IFIC Bank PLC celebrated International Women’s Day 2026 with the theme, “Today’s Steps for Tomorrow’s Justice — Protect the Rights of Women and Girls.”The program was held on Sunday, 8 March 2026, at the Multipurpose Hall of IFIC Tower, the bank’s head office. Managing director of the bank Syed Mansur Mustafa attended the event as chief guest. In his brief remarks, he expressed sincere appreciation to all female support staff for their outstanding contribution to daily operations. He also stated that IFIC Bank has been playing a leading role in the country’s banking sector in advancing women’s empowerment. Notably, all female support staff working at IFIC Tower, along with women heads of different departments, were specially invited to the program.

The government has directed that all universities in the country remain closed from Monday until the Eid holidays in order to save electricity and fuel. According to the directive, saving electricity and fuel at the national level is necessary to tackle the current global crisis. For this reason, officials and employees at all public and private universities must ensure responsible and energy-efficient behaviour. In accordance with the Cabinet Division’s instruction and considering the holy month of Ramadan, all public and private universities will remain closed from Monday until the dates specified in their academic calendars for the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. All universities have been asked to comply with this directive.

PM to open canal excavation in Sahapara of Dinajpur on Mar 16: ministerWater Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee addressed a meeting as the chief guest at the Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner's office on Sunday. Photo: BSSDINAJPUR, Mar 8, 2026 (BSS) - Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee today said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally inaugurate the canal excavation programme in the country by re-excavating a canal involving a cost of Tk 5 crore in Sahapara area of Kaharol upazila here on March 16. As per the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the plan will be implemented to move the canal excavation programme forward at a rapid pace, he said. This preparatory meeting was held at the conference room of the Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner's Office on the occasion of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's upcoming visit to Dinajpur. State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad and Water Resources Secretary Dr AKM Shahabuddin also spoke.

UNESCO Representative in Bangladesh Dr. Susan Vize met with Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday. Photo: BSSDHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) - Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with UNESCO to improve the overall quality of education in Bangladesh. During the meeting, both sides emphasised enhancing mutual cooperation to improve the overall standard of education, prevent student dropout and ensure quality education in the country. They also discussed issues related to implementing a compulsory unified education system and improving the quality of education. The discussion highlighted the importance of protecting students' mental health, improving teachers' skills and standards to ensure quality education and increasing the effectiveness of the education system.

Director Mejbaur Rahman Sumon unveiled the trailer of his second feature film “Roid” at an event on 16 December, marking his return after the commercial success of “Hawa” in Bangladesh. Before its domestic release, “Roid” secured selection in the Tiger Competition section of the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). Speaking at the trailer launch, director Mejbaur Rahman Sumon said: “Through the story of Sadu, his mentally unstable wife and the palm tree beside their house, we attempted to reinterpret the primordial narrative of Adam and Eve. The story is written by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon and Selina Banu Mony. The screenplay is credited to Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, Jahin Faruk Amin, Siddique Ahmed and Sukarna Shahed Dhiman.

Textile and Jute, Industry and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir today spoke at Handloom Fair at Bengal Shilpalaya in Dhaka. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Mar 8, 2026 (BSS) - Textile and Jute, Industry and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir today stressed the need for proper marketing of handloom products to explore its potential. "Handloom products have a huge potential, so its proper marketing is very important,” he said while inaugurating a 10-day Handloom Fair at Bengal Shilpalaya in the capital. The textile minister said the history of the handloom industry in Bangladesh is quite old, while about 1.5 million people are involved in the traditional handloom industry. Later, Textile and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and State Minister Md Shariful Alam visited different stalls of the fair.

Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Managing Director Md Abdus Salam Bepari has resigned amid ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering and the illegal purchase of assets abroad. The resignation letter was submitted to the office of the Secretary of the Local Government Division on Sunday afternoon, a ministry official confirmed to bdnews24.com. “We received the managing director’s resignation letter shortly after noon. However, I cannot confirm whether he delivered it in person or sent it through a representative,” the official said.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said that the government has decided to introduce “family cards” in women’s names to strengthen their dignity and financial independence within households. Highlighting past contributions to women’s empowerment, the state minister said former president Ziaur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia played significant roles in advancing women’s rights in the country. According to Tuku, major initiatives for women’s empowerment began during Ziaur Rahman’s leadership. He added that BNP’s core philosophy is “Bangladesh First,” and that the party’s election manifesto highlights the importance of strengthening women’s rights and dignity. At the end of the programme, the state minister distributed crests among female officials to mark International Women’s Day.

Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman Khan. File PhotoDHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) – National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan today emphasized that sustainable industrialization and employment generation are impossible without a robust capital market. Capital Market Journalists' Forum (CMJF) organized the event. "Bank loans must be repaid with interest within months, whereas the capital market provides equity that remains on the balance sheet and never needs to be returned," he explained. "If we can maintain the reforms and discipline recently initiated, the capital market will surely grow," he added.

Celebrating Ramadan, a month centered on kindness, compassion, and fulfilling one’s duty to the community, Eicher Trucks and Buses together with its partners Runner Motors and Rangs Motors has organized a special cleanliness initiative across key locations in Bangladesh. On March 1, volunteers organized a clean-up drive at the Faridpur Bus Terminal, working alongside transport workers to sanitize the area. On March 3, the volunteers organized the campaign at the front of the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar. As a leading brand deeply embedded in Bangladesh’s transport ecosystem, Eicher Trucks and Buses believes that its responsibility extends beyond delivering reliable commercial vehicles. By actively engaging commuters, students, community volunteers and transport workers across multiple locations, Eicher Trucks and Buses and its channel partners play a positive role by fulfilling their responsibility to community wellbeing.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury at the at Bangladesh Secretariat today. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Mar 8, 2026 (BSS) - Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma today said Bangladesh and India can really transform their geographical proximity into new economic opportunities through setting a forward-looking and people-centric agenda. They discussed ways to enhance trade and economic ties between the two friendly neighbours and make economic engagement more convenient for both sides. “The whole idea is how we can enhance our trade and economic ties, how we can strengthen our economic connectivity and how we can promote our economic cooperation,” he said. The High Commissioner shared India’s successful experience in financial inclusion, describing the discussion as a very forward-looking conversation.

ROME, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Italy is sending a frigate to protect Cyprus after a drone strike on a British base on the Mediterranean island sucked it into the Middle East war, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Saturday. "To ensure the security of the European Union's borders, we are deploying an Italian frigate to Cyprus," Meloni said in a video message. "But our position is very clear: Italy is not part of the conflict and does not intend to become part of it," she added. The "Federico Martinengo", a frigate equipped with missiles and carrying over 160 personnel, set off from Taranto in southern Italy Friday afternoon, said media reports. Meloni said Italy had been in "close talks" with Britain, France and Germany on how to "avoid further escalation".

BAGHDAD, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Air defence systems intercepted rockets fired at the US embassy in Baghdad, security sources told AFP. It is the first such attack on the embassy in Baghdad since the start of the war in the Middle East, triggered by a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, into which Iraq has been dragged. "Four rockets were launched... toward the embassy," a security official said, adding that air defences intercepted three, while one fell in an open area in the embassy's airbase. Two other security sources confirmed the attack, with one saying that all rockets were downed, including the one that fell in the airbase. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, ordered security forces to find the perpetrators of "the terrorist act" against the US embassy.

Lebanese health ministry says death toll from Israeli strikes up to 394BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli strikes on Lebanon havekilled 394 people in the past week, including 83 children and 42 women, thecountry's health minister said Sunday. Rakan Nassereddine also said at a press conference that nine rescue workerswere among the dead, condemning attacks on medical teams and ambulances. A previous toll announced on Saturday by the minister had put the number ofdead at 294 since Lebanon was drawn into the regional war last Monday betweenIran, Israel and the United States.

New Zealand win toss, opt to bowl against India in T20 World Cup finalCollected photoAHMEDABAD, India, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - New Zealand skipper MitchellSantner won the toss and elected to field first in the T20 World Cup final onSunday as they look to win their first title. Santner's side has been hot and cold in the 20-team tournament but hammeredSouth Africa in a nine-wicket semi-final win. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, come in unchanged from their nerve-wrackingsemi-final win over England as they attempt to become the first team toretain the trophy. A win for the co-hosts could also be the first for any team on home soil anda record third world T20 crown. New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips,Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (capt), MattHenry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.