After the United States and Israel began military action against Iran in late February, Tehran announced the closure of the Hormuz Strait, a key route for 20 percent of the world’s crude oil shipments. The move triggered a global energy shock, with oil prices surging and Asian economies hit hardest as 90 percent of their crude and gas imports pass through the strait. Governments across Asia have imposed energy-saving measures such as work-from-home policies, shorter workweeks, and temporary closures of universities.

In India, gas shortages have crippled Gujarat’s ceramic industry and forced restaurants in Mumbai to shut down or reduce operations. The Philippines declared a national emergency as transport workers and farmers struggled with rising fuel costs. Thailand urged citizens to conserve energy, while Sri Lanka, still recovering from a financial crisis, introduced midweek holidays to curb fuel use. Myanmar enforced alternate-day driving rules to save fuel amid ongoing internal conflict.

Across the region, citizens reported long fuel queues, reduced incomes, and growing uncertainty. Analysts and local voices warned that if the conflict continues, Asia’s energy crisis and social instability could deepen further.

An imam named Nahid Hasan, aged 20, was seriously injured in an attack by drug users and their associates in Sirajnagar Nayachar village of Adiabadh Union, Raipura upazila, Narsingdi, on Thursday morning, March 26, 2026. The assault occurred after he had been protesting against drug abuse in the area. Locals rescued the injured imam and admitted him to the Raipura Upazila Health Complex. The incident has sparked anger and tension in the locality.

According to the victim’s family, several young men in the area had been consuming drugs for a long time. When Nahid Hasan protested, a group of drug addicts attacked him with sharp weapons while he was on his way to the market with his niece. Family members accused 10–12 individuals, including Sulaiman, Siam, Pranto, Sagor, Maruf, and Sohan, of involvement in the assault. They are preparing to file a written complaint with the police.

Raipura police confirmed the incident and said officers were dispatched immediately. Preliminary names of suspects have been identified, and efforts are underway to arrest them.

Police have sought a seven-day remand for retired Lieutenant General Sheikh Mamun Khaled, former Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), in connection with a murder case filed at Mirpur Model Police Station. The remand petition was submitted on Thursday, March 26, 2026, by Sub-Inspector Kofil Uddin, the investigating officer from the Detective Branch. The hearing on the petition is scheduled to take place at the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Siddiq Azad. Mamun Khaled was arrested late Wednesday night from his residence in Mirpur DOHS, Dhaka.

According to the case statement, on July 19, 2024, a violent attack occurred during an anti-discrimination student movement at Mirpur-10’s fruit market area. The attackers reportedly opened fire from multiple directions, injuring participant Delwar Hossain, who later died on July 21, 2024, while under treatment. His wife, Mosha Liza, filed the murder case on July 6, 2025.

The court’s decision on the remand request will determine the next stage of the investigation into the 2024 killing incident.

Global oil prices increased on Thursday after Iran’s foreign minister declared that Tehran currently has no intention of holding talks with the United States. Following his statement, Brent crude rose by 1.6 percent to 103.85 dollars per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed 1.4 percent to 91.61 dollars.

Iranian official Abbas Araghchi told state media on Wednesday that there had been no direct discussions with Washington, though messages were exchanged through intermediaries. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump said Iranian leaders were afraid to admit that talks were taking place.

The development comes amid heightened geopolitical tension, with analysts warning that prolonged conflict could intensify energy instability in Asia if the situation continues.

A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for Lieutenant General (Retd.) Sheikh Mamun Khaled, former Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), in connection with the murder of Delwar Hossain during the July uprising in Mirpur. The order was issued on Thursday, March 26, 2026, by Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Siddiq Azad after a hearing.

According to the case details, on July 19, 2024, a group of 500 to 700 armed individuals, including the accused, attacked protesting students and citizens at Mirpur-10’s fruit market area. Delwar Hossain was shot and critically injured during the assault. He was first taken to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and later to a private hospital in Shyamoli, where he died on the morning of July 21.

Police arrested Sheikh Mamun Khaled from his residence in Mirpur DOHS on Wednesday night. The investigating officer had sought a seven-day remand, while the defense requested its cancellation. After hearing both sides, the court approved a five-day remand for interrogation.

Volunteers from Hafezzi Charitable Society Bangladesh (HCSB) took part in rescue operations following a bus accident at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari’s Goalanda upazila. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a passenger bus of Souhardya Paribahan lost control and plunged into the Padma River. Under the leadership of the organization’s general secretary, Maulana Ibrahim Khalil, the team coordinated with the Fire Service and Civil Defence to conduct rescue efforts, send the injured to hospitals, transfer bodies, and support affected families.

HCSB Director General Muhammad Raj stated that the organization has consistently responded to both domestic disasters and international humanitarian crises. He emphasized that their principle and duty are to stand beside people during emergencies, demonstrating that true service to humanity means immediate action rather than later financial pledges.

The rescue operation highlighted the organization’s commitment to rapid humanitarian response and coordination with official emergency services during national crises.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Md. Mahabur Hasan, stationed at the Kaptai police outpost in Rangamati, has died following a road accident. According to Kaptai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan Rubel, the incident occurred on March 23, 2026, when the officer was traveling by CNG auto-rickshaw near the Manikchhari Army Camp gate on the Rangamati–Chattogram highway. The vehicle lost control and crashed, leaving him seriously injured.

Local residents rescued the injured officer and took him to Rangamati Medical College Hospital for initial treatment. He was later transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for advanced care, where he passed away at 5:50 p.m. on March 25, 2026, while undergoing treatment.

Police authorities confirmed that the body of ASI Md. Mahabur Hasan has been taken to his ancestral home in Sadar Upazila of Jashore district for burial.

A bus accident at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari claimed the lives of Jahangirnagar University economics master's student Ahnaf Rayan, his mother, and his niece. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a bus lost control while boarding a ferry and plunged into the Padma River. Rayan’s sister, Dr. Nusrat Jahan Khan Saba, was rescued injured, while the bodies of Rayan and his niece were recovered early Thursday after being missing for about ten hours.

Rayan, son of the late Ismail Hossain from Bhabanipur village in Rajbari, was the organizational secretary of the Rajbari Debate Association and a former president of the Jahangirnagar University Rajbari Students’ Welfare Association. His funeral prayer was scheduled to take place at his home on Thursday morning.

According to reports, the bus from Souhardya Paribahan carrying around 50 passengers sank instantly after losing control at the No. 3 ferry terminal area around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Larry Fink, chairman and chief executive of BlackRock, has warned that the global economy could face a severe recession if international oil prices rise to 150 dollars per barrel. Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, he said that a prolonged war involving Iran could drive oil prices higher and have far-reaching effects on the world economy. The ongoing Middle East conflict has already caused significant volatility in financial markets as people try to anticipate future energy costs.

Fink stated that the fate of the global economy now depends on Iran’s role in the conflict. He outlined two possible scenarios: if the war ends and Iran is reintegrated into the international community, oil prices could stabilize or even fall below pre-war levels; but if the conflict continues, prices could remain between 100 and 150 dollars per barrel for years, triggering a deep global downturn. He urged nations to use their resources efficiently and accelerate the search for alternative energy sources.

BlackRock manages about 14 trillion dollars in assets and is considered one of the world’s largest investment firms.

Authorities have temporarily suspended the search and recovery operation following a bus accident at the No. 3 ferry terminal in Daulatdia, Rajbari. The Fire Service announced on Thursday afternoon that the operation would resume if new reports of missing persons emerge. So far, 26 bodies have been recovered, including 11 women, 8 children, and 7 men, all of whom have been handed over to their families. Several people remain missing.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 25, when a Kushtia-to-Dhaka bus of Souhardya Paribahan lost control while boarding a ferry and fell into the river. Rajbari district officials, including Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md. Hafizur Rahman, confirmed the recovery details. Of the 26 victims, 24 bodies were returned to families on Wednesday night, and the remaining two were handed over on Thursday afternoon.

Officials stated that rescue operations will resume if additional missing persons are reported, as the search remains on hold for now.

The death toll from the bus accident at Daulatdia Ferry Terminal No. 3 in Rajbari rose to 26, according to local authorities on Thursday morning. The victims include 11 women, 8 children, and 7 men. All 26 bodies have been identified and handed over to their families. Several people remain missing, and search operations are ongoing to locate them.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 25, when a Dhaka-bound bus of Souhardya Paribahan from Kushtia lost control while boarding a ferry and plunged into the Padma River. The confirmation of the casualties was provided by Md. Hafizur Rahman, Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate of the Rajbari District Administration Office.

Officials stated that the recovery and handover of the bodies took place between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Rescue teams continue to search the river for those still unaccounted for.

Farmers across northern Bangladesh are struggling to irrigate their Boro rice fields due to a severe diesel shortage caused by the ongoing energy crisis. In Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon, and Chapainawabganj, irrigation pumps, tube wells, and agricultural machinery have stopped operating, leaving farmers deeply worried about potential crop losses. Many report being forced to buy diesel at inflated prices, paying 15 to 20 taka more per liter than the government rate.

Field reports from Rajshahi’s Godagari and Naogaon’s Durgapur show diesel prices rising from 102 to 120 taka per liter, with some farmers unable to find fuel even at 150 taka. The Department of Agricultural Extension set a target of cultivating 352,000 hectares of Boro in the Rajshahi region, where 21 percent of irrigated land depends on diesel-powered pumps. Experts urge prioritizing agriculture in fuel distribution and suggest subsidies similar to electricity to ease farmers’ costs.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension deny receiving complaints, claiming irrigation remains normal nationwide. However, farmers warn that prolonged shortages could severely disrupt irrigation and threaten national food security.

Bangladesh is struggling to manage a worsening fuel supply crisis triggered by the ongoing Middle East war and rising global oil prices. Despite government assurances of adequate reserves, long queues persist at petrol stations, and dealers report receiving only half of their required petrol and octane. The government earlier introduced and then withdrew a rationing system, claiming the situation had normalized. However, conflicting statements from ministries, distributors, and fuel station owners continue to create public confusion.

Energy experts attribute the crisis to a lack of coordination among government departments, state-owned enterprises, and private distributors. They argue that the government failed to take timely, unified action after the outbreak of the conflict, which has disrupted global supply chains. The International Energy Agency (IEA) had warned of severe global shortages and issued ten recommendations, but experts say these were not considered by the authorities.

Experts urge the government to prioritize essential sectors such as agriculture, promote fuel-efficient practices, and encourage public transport use. They warn that ignoring the crisis could deepen its impact on the economy and daily life.

A Krishak Dal leader named Abul Kashem, aged 45, was hacked and beaten to death on Wednesday night in Kullagacha Bhaturia village under Harinakundu upazila of Jhenaidah district. Kashem, who served as the general secretary of the Kapashhatia Union unit of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, was attacked by a group of assailants while walking in front of his house around 8:30 p.m. Locals rescued him and took him to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital, where he died around 9:30 p.m. while undergoing treatment.

Jhenaidah district Jubo Dal general secretary Ashraful Islam Pintu alleged that members of Jamaat-e-Islami were responsible for the killing and demanded a proper investigation and exemplary punishment for those involved. Harinakundu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Kibria Hasan confirmed the incident and said multiple police teams were working to identify the perpetrators. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities have assured that efforts are being made to bring the killers to justice.

Former lieutenant general Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a controversial figure in Bangladesh’s military and political history, has been arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) police in Dhaka. He faces multiple charges including human trafficking, embezzlement, and murder. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case accusing him of misappropriating Tk 119 crore from workers seeking employment in Malaysia. A Dhaka court has scheduled a hearing on April 9 to decide whether he will be shown arrested in the ACC case. He was previously remanded for five days in a separate human trafficking case.

Masud’s career spans from allegations of relief theft during the 1974 famine to senior military and diplomatic positions, including serving as Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Australia. He later entered business and politics, becoming a Member of Parliament from Feni-3 under the Jatiya Party. Authorities allege he built a vast financial network through illegal recruiting and money laundering operations involving thousands of migrant workers.

Investigators say the scale of his financial dealings and international links make the probe complex. Social media users have demanded a fair investigation and justice for victims defrauded in overseas employment schemes.