Dhaka Electric Supply PLC (DESCO) has launched a special drive from March 9, 2026, to reduce excessive lighting and promote electricity conservation across shopping malls, markets, and residential and commercial areas under its jurisdiction. The initiative follows a directive issued by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on March 8. On March 12, DESCO teams conducted operations in several Uttara West locations, including Jamjam Tower, Rajlakkhi, and Garib-e-Nawaz Avenue, identifying and shutting down unnecessary lighting.

The drive was led by Special Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Hadiuzzaman, who warned that further violations would result in strict penalties and fines. Market and shop owners were urged to avoid unnecessary electricity use and maintain air conditioner temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius. Awareness leaflets were distributed among shoppers, pedestrians, and shop staff to promote the government’s energy-saving directives.

Similar operations were carried out on March 11 in Gulshan-1, Gulshan-2, and surrounding commercial areas. DESCO authorities have decided to continue the campaign across all areas under its coverage.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has called on Iran to refrain from targeting neighboring countries in its response to recent attacks. In a statement issued on Saturday, Hamas acknowledged Iran’s right to respond to aggression by Israel and the United States under international law but urged Tehran to avoid actions that could harm regional neighbors.

Earlier, on February 28, Hamas had condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing it as a brutal crime. The group also noted Khamenei’s longstanding political, diplomatic, and military support for the Palestinian cause and its fighters.

The appeal reflects Hamas’s attempt to balance solidarity with Iran while discouraging escalation that could draw other regional states into the conflict.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has maintained its money escort service to ensure the safe transport of large amounts of cash and gold ornaments within the city. The service aims to reduce the risk of robbery or snatching during the movement of valuable items. DMP has urged city residents, businesses, and financial institutions to use this service for enhanced security.

According to DMP sources, the service provides trained police personnel to escort and supervise the transfer of money or valuables from one location to another. This initiative helps ensure safety during transit and significantly lowers the risk of criminal incidents. Interested individuals can contact the DMP through the provided phone numbers to avail of the service.

DMP spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman stated that citizens should use the service when transporting large sums or valuables to avoid risks. He added that the initiative not only ensures security but also strengthens police efforts in crime prevention.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Iran war would end when he personally feels it is time. He made the remark on Friday in response to a journalist’s question about when the conflict would conclude. Trump said, “When I feel it from within,” emphasizing that the decision would depend on his own sense of timing.

Trump also claimed that Iran has been “completely defeated.” In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, he asserted that Iran wants to make a deal that he will not accept. However, Iranian officials have pledged to continue the war, signaling no immediate resolution to the conflict.

The statements highlight a continuing standoff between the United States and Iran, with both sides maintaining firm positions and no clear timeline for peace.

At least 112 people have been killed in US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s Kurdistan province, according to the provincial emergency department chief cited by Tasnim news agency. The report added that around 969 people were injured, with 27 receiving treatment in general wards and five in intensive care units.

Since the war began on February 28, nearly 1,450 people have been killed in Iran due to US and Israeli strikes. In southern Lebanon, an Israeli attack on a health center killed 12 doctors, bringing the total death toll there to 773, including 103 children. The figures reflect the escalating toll of the conflict across multiple fronts in the region.

The report did not specify the immediate response from Iranian authorities or the broader international community, but the rising casualties indicate a worsening humanitarian situation in both Iran and Lebanon.

Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu announced that a nationwide cleanliness drive will be held every Saturday starting March 14, 2026, to prevent mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. The initiative follows Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive to strengthen preventive measures and public awareness. Minu made the announcement while inaugurating a cleaning program at a canal near Baya Bridge in Rajshahi, organized by the district administration.

The minister emphasized the importance of destroying Aedes mosquito breeding sites before the monsoon season by keeping homes, yards, drains, and water reservoirs clean. He noted that mosquito-borne diseases have become a growing concern across both urban and rural areas. The event was held without any stage, microphone, or ceremonial arrangements, underscoring a focus on collective community participation.

Rajshahi’s district administration organized the program with support from the upazila administration and Nowhata municipality. Local MP Advocate Shafiqul Haque Milon highlighted that maintaining cleanliness and raising awareness are key to preventing dengue outbreaks.

The United Arab Emirates has arrested ten foreign nationals accused of publishing misleading and fabricated video clips on social media. According to the state-run Emirates News Agency, the arrests were ordered after the videos, which depicted false attack scenes, were deemed a threat to national security and social stability. Attorney General Hamad Al Shamsi has directed that the suspects face emergency trials.

Investigations revealed that the videos included scenes of air defense systems intercepting attacks, fallen missiles, and crowds, some of which were created using artificial intelligence to simulate explosions and assaults. Certain clips falsely suggested that incidents occurring abroad had taken place within the UAE, while others used emotional imagery involving children to imply security threats.

The UAE Public Prosecution has begun interrogating the suspects and ordered their detention. Authorities warned that spreading false information or endangering national security through digital or modern technologies will not be tolerated. Convicted individuals could face at least one year in prison and fines of up to 100,000 dirhams.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has released the syllabus for the eighth recruitment examination for positions including head teacher, assistant head teacher, principal, vice-principal, superintendent, and assistant superintendent in non-government educational institutions. The syllabus was published on the NTRCA website on Friday, March 13, 2026. According to the announcement, the exam will carry 80 marks across eight subjects, with an additional 20 marks based on specific education directorates.

The syllabus allocates 10 marks each for Bangla, English, ICT, administrative management, and financial management; 5 marks each for mental ability and mathematical reasoning, and for Bangladesh and international affairs. Candidates under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education will have 20 marks on general education management, those under the Technical Education Directorate will have 20 marks on technical education management and related knowledge, and those under the Madrasa Education Directorate will have 20 marks on madrasa education management, Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, Arabic, and Islamic studies.

Applications for these positions closed on February 26, 2026, with 86,445 applicants. The exam, totaling 100 marks, is expected to be held in April 2026. There are 13,599 vacancies across the three directorates.

Sixteen ships carrying refined fuel have arrived at Chattogram Port between March 3 and March 14, 2026, supporting stable energy supply for Bangladesh’s power generation and industrial sectors. Eleven of the ships have already completed unloading, while the remaining five are in the process. Port authorities confirmed that three additional vessels are expected to reach the port in the coming days.

According to port data, three LNG carriers from Qatar—‘Al Zubarah’, ‘Al Jasasiya’, and ‘Lusail’—each unloaded about 62,000 tons of LNG during the first ten days of March. Another vessel, ‘Al Galayel’, arrived on March 12 with 26,165 tons of LNG being transferred to a floating storage and regasification unit. LPG shipments were the most frequent, with tankers from Malaysia and Oman unloading a total of 19,316 tons so far, and more unloading operations continuing through mid-March.

Despite geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz affecting shipping and insurance costs, port officials stated that operations remain normal this month, ensuring uninterrupted energy supply for power, industry, and households.

Iran’s armed forces chief Amir Hatami has warned that the country will deliver an appropriate response to a deadly attack on its warship in the Indian Ocean. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the vessel was returning from a military exercise when it was struck, killing all 104 crew members on board.

Hatami stated that the ship’s crew had completed a peaceful mission and were attacked despite not being engaged in any direct conflict. He emphasized that the ship, named Denar, and its crew would be remembered as symbols of courage and dedication in Iran’s naval history.

He further pledged that Iran’s military would continue to defend the nation’s maritime borders and strengthen its naval forces with greater determination following the incident.

The eleven-party alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami, has warned that it will launch street protests if the government fails to implement the July Charter by tomorrow. The announcement came after an emergency meeting of the alliance’s liaison committee held at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar on Saturday. Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, Hamidur Rahman Azad, conveyed the warning during a press briefing following the meeting. He stated that the alliance will hold another meeting with top leaders on March 28 to outline and announce the next phase of their movement.

Azad criticized the government for not convening the Reform Commission session within the stipulated 30 days, which ends tomorrow. He said the government and the leader of the parliament must take responsibility if the session is not called. The alliance also protested the appointment of administrators in six cities and alleged widespread politicization in the administration. Azad reiterated that the alliance demands full, not partial, implementation of the July Charter.

He added that the alliance’s leader and opposition leader, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, expressed willingness to cooperate with the government but warned that failure to act properly would force them to take to the streets.

US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated in Tokyo that the United States can provide a reliable energy supply to the Asia-Pacific region, where oil and gas deliveries have been disrupted due to the ongoing Iran war. Speaking at an event attended by representatives from 17 Asia-Pacific countries, Burgum emphasized Washington’s readiness to ensure stable energy access for its allies.

He said President Donald Trump’s policy aims to secure the energy needed for America’s prosperity while maintaining the ability to sell energy to friends and partners. Burgum also stressed that reliable, affordable, and safe energy supplies in the region should not be threatened by what he described as a ‘terrorist regime.’

In addition to energy, Burgum highlighted the importance of ensuring secure supplies of critical rare minerals, underscoring their strategic value for the region’s stability and economic growth.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that his government has begun implementing election promises even before the voting ink has faded. Speaking on Saturday morning at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he inaugurated a program to provide government honorariums to imams, muezzins, and religious leaders of various faiths. He emphasized financial assistance and employment creation to reduce economic inequality, particularly for disadvantaged groups.

Rahman detailed several new initiatives, including a Family Card program for economically vulnerable women, which will gradually reach four crore families across Bangladesh. He also announced that a pilot project for a Farmer Card will begin on April 14, and a canal excavation program will start on March 16 in Dinajpur. The financial support program for religious leaders also began that day.

He stated that the government aims to ensure political and economic empowerment for every citizen, regardless of religion or profession, to build a strong foundation for the nation and prevent any authoritarian forces from undermining freedom.

Brazil has revoked the visa of Darren Beattie, a far-right adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, after he planned to visit former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently imprisoned in Brasília. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmed the visa cancellation on Friday.

The move follows an earlier decision by the United States to cancel visas of Brazilian officials in Washington, D.C. Speaking at an event in Rio de Janeiro, Silva said Beattie had expressed his intention to meet Bolsonaro, but was told not to do so. Silva added that he had barred Beattie from entering Brazil until the U.S. released the visa of Brazil’s health minister.

Bolsonaro, a political ally of Trump, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for conspiracy to overthrow the government.

Gas extraction has officially started from well number 5 of the Shrikail gas field in Muradnagar, Cumilla. The inauguration took place on Saturday, led by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit. According to Bapex officials, the well will add 8 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid, with an estimated reserve worth about Tk 3,000 crore. Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Md. Saiful Islam attended as a special guest.

During the ceremony, the state minister emphasized that domestic gas production will help reduce import dependency and achieve self-sufficiency. He also stressed transparency and accountability in all operations. Bapex Managing Director Engineer Md. Fazlul Haque stated that gas has been discovered in eight out of 23 exploratory wells drilled so far.

Officials highlighted that the government is prioritizing gas extraction to save foreign currency and strengthen Bapex’s capacity, as imported gas costs several times more than domestic production.