Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to find effective alternative measures to ease the severe traffic congestion in Dhaka during school hours. The instruction came on Tuesday morning at the Secretariat when Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj met with the Prime Minister. According to Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the gridlock, particularly during school opening and closing times.

The meeting identified the excessive use of private cars for student transport as a major cause of congestion. An example cited showed that in some schools with 150 students, as many as 100 private cars gather in front, creating heavy traffic and delays for both students and the public. The Prime Minister advised the Education Ministry to address the issue seriously and prepare a detailed proposal outlining possible alternative systems to ensure smoother student commutes and reduce vehicle pressure on roads.

Later, the Prime Minister also met with the Energy Minister, the State Minister for Energy, and the Chief of Naval Staff to discuss ministry activities and development matters.

Lieutenant Colonel Md. Mahmudul Hasan has assumed the role of Director (Operation and Maintenance) at the Fire Service and Civil Defence. He officially took charge on March 29, succeeding the outgoing director, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury.

According to the report, Lt. Col. Mahmudul Hasan was commissioned in the Infantry Corps of the Bangladesh Army. He holds a master’s degree in Defense Studies from the Bangladesh University of Professionals and is a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Mirpur.

The appointment marks a leadership transition within the Fire Service and Civil Defence, ensuring continuity in operational and maintenance management responsibilities.

Bangladesh’s National Parliament resumed its first session on Tuesday, March 31, following a one-day adjournment. The session began at 3:30 p.m. and focused on a two-hour scheduled discussion regarding the implementation of the 'July Charter' and constitutional reform. The debate was initiated under a motion brought by the leader of the opposition and placed as the final agenda item for the day.

According to the Parliament Secretariat, the discussion follows a verbal exchange between the Home Minister and the Deputy Speaker during Sunday’s session, which has raised expectations of a heated debate. Attendance among members was reported to be higher than usual, reflecting the significance of the day’s agenda.

Both the Home and Law Ministries were reportedly prepared to respond to the opposition’s motion, while opposition members readied strong arguments in support of their proposal. The discussion is expected to highlight differing political positions on the July Charter and constitutional amendments.

The Lebanese government has formally banned the military wing of Hezbollah, according to a report by the news outlet Al Hadath citing a diplomatic official. The report states that Lebanese authorities informed the United Nations through an official letter that the country now considers Hezbollah’s military activities to be criminal offenses.

In the letter, Beirut clarified that the decision to prohibit all forms of Hezbollah’s military operations was made on March 2. The move marks a significant policy step by the Lebanese government regarding the group’s armed activities, which have long been a sensitive issue in the country’s political and security landscape.

The report, sourced from Middle East Eye, did not provide further details on the implementation process or potential domestic and regional reactions to the ban.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara met British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the official residence on Downing Street. The meeting took place as part of Al Shara’s visit to the United Kingdom, following his earlier stop in Berlin where he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The report indicates that Al Shara’s European engagements include discussions with key leaders in Germany and the United Kingdom. However, no details were provided about the agenda, topics discussed, or outcomes of the meetings. The sequence of visits suggests an ongoing diplomatic outreach by the Syrian leadership in Europe.

Further information about the content or results of the talks has not been disclosed in the source.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has emphasized the need to develop Bangladesh’s sports sector based on merit and competence, free from political influence. Speaking on Tuesday at a meeting with the newly elected board of Mohammedan Sporting Club in Dhaka, he said the Prime Minister wants to keep sports outside political interference and has already begun working toward that goal.

Fakhrul added that the Prime Minister also envisions sports as a viable profession for athletes, stressing that recognition or allowances are less important than ensuring players can pursue sports as a career. He reiterated that politics should have no place in sports and that excluding talented players for political reasons is deeply regrettable.

Calling on the young Sports Minister, himself a former national footballer, Fakhrul urged him to ensure that sports remain free from political bias. He reaffirmed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman shares the same vision for a depoliticized sports environment in the country.

Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing was elected vice president by the country’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday, according to a parliamentary official. The official confirmed that Min Aung Hlaing received 247 votes out of 260 lawmakers during a live broadcast session, marking a significant step toward consolidating his hold on power and potentially becoming president.

Reports from Naypyidaw via AFP stated that three vice presidents are scheduled to be elected this week. Once the process is complete, the full parliament will vote to select one of them as president. The election marks a key moment in Myanmar’s ongoing political process under military control.

The development positions Min Aung Hlaing closer to the presidency, strengthening the junta’s influence over the country’s political institutions as the selection process continues.

Several members of Mir Jafar’s family in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, have reportedly been removed from India’s voter list. The issue emerged during the special summary revision process ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, sparking widespread attention across the state. According to reports, the names of more than a hundred members of the Nawab family were deleted, raising uncertainty over their right to vote.

Family members said they received hearing notices from the Election Commission and submitted the required documents. However, they claimed that most names were permanently excluded even after the hearings. The affected individuals live in the Killa Nizamat area of Murshidabad, where Mir Jafar’s descendants have resided for generations.

The incident has drawn attention because of the family’s historical significance. Mir Jafar became the Nawab of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey in 1757 with British support, and his 15th-generation descendant, Reza Ali Mirza, currently lives in the same area.

A parliamentary committee has directed officials to remain vigilant in all procurement activities of the Bangladesh National Parliament Secretariat to prevent irregularities similar to past scandals. The directive was issued during a committee meeting held at the National Parliament Building, chaired by Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam Moni. The meeting also reviewed the malfunction of the Parliament’s sound system, with an investigation committee already working on the issue and expected to submit its report by April 2.

The committee emphasized ensuring high quality and reasonable pricing in the purchase of furniture and other items. It also discussed problems with the supply of safe drinking water and noted that steps have been taken to resolve them. The Chief Whip expressed hope that all members of parliament would soon be able to move into their residences.

Two sub-committees were formed to identify the causes of the sound system malfunction and to assess the quality of canteen food, water supply, and furniture used in the parliament members’ residences.

U.S. President Donald Trump has told his aides he is willing to conclude the American military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. officials. The report notes that such a move could prolong Tehran’s control over the vital waterway and complicate future efforts to reopen it.

Officials said Trump and his team recently reviewed the situation and believe that forcing the strait open could extend the conflict beyond the president’s preferred four-to-six-week timeframe. The president’s main objective, according to the report, is to destroy Iran’s naval and missile stockpiles, then de-escalate the conflict while applying diplomatic pressure on Tehran to allow free trade.

Washington may also press its European and Gulf allies to take the lead in reopening the strait if necessary. Although military options remain available, Trump is reportedly not prioritizing them at this stage.

The Dhaka Metropolitan West unit of the Chhatra Dal has announced the dissolution of its Cantonment Thana committee. The decision was made to make organizational activities more dynamic and effective, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday by the unit’s office secretary, Md. Shahidul Islam. He stated that the existing committee had been dissolved due to the expiration of its tenure.

The press release further noted that the decision was approved by Dhaka Metropolitan West Chhatra Dal president Md. Robin Khan and general secretary Akram Ahmed. The organization also confirmed that a new committee will be formed soon to continue its activities under renewed leadership.

The announcement reflects an internal restructuring effort within the student organization aimed at strengthening its local operations and ensuring continuity in leadership.

Bangladeshi expatriates and members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Malaysia have submitted a memorandum demanding a fair and impartial investigation into the mysterious death of Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The memorandum was handed over to the head of chancery at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur under the supervision of Nasir Uddin Nasir and Mohammad Minhaj Mondol.

Participants at the event stated that questions and doubts still persist among the public regarding Koko’s death. They called for the formation of an independent and internationally credible investigation committee. The memorandum also included eight demands, such as identifying and prosecuting those responsible, withdrawing allegedly corrupt officials from the High Commission, ensuring transparency in administrative activities, and taking action against corruption and human trafficking.

The submission program was conducted peacefully, with several BNP activists and expatriates present during the event.

Justice Md. Rezaul Hasan of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court has resigned following corruption allegations. His resignation letter, submitted to the Supreme Court, was forwarded to the President on Monday. The allegations were filed earlier with the Supreme Judicial Council by K.M. Mojibul Haque, chairman of Shah Group, accusing the judge of corruption, misconduct, and abuse of power.

The complaint requested the Supreme Judicial Council to investigate the matter and to recommend appropriate constitutional measures if the allegations were proven. It claimed that Justice Hasan acted with bias in two company cases from 2010 and 2011. In one case, arguments were attributed to a senior lawyer who was not present, and the ruling was later overturned by the Appellate Division. In another, 1.3 million shares belonging to an applicant’s wife were canceled without her being made a party to the case, which the complainant described as contrary to principles of justice.

The resignation follows the formal submission of these allegations, and the matter now awaits further constitutional procedures.

The government of Bangladesh has decided to transfer the Fire Service and Civil Defence from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. Officials confirmed that the move aims to improve coordination in disaster response and ensure unified command during emergencies. The Fire Service has agreed to the separation, and the process is currently underway under the Prime Minister’s directive.

According to ministry sources, the current structure often causes coordination gaps during major disasters, as multiple agencies operate separately. The restructuring seeks to establish single-point leadership for faster decision-making and more effective action. Plans are also being developed to integrate volunteer groups such as CPP, Rover Scouts, BNCC, and Red Crescent under one coordinated framework.

The Disaster Management Ministry is preparing to keep 100,000 volunteers ready in Dhaka and surrounding areas for earthquake and large-scale disaster response. Officials expect that bringing the Fire Service under the ministry will enhance efficiency and ensure quicker, more organized emergency services.

A series of frequent transfers of officer-in-charge (OC) positions across police stations in Chattogram Metropolitan Police has raised questions about transparency and possible hidden influences. Over the past 20 months, at least ten transfer orders have repeatedly placed the same group of officers in key and economically significant stations. Civil society representatives, including Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN), described the trend as alarming for administrative stability, arguing that frequent reshuffles hinder effective policing and erode public trust.

The reshuffle pattern intensified after the political transition of August 2024, when large-scale reassignments began within the Chattogram police. Analysts observed that the process often involved rotating existing officers among influential stations rather than introducing new leadership. Police sources indicated that competition for “preferred postings” in high-profile stations is linked to lobbying and unofficial influence. Former adviser Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury, however, defended the practice as a normal administrative measure to restore stability after political change.

Observers warned that if the transfer process remains opaque and policy-deficient, it could undermine long-term law enforcement effectiveness and public confidence in the police system.