The National Nari Shakti, a women's organization under the National Citizen Party (NCP), was officially launched at an event held at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity in Segunbagicha on Sunday morning. The event, titled “Emergence of Women’s Power and Remedies for Increasing Violence Against Women and Justice for Rape,” marked the formal beginning of the new platform.

NCP convener and opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, who is also the Member of Parliament for Dhaka-11, attended as the chief guest. In her remarks, she stated that efforts would be made to find the women’s voices that have gone missing across the country since July. The program focused on addressing the growing incidents of violence against women and ensuring justice for victims.

The launch of National Nari Shakti signals the NCP’s intent to strengthen its engagement on women’s rights and social justice issues through organized advocacy and awareness initiatives.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that Sheikh Hasina, despite fleeing abroad over crimes against humanity, has shown no remorse and is attempting to destabilize Bangladesh from outside the country. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon while speaking at the inauguration of the documentary film 'Mayer Dak'.

During his speech, the BNP Secretary General said he would write to the Prime Minister urging the government to provide allowances to families who lost members in past struggles. He emphasized that while many have achieved positions of power, the children of those who sacrificed remain in uncertainty, and supporting them would give true meaning to the government’s existence.

Fakhrul also highlighted the importance of accurately portraying history in new film projects and expressed regret that, apart from the language movement, many national struggles have not been adequately represented in literature or poetry. He hoped that the current movement would achieve global recognition through truthful cultural representation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a drone and missile attack targeting Kuwait’s Al-Adiri air base. According to a report by Fars News Agency, the IRGC stated that the strike destroyed a U.S. helicopter maintenance center, fuel tanks, and a command center located at the base.

Kuwait’s armed forces earlier reported that the country’s air defense systems had responded to incoming missile and drone attacks. Fars News further reported that a large fire broke out at the base following the assault, producing thick black smoke visible from a distance.

The incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, though no independent confirmation of the reported damage or casualties was provided in the source.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that India is not a major power in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and lacks sufficient production capacity in the tech sector. Speaking at a college in Kerala on Thursday, he claimed that India cannot manufacture much and that the recent India–US trade deal has handed over crucial national data to the United States.

Gandhi criticized India’s higher education system, alleging that many vice-chancellors are appointed based on political affiliations and that the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is growing in education. He argued that a specific ideology is being imposed, which he described as harmful to the country. He also said that the global AI race is dominated by the United States and China, while India remains a minor player.

He warned that without control over its own data and stronger industrial production, India could face serious challenges. Gandhi also criticized major business groups like Reliance Industries and Adani Group for focusing mainly on selling foreign products and expressed concern over job losses linked to global AI expansion.

US and Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes in Iran’s Isfahan province, targeting several factories and a horse-riding club, resulting in at least 11 deaths. The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that several others were injured in the attacks, which struck at least eight cities including Isfahan, Najafabad, Aran, Bidgol, Barkhar, Khomeini Shahr, Shahreza, Falavarjan, and Mobarakeh.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent, the strikes are part of an eight-day conflict during which nearly 7,000 facilities across Iran have been attacked, including schools and hospitals, leaving around 1,500 people dead. In response, Tehran has continued retaliatory strikes on Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv, reportedly using advanced hypersonic missiles and drones, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The escalation marks a severe intensification of hostilities between Iran and the US-Israel alliance, with widespread civilian and infrastructural damage reported across multiple provinces.

A construction worker named Nairul Islam, aged 26, was killed when a wall collapsed on him during drain construction work in the Courtpara neighborhood near the Dhaka bus stand area of Chapainawabganj municipality on Sunday, March 8, 2026, around 11 a.m. The deceased was the son of the late Saiful Islam from Begula village in Gobratala Union of Sadar upazila.

According to local sources, Nairul had been working on a municipal drainage project since morning when a nearby residential wall suddenly collapsed, burying him underneath. He died on the spot as a result of the incident. Police from Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station later visited the site.

Officer-in-Charge Nure Alam confirmed that legal procedures are underway following the fatal accident, which occurred during the ongoing drain construction work.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a televised address to the nation amid the ongoing war with the United States and its close ally Israel. In his speech, broadcast by Iran’s state media, Pezeshkian said Iran seeks to maintain good relations with neighboring and friendly countries but accused enemy states of attempting to sow division. He emphasized that Iran is compelled to respond to attacks originating from other countries’ territories, though this does not mean Tehran has disputes with those nations.

Pezeshkian declared that Iran would take a firm stance against any aggressor and resist strongly against those who attack the country. Calling for national unity, he urged citizens to come forward to defend Iran’s land and water. He asserted that with the people’s spontaneous participation, Iran would not allow its enemies to occupy even an inch of its territory.

The address, reported by Al Jazeera and Iranian state media, underscored Tehran’s message of resistance and national solidarity during the conflict.

The United States and Israel are reportedly discussing the possibility of deploying special forces to seize Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, according to a report by Axios citing four sources familiar with the matter. The report states that former President Donald Trump’s war objective includes preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and capturing approximately 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent.

Axios further reported that the operation would likely take place in a later phase of the conflict, once Iran’s military loses its ability to maintain strong defensive positions. The report also recalled that in June, the United States and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and infrastructure.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that Iran did not grant inspectors access to the bombed sites and that the agency found no evidence of a coordinated program to produce nuclear weapons.

Iran has launched a series of missile attacks across Israel, according to reports published on March 8, 2026. The Israeli military confirmed that it detected missiles fired from Tehran and is actively working to intercept them through its defense systems. Israel’s Home Front Command issued mobile alerts to residents in affected areas, urging them to act responsibly and follow safety instructions to protect their lives.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini stated that Iran’s armed forces are capable of sustaining intense combat for at least six months at the current pace. This claim was reported by Iran’s semi-official news agency. The situation marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two countries, with both sides signaling readiness for prolonged confrontation.

The ongoing missile exchanges have raised concerns about regional stability, though the immediate impact and potential diplomatic responses remain unclear.

Italy has announced the deployment of a naval frigate to Cyprus following the island’s involvement in the ongoing Middle East conflict. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made the announcement on Saturday, stating that the move aims to ensure the security of the European Union’s borders. She described the deployment as an act of European solidarity but emphasized that Italy is not and does not wish to become a party to the conflict.

According to media reports, the missile-equipped frigate Federico Martinengo, carrying more than 160 crew members, departed from Taranto in southern Italy on Friday afternoon. Meloni also said that Italy, along with Britain, France, and Germany, is engaged in regular diplomatic discussions to prevent further escalation in the Middle East. She added that Italy is playing an active role in reducing tensions and providing air defense assistance in coordination with international allies.

Earlier, Meloni mentioned plans to send air defense support to Gulf countries affected by Iranian attacks carried out in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Human Rights Watch has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in southern Iran that killed at least 160 people. The organization’s Digital Investigation Lab researcher, Sophia Jones, said those responsible for the unlawful assault should be held accountable, including through possible war crimes charges. She emphasized the need for a swift and comprehensive investigation, particularly if the attackers knew the school was occupied by children and teachers before noon.

According to the report, the February 28 attack occurred on the first day of a broader campaign involving hundreds of strikes across Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces. Al Jazeera’s investigation found that the school had been deliberately targeted, while The New York Times reported that the strike was likely carried out by the United States.

The call for accountability underscores growing international concern over civilian casualties in the escalating conflict, with rights groups demanding transparency and justice for the victims.

Russia launched extensive missile and drone attacks across Ukraine from Friday to Saturday, killing 12 people and injuring more than a dozen others, including children, according to AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired 29 missiles and 480 drones overnight, targeting the country’s energy sector and railway infrastructure. Residential areas and key facilities were also damaged, with Kharkiv suffering a deadly ballistic missile strike that destroyed a five-story building and killed at least 10 people.

Zelensky stated that Russia continues to attack residential zones and critical infrastructure, urging allied nations to provide faster and greater military assistance. In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, he emphasized the need to swiftly implement the EU’s €90 billion aid package for Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia, which remain blocked by Hungary.

Moscow claimed its strikes targeted only military and energy facilities and denied hitting civilian areas. Meanwhile, Russian-installed authorities in occupied Kherson reported one death and four injuries from a Ukrainian drone strike.

Eight fuel-carrying ships transporting LNG, LPG, and chemical products have reached Bangladesh’s maritime boundary and Chattogram Port after crossing the Hormuz Strait. Four of the vessels have already anchored at the outer mooring, while the remaining four are expected to arrive by March 14. The Chattogram Port Authority confirmed the arrivals on Sunday, noting that the ships successfully passed through the Hormuz Strait on February 28, before the onset of conflict in Iran and the Middle East.

According to port sources, the shipments include LNG carriers from Qatar’s Ras Laffan Port and LPG and chemical carriers from Oman’s Sohar Port. The vessels Al Zour, Al Jasassiya, Lusail, and others brought tens of thousands of tons of LNG and LPG. Two Liberia-flagged ships carrying LNG are also due to dock on March 11 and 14. The port authority stated that fuel vessels are being given priority for berthing and unloading to ensure timely handling.

The arrival of these ships is part of a total of 15 vessels that recently entered Bangladesh’s waters carrying energy and industrial raw materials.

The United Arab Emirates has activated its air defense systems in response to missile and drone threats originating from Iran. The UAE Ministry of Defense stated on Sunday that defense units are actively working to intercept potential attacks. Explosions heard in the air were attributed to the interception of incoming missiles and drones. The ministry assured citizens that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure national security and urged the public to remain calm and follow official instructions.

The ministry confirmed that the military and security agencies are on high alert to monitor the situation closely. The heightened vigilance comes amid growing regional tension in the Middle East, where security conditions around Iran have become increasingly complex in recent weeks.

Authorities reported no casualties so far and continue to observe developments closely as part of ongoing security measures.

US President Donald Trump stated that the United Kingdom does not need aircraft carriers for the ongoing war with Iran. He made the comment on Saturday in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. His remarks came shortly after a statement from the UK Ministry of Defence announced that one of the country’s two main aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales, had been placed on full readiness.

In his post, Trump wrote that the UK, once America’s greatest ally, was now seriously considering sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. He added that the United States no longer needed such allies who joined wars only after victory was achieved. The comments reflect Trump’s critical stance toward the UK’s military decisions during the conflict.

The exchange highlights differing approaches between Washington and London regarding military involvement in the Iran war, though no official response from the UK government was mentioned in the report.