A new phase has begun in the long-running investigation into U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, accused of sexual crimes over several decades. In December 2025, the U.S. Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, later signed by President Donald Trump, enabling the release of extensive documentation collected against Epstein. The U.S. Department of Justice has since begun publishing written documents, photos, videos, and emails detailing allegations of sexual abuse involving women and minors.

Among the 3.5 million released files, the names of several influential figures appear repeatedly, including President Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Steve Bannon. The New York Times reported that Trump’s name appears in over 5,300 documents, while Mirror US noted no direct evidence linking him to criminal acts. Some files include emails and financial records from Epstein’s personal archives.

The Justice Department also released testimony from a woman who alleged that Epstein introduced her to Trump when she was a teenager and that both men assaulted her. Trump has denied all allegations, and U.S. authorities have warned that some claims in the released materials may be false or sensational.

The ongoing war with Iran has created major political challenges for U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming congressional midterm elections in November. Despite campaigning on an 'America First' policy and promises to avoid foreign wars, Trump has launched multiple military operations, with Iran being the latest target. Most Americans reportedly oppose the conflict and do not view Iran as a direct threat. The war has caused heavy U.S. military casualties and disrupted bases in the Middle East, undermining Trump’s earlier expectations of quick success.

Polls indicate that public confidence in Trump’s leadership has dropped sharply, with his approval rating falling to 36 percent in a 2025 Gallup survey. NBC data show that 54 percent of voters disapprove of his actions against Iran. Rising oil prices, job losses, and inflation linked to the war’s cost have further eroded support. Analysts warn that if Republicans lose control of Congress, Trump’s agenda could stall, and Democrats might pursue impeachment. The Iran war’s economic and political fallout is reshaping voter sentiment and could decisively influence the midterm results.

Several ministries in Bangladesh have not been able to submit their action plans within the three-day deadline set by the Prime Minister’s Office. The directive, issued on 7 March, required ministries to prepare detailed plans for implementing the BNP-led government’s election manifesto, including a 180-day program, the 2026–27 fiscal plan, and a five-year implementation strategy. Officials said the short timeframe forced them to work long hours, yet many ministries could not complete their submissions by Thursday.

According to ministry sources, the scope of the manifesto is extensive, covering short-, medium-, and long-term goals, but the time allowed was insufficient for proper verification and analysis. Some ministries, including Disaster Management, Posts and Telecommunications, and Labour, have submitted their plans, while others such as Shipping and Science and Technology could not finalize theirs due to incomplete data. Officials warned that hasty planning without adequate review could lead to implementation problems, citing past project failures as cautionary examples.

Officials noted that the submitted plans may later be revised and aligned with ongoing projects as part of the government’s broader strategy to fulfill its electoral commitments.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for northern Bangladesh, stated that their votes were taken away during the national election and that the party failed to protect them during the counting process. He made the remarks on Friday evening at an iftar gathering of the NCP’s Panchagarh district branch held at Himalaya Park in Panchagarh Sadar upazila.

Alam emphasized that in the upcoming local elections, every vote must be safeguarded, whether in small or large numbers. He alleged that their results were influenced during the national election, leading to the loss of key victories. As part of the 11-party opposition alliance in parliament, he said the NCP aims to deliver a message of hope and change to the people and to protect the trust placed in their votes.

He urged party members to begin preparations for the local elections and encouraged them to take leadership roles at various administrative levels. Alam also spoke about courage and fear, calling on supporters to lead the struggle for change from the streets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran’s last Shah, in Paris. According to the report, the meeting focused on Iran’s current situation and ongoing operations against what was described as the United States’ so-called “terrorist regime.” In a post on social media platform X, Zelensky said that Pahlavi, known for his pro-Israel stance, and his team shared messages they have been receiving from inside Iran.

Zelensky stated that Iran’s ruling system has already suffered significant losses. He emphasized the importance of preventing the Iranian government from gaining any advantage from the current situation, while ensuring that ordinary Iranians receive greater protection and more opportunities to determine their own future. Reza Pahlavi is the son of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who was overthrown during the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Earlier, Zelensky had remarked that the ongoing war in the Middle East was bringing no positive outcomes for Ukraine.

A violent clash between BNP and Jamaat supporters in Madhabpur village of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila left Krishak Dal union organizing secretary Taru Munshi, 55, dead on Friday night. He succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 9 p.m., confirmed Shahjahan Ali, joint convener of the Ganna Union Jubo Dal. The confrontation erupted earlier in the day over a dispute surrounding a Jamaat women’s training meeting and iftar gathering, which resulted in injuries to at least 12 people from both sides.

According to witnesses, the altercation began when local BNP leader Ilias Hossain questioned the gathering of Jamaat’s female activists at a house in the village. The argument escalated into a physical clash involving sticks, with both male and female participants joining in. Several of Taru Munshi’s relatives, including his son and brother, were among the injured and admitted to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital.

Jhenaidah Jamaat’s amir Dr. Habibur Rahman claimed that BNP activists initiated the attack, injuring several Jamaat members. Police Superintendent Mahfuz Afzal stated that arrests have begun and additional forces have been deployed to restore order.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued strict travel directives ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure safe and congestion-free journeys. According to an emergency public notice released on Thursday, the movement of trucks, covered vans, and lorries will be completely prohibited on highways across the country from March 17 to 23. However, vehicles carrying essential food items, perishable goods, garments, medicines, fertilizers, and fuel will be exempt from the restriction.

The DMP announced that special monitoring will begin on March 16 at major entry and exit points of the capital to manage the rush of homebound travelers. It advised avoiding key routes such as Kuril-Abdullahpur, Gulistan-Signboard, Mirpur Road-Aminbazar, and Fulbaria-Sadarghat to reduce congestion. Inter-district buses will not be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers outside terminals or park near city entry points.

The directive also warned transport owners and workers against overcharging passengers, selling duplicate tickets, or operating unfit vehicles. Highway and traffic police teams will be deployed to curb reckless driving, intoxicated driving, and mobile phone use while driving.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the northern region, said the party failed to protect its votes during the counting process in the national election. Speaking at an iftar event organized by the NCP’s Panchagarh district branch at Himalaya Park on Friday, March 13, he alleged that their votes were taken away and emphasized that the party shares responsibility for not safeguarding them.

Alam urged party members to ensure that every vote is protected in the upcoming local elections, regardless of the number of supporters at each polling center. He reminded attendees that the NCP, as part of the 11-party opposition alliance in parliament, must honor the trust placed in them by voters. He also called for courage and leadership in the struggle for change, saying that fear spreads easily but courage is even more contagious.

He encouraged members to begin preparations for local elections and to take leadership roles such as member, chairman, or upazila chairman positions.

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s government will eventually be removed from power by its own people, though not right away. Speaking to Fox News Radio, Trump stated that the Iranian population faces major obstacles, particularly the lack of weapons, but he believes the change will happen in time. His comments came after recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.

According to the report, more than 1,300 people have been killed in the attacks so far. Despite the conflict, there have been no major protests or signs of rebellion against Iran’s ruling system since the war began. Trump suggested that while the process may take time, public resistance could grow in the future.

The situation remains tense as the region continues to experience military and humanitarian fallout from the strikes, with other nations such as Russia reportedly sending aid to Iran.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is not expanding, rejecting claims that the war is spreading. Speaking at a briefing in Washington, D.C., he said that contrary to some media headlines, the situation is strengthening US advantages rather than escalating warfare. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera.

Hegseth expressed frustration with reports suggesting a widening conflict, even as missile attacks have occurred in several countries in the region. Observers have interpreted these incidents as signs of broader escalation. Addressing concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, he assured that Americans need not worry, though he acknowledged that fuel prices in the United States have risen by about 60 cents per gallon due to recent tensions.

He added that the potential risks around the Strait of Hormuz were already known and that the US was aware of the situation. Critics, however, questioned why such developments were allowed to occur if the risks had been anticipated.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has said that the Pilkhana massacre was a deep conspiracy aimed at weakening Bangladesh’s proud armed forces. Speaking as the chief guest at an iftar event in Dhaka on Friday, he stated that the BDR mutiny marked the beginning of a culture of political killings in the country. The event was organized by the group Nexus Defense and Justice to honor families of those killed in the Pilkhana tragedy and the July uprising.

Dr. Rahman said that the killing of talented army officers at Pilkhana was an attack on the nation’s defense and sovereignty. He added that many other killings followed, including judicial and extrajudicial ones, and mentioned the Shapla Chattar incident as an example of brutality. He expressed deep respect for all victims and their families.

He further claimed that the true mystery behind the Pilkhana killings was deliberately hidden by blaming the victims themselves. He pledged that Jamaat would ensure a fair investigation if given the opportunity to govern, and called for an end to the politics of vengeance in Bangladesh.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan has stated that there is no scope for relaxing educational qualifications in the election of managing committees of educational institutions under the new policy. He clarified that the verification process will proceed in stages, starting with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), followed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC), before three names are sent to the respective education board.

Speaking to journalists after a prize-giving ceremony in Kachua, Chandpur, on Friday afternoon, the minister said that authorities are considering how to ensure that qualified, educated, and socially active individuals are involved in managing committees. He acknowledged that some diploma engineers and education enthusiasts, though not degree holders, have made significant contributions to education.

Milan added that further discussions will be held at the level of Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister to decide how to enhance the role of managing committees in improving education quality. He emphasized that nowhere has it been stated that educational qualifications will be relaxed.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon has issued a strict directive prohibiting the practice of lining up students along roads to greet ministers or guests. He announced the ban on Friday during an award ceremony for National Education Week winners in Kachua upazila of Chandpur. The minister expressed dissatisfaction after witnessing students standing by the roadside to welcome him on his way to the event.

Milon emphasized that no teacher or educational institution should organize such receptions that cause discomfort to students. He stated that he wishes to move around as an ordinary person and that no student should be made to stand in the sun or by the roadside for his arrival. He further instructed teachers to release students early and send them home, assuring students that he would personally visit schools to meet them instead of requiring them to wait outside.

Local officials, teachers, and political leaders were present at the event where the directive was announced.

Opposition parties in India, including the Trinamool Congress, have submitted an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner Jnanish Kumar, accusing him of biased and discriminatory conduct. According to Trinamool Congress sources, a total of 193 members of Parliament from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have signed the notice. The signatories allege that Kumar failed to uphold the dignity of his office, citing irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and claims that many citizens were deprived of their voting rights.

The move comes amid ongoing political and legal disputes between the Election Commission and the Trinamool Congress over the voter list revision process, just months before the state assembly elections. The controversy has intensified after nearly 6.3 million names were reportedly removed from the voter list in West Bengal, with another 6 million still under review.

Under the Indian Constitution, an impeachment notice against a Chief Election Commissioner requires signatures from at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members. If accepted, the Speaker or Chairman may form a committee to investigate the allegations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani participated in the annual Al-Quds Day rally held in Tehran, according to Al Jazeera. State media photos showed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei also attending the event. The rally took place amid ongoing conflict and heightened security concerns.

The participation of Iran’s top officials came shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Iranian leaders had gone underground out of fear. Their public appearance at the rally directly contradicted that assertion. Al-Quds Day is observed annually to express solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The term “Al-Quds” refers to Jerusalem in Arabic.

During the gathering, multiple explosions were reportedly heard nearby, resulting in one death, according to the source. No further details about the cause or perpetrators of the explosions were provided.