Photo: BSSDHAKA, March 29, 2025 (BSS) - Organized smuggling syndicates are orchestrating a massive evasion of state revenue that threatens to dismantle Bangladesh's domestic shaving blade industry, placing thousands of jobs at risk. This vacuum, created by the absence of a legal distributor, has been aggressively exploited by organized crime syndicates. Their operations directly undermine compliant domestic manufacturers, specifically Sharp Blade, Champion Blade, Vidyut, and Matador. On July 18, 2025, BSS reported that BGB and Army personnel recovered contraband valued at Tk 6 crore during operations in the Sylhet border areas. He emphasized that immediate intervention is essential to protect national revenue, restore fair market competition, and prevent the total collapse of the domestic shaving blade manufacturing sector.

Photo : BSSBy Md Mamun IslamRANGPUR, March 29, 2026 (BSS) - The just implemented EIR project iseffectively contributing to boosting crop yields along with revitalisingecosystems, conserving surface water and recharging groundwater levels in thegreater Rangpur region. The project has been implemented in 35 upazilas of Rangpur, Nilphamari,Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha in greater Rangpur district. Successful implementation of the surface water conservation EIR project ishelping farmers to produce more than two-lakh tonnes of additional Aman paddyworth over Taka 700-crore annually in the region. Along with increasing crop production, they are witnessing revival of thelost ecosystems in the extinct water bodies with fresh environment andbiodiversity again. Farmers are providing supplementary irrigation to croplands using conservedsurface water in re-excavated water bodies and producing more crops andvegetables, including two-lakh tonnes of additional Aman paddy worth Taka700-crore annually.

BERLIN, March 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Hundreds of people were evacuated from a nightclub in southwest Germany after a fire broke out, police said Sunday, with images from the scene showing the blaze raging on the building's roof. Police said the fire began around 3:45 am (0145 GMT) in the nightclub in Kehl, which is on the border with France. The blaze went on to "spread over the whole building", a police statement added. Around 750 people were inside at the time and all left unassisted, with three people treated by emergency services. Images published in German media showed a huge fire on the roof of the nightclub, which is located in an industrial area of the city.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam -File photoDHAKA, Mar 29, 2026 (BSS)- State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said the government would ensure exemplary punishment for the human traffickers responsible for death of Bangladeshis while attempting a perilous Mediterranean crossing via Libya. Human traffickers must be punished under both domestic and international laws,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon. Describing the incident as tragic and unacceptable, the State Minister said trafficking networks, reportedly involving operatives from multiple countries, lure migrants with false promises to reach them to Europe, but expose them with life-threatening journeys. Shama Obaed said Bangladesh missions abroad are maintaining constant communication with the relevant authorities, particularly in Greece, to gather detailed information about the victims and survivors. The state minister said, identifying those responsible for the trafficking network is a priority.

Photo: BSSNATORE, March 29, 2026 (BSS) - A mobile court in the district today fined a lorry manager Tk 50,000 for illegally selling fuel oil during transportation. The raid was conducted last night around 8:30pm at Ankhi Filling Station in Singra Upazila of the district. According to officials, the tank lorry was carrying 9,000 liters of diesel and petrol from Baghabari Depot. During questioning, lorry manager Abu Sayeed admitted that 1,500 liters of petrol and 500 liters of diesel had been sold illegally in Bogura before reaching the destination. Following the investigation, the mobile court fined Abu Sayeed Tk 50,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act.

Iran foreign minister condemns Israeli killing of three journalists in LebanonTEHRAN, March 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday condemned Israel's killing of three journalists in Lebanon the day before. On his official Telegram channel, Araghchi said the killings amounted to "targeted assassination" and "flagrant violation of international law".

Syria says repelled drone attack from Iraq on US baseDAMASCUS, March 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Syria's assistant defence minister said Sunday that his country's forces had repelled a drone attack from neighbouring Iraq targeting one of Syria's last US military bases. "Earlier today, the US base in Qasrak, located on our territory, was attacked by four drones launched from Iraqi territory," Sipan Hamo said on X, adding that "the drones were shot down without casualties". The attack came a day after Syria's army said it repelled another drone attack from Iraq aimed at al-Tanf, a base in the southeast which used to house US forces. Earlier this week, the Syrian military said another base in the northeast was also targeted by a missile attack from Iraq, with an Iraqi official saying a local armed group was behind it. Pro-Tehran Iraqi groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.

TEHRAN, March 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US-Israeli strikes on Sunday hit a quay at an Iranian port city near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, killing five people, Iranian state media reported. "The American-Zionist enemy carried out a criminal attack at the quay of Bandar Khamir, killing five people and injuring four others," the official IRNA news agency reported.

TEHRAN, March 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A series of loud explosions was heard Sunday across the Iranian capital, an AFP journalist said. The blasts were heard in northern Tehran and smoke was seen rising from impacted areas in the city's northeast. It was not immediately clear what was hit.

Venezuela's Maduro thanks supporters in first online post from US prisonCARACAS, March 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, captured by US forces in a nighttime raid in January, said Saturday that they feel "steadfast" and "serene" in their first social media post from prison. His son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, known as "Nicolasito," has said in public appearances that his father is well, calm, and even exercising in prison. Maduro, who has declared himself a "prisoner of war," had not spoken since being arraigned in New York on January 5. The January operation deposed Maduro, who had led Venezuela since 2013, forcing the oil-rich country to largely bend to US President Donald Trump's will. This month, the State Department said it was restoring diplomatic ties with Venezuela in a sign of thawing relations.

HAVANA, March 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid to crisis-hit Cuba reached Havana on Saturday after a long journey from Mexico during which they went missing and triggered a search-and-rescue mission. But the Mexican Navy announced a search and rescue mission Thursday after losing communication with them, raising concerns about their fate. - Trump: 'Cuba is next' -The first shipments from the convoy arrived by plane from Europe and the United States last week. It had been escorted by a Mexican Navy ship part of the way. Trump has also threatened tariffs on countries that ship oil to Cuba, whose aging electricity system has been hit by regular blackouts, including two nationwide outages last week.

Chattogram police have banned vehicles without valid documents and driving licences from buying fuel from petrol pumps. Rasel, additional superintendent of police for the Chattogram district and spokesman, said pump owners were given the instruction on Friday. The Petrol Pump Owners and Dealers Association strongly criticised the decision. Later, the government decided to lift the rationing system in place for the sale of petrol, octane and diesel on Mar 14, ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Abu Tayyab Patwary, president of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents, and Petrol Pump Owners Association, said police sent them the instructions two days ago.

WASHINGTON, United States, March 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command said Saturday, as speculation soars about the possible deployment of US ground troops in Iran. The group also includes "transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets," it said. The post features four images, including one showing several Seahawk helicopters on the ship's deck, as well as some Osprey aircraft, typically used for personnel transport. The arrival of the Tripoli group comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that Washington could achieve its objectives in Iran without deploying ground forces. But US President Donald Trump has been vague on the issue for weeks, and several US media outlets have reported that he is mulling the idea of soon sending at least 10,000 troops to the Middle East.

Approximately 4.15 million individual taxpayers have filed their income tax returns online so far. In a press release on Sunday, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said that the time extension facility for filing income tax returns has received a “massive response”. Aside from a few exceptions, the government has made it mandatory for all individual taxpayers to file income tax returns online from the 2025-2026 tax year. The tax agency says that more than 5 million taxpayers have already registered with the National Board of Revenue's e-return system to file returns. More than 4.15 million taxpayers have filed their returns online for the 2025-2026 tax year.

degree in Forest Sciences in collaboration with the Peace Corps Master’s International Program. All the books I had read on Peace Corps were either written wearing rose-colored glasses or were rants against the experience. I wanted to provide a holistic view that showed the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a Peace Corps Volunteer. It is brief, but provides insight into the challenges and opportunities of serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV). Being a Peace Corps Volunteer is both wonderful and terrible.