Bangladesh’s newly elected Speaker of the 13th National Parliament, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, stated that a new journey of democracy has begun in the country. Speaking to journalists on Saturday morning after the Eid congregation at the National Parliament premises, he expressed hope that the dream behind the 1971 Liberation War, which remains unfulfilled, would be realized through collective efforts of the new parliament and the people.

He emphasized that citizens have elected a party and representatives with great expectations, and he urged all members of parliament to reflect those aspirations through their work. The Speaker also mentioned that a war has broken out in the Middle East, warning that countries like Bangladesh could face economic challenges as a result. He prayed for an end to the conflict soon.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmad further called on Bangladesh and other Muslim nations to strengthen their economies and work together for the welfare and prosperity of their people.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced a major diplomatic initiative to reopen the Hormuz Strait, which has been blocked amid Iran’s ongoing “Operation Epic Fury.” In an interview with Politico, Guterres said the UN is ready to mediate a deal similar to the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative to ensure safe passage of energy and food shipments through the strait. He confirmed that high-level discussions are underway with Gulf nations and the European Council to restore stability in the region.

Guterres directly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s unilateral decision-making and his controversial “Board of Peace,” calling it a personal project lacking institutional accountability. While the UN continues limited cooperation with the board on Gaza reconstruction, Guterres warned that Trump’s “go-it-alone” approach has stalled coordinated global diplomacy on the Iran crisis. Several countries, including South Korea and Japan, have voiced concern over the closure’s impact on energy supply chains and economic stability.

Experts cautioned that without a formal diplomatic agreement, irregular maritime movements could trigger serious military misunderstandings or accidents. The world now awaits whether the UN can secure a widely accepted peace framework beyond unilateral authority.

Iran’s state media reported that Israel and the United States carried out another attack on the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran on Saturday. The Tasnim News Agency said the strike did not cause any radioactive leakage, and residents near the site, located between Tehran and Isfahan, were not at risk.

Earlier this month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that the Natanz facility had already been damaged following a series of attacks across Iran on February 28, which were also attributed to the United States and Israel. The latest incident marks a continuation of those hostilities targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The report did not mention any immediate international response or further details about the extent of the new damage.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that his country is prepared to consider any effective proposal to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Speaking to Japan’s Kyodo News, Araghchi stated that Iran welcomes any initiative that could lead to a genuine cessation of hostilities. However, he claimed that the war had been imposed on Iran and that the United States is not yet ready to stop the fighting.

The interview, also published by Iran’s state-run Mehr News Agency, highlighted Araghchi’s view that while some countries are attempting to find a resolution, Washington’s stance remains an obstacle. He emphasized that Iran does not support a temporary ceasefire but seeks a final solution that ensures long-term stability in the region.

The remarks come amid reports of escalating regional tensions, including attacks on military bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and calls for international investigations into incidents such as the strike on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman exchanged Eid greetings with former Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Saturday morning at the Jamuna State Guesthouse, according to the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere as part of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

During the exchange, the Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and other family members, including his daughter Zaima Rahman, the late Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife Syeda Shamila Rahman, and her two daughters, Jahia Rahman and Jafia Rahman. The event reflected a gesture of goodwill marking the religious festival.

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the Eid congregation at the National Eidgah and later returned to the Jamuna State Guesthouse to exchange greetings with diplomats, continuing the day’s official Eid engagements.

A passenger bus overturned on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway in Patiya upazila on March 21, 2026, after the driver attempted to avoid hitting a pedestrian. The accident occurred around noon near the Paikpara area of Anwara Road, where a pedestrian suddenly stopped while crossing. The bus, operated by Hanif Paribahan, climbed onto the road divider and overturned, killing the pedestrian on the spot and injuring at least 20 passengers.

Rescue teams from the Patiya Fire Service quickly arrived and transported the injured to Patiya Upazila Health Complex. The deceased was later identified as Abul Kashem, aged 35. Four of the injured were in critical condition and were referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. According to emergency department physician Dr. Arup Chowdhury, one person with severe head injuries died before reaching the hospital.

Patiya Highway Police Sub-Inspector Md. Mostafiz said traffic congestion lasted about two hours before being cleared and the overturned bus was recovered from the scene.

Iran has launched a strategic diplomatic move amid Middle East tensions by offering Japan a special proposal allowing Japanese-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without security risks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed direct talks with his Japanese counterpart, describing the offer as part of Tehran’s effort to attract Tokyo and prevent it from joining U.S.-led military coalitions. Analysts view this as a calculated attempt by Iran to assert control over the vital waterway and reassure nations that avoid conflict with it.

At the same time, the U.S. Treasury has temporarily relaxed sanctions on Iranian oil, granting a 30-day “safe passage” for shipments loaded before March 20. This has prompted Indian refineries to prepare for renewed imports, with reports indicating that around 170 million barrels of Iranian oil have gained legal clearance for sale. Much of this oil remains stored in tankers near Chinese waters.

Traders in Singapore warn that logistical and financial hurdles, including banking reluctance and insurance issues, could delay deliveries beyond the April 19 deadline, complicating the short-term benefits of the sanction relief.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam stated that the opposition will exert maximum pressure inside and outside parliament after Eid if the government fails to form the Constitutional Reform Council. He made the remarks on Saturday, March 21, after offering Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the Purpara Jame Mosque in the Beribadh area of Dhaka.

Nahid expressed disappointment that the council, which was supposed to take oath immediately after the 13th National Parliament election, has not yet been implemented. He emphasized that political will is essential to make it happen. Responding to a question, he said one month is not enough to evaluate a government’s performance and that further observation is needed.

He acknowledged that the government has acted promptly on several promises, including the distribution of family cards, which he described as positive steps. He added that the opposition will continue to monitor the government’s activities closely.

Surat, the textile heart of Gujarat, is facing a severe crisis as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortages threaten to halt production across its garment factories. The disruption stems from the closure of the Hormuz Strait and ongoing conflict in West Asia, which have cut India’s LPG supply by 30 percent. Thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha are leaving the city as cooking gas becomes unavailable, forcing many small and medium textile units to shut down.

Reports indicate that some factories have already reduced operations to one or two days a week due to labor shortages. In worker colonies, LPG scarcity has driven prices up to 500 rupees per kilogram on the black market, while small cylinders now cost five times their usual price. Many workers, unable to cook or afford food, are returning to their villages despite having jobs.

Industry experts warn that if the exodus continues, India’s domestic and export textile markets could collapse ahead of the festive season. Factory owners are urging the government for fuel subsidies and faster LPG deliveries, but the situation remains uncertain until Middle East tensions ease.

US forces carried out another strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, officials confirmed on Friday. The attack, conducted on Thursday, left two people dead and one survivor rescued from the water. According to the US Southern Command (Southcom), the targeted vessel was traveling along a known drug-trafficking route. The rescued individuals were later handed over to Costa Rica’s Coast Guard.

Southcom did not initially disclose casualty figures but said the US Coast Guard was assisting in locating three people in distress. The latest incident brings the reported death toll from similar US operations since early September to around 160. The Trump administration has described these missions as part of its campaign against so-called “narco-terrorists” in Latin America.

However, international law experts and human rights groups have questioned the legality of the strikes, arguing they may constitute extrajudicial killings targeting civilians who pose no immediate threat to the United States. The operations have intensified debate over Washington’s military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended Nowruz greetings to Iran’s leaders, emphasizing that Moscow will remain a “close friend and reliable partner” to Tehran. The Kremlin released the message on Saturday, noting Putin’s wishes for the Iranian people to face current challenges with courage. He addressed his greetings to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Despite Putin’s assurances, some Iranian sources reportedly question the extent of Russia’s actual support, arguing that Tehran has not received the expected assistance during what they describe as the country’s most severe crisis since the 1979 revolution. Russia, meanwhile, blames U.S. and Israeli attacks for destabilizing the Middle East and affecting global energy markets, condemning the assault on Iran’s supreme leader as a “cruel act.”

According to Politico, Moscow allegedly proposed to Washington that if the U.S. stopped sharing intelligence on Russia with Ukraine, Russia would halt intelligence exchanges with Iran. The U.S. reportedly rejected the offer, which the Kremlin later dismissed as false.

A drone attack targeted Iraq’s national intelligence headquarters in central Baghdad on Saturday, killing one intelligence officer and injuring another, according to the country’s security media unit. The injured person was taken to a hospital for treatment. The attack was confirmed by General Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s security media unit, who said it occurred in the heart of the capital.

Separately, AFP reported that another drone strike hit a communications building in Baghdad housing an office of a security agency that cooperates with the US-led coalition in counter-extremism operations. Iraq’s National Intelligence Service stated that the attack near its headquarters was carried out by an “unlawful group.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far, and authorities have launched an investigation to determine who was behind them.

Amazon is reportedly working on a new smartphone centered on its AI assistant Alexa, nearly a decade after discontinuing the Fire Phone. According to Reuters, the device, code-named “Transformer,” is being developed by Amazon’s ZeroOne group led by J Allard, a former Microsoft executive known for his work on the Zune and Xbox. The project is said to explore both smartphone and minimalist “dumbphone” designs inspired by the $700 Light Phone, which features a black-and-white display and no app store.

The “Transformer” phone will reportedly integrate artificial intelligence capabilities at its core, though Alexa may not serve as the primary operating system. Instead of a traditional app store, the device could rely on mini apps similar to those used in ChatGPT. Amazon has not announced a release timeline or pricing details, and it remains uncertain whether the phone will reach the market.

The move comes as Amazon seeks to strengthen its position in AI following the underperformance of its LLM-powered Alexa Plus, which drew user complaints about slower responses and excessive advertising.

Perplexity has launched Perplexity Health, a new platform that connects users’ electronic health records and wearable data to deliver personalized health answers. The service integrates with Apple Health, Fitbit, Ultrahuman, Withings, and over 1.7 million care providers through partners such as b.well and Terra API. It enables users to ask health-related questions that draw from their lab results, prescriptions, and activity data, all within a single interface. The rollout begins for Pro and Max users in the United States, with additional regions to follow.

Perplexity Health operates within Perplexity Computer, an AI system that coordinates multiple agents to analyze and generate insights. Users can create customized training plans, nutrition programs, or visit-prep summaries for medical appointments. The platform sources information from peer-reviewed journals and clinical guidelines, providing citations for transparency and guidance on when to seek medical care.

The company emphasizes data security through encryption, strict access controls, and user-managed data deletion. Health data is not used to train AI models or sold to third parties. A newly formed Perplexity Health Advisory Board of clinicians and researchers will oversee product quality and clinical standards.

Blue Origin, the aerospace company backed by Jeff Bezos, has filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to establish data centers in space under a project called Project Sunrise. The plan involves deploying up to 51,600 satellites in sun-synchronous orbit that will use optical links to communicate through Blue Origin’s planned satellite network, TeraWave. The company says these solar-powered satellites will create a new computing tier independent of Earth-based infrastructure.

According to Blue Origin’s filing, space-based data centers could reduce costs by eliminating land, grid, and power constraints while taking advantage of continuous solar energy. The proposal mirrors a similar plan by SpaceX, which earlier this year sought approval to launch one million orbital data center satellites connected to its Starlink network. Both companies argue that space computing could be cheaper and less restricted by terrestrial regulations.

The concept has drawn skepticism from industry observers. Figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and analysts at Gartner have criticized the idea as impractical and overly ambitious, citing cost and technical challenges of operating data centers in orbit.