Local business owners in Tongi, Gazipur, staged a protest on Saturday at 11 AM, blocking the BRT flyover to demand the construction of a Bailey Bridge over the Turag River. The protest caused severe traffic congestion in both directions. After an hour, the blockade was lifted at noon. Among the protesters were leaders from the BNP’s Tongi East unit, including its president, Javed Ahmed Suman. Speakers at the protest highlighted that Tongi Bazaar has been a historic business hub, and the absence of a Bailey Bridge is severely impacting trade and causing financial losses to businesses and the government.

The holy month of Ramadan begins tomorrow. In light of this, metro rail passengers will be allowed to carry up to 250 milliliters of water for iftar throughout the month at station platforms and inside trains. However, authorities have urged passengers to ensure that no water spills on the platform and to dispose of empty bottles in designated dustbins. According to the official notice, consuming any other food or drink inside metro stations, concourses, or trains will remain strictly prohibited. The metro rail schedule will remain unchanged.

The newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), launched on Friday, has come under controversy for appointing an individual linked to the LGBTQ community. The party, which named Nahid Islam as its convener and formed a 151-member committee, faced criticism after it was revealed that a committee member, Muntasir Mamun, had connections to the LGBTQ community. In response, key organizers Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam distanced themselves from the decision, stating, “As Muslims, we do not support anything that goes against religious values. This was an unintentional mistake.” Social media activist Mahin Sarkar wrote, “Muntasir Bhai helped us arrange safe homes, but I had no knowledge of his activities. By Allah, we do not want homosexuality in Bengal!”

In Maharashtra, India, a Muslim businessman’s shop was bulldozed after he was accused of chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” during an India-Pakistan cricket match on Sunday. The incident led to heightened tensions, resulting in the arrest of two individuals. Following the incident, Sindhudurg MLA Nilesh Rane directed the Malvan Municipality to take strict action. Subsequently, the businessman’s shop was demolished in the presence of police officials. Images of the bulldozed shop have gone viral on social media, with Rane labeling the shop owner as an “outsider.”

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has reassured that the Bangladesh-Myanmar border remains secure. “There are no security threats on our borders,” he stated. However, he acknowledged that the Arakan Army currently controls parts of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border region, making it uncertain whether Myanmar or the Arakan Army will have control in the future. “To maintain stability, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is maintaining communication with both sides,” he explained. He also announced the deployment of four additional battalions alongside the existing 64 BGB battalions, strengthening the country’s border security capabilities. The adviser expressed hope that these reinforcements would enhance efforts to curb drug trafficking and smuggling.

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has stated that a persistent issue within the administration is the tendency to appease members of the political party most likely to come to power. “This happens without any directives from higher authorities or ministries,” he remarked. Addressing concerns about political favoritism in handling criminals, he clarified, “We are not working under any party’s influence but solely for the nation’s welfare. No department has been instructed to show leniency toward any particular political group.” On the Rohingya crisis, he mentioned that communication is ongoing with the Arakan Army, as their presence at the border is disrupting trade.

Following Syed Jamil Ahmed’s resignation, Cultural Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has strongly refuted his claims, calling some of them outright falsehoods. “Jamil is a talented artist, and I have written extensively in praise of his work,” Farooki stated. “However, being skilled in art and being professionally competent are not the same.” While expressing his respect for Jamil, Farooki insisted that many of the allegations were not entirely true. “Some of what he said is completely false, and some of it stems from frustration over his inability to manage certain situations,” he added. Farooki also hinted that he would write a detailed response addressing the allegations in full.

Syed Jamil Ahmed has announced his resignation as the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, citing bureaucratic complications and interference from the Ministry of Culture and its advisors. He stated that prolonged bureaucratic delays, the appointment of the academy’s secretary as the focal person—hindering his official responsibilities—the slashing of budgets, the disappearance of important files, and internal disruptions instigated by certain officials all contributed to an environment unsuitable for artistic work. Additionally, he claimed that he faced resistance when attempting to use the term “Adivasi” (Indigenous). “These issues, along with the activities of corrupt groups within the institution, have forced me to step down,” Jamil said in his resignation statement.

Tensions have flared once again in India’s Manipur state. On Friday, a group of devotees visited Kongba Maru, a sacred site for the Meitei community. Security officials reported that as the devotees arrived under security escort, armed Kuki militants fired seven rounds at them from a nearby hill. Following the incident, additional security forces were deployed to the area. Local residents took to the streets in protest, demanding the dismantling of bunkers in the hills to ensure the safety of the Meitei community. Meanwhile, on Thursday, an armed Meitei group in Manipur voluntarily surrendered 246 weapons to security forces, signaling an effort toward de-escalation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his greetings to Muslims on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. In a post on social media platform X on Friday night, he wrote, “As the sun sets, Muslims in Canada and around the world begin the holy month of Ramadan. To those who are praying and breaking their fast with family and friends, I send my best wishes.” With the sighting of the Ramadan moon, fasting began on March 1 in Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, and most Muslim-majority countries, including Australia and Indonesia. However, in regions where the moon was not sighted, fasting will begin a day later.

Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting, has stated that while Europe should develop independent defense capabilities, it cannot replace the U.S. in safeguarding Ukraine. His party secured victory in the February 23 elections. Experts argue that France and the U.K. collectively hold more military power than Russia. However, Europe's lack of political unity has hindered its strategic effectiveness. Meanwhile, Kyiv has warned that without U.S. military assistance, continuing the war will become extremely difficult. Even with collective efforts, Europe alone cannot fully compensate for the loss of American support.

The Trump administration is considering halting all military aid to Ukraine following an unprecedented verbal clash between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday. A senior White House official told The Washington Post that the confrontation overshadowed planned mineral trade agreements, which ultimately fell through. No joint press conference was held following the dispute. If the aid suspension proceeds, it could have significant implications for Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

The pro-BNP teachers' organization, "Sada Dal," has strongly condemned the assault on Dhaka University professor Adib Shahriar Zaman. The professor was allegedly beaten by the driver and assistant of a Mirpur Super Link (Route 36) bus. In a statement, the group expressed deep concern over the incident and solidarity with the victim. They reported that the professor was attacked in front of a large crowd after he protested against prolonged stops for passenger collection, which caused delays for university admission test candidates. Sada Dal demanded strict legal action against those responsible and urged the university authorities to ensure justice.

Aminul Haque, convener of the BNP’s Dhaka Metropolitan North unit, has claimed that six months after the fall of the authoritarian regime, the country remains in ruins due to 17 years of misrule. He emphasized the need for a people’s government to rebuild state institutions and restore national stability. "We have repeatedly called for an interim government to undertake crucial state reforms. Only an elected government can establish true democracy in Bangladesh," Haque stated. He urged the authorities to hold elections as soon as possible to pave the way for national reconstruction.

Masud, the alleged mastermind behind the recent attack on police officers and the escape of a detainee, has been arrested in Rajbari. The incident occurred on Friday around 5:30 PM when members of the District Detective Police were assaulted, leading to the escape of a suspect. According to police sources, Masud is a notorious drug dealer and top-tier criminal. The Additional Superintendent of Police confirmed that Masud orchestrated the attack and has 13 cases filed against him, including charges of murder, arms possession, and drug trafficking. His wife also has five pending cases. Earlier, police had apprehended Farid Sheikh with 310 yaba pills and four bottles of phensedyl. However, when officers attempted to transport him, his family members—both men and women—launched a coordinated attack, enabling his escape.