During a Pentagon briefing on March 19, 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed questions about a Washington Post report claiming the Pentagon had requested additional funding for the Iran war. Hegseth stated that the reported figure of 200 billion dollars could change and emphasized that ensuring proper funding for future needs was essential. He remarked that 'it takes money to kill bad people,' defending the financial demands tied to ongoing military operations.

The briefing followed reports that the United States had coordinated attacks on Iran’s gas fields, which former President Trump had denied. Hegseth asserted that U.S. military capability had increased while Iran’s had declined. The broader Middle East conflict has also raised concerns about oil prices potentially surpassing 200 dollars per barrel, while damage to Qatar’s LNG facilities from Iranian strikes could take five years to repair.

The Pentagon’s statements highlight Washington’s focus on maintaining operational readiness amid escalating regional tensions and economic risks linked to energy markets.

Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Amarjit Singh Dulat has stated that Iran will not be defeated in the ongoing conflict triggered by joint US and Israeli attacks. In an interview published on Thursday by Indian news agency ANI, Dulat said India should stand by Iran, describing the country as a long-standing friend and ally.

Dulat emphasized that the current confrontation is not new, noting that tensions have persisted for the past two decades. He reminded that India and Iran have historically maintained close ties, with both nations supporting each other during times of crisis. According to him, India’s foreign policy should reflect this mutual trust and solidarity.

He further expressed confidence that India’s role in the present situation would be timely, balanced, and appropriate, reaffirming his belief that Iran would withstand Western and Israeli pressure without losing the war.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep concern over severe travel disruptions, excessive fare collection, and overall mismanagement during Eid-ul-Fitr journeys across the country. In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Assistant Secretary General and head of the party’s Central Publicity and Media Department, highlighted the suffering of homebound passengers facing traffic congestion, ticket shortages, irregularities, and fare exploitation on roads, railways, and waterways.

Zubair stated that unscrupulous transport operators were taking advantage of the situation by charging passengers unfairly high fares, calling such practices inhumane and unethical. He urged relevant ministries, law enforcement agencies, and transport owners and workers to take coordinated action to ensure safe, comfortable, and affordable travel for all passengers. The statement also called for strict monitoring to prevent overcharging, ticket black marketing, and passenger harassment.

Jamaat expressed hope that all concerned authorities would act responsibly to reduce public suffering and enable travelers to reach their families safely during the Eid holidays.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman will not play in the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand. Instead, he will represent Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in two phases to participate in the franchise-based tournament. The PSL is scheduled to begin on March 26, 2026, and Mustafizur will play until April 12.

After completing his PSL commitments, Mustafizur is expected to return to Bangladesh to join the national team for the One Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand. Following the ODI series, he will again return to the PSL on April 24 with a second-phase NOC, allowing him to play until May 3. His decision to prioritize franchise cricket has led to his absence from the T20 series against New Zealand.

The arrangement reflects Mustafizur’s commitment to Lahore Qalandars and the BCB’s approval of his participation in the PSL during this period.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the political activities of the Awami League are currently banned and will remain suspended. He made the remarks on Wednesday night during an exchange with journalists at BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka. Fakhrul added that other political parties are continuing their activities as usual.

Speaking about the Awami League, Fakhrul said the party occasionally tries to reappear but should not be given undue importance. He emphasized that politics and democracy should move forward naturally without being obstructed. According to him, the Awami League’s efforts are ineffective because the people have rejected the party.

The statement underscores the BNP leader’s position that the Awami League’s political operations will remain halted while other parties proceed with their programs.

Followers of the Mirzakheel Darbar Sharif in Satkania, Chattogram, will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday, a day earlier than the national observance, following the tradition of aligning with Saudi Arabia. The main Eid congregation will be held at the Darbar Sharif field at 9:30 a.m., led by Dr. Mufti Maulana Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, son of the Darbar’s Pir Hazrat Maulana Mohammad Areful Hai. The devotees had begun fasting a day earlier in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting.

According to the Darbar Sharif, its followers have been observing Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, and other lunar-based religious events in this manner for nearly two centuries, based on the Hanafi school of thought. They determine the timing of observances by considering moon sightings in any part of the world, particularly in Makkah and Madinah, supported by scientific calculations of longitude and latitude.

Eid will also be celebrated on Friday by Mirzakheel Darbar Sharif followers in more than a hundred villages across Chattogram and nearby districts, including Chandpur, Feni, Cumilla, Dhaka, Sylhet, and Barishal, as well as in parts of Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar.

Traffic movement on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway slowed over a 30-kilometer stretch near the Jamuna Bridge on Thursday morning due to heavy Eid-ul-Fitr traffic and multiple vehicle breakdowns. The congestion extended from the Jamuna Bridge to the Korotia area, with police and army personnel working continuously to maintain flow. In the past 24 hours, 51,584 vehicles crossed the Jamuna Bridge, generating tolls of Tk 3.51 crore.

According to bridge authorities, around 13 vehicles broke down or stalled on the bridge between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, causing long queues of vehicles. The increased traffic volume further worsened the situation. Passengers, including women and children, faced severe delays, with some resorting to open trucks and pickups to reach their destinations. Journeys that usually take three hours were taking six to eight hours.

Officials said that removing broken-down vehicles took time, leading to extended traffic lines. Authorities continued efforts to restore normal movement along the highway.

Global oil markets experienced a sharp rise after a joint US-Israel attack on Iran, pushing Brent crude futures above $115 per barrel early Thursday, March 19, 2026. The escalation followed Iran’s obstruction of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and retaliatory strikes on oil and gas facilities in four Gulf countries, creating widespread market instability. Gas prices also jumped by nearly 30 percent, according to Al Jazeera.

Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights, told Al Jazeera that Middle Eastern benchmark oils such as Oman and Dubai crude have already exceeded $150 per barrel. She noted that while Brent and West Texas Intermediate have not yet reached that level, $200 per barrel no longer seems distant. Hari added that future price movements depend largely on how long the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

Analysts warn that prolonged disruption in the Strait could drive energy prices even higher, intensifying global economic pressure if the regional conflict continues.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany will not take any direct role in the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Merz stated that Berlin would not act during the conflict and would only consider involvement after a ceasefire is achieved. He emphasized that Germany could contribute later to maintaining safe maritime routes once hostilities end.

Merz clarified that Germany will refrain from any operational participation while the fighting continues. However, he noted that the country is prepared to play an active role in post-war stabilization efforts. His remarks came amid heightened tensions as the conflict continues to affect regional and global stability.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized European nations for not providing sufficient support to Washington in addressing the war’s impact. Several European Union countries reportedly consider the war illegal, reflecting divisions within the Western alliance over the Middle East conflict.

Masud Saeedi, Member of Parliament for Pirojpur-1 and son of Sayeedi, stated that his constituency had long suffered from discrimination but that time had come to claim their fair share. He made the remarks on Thursday, March 19, during an Eid gift distribution event for the poor and underprivileged, held at the Upazila Parishad hall under the chairmanship of Upazila Nirbahi Officer Hasan Md. Hafizur Rahman. The gifts were distributed from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund.

Saeedi criticized the previous government, describing it as fascist and accusing it of denying the people of Zianagar peace, development, and even their upazila’s name. He said residents had faced imprisonment, attacks, and deprivation over the past 17 years. Saeedi called for unity among BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists, urging them to work together for the area’s development regardless of political differences.

Local BNP and Jamaat leaders, including the upazila BNP president and Jamaat amir, were present at the event, along with administrative officials and community representatives.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Washington’s objectives in its ongoing attacks on Iran remain unchanged. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, he said the United States continues to monitor various aspects of the war closely and is briefing the President and the national security team. Hegseth emphasized that the US mission is on the right track and proceeding according to plan.

He reiterated that the United States is preparing to launch its largest-ever strike on Iran, claiming that Iran’s ballistic missile production capabilities have been severely damaged. Several world leaders and observers criticized Washington’s actions, arguing that the United States was not under any direct threat from Iran.

The situation has heightened concerns about regional stability, with reports suggesting that the conflict has already affected energy markets and could further escalate tensions in the Middle East.

Wholesale gas prices in the United Kingdom have risen by nearly 140 percent to 171.34 pence per therm (about 2.29 dollars), marking the highest level since January 2023. The sharp increase follows escalating conflict in the Middle East, where Israel launched an airstrike on a petrochemical facility at Iran’s South Pars gas field early Wednesday. The site, one of the world’s largest gas fields, is jointly operated with Qatar.

In retaliation, Iran struck energy infrastructure in several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Iran’s missile attacks also caused fires at parts of Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex, one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas centers. Analysts say the UK remains heavily dependent on imported energy, particularly from Gulf nations such as Qatar, making it vulnerable to regional instability.

According to Al Jazeera, if the situation continues, global energy prices could rise further, potentially affecting the broader world economy.

Nearly three weeks after the start of the conflict, Iran still retains some ability to strike energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf region, according to U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Kane said Iran entered the conflict with a large arsenal, prompting the United States to maintain an 'offensive and tough' stance in response.

Kane added that U.S. forces are continuously working to identify and destroy Iranian weapons, though he acknowledged that Iran still possesses 'some military capability.' The remarks came amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf, where energy infrastructure has been a key target in the fighting.

The situation underscores the continuing volatility in the region, with U.S. officials emphasizing sustained military vigilance as Iran’s remaining capabilities pose potential risks to regional energy assets.

The United States may ease restrictions on Iranian oil to stabilize global energy supply following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran. The attack, which targeted Iran’s gas fields and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, has significantly affected global oil prices. US Treasury Secretary Scott Basent told Fox Business that the move aims to restore balance in the energy market, according to Al Jazeera.

Basent also said the US could unilaterally release oil from its own reserves to support market stability. Earlier this week, he noted that Iranian oil tankers had already begun leaving the Strait of Hormuz with US awareness, helping to normalize global supply. Further details on Basent’s comments are expected soon.

The developments come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and concerns that oil prices could rise sharply if disruptions continue.

A United States District Court has ruled that the Trump administration’s decision to effectively shut down Voice of America (VOA) was illegal. Judge Royce Lamberth issued the order on Tuesday, directing authorities to restart the international broadcaster within one week. The court also ordered the reinstatement of journalists who had been dismissed as part of the shutdown.

Voice of America was originally established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda. After returning to the presidency, Donald Trump issued an executive order to close the broadcaster, accusing it of left-leaning bias. His administration also sought to dismantle other U.S.-funded media outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia “as far as legally possible.”

The ruling marks a judicial pushback against the administration’s attempt to curtail government-funded international media operations, requiring the immediate restoration of VOA’s services and staff.