In Raiganj of Sirajganj, the once-familiar sight of tall palm trees is rapidly disappearing, raising concerns about increasing lightning strikes and other natural disasters. The decline has been attributed to agricultural expansion, unplanned tree cutting, and insufficient replanting. Local residents have reported more frequent lightning-related deaths of farmers and livestock during recent monsoon seasons, heightening fear and frustration in the community.

Environmental activists from the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) in Sirajganj warn that palm trees not only enhance natural beauty but also act as protection against lightning. Their loss threatens biodiversity, particularly the habitat of the baya weaver bird, and disrupts the ecological balance. Palm trees also hold economic and cultural value, providing nutritious fruit and raw materials for rural crafts such as mats, fans, and other cottage products.

Experts caution that the disappearance of palm trees could erode both environmental stability and rural heritage, diminishing the aesthetic and ecological identity of traditional Bangladeshi villages.

A modernization project costing about Tk 21 crore at Dhaka University’s Mall Chattar has drawn criticism after the area turned hazardous for students and pedestrians. Following recent rainfall, an electric shock incident killed a dog near Surya Sen Hall around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, raising alarm among witnesses who narrowly avoided a larger accident.

Students alleged that the square’s electrical wiring and lighting were installed without proper planning, creating electrocution risks whenever rainwater accumulates. Poor drainage and inadequate maintenance have worsened the danger. Some lamp posts have reportedly been stolen, leaving exposed wires temporarily patched with tape. The project, launched for the university’s centenary celebration, included lighting, drainage, seating, and aesthetic structures but has faced criticism over design flaws and safety lapses.

Acting Chief Engineer Kazi Md. Akram Hossain said some lights had been disconnected after thefts, and the sudden rain caused the incident. Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.B.M. Obaidul Islam called the situation alarming and instructed the engineering department to take immediate safety measures.

In Cumilla Sadar Dakshin upazila, Akhtaruzzaman Ripon, a former influential Jubo League leader from Dhaka, has stirred controversy by declaring himself a dedicated BNP supporter. His claim has triggered widespread discussion and criticism, particularly among local BNP activists who reject his assertion. Ripon, a resident of Galiara Union, has no official position in the BNP but is known for his past closeness with senior Awami League figures. In the 2024 upazila election, he sought the Awami League nomination, later ran as an independent with the ‘pineapple’ symbol, and lost.

Ripon alleges that he actually won the election but was denied victory by former Awami League MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar. He now insists he is not affiliated with any political party, describing himself as a businessman who previously interacted with Awami League and Jubo League leaders for work. Local BNP leaders, including Mahabub Alam Chowdhury, have questioned his political credibility, saying those absent from party activities for years should not claim BNP identity.

Grassroots BNP workers have also voiced opposition, labeling Ripon a “hybrid leader” attempting to exploit money and influence. The debate has intensified uncertainty over his true political allegiance in Cumilla’s local politics.

A wave of public anger has erupted across Bangladesh after multiple child deaths at Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) Hospital due to shortages of ICU beds and ventilators. Despite Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain’s harsh criticism, hospital director Brigadier General P.K.M. Masudul Islam remains in his position. The minister had condemned the director for failing to inform authorities about the lack of neonatal ventilators, saying he deserved severe punishment. The issue has sparked nationwide debate over weaknesses in the country’s healthcare management.

The minister stated that after learning of the incident, he personally spoke with the director but received no satisfactory explanation. The director initially dismissed the matter as media exaggeration but later could not deny the reported facts in his official report. On Sunday, the director was seen performing his regular duties and holding meetings with department heads, though no details of the discussions were disclosed.

Local residents and health professionals have long complained about inadequate ICU facilities at RMC, particularly for newborns. Analysts warn that without swift administrative action, public trust in the health sector could erode further.

Republican Representative Nancy Mace has called for Congress to have a formal vote before any decision to deploy US troops to Iran, highlighting growing divisions within President Donald Trump’s party. Her remarks on Sunday followed a classified House briefing on the ongoing war, which she said raised concerns about the administration’s plans. The comments coincided with a Washington Post report that the Pentagon is preparing for limited ground operations in Iran, including potential raids on Kharg Island and near the Strait of Hormuz.

Mace told CNN that any conventional ground operation involving Marines or the 82nd Airborne Division would constitute a ground war requiring congressional authorization. She emphasized that “we don’t want troops on the ground” and urged the administration to seek proper authority if such action is pursued. The White House did not deny the Pentagon’s preparations but said they were part of routine planning to provide the president with options.

The debate comes as the US expands its military presence in the Middle East, with thousands of additional troops arriving. Some Republican lawmakers and Trump allies, including Matt Gaetz, have warned that a ground invasion could lead to higher costs and prolonged conflict.

After administrators were appointed to all city corporations and district councils, speculation has intensified over when Bangladesh’s remaining local government elections will be held. The government’s apparent lack of urgency has fueled public debate, as no elected representatives currently serve in upazila, municipal, or union councils. Conflicting statements from ministers have added to confusion about whether upazila or union council elections will come first.

According to sources in the Local Government Division, informal discussions have taken place about holding upazila elections between Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, but later statements suggested union council polls might precede them. Officials said no political decision has yet been made on appointing administrators to upazila councils, and the government is still considering whether to proceed with elections or continue with interim arrangements. The Election Commission has not received any formal directive to begin preparations.

Experts and election officials warned that prolonged reliance on administrators could weaken grassroots democracy and accountability. They emphasized that elected representatives are essential for effective local governance and citizen participation.

Police in Palashbari, Gaibandha have arrested Harun, the husband of slain housewife Kabita Begum, in connection with her murder. Kabita’s mother, Hasna Begum, filed a case naming her son-in-law and three others as accused after Kabita’s throat-slit body was recovered from a rented house in Betkapa Union’s Paramlagaachi village on the night of March 28. Harun was detained from Rangpur Medical College Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment.

According to police and local sources, the body was found in a house rented from retired army member Mostafizar Rahman. Harun, a resident of Chakbhagbanpur village in Eidilpur Union of Sadullapur upazila, was identified as the prime suspect. Police stated that a severed male organ recovered at the scene belonged to Harun.

Officer-in-Charge Sarwar Alam Khan said the investigation has been intensified to uncover the full circumstances of the killing, and efforts are continuing to arrest the remaining suspects.

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a ground operation in Iran to seize around 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) of uranium, according to unnamed American officials cited by The Wall Street Journal. The report says such an operation could require U.S. forces to remain inside Iran for several days or longer. Trump has not yet made a final decision and is weighing the risks to American troops.

Officials quoted in the report said the president views the plan positively, as it could support his goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Pentagon preparations do not indicate a presidential decision. The Pentagon declined to comment, and a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command also refused to respond.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday night, Trump warned that Iran must comply with U.S. demands on nuclear weapons or risk ceasing to exist as a country. He added that Iran would have to hand over all its uranium to the United States.

Chattogram-10 Member of Parliament Saeed Al Noman responded to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s remark ‘Rakh tor family card’ during a parliamentary session on Sunday. Speaking one minute beyond his allotted time, Noman said he did not misunderstand the opposition leader’s words and interpreted them as a positive comment about Tarique Rahman’s contributions. He emphasized that all members represent the entire nation and expressed respect for his electoral opponent.

During his speech, Noman highlighted long-standing problems in Chattogram, including water shortages and inadequate hospital facilities. He noted that Chattogram Medical College Hospital, though officially a 2,000-bed facility, can effectively treat only about 500 patients, while the General Hospital is much smaller. He urged the government to establish at least one modern 500-bed hospital in every constituency.

Addressing education, Noman called for a values-based curriculum and recalled the political ideals of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. He also paid tribute to BNP activists who were killed, disappeared, or persecuted over the past 17 years and those who protested against authoritarian rule in 2024.

A young man was killed and another critically injured in a planned attack in Meghna upazila of Cumilla following a dispute at a religious event. According to police and the case statement, the incident occurred on the evening of March 27 when assailants stopped a CNG autorickshaw near Lakkhankhola Bazar and attacked passengers Jihad, 22, and Shahjalal alias Sabbir, 20, with sharp weapons, iron rods, and sticks. Sabbir later died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while Jihad remains on life support in the ICU. Police have arrested one suspect named Babul Mia.

The case was filed by Rafiqul, 44, a resident of Mugarchar village, naming several accused including Naeem, Babul Mia, Zahidul, Kamal Mia, Sajib, Lilu Mia, and Firoz Mia, along with several unidentified others. The attack reportedly stemmed from a confrontation the previous day at the Ali Shah Bhandari Urs, where the accused allegedly harassed a woman and were confronted by locals.

Local residents have demanded the arrest and exemplary punishment of all involved. Police said operations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects, and the victim’s body has been sent for autopsy.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated a new pay structure and sports card program for national athletes at an event held at the Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday. The initiative aims to transform sports from a hobby into a recognized profession. During the ceremony, 129 athletes who achieved international success received a total of Tk 24.4 million in special honors and cash awards. The Prime Minister announced that from April 30, a nationwide talent hunt titled “Nobo Kuri Sports” will begin, and from 2027, sports will become mandatory in the national curriculum from grade four.

The Youth and Sports State Minister highlighted that the sports card will ensure athletes’ social and financial security. Recruitment of sports officers and teachers at the upazila level is progressing rapidly, and seven regional BKSP branches are being upgraded to full centers to decentralize training. The government also introduced monthly stipends of Tk 100,000 for athletes, including those with special needs, promoting inclusivity in sports.

The Prime Minister expressed optimism that with modern training, financial support, and a growing sports industry, Bangladesh will soon achieve new global milestones in major international competitions.

A rocket attack struck the United States' former 'Victory Base' military facility located about 20 kilometers west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 30, 2026. Loud explosions were heard across the capital, and reports confirmed that the rockets hit an Iraqi special forces A32B transport aircraft, setting it on fire. The air defense system failed to intercept the rockets. According to Al Jazeera, this marks the first attack on the Victory Base, which no longer hosts any US troops.

The incident carries symbolic significance, as the base was once considered one of Iraq’s most secure and protected areas during the height of the US military presence. The attack highlights a shift in the security landscape, with even previously fortified sites now vulnerable to strikes. Throughout the night, US aircraft were seen flying over Baghdad.

In a separate incident, a drone attack targeted the US embassy in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdish autonomous region. Air defense systems successfully intercepted the drones, preventing damage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an expansion of military operations in southern Lebanon. In a video statement from the Northern Command, he said the decision was made in response to continuous rocket attacks by Hezbollah and increasing security risks along the border. Netanyahu stated that he had instructed the expansion of the existing security buffer zone and expressed determination to fundamentally change the situation in the north.

According to the report, this move aligns with Israel’s declared effort to replicate the so-called “Gaza model” of control. However, it remains unclear whether the new directive will involve advancing beyond the current boundary or merely strengthening positions within the existing area.

The announcement underscores escalating tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, with uncertainty over the scope and impact of the planned military expansion.

A Dhaka court has issued a travel ban on former law minister Anisul Huq, former Kasba upazila chairman Rashedul Kawser Bhuiyan alias Jibon, and Taufika Aftab alias Taufika Karim, a close associate of Huq. The order was given on Monday, March 30, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez following a petition from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The bench assistant of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court, Md Riaz Hossain, confirmed the decision.

CID inspector Ashraful Islam filed the petition, stating that the three individuals were allegedly involved in laundering Tk 24.53 crore obtained through extortion. The agency argued that restricting their foreign travel was necessary to ensure a fair and uninterrupted investigation into the money laundering case.

The court’s order marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation, as authorities seek to prevent the suspects from leaving the country while inquiries continue.

The article recounts the extraordinary role of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. Despite limited resources and constant danger, doctors, students, and health workers continued treating the wounded. Led by Professor Dr. Shamsuddin Ahmed, the hospital became a refuge for victims of violence. Dr. Ahmed organized an emergency blood bank and medical squad before the conflict intensified, saving countless lives. On April 9, 1971, Pakistani forces surrounded the hospital and executed Dr. Ahmed and several colleagues, marking one of the war’s most tragic massacres.

The institution’s contribution extended beyond martyrdom. Many students joined the medical corps in India, serving in refugee camps and field hospitals, while others fought directly in Sectors 4 and 5. Staff secretly supplied medicines and surgical tools to freedom fighters, risking their lives under curfew. The hospital grounds later became a memorial site honoring those who died.

The article concludes that these sacrifices remain underrecognized nationally. It calls for proper acknowledgment of the doctors, students, and staff whose courage embodied humanity and moral strength during the war.