An Iran-backed Iraqi group known as the Islamic Resistance has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that reportedly killed 13 US soldiers and injured several dozen others in Iraq. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the group said it carried out 291 military operations over the past 12 days, including 31 drone and missile strikes on US bases within the last 24 hours.

The group warned European nations against participating in any aggression against Iran, accusing global powers of trying to suppress the dignity and independence of the Iranian nation. It alleged that Zionist and American forces are attempting to draw Iran’s allies into a broader conflict against the Islamic Republic.

The statement further declared that any country taking part in aggression against Iran would be considered an enemy, and its forces and bases in Iraq and the wider region would become legitimate targets for retaliation.

Authorities in Sirajganj have completed the long-awaited four-lane expansion of the Jamuna Bridge western link highway, aiming to ease traffic congestion during the upcoming Eid travel rush. The Dhaka–Bogura highway and Hatikumrul interchange lanes have also been finished, with highway and district police preparing to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow. Officials expect the northern region’s Eid journeys to be more comfortable this year.

The Jamuna Bridge western link serves as the main gateway to northern Bangladesh, carrying 17,000–18,000 vehicles daily across 22 districts, a figure that triples during Eid. The previous two-lane road caused severe congestion, but the new four-lane expansion is expected to reduce delays. Police have increased patrols, introduced separate lanes at Hatikumrul, and deployed drones for traffic monitoring. Over a thousand officers will be on duty through the festival period.

Project officials and drivers expressed optimism that the improved roads and coordinated efforts by police, highway authorities, and road departments will prevent major traffic jams and ensure safer travel during Eid.

The government of Bangladesh has decided to deploy the army to major oil depots across the country to ensure security amid an ongoing fuel crisis. The decision was formalized through a directive issued on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. The move comes as the country faces heightened demand from fuel dealers, leading to supply strain on marketing companies such as Padma Oil PLC, Meghna Petroleum Limited, and Jamuna Oil Company Limited.

According to the directive signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Enamul Haque, the deployment aims to prevent potential unrest and safeguard key installations. The army will be stationed at critical depots including Patenga in Chattogram, Daulatpur in Khulna, Baghabari in Sirajganj, Godnail and Fatullah in Narayanganj, Parbatipur in Dinajpur, and depots in Barishal. The ministry stated that the measure is necessary to maintain national energy security and avert any disorder arising from the crisis.

The directive underscores the urgency of stabilizing the fuel supply chain and ensuring uninterrupted operations at vital energy facilities during the ongoing shortage.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called for the full implementation of the July reform package, rejecting any partial adoption such as the Deputy Speaker proposal. Speaking at a press briefing after a meeting of opposition lawmakers at the LD Hall of the National Parliament on Thursday, he said that 69 percent of voters supported the reform in a referendum, and this mandate cannot be ignored. He emphasized that the government should honor the July reforms and complete the oath process accordingly.

The meeting, chaired by Dr. Rahman, included members of the 11-party alliance, among them Deputy Leader of the Opposition Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Chief Whip Nahid Islam. Rahman stated that the opposition aims to act as a responsible parliamentary force, supporting government initiatives beneficial to the nation while opposing harmful ones. He urged the government to engage in dialogue and uphold fairness in parliamentary proceedings.

Rahman further expressed hope that the government would act in line with public expectations and the spirit of the July reforms, ensuring democratic sustainability and avoiding corruption and misgovernance.

Three cargo ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, according to a report by AFP. The British Maritime Security Agency (UKMTO) confirmed that all three vessels were struck by unidentified objects, causing damage. One of the ships caught fire, prompting the evacuation of most of its crew members.

Maritime security sources said the Thai-flagged bulk carrier 'Mayuri Nari' was hit about 11 nautical miles north of Oman, while the Japanese-flagged container ship 'One Majesty' sustained minor damage 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. A third vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier 'Star Gwyneth,' was also damaged about 50 miles northwest of Dubai. UKMTO later reported that the fire on the damaged vessel had been extinguished and no environmental disaster occurred.

All crew members from the affected ships were reported safe, and the damaged vessels were moving toward secure anchorage points for further assessment.

Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbia, has warned that the country will target Israeli and US banks in the Middle East in response to an attack on an Iranian bank. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari cautioned civilians to stay at least one kilometer away from banks in the region, saying that enemies had given Iran the freedom to strike American and Israeli financial centers.

Iranian state media reported that a building of the state-owned Sepah Bank in Tehran was hit in an attack. On Tuesday, Iranian outlets said services at Sepah Bank and another state-owned bank, Melli, were partially disrupted. BBC Arabic, citing Iran’s Khabar channel, reported that several bank employees were killed in an airstrike while working a special shift to prepare salary distributions.

The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran signaling readiness to retaliate against perceived economic and military threats in the region.

Iran’s National Security Council chief Ali Larijani issued a stern warning to former U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump threatened Iran with “death, fire and fury” if it closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Larijani responded on social media, declaring that the waterway would either remain a route of peace and prosperity for all or become a path of defeat and suffering for warmongers. He published the same message in six languages, including Persian, English, Russian, Arabic, French, and Chinese.

Larijani further warned that Iran might close the Strait of Hormuz if the United States and Israel continued their attacks on Iran. He also reacted to reports that France planned to send two frigates to the Red Sea to ensure maritime security, arguing that stability in the region was impossible amid U.S. and Israeli-led conflicts. He added that those supporting and escalating the war could not guarantee safety in the area.

The rising tensions around the vital Middle Eastern waterway have sparked renewed international concern, according to the report.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is safe and in good health, according to Iranian government adviser Yousef Pezeshkian. His statement came after reports circulated that Khamenei had been injured in an attack. Pezeshkian, son of President Masoud Pezeshkian, shared the update through an Instagram story, saying he confirmed Khamenei’s condition through contacts close to him.

Earlier, Iranian state television described Mojtaba Khamenei as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war” but did not provide details about the nature or extent of any injuries. The state media offered no confirmation of whether he was actually hurt.

Amid ongoing wartime conditions, various rumors and unverified information have spread regarding Iran’s top leadership. The government is reportedly verifying these claims to counter misinformation, according to Al Jazeera.

The parliamentary party of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has entrusted Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tareq Rahman with the responsibility of finalizing candidates for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions of the 13th National Parliament. The decision was made during a BNP parliamentary meeting held at the National Parliament building on Wednesday. Chief Whip Nurul Islam confirmed the decision at a press conference following the meeting. The first session of the 13th Parliament is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. tomorrow, during which the elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker will take place.

According to the Chief Whip, the session will begin with the Speaker’s chair vacant, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran. The Leader of the House will then propose a senior member to preside over the session, whose nomination will be seconded by another member. Additionally, 133 ordinances issued during the interim government will be presented in Parliament, and a special committee including both government and opposition members will be formed to review them.

Nurul Islam added that the Prime Minister had offered the Deputy Speaker post to the opposition, but no positive response had been received so far.

Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament is set to begin its first session on March 12, following the February 12 general election that brought the BNP to power. President Md. Shahabuddin has convened the session, which will open with the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and a formal address by the President. The BNP’s Tarique Rahman has become Prime Minister, while Jamaat-e-Islami leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has been named Leader of the Opposition.

This parliament is considered exceptional because over 75 percent of its 296 members are first-time lawmakers, and both the previous Speaker and Deputy Speaker are unavailable—the former having resigned and the latter being in custody. Analysts note that the President may appoint a temporary presiding member for the opening session, a rare occurrence in parliamentary history. The session will follow constitutional and procedural rules, including the President’s written speech outlining the new government’s plans.

Experts suggest that the high number of new members may slow the legislative process as they adapt to parliamentary procedures and committee work.

Afghanistan and Oman have jointly condemned the recent attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran. The condemnation came during a phone conversation between Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. Both ministers discussed bilateral relations and expressed concern over the current situation in the Middle East, describing it as alarming.

During the discussion, the two sides also addressed the situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Muttaqi briefed Oman on the Taliban government’s stance regarding Afghanistan’s defensive measures in response to Pakistan’s aggression. Both leaders emphasized the importance of diplomacy in resolving regional issues and agreed that dialogue remains the best approach to managing ongoing tensions.

Their joint statement reflects growing regional unease over escalating conflicts and the potential for broader instability across the Middle East.

A Dhaka court has postponed for the tenth time the submission date of the reinvestigation report in the murder case of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of Inquilab Moncho. The new date for submitting the report has been set for April 2. On March 11, the investigating officer, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdur Kadir Bhuiyan, failed to submit the report to the court. Following this, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam fixed the new date, confirmed by prosecution officer SI Ruknuzzaman.

According to the case details, Hadi was shot by assailants on a motorcycle in Dhaka’s Paltan area on December 12 after attending Friday prayers and election campaigning. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18. The case was subsequently converted into a murder case.

Earlier, the Detective Branch had submitted a charge sheet against 17 individuals, including former ward councilor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi and Faisal Karim Masud. Dissatisfied with that report, Inquilab Moncho’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed an appeal, leading the court to order further investigation by the CID.

Oil prices in Asia showed signs of stabilization on Wednesday morning after recent sharp fluctuations triggered by the outbreak of war in Iran. West Texas Intermediate crude traded at 83.35 dollars per barrel, while Brent crude stood at around 87.88 dollars. Earlier this week, prices had surged to nearly 120 dollars per barrel before easing slightly, though they remain significantly higher than before the conflict began.

The International Energy Agency’s member countries are reportedly discussing a possible plan to release oil reserves to curb prices, but no decision has yet been made. The recent volatility has been linked to regional tensions and disruptions in oil supply routes.

The situation continues to evolve as global markets monitor developments in the Middle East, with energy-importing nations assessing potential impacts on supply stability and pricing trends.

A container ship was damaged by an unidentified missile near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident occurred about 46 kilometers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The ship’s master confirmed that although the vessel sustained damage, all crew members are safe and accounted for.

British authorities have launched an investigation to determine the extent of the damage and the source of the missile. The UKMTO has also advised all vessels operating in the area to remain vigilant following the attack.

The incident adds to growing security concerns in the region, where previous maritime attacks have raised tensions and disrupted shipping routes through one of the world’s most critical waterways.

A Sri Lankan court has ordered the transfer of 84 bodies of Iranian sailors to the Iranian embassy in Colombo. The sailors were recovered from the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which sank on March 4 following a reported torpedo strike by a U.S. submarine near Sri Lanka. The incident left 104 crew members dead, while 32 others were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities.

According to Iran’s military website, the bodies of 84 sailors have been identified and will soon be repatriated to Iran. Sri Lankan divers have been unable to locate the remaining 20 missing crew members, whom Iran’s armed forces have described as “immortal.” The Dena frigate had participated in India’s Global Fleet Review 2026 naval exercise in February, just weeks before the conflict began.

Former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal commented that the tragedy might have been avoided if Iran had not been invited to the exercise, noting that the ships were unarmed under the event’s rules. Iran has warned that the United States will deeply regret the attack.