Jamaat-e-Islami held a protest rally in Dhaka on Friday after Juma prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, demanding interrogation of former advisers Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Dr. Khalilur Rahman over alleged election engineering. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar addressed the gathering as chief guest, calling for a judicial inquiry committee to identify those involved in manipulating the February 12 national election results.

Porwar alleged that while voting took place peacefully, irregularities occurred during vote counting and result announcements, altering the outcome against the Jamaat-led alliance. He cited remarks by Rizwana Hasan as self-admission of interference and accused Dr. Khalilur Rahman of conspiring with ruling party interests. He urged the government to analyze Rizwana’s statements and disclose others involved in the alleged manipulation.

Porwar emphasized that Jamaat rejects violence and seeks lawful protest. He called on the government to uphold the July reform referendum and warned against attempts to undermine it. The rally concluded with a procession through city streets.

Iran’s army has claimed responsibility for recent attacks targeting US military bases in Kuwait, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The Iranian state television, citing the army, stated that various types of destructive drones were used by the ground forces to strike the American installations. The statement added that these attacks would continue for several more hours.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran asserting that its military operations are directed at US positions in the Gulf region. The announcement follows a series of incidents involving Iran and Western powers, including reports of missile shortages in the United States and other regional disputes mentioned in local media.

The continuation of drone strikes, as indicated by Iranian officials, suggests a possible escalation in hostilities between Iran and the United States in the Persian Gulf area.

France’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has confirmed that 52 French ships are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In an interview with French media outlet C-News/Europe-1, Tabarot stated that an additional eight French vessels are located in the Red Sea. He added that authorities are maintaining constant communication with the crews, as several French sailors are onboard these ships.

The disruption follows a series of military strikes in the region. The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran last Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran on Israeli targets and U.S. bases across several Middle Eastern countries. As a result, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments, has been severely restricted. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s energy supply typically passes through this corridor.

The situation has raised concerns about the safety of maritime operations and the potential impact on global energy transport, though no resolution has yet been reported.

Iran has announced that it will gradually resume administrative operations following ongoing US-Israeli attacks. According to the announcement, starting Sunday, 20 percent of employees in all ministries, agencies, and executive offices in Tehran province will return to work in person. All female employees in the province will continue to work virtually, while some banks will reopen to provide limited services.

The directive excludes operational units of service providers, municipalities, medical centers, and military, law enforcement, and security institutions. Senior management officials in Tehran province will not be allowed to work from home and must be physically present at their workplaces.

The announcement comes as Iran faces missile-related challenges and regional tensions following recent attacks and incidents involving its naval and administrative sectors.

The Kremlin has reported a significant rise in global demand for Russian energy products due to the ongoing war in Iran, according to Al Jazeera. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the conflict has increased the need for Russian oil and gas in world markets. He emphasized that Russia remains a reliable supplier of both pipeline and liquefied energy resources.

The war has also disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes, which is now nearly closed. This disruption has placed many countries at risk of losing access to about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. A day earlier, the U.S. Treasury granted a 30-day waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea.

Analysts cited in the report noted that if tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, Russia’s role in the global energy market could become even more significant.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division under Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has issued new directives urging immediate energy-saving measures across all sectors. The announcement, made on March 6, 2026, responds to potential disruptions in international energy supply chains caused by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The ministry emphasized the need for precautionary actions to ensure national energy security and optimal resource utilization.

The directives call on government offices, autonomous bodies, private organizations, commercial establishments, and citizens to adopt specific conservation practices. These include reducing unnecessary gas and fuel consumption, checking gas pipelines and burners for leaks, avoiding illegal gas use, promoting public transport and carpooling, and limiting non-essential travel. Institutions are instructed to implement energy-saving measures during and after office hours.

The ministry also urged all concerned parties to raise public awareness and cooperate in implementing the guidelines to safeguard national energy security.

Multiple explosions were heard around 4 a.m. in Doha, Qatar, as Iranian drones were intercepted near the US Al-Udeid Airbase, according to Al Jazeera. Qatar’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the airbase was the target of the attack. On the fifth day of the incident, two ballistic missiles were reportedly fired at the base, one striking nearby and the other destroyed midair by defense systems. The extent of damage remains unclear.

Following the attack, Qatar increased security around key military and security installations. Analysts cited in the report said Iran appears to be pursuing a sustained strategy of targeting US military bases and relatively weaker sites across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

They warned that despite some failed strikes, Iran continues daily attempts, raising concerns that similar attacks on Qatar could persist in the coming hours and days.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that the interim government did not hold any discussions with his party regarding agreements made with various countries during its tenure. He made the remarks in a verified Facebook post on Friday afternoon, expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of consultation.

In his post, Dr. Rahman wrote that the interim government had signed several agreements with foreign nations but failed to engage Jamaat-e-Islami in any dialogue about them. He added that his party had repeatedly demanded that, in the absence of a parliament, the government should consult political parties on major national and international matters, including such agreements. However, he said, the then government ignored those demands.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami’s position on the issue is clear and that there is no room for confusion about their stance.

Police have arrested Fazlur Rahman, the prime accused in the murder case of Asma Sadia Runa, chairperson and assistant professor of the Social Welfare Department at Islamic University. The arrest was confirmed on Friday, March 6, by the case’s investigating officer, Abdullah Al Mamun. Fazlur Rahman, a university employee, is currently under police guard at Kushtia General Hospital’s ICU, where he is receiving treatment for serious injuries. He has provided a written confession to police admitting responsibility for the killing, and doctors have stated that his condition is now stable.

The investigating officer said that police have begun their work following the filing of the murder case and are continuing efforts to arrest the remaining accused. Two of the other suspects are university teachers. The case was filed by the victim’s husband, Imtiaz Sultan, on Thursday morning under sections 302 and 109 of the Penal Code, naming four individuals including Fazlur Rahman. The other accused are former deputy registrar Bishwajit Kumar Biswas, assistant professor Shyam Sundar Sarkar, and assistant professor Habibur Rahman.

A missile strike targeted Israel’s main international gateway, Ben Gurion Airport, located southeast of Tel Aviv on Friday. The report, published by Amader Desh citing Al Jazeera, stated that the airport was hit by a missile, though no further details on damage or casualties were provided.

As of the latest update, the Israeli military has not issued any comment regarding the incident. The attack marks a significant escalation given the airport’s central role in Israel’s air transport network. The report did not specify the source of the missile or any group claiming responsibility.

Further information about the extent of the damage, potential disruptions to flights, or government response remains unavailable at this time.

UAE billionaire Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor has written an open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing his decision to go to war with Iran. In the letter, published on March 6, 2026, Al Habtoor asked Trump who had given him the authority to drag the entire Middle East into a conflict with Iran and on what basis he made such a dangerous decision.

Al Habtoor questioned whether Trump had considered the potential losses before taking military action and warned that regional countries would suffer first from the escalating tensions. His letter, described as a rare expression of dissent in the United Arab Emirates, reflects growing instability across the region. He also asked whether the decision was made solely by Trump or under pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.

Al Habtoor further criticized the U.S. attack on Iran for pulling Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab nations into a crisis they did not choose, and he questioned the fate of earlier peace initiatives that had aimed to bring stability to the region.

Journalists in Kishoreganj formed a human chain on Friday, March 6, 2026, protesting a violent attack on two reporters who were covering news related to the auction at the historic Pagla Mosque. The demonstration took place at Akhra Bazar in the district town, where participants demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.

The injured journalists were Khairul Alam Faisal of Channel 24 and Faizul Islam Bhuiyan Pinku of Global Television. According to reports, a syndicate allegedly involved in buying mosque-donated items at low prices attacked the journalists when they went to gather information. The victims were rescued by mosque Ansar members and taken to hospital. Later, Pinku filed an attempted murder case naming eight individuals and several unidentified others.

Police confirmed that two suspects, Jibon and Mona, have been detained, and efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining accused. Authorities expressed optimism about bringing all perpetrators to justice soon.

The Islamic University (IU) administration has declared a one-day mourning on Saturday, March 7, following the killing of Asma Sadia Runa, chairperson and assistant professor of the Department of Social Welfare. According to an emergency notice signed by Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Manjurul Haque on Thursday night, the decision was taken after Runa was stabbed to death in her office on Wednesday, March 4, allegedly by an employee of her department.

The notice stated that the university community is deeply shocked by the brutal killing of Asma Sadia Runa. All members of the university have been requested to wear black badges on the day of mourning as a mark of respect. In addition, the university administration organized a prayer session after Friday prayers at the central mosque for the salvation of the deceased teacher’s soul.

The university’s declaration of mourning reflects the institution’s collective grief and solidarity following the tragic incident within its campus.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a money laundering case against Jubo League leader and former ward councillor Md. Tajul (Taijul) Islam Chowdhury alias Bappi. The case, lodged on March 5 at Pallabi Police Station, accuses him of embezzling around Tk 2.5 crore through extortion and fraud in Dhaka’s Pallabi area. CID alleges that Tajul controlled transport, street markets, garment waste trading, and cable businesses to accumulate illicit wealth.

According to CID’s investigation, Tajul claimed to have earned Tk 3.83 crore between 2014 and 2024 from garment, fish, and brick businesses, while his declared assets and expenditures did not match his actual holdings worth Tk 4.27 crore. The agency found Tk 1.55 crore in unexplained wealth and identified his brick kiln in Bagerhat’s Morelganj as illegally established. CID also discovered falsified audit reports and concealed property values during land purchases.

CID stated that it continues to prioritize financial crime investigations and has frozen over Tk 6.33 lakh in Tajul’s bank accounts under court orders.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s Burn Unit senior nurse Nahida Akter Boby, aged 29, was found dead at a rented apartment in the capital’s Chankharpul area on the night of March 5. Police recovered her body hanging from a ceiling fan with a scarf. Investigators said the incident appears to be linked to prolonged domestic abuse, as three handwritten notes left by Nahida describe severe physical and mental torture allegedly inflicted by her husband Ilias and his family members.

In the notes, Nahida accused her husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law Sumi, and a relative named Shawkat Hossain of driving her to suicide through continuous humiliation and violence. She described being beaten “like a dog” and mentally harassed, while also detailing her husband’s extramarital affairs allegedly supported by his family. Nahida had previously filed a case in 2023 over similar abuse, after which Ilias was jailed but later reconciled with her.

Police said the suicide notes are being verified and efforts are underway to arrest the absconding husband. Nahida’s family is preparing to file a case for abetment of suicide.