Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah launched a rocket attack targeting Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese city of Khiam. According to a message from Hezbollah on the social platform X, the Israeli troops were positioned near a municipal building in the city when the attack occurred.

Earlier, Hezbollah had announced that it carried out another strike targeting Israeli soldiers in the border town of Maroun al-Ras, located in Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil district. The report was sourced from Al Jazeera and published by Amader Desh Online on March 17, 2026.

The incidents reflect ongoing hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border, though the report did not specify casualties or further military responses.

The Sri Lankan government has announced a four-day workweek to save fuel, designating every Wednesday as a public holiday. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the country must be prepared for difficult times while maintaining hope. Under the new directive, schools and universities will operate four days a week, while essential services such as hospitals, police, and immigration will continue as usual. Wednesday was chosen to avoid a continuous three-day office closure.

The government has also made a national fuel pass mandatory for drivers, setting allocations of 15 liters for private cars and 5 liters for motorcycles. Many citizens have criticized these limits as insufficient. A similar measure was implemented during the 2022 economic crisis. Other Asian countries have also taken steps to address fuel shortages, including Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The global energy crisis has intensified after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in Iran pushed oil prices to nearly 100 dollars per barrel, further straining regional economies.

Joe Kent, director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), has resigned from his post, refusing to support the ongoing war with Iran. In his resignation letter to President Donald Trump, Kent stated that he could not accept the war and did not view Iran as a threat to the United States. He argued that the conflict was initiated under pressure from Israel and its American lobby.

Kent wrote that Iran posed no imminent danger to the nation and that the war was not justified. He also reflected on his personal experiences in war and the loss of his wife, saying his conscience no longer allowed him to support a conflict that brought no benefit to the American people. He emphasized that sending future generations to fight and die in such a war could not be morally defended.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights Kent’s moral stance and his criticism of the political motivations behind the war decision.

Former Member of Parliament for Chandpur-3 constituency, GM Fazlul Haque, passed away on Tuesday evening at the age of 79 while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. The death was confirmed by Advocate AKM Salim Ullah Selim, general secretary of Chandpur District BNP. Haque had been brought back to Bangladesh from Singapore 15 days earlier after a long period of illness.

Born on May 10, 1947, in Tor Ful Chandi village of Chandpur Sadar upazila, GM Fazlul Haque began his career as a teacher at Chhoto Sundar High School in Rampur Union. He later entered business and became a well-known industrialist. After the formation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) by President Ziaur Rahman, he joined the party and remained active in its politics.

Haque was elected to parliament in 1996 and 2001 and served as chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on telecommunications in 2002. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, and many political colleagues and friends.

A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for eleven individuals arrested in connection with a violent attack, vandalism, and looting at the Square Shopping cum Commercial Complex in Uttara. The order was issued on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, by Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin. The accused were presented before the court by the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Suman Mia of Uttara West Police Station, who had sought a seven-day remand for interrogation.

Defense lawyers opposed the remand request, arguing that the accused were not involved in the incident and included rickshaw pullers and day laborers with no proven link to the crime scene. Despite the defense plea for bail, the court approved a two-day remand for each accused. The case was filed by Ariful Islam, an electrician of the complex, following the attack.

According to the case statement, the violence began after an altercation between a rickshaw puller and a security guard, escalating into a large-scale assault and looting that caused an estimated loss of nine crore taka before police and army forces restored order.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland will not send troops to participate in any war involving Iran. His statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump called for allied warships to be deployed in the Hormuz Strait. Speaking before a government meeting, Tusk clarified that Poland has no plans to join any operation in Iran and that its allies are fully aware of this stance.

The decision applies to Poland’s land, air, and naval forces. Following the ongoing conflict along the Ukrainian border, Poland has been focusing on strengthening its own military capabilities rather than engaging in external conflicts. The statement underscores Warsaw’s intent to prioritize national defense over foreign military involvement.

The announcement signals Poland’s cautious approach to international military commitments while maintaining transparency with its allies about its defense priorities.

Joe Kent, director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), has resigned, declaring he cannot support the ongoing war against Iran. In a social media post, Kent said his conscience prevents him from backing the conflict. He was appointed to the position in July of the previous year.

In his resignation letter to President Trump, Kent wrote that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and claimed the war began under pressure from Israel and its American lobby. He reaffirmed his support for Trump’s earlier foreign policy principles, noting that by June 2025, Trump himself had recognized Middle Eastern wars as traps that cost American lives and resources.

Kent, a veteran who served in 11 wars, said he lost his wife Shannon in a conflict he described as created by Israel. He stated he could not support sending future generations to fight and die in a war that brings no benefit to the American people and cannot be justified even by sacrifice.

Germany’s national airline Lufthansa has suspended all flights between Germany and Tel Aviv until April 9, citing the ongoing war in the Middle East and related restrictions on air travel in the region. The airline stated that all Tel Aviv-bound flights are currently on hold due to safety and operational concerns.

In addition to the Tel Aviv route, Lufthansa will also suspend flights to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, until April 5. Meanwhile, Italy’s ITA Airways announced that its scheduled flights will continue as planned. The decision follows similar actions by British Airways, Air Canada, and major U.S. carriers including Delta, United, and American Airlines, which have all halted their Tel Aviv operations.

The suspensions reflect growing caution among international airlines as regional tensions and airspace limitations disrupt normal flight operations across the Middle East.

The Committee for Correct Lunar Month Implementation has called on the Bangladesh government to announce the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal 1447 Hijri based on Islamic Sharia and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s lunar data. At a press conference held on March 17, 2026, at the National Press Club, the committee alleged that the National Moon Sighting Committee ignores Quranic, Sunnah, and astronomical principles, causing millions of Muslims to fast on Eid day mistakenly.

Mufti Rafiqul Islam, the committee’s secretary general, stated that according to Quranic verses and astronomical calculations, the new moon of Shawwal will be born at 7:23 a.m. on March 19, 2026, marking the start of Shawwal from the evening of that day and Eid-ul-Fitr on March 20, 2026. He criticized the national committee for following solar calendar practices while neglecting lunar calculations.

The committee urged the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Islamic Foundation, and the National Moon Sighting Committee to complete pending discussions and resolve the issue promptly to prevent religious errors during Eid observance.

Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah launched rocket attacks targeting Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese city of Khiam. According to a statement from Hezbollah, the Israeli troops were positioned near a municipal building in the city when the attack occurred.

Earlier, Hezbollah had announced that it carried out a similar rocket strike on Israeli forces in Maroun al-Ras, a border town in Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil district. The incidents were reported by Al Jazeera and highlight continued hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The report did not include information on casualties or responses from Israeli authorities, leaving the immediate impact of the attacks unclear.

The government of Bangladesh has declared March 18 as a public holiday by executive order ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, with the regular Eid holidays beginning on March 19. Despite the general closure of banks during this period, the central bank has issued special instructions to keep certain branches open to facilitate salary, bonus, and allowance payments for garment workers and officials, as well as export bill settlements.

According to Bangladesh Bank’s directive issued on March 10 by its Department of Off-site Supervision, branches of scheduled banks located in garment industry areas will remain open on March 18 and 19 in a limited capacity. These include branches in Dhaka, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Valuka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram. Transactions will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with offices operating until 2 p.m., including a short break for prayers.

Banks have also been instructed to provide allowances to employees working during the holidays in accordance with regulations, while ensuring adequate security at all open branches.

The MV Sugandha launch, operating on the Dhaka-Hatia route, became stranded on a river shoal after being caught in a storm early Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The vessel, carrying more than a hundred passengers, has remained stuck for about 15 hours near Charbhairabi area before reaching Ilisha Ghat. Despite the tide rising, low water levels prevented the launch from floating again.

Passengers reported severe hardship and lack of assistance, saying that even after informing the Coast Guard and Navy, no effective rescue measures had been taken by late afternoon. Some passengers described being trapped with small children without food or means to disembark as evening approached. The launch’s master, Mostafizur Rahman, said the vessel anchored to maintain control during the storm but became stuck when the tide receded.

MV Sugandha had started its inaugural journey from Dhaka’s Sadarghat on Monday evening as one of two newly launched government-allocated vessels intended to improve travel on the Dhaka-Hatia route.

Israel announced that it has killed Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani in a targeted attack, vowing to continue pursuing the country’s top leaders. The strike is part of a broader campaign that began when Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran.

Since the start of the joint offensive, several senior Iranian figures have been reported killed. Following the first day of strikes on February 28, Iran declared the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other casualties from the initial wave included security adviser Ali Shamkhani, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guard commander General Mohammad Pakpour, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdul Rahim Mousavi.

The report underscores the severe impact of the ongoing military operations on Iran’s leadership structure, though further details about the attacks or Iran’s response were not provided.

Iran has rejected a ceasefire proposal sent by the United States, according to an Iranian official cited by Reuters. The proposal was delivered to Tehran through two intermediary countries. The announcement came on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, as Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly took a firm stance against both the United States and Israel during his first foreign policy session.

The official said Khamenei expressed a hardline position on taking ‘revenge’ against the two nations, though it was unclear whether he attended the meeting in person. In his response, Khamenei stated that peace would not be possible until the United States and Israel admitted defeat, bowed down, and paid compensation. The rejection underscores Tehran’s continued defiance amid escalating hostilities.

The conflict began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched attacks targeting Iran’s top leadership. Those strikes killed the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aged 86, and several senior military commanders. Following his father’s death, Mojtaba Khamenei was declared Iran’s new Supreme Leader.

The United Nations has launched an investigation into a deadly attack on a school in Iran, calling for a transparent and independent inquiry. The organization emphasized the need for accountability for the victims and assessment of the attack’s impact on civilians. It has also requested access to Iran to conduct on-site verification of the incident.

Max du Plessis, a member of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, stated that during the first day of U.S.-Israel strikes, two missiles hit the Shajare Tayyebah primary school, killing 168 children. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, he said the investigation is in its early stages and that credible reports confirm the death toll, underscoring the urgency of an impartial investigation.

According to a U.S. military inquiry, American forces may be responsible for the attack, though no final conclusion has been reached. If confirmed, it would mark one of the deadliest civilian casualty incidents involving U.S. military action in the Middle East in decades.