The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) carried out a raid at the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) office in Chattogram on Monday following allegations of embezzlement and irregularities in several ongoing development projects. An enforcement team from the ACC’s Chattogram office visited the executive engineer’s office to collect his statement regarding the complaints.

According to ACC sources, allegations were received concerning misappropriation of allocated funds and irregularities in project work in Hathazari, Karnaphuli, and Anwara upazilas under the Chattogram district. To verify the authenticity of these claims, the enforcement team has requested all relevant project records for review.

ACC Chattogram Deputy Director Subel Ahmed stated that after examining the documents, a report will be submitted to the commission within a short time.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that a database will be created to regulate media access to the Bangladesh Secretariat. Speaking at a meeting organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) in Dhaka on Monday, he said the government plans to issue one or more entry cards per media house to manage access efficiently. He added that accreditation cards would be provided under policy guidelines if any journalist is unfairly excluded.

Swapan explained that the initiative aims to simplify journalists’ entry procedures while maintaining security. He said discussions had been held with the Home Minister on easing the access system and that representatives from media organizations would be consulted before finalizing the plan. The minister emphasized that each media house should designate specific representatives for Secretariat coverage to ensure accountability and reduce unnecessary entry pressure.

He also noted that the new system would help the government maintain accurate records of which media houses send personnel to the Secretariat, improving coordination and transparency in press access management.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the party aims to build a compassionate society where everyone loves one another, regardless of familiarity. He made the remarks on Monday at an iftar event organized by the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Kakrail, Dhaka. The event was chaired by the federation’s central president A N M Shamusul Islam and conducted by general secretary Advocate Atikur Rahman.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that fear of Allah is essential for establishing such a humane society and called on the federation to work sincerely for the real welfare of workers. He urged both employers and workers to maintain proper relations, describing them as complementary to each other. He also criticized those who incite conflict for personal gain, saying such actions hinder social harmony and progress.

He further noted that the federation’s mission to protect workers’ rights has only just begun and encouraged continued efforts toward justice and mutual respect in society.

Newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Ali Hossain Fakir has issued a strict directive to all field-level police officers to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against extortion. Speaking on Monday, March 2, during an online meeting with district police superintendents from the Police Headquarters, he emphasized the need for firm action against snatching, extortion, and drug-related crimes.

The IGP instructed both highway and district police to intensify operations to curb extortion, robbery, and snatching on highways. He also directed measures to ensure safe and smooth travel for homebound people during the upcoming Eid, including preventing traffic congestion and ensuring passenger safety. Fakir urged officers to treat citizens respectfully at police stations so that they leave with satisfaction, stressing that no innocent person should face harassment.

He called on all district police superintendents to work in unity to build a safer Bangladesh. Senior officials, including additional IGPs, were present at the Police Headquarters during the meeting.

A preparatory meeting was held on Monday at the Rail Bhaban in Dhaka to ensure safe, smooth, and comfortable train travel for homebound passengers during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. The meeting focused on maintaining law and order, preventing sabotage, and curbing ticket black marketing. Sheikh Robiul Alam MP, Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping, gave necessary directives to the concerned authorities.

The meeting decided to continue selling an additional 25 percent of standing tickets beyond the fixed seat capacity, as in previous years. The minister instructed that standing ticket holders must not travel in air-conditioned or first-class compartments. Mobile courts will be deployed to detect ticketless passengers, prevent black marketing, and stop roof travel. Measures will also be taken to restrict entry of ticketless passengers at Kamalapur and Dhaka Airport stations.

The meeting, chaired by Railways Secretary Md. Fahimul Islam, was attended by senior officials including the Director General of Bangladesh Railway and state ministers Habibur Rashid MP and Md. Rajib Ahsan MP.

The prosecution has requested the International Crimes Tribunal-1 to formally frame charges and begin trial proceedings against former Food Minister Kamrul Islam and Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon in a case related to crimes against humanity during the July Revolution killings. The hearing took place on Monday before a two-member judicial panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumdar, with Justice Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as the other member.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam presented three charges against the accused, alleging that Kamrul and Menon incited the use of lethal weapons and curfews against unarmed students and civilians to sustain the Sheikh Hasina government. The prosecution claimed that their actions led to shootings in areas including Badda between July 19 and August 5, 2024, resulting in killings for which they bear superior command responsibility.

Following the hearing, the defense sought more time, and the tribunal scheduled the next hearing for March 11. Both accused, arrested in 2024, were brought from prison to the tribunal for the session.

Indian Assistant High Commissioner to Sylhet, Aniruddha Das, visited the Sri-Sri Ramakrishna Sevashram in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, on Monday, March 2, 2026. Following his visit, he attended a meeting with the Sevashram’s executive committee as the chief guest. During the event, he highlighted the Ramakrishna Mission’s role in promoting non-communal values, education, and moral principles through humanitarian activities, and noted its contribution to strengthening cultural and spiritual ties between Bangladesh and India.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Nibas Chandra Pal, president of the Sevashram’s executive committee, and conducted by Dipshikha Dhar, vice-president of Sreemangal Sarada Samiti. Rajesh Bhatia, Second Secretary (PIC&E) at the Indian Assistant High Commission in Sylhet, attended as a special guest and praised the Mission’s service-oriented initiatives, expressing hope for their continuation. Other committee leaders, including General Secretary Nirmalendu Bhattacharya, were also present.

At the end of the discussion, both guests were honored with crests and traditional scarves. The Assistant High Commissioner also toured various Mission activities and exchanged views with members.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir met with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Dhaka for a courtesy call at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday. The meeting focused on the longstanding and friendly relations between Bangladesh and China, which both sides said were built on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation since the time of Ziaur Rahman.

During the discussion, the two sides exchanged views on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure development, energy, information technology, education, and human resource development. The adviser thanked China for its continued support in Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress and described China as one of the country’s key development partners.

The Chinese Ambassador assured continued assistance for Bangladesh’s ongoing development initiatives and expressed commitment to expedite projects of mutual interest. Both parties emphasized maintaining close communication and coordination to elevate bilateral relations to new heights in the future.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan informed US Ambassador Brent Christensen that security measures have been strengthened in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone, including the US Embassy, due to the ongoing Iran war. The announcement came during a meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, where the minister said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces had been deployed alongside regular law enforcement to enhance vigilance.

According to a ministry statement, the meeting covered law enforcement cooperation, counterterrorism, illegal migration, and the implementation of the SPEAR program and Electronic Nationality Verification (ENV) system. The minister described the United States as a close ally supporting Bangladesh’s security and counterterrorism efforts. Ambassador Christensen expressed interest in finalizing a memorandum of understanding to implement the SPEAR program and warned that US funding could be withdrawn if delayed.

Christensen also noted US support since 2010 in training around 30,000 Bangladeshi police officers and providing equipment, though he expressed concern that frequent transfers and retirements had limited results. The minister promised corrective steps and directed officials to organize a workshop with relevant stakeholders.

Journalist Mostafa Zulfiqar Hasan, also known as Hasan Shiplu, has been appointed as the Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister. The appointment was made on a contractual basis through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Monday, March 2, 2026. According to the notice, he will serve under the Prime Minister’s tenure or until further satisfaction, whichever comes first.

The appointment terms specify that Hasan must resign from any other professional, business, or institutional affiliations, whether governmental, semi-governmental, or private. His salary will be at the final stage of the Grade-4 pay scale, effective from the date he assumes office. Additional conditions of the appointment will be determined through a formal contract.

Hasan Shiplu currently serves as the Deputy Head of News at Ekattor TV and previously worked for a long period at the daily Kaler Kantho.

Two people were killed in separate road accidents in Lakshmipur on Monday, March 2. Elderly man Anwar Hossain and young motorcyclist Rakib Hossain died in the incidents that occurred in Sadar and Raipur upazilas. Rakib, son of Jahangir Alam from Shakchar area, died after his motorcycle was hit by a bus on the Lakshmipur-Majuchowdhuryhat road. Anwar, a tube-well mechanic from Charpata area, was struck by a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in front of the Raipur Fish Breeding and Training Center.

Police and witnesses said the bus was heading from Lakshmipur toward Majuchowdhuryhat when Rakib’s motorcycle came under its wheels as the bus tried to change lanes. Police recovered the body and sent it to the Sadar Hospital morgue. In the second incident, Raipur police reported that Anwar was severely injured after being hit by the auto-rickshaw and was declared dead at the Upazila Health Complex.

Authorities have seized the bus involved in Rakib’s accident, while the driver fled the scene. Police said efforts are underway to arrest the driver and legal action is being prepared.

A severe traffic jam developed on the Dhaka-bound lane of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Gazaria, Munshiganj, on Monday night, causing significant suffering for passengers and drivers. The congestion began after midnight when repair work started on the Langalbandh Bridge in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. The slowdown on the bridge quickly affected the entire highway, extending the jam into the Gazaria section.

Truck driver Mohan Mia reported being stuck in traffic since crossing the Daudkandi Bridge around 3 a.m., while private car driver Ujjal Pradhan said about 13 kilometers of the Dhaka-bound lane in Gazaria had become nearly immobile. He noted that it took over two and a half hours to cross the Meghna Bridge, a journey that normally takes less than ten minutes.

Highway police officer Shawkat Hossain confirmed that the congestion was caused by the ongoing repair work on the damaged Langalbandh Bridge and said police were working continuously to ease the situation.

The government of Bangladesh will distribute honorarium allowances to religious institutions across the country ahead of the upcoming Eid, according to Ismail Jobiullah, adviser to the Ministry of Public Administration. Speaking to journalists on March 2, he said that 4,908 mosques will receive the payments before Eid, along with 990 temples, 72 Buddhist monasteries, and 198 churches.

Jobiullah explained that the initiative is part of the government’s election manifesto commitments under the leadership of Tareq Rahman. The plan includes a pilot scheme running until June, under which each union will have one mosque receiving monthly honoraria of Tk 5,000 for the imam, Tk 3,000 for the khatib, and Tk 2,000 for the khadem. Additionally, each mosque will receive a Tk 3,000 Eid bonus, with Tk 1,000 allocated per person.

He added that the pilot project will cover 4,900 mosques across unions and municipalities, along with the listed temples, monasteries, and churches. Once expanded nationwide, the program could include over 400,000 mosques.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan stated that young professionals are the main driving force behind Bangladesh’s future development. Speaking on Monday, March 2, at the ‘Leadership Dialogue and Iftar Mahfil’ organized by the Forum of Young Professionals (FYP) at Six Seasons Hotel in Dhaka, he emphasized the importance of moral leadership, innovative thinking, and collective responsibility among the youth for sustainable national progress.

Agrani Bank Limited Chairman Syed Abu Naser Bakhtiar Ahmed, attending as a special guest, highlighted that financial awareness and entrepreneurial spirit are essential for professional success and national prosperity. FYP adviser Rashed Ul Haque Sarkar presided over the event, outlining the forum’s achievements and future plans, reaffirming its commitment to leadership development and professional excellence.

The event also honored dedicated FYP members for their contributions to the organization and community service. A leadership dialogue before the iftar discussed challenges and opportunities for young professionals, concluding with a communal iftar that strengthened unity and collaboration among participants.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir stated that even if the Strait of Hormuz is closed due to ongoing tensions among Iran, Israel, and the United States, there will be no immediate crisis in food or fuel supplies for Bangladesh. He said the government has sufficient reserves to prevent any negative impact on market prices. The minister made these remarks on Monday after meeting Indian Ambassador Pranay Kumar Verma at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

Muktadir added that the government is closely monitoring the international situation and that Bangladesh has successfully managed similar challenges in the past. He noted that if the strait remains closed for a long time, ships would have to travel around the Cape of Good Hope, raising transportation costs and potentially affecting prices, though such a situation has not yet arisen. The government has prepared for essential goods and energy supplies and will observe developments over the next few days.

During the meeting, both sides discussed strengthening bilateral trade, digital infrastructure, and technology cooperation. India’s ambassador reaffirmed his country’s commitment to deepening trade ties and normalizing visa operations soon.