The Kishoreganj District Bar Association election concluded on Wednesday with candidates from the BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Forum winning nine out of fourteen posts. Voting took place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the District Bar Association building, and results were announced later that night. Advocate Mizanur Rahman was elected president, while Advocate Aminul Islam Ratan was re-elected general secretary for the sixth consecutive term.

The Nationalist Lawyers Forum fielded candidates for eleven positions and secured victories in nine, including key posts such as vice president, library secretary, cultural secretary, auditor, and three member positions. Five Awami League-leaning independent candidates won the remaining posts, including one vice president, two joint general secretaries, and two members. Senior lawyer Md. Idris Ali served as the chief election commissioner.

The results indicate continued influence of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum within the Kishoreganj legal community, with Ratan maintaining his leadership role for multiple terms.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada cannot completely rule out participation in a possible war against Iran. He made the remark during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, emphasizing that the possibility of involvement cannot be entirely dismissed.

Earlier, Carney had commented that attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran were not consistent with international law. However, he also affirmed that Canada would stand by its allies, suggesting a balancing stance between legal concerns and alliance commitments.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, though Carney did not specify any immediate military decisions or actions.

In Rangpur, members of the July fighters and families of martyrs have expressed fear after Awami League leaders and activists, whose activities were previously banned, allegedly began threatening plaintiffs and witnesses following their release on bail. The families claim that these individuals, accused in murder and sedition cases, are moving freely and issuing warnings to those involved in the cases. They also accuse the police of remaining inactive despite repeated complaints.

According to local sources, several Awami League leaders in Gangachara, Pirgacha, and Badarganj upazilas are openly engaging in political activities and intimidating witnesses. Allegations suggest that some police officers and BNP leaders are supporting or overlooking these actions, allowing the accused to operate publicly. Concerns have grown that this situation could lead to serious incidents if arrests are not made.

Police officials, including the Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the DIG of Rangpur Range, stated that law enforcement will act according to legal directives and that no offenders will be spared. Civil society representatives and university academics have urged authorities to arrest those involved in the July violence.

A majority of members in the United States Senate have expressed support for President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran. They voted to block a bipartisan proposal that sought to require congressional authorization for any further military action against Iran and to halt aerial combat operations. According to Al Jazeera, the Senate voted 52 against and 47 in favor of the measure, preventing it from advancing.

The blocked proposal, known as the War Powers Resolution, aimed to restrict the president’s ability to engage in hostilities without congressional approval. If passed, it would have required the withdrawal of US forces from ongoing operations in Iran unless Congress explicitly authorized them. Similar attempts had been made previously but also failed to pass.

The Senate’s decision effectively maintains the president’s authority to continue military actions in Iran without new congressional approval, leaving the scope of future operations unchanged for now.

Most Americans oppose a U.S. military strike on Iran, according to several recent surveys reported by Al Jazeera. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 43 percent of respondents opposed such an attack, while only about one-quarter supported a joint U.S.-Israel operation. The survey, conducted over the weekend, included more than 1,200 American adults.

A separate CNN-commissioned SSRS poll, conducted between February 28 and March 1, showed even stronger opposition, with about six in ten Americans rejecting military action against Iran. In that poll, 41 percent supported the move. Around 60 percent of respondents said President Donald Trump lacked a clear plan for handling the Iran situation, and 39 percent believed the U.S. had not pursued sufficient diplomatic efforts before considering force.

Both polls revealed sharp political divisions: 82 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of independents opposed the strike, compared with only 23 percent of Republicans expressing opposition.

Six days after the joint Israel–United States attack on Iran, uncertainty persists over why President Donald Trump initiated the war and what he aims to achieve. Initially, Trump and his administration said the goal was to destroy Iran’s nuclear program. Vice President JD Vance stated that the U.S. would ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. Later, Trump shifted his reasoning, citing regime change and the elimination of Iran’s missile and proxy capabilities as objectives.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth contradicted Trump by saying regime change was not the U.S. goal, though he acknowledged leadership changes in Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the U.S. acted preemptively, fearing Iranian retaliation after an Israeli strike. The lack of a clear post-war plan has drawn sharp criticism in Congress. Most Republicans support Trump, while Democrats argue he has no concrete strategy and warn of a prolonged conflict.

Democratic lawmakers, including Adam Smith and Elizabeth Warren, questioned the legality and intelligence basis of the attack, calling it unconstitutional and dangerous. They also raised concerns about Israeli influence and the absence of congressional authorization for war.

Analysts have questioned the Trump administration’s belief that military attacks could topple Iran’s ruling establishment. According to Al Jazeera, Maha Yahya, director of the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, said there is no organized opposition group in Iran capable of taking control of the state. She warned that power could instead fragment among various ethnic, political, and social groups.

Yahya noted that the only declared opposition leader is the son of former Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who lives abroad. She dismissed the idea of a Kurdish-led uprising as unrealistic. In her assessment, Iran is more likely to face internal discord and instability in the coming days.

Yahya added that even if the fighting stopped immediately, Iran’s internal situation would remain fragile, and the post-conflict government in Tehran might intensify repression against dissenters.

Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council, issued a stern warning to U.S. President Donald Trump following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Larijani said the assassination would exact a heavy price from the United States.

Larijani accused Trump of being lured by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions and dragging the American people into what he called an unjust war against Iran. He questioned whether Trump’s “America First” policy still stood or had shifted to “Israel First.”

According to the report, the killing occurred on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched widespread attacks across Iran. The incident has sharply escalated tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The Bangladesh government has transferred three senior army officers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on deputation for appointment as ambassadors. The decision was formalized through separate notifications issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday. The officers are Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hasan, former Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division; Major General Md Jahangir Alam, former Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI); and Major General Md Nasim Parvez, former Commandant of the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST).

The move follows a recent reshuffle in several key positions within the Bangladesh Army, after which new officers were appointed to replace the three officials now assigned to the Foreign Ministry. The government’s decision reflects an ongoing pattern of appointing senior military officials to diplomatic roles, aligning defense experience with foreign service responsibilities.

Further details regarding their specific ambassadorial postings or timelines were not disclosed in the official notifications.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has warned that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could place significant pressure on Bangladesh’s economy. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur on Wednesday, March 4, he said Dhaka had urged Washington to pursue a diplomatic solution to the crisis as quickly as possible.

The minister said two Bangladeshi nationals had been killed and seven injured in the conflict, adding that an extended or expanded war could worsen the situation. He emphasized that countries like Bangladesh would find it difficult to bear the economic consequences of such a prolonged conflict. The discussion also covered trade issues, the repatriation of undocumented Bangladeshis from the United States, and bilateral relations, which both sides described as positive and expected to strengthen further.

Rahman added that Bangladesh and the United States reached agreement on the Rohingya issue during the talks, reaffirming Dhaka’s commitment to conduct foreign policy based on national interest while maintaining balanced relations with all countries.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and former adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan disclosed details of his and his family’s bank accounts at a press conference held Wednesday night at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka. He stated that he has two accounts totaling Tk 988,000, while his father has five accounts with Tk 547,711 combined, along with an outstanding service loan of Tk 629,746. His mother and wife hold smaller balances. Mahmud said all his income came through the government’s iBAS++ system during his 16-month tenure as an interim government adviser.

He revealed that the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) had sought information on his accounts among 56 individuals, but only his details were publicized. Mahmud alleged that a specific group was spreading propaganda against him after reports surfaced about his possible candidacy for Dhaka South City Corporation mayor. He described the disclosure of confidential letters to journalists as deliberate and politically motivated.

Mahmud also addressed corruption allegations and clarified that claims of a Tk 1,000 crore scandal were baseless. He urged the media to ensure objectivity and transparency in reporting.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that China and Russia are not influencers in the ongoing Iran war. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he clarified that he has no message for either country, noting that both have long-standing diplomatic and trade relations with Iran. Hegseth emphasized that the United States’ focus remains solely on ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions involving Iran, with regional developments drawing global attention. Hegseth’s comments sought to distance China and Russia from direct involvement in the conflict, underscoring Washington’s position that its dispute lies only with Tehran.

The statement suggests that the US aims to concentrate its diplomatic and strategic efforts on Iran’s nuclear program rather than broadening the conflict to other major powers.

NCP convener and opposition chief whip Md. Nahid Islam has warned that Bangladesh may again face the threat of one-party authoritarian rule. Speaking on Wednesday at the Sylhet divisional iftar and prayer gathering of the National Citizen Party (NCP) at Hill View Convention Center, he accused the administration and institutions of being politicized.

Citing examples such as appointments at Bangladesh Bank, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and BSS, Nahid Islam said the country must prepare for another struggle but avoid past mistakes. He reflected on earlier mass uprisings, saying that errors made after those movements had led to the current national situation.

The event was attended by senior NCP leaders including Sarjis Alam, Nasiruddin Patwari, Advocate Tarikul Islam, and Abu Bakr Majumdar, as well as representatives from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other parties of the eleven-party alliance.

The Cabinet Division of Bangladesh has issued a new circular mandating all government, semi-government, autonomous, and semi-autonomous employees to remain in their respective offices from 9:00 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. The circular, signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, was released on Wednesday and aims to ensure public service efficiency and discipline in official work. Offices are instructed to schedule other programs so that this mandatory attendance period is not disrupted.

According to the circular, the rule will not apply to teachers and faculty members of educational or training institutions who do not hold administrative responsibilities. It will also be exempt for those performing roster duties in hospitals, prisons, media organizations, or security-related institutions. Additionally, personnel directly engaged in emergency public services and law enforcement officers working in the field are excluded from the requirement.

The circular further states that employees cannot leave their workplaces during office hours without permission, except for VIP protocol duties, major emergencies, important meetings with development partners or diplomatic missions, or approved official travel. The directive takes immediate effect.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged the country to remain calm and act with clarity and purpose amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Speaking in Parliament on March 4, 2026, he emphasized the need for measured and transparent decision-making during the escalating regional tensions.

Starmer stated that the United Kingdom is maintaining close coordination with the United States regarding the deployment of military assets in the region. These include air defense systems, drone-interception measures, and F-35 fighter jets. His remarks came as part of the government’s response to the growing instability in the Middle East.

The statement reflects the UK’s cautious approach to the conflict, focusing on strategic cooperation with allies while avoiding rash actions that could further inflame the situation.