Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahid Uddin Swapan MP said that Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar will be developed into modern, objective and people-oriented media institutions. He emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring a free and safe working environment for journalists. The minister made these remarks on Thursday, March 19, at an event organized by the Gouranadi Press Club in Barishal, marking a discussion on the significance of Ramadan and an iftar gathering.

Swapan highlighted that the holy month of Ramadan teaches self-purification, restraint and humanity, and that embracing these values can help build a just and compassionate society. He added that a free, responsible and objective media plays a vital role in strengthening democracy, urging journalists to uphold truth and impartiality for the welfare of the nation.

The event was chaired by senior journalist and former BRDB chairman Zahurul Islam Zahid, who said such programs help nurture human values alongside professional duties. Local officials, journalists and community leaders from several upazilas attended the event.

During a Pentagon briefing on March 19, 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed questions about a Washington Post report claiming the Pentagon had requested additional funding for the Iran war. Hegseth stated that the reported figure of 200 billion dollars could change and emphasized that ensuring proper funding for future needs was essential. He remarked that 'it takes money to kill bad people,' defending the financial demands tied to ongoing military operations.

The briefing followed reports that the United States had coordinated attacks on Iran’s gas fields, which former President Trump had denied. Hegseth asserted that U.S. military capability had increased while Iran’s had declined. The broader Middle East conflict has also raised concerns about oil prices potentially surpassing 200 dollars per barrel, while damage to Qatar’s LNG facilities from Iranian strikes could take five years to repair.

The Pentagon’s statements highlight Washington’s focus on maintaining operational readiness amid escalating regional tensions and economic risks linked to energy markets.

Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Amarjit Singh Dulat has stated that Iran will not be defeated in the ongoing conflict triggered by joint US and Israeli attacks. In an interview published on Thursday by Indian news agency ANI, Dulat said India should stand by Iran, describing the country as a long-standing friend and ally.

Dulat emphasized that the current confrontation is not new, noting that tensions have persisted for the past two decades. He reminded that India and Iran have historically maintained close ties, with both nations supporting each other during times of crisis. According to him, India’s foreign policy should reflect this mutual trust and solidarity.

He further expressed confidence that India’s role in the present situation would be timely, balanced, and appropriate, reaffirming his belief that Iran would withstand Western and Israeli pressure without losing the war.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep concern over severe travel disruptions, excessive fare collection, and overall mismanagement during Eid-ul-Fitr journeys across the country. In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Assistant Secretary General and head of the party’s Central Publicity and Media Department, highlighted the suffering of homebound passengers facing traffic congestion, ticket shortages, irregularities, and fare exploitation on roads, railways, and waterways.

Zubair stated that unscrupulous transport operators were taking advantage of the situation by charging passengers unfairly high fares, calling such practices inhumane and unethical. He urged relevant ministries, law enforcement agencies, and transport owners and workers to take coordinated action to ensure safe, comfortable, and affordable travel for all passengers. The statement also called for strict monitoring to prevent overcharging, ticket black marketing, and passenger harassment.

Jamaat expressed hope that all concerned authorities would act responsibly to reduce public suffering and enable travelers to reach their families safely during the Eid holidays.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the political activities of the Awami League are currently banned and will remain suspended. He made the remarks on Wednesday night during an exchange with journalists at BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka. Fakhrul added that other political parties are continuing their activities as usual.

Speaking about the Awami League, Fakhrul said the party occasionally tries to reappear but should not be given undue importance. He emphasized that politics and democracy should move forward naturally without being obstructed. According to him, the Awami League’s efforts are ineffective because the people have rejected the party.

The statement underscores the BNP leader’s position that the Awami League’s political operations will remain halted while other parties proceed with their programs.

Masud Saeedi, Member of Parliament for Pirojpur-1 and son of Sayeedi, stated that his constituency had long suffered from discrimination but that time had come to claim their fair share. He made the remarks on Thursday, March 19, during an Eid gift distribution event for the poor and underprivileged, held at the Upazila Parishad hall under the chairmanship of Upazila Nirbahi Officer Hasan Md. Hafizur Rahman. The gifts were distributed from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund.

Saeedi criticized the previous government, describing it as fascist and accusing it of denying the people of Zianagar peace, development, and even their upazila’s name. He said residents had faced imprisonment, attacks, and deprivation over the past 17 years. Saeedi called for unity among BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists, urging them to work together for the area’s development regardless of political differences.

Local BNP and Jamaat leaders, including the upazila BNP president and Jamaat amir, were present at the event, along with administrative officials and community representatives.

A United States District Court has ruled that the Trump administration’s decision to effectively shut down Voice of America (VOA) was illegal. Judge Royce Lamberth issued the order on Tuesday, directing authorities to restart the international broadcaster within one week. The court also ordered the reinstatement of journalists who had been dismissed as part of the shutdown.

Voice of America was originally established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda. After returning to the presidency, Donald Trump issued an executive order to close the broadcaster, accusing it of left-leaning bias. His administration also sought to dismantle other U.S.-funded media outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia “as far as legally possible.”

The ruling marks a judicial pushback against the administration’s attempt to curtail government-funded international media operations, requiring the immediate restoration of VOA’s services and staff.

Iranian lawmaker Somayeh Rafiei has said that the country's parliament is working on a proposal requiring ships to pay tolls and taxes for sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a public gathering in Tehran’s Vali Asr Square, Rafiei emphasized Iran’s authority over the waterway, describing it as essential for ensuring security and protecting national interests.

According to the ISNA news agency report cited by BBC Bangla, Rafiei stated that Iran has deprived its enemies of their previous comfort and that they are struggling to accept this new reality. She expressed confidence that the ongoing conflict would end with a decisive Iranian victory, after which passage through the Strait of Hormuz would remain challenging for Iran’s adversaries.

The proposal reflects Iran’s intent to assert greater control over one of the world’s most strategic maritime routes, though no details were provided on when or how such tolls might be implemented.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent a letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveying Eid-ul-Fitr greetings. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka confirmed the message on Thursday, March 19, 2026. In the letter, Modi extended Eid greetings not only to Rahman but also to the people of Bangladesh, expressing warm wishes on behalf of the government and people of India.

Modi noted that Muslims across India and the world had observed the holy month of Ramadan through fasting and prayer. He emphasized that Eid-ul-Fitr reminds people of eternal values such as compassion, brotherhood, and unity. The Indian leader also wished peace, harmony, good health, and happiness for people around the world.

Concluding his letter, Modi expressed hope that the friendship and goodwill between Bangladesh and India would continue to strengthen in the future.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has launched a nationwide security plan ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure public safety and prevent potential sabotage. According to a press release issued on March 19, 2026, RAB has deployed extensive personnel across all battalions, strengthened intelligence surveillance, and implemented field-level operations to safeguard Eid congregations and travelers heading home for the holidays.

The measures include operating control rooms, maintaining striking reserves, conducting regular foot and mobile patrols, and setting up checkpoints at key locations. In Dhaka, a multi-layered security ring has been established around the National Eidgah, with entry-point searches, CCTV monitoring, and bomb disposal units on standby. Similar security reinforcements have been made at major Eidgahs in Sholakia and Dinajpur, where sweeping operations are being carried out before and after Eid.

RAB has also intensified monitoring at transport hubs such as bus terminals, railway stations, launch terminals, and ferry ghats to prevent harassment, ticket black marketing, and fare overcharging. Its cyber monitoring team remains active to counter online rumors and misinformation, aiming to ensure a peaceful and orderly Eid celebration nationwide.

Mohammad Abdul Bashir (Bashir Jamal), Managing Director of the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust, announced that journalists will receive retirement allowances under the current government. He made the statement on Thursday at a meeting with district and upazila journalists organized by the Shayestaganj Press Club in Habiganj, where he attended as the chief guest. Bashir Jamal described the government as journalist-friendly and said several initiatives are being taken for journalists’ welfare.

He recalled that former President Ziaur Rahman had arranged housing for journalists, and Begum Khaleda Zia had expanded those efforts. Bashir Jamal noted that many journalists work without regular pay but continue their profession out of respect for truth. The Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust, he said, works to support helpless, distressed, and affected journalists.

He assured that all journalists in Habiganj would receive assistance through the Welfare Trust. The meeting was chaired by Shayestaganj Press Club President Moinul Hasan Ratan and attended by several local media representatives.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has decided to stay at his personal residence on Gulshan Avenue in Dhaka rather than moving into the state guesthouse Jamuna. The decision was confirmed by his additional press secretary, Atikur Rahman Ruman, who said the prime minister feels more comfortable living in his own home. Since returning to Bangladesh from London on December 25 last year after 17 years in exile, Rahman has been residing at the Gulshan house, which has been prepared for his stay.

The house, located near the residence once occupied by his mother and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, was originally allocated to her after the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman. Last year, the ownership documents were formally handed over by the housing ministry and Rajuk officials. Although the government had planned to use the renovated Jamuna guesthouse as the official prime minister’s residence, Rahman opted not to move there.

According to Ruman, state functions will still be held at Jamuna, where two iftar events have already taken place and an Eid reception is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Eid day.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a congressional hearing that Iran’s governing system remains intact but has been severely weakened following recent US and Israeli attacks. The hearing, lasting over two hours, marked the first public intelligence briefing since the Iran war began in late February. Gabbard testified alongside the heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA, and Defense Intelligence Agency, stating that US intelligence had anticipated tensions in the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict.

The session followed the resignation of National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who argued that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States. President Donald Trump, however, defended the strikes, claiming Iran was developing nuclear weapons that endangered the US and Israel. CIA Director John Ratcliffe disagreed with Kent, asserting that Iran remains an immediate threat. Gabbard’s written statement indicated that Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was devastated by the 12-day war in June 2025, though she omitted that section during her oral testimony.

Lawmakers questioned whether intelligence officials were present when Trump decided to attack Iran and whether the administration had prior warnings about possible Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.

In February, 26-year-old Zubin Nath from Assam’s Chirang district died in an accident at a tile factory in Bengaluru, where he had worked for nearly five years. His father said he was informed that Zubin fell into a machine and died instantly. The next day, his body was brought home with the help of a contractor. Despite the tragedy, his death received little public attention.

According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, 162 migrant workers from the state have died between September and February while working outside Assam. Opposition legislator Akhil Gogoi noted that the issue has received minimal political attention ahead of the state assembly elections. Residents from Cachar district reported multiple deaths in illegal coal mines in Meghalaya, while nine tribal workers from Karbi Anglong and Hojai died in a Chennai industrial accident last September.

Experts and opposition leaders argue that the exodus of workers exposes the lack of employment opportunities in Assam. Many rural residents, particularly from tribal and Muslim communities, are forced into hazardous jobs outside the state due to failed government projects and declining agricultural livelihoods.

Within a month of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, ministers and MPs from the newly formed BNP-led government have launched extensive grassroots engagement around Eid celebrations. The event is being viewed not only as a religious festival but also as a strategic opportunity for the ruling party to reconnect with citizens after 18 years out of power. Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman will celebrate Eid in Dhaka, attending prayers at the National Eidgah before meeting diplomats, academics, and citizens at the state guesthouse Jamuna.

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will offer Eid prayers in Mirpur and later meet diplomats and political figures. Leaders from Jamaat, NCP, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, and other allied parties will celebrate Eid in their respective constituencies or abroad. Across the country, BNP and alliance MPs are distributing gifts, food, and cash, while engaging in local development and social activities.

Party sources describe the Eid outreach as part of a broader strategy to strengthen grassroots unity and prepare for upcoming local government elections. Local residents report that the visible presence of public representatives is fostering positive community engagement.