A United States submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, resulting in at least 87 recovered bodies. The vessel, identified by Sri Lanka’s foreign minister as IRIS Dena, had recently participated in a joint naval exercise hosted by India and was returning home from an eastern Indian port when it was destroyed. The attack occurred thousands of kilometers from the Gulf, marking the first time since 1945 that a US attack submarine used torpedoes to sink a warship.

Yale University lecturer Sushant Singh said the incident has created uncomfortable questions for New Delhi, a key US partner, as the strike took place shortly after India had hosted the Iranian crew. He described the sinking of IRIS Dena just hours after leaving Indian waters as a major blow to India’s regional credibility. The ship was reportedly traveling through an area under Indian naval observation but outside any active conflict zone.

Analysts noted that India faces the challenge of protecting trade and energy routes, avoiding US-Iran tensions, and preventing normalization of third-party military actions near its maritime sphere. India has not publicly commented on the incident.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has reported that at least 105 civilian facilities were damaged in joint attacks by the United States and Israel across Iran. According to the organization, the assaults began on Saturday and have so far resulted in a total of 1,332 recorded strikes at 636 different locations nationwide.

Among the affected sites are at least 14 medical centers and seven buildings belonging to the Red Crescent itself. The organization stated that the attacks have impacted at least 174 cities across the country.

The Red Crescent warned that continued strikes on civilian infrastructure could further complicate the humanitarian situation in Iran. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and cited by the outlet Amar Desh.

Iranian General Kioumars Heydari has declared that Iran will not withdraw from the ongoing war until its objectives are fully achieved. Speaking to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Heydari stated that the country will continue fighting until it delivers a decisive blow to the United States. He emphasized that the duration of the conflict is not a concern for Iran.

Heydari, who serves as deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Iran’s military has gained extensive experience from its previous eight-year war and will only end the current conflict once its goals are met. He added that Iran aims to make its enemy regret and despair over its actions.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera and Iranian media, underscores Tehran’s determination to sustain military operations despite regional tensions and growing international concern over the conflict’s escalation.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam announced that closed state-owned jute mills will be reopened gradually under private management. He made the statement during a briefing at the Ministry of Textiles and Jute in Dhaka on Thursday, ahead of National Jute Day. According to the minister, seven mills are already being reopened in phases, while others will follow later under similar arrangements.

He noted that nine leased mills currently employ 7,200 workers, contributing positively to national production and employment. The minister also said that National Jute Day will be observed on March 6, inaugurated online by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The main event will take place at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, alongside a nine-day fair on jute and diversified jute products at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises from March 6 to 14.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reviving the jute sector as part of its broader goal to transform Bangladesh into a modern, democratic, upper-middle-income country with a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.

Former US President Donald Trump expressed gratitude to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after Rutte commented that the United States had received broad support from allied nations for its military strikes in Iran. Trump conveyed his thanks through a social media post, calling Rutte a great NATO leader.

Earlier, Rutte stated that although NATO was not directly involved in the US attacks on Iran, many allied countries strongly supported Washington’s actions. He noted that allies were cooperating with the United States in efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Rutte also suggested that several Western nations viewed the initiative to weaken Iran’s military strength as an important security measure within the alliance.

Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that disciplinary measures will be taken against government doctors found absent from their workplaces during official hours. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health conference room.

The minister cited the recent dismissal of Dr. Rajesh Majumdar, a physician at the 250-bed Shariatpur District Hospital, who was terminated for signing the attendance register and then attending patients at a private clinic during office hours. The minister urged other doctors to learn from this example and warned that political affiliation would not be accepted as an excuse for absenteeism.

He further stated that any government doctor found absent during official hours in the future could face license suspension and other disciplinary actions, reinforcing the ministry’s stance on maintaining accountability within the public healthcare system.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi has called for an immediate end to the ongoing war in the Middle East. In a post on social media platform X, he said that the Omani government is making every effort to assist all foreigners stranded in the country to return to their respective homelands.

According to his statement, Oman is cooperating with various countries and international airlines to facilitate the repatriation of those affected by the conflict. Al-Busaidi emphasized that regardless of nationality, every person has the right to safety and security as part of their human rights.

The minister’s remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of instability and concern across the Gulf region.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that since Saturday, it has documented 1,332 attacks by US and Israeli forces across Iran. According to the organization, strikes have occurred in 636 locations, including at least 105 civilian sites. Among the civilian targets were 14 medical centers and seven Red Crescent buildings. The attacks reportedly affected at least 174 cities across the country.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at a Pentagon press conference on Wednesday that the conflict with Iran could last eight weeks. He said the United States possesses sufficient military equipment to defeat Iran. The Red Crescent’s report highlights the scale of the ongoing strikes and their impact on civilian infrastructure.

The situation has raised regional concerns, with reports of Gulf countries expressing anxiety over the risk of civil war in Iran. The broader Middle East tensions have also affected financial markets, including a sharp decline in South Korea’s stock exchange.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has made it mandatory to use data from the ASYCUDA System’s Business Intelligence (BI) server for determining income tax based on actual information about imported goods and advance income tax payments at the import stage. The directive, issued on March 4 under the NBR’s Income Tax Wing, details procedures for tax officials to access and use the BI server. According to an NBR press release on March 5, the system will be used during tax audits, case reopenings, and corrections of faulty tax orders.

The order specifies that tax commissioners and range officers can log in to the BI server from pre-approved IP-bound computers to collect import-related data. Range officers must record the collected information in a designated register and inform relevant circle officers in writing. Initially, only range officers will have access to the BI server, not the assessing officers directly.

NBR stated that the initiative will enhance transparency, prevent tax evasion, expedite tax case resolution, and improve coordination between customs and income tax departments, marking a new phase in inter-departmental data sharing.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for an attack on a US tanker in the northern Gulf on Thursday morning. The IRGC stated that its naval forces struck the vessel, asserting control over maritime movement in the region.

According to the IRGC, military and commercial ships belonging to the United States, Israel, and their European allies will not be allowed to pass through the area. The force warned that any such vessels spotted would be targeted. The statement reiterated Iran’s earlier position that it has the right, under international law and resolutions, to regulate navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during wartime.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Gulf nations expressing concern over Iran’s internal instability and the broader security situation in the Middle East.

Israel has claimed responsibility for airstrikes targeting Iran’s ballistic missile launch system in the city of Qom. According to an Israeli military spokesperson, the country’s air force carried out the attack, destroying the system that was allegedly preparing for a strike. The spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated on social media that Israeli forces also destroyed an air defense system in Isfahan.

The Israeli military said the strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s defense capabilities and expanding Israel’s control over regional airspace. Israeli media reported that the army plans to continue operations in Iran for at least another one to two weeks. The announcement came five days after the start of the conflict, with Israel claiming to have dropped more than 5,000 bombs on Iran by Wednesday.

In addition to the attacks in Iran, Israel said it had launched a new round of strikes against Tehran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump was drawn into the Iran war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an interview with Channel 4 News, Barak said Netanyahu was dissatisfied with the end of the Gaza war and sought to involve Israel in a new conflict with Iran. He added that while the United States made its own decision to join the war, Netanyahu influenced Trump to abandon his desire to be seen as the 'King of Peace' and instead become the 'Lord of War.'

Barak argued that the Iranian people themselves must ultimately bring down their government by standing up against it. He also stated that whether an attack on Iran was legal or not was less important than the belief that Iran deserved punishment. Warning against a ground war, Barak cautioned that such a move could destabilize the geopolitical balance beyond the Middle East.

Australia has deployed several crisis response teams and military equipment to the Middle East as part of preparations for potential emergency situations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the move, stating that the deployment was part of the government’s emergency planning. According to reports, six crisis response teams have already been sent to the region, and military assets were positioned earlier in the week.

The announcement was made in the Australian Parliament, though Albanese did not provide further details about the nature or location of the deployment. Al Jazeera reported that the move is part of Australia’s readiness measures for possible regional emergencies. Separately, Australian broadcaster SBS News reported that two military aircraft have been sent to the Middle East.

The deployment underscores Australia’s precautionary stance amid rising tensions in the Middle East, though the government has not disclosed specific threats or operational objectives.

Depositors of five merged Shariah-based banks staged a sit-in in front of Bangladesh Bank on Thursday morning, demanding the return of their deposits and cancellation of a profit reduction decision. The demonstration began around 10 a.m. and included slogans and speeches criticizing the central bank’s previous policy. Law enforcement took strict positions around the area to maintain order.

Speakers at the human chain alleged that a former governor of Bangladesh Bank decided to cut profits on deposits from the past two years, offering only a 4 percent government concession instead. They described the move as inhumane and unfair, claiming many depositors have been unable to withdraw their principal or profits for two years, leaving families in severe financial distress.

Protesters demanded full repayment of deposits with profits for 2024 and 2025 and called for normal banking operations at the unified Islamic bank. They warned that if their demands are not met, they will besiege Bangladesh Bank on March 12.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran would have developed a nuclear weapon if the United States had not launched a strike within two weeks. He made the remarks during a roundtable meeting at the White House, adding that if there were no changes in Iran, whoever became its supreme leader would be killed. Trump described the prospect of nuclear weapons in the hands of what he called 'crazy people' as dangerous.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program poses no threat and is intended for peaceful purposes. However, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrote on social media that the agency could not provide assurances about Iran’s activities. He noted that while there was no evidence Iran was building a bomb, its large stockpile of uranium enriched near weapons-grade levels and limited access for inspectors were causes for serious concern.

The statements highlight renewed tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the limits of international monitoring amid U.S. pressure.