Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to address domestic unrest instead of continuing the war against Iran alongside Israel. In a post on social media platform X on Sunday evening, Pezeshkian referred to the recent 'No Kings' protests held across the United States, saying they reflect growing anger over Trump’s pro-Israel policies.

Pezeshkian described the demonstrations as a sign of deep dissatisfaction within American society and urged U.S. artificial intelligence experts to inform Trump about the public’s frustration. He said many Americans are tired of what he called the 'Israeli kings' dominating U.S. democracy and are increasingly opposed to policies that prioritize Israel.

The remarks come as the U.S. and Israel have been engaged in a month-long conflict with Iran, which began on February 28 with joint attacks that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. Despite mediation efforts by Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, Iran has expressed distrust toward the United States regarding peace talks.

The government has issued a notification forming an executive committee for Hajj management, with Minister of Religious Affairs Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad as its chairman. The announcement was made through a notification signed by Additional Secretary Md. Humayun Kabir of the Cabinet Division, issued on Sunday under the order of the President.

According to the notification, the committee includes secretaries from the ministries of Home, Public Administration, and Finance, along with heads of various government agencies. The committee will prepare necessary work plans to ensure proper Hajj management, approve Hajj packages, and implement decisions of the national committee. The chairman will preside over all meetings, but may nominate another member to do so if necessary.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs will provide secretarial support to the committee. The notification also states that the previous order issued by the Cabinet Division on October 2, 2024, has been declared void.

Iraq reported that a rocket attack on a Baghdad air base destroyed one of its Air Force’s Antonov AN-132 military transport aircraft. The incident occurred at the Martyr Muhammad Ala Air Base, part of Baghdad Airport, around 1:55 a.m. local time. The Iraqi Defense Ministry condemned the strike as a “criminal and cowardly act” aimed at undermining the country’s military institutions and defense capabilities. No casualties were reported.

According to the ministry, the rocket was launched from the outskirts of Baghdad using a 122-millimeter projectile. Security agencies have begun investigating the damage and tracing the source of the attack. BBC Persian’s Middle East correspondent Nafisa Kohanavard noted that this was the first time any part of the Iraqi Air Force at Baghdad Airport had been targeted. It remains unclear whether the strike was deliberate or accidental.

Earlier, media outlets linked to Iran-backed groups had reported rocket attacks on the nearby Nasr Base, also known as Victoria, which has frequently been targeted since the start of the ongoing conflict.

A joint team of the district administration, BSTI, and police conducted a raid at Anwar Zakaria Filling Station Limited on Portlink Road in Chattogram’s Halishahar area on Monday afternoon. The operation, led by an executive magistrate, began at 2 p.m. and uncovered 1,250 liters of octane and 14,000 liters of diesel, despite the station claiming to have suspended fuel sales.

Officials at the site said the fuel station had declared it was out of stock, but nearly 15,000 liters of fuel were found in storage tanks and a hidden storeroom. The team cross-checked the stock register and storage records to verify whether the fuel exceeded permitted limits. Station owner Md. Belal stated that his business was cooperating fully with the authorities and denied any wrongdoing, suggesting any discrepancies might be due to misunderstanding.

Fuel sales at the station were partially halted during the operation, causing traffic congestion on Portlink Road and nearby areas. Some customers alleged that the station had long been accused of short-measuring fuel.

Bangladesh and New Zealand have agreed to explore a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to expand trade and investment ties. The proposal came during a meeting between Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay on the sidelines of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A press release from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed the discussion, which emphasized enhancing trade relations and sending a positive signal to investors.

During the meeting, Minister Muktadir highlighted Bangladesh’s goal of deeper integration into the global value chain and its efforts to foster a business-friendly environment. He reiterated Bangladesh’s interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and sought New Zealand’s support. McClay praised Bangladesh’s geopolitical importance and economic potential, assuring cooperation with other RCEP members to facilitate Bangladesh’s inclusion.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening friendly relations and exploring new areas of economic collaboration. McClay accepted an invitation to visit Bangladesh later this year to continue discussions on trade and investment opportunities.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has approved the state budget for the 2026 fiscal year, allocating a record amount to the defense sector. The budget, totaling 850.6 billion shekels (around 271 billion dollars), passed early Monday by a vote of 62 to 55, according to The Times of Israel. The Defense Ministry will receive approximately 458 billion shekels, marking the largest defense allocation in the country’s history. Passing the budget before the Tuesday deadline also prevented an automatic early election that would have been triggered by a delay.

Following the approval, opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the budget, calling it “the biggest theft in the country’s history.” In a post on social media platform X, he accused the government of taking money from reservists and hardworking citizens and handing it to corrupt individuals and those avoiding military service.

The record defense spending and the opposition’s strong reaction highlight deep political divisions over fiscal priorities and governance in Israel.

The government has directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to investigate the legality of operations by three private submarine cable companies—Summit Communications Limited, Metacore Subcom Limited, and CdNet Communications—and their jointly formed consortium, Bangladesh Private Cable System. The directive, issued by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, seeks a detailed report on whether the consortium was formed with prior approval and if it complies with licensing and government guidelines.

The three companies received individual submarine cable licenses in September 2022 to break the state monopoly in the sector. They later formed a consortium to establish a 1,300-kilometer submarine cable link with Singapore to meet growing internet demand. However, officials have raised concerns that the consortium may have violated licensing rules and posed digital security risks.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC’s managing director criticized the consortium, alleging non-compliance with fiber installation requirements and potential security risks due to the planned cable’s proximity to Myanmar’s waters. The government indicated that licenses could be revoked if violations are confirmed.

The Government of Bangladesh has decided to administer measles vaccines to infants as young as six months under a special arrangement, following a recent increase in measles infections across the country. Until now, the national immunization program provided measles vaccines only to children aged nine to fifteen months. The new decision was made on March 30, 2026, during a meeting of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Committee.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the special campaign will begin in the first week of June and continue for one month. Approximately 20 million children are expected to be vaccinated during this period. The campaign will extend coverage to children aged six months to ten years, expanding beyond the regular immunization schedule.

The initiative aims to curb the spread of measles by reaching younger infants and older children who may not have received timely doses under the standard program.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced that at least five missiles were detected and intercepted in the country’s eastern region. The ministry did not disclose details about the type of missiles or their origin. The interception reportedly took place shortly after an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base on Friday.

According to verified images cited in the report, the Iranian strike destroyed a U.S. command and control aircraft stationed at the base. The Saudi statement came amid heightened regional tensions following the attack. No further information was provided about potential damage or casualties from the intercepted missiles.

The report also referenced related developments, including remarks by Iran’s president directed at former U.S. President Donald Trump and reports of other regional military incidents, underscoring a volatile security environment in the Middle East.

A defamation case worth Tk 100 crore has been filed against Islamic speaker Mufti Amir Hamza. The case was lodged on Monday at 12 noon in the Sirajganj Sadar Amli Court by Advocate Nazmul Islam, former general secretary of the BNP’s Sadar upazila unit. Judge Suman Kumar Karmakar heard the case and kept it pending for an order. The information was confirmed by Additional Public Prosecutors Advocate Hamidul Islam Dulal, Humayun Kabir Colonel, and Indrajit Saha.

According to APP Hamidul Islam Dulal, Amir Hamza, an opposition Member of Parliament and influential Islamic speaker, allegedly made defamatory remarks against State Minister for Power and Energy Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. On March 27, during a pre-sermon discussion before the Friday prayer at Hafsai Haripur Boro Mosque in Kushtia, Hamza reportedly called the minister an atheist and anti-Islamic. The statement spread widely on social media, allegedly damaging the minister’s reputation and family heritage both domestically and abroad.

The case accuses Amir Hamza of committing a punishable offense under Section 500 and includes a request for a warrant and arrest order.

British officials have warned that global food prices could rise due to the economic impact of the ongoing war involving Iran. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet business leaders at Downing Street on Monday to discuss the issue. The warning follows Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has already driven up oil prices and raised concerns about fertilizer costs, according to a maritime analyst.

Lars Jensen, founder and CEO of shipping consultancy Vespucci Maritime, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that 20 to 30 percent of the world’s seaborne fertilizer originates from the Persian Gulf region. He cautioned that this disruption could cause food prices to increase rapidly, particularly in poorer countries. The UK’s National Farmers Union also warned that higher fuel and fertilizer costs would inevitably push up domestic food prices.

The discussions at Downing Street are expected to focus on mitigating the potential economic fallout and ensuring stability in the UK’s food supply chain.

The Israeli military announced that it carried out airstrikes on several Iranian weapons manufacturing facilities on Sunday night. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), more than 80 bombs were dropped on the targeted sites. The attacks reportedly included a long-range anti-aircraft missile factory, a facility producing components for tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and a complex involved in ballistic missile engine production, research, and development.

The IDF stated that it has intensified its operations against Iran’s weapons production industries. Over the past two days, approximately 40 factories have been attacked as part of this campaign. The report, sourced from the Times of Israel, did not provide details on casualties or damage assessments.

The escalation underscores Israel’s continued focus on disrupting Iran’s defense manufacturing capabilities, though the immediate impact of the strikes remains unclear.

Farmers in Amtali upazila of Barguna district are facing financial losses despite a bumper watermelon harvest this year. The cultivated area exceeded the target of 4,249 hectares, reaching over 4,309 hectares, according to the local agriculture office. However, low market prices have left many growers disappointed, with watermelons weighing 5 to 7 kilograms selling for only 120 to 150 taka each. Only those who managed to bring their produce to market early have seen some profit.

Local farmers, including Mamun Molla of Patakata village, reported that despite excellent yields, they are unable to recover production and land lease costs due to weak demand from wholesalers. Agricultural officer Md. Russel stated that favorable weather conditions had raised expectations of earning up to 2.5 billion taka from watermelon cultivation in Amtali alone, but the lack of fair prices now threatens that projection.

Upazila Executive Officer Muhammad Zafar Arif Chowdhury urged wholesalers from across the country to visit Amtali and purchase watermelons, emphasizing the region’s suitability for large-scale commercial cultivation and the administration’s continued support for local farmers.

Middle East researcher Mohammad Elmasry has said that Israel is preparing for long-term wars across several countries despite becoming increasingly isolated in the region. In an interview with Al Jazeera, the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies professor noted that Israel’s latest national budget stands at 271 billion dollars, the highest in its history, reflecting an intention to sustain multiple military campaigns.

Elmasry explained that the United States historically provides Israel with 3.8 billion dollars in annual military aid, which increases during wartime. However, he observed that political dynamics in the U.S. are shifting, with more Americans criticizing both Israel and Washington’s support for it. He suggested that Israel’s new budget signals it does not see itself near the end of any conflict but rather in the middle or early stages.

According to Elmasry, Israel appears to be preparing for a series of prolonged or sequential wars aimed at realizing its vision of a “Greater Israel,” potentially involving Syria, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, and Iran.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and Jamaat-e-Islami executive council member Shishir Monir has alleged that the government is opposing major reforms introduced by the interim administration. Speaking at a press briefing in front of the Supreme Court annex building on Monday, he said that despite claims of accepting many ordinances, initiatives have been taken to repeal several key reform ordinances.

Monir listed the referendum ordinance, judges’ appointment ordinance, separate judicial secretariat ordinance, enforced disappearance commission ordinance, human rights commission ordinance, and banking reform ordinance among those facing repeal. He argued that such actions amount to denying the 18-month achievements of the government formed after the July uprising. According to him, of the 133 ordinances placed before the national parliament, 12 are proposed to lapse, three to be repealed, 13 to be reformulated, 74 to be passed as they are, and 31 to be amended later. A special committee has been formed to review these ordinances and is expected to submit its report by the second of the month.

Monir warned that repealing the referendum ordinance would undermine the July Charter Implementation Order and related electoral provisions, calling the move an “aborted step.”