Photo: PIDDHAKA, Mar 4, 2026 (BSS) – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to launch Farmer Card formally on pilot basis on April 14 on the occasion of first day of the Bangla New Year 1433. About the Farmer Card, the press secretary said this card is not just a card rather it will be a symbol of the rightful entitlements, dignity and security of every farmer of the country, where they will hold the highest priority and position of respect. In addition to crop-producing farmers, Shibly said, fish farmers, livestock rearers and dairy farmers will also receive the benefits of the Farmer Card. After completion of the pre-piloting phase, he said, the formal inauguration of the Farmer Card distribution programme will take place on Pahela Baishakh, 1433 Bangla year. Following the pre-piloting and piloting stages, the Farmer Card programme will be implemented in all upazilas of the country within the next 4 years, he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today presided over a meeting of the cell formed over planting 25 crore trees throughout the next five years. Photo: PMODHAKA, Mar 4, 2026 (BSS) – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today issued a directive for intensifying the tree plantation programme across the country. The premier gave the directive while he was presiding over a meeting of the cell formed over planting 25 crore trees throughout the next five years. Besides, each student will plant one tree and take care of it, Ruman added. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Minister Shaikh Faridul Islam, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar and concerned senior government officials were present at the meeting.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood. File PhotoDHAKA, March 04, 2026 (BSS) - Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood today said that the government took some preparations to deal with possible temporary electricity and fuel crises amid global instability. The minister chaired the meeting seeking cooperation of the common people to use electricity and fuel economical. Initiatives have been taken to procure fuel from all sources to keep fuel procurement normal. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, energy secretary, BPC Chairman, BPDB chairman and concerned officials were present at the meeting.

For decades, our RMG sector has been the backbone of our export earnings, employing millions and fueling growth. There is no questioning its importance, and in the foreseeable future, it will have to continue to be our greatest export sector. We are seeing now, as we also saw during the Covid years, that when RMG falters, the entire export basket collapses. The latest export decline should serve as a wake-up call. Bangladesh can no longer rely almost exclusively on its RMG products, else every global downturn risks turning into a national crisis.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday urged early resolution of ongoing Gulf conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic means to minimize loss of life and prevent wider destabilization during a meeting with visiting US Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur. The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Kapur met the foreign minister at the foreign ministry during his two-day visit to Dhaka. The US assistant secretary underscored the importance of implementing the provisions of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement to promote greater bilateral trade and investment. The foreign minister reiterated the government’s commitment to policy continuity, particularly in the economic sector. Prior to the meeting with the foreign minister, Kapur held a brief discussion with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood -File photoDHAKA, March 04, 2026 (BSS) – Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood today sought assistance from the United States to help meet the country’s energy demand in the current global context. “The government has been taking preparations to import energy from alternative sources amid growing uncertainty over global energy supplies due to the conflict in the Middle East,” he said. He said Bangladesh was concerned about uninterrupted fuel supplies due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, adding, “Not only Bangladesh but the whole world is worried about energy supplies. The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) has been instructed to strengthen vigilance along the border to prevent fuel smuggling, the minister added. The minister said efforts would be made to keep load-shedding at a tolerable level even under the current circumstances.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Kapur today met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the foreign ministry. The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Kapur met the foreign minister at the foreign ministry during his two-day visit to Dhaka. The US assistant secretary underscored the importance of implementing the provisions of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement to promote greater bilateral trade and investment. The foreign minister reiterated the government’s commitment to policy continuity, particularly in the economic sector. Prior to the meeting with the foreign minister, Kapur held a brief discussion with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today exchanged views with UGC officials and employees at the UGC Bhaban, Dhaka. The Education Minister made the remarks at an exchange of views meeting with UGC officials and employees at the UGC Bhaban, said a press release. Describing the UGC as the focal point of the country’s higher education, he said the success and failure of higher education depend on the UGC. Referring to Pakistan’s progress in higher education, he said although Pakistan lags behind Bangladesh in various development indicators, it has achieved commendable progress in higher education. UGC Members Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Professor Dr. Md.

Children must not be 'collateral damage' in Mideast war: UN expertsGENEVA, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child insisted Wednesday that children must be protected during the war in the Middle East, highlighting an alleged air strike on an Iranian school. Neither the United States nor Israel have confirmed the attack, and AFP has been unable to independently verify the toll or visit the site. "This is a reminder that children are among the most vulnerable in armed conflicts, and must never be treated as collateral damage." Every United Nations member state is a party, except the United States. It urged the warring parties to take all necessary measures to protect children, including ensuring that schools and hospitals are not attacked and that humanitarians can safely reach children in need.

DUBAI, March 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United Arab Emirates and Qatar separately said Wednesday they had intercepted drone and missile barrages as Iran pressed its campaign targeting its neighbours into a fifth day. The UAE's ministry of defence said its air defences "successfully engaged today (March 4, 2025) with 3 ballistic missiles and detected 129 drones, of which 121 drones were intercepted while 8 fell on state territory". Qatar's military said it was targeted "at dawn today, by 10 drones and 2 cruise missiles coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran," with all of the projectiles intercepted by its forces.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock and Food Minister Mohammad Amin-ur Rashid on Wednesday announced that the government has decided to launch the much-anticipated Farmer Card initiative ahead of Pohela Boishakh. The Minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a committee meeting on the Farmer Card program with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair at the Secretariat. According to Amin-ur Rashid, the Farmer Card will prioritise marginal and extremely small-scale farmers. The card will ensure various benefits for farmers, with special provisions at the outset for marginal farmers. However, no final decision has been made on whether extremely poor and marginal farmers will receive those benefits.

Students of the Women and Gender Studies department at Dhaka University on Wednesday staged a protest rally against a growing wave of rape, murder, and other forms of violence against women and children across the country. Second-year student Jahin Abdullah expressed deep concern over what he said was a rising trend of violence. “Violence against women and rape are increasing by the day. Political influence almost always creeps into rape cases — one party commits thecrime; another tries to cover it up. “Boys need to be taught from a young age what constitutes violence and what doesn’t,” he added.

But at the same time, the wage growth rate remained stable at 8.12% in January. Although some liquidity indicators in the banking sector have improved, the default loan situation is worrying. The default loan rate has increased significantly after the introduction of a loan classification system based on international standards. Azad said that currently the average defaulted loan rate in the country has reached 36% and it is about 50% in government banks. He said that the government’s bank loan acceptance rate is currently 32.19%, while the private sector’s loan growth is only 6.1%.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to launch 'e-Health Card'. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Mar 4, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to launch 'e-Health Card' to ensure healthcare services for the country's people. "The Prime Minister instructed the health minister to begin work on introducing the e-Health Card. The government's policy is to ensure that healthcare services reach the doorsteps of the people. The Prime Minister urged the minister to ensure that doctors provide services at health centers in remote areas, Ruman added.

Bank Asia PLC observed “Financial Literacy Day–2026” on March 2 by organizing a series of initiatives in line with the directives of Bangladesh Bank. As part of the day-long observance, the bank organized special financial literacy programs for remittance customers in the districts of Chittagong, Feni, Comilla, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, and Tangail under a UNCDF-funded project. The bank also disseminated dedicated financial literacy content through its social media platforms and screened audio-visual materials at various locations to promote responsible financial practices. Over the years, Bank Asia has conducted extensive financial literacy programs across the country, targeting underserved communities and professions that previously remained outside the formal banking network. To date, the bank has directly provided financial literacy training to 188,500 customers and indirectly reached approximately 1.5 million individuals, fostering greater awareness about banking operations, products and services.