Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has been elected Speaker of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The first session of the new parliament began at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, presided over initially by BNP Standing Committee member Mosharraf Hossain. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed Hafiz Uddin Ahmed’s name, which was supported by Mirza Fakhrul Islam and opposition representative Abdullah Md. Taher. The 13th parliamentary session follows the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, after a student and public uprising. The 12th Parliament was subsequently dissolved, and elections for the 13th Parliament were held on February 12, 2026, under an interim government. The BNP formed the government with a two-thirds majority, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats as the main opposition. The Awami League, whose activities remain banned, has no representation in the current parliament. According to the constitution, the first parliamentary session must be convened within 30 days of election results. President Md. Shahabuddin called the session in compliance with this requirement.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began on Thursday at 11 a.m., with President Md. Shahabuddin scheduled to address the session at 2 p.m. According to the Parliament Secretariat, his speech is expected to last about 40 minutes. The session was convened in accordance with the constitutional requirement to call Parliament within 30 days of the election results being announced. The 13th Parliament convened roughly one month after the election results were declared. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed the government with a two-thirds majority, securing 209 seats. Its main rival was an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. In the election, Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured six. A total of 50 registered political parties participated in the election, and nine of them are represented in Parliament. Among the smaller parties, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish has two members, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh, BJP, Ganosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and Khelafat Majlish each have one. There are also seven independent members.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman delivered his first address at the inaugural session of the 13th National Parliament on March 12, 2026. In his speech, he paid tribute to all martyrs from the 1971 liberation struggle to the present and remembered his late mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He stated that Khaleda Zia fought for democracy until her last day and never compromised with autocracy or fascism. He also expressed respect for the late President Ziaur Rahman. The Prime Minister emphasized that he represents the people of Bangladesh beyond party lines and declared that making every family self-reliant is the goal of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He called for collective cooperation to achieve this objective and asserted that there should be no disagreement in building a self-reliant nation. The parliamentary session also saw the formation of five committees, including the parliamentary advisory committee, and was adjourned until Sunday.

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a series of overnight attacks targeting several Israeli military bases and cities. According to the group, drone strikes were carried out on the Yara barracks in northern Israel, while missile attacks targeted the Beit Lid base, the Glilot base near Tel Aviv, and the Atlit base near Haifa. Hezbollah also said it launched artillery fire at Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon and fired drones and rockets toward the coastal city of Nahariya. The group further claimed that a radar installation at the Marine Air Operations Command and Control base was damaged during one of the drone strikes conducted on Wednesday. The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not include any confirmation or response from Israeli authorities regarding the alleged attacks. The extent of the damage or casualties resulting from these claimed operations remains unclear, as no independent verification was provided in the source report.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 11 a.m., chaired by BNP Standing Committee member Mosharraf Hossain. The session commenced after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed his name, which was supported by Mirza Fakhrul Islam and opposition leader representative Abdullah Md. Taher. President Md. Shahabuddin convened the session in accordance with the constitutional requirement to hold a parliamentary meeting within 30 days of the election results. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12, 2026, under an interim government, about one and a half years after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, following a student and public uprising. The BNP formed the government with a two-thirds majority, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats and became the main opposition. The Awami League, which was banned from political activities, did not participate in the election and has no representation in the new parliament. The session marks the formal beginning of legislative activities under the new BNP-led government following the political transition.

Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began its proceedings on March 12, 2026, marking a historic session with several unprecedented features. The parliament was formed following the February 12 national election, held 18 months after the July uprising that toppled the Awami League government. For the first time in the country’s history, the Awami League did not participate in the election and has no representation in the new parliament. A total of 296 members have taken oath, with 227 serving as first-time lawmakers, while elections in three constituencies remain pending due to death, legal issues, and a by-election. Analysts note that most members lack practical experience in parliamentary procedures, lawmaking, and committee operations. The article explains key parliamentary terms such as quorum, bill, point of order, floor crossing, walkout, and expunge to help both new lawmakers and citizens understand legislative processes. It also highlights the absence of a sitting Speaker, as the previous Speaker resigned after the fall of the former government. According to the Chief Whip, the first session will be chaired by a person nominated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman until the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported on Wednesday that the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector is losing at least $600 million per day due to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The council attributed the losses to disrupted air travel, declining tourist confidence, and broken regional connectivity, which have sharply reduced demand across the region. According to the WTTC statement, the Middle East accounts for 5 percent of global tourism and 14 percent of international transit traffic. Major airports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain typically handle around 526,000 passengers daily, but have faced nearly two weeks of paralysis and disorder. This disruption has also affected global air travel, driving up ticket prices on many routes. The council noted that the region had projected $207 billion in revenue from international tourists in 2026. It warned that any interruption in travel flows can quickly and severely impact the tourism ecosystem.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament began at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The session was convened by President Md. Shahabuddin within the constitutional 30-day limit following the February 12 election, which brought the BNP to power with a two-thirds majority. The Jamaat-e-Islami–led alliance secured 77 seats and became the main opposition. The session opened without a speaker or deputy speaker, as both previous officeholders were unavailable, and a senior member was expected to preside temporarily. Tensions surfaced before the session between the ruling BNP and the opposition over constitutional reform, the July National Charter implementation, and the deputy speaker’s selection. Disagreement also arose regarding the president’s address to parliament. The opposition hinted it might boycott the address but had not confirmed its stance. Despite the friction, both sides publicly pledged to make the new parliament effective. The BNP’s chief whip emphasized cooperation and dialogue, while opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman promised constructive criticism and accountability. The government invited the opposition to propose a deputy speaker candidate, but the opposition demanded full implementation of the July reform package instead.

Former CIA Director and former US Central Command chief General David Petraeus has suggested that the United States may be responsible for a recent attack on a school in southern Iran. He made the remark when asked about possible US involvement in the incident. Although Petraeus said he had not personally reviewed the evidence from the investigation, he believed that the US likely carried out the strike using Tomahawk missiles. Petraeus added that there might have been outdated intelligence indicating the targeted building was once part of a larger Iranian naval compound. According to CBS, a US partner of the BBC, preliminary assessments also indicate that the United States was likely responsible for the deadly strike, though the attack on the school was unintentional and occurred by mistake. The report comes amid heightened regional tensions, with recent attacks in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait, as well as Iranian strikes on Israeli targets, further complicating the security situation.

The US Department of Defense has reported that the country spent more than $11.3 billion during the first six days of the ongoing war in the Middle East. According to US media reports, Pentagon military officials presented this preliminary estimate to American lawmakers during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. Reports from The New York Times and NBC News, citing unnamed sources, stated that the figure covers only direct expenses incurred during the first six days of the conflict. The reports also noted that the estimate excludes pre-war expenditures such as the deployment of additional troops and military equipment. As a result, the actual cost of the war is expected to be significantly higher than the initial estimate, according to the same reports.

Real Madrid secured a commanding 3–0 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on March 12, 2026. Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde scored all three goals, marking his first career hat-trick. Despite missing key players Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham due to injury, Real dominated the match from the start. Valverde opened the scoring in the 20th minute, doubling the lead seven minutes later from a Vinícius Júnior assist, and completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute from a Brahim Díaz cross. In the second half, Vinícius missed a penalty, while City’s Erling Haaland failed to convert his chances, with Antonio Rüdiger making a crucial defensive block. The Spanish side maintained control until the final whistle. With this result, Real Madrid take a strong advantage into the return leg in Manchester next Tuesday, where City face a difficult task to overturn the deficit.

International crude oil prices have risen again, with Brent crude climbing 9.3 percent to reach $100.50 per barrel on Thursday. The increase occurred despite announcements from the United States, the United Kingdom, and several other countries to release record amounts of emergency reserves. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also rose 8.8 percent to $94.92 per barrel. The surge in prices has been linked to renewed Iranian attacks on energy supply systems and infrastructure in the Middle East. The instability has disrupted market confidence and contributed to sharp fluctuations in oil prices. Earlier in the week, oil briefly exceeded $110 per barrel before experiencing significant volatility. The situation underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, where multiple ships have reportedly been attacked, further heightening concerns about global energy security.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry announced on March 12, 2026, that four Bahraini citizens aged between 22 and 36 have been arrested on charges of spying for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the ministry’s statement, the first detainee was allegedly following organizational instructions to photograph key sites in Bahrain with assistance from others. The collected information was reportedly transmitted to the IRGC through software channels. The ministry also reported that Iran carried out an attack targeting a fuel tank at a facility in Bahrain’s northern Muharraq Governorate early Thursday morning. In a post on social media platform X, the ministry described the incident as Iranian aggression and said relevant authorities were taking necessary measures in response. These developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with Bahrain directly accusing Iran of hostile actions on its territory and pursuing legal action against alleged domestic collaborators.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms and rain across eight divisions, including Dhaka, over the coming days. The forecast, issued on March 11, 2026, also warned that Rajshahi, Jessore, and Sylhet regions may experience temporary gusty or squally winds along with rain. River ports in these areas have been advised to hoist cautionary signal number one. According to the department, a trough of low pressure lies over West Bengal and adjoining areas, while the seasonal low remains over the South Bay of Bengal. Under its influence, scattered rain or thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely to occur in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. The forecast also indicated that daytime temperatures across the country may drop by one to two degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.

Security has been strengthened in and around the Bangladesh Parliament complex ahead of the first session of the 13th National Assembly. Authorities have banned all types of gatherings, processions, and rallies in the area. On Thursday morning, a large number of law enforcement personnel were deployed, and the entire zone was placed under multiple layers of security involving police, Rapid Action Battalion, and intelligence agencies. According to a notice from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the restrictions took effect from midnight Wednesday, prohibiting the carrying of weapons, explosives, or any harmful substances, as well as any form of public demonstration. To manage traffic during the session, diversions were implemented from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on specific roads near the Parliament. Vehicles from Indira Road toward Begum Rokeya Sarani are required to use alternate routes via Manik Mia Avenue and Mirpur Road. Dhaka Metropolitan Police urged residents to follow the temporary traffic guidelines to avoid congestion and cooperate during the parliamentary session period.