for Abdur Razzak Bin Sulaiman Riyad, former leader of the anti-discrimination student movement, in connection with an attempted murder case filed at Gulshan Police Station. The order was issued on Thursday, 5 February, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah. The court rejected both remand and bail petitions for three other accused—Presidency University students Md. Riyadul Hawlader, Md. Alif Ahmed Ashiq, and Sayem Shikder—and ordered them to be sent to jail.

According to the case statement, the incident occurred on 26 February at Presidency University, where the accused allegedly attacked student Nirjon Sardar Bandhan following a prior dispute. Riyad is accused of instructing others to assault the victim, who sustained serious injuries. Police arrested the suspects that night, and they were initially sent to jail on 27 February. Investigators later sought a five-day remand, leading to the current court hearing.

The case remains under investigation by Gulshan Police, with further proceedings expected following the remand period.

The government of Bangladesh has decided to confer the 2026 Independence Award on former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 19 other individuals and institutions for their contributions to nation-building. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani announced the decision on Thursday, March 5, following a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat. The award, the country’s highest civilian honor, recognizes outstanding contributions in various fields of national life.

According to the announcement, Khaleda Zia, a three-time former prime minister and BNP chairperson, has been selected posthumously for her contributions to independence, democracy, and women’s education. In total, 15 individuals and 5 organizations will receive the award this year. The Independence Award, also known as the Independence Day Award, has been presented annually since 1977 to honor exceptional service to the nation.

The award commemorates the martyrs of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War and is traditionally presented on March 26, the country’s Independence Day.