The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has issued a notification increasing the price of jet fuel used in domestic and international flights by about Tk 90 per liter. The new rate will take effect from midnight, according to the circular released on Tuesday. The Aviation Operators Association of Bangladesh (AOAB) has termed the hike unjustified and urged the government to reconsider the decision.

In a press statement, AOAB said the sudden and large increase in Jet A-1 fuel prices does not reflect current market realities. The association noted that there is no fuel shortage in the country, as 25 oil tankers arrived in the past 22 days with fuel purchased at previously set prices. It also pointed out that global oil prices have recently declined, making such a sharp increase unreasonable.

AOAB warned that the new price could severely strain airlines financially, raise domestic airfares, and threaten the sustainability of the aviation sector. The group cautioned that continued pressure might even force suspension of domestic flight operations if the situation persists.

A government vehicle belonging to the Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) allegedly took three jars of fuel from a local filling station, bypassing a long queue of waiting motorcyclists. The incident occurred on Monday evening at the Kadir & Sons pump near the Gaibandha district bus stand. Witnesses said the UNO’s car left the station with the fuel while others had been waiting for hours.

Motorcyclists and other drivers protested the incident, accusing the official of ignoring the same fuel distribution rules imposed on the public. One motorcyclist said the government was taking various measures to ease the fuel shortage, yet the UNO was not following the law herself. Another driver said he had been waiting four hours without getting fuel while the official’s car was served immediately.

When contacted, Gaibandha Sadar UNO Lailatul Hossain said the fuel was not for her but for the speedboat of the Fulchhari Upazila UNO. However, Fulchhari UNO Mostafizur Rahman stated he had not yet received any fuel and would look into the matter.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, outlining the government’s response to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He said India is taking steps to safely bring back Indian ships and sailors stranded in the blocked Hormuz Strait. Modi added that he is in talks to reopen the strait and has spoken twice with several West Asian leaders since the war began. A multi-party meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, to discuss the situation.

Modi stated that India is maintaining communication with Iran, Israel, the United States, and other Gulf nations to help stabilize the region through diplomatic dialogue. He emphasized that the government is taking all possible measures to ensure the supply of LPG and other fuels, and to maintain stability if the conflict continues. The government is also encouraging the use of PNG as an alternative to LPG.

The Prime Minister had earlier expressed concern in the Lok Sabha over the impact of the Israel-Iran conflict on India’s interests.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired a meeting focused on resolving traffic congestion and modernizing traffic management in Dhaka. The meeting took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Office within the Cabinet Division. Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony confirmed the event.

Discussions at the meeting centered on improving the capital’s traffic management system, restoring discipline on the roads, and reducing chronic congestion. The session aimed to identify actionable measures to make Dhaka’s transport system more efficient and orderly.

The meeting reflects the government’s ongoing attention to urban mobility challenges and efforts to enhance public convenience through better traffic control and infrastructure management.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government has initiated discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure additional funds for energy imports affected by the Iran war. He made the remarks after meeting Krishna Srinivasan, IMF’s Asia and Pacific Director, at the Secretariat. Further detailed discussions are expected to take place in Washington.

The minister stated that the Iran war has negatively impacted Bangladesh’s economy, prompting the government to adopt cost-cutting and reform measures. He clarified that the IMF’s sixth and seventh tranches, totaling 1.86 billion dollars, will not be released before the next budget, with a review scheduled for July. The government aims to implement the BNP’s election manifesto to overcome economic challenges and is taking steps to simplify business processes and reduce expenses.

Chowdhury added that timely measures have prevented fuel shortages from affecting Eid transport and commodity prices. He urged citizens to remain prudent and compassionate during the ongoing crisis.

A 1.5-kilometer canal has been excavated through voluntary labor in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj. The initiative was implemented on Monday in the Khama area of Egarosindur Union, where local residents worked throughout the day to connect the Khama Beel and Golduba Beel. More than a hundred volunteers participated in the digging and cleaning activities that began at 8 a.m. and continued until evening.

Organizers stated that the re-excavation of the canal will help reduce waterlogging in the area and enhance irrigation facilities for agriculture. The initiative was led by Khandaker Al Ashraf Mamun, former employment affairs secretary of the Jubo Dal central committee, who said the project was undertaken in response to public calls for community involvement. He expressed hope that local farmers would directly benefit from the canal and that agricultural productivity in the region would increase as a result.

The effort reflects a community-driven approach to addressing local water management and agricultural challenges in rural Kishoreganj.

The United Kingdom’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Sarah Cook, paid a courtesy call on Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) at the ministry’s conference room on March 24, 2026. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present during the meeting. The discussion focused on enhancing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom and seeking British cooperation in developing Bangladesh’s civil aviation sector.

During the meeting, the ambassador assured continued cooperation with the current government. She also expressed the United Kingdom’s interest in participating in ground handling operations at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Additionally, the ambassador reaffirmed her country’s support for Bangladesh’s goal of becoming a regional aviation hub.

The meeting underscored both nations’ shared interest in expanding aviation collaboration and strengthening long-term partnership in the sector.

Iranian police have arrested 466 individuals accused of assisting enemies through online activities that allegedly threatened national security, according to state media IRNA on Tuesday. The arrests mark one of Iran’s largest security operations since the country entered into conflict with Israel and the United States.

Reports from Iranian media indicated that over 1,000 people have been detained this month on charges of filming sensitive sites, sharing anti-government content online, or cooperating with hostile entities. Police stated that the arrests followed recent intelligence and technical surveillance operations.

Authorities claim the detainees were linked to networks attempting to create internal instability in Iran. The operation underscores the government’s intensified focus on digital monitoring and internal security amid heightened regional tensions.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid, stated on Tuesday that the country has sufficient fuel reserves and there is no shortage. However, he noted that an unusual surge in fuel purchases has created temporary pressure at filling stations, leading to an artificial sense of scarcity. The minister made these remarks during a briefing at the Secretariat, where State Minister for Power and Energy Anindya Islam Amit was also present.

He explained that people are buying more fuel than they need, causing pumps to run out of stock earlier than expected. This behavior, he said, is generating unnecessary public anxiety. The minister urged citizens to use fuel and electricity more efficiently and to avoid excessive purchases, assuring that supply will remain normal if consumption stays within reasonable limits.

He further emphasized that the government has not raised fuel prices and that the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission determines pricing. Despite global market influences, he reiterated that there is no real shortage and that recent disruptions are driven by consumer behavior rather than supply issues.

Israel’s Ministry of Health has reported that 4,829 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak of war with Iran. The figure was disclosed by Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera, citing official Israeli data. Among those injured, 111 individuals remain hospitalized, and 12 are in critical condition, according to the ministry’s statement released on March 24, 2026.

The report highlights the human toll of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which has led to significant casualties and hospitalizations. The information was also referenced by Pakistani newspaper Dawn, indicating international media attention to the scale of injuries within Israel.

Further details on the broader military situation or casualty figures from other regions were not provided in the report.

Bangladesh Chhatra Dal has announced a two-day program to observe the country's Independence and National Day. According to a press release issued on Tuesday by the organization’s president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, the programs will begin on Wednesday in Dhaka.

The statement said that on Wednesday afternoon, all Dhaka units of Chhatra Dal will attend a discussion meeting organized by the BNP at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Ramna. On Thursday morning, marking Independence Day, the organization will place floral wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial. Later, members will return to Dhaka to pay tribute and offer prayers at the grave of former president and martyr Ziaur Rahman.

The press release also mentioned that Chhatra Dal leaders from all district, metropolitan, upazila, and municipal units across the country will participate in BNP’s announced programs.

Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has described the United States’ recent military operation in Iran as disorganized and lacking proper planning. Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight program, Bolton said the attack was not well thought out and criticized the approach taken by President Donald Trump. Bolton, who served in Trump’s first term for just over a year, argued that the operation should have been carried out in a more deliberate and structured way.

He added that neither the American public, Congress, nor allied nations were prepared for such an action. Bolton, a long-time advocate of regime change in Tehran, also discussed Iran’s strategic position regarding the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes. He noted that Iran now understands the potential destructive impact of blocking the strait, which could give it significant leverage over global energy exports.

Bolton has been a vocal critic of Trump since leaving the White House in 2019, describing the former president as unfit for office in his memoir.

Police in Patgram, Lalmonirhat, arrested Sohel Rana, the municipal leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, around 2:40 p.m. He was detained in front of the BRAC office in Patgram. According to police sources, the arrest was made because of three outstanding warrants related to murder cases filed during the Awami League government. After his arrest, Sohel Rana was sent from Patgram Police Station to the Lalmonirhat district jail.

Police officials stated that further legal action will follow in accordance with the ongoing judicial process. The arrest of the municipal Jamaat leader has sparked widespread discussion in the local area, drawing attention to the pending murder cases and the political context surrounding them.

Authorities confirmed that the warrants were issued by the court, and the arrest was carried out as part of routine legal enforcement procedures.

Amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, diplomatic efforts, military escalation, and economic concerns intensified on March 24, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that “constructive” talks had taken place between the United States and Iran, but Iranian officials denied any direct discussions. The White House later described the situation as “unstable,” adding to diplomatic uncertainty. CBS News reported that Iran received proposals from the U.S. through intermediaries, which are under review.

Sources indicated that Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, might meet Iranian representatives in Pakistan this week, with Islamabad expressing readiness to host the talks. Following these diplomatic signals, global oil prices briefly fell before rising again above $100 per barrel, reflecting renewed economic pressure.

The military situation worsened as Iran launched multiple missile attacks on Israel, damaging sites in Tel Aviv and central Israel. Israel reportedly struck Beirut and ordered evacuations in southern Lebanon amid preparations for further operations against Hezbollah. In the United Kingdom, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to address Parliament about rising energy costs and potential economic impacts, underscoring the conflict’s global reach.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that multiple rocket attacks struck central Israel, causing additional damage. Search and rescue teams have been deployed to the affected areas, according to the IDF. The country’s emergency service agency shared several images on its Telegram account showing smoke rising from buildings and debris scattered across the area.

The report follows earlier incidents linked to ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran. The IDF’s latest update indicates that the situation remains tense, with visible destruction in several locations. The emergency services’ visual evidence highlights the extent of the damage caused by the recent attacks.

Further assessments of the damage and casualties are expected as rescue operations continue in the impacted zones.