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.

Adviser Humayun Kabir held a courtesy meeting with the Pakistan High Commissioner on Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office. During the meeting, both sides discussed a range of issues of mutual interest and expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the talks.

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing trade and investment, expanding regional cooperation, and promoting people-to-people contact. Both parties emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration between the two countries.

They also expressed a shared commitment to further consolidate mutual cooperation in the coming period, highlighting the desire to build stronger ties across multiple sectors.

The California chapter of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) organized an iftar and prayer gathering in Los Angeles on Sunday to seek forgiveness for the soul of the party’s late chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia. The event, held in a local auditorium, was presided over by California BNP president Badrul Alam Chowdhury Shiplu and conducted by general secretary M Wahid Rahman. Political, social, and cultural figures from the expatriate Bangladeshi community attended the program.

Speakers highlighted the spiritual significance of Ramadan and emphasized unity, compassion, and national solidarity. Special prayers were offered for the well-being of Bangladesh, global peace, and the souls of late leaders Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. Participants also prayed for victims of political repression and for the recovery of injured grassroots activists. The gathering included prayers for the success of BNP’s renewed political journey under Tarique Rahman’s leadership and for his wisdom, health, and longevity.

Badrul Alam Chowdhury noted that such events strengthen fraternity among expatriate Bangladeshis and pledged to continue similar social and religious programs in the future.

Vasani Jono Shokti Party chairman and freedom fighter Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu has denounced the joint military aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, calling it a grave violation of human rights. Speaking at a protest rally in front of the National Press Club on Monday, he demanded an immediate end to the attacks and urged that those responsible be brought under international law.

The protest, organized by the Vasani Jono Shokti Party, was held to condemn the reported killings of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous civilians, including women and children, during the aggression. The rally began from Purana Paltan and concluded at the National Press Club, where several political leaders expressed solidarity.

Party General Secretary Abu Yusuf Selim stated that military aggression against a sovereign state is unacceptable and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the only sustainable path to peace. Leaders from other political parties, including Bangladesh JASAD and Bangladesh Independence Party, also voiced support for the protest.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has clarified two recent statements issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation in the Middle East. Speaking to journalists at the ministry on Monday, he said the statements were made to protect the interests of Bangladeshi citizens living in the region. He emphasized that Bangladesh’s position is straightforward: safeguarding its citizens abroad and promoting peace through dialogue and diplomacy rather than conflict.

Rahman reiterated that the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates in the Middle East remains the government’s top priority. He noted that the March 1 statement also reflected this commitment. The minister added that if any Bangladeshi citizens are harmed, the government will stand by them regardless of location. He expressed hope that no further casualties or injuries would occur among Bangladeshis.

He also mentioned that some workers preparing to travel abroad have been stranded due to the situation. The government plans to facilitate their return once air travel resumes normal operations.

KM Nazmul Haque has been appointed as the Assistant Press Secretary to the Prime Minister under a contractual arrangement. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Monday confirming the appointment. According to the notice, he will serve in the position under the Grade-9 pay scale at its final stage, effective from the date he assumes office.

The appointment terms specify that KM Nazmul Haque must relinquish any professional, business, or employment ties with government, semi-government, private, or other organizations before taking up the role. His tenure will continue either for the duration of the Prime Minister’s term or until the Prime Minister’s satisfaction, whichever occurs first.

Additional conditions of the appointment will be determined through a formal contract, as stated in the government notification.

Investigating officers have submitted a report to the court recommending exemption for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and 492 others from three separate murder cases filed at Dhaka’s Vatara Police Station during the July movement. The officers stated that all three cases contained factual errors.

The cases involved the deaths of truck driver Md Jahangir, water line mechanic Zakir Hossain, and shoe factory worker Ramzan Mia Jibon. Investigations revealed inconsistencies between the cases filed by the victims’ families and those filed by three other individuals. The family-filed cases indicated different locations and circumstances of death, including hospitals and other police jurisdictions, while the additional cases placed all incidents in Vatara.

The court had initially set January 25 as the deadline for the report submission, later extending it to March 2 when investigators failed to meet the earlier date.

The 207th foundation training course for newly appointed officers of the 27th BCS education cadre was inaugurated at the National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM). Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan attended as the chief guest, while NAEM Director General Dr. Wasim Md. Mezbahul Haque presided over the event. The minister congratulated the officers for joining the teaching profession after a long wait and overcoming various obstacles.

He described the delay in their appointment as an undesirable chapter in the country’s administrative history and expressed hope that such delays and injustices would not recur in the future. The minister emphasized that teachers are the nation’s builders and urged them to perform their duties with dedication, honesty, and professionalism.

Dr. Milan assured that necessary measures would be taken to ensure quick promotions once the officers’ jobs become permanent. He reaffirmed his commitment to making the education sector more dynamic and expansive, calling for teachers’ active participation in building a new Bangladesh.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to former Chattogram-4 Member of Parliament Didarul Alam and his wife, Mosammat Ismat Ara Begum. The order was issued on Monday, March 2, 2026, by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez. Court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed the decision. The Anti-Corruption Commission’s Deputy Assistant Director Md Rokonuzzaman filed two separate petitions seeking the seizure.

According to the petitions, Didarul Alam faces allegations of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 13.98 crore and conducting suspicious transactions totaling about Tk 948.88 crore through 20 bank accounts. His wife, Ismat Ara Begum, is accused in a separate case of possessing unexplained assets worth Tk 1.47 crore. The ACC stated that seizing their tax returns and related documents up to the 2024–25 fiscal year is necessary for investigation.

After the hearing, the court granted the petitions and ordered the seizure of the tax records for further inquiry.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with British High Commissioner Sarah Cook in Dhaka on Monday to discuss strengthening bilateral trade relations and exploring new investment opportunities. The meeting took place at the minister’s office in the Secretariat. Both sides emphasized enhancing cooperation for sustainable economic growth and mutual benefit.

During the discussion, the commerce minister highlighted the need for British investment to modernize Sylhet’s tea industry and increase production, noting the sector’s potential for job creation and tourism development. He also urged UK investors to consider investing in fertilizer factories that face gas shortages and in Bangladesh’s growing information and communication technology sector.

High Commissioner Sarah Cook reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to advancing the long-standing trade partnership and expressed interest in supporting capacity building for officials in the ministry’s trade negotiation pool. She also indicated British investors’ interest in sectors such as tea, seafood, leather processing, export diversification, and light engineering.

The women’s wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep sorrow over the reported martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a Facebook post on Monday, the wing’s secretary, Nurunnisa Siddika, conveyed condolences, describing Khamenei as a symbol of steadfast faith, dignity, and resistance. She said his death had cast a shadow of grief over the Muslim world and prayed for his acceptance as a martyr.

The statement emphasized Khamenei’s lifelong message of standing firm against oppression and injustice, invoking the spirit of Karbala as a reminder of resistance. Siddika condemned the killing of Khamenei and others, calling it a heinous act in global political history. She also expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and prayed for the forgiveness of all those killed.

The post concluded with a message of hope that sacrifice and truth would ultimately prevail, asserting that the struggle for justice and dignity would continue across the Muslim world.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has stated that it does not foresee any problems with the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan, despite ongoing disruptions to air travel caused by the war situation in the Middle East. Flights using Middle Eastern airspace have been suspended, leaving several teams stranded, including Pakistan in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in India. The Pakistan team is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on March 9, with the series set to begin on March 11 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

BCB’s Chairman of Cricket Operations, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, told Amader Desh that the board remains positive about the series taking place as planned. He mentioned that there are several alternative routes available and expressed confidence that the Pakistan team will arrive on schedule. However, he also noted that there has been no final discussion yet with the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding travel arrangements.

The uncertainty over flight routes remains, but BCB maintains that the series schedule currently stands unchanged.

Law enforcement authorities in Chuadanga have arrested three suspects, including the main planner, in connection with the killing of Jamaat activist Hafizur Rahman during a clash between Jamaat and BNP supporters in the Hasadah area of Jibannagar upazila. Police arrested two suspects, Abdus Salam and Jasim Uddin, on Saturday. Early Monday, a team led by Sub-Inspector Ashraf of the Chuadanga Detective Branch conducted an operation in Joyrampur, Damurhuda upazila, and detained Mehedi Hasan, 35, identified as the prime accused.

According to the Detective Branch, Mehedi Hasan was presented before the court on Monday afternoon, which ordered his transfer to Chuadanga District Jail. The murder case was filed by the victim’s brother, Amir Hossain, naming nine individuals as accused. Following the incident, tension has persisted in the area, prompting police to intensify patrols to maintain order.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the investigation or the status of the remaining suspects.

Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintu has resigned from his position as chairman of National Bank, following regulations that require ministers to withdraw from all profit-oriented institutions. The decision was made during the bank’s 539th board meeting held on Saturday, according to information published on the bank’s website. Professor Melita Mehjabin, an independent director, has been appointed as the new chairman. A senior official from the bank’s public relations department confirmed that all relevant regulatory bodies have been informed of the leadership change.

Mintu, who was elected as a member of parliament from Feni-3 constituency under the BNP nomination in the February 2026 general election, was appointed as Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change after the BNP formed the government. He had previously served as an entrepreneur-director of National Bank from its founding in 1983 until 2003 and as chairman from 1995 to 1998.

Melita Mehjabin, the new chairman, has served as an independent director at several major companies and holds academic credentials from the University of Dhaka, the University of Colombo, and the Alliance Manchester Business School in the UK.