Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Managing Director Md Abdus Salam Bepari has resigned amid ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering and the illegal purchase of assets abroad. The resignation letter was submitted to the office of the Secretary of the Local Government Division on Sunday afternoon, a ministry official confirmed to bdnews24.com. “We received the managing director’s resignation letter shortly after noon. However, I cannot confirm whether he delivered it in person or sent it through a representative,” the official said.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said that the government has decided to introduce “family cards” in women’s names to strengthen their dignity and financial independence within households. Highlighting past contributions to women’s empowerment, the state minister said former president Ziaur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia played significant roles in advancing women’s rights in the country. According to Tuku, major initiatives for women’s empowerment began during Ziaur Rahman’s leadership. He added that BNP’s core philosophy is “Bangladesh First,” and that the party’s election manifesto highlights the importance of strengthening women’s rights and dignity. At the end of the programme, the state minister distributed crests among female officials to mark International Women’s Day.

Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman Khan. File PhotoDHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) – National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan today emphasized that sustainable industrialization and employment generation are impossible without a robust capital market. Capital Market Journalists' Forum (CMJF) organized the event. "Bank loans must be repaid with interest within months, whereas the capital market provides equity that remains on the balance sheet and never needs to be returned," he explained. "If we can maintain the reforms and discipline recently initiated, the capital market will surely grow," he added.

Celebrating Ramadan, a month centered on kindness, compassion, and fulfilling one’s duty to the community, Eicher Trucks and Buses together with its partners Runner Motors and Rangs Motors has organized a special cleanliness initiative across key locations in Bangladesh. On March 1, volunteers organized a clean-up drive at the Faridpur Bus Terminal, working alongside transport workers to sanitize the area. On March 3, the volunteers organized the campaign at the front of the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar. As a leading brand deeply embedded in Bangladesh’s transport ecosystem, Eicher Trucks and Buses believes that its responsibility extends beyond delivering reliable commercial vehicles. By actively engaging commuters, students, community volunteers and transport workers across multiple locations, Eicher Trucks and Buses and its channel partners play a positive role by fulfilling their responsibility to community wellbeing.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury at the at Bangladesh Secretariat today. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Mar 8, 2026 (BSS) - Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma today said Bangladesh and India can really transform their geographical proximity into new economic opportunities through setting a forward-looking and people-centric agenda. They discussed ways to enhance trade and economic ties between the two friendly neighbours and make economic engagement more convenient for both sides. “The whole idea is how we can enhance our trade and economic ties, how we can strengthen our economic connectivity and how we can promote our economic cooperation,” he said. The High Commissioner shared India’s successful experience in financial inclusion, describing the discussion as a very forward-looking conversation.

ROME, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Italy is sending a frigate to protect Cyprus after a drone strike on a British base on the Mediterranean island sucked it into the Middle East war, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Saturday. "To ensure the security of the European Union's borders, we are deploying an Italian frigate to Cyprus," Meloni said in a video message. "But our position is very clear: Italy is not part of the conflict and does not intend to become part of it," she added. The "Federico Martinengo", a frigate equipped with missiles and carrying over 160 personnel, set off from Taranto in southern Italy Friday afternoon, said media reports. Meloni said Italy had been in "close talks" with Britain, France and Germany on how to "avoid further escalation".

BAGHDAD, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Air defence systems intercepted rockets fired at the US embassy in Baghdad, security sources told AFP. It is the first such attack on the embassy in Baghdad since the start of the war in the Middle East, triggered by a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, into which Iraq has been dragged. "Four rockets were launched... toward the embassy," a security official said, adding that air defences intercepted three, while one fell in an open area in the embassy's airbase. Two other security sources confirmed the attack, with one saying that all rockets were downed, including the one that fell in the airbase. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, ordered security forces to find the perpetrators of "the terrorist act" against the US embassy.

Lebanese health ministry says death toll from Israeli strikes up to 394BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli strikes on Lebanon havekilled 394 people in the past week, including 83 children and 42 women, thecountry's health minister said Sunday. Rakan Nassereddine also said at a press conference that nine rescue workerswere among the dead, condemning attacks on medical teams and ambulances. A previous toll announced on Saturday by the minister had put the number ofdead at 294 since Lebanon was drawn into the regional war last Monday betweenIran, Israel and the United States.

New Zealand win toss, opt to bowl against India in T20 World Cup finalCollected photoAHMEDABAD, India, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - New Zealand skipper MitchellSantner won the toss and elected to field first in the T20 World Cup final onSunday as they look to win their first title. Santner's side has been hot and cold in the 20-team tournament but hammeredSouth Africa in a nine-wicket semi-final win. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, come in unchanged from their nerve-wrackingsemi-final win over England as they attempt to become the first team toretain the trophy. A win for the co-hosts could also be the first for any team on home soil anda record third world T20 crown. New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips,Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (capt), MattHenry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.

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'.