Sixteen ships carrying refined fuel have arrived at Chattogram Port between March 3 and March 14, 2026, supporting stable energy supply for Bangladesh’s power generation and industrial sectors. Eleven of the ships have already completed unloading, while the remaining five are in the process. Port authorities confirmed that three additional vessels are expected to reach the port in the coming days. According to port data, three LNG carriers from Qatar—‘Al Zubarah’, ‘Al Jasasiya’, and ‘Lusail’—each unloaded about 62,000 tons of LNG during the first ten days of March. Another vessel, ‘Al Galayel’, arrived on March 12 with 26,165 tons of LNG being transferred to a floating storage and regasification unit. LPG shipments were the most frequent, with tankers from Malaysia and Oman unloading a total of 19,316 tons so far, and more unloading operations continuing through mid-March. Despite geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz affecting shipping and insurance costs, port officials stated that operations remain normal this month, ensuring uninterrupted energy supply for power, industry, and households.

Iran’s armed forces chief Amir Hatami has warned that the country will deliver an appropriate response to a deadly attack on its warship in the Indian Ocean. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the vessel was returning from a military exercise when it was struck, killing all 104 crew members on board. Hatami stated that the ship’s crew had completed a peaceful mission and were attacked despite not being engaged in any direct conflict. He emphasized that the ship, named Denar, and its crew would be remembered as symbols of courage and dedication in Iran’s naval history. He further pledged that Iran’s military would continue to defend the nation’s maritime borders and strengthen its naval forces with greater determination following the incident.

The eleven-party alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami, has warned that it will launch street protests if the government fails to implement the July Charter by tomorrow. The announcement came after an emergency meeting of the alliance’s liaison committee held at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar on Saturday. Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, Hamidur Rahman Azad, conveyed the warning during a press briefing following the meeting. He stated that the alliance will hold another meeting with top leaders on March 28 to outline and announce the next phase of their movement. Azad criticized the government for not convening the Reform Commission session within the stipulated 30 days, which ends tomorrow. He said the government and the leader of the parliament must take responsibility if the session is not called. The alliance also protested the appointment of administrators in six cities and alleged widespread politicization in the administration. Azad reiterated that the alliance demands full, not partial, implementation of the July Charter. He added that the alliance’s leader and opposition leader, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, expressed willingness to cooperate with the government but warned that failure to act properly would force them to take to the streets.

US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated in Tokyo that the United States can provide a reliable energy supply to the Asia-Pacific region, where oil and gas deliveries have been disrupted due to the ongoing Iran war. Speaking at an event attended by representatives from 17 Asia-Pacific countries, Burgum emphasized Washington’s readiness to ensure stable energy access for its allies. He said President Donald Trump’s policy aims to secure the energy needed for America’s prosperity while maintaining the ability to sell energy to friends and partners. Burgum also stressed that reliable, affordable, and safe energy supplies in the region should not be threatened by what he described as a ‘terrorist regime.’ In addition to energy, Burgum highlighted the importance of ensuring secure supplies of critical rare minerals, underscoring their strategic value for the region’s stability and economic growth.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that his government has begun implementing election promises even before the voting ink has faded. Speaking on Saturday morning at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he inaugurated a program to provide government honorariums to imams, muezzins, and religious leaders of various faiths. He emphasized financial assistance and employment creation to reduce economic inequality, particularly for disadvantaged groups. Rahman detailed several new initiatives, including a Family Card program for economically vulnerable women, which will gradually reach four crore families across Bangladesh. He also announced that a pilot project for a Farmer Card will begin on April 14, and a canal excavation program will start on March 16 in Dinajpur. The financial support program for religious leaders also began that day. He stated that the government aims to ensure political and economic empowerment for every citizen, regardless of religion or profession, to build a strong foundation for the nation and prevent any authoritarian forces from undermining freedom.

Brazil has revoked the visa of Darren Beattie, a far-right adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, after he planned to visit former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently imprisoned in Brasília. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmed the visa cancellation on Friday. The move follows an earlier decision by the United States to cancel visas of Brazilian officials in Washington, D.C. Speaking at an event in Rio de Janeiro, Silva said Beattie had expressed his intention to meet Bolsonaro, but was told not to do so. Silva added that he had barred Beattie from entering Brazil until the U.S. released the visa of Brazil’s health minister. Bolsonaro, a political ally of Trump, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for conspiracy to overthrow the government.

Gas extraction has officially started from well number 5 of the Shrikail gas field in Muradnagar, Cumilla. The inauguration took place on Saturday, led by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit. According to Bapex officials, the well will add 8 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid, with an estimated reserve worth about Tk 3,000 crore. Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Md. Saiful Islam attended as a special guest. During the ceremony, the state minister emphasized that domestic gas production will help reduce import dependency and achieve self-sufficiency. He also stressed transparency and accountability in all operations. Bapex Managing Director Engineer Md. Fazlul Haque stated that gas has been discovered in eight out of 23 exploratory wells drilled so far. Officials highlighted that the government is prioritizing gas extraction to save foreign currency and strengthen Bapex’s capacity, as imported gas costs several times more than domestic production.

The prolonged Iran war has placed the United States in a difficult position as global economic instability deepens. Despite the joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian government remains intact. Iran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, disrupted oil supplies, and expanded attacks across the Middle East, pushing up global fuel prices and triggering rationing in countries such as Bangladesh and Nigeria. Analysts cited in the report note that Iran’s decentralized defense structure and new leadership have allowed it to sustain operations. The country is pursuing a three-tier strategy of survival, retaliation, and prolonging the war to end it on its own terms. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump faces mounting domestic pressure as voters react to rising living costs and energy shortages. Gulf states that once sought closer ties with Tehran are now frustrated by the chaos. Experts suggest Trump may redefine “victory” by emphasizing Khamenei’s death rather than regime change, though Iran is unlikely to let Washington exit easily. The conflict’s continuation threatens to further strain global trade and energy markets.

At least 31 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on Friday, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA). The attacks struck multiple regions, leaving many others injured. In the eastern outskirts of Sidon, an Israeli strike on a residential building killed eight people and injured nine. Rescue teams in Kleileh city of Tyre district recovered two bodies from a collapsed building early Saturday. In other incidents, one person was killed in a drone strike between Kafartabnit and Arnoun in Batih district, and another in an airstrike on Yater city in Bint Jbeil district. Two more were killed in Bar Elias city in the Bekaa Valley, while a strike in Beirut’s Jannah area targeted a car, killing one person. Additional casualties were reported in Shebaa and Nabatieh al-Fawqa. The widespread attacks caused significant civilian casualties, including children, as families in southern Lebanon buried their dead following the strikes.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for unity and solidarity in the face of ongoing regional crises. Speaking at a party meeting in Ankara, he emphasized that Turkey has never divided people along sectarian or ethnic lines and has always stood by those facing injustice or conflict. Erdogan stated that in the region, people may identify as Shia, Sunni, Turk, or Kurd, but Turkey views them all as brothers and equals. He further stressed the importance of humanity and national unity, saying that for the Turkish nation, there are no distinctions such as Turk, Kurd, Arab, Shia, or Sunni—only people and humanity. His remarks underscored Turkey’s position of inclusiveness and its call for cooperation among neighboring communities. The speech comes amid heightened regional tensions, including reports of conflict and casualties in Iran’s Kurdistan region and drone attacks in Oman, highlighting the urgency of Erdogan’s appeal for solidarity.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that a nation cannot become strong if its citizens remain weak. He made the remarks on Saturday at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka while inaugurating an honorarium program for imams, muezzins, caretakers, priests, temple attendants, and monastery heads. Rahman said that after forming the BNP government, his administration began implementing its promises immediately. The Prime Minister emphasized that the participants in the event are respected by people without any obligation and provide guidance during difficult times. He reiterated his government’s commitment to reducing inequality by offering financial assistance or employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged groups, fulfilling pledges made before the national election. According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, honorariums will be provided to officials from 4,908 mosques, 990 temples, 144 Buddhist monasteries, and 396 churches. Under the pilot project, each mosque will receive 10,000 taka, each temple 8,000 taka, distributed among respective religious leaders and staff.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Iran has been 'completely defeated' in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday. He stated that Iran wants to make a deal, but he will not accept it. Trump also criticized what he called 'fake news media' for not reporting how well the U.S. military performed against Iran. He did not provide further details about his claim or the nature of the alleged deal. According to the report, Iranian officials have pledged to continue fighting despite Trump’s assertion of their defeat. The comments come amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, though the article does not specify the current status of the conflict or any official response from Tehran. The report, citing The Guardian, does not clarify whether any negotiations are underway or what specific developments led to Trump’s statement.

The Punjab state government and several Indian farmers’ unions have publicly expressed solidarity with Iran amid continued US and Israeli attacks and the Indian government’s silence. Last week, the Punjab assembly observed a one-minute silence in support of the Iranian people. During a budget session recording, legislator Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi condemned the attacks that began on February 28, calling a school bombing that killed about 165 children inhumane. Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan urged members to honor the victims with silence. Sukhi told The Wire that he raised the issue at the state level to alert other Indian states. Despite a meeting between India’s foreign secretary and Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has not issued any formal statement on the war or the killing of Iran’s leader. Meanwhile, thousands of farmers across Punjab protested a recent US-India trade deal, expressing solidarity with Iran. Farmer leader Jagmohan Singh said both the war and the trade pact were anti-farmer. Student and civil society groups in Punjab, as well as demonstrators in Indian-administered Kashmir, continue protests against US-Israeli aggression and in support of Iran and Palestine.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman inaugurated an honorarium distribution program for imams, muezzins, khadems, priests, sebayets, and heads of Buddhist monasteries at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday around 11:15 a.m. During the event, he personally handed over honorarium payments to several religious representatives. According to an announcement from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the initiative will cover 4,908 mosques, 990 temples, 144 Buddhist monasteries, and 396 churches. The program aims to provide financial recognition to those responsible for religious services across different faiths. The Ministry of Public Administration stated that under the pilot project, each mosque will receive 10,000 taka, distributed among the imam, muezzin, and khadem, while each temple will receive 8,000 taka, divided between the priest and sebayet. The program marks a government effort to extend financial support to religious service providers across multiple faith communities in Bangladesh.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that all military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, have been completely destroyed. As nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports depend on the island, the attack is being viewed as a major blow to Iran’s economy. A retired U.S. Army officer told CNN that the global oil market could spiral out of control following the strike. In a statement issued Friday night, Trump warned that if Tehran continues to obstruct shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the island’s oil infrastructure will also be directly targeted. Former U.S. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said the attack has significantly increased the risk of war, noting that the U.S. is now targeting Iran’s economic core rather than just its military or government. CNN, citing Pentagon sources, reported that a U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit is being deployed to the Middle East to address escalating tensions. Iran’s state media, however, claimed that no oil-related infrastructure on Kharg Island was damaged.