The Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project in Dalia, Nilphamari, built to boost northern Bangladesh’s agricultural economy, has become nearly waterless. Despite extensive canals, sluice gates, and control structures built at a cost of thousands of crores of taka, the project is now ineffective due to insufficient water flow in the Teesta River. Field visits revealed that the riverbed has turned into sandbanks, with dry season flows dropping to as low as 500 cusecs at Dalia, compared to over 200,000 cusecs during monsoon. Officials attribute the crisis to heavy upstream water withdrawal through India’s Gajoldoba Barrage.

The project covers 766 kilometers of canals across 12 upazilas in Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Dinajpur, with 95 percent of expansion work reportedly completed. However, water has yet to reach most canals, leaving them dry. Farmers say they now rely on shallow machines and diesel pumps, doubling irrigation costs to 2,000–2,500 taka per bigha, compared to 200–300 taka if river water were available.

Experts and river activists stress that infrastructure alone cannot revive the project without fair transboundary water sharing and long-term reservoir planning to store monsoon water.

A major fire broke out on Friday night, February 27, 2026, in the Munshirhat market area of Chandpur, where three parked Jainpuri Express buses were engulfed in flames. According to local sources and the Matlab South Fire Service, one bus was completely destroyed while two others were partially burned. The fire started suddenly in one of the parked buses and quickly spread to the adjacent vehicles.

Fire Service Station Officer Md. Mehedi Hasan Tuhin confirmed that two units from Matlab South Fire Service responded promptly and managed to bring the blaze under control within about 30 minutes. Fortunately, no passengers, drivers, or assistants were present in the buses at the time, preventing any casualties.

Authorities have begun investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the extent of the damage, though the source of ignition remains unknown.

The East India Company, once the foundation of British colonial rule in India, has permanently closed after declaring bankruptcy. The company, which had been revived in London as a luxury goods brand, failed to overcome financial difficulties and ceased operations. Reports indicate that in October 2025, a liquidator was appointed, and the company owed more than £600,000 to its parent entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, along with significant tax and employee liabilities. Its Mayfair store and website have since been closed.

The company, originally founded in 1600 under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, had dominated trade across India and Asia before being dissolved by the British Parliament in 1874. Indian entrepreneur Sanjiv Mehta had purchased the rights to the company’s name in 2010, relaunching it as a retailer of premium tea, chocolate, and spices. The revival had drawn global attention as a symbolic reversal of colonial history.

The closure marks the end of a modern chapter for a name long associated with both global trade innovation and colonial exploitation.

Police have arrested Nurul Islam, known as Nura, the prime suspect in the widely discussed rape and murder case of a teenage girl in Narsingdi. The arrest took place on Friday night around 9 p.m. during a police operation in the Maona area of Sreepur upazila, Gazipur. Narsingdi Superintendent of Police Abdullah-Al Faruq confirmed the arrest. Another suspect, Hazarat Ali, was detained the same night in Gauripur, Mymensingh. So far, seven of the nine accused have been apprehended.

According to the case details, the teenage victim was abducted by a group of young men in front of her father after she sought justice for a previous rape incident. Her body was recovered the next morning from a mustard field between Bilpara and Dorikandi areas in Narsingdi Sadar upazila. The victim’s mother filed a case at Madhabdi Police Station naming nine individuals, including Nura, as accused.

Police stated that operations are continuing to arrest the remaining suspects linked to the case.

An article by Dr. Mohammad Abdul Majid, published on 28 February 2026 in Amar Desh, examines the final phase of India’s partition in 1947. It describes how, by mid-July 1947, the British withdrawal from India had accelerated, leading to rushed administrative decisions and secretive boundary demarcations. The Indian Independence Act, passed on 18 July 1947, legally ended British rule and created the dominions of India and Pakistan. The Radcliffe Commission, working under extreme time pressure, drew the borders of Punjab and Bengal without prior disclosure to political leaders, fueling uncertainty and violence.

The article highlights how political bargaining, communal divisions, and British haste shaped the subcontinent’s fate. It references Alex Von Tunzelmann’s book “Indian Summer,” which explores the classified background of partition decisions, including negotiations over Chittagong’s inclusion in Pakistan. The narrative details disputes among Congress, the Muslim League, and British officials, showing how strategic decisions left East Bengal economically and politically vulnerable.

The analysis concludes that the rushed and secretive process of partition sowed long-lasting instability across South Asia, with consequences still visible in regional politics and identity conflicts.

Iran has called on neighboring Pakistan and Afghanistan to exercise restraint amid ongoing hostilities between the two countries. In a statement issued on Friday, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged both sides to respect each other’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty. The ministry also advised against any actions that could further escalate regional tensions or conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a post on social media platform X that Tehran is ready to provide any necessary assistance to advance dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He added that Iran seeks to play a role in promoting understanding and cooperation between the two nations.

The appeal comes as regional tensions remain high, with Iran positioning itself as a potential mediator to prevent further instability along its eastern borders.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire to end the ongoing violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said on Friday that the Secretary-General expressed deep concern over the rising hostilities between the two neighboring countries, emphasizing that the conflict is directly affecting civilians.

According to the statement, Guterres stressed the urgent need to implement a ceasefire and to resolve differences through diplomatic dialogue. The appeal comes as tensions continue to escalate, with reports of cross-border violence impacting communities along the frontier.

The UN chief’s call highlights the organization’s concern over regional stability and humanitarian consequences, urging both sides to prioritize peace and civilian protection.

Professor Mujibur Rahman MP, Naib-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, stated that the government and opposition parties are not enemies but should act as partners in national development. He emphasized that when the ruling party makes mistakes, the opposition should point them out so the government can correct them, which would strengthen democracy. He warned that without political stability, the country’s development would be hindered.

He made these remarks on Friday at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Dhaka during a discussion and iftar event titled “Significance of Ramadan,” organized by the Forum of Engineers and Architects, Bangladesh (FEAB) Dhaka South. Mujibur Rahman also highlighted the vital role of engineers in building the nation, saying that if they remain truthful and God-fearing, corruption and bribery would decline significantly.

The event was presided over by Engineer Md. Moniruzzaman, with several political and professional figures attending, including Dr. M. Shafiqul Islam Masud MP and Engineer Golam Mostafa.

U.S. President Donald Trump praised Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, describing the country as doing “exceptionally well.” Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Friday, Trump said Pakistan has a great prime minister and a great general, calling both strong leaders whom he respects deeply.

When asked about possible U.S. intervention in the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Trump said he might consider it but emphasized his very good relationship with Pakistan. His remarks highlighted a tone of appreciation toward Pakistan’s current leadership and suggested a positive diplomatic stance.

The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Trump’s continuing engagement with South Asian affairs, particularly regarding Pakistan’s political and military leadership.

Pakistan has claimed that its military operations resulted in the deaths of 297 Afghan soldiers. According to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the operations also destroyed 89 Afghan military posts and 135 tanks and armored vehicles. The attacks reportedly took place across 29 locations in Afghanistan.

The claim was reported by Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, citing Afghanistan’s Tolo News. Earlier, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had stated that 274 Afghan soldiers were killed, indicating a revised figure in the latest statement. The report did not include any response from Afghan authorities or independent verification of the claims.

The development underscores continuing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, though the source did not specify the timing or broader context of the operations.

Comilla University has advanced 14 positions to secure the 9th spot among Bangladeshi universities in the 2026 Scimago Institutions Rankings, published on February 26. The Spain-based research organization evaluated 10,827 universities worldwide, including 47 from Bangladesh. Last year, Comilla University ranked 23rd, marking a significant improvement this year.

According to the data, the university ranked 8th in 2024, while it was not listed in 2023, 2022, or 2021. The ranking assesses institutions based on research quality, innovation, and social impact, weighted at 50%, 30%, and 20% respectively. In 2026, Comilla University placed 36th in research, 9th in social impact, and 68th in innovation, resulting in an overall 9th position nationally.

The top ten Bangladeshi universities in the 2026 Scimago ranking include Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Southeast University, University of Dhaka, Islamic University, Sylhet Agricultural University, University of Rajshahi, Begum Rokeya University, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Comilla University, and Patuakhali Science and Technology University.

Nahid Islam, the convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), expressed condolences to the family of a child who was brutally murdered in Rampura. On Friday night, February 27, he met the grieving family and assured them of his full support, pledging that justice would be ensured regardless of the perpetrator’s influence.

During his visit, Nahid Islam described the killing as a planned act and emphasized that those involved would face severe punishment. He urged the police administration to conduct an impartial investigation and ensure the swift arrest and prosecution of the offender. He also confirmed that one suspect had already been detained for questioning.

The visit highlighted the NCP leader’s call for accountability and justice in the case, as the investigation continues under police supervision.

Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, stated that those who fear Allah cannot engage in election engineering or vote rigging. He made these remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing a discussion titled 'Significance of Zakat and the Month of Ramadan,' organized by the party’s Dhaka-6 parliamentary constituency committee.

Azad emphasized that fasting is a means to attain piety and that it should be observed solely for Allah, not for public display. He said true fasting leads to moral purification, and its success is reflected when individuals refrain from corruption, extortion, and violence after Ramadan. He also stressed that a society and state guided by the Quran would achieve dignity and success, as there is no alternative to establishing a Quran-based social order.

Highlighting the economic role of zakat, Azad explained that it was made obligatory in the second Hijri year to purify wealth and stimulate the economy, which in turn helps eradicate poverty. The event concluded with an iftar gathering attended by party leaders and local representatives.

The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has issued a show-cause notice to Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, convener of the Jasimuddin Hall unit at Dhaka University, over allegations of organizational indiscipline. The notice requires him to appear at the central office within 24 hours and submit a written explanation in the presence of the central president and general secretary. The directive was announced in a statement signed by office secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Friday.

According to the statement, Hamim, who holds a responsible position within the hall unit, is accused of violating the organization’s discipline. The central leadership, including Chhatra Dal president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, instructed that he provide justification for his actions or face possible permanent organizational measures.

The notice underscores the organization’s emphasis on maintaining internal discipline and accountability among its university-level leaders.

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have accused former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte of killing thousands of people during his anti-drug campaign. The allegations were presented at the ICC in The Hague on Friday, during the final day of hearings on crimes against humanity. Prosecutor Julian Nichols stated that Duterte was proud of the killings and wanted to be remembered for them. The prosecution claimed Duterte led a 'death squad' while serving as Davao City mayor and continued similar actions as president.

A three-judge panel heard arguments from the prosecution, defense, and victims’ representatives throughout the week. Duterte did not attend the hearing, with his lawyers citing illness, while victims’ representatives said he avoided facing the families of those killed. The prosecution presented evidence of 76 killings as symbolic of thousands more, while the defense argued there was no direct proof linking Duterte to the murders.

Judges now have up to 60 days to issue a written decision, which could lead to a full trial, partial dismissal of charges, or complete acquittal.