Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of the daily Manabzamin, has been elected president of the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB). The announcement was made on Saturday in Dhaka during a meeting where the committee members for the 2026–2027 term were chosen without contest. The new committee was declared by NOAB election board chairman M Mashrur Riaz.

The newly elected committee includes ASM Shahidullah Khan, chairman of the New Age editorial board, as vice president, and Altaf Mash Kabir, publisher of the daily Sangbad, as treasurer. Other members are AK Azad of Samakal, Matiur Rahman of Prothom Alo, Mahfuz Anam of The Daily Star, Tasmeema Hossain of Ittefaq, AMM Bahauddin of Inqilab, Dewan Hanif Mahmud of Bonik Barta, Mozammel Haque of Karatoa, MA Malek of Azadi, Dr. Ramizuddin Chowdhury of Purbokone, and Nasim Monzur of The Financial Express.

The committee will serve for the 2026–2027 term, representing major newspaper publishers across Bangladesh.

Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman stated that Islamophobia is still active in the country's media and that the character of media flattery seen during fascist times has not changed. He made the remarks on Saturday evening at an iftar event organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South at Dhaka Ladies Club, Eskaton, held in honor of journalists.

Rahman said Amar Desh continues to uphold Bengali Muslim culture and remains uncompromising in defending human rights, the people, and national interests. He noted that two billion Muslims worldwide are facing crises and that Bangladesh is not free from these challenges. He warned that the Middle East war situation could affect Bangladesh through rising fuel prices and economic impacts, calling for unity and caution. He also condemned the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran and urged active support for Iran.

The event was chaired by Jamaat leader Md. Nurul Islam Bulbul MP and attended by senior journalists and media figures from various organizations, including editors and union leaders.

Two of the five Bangladeshi nationals killed in a gas cylinder explosion at a guesthouse in the Maldives are expected to be repatriated to Bangladesh on Sunday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on Saturday. The victims were identified as Taj Uddin Islam, Md. Sadar Ali, Md. Robin Molla, Sofikul Islam, and Md. Nurun Nabi Sarkar. The bodies of Md. Sadar Ali and Sofikul Islam are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh, while two others, Jamal Uddin and Saddam Hossain, remain hospitalized with serious injuries.

The explosion occurred on Thursday night at a guesthouse on Dhigurah Island, about 100 kilometers from the Maldivian capital, Malé. Seven people were rescued with severe burns, and five later died while receiving treatment. The Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives coordinated with local authorities to expedite the repatriation process and provide assistance to the victims’ families.

The High Commission has also contacted the employer company to ensure proper compensation and arranged alternative housing for affected Bangladeshi workers. The injured are under close medical supervision in Malé.

Bangladesh’s Road, Bridges, Rail and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced that fuel stations along highways will remain open 24 hours a day for seven days before and five days after Eid-ul-Fitr. The decision, effective from Saturday night, aims to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply for long-distance buses and other public transport during the holiday rush. The minister confirmed that the previous fuel purchase limits for public transport have been lifted to prevent any disruption in travel.

During a visit to Dhaka’s bus terminals, the minister said sufficient fuel supply has been arranged and strict instructions issued to prevent fare hikes or ticket cancellations under the pretext of fuel shortages. He noted that BRTC buses are operating on schedule and charging only approved fares.

Authorities have identified 207 potential traffic congestion points nationwide. Special coordination among highway police, BRTA, transport operators, local administration, and law enforcement has been arranged to manage traffic flow. Construction materials have been cleared from highways to keep at least two to three lanes operational, with all four lanes open where available.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on branches of US banks in several Gulf countries, describing them as retaliation for earlier American strikes on two Iranian banks. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

IRGC spokesperson Sardar Naeini said the US bank branches were targeted in direct response to those previous attacks. He warned that if the United States carries out similar operations again, all American bank branches in the region would become legitimate targets for Iran. The incidents included two consecutive attacks in Dubai’s International Financial Centre area, prompting major US financial institutions such as Citigroup and Standard Chartered to evacuate offices and shift employees to remote work.

In a related move, HSBC closed its branch in Qatar and implemented remote work policies for its regional staff following the attacks.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan has announced a zero-tolerance policy to prevent cheating and irregularities in the upcoming SSC and equivalent examinations. As part of this initiative, he will travel by helicopter to inspect exam centers across different districts, with special focus on madrasa and technical institutions. The announcement came during a meeting with journalists at his official residence on Minto Road in Dhaka on Saturday night, organized by the Education Reporters Association, Bangladesh (ERAB).

Milan stated that he is determined to stop cheating and will install CCTV cameras in exam centers to ensure transparency. He emphasized that officials and media representatives will accompany him during the inspections. The minister recalled that during his tenure as deputy minister in 2001, he had successfully curbed cheating through similar measures. He added that the ministry is taking comprehensive preparations to ensure fair and clean examinations.

He further noted that madrasa and technical institutions are more prone to cheating, and the ministry will focus on breaking existing syndicates by ensuring transparency in appointing invigilators and selecting exam centers.

A mobile court in Bilmaria Bazar of Puthia upazila, Rajshahi, fined an oil trader for selling petrol at a higher price than allowed. The operation took place on Saturday afternoon, led by Puthia Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shibu Das. During the inspection, price lists of various oil sellers were checked, and trader Adil Hossain was fined 2,000 taka for overpricing petrol.

According to the Puthia upazila administration, such drives will continue to ensure compliance with official pricing and to prevent unjustified price hikes. The administration also stated that strict measures will be taken against those responsible for increasing prices unlawfully.

The fine reflects ongoing local enforcement efforts to stabilize fuel prices and maintain transparency in market operations, as part of broader administrative monitoring in the region.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, vice president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, announced that all citizens will receive healthcare based on need rather than financial capacity. Speaking on Saturday at the LD Hall of the National Parliament in Dhaka during a Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) event distributing Eid gifts to underprivileged children, she said healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege. She emphasized the government’s commitment to universal health coverage under the principle of 'Health for All'.

Zubaida Rahman outlined plans to strengthen primary healthcare as the foundation of the national health system, including 24-hour ambulance services at upazila health complexes and the creation of a national ambulance pool and emergency service network. She also highlighted modernization of medical education, structured career paths for health workers, and safe medical waste management. Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Bukol and State Minister Dr. M.A. Muhit also spoke, stressing the need to eliminate brokers from hospitals and urging doctors to serve patients sincerely.

DAB leaders pledged support for doctors’ fair demands and called for regular attendance and service delivery in hospitals.

A murder suspect was seen accompanying BNP lawmaker Shafiqul Haque Milon of Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohonpur) constituency at a public iftar event in Rajshahi. The suspect, Raisul Islam Russell, accused in the killing of Jamaat activist Md Alauddin, reportedly received the MP at Rajshahi airport last Friday and later joined his motorcade to attend an iftar gathering in Kesharhat. Russell had posted a selfie with the MP on Facebook before deleting it.

MP Milon said he was unaware of any murder case against Russell, describing him as a known local party activist without a criminal record to his knowledge. The murder case was filed on March 7 after a clash between BNP and Jamaat members in Mohonpur’s Sankoa area left Alauddin dead. Police confirmed Russell as the prime accused and said he remains at large.

Local Jamaat leaders expressed surprise that the suspect could appear publicly while police claim he is missing. Police officials said they have not received any bail documents and are continuing efforts to arrest the accused.

Leaders of Khelafat Majlis have called on the government to convene an immediate special session of parliament to initiate constitutional reform. The demand was made during the party’s central executive meeting held on Tuesday at its central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka. They said the ruling party, as a signatory to the July Charter, must fulfill its commitment, noting that the recent referendum resulted in a decisive ‘yes’ victory. The leaders emphasized that the government should respect the public mandate and ensure that Bangladesh never again experiences fascist rule.

The meeting, presided over by Nayeb-e-Amir Maulana Ahmad Ali Qasemi and conducted by Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader, also discussed the deteriorating law and order situation, persistently high commodity prices, and ongoing concerns over energy security. The leaders urged the newly formed government to prioritize these issues, ensure safe and accessible travel for Eid holidaymakers, and facilitate the safe return of expatriates from the war-torn Middle East.

They further stated that freedom of the press is essential for maintaining the integrity of all other state institutions.

Labour, Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury announced that industrial workers will receive their wages and bonuses before Eid. He said several factories have already paid their workers, and the remaining payments will be completed soon. The minister expressed optimism that the government will ensure timely disbursement so that workers can celebrate Eid with joy.

Speaking after visiting the Shahi Eidgah in Sylhet on Saturday afternoon, Ariful Haque said the government is maintaining communication with factory owners to facilitate payments and will provide all necessary support. He added that the government is hopeful about a smooth process this year.

The minister also confirmed the deaths of five Bangladeshi nationals in a gas explosion in the Maldives. He said the bodies will be brought back following local legal procedures, and discussions are underway with the concerned company regarding compensation. He further noted that three ministries are closely monitoring the ongoing war situation in the Middle East to ensure the safety of Bangladeshi expatriates.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will carry out large-scale bombing along the coast of the Hormuz Strait if necessary to keep the strategic waterway open. According to Al Jazeera, Trump made the statement in a post on Truth Social, saying that Iran’s attempt to close the strait has prompted several countries to consider sending warships to the area.

Trump urged nations dependent on the Hormuz Strait, including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, to deploy ships to ensure its safety and openness. He claimed that Iran’s military capability has been largely destroyed but acknowledged that Iran still retains the ability to launch drones, lay mines, or fire short-range missiles.

Trump emphasized that the United States would conduct extensive coastal bombings if required and vowed that the Hormuz Strait would remain open by any means necessary.

BNP Standing Committee member and Prime Minister’s political adviser Mirza Abbas will be taken to Singapore on Sunday for advanced medical treatment. His personal secretary Mizanur Rahman Sohel confirmed that he will be flown by air ambulance at 11 a.m. Abbas’s wife, BNP Mahila Dal president Afroza Abbas, and their eldest son Mirza Yasir Abbas will accompany him.

Mirza Abbas underwent brain surgery last Friday at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka and has since been kept under intensive observation. A CT scan conducted on Saturday showed improvement, according to BNP’s health affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam. Abbas had lost consciousness during iftar on Thursday, prompting his admission to the hospital, where a virtual medical board decided on urgent surgery after reviewing his condition.

Following the operation, Abbas remains under 72-hour intensive monitoring by the medical board. Several political leaders, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, visited the hospital to inquire about his health.

NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam announced that the government’s position on the proposed Constitutional Reform Council will be sought in parliament. He made the statement on Saturday after a meeting of the parliamentary business advisory committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, at the National Parliament Secretariat’s cabinet room.

Earlier the same day, after a meeting of an 11-party alliance at the Jamaat-e-Islami office, coalition coordinator Hamidur Rahman Azad warned that if a session of the Constitutional Reform Council is not convened by Sunday, the alliance will take to the streets with public support. He added that the final outline of the movement will be decided at the top leadership meeting on March 28.

Following the advisory committee meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that the issue of a constitutional reform commission was not on the day’s agenda but confirmed that the government intends to resolve the matter through parliamentary procedures.

Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi has declared his readiness to assume leadership if the Islamic Republic of Iran collapses. In a message shared on social media, he said preparations are underway to establish a transitional system that would govern the country during an interim period. According to Pahlavi, this system would immediately take charge to restore law, order, security, and freedom once the current regime falls.

Pahlavi stated that he has already begun forming the transitional structure with individuals from both inside and outside Iran. He said capable figures have been identified and evaluated to manage different parts of the interim administration. Saeed Ghasseminejad, an adviser on Iran and financial economics at the U.S.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, is reportedly leading the selection process for council members.

Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, has become a prominent figure among opposition movements abroad. His visibility increased after protests earlier this year, during which some demonstrators called for the restoration of the monarchy.