The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that global inflation could rise further if oil prices continue to increase due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The warning came from IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on March 9 during a symposium organized by Japan’s Ministry of Finance. She noted that the recent escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran has created instability in the global energy market.

Georgieva cautioned that if crude oil prices rise by 10 percent and remain elevated for most of the year, global inflation could increase by up to 40 basis points. She described the current global situation as uncertain and urged policymakers to remain vigilant and prepare for unexpected developments. The IMF chief emphasized that the Middle East conflict has once again put the resilience of the global economy to a serious test.

The remarks highlight growing concerns that prolonged geopolitical tensions could undermine economic stability and complicate inflation management worldwide.

The government has reinstated former Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) West Zone, Md. Kohinoor Mia, 15 years after his removal from service. A notification issued on Monday by the Discipline-1 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the previous dismissal order had been revoked. The order, signed by Senior Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury on behalf of the President, also directed that the period since his suspension be counted as part of his service tenure, entitling him to arrears and other benefits.

According to the notification, the decision followed a review of two departmental cases and the disposal of two related criminal cases in court. After these proceedings, Kohinoor Mia submitted a review petition seeking reconsideration of his dismissal. Upon evaluation, the President approved the cancellation of the earlier order, leading to the withdrawal of the 2011 suspension notification issued by the Home Ministry.

The reinstatement marks the conclusion of a long administrative process that began with his suspension in February 2011.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed officials to explore ways to make Bangladesh’s zakat management system more effective and organized. The directive came during a meeting on zakat management held on Monday at the Cabinet Division, confirmed by Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony. The meeting discussed how efficient zakat management could contribute to poverty alleviation and decided to restructure the Zakat Board.

A proposal was made to form a committee led by Religious Affairs Minister Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad, including Baitul Mukarram Mosque’s Khatib Allama Mufti Abdul Malek, As Sunnah Foundation Chairman Shaykh Ahmadullah, and several Islamic economists and scholars. The Ministry of Religious Affairs will propose the full list of committee members within ten days. The committee will soon submit its recommendations to the Prime Minister regarding zakat management and board restructuring.

The meeting followed the Prime Minister’s remarks at an iftar event on March 7, where he emphasized that proper zakat management could play a vital role in eradicating poverty within 10 to 15 years.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the special 'Family Card' program for women-led households at an event in Banani’s T&T playground near Karail slum in Dhaka tomorrow. The announcement was made at a press conference organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare in Dhaka on Monday. The program is being piloted in 15 wards across 13 districts, where data from 67,854 women-led families have been collected and verified through multi-level committees.

Based on a software-driven proxy means test, 37,567 families have been finalized as eligible beneficiaries. Each selected household will receive a contactless Family Card equipped with QR code and NFC technology. The beneficiaries will get a monthly allowance of Tk 2,500 through direct digital transfer to their mobile wallet or bank account. Families with government jobs, pensions, large businesses, or luxury assets are excluded from eligibility.

For the pilot phase, Tk 38.07 crore has been allocated, with Tk 25.15 crore for direct cash support and Tk 12.92 crore for data collection, system setup, and card preparation. The Family Card Implementation Guideline 2026 has been published on the ministry’s website.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government is taking steps to bring back two suspects in the murder of Inquilab Mancha leader Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. The main accused, Faisal Masud, and his associate, Alamgir Hossain, were arrested in West Bengal, India. Speaking to reporters after a district law and order committee meeting in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, the minister confirmed that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure their return.

He explained that Bangladesh and India have a bilateral agreement on the extradition of accused persons, under which the two suspects can be repatriated soon. The Home Ministry has already initiated the necessary procedures in this regard. Responding to another question, the minister said it is wrong to label every incident as mob violence, adding that the government does not tolerate such acts and is working to prevent them.

Salahuddin Ahmed also announced that the government has decided to launch a nationwide anti-terror operation immediately after Ramadan, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to ensuring that no criminal operates outside the law.

China has described Iran’s appointment of Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader as a completely internal affair. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference that the decision was made in accordance with Iran’s constitution. Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged respect for Iran’s sovereignty and warned against any external attempts to alter its political system, saying that so-called color revolutions or regime-change plans would never gain public support.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the new Iranian leader, according to a Fox News program. Host Brian Kilmeade said he spoke with Trump after the announcement, and Trump told him he was “not happy,” though no further details were provided.

The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body, selected Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s third Supreme Leader shortly after midnight Tehran time on Sunday, following the death of Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has warned Iranian civilians that it cannot guarantee their safety if they are located inside or near facilities used for military purposes. In a statement posted on social media platform X on Sunday, CENTCOM said that Iran’s authorities are using densely populated civilian areas to conduct military operations. The command identified cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, and Dezful as locations being used to launch one-way drone and ballistic missile attacks.

CENTCOM cautioned that such practices endanger civilians and that any site used for military purposes would lose its protected status and become a lawful military target under international law. The command accused Iranian authorities of knowingly putting civilian lives at risk and urged civilians to remain in their homes for safety. It also alleged that Iranian forces have carried out indiscriminate attacks on civilian airports, hotels, and residential areas, threatening the safety of innocent people across the Middle East.

The warning underscores rising tensions over Iran’s military activities and the potential humanitarian risks in densely populated areas.

Authorities in Chattogram closed the Bayezid–Faujdarhat Link Road early Monday ahead of a joint forces operation in Sitakunda’s Jungle Salimpur to arrest suspected criminals and recover weapons. Police set up checkpoints at both ends of the road, halting all civilian traffic from morning to evening except for administrative vehicles. The closure caused major inconvenience for university students and city-bound commuters who rely on the route for quick access to Chattogram.

Residents and students expressed frustration that the road was sealed without prior notice. Two private universities, Asian Women’s University and Southern University, were particularly affected as hundreds of students struggled to reach their campuses. Local businesses reported that shops and restaurants along the road were ordered to remain closed, while vehicles bound for other districts were forced to take longer routes through congested city areas.

Police officials said the restrictions were temporary and would be lifted once the operation concluded. They confirmed that Jungle Salimpur was now under full control, with two temporary camps established to prevent the return of armed groups.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced the indefinite suspension of its flights to Doha, Sharjah, Kuwait and Dammam due to the ongoing security crisis in the Middle East. The decision was confirmed in a press release signed by the airline’s General Manager of Public Relations, Bosra Islam, on Monday. The airline stated that these routes will remain closed until further notice.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, a total of 335 international flights have been cancelled from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport since February 28, 2026, following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. Several countries, including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan, have closed their airspace since that date, severely disrupting regional air travel.

Biman also announced that flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi will remain suspended until March 10, 2026, pending improvement in the situation and approval from relevant airport authorities. The airline said it is closely monitoring developments and will update passengers promptly through its call center.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that at least 83 children were killed and 254 injured in Lebanon within a week as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified. The statement, published on UNICEF’s website on Monday, said that more than 10 children were killed and around 36 injured on average each day across the country.

According to UNICEF, over the past 28 months, 329 children have been killed and 1,632 injured in Lebanon. The organization described the figures as deeply alarming, highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict on children. It added that widespread displacement has forced about 700,000 people, including roughly 200,000 children, to leave their homes, adding to thousands already displaced by earlier violence.

UNICEF urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly schools and shelters, and to comply with international humanitarian law. The agency called for immediate action to de-escalate the situation and prevent further harm to children.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman led the Bangladesh delegation at the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting held at Lancaster House in London on Sunday. Ministers from 56 member states discussed strengthening multilateral cooperation and preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for November 1–4 in Antigua and Barbuda.

According to a press release from the Bangladesh High Commission in London, the delegation included the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and senior government officials. The meeting focused on global challenges, the erosion of the rules-based international order, and the need to enhance collective prosperity through deeper cooperation among member countries.

Diplomatic sources indicated that the conference provided Bangladesh with an opportunity to seek international support for its candidacy for the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly for 2026–2027. The election will take place on June 2 in New York, where Bangladesh will compete with Cyprus for the position.

Bangladesh Bank has appointed observers to four private sector banks—National Bank, Premier Bank, IFIC Bank, and Al-Arafah Islami Bank. The central bank issued letters to the appointed observers on Monday, March 9, 2026, through its relevant department.

According to the information provided, Munir Ahmed Chowdhury, Director of Bank Supervision Department-12, has been appointed to National Bank; Mohammad Anisur Rahman, Director of Islamic Banking Regulations and Policy Department, to Al-Arafah Islami Bank; A N M Moinul Kabir, Director of Payment Systems Department, to Premier Bank; and A K M Kamruzzaman, Director of Forex Reserve and Treasury Management Department-1, to IFIC Bank. These officials will attend meetings of the banks’ boards of directors, executive committees, and risk management committees.

The appointments indicate Bangladesh Bank’s continued monitoring of private banks’ governance and risk management practices through direct participation in key decision-making forums.

Fresh waves of attacks swept across the Middle East on Monday, marking the tenth day of the Iran war. Following a joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran, Tehran launched new assaults targeting Israel and several Gulf countries. Al Jazeera reported one Israeli fatality from Iranian rocket fire. Hours after Mojtaba Khamenei was named Iran’s new Supreme Leader, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced new missile operations. Israel responded with airstrikes on Iranian targets, claiming to have killed senior Quds Force commanders in Beirut.

According to Reuters and CNN, explosions were heard in Tehran and Beirut, where fires broke out in a hotel. Bahrain’s main oil refinery was hit by a drone attack injuring 32 people, including a two-month-old infant. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar all reported intercepting drones or missiles near key energy facilities. Iran’s foreign ministry dismissed accusations of attacks on Turkey, Cyprus, and Azerbaijan, calling some claims staged.

Iranian officials ruled out ceasefire talks, saying mediation was meaningless under current conditions, as regional tensions continued to escalate.

The newly formed committee of the Dhaka University branch of Inqilab Manch officially began its activities on March 9, 2026, by paying tribute at the grave of Shaheed Osman Hadi. The committee members offered prayers for his soul before commencing their organizational journey. The event marked the formal start of the new committee’s work under the guidance of central and branch leaders.

Central committee member Md. Raihan Molla stated that the new committee was formed with members who prioritize the organization and are ideologically committed to its goals. He emphasized that the Dhaka University branch aims to become a strong intellectual platform through cultural and creative programs, regular study circles, research discussions, magazine publications, and at least two monthly seminars. He urged members to engage actively in research and writing to strengthen the organization’s intellectual foundation.

Committee convener Md. Fazle Rabbi Sarkar said the branch will work to promote national consciousness and cultural values among students. He added that responsibilities have been distributed among members to ensure effective implementation of the organization’s objectives.

Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following the announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message, expressing confidence that Mojtaba would continue his father’s work with honor and unite the Iranian people even in difficult times. Putin also reaffirmed Russia’s unwavering support and solidarity with Tehran.

According to the report, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Russia welcomed the leadership transition, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Mojtaba’s selection. Fox News host Brian Kilmeade stated that Trump told him he was “not happy” about the appointment, though the U.S. president has not made any public comment on the matter.

The differing reactions from Moscow and Washington highlight the geopolitical divisions surrounding Iran’s leadership change and its potential impact on international relations.