During the recent years of conflict in Gaza, thousands of women and girls have been killed, countless families displaced, and many have lost their homes. Yet amid destruction and uncertainty, Gaza’s women have continued to resist in their own ways—as doctors, teachers, aid workers, and especially journalists. Female reporters have shown remarkable courage, documenting the war with cameras, notebooks, and phones instead of weapons, revealing the human cost of survival under bombardment.

Among them was journalist Mariam Abu Dakka, who chronicled Gaza’s struggles until she was killed during an attack on reporters in Khan Younis. Another, photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, died with six family members when her home was bombed shortly before a documentary about her was to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite immense danger, these women continued reporting from the frontlines, often without electricity, internet, or safety.

Their perseverance has inspired younger journalists in Gaza, symbolizing that journalism is not only about news but also about preserving memory, recording history, and bearing witness to humanity amid destruction.

A Jhenaidah court has granted one-day remand for two leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement in a case related to a bus arson incident. The order was issued by Senior Judicial Magistrate Mokhlesur Rahman on Thursday morning. The two leaders are Humayun Kabir, former joint convener of the district committee, and Abu Hasnat Tanaim, convener of 'The Red July'. Police had sought a 10-day remand for interrogation, but the court approved one day. The case was filed over a bus set on fire at the Jhenaidah central bus terminal on the night of March 7.

On the same day, the court denied bail to five other leaders of the same movement and ordered them sent to jail in connection with vandalism at a filling station owned by Awami League leader Harunur Rashid. The accused include district convener Saidur Rahman, member secretary Ashiqur Rahman Jibon, senior joint convener Tashdid Hasan, joint convener Ejaz Hossain Antor, and Russell Hossain.

The incidents followed the death of student leader Fardin Ahmed Nirab, who was beaten by filling station workers after a dispute on March 7. Two separate cases were filed the next day, leading to police raids and arrests of movement activists.

Iran carried out extensive attacks on Israel over the past 24 hours, injuring 179 people, according to Israel’s Health Ministry. The ministry said most of the injured were not in serious condition and were receiving initial treatment at medical facilities. Since the start of the ongoing conflict, a total of 2,745 people have been injured in Israel. Authorities attributed the casualties to missile strikes and the deteriorating security situation, adding that emergency medical services have been reinforced.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that this marks the 40th phase of its new wave of attacks in the Middle East. The IRGC stated that the strikes targeted Israeli and U.S. military sites in the region. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command said drones and various missiles, including Qadr, Emad, Kheibar Shekan, and Fattah, were used in the operation.

According to Iranian claims, missiles were launched toward Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, as well as U.S. military bases in Jordan’s Al-Azraq and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Kharj.

Casualty figures from the ongoing Middle East conflict have risen sharply, according to the latest report published on March 12, 2026. The report indicates that at least 2,008 people have been killed and more than 13,500 injured across several countries. Iran has suffered the highest losses, with at least 1,255 dead and over 12,000 injured. Lebanon reported 634 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries, while Israel recorded 14 deaths. The United States confirmed the deaths of seven military personnel.

Additional casualties were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Iraq. Kuwait recorded six deaths, including two soldiers and an 11-year-old girl. Iraq reported 26 deaths, mostly among pro-Iran fighters. The data was sourced from Al Jazeera and reflects the widespread human toll of the conflict.

The report also mentioned related developments, including Israel’s claim of striking Iran’s nuclear facilities and multiple attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the regional escalation.

The United States has been seen loading powerful bombs onto B-1 bombers at a Royal Air Force base in the United Kingdom, suggesting preparations for potential strikes on Iran’s underground missile and drone storage sites. Video footage reportedly shows a missile launcher being removed from one of the bombers at RAF Fairford, indicating a shift in armament configuration.

Reports state that the aircraft are being equipped with Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) bombs, which require the bomber to fly within about 25 miles of its target. This implies that US aircraft may need to enter or approach Iranian airspace to carry out such operations. Analysts interpret this as a sign that the Pentagon believes much of Iran’s air defense capability has already been neutralized.

Observers note that the bombers have been positioned visibly outside hangars, apparently to signal that the United States’ most powerful weapons are ready and that Iran’s ability to counter them is limited.

A covered van lost control and overturned on the western side of Shubulya Bridge in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail on Thursday morning, disrupting traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail highway. The accident occurred around 7:30 a.m. when a northbound vehicle from Sirajul Motors flipped across the road, damaging its front section and rupturing its fuel tank. Diesel began leaking onto the road, drawing crowds of locals who collected the fuel using buckets, plastic sheets, and other containers.

Witnesses said one local bus driver attempted to stop the leak by straightening the dented tank with an iron rod and applying soap, which partially succeeded. The incident caused temporary suspension of northbound traffic, and a two-kilometer-long traffic jam formed between Shubulya and Ichail. Police later removed the overturned van with a wrecker, restoring normal traffic flow. No casualties were reported, though the driver and his assistant fled the scene after the crash.

Authorities confirmed that the situation has since returned to normal following the removal of the vehicle from the highway.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament turned heated on March 12, 2026, when President Md. Shahabuddin began his address. During the speech, the opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Congress Party (NCP) walked out of the chamber in protest. Jamaat Ameer told reporters that the president was a criminal and an accomplice to killers, accusing him of failing to take action in murder cases and neglecting his duties as a guardian of the nation.

He further alleged that although the opposition members had taken two oaths, the ruling party had not, and that the president had not convened a reform council meeting. The Jamaat leader claimed that 70 percent of the population had been insulted and accused the Speaker of ignoring opposition lawmakers. He warned that the opposition would not tolerate injustice in parliament and emphasized their role as representatives of the people.

After the walkout, opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said they had fought to oust fascism and protested because the Speaker denied them the chance to respond to the president’s speech.

Italy’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that a missile attack struck an Italian military base in Erbil, located in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The incident occurred on March 12, 2026, but no casualties were reported among Italian personnel. The ministry stated on social media that all Italian staff were safe and unharmed.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has been in contact with senior military commanders following the incident. In a separate statement, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that soldiers took shelter in a bunker during the attack and were all safe. Approximately 300 Italian troops are currently stationed in Erbil.

The report appeared amid heightened regional tensions, including recent claims of Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and multiple assaults on ships in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

The opening day of the 13th National Parliament session in Bangladesh ended amid intense protests, placard displays, and a walkout by opposition lawmakers led by Jamaat-e-Islami. The session, held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, was adjourned until Sunday, March 15, at 11 a.m. by Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed following President Md. Shahabuddin’s inaugural address.

During the session, opposition members stood in protest as the President took the stage, chanting slogans and holding placards demanding democracy and denouncing alleged betrayal related to the July uprising. Despite repeated calls for calm from the Speaker, the opposition continued their demonstration before walking out in protest of the President’s presence and speech.

In his address, President Shahabuddin discussed the July uprising and the interim government’s role, congratulating Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his allies for forming a majority government while emphasizing the need for a strong opposition. Outside the chamber, opposition leader and Jamaat chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman sharply criticized the President, accusing him of complicity during the July events.

Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqul Rahman stated that the country’s parliament had often been ineffective, describing it as a dummy institution under fascist control for much of its history. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon while delivering a congratulatory speech in the National Parliament, where Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed presided over the session.

In his address, Dr. Rahman reflected on Bangladesh’s 55 years of independence, paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in 1947, 1971, 1990, and during the Shapla Chattar movement, as well as those persecuted during what he termed 15 and a half years of fascist rule. He described the current parliament as one built upon the blood of the 2024 struggle and congratulated both the newly appointed Speaker and Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

Dr. Rahman expressed hope that the Speaker, having resigned from his party’s standing committee, would act impartially and ensure justice for all members, fostering a dynamic and fair parliament.

A lorry carrying 24,000 liters of oil sank into the Padma River at Paturia ferry ghat in Shibaloy upazila of Manikganj after its brakes failed while disembarking from a ferry on Wednesday night, March 11. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. at Paturia’s No. 5 ferry terminal. The driver and his assistant were rescued alive and taken to the local health complex for treatment. As of Thursday morning, more than 16 hours after the accident, the submerged vehicle had not yet been recovered.

Officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) confirmed that the salvage vessel Hamza, along with teams from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the Fire Service, were conducting recovery operations. The lorry, registered as Jhenaidah-Dha 41-0042, had been transporting bump oil from Jashore to Narayanganj when the accident occurred. Local authorities, including the Shibaloy Upazila Nirbahi Officer, visited the site and confirmed ongoing recovery efforts.

According to BIWTA engineers, the depth of the river at the site is making the recovery process difficult, requiring divers to attach cables before the truck can be lifted.

National Citizen Party (NCP) northern chief organizer Sarjis Alam said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) began its political journey by breaking the July Charter, sending a negative message to the people. He made the remarks on Thursday, March 12, 2026, after attending a scholarship award ceremony at Panchagarh Government Auditorium. According to him, the charter stipulated that while the Speaker would come from the ruling party, the Deputy Speaker should be from the opposition, but BNP’s Kaysar Kamal was appointed instead.

Sarjis alleged that both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were sworn in by what he called a fascist government’s president, marking BNP’s alignment with authoritarian forces. He said the people of Bangladesh, including BNP supporters, had voted “yes” in a referendum supporting the July Charter’s implementation, justice for genocide, and reforms. Ignoring these demands, he warned, would make normal parliamentary function impossible.

He also criticized election irregularities, claiming targeted engineering in some constituencies during the national polls and warning that any attempt to manipulate upcoming local elections would be resisted by opposition forces.

The opening of the 13th National Parliament session in Bangladesh on March 12, 2026, began with an unexpected moment of humor. With the previous Speaker absconding and the Deputy Speaker imprisoned, there was initially no one to preside over the session. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman nominated Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain to chair the first sitting, a proposal accepted by the opposition.

During his speech, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Dr. Taher expressed satisfaction with the nomination, noting that Dr. Hossain was a senior leader. He added that prior consultation with the opposition would have been preferable, though they would have supported the choice regardless. At one point, Dr. Taher humorously remarked that their homes were near each other in Comilla, prompting laughter across the chamber.

The lighthearted exchange created a cheerful atmosphere in the parliamentary hall, marking a lively start to the new session.

President Md. Shahabuddin, in his address to the first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament on Thursday, described the July–August 2024 student and public uprising as a landmark in the nation’s democratic history. He said the movement, which began as a quota reform protest, evolved into an anti-fascist struggle that led to the fall of the then fascist government on August 5, 2024. The president noted that a new democratic Bangladesh emerged through the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs.

In his speech, President Shahabuddin congratulated all political parties and officials involved in organizing what he called a peaceful, free, fair, and neutral election. He stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, led by Chairman Tarique Rahman, won more than two-thirds of the parliamentary seats. He extended congratulations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the newly formed government, as well as to all elected members of parliament.

The president also paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War, former President Ziaur Rahman, and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for their roles in establishing democracy in Bangladesh.

Ahmed Azam Khan, Member of Parliament from Tangail-8, was sworn in as a new minister on Thursday afternoon. The oath was administered by President Md. Shahabuddin after Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani announced his appointment earlier in the day.

In the same parliamentary session, Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, MP from Bhola-3, was elected Speaker of the 13th National Parliament, while Barrister Kaiser Kamal, MP from Netrakona-1, became Deputy Speaker. Both were elected unanimously through a voice vote.

The first sitting of the new parliament was presided over by BNP Standing Committee member and senior MP Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, during which the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were chosen. The session also saw the formation of five parliamentary committees, including the Business Advisory Committee.