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.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired a meeting on the proposed 'Family Card' initiative at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Rumman, who stated that it was held to advance the government’s electoral commitment to introduce the Family Card program.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister attended a separate policy meeting on the management and development of the New Mooring Container Terminal at the country’s main seaport in Chattogram. That meeting, which began at 10:30 a.m., was attended by the Finance Minister, the Minister of Shipping, the Minister of Law, and the Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ashiq Chowdhury, along with senior officials from relevant departments.

The Family Card initiative is being discussed as part of the government’s broader agenda to fulfill its election pledges, though no further details on its implementation were disclosed in the meeting summary.

Israeli Finance Minister and far-right politician Bezalel Smotrich has warned that Israel will take full control of Gaza if Hamas does not surrender its weapons. The warning came Monday after Hamas rejected an Israeli ultimatum demanding disarmament. Last week, Israel had given Hamas 60 days to hand over all weapons, including AK-47 rifles, a timeline reportedly requested by the U.S. administration. Failure to comply would trigger a renewed military operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Hamas dismissed the ultimatum as political propaganda, claiming it had no real basis in ongoing negotiations. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardabi said the group would not accept the threat. Smotrich stated that a final deadline for Gaza’s complete disarmament could soon be announced, and if ignored, Israeli forces would act with international and U.S. support. He added that the IDF has two or three operational plans under consideration for a possible Gaza incursion.

The report also mentioned a U.S. peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump, which includes forming a 20,000-member international peacekeeping force. However, Smotrich asserted that Israel could remove foreign troops if necessary, though immediate deployment of such forces appears unlikely.

A third person has died following a gas explosion at a residential building in Chattogram’s Halishahar area. The deceased, 40-year-old Samir Ahmed, succumbed to burn injuries at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka around noon on Tuesday. According to the institute’s assistant professor Shawon Bin Rahman, Samir had suffered burns on 45 percent of his body and had been admitted the previous day. His death raised the toll from the incident to three.

Earlier, on Monday morning, 16-year-old Shawon, who was Samir’s nephew, died while undergoing treatment at the same institute. Shawon’s mother, Noor Jahan Akhter Rani, aged 40, had died earlier that day. The explosion occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Monday during sehri time at a third-floor flat of a six-story building named Halima Manzil in Halishahar’s H Block. Neighbors reported hearing a loud blast followed by a fire.

Nine members of the same family, including three children, were burned in the explosion. Six of them remain under treatment in Dhaka after being transferred from Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the withdrawal of 1,202 politically motivated cases filed against opposition leaders and activists during a 17-year period under what it described as a fascist government. The decision was announced on Tuesday through an official press release from the ministry, confirming that the approval was granted by the Home Minister.

According to the statement, this move follows a similar decision made on February 22, when the Home Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, announced the withdrawal of 1,006 such cases from the same period. The ministry’s latest approval adds to the ongoing process of dismissing cases that were deemed to have been filed for political harassment.

The announcement marks another step in the government’s effort to address politically motivated legal actions from previous administrations, as stated in the ministry’s communication.