Four defeated candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have filed cases in the High Court alleging vote rigging in the 13th national parliamentary election. The candidates are Sohel Hossain Kaykobad from Kurigram-2, Saiful Islam from Rangpur-6, Emdadul Haque Bhorsa from Rangpur-4, and Major General (Retd.) Md. Sharif Uddin from Rajshahi-1. The information was confirmed by court sources on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Earlier, on Sunday, 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 similar allegations of vote rigging. The Election Appeal Tribunal, led by Justice Zakir Hossain, accepted the petitions and set May 11 for the next hearing. These petitions were also filed by defeated BNP candidates.

Previously, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had filed petitions in the High Court alleging vote rigging in three constituencies: Dhaka-6, Dhaka-7, and Gaibandha-4.

The new government of Bangladesh has launched a nationwide anti-drug campaign following directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir stated that the Prime Minister’s instruction is clear: there will be no drugs in society. The police have already begun implementing this directive through special operations across the country. The initiative aims to make Bangladesh drug-free, addressing a growing social concern that has alarmed parents and communities.

A recent survey by Bangladesh Medical University, supported by the Department of Narcotics Control, found that 8.2 million people—4.88 percent of the population—are addicted to drugs, with 92 percent aged between 8 and 25. Cannabis, yaba, and phensedyl are the most commonly used substances, while ice, LSD, and cocaine are spreading among affluent groups. The report identified 29 border districts as high-risk entry points, with drugs entering mainly from Myanmar and India.

The government’s strategy includes law enforcement operations, community awareness, and youth engagement through education, sports, and employment programs. Local leaders and citizens are urged to form committees to support the campaign and help identify drug hotspots.

More than five million people live in Bangladesh’s southwestern coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat, where livelihoods depend on fishing and the Sundarbans. These communities face recurring natural disasters, waterlogging, salinity intrusion, and a lack of safe drinking water and healthcare. Despite previous mega projects, implementation hurdles and political changes have slowed progress. The newly formed government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is now being urged to take urgent, sustainable measures to protect agriculture, ensure freshwater access, and strengthen embankments.

The article highlights worsening conditions for fishers and forest-dependent workers due to pollution, illegal fishing with poison, and renewed threats from forest bandits in the Sundarbans. Many families are losing income and migrating to cities. Farmers are struggling as saline water damages croplands, reducing rice production and arable land. Health and education services remain inadequate, particularly for women exposed to high salinity and for children lacking access to schools.

The author calls for the government to prioritize employment, environmental protection, healthcare, and education in coastal areas, and to restore the region’s role in national economic growth.

At least 21 people have been killed in the past 15 months in Raozan upazila of Chattogram amid an ongoing power struggle between two influential BNP leaders. Police reports indicate that 15 of the victims were BNP activists, and at least 15 killings stemmed directly from political disputes. More than 350 people have been shot during this period, marking the highest level of political violence in a single upazila in recent times.

The conflict intensified after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, when rival factions led by MP Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury and former district convener Golam Akbar Khondkar reactivated their networks. Both groups have allegedly formed armed teams and attempted to influence local police, leading to slow investigations. Police have identified a pattern of motorcycle-based masked gunmen carrying out targeted killings within seconds, often near police posts.

Authorities have arrested one suspect in the latest killing of Jubo Dal leader Abdul Majid, while both BNP factions claim to have urged stricter administrative action to curb the escalating violence.

Serious allegations have surfaced over the use of substandard bricks and sand in a Tk 3.73 crore road construction project in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria. The project, under the Local Government Engineering Department’s (LGED) rural development initiative for Comilla, Chandpur, and Brahmanbaria districts, covers a 1,500-meter stretch from Guniouk Union Parishad to Bengauta. The contractor, E Smart Construction Ltd, owned by Khairul Hasan, is accused of ignoring instructions to use quality materials, prompting anger among local residents.

Locals claim the work, initially slow, suddenly accelerated to conceal irregularities. On-site observations confirmed workers using low-quality bricks and sand for the guide wall. Representatives of the contractor admitted using the materials supplied by the owner. The supervising officer, Arif Hossain, promised to prevent such practices in the future. Upazila Engineer Aminul Islam Mridha said repeated warnings failed to stop the use of poor materials, while District Executive Engineer Ibrahim Khalil assured that necessary action would be taken after consulting the upazila engineer.

The incident has raised concerns about oversight and accountability in rural infrastructure projects under LGED.

Authorities in Jamalpur recovered 1,444 liters of edible oil belonging to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) from an abandoned warehouse once owned by a local Awami League leader. The operation was carried out on Sunday evening at Bagherhata Bottola area by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and law enforcement agencies. The oil, stored in 722 bottles of two liters each, was found buried under bricks inside the warehouse of the late Jahurul Islam Monsur, a former joint general secretary of the district Awami League.

According to officials, the oil had been illegally stockpiled to create an artificial shortage in the market. Two individuals, Shahin and Swadhin Babu, were detained for questioning in connection with the incident. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) stated that an investigation is underway to identify all those involved, and legal action will follow once the inquiry is complete.

The discovery has caused widespread public concern in the area, with local residents demanding swift and strict action against those responsible.

A BNP activist was reportedly injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Awami League supporters in Burirdanga Union’s Ward No. 3 of Mongla upazila, Bagerhat. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, in the Chalabunia area. The injured man, identified as 47-year-old Monoj Shil, is currently receiving treatment at Mongla Upazila Health Complex, confirmed Officer-in-Charge Shahinur Rahman Shahin.

According to local sources, residents rushed to the scene after hearing screams and found Monoj Shil lying on the ground, bleeding. He alleged that Awami League ward general secretary Robi Roy and two or three associates attacked him while attempting to seize his 10-katha fish enclosure. Monoj claimed he was beaten when he tried to resist and that his family was later threatened. He said the assault was revenge for an earlier incident on the 5th.

Awami League leader Robi Roy denied the allegations, saying he was injured while trying to stop the fight. Police stated that legal action would follow upon receiving a written complaint.

A total of 136 new books were released during the first four days of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026, according to the Bangla Academy on Sunday. The second day saw 16 new titles, the third day 38, and the fourth day 42. The Academy does not count books released on the opening day. Among the new publications are 15 storybooks, 13 novels, 5 essays, 25 poetry collections, 5 research works, 1 rhyme book, 8 children’s books, 4 biographies, and 1 play. Additionally, six books cover science, travel, and history, while others include language, translation, science fiction, and miscellaneous topics.

Publishers said they are releasing diverse titles to maintain reader interest during Ramadan, with growing enthusiasm among visitors. Saeed Bari, a member of the fair’s organizing committee, expressed optimism that the event would conclude successfully as scheduled and help revive the publishing industry.

Visitors were seen buying both new and previously published books. Discussions and tributes, including one honoring artist Hamiduzzaman Khan, were also held at the fair’s main stage.

Incidents of post-election violence have persisted across Bangladesh following the 13th parliamentary election. Reports from multiple districts describe ongoing clashes, injuries, and deaths involving supporters of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and independent candidates. In Chuadanga’s Jibannagar, a Jamaat leader’s death in a clash with BNP activists led to a protest march demanding arrests within 24 hours. Police confirmed one death and said a case is being processed. Similar unrest has been reported in Bagerhat, Jhenaidah, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Natore, Jessore, and Pabna.

In Bagerhat, repeated confrontations among BNP, Jamaat, and independent supporters have left one person dead and over a hundred injured since the election. In Jhenaidah’s Kaliganj, clashes at a BNP office injured police officers, while in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon, attacks on homes of opposition activists were reported. Other districts saw factional disputes over local dominance, fisheries, and tender allocations.

Authorities in several areas stated that cases have been filed and investigations are ongoing, though tensions remain high and political groups continue to hold protests demanding justice for victims.

Police in Dhaka have disclosed horrifying details of a murder following the recovery of dismembered body parts from different parts of the city. According to officials, the victim, identified as Obaidullah from Shibpur in Narsingdi, was allegedly killed by his roommate, Shahin, on the night of February 27. The killing reportedly stemmed from long-standing resentment over household chores and repeated arguments. After the murder, Shahin allegedly cut the body into seven pieces and disposed of them across several locations, including Paltan, the stadium area, and Kamalapur.

At a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road, Motijheel Division Deputy Commissioner Harun-or-Rashid said police identified the victim through fingerprint analysis after finding two severed hands near the stadium. Investigators later recovered other body parts from various sites and continued searching for the remaining pieces. Police stated that Shahin confessed to the crime during interrogation, describing how disputes over cigarettes, food, and loud phone conversations escalated into violence.

Authorities are continuing operations to locate the remaining body parts and complete the investigation.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Ma’sud announced that preparations for local government elections will begin after Eid. He made the statement on Sunday at the Election Building in Agargaon, Dhaka, while attending the Best Reporting Award ceremony organized by the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy. He said the Election Commission remains active year-round, organizing parliamentary, presidential, and local elections. The commission is awaiting the first parliamentary session to decide whether local polls will be held under party symbols or on a non-partisan basis.

Ma’sud emphasized that the commission is committed to conducting fair elections in accordance with the law. He also noted that journalists play a vital role in improving the commission’s work through constructive criticism. During the event, three reporters were recognized for excellence in online, television, and print categories.

Separately, the Election Commission has taken steps to move National Voter Day from March 2 to March 1. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed that a letter has been sent to the Cabinet Division regarding the change, which aims to align with earlier observances and regional decisions.

The Supreme Court Bar Association of Bangladesh has postponed its 2026–2027 executive committee election to May 13 and 14. The decision was made at a special meeting held on Sunday at the association’s South Hall after candidates and general members requested that the election not be held during Ramadan. The election was originally scheduled for March 11 and 12, with nomination submission and withdrawal deadlines already announced.

According to the earlier schedule, nomination forms were sold from February 19, with submissions accepted until March 1 and withdrawals allowed until March 4. The special meeting suspended that timetable, and the association stated that a new schedule will be issued in line with the revised voting dates. The election will fill 14 posts, including president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, joint secretaries, and executive members.

The last election took place on March 6–7, 2024, and was marred by violence and allegations of vote rigging. Following political changes on August 5, an ad hoc committee was formed to manage the association’s affairs until the next election.

Police from Kotwali Model Station in Sylhet arrested seven members of an alleged mugging gang during a raid in the city on Sunday, March 1. The operation took place inside a drain near Rongmahal Tower in the Bandar Bazar area, where officers also recovered locally made sharp weapons used in the crimes.

According to Sylhet Metropolitan Police, the detainees had been involved in multiple mugging incidents across different parts of the city. Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement conducted the targeted operation and seized four sharp knives from the suspects. The arrested individuals are from various areas of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Sunamganj districts.

A case has been filed at Kotwali Model Police Station in connection with the incident, and police stated that the detainees will be presented before the court.

Residents of Fatullah in Narayanganj have temporarily stopped construction work on the Mukterpur-Panchabati flyover, alleging the use of substandard materials. The suspension began on Friday morning at the Kashipur section, where locals accused the contractor of using ordinary concrete instead of RCC and low-quality bricks. They demanded that authorities inspect the site before work resumes, citing concerns of irregularities and corruption in the mega project.

According to residents, poor-quality materials were being used in several parts of the flyover from the Samrat Cinema area to the Kashipur Union Parishad. They claimed that despite informing officials, no one had visited the site. Project Director Wahiduzzaman confirmed that evidence of substandard materials had been found and that the contractor had been asked for an explanation.

The Mukterpur-Panchabati six-lane highway project spans about 10.37 kilometers, including 9.6 kilometers of elevated expressway. Initially budgeted at Tk 2,659 crore, the cost was later raised to about Tk 3,300 crore, with completion extended to June 2026. Two Chinese firms are implementing the project.

Iran has shut down the strategic Hormuz Strait following joint attacks by the United States and Israel, disrupting a key global maritime route for energy transport. The closure has already slowed international sea trade and raised concerns of an impending energy crisis in Bangladesh, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern countries for crude oil, refined fuel, LPG, and LNG imports. Officials warn that prolonged conflict in the region could severely impact Bangladesh’s energy supply chain and increase import costs.

According to shipping and energy officials, around 15 vessels carrying fuel and gas for Bangladesh pass through the Hormuz Strait each month. Although Bangladesh’s refined fuel imports do not directly use the route, the countries supplying them depend on crude oil shipments through it. The closure is expected to raise freight costs and delay shipments, affecting both energy and trade sectors. Industry leaders have urged energy conservation and increased reserves to mitigate potential shortages.

Experts caution that if the Middle East conflict continues, Bangladesh’s limited 25–26-day fuel storage capacity could lead to severe disruptions. They recommend expanding reserves and promoting public austerity to withstand the crisis.