The European Union’s Gas Coordination Group will meet on Wednesday to assess the impact of the spreading conflict in the Middle East on gas supplies. An EU spokesperson confirmed the meeting on Monday, noting that the group will review the situation following recent disruptions in energy production. The meeting follows QatarEnergy’s announcement to halt liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at its Ras Laffan and Mesaieed industrial facilities after Iranian drone attacks on those sites. The production halt has led to a sharp rise in European gas prices, reportedly increasing by about 50 percent. The Gas Coordination Group includes representatives from EU member state governments and is responsible for monitoring gas storage and supply security across the bloc. The group also coordinates emergency measures during supply crises, and the upcoming meeting is expected to focus on evaluating potential risks to Europe’s energy stability and possible response strategies.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has clarified two recent statements issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation in the Middle East. Speaking to journalists at the ministry on Monday, he said the statements were made to protect the interests of Bangladeshi citizens living in the region. He emphasized that Bangladesh’s position is straightforward: safeguarding its citizens abroad and promoting peace through dialogue and diplomacy rather than conflict. Rahman reiterated that the welfare of Bangladeshi expatriates in the Middle East remains the government’s top priority. He noted that the March 1 statement also reflected this commitment. The minister added that if any Bangladeshi citizens are harmed, the government will stand by them regardless of location. He expressed hope that no further casualties or injuries would occur among Bangladeshis. He also mentioned that some workers preparing to travel abroad have been stranded due to the situation. The government plans to facilitate their return once air travel resumes normal operations.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed that there are currently no American ground troops deployed in Iran. Speaking on March 2, 2026, he stated that Washington remains prepared to take necessary measures to protect US interests if required, though such actions would not be taken recklessly. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera. Hegseth questioned the logic of publicly outlining potential military options, saying it would not be wise to reveal in advance what steps the United States might take to achieve its objectives. The statement underscored a cautious but firm stance from Washington amid ongoing regional tensions. According to the report, Iran has not issued any immediate response to Hegseth’s comments.

Oman’s Maritime Security Center reported that an oil tanker was attacked by an explosive-laden boat about 52 nautical miles off the coast of Muscat. According to a statement shared on the center’s X account and cited by Al Jazeera, the explosion caused a fire in the engine room, resulting in the death of one crew member. The remaining 21 crew members were evacuated safely from the vessel. The Royal Navy of Oman has deployed a ship to monitor the condition of the damaged tanker. Authorities have also issued warnings to other vessels operating in the same waters to exercise caution following the incident. The report did not specify who carried out the attack or the extent of the damage to the tanker, leaving key details about the motive and perpetrators unclear.

KM Nazmul Haque has been appointed as the Assistant Press Secretary to the Prime Minister under a contractual arrangement. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Monday confirming the appointment. According to the notice, he will serve in the position under the Grade-9 pay scale at its final stage, effective from the date he assumes office. The appointment terms specify that KM Nazmul Haque must relinquish any professional, business, or employment ties with government, semi-government, private, or other organizations before taking up the role. His tenure will continue either for the duration of the Prime Minister’s term or until the Prime Minister’s satisfaction, whichever occurs first. Additional conditions of the appointment will be determined through a formal contract, as stated in the government notification.

European gas prices surged by nearly 50 percent after QatarEnergy announced a suspension of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production following an attack in the Middle East, according to Al Jazeera. Data from the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) showed that the front-month contract at the Netherlands’ Title Transfer Facility (TTF) hub rose by 14.56 euros to 46.52 euros per megawatt hour, equivalent to about 15.92 dollars per MMBtu. Earlier in the day, prices had already climbed about 25 percent before the production halt announcement pushed them higher. Massimo Di Odoardo, vice president of gas and LNG research at Wood Mackenzie, said that any disruption in LNG supply could intensify competition between Asia and Europe for available cargoes. Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING, warned that if the market begins to price in a prolonged disruption of Qatari LNG supply, TTF prices could rise to between 80 and 100 euros per MWh. The British April contract also increased by 40.83 pence per therm to 119.40 pence, while Asia’s Japan-Korea Marker (JKM) index jumped nearly 39 percent to 15.068 dollars per MMBtu.

Investigating officers have submitted a report to the court recommending exemption for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and 492 others from three separate murder cases filed at Dhaka’s Vatara Police Station during the July movement. The officers stated that all three cases contained factual errors. The cases involved the deaths of truck driver Md Jahangir, water line mechanic Zakir Hossain, and shoe factory worker Ramzan Mia Jibon. Investigations revealed inconsistencies between the cases filed by the victims’ families and those filed by three other individuals. The family-filed cases indicated different locations and circumstances of death, including hospitals and other police jurisdictions, while the additional cases placed all incidents in Vatara. The court had initially set January 25 as the deadline for the report submission, later extending it to March 2 when investigators failed to meet the earlier date.

Qatar has temporarily suspended production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) following an attack linked to Iran. Authorities confirmed that the decision was made after the country’s main LNG facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City was targeted. The extent of the damage in the area remains unclear, but officials from QatarEnergy and the state news agency confirmed the production halt on Monday. As the world’s largest LNG producer, Qatar’s suspension has raised concerns about potential disruptions in global gas supply. The Ras Laffan complex operates 14 LNG trains with a combined annual production capacity of about 77 million tons, making it a critical hub for international energy markets. The temporary shutdown underscores the vulnerability of global energy infrastructure to regional conflicts and may influence short-term energy prices depending on how quickly Qatar can resume operations.

A member of the US military who was critically injured in Iranian attacks has died, raising the total number of US military fatalities to four, according to an official statement from the United States. The announcement follows reports from the US Central Command, which earlier confirmed that three service members had been killed and five others seriously wounded. The Central Command stated that the deceased soldier had sustained severe injuries during the Iranian assault and later succumbed to those wounds. The report did not specify the exact location or timing of the incident but linked the death directly to the ongoing hostilities involving Iran. The situation underscores the continuing escalation between the United States and Iran, with related developments including the death of a Kuwaiti naval officer, NATO’s declaration that it will not engage in the conflict, and Spain’s refusal to allow its bases to be used for attacks on Iran.

Russia has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East following joint US-Israel airstrikes on Iran that entered their third day on Saturday. The strikes, which Iran has been responding to, reportedly targeted several civilian areas, including a girls’ school where nearly a hundred people were killed on the first day. Moscow strongly condemned attacks on civilian targets and urged all sides to halt hostilities immediately. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that no attack on civilian targets, whether in Iran or Arab countries, can be justified. The ministry further stressed that diplomatic solutions, rather than military actions, should be pursued to de-escalate tensions in the region. The ongoing conflict has heightened international concern over the growing instability in the Middle East. The statement reflects Russia’s position as tensions continue to rise, with global actors expressing alarm over the humanitarian toll and potential regional repercussions of the conflict.

The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for killing Hussein Makled, identified as the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters. According to a report published by Al Jazeera on Monday, the strike took place on Sunday night in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, and was described by Israel as a precise and targeted operation. The report noted that Hezbollah has not yet issued any immediate comment regarding the alleged killing. The incident adds to ongoing regional tensions, though no further details about the strike or its aftermath were provided in the source. It remains unclear how Hezbollah or Lebanese authorities will respond to the reported attack, as no official statements were available at the time of reporting.

An estimated 300,000 people have been stranded across the Gulf region following the outbreak of war involving Iran, according to Al Jazeera. The United Kingdom has taken the initiative to assist in evacuation efforts. Operations at six to seven major airports in the region have been suspended, with more than 3,400 flights canceled in the first few days of the conflict. Major hubs including Dubai International, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Doha’s Hamad International Airport have halted services. Large portions of the region’s airspace remain closed, significantly disrupting global air travel since Middle Eastern airports serve as vital transit points between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Social media posts show stranded passengers at Hamad, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi airports waiting in long lines for rebooking, hotel vouchers, or assistance, with many spending nights inside terminals. If the airspace closures and conflict persist, thousands of travelers are expected to remain in uncertainty for an extended period.

Israel’s military announced that two senior Iranian intelligence officials were killed at the start of a recent attack. In a statement released on Monday, the army identified the deceased as Seyed Yahya Hamidi and Jalal Pour Hossein. According to the statement, Hamidi served as Iran’s deputy minister for intelligence affairs related to Israel, while Hossein headed the espionage division of Iran’s intelligence ministry. The Israeli military claimed that Hamidi had directed terrorist operations targeting Jews, Western representatives, and opposition figures both inside and outside Iran. The statement further asserted that several other senior militants were also eliminated in the same operation. No additional details about the location or timing of the strike were provided in the statement. The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Israel and Iran frequently accusing each other of covert operations and attacks. The report did not include any official response from Iranian authorities or independent verification of the Israeli claims.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense reported that two of the country’s energy-related facilities were hit by missile attacks on March 2, 2026. The ministry confirmed that no casualties or injuries occurred in the incidents. One missile struck a water storage tank at the Mesaieed Energy Plant, while another targeted an energy installation in Ras Laffan Industrial City operated by QatarEnergy. According to the ministry’s statement, relevant authorities will assess all damages caused by the attacks and release detailed information later. Qatari officials stated that the situation is currently under control following the strikes. The report attributed the missile attacks to Iran, though no further details about the launch or response were provided in the ministry’s statement.

The 207th foundation training course for newly appointed officers of the 27th BCS education cadre was inaugurated at the National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM). Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan attended as the chief guest, while NAEM Director General Dr. Wasim Md. Mezbahul Haque presided over the event. The minister congratulated the officers for joining the teaching profession after a long wait and overcoming various obstacles. He described the delay in their appointment as an undesirable chapter in the country’s administrative history and expressed hope that such delays and injustices would not recur in the future. The minister emphasized that teachers are the nation’s builders and urged them to perform their duties with dedication, honesty, and professionalism. Dr. Milan assured that necessary measures would be taken to ensure quick promotions once the officers’ jobs become permanent. He reaffirmed his commitment to making the education sector more dynamic and expansive, calling for teachers’ active participation in building a new Bangladesh.