The government has issued instructions to strictly follow the National Flag Rules during the observance of the Great Independence and National Day, as well as other government-designated days. The directive emphasizes that raising and using the national flag in accordance with the 1972 National Flag Rules, amended in 2010, is a duty of every citizen. According to Article 4(1) of the Constitution, the national flag of the Republic consists of a red circle on a green field.

The flag rules specify that the flag must be dark green with a red circle in the center, maintaining a length-to-width ratio of 10:6. The circle should have a radius equal to one-fifth of the flag’s length. Depending on the building size, three standard flag dimensions are prescribed: 10:6, 5:3, and 2.5:1.5. The rules prohibit covering vehicles, trains, or vessels with the flag and forbid hoisting any other flag above it.

The guidelines also detail proper display methods in auditoriums, roads, and ceremonies, emphasizing respect during hoisting and lowering, and requiring the national anthem to be sung when the flag is formally raised.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Bakul announced that unauthorized and substandard hospitals and clinics will no longer be allowed to operate in Bangladesh. He made the statement on Tuesday morning at the Secretariat, the first working day after the Eid holidays. The minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has given strict directives to ensure quality healthcare, and a zero-tolerance policy will be applied against clinic owners involved in irregularities.

He added that this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated peacefully and comfortably, marking one of the most pleasant holidays in the past one and a half decades. Prices of essential goods remained stable, and law and order were fully under control, allowing people to celebrate without disruption. However, he acknowledged a few unfortunate road accidents and isolated complaints of overcharging on trains and buses.

The minister described the overall Eid journey and celebrations as successful, emphasizing the government’s commitment to maintaining discipline and quality in both healthcare and public services.

International media reports indicate that Pakistan has been mentioned as a possible mediator in efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict surrounding Iran. According to the Financial Times and Axios, Pakistan has expressed interest in facilitating talks and has proposed its capital, Islamabad, as a potential venue for a meeting between senior officials from the United States and Iran.

No formal confirmation has yet come from either Washington or Tehran regarding this initiative. Analysts in Washington reportedly view Pakistan’s move as unsurprising given its longstanding ties with Iran and previously warm relations with the United States during Donald Trump’s second term. Pakistan’s defense chief Asif Munir met Trump twice last year, once in June and again in September, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attending the latter meeting.

Pakistan also nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize twice in 2025 for his mediation efforts between India and Pakistan, a gesture that was reportedly well received within Trump’s administration.

The United States and Iran have issued conflicting statements regarding possible talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East, leaving the situation uncertain. On Saturday, Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform giving Iran a 48-hour deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz without threats, warning of strikes on Iranian power plants if it failed to comply. On Monday, he extended the deadline by five days, claiming that discussions had taken place between the two countries to achieve a complete resolution of the conflict.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf denied any such talks, writing on social media platform X that no discussions had occurred and accusing the US of spreading false news to influence financial and oil markets. However, a senior Iranian official told CBS News that Iran had received some US proposals through intermediaries and was reviewing them. CBS News reported that this could be seen as a preparatory step toward potential talks, though no formal negotiations had begun.

The White House urged caution, describing the situation as fluid and advising against assuming any meeting until an official announcement is made.

Global oil prices have risen above $100 per barrel again as uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict intensifies. After a sharp decline on Monday, Brent crude rebounded in Asian trading on Tuesday, climbing 3.75 percent to $103.69 per barrel. At the same time, Nymex Light Sweet crude increased 3.42 percent to $91.55 per barrel, according to a BBC report.

The price rebound followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that planned attacks on Iran would be postponed for five days, which he described as a positive step toward dialogue. That statement had initially caused oil prices to drop by more than 10 percent. However, Tehran later stated that no talks had taken place with the United States, leaving the market uncertain and pushing prices upward again.

Analysts suggest that continued geopolitical tension and mixed signals from both sides are keeping the oil market volatile, with traders closely watching developments in the Iran situation.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman returned to the Secretariat on Tuesday morning, marking the first working day after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. He began official duties as government offices, banks, insurance companies, and financial institutions reopened across the country following a seven-day closure.

The nationwide Eid-ul-Fitr holiday lasted from March 17 to March 23, declared by the government to allow citizens to celebrate the major Islamic festival peacefully. The festival itself was observed on March 21 with religious solemnity and festive spirit throughout Bangladesh.

As employees returned to their workplaces, they exchanged greetings and embraced each other, sharing the joy and spirit of Eid after the extended break.

The first meeting of the Bangladesh Parliament’s special committee is being held today, March 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the Cabinet Room of the National Parliament Building. The meeting is chaired by Speaker (Retd.) Major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. This marks the committee’s first session following its formation on March 15 under the Speaker’s leadership.

The special committee has been tasked with reviewing 133 ordinances issued during the interim government period. It will examine which ordinances should remain in force and which should be repealed. After the review, the committee will discuss the findings and make final decisions accordingly.

On March 12, during the first sitting of the current parliamentary session, the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman presented the 133 ordinances before Parliament. The legislature must reach a decision on these ordinances within 30 working days.

At least 66 people have been confirmed dead after a Colombian military aircraft crashed in the Amazon region near the border with Peru. According to information from the Colombian government cited by Reuters, the plane was carrying 125 people, including 11 air force members, 115 army personnel, and two national police officers. Authorities said the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft went down shortly after takeoff, triggering a massive fire.

More than fifty survivors have been rescued and taken to hospitals, though many remain in critical condition. Search operations are continuing to locate those still missing. Officials have not yet determined the exact cause of the crash, but an investigation has already begun.

The incident marks one of the deadliest military aviation accidents in Colombia in recent years, prompting a large-scale emergency response and ongoing recovery efforts in the remote Amazon area.

After a continuous seven-day holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, all government, semi-government, autonomous, and semi-autonomous offices, along with banks, insurance companies, and the stock market, reopened across Bangladesh on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The last working day before the holiday was March 16, and the official break began on March 17.

Following the end of the Eid vacation, government and related institutions resumed their regular 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. Banks reopened for transactions from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with official operations continuing until 6 p.m. The stock market also resumed trading from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while office activities there run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The reopening marks a return to normal economic and administrative operations after the extended national holiday period.

The government of Bangladesh has decided to prohibit all decorative lighting across the country on March 25 and 26 as part of its policy to conserve energy and reduce public expenditure. The decision was announced in light of the ongoing energy crisis following the war in the Middle East. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, no lighting will be allowed on the night of March 25 at any government, semi-government, autonomous, or private buildings and establishments, as the day is observed as Genocide Day.

The announcement was made after a preparatory meeting held on March 8 at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Bangladesh Secretariat, where officials discussed arrangements for celebrating Independence and National Day. The ministry emphasized that the restriction aims to prevent energy shortages and align with the government’s cost-saving measures.

The directive underscores the government’s focus on maintaining energy stability during national observances while balancing symbolic commemorations with practical resource management.

A six-day-long Shiv Darshan and Maha Ram Navami fair has begun at the historic Ramkut pilgrimage site in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar. The event, organized to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Ramachandra, started on Monday, March 23, at 8 p.m. and will conclude on March 28. The fair includes various religious programs such as Basanti Devi Puja, a religious assembly, a 24-hour Tarakabrahma Mahanaam Yajna, Shri Shri Ram Navami observance, and Shiv Darshan.

Cox’s Bazar-3 Member of Parliament Lutfur Rahman Kajal attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest, emphasizing the importance of maintaining communal harmony and rejecting any form of discord. He urged unity to eliminate irregularities and called for collective efforts to develop religious institutions through sacrifice. The event was also addressed by Professor Dr. Kushal Baran Chakraborty of Chittagong University, trustee Dr. Parimal Shil of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust, and several other guests from different religious and social backgrounds.

The fair is being held under the leadership of celebration committee president Bijoy Dhar and conducted by Sushanta Pal Bachchu, with participation from local political and community leaders.

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has directly blamed President Donald Trump for a steep rise in fuel prices across the United States. In a post on social media platform X, Schumer said the average price of gasoline had jumped from $2.93 to $3.94 per gallon in less than a month, calling Trump solely responsible for the surge.

The senior Democratic leader has consistently opposed the Trump administration’s decision to attack Iran and urged an immediate end to the conflict. In an earlier post, Schumer accused the administration of wasting vast public funds on what he described as an unnecessary war. According to related sources cited in the report, ongoing military tensions in the Middle East have contributed to instability in global oil markets.

The statement underscores growing political criticism of the administration’s foreign policy and its domestic economic consequences, particularly rising energy costs for American consumers.

Government offices across Bangladesh reopened at 9 a.m. on Tuesday following the end of the official Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. Courts, banks, insurance companies, and the stock market resumed normal operations from 10 a.m. Bangladesh Bank confirmed that banking activities have returned to their regular schedule, with transactions now running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After the extended Eid break, normal activities are expected to restore vibrancy to urban life. Large numbers of workers have already returned to Dhaka from their home districts, resulting in heavy crowds at train, bus, and launch terminals.

Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated nationwide on March 21 with religious solemnity. The government had declared a seven-day public holiday from March 17 to 23 for the occasion.

A passenger plane operated by Jazz Aviation under Air Canada Express collided with a fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York late Sunday night, killing the pilot and co-pilot. The crash occurred around 11:30 p.m. local time as Flight 8646 from Montreal was landing on Runway 4 at about 30 miles per hour. At least 41 people were injured, including two police officers. The fire truck was responding to another aircraft emergency when the collision happened.

Authorities said 72 passengers and four crew members were on board. Injured passengers were taken to Elmhurst Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. The Port Authority confirmed that the two officers are expected to recover. Radio communication records indicated that air traffic control had ordered the fire truck to stop, but the collision occurred before the instruction took effect.

Visibility at the time was reduced to about three miles due to rain and fog. The airport was temporarily closed, and the Federal Aviation Administration suspended all flights until Monday afternoon. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation, while former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Mary Schiavo blamed FAA negligence and poor coordination between air and ground control for the crash.

At least 34 people were killed and several others injured when a Colombian military transport plane crashed in the Puerto Leguízamo area of Putumayo province on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed the incident on social media, stating that the aircraft went down about 1.5 kilometers after takeoff. The crash triggered a fire and explosions from onboard ammunition, worsening the damage.

Putumayo Governor John Gabriel Molina told local media that 21 of the victims have yet to be identified. The Colombian Air Force said the aircraft was a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules model transporting soldiers to another city in the province. Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva reported that two special aircraft with 74 beds were dispatched to evacuate the injured to hospitals in Bogotá and other locations.

Authorities confirmed that the crash was not caused by any armed group attack. Officials warned that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue in the Amazon border region near Peru and Ecuador.