Law enforcement authorities in Rangpur have arrested two local leaders affiliated with the BNP’s associate organizations in connection with an attack and death threats against a cable business operator. The detainees are Murad Kayser Mithun, general secretary of the Rangpur district Tanti Dal, and Tamjidur Rashid Galib, assistant secretary of the district Jubo Dal. Police confirmed the arrests on Monday night, stating that Galib was detained by RAB-13 from his home in Kamal Kachna, while Mithun was arrested by the Detective Branch from Nurpur.

The arrests follow a violent incident on Sunday evening at the Cable One office near Rangpur Press Club, where a group allegedly attacked staff and issued death threats over control of a cable feed. The dispute reportedly involved attempts to transfer feed ownership from Awami League councillor Harunur Rashid to Jubo Dal leader Galib. Cable One filed two separate cases with Kotwali police, leading to the arrests. Following the incident’s viral footage, the Jubo Dal central committee expelled Monu and Galib from all party positions.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between political groups over control of local cable feed operations in Rangpur.

Bangladesh Railway has started selling advance train tickets ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. The sale began on Tuesday at 8 a.m. with tickets for March 13 for westbound trains, marking the start of the nationwide ticketing process. According to the railway schedule, tickets for March 14 to 19 will be sold sequentially from March 4 to March 9.

All tickets for Eid travel are being sold exclusively online this year. To make ticket purchases more convenient for passengers, Bangladesh Railway has decided that tickets for intercity trains operating in the western region will be available from 8 a.m., while those for the eastern region will go on sale from 2 p.m.

The initiative aims to streamline the ticketing process and manage the high passenger demand during the Eid travel period, ensuring smoother operations across both regions.

Two senior officials heading key financial and insurance regulatory bodies in Bangladesh resigned on the same day. Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, chairman of state-owned Sonali Bank, and Dr. M Aslam Alam, chairman of the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), submitted their resignations to Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek. Additionally, Mohammad Zainul Bari, chairman of the General Insurance Corporation, also stepped down. Officials confirmed that the resignations were submitted separately and cited personal reasons.

Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury had previously served as Comptroller and Auditor General and as finance secretary before joining Sonali Bank, where he resigned only a few months into his tenure. Mohammad Zainul Bari, a former secretary, had been appointed chairman of the General Insurance Corporation in September 2024 for a three-year term by the interim government, after earlier serving as IDRA chairman. Dr. M Aslam Alam, a former senior secretary, was appointed IDRA chairman in September 2024 following the July uprising.

The simultaneous resignations leave key financial and insurance regulatory positions vacant, raising questions about upcoming leadership appointments.

Thirteen teachers, officers, and employees of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur have been accused of securing jobs using fake academic certificates and falsified experience records. All of them are reportedly affiliated with the ruling Awami League. Despite long-standing allegations, no administrative action was taken, prompting the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to open an investigation. The university’s registrar, Dr. Harun Ar Rashid, began verifying documents after media reports exposed irregularities and found significant discrepancies in several employees’ credentials.

According to the registrar’s report, the accused include staff from various departments such as physical education, geography, central stores, and the library. Some allegedly joined as early as 2009 using forged certificates or political recommendations. Senior university officials claimed that the vice-chancellor, Shawkat Ali, ignored the issue and showed favoritism toward the accused. The vice-chancellor denied the allegations, saying the ACC was already handling the matter. ACC’s Rangpur deputy director confirmed that a report had been received and that verification was underway.

The ACC stated that further details would be disclosed after the verification process concludes.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that default loans in the banking sector dropped sharply in the last quarter of 2025, mainly due to large-scale loan rescheduling and policy support ahead of the national election. Between October and December, default loans fell by Tk 87,298 crore to Tk 557,217 crore, representing 30.60 percent of total loans. Three months earlier, the figure stood at Tk 644,515 crore or 35.73 percent.

Officials said banks typically intensify recovery efforts at the end of the year to improve financial statements, while the central bank’s policy allowed extensive rescheduling. Under this support, Tk 26,114 crore in default loans were regularized. The interim government’s disclosure of the true loan situation after the previous Awami League administration revealed a higher default rate, prompting new measures to reduce it.

Sector-wise, state-owned banks held Tk 146,108 crore in defaults, private banks Tk 389,579 crore, foreign banks Tk 2,984 crore, and specialized banks Tk 18,546 crore. Provision shortfall also declined to Tk 191,441 crore from Tk 344,231 crore over the same period, indicating improved balance sheet conditions.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned visit to Bogura on March 10 to inaugurate the ‘Family Card’ distribution program has been postponed. The decision was confirmed on March 3 by Bogura Deputy Commissioner Toufiqur Rahman and district BNP President Rezaul Karim Badsha. The visit was cancelled due to the upcoming by-election in the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency, scheduled for April 9.

Rezaul Karim Badsha explained that holding the Family Card event during the election period could raise allegations of violating electoral rules. He said the Prime Minister decided to postpone the visit to remain within legal boundaries. Deputy Commissioner Toufiqur Rahman added that a new date for the program would be announced later.

Tarique Rahman had earlier won both the Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 seats in the 13th national election but vacated the Bogura-6 seat before taking oath, prompting the Election Commission to declare it vacant and schedule the by-election. BNP has nominated Rezaul Karim Badsha as its candidate, while other parties have also submitted nominations.

Seven additional flights were canceled at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport on March 3, 2026, as airfields in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Doha remained closed due to the ongoing war situation in the Middle East following a joint attack by Israel and the United States on Iran. The airport’s public relations officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, confirmed the cancellations in a press release issued in the morning.

According to the statement, the canceled flights included one arrival from Biman Bangladesh Airlines, one departure and one arrival from US-Bangla Airlines, and two departures and two arrivals from Air Arabia. Since February 28, a total of 35 international flights have been canceled at Shah Amanat Airport due to the regional conflict.

Meanwhile, Salam Air’s flight OV-401 from Muscat landed at 8:05 a.m. and departed again for Muscat at 9:15 a.m., while Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ flight BG-138 from Madinah arrived at 8:45 a.m. and left for Dhaka at 9:30 a.m.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haque, Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, on Tuesday morning at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. During the courtesy meeting, they exchanged greetings and discussed matters related to the Coast Guard’s activities.

The Prime Minister praised the dedication and professionalism of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, highlighting their continuous efforts to maintain peace, security, and public service in coastal and riverine areas. He instructed the force to continue its humanitarian and disaster response work for the welfare of the people. The Coast Guard chief briefed the Prime Minister on various ongoing development initiatives.

Tarique Rahman assured that the government would maintain the continuity of development and directed the Coast Guard to remain fully prepared to safeguard the country’s sovereignty.

The High Court of Bangladesh on Tuesday issued a rule asking why the July National Charter Implementation Order and the Referendum Ordinance should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice Razik Al Jalil and Justice Md Anwarul Islam Shahin also sought an explanation on why the oath of members of the Constitutional Reform Council should not be considered invalid. The Cabinet Secretary, Law Secretary, National Consensus Commission, and Chief Election Commissioner have been directed to respond within four weeks.

Senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim and Syed Mamun Mahbub represented the petitioners, while senior lawyers Mohammad Hossain Lipu, Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddiqui, and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir opposed the petitions. The rule follows separate writ petitions filed on Monday challenging the legality of the July National Charter Implementation Order, the Referendum Ordinance, and the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council members.

Earlier, on February 18, another public interest writ was filed by Advocate Yunus Ali Akand seeking cancellation of the July National Charter and suspension of its effectiveness, naming the same government officials and bodies as respondents.

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.

A seven-year-old girl who was found with her throat slit inside the Botanical Garden and Ecopark in Sitakunda, Chattogram, has died. She passed away early Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in the intensive care unit of Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Doctors confirmed that the child had been raped and sustained severe injuries, including deep cuts to her throat and thighs.

The girl had undergone surgery on Sunday night and was later moved to the One-Stop Crisis Centre, where her condition worsened. Her uncle confirmed her death, saying she had briefly communicated through gestures before her condition deteriorated. Police said she was rescued from a remote hilly area of the park on Monday afternoon and first taken to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex before being transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

The victim’s mother filed a case with Sitakunda Police Station on March 1, accusing unidentified persons of abduction and attempted murder. Police stated that the case will now be treated as a murder investigation.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) launched a coordinated operation named 'S Drive' at midnight on Sunday to curb terrorism, drug trafficking, extortion, gambling, and juvenile gang activities across the city. The operation was announced publicly half an hour before it began, raising concerns about its secrecy and effectiveness. According to CMP Assistant Commissioner (Media) Aminur Rashid, police recovered a rusted firearm, several knives, shotgun cartridges, and about 400 yaba tablets.

The operation came just hours after masked gunmen armed with heavy weapons fired 20 rounds at the residence of Smart Group Chairman Mostafizur Rahman, evading police security. None of the attackers or major gang members have been arrested. Security analysts said the limited seizures contrast sharply with the scale of the armed assault, suggesting the drive was more symbolic than strategic. They also criticized the lack of intelligence coordination, noting that police appeared unaware of the gang’s movements before the attack.

CMP officials defended the timing and coordination of the operation, but analysts questioned the effectiveness of police checkpoints and intelligence surveillance, as heavily armed criminals moved freely within the city.

Bangladesh Railways has decided to continue selling 25 percent standing (non-seat) tickets in addition to regular seat tickets for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr travel period. The decision was made to accommodate increased passenger demand during the holiday season. Authorities have instructed that standing ticket holders will not be allowed to travel in air-conditioned or first-class compartments.

The decision came from a preparatory meeting held on Monday at the Rail Bhaban on Abdul Gani Road in Dhaka. The meeting addressed issues such as maintaining law and order, preventing sabotage, and curbing ticket black marketing during Eid travel. It was also announced that mobile courts will be deployed to detect ticketless passengers, stop black market activities, and prevent rooftop travel.

Additional instructions were issued to ensure that ticketless passengers cannot enter major stations like Kamalapur and Dhaka Airport. If any train is delayed, the number of designated seats on platforms will be increased to allow waiting passengers to sit safely.

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee announced that the government aims to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across Bangladesh within the next five years, fulfilling an electoral commitment. He stated that visible progress has already been achieved within days of forming the government and expressed confidence that the target could be met within the current term. The minister made these remarks on Monday in Sripur, Gazipur, after inspecting the historic Chowkka canal and addressing a gathering organized jointly by the upazila and municipal BNP units.

Anee described the canal excavation initiative as a revolutionary movement inspired by former President Ziaur Rahman’s efforts to support farmers. He lamented that many canals had deteriorated due to neglect and encroachment. The minister also noted that agricultural loans of up to 10,000 taka had been waived nationwide, totaling about 1,500 crore taka, to encourage farmers. He emphasized that agriculture remains central to Bangladesh’s economy and that the government intends to create employment opportunities and boost crop production.

Senior officials from the Water Resources Ministry, local BNP leaders, and members of the Water Development Board attended the event.

The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) organized an iftar gathering at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment on Monday to mark the holy month of Ramadan. The event was attended by State Minister for Sports Aminul Haque, chiefs of the army, navy, and air force, and other senior officials. BOA President and Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman extended Ramadan greetings and emphasized collective efforts for the advancement of the country’s sports sector.

In his address, General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that the BOA has undertaken an initiative to establish an international-standard sports complex with modern facilities in Trishal, Mymensingh, aiming to develop world-class athletes and host global competitions. The State Minister for Sports also spoke briefly about the government’s commitment and plans for national sports development.

Members of the BOA executive committee and general council, officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Council, senior serving and retired armed forces officers, and representatives from various national sports federations attended the event.