The Bangladesh government is preparing to extend the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays by one additional day to ease public travel before the festival. According to official sources, March 18 may be declared a public holiday through an executive order, making March 16 the final working day for government employees before the Eid break. The proposal is expected to be approved at the next cabinet meeting.

The official holiday list already includes March 19 to 23 for Eid-ul-Fitr, and March 17 is a public holiday for Shab-e-Qadr. If March 18 is confirmed as an additional holiday, government employees will enjoy a continuous seven-day break from March 17 to 23. Offices will reopen on March 24 and 25, followed by another general holiday on March 26 for Independence Day.

With the weekly holidays on March 27 and 28, government officials will effectively have another three consecutive days off after the Eid holidays, extending the overall period of leave for many employees.

Opposition Chief Whip and NCP convener Nahid Islam announced that he will raise questions in the national parliament regarding alleged politicization across six city corporations and various government offices. Speaking as the chief guest at the party’s divisional iftar gathering in Sylhet on March 4, he said the issue would be addressed firmly from a position of parliamentary accountability. He also urged party members to prepare for the upcoming local government elections, emphasizing the need for full organizational strength.

At the same event, NCP’s chief organizer Nasiruddin Patowary vowed not to compromise on justice for the murder of Hadi and called for an end to extortion, terrorism, and corruption. He also criticized partisan appointments in the administration and highlighted the poor condition of the Dhaka–Sylhet highway. Northern organizer Sarjis Alam stated that the party accepted the election results but warned against any manipulation in future local polls, threatening strong resistance if such attempts occur.

Central leaders added that if demands for implementing the “July Charter” ordinance and impeaching the president are not met, the party will take to the streets.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that Iran’s president attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, but Trump managed to overcome the attempt. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane, Hegseth said the United States had located and killed the leader of the unit allegedly responsible for the assassination attempt.

According to the report, in 2024, before that year’s presidential election, the US government filed charges against an Afghan national accused of involvement in an alleged Iranian plot to kill Trump. The US Department of Justice stated that 51-year-old Farhad Shakeri had been assigned to develop a plan for Trump’s assassination and was believed to be residing in Iran.

A criminal complaint filed in Manhattan court alleged that an officer of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard instructed Shakeri in September to create a surveillance and assassination plan targeting Trump.

Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, Zahid Uddin Swapon, stated that journalists themselves should determine the boundaries of accountability necessary to ensure maximum media freedom. Speaking as the chief guest at an iftar event organized by the Chittagong Press Club at Chittagong Club on Wednesday evening, he emphasized that the government should not unilaterally set these limits, as doing so would mirror past administrations. He assured that the ministry is prepared to protect media independence from interference by intelligence agencies, state authorities, or external actors.

The minister added that the government currently lacks a clear policy for distributing advertisements or grants to media outlets, which has led to unregulated growth of publications. He mentioned that discussions are ongoing with journalist associations to create a joint roadmap for institutionalizing media freedom. Swapon also said the government would consider implementing the wage board in the future, treating compliant and non-compliant outlets differently.

At the same event, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists’ Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury urged that journalists must remain independent and act as watchdogs to restore public trust.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam has warned that contractors charging more than Tk 100 for household waste collection will face action. He made the statement while addressing a special cleanliness and mosquito control program at Shahidnagar cremation ground in Lalbagh, organized under DSCC’s month-long campaign. Dhaka-7 MP Hamidur Rahman Hamid attended as a special guest.

The program, held in Ward 24, involved around 200 DSCC workers from the waste management and health departments. They cleaned canals, drains, and footpaths and applied mosquito repellents. A public awareness rally was also held with local residents’ participation. Abdus Salam urged citizens to report any overcharging, promising contract cancellation if complaints are proven.

He also announced that burial and cremation registration fees at DSCC cemeteries and cremation grounds have been reduced from Tk 1,000 to Tk 500, following the Prime Minister’s directive. The administrator called on all political activists and residents to support efforts to make Dhaka cleaner and more livable under the “Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka” initiative.

Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher has warned that no leniency will be shown to those responsible for causing public suffering. Speaking at a meeting with officials of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) in Dhaka on Wednesday, he emphasized that the ministry would support honest and dedicated employees. He directed that no file should be unnecessarily delayed and that all tasks must be completed within the designated timeframe to prevent citizens from repeated visits to offices.

The minister acknowledged that RAJUK faces widespread public complaints, including bureaucratic delays, harassment, irregularities, and unnecessary complexities. He said these issues have damaged the organization’s image and must be addressed immediately. His remarks underscored the government’s focus on improving efficiency and accountability within public service institutions.

The directive signals a renewed push for administrative reform within RAJUK, aiming to restore public trust and ensure smoother service delivery to citizens.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has released constituency-wise results of the 13th parliamentary election, twenty days after voting took place. The results were published on Wednesday on the EC’s official website. According to an EC official, the election was held on February 12 across 42,651 polling centers in 299 of the 300 constituencies. The gazette of elected members was issued on February 13, and the detailed results for 297 constituencies have now been made public.

Officials stated that results for Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 remain suspended due to pending court orders related to loan default allegations. The election in Sherpur-3 was canceled following the death of a candidate, and voting in its 128 centers will be held on April 9. A by-election for Bogura-6, vacated by Tarique Rahman, is also scheduled for the same day.

According to the EC’s final tally, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 of the 297 declared seats, returning to power after two decades.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of betraying both diplomacy and the American people who elected him. Araghchi made the remarks following a U.S. attack that he said occurred while constructive discussions on Iran’s nuclear program were underway.

In a post on X, Araghchi criticized Trump’s approach to negotiations, saying that treating complex nuclear talks like a land deal and covering reality with lies leads to unrealistic expectations. He added that such actions result in hatred and metaphorically described the situation as bombing the negotiation table.

The comments reflect Iran’s frustration over the disruption of diplomatic progress and signal renewed tension between Tehran and Washington following the attack.

Israeli police have arrested four individuals in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on allegations of supporting Iran during the ongoing war. According to police statements, the detainees include three men and one woman accused of praising Iran, expressing sympathy, encouraging violent acts, and maintaining contact with or supporting an enemy organization.

Among those arrested is a legal adviser to the Palestinian Authority, who allegedly posted messages on social media praising Iran’s late leader Khamenei. The arrests were announced on March 4, 2026, as part of Israel’s broader security operations in the region.

The report also noted related developments in the region, including the indefinite postponement of a memorial event for Khamenei and the displacement of over 65,000 people in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks, indicating heightened regional tensions.

The Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh has issued an official order transferring ten police officers holding the rank of Superintendent of Police. The notification, signed by Deputy Secretary Tawsif Ahmed from the Police-1 branch, was released on Wednesday. The reshuffle affects key districts including Bogura, Sylhet, Barishal, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, and Khagrachhari, where new superintendents have been appointed.

According to the order, Bogura Superintendent Md. Shahadat Hossain has been reassigned to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), while Khagrachhari Superintendent Mirza Sayem Mahmud will now serve as Bogura Superintendent. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Md. Mostak Sarkar has been appointed as Khagrachhari Superintendent. Mymensingh Superintendent Md. Mizanur Rahman has been transferred to the Police Training Center in Noakhali, and DMP Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamrul Hasan will take over as Mymensingh Superintendent.

Additionally, Sylhet Superintendent Kazi Akhtar Ul Alam has been moved to the APBn, and Jamalpur Superintendent Chowdhury Md. Jaber Sadeq will now serve in Sylhet. DMP Deputy Commissioner Mosammat Farhana Yasmin has been appointed as Jamalpur Superintendent, while Barishal Superintendent Farzana Islam has been transferred to the River Police, with A.Z.M. Mostafizur Rahman from Police Headquarters taking her place in Barishal.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that a nationwide operation to arrest extortionists and armed criminals will begin soon, starting from Dhaka. He made the statement on Wednesday after a meeting with senior officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) at the DMP headquarters in Ramna. The minister said lists of extortionists and armed offenders are being prepared to bring them under legal action. He emphasized that maintaining law and order and ensuring public peace are top priorities of the current government.

Ahmed stated that the government aims to establish the rule of law and that the police have a crucial role in achieving this goal. He noted that the police institution had suffered under a previous authoritarian system but is now being reformed to serve as a true friend of the people. The minister instructed police officers to act lawfully, maintain accountability, and follow the chain of command.

He also directed the DMP commissioner to form a committee to address Dhaka’s traffic congestion, including measures to regulate battery-powered rickshaws on major and VIP roads.

Iran has indefinitely postponed the memorial ceremony for its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by Israel and the United States, according to the Mehr news agency. The three-day event was originally scheduled to begin Wednesday night at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla prayer ground.

Mehr reported that the decision to postpone came in response to public requests, as many people from different provinces wanted to attend the funeral but found it difficult due to ongoing attacks. The Revolutionary Guard stated that preparations are underway to hold the late leader’s funeral in the city of Mashhad, though no specific date has been announced yet.

The postponement reflects the logistical and security challenges Iran faces amid continued hostilities following the attack that killed its top leader.

An adviser to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated on Wednesday that the country has no intention of holding talks with the United States and is prepared for a long war. The statement was made by Mohammad Mokhbar during an appearance on Iran’s state television, according to a BBC report.

Mokhbar said Iran has no trust in the Americans and sees no basis for negotiations, asserting that the country could continue fighting as long as it wishes. His remarks reflect Tehran’s hardened stance amid ongoing regional tensions and strained relations with Washington.

The comments come as Iran continues to face regional instability, including displacement in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks and other regional security challenges, according to related reports cited in the same source.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of breaking off diplomatic relations out of envy during negotiations. In a new social media post, Araghchi wrote that Trump viewed complex nuclear discussions as if they were real estate transactions, suggesting that falsehoods had obscured reality and led to unrealistic expectations.

Araghchi stated that the outcome of this approach was the severing of diplomatic ties at the negotiation table itself. He further alleged that Trump had betrayed both diplomatic relations and the American people who elected him.

The comments reflect continuing tensions between Iran and the United States, with Araghchi’s remarks underscoring Tehran’s frustration over the breakdown of talks and the perceived lack of seriousness from Washington.

Mojtaba Khamenei, considered a potential successor to Iran’s supreme leadership, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, according to two Iranian sources cited by Reuters. The report did not specify the location or method of the attack. Mojtaba, previously described in a 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable as a capable and powerful leader, has been viewed as a key figure in Iran’s political hierarchy.

The incident follows the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Saturday after serving 36 years as the country’s top religious authority. In the aftermath, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that whoever becomes Iran’s next supreme leader would also be targeted, posting the threat on social media platform X.

The attack on Mojtaba Khamenei and the warning from Israel come amid heightened regional instability following the joint strike and ongoing displacement in Lebanon due to Israeli operations.