A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 22 bank accounts belonging to former Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naeem Nizam, his wife Farida Yasmin, and their child. The accounts, holding a total of Tk 42.18 million, were blocked following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was issued on Sunday, March 8, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, according to court officials. The ACC’s assistant director Md Rakibul Hayat filed the petition, citing ongoing investigations into allegations of illegal wealth accumulation and money laundering abroad involving Naeem Nizam, Farida Yasmin—also a former reserved-seat MP—and former Kaler Kantho editor Imdadul Haq Milan. The petition stated that the accused were allegedly attempting to transfer or conceal movable assets linked to them and their associated entities. The court issued the freeze order after a hearing, determining that the measure was necessary to ensure a fair and effective investigation into the allegations.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said that irregularities and corruption in the environmental sector will no longer be tolerated. He made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to journalists at the Feni Circuit House. The minister warned that anyone involved in such misconduct will be held accountable. He also announced that the traditional method of brick production using burnt clay will be phased out, with a gradual shift toward environmentally friendly block bricks. Mintoo emphasized the government’s firm stance on protecting the environment and improving public living standards. He said a 180-day special action plan has been adopted to combat climate change impacts, including a nationwide tree-planting campaign from May to August. Expressing concern over Dhaka’s severe air pollution, he noted that it ranks among the worst globally and harms both public health and the economy. The minister stressed that reducing pollution is a collective national responsibility, not just a government task. He urged transparency and accountability in all development activities to ensure genuine progress across the country.

Indian police have arrested Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the murder of Inqilab Monch spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, along with his associate Alamgir Hossain. The arrests were made on Sunday by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police from the Bangaon border area. The Indian news agency ANI confirmed the arrests through a post on X, citing an STF press release. According to the release, the detainees were identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud, aged 37, from Patuakhali, and Alamgir Hossain, aged 34, from Dhaka. During initial interrogation, both admitted to killing Bangladeshi political activist Osman Hadi and fleeing to India through the Meghalaya border. They reportedly moved across several Indian regions before settling in Bangaon. Police stated that the suspects had been planning to re-enter Bangladesh illegally. A specific case has been filed, and a court has ordered them into police custody. The process of returning the accused to Bangladesh is underway.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has confirmed that the process of bringing back Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir, the main suspects in the murder of Inquilab Mancha convener Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, is underway. According to earlier reports by news agency ANI, the two suspects were arrested by the Special Task Force of West Bengal Police. Hadi was shot in Dhaka on December 12 and later taken to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18. His death sparked nationwide outrage, prompting the government to declare a state mourning in his memory. Police investigations identified Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain among several others as suspects in the case. Investigators also found over 127 crore taka in suspicious transactions linked to Faisal Karim Masud and his associates. On December 23, a court ordered the freezing of their bank accounts and imposed a travel ban on Faisal. Based on preliminary findings, CID has launched a separate inquiry into possible money laundering activities connected to the case.

The Ministry of Education has announced that all English-medium schools across Bangladesh will remain closed starting Monday, March 9, 2026. The closure, declared ahead of the holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, was confirmed in a statement signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Shirin Akter of the Secondary and Higher Education Division’s Private Secondary-1 branch. According to the statement, the decision was made unanimously in a meeting chaired by the Education Minister with representatives of English-medium schools. The schools will stay closed until the government-declared Eid holidays. The ministry said the move aims to ease public inconvenience in major cities, including Dhaka, during Ramadan. Two special directives accompanied the announcement. Schools following foreign curricula must continue mandatory examinations as per their pre-announced schedules, and all coaching centers—both Bangla and English-medium—must suspend operations during this period.

Kolkata Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Faisal Karim Masud, the prime accused in the murder of Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and face of the July Movement, along with another suspect named Alamgir Hossain. Both were detained from Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, near the Bangladesh border. They were produced before the Bidhannagar court on Sunday, which ordered a 14-day police remand. Police sources said the two Bangladeshi nationals had illegally crossed the border into India and were hiding in Bongaon. They reportedly attempted to re-enter Bangladesh when apprehended. Masud, aged 37, is from Patuakhali, and Alamgir, aged 34, is from Dhaka. STF officials stated that both suspects confessed to their involvement in Hadi’s killing and had entered India through the Meghalaya border, moving across several locations before settling in Bongaon. A case has been filed under specific legal provisions, and investigators plan to question the suspects further while they remain in police custody.

The West Bengal Police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two main suspects in the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Manch. The arrests took place early Sunday in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, near the India-Bangladesh border. According to initial interrogation, the suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Hossain, fled Bangladesh after killing Hadi and entered India illegally through the Meghalaya border. The STF stated that the two Bangladeshi nationals were wanted for serious crimes including extortion and murder in their home country. Acting on confidential information, the STF conducted a late-night raid in Bongaon and detained them. A case has been filed, and both suspects were presented before court on Sunday and placed in police custody. Hadi was shot on December 12 last year in Dhaka’s Paltan area by helmeted assailants on a motorcycle. Faisal Karim Masud had been identified as one of the attackers, and the interim government had announced a reward of 5 million taka for information leading to his arrest.

The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police arrested two main suspects in the murder of Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi. The arrests took place early Sunday, March 8, in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, near the India-Bangladesh border. The detainees, identified as Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Hossain, were accused of killing Hadi and fleeing to India through the Meghalaya border. They were reportedly planning to return to Bangladesh when captured. According to the STF, both suspects had entered India illegally after committing serious crimes, including extortion and murder, in Bangladesh. Acting on confidential information, police conducted a late-night operation in Bongaon and detained them. A case has been filed, and the suspects were presented before court and placed in police custody. Hadi, spokesperson for the ‘Inquilab Moncho’ and a key figure in the July Movement, was shot in Dhaka’s Paltan area on December 12 of the previous year. Authorities had earlier frozen the bank accounts of Masud, his company, and family members as part of the investigation.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated an inquiry against the removed Managing Director of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Md. Abdus Salam Bapari, on allegations of laundering money abroad. CID Special Police Superintendent (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan confirmed the development on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Preliminary findings indicate that Abdus Salam Bapari, who joined Dhaka WASA as an assistant engineer in 1991, allegedly transferred illicitly acquired funds overseas. He is accused of purchasing substantial immovable and movable assets in Canada, the United States, and other countries under his own name, his wife’s name, and those of associates. Investigators found that in 2018, he and his wife, Mahbubunnecha, bought a house in Toronto, Canada, valued at approximately 200 million Bangladeshi taka. CID stated that the investigation is being conducted under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, and the Money Laundering Prevention Rules, 2019, to determine legal action based on the findings.

The Ministry of Education has announced that all universities across Bangladesh will remain closed from Monday, March 9, following a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The decision aims to conserve electricity by advancing the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. The announcement was made on Sunday, March 8, according to the ministry. This move marks an unusual initiative by the government to address power-saving concerns nationwide. By bringing forward the holiday period, the authorities expect to reduce electricity consumption during a time of increased demand. The closure applies to all universities in the country, both public and private, as part of the broader energy conservation effort. Further details about the duration of the closure and related academic adjustments were not provided in the initial announcement.

A Dhaka court has ordered the publication of a gazette directing British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and former RAJUK assistant legal adviser Sardar Mosharraf Hossain to appear before the court in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegedly obtaining a flat illegally in Gulshan. The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz on March 8, with March 29 set for submission of a report on the matter. Earlier, on February 18, the court accepted the charge sheet against Siddiq and Hossain and issued arrest warrants. On February 26, the court also directed Interpol to issue a red notice for Siddiq’s arrest. The ACC filed the case on April 15 of the previous year, accusing Siddiq and two former RAJUK officials of misusing power to occupy and register a flat in Eastern Housing Limited’s Gulshan-2 project without payment. The ACC later submitted the charge sheet on December 11 under multiple sections of the Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. Siddiq had previously been sentenced to six years in prison in three separate cases related to plot allocation fraud.

Three Indonesian sailors remain missing after the UAE-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank in the Strait of Hormuz, Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday. One Indonesian crew member was rescued and is receiving treatment for burn injuries at a hospital in Khasab, Oman. According to the ministry’s statement, the vessel caught fire following an explosion before it went down. Local authorities have launched a search and rescue operation to locate the missing sailors. The cause of the explosion and subsequent sinking is under investigation by local officials. The incident highlights ongoing maritime safety challenges in the busy Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the tugboat’s loss.

Iranian media reported that a new Supreme Leader has been selected following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, confirmed that the selection process has been completed, though the name of the chosen leader has not yet been officially announced. The formal declaration will depend on Hosseini Bushehri, head of the Assembly’s secretariat, who is responsible for making the announcement. The semi-official Mehr News Agency carried the report. The development comes after Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike last Saturday, according to the report. Prior to the selection, Israel had warned that whoever becomes Iran’s next Supreme Leader would be targeted. The situation has drawn attention across the region, with reports of concern among Gulf countries over Iran’s conflicting messages. An official announcement from the Assembly of Experts is expected soon, which may clarify the leadership transition and its implications for Iran’s political direction.

NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has alleged that a culture of harassment through false cases, similar to that of the Awami League, has re-emerged. Speaking at the NCP’s Barishal divisional iftar and prayer gathering on Sunday at Halima Khatun Government Girls’ High School field, he claimed that a false case had been filed against Nasiruddin Patwari and warned that such actions would not silence party members. Nahid Islam stated that the BNP should not emulate the Awami League, describing the BNP as an anti-fascist party that had stood on the streets during mass uprisings. He cautioned that if the BNP compromised with the Awami League or India and sheltered corrupt individuals, the NCP would resist on the streets. He also urged local leaders to prepare for upcoming local government elections, saying that while the party accepted alleged manipulation in national polls for the sake of stability, it would not tolerate irregularities in local elections. The event was attended by NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib, and National Youth Power convener Tarikul Islam.

President Md. Shahabuddin announced that the government has introduced a 'Family Card' program aimed at empowering economically disadvantaged women and promoting family self-reliance. The initiative will officially begin on March 10, 2026. He made the announcement on Sunday at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka during the International Women’s Day 2026 event organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. The president emphasized that women contribute about 16 percent to the country’s GDP and play vital roles across sectors including household work, healthcare, education, agriculture, industry, literature, and construction. He stressed that ensuring women’s safety both at home and in public is essential for achieving the benefits of development plans. Shahabuddin also noted that the government is taking strict measures to ensure swift justice and exemplary punishment for violence against women. He further highlighted emerging challenges such as online harassment, cyberbullying, and child marriage, urging collective efforts through law enforcement and social awareness to address these issues effectively.