Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah, addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Grapevine, Texas, on Saturday, calling on US President Donald Trump to reject any deal with Iran and instead pursue regime change. Declaring his intention to “make Iran great again,” Pahlavi received a standing ovation from the audience, some of whom chanted “Long live the king.” His remarks coincided with the one-month anniversary of the US and Israel’s joint war against Iran, which has killed at least 1,937 people and injured tens of thousands.

Pahlavi has become a prominent opposition figure among the Iranian diaspora, whose supporters often display his image and the pre-revolutionary flag at global protests. While some exiles have voiced concern over the war’s toll on civilians, Pahlavi has aligned himself with Trump’s most hawkish allies, insisting that “this regime in its entirety must go.” Analysts, however, caution that Iran’s government is unlikely to collapse and may emerge more hardened.

Within the US, the war has exposed divisions among conservatives. Polls show strong Republican support for the conflict, while overall US voters largely oppose it. Some right-wing commentators and younger activists have criticized the war as a betrayal of Trump’s earlier promises to avoid foreign entanglements.

Democratic candidates Emily Gregory and Brian Nathan won two of three vacant seats in Florida’s state legislature by-elections held in March 2026. Gregory defeated Republican opponent John Maples by a two percent margin in Palm Beach County’s House District 87, home to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Nathan narrowly beat Republican Josie Tomko in Tampa’s State Senate District 14, while Hillary Holly captured the House District 51 seat vacated by Tomko. Trump reportedly participated in the election via mail-in ballot.

NBC News reported that Trump had actively promoted Maples’ campaign on social media to prevent a Democratic victory in his home area. Despite his efforts, Democrats secured wins in two Republican-leaning districts. Democratic leaders described the results as a sign that voters are turning away from Trump and his party ahead of the November midterm elections.

Analysts noted that while the victories are significant for Democrats, Republicans still hold a majority in the Florida legislature.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been accused of promoting several women to ministerial positions in exchange for sexual favors, according to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. The allegation surfaced during a recent podcast where Swamy referenced the case of Jeffrey Epstein and suggested that India should investigate powerful figures within the country. He called for a thorough inquiry into the matter.

Following Swamy’s remarks, Hindutva writer Madhu Purnima Kishwar echoed similar claims in a social media post. She alleged that some women MPs were appointed ministers based on personal relationships with the Prime Minister and mentioned ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, S. Jaishankar, and former education minister Smriti Irani in suggestive comments. Kishwar also claimed to have heard controversial stories about Modi’s personal life during a 2014 foreign trip.

Kishwar, once known as a supporter of Modi and the Hindutva ideology, has drawn attention for her sudden change in stance. However, neither Swamy nor Kishwar has provided evidence to support their claims, and the Prime Minister’s Office has not issued any official response.

Former Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was arrested early Saturday from his residence in Kathmandu on charges related to the deadly suppression of last year’s protests. Police said the 74-year-old leader was taken into custody and later admitted to a Kathmandu clinic for routine health checks due to his age and history of kidney transplants. Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also detained under the same investigation.

The arrests follow a panel’s recommendation to prosecute Oli and Lekhak for criminal negligence in handling the protests that erupted in September last year. The demonstrations began over a social media ban but escalated amid public anger over corruption and economic hardship. At least 70 people, mostly civilians, were killed when police opened fire during the unrest.

The dramatic arrests come just a day after 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s new prime minister, marking a tense political transition in the country.

A religious gathering featuring Islamic speaker Gias Uddin Taheri was held in Shimulghar area of Madhabpur upazila, Habiganj, on Saturday afternoon, defying Section 144 imposed by the local administration. Villagers escorted Taheri to the event as the main speaker, while police and army personnel were present at the scene. The administration had earlier restricted public gatherings at the venue.

According to local sources, a powerful group allegedly tried to stop the event, prompting the administration to enforce Section 144. However, organizers and residents ignored the order and proceeded with the gathering. Several locals said they opposed what they viewed as an unjust attempt to halt a religious event, insisting that the program was peaceful and posed no threat of disorder. They also alleged that false posters were circulated to influence the authorities.

No official statement was available from the Madhabpur upazila administration, but reports indicated that the event concluded peacefully and the situation remained normal afterward.

Additional Inspector General of Police Md. Ahsan Habib Palash formally assumed office as the 12th Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Saturday, March 28, 2026. He succeeded retired Additional IGP A.K.M. Shahidur Rahman. The appointment was confirmed by RAB Headquarters, marking a new leadership transition in the elite law enforcement agency.

According to RAB sources, Palash began his career in the 15th BCS (Police) batch in 1995 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police after completing basic training at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi. Over his career, he served in several key units including 4 APBn, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Chattogram Metropolitan Police, and Sylhet Metropolitan Police, as well as in Rangamati, Shariatpur, and Narayanganj districts. He also worked at the Police Bureau of Investigation headquarters and later as DIG of Chattogram Range.

Palash has extensive international experience through UN peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, Liberia, Sudan, and South Sudan. He received the Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM-Service) for his distinguished service and holds BSS (Honours) and MSc degrees from the University of Dhaka.

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington may reduce its financial contributions to NATO after European allies declined to assist in a potential conflict against Iran. Speaking on Friday, Trump criticized NATO’s absence as a “big mistake” and said the United States spends hundreds of billions of dollars annually to protect NATO countries. He suggested that the U.S. might no longer need to stand by its allies if they do not reciprocate support.

Trump previously urged other nations to send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, calling the request a “test of loyalty.” He argued that countries relying on U.S. protection should contribute more to their own security, describing the deployment of naval forces as a “very small effort.”

The remarks underscore growing tension between the U.S. and its European allies over defense responsibilities and burden-sharing within NATO, as well as differing approaches to Iran.

A press conference was held in Sunamganj town on Saturday protesting the attack on BNP leader Mohammad Ali in Patharia Bazar of Shantiganj upazila. The event was organized by Md. Abdul Momin, former president of Patharia Union BNP, who described the incident as a brutal assault followed by vandalism and looting of homes and businesses.

According to Abdul Momin’s written statement, on the evening of March 22, local criminal Angur Mia and his associates attacked Mohammad Ali with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured and hospitalized. The attackers also vandalized and looted properties belonging to Mohammad Ali and Abdul Momin. The conflict reportedly stemmed from a dispute after Angur Mia’s nephew verbally abused villagers over the phone, which Momin had attempted to resolve through arbitration.

Momin alleged that Angur Mia, known locally as a close associate of former planning minister MA Mannan and his son, continues to dominate the area through illegal activities. He urged the authorities to take immediate action against Angur Mia’s alleged crimes and intimidation tactics.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that upcoming constitutional reforms will prioritize public expectations and the aspirations of those who participated in the student-led July uprising. He stated that all amendments will be completed through consensus among political parties based on the 'July National Charter'. The minister made these remarks on Saturday at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi, after attending the passing-out parade of the 43rd BCS (Police) batch.

In response to a question about whether Ziaur Rahman’s name would be included in the constitution as the declarer of independence, the minister said a constitutional reform committee would be formed to discuss such matters in detail. He emphasized that the committee will prepare a draft prioritizing the principles recognized in the July National Charter, followed by parliamentary discussions and decisions through the prescribed legislative process.

During the certificate distribution ceremony, the minister urged the new police officers to serve the nation with honesty, courage, and humanity, describing the police uniform as a symbol of duty, sacrifice, and service.

Government Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced that members of the 13th National Parliament will receive their housing allocations by April 10. He shared the update with reporters after the first meeting of the parliamentary committee held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Saturday. According to him, almost all MPs will be provided with accommodation, while ministers, state ministers, the Chief Whip, whips, and the Speaker already have separate residences. The committee aims to complete necessary purchases and finalize allocations by the deadline, with another meeting scheduled for March 30.

The Chief Whip also addressed the recent sound system malfunction that disrupted the first session of the 13th Parliament on March 12. He said a probe committee led by the Sergeant-at-Arms has been formed to investigate possible sabotage and identify technical issues. Experts from BUET have been invited to assist in resolving the problem.

The investigation will focus on determining whether sabotage occurred and how to permanently fix the sound system issues in the parliamentary chamber.

At the invitation of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt will arrive in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit. According to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the high-level diplomatic meeting will take place on March 29 and 30, 2026. The participants include Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkey’s Hakan Fidan, and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty.

The main objective of the visit is to reduce regional tensions and strengthen cooperation among the four countries in various sectors. The statement added that, in addition to formal meetings, the visiting ministers will also meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The discussions aim to develop a coordinated stance on current regional developments and deepen mutual strategic relations.

The meeting is expected to serve as a platform for enhanced diplomatic coordination among the participating nations, focusing on stability and partnership in the region.

A Labour Party leader in Babuganj upazila of Barishal has been served a show-cause notice for a social media post supporting an Awami League leader. The notice was issued on Saturday, March 28, 2026, by the upazila unit of the Labour Party after Jahidul Islam Opu, convener of the Kedarapur Union Labour Party, expressed on Facebook his wish to see former union chairman and Awami League member Md. Nure Alam Bepari as chairman candidate again.

According to party sources, the post was deemed contrary to the organisation’s principles and ideals. The notice, signed by upazila Labour Party president Md. Farid Hossain and acting general secretary Mizanur Rahman Mintu, directed Opu to submit a written explanation within three days. It also warned that organisational action would be taken if his response was unsatisfactory.

The upazila Labour Party president confirmed the issuance of the notice, and the incident has sparked considerable discussion in the local political arena.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip in parliament Nahid Islam said that the people’s verdict has been reflected in the recent referendum, where 70 percent voted in favor of the 'Yes' option. He stated that the BNP participated in the referendum and its party chief supported it, yet the party is now invoking the constitution to reject the referendum’s outcome. Nahid Islam made these remarks on Saturday while attending an NCP general meeting in Chashara, Narayanganj.

He further commented on the controversy surrounding the declaration of independence, saying that according to the constitution, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is recognized as the proclaimer of independence, not Ziaur Rahman. He accused BNP leaders of double standards in following the constitution. Nahid Islam added that this inconsistency has become clear to the public and urged all parties to accept the referendum results and implement reforms through the Constitutional Reform Council. He warned that continued constitutional disputes could lead to a crisis of trust and spill over into street movements.

Ruling party members of parliament held a special prayer session in the National Parliament on Saturday afternoon for the departed soul of Dilara Hafiz, wife of Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom. The prayer was led under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tarek Rahman, who expressed deep sorrow and condolences over her death.

Following the prayer, Prime Minister Tarek Rahman delivered a directive speech to the attending lawmakers, emphasizing the need to accelerate parliamentary activities. The meeting also discussed the government’s ongoing programs, the current political situation, legislative initiatives, and future plans.

The event reflected both a moment of mourning and a continuation of parliamentary and governmental discussions under the leadership of the prime minister.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has termed the government’s recent replacement of vice-chancellors at eight public universities during the Eid holidays as abnormal and deeply concerning. In a statement issued to the media, he said the education minister’s sudden March 16 announcement to change the vice-chancellors while universities were closed was unprecedented and undermined the integrity of higher education.

Parwar argued that prioritizing political loyalty over merit and experience in such appointments damages institutional dignity and erodes public trust in the education system. He questioned the grounds for removing the previous vice-chancellors appointed by the interim government and claimed that most of the new appointees hold positions within the ruling party or its affiliates. He demanded a clear explanation from the government and called for a transparent, parliamentary process involving both government and opposition representatives in future appointments.

He warned that such unilateral decisions could destabilize university administration and academic activities, hinder progress in higher education, and set a negative precedent for the nation’s academic governance.