Fuel prices have risen sharply in 85 countries since the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance on February 28, 2026. The conflict has severely disrupted global oil supply chains, with the closure of the Hormuz Strait causing acute shortages, particularly in Asia. According to the American Automobile Association, the average price of regular gasoline in the United States increased by 20 percent to $3.58 per gallon, while in California it exceeded $5 per gallon, the highest in two years. Global Petrol Prices data show Vietnam experienced the steepest rise, with prices jumping nearly 50 percent per liter, followed by Laos, Cambodia, Australia, and the United States. Japan is preparing to release oil from its strategic reserves, and South Korea has imposed maximum price caps for the first time in 30 years. Bangladesh and Pakistan have implemented emergency measures, including university closures and reduced workweeks, to conserve fuel. Economists warn that disruptions in transport and logistics are increasing inflation and unemployment simultaneously, raising the risk of global stagflation similar to past oil crises.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on citizens to take preventive measures against dengue and chikungunya through a special video message released on Wednesday. He warned that both diseases have become serious threats to public health but emphasized that awareness and early prevention can protect people from infection. Experts noted that Aedes mosquitoes transmit these diseases, making proactive control essential. The Prime Minister explained that although dengue outbreaks are most common from June to October, infections can occur at any time. He urged people to prevent water from accumulating in containers such as drains, flower pots, buckets, and discarded tires, and to keep water tanks covered. He also announced a nationwide cleanliness campaign starting March 14, to be conducted weekly, with members of parliament and local representatives encouraged to lead community cleaning efforts every Saturday. Rahman reiterated that the government’s health policy prioritizes prevention over treatment and reminded citizens that cleanliness and awareness remain the most effective defenses against mosquito-borne diseases.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that several historic decisions will be made during the first session of the 13th National Parliament, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday. He described the session as highly significant and historic for the nation, marking the culmination of a 16–17-year-long struggle toward democratic transition. The minister stated that Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman will deliver the opening address. As the Speaker and Deputy Speaker had not yet been finalized, the session will begin with a temporary presiding member, who will oversee the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker according to parliamentary rules. Following their election, the President will administer the oath to both officials. The announcement underscores the government’s emphasis on the symbolic and procedural importance of the inaugural session, which is expected to set the tone for the new parliamentary term.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam announced that legal action will be taken if allegations against prosecutors of the International Crimes Tribunal are found to be true. He made the statement on Wednesday during a press conference at his office. A fact-finding committee was formed on Tuesday to investigate claims of unethical conduct involving members of the prosecution team or related individuals. According to Aminul Islam, one complaint has already been received and is being treated with utmost seriousness. The committee will investigate whether any member of the prosecution team or associated person was involved in unethical activities. The Chief Prosecutor also stated that any other complaints related to the tribunal will be examined. The controversy began after leaked WhatsApp call recordings of former prosecutor Saimum Reza Talukder surfaced. He allegedly demanded one crore taka from the family of former MP A.B.M. Fazle Karim Chowdhury, accused in a crimes against humanity case, in exchange for securing bail.

Research and advocacy group PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) have called for the immediate passage of the 'Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025' as a law in the first session of Bangladesh’s new Parliament. The demand was made at a press conference held on Wednesday at the National Press Club’s Manik Mia Hall in Dhaka. Speakers at the event noted that the current government had pledged in its election manifesto to take legal measures to control non-communicable diseases caused by tobacco use. They argued that passing the ordinance into law would help protect public health by discouraging the use of nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and vapes, and by shielding non-smokers, including women and children, from secondhand smoke exposure. According to data presented at the conference, tobacco use causes around 200,000 deaths annually in Bangladesh, with health and environmental damages estimated at Tk 87,000 crore per year—more than double the revenue earned from the tobacco sector. Advocates warned that without stronger legislation, the harmful effects of tobacco on public health and the economy will continue to worsen.

A delegation of the AB Party met Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The meeting was led by AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, who congratulated the Prime Minister for assuming national responsibility through elections following the interim government period. Monju also handed over two letters—one on behalf of the party and another from his Feni constituency. During the meeting, the Prime Minister listened to the delegation and emphasized positive politics for the welfare of the nation and its people. The AB Party leaders recalled the turbulent events of July–August and presented four key recommendations addressing constitutional reform, national unity, law and order, and justice for past political repression. The proposals included resolving disputes over the July Charter and constitutional reform council, convening a national consultative meeting to tackle economic challenges from the US–Iran war, launching a joint anti-corruption and anti-crime drive, and rebuilding Bangladesh based on equality, dignity, and social justice while ensuring accountability for past atrocities.

A total of 391 international flights have been canceled from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport over the past 11 days due to the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed the cancellations in a press release issued on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. On that day alone, 24 flights were canceled, including services by Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Jazeera, and Flydubai. According to the CAAB, flight disruptions began on February 28, when 23 flights were canceled, followed by 40 on March 1, 46 on March 2, and 39 on March 3. The cancellations continued daily through March 11, affecting routes primarily to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman. Despite the disruptions, limited operations are continuing, with 39 flights scheduled for March 11, including eight to Muscat, 19 to Kuwait, and 12 to the UAE. The cancellations have significantly affected international travel from Dhaka, particularly to Middle Eastern destinations, as airlines adjust to the regional conflict.

A Thailand-flagged cargo vessel named 'Mayuri Nari', en route to Gujarat, India, was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Hormuz Strait on Wednesday, causing a fire onboard. According to reports from India Today and AFP, the Omani Navy launched a rapid rescue operation, evacuating 20 of the 23 crew members, while three sailors remain on the ship. The incident occurred about 11 nautical miles off Oman’s northern coast. The Royal Thai Navy and the United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that the vessel was damaged by an unknown projectile. The ship, owned by Thailand’s Precious Shipping, was identified through its International Maritime Organization number and structural images. The fire has since been brought under control, though details about the remaining crew’s condition and the extent of the damage have not yet been released. No group or country has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the type of weapon used remains unidentified. The Royal Thai Navy has initiated an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of the incident.

Natural gas prices across Europe and the United Kingdom rose sharply on March 11, 2026, as fears grew that ongoing tensions in the Middle East could disrupt energy supplies. According to Al Jazeera, the increase followed unverified reports that Iran had begun placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical routes for oil and gas transport. Market analysts noted that any disruption in the strait could significantly affect liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries to Europe and Asia. During morning trading, European gas prices climbed by about 5.7 percent, while the UK’s main wholesale gas contract rose nearly 6 percent. The situation intensified after the US Central Command announced that American forces had “eliminated” 16 Iranian vessels allegedly involved in mine-laying near the waterway. Analysts warned that further deterioration of security in the Strait of Hormuz could have major consequences for global energy markets, heightening international concerns over Middle East stability and supply reliability.

Bangladesh Bank has issued a new circular allowing commercial banks to provide loans to customers using treasury bonds as collateral. Under the directive, banks can lend up to 75 percent of the face value of a customer's treasury bonds. However, the total outstanding loan amount, including interest, cannot exceed the bond’s nominal value. The circular was released on Wednesday from the central bank. According to the circular, the decision was made as many banks expressed interest in accepting treasury bonds as lien for overdraft or term loans. Before granting such loans, banks must mark the bonds as lien in the Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI) system. The loan tenure must not exceed the maturity period of the treasury bond, and banks are prohibited from providing loans to customers for the purpose of purchasing bonds. The directive aims to facilitate secured lending while maintaining risk control through strict compliance with bond valuation and tenure limits.

Bangladesh Bank has directed all scheduled banks to adopt energy-saving measures in response to the ongoing geopolitical situation affecting global energy supplies. In a circular issued on Wednesday, the central bank instructed that air conditioners in bank offices must not be set below 25 degrees Celsius. It also urged bank officials to use public transport instead of personal vehicles and to consider ride-sharing where possible. The directive emphasized the need for prudent use of electricity and fuel across bank headquarters, branches, and offices. It called for turning off unnecessary lights, fans, and electrical equipment, and for limiting non-essential travel to reduce fuel consumption. The circular further required compliance with existing schedules and restrictions on building illumination and digital display boards, discouraging excessive lighting. Bangladesh Bank’s instructions aim to ensure efficient energy use across the banking sector as part of a broader national effort to manage fuel and electricity consumption during disruptions in international energy supply chains.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has accused the BNP of reversing its stance after forming a government as a beneficiary of the July uprising. Speaking at a roundtable titled “Reluctance to Implement Referendum Verdict: Concerned Civil Society” organized by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, he alleged that legal and political conspiracies were ongoing regarding the Constitutional Reform Council and the July Charter. Parwar said the referendum received nearly 68 percent “yes” votes, with about 50 million people supporting it, which should make it constitutionally binding. He criticized the BNP for ignoring this public mandate and questioned why the law minister remained silent on the July Charter while the home minister provided legal explanations. He also accused the government of deliberately prolonging parliamentary discussions on the July Charter under the pretext of sub judice. He urged BNP lawmakers to take the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council and implement the consensus points of the July Charter, saying that doing so would fulfill the people’s aspirations reflected in the blood-stained July Charter.

Engineer Md. Enamul Haque, Member of Parliament for Naogaon-2 (Dhamoirhat-Patnitala) and a Jamaat representative, was admitted to Dhamoirhat Upazila Health Complex after suddenly falling ill on Monday morning. He received treatment for gastric and high blood pressure issues and stayed at the hospital until noon. During his stay, he ate the regular meals provided to general patients, an act that drew widespread praise from locals and social media users. Dhamoirhat Upazila Health Officer Dr. Ashish Kumar Sarkar said the MP’s decision to seek treatment at a government hospital without prior notice demonstrated trust in public healthcare. Enamul Haque stated that he chose to receive care at his local health complex to encourage confidence in government medical services and expressed satisfaction with the dedication of doctors and staff despite limited resources. Following the incident, photos of the MP eating hospital food circulated online, prompting positive reactions. Many observers viewed his action as a rare and exemplary gesture that could strengthen public trust in government healthcare facilities.

The High Court has granted bail to former Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations of unlawfully receiving a plot. The bench of Justice Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain and Justice Md Zakir Hossain issued the order on Wednesday. According to his lawyer Monayem Nabi Shaheen, there are currently no legal barriers to Haque’s release from custody. Senior lawyers Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, Mostafizur Rahman Khan, Motahar Hossain Saju, and Monayem Nabi Shaheen represented Haque in the bail hearing. Earlier, on Sunday, the High Court had granted him bail in four other cases related to alleged verdict forgery and the killing of a Jubo Dal activist during the July Movement. The state later appealed to the Appellate Division to suspend those bail orders, which are now pending hearing in the chamber court. Haque was arrested on July 24 of the previous year from his Dhanmondi residence and shown arrested in multiple cases, including those filed in Shahbagh and Narayanganj over alleged forged judgments concerning the caretaker government verdict.

An Iran-backed Iraqi group known as the Islamic Resistance has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that reportedly killed 13 US soldiers and injured several dozen others in Iraq. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the group said it carried out 291 military operations over the past 12 days, including 31 drone and missile strikes on US bases within the last 24 hours. The group warned European nations against participating in any aggression against Iran, accusing global powers of trying to suppress the dignity and independence of the Iranian nation. It alleged that Zionist and American forces are attempting to draw Iran’s allies into a broader conflict against the Islamic Republic. The statement further declared that any country taking part in aggression against Iran would be considered an enemy, and its forces and bases in Iraq and the wider region would become legitimate targets for retaliation.