At least 41 people were killed and 40 others injured in Israeli air and ground attacks on Nabi Chit, a town in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. Among the dead were three Lebanese soldiers, and local residents have listed the names of civilian victims, including children. The strikes occurred amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Iran. The Israeli military did not issue an immediate comment on the incident. Reports indicate that Israel has carried out numerous attacks across Lebanon and deployed ground troops in the country’s south. According to the BBC, the operation in Nabi Chit aimed to recover the remains of an Israeli pilot who went missing in Lebanon 40 years ago. The attack adds to escalating regional tensions, with Lebanon facing repeated Israeli strikes and civilian casualties mounting in multiple areas.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini has claimed that the country’s armed forces can continue intense warfare for at least six months at the current pace. The statement was reported by Iran’s semi-official news agency and comes amid ongoing hostilities involving the United States and Israel. According to AFP, Naini’s assertion directly contradicts recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly described the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran as highly successful. Earlier this week, Trump declared that the United States would win the war by a wide margin and claimed to have destroyed what he called Iran’s “evil empire.” The IRGC remains one of Iran’s most powerful and influential institutions, extending its reach beyond military and intelligence operations into politics, education, and the economy, according to the report.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has postponed its scheduled meeting in Doha, Qatar, originally planned for March 25–27, 2026, due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The decision was made after security concerns arose from ongoing conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which have made West Asian airspace unsafe for travel. According to cricket website Cricbuzz, a new date for the meeting has not yet been set. However, the ICC is considering holding the meeting in April if the situation stabilizes. Officials are also exploring the possibility of relocating the event to a South Asian city as an alternative venue. The postponed meeting was expected to bring together ICC board directors, chief executives, committee members, and senior officials to discuss the international cricket calendar, future plans, and new global opportunities. Meanwhile, the T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand is being held today in Ahmedabad, with several ICC and national cricket board officials expected to attend.

After one week of ongoing war in Iran, the humanitarian crisis is worsening rapidly. According to the report, more than 1,300 people have been killed in the conflict so far. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) stated that approximately 100,000 people have been displaced as a result of the fighting. UNHCR said it has been receiving a large number of calls and messages from people seeking emergency assistance since the conflict began. Many families are leaving their homes in search of safety, moving from Tehran and other regions to different areas of the country. UN officials have warned that if the war continues, the humanitarian situation could deteriorate further and the number of displaced people may rise quickly.

In Dinajpur’s Khansama upazila, the age-old practice of plowing fields with bulls is rapidly disappearing as modern agricultural machinery takes over. Once a common sight across rural Bangladesh, the bond between farmers and their cattle symbolized the country’s agrarian heritage. Today, tractors and power tillers dominate the fields, leaving only a few farmers still using bulls for plowing. The shift reflects the broader transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture through technological advancement. While modern tools have made farming faster and easier, they have also displaced traditional methods that were integral to rural life and culture. Agricultural experts note that bull-driven plowing remains an important part of the nation’s farming history and cultural identity. Some observers believe that alongside embracing new technology, efforts should be made to preserve this traditional practice as a living symbol of Bangladesh’s rural heritage.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that while the country’s overall default loans fell by Tk 870 billion in the last quarter of the previous year, five merged banks saw their non-performing loans rise by Tk 65 billion. The combined default loans of these banks—Exim, Social Islami, First Security Islami, Global Islami, and Union Bank—reached Tk 1.66 trillion, accounting for 84.22 percent of their total loans. Officials attributed the increase to financial misconduct by former bank leaders Nazrul Islam Mazumder and Saiful Alam, who allegedly took large sums under various names and failed to repay. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit reported that S. Alam Group alone withdrew Tk 1.02 trillion from these banks. Persistent liquidity shortages and capital deficits led the government to merge the five institutions. Bangladesh Bank has been working for a year on the merger, including legal and policy preparations, asset and liability reviews, and simulation exercises for a new state-owned Shariah-based bank. The merged entity will have Tk 350 billion in paid-up capital, of which Tk 200 billion will come from the government and Tk 150 billion from deposit-to-share conversions.

An attack struck the headquarters of Kuwait’s Public Institution for Social Security, causing structural damage to the main building, according to a government statement. The incident occurred as the institution announced that no visitors would be allowed into the headquarters on Sunday, advising them to use other branches or online services instead. The attack came at a time when Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense was reporting repeated airstrike threats and urging residents to follow safety guidelines. The government has not yet provided details about the nature of the attack or any casualties. The timing of the assault, coinciding with heightened regional tensions and defense alerts, underscores growing security concerns in Kuwait and the wider Gulf region.

A sudden and severe shortage of petrol and octane has hit filling stations across Barishal city and surrounding areas since late Friday night. Motorists have been forced to return empty-handed as most stations display signs announcing the unavailability of fuel. Long queues formed at the few stations with limited supplies, leading to frustration and altercations between drivers and station staff. Station owners attribute the crisis to panic buying, saying drivers are purchasing three to four times their usual fuel needs amid fears of a broader shortage linked to conflict in the Middle East. Some customers, however, accuse station owners of hoarding fuel for profit. Managers at several stations confirmed that petrol and octane stocks were depleted by Friday night, leaving only diesel available. Officials from Meghna Petroleum’s Barishal depot said the shortage resulted from excessive demand rather than supply failure and assured that the situation should normalize within a few days once new shipments arrive.

At least 15 ships carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and raw materials for the cement industry have reached Bangladesh’s maritime boundary after crossing the Hormuz Strait. Twelve of the vessels have already arrived at Chattogram Port, while the remaining three are expected within the week. The ships managed to pass through the strait just before it was closed following a joint Israel–United States attack on Iran. According to port and energy officials, the vessels include four carrying LNG, two with LPG, and nine transporting cement raw materials such as clinker, gypsum, limestone and stone. The arrivals have eased concerns over potential fuel shortages amid regional tensions. One LPG ship named Sevan arrived from Oman’s Sohar Port with 22,172 tons of LPG, while another, GYMM, carried 19,316 tons. Two LNG carriers, Al Zour and Al Jassaniya, arrived from Qatar with about 126,000 tons of LNG. Additional ships are expected from Qatar and other Gulf ports in the coming days. Officials cautioned that risks remain, as two LNG carriers and one crude oil vessel are still stranded beyond the Hormuz Strait.

Israel continued its attacks on Iran for the second consecutive week, marking the first time that strikes targeted Tehran’s oil storage and refinery facilities. A massive blaze erupted at one of the capital’s refineries following the assault, with flames visible across the city. The Israeli military stated that it had struck several Iranian fuel depots, while Associated Press footage showed the night sky over Tehran illuminated by widespread fires. Iran’s state media blamed both the United States and Israel for the attacks, which also caused fires in multiple parts of the capital. The affected refinery reportedly supplies fuel to Tehran and northern provinces. On social media platform X, the Israel Defense Forces claimed the targeted sites were used by Iranian authorities to distribute fuel to various military entities. The incident adds to rising regional tensions, as reports also noted Israeli strikes in Lebanon and flight suspensions by Oman Air following the escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to intensify military strikes on Iran, declaring through his social media platform Truth Social that Iran would be hit very hard. The warning came on the eighth day of the ongoing war, during which U.S. and Israeli forces carried out extensive attacks across Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed Trump’s call for unconditional surrender, asserting that Iran would never bow down. He also apologized to Gulf neighbors and pledged not to attack them, provided their territories are not used for assaults on Iran. The conflict has spread across the region, with Israel launching new airstrikes on Tehran and Isfahan, and Iran responding with ballistic missile attacks on Israel and strikes on U.S. bases in Bahrain. Explosions were reported in Dubai and Manama, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards targeted a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz and Kurdish positions in Iraq. The Iranian Red Crescent reported thousands of civilian structures hit since February 28. Reports also indicated that Russia has been supplying Iran with intelligence on U.S. targets, while Washington approved emergency arms sales to Israel. Analysts cited by U.S. media suggested that even large-scale attacks are unlikely to collapse Iran’s leadership structure.

At least four people were killed and ten others injured in an Israeli attack on a hotel in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry as reported by Al Jazeera Arabic. The strike occurred on March 8, 2026, prompting immediate rescue operations at the site. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, and several were reported to be in critical condition. The report stated that details about the intended target or the specific motive behind the attack were not immediately available. Israel has not issued any official comment regarding the incident. Lebanese authorities have not provided further information about the victims or the extent of the damage. The lack of official statements from either side leaves uncertainty about the broader implications of the strike or whether it signals an escalation in regional tensions.

Bangladesh observed International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, emphasizing women’s empowerment, rights, and social roles. The article outlines that despite notable progress in education, health, and political participation, women in Bangladesh continue to face structural and cultural challenges. The country has achieved significant milestones since independence, including legal reforms such as the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and the Acid Crime Prevention Act, aimed at protecting women’s rights. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 report, Bangladesh ranks highest in South Asia for women’s empowerment, though gender gaps persist in education, health, and employment. Women’s labor force participation reached 42.7% in 2020, but most remain in informal sectors without adequate protection. Political participation has improved, with 85 women contesting the 13th national election and seven elected to parliament. However, patriarchal norms still limit women’s authority in reserved seats. The article stresses that women’s empowerment is essential for national development. It calls for stronger measures to ensure equal pay, safe workplaces, expanded education in science and technology, and improved maternal health services, particularly in rural areas.

Bangladesh has become the world’s second-largest supplier of online gig work, following India, according to studies by the ILO, Oxford Internet Institute, and the World Bank. With an estimated 1–1.2 million active freelancers, the country’s youth are increasingly engaged in digital platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. This expansion has reduced unemployment pressure and improved individual financial stability. The gig economy now spans both urban and rural areas, contributing around USD 1–1.2 billion annually to foreign exchange reserves. However, the rapid, unregulated growth has exposed weaknesses in skill quality, professionalism, and infrastructure. Many Bangladeshi gig workers remain in low-skill, low-pay roles that are being replaced by AI tools like ChatGPT, Canva AI, and Google AutoML. Language barriers, missed deadlines, and lack of contract knowledge have also weakened client confidence. Unlike the EU, Bangladesh lacks social protection, health insurance, or pension systems for gig workers, prompting the ITUC to label such economies as “digital sweatshops.” The article stresses the need for high-value skill development in AI, data science, and blockchain, along with policy reforms to ensure stable internet, secure payment systems, and inclusion of gig work in national labor frameworks.

Several political groups formed after the July 2024 uprising, including the National Citizens Party (NCP), have begun renewed discussions on building a broader alliance. Following the end of the interim government and the formation of a new administration, these groups are reassessing their strategies to strengthen organizational capacity, reactivate inactive leaders, and unify fragmented July-aligned platforms. Some factions that split from the NCP, such as those led by former adviser Mahfuz Alam, have launched new political platforms but are expected to maintain implicit support for the July movement’s goals. The discussions are driven by concerns over the ruling party’s stance on the July National Charter for constitutional reform, the High Court’s rule on its implementation, and fears of authoritarian resurgence. NCP leaders have criticized the government’s approach to justice and reform, pledging to uphold the July Charter and resist any rollback. The party has formed two new committees to monitor reform implementation and justice for July-related killings. Amid these developments, the NCP is working to reintegrate former members, attract allied groups such as the AB Party and UP Bangladesh, and prepare for coordinated political action to pressure the government into fulfilling reform commitments.