Bangladesh National Parliament Whip and Natore-2 MP Advocate M Ruhul Kudddus Talukder Dulu said the current BNP government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is determined to fulfill every promise made to the people. He stated that within a month of taking office, the government began distributing family cards and initiated allowances for imams, muezzins, and other religious leaders. Dulu made these remarks on March 24, 2026, at a reception for newly appointed Natore District Council Administrator Rahim Newaz.

He further announced that the government will start distributing farmer cards from the first day of the Bengali New Year, enabling marginal farmers to receive seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides free of cost. The government has also decided to waive agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka with interest and has launched the canal excavation program promised earlier. Dulu emphasized unity under Tarique Rahman’s leadership and warned that drugs, terrorism, and extortion would not be tolerated in Natore.

He added that gas connections will soon reach Natore, which will help establish new industries and reduce unemployment in the region.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced a 180-day priority program for the education sector, aligned with the BNP’s 13th National Election manifesto. The initiative, unveiled at a ministry meeting following the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, includes distributing free school uniforms and shoes to more than 200,000 students across all upazilas within 180 days. The plan also outlines providing tablets to all teachers within a year and implementing several modernization measures.

The meeting, attended by senior officials from secondary, technical, madrasa, and primary education departments, discussed the 2026–2027 fiscal plan and a five-year education development strategy. The minister emphasized rapid implementation of election pledges, focusing on inclusive and modern education through programs such as “One Teacher, One Tab,” “One Child, One Tree,” compulsory third-language learning, and technical education for all.

The program also includes free education for children of movement martyrs and injured student fighters, teacher training acceleration, and the introduction of math olympiads and debate clubs in all institutions.

Bangladesh has received a positive response from India regarding the import of fuel to address the global energy crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid confirmed that India has given a green signal for energy cooperation during a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday afternoon.

She also stated that Bangladesh has not yet received consular access to Faisal Karim and Alamgir Hossain, suspects in the Sharif Osman Hadi murder case who were arrested in India, but the government expects to obtain access soon. Bringing them back to face trial remains a government priority. The minister added that discussions have been held with the Indian High Commissioner regarding the repatriation of individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, who have taken refuge in India.

Addressing another question, Shama Obaid said that all Bangladeshi missions in the Middle East are working to ensure the safety of citizens. Over 2,000 Bangladeshis currently in Iran are reported to be safe, and the government will assist those wishing to return.

The government of Bangladesh is preparing an incentive framework to encourage investment, according to Prime Minister’s Economic and Planning Adviser Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir. He made the statement on Monday night after a discussion meeting on industrialization prospects in Panchagarh district, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room.

Dr. Titumir said that previous administrations had not taken initiatives to generate employment through investment in the northern region, despite its potential. The current government, committed to achieving regional balance, is therefore designing various incentive structures to promote investment. He emphasized that the government is committed to providing necessary tax benefits and financial support to investors.

He added that the government aims to reopen closed factories, including sugar mills and jute mills, and called on entrepreneurs to invest in agricultural and agro-processing industries in Panchagarh to foster significant growth in the sector.

Iran has declared that it will not engage in any ceasefire discussions as long as airstrikes continue. The statement comes amid reports that the United States had proposed talks, which Tehran has denied. The situation is described as highly complex, with deep-rooted mistrust between the two countries making direct dialogue difficult.

According to the report, Iran had participated in negotiations twice over the past year, but both times airstrikes were carried out against it during the talks. These experiences have made diplomatic engagement even more challenging for Tehran. The country has now set a clear precondition for any future discussions: airstrikes must stop before any ceasefire talks can take place.

This stance underscores the growing strain in Iran–US relations and signals that progress toward de-escalation will remain stalled unless military actions cease.

Twelve people were killed in a collision between a train and a bus at the Paduar Bazar rail crossing in Cumilla early Saturday night during Eid. Following the accident, local residents accused the on-duty gatekeepers of negligence, claiming they were under the influence of drugs and failed to hear the train’s signal. Evidence of drug use, including yaba and cannabis paraphernalia, was reportedly found in the gatekeepers’ quarters.

Locals alleged that the government quarters for gatekeepers are often used for drug gatherings due to a lack of regular supervision. They claimed that on the night of the accident, gatekeepers Mehedi and Helal were intoxicated with outsiders. However, Cumilla Railway Station Master Sheikh Anwar Hossain denied the allegations, saying no drug use occurs in the gatekeepers’ rooms and that the engineering department will determine the actual cause. Railway security officials said action would follow any confirmed complaints.

Three investigation committees have been formed to determine the cause of the accident, with a 72-hour deadline to submit reports. The Cumilla district administration assured that legal action will be taken against anyone found responsible.

Pakistan has announced its willingness to mediate between the United States and Iran to help resolve ongoing tensions. In an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad is always ready to host talks if the concerned parties agree. He emphasized that Pakistan consistently prioritizes dialogue and diplomacy to maintain regional peace and stability.

Andrabi’s remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily suspended his threat to attack Iranian power plants for five days, claiming that Washington and Tehran were engaged in “very good” discussions. Iran, however, has officially denied holding any talks with the United States. Reports from U.S. and Israeli media suggested that Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey have been acting as intermediaries, facilitating message exchanges between Tehran and Washington.

Some media outlets have hinted that representatives from both countries might meet in Islamabad in the coming days, though neither side has confirmed such a meeting.

Amid ongoing Middle East tensions, Iran has warned that any attack on its power plants would trigger retaliatory strikes on critical infrastructure in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Analysts suggest that such threats could most severely affect major cities across the Gulf, where electricity networks are deeply interconnected.

The GCC’s shared power grid means that a major outage in one country could quickly spread to others. Experts identify this interdependence as a key weakness. In nations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait, electricity is vital not only for households but also for industry, transport, and security systems. Another major risk lies in water supply, as most potable water in the region comes from desalination plants linked to power stations. Any disruption could therefore threaten both electricity and water, potentially triggering a humanitarian crisis.

Analysts interpret Iran’s warning as a strategic signal to the United States and its allies, emphasizing that escalating conflict would impose costs across the entire region.

Retired Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury was presented before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka on Tuesday for a remand hearing in a case filed at Paltan Model Police Station. The case involves allegations of embezzling Tk 24,000 crore through a syndicate and human trafficking. Following the hearing, Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid granted a five-day remand as requested by the Detective Branch (DB) police.

After the court approved the remand, unidentified individuals threw dirty drain water at Chowdhury in the court premises while he was being taken to the detention cell. The incident occurred amid tight security and protests outside the court. According to the prosecution, the accused faces serious charges that require interrogation for investigation purposes.

DB sources stated that Chowdhury is accused in multiple cases, including fraud, extortion, and murder, and that an arrest warrant had already been issued against him in a separate case in Feni. He was detained late Monday night during a DB operation in Baridhara DOHS, Dhaka.

A video showing an orphaned girl crying beside her mother’s grave in Lalmai upazila, Cumilla, went viral on social media, prompting immediate intervention by local authorities. The girl, identified as Samia Akter, had reportedly suffered prolonged physical and mental abuse from her stepmother, Ayesha Akter, while her father was abroad in Saudi Arabia. Following the viral spread of the video, the stepmother and the child were brought before the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) on March 24, where the stepmother apologized publicly and signed a written pledge not to repeat such behavior.

According to local sources, the girl had been subjected to repeated beatings and was even tied up and confined indoors for two days. The UNO, Umme Tahmina Mitu, assigned the acting chairman of Bagmara Dakshin Union Parishad, Md. Lokman Hossain, to investigate the matter. Authorities have placed the child under local surveillance to ensure her safety.

Local residents and officials, including police and community leaders, were present during the proceedings. The community has welcomed the administration’s quick response and called for continued monitoring to protect the child.

The Central Board of Film Certification in India has blocked the screening of the Tunisian film 'The Voyage of Hind Rajab', which was nominated for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars. According to The Guardian, the board cited 'political sensitivity' as the reason for denying clearance. The film’s Indian distributor, Manoj Nandwana of Joy Bhiratra Entertainment, said he had applied for certification in February with plans to release the film on March 6, before the Oscars. He was reportedly told that the film could strain India-Israel relations, a claim he rejected.

The film, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, is based on the real-life death of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab during the 2024 Gaza conflict. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a 20-minute standing ovation and won the Silver Lion award. News of the ban has sparked strong reactions in India, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling the move 'shameful' and an attack on freedom of expression.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that India’s growing diplomatic alignment with Israel under Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have influenced the censorship decision. The censor board has not issued an official statement on the matter.

Global gold prices declined further on Tuesday morning, dropping more than 2 percent in international trading. Spot gold fell 0.2 percent to 4,396.74 US dollars per ounce, marking its lowest level since November 24, when it had reached 4,097.99 dollars per ounce. US gold futures for April delivery also decreased by 1.5 percent to 4,340.90 dollars per ounce.

According to OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong, the current volatility in the market is closely tied to developments in the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. Mixed signals from the countries involved have made investors cautious, leading to instability across commodity markets. Since the onset of the conflict, gold prices have dropped by about 18 percent.

Other precious metals also saw declines. Spot silver fell 3.4 percent to 66.80 dollars per ounce, platinum dropped 2.1 percent to 1,841.68 dollars, and palladium decreased 2.7 percent to 1,395.25 dollars per ounce.

China has introduced temporary controls on fuel prices to limit the domestic impact of rapidly rising global oil prices. According to the state news agency Xinhua, this marks the first such intervention since the country’s fuel pricing mechanism was introduced over a decade ago. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) raised the maximum retail prices of petrol and diesel from midnight but capped the increase through a temporary regulatory measure.

Under the new decision, petrol prices rose by 1,160 yuan per metric ton and diesel by 1,115 yuan, compared with potential increases of 2,205 yuan and 2,120 yuan respectively without intervention. The NDRC said the move aims to cushion the economy from abnormal international price shocks, reduce pressure on consumers and industries, and maintain economic stability.

An NDRC official stated that if global oil prices continue to rise, the government may provide tax and subsidy support to stabilize supply. The report also noted China’s ongoing investments in strategic oil reserves and renewable energy sectors to strengthen energy security.

Qatar has announced that it will not take part in any mediation efforts between Iran and the United States aimed at ending the current conflict. The statement came from Majid Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who clarified that Doha is not involved in any initiatives to stop the war. Ansari emphasized that Qatar’s priority is to halt attacks on its territory and to protect the homeland.

In previous years, particularly before the 12-day war last June, Qatar had served as one of the main mediators between Tehran and Washington. Responding to a question about whether Qatar could maintain normal relations with Iran following attacks on Arab countries, Ansari said that geography cannot be changed, suggesting that Qatar’s regional realities shape its diplomatic stance.

The announcement signals a shift from Qatar’s earlier role as a facilitator in Iran-U.S. relations, reflecting a more cautious approach amid heightened regional tensions.

A parliamentary special committee has reached consensus on an ordinance to raise the entry age limit for government jobs to 32 years. The decision was disclosed by opposition whip and Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan after the committee’s meeting held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the National Parliament building. The meeting discussed a total of 133 ordinances, several of which achieved agreement among members.

Rafiqul Islam Khan stated that during the first day of discussions, the committee reviewed 27 ordinances and reached consensus on most of them except five. He also mentioned that the committee agreed to present most of the discussed ordinances in Parliament as recommendations. Further discussions will continue on the Disappearance Prevention and Remedy (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 and the Police Commission Ordinance 2025.

The meeting also reached agreement on the proposed ordinance concerning the protection of July fighters. Rafiqul Islam Khan emphasized that constitutional issues were not discussed in this session, and the committee prioritized matters related to public interest and national needs.