Bangladesh Railway has announced the schedule for advance ticket sales ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure a comfortable journey for homebound passengers. According to a railway notice issued on Tuesday, online advance ticket sales will begin on March 3, with all seats available exclusively through online purchase. Return ticket sales will start on March 23. The authority also confirmed that tickets will be sold in two phases based on regional routes.

Tickets for intercity trains operating in the western region will be available each morning from 8:00 a.m., while tickets for eastern region trains will be released daily at 2:00 p.m. To accommodate the increased travel demand during the holiday, Bangladesh Railway will add 20 special trains, comprising five pairs of services.

The initiative aims to ease passenger pressure and improve convenience during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, continuing the practice of full online ticketing introduced in previous Eid seasons.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained three members of Myanmar’s armed group Arakan Army while they were attempting to illegally enter Bangladesh through the Naikhongchhari border in Bandarban. The arrest took place on Monday evening in the Amtali border area of Ghumdhum Union’s Ward No. 8. BGB personnel recovered Myanmar currency from the detainees and later handed them over to Naikhongchhari Police Station for legal action.

According to police and local administration sources, the three individuals were intercepted after raising suspicion during their attempted entry. Upon questioning, they identified themselves as members of the Arakan Army. Naikhongchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Baten Mridha confirmed that legal proceedings are underway. Lieutenant Colonel S M Khairul Alam, commanding officer of the 34 BGB Battalion in Cox’s Bazar, said the detainees were transferred to the relevant authorities following standard procedures.

Local administration officials stated that law enforcement agencies are handling the matter in accordance with legal protocols. BGB has intensified patrols and surveillance along the Naikhongchhari border to prevent illegal crossings and drug trafficking.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that countries delaying trade agreements with the United States could face higher tariffs, following a Supreme Court ruling that suspended his administration’s global duties. The court ruled that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to impose import taxes. In response, Trump announced new global tariffs of 10 percent, later raised to 15 percent, set to take effect Tuesday under a different legal provision allowing temporary tariffs for 150 days without congressional approval.

The European Union said it would delay ratifying a summer trade deal, while India postponed scheduled talks. The United Kingdom sought clarification on whether its agreement would remain exempt from the new 15 percent tariff. British Trade Secretary Peter Kyle acknowledged the uncertainty, and European Parliament trade chair Bernd Lange said the situation had become more unpredictable. The White House maintained that the ruling did not alter its trade policy, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer stating that only the legal tools had changed.

The new tariffs are due to expire after 150 days unless extended by Congress. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned his party would oppose any effort to increase tariffs. U.S. stock prices fell about 1 percent Monday amid growing market uncertainty.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, announced that SpaceX is redirecting its focus from building a city on Mars to constructing a self-sustaining city on the Moon. In a recent post on X, he said the lunar city could be established in less than ten years, using lunar resources to gradually build and expand a permanent human settlement. Musk explained that frequent launches to the Moon, possible every ten days, would make the project faster than Mars colonization, which requires favorable planetary alignment every 26 months.

Experts described the plan as ambitious but not science fiction. Dr. Sangwoo Lim of the University of Surrey said producing oxygen, water, and construction materials from lunar soil is theoretically feasible, though challenges include extreme temperatures, dust, low gravity, and limited energy. MIT professor and former NASA astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman added that successful lunar landers by SpaceX and Blue Origin could enable logistics for a lunar base soon, with lessons applicable to future Mars missions.

The announcement coincides with growing U.S.-China competition over lunar exploration and Musk’s restructuring of SpaceX, including its acquisition of AI firm xAI and plans for a potential IPO.

Social Welfare Minister Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain announced that the Family Card distribution program will begin simultaneously in 14 upazilas on March 10, with Prime Minister Tareq Rahman inaugurating the initiative. The program will later be expanded across the entire country. The announcement came after a meeting of the Finance Ministry’s subcommittee on the Family Card, held at the Secretariat in Dhaka under the Prime Minister’s chairmanship.

According to the minister, the Family Card will provide monthly financial assistance of 2,500 taka to three groups: the ultra-poor, poor, and lower-income families. He said the initiative aims to promote women’s empowerment and economic self-reliance. The minister emphasized that no political figures will be involved in the card distribution process.

He added that government officials in each upazila will form teams to manage the program. The selection process will include verification and two rounds of rechecking by a final committee before the cards are distributed.

A military helicopter belonging to Iran’s army crashed into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four people, according to state media reports. The incident occurred in the city of Dorche, where the aircraft caught fire after impact. Among the victims were the pilot, co-pilot, and two local businessmen. Emergency services arrived promptly at the scene and managed to bring the fire under control.

The report added that this accident follows another aviation incident last week, when an American-made F-4 Phantom fighter jet of Iran’s regular air force crashed in the western province of Hamadan, killing one pilot. The two consecutive crashes have drawn attention to recent safety issues involving Iran’s military aircraft fleet.

Authorities have not yet released further details about the cause of the helicopter crash or the condition of the crash site beyond the initial response.

Leaders of the Barishal District Lawyers’ Association have announced a boycott of the Chief Metropolitan and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Courts in Barishal. The decision was declared on Tuesday afternoon during a protest in front of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court. The lawyers, aligned with the BNP, demanded the removal of Magistrate Sarafat Ullah after he granted bail to Advocate Talukdar Md. Yunus, general secretary of the Barishal District Awami League and former MP for Barishal-2. They vowed to continue the boycott until the magistrate is removed.

According to the report, the bail was granted in a case involving vandalism and assault at BNP offices in Barishal. BNP-affiliated lawyers expressed outrage, alleging that individuals linked to violence and repression were being granted bail without remorse. During the protest, speakers accused the magistrate of pursuing a political agenda and claimed that Awami League leaders were receiving preferential treatment in lower courts. The protest was presided over by Advocate Sadiqur Rahman Linkon and attended by several senior lawyers.

The boycott has caused difficulties for litigants traveling from distant areas, as court activities remain suspended until further notice.

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Engineer Ishraq Hossain held a meeting with regional officials of Titas Gas on Tuesday at the ministry conference room to address the prolonged gas shortage in households across Dhaka-6 constituency. The meeting aimed to find solutions to the persistent supply disruptions that have caused severe inconvenience for residents in daily cooking and household activities.

According to meeting sources, residents of various areas in Dhaka-6 have long suffered from acute gas shortages and repeatedly lodged complaints about the issue. In response, the authorities have taken steps to strengthen coordination among relevant agencies to resolve the problem. Addressing the gas crisis was one of Ishraq Hossain’s key election pledges, and he has been holding regular discussions with Titas Gas officials to achieve a lasting solution.

The meeting discussed the current state of gas supply, pipeline pressure problems, illegal connections, and possible improvements to the distribution system. Sources indicated that effective measures would be taken soon to reduce public suffering.

The Iranian government has stated that university students have the right to protest but must not cross certain 'red lines.' The statement came on Tuesday as the government’s first official response after student demonstrations resumed across several campuses over the weekend. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said that sacred matters and the national flag are examples of these red lines, which must be protected and never violated, even in moments of intense anger.

Mohajerani indicated that the government recognizes students’ right to express their opinions. However, she emphasized that maintaining respect for the state’s core values, religious sanctity, and national symbols is everyone’s responsibility. Her remarks were seen as an attempt to balance acknowledgment of student rights with a warning to preserve national and religious boundaries.

Analysts interpret the government’s comments as an effort to calm tensions following the recent wave of campus protests.

Bangladesh Bank has issued show-cause notices to three of its officials after they publicly labeled Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur as a 'dictator' during a press conference held on February 16. The officials—Naushad Mostafa, A.K.M. Masum Billah, and Golam Mostafa Shraban—have been given ten days to respond. Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the action, stating that disciplinary measures will follow if their explanations are deemed unsatisfactory.

The press conference criticized the governor’s handling of bank mergers involving EXIM and Social Islami Bank, and the process of granting digital bank licenses. According to internal regulations, central bank officials must obtain the governor’s approval before making public statements or holding press events. The spokesperson declined further comment until the replies are received.

Sources indicated that the officials’ actions violated staff rules, as grievances against senior management should be raised through internal forums. The incident has drawn attention to internal tensions within the central bank over governance, autonomy, and regulatory reforms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to achieve his goal of capturing Ukraine. Speaking in a video address marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s aggression, Zelensky stated that Putin could not break the Ukrainian people or win the war, emphasizing that Ukraine had defended its country.

According to AFP, Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to do everything possible to ensure a strong and lasting peace. He said the country would continue efforts to establish justice and achieve peace.

The remarks came as Ukraine marked four years since the start of Russia’s invasion, underscoring Kyiv’s continued resistance and determination to secure a just and stable peace.

Chattogram-10 Member of Parliament Saeed Al Noman stated that the government is committed to ensuring the highest level of medical care for those injured in the Halishahar gas line explosion. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning while visiting the burn victims at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. Noman added that additional medical assistance would be provided if necessary.

During his hospital visit, the MP spoke with doctors to learn about the patients’ current conditions and ongoing treatments. He also met with the families of the injured, assuring them of full government support. Noman urged the health minister to ensure the best possible treatment for the victims.

After the visit, he prayed for the souls of those who died in the explosion and wished a speedy recovery for the injured, reaffirming his commitment to stand by their families.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury announced that the government will ensure the repatriation of deceased expatriates’ bodies to Bangladesh without any cost. He made the statement on Tuesday afternoon while inaugurating two newly added freezing ambulances at the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board premises under his ministry.

Chowdhury emphasized that expatriates represent Bangladesh abroad and contribute significantly to the nation’s economy through remittances. He said their contributions deserve recognition and that the ministry, through the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, continues to work tirelessly for the welfare of expatriate workers and their families. The event was attended by State Minister Nurul Haque, Senior Secretary Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, and other ministry officials.

Responding to journalists, Chowdhury added that the ministry is newly formed under his leadership and that within the next 180 days, they will strive to implement the election pledges made for expatriates’ welfare.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of five savings certificates and five bank accounts belonging to former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Md Harun Ar Rashid and his wife Fateha Farvin Luna. The accounts and certificates hold a total of Tk 7.35 million. The order was issued on Tuesday afternoon by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, confirmed by court bench assistant Riaz Hossain.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had earlier sought the freeze through an application filed by its Deputy Assistant Director Md Imran Akon. The ACC stated that an investigation is ongoing into allegations that Harun Ar Rashid amassed and laundered illegal assets worth Tk 10 billion. Investigators reportedly found substantial movable assets in the names of the couple without satisfactory sources of income.

According to the ACC’s submission, the couple was attempting to transfer or dispose of the assets, prompting the court to order the freeze to prevent such actions during the ongoing inquiry.

The future of Bangladesh’s mobile financial service provider Nagad will depend on the new government’s policy direction, according to economist Ahsan H. Mansur. Dhaka-14 Member of Parliament Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman shared this after a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank governor on Tuesday. The discussion followed ongoing talks from the previous interim government period regarding potential foreign investment in Nagad.

Arman stated that the current government has not yet finalized its stance on whether Nagad will be handed over to private investors. If the government decides to proceed as the interim administration had planned, the investment process will begin. Acting as a professional lawyer and local representative for foreign investors, Arman said the investors are mainly interested in Bangladesh’s digital banking sector and have expressed willingness to conduct an audit to assess Nagad’s profitability.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed that the central bank will act according to the new government’s decision and remains firm on its position.