Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called for the cancellation of the appointment of Mostakur Rahman as the new governor of Bangladesh Bank. The organization made the demand at a press conference held on Thursday morning at its headquarters in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that the appointment of a businessman and controversial figure to such a key position has already drawn criticism from various quarters. TIB urged the government to revoke the appointment and select a qualified, non-controversial, and competent individual for the role.

During the same event, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman noted that the newly formed government has initiated several new measures but refrained from commenting on them at this stage. When asked about the recent resignation of the outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman, he said that the ACC’s structure and functions are defined by law and that the ruling party should appoint a neutral person to the chairmanship and other key positions.

Several senior TIB officials, including advisers and directors, were present at the press conference.

Several international flights from Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport were canceled on Thursday morning due to the ongoing war situation in the Middle East, which has kept airfields in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Doha closed. Airport sources confirmed the cancellations, citing the continued impact of the regional conflict on flight operations.

In addition to the cancellations, a Salam Air flight (OB-401) arriving from Muscat was diverted to Dhaka earlier in the day because of fog. Once conditions improved, the aircraft departed Dhaka again and landed in Chattogram at 10:55 a.m. The same aircraft was scheduled to leave for Muscat as flight OB-402 at 11:55 a.m.

According to airport officials, since February 28, 2026, a total of 50 international flights have been canceled from Shah Amanat International Airport, including four new cancellations reported this morning. The information was confirmed by Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, an engineer in the airport’s public relations department.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has reduced half of the lighting and lowered the air conditioning level in his office at the Secretariat to encourage energy conservation. The decision was implemented on Thursday morning, as confirmed by his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman. Upon arriving at his office at 9:10 a.m., the Prime Minister turned off 50 percent of the lights and adjusted the air conditioning to 25.1 degrees to reduce electricity consumption.

He also instructed that half of the lights be turned off and the air conditioning level reduced in the Cabinet meeting room. Following his directive, all rooms in his office building immediately adopted the same measures. The Secretariat’s Building No. 1 houses the Prime Minister’s Office and several departments under his supervision.

The Prime Minister urged all ministries, government and private offices, shopping malls, and institutions across the country to use electricity efficiently. He advised people to rely more on natural sunlight during the day by opening curtains and windows instead of using artificial lighting.

Israeli attacks near Beirut and Tripoli in Lebanon have killed five people, including a senior Hamas official, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The ministry reported that three people died in a strike near the road to Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. Separately, a Hamas officer was killed in another Israeli attack.

Lebanon’s state news agency said the Hamas official died when an Israeli drone targeted his home in the Beddaoui area near Tripoli. The report identified the victims as Wasim Atallah al-Ali and his wife, describing al-Ali as a senior Hamas figure. The strikes occurred early Thursday morning, according to the report.

The incidents mark another escalation of Israeli operations in Lebanon, with attacks extending from the capital’s outskirts to northern refugee camps. The Lebanese health ministry and state media have confirmed the casualties, but no further details on the broader military or political context were provided.

The administrator of Cumilla City Corporation (CUSC), Md. Shah Alam, has been accused of frequently being absent from his office during official hours, reportedly spending most weekdays in Dhaka for official purposes. However, inquiries revealed that he was not present at the relevant ministries as claimed. His irregular attendance has allegedly led to delays in administrative decisions and increased difficulties for city residents seeking municipal services.

The issue arises despite Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive requiring all government officials to attend office on time. During a week-long inspection, Shah Alam was reportedly not found in his office on any of three working days. City residents and former officials expressed concern that such absenteeism undermines service delivery and public trust. The city’s chief executive officer confirmed the administrator was in Dhaka but could not provide further details.

Local Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury stated he would question Shah Alam about his irregular attendance. Citizens believe regular presence by the administrator could improve efficiency and responsiveness in civic services.

The Cabinet Division of Bangladesh has decided to declare March 18, 2026, as a public holiday in connection with the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. With this decision, government officials and employees will enjoy a total of seven consecutive days off during the festival. The announcement was made on Thursday morning following a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, according to State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj.

Depending on the sighting of the Arabic month of Shaban, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be celebrated on March 21. The government had earlier set March 19 to 23 as general holidays for Eid. Additionally, March 17 is already a holiday for Shab-e-Qadr, and the newly declared March 18 holiday bridges the gap, creating a continuous seven-day break.

The extended holiday period is expected to facilitate nationwide travel and family gatherings during the festival, according to the official announcement.

US-Bangla Airlines has repatriated 27 flight crew members of Biman Bangladesh Airlines who had been stranded in Dubai since February 28 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The crew had been stuck in the United Arab Emirates for five days following the outbreak of hostilities and were brought back to Bangladesh under special arrangements.

The airline stated that it undertook the operation as part of its corporate responsibility, securing permission from Dubai Airport authorities to operate two special flights for stranded Bangladeshis. The first flight landed safely at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on March 5 with 378 passengers, including the Biman crew. The second flight is scheduled to arrive on March 6 morning. Both flights are being operated using Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 436 seats.

The return of the crew has eased the anxiety of their families, who had been deeply concerned during the uncertain period.

Qatar Airways announced that it will operate special flights on Thursday from several Middle Eastern cities to major destinations across Europe. According to the airline, flights from Muscat, Oman will depart for London Heathrow, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Rome, and Amsterdam. Another flight will leave Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Frankfurt.

The airline stated in a post on X that its main operations from Doha remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Passengers have been advised not to go to airports until they receive official notifications from Qatar Airways regarding these special flights.

The announcement indicates a temporary adjustment in the airline’s operations as it seeks to maintain limited connectivity between the Middle East and Europe amid the ongoing airspace restrictions.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing war with Iran could last up to eight weeks. Speaking at a press conference held at the Pentagon on Wednesday, he said the United States possesses sufficient military equipment to defeat Iran. Hegseth noted that the duration of the conflict could vary, possibly lasting four, six, or even three weeks depending on developments.

He emphasized that the US military has already determined the pace of its operations and is proceeding according to plan. According to Hegseth, the enemy is currently in an unbalanced position, and the US intends to maintain that state. The remarks came as part of a broader briefing on the progress of the conflict and the readiness of US forces.

The statement reflects Washington’s confidence in its military capabilities while acknowledging uncertainty about the exact duration of the conflict.

Germany and Belgium have declined to participate in the ongoing joint military offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran. Both countries expressed concern over escalating tensions and called for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told lawmakers in Berlin on Wednesday that Germany would not take part in the conflict, emphasizing that the country is not a party to the war and will work to prevent further violence.

Pistorius warned that launching military operations without a reliable post-war plan risks prolonging instability, noting that history shows wars are easier to start than to end. He also acknowledged that the US-Israel assault targets a government seeking Israel’s destruction. In Brussels, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken delivered a similar message to parliament, confirming that Belgium would not join the current campaign.

The statements from Berlin and Brussels highlight divisions among Western allies over the military approach toward Iran and underscore calls for restraint and diplomatic engagement.

Nepal began voting on Thursday in a parliamentary election that has drawn attention for its potential to reshape the country’s political alignment between India and China. The contest features key figures including former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party (UML), former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa, and Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The Election Commission pledged to announce results within 24 hours of collecting ballots from 165 constituencies.

Observers doubt any party will secure a majority, citing Nepal’s long history of unstable governments since the monarchy’s fall in 1990. The 2025 Gen Z movement that forced Oli’s resignation continues to influence the political landscape, with Shah emerging as a prominent anti-establishment and India-critical figure. Analysts note that Oli’s UML remains China-leaning, while India has refrained from commenting directly on the election but continues to monitor developments closely.

Experts suggest that regardless of the outcome, Nepal’s next government will need to maintain cooperative ties with India to ensure economic stability and development.

A man named Helon Mia, aged 40, died and another person named Ruman Mia was injured while allegedly stealing a tree at the Srigobindapur tea garden in Kamalganj, Moulvibazar, early Thursday, March 5, 2026. Police reported that a group of five to six people attempted to cut down an Akashmoni tree near a lake beside a playground and temple in the garden. The tree fell into the water, creating a loud noise that alerted night guards, who caught one suspect and took him to the manager. Later, a body was found near a house, and the detained person was released.

Police said the cause of Helon’s death would be confirmed after an autopsy. Preliminary assessment suggested he might have died of cardiac arrest while fleeing, as no injury marks were found. The injured person’s location and treatment details remain unknown. Additional Superintendent of Police Raju Ahmed and other officers visited the scene.

Authorities have sent the body to Moulvibazar General Hospital for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Israeli media reported that the country's military has dropped more than 5,000 bombs on Iran since the start of the conflict. The announcement came from Tel Aviv five days after the war began, with the army indicating plans to continue operations in Iran for at least another one or two weeks. Israel also confirmed launching a new round of attacks against Tehran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

According to the reports, thousands of Iranian targets have been struck, and an Israeli Air Force official claimed that thousands of Iranian soldiers were killed. The Israel Times stated that the military briefing outlined plans to hit thousands more targets within Iran’s regime structure. AFP correspondents in Paris reported new explosions in northeastern Tehran.

The Israeli military said it attacked Tehran’s security command center, several other sites, and a missile facility in Isfahan, and claimed to have shot down an Iranian fighter jet over Tehran’s airspace.

China has expressed strong condemnation of the joint Israel–United States attack on Iran but is prioritizing its own strategic and energy interests over direct military support for Tehran. Analysts cited in the report say Beijing is unlikely to risk confrontation with Washington despite disruptions to oil imports. The conflict has raised fears of a global energy crisis, especially as shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz faces interruptions.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed full control of the waterway and continued missile and drone strikes across the Persian Gulf. China, heavily dependent on imported oil, has built large strategic reserves estimated at 1.2 billion barrels, enough to cover about 115 days of seaborne imports. Experts believe this stockpile will help China weather short-term supply shocks while focusing on upcoming diplomatic engagements, including a planned summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on March 31.

Analysts add that Beijing views Iran as a strategic partner rather than a military ally and remains cautious about any action that could escalate tensions with the United States. The situation may benefit Russia as an alternative oil supplier if Middle Eastern flows are disrupted.

A violent clash erupted between two local factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Hakimpur village of Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah, on Wednesday night, March 4, 2026. The confrontation, reportedly over local dominance, left at least 23 people injured and resulted in the vandalism of three homesteads. Police arrived promptly to bring the situation under control and transported the injured to Shailkupa Health Complex and Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital.

According to police, the conflict involved supporters of Bokul Biswas, president of the Hakimpur Union BNP, and Tarun Biswas, president of the Union Swechchhasebak Dal. The dispute had been ongoing over influence in the area and escalated into violence when both sides armed themselves with local weapons. The incident spread panic throughout the village.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that the situation is now under control, with additional police deployed to prevent further clashes. Patrols have been intensified to maintain order in the affected area.