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.

Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began its first session on March 13, 2026, in the iconic Louis Kahn-designed Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The session opened without a sitting Speaker, prompting the appointment of Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain as presiding chair. Later, BNP leaders Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Kaiser Kamal were elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, after resigning from party and ministerial posts. Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman, returning from long exile, led the session, while Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman assumed the role of Opposition Leader.

The new parliament, formed after what was described as the fairest election in the country’s history, marks a shift from previous Awami League-led assemblies. It includes a large number of young and first-time lawmakers, as well as former student leaders from the 2024 mass uprising. The opposition staged a walkout during President Md. Shahabuddin’s address, protesting perceived betrayal of the July Revolution.

Foreign diplomats attended the opening session, with Australia’s High Commissioner congratulating Bangladesh on achieving a democratic milestone. The parliament now faces the historic responsibility of implementing the July Charter and constitutional reforms born from the 2024 uprising.

Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Naib-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South, has accused President Md. Shahabuddin of silently supporting what he described as a massacre conducted by the Awami League government during the July movement. He claimed that despite the killing of thousands of students and citizens, the president took no action to stop the violence and instead continued to back the ruling party’s actions.

Speaking as the chief guest at an iftar event organized by the professional wing of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Paltan Thana unit, Helal Uddin stated that the president cannot avoid responsibility for the July killings. He urged the government to immediately remove the president and implement the July Charter to elect a new head of state.

The event was presided over by Maulana Abdul Kader, with Ariful Islam conducting the session. Other participants included Shahin Ahmed Khan, Advocate Maruful Islam, and several leaders from the Paltan Thana professional division.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited BNP Standing Committee member and Prime Minister’s political adviser Mirza Abbas at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Thursday night. During the visit, he spoke with Abbas’s wife to learn about his health condition and ongoing treatment, and he prayed for Abbas’s quick recovery. Dr. S.M. Khaliduzzaman, president of the Medical Thana unit of Dhaka North Jamaat, accompanied him during the visit.

According to family sources, Mirza Abbas lost consciousness suddenly during iftar on Wednesday. As his condition did not improve, he was admitted to Evercare Hospital later that night for treatment. The report did not provide further details about his current medical status or the cause of his illness.

The visit underscores continued political interactions among opposition leaders despite health challenges faced by senior figures.

On March 12, 2026, President Md. Shahabuddin delivered his address on the opening day of the first session of the National Parliament. The announcement of his speech immediately triggered commotion in the chamber. Following the event, the coalition of 110 organizations known as July Oikya issued a press release condemning the President’s participation, calling it a desecration of the people’s parliament.

In its statement, July Oikya alleged that Shahabuddin, appointed by the former Hasina government, had repeatedly violated his oath after the 2024 mass uprising that toppled that regime. The group accused the ruling BNP of betraying the ideals of the uprising and the sacrifices of those killed, by allowing the President to address Parliament. It further claimed that the BNP had ignored the spirit of July by refusing to take an oath under the July Charter.

July Oikya demanded that Parliament impeach President Shahabuddin for serious misconduct under Article 52 of the Constitution and implement the July Charter through a constitutional reform council. The group warned of a mass movement if these demands were not met.

An attempt was made to file a case at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court against Asif Mahmud, a former adviser and one of the coordinators of the July movement, over the alleged killing of a police officer during the protests. Jalal Hossain, a relative of the slain officer from Jatrabari Police Station, appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Rounak Jahan Taki’s court to lodge the case. When the magistrate did not accept it, some commotion reportedly occurred in the courtroom.

According to the complaint, Jalal Hossain, son of Abdul Khalek from Juri in Moulvibazar, named Asif Mahmud along with 42 others, including Abdul Kader, Abu Bakr Mojumdar, and Hasan Mahmud, as accused. In response, Asif Mahmud, now spokesperson of the NCP, told Amader Desh that the July uprising was a settled matter, protected by indemnity granted through the July Charter. He said the attempt to reopen the issue was a conspiracy by defeated authoritarian forces seeking to question the legitimacy of the movement.

He also noted that even the current home minister had acknowledged the continuation of the indemnity related to the July events.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate a government-funded monthly allowance program for imams, muezzins, khadems, priests, sebaits, and heads and deputy heads of monasteries across Bangladesh. The inauguration will take place at 10 a.m. on March 14 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Thursday night.

The initiative aims to provide regular financial support to religious leaders and service holders from various faiths throughout the country. The announcement highlights the government’s plan to extend this allowance program nationwide, marking a formal recognition of the contributions of these religious figures to their communities.

The event will officially begin the distribution process of the monthly allowances, signaling the government’s commitment to institutional support for religious service providers.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social that the United States, as the world’s largest oil producer, earns significant revenue when global oil prices increase. His remarks came as Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s speech was being broadcast.

Trump emphasized that beyond financial gains, his greater priority is preventing Iran, which he described as an evil empire, from obtaining nuclear weapons and threatening the Middle East and the world. He asserted that he would never allow such a situation to occur.

The comments highlight Trump’s dual focus on U.S. economic interests in the energy sector and his firm stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as reflected in his public messaging.