Iranian hackers have breached the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel, according to a statement confirmed by FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson. The hackers reportedly accessed and released photos and information dating from 2011 to 2022, including personal, business, and travel-related materials. Williamson stated that the FBI has taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks and confirmed that no government information was compromised.

The cyberattack has been attributed to a group known as the Handala Hack Team, which claimed responsibility for the breach. The group said Patel would now find his own name among the list of hacking victims. Earlier this month, the same group allegedly carried out a cyberattack that disrupted operations at a major U.S. medical equipment manufacturer.

The incident underscores ongoing cybersecurity threats targeting high-profile U.S. officials and institutions, though the FBI emphasized that the breach involved only personal data and posed no direct threat to government systems.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the police are not a partisan force but should serve as friends of the people. He emphasized that the government aims to make the police a modern, service-oriented, and humane institution free from political influence. The minister made these remarks on Saturday morning at the passing-out parade of the 43rd BCS Police Batch at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi.

He said that as part of democratic reforms, a Police Reform Commission has been established to keep the force free from political interference, and its benefits will soon be visible. Addressing the new officers, the minister urged them to serve the public, uphold justice, and instill fear in criminals while ensuring peace for the innocent. He added that the government is following a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and encouraged officers to gain advanced technical knowledge to combat digital crimes.

The event underscored the government’s broader agenda to modernize law enforcement and strengthen public trust in policing.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that his country has reached an agreement with Iran concerning the Hormuz Strait. Under the deal, Iran will allow Thai oil tankers to pass safely through the strategic waterway. The announcement was made on Saturday during a press conference, where the prime minister said the arrangement would ease concerns over energy imports, as Thailand relies heavily on oil from the Middle East.

Earlier this month, a cargo ship flying the Thai flag was damaged by a projectile in the Hormuz Strait. The Omani navy later rescued the vessel’s crew, though three sailors remain missing. The incident had raised safety concerns for Thai shipping operations in the region.

The new agreement is expected to reduce risks for Thailand’s oil transport routes and stabilize its energy supply chain, according to the prime minister’s remarks.

U.S. President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the ongoing war with Iran, marking their first direct contact since the conflict began. According to a New York Times report citing unnamed U.S. officials, billionaire Elon Musk also participated in the call, which took place on Tuesday, March 24.

The report noted that the inclusion of a private individual like Musk in such a sensitive discussion between two heads of government was highly unusual. The White House described the conversation as productive. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said that President Trump and Prime Minister Modi share a strong relationship and that the discussion was constructive.

The call occurred amid escalating tensions following multiple attacks in the region, including strikes on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility and missile attacks affecting industrial areas in the United Arab Emirates.

Seven people were killed and five others injured in a series of avalanches that struck the Srinagar-Leh National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The incidents occurred between Zero Point and Minimarg, where several vehicles were buried under snow and debris. The casualties were reported as rescue efforts continued in the affected area.

India’s federal minister and Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader Jitendra Singh confirmed the deaths and injuries in a post on social media platform X. He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The avalanches disrupted traffic and caused significant damage along the highway, a key route connecting Srinagar with Leh.

Authorities are monitoring the situation as weather conditions remain unstable in the region, raising concerns about further avalanches and travel disruptions.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been deployed at 19 fuel depots across nine districts to prevent unauthorized hoarding and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply. The deployment was announced on Saturday morning through a press release signed by BGB’s public relations officer Md. Shariful Islam. The move follows instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the statement, the deployment comes amid a global rise in fuel prices and supply concerns triggered by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Authorities have observed attempts to hoard fuel illegally, prompting the government to take preventive measures. The BGB operation aims to maintain discipline in fuel marketing and safeguard depot security.

The BGB headquarters is overseeing the deployment under a structured plan. Temporary base camps have been set up in secure locations to facilitate duties at remote depots. The 19 depots are located in Dhaka, Kurigram, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, and Sunamganj districts.

Traffic movement on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway slowed on Friday as the number of vehicles increased sharply on the Dhaka-bound lane. Passengers heading toward the capital and other destinations faced long waits at various points due to a shortage of available transport, causing significant inconvenience.

Police reported that although the number of vehicles toward Dhaka had risen considerably, no major traffic jams had formed. However, long queues at roadside fuel stations occasionally disrupted normal traffic flow. According to the Jamuna Bridge Authority, more than 46,000 vehicles crossed the bridge in the past 24 hours, generating over Tk 3.41 crore in tolls—more than double the usual amount.

The surge in traffic and toll collection indicates unusually high travel activity on the route, though authorities have not specified the reason for the increase.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed deep sorrow and condolence over the death of Dilara Hafiz, wife of National Parliament Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram. According to a statement issued on Saturday, Dilara Hafiz passed away in Singapore on March 28 at 1:30 p.m. local time while undergoing medical treatment.

In his condolence message, Dr. Rahman conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family and recalled Dilara Hafiz’s contributions to her family and society. He prayed for the departed soul’s eternal peace and for strength and patience for the grieving family to bear the loss.

The statement was released following the news of her passing, marking an expression of solidarity and respect from the opposition leader toward the Speaker’s family.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Dilara Hafiz, wife of National Parliament Speaker Hafizuddin Ahmed. According to BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, she passed away at 1:30 p.m. local time in Singapore while undergoing treatment. Her body is expected to be brought back to Bangladesh tomorrow evening.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, and Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni also conveyed condolences. In their messages, they prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extended sympathy to the bereaved family, relatives, admirers, and well-wishers.

Funeral prayers will be held on March 30 at 11 a.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament and after the noon prayer in front of the central mosque at the cantonment. She will be buried at the Banani Military Cemetery. Dilara Hafiz had been under treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka before being flown to Singapore on Eid-ul-Fitr day.

Dhaka residents witnessed a vibrant three-day Eid-ul-Fitr festival that brought traditional celebrations back to public spaces. The citizen-led event began on March 20 with a symbolic royal procession through city streets, followed by a mehendi festival and cultural evening at Rabindra Sarobar. The festivities continued with a colorful Eid parade on Eid morning and concluded on March 22 with a kite festival at Suhrawardy Udyan.

Organizers said the initiative aimed to revive Bangladesh’s lost Eid traditions and reconnect urban life with its cultural roots. The parade featured decorated elephants, horses, musicians, and performers, while participants chanted festive and social slogans. Citizens expressed joy at rediscovering communal celebrations once confined to Old Dhaka. Organizers, including writers and activists, emphasized that such events reclaim cultural sovereignty and promote unity beyond political divides.

Encouraged by the strong public response, organizers plan to expand the festival in future years, aiming to make it an annual platform for inclusive celebration and cultural revival across Bangladesh.

Hezbollah carried out 82 operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon within the past 24 hours, according to reports on March 28, 2026. The operations targeted areas where Israeli troops were attempting to advance, particularly around the city of Khiam, where intense fighting is ongoing as Israel seeks full control of the area.

The Lebanese armed group claimed to have destroyed two Israeli tanks during the clashes. Ground battles were also reported in the cities of Qantara and Miniara, indicating that the confrontation has spread across multiple fronts in southern Lebanon. The fighting has been continuing since the previous week.

In addition, Hezbollah fired a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli warplane flying at low altitude over Beirut, the Lebanese capital. The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights escalating hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces across Lebanon’s southern and central regions.

Police have arrested five individuals, including an associate of top criminal Yasin, in connection with the murder of a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer in Sitakunda’s Jungle Salimpur area of Chattogram. The arrests were made during operations conducted on Thursday evening and night across Jungle Salimpur and other parts of the district. The arrests were confirmed by Faujdarhat Police Outpost In-Charge SI Mohammad Sohel Rana and Investigation Officer SI Mohammad Idris Ali.

According to police sources, three suspects—Delwar Hossain, Md. Sohel, and Md. Faruk—were detained on Friday evening, followed by three more arrests later that night. Among them, Sohel and Delwar are known associates of Yasin. Police later showed five as officially arrested and released one. All detainees are accused in the RAB officer murder case. Earlier, on January 26, two other suspects named Mizan and Mamun were arrested in the same case.

The case stems from the January 19 killing of RAB-7 Deputy Assistant Director Abdul Motaleb Bhuiyan, who was abducted and murdered by armed criminals during an operation in Alinagar and Jungle Salimpur. Despite a large joint operation on March 9 involving about 3,500 personnel, Yasin remains at large.

The government has decided to appoint one tag officer at every petrol pump across the country to enhance supervision and coordination of fuel management activities amid the current global context. The decision was made during an online meeting chaired by Mohammad Saiful Islam, Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, on Friday.

According to the meeting resolution, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will appoint tag officers for petrol pumps in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas. Outside these cities, district commissioners and upazila executive officers will assign government officials as tag officers for each petrol pump within their jurisdictions. These officers will operate under procedures set by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and BPC, submitting daily reports.

All relevant offices and agencies have been requested to appoint the designated officers and send the information to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division as per the directive.

Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah announced that it carried out 82 operations within Lebanon and across the border against Israeli forces over the past 24 hours. The group also claimed to have fired a surface-to-air missile targeting an Israeli warplane flying low over Beirut, marking a notable escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Analysts cited in the report view the use of such weaponry over the Lebanese capital as a significant strategic shift in the confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah further claimed responsibility for destroying two Israeli tanks near the city of Tyre and reported intense fighting with Israeli troops attempting to take control of Khiam.

The developments highlight a sharp rise in hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border, with the conflict appearing to expand both geographically and in intensity, according to the report.

Authorities have launched the final phase of rescue operations at Rajbari’s Daulatdia Ferry Ghat No. 3, where a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River on March 25. On Saturday morning, teams from BIWTC, BIWTA, the district and upazila administrations, Fire Service, Navy, and Coast Guard began removing the pontoon to expand the search area. Officials said this marks the concluding stage of the multi-day rescue effort.

The accident occurred when a bus from Sohardya Paribahan, traveling from Kumarkhali in Kushtia, lost control while boarding a ferry and fell into the river, triggering panic and immediate rescue efforts. Local residents, river police, and five fire service units initially joined the operation, later reinforced by Navy and Coast Guard divers. Challenging water depth and conditions hampered progress.

So far, 26 bodies have been recovered and handed over to families, each receiving Tk 25,000 in financial aid from the district administration. Upazila Executive Officer Sathi Das said the operation may conclude after this final search, though further steps will depend on the situation. Security has been tightened at the ferry ghat, and officials have called for stricter oversight to prevent future accidents.