Six women, including two children, were reportedly raped in Jamalpur district within a single day. All victims have been admitted to Jamalpur General Hospital for treatment. The incidents occurred between Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. One case involves a thalassemia-affected child in Madarganj upazila, where a local Awami League member, Masudur Rahman, has been accused and remains absconding. Police have sent the child for medical examination and are continuing efforts to arrest the suspect.

According to local sources, five other victims include a four-year-old child from Islampur upazila, a 29-year-old woman from Islampur municipality, a 17-year-old girl from Melandah upazila, a 21-year-old woman from Jamalpur municipality, and a 40-year-old woman from Sadar upazila. The series of assaults has sparked anger and concern among residents, who are demanding swift arrests and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

Jamalpur General Hospital’s resident medical officer stated that all victims are receiving necessary medical care and evidence collection is underway for legal procedures.

A special committee of Bangladesh’s National Parliament has decided not to present the referendum ordinance as a bill, citing that its effectiveness has already expired. The decision was made during a meeting held on Sunday night at the Cabinet Room of the Parliament, where the committee completed its review of 133 ordinances issued during the interim government period. The committee plans to submit its report to Parliament on April 2.

Opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami objected to the decision, arguing that the referendum involved the entire nation and its outcome should be implemented. Jamaat members also opposed several other ordinances, including those related to the Human Rights Commission, Police Commission, and enforced disappearance prevention, submitting notes of dissent on 15 ordinances. They accused the ruling party of attempting to restore partisan control over key institutions.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that some ordinances would be passed as they are, others would be amended, and a few might be deferred to the next session. He reiterated that the referendum ordinance no longer required ratification or conversion into law.

Israel has stated that no hazardous materials were released from a factory damaged in an Iranian missile strike. The attack took place on Sunday in the Neot Hovav industrial area near Beersheba. According to Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, the site was thoroughly inspected and no substances posing a risk to human life were found.

Following the inspection, authorities decided to reopen nearby roads and resume operations in the area. Earlier, residents had been advised to stay indoors due to fears that dangerous chemicals might have spread after the strike.

The Times of Israel reported that eleven people were injured in the industrial zone attack, citing Al Jazeera as the source.

At least ten Kuwaiti soldiers were injured in a missile strike carried out by Iran on a Kuwaiti army camp, according to a statement issued by Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense on Sunday. The ministry said the injured soldiers are receiving medical treatment and that the attack caused damage at the site.

The statement further reported that within the past 24 hours, a total of 14 ballistic missiles and 12 drones were launched into Kuwait’s airspace. The information was cited from Al Jazeera, as reported by the outlet. No additional details about the extent of the damage or the current security situation were provided.

The incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, though the source did not specify any immediate response or countermeasures from Kuwait or other states.

A teenage gang leader and alleged drug dealer named Md. Nirab, aged 26, was killed in a clash between two rival groups in Noakhali’s Sadar upazila on Sunday afternoon. The confrontation occurred at Bangla Bazar in Purba Maizchara village under Andarchar Union, leaving four others injured. Police have arrested two individuals in connection with the incident. Nirab, son of Abdul Gani from ward 4 of Andarchar Union, was reportedly involved in multiple criminal activities including theft, robbery, and drug dealing.

According to police and local sources, the conflict began after a dispute between Nirab and Rubel Majhi’s nephew over drug dealings. On Sunday morning, Nirab and his associates attacked Rubel, injuring several of his followers. Later, Rubel’s group retaliated, capturing and assaulting Nirab near Rubel’s house. Police rescued Nirab in critical condition and took him to Noakhali Sadar Hospital, where he died around 6 p.m. while undergoing treatment.

Police confirmed that two suspects have been detained and said further legal action will follow based on a written complaint.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced a five-point demand calling for the completion of all levels of local government elections within the next six months. The announcement was made on Sunday night at a press conference held at the party’s temporary central office in the Rupayan Trade Center in Dhaka, where party member secretary Akhtar Hossain presented the demands.

The demands include completing all local government elections within six months, refraining from appointing administrators at the upazila, municipality, union, and ward levels, ensuring that no administrator contests in local elections, maintaining neutrality of the government, Election Commission, and local administration, and conducting elections under the reformed ordinance without party symbols or nominations. NCP convener Nahid Islam, spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, and Local Government Election Steering Committee chairman Sarjis Alam were also present at the event.

The announcement reflects the NCP’s emphasis on timely and impartial local elections and administrative neutrality in the electoral process.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced its mayoral candidates for five of the country’s twelve city corporations ahead of the upcoming local government elections. The announcement was made on Sunday night at the party’s central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, by NCP convener and opposition chief whip in parliament, Nahid Islam.

According to the declaration, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, the party’s spokesperson, will contest from Dhaka South City Corporation, while Ariful Islam Adib, convener of NCP’s Dhaka North unit, will run for Dhaka North City Corporation. Advocate Tarikul Islam, convener of the party’s National Youth Force, has been nominated for Comilla City Corporation, Advocate Md. Abdur Rahman Afzal for Sylhet City Corporation, and Md. Mobashwer Ali for Rajshahi City Corporation.

During the announcement, Nahid Islam expressed concern about the current Election Commission, questioning whether elections under its supervision would be acceptable.

Police in Chatmohar, Pabna, seized 2,500 liters of fuel and detained two individuals on Sunday evening following a tip-off. The operation took place at Ramchandrapur intersection in Gunaigacha Union, where officers recovered 12 barrels of fuel from a Nasimon and a Karimon vehicle. The detainees were identified as pesticide and fuel trader Mukul and Nasimon driver Shamsul.

According to Chatmohar Police Officer-in-Charge Md. Golam Sarwar Hossain, the drivers revealed that the fuel belonged to Liton of Zardis Mor and Mukul Hossain of Chinabhatkur area. They claimed to have purchased the fuel from Baghabari but failed to produce any legal documents. Upon being informed, Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Musa Naser Chowdhury arrived at the scene, confirmed the seizure, and ordered the fuel to be sold openly in the local market.

The UNO stated that legal action would be taken against those detained in connection with the incident.

A man named Gahan Kumar Tripura Pongche, aged 54, was killed by a lightning strike in Sainguli Para of Guimara upazila in Khagrachhari district on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. while he was inside the kitchen of his home. Local police confirmed the death following the strike.

According to the report, the victim’s family has been left in a state of distress after the sudden tragedy. The officer-in-charge of Guimara Police Station, Sohrawardy, verified the incident to the media.

No further details about the circumstances or weather conditions were provided in the report.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Md. Nahid Islam left for Saudi Arabia today to perform the holy Umrah pilgrimage. According to the NCP media cell, he will complete the religious rituals during his stay and has requested prayers from the people of Bangladesh for his safe journey and successful worship.

The party also informed that Nahid Islam is expected to return to the country on April 4 if everything goes as planned. The announcement marks a personal religious trip by a senior political figure, with no additional political engagements mentioned in the statement.

His departure underscores the observance of religious duties by political leaders, reflecting a moment of personal devotion amid ongoing political activities in Bangladesh.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman described the home minister’s remarks in parliament as regrettable and undesirable, saying they came even after the speaker had issued a ruling. He made the comment on Sunday evening, March 29, 2026, while speaking to journalists after the parliamentary session.

Dr. Rahman stated that explanations regarding their statements should come from the law minister or the prime minister, not the home minister. He expressed disappointment that the home minister continued to speak despite the speaker’s ruling. Referring to a motion of adjournment, he said his party had submitted a notice for discussion on March 29 after the speaker’s earlier instruction on March 15. The speaker ruled that the discussion would take place on March 31.

Dr. Rahman added that the same order that authorized the national election also covered the referendum, arguing that both should be treated equally. He expressed hope that the ruling party would cooperate in the upcoming discussion to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

The American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon has announced a temporary shift to online classes following threats from Iran. The decision came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned it would target Israeli and American universities in the Middle East in response to attacks on universities in Tehran and Isfahan. AUB stated that it is aware of the threats directed at American universities in the region but has not received any direct threat itself.

According to the university president’s statement, the move to online learning is a precautionary measure. The institution will conduct all classes virtually on Monday and Tuesday. The announcement follows heightened tensions after recent regional attacks and retaliatory warnings issued by Iran.

The university emphasized that the step is temporary and taken solely for safety reasons amid the current security concerns in the region.

Bangladesh is continuing diesel imports from India through a cross-border pipeline to strengthen its energy security. On Saturday evening, diesel pumping began from Numaligarh Refinery in Assam, India, marking the third consignment of 7,000 metric tons. After about 60 hours of pumping, the shipment is expected to reach the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline terminal in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, by Tuesday morning.

Earlier, two consignments of 5,000 metric tons each arrived in March, bringing the total diesel imports through the pipeline this month to 17,000 metric tons once the latest batch is received. The Parbatipur depot of Padma Oil PLC has remained operational even during holidays to maintain uninterrupted fuel supply. According to the depot’s deputy manager (operations), regular pumping from India’s Numaligarh Refinery is ongoing.

The continued pipeline-based imports are part of the government’s effort to ensure stable fuel availability across the country and reduce logistical challenges in energy transportation.

A report has revealed extensive corruption and financial irregularities in Bangladesh’s Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) project initiated during the former Awami League government. The project, valued at about Tk 3,825 crore for purchasing 150,000 machines, allegedly caused financial losses of around Tk 3,172 crore due to inflated pricing—nearly ten times higher than market rates. The audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General found that the procurement bypassed open tendering, using direct purchase through a military-run enterprise while importing components from abroad.

The report implicates several influential figures, including a former security adviser, senior election officials, and executives of the Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory, in what is described as a coordinated institutional corruption scheme. Many of the machines are now unusable, with only a few thousand operational, raising further questions about quality and intent. The Anti-Corruption Commission has begun investigations after finding one in three machines defective.

The current Election Commission’s decision to discontinue EVM use and the Election System Reform Commission’s similar stance are seen as tacit acknowledgments of the project’s failure. Calls have intensified for a full, impartial investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new policy titled “Cybersecurity Framework, Version 1.0 (2026)” to address growing cyber risks in the country’s financial sector. The framework, issued on Sunday, requires all scheduled banks, financial institutions, mobile financial service providers, payment service providers, and payment system operators to fully implement the guidelines by December 31, 2026. The central bank stated that the expansion of online services, digital platforms, and interconnected networks has increased both efficiency and cyber threats.

According to the circular, cyberattacks such as hacking, phishing, malware, ransomware, and data theft pose significant risks of financial loss, reputational damage, and service disruption. The framework emphasizes safeguarding customer data, ensuring system integrity, and maintaining technological resilience. It includes provisions on governance, risk management, data protection, network security, access control, incident management, third-party risk, compliance, and staff training.

The framework sets minimum cybersecurity standards for financial institutions, aiming to strengthen resilience and protect sensitive information. Institutions are instructed to adopt effective risk management strategies, conduct regular monitoring, and promote awareness through training programs.