The Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association announced plans to close fuel stations from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, citing supply shortages and logistical challenges. The decision was discussed at a meeting in Dhaka’s Moghbazar on Tuesday, where members said filling stations were not receiving adequate fuel from depots.

Owners identified supply and transportation management as their biggest challenges. They explained that partial tanker loads increase transport costs and cause financial losses, urging that tankers be fully loaded to ensure efficient distribution. They also called for better coordination when supplying multiple stations within the same district to reduce inefficiencies.

The association acknowledged that some unauthorized fuel sales or hoarding might occur but stressed that such actions do not represent the entire sector. They stated that any station withholding sales despite having fuel should face strict action, including possible cancellation of dealership rights, with cooperation from both the government and the association.

The Bangladesh government is set to announce new fuel prices today, Tuesday, aligning domestic rates with global market trends. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division spokesperson, Monir Hossain Chowdhury, confirmed the decision would be finalized based on current conditions. He spoke to reporters at the ministry’s conference room in the Secretariat. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government is trying to provide some relief to citizens despite rising global prices and assured that all development activities remain ongoing.

According to the Energy Ministry, as of March 30, the country holds 192,919 tons of fuel oil in reserve, including 128,939 tons of diesel, 7,940 tons of octane, 11,431 tons of petrol, and 44,609 tons of jet fuel. This stock can meet national demand for 15 to 16 days. An additional 150,000 metric tons of diesel are expected to arrive in April, eliminating concerns about shortages.

The ministry also noted that diesel accounts for about 63 percent of national fuel consumption, mainly used in irrigation and public transport. The government is considering energy-saving measures such as extended weekends, reduced office hours, and online classes.

Several thousand paratroopers from the US Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, according to two US officials cited by Reuters. The deployment started on Monday as discussions continue over President Donald Trump’s possible next steps in the conflict with Iran. The troops departed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, joining additional US naval, marine, and special operations forces already stationed in the region.

Reuters previously reported on March 18 that the Trump administration was considering sending thousands more troops to the Middle East, potentially including deployments inside Iran. The latest movement follows the arrival of about 2,500 US Marines over the past weekend, signaling a significant buildup of American military presence in the area.

The expanded deployment underscores Washington’s growing military posture in the Middle East as tensions with Tehran remain high, though no official statement has clarified the ultimate scope or duration of the mission.

Bangladesh’s National Parliament resumed its first session on Tuesday, March 31, following a one-day adjournment. The session began at 3:30 p.m. and focused on a two-hour scheduled discussion regarding the implementation of the 'July Charter' and constitutional reform. The debate was initiated under a motion brought by the leader of the opposition and placed as the final agenda item for the day.

According to the Parliament Secretariat, the discussion follows a verbal exchange between the Home Minister and the Deputy Speaker during Sunday’s session, which has raised expectations of a heated debate. Attendance among members was reported to be higher than usual, reflecting the significance of the day’s agenda.

Both the Home and Law Ministries were reportedly prepared to respond to the opposition’s motion, while opposition members readied strong arguments in support of their proposal. The discussion is expected to highlight differing political positions on the July Charter and constitutional amendments.

The Lebanese government has formally banned the military wing of Hezbollah, according to a report by the news outlet Al Hadath citing a diplomatic official. The report states that Lebanese authorities informed the United Nations through an official letter that the country now considers Hezbollah’s military activities to be criminal offenses.

In the letter, Beirut clarified that the decision to prohibit all forms of Hezbollah’s military operations was made on March 2. The move marks a significant policy step by the Lebanese government regarding the group’s armed activities, which have long been a sensitive issue in the country’s political and security landscape.

The report, sourced from Middle East Eye, did not provide further details on the implementation process or potential domestic and regional reactions to the ban.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara met British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the official residence on Downing Street. The meeting took place as part of Al Shara’s visit to the United Kingdom, following his earlier stop in Berlin where he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The report indicates that Al Shara’s European engagements include discussions with key leaders in Germany and the United Kingdom. However, no details were provided about the agenda, topics discussed, or outcomes of the meetings. The sequence of visits suggests an ongoing diplomatic outreach by the Syrian leadership in Europe.

Further information about the content or results of the talks has not been disclosed in the source.

The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh announced on 31 March 2026 that the country currently holds 192,919 tons of fuel oil in reserve. The disclosure came during a press briefing at the Secretariat, where ministry spokesperson and Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury said that 87,700 liters of illegally stored fuel were recovered across the country on 30 March as part of an ongoing government operation.

According to the ministry, the reserves include 128,939 tons of diesel, 7,940 tons of octane, 11,431 tons of petrol, and 44,609 tons of jet fuel. Officials stated that fuel supply remains stable through regular imports, and special attention is being given to maintaining adequate jet fuel stocks ahead of the upcoming Hajj season.

To strengthen oversight, the government has appointed “tag officers” at filling stations nationwide. In Dhaka Division alone, 479 officers are deployed across 13 districts and 116 in the metropolitan area, with similar arrangements in other divisions. The ministry expects this initiative to improve transparency and discipline in fuel management.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has emphasized the need to develop Bangladesh’s sports sector based on merit and competence, free from political influence. Speaking on Tuesday at a meeting with the newly elected board of Mohammedan Sporting Club in Dhaka, he said the Prime Minister wants to keep sports outside political interference and has already begun working toward that goal.

Fakhrul added that the Prime Minister also envisions sports as a viable profession for athletes, stressing that recognition or allowances are less important than ensuring players can pursue sports as a career. He reiterated that politics should have no place in sports and that excluding talented players for political reasons is deeply regrettable.

Calling on the young Sports Minister, himself a former national footballer, Fakhrul urged him to ensure that sports remain free from political bias. He reaffirmed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman shares the same vision for a depoliticized sports environment in the country.

Two separate cases have been filed under the Human Trafficking Prevention Act against nine brokers following the deaths of 12 young men from Sunamganj who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to travel from Libya to Greece. The cases were lodged on Monday night at Jagannathpur and Dirai police stations, with five accused in one case and four in the other.

According to the report, the Dirai case was filed by Salikur Rahman, father of deceased Sohanur Rahman from Basuri village, while the Jagannathpur case was filed by Habibur Rahman from Pailgaon village. Additional Superintendent of Police Sujan Sarkar stated that the names of the accused are being withheld for investigative reasons, and police operations to arrest them are ongoing.

District Commissioner Mohammad Elias Mia said that lists of suspected brokers were prepared by local executive officers and handed over to police. He added that the administration remains in support of the victims’ families.

A court in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila has placed Professor Dr. Md. Golam Kabir and his wife Hosne Ara on a three-day remand in connection with the shooting death of Kabir’s younger brother. The court rejected their bail plea after police sought a seven-day remand. The incident occurred on March 25 in Chatul village, where a dispute over selling trees from family land escalated into a violent confrontation. Golam Kabir allegedly shot his brother Humayun Kabir Mintu with a shotgun, leading to his death shortly after being rescued.

Following the incident, the victim’s wife Farida Begum filed a murder case with Boalmari Police Station, naming seven accused. Locals detained the main suspect, Golam Kabir, at the scene and handed him over to police, who later arrested his wife as well. Police officials said the investigation is ongoing to uncover the full circumstances behind the killing.

Boalmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain stated that the remand interrogation is expected to yield important information relevant to the case.

Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing was elected vice president by the country’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday, according to a parliamentary official. The official confirmed that Min Aung Hlaing received 247 votes out of 260 lawmakers during a live broadcast session, marking a significant step toward consolidating his hold on power and potentially becoming president.

Reports from Naypyidaw via AFP stated that three vice presidents are scheduled to be elected this week. Once the process is complete, the full parliament will vote to select one of them as president. The election marks a key moment in Myanmar’s ongoing political process under military control.

The development positions Min Aung Hlaing closer to the presidency, strengthening the junta’s influence over the country’s political institutions as the selection process continues.

Lebanon’s Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for 43 attacks on Israeli forces within a 24-hour period, according to a report citing Al Jazeera. In a statement, the group said that 26 of the attacks targeted Israeli troops positioned inside Lebanon, while the remaining 17 were directed at northern Israel.

Hezbollah further asserted that the operations struck four Israeli military bases, eight military facilities, one barracks, and four newly established border posts. The report did not include independent verification of these claims or any response from Israeli authorities.

The announcement underscores the continuing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel along the border area, though the report provided no details on casualties or damage.

A man was killed in Comilla’s Barura upazila on Monday night after being attacked by his son during a family dispute. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on March 30, when the son, identified as Abul Kalam, allegedly assaulted his father, Ali Akbar, with a sharp weapon. Ali Akbar was taken to a local government hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Family members said Abul Kalam, aged 35, had been suffering from mental health issues for about two years and previously worked as an autorickshaw driver. Following the attack, police arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and took it to the police station. With help from locals, the accused was detained and handed over to law enforcement.

Barura Police Station’s investigation officer Sanjay Sarkar stated that police responded quickly and that an investigation is underway. Further details will be provided after the inquiry is completed.

Economist Debapriya Bhattacharya has said that the new government faces significant challenges in preparing its first national budget amid structural weaknesses, incomplete reforms, and growing economic pressures. Speaking at a pre-budget media briefing titled “Citizen Thoughts and Expectations on the Budget” at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) office in Dhaka, he noted that maintaining fiscal discipline and prioritizing expenditures carefully are essential under current constraints.

Bhattacharya highlighted that the government is operating under severe budgetary limitations, making it difficult to balance spending and resources. He pointed to inherited liabilities from the previous government’s pay scale initiative, urging the formation of a new commission to review the issue. He also emphasized recovering illicitly transferred funds, expanding the tax base, and reducing inefficient subsidies, particularly in agriculture and energy. He identified four main pressures on the upcoming budget: structural weaknesses, election promises, limited fiscal space, and external imbalances.

He warned that without realistic expectations and effective short- and medium-term planning, the forthcoming budget may fail to stabilize the economy or sustain growth.

Bangladesh has sought significant investment and technical assistance from China to modernize and develop its sports infrastructure. The request was made by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque during a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The minister emphasized Chinese investment in a proposed sports institute and the need for skilled Chinese coaches and advanced training in volleyball, archery, and shooting.

During the meeting, the minister highlighted that the government is promoting all sports equally alongside cricket and football. He mentioned the introduction of special sports allowances and a digital sports card program for athletes. He also formally invited China’s national men’s football team to play a friendly match in Bangladesh and encouraged Chinese participation in the country’s growing sports industry.

Ambassador Yao Wen praised Bangladesh’s digital sports initiatives and athlete allowance program, expressing strong interest in investing in youth training centers and the proposed sports institute. He assured that China would consider the friendly match proposal and emphasized continued cooperation through regular exchange of sports equipment and expertise.