Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey is pursuing strong diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation of violence centered on Iran. He made the remarks on Thursday in Ankara during a ceremony where he presented the Atatürk International Peace Award to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, according to Anadolu Agency.

Erdogan emphasized that diplomacy and dialogue are the safest paths to achieving fair and lasting peace. He acknowledged challenges in the diplomatic process involving the United States, Israel, and Iran but affirmed Turkey’s commitment to continue peace efforts with patience and determination. He also praised Guterres for his neutrality and wisdom since taking office in 2017 and for his contributions to refugee protection, global justice, and shuttle diplomacy amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Erdogan reiterated that Turkey’s foreign policy is guided by the principle of “peace at home, peace in the world,” inherited from the republic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and reaffirmed Turkey’s strong support for the United Nations’ founding values.

Newly elected Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stated that chanting slogans in Parliament is inappropriate and outside parliamentary tradition. He made the remarks on Friday, March 13, after paying tribute to the martyrs at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar. Ahmed noted that while walkouts are a recognized parliamentary practice, maintaining discipline is essential, and slogan chanting should not occur inside the chamber.

He emphasized that Bangladesh has achieved a democratic Parliament through great sacrifice and expressed hope that lawmakers will work together to fulfill the people’s aspirations. The Speaker also pledged to ensure impartial conduct in parliamentary proceedings, comparing his approach to neutral umpiring in cricket.

Earlier that morning, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War, observed a minute of silence, and signed the memorial’s visitor book.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP National Standing Committee, at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Friday after Jumma prayers. During the visit, he inquired about Abbas’s health condition, spoke with his family members, and instructed officials to arrange for his treatment in Singapore as soon as possible.

Afroza Abbas, president of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal and wife of Mirza Abbas, along with attending doctors, were present at the hospital during the visit. Earlier in the day, BNP announced that Mirza Abbas would be flown to Singapore at 6 p.m. for advanced treatment at the Neuroscience Department of the National University Hospital.

Mirza Abbas had been admitted to Evercare Hospital on Wednesday night after suddenly falling ill and losing consciousness at his residence in Bashundhara, Dhaka.

Speaker of the 13th National Parliament Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal paid deep respects to the martyrs of Bangladesh’s Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar on Friday morning. They laid floral wreaths, observed a moment of silence, and signed the visitors’ book to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for independence.

Speaking to the media, Speaker Hafiz Uddin described his role in parliament as neutral, comparing it to that of a cricket umpire. He emphasized his tolerance toward the opposition and noted that he had resigned from his party to perform his duties impartially. He expressed confidence that the government, elected by the people, would build a happy and prosperous nation with parliament as its center.

The Speaker also recalled former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and paid tribute to those who lost their lives in movements against authoritarian rule over the past 17 years.

An attempt was made to file a case against Asif Mahmud and other coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement for their roles during the July Revolution. The court did not accept the case. The National Citizen Party (NCP) and its convenor, Md Nahid Islam, who is also the opposition chief whip, condemned the move in a statement released to the media on Friday, calling it alarming and reprehensible in the context of the new Bangladesh formed after the mass uprising.

The statement described the attempt as a politically motivated attack not against individuals but against the spirit of the July Revolution, the anti-fascist struggle, and the young leadership that emerged from it. It said the anti-discrimination student movement symbolizes equality, justice, human dignity, democracy, and resistance to fascism for the country’s youth.

The NCP urged the government and relevant authorities to take effective measures to stop such attempts and to act legally against the defeated forces allegedly involved in conspiracies. The party reaffirmed its commitment to resist any fascist activities.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has advised that his political adviser and BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas be taken to Singapore for advanced medical treatment. The Prime Minister instructed the foreign minister to make necessary arrangements. The information was shared by BNP Standing Committee member and Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Children Affairs Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain after visiting Mirza Abbas at the hospital.

BNP Secretary General and Minister for Local Government and Cooperatives Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with Standing Committee member Abdul Moin Khan, also visited Abbas. According to BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, Abbas’s family decided to move him to Singapore following doctors’ advice. He is scheduled to be flown by air ambulance at 6 p.m. to the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore.

Family sources said Mirza Abbas lost consciousness during iftar on Wednesday and was admitted to a hospital later that night after his condition did not improve. He is currently receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

Large crowds gathered across Iran on Quds Day to express solidarity with Palestinians. Demonstrations took place in major cities including Tehran, Khorramabad, Isfahan, Golestan, Yazd, Mashhad, and Zahedan. Participants carried flags and portraits of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his late father Ali Khamenei, according to footage shared by Iranian state media.

Reuters reported that in Tehran, demonstrators burned effigies of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while chanting slogans against the United States and Israel. Footage from Fars News Agency showed people striking coffins wrapped in U.S. and Israeli flags with nails. The rallies occurred amid ongoing Israeli military attacks, with Iranian state media also reporting explosions in Tehran, Isfahan, and other regions.

The events underscored Iran’s continued public support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel and the United States, coinciding with heightened regional tensions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a warning against any new anti-government protests, saying it will take even harsher measures than those used in January. The statement was broadcast on state television on Friday, signaling the government’s intent to prevent renewed demonstrations across the country.

According to the Human Rights Activist News Agency, more than 7,000 people were killed during the January protests. Iranian authorities have blamed the violence on ‘terrorists’ allegedly working for Israel and the United States. Several human rights organizations have accused Iranian security forces of deliberately firing on protesters during those events.

The report also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranians to rise against their government and overthrow the ruling system, adding to the international political tension surrounding Iran’s internal unrest.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is no longer interested in receiving the Nobel Prize. He made the comment in a telephone interview with the Washington Examiner, according to a report published on March 13, 2026. When asked whether the topic came up in his recent conversations with foreign leaders, Trump replied that he does not discuss the Nobel Prize and added that he is not interested in it.

Previously, Trump had repeatedly expressed his desire to win the Nobel Prize and claimed that he deserved it. He had stated several times that he stopped eight wars but was still denied the Nobel Peace Prize by the Nobel Committee. On social media, Trump wrote that it did not matter because he had saved millions of lives.

The remarks mark a shift from Trump’s earlier position, suggesting a change in his public stance toward the Nobel Prize.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, who is undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. According to Deputy Press Secretary Sujan Mahmud, the visit will take place after Friday prayers. Mirza Abbas is currently in the hospital’s neuro ICU under close observation by doctors.

Social Welfare, Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain stated that the Prime Minister has been regularly monitoring Mirza Abbas’s health updates. A medical board comprising senior neuro specialists has been formed to oversee his treatment, and preparations have been made for possible transfer abroad if necessary.

Mirza Abbas was admitted to Evercare Hospital on Wednesday night after losing consciousness. On Thursday night, several senior political leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Zahid Hossain, and Abdul Moyeen Khan, visited him and discussed his condition with the medical board.

US Senator Lindsey Graham has dismissed the possibility of deploying American ground troops in Iran, saying such a move is unnecessary. Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., the Republican senator stated that the ongoing conflict is expected to continue for several more weeks. He emphasized that the war’s objective is to ensure Iran cannot resume uranium production, destroy its missile development capabilities, and prevent it from reviving its nuclear program.

Graham noted that the conflict is not nearing an immediate end and that achieving these goals will take additional time. He added that the situation would be reassessed after several weeks of operations. His remarks come as tensions remain high in the region, with reports of related incidents in Iraq and Oman.

The senator’s comments, reported by Al Jazeera, underline a strategic focus on targeted military objectives rather than a full-scale ground deployment in Iran.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized US President Donald Trump for supporting what he described as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expansionist delusions. In a social media post following the crash of a US military refueling aircraft in Iraq, Ghalibaf said that families of American soldiers have the right to know why their children are being sacrificed for such causes.

The post also referenced convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, noting his past association with Trump and alleged links to Israeli intelligence. Ghalibaf’s remarks came amid heightened tensions following the incident involving a US KC-135 refueling aircraft.

According to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the crash occurred during “Operation Epic Fury” in friendly airspace. Two aircraft were involved; one crashed in western Iraq while the other landed safely. Rescue operations are ongoing.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the war against Iran is progressing rapidly and effectively. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, he described Iran as a nation of terror and hate, saying the country is now paying a high price for its actions. His remarks came as he discussed recent developments in the ongoing conflict.

Trump has given mixed statements in recent days about the war’s progress. He claimed that the United States has already won against Iran and suggested the war could end very soon, while also emphasizing the need to continue fighting. His comments reflect both confidence in military success and caution about declaring victory too early.

Trump did not directly respond to comments from Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who in his first message after taking office vowed to take revenge for joint U.S.-Israeli attacks. The exchange highlights continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran amid escalating hostilities.

An opinion piece by Md. Mahmudul Hasan, published on March 13, 2026, reflects on Bangladesh’s 2024 July Revolution that ended Sheikh Hasina’s rule and led to the formation of an interim government under Muhammad Yunus, followed by the February 2026 election that brought Tarique Rahman’s BNP to power. The author questions whether Bangladesh can maintain justice and stability or fall back into corruption and repression.

Drawing parallels with Egypt’s 1952 July Revolution, the article reviews how Egypt’s overthrow of King Farouk failed to deliver lasting peace or freedom. Despite initial hopes, Egypt returned to authoritarianism under Nasser, with continued political repression and foreign influence. The author cites Egyptian writer Zaynab al-Ghazali’s memoir to illustrate the persistence of state brutality.

The piece concludes that Bangladesh’s new leadership must act wisely to preserve its hard-won freedom and avoid Egypt’s mistakes. The success of the July Revolution, the author argues, depends on the sincerity and prudence of the country’s political leaders.

Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain, former adviser to the Ministry of Religious Affairs under the caretaker government, has written that political transitions in Bangladesh often trigger behavioral changes within the bureaucracy. He observed that after the new government took office on February 17, 2026, several contractual secretaries were released or made officers on special duty, including the secretary of the Religious Affairs Ministry. He described this as part of a recurring pattern where bureaucratic loyalty tends to follow political power rather than institutional principles.

The article argues that such politically driven reshuffles undermine administrative neutrality and morale. Hossain recounts his experience working with professional and honest officers during his tenure, contrasting it with the tendency of some officials to align with ruling parties. He warns that prioritizing political loyalty over competence and integrity weakens state institutions and discourages merit-based governance.

He concludes that Bangladesh’s long-term stability depends on fostering a professional, ethical, and accountable bureaucracy. Strengthening training, transparency, and evaluation systems could help ensure that loyalty remains to the state and constitution, not to individuals or political groups.