A passenger bus overturned on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway in Patiya upazila on March 21, 2026, after the driver attempted to avoid hitting a pedestrian. The accident occurred around noon near the Paikpara area of Anwara Road, where a pedestrian suddenly stopped while crossing. The bus, operated by Hanif Paribahan, climbed onto the road divider and overturned, killing the pedestrian on the spot and injuring at least 20 passengers.

Rescue teams from the Patiya Fire Service quickly arrived and transported the injured to Patiya Upazila Health Complex. The deceased was later identified as Abul Kashem, aged 35. Four of the injured were in critical condition and were referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. According to emergency department physician Dr. Arup Chowdhury, one person with severe head injuries died before reaching the hospital.

Patiya Highway Police Sub-Inspector Md. Mostafiz said traffic congestion lasted about two hours before being cleared and the overturned bus was recovered from the scene.

Surat, the textile heart of Gujarat, is facing a severe crisis as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortages threaten to halt production across its garment factories. The disruption stems from the closure of the Hormuz Strait and ongoing conflict in West Asia, which have cut India’s LPG supply by 30 percent. Thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha are leaving the city as cooking gas becomes unavailable, forcing many small and medium textile units to shut down.

Reports indicate that some factories have already reduced operations to one or two days a week due to labor shortages. In worker colonies, LPG scarcity has driven prices up to 500 rupees per kilogram on the black market, while small cylinders now cost five times their usual price. Many workers, unable to cook or afford food, are returning to their villages despite having jobs.

Industry experts warn that if the exodus continues, India’s domestic and export textile markets could collapse ahead of the festive season. Factory owners are urging the government for fuel subsidies and faster LPG deliveries, but the situation remains uncertain until Middle East tensions ease.

An unusual heatwave struck the western United States on Friday, alarming climate scientists who described it as a once-in-500-years event. According to reports from Los Angeles, temperatures broke previous records throughout the week and were expected to remain high through the weekend. The heatwave, initially centered in the western cities, was moving eastward across the country.

In desert areas near the California-Arizona border, four locations recorded 44.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, setting a new national record for March. Weather.com reported that 65 cities, from Arizona and California to Idaho, experienced new March temperature highs. Death Valley reached 40 degrees Celsius, while typically cool San Francisco hit 29 degrees. The U.S. National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for large parts of the Southwest, including Los Angeles, southern California’s coastal areas, and Las Vegas.

The World Weather Attribution group stated that such an event would have been nearly impossible without human-induced climate change, emphasizing its extreme rarity even in a warming climate.

India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly withheld the release of the Oscar-nominated film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” citing concerns that it could harm India-Israel relations. The Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama tells the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, who was allegedly killed by Israeli soldiers while waiting to be rescued in Gaza.

Indian distributor Manoj Nandwana said he submitted the film for approval in February, hoping for a March release, but the CBFC blocked it, reportedly warning that the film’s release might damage diplomatic ties. He noted that the decision came shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. The film had already been barred from several Indian film festivals, including those in Goa, Bengaluru, Pune, and Kerala.

Badi Ali, co-founder of production company Watermelon Pictures, criticized the move as unreasonable, while director Ben Hania questioned on social media whether the relationship between the two democracies was so fragile that a film could threaten it.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast prolonged drizzle across Dhaka and several other regions on Saturday, coinciding with the holy Eid-ul-Fitr. Meteorologist A K M Nazmul Haque said a broad rain belt stretching from Barguna to Naogaon has formed, likely causing light rain from around 7:30 a.m. for four to five hours. However, Cox’s Bazar and Panchagarh districts may remain outside the rain zone.

According to the department, the rain belt’s effect may continue until Sunday, though rainfall is expected to decrease by then. Compared to Friday, a higher amount of rainfall is likely on Saturday. On Friday, Madaripur recorded the highest rainfall at 33 millimeters, while Dhaka saw 17 millimeters, with rain reported in almost all divisions.

The meteorologist added that despite the extended drizzle, there is no possibility of a nor’wester storm. Winds are expected to flow from the southwest, resulting in light rain with low wind speed for several hours.

The United States has decided to ease sanctions on Iran’s crude oil and petroleum products for 30 days, according to a statement from the US Treasury Department. The move comes in response to global oil price and supply instability caused by the ongoing Iran-Israel war, Al Jazeera reported. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified that the temporary authorization applies only to oil shipments already in transit, not to new orders.

Iran, meanwhile, stated that it has been targeting ships linked to the United States and Israel, disrupting oil and gas transport through the Strait of Hormuz. This disruption has contributed to volatility in global energy prices and raised concerns about broader economic impacts. Earlier, Bessent had told Fox Business that the relaxation could allow about 140 million barrels of Iranian oil currently at sea to reach the market.

Following Bessent’s remarks, Iran’s Oil Ministry spokesperson Saman Goddosi said the country has no additional crude oil available for export, either at sea or in storage, suggesting the US statement was intended to encourage potential buyers.

A police constable who went missing during a fisheries protection operation in Lalmohan, Bhola, was found dead two days later. His body was recovered from the Meghna River near Bottola in Daulatkhan Bhabanipur Union after locals spotted it. The deceased was identified as Md. Fakhrul, a constable from Bakerganj, Barishal, who had been living with his wife at the Mongolsikdar police outpost.

According to the report, Fakhrul went missing after a speedboat carrying police personnel overturned when it was hit by a launch during the operation. His wife alleged that her ailing husband had been forced to join the mission during Ramadan and blamed the fisheries office for the incident, seeking justice from the Prime Minister. Lalmohan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Oliul Islam confirmed the recovery of the body.

The report did not mention further details about the investigation or any official response from the fisheries department regarding the allegations.

An Israeli reserve soldier working on the Iron Dome air defense system has been arrested for allegedly leaking classified information to Iran. The 26-year-old, identified as Raj Cohen, is accused of providing sensitive security data in exchange for money. According to the newspaper Haaretz, Israel’s Shin Bet security agency and the Lahav-433 special police unit carried out the arrest. Investigators found that Cohen had been in contact with Iranian agents for several months and acted under their direction.

Authorities claim Cohen knowingly communicated with Iranian operatives and accepted payment for the information. Formal charges have already been filed against him. Officials fear that critical details about the Iron Dome system, which intercepts short-range rockets, may have been compromised. The soldier reportedly lived in Jerusalem.

Israeli officials said enemy groups have intensified efforts to recruit spies through social media amid the ongoing conflict, while Israel has also increased intelligence operations in Iran and Lebanon. The report added that Iran recently detained several suspected spies accused of working for the United States and Israel, signaling heightened regional espionage activity.

Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves have strengthened ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr as remittance inflows increased notably over the past two weeks. According to Bangladesh Bank data, as of March 16, 2026, the country’s total reserves stood at 34.22 billion US dollars. Under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method, the figure amounts to 29.52 billion dollars.

Earlier, on March 3, total reserves were recorded at 35.32 billion dollars, or 30.58 billion dollars under the IMF method. The rise in reserves has been supported by a significant inflow of remittances from expatriates, who sent over 2 billion dollars during the first 14 days of March. Total remittance inflows during this period reached 2.2044 billion dollars, equivalent to about 270 billion taka at an exchange rate of 122 taka per dollar.

The report notes that the increase in remittances has provided a timely boost to the country’s foreign exchange position before the Eid festival, though future flows could be affected if global conflicts persist.

Global oil prices saw a slight decline on Friday, March 20, 2026, following weeks of volatility driven by ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. The closure of the Hormuz Strait, a key route for about 20 percent of global oil supply, and attacks on energy infrastructure had earlier pushed crude prices above 119 dollars per barrel. Brent crude fell 0.6 percent to 108 dollars per barrel, while U.S. benchmark WTI dropped 1.1 percent to 94.6 dollars.

Goldman Sachs warned that disruptions in energy supply could persist until 2027, keeping Brent prices above 100 dollars for an extended period and possibly surpassing the 2008 record of 147 dollars if conditions worsen. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas hub suffered a 17 percent reduction in LNG export capacity after an attack, with recovery expected to take up to five years.

U.S. President Donald Trump assured citizens that the situation would soon stabilize, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was responding to U.S. calls to limit strikes on energy sites. However, reports of drones and missiles being intercepted over the Middle East suggest the conflict remains active.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that if sanctions on Iranian oil are lifted, shipments could begin reaching Asian markets within three to four days. He made the remarks in an interview with Fox Business Network, noting that rapid supply resumption could help stabilize global oil prices.

The statement comes amid volatility in global oil markets driven by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is reportedly considering various policy options to manage the situation. Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that sanctions on Iranian oil stored in tankers at sea might soon be lifted.

Experts cited in the report believe that easing sanctions would allow Iranian oil to flow quickly into global markets, potentially increasing supply and reducing price pressure.

Bangladesh has initiated steps to secure a $2 billion loan to meet fuel import expenses for the upcoming summer season, according to a Bloomberg report published on March 20, 2026. The proposed financing includes $1.3 billion under the International Monetary Fund’s ongoing loan program and $700 million expected from the Asian Development Bank. The government aims to finalize the multilateral borrowing by June, though no official details have yet been released.

Economic adviser Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir confirmed the plan, stating that discussions are underway with donor agencies for comparatively lower interest rates. He noted significant progress in talks with the Asian Development Bank and expressed optimism about securing funds from both ADB and IMF. Economists cited in the report said the loans would help stabilize Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves and reduce risks of fuel supply disruptions.

If completed as planned, the financing could provide short-term relief to the country’s energy sector and support economic stability during the high-demand summer months.

A 21-year-old woman named Mukta Akter died after falling from a moving battery-run autorickshaw during a bag-snatching incident in Dhaka’s Uttara Turag area on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Police confirmed that her husband, Limon Hossain, filed a case against unidentified suspects. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md. Sarwar said the case is being investigated with utmost importance, and the culprits will not escape justice. CCTV footage from the area has been collected, and efforts are underway to identify the private car used in the crime.

According to police and family accounts, Mukta was traveling to Uttara House Building Market when snatchers in a private car pulled her handbag, causing her to fall and sustain severe injuries. She was taken to several hospitals and later declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Mukta, originally from Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila, lived with her husband in Uttara’s Fayadabad area.

Local sources said snatching incidents tend to rise before Eid, though such crimes are rare in that specific area. Mukta’s husband alleged that it was not just a robbery but a deliberate killing and demanded justice.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a large consignment of illegal Indian goods worth approximately Tk 9.38 crore from a jungle area near the Kalamora border in Bijoynagar upazila of Brahmanbaria. The operation was conducted on Thursday night by the 25 BGB Battalion from Sarail, following secret intelligence. The seized items were found buried about 250 yards inside Bangladesh territory from border pillar 2007/9-S. The recovery included 9,600 mobile phone displays, 13,628 sunglasses, and 343 Indian sarees. The goods are being processed for handover to the Akhaura Customs Office.

At a press briefing on Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Jabbar Ahmed, commander of the 25 BGB Battalion, confirmed the seizure and said surveillance along the border had been intensified. He added that the battalion continues operations to curb smuggling and ensure border security in Bijoynagar, Akhaura, and Madhabpur areas.

According to BGB, the Sarail Battalion seized smuggled goods worth about Tk 143 crore over the past year during similar operations in its assigned border areas.

China has decided to limit fertilizer exports to protect its domestic market as global supply chains face severe disruption due to the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. According to industry sources cited by Reuters, Beijing banned exports of nitrogen-potassium compound and certain phosphate fertilizers in mid-March 2026. With earlier restrictions on urea and export quotas still in place, only a few types of fertilizers, mainly ammonium sulfate, are currently being exported. Reuters estimated that China’s fertilizer exports have now fallen to between half and three-quarters of last year’s volume, potentially reducing shipments by up to 40 million metric tons.

China, one of the world’s largest fertilizer exporters, sold over 13 billion dollars’ worth of fertilizers last year. The new restrictions come as fertilizer transport through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly halted, affecting about one-third of global shipments. Analysts noted that China tends to restrict exports during global crises to prioritize food security and shield its domestic market from price shocks.