The government of Bangladesh has decided to confer the 2026 Independence Award on former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 19 other individuals and institutions for their contributions to nation-building. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani announced the decision on Thursday, March 5, following a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat. The award, the country’s highest civilian honor, recognizes outstanding contributions in various fields of national life.

According to the announcement, Khaleda Zia, a three-time former prime minister and BNP chairperson, has been selected posthumously for her contributions to independence, democracy, and women’s education. In total, 15 individuals and 5 organizations will receive the award this year. The Independence Award, also known as the Independence Day Award, has been presented annually since 1977 to honor exceptional service to the nation.

The award commemorates the martyrs of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War and is traditionally presented on March 26, the country’s Independence Day.

Freedom fighter Iqbal Chowdhury has testified as the fourth witness in a case involving abduction and torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell, known as Ayenaghar, during the Awami League’s fifteen-year rule. He gave his statement before the three-member panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, describing severe torture after being abducted for his writings critical of India and the Awami League.

In his testimony, Iqbal said he was subjected to electric shocks and beaten with sticks on his legs and ankles. He recounted being interrogated about his war role and his Facebook posts criticizing the government and Indian influence. He described being detained for a year, held in a high-walled room with blood-like stains and writings, and hearing sounds suggesting proximity to the Dhaka Cantonment area. He later recognized Lt. Col. Hasinur Rahman during detention.

Iqbal stated he was released on April 25, 2019, and later learned the facility was under DGFI control. He held then–Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several military officials responsible for his torture and demanded justice.

Former three-time Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with 14 other individuals and five institutions, will receive the Independence Award 2026, Bangladesh’s highest civilian honor. Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Nasimul Gani announced the decision on Thursday, March 5, 2026, following a Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat. Khaleda Zia has been selected posthumously for her contributions to independence, democracy, and women’s education.

The list of honorees includes figures from diverse fields such as science, literature, culture, sports, rural development, social service, public administration, research, and environmental conservation. Institutions like Faujdarhat Cadet College, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, PKSF, Gonoshasthaya Kendra, and SOS Children’s Village International in Bangladesh are among the awardees.

The Independence Award, introduced in 1977, is presented annually on March 26 to honor individuals and organizations for their distinguished contributions to national life and the memory of the 1971 Liberation War.

Following recent attacks by the United States and Israel, a large segment of Iran’s population is showing solidarity with the government, according to a Tehran-based analyst cited by Al Jazeera. The report notes that despite US President Donald Trump’s call for Iranians to ‘take back their country,’ many citizens have instead rallied in support of the state.

Abbas Aslani, a senior researcher at the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, stated that instead of protesting against national leaders, people in Tehran and other cities are holding gatherings condemning the attacks and expressing loyalty to Iran’s political system. He added that some Iranians who once hoped for US assistance due to dissatisfaction with economic or political conditions now realize that Washington is not coming to their aid.

The report also mentions that Iran has accused the attackers of targeting civilian areas to cause maximum casualties and claimed that an international football stadium was destroyed in the strikes.

Iraq has stated that it will not tolerate any form of threat against Iran from within its territory. The assurance came from Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani, according to a written statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. The statement followed a telephone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and the Iraqi leader amid Iran’s ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s post on social media platform X, the Iraqi prime minister expressed respect for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the call. He also reaffirmed that his government would not permit any hostile activities against Iran to be launched from Iraqi soil or along its borders.

The statement underscores Iraq’s attempt to balance its regional relations while maintaining stability amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi has called for the immediate transfer of power following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Al Jazeera, Pahlavi made the appeal in a post on social media platform X on March 5, 2026, urging officials of the Islamic Republic to hand over authority without delay.

In his statement, Pahlavi warned that any attempt to appoint a successor to Khamenei would fail, arguing that no new leader could gain legitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people. His remarks come amid heightened political uncertainty in Iran after the reported assassination of its top leader.

The call reflects continuing opposition sentiment among exiled figures and adds to questions about Iran’s political transition following Khamenei’s death.

Adelaide University has cancelled a scheduled literary festival event featuring UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. The event, part of the Constellations: Not Writers’ Week festival, was to be held at the university’s Elder Hall on Thursday night. Organisers said the university informed them on Monday that certain procedural requirements had not been met and revoked the booking. A new venue, Norwood Concert Hall, has been secured to host the 650 ticket holders, with Albanese participating via video link alongside academics Henry Reynolds and Lana Tatour.

The Association for the Promotion of International Law (APIL), which organised the event, disputed the university’s claim of procedural lapses, saying it had been in contact with Elder Hall management since early February. Adelaide University stated it was unaware of the external event until the previous Friday and could not approve the booking without proper review. The cancellation followed a report suggesting that hosting Albanese might breach US sanctions, as she was previously placed on a sanctions list by the Trump administration.

Festival organisers and speakers accused the university of bowing to media pressure and undermining free speech, while the university maintained it supports open exchange of ideas within policy guidelines.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his decision not to involve the United Kingdom in the joint United States and Israel attack on Iran. He also refused to allow American aircraft to use British bases for the operation. Starmer explained his stance at a press conference on March 5, 2026, aiming to reassure a concerned public amid rising tensions.

During the briefing, Starmer emphasized that his goal was to provide calm and prudent leadership in the national interest. He stated that the UK must have the strength to stand firmly by its values and principles regardless of external pressure. His remarks were seen as a signal that he would not yield to pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Starmer reiterated that the UK’s long-standing position on Iran is to seek a resolution through dialogue, encouraging Iran to halt its nuclear program. He described his decision to stay out of the initial wave of attacks as a carefully considered move made in the national interest.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has accused the government of politicizing major state institutions such as Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). He made the allegation on Thursday at an iftar event in Dhaka, organized in honor of foreign diplomats to mark the NCP’s founding anniversary.

Addressing the diplomats, Nahid Islam said that the government is subtly turning major institutions into partisan bodies, which he described as a warning sign for a democratic state. He urged the international community to pay attention to ensuring that state institutions remain free from political influence and serve the public interest.

Nahid also demanded the immediate formation of a “Constitution Reform Council” to implement the commitments of the July Charter, claiming that the reform process outlined in the charter has been hindered. Diplomats from various countries attended the event.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Mamunul Haque stated that the July mass uprising was built upon the sacrifices and ideals of the Shapla Chattar movement. He emphasized that rebuilding the future of Bangladesh depends on fully realizing the goals and spirit of that uprising. Haque accused those attempting to undermine the 2024 uprising of rejecting the essence of the Shapla spirit itself.

He made these remarks on Thursday at an iftar gathering organized by the Shapla Smriti Sangsad at the Hotel Central Inn auditorium of Rahmania International Complex in Dhaka. The event honored the families of those killed and injured in the 2013 Shapla Chattar and 2021 anti-Modi movements. In his presidential address, Haque also expressed regret for the nation’s negligence toward the families of the martyrs, apologizing on behalf of all for their prolonged suffering.

The event was attended by Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s central Naib-e-Amir Maulana Mahfuzul Haque, former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, and other religious and social leaders.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has alleged that the ruling party is attempting to declare the July Charter and referendum invalid by using the courts. Speaking at an iftar gathering organized by the Ulama Division of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South on Thursday, he warned that if the government follows the path of previous regimes, the responsibility will fall on the BNP. He also claimed that evidence of election result manipulation is gradually emerging and that both domestic and foreign forces were involved in engineering the outcome.

Porwar called on Islamic scholars to take the lead in building true believers and patriotic citizens, describing them as the nation's best sons who have historically defended independence and sovereignty. Other speakers, including Nurul Islam Bulbul MP and Dr. Khalilur Rahman Madani, emphasized unity among religious scholars and their role in guiding the nation beyond partisan lines.

The event was attended by senior Jamaat leaders, scholars, and representatives from various Islamic organizations, who echoed calls for unity and moral leadership in national life.

China has announced a 7 percent increase in its 2026 defense budget to accelerate military modernization. The announcement came on March 5 during the opening of the annual parliamentary session, where Premier Li Qiang said the country would strengthen war preparedness and enhance advanced military capabilities. Although this is the smallest increase in five years, it remains higher than most Asian nations’ defense growth rates.

Li Qiang stated that the measures aim to boost China’s strategic capacity to safeguard sovereignty, security, and development interests. The modernization plan includes developing new missiles, warships, submarines, and surveillance technologies, with a goal to fully modernize the armed forces by 2035. Analysts noted that China’s defense spending typically aligns with GDP growth and inflation. Beijing has also intensified anti-corruption efforts within the military, investigating senior generals such as Zhang Youxia and He Weidong.

Taiwan expressed concern that China’s large defense allocation amid weak economic conditions poses a threat, while Japan criticized the lack of transparency. A report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies said China accounted for 44 percent of Asia’s total defense spending in 2025, up from an average of 37 percent between 2010 and 2020.

United States Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapoor paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir in Dhaka on Thursday. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon and was attended by the US Ambassador to Bangladesh and a high-level American delegation.

During the meeting, both sides discussed existing bilateral relations, regional cooperation, trade and investment expansion, and development partnership. Adviser Humayun Kabir highlighted the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and the United States and expressed hope for strengthening and diversifying the relationship. He emphasized the importance of expanding economic cooperation and joint initiatives in various development sectors.

Assistant Secretary Kapoor reaffirmed the United States’ interest in advancing Bangladesh-US relations and noted the potential for expanding collaboration in multiple areas. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, with both parties expressing optimism about deepening future cooperation.

The Prime Minister has decided to avoid holding lavish iftar gatherings this year, considering the country’s overall situation. According to Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, she will attend only two iftar events at the state guesthouse Jamuna—one on March 6 for diplomats and another on March 7 for orphans, Islamic scholars, and clerics.

Previously scheduled iftar events at Jamuna for politicians on March 8 and for journalists on March 10 have been cancelled due to the same considerations. The decision marks a departure from the usual state tradition of hosting multiple large-scale iftar receptions for various professional and social groups.

This year, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is observing iftar privately with his family at home, and no grand state-sponsored iftar events are being held.

Photographer Khaled Hossain Parag from Pabna has been appointed as the personal photographer to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The appointment was announced on Tuesday through a circular issued by the Contract and Foreign Recruitment Branch of the Ministry of Public Administration. According to the circular, Parag will serve on a contractual basis, receiving salary and benefits under grade-9 of the national pay scale. His appointment will remain effective until the end of the Prime Minister’s tenure or until further notice.

As the Prime Minister’s photographer, Parag will be responsible for capturing, archiving, and documenting official activities, political programs, state visits, meetings, and other significant events. He will also oversee the visual documentation and archival preservation of the Prime Minister’s engagements.

Parag has been active in photojournalism and cultural-political activities for nearly three decades. He began his career at the daily Dinkal and currently serves as the convener of the Pabna district branch of JASAS, a BNP-affiliated cultural organization. He has founded several local cultural and youth organizations and is known for his long-standing voluntary documentation of BNP and Zia family events.