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.

The appointment of the new Bangladesh Bank governor, which rightfully drew criticism for the manner it was conducted, has also been met with optimism from the business community which is, in itself, a positive sign. With that said, confidence from the business community alone is not enough. If confidence in the central bank is to be meaningful, it must extend beyond boardrooms and into households. The governor has laid out an ambitious 11‑point plan to stabilize the economy, restore confidence, and strengthen the financial sector. Above all else, any future monetary policy must be guided not only by the pursuit of growth but also by the principle of equity.

The Trump administration has launched a joint military operation with Ecuador targeting what it calls “designated terrorist organizations,” opening a new front in its expanding anti-narcotics campaign in Latin America. General Francis Donovan described the move as a demonstration of regional commitment to combating “narco-terrorism.” Video released by the US military showed helicopters taking off and aerial surveillance footage. US officials indicated the operation is currently limited to logistical and intelligence support for Ecuadorian troops. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the two countries were taking “decisive action” against criminal networks blamed for violence across the hemisphere. President Donald Trump has increasingly labeled major drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations” and adopted a more militarized strategy, including aerial strikes on suspected smuggling vessels.

Iran launched several missiles toward Israel early Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said, amid escalating tensions between the two countries. The Israeli military later announced that the situation had stabilized and allowed residents to leave shelters, reports Agencies. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that the country’s air defense systems shot down an Israeli drone over western Iran. According to Tasnim News Agency, Iranian forces intercepted and destroyed an Israeli Hermes drone over Hamedan Province. The report came shortly after Israel announced the launch of a new wave of attacks targeting sites across Iran, further intensifying the ongoing confrontation between the two regional rivals.

Bangladesh and India on Thursday expressed optimism about further expanding their close bilateral relations as Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir held talks with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Kumar Verma in Dhaka. The Indian envoy paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Thursday morning. During the meeting, the two sides held fruitful discussions on the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and India and explored ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation on issues of mutual interest. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working for the welfare of the peoples of the two countries on the basis of mutual respect, trust and cooperation. The meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

Loud explosions and fighter jets could be heard over Tehran on Thursday, AFP journalists in the Iranian capital said, after Israel said it had launched a new wave of strikes. Local media also reported a series of blasts in Tehran and its western outskirts. The Fars news agency reported an explosion in western Tehran, while the Shargh and Iran papers reported at least one explosion in Karaj a neighboring city to the west. The blasts came shortly after the Israeli military said it had begun “a large-scale wave of strikes against infrastructure” in the Iranian capital. Israel and the United States have been bombing Iran since launching a massive wave of strikes on Saturday.