Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz, local media reported on Thursday, citing a military official. “We have not closed the Strait of Hormuz, and we deal with passing ships there according to international protocols,” Deputy Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters Kiumars Heidari told Iran’s state-run IRIB TV. “We have resolved that unless we break America’s horn and leave it disappointed and despairing, we will not abandon this war,” said Heidari. “It doesn’t matter to us how many days this war lasts,” he said. “We will end this war when we have achieved our objectives.”

The Bangladesh Police, which has an estimated strength of more than 200,000 personnel, may return to its previous uniform as an overwhelming majority of officers favour reinstating the old dress. The results show that the vast majority prefer the previous uniform. At a special welfare meeting held at the Narsingdi Police Lines, most officers present supported returning to the old uniform. Considering practicality, design, and acceptance, the old uniform is widely regarded as more suitable. As a result, police personnel are expected to continue performing duties in the previous short-sleeved uniform during the upcoming summer season.

PARIS, France, March 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is among the leading contenders to succeed his father as the new head of the Islamic republic. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, would represent a hereditary transition that his father rejected as an idea in 2024. Born on September 8, 1969, in the holy city of Mashhad in eastern Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei is one of the late supreme leader's six children. He is the only child of the former supreme leader to hold a public position despite having no official post. According to an investigation by the Bloomberg news organisation, which cited anonymous sources and Western intelligence agency reports, Mojtaba Khamenei has amassed wealth estimated at more than $100 million.

The government has decided to launch a “Farmer Card” program on a pilot basis in nine upazilas across the country’s eight divisions, aiming to bring transformative changes to the agricultural sector. Following the completion of the pre-pilot and pilot phases, the government plans to implement the program nationwide within the next four years. Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly confirmed that the experimental program will be officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister on April 14, coinciding with the celebration of Pohela Boishakh. Based on the collected information, farmer cards will be distributed in nine designated blocks across the nine upazilas. The press secretary added that after completing the pre-pilot and pilot stages, the government aims to expand the Farmer Card program nationwide within four years.

Power house North Korea is the three-time champion ofthe Asian Cup. North Korea, who started their Group B campaign by beating Uzbekistan 3-0 inSydney, is at the top of the table with three points. Following Bangladesh's brave performance in their first match against China,the Afeida and Co. have gained much confidence to and preparing for the toughchallenge to face North Korea. However, the Bangladesh coach Piter James Butler did not want to dream big ofplaying in the quarter-final right now. She said North Korea is strong team and they would carry their coach'sinstruction in the tough match against Korea.

Photo: BSSDINAJPUR, March 5, 2026 (BSS) - Commercial strawberry cultivation is emerging as a profitable venture in Dinajpur as a young farmer's successful harvest has sparked enthusiasm among local farmers and youths to explore the high-value crop. The land was leased for Taka 10,000, and the strawberry seedlings were planted following advice from the local Agriculture Department. This is the second time he got success in commercial strawberry cultivation, inspiring many farmers and youths in the area to consider growing the high-value fruit. Local youths and farmers who visited the garden expressed interest in strawberry cultivation. Agriculture officials also stated that the low incidence of pests and diseases in the area makes strawberry cultivation more promising.

Iran has pledged to continue its military operations until its objectives are met, as tensions in the Gulf escalate. Iranian General Kioumars Heydari, deputy commander of Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, said the country “will not abandon this war” and vowed to inflict heavy losses on the US. “It does not matter to us how many days this war lasts,” he told Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. The IRGC warned that military and commercial vessels from the US, Israel, and allied European countries “will not be allowed to pass through” the region. Tensions in the Gulf continue to rise as both sides maintain a firm military posture, raising concerns over regional security and global shipping routes.

Multiple rounds of explosions echoed over the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday just hours after officials said they were evacuating residents living near the US embassy. Gulf countries have been targeted by repeated waves of Iranian drone and missile attacks in retaliation for the massive US-Israeli air campaign. AFP journalists on the ground in Doha described Thursday’s blasts as some of the most intense since Iran began targeting the Gulf state on Saturday. A column of black smoke was seen on the Doha horizon, while Qatar’s defense ministry said its military was working to intercept the incoming missile attack. “Three cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed outside the city of Al-Kharj,” the Saudi defense ministry posted on X.

The City of Ithaca ordered occupants of the 181-unit Asteri building to vacate the residential tower due to an “immediate threat” to the safety of residents, effective immediately, according to a Wednesday night press release sent to The Sun by Ithaca Chief Information Officer Alan Karasin. Other residents saw Asteri as a recreation of “the Jungle,” a large homeless encampment behind big-box retail stores in the south of Ithaca. “The new ‘Jungle’ is basically Asteri,” a self-described ‘Jungle drifter’ said during a November interview with The Sun. In the wake of the order to vacate Asteri, the fate of those who made the decision to move from the Jungle to the Commons remains unclear. “The Ithaca Fire Department and Ithaca Building Division have stated that their highest priority is the health and wellbeing of residents in every housing unit in the City,” Karasin wrote.

DHAKA, March 5, 2026 (BSS) - The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 todayadjourned till March 30 the hearing of a case filed against 13 people,including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, over enforced disappearancesand torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the previous AwamiLeague government. The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumder passedthe order as prosecution witness Iqbal Chowdhury, 71, concluded his testimonyin the case today. I demand justice forthe mental and physical torture, persecution, and enforced disappearance Iwas subjected to," he said today. Theyare Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Ahmed TanvirMazhar Siddiqui. The prosecution has also brought another five charges against 17 people,including Sheikh Hasina and Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over similar crimesallegedly committed at the TFI Cell.

The High Court has granted bail to journalist Anis Alamgir in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009. Earlier, on December 14, 2025, Anis Alamgir was taken to the Detective Branch (DB) office for questioning from a gym in Dhanmondi in the capital. He was later shown arrested in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. However, on January 22, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court rejected journalist Anis Alamgir’s bail plea. He has been in jail since December last year in connection with the Anti-Terrorism Act case filed with the Uttara West police station in the capital.

This commitment aligns with Bangladesh’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). He further stressed that any such body must ensure representation of persons with disabilities and include an independent monitoring mechanism, as envisioned in the UNCRPD framework. Disability Allowance: Increase and Ensure TransparencyIn his pre-election commitments and the party’s manifesto, Tarique Rahman promised to increase disability allowances and ensure transparent distribution. In the December dialogue, Tarique Rahman pledged to expand skill development programmes, ICT training, and employment opportunities in both public and private sectors. During the virtual meeting, Tarique Rahman highlighted the importance of involving persons with disabilities in policymaking processes.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Thursday directed the officials concerned to introduce AI-based automation in teacher transfer processes in schools and colleges to curb lobbying and ensure greater transparency. The minister gave the directive at a view-exchange meeting with officials of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE). Various measures were discussed at the meeting to address administrative weaknesses within the Education Ministry and its affiliated departments. Emphasising prompt resolution of teachers’ administrative issues, Milon said teachers from different regions should not have to spend unnecessary time visiting offices. Senior officials of the Education Ministry and DSHE were present at the meeting.

Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party. Youth-led protests under a loose Gen Z banner began as a demonstration against a brief social media ban, but were fed by wider grievances at corruption and a woeful economy. The Jhapa-5 constituency, with around 163,000 voters, will determine whether Oli secures his seat or whether Shah enters parliament. On social media, voters shared images of their ink-marked thumbs -- alongside photographs of the September protests. Analysts say the vote is unlikely to deliver an outright majority for any party.

The US House Oversight Committee has voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s handling of records linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who introduced the motion, said on X, “AG Bondi will testify about missing Epstein evidence. Accountability is coming.”The move comes over a year after Bondi faced criticism for releasing “no-reveal” binders containing little new information. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently gave closed-door depositions before the committee regarding their connections to Epstein. Bondi has defended the Justice Department’s process, accusing Democrats of politicizing the documents.