The BNP government will begin a pilot program to provide monthly honorariums to imams, muezzins, and khadems at 4,908 mosques across Bangladesh before Eid-ul-Fitr. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the initiative on Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m. at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the program on March 12. The initiative also includes 990 Hindu temples, 144 Buddhist monasteries, and 396 Christian churches. Under the pilot phase, each mosque will receive Tk 10,000 per month, distributed as Tk 5,000 for the imam, Tk 3,000 for the muezzin, and Tk 2,000 for the khadem. Temples, monasteries, and churches will each receive Tk 8,000, divided among their respective religious leaders and assistants. Annual festival bonuses are also planned, with Tk 1,000 twice yearly for mosque staff and Tk 2,000 for other major religious festivals. The government plans to implement the program in four phases, requiring Tk 1,100 crore in 2026–27 and rising to Tk 4,400 crore by 2029–30 for full implementation.

Newly elected Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stated that chanting slogans in Parliament is inappropriate and outside parliamentary tradition. He made the remarks on Friday, March 13, after paying tribute to the martyrs at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar. Ahmed noted that while walkouts are a recognized parliamentary practice, maintaining discipline is essential, and slogan chanting should not occur inside the chamber. He emphasized that Bangladesh has achieved a democratic Parliament through great sacrifice and expressed hope that lawmakers will work together to fulfill the people’s aspirations. The Speaker also pledged to ensure impartial conduct in parliamentary proceedings, comparing his approach to neutral umpiring in cricket. Earlier that morning, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War, observed a minute of silence, and signed the memorial’s visitor book.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP National Standing Committee, at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Friday after Jumma prayers. During the visit, he inquired about Abbas’s health condition, spoke with his family members, and instructed officials to arrange for his treatment in Singapore as soon as possible. Afroza Abbas, president of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal and wife of Mirza Abbas, along with attending doctors, were present at the hospital during the visit. Earlier in the day, BNP announced that Mirza Abbas would be flown to Singapore at 6 p.m. for advanced treatment at the Neuroscience Department of the National University Hospital. Mirza Abbas had been admitted to Evercare Hospital on Wednesday night after suddenly falling ill and losing consciousness at his residence in Bashundhara, Dhaka.

A Turkish-owned vessel has crossed the Strait of Hormuz with permission from Iran, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, as reported by Al Jazeera. Local media said one of 15 Turkish-owned ships waiting near Iran received authorization to pass through the strategic waterway. The Turkish government had been in contact with Tehran regarding the matter. Uraloglu told the Haberturk news outlet that the permitted ship had previously used an Iranian port. The crossing occurred amid heightened regional tensions following threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which warned that any vessel transiting the strait could be targeted in retaliation for attacks by the United States and Israel. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping route for oil transport, and the Iranian threats have raised international concerns about potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

Pakistan conducted overnight airstrikes across Afghanistan, including in the capital Kabul and several border provinces, on Thursday night. Afghan authorities reported that at least four people were killed and fifteen others injured in Kabul, with damage to several residential areas. Among the dead were women and children, according to Kabul police spokesperson Khalil Zadran. Pakistan’s security forces stated that the operation targeted militants from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad has recently intensified cross-border air operations, claiming a rise in militant attacks inside Pakistan. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban government denied that any militant activity originates from its territory. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes also hit Kandahar, Paktia, and Paktika provinces near the border. Reports indicated that a fuel depot belonging to private airline Kam Air near Kandahar airport was struck, which supplies fuel to civilian and UN aircraft. Pakistan maintained that no civilians were killed in the operation. Independent verification of casualty figures remains difficult, according to multiple sources.

Speaker of the 13th National Parliament Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal paid deep respects to the martyrs of Bangladesh’s Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar on Friday morning. They laid floral wreaths, observed a moment of silence, and signed the visitors’ book to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for independence. Speaking to the media, Speaker Hafiz Uddin described his role in parliament as neutral, comparing it to that of a cricket umpire. He emphasized his tolerance toward the opposition and noted that he had resigned from his party to perform his duties impartially. He expressed confidence that the government, elected by the people, would build a happy and prosperous nation with parliament as its center. The Speaker also recalled former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and paid tribute to those who lost their lives in movements against authoritarian rule over the past 17 years.

An attempt was made to file a case against Asif Mahmud and other coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement for their roles during the July Revolution. The court did not accept the case. The National Citizen Party (NCP) and its convenor, Md Nahid Islam, who is also the opposition chief whip, condemned the move in a statement released to the media on Friday, calling it alarming and reprehensible in the context of the new Bangladesh formed after the mass uprising. The statement described the attempt as a politically motivated attack not against individuals but against the spirit of the July Revolution, the anti-fascist struggle, and the young leadership that emerged from it. It said the anti-discrimination student movement symbolizes equality, justice, human dignity, democracy, and resistance to fascism for the country’s youth. The NCP urged the government and relevant authorities to take effective measures to stop such attempts and to act legally against the defeated forces allegedly involved in conspiracies. The party reaffirmed its commitment to resist any fascist activities.

A United States refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, killing four of the six crew members on board, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM) released on Friday. The remaining two crew members are still being sought as rescue operations continue in the area. CENTCOM said the KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury. The command confirmed that two aircraft were involved in the incident, with one crashing in western Iraq while the other landed safely. CENTCOM emphasized that the crash was not caused by hostile action or friendly fire. The incident adds to ongoing operational challenges for US forces in the region, though CENTCOM has not released further details about the cause of the crash or the status of the rescue efforts.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has advised that his political adviser and BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas be taken to Singapore for advanced medical treatment. The Prime Minister instructed the foreign minister to make necessary arrangements. The information was shared by BNP Standing Committee member and Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Children Affairs Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain after visiting Mirza Abbas at the hospital. BNP Secretary General and Minister for Local Government and Cooperatives Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with Standing Committee member Abdul Moin Khan, also visited Abbas. According to BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, Abbas’s family decided to move him to Singapore following doctors’ advice. He is scheduled to be flown by air ambulance at 6 p.m. to the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore. Family sources said Mirza Abbas lost consciousness during iftar on Wednesday and was admitted to a hospital later that night after his condition did not improve. He is currently receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

The United States has announced the permanent closure of its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, according to a report by The Independent on Thursday. The U.S. State Department informed Congress of the decision, stating that the move would save about 7.5 million dollars annually without harming U.S. national interests in Pakistan. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the official notice confirming the closure. The Peshawar consulate, located near the Afghan border, had been a key U.S. diplomatic post since the 2001 military campaign in Afghanistan. The decision follows the Trump administration’s policy of downsizing federal agencies and had been under consideration for over a year. The closure is not related to the ongoing Iran war, though protests erupted across Pakistan after the conflict began on February 28, leading to temporary suspension of operations at the Karachi consulate following deadly violence. According to the notice, closing the Peshawar mission will cost 3 million dollars, mainly for relocating armored trailers and equipment to Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Consular services for the region will now be handled from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

Large crowds gathered across Iran on Quds Day to express solidarity with Palestinians. Demonstrations took place in major cities including Tehran, Khorramabad, Isfahan, Golestan, Yazd, Mashhad, and Zahedan. Participants carried flags and portraits of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his late father Ali Khamenei, according to footage shared by Iranian state media. Reuters reported that in Tehran, demonstrators burned effigies of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while chanting slogans against the United States and Israel. Footage from Fars News Agency showed people striking coffins wrapped in U.S. and Israeli flags with nails. The rallies occurred amid ongoing Israeli military attacks, with Iranian state media also reporting explosions in Tehran, Isfahan, and other regions. The events underscored Iran’s continued public support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel and the United States, coinciding with heightened regional tensions.

Kenyan authorities have arrested a Chinese citizen, Zhang Kekun, at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 2,000 queen ants out of the country. The insects, identified as Messor cephalotes, are protected under international biodiversity conservation agreements, and their trade is strictly regulated. Security officers discovered the ants packed in specialized test tubes and tissue paper rolls inside Zhang’s luggage, which was bound for China. Prosecutor Allen Mulama told the court that 1,948 ants were found in test tubes and another 300 hidden in tissue rolls. Investigators requested permission to conduct forensic examinations of Zhang’s electronic devices. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) stated that investigations are ongoing in other cities where ant collection is suspected, and more arrests may follow. KWS had previously warned of rising demand for these garden ants in Europe and Asia, where collectors keep them as pets. In May of the previous year, a Kenyan court sentenced four individuals for a similar smuggling attempt, marking the country’s first such case.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a warning against any new anti-government protests, saying it will take even harsher measures than those used in January. The statement was broadcast on state television on Friday, signaling the government’s intent to prevent renewed demonstrations across the country. According to the Human Rights Activist News Agency, more than 7,000 people were killed during the January protests. Iranian authorities have blamed the violence on ‘terrorists’ allegedly working for Israel and the United States. Several human rights organizations have accused Iranian security forces of deliberately firing on protesters during those events. The report also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranians to rise against their government and overthrow the ruling system, adding to the international political tension surrounding Iran’s internal unrest.

Five Bangladeshi nationals were killed in a gas cylinder explosion at a guesthouse of a local construction company on Dhigura Island in the Maldives early Thursday night. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m., leaving two others critically injured. The injured workers were transferred to the capital, Malé, for advanced medical treatment. According to the Bangladesh High Commission’s Labour Counsellor in the Maldives, one of the injured is being treated in the ICU while the other is in the emergency department, both in critical condition. The victims were identified as Taj Uddin Islam, Md. Sadar Ali, Md. Robin Molla, Sofiqul Islam, and Md. Nurun Nabi Sarkar. The injured are Jamal Uddin and Saddam Hossain. A delegation from the Bangladesh High Commission has been sent to the site to assess the situation, and steps are being taken to repatriate the bodies of the deceased to their families in Bangladesh.

Iran’s state media reported that Mansoureh Khozasteh Bagherzadeh, wife of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is alive but seriously injured. Earlier rumors had claimed she was killed alongside her husband in a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike in Tehran. The Fars news agency stated on March 12 that previous reports of her death were incorrect and resulted from misinterpretation of initial injury updates. Several Iranian outlets had earlier reported that Bagherzadeh had died from her injuries, while semi-official Tasnim News said she was in a coma. Fars later clarified that the confusion arose from misreading early reports. Questions resurfaced about her condition after new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei made no mention of his mother’s death in his first public statement. Ayatollah Khamenei, aged 86, was reported killed in the February 28 airstrike on his Tehran residence. Following his death, Iran launched missile attacks targeting U.S. and Israeli bases in retaliation.