Production at two major fertilizer factories in Chattogram—Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO)—was temporarily halted from 3 p.m. Wednesday following a government directive due to an ongoing gas shortage. Authorities said the decision was made after gas pressure dropped to levels that made normal production impossible.

According to factory sources, CUFL typically produces around 1,100 to 1,200 metric tons of urea fertilizer daily, while KAFCO has a daily capacity of about 1,725 metric tons of urea and 1,500 metric tons of ammonia. With gas supply suspended, this large-scale production has been stopped. Officials explained that fertilizer production is entirely gas-dependent, and operating under low pressure could damage machinery, prompting the temporary shutdown for safety reasons.

Although the sudden halt has raised some concern about fertilizer supply, officials assured that production will resume quickly once gas supply stabilizes to ensure market availability.

A growing number of Bangladeshi citizens have been drawn into Russia’s war in Ukraine, often through deception and coercion. According to testimonies collected by BBC Bangla, young men were lured with promises of high-paying jobs or permanent residency, only to find themselves forced into combat after arriving in Russia. Some, like Mohon Miaji from Munshiganj, joined the Russian army believing they would work in non-combat roles but were sent to the front lines instead. Many have been killed, injured, or gone missing, leaving families in Bangladesh without information or support.

Investigations revealed that trafficking networks, including Bangladeshi and Indian intermediaries, transported recruits via Middle Eastern countries before taking them to Russia. Victims reported being forced to sign Russian-language contracts they could not read, effectively binding them to military service. The networks allegedly confiscated passports, withheld salaries, and extorted additional payments by promising to move soldiers to safer zones. Families of victims described severe emotional and financial distress, with some losing their only breadwinners.

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry confirmed that several nationals remain active in the conflict, with many unaccounted for or permanently disabled.

Hundreds of young people gathered at the Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) shrine area in Sylhet on Wednesday night, chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi’s killing. The demonstration erupted after Tarawih prayers, coinciding with the presence of Nasir Uddin Patwari, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), who had attended a party iftar and prayers at the Dargah Jame Mosque.

As Patwari and other NCP leaders prayed, crowds of youths assembled in the shrine courtyard and nearby streets, filling the area with chants such as “We want justice for Hadi’s murder.” The protest reflected growing anger over the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a prominent activist of the July–August movement and a candidate for Dhaka-8, who was shot dead on December 12 after Friday prayers.

According to the report, Patwari is touring various parts of the country during Ramadan, meeting people after Tarawih prayers. His supporters have been voicing demands for justice for Hadi and for a country free from extortion.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that nearly 100,000 people left Tehran within the first two days following recent attacks. The agency said that escalating violence across the Middle East and other regions has displaced large numbers of people.

According to the report, Lebanon has seen around 58,000 people taking shelter in other people’s homes, on streets, or in open spaces. Meanwhile, Syrian authorities stated that on March 2, approximately 10,000 Syrians and about 1,000 Lebanese entered Syria, which is roughly three times the country’s average daily entry rate.

The UNHCR findings highlight a rapid surge in displacement linked to the latest wave of violence, reflecting the growing humanitarian pressure in the region.

Residents of Uttar Manipur village in Gharamora Union, Homna upazila of Cumilla, staged protests demanding the arrest of those responsible for the brutal killing of a mother and two children. Sixteen days have passed since the February 16–17 night when unidentified assailants entered the home of expatriate Zahidul Islam and slit the throats of his wife Papia Akter Sukhi, their four-year-old son Hossain, and five-year-old nephew Zubair. Police recovered the bodies from three separate rooms and completed autopsies, but no arrests have been made.

The killings have sparked fear and anger in the community. On Wednesday, locals held a human chain, protest march, and rally at Uttar Manipur Bazaar, chanting for justice and demanding exemplary punishment for the killers. Speakers, including family members and local figures, condemned the crime and urged authorities to identify and arrest the perpetrators quickly.

Homna police said multiple teams from PBI, DB, CID, and RAB are investigating but have yet to find clues or suspects. The lack of progress has deepened frustration among residents and the victims’ families.

Nepal began voting on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to elect a new parliament, marking the first national election since the government fell six months ago following a deadly anti-corruption uprising. The vote, running until 5 p.m. local time, is being described as one of the most competitive since the end of the civil war in 2006. Around 19 million registered voters are choosing representatives to replace the interim government that has ruled since the September 2025 protests.

The 2025 Gen Z–led movement began as opposition to a temporary social media ban but grew into a nationwide campaign against corruption and economic mismanagement, resulting in at least 77 deaths and the fall of former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s administration. Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki urged citizens to vote without fear, while thousands of security personnel were deployed to maintain order.

Over 3,400 candidates are contesting 165 directly elected seats in the 275-member lower house, with the remaining 110 to be allocated by party lists. Analysts expect no single party to win an outright majority, and preliminary results are expected within 24 hours.

Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani has claimed that more than 500 US soldiers have been killed since a war began on Saturday. He made the statement on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X. According to TRT World, the Pentagon has reported only six US military deaths since the conflict started, including four in Kuwait.

Larijani accused former US President Donald Trump of dragging the American people into what he called an unjust war with Iran, allegedly influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He questioned whether the United States now prioritizes its own interests or those of Israel after the reported casualties. Larijani also warned that the martyrdom of Imam Khamenei would come at a high cost.

The war reportedly began with a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, resulting in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders. Iranian authorities said around 1,050 Iranians have been killed in four days, including 165 schoolchildren in Minab. Larijani stated that Iran is prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Former president of the Rupsha Upazila unit of the Labor Party and ex-president of the Rupsha–Bagerhat Inter-District Road Transport Workers Union, Masum Billah, was shot and hacked to death by assailants in Khulna on the night of March 4. The attack occurred around 9 p.m. in front of a shoe showroom at Dakbangla intersection. Locals rushed him to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police arrested one suspect, Ashok Ghosh, at the scene and recovered a foreign pistol and ammunition.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, six to seven attackers carried out the killing as a contract operation. Deputy Police Commissioner (South) Tajul Islam said the group had divided payment among themselves before the attack. The detained suspect confirmed that seven people were involved, armed with firearms and sharp weapons. Police believe the killing was financially motivated.

Investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the remaining suspects involved in the planned murder.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur held a meeting in Dhaka with a six-member delegation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan. The meeting took place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, during Kapur’s official visit to Bangladesh.

Paul Kapur arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, March 3, 2026, via Delhi for a two-day visit. Upon arrival, he was received by officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Dhaka. On Wednesday, March 4, he met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid, Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. Kapur also attended a discussion session with a business delegation that evening.

The meetings were part of Kapur’s scheduled engagements during his visit to Bangladesh, focusing on diplomatic and bilateral discussions with government and political representatives.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapoor held a meeting in Dhaka with a five-member delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The meeting took place during his official visit to Bangladesh.

Kapoor arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, March 3, 2026, after traveling from Delhi for a two-day visit. He was received at the airport by officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Dhaka. On Wednesday, March 4, he met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid, Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. He also attended a discussion with a business delegation that evening.

The series of meetings formed part of Kapoor’s broader diplomatic engagements in Dhaka, focusing on bilateral and regional issues, though specific discussion details were not disclosed in the source.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem declared that the Iran-backed group will not surrender despite intensifying conflict with Israel. His televised address on Monday marked his first public statement since the regional fighting spread into Lebanon. Qassem said Hezbollah had adhered to the ceasefire agreement reached at the end of 2024, but accused Israel of violating all its terms.

In his speech, Qassem stated that Hezbollah had agreed to a diplomatic solution as part of its national responsibility but warned that their patience had limits. He emphasized that the group was determined to confront Israel, even at the cost of extreme sacrifice, and would not capitulate under pressure.

The renewed hostilities followed U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Hezbollah launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes and troop deployments in southern Lebanon. The escalation has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region.

A total of 189 Bangladeshi nationals who had been stranded in Dubai have returned home. They were unable to travel earlier due to suspended flights caused by an ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The returnees arrived in Dhaka on Thursday, March 5, at 7:07 a.m. aboard a special US-Bangla Airlines flight that landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, according to airport sources.

The repatriation effort began on Wednesday, March 4, when the first special flight departed from Dhaka at 7:20 p.m. for Dubai. It later took off from Dubai late at night local time and arrived in Dhaka the following morning. Another flight is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday for Dubai and will return with more stranded Bangladeshis at around 10 p.m. local time.

The operation marks a coordinated effort to bring back citizens affected by flight disruptions linked to the regional conflict, ensuring their safe return to Bangladesh.

Energy economist Ed Hirs has warned that global oil prices could soar to 150 dollars per barrel due to ongoing military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran. Speaking to Al Jazeera, the University of Houston lecturer said that if even half of the oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, prices could reach that level. He cautioned that such a scenario could occur if the US Navy fails to ensure the safety of tankers navigating the strait.

Hirs noted that the impact is already visible in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, where prices rose by more than 40 percent on the first day of the attacks. Between Monday and Tuesday, natural gas prices in several European countries nearly doubled. Diesel prices have also increased sharply, prompting gas-dependent nations to stockpile petroleum, which is affecting future energy orders in some US states.

He further warned that the New England region of the United States could face significant challenges, potentially increasing domestic pressure on the Donald Trump administration ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The United States Senate has rejected a proposal aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations in Iran. The measure, which sought to restrict Trump’s ability to launch further military actions without congressional approval, failed by a vote of 47 in favor and 53 against. Lawmakers were largely divided along party lines during the vote.

The proposal called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from conflicts unless Congress explicitly authorized their involvement. Previous attempts to impose such limits had also failed, and even if this initiative had succeeded, it remained unclear how much it would have altered the course of the conflict. Democrats argued that Trump had bypassed Congress and offered inconsistent justifications for military actions, while most Republicans opposed the measure but indicated they might reconsider if the conflict expanded.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the same issue tomorrow. Some senators told reporters that if the war continues for several more weeks, they may be more inclined to support future efforts to restrict presidential war powers.

The Kishoreganj District Bar Association election concluded on Wednesday with candidates from the BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Forum winning nine out of fourteen posts. Voting took place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the District Bar Association building, and results were announced later that night. Advocate Mizanur Rahman was elected president, while Advocate Aminul Islam Ratan was re-elected general secretary for the sixth consecutive term.

The Nationalist Lawyers Forum fielded candidates for eleven positions and secured victories in nine, including key posts such as vice president, library secretary, cultural secretary, auditor, and three member positions. Five Awami League-leaning independent candidates won the remaining posts, including one vice president, two joint general secretaries, and two members. Senior lawyer Md. Idris Ali served as the chief election commissioner.

The results indicate continued influence of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum within the Kishoreganj legal community, with Ratan maintaining his leadership role for multiple terms.