The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued strict travel directives ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure safe and congestion-free journeys. According to an emergency public notice released on Thursday, the movement of trucks, covered vans, and lorries will be completely prohibited on highways across the country from March 17 to 23. However, vehicles carrying essential food items, perishable goods, garments, medicines, fertilizers, and fuel will be exempt from the restriction.

The DMP announced that special monitoring will begin on March 16 at major entry and exit points of the capital to manage the rush of homebound travelers. It advised avoiding key routes such as Kuril-Abdullahpur, Gulistan-Signboard, Mirpur Road-Aminbazar, and Fulbaria-Sadarghat to reduce congestion. Inter-district buses will not be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers outside terminals or park near city entry points.

The directive also warned transport owners and workers against overcharging passengers, selling duplicate tickets, or operating unfit vehicles. Highway and traffic police teams will be deployed to curb reckless driving, intoxicated driving, and mobile phone use while driving.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the northern region, said the party failed to protect its votes during the counting process in the national election. Speaking at an iftar event organized by the NCP’s Panchagarh district branch at Himalaya Park on Friday, March 13, he alleged that their votes were taken away and emphasized that the party shares responsibility for not safeguarding them.

Alam urged party members to ensure that every vote is protected in the upcoming local elections, regardless of the number of supporters at each polling center. He reminded attendees that the NCP, as part of the 11-party opposition alliance in parliament, must honor the trust placed in them by voters. He also called for courage and leadership in the struggle for change, saying that fear spreads easily but courage is even more contagious.

He encouraged members to begin preparations for local elections and to take leadership roles such as member, chairman, or upazila chairman positions.

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s government will eventually be removed from power by its own people, though not right away. Speaking to Fox News Radio, Trump stated that the Iranian population faces major obstacles, particularly the lack of weapons, but he believes the change will happen in time. His comments came after recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.

According to the report, more than 1,300 people have been killed in the attacks so far. Despite the conflict, there have been no major protests or signs of rebellion against Iran’s ruling system since the war began. Trump suggested that while the process may take time, public resistance could grow in the future.

The situation remains tense as the region continues to experience military and humanitarian fallout from the strikes, with other nations such as Russia reportedly sending aid to Iran.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is not expanding, rejecting claims that the war is spreading. Speaking at a briefing in Washington, D.C., he said that contrary to some media headlines, the situation is strengthening US advantages rather than escalating warfare. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera.

Hegseth expressed frustration with reports suggesting a widening conflict, even as missile attacks have occurred in several countries in the region. Observers have interpreted these incidents as signs of broader escalation. Addressing concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, he assured that Americans need not worry, though he acknowledged that fuel prices in the United States have risen by about 60 cents per gallon due to recent tensions.

He added that the potential risks around the Strait of Hormuz were already known and that the US was aware of the situation. Critics, however, questioned why such developments were allowed to occur if the risks had been anticipated.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has said that the Pilkhana massacre was a deep conspiracy aimed at weakening Bangladesh’s proud armed forces. Speaking as the chief guest at an iftar event in Dhaka on Friday, he stated that the BDR mutiny marked the beginning of a culture of political killings in the country. The event was organized by the group Nexus Defense and Justice to honor families of those killed in the Pilkhana tragedy and the July uprising.

Dr. Rahman said that the killing of talented army officers at Pilkhana was an attack on the nation’s defense and sovereignty. He added that many other killings followed, including judicial and extrajudicial ones, and mentioned the Shapla Chattar incident as an example of brutality. He expressed deep respect for all victims and their families.

He further claimed that the true mystery behind the Pilkhana killings was deliberately hidden by blaming the victims themselves. He pledged that Jamaat would ensure a fair investigation if given the opportunity to govern, and called for an end to the politics of vengeance in Bangladesh.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan has stated that there is no scope for relaxing educational qualifications in the election of managing committees of educational institutions under the new policy. He clarified that the verification process will proceed in stages, starting with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), followed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC), before three names are sent to the respective education board.

Speaking to journalists after a prize-giving ceremony in Kachua, Chandpur, on Friday afternoon, the minister said that authorities are considering how to ensure that qualified, educated, and socially active individuals are involved in managing committees. He acknowledged that some diploma engineers and education enthusiasts, though not degree holders, have made significant contributions to education.

Milan added that further discussions will be held at the level of Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister to decide how to enhance the role of managing committees in improving education quality. He emphasized that nowhere has it been stated that educational qualifications will be relaxed.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon has issued a strict directive prohibiting the practice of lining up students along roads to greet ministers or guests. He announced the ban on Friday during an award ceremony for National Education Week winners in Kachua upazila of Chandpur. The minister expressed dissatisfaction after witnessing students standing by the roadside to welcome him on his way to the event.

Milon emphasized that no teacher or educational institution should organize such receptions that cause discomfort to students. He stated that he wishes to move around as an ordinary person and that no student should be made to stand in the sun or by the roadside for his arrival. He further instructed teachers to release students early and send them home, assuring students that he would personally visit schools to meet them instead of requiring them to wait outside.

Local officials, teachers, and political leaders were present at the event where the directive was announced.

Opposition parties in India, including the Trinamool Congress, have submitted an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner Jnanish Kumar, accusing him of biased and discriminatory conduct. According to Trinamool Congress sources, a total of 193 members of Parliament from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have signed the notice. The signatories allege that Kumar failed to uphold the dignity of his office, citing irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and claims that many citizens were deprived of their voting rights.

The move comes amid ongoing political and legal disputes between the Election Commission and the Trinamool Congress over the voter list revision process, just months before the state assembly elections. The controversy has intensified after nearly 6.3 million names were reportedly removed from the voter list in West Bengal, with another 6 million still under review.

Under the Indian Constitution, an impeachment notice against a Chief Election Commissioner requires signatures from at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members. If accepted, the Speaker or Chairman may form a committee to investigate the allegations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani participated in the annual Al-Quds Day rally held in Tehran, according to Al Jazeera. State media photos showed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei also attending the event. The rally took place amid ongoing conflict and heightened security concerns.

The participation of Iran’s top officials came shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Iranian leaders had gone underground out of fear. Their public appearance at the rally directly contradicted that assertion. Al-Quds Day is observed annually to express solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The term “Al-Quds” refers to Jerusalem in Arabic.

During the gathering, multiple explosions were reportedly heard nearby, resulting in one death, according to the source. No further details about the cause or perpetrators of the explosions were provided.

Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Masud has explained why opposition lawmakers remained seated during the national anthem at the first session of the 13th National Parliament. In a Facebook post on Friday morning, he said that when the Speaker announced the President’s speech, opposition members stood with placards and chanted slogans in protest. As the President entered the chamber, ruling party members stood to show respect, while opposition members continued their protest and remained seated.

Masud stated that the national anthem began playing at the same time, but opposition members did not realize it due to their protest and sound issues with the speaker system. When MP Hasnat Abdullah noticed the anthem was playing, he informed the others, and they immediately stood to show respect until the anthem ended. Masud expressed hope that the misunderstanding would be resolved and that accurate information would help build a united Bangladesh.

U.S. President Donald Trump is struggling to claim victory in the ongoing war with Iran, which has entered its second week. The conflict has escalated after Iran closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil transport and driving up fuel prices. Despite Trump’s early declaration of success, military analysts and events on the ground suggest the situation is far from under control. A U.S. tanker aircraft crash in Iraq and domestic unrest in Virginia and Michigan have further complicated the picture, while seven American soldiers have already been reported dead.

Experts warn that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be extremely difficult due to Iranian drone and missile threats. Analysts argue that the crisis underscores the limits of military power and the need for political solutions. The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the succession of his son have weakened Trump’s narrative of strategic victory. Meanwhile, differing U.S. and Israeli goals, rising oil prices, and growing domestic unease are eroding public support.

The article concludes that Trump faces diminishing strategic options and may be forced to declare victory prematurely to avoid a prolonged and costly conflict.

July Oikya has called for the impeachment of President Md. Shahabuddin, accusing him of involvement in fascist activities during the July uprising and of spreading false information. The demand was made at an emergency press conference held on Friday afternoon at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen. The group also urged the implementation of the July Charter and sought to bring the president under trial as an accomplice to genocide.

At the event, organizer Fahim Faruqi alleged that after the 2024 July–August uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government, more than 1,400 people were killed and thousands injured. He accused the president of violating his oath and misleading the public through media interviews, including a claim that July Oikya attempted to surround Bangabhaban in October 2024, though the group was formed in May 2025. Leaders further criticized the BNP for allowing the president to address parliament, calling it a betrayal of the July movement’s spirit.

The organization demanded immediate impeachment under Article 52 of the Constitution and warned of a mass movement if the July Charter is not implemented during the current parliamentary session.

Public entry to the National Memorial in Savar will remain closed from March 23 to 25, 2026, as part of preparations for the celebration of the Great Independence and National Day. The closure aims to facilitate cleaning and maintenance of the memorial premises ahead of the national observance.

According to an official information release issued on Friday, entry will also remain restricted on March 26 until invited guests leave the memorial after the early morning ceremony. Authorities have requested public cooperation to preserve the sanctity and overall beauty of the National Memorial during this period.

The announcement underscores the importance of maintaining the memorial’s environment in advance of the national commemoration events.

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas will not be taken to Singapore for advanced medical treatment at this time. The decision was made because his current physical condition does not allow him to travel abroad. BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Rafiqul Islam confirmed that Abbas’s family has confidence in local medical care and that any future decision to move him abroad will depend on the recommendation of his medical board.

According to Dr. Islam, a virtual medical board met earlier in the day and decided to perform surgery on Abbas after consulting with his family. The surgery was carried out on his brain, and he is now under intensive observation in the ICU. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Abbas at Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara after Friday prayers and was briefed by the medical team on his condition.

Abbas was admitted to Evercare Hospital on Wednesday after losing consciousness during iftar. His family has requested prayers from the public for his speedy recovery.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has refrained from commenting on whether two suspects in the murder of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi will be extradited to Bangladesh. The suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, were arrested by West Bengal’s Special Task Force on March 7 near the Bongaon border and have been placed on 14-day remand by an Indian court. During a weekly briefing in New Delhi, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he had nothing to add beyond the statement issued by the West Bengal government.

Jaiswal also confirmed that Bangladesh’s DGFI chief had visited India and might have met Indian officials during the Raisina Dialogue. On energy cooperation, he said Bangladesh has requested additional diesel supplies amid the Middle East conflict, and India is considering the request after assessing refinery capacity and domestic demand. Similar requests have come from Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

He noted that India has been exporting refined petroleum products to neighboring countries and that diesel supply to Bangladesh from the Numaligarh refinery has continued since 2007 under a 2017 bilateral agreement.