Iran has initiated the process of drafting a new law to collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from state-run Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency. The chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s Civil Affairs Committee stated that a draft law has already been prepared and will soon be finalized by the legislative team.

He explained that under this plan, Iran would charge fees to ensure the security of vessels navigating the strait, describing it as a normal practice similar to tariffs imposed on other trade corridors. The official emphasized that since Iran guarantees the safety of ships and oil tankers in the area, collecting tolls is justified.

The report also noted that among Iran’s five conditions for ending the ongoing conflict, one includes international recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam stated that his party aims to build Bangladesh based on equality and human dignity, reflecting the aspirations of 1971 and the 2024 mass uprising. He made the remarks on Thursday morning at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar while paying tribute to the heroes of the Liberation War.

Nahid Islam said that many of the dreams of independence remain unfulfilled, which is why the new generation has again had to sacrifice blood and life. He expressed hope that such sacrifices would not be necessary in the future. Emphasizing the importance of equality and dignity, he reaffirmed his commitment to shaping the future of Bangladesh on these principles.

Marking the country’s Independence and National Day, he paid respect to those who fought for freedom, including the martyrs and the women who made sacrifices during the Liberation War.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that a war against Iran would be a catastrophe for the global economy. Speaking to journalists at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra, he called for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Pistorius stated that Germany is ready to assist in peace efforts and emphasized that the economic impact of the conflict has already become evident within just over two weeks.

He clarified that Germany had not been consulted before the conflict began and stressed that it is not Germany’s war, expressing a desire to avoid involvement. Pistorius urged both the United States and Iran to stop the fighting and killing, calling for an immediate ceasefire. He added that once a ceasefire is achieved, Germany would discuss operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement comes amid reports that prolonged conflict could worsen energy shortages and instability in Asia, while global gold prices have declined and Australia has imposed restrictions on Iranian tourists.

Following the failure of political negotiations, the Pakistan Army launched a brutal crackdown in Dhaka on the night of 25 March 1971 under Operation Searchlight, sparking widespread resistance across East Pakistan. As Bengali soldiers began organizing in early April, retired Colonel Mohammad Ataul Gani Osmani, known as 'Papa Tiger', was chosen to lead the emerging Mukti Bahini. Osmani, who had retired from the Pakistan Army in 1967, had previously joined politics and was elected to the National Assembly as an Awami League candidate in 1970.

During the non-cooperation movement, Osmani played a key role in mobilizing retired Bengali officers and secretly contacting serving ones to prepare for possible armed resistance. On 4 April 1971, at a secret meeting in Teliapara, senior officers including Majors Ziaur Rahman, K.M. Shafiullah, and Khaled Mosharraf unanimously selected Osmani as Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation Forces. The meeting also decided to divide Bangladesh into four military zones, later expanded to eleven.

On 10 April, the Mujibnagar Government formally appointed Osmani as Commander-in-Chief. Historians cited his seniority, wartime experience, and political legitimacy as key reasons for his selection. Under his leadership, the Mukti Bahini was organized into regular and irregular forces that fought until Bangladesh’s independence.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the parade marking the Great Independence and National Day on Thursday, March 26, 2026. He arrived at the National Parade Ground shortly after 10 a.m. and watched the parade from the gallery alongside his daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman. Upon their arrival, they were received by the Minister and State Minister for Liberation War Affairs and the chiefs of the three armed forces.

The event was attended by cabinet members, senior government officials, ambassadors from various countries, and both local and foreign guests. Following the national anthem, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Md. Shahabuddin, was given a guard of honor. He then inspected the parade in an open jeep accompanied by Parade Commander Major General S.M. Asadul Haque before returning to the saluting dais to receive the Independence Day parade salute.

The ceremony highlighted national pride and military discipline as part of the annual Independence and National Day celebrations.

A bus accident at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari claimed the lives of Jahangirnagar University economics master's student Ahnaf Rayan, his mother, and his niece. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a bus lost control while boarding a ferry and plunged into the Padma River. Rayan’s sister, Dr. Nusrat Jahan Khan Saba, was rescued injured, while the bodies of Rayan and his niece were recovered early Thursday after being missing for about ten hours.

Rayan, son of the late Ismail Hossain from Bhabanipur village in Rajbari, was the organizational secretary of the Rajbari Debate Association and a former president of the Jahangirnagar University Rajbari Students’ Welfare Association. His funeral prayer was scheduled to take place at his home on Thursday morning.

According to reports, the bus from Souhardya Paribahan carrying around 50 passengers sank instantly after losing control at the No. 3 ferry terminal area around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon left Dhaka on Wednesday night for Turkey to attend the International Strategic Communication Summit (Stratcom) 2026, held at the Conrad Bosphorus Hotel in Istanbul on March 27 and 28. The visit is taking place at the invitation of the Turkish government.

According to the itinerary, the minister was scheduled to arrive in Istanbul via Jeddah on March 26 and attend a reception hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Turkey in celebration of Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day. On March 27 at 11:20 a.m., he will speak as a panelist in the first session titled “A New Framework for the Global Order: A Strategic Communication Perspective,” alongside ministers from Northern Cyprus, Syria, and Kazakhstan. The session will be moderated by TRT World’s senior presenter Alican Ayanlar.

During the visit, the minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with representatives from various countries. He is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on the morning of March 30 after the conclusion of the summit.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Bangladesh will become a democratic, happy, and prosperous nation under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. He made the remarks on Thursday morning after paying tribute at the graves of late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Fakhrul expressed that people across the country have strong faith and optimism in Tarique Rahman’s leadership and conveyed greetings to the nation on behalf of the party.

Speaking on the occasion of Independence Day, Fakhrul stated that democracy had been destroyed and freedom endangered for about 15–16 years. During that period, he claimed, around 6 million people faced legal cases, 20,000 party activists were killed, and about 1,700 were victims of enforced disappearance. He said that despite repression, people continued their struggle, leading to a new opportunity for democratic restoration through the student and public uprising in July.

Highlighting initiatives under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, Fakhrul mentioned programs such as the Family Card, allowances for imams and religious leaders, canal excavation, loans for marginal farmers, and the Farmers Card for Pahela Baishakh.

Iran has appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new head of its Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) following the death of Ali Larijani in an Israeli airstrike. The appointment was made on Tuesday, placing Zolghadr in one of the country’s most sensitive political and security positions amid heightened regional tensions and internal challenges.

Zolghadr, a former top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), previously served as secretary of the policy advisory council since 2023. As a first-generation IRGC member who fought in the Iran-Iraq war, he held senior leadership roles for over a decade. His selection is seen as an effort to fill the vacuum left by Larijani, a veteran political and security figure. The SNSC post is closely linked to the office of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, requiring both strategic and security expertise.

Iran’s hardliners view Zolghadr as better suited than Larijani to handle the current wartime pressures. With continued U.S. and Israeli attacks and growing domestic instability, Zolghadr faces the dual challenge of maintaining internal security and managing any potential negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with the United States.

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed hope for building a nonviolent, corruption-free and humane Bangladesh on the occasion of the country’s Independence and National Day. He made the remarks on Thursday morning after paying tribute and offering prayers at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar.

Dr. Rahman said they came to fulfill a moral duty and to honor the nation’s heroic martyrs. He prayed for the protection of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty, and for peace and blessings upon the country. He extended greetings to the entire nation on the occasion of Independence and National Day.

Earlier at 6 a.m., Dr. Rahman and senior Jamaat leaders offered prayers for the souls of the martyrs and for the country’s peace, prosperity and welfare. Several party leaders, including A.T.M. Azharul Islam, Mia Golam Porwar, and others, accompanied him during the tribute ceremony.

A severe traffic jam on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Gazaria, Munshiganj, caused significant suffering for passengers and drivers on Thursday. The congestion began in the morning due to an excessive number of vehicles and later extended from Sonargaon in Narayanganj to the Gazaria section as the day progressed.

According to reports, the two-day Langalbandh Astami Snan festival of the Hindu community began on Wednesday and was scheduled to end on Thursday. While traffic remained normal on the first day due to a smaller crowd, heavy congestion developed the following morning as pilgrims traveled to the festival site. Drivers reported extreme delays, with short routes taking several hours to cross.

Highway police officials stated that the traffic buildup started around midnight on the Dhaka-bound lane due to the festival. They said highway police teams were working continuously to ease the situation and restore normal traffic flow.

Larry Fink, chairman and chief executive of BlackRock, has warned that the global economy could face a severe recession if international oil prices rise to 150 dollars per barrel. Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, he said that a prolonged war involving Iran could drive oil prices higher and have far-reaching effects on the world economy. The ongoing Middle East conflict has already caused significant volatility in financial markets as people try to anticipate future energy costs.

Fink stated that the fate of the global economy now depends on Iran’s role in the conflict. He outlined two possible scenarios: if the war ends and Iran is reintegrated into the international community, oil prices could stabilize or even fall below pre-war levels; but if the conflict continues, prices could remain between 100 and 150 dollars per barrel for years, triggering a deep global downturn. He urged nations to use their resources efficiently and accelerate the search for alternative energy sources.

BlackRock manages about 14 trillion dollars in assets and is considered one of the world’s largest investment firms.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen sharply as the joint U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran enters its 26th day. The Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday shows only 36 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, down from 40 percent the previous week. The decline follows rising fuel prices and growing dissatisfaction over the cost of living, which have intensified since the February 28 launch of the Iran offensive.

The survey indicates that only 25 percent of respondents are satisfied with Trump’s handling of living costs, and just 29 percent approve of his economic management—both record lows for his presidency. Despite this, Trump retains strong backing among Republicans, with only one in five expressing overall dissatisfaction. However, discontent among Republicans over his handling of living costs has risen to 34 percent from 27 percent the previous week.

Public support for the Iran attack has also weakened, with 35 percent of Americans now backing the operation compared to 37 percent a week earlier, while opposition has grown to 61 percent. The ongoing conflict has driven up global oil prices and could further strain economies if prolonged.

Authorities in Satkhira have made it mandatory for motorcycle owners to present a fuel card bearing the district commissioner’s seal and signature to purchase fuel. The directive, confirmed by District Information Officer Md. Jaharul Islam on Wednesday night, requires all fuel purchases to occur between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Outside this timeframe, fuel sales are strictly prohibited. The order also mandates that riders carry a valid driving license, motorcycle registration number, updated tax token, and wear a helmet.

According to the district administration’s notice, fuel cards can be obtained from the district commissioner’s office, respective upazila executive officers’ offices, or the district administration’s website. The sale of fuel in plastic bottles, drums, or any containers has been completely banned, and open-market transactions outside authorized filling stations are prohibited. Violators will face legal action.

Following the announcement, long queues formed at filling stations across the district as motorcyclists rushed to collect fuel before the new rule took effect, with many expressing frustration over the added inconvenience.

Authorities have temporarily suspended the search and recovery operation following a bus accident at the No. 3 ferry terminal in Daulatdia, Rajbari. The Fire Service announced on Thursday afternoon that the operation would resume if new reports of missing persons emerge. So far, 26 bodies have been recovered, including 11 women, 8 children, and 7 men, all of whom have been handed over to their families. Several people remain missing.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 25, when a Kushtia-to-Dhaka bus of Souhardya Paribahan lost control while boarding a ferry and fell into the river. Rajbari district officials, including Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md. Hafizur Rahman, confirmed the recovery details. Of the 26 victims, 24 bodies were returned to families on Wednesday night, and the remaining two were handed over on Thursday afternoon.

Officials stated that rescue operations will resume if additional missing persons are reported, as the search remains on hold for now.