Niti Dutta Chakma, an organizer of the United People's Democratic Front (Democratic), was shot dead in Khagrachhari’s Panchhari upazila on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. in the Sutakormpara area of the upazila. The organization’s central organizing secretary, Amarjyoti Chakma, confirmed the death and blamed their rival political group, the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), for the attack.

The report, published by local outlet Amar Desh, identified the killing as part of ongoing political rivalry in the region. The UPDF (Democratic) and the original UPDF have long been known as opposing factions within the same political sphere in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, though the source did not elaborate further on the motive or immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Further details about the circumstances of the attack or any official investigation were not available at the time of reporting.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wedeful has said that preparations are underway for direct talks between the United States and Iran. According to him, representatives from both countries are planning to meet in Pakistan. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk Radio, Wedeful stated that there had already been indirect communication between the two sides and that they are now preparing for a direct meeting, which he believes will take place soon.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran must take the initiative to persuade him to stop the war, adding that the decision now rests with Iran’s leaders and that he is not interested in reaching any agreement. However, Iranian state media reported that the country’s leadership remains skeptical about Washington’s sincerity in pursuing talks.

The planned meeting, if held, could mark a significant step in easing tensions between the two nations, though mutual distrust remains a major obstacle according to the source.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested two individuals in connection with the shooting death of Jubo Dal leader Golam Kibria in Dhaka’s Mirpur Pallabi area. According to a message from RAB’s Legal and Media Wing on Friday, the suspects were detained with a foreign revolver and ammunition. RAB stated that the arrestees were involved in the killing mission, and further details would be disclosed at a press conference at the RAB-4 headquarters.

Kibria, who served as the member secretary of Pallabi Thana Jubo Dal and was also involved in the medical equipment trade, was shot dead on November 17 of the previous year. Three masked assailants entered a hardware and sanitary store in Mirpur’s Block B and shot him at close range before fleeing in a battery-run rickshaw, injuring the driver while escaping.

Following the incident, Kibria’s wife, Sabiha Akter Dina, filed a murder case with Pallabi Police Station, naming five accused and mentioning seven to eight unidentified individuals as being involved in the attack.

Since the onset of the war, Iran has significantly increased its oil revenue, earning about $139 million per day in March, up from $115 million in February. The country has benefited from rising global oil prices and reduced price discounts on its Iranian Light crude, which is now sold at only $2.10 below Brent, the narrowest gap in nearly a year. Iran’s oil exports have reached around 1.6 million barrels per day, close to pre-war levels, with tankers loading at Kharg Island and passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, Iran has maintained its economic flow, weakening the impact of military pressure. The United States has temporarily suspended some sanctions on Iranian oil shipments to stabilize global prices. Richard Nephew of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy noted that current U.S. actions appear to encourage Iranian oil sales rather than restrict them.

Iran is also exporting from the Jask terminal outside the Strait of Hormuz and collecting up to $2 million in transit fees from commercial vessels passing through the strait.

A mobile court in Sherpur fined a trader for illegally storing 18,000 liters of diesel in a residential building. The operation took place late Thursday night, March 26, 2026, in the Gopalbari area of Sherpur town. Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan imposed a fine of 10,000 taka on Tapas Nandi, owner of M/s Shimla Traders, after discovering a large underground tank used to store the fuel without environmental clearance.

According to court sources, Tapas Nandi and Shafiqul Islam Helal had been running a business by storing diesel in a 25,000-liter tank beneath the five-story residential building. Acting on intelligence, the district administration’s mobile court conducted the raid and found about 18,000 liters of diesel stored illegally. The court ordered the removal of the fuel and tank by Friday.

Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan stated that the fine was imposed for selling flammable substances without proper authorization and that the removal process would be closely monitored to ensure the safety of residents.

The United States and Israel have entered the 27th day of their joint military campaign against Iran, with reports indicating growing diplomatic friction between Washington and Tel Aviv over peace negotiations. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Islamabad is mediating indirect talks between the US and Iran, with a 15-point American proposal already delivered to Tehran. Turkey and Egypt are also participating in the mediation process.

Iran’s state broadcaster reported that Tehran has rejected the US proposal and instead presented five conditions for ending the war, including a full halt to aggression, compensation for damages, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister claimed responsibility for killing senior IRGC officer Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri, though Iran has not confirmed the death.

The conflict has caused nearly 1,937 deaths in Iran, according to its health ministry, while tensions between US and Israeli leaderships have surfaced, with reports that Donald Trump rebuked Benjamin Netanyahu over a proposal to incite protests in Iran.

Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, Zahir Uddin Swapan, emphasized that lessons from history must guide the nation’s present and future course. He made the remarks while addressing a program at the Bangladesh Consulate in Istanbul on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day. The minister paid deep tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War, according to a press release issued by the ministry on Friday.

During the event, held on Thursday evening local time, Swapan highlighted the significance of the August 5, 2024 fall of autocracy as an important lesson for the nation. He said that those elected by the people to govern must learn from that experience and act with greater responsibility. He further stressed that the people must remain at the center of all thought and policymaking, warning that deviation from this principle could lead to consequences similar to past fallen governments.

The event was attended by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Turkey, M Amanul Haque, Consul General Mizanur Rahman, and members of the expatriate community. Swapan arrived in Turkey on March 26 to attend the International Strategic Communication Summit (Stratcom) 2026, scheduled for March 27–28 in Istanbul.

The United Nations General Assembly has officially recognized the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly transported Africans across the Atlantic, as a serious crime against humanity. The resolution, introduced by Ghana, was passed on Wednesday with majority support. It calls for historical acknowledgment of the atrocity, urges member states to express remorse, and includes a proposal to establish a compensation fund.

A total of 123 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina opposed it. Fifty-two countries, including the United Kingdom and members of the European Union, abstained. Ghanaian President John Mahama said the decision honors the millions who suffered under slavery and racial discrimination, describing it as a safeguard against historical amnesia and a challenge to address the lingering wounds of slavery.

U.S. envoy to the UN Dan Negrea opposed the resolution, stating that the United States does not recognize compensation claims for historical wrongs that were not illegal under contemporary international law and warned against pressuring modern nations for crimes with which they had no connection.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s unwavering support and solidarity with Bangladesh during a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the UN headquarters in New York on March 27, 2026. The assurance was conveyed following the formation of Bangladesh’s new government, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, Guterres congratulated the newly formed government and praised Bangladesh’s continued humanitarian leadership and generosity in sheltering displaced Rohingya people. The discussion also covered several global issues, including the ongoing global oil crisis and its disproportionate impact on poor and vulnerable nations, as highlighted by the Bangladeshi foreign minister.

Dr. Rahman extended an invitation on behalf of the Prime Minister for the Secretary-General to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time, which Guterres accepted with gratitude. Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Nations to address global challenges and advance sustainable development.

A government-backed commission in Nepal has recommended bringing former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and senior officials to trial over the 2025 Gen-Z-led uprising that left at least 77 people dead. The protests began in September 2025 after a ban on social media and quickly expanded into demonstrations against economic hardship and corruption. Security forces killed 19 young protesters on the first day, prompting Oli’s resignation. The commission’s report, leaked to local media, was released as newly elected lawmakers took their oaths.

The report stated that then–Prime Minister Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak failed to take effective measures to prevent the deaths, despite their responsibility for security and law enforcement. It found that 48 of 63 autopsies confirmed victims were shot, mostly in the chest or head, and that no effort was made to stop or control the firing. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, who became interim prime minister after Oli’s ouster, had formed the commission, which interviewed over 200 people and submitted a 900-page report with extensive evidence.

The full official details of the report have not yet been released, though Karki’s office indicated plans to publish it soon.

A devastating fire broke out on Thursday afternoon, March 26, in the Shura Bathan field area near Mia Bagan of Harinakundu upazila in Jhenaidah, burning down four betel leaf farms. Local residents estimated that the blaze caused a total loss of around six lakh taka for four farmers — three brothers named Mamun, Masum, and Ruhul, and another farmer, Emran Hossain.

According to local sources, the fire started suddenly in one of the farms and quickly spread to adjacent ones due to strong winds. Despite efforts by locals to control the flames, all four farms were completely destroyed before the fire was extinguished. Emran Hossain said he had taken loans from several institutions to run his farm and is now uncertain about repaying them.

Harinakundu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Kibria Hasan stated that a police investigation into the incident is ongoing. He added that the fire appears to be an accident rather than an act of sabotage.

The ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel has shaken the global economy, with developing nations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East facing severe inflationary pressure. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy facilities have triggered a fuel crisis, hitting import-dependent economies the hardest. Countries from Pakistan to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and from Jordan to Egypt and Ethiopia, are struggling to manage the fallout.

Pakistan, which imports 80 percent of its fuel from Gulf states, has seen its reserves of petrol and diesel plummet within weeks of the conflict. The government has reduced working days in public offices, closed schools, and limited fuel use for businesses. Although Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rejected a proposal to raise fuel prices before Eid, experts warn that prolonged conflict could paralyze economic activity. Bangladesh, which imports 95 percent of its fuel, is also facing shortages, with some districts already closing pumps despite rationing.

Egypt has ordered early shop closures to conserve electricity, while a Washington-based analysis identified Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Ethiopia, and Zambia as the most vulnerable to inflation caused by the energy crisis.

A robber was killed and a businessman injured during a mugging attempt in Khulna’s Dighalia upazila late Thursday night. The incident occurred near the Deyara Steamer Ghat area when four robbers tried to snatch money from businessman Touhidul Islam as he was returning home after closing his grocery and flexiload shop. During a scuffle, one robber accidentally shot his accomplice, identified as Sagar, son of Khokon from Deyara.

Locals rescued the injured Sagar and Touhidul Islam and took them first to the upazila health complex and later to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared Sagar dead. The businessman sustained minor injuries to his right shoulder from gunpowder burns but is reportedly out of danger.

Police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest the other robbers involved in the incident.

Iran has launched intense attacks on American facilities across several Middle Eastern countries in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes, heightening fears over water security in the region. Earlier this month, an Iranian drone strike severely damaged Bahrain’s desalination plant, bringing the issue of water safety to the forefront in Gulf nations where desalinated water is essential for daily life.

According to a recent Moody’s report, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries rely heavily on desalination for most of their drinking water, with hundreds of coastal plants providing the majority of the world’s processed water. The report warns that this dependence poses a serious security risk, as the plants are concentrated along vulnerable coastlines with limited short-term alternatives. The recent conflict has exposed how easily these facilities could become targets, threatening both water and energy supplies.

Moody’s notes that disruptions in water supply could quickly affect electricity generation and industrial output. Governments are urged to take swift and costly measures to protect water infrastructure, as prolonged conflict could severely impact weaker economies like Bahrain’s.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran must take the initiative to persuade him to stop the ongoing war. Speaking on Thursday, Trump said the matter now depends on Iran’s leaders and that he is not interested in reaching any deal at this stage. Iranian state media, however, reported that Tehran’s leadership remains doubtful about Washington’s sincerity in pursuing negotiations.

At the start of a cabinet meeting, Trump criticized media reports suggesting he was seeking a diplomatic solution. He emphasized that Iran is the party trying to return to talks and added that whether a proper deal can be made depends on Tehran. Trump described Iranian leaders as skilled negotiators but weak fighters, asserting that it is Iran’s responsibility to come to the negotiating table to end the conflict.

Trump also warned that U.S. attacks on Iran would continue without restraint while waiting to see if Tehran chooses to engage in talks.