National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Md. Nahid Islam left for Saudi Arabia today to perform the holy Umrah pilgrimage. According to the NCP media cell, he will complete the religious rituals during his stay and has requested prayers from the people of Bangladesh for his safe journey and successful worship.

The party also informed that Nahid Islam is expected to return to the country on April 4 if everything goes as planned. The announcement marks a personal religious trip by a senior political figure, with no additional political engagements mentioned in the statement.

His departure underscores the observance of religious duties by political leaders, reflecting a moment of personal devotion amid ongoing political activities in Bangladesh.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman described the home minister’s remarks in parliament as regrettable and undesirable, saying they came even after the speaker had issued a ruling. He made the comment on Sunday evening, March 29, 2026, while speaking to journalists after the parliamentary session.

Dr. Rahman stated that explanations regarding their statements should come from the law minister or the prime minister, not the home minister. He expressed disappointment that the home minister continued to speak despite the speaker’s ruling. Referring to a motion of adjournment, he said his party had submitted a notice for discussion on March 29 after the speaker’s earlier instruction on March 15. The speaker ruled that the discussion would take place on March 31.

Dr. Rahman added that the same order that authorized the national election also covered the referendum, arguing that both should be treated equally. He expressed hope that the ruling party would cooperate in the upcoming discussion to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

The American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon has announced a temporary shift to online classes following threats from Iran. The decision came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned it would target Israeli and American universities in the Middle East in response to attacks on universities in Tehran and Isfahan. AUB stated that it is aware of the threats directed at American universities in the region but has not received any direct threat itself.

According to the university president’s statement, the move to online learning is a precautionary measure. The institution will conduct all classes virtually on Monday and Tuesday. The announcement follows heightened tensions after recent regional attacks and retaliatory warnings issued by Iran.

The university emphasized that the step is temporary and taken solely for safety reasons amid the current security concerns in the region.

Bangladesh is continuing diesel imports from India through a cross-border pipeline to strengthen its energy security. On Saturday evening, diesel pumping began from Numaligarh Refinery in Assam, India, marking the third consignment of 7,000 metric tons. After about 60 hours of pumping, the shipment is expected to reach the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline terminal in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, by Tuesday morning.

Earlier, two consignments of 5,000 metric tons each arrived in March, bringing the total diesel imports through the pipeline this month to 17,000 metric tons once the latest batch is received. The Parbatipur depot of Padma Oil PLC has remained operational even during holidays to maintain uninterrupted fuel supply. According to the depot’s deputy manager (operations), regular pumping from India’s Numaligarh Refinery is ongoing.

The continued pipeline-based imports are part of the government’s effort to ensure stable fuel availability across the country and reduce logistical challenges in energy transportation.

A report has revealed extensive corruption and financial irregularities in Bangladesh’s Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) project initiated during the former Awami League government. The project, valued at about Tk 3,825 crore for purchasing 150,000 machines, allegedly caused financial losses of around Tk 3,172 crore due to inflated pricing—nearly ten times higher than market rates. The audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General found that the procurement bypassed open tendering, using direct purchase through a military-run enterprise while importing components from abroad.

The report implicates several influential figures, including a former security adviser, senior election officials, and executives of the Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory, in what is described as a coordinated institutional corruption scheme. Many of the machines are now unusable, with only a few thousand operational, raising further questions about quality and intent. The Anti-Corruption Commission has begun investigations after finding one in three machines defective.

The current Election Commission’s decision to discontinue EVM use and the Election System Reform Commission’s similar stance are seen as tacit acknowledgments of the project’s failure. Calls have intensified for a full, impartial investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new policy titled “Cybersecurity Framework, Version 1.0 (2026)” to address growing cyber risks in the country’s financial sector. The framework, issued on Sunday, requires all scheduled banks, financial institutions, mobile financial service providers, payment service providers, and payment system operators to fully implement the guidelines by December 31, 2026. The central bank stated that the expansion of online services, digital platforms, and interconnected networks has increased both efficiency and cyber threats.

According to the circular, cyberattacks such as hacking, phishing, malware, ransomware, and data theft pose significant risks of financial loss, reputational damage, and service disruption. The framework emphasizes safeguarding customer data, ensuring system integrity, and maintaining technological resilience. It includes provisions on governance, risk management, data protection, network security, access control, incident management, third-party risk, compliance, and staff training.

The framework sets minimum cybersecurity standards for financial institutions, aiming to strengthen resilience and protect sensitive information. Institutions are instructed to adopt effective risk management strategies, conduct regular monitoring, and promote awareness through training programs.

Three journalists were killed on Saturday during an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon while on duty. On Sunday morning, hundreds of people gathered at a cemetery in a southern suburb of Beirut to attend their farewell ceremony. The victims were identified as Ali Shoeib, Fatima Faitani, and Mohammad Faitani. Ali Shoeib was a well-known reporter for Al Manar, a Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese television station.

The Israeli military, IDF, described Shoeib as a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force intelligence unit but provided no evidence to support the claim. The IDF did not comment on the deaths of the two journalists from the Faitani family. Fatima Faitani worked as a correspondent for Al Mayadeen channel, while her brother Mohammad Faitani was a cameraman.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the killings as an “open crime” that violated the most fundamental rules of international law, according to the report sourced from the BBC.

Nepal has expressed interest in upgrading Saidpur Airport in northern Bangladesh to international standards. The interest was conveyed by Nepal’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, during a courtesy meeting with Bangladesh’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam Rita, and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat in Dhaka on Sunday morning.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized strengthening existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Nepal. The Nepalese side sought cooperation in developing Bangladesh’s aviation and tourism sectors. Ambassador Bhandari noted that upgrading Saidpur Airport would enhance regional connectivity and create new opportunities for tourism and trade between the two countries.

Discussions also covered maintaining reasonable airfares on the Dhaka–Kathmandu route and working jointly to promote tourism. The Bangladeshi ministers assured continued cooperation with Nepal in aviation and tourism development.

The global economy is under mounting strain following joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran that have triggered sharp increases in commodity prices and stock market declines. Over the past month, retaliatory strikes across Persian Gulf refineries, pipelines, and gas terminals have disrupted energy flows, forcing developing nations to ration fuel and expand subsidies for the poor. The International Energy Agency described the resulting 20 million-barrel-per-day shortfall as the largest oil supply crisis in history.

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil passes, has crippled exports from Kuwait and Iraq. A separate Iranian strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG terminal destroyed 17 percent of its export capacity. Brent crude prices have surged to over $105 per barrel, while fertilizer and helium supplies have also been disrupted. Economists from MIT, Harvard, and the IMF warned that the conflict could trigger stagflation and reduce global growth by up to 0.4 percent.

Experts caution that recovery will be slow, with Gulf energy infrastructure heavily damaged and food prices rising due to fertilizer shortages. The crisis threatens to deepen inequality, hitting poorer nations hardest.

NCP lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud told Parliament on Sunday that Generation Z no longer supports Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution. Speaking during the discussion on the President’s address, Masud identified himself as part of the Gen Z generation and argued that those born decades after independence question why they have not fully enjoyed voting rights. He said that although the country gained independence, flag, and borders, young citizens still do not feel secure in Bangladesh.

Masud also raised issues from his constituency, including river erosion in Hatiya and attacks on his motorcade during the election period. He accused ruling party members of benefiting from sacrifices made by July Movement activists and warned against repeating the irregularities of the 1994 Magura by-election. He alleged post-election violence, including an assault on him and a rape incident linked to political retaliation, criticizing delays in investigations and DNA reports.

Other opposition MPs, including Khandaker Abu Ashfaq, Abdul Aziz, and Mohammad Abdul Malik, also participated in the discussion on the President’s speech.

Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has said that the current activities of the National Parliament show no reflection of the July Charter or the referendum held alongside the national election. Speaking on Sunday, March 29, during a session of the 13th National Parliament, he remarked that observing the ongoing proceedings gives the impression that no such referendum ever took place.

Nahid Islam argued that before conducting regular and daily parliamentary business, the House should first discuss the referendum and the July Charter implementation order as matters of national importance. He emphasized that these issues deserve the highest priority in parliamentary discussions and should be resolved before proceeding with routine activities.

He added that a notice had already been submitted on behalf of the opposition leader under parliamentary rules. Nahid appealed to the Speaker and the House to prioritize discussion on the referendum and the July Charter implementation order as the first agenda item.

An airstrike hit Iran’s Isfahan University of Technology on Sunday, marking the second such attack on the institution within a week. According to Akbar Salehi, deputy head of security and law enforcement for Isfahan province, several campus buildings were damaged and at least four staff members were injured. He confirmed that a similar strike had occurred the previous Thursday.

Following the latest incident, Iran issued a warning that it could target American universities in the region in retaliation for attacks on Iranian institutions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that such actions would be a response to continued assaults on Iranian facilities.

The situation underscores rising regional tensions after repeated strikes on Iranian sites, with potential implications for educational and diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP on Sunday raised an adjournment motion in parliament regarding the delay in convening the session of the Constitutional Reform Council as required under Article 10 of the July National Charter and Constitutional Reform Implementation Order 2025. With the Speaker’s permission, he presented the motion, recalling those who suffered or died under past authoritarian rule and emphasizing that the current parliament was formed in a special context following years of struggle against fascism.

Dr. Rahman stated that despite legal provisions requiring the council to be convened within 30 calendar days of the national election results, no such session had yet been called. He argued that this inaction disregards public expectations and urged immediate discussion on the matter. The Speaker later ruled that a two-hour discussion would be held on March 31.

Earlier, heated debate arose between government and opposition members over the motion notice, but the situation normalized after the Speaker allowed the notice to be raised following question-answer and Rule 71 discussions.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering has been appointed as the new proctor of Jagannath University. The appointment will take effect on March 30, 2026, according to an official order signed by the university’s acting registrar, Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin, on Sunday.

The order stated that Professor Dr. Muhammad Tajammul Haque of the Department of Islamic Studies had requested to be relieved from his duties as proctor, and his request was accepted. Following this, Professor Nasir Uddin was appointed as the new proctor, subject to syndicate approval and until further notice.

The notice also mentioned that Professor Nasir Uddin will be entitled to allowances and other benefits as per university regulations while performing his new responsibilities.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued 11 directives requiring government employees to remain in their offices from 9:00 to 9:40 a.m., conserve electricity and fuel, and maintain cleanliness in office spaces. The instructions were sent on Sunday to all departments, agencies, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and upazila executive officers. The ministry emphasized that earlier guidance from the Cabinet Division on similar matters had not been fully followed, prompting the renewed call for compliance.

The directives include mandatory presence in offices during the specified morning period, efficient use of natural light, limiting use of electrical appliances, maintaining air conditioner temperatures at or above 25 degrees Celsius, and ensuring all electrical equipment is turned off after office hours. Offices are also instructed to avoid unnecessary lighting, practice fuel efficiency, and keep all areas clean, including corridors and stairways.

Each office has been asked to form a vigilance team to monitor adherence to these directives, reinforcing accountability and energy-saving practices across government institutions.