Two gatekeepers, Mehedi Hasan and Helal Uddin, have been suspended following a deadly train accident at the Paduar Bazar railway crossing in Cumilla that left 12 people dead. The suspension was confirmed on Sunday morning by Mostafizur Rahman, the manager of the Chattogram Railway Division. Initial investigation identified a communication failure between the gatekeepers and the train as the cause of the accident. New gatekeepers will be assigned to the site. Authorities have formed two investigation committees—one divisional and one regional—to determine the full cause of the incident. Legal action is also being initiated in connection with the accident. The collision occurred around 3 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, when a mail train traveling from Chattogram to Dhaka struck a passenger bus at the crossing, dragging it for about half a kilometer. Twelve bodies were recovered, and officials indicated that the death toll could rise further.

Dhaka’s air quality remained at an unhealthy level on Sunday, March 22, 2026, despite the city being largely empty during the Eid holidays. According to data from the international air quality monitoring organization IQAir, the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 165 at 8 a.m., placing it fourth among the world’s most polluted cities. Although traffic and industrial activity have significantly decreased due to the holiday, the expected improvement in air quality has not occurred. IQAir’s data showed that Delhi topped the list of polluted cities with a score of 193, followed by Beijing at 178 and Incheon at 174. In contrast, Denver in the United States recorded the cleanest air with a score of 39, while Chicago followed with 42. The previous day, Dhaka ranked tenth among 121 cities with an AQI of 117, while Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo led the list with 173. The persistence of unhealthy air despite reduced human activity highlights the severity of Dhaka’s pollution problem, even during periods of minimal traffic and industrial operations.

Rail communication between Chattogram and the rest of Bangladesh has been suspended following a fatal train accident in Cumilla that left 12 people dead and at least 20 injured. The collision occurred around 3 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, when a passenger bus from Chapainawabganj to Noakhali collided with a mail train traveling from Chattogram to Dhaka near the Paduar Bazar rail crossing. The injured were taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital. A relief train from Akhaura reached the accident site about five hours later to begin recovery operations, according to the Chattogram divisional railway manager Mostafizur Rahman. He stated that the mail train involved in the crash was the only one operating on Eid day, and regular train schedules are expected to resume the following day. The official added that trains departing from Dhaka and Chattogram may face slight delays reaching Cumilla until the damaged train is cleared. Authorities have formed three investigation committees and announced financial assistance of 25,000 taka for each victim’s family.

An Iranian missile strike hit the southern Israeli city of Dimona on Saturday, causing a building to collapse and injuring at least 47 people, according to Israeli media reports. Among the injured was a 12-year-old boy who sustained serious injuries from shrapnel. Footage broadcast by local outlets showed a large projectile descending rapidly from the sky before a powerful explosion. Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported, citing the country’s emergency medical services, that at least 20 people were injured in the attack, including a 10-year-old child. Separately, Channel 12 said that in northern Israel’s Ma’alot-Tarshiha area, at least eight people were wounded in a rocket strike. The Times of Israel reported that Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets targeting that northern region, according to Al Jazeera. The incidents come amid escalating cross-border hostilities, with reports of multiple overnight attacks across five Israeli cities and rising regional tensions involving Iran and its allies.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called journalist Anis Alamgir on Saturday evening, March 21, to convey Eid greetings. Alamgir confirmed the conversation, saying the call came around 7 p.m. and that he was surprised by it. The Prime Minister extended greetings to both Alamgir and his wife and mentioned hearing about his time in prison. Anis Alamgir expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, praising his demonstration of harmony and goodwill during the Eid prayers. He also thanked Rahman for refraining from making comments about past negative politics since August 5, 2024. Earlier, Alamgir had exchanged Eid greetings with President Md. Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban. Alamgir had been detained by the Detective Branch on December 14 of the previous year for questioning and was later shown arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The Anti-Corruption Commission also filed a case against him. After three months in jail, he was released on bail on March 14.

Twelve people were killed in a collision between a passenger bus and a train at Padua Bazar rail crossing in Cumilla on Saturday night. The accident occurred when a Mamun Paribahan bus traveling from Chapainawabganj to Noakhali was hit by a mail train heading from Chattogram to Dhaka. At least fifteen others were injured and taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for treatment. Following the incident, two separate investigation committees have been formed, each consisting of six members. One committee includes officials such as the DTO, DEN-1, DSTE, DME (Loco), DMO, and Commandant (RNB), while the other includes COPS, CE, CME, CMO, CSTE, and CC (RNB). The information was confirmed by Mostafizur Rahman, Divisional Manager of the Chattogram Railway Division, and Sirajul Mostafa, Officer-in-Charge of Cumilla Sadar South Police Station. Dr. Amit Bhowmik of Cumilla Medical College confirmed the deaths. Authorities have initiated investigations to determine the cause of the collision and assess safety measures at the rail crossing.

Six people were killed in separate road accidents in Feni and Jhenaidah districts on Sunday, March 22, 2026. In Feni, three people died in a three-vehicle collision involving a bus, an ambulance, and a motorcycle on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway near Rampur Latumia early in the morning. Police said the crash occurred when a Shyamoli Paribahan bus hit a slow-moving ambulance, leading to a traffic jam. Moments later, a Doel Paribahan bus rammed into the stationary vehicles, causing the fatal collision. The deceased included a motorcyclist, a bus supervisor, and a passenger, while several others were injured and taken to Feni General Hospital. In Jhenaidah, two separate accidents in Nagarbathaan Bazar and Keshabpur village left two people dead and three injured. One victim, a school student named Abdul Gafur, died after falling from a moving Nosimon vehicle, while another, Roni Hossain, was killed in a motorcycle collision. Police confirmed both incidents and said the injured were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Authorities have confirmed the incidents and initiated standard procedures for investigation and medical support.

At least 12 people were killed and several others injured when a passenger bus collided with a train at a level crossing in the Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad area of Cumilla on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Cumilla Sadar South Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sirajul Mostafa confirmed the incident, adding that the death toll could rise. Dr. Amit Bhowmik of Cumilla Medical College also confirmed the deaths. According to train passengers, the bus from Chapainawabganj was crossing the railway gate when the collision occurred, and the gate was reportedly not lowered at the time. Local sources said the train dragged the bus up to Jangalia Station after the impact. Police, army, and fire service personnel arrived soon after to begin rescue operations, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Authorities have formed three investigation committees and announced financial assistance of Tk 25,000 for each victim’s family.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will attack Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The warning was issued through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he stated that the strikes would begin with Iran’s largest power facility. The report was published by Al Jazeera and cited by Amar Desh Online on March 22, 2026. Analysts believe the threat could further complicate the already tense situation in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global energy supplies, carrying a significant share of the world’s oil shipments. Any disruption or escalation around this strategic waterway could have major consequences for the global economy. The ultimatum adds new uncertainty to regional stability, as tensions involving Iran, the United States, and neighboring countries continue to rise.

About 150 families were evacuated from the southern Israeli city of Arad after an Iranian missile strike, according to the city’s mayor, as reported by Al Jazeera. The evacuation was carried out swiftly to ensure the safety of residents living in the area where the missile landed. Emergency services in Israel confirmed that at least 64 people were injured in the attack, with several in serious condition. The strike caused extensive damage in the affected area, prompting ongoing rescue and relief operations. Local authorities are continuing efforts to assess the full extent of the destruction and provide assistance to displaced families. The incident marks another escalation in regional tensions following recent reports of Iranian attacks on Israeli facilities. Emergency response teams remain active in Arad as recovery work continues, with officials prioritizing medical care and shelter for those impacted by the missile strike.

An Iranian missile struck the southern Israeli city of Arad on March 22, 2026, damaging residential buildings and injuring at least 75 people, according to Israeli media reports. The missile reportedly penetrated Israel’s air defense system, which failed to intercept it despite two attempts. Among the injured, ten were in serious condition, and a five-year-old child was critically hurt. The Israeli Air Force has launched an investigation into the defense system’s failure. The country’s fire service confirmed that the missile hit the center of Arad, causing extensive damage. Hospitals in the area declared an emergency, and emergency services treated numerous casualties. Following the attack and a recent strike in Dimona that injured nearly 100 people, Israel’s Education Ministry suspended all in-person classes nationwide for Sunday and Monday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he had ordered the strengthening of emergency and rescue forces operating on the ground, as authorities worked to assess the situation and respond to the escalating security threat.

Saudi Arabia has declared several Iranian embassy officials persona non grata and ordered them to leave the country, according to Al Jazeera. The officials, including Iran’s military attaché, were given 24 hours to depart. This action follows a similar decision by Qatar, which earlier expelled Iranian military and security attachés from its embassy in Doha. Qatar’s decision came after an alleged Iranian attack on one of its main gas facilities, reportedly carried out in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field. The sequence of expulsions marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic friction between Iran and Gulf states. Analysts cited in the report suggest that these diplomatic measures are adding complexity to an already volatile Middle Eastern situation, with regional tensions continuing to rise following recent military incidents.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has questioned the effectiveness of Israel’s air defense system following recent missile attacks on the southern city of Dimona. In a post on social media platform X, he stated that if Israel failed to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area, it signals a new phase in the conflict. He further claimed that Israel’s skies are now defenseless. Dimona, located in the Negev Desert, is known as one of Israel’s key nuclear research centers and is central to the country’s undeclared nuclear program. According to the report, Iran launched five missile attacks on the sensitive city within a 24-hour period, raising concerns about the vulnerability of Israel’s defense systems. The incident underscores escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with the focus now on the strategic implications of the strikes on Dimona and the broader regional security situation.

The foreign ministers of the G7 nations have declared their readiness to take necessary measures to maintain stability in global energy supplies. In a joint statement, the ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union’s top diplomat, expressed support for regional partners following what they described as Iran and its allies’ unjustified attacks. The statement strongly condemned Iran for targeting civilians and infrastructure, calling such assaults on energy facilities and other critical sites alarming. The ministers emphasized that ensuring the safety of key maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, is vital for global trade and energy supply. The G7’s declaration reflects growing concern over regional instability affecting energy markets and underscores their intent to safeguard essential supply chains if disruptions escalate.

Five children were killed and at least two others remained missing after a floating drum bridge collapsed over the Old Brahmaputra River in Dewanganj, Jamalpur, on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The incident occurred in front of Dewanganj Police Station when the bridge, crowded with Eid holiday visitors, gave way, plunging over a hundred people into the river. Police, army, and fire service teams launched a joint rescue operation, recovering the bodies of five children. Local residents said the bridge had long been in a risky condition but had not been repaired or rebuilt. The annual Eid gatherings at the site reportedly increased the danger this year. The victims were identified as two siblings from Dakatiapara, two children from Kalurchar, and one from Beltoli Railgate area. Rescue operations were temporarily suspended at 10:30 p.m. and were set to resume the following morning. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat visited the site, expressed condolences, and promised compensation for the victims’ families.