Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr has been appointed as the new secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 24, by the Iranian president’s communications adviser through a post on social media platform X. Zolghadr replaces Ali Larijani, who was killed in an Israeli attack last week.

Zolghadr is described as a key figure in Iran’s security and political structure. He previously served as a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and held the position of secretary of the Expediency Council. His appointment comes at a time of heightened regional tension following Larijani’s death.

The leadership change signals continuity within Iran’s security establishment, as Zolghadr’s background aligns closely with the country’s defense and strategic institutions.

Food, Fisheries and Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that the government will duly recognize and honor officials and employees who contribute to nation building. He made the statement on Tuesday at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock’s conference room in the Secretariat during a post-Eid greetings exchange with ministry officials.

The minister emphasized the need for modern perspectives and the application of innovation and technology to ensure progress. He noted that such changes, driven by officials, would benefit the country. Rashid also expressed hope that the joy of Eid would continue throughout the year and highlighted the cultural importance of traditional Eid celebrations, including dishes like semai, shinni, and polao. He urged everyone to preserve these traditions while fostering better values and culture for future generations.

He called for unity in fulfilling national development and humanitarian responsibilities and sought prayers for the peace and prosperity of the nation. Senior officials, including Acting Secretary Md. Imam Uddin Kabir, were present at the event.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid stated that every agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States will be implemented while safeguarding Bangladesh’s national interests. She assured that these agreements will be discussed in detail both in the National Parliament and outside it. She made the remarks on Tuesday, March 24, during a briefing with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Responding to a question about whether the trade agreement signed during the interim government’s tenure would be discussed in Parliament, the minister noted that the United States is a major party in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and that multiple agreements with the US have economic implications for Bangladesh. She emphasized that all such agreements would be executed in a way that protects the country’s interests.

When asked about government action regarding international recognition of March 25 as Genocide Day, Shama Obaid said that the government has already taken initiatives for the observance and will remain engaged on the issue.

A government vehicle belonging to the Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) allegedly took three jars of fuel from a local filling station, bypassing a long queue of waiting motorcyclists. The incident occurred on Monday evening at the Kadir & Sons pump near the Gaibandha district bus stand. Witnesses said the UNO’s car left the station with the fuel while others had been waiting for hours.

Motorcyclists and other drivers protested the incident, accusing the official of ignoring the same fuel distribution rules imposed on the public. One motorcyclist said the government was taking various measures to ease the fuel shortage, yet the UNO was not following the law herself. Another driver said he had been waiting four hours without getting fuel while the official’s car was served immediately.

When contacted, Gaibandha Sadar UNO Lailatul Hossain said the fuel was not for her but for the speedboat of the Fulchhari Upazila UNO. However, Fulchhari UNO Mostafizur Rahman stated he had not yet received any fuel and would look into the matter.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, outlining the government’s response to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He said India is taking steps to safely bring back Indian ships and sailors stranded in the blocked Hormuz Strait. Modi added that he is in talks to reopen the strait and has spoken twice with several West Asian leaders since the war began. A multi-party meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, to discuss the situation.

Modi stated that India is maintaining communication with Iran, Israel, the United States, and other Gulf nations to help stabilize the region through diplomatic dialogue. He emphasized that the government is taking all possible measures to ensure the supply of LPG and other fuels, and to maintain stability if the conflict continues. The government is also encouraging the use of PNG as an alternative to LPG.

The Prime Minister had earlier expressed concern in the Lok Sabha over the impact of the Israel-Iran conflict on India’s interests.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired a meeting focused on resolving traffic congestion and modernizing traffic management in Dhaka. The meeting took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Office within the Cabinet Division. Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony confirmed the event.

Discussions at the meeting centered on improving the capital’s traffic management system, restoring discipline on the roads, and reducing chronic congestion. The session aimed to identify actionable measures to make Dhaka’s transport system more efficient and orderly.

The meeting reflects the government’s ongoing attention to urban mobility challenges and efforts to enhance public convenience through better traffic control and infrastructure management.

The United Kingdom’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Sarah Cook, paid a courtesy call on Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) at the ministry’s conference room on March 24, 2026. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present during the meeting. The discussion focused on enhancing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom and seeking British cooperation in developing Bangladesh’s civil aviation sector.

During the meeting, the ambassador assured continued cooperation with the current government. She also expressed the United Kingdom’s interest in participating in ground handling operations at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Additionally, the ambassador reaffirmed her country’s support for Bangladesh’s goal of becoming a regional aviation hub.

The meeting underscored both nations’ shared interest in expanding aviation collaboration and strengthening long-term partnership in the sector.

Iranian police have arrested 466 individuals accused of assisting enemies through online activities that allegedly threatened national security, according to state media IRNA on Tuesday. The arrests mark one of Iran’s largest security operations since the country entered into conflict with Israel and the United States.

Reports from Iranian media indicated that over 1,000 people have been detained this month on charges of filming sensitive sites, sharing anti-government content online, or cooperating with hostile entities. Police stated that the arrests followed recent intelligence and technical surveillance operations.

Authorities claim the detainees were linked to networks attempting to create internal instability in Iran. The operation underscores the government’s intensified focus on digital monitoring and internal security amid heightened regional tensions.

Bangladesh Chhatra Dal has announced a two-day program to observe the country's Independence and National Day. According to a press release issued on Tuesday by the organization’s president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, the programs will begin on Wednesday in Dhaka.

The statement said that on Wednesday afternoon, all Dhaka units of Chhatra Dal will attend a discussion meeting organized by the BNP at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Ramna. On Thursday morning, marking Independence Day, the organization will place floral wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial. Later, members will return to Dhaka to pay tribute and offer prayers at the grave of former president and martyr Ziaur Rahman.

The press release also mentioned that Chhatra Dal leaders from all district, metropolitan, upazila, and municipal units across the country will participate in BNP’s announced programs.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom was aware of the ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran. He emphasized that the UK wants to see a reduction in tensions and an end to the conflict as quickly as possible. Starmer welcomed the news of the talks between Washington and Tehran, describing them as a positive step toward de-escalation.

Starmer further noted that any agreement reached through these discussions should impose strict conditions on Iran, particularly concerning nuclear weapons. His remarks reflect the UK government’s position of supporting diplomatic engagement while maintaining firm oversight on nuclear issues.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the UK signaling its preference for diplomacy and stability in addressing the ongoing crisis.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s central general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has warned that legal action will be taken against leaders of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) if investigations prove they spread false information about a reported rape incident in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali. Speaking at a post-Eid meeting with journalists at the Noakhali Press Club on Monday night, Nasir accused NCP leaders of creating a false narrative and spreading propaganda to mislead the public.

He alleged that senior NCP figures shared unverified information on social media to inflame the situation and that some individuals linked to Jamaat-Shibir and NCP were using the sensitive Hadi murder case for political purposes. Nasir also claimed that BNP and its affiliates had been vocal in demanding justice for the murder, while NCP had no visible role at that time. He described the alleged misinformation as an attempt to divert the murder investigation.

Nasir reaffirmed that the real perpetrators must face justice and warned that any political group spreading falsehoods or linking BNP leaders to fabricated stories would face legal consequences.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said Bangladesh has not yet sent a formal letter to India regarding the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces charges of crimes against humanity. She stated that during the interim government, Bangladesh had sent a letter to India seeking Hasina’s repatriation. However, under the new government, the issue has only been raised verbally with the Indian envoy so far.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Shama Obaid said the current government has been in office for one month and has held several meetings with India’s High Commissioner. She confirmed that both she and the foreign minister discussed the matter during those meetings.

According to the report, Bangladesh previously sent a letter to India on December 23 requesting Hasina’s return. Sheikh Hasina has been staying in India since fleeing there on August 5 of the previous year.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, former social welfare minister Rashed Khan Menon, and former Supreme Court justice A.H.M. Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik in a defamation case filed over alleged derogatory comments about former president Ziaur Rahman. Metropolitan Magistrate Rounak Jahan Taki issued the order on Tuesday after a hearing. The information was confirmed by DMP Prosecution Division Deputy Commissioner Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan.

According to court sources, Inu was shown arrested in the case and produced before the court, while Menon and Manik were brought for appearance. After hearing bail petitions from their lawyers, the court granted bail to all three. Menon and Manik had earlier been shown arrested in the same case on January 21. The case was filed on August 22, 2024, by lawyer Ziaul Haque, and the court had directed the Police Bureau of Investigation to conduct an inquiry.

The complaint alleged that Manik made controversial remarks about Ziaur Rahman during a television talk show in October 2022 and at a seminar in February 2021, while Inu and Menon made similar comments in separate events in July 2013.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has shown former army officer Lieutenant General (Retd.) Masud Uddin Chowdhury arrested in a case filed with Paltan Police Station and sought a five-day remand for interrogation. The DB confirmed that more than eight cases are pending against him, including those filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission. He was arrested late Monday night from his residence in Baridhara DOHS, Dhaka.

DB Additional Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam told a press briefing at the DMP Media Center on Minto Road that investigations into multiple cases against Masud Uddin are ongoing. The retired general was a key figure during the 2007 military-backed caretaker government, serving as coordinator of the National Coordination Committee for Serious Crimes Suppression.

Masud Uddin, once close to former army chief General Moeen U Ahmed, later served as Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Australia and was elected a Member of Parliament from Feni-3 under the Jatiya Party ticket. He is also accused in cases related to the 2024 Feni shootings during the anti-government movement.

Jinia Sharmin Ria, spokesperson of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s Cox’s Bazar district unit, sharply criticized Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists, calling them 'spineless politicians' in a social media post on March 24, 2026. Her remarks came after several Jamaat leaders were seen presenting flowers to BNP lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury, who represents Cox’s Bazar-04 (Ukhia-Teknaf). Ria questioned their political consistency, pointing out that Jamaat had simultaneously filed a court petition challenging the same election result.

The post referenced a photo showing six Jamaat leaders, including Ukhia upazila chief Maulana Abul Fazal, greeting Shahjahan Chowdhury with flowers. Ria accused them of hypocrisy, noting that they were publicly disputing election irregularities while privately acknowledging the BNP MP. She argued that such behavior reflected a lack of political integrity.

Ria had previously campaigned for Jamaat’s candidate Maulana Nur Ahmed Anwari during the thirteenth national election as part of the 11-party alliance. During that campaign, BNP’s Shahjahan Chowdhury had reportedly made personal attacks against her, adding further context to her criticism.