KHARTOUM, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A drone attack hit two markets in paramilitary-controlled towns in southwest Sudan, killing 33 people, a medical source told AFP on Sunday. Two drones struck the markets of Abu Zabad and Wad Banda in West Kordofan state on Saturday, a doctor at Abu Zabad hospital, one of the few facilities serving the area, told AFP via a Starlink connection, requesting anonymity. "Thirty-three people were killed yesterday and 59 were injured," the doctor said, adding that 30 of the wounded remain under treatment at the hospital.

DHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) - Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)today called for a series of robust financial reforms to boost privateinvestment. The discussions focused on bolstering financial stability and creating a morefavourable environment for private sector growth to strengthen the nationaleconomy. In his speech, Taskeen Ahmed presented several key recommendations aimed atrevitalizing the country's financial landscape and easing the burden onbusinesses. "Through a coordinated approach to monetary, fiscal and structural reforms,Bangladesh can restore investor confidence, strengthen financial stability,and accelerate inclusive development," he stated. The meeting was also attended by DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev HChowdhury and Vice President Md.

Photo : BSSRANGPUR, March 8, 2026 (BSS) - The International Women's Day-2026 wascelebrated with due dignity at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) onSunday through various colorful programmes. On the occasion of the day, a colorful rally was organised at the initiativeof the Department of Gender and Development Studies of the university. He further said that universities have to play an important role inestablishing women's rights by creating awareness and building a knowledge-based society. Marking the day, a 'Commitment Board for Establishing an Equality-BasedSociety' was set up in front of the university's Kabi Hayat Mamud Bhaban. There, teachers and students expressed their spontaneous opinions andcommitments for the rights, protection and non-discrimination of women andbuilding a discrimination-free society.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed five projects with the government of Bangladesh on Sunday at the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance. TCPs have been pivotal in making FAO’s technical expertise available to member countries upon request, since its creation in 1976. TCP projects also contribute significantly to FAO’s work in Bangladesh, providing access to a wide range of technical expertise related to agriculture, food and nutrition, said a press release. All projects are aligned with the national planning documents, strategies and priorities of the government of Bangladesh. The project also envisages capacity enhancement that complements existing initiatives of the Ministry of Food, the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU), and the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA).

India’s West Bengal Police have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, including the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Inquilab Manch convener Osman Hadi, according to Indian news agency ANI. The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police confirmed the arrests in a press release issued on Sunday evening. Authorities believed the pair had taken shelter in the Bangaon border area, with plans to return to Bangladesh if an opportunity arose. Acting on the intelligence, STF officers conducted a raid in the area on Saturday night and arrested both suspects. They eventually reached Bangaon in West Bengal, apparently intending to return to Bangladesh through the border area.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah has introduced a 'zero error' program to ensure the government's priority project, the 'Family Card' program, is free from mistakes. The Patenga police station, located at end of the city, covers two wards of the Chattogram City Corporation - South Patenga ward number 41 and North Patenga ward number 40. They will receive their family cards before Eid, bringing joy and excitement to the ordinary poor families in the area. A distribution event for 500 beneficiaries will take place at Patenga High School grounds next Tuesday, where they will receive family cards. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah highlighted the government's efforts to empower women, including the distribution of 'Family Cards'.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Mar 8, 2026 (BSS) - Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood today said the country has sufficient reserves of fuel and the government has introduced rationing of fuel due to the global situation. Iqbal Hassan said the war situation in the Middle East has created uncertainty in the global energy market. Iqbal Hassan, also BNP Standing Committee member, said the stock will increase further when oil supply from these ships starts. The government has no plans to increase oil prices for now,” he added. Regarding power supply, he said, the government has given special instructions to ensure that there is no load shedding during Iftar, Tarawih and Sehri during the month of Ramadan.

Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler expressed pride in the growth of women’s football in the country as he reflected on the team’s journey ahead of their final Group B match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 against Uzbekistan on Monday. Speaking on International Women's Day on Sunday, Butler said he feels honoured to coach the Bangladesh women’s team and praised the players for their resilience and determination despite the many challenges they face. “You shouldn’t ask me that, you’ll make me cry,” Butler said when asked about the progress of women’s football in Bangladesh. “We want to win because we are competitive, but that’s not the only reason we’re here,” Butler said. “The most important thing is the way they’ve participated, the way they’ve handled themselves and embraced professionalism.”Butler hopes the lessons from the tournament will help the players continue to grow and contribute to the development of women’s football in Bangladesh.

Equal justice is when laws from books starts to be enforced in real life. When women’s direct representation shrinks, the space for equal justice shrinks with it, because laws are not neutral. Action means enforceable labour rights, ending harmful practices through law, and more women across the justice chain. If rights and justice do not reach them, then our slogans are hollow. Dignity means services that meet her where she is, linking legal aid to healthcare, protection to livelihoods, and climate adaptation to women’s leadership.

According to BBS data, the rise in overall inflation was largely driven by a significant increase in food prices. Food inflation climbed to 9.30% in February, up from 8.29% in January. In February 2025, food inflation stood at 9.24%, indicating a slight increase on an annual basis as well. Recent increases in food prices, combined with fluctuations in supply and rising import expenses, have contributed to upward pressure on overall inflation. The latest BBS data suggests that controlling food price volatility will remain a key factor in stabilizing the country’s inflation rate in the coming months.

In Bangladesh, the story of women’s progress is often told in numbers … more girls in schools, more women in workplaces, more female entrepreneurs, more women in leadership. Progress does not emerge from numbers alone; it is built on countless acts of giving, often by women whose contributions remain unseen. The engine behind much of this visible progress is an invisible, undervalued workforce. If our progress depends entirely on the unpaid giving of women in the household, it is fragile progress. True progress will come when giving and gaining no longer fall along invisible gendered lines.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate a government program to provide monthly allowances to imams and muezzins of mosques across the country on Saturday. As part of implementing these pledges, Zabiullah said, the government has taken initiatives to introduce a monthly honorarium for imams, muezzins and khadems in mosques and individuals working in other places of worship. In the first phase, he said, the government will launch the program under a pilot scheme before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. Under the scheme, one mosque from each union and municipality has been selected, totaling 4,908 mosques, while for other places of worship, two temples from each upazila have been selected, totaling 990 temples, the adviser added. Noting that the money will be transferred directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts, he said, “This system leaves no scope for corruption”.

Former prime minister and former chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khaleda Zia was honoured with the “Best Indomitable Woman” award for her role in advancing democracy. Her granddaughter Zaima Rahman received the award on her behalf. Khaleda Zia’s daughter-in-law Zubaida Rahman was also present at the ceremony. Mohammad Shahabuddin handed over the award to Zaima Rahman at a program marking International Women's Day at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 11am on Sunday. Nurun Nahar Akhter received the award in the economic category, while Babita Khatun was recognised in the “Women who have achieved success in education and employment” category.

Monira Sharmin, Dr Mahmuda Mitu and Nusrat Tabassum have been elected convener, member secretary and chief organiser of the Jatiya Nari Shakti, women’s wing of National Citizen Party (NCP), respectively. NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam announced the committee following a meeting held at the Sagar–Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday. Speaking at the event, Nahid Islam said the party would work to identify women across the country whose voices were “lost in July.”He added that the formation of the committee aims to ensure women’s rights and strengthen their participation in society. He further noted that the names of the remaining members of the committee would be announced in phases.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman has accused the government of removing key state decisions and information published on government websites during the tenure of the interim government. The event was titled “Immediate Formation of the Information Commission and Necessary Amendments to the Right to Information Act 2009.”Iftekharuzzaman said that numerous important decisions and pieces of information have been taken down from government websites. It is unethical, contrary to the Right to Information Act, and against the interests of the state,” he said. Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJON), said that the Right to Information Act allows access to any information, ensuring transparency in government operations. Also present at the press conference were Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and convener of the RTI Forum; Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director of Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI); and Zakir Hossain, CEO of Nagorik Uddyog.