The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has requested all banks to provide detailed information on the accounts of Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and former adviser to the interim government. The directive was issued on Monday through official letters sent to all banks, asking for account opening forms, transaction records, and other related data within three working days.

According to the report, the request was made based on a complaint received by the BFIU. Asif Mahmud previously served as an adviser to the ministries of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, and Youth and Sports during the interim government period.

The BFIU’s move indicates an ongoing financial inquiry, though the nature of the complaint or the scope of the investigation has not been disclosed in the report.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the ongoing war could only be stopped if the United States and Israel ceased their attacks on Iran. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a press conference held at a school in Tehran, emphasizing that Iran had tried to avoid war until the last moment but that other parties had chosen conflict.

Baghaei urged the international community to act before it was too late, calling on the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibility to restore regional security and stability. He said the council must compel the aggressors to end their attacks to prevent the war from expanding further.

The statement reflects Iran’s stance that external military actions are the root cause of the current conflict and that international intervention is necessary to de-escalate tensions.

Police in Chattogram have arrested Md. Babu Sheikh, 50, identified as the main suspect in the killing of seven-year-old Jannatul Naima Ira. The second-grade student went missing on Monday after leaving home to visit her grandfather’s house in Sitakunda’s Kumira area. According to police, the suspect lured Ira with chocolate and took her to the top of Chandranath Hill, where she was brutally assaulted and her throat slit. Despite severe injuries, Ira managed to walk out of the forest before collapsing. She was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital but died early Tuesday.

Police Superintendent Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan said the attack stemmed from a family dispute. Investigators recovered chocolate, a bloodstained shirt, and the knife used in the assault. A video showing the suspect walking with Ira led to his arrest. Doctors confirmed Ira’s condition was critical from the start, and samples were collected for further tests to confirm the nature of the assault.

The incident has left the local community in shock, with residents demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrator.

According to the official holiday schedule for this year, the government has set a five-day public holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr from March 19 to 23. Additionally, March 17 has been declared a holiday for Shab-e-Qadr, while offices are scheduled to remain open on March 18. However, a source from the Ministry of Public Administration indicated that March 18 might also be declared a general holiday.

If approved, government employees would enjoy a continuous seven-day break combining Shab-e-Qadr and Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. The proposal to extend the Eid holiday has already been sent to the Cabinet Division and is expected to be discussed in the upcoming Cabinet meeting on Thursday. Officials believe that a longer holiday period would ease travel pressure before Eid and help reduce road accidents.

The final decision on the possible extension of the holiday will be made at the next Cabinet meeting, according to the report.

The United Kingdom is sending charter flights to rescue British citizens stranded in various Middle Eastern countries amid the ongoing war. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons that a government charter flight will depart from Muscat, Oman, for the UK within the next few days. The initiative aims to assist citizens unable to leave the region due to the conflict.

The UK government has launched a new registration process to identify how many British nationals are currently in Middle Eastern countries. According to the BBC, by Tuesday morning, about 130,000 British citizens had registered through this system. Cooper stated that those in 'vulnerable' conditions will be given priority for evacuation on the charter flights.

The move reflects the UK’s effort to ensure the safety of its nationals as instability spreads across the region, though details about the specific countries affected were not disclosed.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ali Bahraini, stated that the country will continue its defense operations until ongoing aggression ceases. Speaking to journalists in Geneva on Tuesday, Bahraini emphasized that Iran’s defensive actions are directed against Israel and the United States as long as hostilities persist.

He further warned that any military base in a neighboring country used to launch or support attacks against Iran would be considered a legitimate target. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Tehran’s firm stance amid heightened regional tensions.

The statement underscores Iran’s position that its military actions are defensive in nature and contingent on the cessation of what it describes as aggression from opposing forces.

Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has suspended operations at Iran’s only nuclear power plant located in the city of Bushehr. According to Interfax, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev stated that the Moscow-built facility is under threat due to the ongoing conflict. More than 600 Russian personnel working at the site are gradually leaving Iran.

The decision follows a series of attacks launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday, after which around 100 workers were initially evacuated from the Bushehr plant. With rising tensions and fears of a larger assault, Rosatom has now opted to completely shut down all activities at the facility.

The suspension underscores the growing instability in the region and highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure amid escalating hostilities.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that inspectors have found no evidence of a coordinated nuclear weapons program in Iran, despite allegations from Israel and the United States. Speaking to NBC News, Grossi confirmed that the agency could not identify any systematic or structural elements of such a program.

Grossi acknowledged that Tehran has enriched uranium up to 60 percent purity, a level far beyond civilian energy needs. He noted that this degree of enrichment is typically associated only with nuclear-armed states. However, he emphasized that inspectors have not concluded that Iran intends to build a bomb.

Grossi described the enrichment activity as a cause for concern, citing the continuous operation of centrifuges producing material theoretically sufficient for more than ten nuclear warheads, though he clarified that Iran does not possess such weapons.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ali Bahreini, expressed doubt about the effectiveness of talks with the United States. Speaking in Geneva on Tuesday, three days after a joint US-Israel attack, Bahreini said Iran remains highly skeptical about the usefulness of such discussions.

He stated that, for now, Iran sees the language of defense as the only viable means of communication with the United States, suggesting there is no time for dialogue. His comments reflect Tehran’s current stance following recent military tensions involving the United States and Israel.

The statement underscores the strained diplomatic climate and indicates that prospects for renewed negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain uncertain in the immediate future.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s new leadership wants to hold talks with him, but he stated that he will not engage in any negotiations with Tehran. In a social media post, Trump wrote that Iran’s air defense system, air force, navy, and leadership are finished, adding that Iran wants to talk but he told them it is too late. The statement was made public on March 3, 2026.

This is not the first time Trump has made such a claim. He previously asserted that after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei, the country’s current leaders expressed a desire to negotiate with the United States, a claim that Tehran rejected. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani stated that Iran will not make any agreement with the United States.

The exchange underscores continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides maintaining firm positions against renewed diplomatic engagement.

The United Kingdom is considering sending a warship to the Mediterranean following a drone attack on its military base in Cyprus. According to defense sources cited by the BBC, the Royal Navy’s HMS Duncan has been kept ready for possible deployment, though no final decision has yet been made.

The reported attack targeted a British military installation in Cyprus, prompting London to evaluate its security posture in the region. The move reflects heightened concern over regional stability and the safety of British forces stationed abroad.

While the UK has not confirmed when or if the deployment will occur, the preparation of HMS Duncan indicates that the government is maintaining readiness for potential escalation or deterrence operations in the Mediterranean.

The Gaza crossing was reopened for the first time following a joint United States and Israeli attack on Iran, according to the report published on March 3, 2026. The route is described as crucial for delivering food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza. Israeli forces had previously closed the crossing after the conflict involving Iran began.

The closure had severely restricted the entry of relief supplies, leading to rapidly depleting food and fuel reserves in Gaza. The United Nations and other organizations had warned that the blockade could trigger an acute food crisis if not resolved. The reopening marks a significant development in efforts to restore humanitarian access to the enclave.

The report also referenced related regional tensions, including threats from Iran to target economic centers and statements from the United States offering new explanations for the attack on Iran.

Bangladesh Bank has eased regulations for renewing ongoing loans to assist businesses facing current economic challenges. In a circular issued on Tuesday, the central bank instructed that banks must begin the renewal process at least two months before the expiry of any existing loan. If renewal cannot be completed within the stipulated time due to reasons beyond control, the loan may still be renewed until it is classified as defaulted, provided that the delay is properly documented.

The circular further stated that any portion exceeding the approved loan limit must be adjusted before renewal. It also prohibited showing the excess portion as a new loan or transferring it to another account to avoid proper classification. The new policy will remain effective until December 31, 2027, replacing a previous circular issued in June 2025.

The directive was issued under Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991, and took immediate effect, signaling regulatory flexibility aimed at maintaining financial stability and supporting business continuity.

The political alliance July Oikya has warned that if the government of Bangladesh pursues a fascist course with foreign support, the student and public movement will revive the spirit of the July uprising. In a statement issued on Tuesday by organizer Munshi Burhan Mahmud, the group said it would resist any attempt to reestablish fascism and would fight to secure the rights achieved through the July movement.

The statement recalled that more than 1,400 people died and over 30,000 were injured during the mass uprising, accusing the current ruling party BNP of undermining that legacy. July Oikya alleged that the government is backing a legal petition challenging the July Charter, referendum, and constitutional reform commission, describing it as a betrayal of the nation. The group also claimed that the government is weakening independent and constitutional institutions, citing incidents involving the Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

July Oikya demanded that the upcoming first session of the 13th National Parliament implement the July Charter, impeach the president under Article 52 for alleged crimes, and appoint neutral leadership to autonomous bodies. It warned that without July’s legitimacy, neither the election nor the government would remain valid.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has confirmed that the ongoing process to merge five banks will continue. He instructed officials to take all possible measures to recover defaulted loans and to reopen closed businesses within regulatory frameworks. The directives were issued during a meeting with the Bank Resolution Department at the central bank’s headquarters on Tuesday. Mostakur Rahman took office as governor last Thursday, following the removal of Ahsan H. Mansur, who had initiated several banking reforms after the fall of the Awami League government.

According to Bangladesh Bank officials, the merger of Union Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank into a new entity named Combined Islami Bank will proceed. Administrators appointed by the central bank are currently managing these institutions. The new bank’s paid-up capital has been set at Tk 350 billion, with Tk 200 billion from the government and Tk 150 billion from the deposit insurance fund. The authorized capital is Tk 400 billion, and the headquarters is located at Senakalyan Bhaban in Dhaka.

The governor also directed administrators to ensure depositors can withdraw funds without harassment and to identify those involved in financial irregularities for legal action.