The Maldives celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday, March 20, 2026, in a festive and religious atmosphere aligned with the Arab and Middle Eastern countries. Multiple Eid congregations were held across the islands from 7 a.m. local time, with the largest gathering taking place at the Maafannu Stadium in the capital, Male. Major mosques, including Masjid al-Sultan (Grand Mosque) and Masjid al-Salman, also hosted prayers simultaneously.

Bangladeshi expatriates living in the Maldives joined the celebrations in groups at mosques such as Nurul Miskin, Ibrahim Miskin, and Hukuru Miskin, many wearing traditional attire that added color to the occasion. Bangladeshi-owned restaurants offered special traditional dishes, and expatriates spent the day with family and friends in Male and nearby Hulhumale.

The Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives extended Eid greetings to the expatriate community, joined by leaders of the Maldives BNP and various community, business, and social organizations. The event reflected a blend of religious devotion and cultural festivity among the expatriate and local Muslim communities.

The country’s largest Eid-ul-Fitr congregation was held on Saturday morning at the Gor-e-Shaheed Central Eidgah in Dinajpur. The prayer began at 9 a.m., drawing worshippers from across Bangladesh. Authorities arranged extensive facilities, including ablution areas, parking, medical teams, drinking water, and about 150 loudspeakers. The district police implemented a three-tier security system, and the Eidgah domes and minarets were decorated with electric lighting.

The congregation was led by Maulana Matiur Rahman Qasemi, a prominent Islamic scholar and Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam’s Dinajpur district branch. Among those attending were Dinajpur Sadar Member of Parliament Syed Jahangir Alam, Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam, Superintendent of Police Zedan Al Musa, and people from various political, social, and cultural organizations, along with citizens of all ages.

After the prayer, participants offered special supplications for the peace and prosperity of the nation and the global Muslim community.

Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were held across Chattogram on Saturday in a festive and spiritual atmosphere. Worshippers gathered at mosques and Eidgahs from early morning, exchanging greetings after the prayers. Special prayers were offered for the peace and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah following the congregations.

The main Eid congregation took place at the Jamiatul Falah Mosque premises under the supervision of Chattogram City Corporation, with the first prayer at 8:00 a.m. and the second at 8:45 a.m. Separate congregations were also organized at the MA Aziz Stadium under the district administration and at 90 other locations across the city. Prominent mosques, including Laldighi Shahi Jame Mosque and Chasma Eidgah Mosque, hosted large gatherings.

City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, several Members of Parliament, and other political figures joined the prayers at different venues. Security measures were tightened around mosques and Eidgahs to ensure safety, and special patrols were deployed throughout the city.

An unusual heatwave struck the western United States on Friday, alarming climate scientists who described it as a once-in-500-years event. According to reports from Los Angeles, temperatures broke previous records throughout the week and were expected to remain high through the weekend. The heatwave, initially centered in the western cities, was moving eastward across the country.

In desert areas near the California-Arizona border, four locations recorded 44.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, setting a new national record for March. Weather.com reported that 65 cities, from Arizona and California to Idaho, experienced new March temperature highs. Death Valley reached 40 degrees Celsius, while typically cool San Francisco hit 29 degrees. The U.S. National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for large parts of the Southwest, including Los Angeles, southern California’s coastal areas, and Las Vegas.

The World Weather Attribution group stated that such an event would have been nearly impossible without human-induced climate change, emphasizing its extreme rarity even in a warming climate.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has emphasized the need for international assistance to achieve a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis. He made the remarks on Saturday morning after offering Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at Pekua Central Jame Mosque in Cox’s Bazar, where he exchanged greetings with locals and later visited his parents’ graves.

Following the prayers, the minister inspected the Upazila field and directed authorities to expedite its renovation. He extended Eid greetings to the nation, urging unity to advance the country’s progress. Referring to the recent United Nations–organized Global Summit on Fraud held in Vienna, he also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in combating global fraud.

Salahuddin Ahmed arrived in Cox’s Bazar on Friday night for a three-day visit, traveling from the airport to his ancestral home in Pekua via the Hilltop Circuit House. During the trip, he is scheduled to attend several local programs.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday expressed gratitude for being able to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with the people of Bangladesh after many years. Speaking to journalists at the state guesthouse Jamuna following an Eid greeting exchange with citizens from various professions and diplomats, he thanked Allah and the people for their prayers and support.

Rahman said he prays for the health and well-being of all citizens and called for collective unity to build the Bangladesh that people aspire to. He paid tribute to those who were martyred in 1971 and 2024, emphasizing the need for cooperation beyond political divisions to achieve national goals.

The Prime Minister asked for prayers from the nation, assuring that the elected government will continue working with full strength to fulfill the people's expectations. He extended Eid greetings to all, wishing peace and prosperity for the country.

Opposition Leader in the National Parliament and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman exchanged Eid-ul-Fitr greetings with diplomats from various foreign missions in Dhaka on Saturday morning. The event took place at his official residence on 29 Minto Road, where a large pavilion was set up and the area was decorated for the occasion. Diplomats arrived one after another to greet the Jamaat leader, and arrangements were made for their hospitality.

Alongside the diplomats, State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md. Nurul Haque MP and several notable figures attended the gathering. Senior Jamaat leaders including Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Executive Council Member Mobarak Hossain, and several Members of Parliament from Dhaka constituencies were also present.

Later in the afternoon, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., Dr. Shafiqur Rahman was scheduled to exchange Eid greetings with political leaders and people from various professions at the same venue.

An Air India flight bound for Vancouver, Canada, was forced to return to Delhi after nearly eight hours in the air when it was discovered that the aircraft lacked the necessary authorization to operate in Canadian airspace. The AI-185 flight departed Delhi at 11:34 a.m. local time on Friday and turned back near Kunming, China, after realizing the issue. The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft landed safely in Delhi after a total flight time of seven hours and fifty-four minutes.

According to the airline, the incident occurred because only its Boeing 777-300ER fleet currently holds permission to operate on the Canada route. Air India described the return as a “standard operating procedure” decision taken for operational reasons. All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and the airline apologized for the inconvenience.

The airline’s ground team in Delhi arranged hotel accommodations and assistance for passengers before re-departing the same flight the following morning. The incident is expected to have significant financial implications due to high fuel consumption during the nearly nine-hour flight.

Iran has fired two ballistic missiles targeting the joint US-British military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials. The incident occurred recently and was reported on Friday. Both missiles failed to hit their targets, falling short of the base located about 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) from Iran. The attack suggests Tehran may now possess longer-range missile capabilities. AFP reported that the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

One missile reportedly malfunctioned mid-flight, while the other was intercepted by a defensive missile launched from a US warship. It remains unclear whether the second missile was destroyed. Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Archipelago, is one of two bases the United Kingdom has allowed the United States to use for defensive operations against Iran. The base hosts US bombers and other military assets and has been a key hub for operations in Asia, including past missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The report also noted that Britain recently returned control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but retained a lease for the Diego Garcia base. Former US President Donald Trump criticized that decision.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman exchanged Eid-ul-Fitr greetings with diplomats, academics, and people from all walks of life at the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The event began in the morning, with the Prime Minister accompanied by his spouse, Dr. Zubaida Rahman. Crowds began gathering at the venue well before the scheduled time to meet the Prime Minister and offer Eid greetings.

Earlier in the morning, President Md. Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the main Eid congregation at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises. The main prayer took place at 8:30 a.m. Following the prayers, the Prime Minister proceeded to the Jamuna State Guest House for the public greeting event.

The Jamuna premises were opened to the public from 8:30 a.m., drawing large numbers of citizens, political activists, and professionals. The crowd extended as far as the Intercontinental Hotel area, while law enforcement officials maintained security and order throughout the event.

India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has reportedly withheld the release of the Oscar-nominated film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” citing concerns that it could harm India-Israel relations. The Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama tells the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, who was allegedly killed by Israeli soldiers while waiting to be rescued in Gaza.

Indian distributor Manoj Nandwana said he submitted the film for approval in February, hoping for a March release, but the CBFC blocked it, reportedly warning that the film’s release might damage diplomatic ties. He noted that the decision came shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. The film had already been barred from several Indian film festivals, including those in Goa, Bengaluru, Pune, and Kerala.

Badi Ali, co-founder of production company Watermelon Pictures, criticized the move as unreasonable, while director Ben Hania questioned on social media whether the relationship between the two democracies was so fragile that a film could threaten it.

A US federal court has declared the Pentagon’s press-related restrictions unconstitutional, ruling that the policy violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution. District Judge Paul Friedman of Washington, D.C., ordered parts of the Pentagon’s policy to be struck down and directed the reinstatement of press passes for seven New York Times journalists who had returned their credentials last October after refusing to sign the new policy.

In his ruling, Judge Friedman stated that the Pentagon’s policy favored journalists willing to publish only “favorable or pre-approved information,” granting the government excessive power and interfering with press freedom. The court also found that the policy violated journalists’ Fifth Amendment rights by failing to clearly define how they could avoid losing their credentials.

The decision is viewed as a setback for the former Trump administration, which had reportedly increased pressure on the media. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the department disagreed with the ruling and would appeal. The court emphasized that while national security is vital, protecting the public’s right to know about government actions is essential to democracy.

The 199th Eid-ul-Fitr congregation was held at the historic Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj on March 21, 2026. Devotees from across Bangladesh gathered for the prayer, which began at 10 a.m. and was led by Mufti Abul Khayer Mohammad Saifullah. Approximately 600,000 worshippers attended the congregation, marking one of the largest gatherings in the country.

To ensure security, 1,100 police officers, four platoons of army personnel, five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh, six Rapid Action Battalion teams, five platoons of Ansar, and 13 executive magistrates were deployed. Two special Eid trains operated from Mymensingh and Bhairab to facilitate travel for distant worshippers. State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aslam Molla, who also chairs the Eidgah Committee, performed the Eid prayers at the site.

The large-scale congregation continued the long-standing tradition of Eid prayers at Sholakia, which has become a central religious event for Muslims across Bangladesh.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon performed the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the central Eidgah mosque in Gournadi upazila of Barishal on Saturday morning. The congregation began at 8 a.m. and was attended by senior local administration officials, political leaders, and worshippers from various walks of life.

After the prayers, the minister exchanged Eid greetings with the attendees and local residents. A special prayer was also offered seeking the welfare, prosperity, and unity of the nation and the Muslim Ummah. On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the minister extended heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the people of Gournadi, Agailjhara, and the entire country.

The event reflected a communal spirit of celebration and unity as local leaders and citizens joined together in the religious observance.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that people are celebrating Eid with comfort due to the presence of a democratic environment in the country. He made the remarks on Saturday morning after offering Eid prayers at the Darus Salam Jame Mosque near his residence in Ward 10, North Kattali, Chattogram.

The minister extended Eid greetings to all and said that this year’s celebration feels different because citizens have regained a sense of ownership following the recent election. He emphasized that people are enjoying the festival with extra joy in a changed national atmosphere.

Chowdhury expressed hope that the country would continue to uphold this environment, allowing everyone to live freely, speak openly, and enjoy their constitutional, democratic, and political rights.