Teenagers now frequently move from friendship to romantic relationships through digital platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Breakups in digital relationships can also be sudden and emotionally distressing. “This double standard creates additional mental pressure,” she said. Mental health experts warn that banning teenage relationships does not stop them—it drives them underground, increasing the risk of emotional distress and cyber abuse. In the digital age, understanding and guidance are essential to keeping young people safe.

The US military has reported that three of its personnel have been killed and five critically injured while participating in operations against Iran. In a statement, the United States Central Command said several others sustained minor injuries and are in the process of being returned to duty. A large-scale military operation against Iran is currently underway. The statement also noted that the situation is evolving continuously. The identities of the deceased and further details will be withheld for 24 hours until their families are notified.

Farmers are enjoying a bumper harvest of black cumin on lands that usually remain fallow in char areas of Sariakandi upazila in Bogra. Over the past several years, farmers have begun utilizing irrigation methods to grow black cumin on these fallow lands. Abu Sayeed has planted black cumin on two bighas, while Abul Kalam Azad and Shaheen Alam each cultivated black cumin on one bigha. Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Ali Jinnah said black cumin cultivation is steadily increasing in char-dominated Sariakandi due to its profitability and medicinal value. With favorable weather and stable market prices, farmers in Sariakandi are hopeful that black cumin will continue to transform fallow char lands into profitable fields.

Crab collection has resumed in Satkhira Range of the Sundarbans after a two-month closure imposed to protect breeding and biodiversity, bringing renewed activity and hope to thousands of forest-dependent families. The seasonal ban, enforced during the peak breeding period, had halted crab collection across permitted rivers and canals, leaving many coastal families struggling financially. During the two-month ban, he took a loan of Tk 20,000 from a local moneylender to support his family. Crab collection remains prohibited year-round in specific canals, including Chhota Keyakhali Canal, Baro Keyakhali Canal, Kholshibunia Canal and Sapkhali Canal, as well as in waterways less than 25 feet wide. Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) for the West Sundarbans Satkhira Range, Md Mashiur Rahman, said the temporary ban was necessary to increase crab populations during the breeding season.

All institutions must work sincerely for development of CHT: Dipen DewanMinister for Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Dipen Dewan. File PhotoRANGAMATI, Mar 01, 2026 (BSS) - Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Dipen Dewan today called upon all institutions to work sincerely for the development of the hill region prioritizing the government's 180-day action plan. The meeting was organized by the Rangamati District Administration that was chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Najma Afreen. The CHT Affairs Minister urged to ensure balanced distribution of development benefits across all communities and sectors on priority basis. During the meeting, officials from various government departments of Rangamati district presented updates on their respective activities, challenges and other relevant information to the minister.

The authorities of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have suspended the academic certificates of a former student over allegedly lured a female student to a house near the campus, confined her and raped her. A press release, signed by JU’s acting director of Public Relations Office Mohammad Mohiuddin, was issued in this regard on Saturday night. The accused, SM Tariqul Islam, was a student of the 44th batch of the Institute of Information Technology (IIT). The other members of the committee are Professor Dr Md Sohel Rana (Department of Pharmacy), Professor Dr Khandaker Mohammad Shariful Huda (Department of Geography and Environment), Professor Dr Mirza Taslima Sultana (Department of Anthropology), Professor Dr Nasreen Sultana (Department of Government and Politics), and Deputy Registrar Lutfar Rahman Arif as Member Secretary. The decision to suspend all certificates of the accused, covering both undergraduate (honours) and postgraduate programmes, was taken during an emergency administrative meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued directives regarding health check-ups and vaccination for registered expatriate Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj. For ensuring smooth Hajj management, registered expatriate Bangladeshi pilgrims intending to perform Hajj in 2026 must undergo the health examinations and receive the prescribed vaccinations (Meningitis and Influenza) at reliable hospitals or diagnostic centres in their respective countries as specified by the ministry, according to a press release from the ministry. After completing the health check-ups and vaccinations, pilgrims must sign the attached declaration form and send scanned copies of the medical reports and supporting documents to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) via email at [email protected], as well as to the respective agency by Friday. For expatriate Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims registered under the government channel, they must also undergo the prescribed health examinations and vaccinations (Meningitis and Influenza) at reliable hospitals or diagnostic centres in their respective countries. All Hajj pilgrims must complete their visa applications through the Saudi Nusuk Masar system by March 11.

Members of the Shia community, along with local residents, brought out a protest march from the Hussaini Dalan on Sunday evening, mourning the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The procession began around 8:15pm from Hussaini Dalan and ended with a brief rally at the base of the Raju Sculpture on the campus of University of Dhaka. Addressing the gathering, the current Mawlana of Hussaini Dalan Imambara, Sayyed Reza Hossain Hosseini, said they had assembled to protest what he described as the “martyrdom” of their leader. He alleged that Israel and the United States were responsible and called on the United Nations to respond. He questioned the reasons behind the killing and asked whether it was linked to Khamenei’s stance on Palestine.

Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain today spoke at a press briefing after visiting the Family Card piloting activities in the capital. Photo: PIDDHAKA, March 1, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain today said ‘Proxy Means Test’ (PMT) scoring will be used to ensure that the distribution of Family Cards remains completely free from political influence. He said the “Family Card Piloting Implementation Guidelines 2026” have been formulated to translate the state’s constitutional commitment into reality through a modern digital framework.

The government has withdrawn the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of five districts. The DCs of Gazipur, Panchagarh, Kushtia, Netrokona and Chapai Nawabganj have been withdrawn and attached to the Ministry of Public Administration. A notification was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Sunday. The withdrawn officials, who hold the rank of Deputy Secretary, have been attached to the Ministry of Public Administration pending their next postings. The officials withdrawn include: Mohammad Alam Hossain, DC of Gazipur; Kazi Md Sayemuzzaman, DC of Panchagarh; Md Iqbal Hossain, DC of Kushtia; Md Saifur Rahman, DC of Netrokona; and Md Shahadat Hossain, DC of Chapai Nawabganj.

The United States deployed a low-cost suicide drone modelled on Iran’s widely used Shahed loitering munition during Saturday’s strikes on Iran, marking its first combat use in the region, Business Insider has reported. In a statement following the operation, Centcom confirmed that its Task Force Scorpion Strike employed the Lucas drone in combat for the first time. The command later noted that the system was modelled on Iran’s Shahed drone -- a weapon that has been extensively used by Russia in its war against Ukraine and by Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East. The Lucas drone was one of several systems deployed in Saturday’s US-Israeli operation against Iran. The US military stated that its forces had “successfully repelled hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.”

It's horrible to think of the anguish the Guthrie family is having to endure with the kidnapping of their mother, Nancy, and the weekslong investigation and search being done by law enforcement agencies at all levels. It's truly astonishing. But it's equally astonishing how much is being done for that one victim while comparatively so little is being done for the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women in this country. It speaks volumes about the value we place on them versus the value we place on that one very well-connected abductee. It should give us pause.

Iran Red Crescent says death toll from strike that hit school in south now 108TEHRAN, March 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Iranian Red Crescent said the death toll from a strike on Saturday that hit a school in the country's south has risen to 108, after the US and Israel launched a wave of attacks on the Islamic republic. "The number of student martyrs at Minab School has reached 108, and relief and debris removal operations are still ongoing," a spokesperson for the organisation said. AFP was unable to access the location to verify the toll or the circumstances surrounding the incident. When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military did not offer an immediate comment on the reports. The Iranian Red Crescent said on Saturday evening that at least 201 people had been killed and 747 injured in the attacks.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast heatwaves and Nor'wester storms during March, with temperatures potentially climbing as high as 39°C. The BMD also predicted two to three days of light to moderate thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and hail during the month. Additionally, there is a possibility of one to two spells of severe Nor'wester storms. Regarding river conditions, the outlook suggests that major rivers across the country are expected to maintain normal flow throughout the month. In terms of agro-meteorological conditions, the BMD noted a rising trend in daily average evaporation, which may increase irrigation demand for crops.

Death toll from Iran missile attack on Israel rises to 8: first respondersCollected photoJERUSALEM, March 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The death toll from an Iranian missile attack Sunday in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh rose to at least eight people, first responders said, in the deadliest strike in the country since the war began. Dozens of Israeli rescue personnel were deployed to the site of the impact, and an AFP photographer saw teams removing a body from the rubble of the building that bore the brunt of the missile strike. "They are bringing all kinds of equipment to try to locate people," said another AFP photographer at the scene of the attack. "Apparently, there are still people underneath," he added, as rescue teams continued their search. Rescue teams continued searching for survivors beneath the debris.