Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury announced that the government will assist expatriates whose visas are expiring because of flight cancellations. He said the ministry has launched a hotline to provide support and urged affected expatriates to contact the ministry for help. The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving any problems faced by expatriates. He made these remarks on Saturday morning in Sylhet after attending a Holi festival organized by the Academy for Manipuri Culture and Arts.

Responding to questions about Bangladeshis in Middle Eastern war zones, the minister said his ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Civil Aviation are working jointly. He added that the government informs the respective foreign authorities about any casualties and follows due procedures. The ministry and embassies are monitoring the situation regularly, and the Prime Minister is also overseeing developments. The government is providing full cooperation in this regard.

Addressing local law and order issues in Sylhet, the minister stated that those responsible for rising crime will not be spared and that the administration has been directed to take strict action.

Bahrain and Iraq have kept their airspace closed, leading to a temporary suspension of flights through Bahrain International Airport. The closure has caused major disruptions to international flight schedules, particularly on routes between Asia and Europe, as airlines are forced to take longer alternative paths.

The closures follow escalating tensions in the Middle East after recent retaliatory attacks involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which have made the region’s skies highly unsafe. Earlier, Kuwait, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates had also announced partial or full airspace closures due to the same security concerns.

Hundreds of flights to and through the Middle East have already been canceled. Aviation experts warn that if the conflict continues, global airfares and cargo transport costs could rise sharply. Authorities in the affected countries are closely monitoring the situation, and flights are unlikely to resume until full safety is ensured.

A mobile court in Singra upazila of Natore fined a trader named Md. Rubel for illegally hoarding 10,000 liters of fuel to create an artificial shortage. The operation was conducted on Saturday afternoon in the Ningoin area of Singra municipality, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Abdullah Al Rifat. The court imposed a fine of Tk 5,000 on Rubel, owner of Satata Traders, after discovering the fuel stored underground in a water tank.

In separate drives at Sherkol and Hatianandah markets, District Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan Dipu fined three other traders Tk 8,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act. Local authorities stated that some dishonest traders were attempting to manipulate the market by creating a false fuel crisis.

Officials confirmed that similar operations would continue to prevent artificial shortages and protect consumers from unfair pricing practices.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reported that an oil tanker named ‘Prima’ was struck by a drone while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement was made through a statement shared on Telegram, where the IRGC reiterated that it had repeatedly warned against vessel movement through the strait, declaring the area off-limits.

According to the IRGC, ships belonging to countries maintaining friendly relations with what it called ‘enemy nations’ are also being barred from crossing the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes, carrying nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has already brought maritime traffic in the area to a near standstill.

Earlier in the week, Iran had warned that any ship attempting to pass through the region could be set on fire. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. Navy could escort vessels through the strait if necessary.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, Khatam al-Anbiya, stated that the country respects the national interests and sovereignty of its neighboring states. However, it warned that if attacks on Iran continue, U.S. and Israeli military bases and interests across the region would become targets. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera.

The IRGC’s declaration followed remarks by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who said the country’s interim leadership council had decided that no attacks would be launched on neighboring states unless they initiated aggression against Iran. The IRGC reiterated through state media that Iran’s armed forces have not taken any aggressive action against neighboring countries so far.

The statement added a clear warning that continued hostile acts would prompt Iran’s armed forces to deliver powerful and destructive strikes against U.S. and Israeli military assets on land, sea, and air throughout the region.

Bangladesh’s macroeconomic stability is under significant pressure, according to Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). Speaking on Saturday at a shadow parliament debate titled “Economic Stability to Meet Public Expectations” held at the FDC auditorium in Dhaka, she said the economy is at a stage that requires transformation. The event was organized by Debate for Democracy and chaired by its chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron.

Dr. Khatun highlighted multiple challenges including high inflation, limited fiscal space, stagnation in private investment, monetary risks, heavy debt burden, energy sector stress, political uncertainty, and both domestic and global pressures. She emphasized that macroeconomic discipline is essential to restore stability. The newly elected government, she noted, faces major tasks such as restoring stability, strengthening governance, rebuilding investor confidence, and creating employment.

She added that the government has outlined goals to reshape the economy, aiming for a one-trillion-dollar size by 2034, increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio, boosting investment, and expanding social protection through family and farmer cards. She stressed the need for coordinated monetary and fiscal policies to control demand pressures and stabilize inflation expectations.

Bloomberg, citing a US official, reported that Iran has destroyed a $300 million radar system in Jordan that was crucial for operating the United States’ missile defense network in the Gulf region. The radar, part of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, was located at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. Satellite imagery analyzed by CNN showed that the RTX Corporation’s AN/TPY-2 radar, along with its batteries and support equipment, was destroyed early in the conflict. A US official later confirmed the destruction of the equipment.

According to Bloomberg, the United States operates eight THAAD missile defense systems worldwide, including in South Korea and Guam. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that each THAAD battery costs about one billion dollars, with roughly $300 million allocated for the radar component. The loss of the radar could weaken the region’s ability to counter future attacks, as it played a key role in the US missile defense network.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman spent his holiday working at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on March 7, 2026. According to Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony, this marked the third consecutive Saturday the prime minister has worked since taking office. Senior advisers and officials, including Public Administration Adviser Ismail Jobiullah, Economic Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, and Education and Expatriate Welfare Adviser Mahdi Amin, were also present.

During the day, Rahman met with Dr. Nargis Akhter, Director General of the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, to discuss expanding the use and market of jute-based products. Later, he held a meeting with Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on reducing costs and improving efficiency in the energy sector.

The deputy press secretary added that the prime minister planned to attend an iftar event at the state guesthouse Jamuna, organized in honor of religious scholars and orphans.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified surveillance along the Sunamganj border to curb illegal fuel smuggling amid global instability and fluctuating international fuel prices. Starting Friday morning, March 6, additional checkpoints, special patrols, and intelligence monitoring were deployed across several border areas. Inspections of suspected vehicles have also been reinforced to detect and prevent smuggling activities.

According to BGB, heightened vigilance has been placed at three land customs (LC) points under the Sunamganj battalion’s jurisdiction. The measures aim to stop trucks carrying stones and coal from illegally transporting fuel on their return trips. The commander of the 28 BGB Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A K M Zakaria Kadir, stated that the force will continue its operations to prevent fuel smuggling and other unlawful activities along the border.

The strengthened monitoring reflects BGB’s ongoing efforts to maintain border security and ensure compliance with trade and fuel regulations in the region.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates, according to a report by Al Jazeera citing Iran’s state-run Tasnim news agency. The report stated that the strike targeted a US satellite communication center, an early warning radar, and a fire control radar at the base.

As of the time of reporting, the United Arab Emirates has not issued any official comment regarding the alleged attack. The incident comes amid ongoing regional tensions and follows previous Iranian claims of drone and missile strikes on US military installations across the Gulf region, with Al Dhafra base repeatedly identified as one of the targets.

The latest claim underscores heightened friction between Iran and US-aligned Gulf states, though independent verification of the reported strike or its impact was not available from the source.

Four people were arrested by Kalabagan police at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka on Saturday morning during a procession marking the March 7 observance. The group of about 30 to 40 people had started their march from Dhanmondi 27 and were heading toward Dhanmondi 32 to place flowers when police intervened. The procession dispersed following the police obstruction.

According to Kalabagan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Fazle Ashiq, the four detainees—three women and one man—were taken into custody under the Anti-Terrorism Act and later sent to court. The arrests occurred as the group carried flowers during their procession to the historic site.

The report did not include further details about the identities of the detainees or the specific reasons for applying the Anti-Terrorism Act in this case.

The head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society, Pirhossein Kolivand, has claimed that 65 schools and 13 centers affiliated with the organization were targeted in attacks allegedly carried out by Israel and the United States. According to a report by BBC News Farsi cited in the statement, the strikes affected multiple regions across Iran.

Kolivand stated that a total of 6,668 civilian units were hit, including 5,535 residential and 1,041 commercial buildings. He added that several Red Crescent rescue vehicles were also damaged during the incidents. The report did not specify the exact timing or locations of the attacks.

As of the report’s release, there had been no immediate response from either Israel or the United States regarding the allegations.

The 59th Battalion of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has launched strict fuel inspections on India-bound trucks at the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj. The initiative began on Saturday amid global fuel instability caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East. BGB teams are measuring fuel levels in trucks entering from India and rechecking them when the vehicles return after unloading goods to ensure no excess fuel is taken back.

Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria, commanding officer of the 59 BGB Battalion, stated that the operation aims to prevent any smuggling of Bangladeshi fuel into India. He said the double-checking system will discourage smugglers and help protect national resources. The BGB official added that the inspection campaign will continue regularly in the public interest.

The move reflects Bangladesh’s broader efforts to safeguard domestic energy security and curb illegal fuel outflow during a period of international market volatility.

A US B-1 Lancer bomber landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, on Friday evening. The 146-foot-long aircraft arrived following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to allow the United States to take defensive action against Iranian missile installations from UK military bases.

The move came after criticism from US President Donald Trump and several British political figures, including Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused Starmer of delaying permission for base use. Starmer defended his decision, arguing that the conflict could have been legally questionable and lacked a clear, well-planned strategy.

The deployment marks a significant moment in UK-US defense cooperation amid heightened tensions involving Iran, though further operational details were not disclosed in the report.

The body of Kohinur Akter, 30, wife of expatriate Nurul Islam from Ukhia’s Rajapalong Union, was recovered from beneath a lift at Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital four days after she went missing. She had come to the hospital with her sick child and disappeared on March 4 after leaving to buy medicine. Her body was discovered Saturday morning after CCTV footage showed her entering the lift but not exiting.

Hospital officials said she likely fell into the lift shaft when the door opened before the lift arrived. The incident has raised serious questions about the hospital’s safety and surveillance systems. Relatives became agitated after the discovery, prompting police to intervene and restore order.

Law enforcement authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident. The body was sent for autopsy at the hospital morgue, while local residents expressed concern over how a body could remain undiscovered for days inside a busy hospital.