The United States has launched a large-scale military operation against Iran involving more than 50,000 troops, 200 warplanes, two aircraft carriers, and several bombers, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The announcement was made on Tuesday, with Cooper describing the campaign as the largest American military mobilization in the Middle East in decades.

Admiral Cooper stated that additional military support is being sent and that US forces are focusing on destroying targets that could pose threats to them. He said Iranian naval assets, including their most capable submarines, have been targeted. Cooper further claimed that 17 Iranian ships have already been destroyed and that the United States is conducting continuous attacks on Iran across sea, air, and cyberspace.

The report, citing The New York Times, underscores the scale of the operation and the intensity of US military engagement in the region.

A police constable named Sahmul Haque Shanto, aged 23, was seriously injured after being stabbed by a mugger in Tongi, Gazipur, on Wednesday night. Shanto, who serves with the Lalbagh Police Station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police, was attacked around 11 p.m. near the Hossain Market area on the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway. The assailant, identified as Al Amin alias Roni, 26, was captured by an angry crowd and handed over to police after being beaten.

According to police, Shanto and his colleague Kawsar Islam had come to Tongi for a visit earlier in the evening. When they reached the Nippon Garments area, a group of muggers suddenly attacked them. During the confrontation, Al Amin stabbed Shanto in the neck with a sharp knife, leaving him critically injured. Locals rescued the wounded officer and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while the injured suspect was sent to Tongi Government Hospital.

Tongi West Police Station’s officer-in-charge said legal proceedings are underway regarding the incident.

The Cabinet Division of Bangladesh has issued a new circular requiring all government, semi-government, autonomous, and semi-autonomous officials and employees to remain in their offices from 9:00 to 9:40 AM daily. The directive, signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani and dated March 2, 2026, aims to enhance citizen service delivery, administrative efficiency, and inter-departmental coordination. Previous circulars on similar attendance requirements were issued in 2019 and 2021.

According to the circular, many officials fail to arrive on time due to participation in official or personal programs such as seminars, workshops, or visits to banks and hospitals, which disrupts communication and affects public service and the government’s image. The new rule instructs authorities to ensure that official programs do not interfere with the mandatory attendance period.

The directive exempts certain categories, including teachers not in administrative roles, roster-duty staff in hospitals or security institutions, emergency service providers, and law enforcement personnel on field duty. Officials are prohibited from leaving the workplace without written permission from the authority.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of disregarding the American people and failing to follow proper procedures before initiating a conflict with Iran. Speaking after a congressional briefing, Murphy said the Trump administration had engaged in a war whose outcome remains uncertain.

Murphy stated that officials described the situation as an open engagement that has not yet fully begun but could lead to more American casualties. He added that the administration refused to rule out deploying ground troops. According to Murphy, this approach demonstrates contempt for the American public, as the administration believes it can wage one of the largest Middle East wars since Iraq and Afghanistan without a single congressional vote or debate.

Murphy’s remarks highlight growing concerns among lawmakers about executive overreach and the lack of congressional authorization for military actions in the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported intercepting two cruise missiles south of Riyadh, according to Reuters and AFP. The Saudi Press Agency separately confirmed that nine drones were also shot down. Officials did not disclose where the missiles and drones originated.

The incident occurred as regional tensions intensified, with Israel announcing renewed attacks on Iran, including strikes targeting the Iranian presidential complex and leadership residences. The United States stated it had struck over two thousand Iranian targets since launching operations on Saturday. In response, Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases and Israeli positions across the Middle East, reportedly killing six American soldiers.

Reports indicated that by Tuesday night, the ongoing hostilities had resulted in more than a thousand deaths, underscoring the rapidly worsening conflict across the region.

Political analyst and Jedaal Television presenter Ali Alizadeh stated that Iran possesses sufficient resources to sustain a prolonged war compared to the United States and Israel. Speaking from London, he said Iran’s defense strategy is far less expensive than Western air defense systems, as the country produces missiles and drones domestically at low cost. According to him, if the conflict continues, it will likely benefit Iran.

Alizadeh referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of preparing for a four- to five-week war, noting that the 12-day Israel-U.S. war against Iran last June showed that each additional day of fighting would become harder for Israeli citizens. He added that as Israel and U.S. missile defense systems and other supplies deplete, their next steps will be uncertain.

He further argued that Israel dragged Trump into the conflict and that Trump underestimated Iran’s resilience. Alizadeh described Iran’s government as patient and strong, suggesting that Trump is realizing he has been cornered by a joint war effort.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly condemned Israel’s threats against Iranian government officials in Lebanon, describing them as representing an “intent to commit war crimes.” The organization stated that under international law, individuals not directly involved in hostilities cannot be targeted. The Israeli military had earlier declared that it would not tolerate the presence of Iranian representatives in Lebanon and gave them 24 hours to leave the country.

In a social media post, HRW emphasized that the laws of war strictly prohibit attacks targeting civilians, including officials from other nations who are not directly participating in hostilities. The group added that if Israeli forces target Iranian officials who fail to leave Lebanon, such actions would be deeply concerning and amount to an admission of intent to commit war crimes.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Israel, Iran, and Lebanon all referenced in recent reports of military threats and actions, according to Al Jazeera.

Israel has launched new attacks on Iran while Iran fired missiles toward Israel amid ongoing hostilities. The developments were reported on Wednesday through Al Jazeera’s live broadcast. The Israeli military confirmed that missiles were fired from Iran and said its defense systems were activated to intercept them. Civilians were instructed to remain in protective shelters until further notice.

Israel claimed responsibility for renewed strikes inside Iran, following earlier attacks on Tuesday that reportedly targeted the Iranian presidential complex and residences of senior leaders. Since February 28, multiple sources have reported joint U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran, with reports alleging the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family. Tehran has vowed retaliatory attacks on Israeli and U.S. bases across the Middle East.

According to a human rights organization, around 1,100 civilians have been killed in Iran, while more than 50 deaths have been reported in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has also fired missiles at Israel and faced Israeli counterstrikes in Beirut.

Explosions were heard across Israel as Iranian missile attacks, previously concentrated in central and northern areas, expanded to the south. Al Jazeera journalist Nida Ibrahim reported hearing loud blasts from Ramallah, while Israeli defense forces confirmed intercepting missiles and urged residents to remain in shelters until further notice. Missile fragments were found in Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem.

Warning sirens sounded in Jerusalem, parts of central Israel, and the West Bank as Iran continued launching missiles. The Israeli military stated it had detected another missile fired from Iran and was actively working to intercept incoming threats.

The escalation marks a widening of the conflict, with Israel’s defense forces maintaining a high alert posture and advising civilians to stay protected as missile interceptions continue.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman in Dhaka on Wednesday morning. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during Kapur’s official visit to Bangladesh. Earlier, he met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid, and later in the day he was scheduled to meet Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud. Kapur was also expected to attend a dinner and exchange views with business representatives.

According to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit will cover bilateral and geopolitical issues, including the implementation of a recently signed trade agreement and discussions on a proposed security pact. The visit follows a congratulatory message from US President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman emphasizing trade and defense cooperation. Kapur is accompanied by Laura Anderson, Senior Economic Adviser at the US Department of State.

The United States seeks to finalize two defense agreements, GSOMIA and ACSA, with Bangladesh, with talks on GSOMIA reportedly progressing. The visit may also address the repatriation of undocumented Bangladeshis from the US.

On Wednesday morning, State Minister for Land Barrister Kaiser Kamal conducted an unannounced inspection at the Siddhirganj Union Land Office in Narayanganj. Arriving at 9:10 a.m., he discovered that no officials were present and the office was locked. The minister waited for about half an hour on the office veranda before expressing his frustration over the absence of staff during official hours.

Kamal described the situation as unacceptable and warned that strict action would be taken against those neglecting their duties. He emphasized that a government elected by the people must work for the people and that any irregularities or corruption would not be tolerated.

The incident highlights the minister’s focus on administrative accountability and his stance against negligence within government offices.

Barcelona’s title defense ended despite a 3-0 home victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the semifinal at Camp Nou. The Catalan side needed to overturn a four-goal deficit from the first leg but fell short, as Atletico advanced 4-3 on aggregate to reach the final.

Marc Bernal opened the scoring in the 29th minute from a Lamine Yamal cross, and Raphinha doubled the lead from a penalty in first-half stoppage time. Bernal added his second in the 72nd minute from a Joao Cancelo assist, but Barcelona could not find the crucial fourth goal. Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso made several key saves to preserve his team’s aggregate advantage.

After the match, Musso said it might not have been their best performance, but they earned the final spot after 180 minutes of play. Raphinha expressed pride in Barcelona’s comeback effort despite disappointment at missing the final. Atletico Madrid will face either Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao in the final on April 18.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least 50 people were killed and 335 injured in Israeli airstrikes over the past two days, according to a CNN News report published on March 4, 2026. The attacks continued into Wednesday morning, with air raids striking southern Beirut, where at least six people were killed and eight others wounded.

Israel stated that its forces intend to advance further into Lebanese territory to capture what it described as strategically important areas. The stated goal of this move is to prevent attacks on Israeli border settlements. The information was also cited by the Lebanese outlet L’Orient Today.

The ongoing escalation underscores the intensifying conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with civilian casualties mounting as air and ground operations continue near the border and in urban areas.

Five days after a joint US-Israel attack on Iran, questions remain over President Donald Trump’s motives and objectives. Initially, Trump and his administration said the goal was to destroy Iran’s nuclear program and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. Vice President JD Vance reiterated this aim in a television interview. However, the administration’s reasoning evolved over subsequent days, with Trump later emphasizing the destruction of Iran’s missile and naval capabilities and the elimination of proxy groups in the region.

Trump subsequently suggested that regime change in Iran was necessary, telling Iranians they would take leadership after a transition. Yet Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth contradicted this, stating that regime change was not the United States’ goal, though he acknowledged leadership changes had occurred. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later argued that the attack was preemptive, as US forces would have become targets once Israel struck Iran.

The lack of a clear post-attack plan has drawn sharp criticism in Congress. Democrats accused the administration of acting without credible intelligence or a defined strategy, warning that the US could face a prolonged conflict.

Bangladesh has consolidated its position as the second-largest apparel supplier to the European Union, achieving a 21.57 percent market share in 2025. According to Eurostat data, the country’s exports to the EU rose from 14,295 million euros in 2021 to 19,414.55 million euros in 2025, marking a 36 percent increase. Despite global demand slowdown, Bangladesh outperformed key competitors such as China, India, and Turkey in growth rate. China retained the top position with a 29.54 percent share, while Turkey and India held 9.27 and 5.03 percent respectively.

Industry leaders attributed Bangladesh’s progress to sustained efforts, competitive pricing, and stable supply chains. They noted that European buyers’ confidence remained strong even amid global economic pressure. The Export Promotion Bureau confirmed that the EU remains Bangladesh’s largest export destination, accounting for the majority of its apparel shipments.

Analysts from the Centre for Policy Dialogue said that advances in sustainable production and eco-friendly factories have strengthened Bangladesh’s position in Europe. They emphasized the need for product diversification and a potential free trade agreement with the EU to maintain tariff-free access after the country’s graduation from LDC status.