Complaints have emerged in Rajshahi city over irregularities in the distribution of low-cost products by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) during the holy month of Ramadan. Hundreds of buyers have been forced to stand in long queues under the sun, with many returning empty-handed while some individuals reportedly received products multiple times. TCB trucks, scheduled to arrive at 10 a.m., often reached between 11:30 a.m. and noon, worsening the situation.

Field visits to several city points revealed that demand far exceeded supply, with both lower- and middle-income families seeking affordable essentials. Each TCB truck sells a package of five items for Tk 590, including edible oil, lentils, sugar, chickpeas, and dates, for 400 customers per truck—double last year’s allocation. However, allegations persist that certain groups collect products repeatedly to resell at higher prices, and that dealers favor acquaintances.

TCB’s regional deputy director Atiqur Rahman acknowledged attempts by some groups to exploit the system and create disorder. He said letters have been sent to law enforcement and city authorities seeking assistance to restore order and ensure genuine consumers receive the benefits.

The Teknaf land port, a key import-export hub in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, has remained inactive for ten months due to internal unrest in neighboring Myanmar. Cross-border trade through the Naf River has been suspended, leaving local traders and importers in severe financial distress. Thousands of port workers have lost their jobs and are struggling to survive without income. Stakeholders are waiting for effective government action to restore operations at the port.

According to port business associations, millions of taka remain stuck with Myanmar traders, and large quantities of goods stored in warehouses are rotting. The general secretary of the Teknaf C&F Agents Association said the prolonged closure has caused extreme financial strain, making it difficult to pay bank installments, office rent, and staff salaries. Workers dependent on port activities have fallen into debt and are unable to support their families.

The government is also losing significant revenue, as imports of timber, dried fish, ginger, and onions have stopped. The disruption began after Myanmar’s Rakhine State came under control of the Arakan Army, halting vessel movement on the Naf River. No timeline has been announced for resuming trade, though business groups believe diplomatic efforts could help reopen the port.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has alleged that the United States launched a military attack on Iran under pressure from Israel and Saudi Arabia. In a Facebook post published yesterday, Sanders claimed that both countries influenced Washington’s decision to carry out the strike against Iran.

In his post, Sanders accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of killing 72,000 people in Gaza, most of whom he said were women and children. He also described Saudi Arabia as a brutal dictatorship where dissent is not tolerated. Sanders questioned the logic of seeking to bring “freedom” to Iran through the influence of such leaders, suggesting that few would believe such a justification.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and follow recent U.S. actions affecting consular services in Saudi Arabia, according to the same source.

New explosions were heard in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on the night of March 2, 2026. The blasts are believed to have resulted from Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Earlier that day, Iranian drones reportedly struck several energy installations in Qatar’s industrial city of Ras Laffan, though no casualties were reported.

According to reports, Qatar’s air force claimed to have shot down two Iranian jets approaching its territory and intercepted several ballistic missiles and drones. The incidents mark a continuation of escalating tensions in the Gulf region, with Qatar appearing to be the latest target of Iranian aerial activity.

The situation remains tense as authorities assess the extent of the damage and monitor for further threats, while no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities have emerged.

A bumper harvest of sweet potatoes has been reported in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur this season. Favorable weather, low production costs, and strong market prices have led to increased farmer profits and enthusiasm. Compared to paddy, sweet potatoes have yielded three times more profit, prompting many farmers to shift to this crop.

According to the Upazila Agriculture Extension Department, sweet potatoes were cultivated on 365 hectares of land this season, nearly double last year’s 190 hectares. The main varieties grown include BARI Sweet Potato-8, BARI Sweet Potato-4, and improved local types. Twelve farmers received demonstration plots of the BARI-8 variety to encourage wider adoption. Farmers across several unions are now busy harvesting their crops.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Habibur Rahman said favorable weather and regular technical support contributed to the strong yields. With an estimated 9,200 tons produced this season, sweet potatoes have become a promising cash crop in the region due to their nutritional value and growing market demand.

Iran’s top leadership has maintained a defiant stance as US and Israeli airstrikes entered their third day across Tehran and other regions following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strikes, which targeted Iranian military bases, came after Khamenei and several senior commanders were killed at the start of the conflict. Iranian authorities have suspended all dialogue with the United States, while internet access across the country remains cut off for a second day.

Under Iran’s post-1979 constitutional framework, the Assembly of Experts is tasked with selecting a new Supreme Leader. President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that the council has begun this process, with an interim three-member leadership—comprising Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Guardian Council member Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi—managing state affairs. Pezeshkian urged pro-establishment supporters to gather in public despite ongoing conflict.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed severe retaliation, claiming to have launched major attacks on US and Israeli bases. Senior officials, including military chief Amir Hatami and security head Ali Larijani, pledged to defend the nation and uphold constitutional procedures for leadership succession.

Kuwait has confirmed the death of one of its naval officers during a military operation, according to a statement from the country’s armed forces. The announcement was made public on March 3, 2026, but no additional information was provided about the nature of the operation or the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as its source, noted that the Kuwaiti military did not specify where or when the incident took place, nor did it disclose any operational details. The lack of clarity leaves open questions about the context of the mission and the conditions under which the officer was killed.

Further information from Kuwaiti authorities or regional media may clarify the circumstances of the operation and the broader implications for Kuwait’s military activities in the region.

Police in Dhamrai, under Dhaka district, are struggling to provide adequate public safety services due to a severe shortage of vehicles. The shortage follows the destruction of five pickup trucks and one prison van during a student and public protest on August 5, 2024. The Dhamrai police station covers a large area of 304 square kilometers, including 16 unions, one municipality, and more than 400 villages with a population exceeding 600,000.

Because of the lack of vehicles, police are unable to conduct regular patrols, respond promptly to emergencies, or carry out operations to arrest criminals. The shortage has also affected VIP protocol duties and routine law enforcement activities. As a result, incidents of drug trading, theft, robbery, and other crimes are reportedly increasing across the area.

Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Huda Khan stated that despite their willingness, police are struggling to maintain law and order and are relying on rented local vehicles such as lagunas and CNGs for nightly patrols. He emphasized that additional vehicles would significantly improve public safety services.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the alliance will not directly engage in the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Speaking to Germany’s ARD television in Brussels, he praised the joint military actions by the United States and Israel, saying their operations have reduced Tehran’s ability to develop nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. Rutte emphasized that NATO has no plans to become part of the war.

He added that while NATO itself will not participate, member states may take steps to support the US-Israel efforts. Rutte described these actions as significant in limiting Iran’s strategic weapons capacity. His remarks came amid heightened regional tensions following recent military operations targeting Iranian facilities.

The statement clarifies NATO’s position of non-involvement while acknowledging the alliance’s political support for its member nations’ initiatives against Iran’s weapons programs.

Bangladesh Bank is considering a reduction in its policy interest rate following the appointment of new governor Mostakur Rahman. The central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to meet at noon on Wednesday to decide on a possible 50 basis point cut from the current 10 percent rate. Officials said the move could lower lending rates across banks and support the governor’s plan to create one crore new jobs.

An unnamed central bank official explained that the policy rate had been kept high for a long time to control inflation, which has eased but remains above target due to supply-side issues. The previous governor, Ahsan H. Mansur, had maintained the policy rate at 10 percent in the last monetary policy announcement. Inflation peaked at 11.38 percent in November and declined to 8.58 percent in January.

Economists and bankers cautioned that inflation remains elevated and that any rate cut should be limited and carefully implemented to avoid undermining recent progress.

The government has declared Dr. Muhammad Yunus, outgoing Chief Adviser of the interim government, as a 'Very Important Person' (VIP) for one year. The decision was announced in a government gazette on February 10, 2026, under Section 2(a) of the Special Security Force Act, 2021. As a result, Dr. Yunus will continue to receive top-level security and protocol from the Special Security Force (SSF) even after stepping down from his position. The order, signed by Secretary Md. Saifullah Panna on behalf of the President, took immediate effect.

According to the gazette, the arrangement ensures Dr. Yunus’s personal safety and reflects the government’s respect for his international stature. While extending VIP privileges to a departing Chief Adviser is not new in Bangladesh, this time the duration has been significantly extended compared to previous instances. In 2006, a similar status was granted for only three months to the then outgoing Chief Adviser.

The decision underscores the government’s intent to maintain high-level security for Dr. Yunus during the post-transition period.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has formed two separate committees to oversee reform implementation and monitor the trial process of the July massacre and enforced disappearances. The announcement was made on Sunday night through a press release signed by Sadia Farzana Dina from the party’s office cell and published on NCP’s verified Facebook page.

According to the release, the reform implementation committee will be led by party member-secretary Akhtar Hossain, with joint convener Sarowar Tushar as deputy head. The committee will coordinate and supervise reform proposals, monitor progress, and liaise with relevant stakeholders. The second committee, formed to monitor the trial of the July massacre and disappearances, will be headed by southern region chief coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, with joint convener Mujahidul Islam Shakin as deputy head. It includes victims’ relatives, legal professionals, and party members.

The trial monitoring committee will observe judicial progress, maintain communication with affected families, and prepare necessary recommendations, according to party sources.

The High Court bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Anwarul Islam concluded the hearing on a writ petition seeking suspension of the implementation of the July Charter on Monday. The court announced that its order on the matter will be delivered today, Tuesday. Acting Attorney General Arshadur Rauf and Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque represented the state, while senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim and Syed Mamun Mahbub argued for the petitioner.

The writ petition, filed on February 18 by Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akand, challenges the legality of the July National Charter, calling it unconstitutional and unlawful. The petition also seeks an order to halt its implementation. The Election Commission, the Speaker of the National Parliament, and the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary were named as respondents.

Separately, another writ petition challenging the legality of the February 13 referendum and seeking cancellation of its results has been filed by lawyer ABM Ataul Majid Touhid and is awaiting hearing.

Spain’s government has declared that no military base on its territory has been or will be used for attacks on Iran. On Monday in Madrid, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that Spain retains full control over bases under its sovereignty, including Rota and Morón de la Frontera, and that these facilities are not being used in any Middle East operations. He emphasized that Spain will not authorize any deployment outside the framework of the United Nations Charter or its own sovereign decisions.

Albares described recent U.S. strikes as unilateral actions and said Madrid had not been informed beforehand. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also criticized unilateral moves by the United States and Israel against Iran, warning that such actions increase global instability. The foreign minister further cautioned that rising tensions could disrupt the Strait of Hormuz and drive up oil prices, urging all parties to de-escalate and pursue diplomacy.

Spain additionally condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks in the Persian Gulf region, calling for restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam announced the start of a renewed movement against judicial bias, corruption, and dominance. Speaking on Monday at the NCP’s iftar and prayer gathering at the King of Chittagong Convention Center in Panchlaish, Chattogram, he alleged that attempts were being made to use the courts politically to nullify the public mandate from the July referendum that formed the current government. He warned that politicizing the judiciary would have dire consequences.

Nahid Islam urged the government to implement the referendum’s verdict and begin building a new Bangladesh based on the people’s decision. He also called for strong resistance in Chattogram against extortion, land grabbing, and corruption, emphasizing that success would require participation beyond Dhaka-based leadership. The event was attended by NCP leaders Akhtar Hossain, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Hasnat Abdullah, as well as local political figures including the Chattogram City mayor and members of parliament from constituencies 15 and 16.

The remarks reflect the NCP’s growing focus on judicial reform and anti-corruption efforts as part of its broader political agenda.