Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has directed the launch of a separate bus service for women in Dhaka. The instruction was given on Monday afternoon at the Secretariat during a meeting with Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Islam, according to the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman. The Prime Minister reviewed the current state of road transport and issued necessary directives, including the introduction of a dedicated women’s bus service in the capital. In the same meeting, the Prime Minister also discussed other development matters. The Housing and Public Works Minister was instructed to complete renovation and improvement work at the mausoleum of martyred President Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. The directives reflect the government’s focus on urban transport reform and infrastructure development in Dhaka. The move to introduce a women-only bus service aims to enhance safety and accessibility for female commuters in the capital, aligning with broader efforts to improve Dhaka’s traffic and transport management.

Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and a potential candidate for Iran’s next Supreme Leader, has called on citizens to stay present in the streets and mosques. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, he urged people not to leave these spaces even for a moment, emphasizing that the nation’s strength lies in the hearts and presence of its people. He further stated that everyone should remain in mosques until the conflict ends, filling them as symbols of unity and resistance. Khomeini described city mosques and squares as the country’s strong foundations, urging citizens to occupy every square while wearing black and carrying Imam Hussein’s flags. Although Hassan Khomeini holds no official position and has limited influence within Iran’s security or ruling establishment, he is known for being less hardline than many of his peers. His name was removed from the 2016 Experts Assembly election list, reflecting his complex standing within Iran’s political landscape.

Several US military aircraft crashed in Kuwait on Monday, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense. The ministry confirmed that all crew members survived the incidents. Videos circulating on Monday showed one of the warplanes on fire as it descended. CNN reported receiving footage showing a warplane crashing, with one pilot managing to eject safely. The crashes occurred within about 10 kilometers of the US Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. However, it remains unclear how the aircraft went down or which branch of the US military they belonged to. The US military has not yet issued any official comment regarding the crashes, and investigations into the cause have not been confirmed.

Bangladesh Railway will start selling advance train tickets for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr from Tuesday, March 3. On the first day, tickets for March 13 journeys will be available. According to the railway schedule, tickets for March 14 to 19 will be released sequentially from March 4 to March 9. All tickets for Eid travel will be sold exclusively online this year. To make the ticket purchase process easier for passengers, Bangladesh Railway has decided that tickets for intercity trains operating in the western region will be available from 8 a.m., while tickets for trains in the eastern region will go on sale from 2 p.m. The decision aims to streamline the ticketing process and manage the high demand for train travel during the Eid holiday period.

US President Donald Trump told The New York Times on Sunday that he has a short list of three names he considers suitable to lead Iran. He described them as 'very good choices' but declined to reveal their identities, saying he would not disclose the names until the process was complete. The statement followed a joint US-Israel military operation launched on Saturday morning that reportedly led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials. Trump claimed that the attack killed 48 top Iranian leaders. The developments mark a major escalation in tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Further details about the potential leadership transition in Iran or the next steps in US policy were not disclosed in the report.

The Government of Bangladesh has assured full support for the crew of the national flag carrier vessel ‘Banglar Joyjatra’, currently stationed at Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates. In a video message on Monday, March 2, 2026, Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Sheikh Robiul Alam praised the sailors’ courage and professionalism amid a tense situation, calling their conduct a source of national pride. The minister expressed hope that the ongoing crisis would soon be resolved, allowing the 31-member crew to continue their duties safely. He confirmed that the sailors’ families have been contacted and that Prime Minister Tarek Rahman is personally monitoring the situation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has established a special control cell at its Chattogram headquarters to support the crew and their families, maintaining regular virtual communication with the vessel. The minister added that the Bangladesh Embassy in Dubai is overseeing the matter continuously, while local agents and expatriate entrepreneurs are on standby to assist if needed. Ensuring the sailors’ safety and morale remains the government’s top priority.

An Iranian Shahed-136 drone struck Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil refinery in Ras Tanura, causing a temporary shutdown of operations. The attack led to a limited fire that was quickly brought under control, and no casualties have been reported so far. The incident comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, where Iran has recently launched missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf countries and Israel. The Ras Tanura refinery, located in eastern Saudi Arabia and operated by Aramco, is one of the world’s largest and most important oil export centers, processing over 550,000 barrels of crude oil daily. It includes extensive refining units, storage tanks, pipelines, and a major port for international oil shipments. Given Ras Tanura’s central role in global energy supply, any disruption there could affect international crude oil prices and contribute to instability in the global energy market.

An allegation has surfaced in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur district that a man named Billal Hossain, identifying himself as a youth leader, has occupied a government canal and is constructing a permanent building. The incident occurred in Brahmpara village of Kanchanpur Union, where Billal, a tea seller, has reportedly been continuing the construction for about a month along the Ramganj-Hajiganj road at Katakhali without any official intervention. Local residents said Billal has been using his claimed political identity to exert influence and continue the work. In response, Billal stated that many influential people have already occupied government canals and built structures, and he is doing the same on Water Development Board property. He added that some people visited the site but did not ask him to stop the work. Ramganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farashid Bin Enam confirmed receiving reports about the illegal occupation at Katakhali and said that legal action will be taken soon.

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump is set to preside over a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, marking the first time a First Lady will chair such a session. Her office stated that she will emphasize the role of education in promoting tolerance and advancing global peace. The announcement came shortly before the United States began military action against Iran. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that this will be the first instance of a First Lady leading a Security Council meeting. The United States holds the rotating presidency of the Council for March. Melania Trump has previously engaged in diplomatic efforts, including advocating for the release of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The development comes amid growing political and financial tensions between Washington and the United Nations. Analysts suggest President Donald Trump may be seeking to bypass the Council through his “Peace Abroad” initiative, which recently convened in Washington to discuss Gaza reconstruction funding.

Mansoureh Khojasteh, the wife of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died after being injured in attacks carried out by the United States and Israel. The report was published by Al Jazeera on Monday, citing Iranian state media confirmation of her death. The attacks have been ongoing since Saturday, according to the source. Earlier, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei himself was reported killed in the same series of US-Israel strikes on Iran. Iranian state media announced Khojasteh’s death on Monday, following days of continued assaults targeting the country. The situation marks an escalation in hostilities between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance, with reports indicating sustained military action since the weekend.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has rejected the bail petition of Awami League leader Humayun Kabir Patwari in a case related to the killing of five people, including students, during the July uprising in Lakshmipur. The three-member panel, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, also ordered submission of a medical report from the head of the Hematology Department of Bangladesh Medical University and a report on the allegations by March 30, when the next hearing is scheduled. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam opposed the bail plea, while the defense argued that they had not received prior instructions regarding the required reports. The tribunal noted that the requested reports had not yet been submitted. Jail authorities informed that the accused is under treatment, and the prosecution sought an additional month for submission. Humayun Kabir, president of Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila Awami League and former chairman of Char Ruhita Union Parishad, was first arrested in August 2024 in another murder case and later shown arrested in this crimes against humanity case, which remains under investigation.

Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, stated that he believes the United States and Israel pursued a strategy of targeting Iran’s senior leaders until someone agreed to surrender. He described this as a miscalculation, arguing that Iran’s leadership fears surrender far more than war. According to Parsi, former U.S. President Donald Trump assumed that deploying aircraft carriers to the Gulf would intimidate Iran into submission. However, Parsi explained that Iran’s rulers believe they can survive a war but not a surrender. He warned that if no one in Iran agrees to surrender, the approach would require not only removing successive leaders but effectively destroying the entire country. Parsi added that the Trump administration did not understand how long such a campaign might take or whether it was even possible. During that time, he said, Iran’s strategy would be to inflict as much damage as possible on the United States, its forces, the global economy, neighboring states, and international markets to make such an initiative prohibitively costly.

The state-owned vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has become stranded at Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing war in Iran and the Middle East. Cargo unloading operations from the ship have been suspended. The vessel is currently docked at the port with 31 Bangladeshi sailors on board. BSC Managing Director Commodore M Mahmudul Malek stated that all crew members are safe and maintaining regular contact with their families. The ship arrived at Jebel Ali on February 27 carrying 38,800 metric tons of steel coils from Mesaieed Port. BSC currently operates a fleet of seven ships, with only the Banglar Joyjatra active in the Gulf region. The situation underscores the operational challenges faced by Bangladeshi vessels in conflict-affected areas of the Middle East, though authorities have confirmed the safety of the crew and are monitoring developments closely.

Smoke was seen rising over the area surrounding the United States Embassy in Kuwait on March 2, 2026, according to reports from Reuters and AFP. Firefighters and ambulances were present at the scene, though no further details about the cause of the smoke were provided. Following the incident, the US Embassy issued an alert advising people not to approach the embassy and to remain indoors. In a notice published on its website, the embassy instructed residents to take shelter on the lowest floor of their homes, stay away from windows, and avoid going outside. It also urged US citizens in Kuwait to remain where they are, review their security plans, and stay alert for possible additional attacks. Embassy staff were reported to have taken shelter in place as well. The situation prompted heightened caution among US nationals in Kuwait, though the source did not specify the origin or extent of the incident.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdur Muktadir has expressed commitment to further strengthen and expand bilateral trade relations with India. He made the remarks on Monday, March 2, after a courtesy meeting with the Indian High Commissioner at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The Indian envoy also emphasized India’s interest in deepening ties with Bangladesh’s new government and enhancing people-to-people connections. During the meeting, both sides discussed mutual cooperation in digital infrastructure and technology exchange to boost the existing trade volume of around 11 billion dollars, including 9.5 billion in imports and 1.5 billion in exports. They also focused on reopening closed border haats and improving land border infrastructure. India showed interest in using the newly built land port at Sabroom, while discussions were held on making operations at Benapole and other ports more efficient. The minister added that Bangladesh has applied to the United Nations to extend its LDC graduation timeline and that the process is ongoing. He also noted that while there are concerns about possible disruptions in the Hormuz Strait, there is currently no threat to essential imports or fuel supplies.