Sources indicate that the banned Bangladesh Awami League is planning a symbolic return to politics on March 26, Independence Day. The party, ousted after the 2024 student–public uprising, is reportedly mobilizing mid- and grassroots-level activists from within Bangladesh and abroad to mark its presence at the National Memorial in Savar. Law enforcement authorities have reiterated that no banned party is permitted to operate publicly, while other political groups aligned with the current government have declared zero tolerance toward such activities.

Reports suggest that Awami League leaders in exile, including in India, are coordinating efforts to reopen sealed local offices and reestablish organizational visibility. The party’s cultural wing has been active online, producing propaganda content. Intelligence sources claim that the group’s strategy includes using emotional and media-driven narratives to regain public sympathy. Meanwhile, the government has yet to decide on a formal response, though security agencies have briefed top officials on the situation.

Legal experts cited in the report note that any attempt to revive a banned party without court or government approval would be unlawful and politically risky.

Traders in Jhenaidah municipality have demanded an end to alleged illegal extortion and excessive market taxes imposed by a leaseholder. On Tuesday, business owners from the New Hatkhola market held a press conference accusing the leaseholder of collecting arbitrary fees under the guise of municipal and district administration charges. They claimed that the leaseholder, using political influence, was collecting large sums monthly without official receipts.

Several traders reported that the tax on raw goods had risen from four taka per maund to 160 taka, while goat sellers said they were being forced to pay 2,000 taka per sale. The traders warned that if authorities failed to stop the alleged extortion, they would close the markets and launch a strong protest movement.

Leaseholder Akhtar Hossain denied the allegations, saying fees were being collected as before. The municipal administrator promised to display an official tax list soon, while the district commissioner assured strict action, including lease cancellation, if overcharging was proven.

The Bangladesh government has announced the formation of a new and stronger investigation commission to ensure justice for the 2009 Pilkhana massacre. The decision was revealed by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed after a law and order committee meeting at the Secretariat on Monday. He said the commission will conduct a thorough reinvestigation of the incident to identify those responsible and ensure justice for the victims. The announcement coincided with the 17th anniversary of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 57 army officers and 17 others at the then Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Dhaka.

According to the minister, the decision to form a new commission aligns with the government’s electoral pledge to revisit the Pilkhana tragedy. He noted that the commission’s findings will guide subsequent actions, reaffirming the government’s full commitment to justice. The minister declined to provide further details, citing the sensitivity of the matter.

The Pilkhana massacre, one of the darkest chapters in Bangladesh’s history, continues to evoke national mourning and calls for accountability. The new commission is expected to reopen the path toward closure for victims’ families and the armed forces community.

The government will launch the Family Card program on March 10 as part of the BNP’s election pledge, initially covering one union in each of 14 upazilas. The decision was made at a committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division, according to Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the program in Bogura, and the initiative will gradually expand nationwide.

After the meeting, Social Welfare Minister Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain said the program aims to empower women by providing Tk 2,500 per card. He emphasized that the distribution will be free from political or religious bias. The rollout will begin on a limited scale, expanding from one ward to full unions and eventually to all upazilas across the country.

The meeting was attended by several senior ministers and advisers, including the finance and planning minister, local government state minister, and cabinet secretary, reflecting the government’s coordinated approach to implementing the Family Card initiative.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of bank accounts and savings certificates belonging to former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Harunur Rashid and his wife, Fateha Farvin Luna. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating allegations that the couple amassed illegal wealth worth about Tk 1,000 crore and laundered money. The order was issued on Tuesday by Judge Sabbir Fayez of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court, confirmed by court bench assistant Riaz Hossain.

According to the ACC’s petition, the investigation uncovered evidence of substantial movable assets inconsistent with the couple’s known income sources. The ACC requested the freeze to prevent possible transfer of funds, including over Tk 6.4 million in fixed deposits at One Bank and savings certificates under the National Savings Directorate.

The court’s decision marks a significant step in the ongoing corruption inquiry, as investigators continue to trace the origins and movement of the alleged illicit assets.

Authorities at Lucknow University in Uttar Pradesh sealed the historic Lal Baradari building, which houses the campus’s only mosque, without prior notice. The closure prevented Muslim students from offering prayers since the start of Ramadan, prompting protests by several student organizations. Demonstrations were held late Sunday and Monday nights, with additional police deployed to maintain order. Protesters alleged that the administration deliberately locked the mosque to restrict prayers during the holy month.

University officials stated that the mosque was sealed due to the building’s deteriorating condition, describing it as structurally unsafe. Students countered that the 200-year-old structure had long served as a prayer site and that the gate was welded shut without consultation. On February 22, Muslim students prayed outside the locked building while Hindu students formed a human shield to ensure their safety, an act praised locally as a symbol of communal harmony.

Separately, former BJP MP Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria faced criticism after a viral video showed him refusing a blanket to a Muslim woman during a relief event in Rajasthan, drawing condemnation from opposition leaders.

Prices of essential commodities in Rangpur city have sharply increased since the start of Ramadan, causing distress among low-income and working-class residents. Consumers allege that traders have formed syndicates to manipulate prices in the absence of effective market monitoring. Field visits to several municipal markets revealed significant price hikes in almost all Ramadan-related goods, particularly dates, chickpeas, spices, and poultry.

Buyers report that traders are charging arbitrary prices, with some varieties of dates selling two to three times higher than last month. Local traders attribute the rise to reduced supply, higher wholesale prices, and increased transport costs. The price of local chicken has doubled, while vegetables, lemons, and spices have also seen steep increases. Consumers demand stronger oversight of wholesale markets to prevent manipulation.

Officials from the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection stated that monitoring drives will continue throughout Ramadan, warning of fines and legal action against price gouging. The Rangpur district administration confirmed that executive magistrates are conducting inspections to ensure fair pricing for consumers.

A devastating fire broke out at Kamarhat market in Chandraganj, Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, on Tuesday night following a gas cylinder explosion. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., destroying ten shops including clothing, grocery, and electronics stores. Witnesses said the explosion originated from a cylinder in Bahar’s shop, and the flames quickly spread to adjacent stores. A fire service unit arrived promptly and brought the blaze under control after an hour of effort.

Lakshmipur Fire Service Station Officer Ranjit Kumar Saha said initial findings suggest the explosion started from Bahar’s shop. District Commissioner S.M. Mehedi Hasan confirmed that the fire service contained the blaze and that the upazila executive officer inspected the site. Authorities stated that financial assistance will be provided to affected shop owners.

Officials added that the exact cause of the explosion and the total extent of the damage will be determined after a full investigation.

In Chattogram, a total of 186 garment factories have closed over the past 18 months following the July Revolution, according to industry and police data. Of these, 111 factories were permanently shut by owners, while 76 remain temporarily closed. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) confirmed that 19 of the closed factories were large-scale members, including six under the Well Group. Around 27,766 workers lost their jobs, though about 18,000 have since found new employment.

Investigations revealed that eight of the 19 large factories were owned by fugitive Awami League-linked businessmen who fled after the political upheaval, while nine others closed due to banking complications tied to merged and inactive banks. BGMEA officials said the sector’s recovery was hindered by financial instability and weak banking operations, despite improved trade conditions with the United States. Many large factories have shifted to subcontracting, leaving smaller units struggling for orders.

Industry Police reported that 55 more factories are now at risk, with concerns over paying wages and bonuses before Eid. Business leaders expressed cautious optimism that new government policies and revived banking operations could help the sector recover.

Engineer Ramanath Pujari has officially taken charge as the new Managing Director of Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), which operates the Rampal Power Plant in Bagerhat. The appointment was announced in a company statement, confirming that he assumed the role on Tuesday.

Before this appointment, Pujari served as Project Director of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project (MSTPP) at Rampal. He also held the position of Executive Director at India’s state-owned NTPC Limited, where he contributed to plant management, reliability improvement, efficiency enhancement, and compliance with environmental regulations. Under his leadership, the MSTPP achieved more reliable power generation and maintained environmental standards, while he also supported local social and township development initiatives.

Born in 1968 in Odisha, India, Pujari holds a BE in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar, and an MBA from MDI Gurgaon. He has additional qualifications from IIM Ahmedabad and Harvard Business School and brings about 36 years of experience in the power sector.

After being suspended for more than one and a half years, the Agartala-Dhaka bus service has officially resumed. On Tuesday afternoon, a Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) bus carrying five passengers entered Bangladesh through the Akhaura land port in Brahmanbaria. Earlier that morning, a bus from Dhaka reached Agartala through the same route, where Tripura’s Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and TRTC’s acting chairman Samar Roy welcomed it, marking the formal reopening of passenger transport on the route.

According to the Akhaura International Immigration Checkpost, the service had been halted following the 2024 student and public uprising, during which India also restricted visa services for Bangladeshis. TRTC began trial operations on the route in late January before the official launch. Police sub-inspector Sharif Rahman confirmed that the bus will initially operate twice a week.

On the first day of resumed service, nine people, including staff and passengers, traveled from Dhaka to Agartala, while five passengers returned from Agartala to Dhaka.

Baraka Foundation has launched a low-cost iftar market aimed at supporting low-income and underprivileged people during the holy month of Ramadan. The initiative was inaugurated on Monday at the Shishu Park field in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj. The market offers essential iftar items at significantly reduced prices, such as chickpeas at Tk 60 per kg instead of Tk 80, onions at Tk 25 instead of Tk 40, dates at Tk 200 instead of Tk 300, puffed rice at Tk 80 instead of Tk 90, sugar at Tk 80 instead of Tk 98, and soybean oil at Tk 170 instead of Tk 195. In total, six items worth Tk 950 are being sold for Tk 560.

Buyers expressed relief and appreciation for the initiative, noting that it provides real assistance to families struggling with rising food costs. Locals described the program as a positive example of social responsibility that could inspire others to take similar steps.

According to Baraka Foundation, the project is funded by local expatriates and will continue throughout Ramadan to support poor and low-income communities.

England became the first team to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup after defeating Pakistan by two wickets. The match, held on February 24, 2026, saw England chase down a target of 165 runs. Jofra Archer sealed the victory with a boundary off the first ball of the final over, sparking celebrations. Captain Harry Brook led from the front with a remarkable century, scoring 100 runs off 50 balls with 10 fours and 4 sixes, marking the first century by any captain in this World Cup.

Pakistan, after winning the toss, opted to bat first and posted 164 for 9 in 20 overs, driven by Sahibzada Farhan’s 63. For England, Liam Dawson took 3 wickets for 24 runs, while Archer claimed 2 for 32. Despite Shaheen Afridi’s 4 for 30, Pakistan could not defend their total. The defeat left Pakistan’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

With this win, England advanced to the semifinals ahead of all other teams, maintaining strong momentum in the tournament.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the underlying reasons behind the Pilkhana massacre are now clear to the people of a fascism-free Bangladesh. In a message marking National Martyred Soldiers Day on February 25, he said that after the killings, various false and misleading narratives were spread to confuse the public. He emphasized that the trial of the massacre is ongoing and refrained from commenting further on the judicial process.

Rahman noted that the massacre at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana on February 25, 2009, claimed 74 lives, including 57 army officers. He said the day had not been properly observed until 2024, when it began to be commemorated as National Martyred Soldiers Day following the country’s liberation from fascism. He expressed prayers for the martyrs and sympathy for their bereaved families.

The Prime Minister called the armed forces a symbol of national honor and valor, urging unity against any future conspiracies targeting them or the nation’s sovereignty.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has called on ministry officials to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in implementing the BNP’s election manifesto. Speaking on Tuesday at a familiarization meeting with officials of the ministry and its subordinate offices at the Secretariat, he urged them to avoid irregularities, corruption, and misuse of power while working toward building a prosperous nation.

The minister emphasized that the people are the true owners of the country and that officials must invest their intellect and labor to create a better future for citizens. He also stressed the need for close monitoring at every stage of government work to prevent waste of public funds and to maintain quality standards. Dulu further instructed that project selection should ensure practical relevance and effectiveness.

His remarks highlighted a focus on transparency, accountability, and efficient implementation of government projects aligned with the party’s declared commitments.