Fuel shortages have led to long queues and protests in multiple countries as the global energy market faces severe disruption. The shortages are linked to rising fuel prices that have intensified public frustration and logistical challenges worldwide. According to the source, the continuing US-Israeli war on Iran has disrupted global energy supplies, contributing to the surge in fuel prices. The resulting scarcity has affected transportation and daily life in many regions, prompting widespread demonstrations and long waiting lines at fuel stations. The situation underscores the vulnerability of global energy markets to geopolitical conflicts and suggests potential for further unrest if supply disruptions persist.

A United States KC-135 military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraqi airspace during Operation Epic Fury, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The incident occurred in friendly airspace, and rescue operations have been launched by CENTCOM forces. The statement confirmed that two aircraft were involved in the operation; one crashed in western Iraq while the other landed safely. CENTCOM clarified that the crash was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire. The KC-135 aircraft is typically used to refuel combat aircraft midair during extended military operations. The statement did not provide details about casualties or the cause of the crash. The ongoing rescue efforts indicate that the US military is prioritizing recovery and investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A Dhaka court has ordered the arrest of former Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque in connection with the Abdul Kaiyum murder case under Jatrabari Police Station. The order was issued on Thursday by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Jamshed Alam after a hearing. Earlier, Inspector Khaled Hasan of Jatrabari Police Station filed a petition seeking to show Haque as arrested in the case, citing concerns that his release on bail could influence the investigation and cause public unrest. The petition described Haque as an influential figure whose release might disrupt law and order. The court granted the petition after considering these factors. Haque also faces separate cases in Fatullah and Shahbagh police stations, including allegations of forgery and delivering unlawful verdicts. Preliminary evidence reportedly links him to these incidents. According to the case statement, the July 18, 2024, protest in Kajla, Jatrabari, demanding quota reform and equality, turned violent after alleged incitement by Haque, leading to the shooting death of Abdul Kaiyum. A murder case was later filed at Jatrabari Police Station.

Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began its first session on March 13, 2026, in the iconic Louis Kahn-designed Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The session opened without a sitting Speaker, prompting the appointment of Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain as presiding chair. Later, BNP leaders Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Kaiser Kamal were elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, after resigning from party and ministerial posts. Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman, returning from long exile, led the session, while Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman assumed the role of Opposition Leader. The new parliament, formed after what was described as the fairest election in the country’s history, marks a shift from previous Awami League-led assemblies. It includes a large number of young and first-time lawmakers, as well as former student leaders from the 2024 mass uprising. The opposition staged a walkout during President Md. Shahabuddin’s address, protesting perceived betrayal of the July Revolution. Foreign diplomats attended the opening session, with Australia’s High Commissioner congratulating Bangladesh on achieving a democratic milestone. The parliament now faces the historic responsibility of implementing the July Charter and constitutional reforms born from the 2024 uprising.

Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Naib-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South, has accused President Md. Shahabuddin of silently supporting what he described as a massacre conducted by the Awami League government during the July movement. He claimed that despite the killing of thousands of students and citizens, the president took no action to stop the violence and instead continued to back the ruling party’s actions. Speaking as the chief guest at an iftar event organized by the professional wing of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Paltan Thana unit, Helal Uddin stated that the president cannot avoid responsibility for the July killings. He urged the government to immediately remove the president and implement the July Charter to elect a new head of state. The event was presided over by Maulana Abdul Kader, with Ariful Islam conducting the session. Other participants included Shahin Ahmed Khan, Advocate Maruful Islam, and several leaders from the Paltan Thana professional division.

Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Choudhury will join the national football team directly in Vietnam ahead of their friendly match against the host nation on March 26, 2026. The team will then face Singapore on March 31 in their final AFC Asian Cup qualifying match, to be held in Singapore. The national training camp begins on March 16 at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, but Hamza will miss the camp as he plays his last English Championship match for Leicester City on March 21 before flying to Vietnam on March 22. Bangladesh, placed in Group C, have already been eliminated from the qualifiers after five matches, securing one win and two draws for a total of five points. Despite the early exit, the team aims to perform well in the Singapore match to improve their FIFA ranking. Coach Javier Cabrera’s squad will start with 30 players, including expatriates Shamit Som, Zayan Ahmed, Fahamidul Islam, and Tariq Kazi, before being trimmed to 23 for the Vietnam trip. The Bangladesh Football Federation has yet to make a final decision on Cabrera’s future, which will be determined after the Vietnam friendly.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited BNP Standing Committee member and Prime Minister’s political adviser Mirza Abbas at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Thursday night. During the visit, he spoke with Abbas’s wife to learn about his health condition and ongoing treatment, and he prayed for Abbas’s quick recovery. Dr. S.M. Khaliduzzaman, president of the Medical Thana unit of Dhaka North Jamaat, accompanied him during the visit. According to family sources, Mirza Abbas lost consciousness suddenly during iftar on Wednesday. As his condition did not improve, he was admitted to Evercare Hospital later that night for treatment. The report did not provide further details about his current medical status or the cause of his illness. The visit underscores continued political interactions among opposition leaders despite health challenges faced by senior figures.

A fire broke out aboard the United States aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, injuring two service members, according to a statement released by the US military on Thursday. The incident occurred in the ship’s main laundry space, and officials confirmed that the fire was not related to combat operations. The US Central Command stated that the blaze was not caused by any hostile action or warfare. However, the military did not disclose the current location of the carrier at the time of the incident. The USS Gerald Ford is one of the US Navy’s major aircraft carriers, but no further details were provided about the extent of the damage or the condition of the injured personnel. The military’s statement focused on clarifying that the fire was accidental and not linked to any external threat, while investigations into the cause and impact of the incident are expected to continue.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed his earlier position on welcoming Iran’s national football team to the upcoming World Cup. In a post on Truth Social, Trump began by welcoming the team but added that he did not believe it would be safe for them to come to the United States given the current situation. His statement came less than a day after FIFA President Gianni Infantino claimed that Trump had reaffirmed support for Iran’s participation. Tensions between the two nations have escalated since a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28 in Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. In response, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on U.S. bases in the region. Following Infantino’s earlier post, Iran’s sports minister announced on state television that the country would not participate in the World Cup, citing the U.S. government’s actions. The World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with Iran’s group-stage matches set in the U.S. FIFA has not yet commented on the situation, leaving uncertainty over Iran’s participation.

Uncertainty is growing over Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Due to recent political circumstances, Iran has yet to make a final decision on whether it will compete. The country’s sports minister, Ahmad Doniyamal, stated that Iran is currently not in a position to take part in the tournament. If Iran ultimately withdraws, FIFA will need to fill the vacant spot. According to standard procedure, a replacement team is usually selected from the same continent as the withdrawing nation. This has led to speculation that either Iraq or the United Arab Emirates could take Iran’s place. FIFA rules allow the runner-up from the same qualifying group or the highest-ranked team from the same confederation that failed to qualify to be considered. The UAE’s higher ranking in Asia strengthens its case, while Iraq remains in contention as it is scheduled to face Bolivia or Suriname in an intercontinental playoff. FIFA could directly award Iraq a World Cup berth, with the UAE potentially taking Iraq’s playoff position instead.

On March 12, 2026, President Md. Shahabuddin delivered his address on the opening day of the first session of the National Parliament. The announcement of his speech immediately triggered commotion in the chamber. Following the event, the coalition of 110 organizations known as July Oikya issued a press release condemning the President’s participation, calling it a desecration of the people’s parliament. In its statement, July Oikya alleged that Shahabuddin, appointed by the former Hasina government, had repeatedly violated his oath after the 2024 mass uprising that toppled that regime. The group accused the ruling BNP of betraying the ideals of the uprising and the sacrifices of those killed, by allowing the President to address Parliament. It further claimed that the BNP had ignored the spirit of July by refusing to take an oath under the July Charter. July Oikya demanded that Parliament impeach President Shahabuddin for serious misconduct under Article 52 of the Constitution and implement the July Charter through a constitutional reform council. The group warned of a mass movement if these demands were not met.

An attempt was made to file a case at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court against Asif Mahmud, a former adviser and one of the coordinators of the July movement, over the alleged killing of a police officer during the protests. Jalal Hossain, a relative of the slain officer from Jatrabari Police Station, appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Rounak Jahan Taki’s court to lodge the case. When the magistrate did not accept it, some commotion reportedly occurred in the courtroom. According to the complaint, Jalal Hossain, son of Abdul Khalek from Juri in Moulvibazar, named Asif Mahmud along with 42 others, including Abdul Kader, Abu Bakr Mojumdar, and Hasan Mahmud, as accused. In response, Asif Mahmud, now spokesperson of the NCP, told Amader Desh that the July uprising was a settled matter, protected by indemnity granted through the July Charter. He said the attempt to reopen the issue was a conspiracy by defeated authoritarian forces seeking to question the legitimacy of the movement. He also noted that even the current home minister had acknowledged the continuation of the indemnity related to the July events.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate a government-funded monthly allowance program for imams, muezzins, khadems, priests, sebaits, and heads and deputy heads of monasteries across Bangladesh. The inauguration will take place at 10 a.m. on March 14 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Thursday night. The initiative aims to provide regular financial support to religious leaders and service holders from various faiths throughout the country. The announcement highlights the government’s plan to extend this allowance program nationwide, marking a formal recognition of the contributions of these religious figures to their communities. The event will officially begin the distribution process of the monthly allowances, signaling the government’s commitment to institutional support for religious service providers.

The government of Bangladesh is set to resume discussions with a Japanese consortium to expedite the launch of the long-delayed third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The meeting will take place tomorrow at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita, State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, and representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh are expected to attend. According to official sources, this will be the first formal discussion on the matter since the new BNP-led government assumed office. The initiative aims to resolve long-standing contractual and operational complications that have delayed the terminal’s opening. The discussions will focus on terminal management, operational control, and revenue sharing with the Japanese consortium. The outcome of the meeting will be presented to the Prime Minister on Saturday, after which a policy decision regarding the terminal’s launch is expected.

Thailand has demanded a formal apology from Iran after a Thai-flagged vessel was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The Thai government made the demand following confirmation that the ship had come under fire, leading to damage. The incident prompted Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Iranian ambassador to seek clarification regarding the attack and the extent of the vessel’s losses. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that the ship was targeted after it allegedly ignored a warning. In recent statements, Iranian officials have said that all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must obtain prior permission from Iran. The situation has drawn attention to the growing tension surrounding navigation rights in one of the world’s most strategic waterways. The diplomatic exchange underscores rising friction between Iran and regional maritime partners, with Thailand seeking accountability and Iran asserting control over the strait’s passage.