Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired a meeting focused on resolving traffic congestion and modernizing traffic management in Dhaka. The meeting took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Office within the Cabinet Division. Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony confirmed the event.

Discussions at the meeting centered on improving the capital’s traffic management system, restoring discipline on the roads, and reducing chronic congestion. The session aimed to identify actionable measures to make Dhaka’s transport system more efficient and orderly.

The meeting reflects the government’s ongoing attention to urban mobility challenges and efforts to enhance public convenience through better traffic control and infrastructure management.

The United Kingdom’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Sarah Cook, paid a courtesy call on Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) at the ministry’s conference room on March 24, 2026. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present during the meeting. The discussion focused on enhancing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom and seeking British cooperation in developing Bangladesh’s civil aviation sector.

During the meeting, the ambassador assured continued cooperation with the current government. She also expressed the United Kingdom’s interest in participating in ground handling operations at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Additionally, the ambassador reaffirmed her country’s support for Bangladesh’s goal of becoming a regional aviation hub.

The meeting underscored both nations’ shared interest in expanding aviation collaboration and strengthening long-term partnership in the sector.

Iranian police have arrested 466 individuals accused of assisting enemies through online activities that allegedly threatened national security, according to state media IRNA on Tuesday. The arrests mark one of Iran’s largest security operations since the country entered into conflict with Israel and the United States.

Reports from Iranian media indicated that over 1,000 people have been detained this month on charges of filming sensitive sites, sharing anti-government content online, or cooperating with hostile entities. Police stated that the arrests followed recent intelligence and technical surveillance operations.

Authorities claim the detainees were linked to networks attempting to create internal instability in Iran. The operation underscores the government’s intensified focus on digital monitoring and internal security amid heightened regional tensions.

Bangladesh Chhatra Dal has announced a two-day program to observe the country's Independence and National Day. According to a press release issued on Tuesday by the organization’s president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, the programs will begin on Wednesday in Dhaka.

The statement said that on Wednesday afternoon, all Dhaka units of Chhatra Dal will attend a discussion meeting organized by the BNP at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Ramna. On Thursday morning, marking Independence Day, the organization will place floral wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial. Later, members will return to Dhaka to pay tribute and offer prayers at the grave of former president and martyr Ziaur Rahman.

The press release also mentioned that Chhatra Dal leaders from all district, metropolitan, upazila, and municipal units across the country will participate in BNP’s announced programs.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom was aware of the ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran. He emphasized that the UK wants to see a reduction in tensions and an end to the conflict as quickly as possible. Starmer welcomed the news of the talks between Washington and Tehran, describing them as a positive step toward de-escalation.

Starmer further noted that any agreement reached through these discussions should impose strict conditions on Iran, particularly concerning nuclear weapons. His remarks reflect the UK government’s position of supporting diplomatic engagement while maintaining firm oversight on nuclear issues.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the UK signaling its preference for diplomacy and stability in addressing the ongoing crisis.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s central general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has warned that legal action will be taken against leaders of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) if investigations prove they spread false information about a reported rape incident in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali. Speaking at a post-Eid meeting with journalists at the Noakhali Press Club on Monday night, Nasir accused NCP leaders of creating a false narrative and spreading propaganda to mislead the public.

He alleged that senior NCP figures shared unverified information on social media to inflame the situation and that some individuals linked to Jamaat-Shibir and NCP were using the sensitive Hadi murder case for political purposes. Nasir also claimed that BNP and its affiliates had been vocal in demanding justice for the murder, while NCP had no visible role at that time. He described the alleged misinformation as an attempt to divert the murder investigation.

Nasir reaffirmed that the real perpetrators must face justice and warned that any political group spreading falsehoods or linking BNP leaders to fabricated stories would face legal consequences.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said Bangladesh has not yet sent a formal letter to India regarding the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces charges of crimes against humanity. She stated that during the interim government, Bangladesh had sent a letter to India seeking Hasina’s repatriation. However, under the new government, the issue has only been raised verbally with the Indian envoy so far.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Shama Obaid said the current government has been in office for one month and has held several meetings with India’s High Commissioner. She confirmed that both she and the foreign minister discussed the matter during those meetings.

According to the report, Bangladesh previously sent a letter to India on December 23 requesting Hasina’s return. Sheikh Hasina has been staying in India since fleeing there on August 5 of the previous year.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, former social welfare minister Rashed Khan Menon, and former Supreme Court justice A.H.M. Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik in a defamation case filed over alleged derogatory comments about former president Ziaur Rahman. Metropolitan Magistrate Rounak Jahan Taki issued the order on Tuesday after a hearing. The information was confirmed by DMP Prosecution Division Deputy Commissioner Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan.

According to court sources, Inu was shown arrested in the case and produced before the court, while Menon and Manik were brought for appearance. After hearing bail petitions from their lawyers, the court granted bail to all three. Menon and Manik had earlier been shown arrested in the same case on January 21. The case was filed on August 22, 2024, by lawyer Ziaul Haque, and the court had directed the Police Bureau of Investigation to conduct an inquiry.

The complaint alleged that Manik made controversial remarks about Ziaur Rahman during a television talk show in October 2022 and at a seminar in February 2021, while Inu and Menon made similar comments in separate events in July 2013.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has shown former army officer Lieutenant General (Retd.) Masud Uddin Chowdhury arrested in a case filed with Paltan Police Station and sought a five-day remand for interrogation. The DB confirmed that more than eight cases are pending against him, including those filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission. He was arrested late Monday night from his residence in Baridhara DOHS, Dhaka.

DB Additional Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam told a press briefing at the DMP Media Center on Minto Road that investigations into multiple cases against Masud Uddin are ongoing. The retired general was a key figure during the 2007 military-backed caretaker government, serving as coordinator of the National Coordination Committee for Serious Crimes Suppression.

Masud Uddin, once close to former army chief General Moeen U Ahmed, later served as Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Australia and was elected a Member of Parliament from Feni-3 under the Jatiya Party ticket. He is also accused in cases related to the 2024 Feni shootings during the anti-government movement.

Jinia Sharmin Ria, spokesperson of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s Cox’s Bazar district unit, sharply criticized Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists, calling them 'spineless politicians' in a social media post on March 24, 2026. Her remarks came after several Jamaat leaders were seen presenting flowers to BNP lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury, who represents Cox’s Bazar-04 (Ukhia-Teknaf). Ria questioned their political consistency, pointing out that Jamaat had simultaneously filed a court petition challenging the same election result.

The post referenced a photo showing six Jamaat leaders, including Ukhia upazila chief Maulana Abul Fazal, greeting Shahjahan Chowdhury with flowers. Ria accused them of hypocrisy, noting that they were publicly disputing election irregularities while privately acknowledging the BNP MP. She argued that such behavior reflected a lack of political integrity.

Ria had previously campaigned for Jamaat’s candidate Maulana Nur Ahmed Anwari during the thirteenth national election as part of the 11-party alliance. During that campaign, BNP’s Shahjahan Chowdhury had reportedly made personal attacks against her, adding further context to her criticism.

Former Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a key figure during the 2007 military-backed caretaker government, has been shown arrested in a human trafficking case. Police confirmed that he was shown arrested on Tuesday afternoon at Paltan Police Station, with the Detective Branch seeking a five-day remand. He had been detained the previous night from his residence in Baridhara DOHS, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police chief DIG Shafiqul Islam, who stated that Masud faces at least five cases.

Masud Uddin previously served as the coordinator of the National Coordination Committee for Serious Crimes Suppression during the 2007 emergency rule, a period marked by the detention of senior politicians and business leaders. He was closely associated with then Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed and played a central role in the anti-corruption drive that followed the “One-Eleven” political crisis.

The former general later became a Member of Parliament from Feni-3 under the Jatiya Party and was accused in several cases, including a 2024 incident in Feni. His arrest marks the first major action against him in nearly two years.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has announced that Bangladesh will observe a symbolic one-minute blackout across the country on the night of March 25. According to the official directive, the blackout will take place from 10:30 p.m. to 10:31 p.m. on that day. The announcement was made through a government press release issued on March 24.

The directive specifies that key point installations, emergency service providers, and foreign missions in Bangladesh will remain exempt from the blackout program. The measure is described as symbolic, and no further operational details were provided in the announcement.

The ministry’s notice serves as a nationwide instruction for citizens and institutions to participate in the brief observance, while ensuring that essential and diplomatic services continue uninterrupted.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapon emphasized that sports are essential alongside education for developing conscious and responsible citizens. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon while inaugurating a football tournament at Kendua High School field in Biratara Union of Dhanbari upazila, Tangail. The minister said that sports help protect society from criminal activities and encourage students to live healthy, disciplined lives.

He noted that students engaged in both study and sports remain free from unethical behavior, terrorism, and drugs. According to him, sports uplift the human spirit and contribute to higher educational performance. Swapon added that the government aims to keep the country free from terrorism, extortion, and misuse of power, focusing on public service as its main goal.

Local leaders from the Dhanbari upazila BNP and its affiliated organizations were present at the event, showing community participation in the initiative.

Lion Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury, Member of Parliament for Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda), announced a firm stance against corruption and extortion. Speaking on Monday at an Eid reunion event in Muradpur Union’s coastal area, organized by Italy expatriate Jubo Dal leader Nur Mohammad, he warned that illegal activities such as forced sale of construction materials, soil extraction from farmland, drug trade, and extortion would not be tolerated. He also cautioned that those involved would face organizational action for tarnishing the party’s image.

Aslam Chowdhury emphasized that proper implementation of ongoing development projects in Sitakunda would accelerate local infrastructure growth. He highlighted the importance of environmental conservation, planned industrialization, and sustainable development to transform Sitakunda into a modern, investment-friendly industrial zone.

Special guest Nurul Amin, MP for Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai), said such reunions strengthen fraternity, harmony, and mutual relations among people, expressing satisfaction at sharing Eid joy with Sitakunda residents.

A parliamentary special committee has begun its first meeting to review 133 ordinances issued during the interim government period. The meeting, held on Tuesday morning, marks the start of the committee’s formal work under the 13th National Parliament. The committee will examine the ordinances and prepare a report for submission to Parliament by April 2, as directed earlier.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of the committee, told reporters before the meeting that the special committee was formed under procedural rules because standing committees have not yet been established. He said the discussion would focus on which ordinances could be accepted, which might need amendments, and which require further changes. Some ordinances are reportedly seen as conflicting with the constitution, while others reflect the aspirations of the July uprising, including recognition and indemnity for those involved.

According to parliamentary rules, ordinances issued when Parliament is not in session must be presented on the first sitting day and passed within 30 days to remain valid. The next parliamentary session is scheduled for March 29 and will continue until April 30.