Iran carried out fresh attacks across several Gulf countries on Tuesday night, following its pledge to avenge the killing of national security chief Ali Larijani. The strikes reportedly included missile attacks that killed two people in Tel Aviv, Israel. Explosions were also reported near the US Embassy area in Baghdad early Wednesday morning.

According to reports, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar all claimed to have intercepted incoming attacks. In response, the United States announced that it had launched strikes on Iranian missile positions along the Strait of Hormuz, using bunker-busting bombs. The developments mark a sharp escalation in regional hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The situation underscores rising tensions across the Middle East, with multiple countries now directly engaged in defensive and retaliatory actions following Larijani’s assassination.

A 12-kilometer traffic jam formed on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, as thousands of people traveled home to celebrate Eid. The congestion stretched from Safipur to Kharajora and from Jirani Bazar to Chandra, where heavy passenger crowds gathered at the Chandra Trimor Bus Stand, a key entry point to northern Bangladesh. Long-distance buses stopping to pick up passengers along the road worsened the situation, causing significant delays and discomfort for travelers.

Drivers and passengers reported that while other parts of the highway remained clear, traffic slowed dramatically near Chandra. A bus driver criticized the lack of discipline among transport workers and questioned the effectiveness of law enforcement in managing the area. Police officials from the Nawjor Highway Station said passenger pressure had been increasing for two days and that the slowdown was a common issue during the holiday rush. They added that officers were working on-site and that overall congestion was less severe than in previous years.

Authorities expect traffic to ease gradually as Eid travel peaks and disperses over the coming days.

At least seven people, including three children, were killed in a major fire that broke out on Wednesday morning in a residential building in the Palam area of southwest Delhi. According to the Delhi Fire Service, the blaze started around 7 a.m. in one of the rooms and quickly spread throughout the building.

Thirty fire service units rushed to the scene to bring the flames under control and rescue residents trapped inside. Officials said the dense population of the area made the rescue operation difficult. Local police and emergency response teams also joined the operation soon after the incident was reported.

During the rescue, seven bodies were recovered from the building, including those of three children. The fire caused extensive damage to the structure, destroying furniture and valuables inside, according to the Delhi Fire Service. The cause of the fire has not been detailed in the report.

Iran has launched extensive attacks on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council. According to Israel’s Ministry of Health, 192 Israelis have been hospitalized in the past 24 hours due to injuries from the assaults. Among them, 177 sustained minor injuries, while the condition of 11 others remains unclear. Since the conflict began, a total of 3,727 people have been admitted to hospitals with injuries.

Iran has carried out repeated missile strikes across Israel, with explosions reported in the central Gush Dan area. Israeli television Channel 12 reported that at least one missile was intercepted, but debris from the interception exploded upon falling. In Holon city, several vehicles were damaged and caught fire, while sirens were heard in southern Israel.

The situation reflects a sharp escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, with continued missile activity and civilian injuries reported across multiple regions.

Import and export operations at the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj will remain suspended for ten consecutive days during the Eid holidays. The suspension will be in effect from March 18 to March 27, 2026, as confirmed by Arif Uddin Iti, general secretary of the Sonamasjid Importers and Exporters Group. Normal operations are scheduled to resume on March 28.

According to Kamal Khan, operations manager of Panama Sonamasjid Port Link Limited, limited activities such as loading, unloading, and transportation of goods already present at the port will continue during the closure. Meanwhile, Jamirul Islam, in charge of the Sonamasjid Immigration Checkpost, stated that cross-border travel for passport holders between Bangladesh and India will proceed as usual throughout the holiday period.

The temporary suspension aims to accommodate the Eid holidays while maintaining essential port and immigration functions in a limited capacity.

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at making Venezuela the 51st state of the United States. The remark came after Venezuela defeated Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Trump made the comment in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he praised Venezuela’s performance and jokingly suggested the idea of statehood.

According to the report, Trump, during his second term in office, has previously threatened to take control of several countries and regions, including Greenland and Canada. His latest comment followed Venezuela’s 4–2 win over Italy, which advanced the team to the semifinals of the tournament.

The post, which appeared celebratory in tone, drew attention for its political undertone, as Trump questioned what was behind Venezuela’s recent success before suggesting it could become the 51st state.

Astronomers have forecast that Eid al-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on March 20, 2026, across Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. The Emirates Astronomy Society’s chairman, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, stated that Ramadan is expected to complete 30 days this year. The Saudi Supreme Court has called on citizens to look for the Shawwal moon on Wednesday, March 18. If the moon is sighted that evening, Eid will be on March 19; otherwise, it will fall on March 20.

In Bangladesh, where Eid is typically observed a day after the Middle East due to geographical differences, the festival is expected to be celebrated on March 21, 2026. As the national holiday began on March 17, people have already started traveling home, and preparations for the festival are in full swing.

The final confirmation of the Eid date in both regions will depend on the official moon sighting announcements expected on March 18 evening.

Foreign ministers from Arab and other Muslim-majority countries are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen regional security and stability, according to a post by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media platform X. The ministry said the meeting aims to deepen dialogue and coordination among member states to maintain peace and stability across the region.

The talks come amid rising tensions throughout the Middle East following a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran has launched a series of missile and drone strikes targeting Gulf states, Israel, and U.S. installations across the region, creating a growing security crisis. These attacks have frequently disrupted air traffic at major Gulf airports, including those in Dubai and Doha.

Ahead of the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held phone discussions with his counterparts from Syria, Algeria, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates to coordinate positions on the issue.

For more than two weeks, Israel and the United States have been carrying out attacks on Iran, yet no Muslim-majority country has stepped forward to assist Tehran. Many Muslim nations are instead viewing Iran as a threat, reflecting deep divisions driven by sectarian differences, national interests, and dependence on the United States. Experts note that Iran’s recent strikes on neighboring Arab states during Ramadan have further alienated potential allies and intensified distrust across the region.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has sought to position itself as a leading Islamic power and protector of Shia minorities, often clashing with Sunni-led Arab monarchies such as Saudi Arabia. Despite a brief diplomatic thaw in 2023, Iran’s actions following the latest US-Israel offensive have revived fears among Gulf states about Tehran’s ambitions and destabilizing influence. Analysts suggest that Iran’s regional image has suffered severe damage, and its isolation has become more pronounced.

The ongoing conflict has disrupted the fragile balance of power in the Middle East, with some experts predicting closer security cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel as Gulf nations seek advanced defense systems against potential Iranian threats.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the assassination of National Security Council chief Ali Larijani will not destabilize Iran’s governing system. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said the United States and Israel have failed to understand that Iran’s government does not depend on any single individual.

He emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure supported by established political, economic, and social institutions. According to Araghchi, the presence or absence of one person does not affect this framework, as each official plays their own role within a robust system.

Referring to the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Araghchi said that despite that major national loss, the system continued functioning and immediately appointed a successor. He added that the same process would occur if any other official, including the foreign minister, were to be killed.

Eid travel has begun in full swing on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway, with vehicle pressure increasing every hour. Despite the growing number of vehicles, no long queues or traffic jams have formed so far. Authorities have taken multiple measures to ensure smooth travel for homebound passengers. Over 800 police personnel are deployed along the highway, and officials believe the risk of accidents or vehicle breakdowns is minimal.

Tangail Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar said vehicles would keep moving without interruption. District Commissioner Sharifa Haque, during her inspection, stated that army personnel are also assisting the police, while mobile and medical teams are active on the route. In the past 24 hours, more than 47,000 vehicles crossed the Jamuna Bridge, compared to over 35,600 the previous day. Normally, 12,000 to 15,000 vehicles cross daily, indicating a two- to threefold increase.

To ease congestion, the Jamuna Bridge site office has installed 18 toll booths, including separate motorcycle lanes, and arranged two wreckers for quick accident response.

The Chattogram-bound lane of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Feni’s Rampur area will remain closed for four days from March 22 to 25 for bridge repair work, according to a public notice issued by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) on March 17. From March 26 to 30, traffic will move through a single lane. The department has advised several alternative routes for vehicles during the closure.

Local residents have expressed concern that most of the suggested alternative roads are internal city routes not suitable for heavy traffic, which could increase congestion inside the city. Transport operators also fear some disruption as the highway is one of the busiest routes during the Eid travel period.

RHD officials said the Rampur bridge was damaged in the 2024 floods and needs urgent repair. They chose the post-Eid period because traffic volume and heavy vehicle movement are relatively low then, minimizing potential disruption.

Bangladesh Bank has cautioned that the country’s remittance inflows may decline if the ongoing US–Iran conflict in the Middle East becomes prolonged or expands geographically. Nearly half of Bangladesh’s total remittances currently come from Middle Eastern countries, and the central bank’s latest report notes that while the flow remains strong, its future stability depends on how long the regional tensions persist. A short-term conflict may have limited impact, but a sustained crisis could significantly reduce remittance earnings.

The report highlights that remittance inflows reached USD 8.67 billion in the October–December quarter, up 14.38 percent from the previous quarter and nearly 20 percent higher year-on-year. Saudi Arabia contributed the highest amount, followed by the UAE, the UK, Malaysia, and the US. During the same period, 293,474 workers went abroad, most of them to Saudi Arabia. From July to mid-March, total remittances stood at USD 24.65 billion, a 22.6 percent increase from the previous year.

Bangladesh Bank stated that if the current trend continues, the country’s foreign exchange reserves could strengthen further, though geopolitical uncertainty remains a key risk factor.

Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, a noted academic and researcher from the University of Dhaka, has formally taken charge as the 15th chairman of the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC). He assumed office on Wednesday following a notification issued by the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education. Outgoing chairman Professor Dr. S.M.A. Faiz handed over responsibilities to the new chairman in the presence of UGC members, officials, and staff.

According to the University Grants Commission Act of 1973, Dr. Mamun Ahmed has been appointed for a four-year term effective from his joining date. The appointment was announced on March 16, 2026, and he will receive salary and benefits as per government regulations. Before this role, he served as Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Dhaka since September 12, 2024, earning recognition for his capable leadership.

Dr. Ahmed, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, began his academic career in 1996 and has since held several key positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences at Dhaka University.

U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed his much-anticipated visit to China due to the ongoing war with Iran, which Washington currently considers its top priority. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said new dates for the meeting are being arranged in coordination with Beijing, adding that China has no objection. The visit, originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2 in Beijing, is now expected to take place about five or six weeks later.

The postponement comes as the Iran war enters its third week, with the Strait of Hormuz nearly closed to global maritime traffic. China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that communication between Washington and Beijing regarding the visit remains active.

The planned discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were expected to cover a wide range of issues, including trade tariffs, China’s export controls on rare minerals and magnets, U.S. relations with Taiwan, and China’s fentanyl exports.