A mobile court in Thakurgaon Sadar fined a pesticide trader Tk 20,000 for storing expired pesticides. The drive, conducted on Thursday at the Sugar Mill Market area by the Sadar Upazila Agriculture Office, found that Messrs Sonamoni Traders had stocked expired pesticides and products lacking price, manufacturing date, expiry date and batch number. Sadar Upazila Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ashadul Haque conducted the mobile court and imposed the fine under Section 37 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009. Officials from the agriculture department were also present during the operation. The magistrate said the trader admitted the offence, adding that such drives will continue to protect farmers and ensure safe agricultural practices.

Experts at a workshop in Rajshahi stressed the need for coordinated efforts to prevent children from being used in drug carrying and trafficking and to ensure their healthy development. They called on both government and non-government organizations to work together to guide children toward becoming responsible citizens and protect them from the dangers of drug abuse. Heads of drug rehabilitation centres from eight districts of the division took part in the programme. He also said drug seizures have increased significantly in recent times and stressed the need for stronger monitoring in border areas to curb trafficking. The workshop was attended by heads of 61 drug rehabilitation centres operating across Rajshahi Division.

Sunflower cultivation gaining popularity among farmers in NepalSunflower cultivation is becoming increasingly popular among farmers in Nepal, particularly in the Narail district, as the crop proves to be a profitable alternative to traditional farming. Local agricultural officials say interest in sunflower has grown due to its high yields and relatively low production costs. In three upazilas of the district, the total sunflower cultivation area has reached about 191 hectares, an increase of 81 hectares compared with last year. Local farmers report promising crop conditions and strong demand for sunflower oil. If weather conditions remain favourable, authorities expect a strong harvest this season and further expansion of sunflower cultivation in the coming years.

A mobile court conducted a drive in Paba Upazila of the Rajshahi Metropolitan area on Wednesday through a joint initiative of the district administration and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). During the operation, M/s NS Medical International, located at Baya Bazar in Paba Upazila, was fined Tk 40,000 for producing and packaging sanitary napkins without obtaining BSTI approval and product packaging registration certification. All raw materials used in the production of sanitary napkins were seized and destroyed during the drive. In total, two establishments were fined Tk 50,000 during the drive. Officials from the BSTI Rajshahi office assisted in the operation under the leadership of Assistant Director (Metrology) Azizul Hakim.

Japan has provided US$6.7 million to the World Food Program (WFP) to support Rohingya and vulnerable host communities in Cox's Bazar through food assistance, nutrition services and agricultural resilience initiatives. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi said Japan remains committed to supporting vulnerable populations in Bangladesh, including Rohingya and local host communities. "Through this partnership with WFP, Japan aims to contribute to food security, improved nutrition and the overall well-being of Rohingya families, particularly women and children," he said. The funding will also support the repair of agricultural infrastructure damaged by floods and cyclones in host communities while equipping aggregation centres with cold storage and modern food processing facilities. WFP Bangladesh Country Director Simone Parchment (ai) described Japan's latest contribution as "timely and critical," expressing appreciation for Japan's continued support to the Rohingyas and host communities.

Potato farmers are suffering heavy financial losses as wholesale market prices have dropped far below production costs for the second consecutive year. Growers say the price slump has left them uncertain about continuing potato cultivation during the next season. Many growers say they are forced to sell at low prices after waiting for hours at wholesale markets. Farmers report production costs ranging between Tk 16 and Tk 18 per kilogram, while wholesale prices hover between Tk 8 and Tk 9. Farmers there say production costs this year ranged from Tk 12 to Tk 15 per kilogram due to increased spending on seeds, fertilizers, irrigation and pesticides.

Thousands of devotees gathered in Bagerhat to celebrate the traditional religious festival of Dol Festival with enthusiasm and colorful festivities on Wednesday. The day-long celebration took place at the Bangladesh Sevashram Central Temple premises in Gora Nalua area of Chitalmari upazila. As the day progressed, a colorful procession was brought out, parading through the surrounding roads while devotees celebrated by throwing Abir, the traditional colored powder associated with the Dol festival. People of all ages participated enthusiastically in the celebrations, creating a festive and joyous atmosphere throughout the temple premises and nearby areas. Religious speakers at the event highlighted that Dol Yatra promotes the values of brotherhood, tolerance, and communal harmony among people.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Photo : CollageDHAKA, Mar 6, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a phone conversation today discussed implications of military escalation for regional security and stability in view of the ongoing war between Israel-US and Iran. The premier also expressed sincere thanks to the UAE President and his country for taking care of Bangladeshi people in the UAE, Shibly said. Shibly said, during the conversation, Tarique Rahman invited Mohamed bin Zayed to visit Bangladesh while the UAE President accepted the invitation. The UAE President sincerely thanked Bangladesh Prime Minister for the call and for standing by his country.

Along with the lower class, the middle class is also flocking to these sidewalk shops. Most of the buyers of these footpath and make-up shops are lower and lower middle class and working class people. However, the middle class is also rushing to these footpath shops due to financial constraints for their Eid shopping. That is why our buyers are not only for the lower class, but many middle class people also come to buy clothes,” he said. “Low-income and lower middle-class people are buying Eid items at affordable prices within their reach from sidewalk hawkers in the city,” he added.

DHAKA, March 05, 2026 (BSS) – The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), during its countrywide drive, especially in border areas, seized various types of smuggled goods worth about Taka 131 crore, 19 lakh and 72 thousand in February last. “In separate drives, the BGB arrested 141 smugglers on charges of drug trafficking, including Yaba and other contraband items,” said a BGB release, this afternoon. Of the arrestees, 76 are Bangladeshi citizens, 02 Indian citizens and 135 Myanmar citizens. Meanwhile, the recovered weapons include 13 foreign/homemade pistols, one rifle, 16 magazines, 160 rounds of ammunitions, 16 crude bombs, 82 electric detonators, 3 kg of gun powder, 24 other weapons and 5 kg of Indian chemical substances. Besides, in last month the para-military force also sized huge amount of drugs and narcotics, including 17,09,080 pieces of Yaba tablets, 2 kg 268 grams of heroin, 2,199 bottles of Phensedyl, 1 kg 244 grams of crystal meth ice, 6,458 bottles of foreign liquor, 100 liters of local liquor, 1,368 bottles of canned beer, 937 kg 350 grams of marijuana, 1,61,853 packets of bidi and cigarettes, 212 kg of bidi making materials, 1,99,054 contraband tablets/injections, 2,477 bottles of Escafe syrup, 9,361 Anegra/Senegra tablets and 250 grams of cocaine and 3,19,863 pieces of various medicines, the release added.

DHAKA, Mar 5, 2026 (BSS) – The energy ministry today issued a set of emergency directives for energy conservation as part of government’s energy security campaign fearing disruptions of global supply chain due to Middle East crisis to affect the country as well. The power, energy and mineral resources ministry statement today issued the directive asking every government, autonomous, and private institutions, commercial establishments and citizens to adopt immediate precautionary measures to ensure the best use of energy resources. The ministry encouraged the use of public transport instead of private vehicles and adoption of car-pooling systems if possible to reduce liquid fuel consumption in the country. Ther ministry simultaneously urged commercial entities to implement economical practices and avoid any form of excess fuel consumption. The government also called for increased public awareness to safeguard the nation’s energy security during this volatile period.

The Middle East edged closer to a wider regional war as Israel expanded airstrikes into Lebanon and Iran launched fresh missile attacks on US bases and Gulf targets. The warning followed a fresh wave of Israeli attacks on Iran, which again lashed out at Gulf nations Qatar and Bahrain as the Middle East war reverberated throughout the region and far beyond. The war has also dragged in NATO member Turkey after alliance air defences destroyed a missile launched from Iran heading towards Turkish airspace. AFP reporters in Jerusalem heard explosions following warnings of incoming Iranian missile fire. ‘Catastrophic’The war could usher in a “prolonged period of flux” for the global economy, warned International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva.

“To maintain uninterrupted supply, letters of credit have already been opened for seven oil shipments by March 2,” he said. LNG shipments also uncertainThe disruption has also raised concerns about liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. Gas supply adjustmentsTo manage the uncertainty, Petrobangla has decided to reduce gas supply by around 200 million cubic feet per day, which is expected to save roughly 1,400 million cubic feet of gas over the next week. According to Petrobangla sources, about 170 million cubic feet of gas per day is currently supplied to fertilizer plants. Authorities are considering suspending that supply temporarily while also reducing gas allocation to the power sector from 870 million cubic feet to 820 million cubic feet per day.

TEHRAN, March 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday accused Israel of launching a drone attack in Azerbaijan that was blamed on Iran, describing it as an attempt to harm Tehran's relations with its neighbour. In a phone call with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, Araghchi "denied that Iran fired any projectiles" at Azerbaijan. He also condemned "the role of the Israeli regime in such attacks in order to divert public opinion and destroy Iran's good relations with its neighbours", according to a statement from Iran's foreign ministry. Four people were wounded in the midday drone attack in Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhichevan near the Iranian border.

Son of last shah says Iran clerics' next leader will be illegitimateWASHINGTON, United States, March 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The son of the last shah toppled in Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution said Thursday that whoever the clerical government chooses to succeed the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be illegitimate. Khamenei was Iran's top leader since 1989, pursuing a hardline policy of repressing dissent at home, developing a contested nuclear program and confronting regional rivals led by Israel. Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Khamenei, is among the contenders to succeed his father. He has said that he wants to be a transitional leader before a referendum is called to establish a secular democracy. The lion was a symbol of the ousted monarchy while the sun has deep resonance in Iran' pre-Islamic Zoroastrian tradition.