Professor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam, currently serving as Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University. The appointment was confirmed on Monday, March 16, 2026, during a meeting at the Ministry of Education, where Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan officially announced the decision.

According to related sources, Professor Islam previously served as a faculty member in the Department of Physics at Dhaka University before joining Bangladesh Open University. He is expected to assume his new responsibilities at Dhaka University soon. The appointment follows the resignation of former Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan, who formally submitted his resignation to the Education Minister on February 22.

The leadership change marks a transition period for Dhaka University as it prepares for new administrative direction under Professor Islam’s guidance.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that the school admission lottery system has been permanently abolished. Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Education on Monday afternoon, he confirmed that from next year, school admissions will be based on simple entrance tests instead of lotteries. The minister emphasized that the new system will not create intense competition and that lotteries have no place in any education system.

He explained that the decision followed extensive research and consultations with stakeholders, which will continue in the future. Milon described the lottery as a form of gambling and said the government would not allow coaching businesses to exploit the new admission process. Instead, the government plans to arrange in-house coaching facilities.

The minister clarified that the government is not shifting entirely to an exam-based system. He noted that scholarship exams will remain optional, as they provide financial support to poor families who benefit from the awarded stipends.

British Work and Pensions Minister Pat McFadden stated that the ongoing conflict involving US and Israeli attacks on Iran is not a NATO war. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, he emphasized that the situation in the Middle East is a result of actions by the United States and Israel, not a collective NATO operation.

McFadden explained that NATO was not formed with such a Middle Eastern context in mind when it was established in 1949 by twelve founding members, including the United States and the United Kingdom. He referred to NATO’s Article 5, which defines an attack on one member as an attack on all, but clarified that this principle does not apply to unilateral actions by individual member states. Former Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter also noted that NATO does not compel members to join wars initiated independently by others.

McFadden agreed with Carter’s assessment and reiterated that the United Kingdom remains deeply committed to the NATO alliance despite the current conflict.

China has called for an immediate end to military operations following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump. In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump warned that his planned meeting with the Chinese president could be delayed if Beijing did not help ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Responding to questions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that high-level diplomacy between the two nations provides strategic guidance for bilateral relations. He confirmed that communication between China and the United States continues regarding Trump’s potential visit to China. Lin also noted that recent tensions have disrupted commercial routes and harmed regional and global peace.

Reiterating China’s position, Lin urged all parties to stop military actions immediately and pledged that China would continue working to ease the current tensions.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma stated that efforts are ongoing to resume the issuance of Indian tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens. He made the remarks on Monday, March 16, after a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser, Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, in Dhaka. Verma said that the process to reopen the visa service is continuing and that the timing of its resumption will be announced once it is finalized.

Earlier this month, the Indian High Commissioner had indicated that visa operations between India and Bangladesh would return to normal soon. During his meeting with the Prime Minister’s adviser, Verma also discussed cross-border power and energy connectivity between the two countries. He mentioned that both sides talked about strengthening these areas and reviewed ongoing joint projects.

The discussions reflect continuing bilateral engagement between India and Bangladesh, focusing on easing travel restrictions and enhancing energy cooperation across the border.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declined U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to send warships to the Hormuz Strait, according to The Telegraph. Despite Washington’s appeal for renewed efforts to ensure safe navigation in the strategic waterway, the United Kingdom has decided not to deploy naval vessels at this stage.

Energy Minister Ed Miliband stated that the government is carefully considering various options to keep the vital maritime route open but made no commitment to dispatch warships. Officials indicated that the deployment of mine-detecting drones is being considered as an alternative measure.

The report added that France, Germany, and South Korea have also rejected Trump’s proposal, signaling limited allied support for a U.S.-led naval initiative in the region.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on governments and societies worldwide to take stronger measures against Islamophobia. In a video message posted on social media platform X to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, he said Muslims across the world face discrimination and exclusion. Guterres noted that nearly two billion Muslims come from diverse regions and cultures but often encounter institutional bias and social barriers.

He warned that Muslims are frequently subjected to socio-economic exclusion, biased immigration policies, and unjustified surveillance, adding that anti-Muslim rhetoric fuels these trends. The UN chief urged governments to counter hate speech, safeguard religious freedom, and uphold international human rights law. He also called on online platforms to protect individuals from harassment and hate speech based on religion or belief.

Guterres concluded by urging renewed commitment to equality, human rights, and dignity for all, regardless of faith, and called for the elimination of Islamophobia from every country and community. The UN General Assembly had unanimously declared March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in 2022.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has congratulated the Bangladesh cricket team for winning the One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan. Bangladesh clinched the three-match series 2–1 after defeating Pakistan by 11 runs in the third and final match held on Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur.

In a statement following the victory, the Prime Minister praised the team’s courageous and united performance, describing the win as a testament to determination and teamwork. He said the thrilling 11-run victory in the final match demonstrated that success is possible even in challenging situations when there is strong resolve and collective effort.

The Prime Minister added that the national team’s performance is a matter of pride for the country and expressed hope that such consistent success will continue in the future. The series win has been viewed as a significant achievement for Bangladesh cricket.

The government has appointed new police superintendents in three districts—Khagrachhari, Magura, and Madaripur. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ Police-1 Branch issued a notification on Monday announcing the changes. According to the order, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Molla Azad Hossain has been appointed as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Magura, Magura SP Habibur Rahman has been transferred to Madaripur, and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) SP Mortoza Ali Khan has been assigned as the new SP of Khagrachhari.

In separate notifications, the government also made several senior-level police appointments. Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ahsan Habib Palash has been appointed as the Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), while Additional Inspector General (AIG) Sardar Nurul Amin from Police Headquarters has been made the head of the Special Branch (SB). Additionally, Additional IGP Mosleh Uddin Ahmed has been appointed as the new chief of the CID.

These appointments reflect a broader reshuffle within the Bangladesh Police leadership structure, as announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Nine international human rights organizations have sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging the abolition of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The letter, dated March 16, 2026, was also addressed to Law Minister Asaduzzaman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. The groups include Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Fortify Rights, Article Nineteen, CPJ, and Civicus.

In the letter, the organizations acknowledged that the new BNP-led government faces major challenges but viewed this period as an opportunity for long-term human rights reforms. They noted that during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, serious violations such as enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings were reported. Although such incidents have declined since her fall, the groups said arbitrary detentions and attacks on journalists, religious minorities, and cultural institutions have not fully stopped.

The letter also called for effective measures to protect the rights of more than one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and recommended establishing a strong, independent National Human Rights Commission. Several policy and legal reform suggestions were included to strengthen human rights protections.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Shafiquur Rahman, has praised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s canal excavation program. In a Facebook post on Monday, March 16, he commended the initiative, describing it as a positive step toward restoring the country’s waterways and addressing long-standing environmental challenges.

Dr. Rahman noted that Bangladesh was once known as a riverine nation where rivers played a vital role in transport, agriculture, and fisheries. However, he said that after independence, many rivers, canals, and wetlands were filled up, leading to reduced water flow and increased flooding. He cited the impact of the Farakka Barrage and unplanned development as major causes of the current water management crisis.

He emphasized that effective dredging and transparency in development projects are essential to restore navigability and ensure lasting benefits. According to him, canal excavation will only yield real results if the rivers regain their natural flow and vitality.

Israel has informed the United States that its stockpile of ballistic missile interceptors is running low as the war with Iran enters its third week, according to U.S. officials cited by the news outlet Semafor. The officials said Israel’s defense system had already been weakened by heavy interceptor use during last year’s conflict with Iran. Continuous missile attacks from Iran are now placing severe pressure on Israel’s long-range air defense network.

The report added that Iran has equipped some of its missiles with cluster bombs, making them harder to intercept and accelerating the depletion of Israel’s interceptor reserves. Washington had been aware of the potential shortage for months. A U.S. official told Semafor that the situation had been anticipated, emphasizing that the United States itself has sufficient reserves and is not facing a similar shortage.

It remains unclear whether the U.S. will supply Israel with additional interceptors. Previous military aid packages included missile defense systems, but new deliveries could strain America’s own stockpiles.

The High Court has ordered the preservation of ballot papers and result sheets for the Mymensingh-6 (Fulbaria) constituency. The directive was issued by a single bench of Justice Mohammad Ali on Monday, March 16, 2026, after accepting a petition filed by BNP candidate Md. Akhtarul Alam challenging the election results. The court also issued notices to the respondents in the case.

Advocates Laxman Biswas and Md. Shamim Darji represented the petitioner during the hearing. The Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the same constituency is Kamrul Hasan Milon. The petition was filed under Section 49 of the Representation of the People Order, which allows for election petitions to be heard by an election tribunal formed under the High Court.

The court’s order ensures that the election materials remain secured while the petition is under judicial consideration, marking an early procedural step in the legal review of the constituency’s election outcome.

Iran has warned that any facility providing support or services to the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford in the Red Sea will be considered a legitimate target. The warning came on Sunday from a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, who described the carrier’s presence in the region as a threat to Iran.

Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters operates under the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and is responsible for planning and coordinating military operations involving various Iranian units. The statement follows the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran on February 28, according to the report.

The warning underscores heightened regional tensions and signals that Iran may expand its military response to include indirect targets associated with US operations in the Red Sea.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has extended the deadline for submitting the investigation report in the war crimes case concerning the killing of 11 people, including student leader Wasim, during the July uprising in Chattogram. The case involves former Chattogram-6 MP A B M Fazle Karim Chowdhury and several others. The new submission date has been set for April 12, following an order issued on Monday by a three-member panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar.

Other tribunal members include Justices Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. The accused, including Fazle Karim, were brought to the tribunal from prison for the scheduled hearing. The prosecution had earlier sought an eight-week extension on January 12 to complete the investigation report.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Saimum Reza Talukder has resigned following allegations that he demanded one crore taka in bribes from Fazle Karim’s family in exchange for bail. After audio recordings of the alleged demand surfaced, a five-member fact-finding committee was formed on March 10, and defense lawyers have called for a reinvestigation of the case.