BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that anti-liberation forces are re-emerging 55 years after Bangladesh’s independence. He alleged that those who collaborated with Pakistani forces and were involved in crimes against women during the Liberation War are now engaged in new conspiracies. He urged everyone to remain vigilant against such activities.

He made these remarks on Friday afternoon at a discussion meeting organized by the BNP at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Dhaka, marking the Great Independence and National Day. Mirza Fakhrul stated that the BNP has fought for 18 years without bowing down and continues its struggle. He added that the Prime Minister envisions building a new Bangladesh, and under her leadership, that dream will be realized.

The event was part of BNP’s observance of Independence Day, emphasizing the party’s continued political stance and call for national unity against divisive forces.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that a self-reliant Bangladesh can be achieved if all citizens work together in unity. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon at a discussion meeting organized by the BNP at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Dhaka, marking the occasion of the Great Independence and National Day. The Prime Minister emphasized that no discussion, criticism, or research should undermine the history of the Liberation War.

He acknowledged that while aspirations are limitless, resources remain limited, and therefore collective effort is essential for national self-reliance. Earlier in the event, Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir highlighted the BNP’s long struggle over the past 18 years and expressed optimism about building a new Bangladesh under the Prime Minister’s leadership. He also warned that anti-liberation forces, who once collaborated with Pakistani invaders, are again becoming active and urged everyone to remain vigilant.

The event underscored themes of unity, vigilance, and national reconstruction as Bangladesh marked its 55th year of independence.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a new warning urging people to leave areas near US military bases in the Middle East. The statement, released through the IRGC-linked Fars News Agency, accused the United States and Israel of using civilian zones and innocent people as human shields. It also alleged that the United States was responsible for killing civilians and Iranian officials.

According to the report, the IRGC has made several similar warnings since the start of the ongoing conflict. On March 14, it had previously advised residents living near US industrial facilities in the region to evacuate. However, in this latest warning, the IRGC did not specify any particular location.

The renewed alert comes amid escalating tensions and continued hostilities in the region, with Iran, Israel, and the United States all involved in the broader conflict dynamics.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran has allowed ten oil tankers linked to the United States to pass through the Strait of Hormuz this week. He made the statement on Thursday during a cabinet meeting, describing the move as a gift from Tehran to Washington. According to Trump, the tankers were sailing under Pakistan’s flag.

Iran stated that it is sincere about pursuing dialogue and that the decision to permit the passage of eight large oil tankers through the strategic waterway demonstrates this intent. Later, two additional Pakistan-flagged vessels were also allowed to pass, bringing the total to ten. The Iranian side framed the move as part of its effort to show goodwill in ongoing diplomatic contexts.

The development comes amid broader regional tensions, though the source did not specify any immediate diplomatic or economic consequences following the tankers’ passage.

The Bangladesh Navy has issued a recruitment notice for its 2026 batch, inviting applications for 450 positions across various sailor and MODC (Navy) categories. According to the announcement, the posts include DE or UC (Seaman, Communication, and Technical), Medical, Regulating, Writer, Store, MODC (Navy), Cook, Steward, and Topas. The application process began on March 18 and will continue until April 20.

The distribution of vacancies includes 300 for DE or UC (Seaman, Communication, and Technical), 18 for Medical, 15 for Regulating, 18 for Writer, 16 for Store, 8 for MODC (Navy), 35 for Cook, 20 for Steward, and 20 for Topas. Applicants must not have any criminal record, pending court cases, or dual citizenship, and cannot have been dismissed from the armed forces or government service.

Interested candidates must apply online through the official website www.joinnavy.navy.mil.bd. After verifying eligibility, applicants must pay a 300 taka examination fee via bank or mobile banking before completing and submitting the online form. The printed ‘Sailor 1’ form must be brought on the examination day.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has announced recruitment for the position of 'Sipahi (GD)' under its 105th batch. Interested candidates can apply online until April 2, 2026, by completing a six-step application process and paying a fee of 56 taka through banking or mobile banking channels. The recruitment test schedule and venue will be communicated later via SMS.

According to the announcement, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in SSC or equivalent and 2.50 in HSC or equivalent examinations. Eligible candidates must be between 18 and 23 years of age as of July 19, 2026, with specific physical and vision standards for male and female candidates, including height, weight, and chest measurements. Only unmarried candidates are eligible to apply.

The salary range for the position is between 9,000 and 21,800 taka under the 2015 national pay scale, along with allowances for rations, clothing, housing, medical, and other benefits as per regulations.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended a discussion meeting organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to mark the Great Independence and National Day. The event took place on Friday at 3:50 p.m. at the Engineers Institution auditorium in the capital, Dhaka.

The meeting was presided over by BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Several central leaders of the BNP were also scheduled to deliver speeches at the event. The gathering was part of the party’s observance of the national day, highlighting its political activities around the occasion.

The source did not provide further details about the content of the speeches or any specific announcements made during the program.

Niti Dutta Chakma, an organizer of the United People's Democratic Front (Democratic), was shot dead in Khagrachhari’s Panchhari upazila on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. in the Sutakormpara area of the upazila. The organization’s central organizing secretary, Amarjyoti Chakma, confirmed the death and blamed their rival political group, the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), for the attack.

The report, published by local outlet Amar Desh, identified the killing as part of ongoing political rivalry in the region. The UPDF (Democratic) and the original UPDF have long been known as opposing factions within the same political sphere in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, though the source did not elaborate further on the motive or immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Further details about the circumstances of the attack or any official investigation were not available at the time of reporting.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wedeful has said that preparations are underway for direct talks between the United States and Iran. According to him, representatives from both countries are planning to meet in Pakistan. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk Radio, Wedeful stated that there had already been indirect communication between the two sides and that they are now preparing for a direct meeting, which he believes will take place soon.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran must take the initiative to persuade him to stop the war, adding that the decision now rests with Iran’s leaders and that he is not interested in reaching any agreement. However, Iranian state media reported that the country’s leadership remains skeptical about Washington’s sincerity in pursuing talks.

The planned meeting, if held, could mark a significant step in easing tensions between the two nations, though mutual distrust remains a major obstacle according to the source.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested two individuals in connection with the shooting death of Jubo Dal leader Golam Kibria in Dhaka’s Mirpur Pallabi area. According to a message from RAB’s Legal and Media Wing on Friday, the suspects were detained with a foreign revolver and ammunition. RAB stated that the arrestees were involved in the killing mission, and further details would be disclosed at a press conference at the RAB-4 headquarters.

Kibria, who served as the member secretary of Pallabi Thana Jubo Dal and was also involved in the medical equipment trade, was shot dead on November 17 of the previous year. Three masked assailants entered a hardware and sanitary store in Mirpur’s Block B and shot him at close range before fleeing in a battery-run rickshaw, injuring the driver while escaping.

Following the incident, Kibria’s wife, Sabiha Akter Dina, filed a murder case with Pallabi Police Station, naming five accused and mentioning seven to eight unidentified individuals as being involved in the attack.

Since the onset of the war, Iran has significantly increased its oil revenue, earning about $139 million per day in March, up from $115 million in February. The country has benefited from rising global oil prices and reduced price discounts on its Iranian Light crude, which is now sold at only $2.10 below Brent, the narrowest gap in nearly a year. Iran’s oil exports have reached around 1.6 million barrels per day, close to pre-war levels, with tankers loading at Kharg Island and passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, Iran has maintained its economic flow, weakening the impact of military pressure. The United States has temporarily suspended some sanctions on Iranian oil shipments to stabilize global prices. Richard Nephew of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy noted that current U.S. actions appear to encourage Iranian oil sales rather than restrict them.

Iran is also exporting from the Jask terminal outside the Strait of Hormuz and collecting up to $2 million in transit fees from commercial vessels passing through the strait.

A mobile court in Sherpur fined a trader for illegally storing 18,000 liters of diesel in a residential building. The operation took place late Thursday night, March 26, 2026, in the Gopalbari area of Sherpur town. Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan imposed a fine of 10,000 taka on Tapas Nandi, owner of M/s Shimla Traders, after discovering a large underground tank used to store the fuel without environmental clearance.

According to court sources, Tapas Nandi and Shafiqul Islam Helal had been running a business by storing diesel in a 25,000-liter tank beneath the five-story residential building. Acting on intelligence, the district administration’s mobile court conducted the raid and found about 18,000 liters of diesel stored illegally. The court ordered the removal of the fuel and tank by Friday.

Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan stated that the fine was imposed for selling flammable substances without proper authorization and that the removal process would be closely monitored to ensure the safety of residents.

The United States and Israel have entered the 27th day of their joint military campaign against Iran, with reports indicating growing diplomatic friction between Washington and Tel Aviv over peace negotiations. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Islamabad is mediating indirect talks between the US and Iran, with a 15-point American proposal already delivered to Tehran. Turkey and Egypt are also participating in the mediation process.

Iran’s state broadcaster reported that Tehran has rejected the US proposal and instead presented five conditions for ending the war, including a full halt to aggression, compensation for damages, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister claimed responsibility for killing senior IRGC officer Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri, though Iran has not confirmed the death.

The conflict has caused nearly 1,937 deaths in Iran, according to its health ministry, while tensions between US and Israeli leaderships have surfaced, with reports that Donald Trump rebuked Benjamin Netanyahu over a proposal to incite protests in Iran.

Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, Zahir Uddin Swapan, emphasized that lessons from history must guide the nation’s present and future course. He made the remarks while addressing a program at the Bangladesh Consulate in Istanbul on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day. The minister paid deep tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War, according to a press release issued by the ministry on Friday.

During the event, held on Thursday evening local time, Swapan highlighted the significance of the August 5, 2024 fall of autocracy as an important lesson for the nation. He said that those elected by the people to govern must learn from that experience and act with greater responsibility. He further stressed that the people must remain at the center of all thought and policymaking, warning that deviation from this principle could lead to consequences similar to past fallen governments.

The event was attended by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Turkey, M Amanul Haque, Consul General Mizanur Rahman, and members of the expatriate community. Swapan arrived in Turkey on March 26 to attend the International Strategic Communication Summit (Stratcom) 2026, scheduled for March 27–28 in Istanbul.

The United Nations General Assembly has officially recognized the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly transported Africans across the Atlantic, as a serious crime against humanity. The resolution, introduced by Ghana, was passed on Wednesday with majority support. It calls for historical acknowledgment of the atrocity, urges member states to express remorse, and includes a proposal to establish a compensation fund.

A total of 123 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina opposed it. Fifty-two countries, including the United Kingdom and members of the European Union, abstained. Ghanaian President John Mahama said the decision honors the millions who suffered under slavery and racial discrimination, describing it as a safeguard against historical amnesia and a challenge to address the lingering wounds of slavery.

U.S. envoy to the UN Dan Negrea opposed the resolution, stating that the United States does not recognize compensation claims for historical wrongs that were not illegal under contemporary international law and warned against pressuring modern nations for crimes with which they had no connection.