BNP Chairperson’s adviser and Member of Parliament Zainul Abdin Faruk stated that Tarique Rahman would continue as prime minister until 2042. He made the remarks on Monday, March 9, at a discussion and prayer meeting organized by the Ziaur Rahman Social Welfare Forum at the National Press Club. The event was held to pray for the late BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Faruk emphasized that the main goal was to strengthen the leadership of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, rather than focusing on who becomes an MP or minister. He said the new government, led by Tarique Rahman, had already begun implementing initiatives such as the family card and would soon launch an agriculture card and a tree-planting program involving one crore trees. He added that under the new administration, there would be no false arrests or harassment for differing opinions.

The meeting was presided over by Manjur Rahman Bhuiyan, president of the Ziaur Rahman Social Welfare Forum, and was attended by BNP central committee members Farida Yasmin and Advocate Rafique Sikder.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the future of the ongoing war with Iran depends on joint decisions between the United States and Israel. In a phone interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump stated that while he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in discussions, he will make the final decision at the appropriate time. Earlier, on March 3, Trump had expressed hope that the conflict would end within four weeks, though U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later suggested it could last six to eight weeks.

The conflict follows failed nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington that ran from February 6 to 27 without reaching an agreement. On February 28, the U.S. military launched “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran, while Israel simultaneously began “Operation Roaring Lion.” In retaliation, Iran has been launching drone and missile attacks on U.S. bases, embassies, and oil facilities across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia, over the past ten days.

China has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gulf region, while Turkey and the United Kingdom have also reported military movements related to the conflict.

Bogura District Chhatra Dal has announced the dissolution of all ward committees under its upazila, union, and municipal branches to make organizational activities more dynamic. The decision, confirmed on Sunday night by district office secretary Sohan Islam, affects a total of 1,188 ward committees that had reached the end of their tenure.

District president Habibur Rashid Sandhan and general secretary M R Hasan Palash approved the move. According to Sandhan, the dissolution covers 108 union committees with 972 ward committees across 12 upazilas, as well as 108 ward committees under 12 municipal branches. However, the 12 municipal committees and all ward committees under Bogura Municipality remain active.

Sandhan stated that new committees will be formed soon through conferences to replace the dissolved units, signaling an upcoming phase of organizational restructuring within the district branch.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to a Kremlin statement released on March 9, 2026. Putin expressed confidence that Khamenei would continue his father’s work with dignity and maintain unity among the Iranian people during challenging times. He reaffirmed Russia’s unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with the Iranian people.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said he spoke with Trump after the announcement, and the president told him he was “not satisfied.” The remarks were reported by Fox News, citing Trump’s reaction to the leadership change in Tehran.

The developments highlight contrasting international responses to Iran’s leadership transition, with Russia signaling strong backing while the United States voiced disapproval.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the world will become safer and more stable once the ongoing US mission in Iran is completed. Speaking at an event in Washington, D.C., he described the mission’s target as Iran’s ruling regime, which he called the world’s largest hostage-taker and sponsor of terrorism.

Rubio explained that the mission aims to destroy Iran’s missile launch capabilities, dismantle its missile production factories, and neutralize its naval forces. He claimed that the United States has already made significant progress toward these objectives, asserting that Iran’s missile stockpiles, launch systems, and naval strength are steadily diminishing.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, with related developments including China’s call for a ceasefire in the Gulf, the arrival of US bombers at a UK RAF base, and Turkey’s claim of intercepting an Iranian ballistic missile.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir stated that there is sufficient stock of edible oil in the market and no possibility of a price increase. He made the remarks on Monday after a meeting with edible oil traders at the Ministry of Commerce to review the overall supply situation following reports of minor shortages and slightly higher prices in some areas.

The minister explained that recent supply pressure in certain markets resulted from panic buying by consumers, not from any actual shortage. He emphasized that importers and refinery owners confirmed adequate reserves of edible oil. Muktadir urged consumers not to purchase excessively, warning that unnecessary competition could allow unscrupulous traders to exploit the situation.

He further said that monitoring activities would be strengthened to ensure market stability and prevent misinformation. The National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate and district administrations will continue regular inspections, and the government will take action if irregularities are found.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani has accused Iran of betrayal following Iranian attacks on Qatar and other Gulf countries. The attacks came after a joint U.S.-Israel strike, prompting Iran to target American bases across the Gulf region. In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, the Qatari leader said his country and other Gulf states had repeatedly stated they were not part of the war against Iran and sought diplomatic solutions instead.

He added that within an hour of the conflict’s start, Iran launched indiscriminate strikes on Qatar and neighboring Gulf nations. Although Iranian President Pezeshkian later apologized for attacks on Arab neighbors, Iran continued to fire drones and missiles toward the region. Al Thani described the assaults as a major act of betrayal that could destroy regional stability but reaffirmed that Qatar would not retaliate militarily, emphasizing continued efforts for dialogue and diplomacy.

The situation underscores rising tensions in the Gulf as multiple regional and global powers call for de-escalation and ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will send two warships to the Red Sea. The decision was revealed following his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Macron stated that France is in the process of forming a fully defensive and security-cooperative mission, which will be prepared in coordination with both European and non-European states.

The announcement underscores France’s intent to strengthen maritime security and regional defense collaboration amid ongoing tensions in the broader Middle East region. Macron emphasized that the mission’s structure and coordination will involve multiple international partners to ensure comprehensive security cooperation.

Further details about the mission’s timeline, participating countries, or specific objectives were not disclosed in the statement.

Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited, one of Bangladesh’s most storied sports institutions, has begun a new chapter under fresh leadership. The club held its fourth annual general meeting and board election today at the Dhaka Club. Politician Md. Barket Ullah Bulu, MP, was elected president unopposed, along with sixteen directors who also won uncontested positions. The election was overseen by Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol as chief election commissioner, assisted by three other club members.

Following the election, the newly formed board held its first meeting, where key administrative and sports responsibilities were distributed. Md. Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan was appointed Director in Charge of Administration, Mahbubul Anam as Director of Finance, and Md. Mostakur Rahman as Director of Sports. Mustafa Kamal was named chairman of the football committee, with Md. Abul Kalam MP, M.A. Salam, and Mirza Yasir Abbas as vice chairmen. Masuduzzaman will lead the cricket committee, Sajed A.A. Adel the hockey committee, and Nilofar Chowdhury Moni the women’s wing.

The developments mark the start of a new phase for the club’s management and sporting activities under unified leadership.

A military helicopter crashed in the United Arab Emirates, killing two soldiers, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The UAE Ministry of Defence stated that the incident occurred while the aircraft was on duty and that a technical malfunction caused the crash. The ministry confirmed that both members of the armed forces on board lost their lives.

In its statement, the Ministry of Defence described the deceased soldiers as martyrs, emphasizing that they died while performing their national duty. No further details about the location of the crash, the type of helicopter, or the specific mission were provided in the report.

Authorities have not released additional information about the investigation or possible safety measures following the accident.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has called on BNP lawmakers to take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council at the very beginning of the general session of the National Parliament on March 12. Speaking at an iftar event organized by the Khulna district unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, he said that two oaths were mandatory for the elected MPs to fully implement the July Charter, but the beneficiary party of the July uprising did not take the second oath. He stated that Jamaat would play the role of a responsible opposition party in parliament.

Porwar questioned whether the BNP had forgotten the sacrifices made during the July uprising and warned against authoritarian tendencies. He claimed that there had been a wave of public support for Jamaat’s electoral symbol and alleged post-vote manipulation in ballot sorting and result announcements. He said Jamaat would file a petition in the tribunal against the irregularities.

The event was presided over by Khulna district Ameer Maulana Emran Hossain, with several central leaders of Jamaat and allied organizations attending as special guests.

Two main suspects in the murder of Inquilab Manch convener Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Hossain, were arrested in West Bengal on Sunday. Following the arrests, the ruling Trinamool Congress questioned how the accused managed to enter India despite the Border Security Force (BSF) being under the authority of Home Minister Amit Shah.

Trinamool spokesperson Arup Chakraborty told BBC Bangla that the accused entered India through the Meghalaya border, where a BJP-allied government is in power. He accused Amit Shah of failing to protect the border and claimed that the suspects traveled through Assam and Tripura, both ruled by BJP governments, before being caught by West Bengal police.

BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar countered that West Bengal has become a safe haven for criminals from Bangladesh and other countries. He cited the porous 400-kilometer border and alleged that the state’s land policies have weakened BSF’s ability to secure the frontier.

Qatar has arrested 313 individuals, including foreign nationals, for allegedly sharing images and misleading information related to Iran’s recent attacks. The country’s Ministry of Interior announced the arrests on Monday, stating that those detained had recorded and distributed videos and rumors that could incite public unrest. The arrests were carried out by the Economic and Cyber Crime Department under the Criminal Investigation Division.

The crackdown comes as Iran continues drone and missile strikes across several Middle Eastern countries, targeting airports, military bases, energy facilities, and residential areas in retaliation for Israeli and U.S. attacks. Other Gulf nations have also taken similar actions. Bahrain reported four arrests on March 6 for spreading false information about Iranian attacks, while Kuwait detained three people on March 7 for mocking the situation in videos.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have issued warnings against sharing sensitive images or unverified information, emphasizing legal consequences for such actions. Despite these warnings, visuals of missile strikes and war damage continue to circulate on social media.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has accused the United States of attempting to divide Iran with the aim of seizing its oil resources. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Baghaei said Iran remains committed to maintaining good and friendly relations with other countries but reserves the right to defend itself if any attack is launched using another nation’s territory. He emphasized that such defensive actions should not be interpreted as hostility.

Addressing recent allegations that Iranian drones or missiles struck targets in Turkey, Cyprus, and Azerbaijan, Baghaei denied any attacks originating from Iranian territory. He suggested that these claims might be a staged act by hostile forces to create rifts between Iran and its neighbors. When asked about possible mediation or ceasefire efforts, Baghaei stated that such discussions were not relevant at this time, as Iran’s focus remains solely on defending its homeland.

Baghaei further asserted that Iran did not initiate the current conflict and that the war, though imposed, has now become unavoidable.

NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has warned that the government’s legitimacy will be questioned if it fails to implement the July Charter, citing the old constitution as an excuse. He made the remarks on Monday at the NCP’s Khulna divisional iftar and prayer gathering held at Khulna District Stadium.

Nahid Islam stated that the current government did not come to power through a regular process and that its legitimacy, as well as that of the interim government, stemmed from the July uprising. He emphasized that ignoring the July Charter would undermine the government’s authority. Referring to the joint presence of leaders from BNP, Jamaat, NCP, and other parties at the event, he said the July uprising made such unity possible and called for the implementation of all ordinances issued by the interim government.

The event was attended by Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Khulna City Corporation administrator Nazrul Islam Manju, and several senior NCP organizers.