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.

The Bangladesh government convened a high-level meeting to determine immediate actions following escalating conflict in the Middle East after a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Prime Minister Tarek Rahman met with ministers and senior officials to review the situation and instructed them to ensure the safety of Bangladeshi workers in the region and maintain energy security. The government emphasized proactive measures to manage potential disruptions in remittance inflows and fuel supply.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud stated that Bangladesh is working to safeguard its energy sector, noting that current reserves and supply contracts should prevent short-term shortages. Energy Adviser Humayun Kabir said the country’s fuel stock is sufficient for now, and there is no cause for panic. Officials confirmed that Bangladesh has about 45 days of refined fuel reserves and ongoing import contracts through June, minimizing immediate risks from the closure of the Hormuz Strait.

Prime Minister Rahman is personally monitoring the situation, directing ministries to protect expatriate workers and assist stranded passengers. Economists warned that prolonged conflict could affect remittance inflows and foreign reserves if disruptions persist.

US President Donald Trump stated that the ongoing military operation against Iran could last up to four weeks. According to a report by Al Jazeera on Sunday night, Trump made the remarks in an interview with the British newspaper Daily Mail. He said the campaign was planned from the beginning as a four-week process and could take around that time or less. Trump added that Iran is a large and strong country, but the operation was expected to be completed within that timeframe.

Trump also mentioned that he remains open to further discussions with Iranian officials, though he did not clarify whether such talks would take place soon. He noted that Iran had shown interest in dialogue but suggested that they should have initiated talks earlier. The comments come amid continuing hostilities and uncertainty over the duration and outcome of the conflict.

The report did not specify any immediate next steps or responses from Iranian authorities regarding Trump’s statements.

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have jointly announced plans to take defensive measures to protect their interests and those of their allies in the Middle East following Iran’s recent missile attacks. In a joint statement, the three European powers warned that they could strike inside Iran to destroy drone and missile launch sites if necessary.

The leaders of the three countries said they were shocked by Iran’s indiscriminate and unprofessional missile strikes in the region, particularly against nations not involved in the initial U.S. and Israeli military operations. They expressed deep concern over Tehran’s actions and emphasized their commitment to safeguarding regional stability and allied security.

Analysts noted that this firm stance by the European nations could further complicate and expand the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, adding new dimensions to the regional conflict.

US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces have sunk nine Iranian navy ships in a recent attack. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump stated that several of the destroyed vessels were large and significant. He added that US forces are pursuing the remaining ships, which he said would soon be sunk as well. Trump also claimed that a separate strike had nearly destroyed Iran’s naval headquarters.

The post did not provide details on the timing, location, or verification of the alleged attacks. The statement appeared amid a series of regional incidents, including reports of missile strikes in Bahrain and Kuwait. No official confirmation or response from Iranian authorities was mentioned in the source.

The claims, if verified, would mark a major escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, though the source did not indicate any immediate follow-up or international reaction.

Construction of crop protection embankments in the haor areas of Sunamganj has not been completed within the scheduled timeframe, raising concerns among farmers about potential crop losses. According to regulations, the work was to be finished between December 15 and February 28, but only 78 percent was reportedly completed by the deadline. The Water Development Board (WDB) extended the deadline by 15 days, though field visits revealed slower progress and incomplete sections in several upazilas.

Officials and locals cited poor coordination between the WDB and local administration, delays in forming and approving project committees, and payment complications as reasons for the delay. Allegations also surfaced of project approvals without public hearings, excessive allocations for low-risk embankments, and spending on unnecessary projects. In Tahirpur’s Matian Haor, key embankments remain unfinished, with farmers warning that early floods could submerge vast croplands.

Local organizations, including Haor Bachao Andolon and environmental groups, accused authorities of irregularities and corruption. The WDB attributed the delay partly to election-related disruptions but assured that work would be completed within the extended period.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has launched a month-long special cleanliness and mosquito control campaign to curb the rising mosquito menace. The initiative began on Sunday in wards 71 and 72, with DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam announcing the start of the program. He said the campaign would be closely monitored through a four-tier supervision system involving ward-level officials up to the administrator. Local imams will be engaged to raise public awareness, and mobile courts may be operated by executive magistrates if citizens fail to destroy mosquito breeding sites.

State Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Railways Habibur Rashid, attending as special guest, emphasized the need for special attention to underdeveloped and underserved areas. He assured full government cooperation to help DSCC reclaim and clean canals known as mosquito breeding grounds. Around 250 workers from DSCC’s waste management and health departments participated in the operation, cleaning drains, canals, and footpaths while applying mosquito repellents.

A public awareness rally was also held with participation from local residents and BD Clean members, alongside DSCC officials and community leaders.

The United States has announced that it destroyed the headquarters of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The declaration came on the second day of a war aimed at changing Iran’s government, according to reports from AFP and the BBC. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the American military, described as the world’s most powerful, had eliminated the IRGC’s central command structure.

Earlier, Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) made a similar claim on the social media platform Telegram, asserting that they had destroyed Iran’s military headquarters. Both announcements suggest coordinated or parallel military actions by the US and Israel against Iranian targets.

The reports also mention related regional developments, including a missile attack in Bahrain that killed a Bangladeshi national, an assault on the US Al Salem airbase in Kuwait reported by Iran, and damage to Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility. These incidents indicate a rapidly escalating conflict across multiple fronts in the Middle East.

China has issued a strong condemnation following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. The Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement on Sunday denouncing the assault and urging all parties to exercise restraint and immediately halt military operations.

In its statement, China described the US-Israel military action as a serious violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security, as well as a breach of the principles of the United Nations Charter and the basic norms of international relations. The ministry’s remarks reflect Beijing’s opposition to unilateral military actions that undermine regional stability.

The statement underscores China’s call for de-escalation and adherence to international law amid rising tensions following the attack.

US President Donald Trump stated that the ongoing military operation in Iran is progressing successfully and ahead of schedule. In multiple phone interviews with American media outlets on Sunday, he claimed that a joint US-Israel strike killed 48 Iranian leaders. Trump told Fox News that the operation in Iran is moving rapidly and that the scale of success is beyond belief.

He added that following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s new leadership expressed willingness to talk, and he agreed to it. In another interview with CNBC, Trump said the US mission is proceeding better than planned and is being conducted not only for America but for the entire world.

Speaking to MS Now, Trump mentioned that he witnessed celebrations among Iranian expatriates in the United States after Khamenei’s death. The report also noted related developments, including missile attacks in Bahrain and Kuwait, and damage to Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.

Israeli police reported that nine people were killed and eleven remain missing following an Iranian missile strike in Beit Shemesh, located about 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem. The attack also left 51 people injured, according to Israeli media reports cited by the police. Earlier reports had indicated eight deaths and 27 injuries before the updated figures were released.

The Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom confirmed that the missile strike occurred on Sunday in the Beit Shemesh area. The incident marks a significant escalation, with Iranian missiles directly hitting an Israeli city and causing substantial casualties. The information was sourced from Al Jazeera, as reported by local media.

Further details about the circumstances of the attack or the response from Israeli or Iranian authorities were not immediately available in the report.

India’s main opposition party, the National Congress, has strongly condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing it as a joint attack by the United States and Israel. In a statement issued on Saturday, the party called the incident an assassination carried out without a formal declaration of war and said it violated international law and diplomatic norms. The Congress warned that such actions could deepen the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and severely disrupt regional stability.

The Indian central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has not yet issued an official statement on Khamenei’s death. While the government expressed concern over rising tensions in the Middle East, it avoided direct comment on the killing. The situation deteriorated further on Saturday following a series of retaliatory missile strikes among the United States, Israel, and Iran.

India has historically maintained warm diplomatic ties with Iran, particularly in energy imports, regional trade, and strategic projects such as the Chabahar Port. The government’s silence following Khamenei’s death has sparked political debate in New Delhi.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah has announced that it will respond to recent attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. In a statement, the group’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Hezbollah would not abandon the path of honor and resistance. He described the assault on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the highest form of crime and pledged to fulfill their duty in confronting the aggression with faith in divine guidance and support.

Hezbollah, a powerful Shia Muslim organization in Lebanon, controls the country’s most formidable armed force. The group was formed in the early 1980s during the Lebanese civil war with the aim of opposing Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon, with Iran playing a key role in its establishment. Since 1992, Hezbollah has participated in national elections and has become one of Lebanon’s main political powers.

The statement underscores Hezbollah’s continued alignment with Iran and signals potential escalation in regional tensions following the attacks.