Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) officials said there is little chance of a major diesel shortage in Bangladesh despite global concerns over fuel supply disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East. The country regularly imports diesel from multiple sources, including India, which recently began pumping a 5,000-ton shipment under an existing agreement. The small consignment drew disproportionate attention in Bangladeshi and Indian media, though India’s share of Bangladesh’s total diesel imports remains below 14 percent.

According to BPC data, Bangladesh’s annual diesel demand is around 4.4 million tons, with daily consumption averaging 12,000 tons. About 63 percent of the country’s total fuel use is diesel, mainly for agriculture, transport, and inland shipping. To maintain supply stability, Bangladesh imports through international tenders from Singapore, Malaysia, China, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, among others. The Maitree pipeline from India’s Numaligarh refinery to Parbatipur was completed in 2022 to facilitate cross-border supply.

BPC officials said new tenders have been invited to diversify import sources further, including from Brunei, Saudi Arabia, and possibly the United States, ensuring continued supply security despite regional tensions.

Indian airlines are facing a new operational crisis as several Middle Eastern countries have partially or fully closed their airspace due to ongoing regional conflict. The closures have disrupted international routes, particularly flights to Europe and North America, which were already rerouted after Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian carriers last year.

According to aviation data, Air India and IndiGo, India’s largest international carriers, were unable to operate about 64 percent of their scheduled flights to the Middle East, Europe, and North America over the past ten days. HSBC reported that the geopolitical tension in the Middle East is expected to raise operating costs and reduce profitability for Indian airlines, estimating that a seven-day suspension in affected regions could cut annual profits by around 1.2 percent.

IndiGo continues to face difficulties despite resuming some routes, as it relies on six Boeing aircraft leased from North Atlantic Airways, registered in Norway and subject to EU safety directives. European authorities have advised avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, further complicating IndiGo’s operations.

Police in Sitakunda, Chattogram recovered the bloodied body of 25-year-old Youth Dal activist Sajib Chowdhury Akash from a tomato field in Guptakhali village under Muradpur Union on Wednesday morning. Locals discovered the body around 10:30 a.m. and informed police, who sent it to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Sajib, originally from Mirsarai’s Abutorab area, had been living with his maternal family in Sitakunda and worked at a CNG auto-rickshaw garage owned by local Youth Dal leader Md. Shahabuddin.

According to reports, a clash occurred Tuesday night between groups led by BNP leader Abdul Alim and Youth Dal’s Shahabuddin in the same area, leaving at least five people injured. Sajib went missing after the incident, and his family filed a general diary with Sitakunda Model Police Station that night. Locals believe the violence stemmed from a long-standing rivalry between the two groups over upcoming union council elections.

Police have arrested Rakib, 25, son of Md. Shahid of Guptakhali village, on suspicion of involvement. Investigators said the exact motive will be known after further inquiry, while officials noted the killing may be linked to local power struggles.

Residents of Dhalchar Union in Charfassion upazila of Bhola formed a human chain on March 11 demanding withdrawal of an extortion case filed against them. The case followed a clash between two groups over ownership of a foreign ship that had drifted to Char Nizam in 2022. The ship, named Alkubtan, reportedly arrived from Singapore and has since been claimed by multiple parties. Locals allege that after years of protecting the vessel, they were falsely accused of extortion and assault.

According to the report, Kazi Emdadul Haque from Dhaka claimed to have obtained the ship through a court auction and attempted to refloat it, leading to a confrontation with another group. He later filed a case accusing locals of demanding Tk 5 million in extortion and assaulting his team. Locals say they are being harassed and displaced from their homes. Police confirmed the conflict but said the situation is under control and that they are acting under court orders.

The dispute remains unresolved as both sides maintain their claims of legal ownership and wrongdoing.

Police in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, rescued a 17-year-old named Mohammad Parvez within 16 hours of his abduction, following instructions from Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. The rescue took place around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Parvez, son of Manjur Alam from Harbang Union, was abducted while traveling home from his workplace in Amirabad, Lohagara. The incident occurred in the Ajinagar area of Chakaria.

According to family sources, the kidnappers called Parvez’s father from a specific mobile number and demanded ransom, prompting the family to alert law enforcement. Police launched an immediate operation under the minister’s directive. Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monir Hossain confirmed that the abductors, part of an organized gang, took Parvez to a remote hilly area in Dulhazara. When police intensified their search, the kidnappers abandoned the boy and fled.

Parvez was safely returned to his family, and police operations to identify and arrest the abductors are ongoing, according to the Chakaria police official.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen met with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo in Dhaka, where both sides discussed strengthening cooperation on environmental protection, forest management, and climate change mitigation. The meeting, held at the Forest Department in Agargaon, emphasized green development, technology exchange, pollution control, and eco-friendly infrastructure.

Minister Mintoo outlined Bangladesh’s initiatives to combat air, water, and noise pollution and sought continued Chinese support for climate-resilient development. He also highlighted government programs such as family and farmer cards, interest-free loans, tree plantation, canal excavation, and women’s empowerment. The minister announced a target to plant 250 million trees over five years, starting nationwide in May following a detailed plan to be finalized in April.

Ambassador Yao reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s environmental and sustainable development goals and expressed interest in joint projects, including tackling air pollution in Dhaka. Officials also discussed waste-to-energy initiatives under the Aminbazar Landfill modernization project, with both sides seeing potential for deeper technological cooperation.

A mobile court in Matlab North upazila of Chandpur district detained 14 fishermen during an operation on the Meghna River on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The raid was part of the government’s 2026 jatka protection and sanctuary enforcement campaign. Authorities seized a large quantity of illegal fishing nets, including a behundi net, a pressure net, and about 20,000 meters of current net, which were later burned. Four fishing boats and four anchors were also confiscated and placed under police custody.

Each of the detained fishermen received a seven-day jail sentence from Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Rahmat Ullah. The convicts are residents of Matlab North, Lakshmipur’s Kamalnagar, and Chandpur Sadar areas. The operation was conducted in the presence of district and upazila fisheries officials and the Mohanpur River Police.

Officials stated that regular river patrols and awareness programs are ongoing to enforce the jatka conservation program. They emphasized that fishing during the government-declared ban period is strictly prohibited and that similar drives will continue to protect future hilsa production.

Police have arrested Dr. A.K.M. Jamal Uddin, a sociology teacher at Dhaka University, from a rally in the Gulistan area of the capital. The arrest took place on Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026, during a procession linked to the Awami League that had been declared prohibited. Law enforcement officials stated that Jamal Uddin was detained and later formally arrested under an existing case filed against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed the arrest, saying it was made in connection with the ongoing investigation of the case. Police sources said security forces were on alert around the rally site and detained him based on the situation at the scene.

Earlier, on February 15, Jamal Uddin had faced public assault near Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence in Dhanmondi while attempting to join another announced program. Police rescued him at that time. Authorities have stated that further legal steps will follow depending on the progress of the investigation.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has approved the release of 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to address supply shortages caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol announced that all 32 member countries unanimously voted to release what he described as the largest amount of emergency oil ever authorized by the agency.

Birol stated that the oil market is facing unprecedented challenges, and he welcomed the collective emergency action taken by member nations. According to the IEA, each member country will release its share of reserves within an appropriate timeframe based on national circumstances.

The agency noted that this marks the sixth coordinated release in its history, following similar actions in 1991, 2005, 2011, and twice in 2022. IEA members currently hold over 1.02 billion barrels of emergency reserves, with an additional 600 million barrels held by industry under government obligations.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that rain or thunderstorms may continue across various parts of the country for the next five days. In its Wednesday evening bulletin, the agency reported that an extension of a low-pressure area lies over West Bengal and adjoining regions, while the seasonal low remains over the South Bay of Bengal. As a result, temporary gusty or stormy winds with rain or thundershowers are likely in several divisions including Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet.

Meteorologists noted that this period marks the seasonal onset of nor'wester storms, and while brief rain and gusty winds are expected, continuous rainfall is unlikely. Day temperatures may drop by one to two degrees Celsius, while night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged. The forecast indicates that the trend of rain or thunderstorms may persist through the extended five-day outlook.

The department also mentioned that some regions may experience temporary heat and humidity between spells of rain, but severe heat conditions are not anticipated.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has submitted an investigation report to the court in the embezzlement case involving Far East Islami Life Insurance Company Limited. The report, filed on February 15, 2026, by investigating officer Shah Minhaj Uddin, accuses 24 individuals of misappropriating company funds. The case was originally filed on September 13, 2022, by the company’s legal officer Md. Jasim Uddin at Shahbagh Police Station against 14 people. Following a court directive, DB Police conducted the investigation.

During the investigation, one accused died in custody, and two others were cleared of charges due to lack of evidence. However, 13 new individuals were added as accused, bringing the total to 24. The report alleges that the accused embezzled Tk 644.28 crore from the company’s bank deposits and misappropriated additional funds through land purchases and development projects.

The report also notes that the Anti-Corruption Commission has filed seven other cases against the group led by Nazrul and Hemayet, indicating broader financial irregularities under investigation.

Both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) will remain closed from March 17 to March 23, 2026, in observance of Shab-e-Qadr and Eid-ul-Fitr. The exchanges confirmed that no trading or official activities will take place during this seven-day holiday period.

According to the exchanges, the government has declared March 18 as an additional public holiday by executive order, extending the closure period. After the Eid and Ramadan holidays, both exchanges will resume normal operations on March 24. Regular office hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with trading scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:20 p.m., followed by a post-closing session until 2:30 p.m.

The extended closure is part of the national holiday schedule, and trading activities are expected to return to normal immediately after the break.

Bangladesh has formally requested additional fuel supplies from India to address an energy shortage caused by instability in the Middle East. The country currently receives 15,000 tons of diesel per month under an existing agreement. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Nasrul Hamid announced that a letter has been sent to the Indian government seeking extra fuel as part of emergency measures.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma confirmed receipt of the letter and said it would be forwarded to the Indian government for consideration. He noted that India and Bangladesh maintain strong cooperation in the power and energy sectors, supported by cross-border electricity transmission lines and the operational Maitree pipeline.

The Maitree pipeline, stretching about 131 kilometers from India’s Siliguri Marketing Terminal to Parbatipur Depot in Dinajpur, is a key channel for diesel transport to Bangladesh. Under the current arrangement, it delivers around 15,000 tons of diesel monthly, but Bangladesh has now requested additional volumes to meet rising demand.

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz following attacks by the United States and Israel but continues to export large volumes of crude oil to China, according to a CNBC report published Wednesday. Satellite data from TankerTrackers shows that since the war began on February 28, Iran has shipped at least 11.7 million barrels of crude through the strait, all bound for China. Kepler, another shipping intelligence firm, estimated the figure at around 12 million barrels. The International Maritime Organization reported that at least ten vessels have been attacked in the strait since the conflict began, leaving seven sailors dead.

Despite threats to attack any vessel attempting passage, Iran has maintained exports mainly through its Kharg Island terminal, which handles 90 percent of its shipments. Tehran has also resumed loading at the Jask terminal on the Gulf of Oman, seen as a potential alternative route. Analysts noted that China remains Iran’s main crude buyer, with February exports reaching 2.16 million barrels per day, the highest since 2018. China’s crude imports rose 15.8 percent year-on-year in the first two months of the year as it built up reserves.

Global oil prices surged to record levels amid fears of supply disruption, while U.S. President Donald Trump urged ships near the strait to proceed despite Iranian threats.

A joint operation led by the Bangladesh Army, supported by police, RAB, and BGB, has ended three decades of militant and land-grabber dominance in Jungle Salimpur, Chattogram. The operation, conducted on March 9, lasted ten hours and brought the area fully under state control. The Defense Intelligence Directorate (DGFI) provided detailed intelligence, mapping secret hideouts, weapon factories, and tunnels across 3,000 acres of hilly terrain. Using drones and dog squads, forces recovered 27 pipe guns, two pistols, 11 cocktails, over a thousand rounds of ammunition, and modern lathe machines used for illegal arms production.

Authorities described the operation as a restoration of state sovereignty after years of lawlessness. The area had long been outside administrative control due to extortion, illegal occupation, and armed activity. The operation freed 3,000 acres of land from illegal possession without major casualties.

Post-operation, mobile patrols and surveillance have been intensified. The government plans to establish public infrastructure and land offices on the reclaimed land. Security agencies confirmed that further operations will continue under the government’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and illegal occupation.