A report has revealed extensive corruption and financial irregularities in Bangladesh’s Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) project initiated during the former Awami League government. The project, valued at about Tk 3,825 crore for purchasing 150,000 machines, allegedly caused financial losses of around Tk 3,172 crore due to inflated pricing—nearly ten times higher than market rates. The audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General found that the procurement bypassed open tendering, using direct purchase through a military-run enterprise while importing components from abroad.

The report implicates several influential figures, including a former security adviser, senior election officials, and executives of the Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory, in what is described as a coordinated institutional corruption scheme. Many of the machines are now unusable, with only a few thousand operational, raising further questions about quality and intent. The Anti-Corruption Commission has begun investigations after finding one in three machines defective.

The current Election Commission’s decision to discontinue EVM use and the Election System Reform Commission’s similar stance are seen as tacit acknowledgments of the project’s failure. Calls have intensified for a full, impartial investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new policy titled “Cybersecurity Framework, Version 1.0 (2026)” to address growing cyber risks in the country’s financial sector. The framework, issued on Sunday, requires all scheduled banks, financial institutions, mobile financial service providers, payment service providers, and payment system operators to fully implement the guidelines by December 31, 2026. The central bank stated that the expansion of online services, digital platforms, and interconnected networks has increased both efficiency and cyber threats.

According to the circular, cyberattacks such as hacking, phishing, malware, ransomware, and data theft pose significant risks of financial loss, reputational damage, and service disruption. The framework emphasizes safeguarding customer data, ensuring system integrity, and maintaining technological resilience. It includes provisions on governance, risk management, data protection, network security, access control, incident management, third-party risk, compliance, and staff training.

The framework sets minimum cybersecurity standards for financial institutions, aiming to strengthen resilience and protect sensitive information. Institutions are instructed to adopt effective risk management strategies, conduct regular monitoring, and promote awareness through training programs.

Three journalists were killed on Saturday during an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon while on duty. On Sunday morning, hundreds of people gathered at a cemetery in a southern suburb of Beirut to attend their farewell ceremony. The victims were identified as Ali Shoeib, Fatima Faitani, and Mohammad Faitani. Ali Shoeib was a well-known reporter for Al Manar, a Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese television station.

The Israeli military, IDF, described Shoeib as a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force intelligence unit but provided no evidence to support the claim. The IDF did not comment on the deaths of the two journalists from the Faitani family. Fatima Faitani worked as a correspondent for Al Mayadeen channel, while her brother Mohammad Faitani was a cameraman.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the killings as an “open crime” that violated the most fundamental rules of international law, according to the report sourced from the BBC.

Nepal has expressed interest in upgrading Saidpur Airport in northern Bangladesh to international standards. The interest was conveyed by Nepal’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, during a courtesy meeting with Bangladesh’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam Rita, and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat in Dhaka on Sunday morning.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized strengthening existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Nepal. The Nepalese side sought cooperation in developing Bangladesh’s aviation and tourism sectors. Ambassador Bhandari noted that upgrading Saidpur Airport would enhance regional connectivity and create new opportunities for tourism and trade between the two countries.

Discussions also covered maintaining reasonable airfares on the Dhaka–Kathmandu route and working jointly to promote tourism. The Bangladeshi ministers assured continued cooperation with Nepal in aviation and tourism development.

The global economy is under mounting strain following joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran that have triggered sharp increases in commodity prices and stock market declines. Over the past month, retaliatory strikes across Persian Gulf refineries, pipelines, and gas terminals have disrupted energy flows, forcing developing nations to ration fuel and expand subsidies for the poor. The International Energy Agency described the resulting 20 million-barrel-per-day shortfall as the largest oil supply crisis in history.

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil passes, has crippled exports from Kuwait and Iraq. A separate Iranian strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG terminal destroyed 17 percent of its export capacity. Brent crude prices have surged to over $105 per barrel, while fertilizer and helium supplies have also been disrupted. Economists from MIT, Harvard, and the IMF warned that the conflict could trigger stagflation and reduce global growth by up to 0.4 percent.

Experts caution that recovery will be slow, with Gulf energy infrastructure heavily damaged and food prices rising due to fertilizer shortages. The crisis threatens to deepen inequality, hitting poorer nations hardest.

NCP lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud told Parliament on Sunday that Generation Z no longer supports Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution. Speaking during the discussion on the President’s address, Masud identified himself as part of the Gen Z generation and argued that those born decades after independence question why they have not fully enjoyed voting rights. He said that although the country gained independence, flag, and borders, young citizens still do not feel secure in Bangladesh.

Masud also raised issues from his constituency, including river erosion in Hatiya and attacks on his motorcade during the election period. He accused ruling party members of benefiting from sacrifices made by July Movement activists and warned against repeating the irregularities of the 1994 Magura by-election. He alleged post-election violence, including an assault on him and a rape incident linked to political retaliation, criticizing delays in investigations and DNA reports.

Other opposition MPs, including Khandaker Abu Ashfaq, Abdul Aziz, and Mohammad Abdul Malik, also participated in the discussion on the President’s speech.

Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has said that the current activities of the National Parliament show no reflection of the July Charter or the referendum held alongside the national election. Speaking on Sunday, March 29, during a session of the 13th National Parliament, he remarked that observing the ongoing proceedings gives the impression that no such referendum ever took place.

Nahid Islam argued that before conducting regular and daily parliamentary business, the House should first discuss the referendum and the July Charter implementation order as matters of national importance. He emphasized that these issues deserve the highest priority in parliamentary discussions and should be resolved before proceeding with routine activities.

He added that a notice had already been submitted on behalf of the opposition leader under parliamentary rules. Nahid appealed to the Speaker and the House to prioritize discussion on the referendum and the July Charter implementation order as the first agenda item.

An airstrike hit Iran’s Isfahan University of Technology on Sunday, marking the second such attack on the institution within a week. According to Akbar Salehi, deputy head of security and law enforcement for Isfahan province, several campus buildings were damaged and at least four staff members were injured. He confirmed that a similar strike had occurred the previous Thursday.

Following the latest incident, Iran issued a warning that it could target American universities in the region in retaliation for attacks on Iranian institutions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that such actions would be a response to continued assaults on Iranian facilities.

The situation underscores rising regional tensions after repeated strikes on Iranian sites, with potential implications for educational and diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP on Sunday raised an adjournment motion in parliament regarding the delay in convening the session of the Constitutional Reform Council as required under Article 10 of the July National Charter and Constitutional Reform Implementation Order 2025. With the Speaker’s permission, he presented the motion, recalling those who suffered or died under past authoritarian rule and emphasizing that the current parliament was formed in a special context following years of struggle against fascism.

Dr. Rahman stated that despite legal provisions requiring the council to be convened within 30 calendar days of the national election results, no such session had yet been called. He argued that this inaction disregards public expectations and urged immediate discussion on the matter. The Speaker later ruled that a two-hour discussion would be held on March 31.

Earlier, heated debate arose between government and opposition members over the motion notice, but the situation normalized after the Speaker allowed the notice to be raised following question-answer and Rule 71 discussions.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering has been appointed as the new proctor of Jagannath University. The appointment will take effect on March 30, 2026, according to an official order signed by the university’s acting registrar, Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin, on Sunday.

The order stated that Professor Dr. Muhammad Tajammul Haque of the Department of Islamic Studies had requested to be relieved from his duties as proctor, and his request was accepted. Following this, Professor Nasir Uddin was appointed as the new proctor, subject to syndicate approval and until further notice.

The notice also mentioned that Professor Nasir Uddin will be entitled to allowances and other benefits as per university regulations while performing his new responsibilities.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued 11 directives requiring government employees to remain in their offices from 9:00 to 9:40 a.m., conserve electricity and fuel, and maintain cleanliness in office spaces. The instructions were sent on Sunday to all departments, agencies, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and upazila executive officers. The ministry emphasized that earlier guidance from the Cabinet Division on similar matters had not been fully followed, prompting the renewed call for compliance.

The directives include mandatory presence in offices during the specified morning period, efficient use of natural light, limiting use of electrical appliances, maintaining air conditioner temperatures at or above 25 degrees Celsius, and ensuring all electrical equipment is turned off after office hours. Offices are also instructed to avoid unnecessary lighting, practice fuel efficiency, and keep all areas clean, including corridors and stairways.

Each office has been asked to form a vigilance team to monitor adherence to these directives, reinforcing accountability and energy-saving practices across government institutions.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan MP has called on teachers to fulfill their ethical and professional responsibilities despite existing limitations and challenges. He made the remarks on Sunday while inaugurating a training program at the National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM) in Dhaka, describing teachers as the 'chiropractic doctors' of the nation who shape future generations.

The minister emphasized that building the future Bangladesh is a national commitment, not an individual or government agenda, and teachers play the most crucial role in achieving this goal. Highlighting structural issues in the education system, he pointed to delays in SSC and HSC examinations, which cause significant time loss for students, and stressed the need for effective reforms. He also urged participating teachers to submit written recommendations after the training to improve future programs.

Dr. Milan described the education sector as a place of devotion and said that every positive outcome from education is a lasting benefit for teachers. He called for collective and constructive efforts from all teachers to move beyond past limitations and work together for a developed Bangladesh.

Six people were killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on the Iranian village of Osmavandan, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera. The strike hit a residential area, killing two people on the spot and four others later at a hospital. The attack also destroyed five houses and severely damaged twenty-two more.

Iran claims that nearly 93,000 civilian structures have already been damaged in ongoing US-Israeli operations targeting civilian infrastructure. The latest strike adds to a series of incidents that have intensified tensions in the region, with repeated reports of civilian casualties and property destruction.

The report did not include official statements from the United States or Israel regarding the incident, and further details about the broader military context remain unclear.

A World Bank delegation led by Jean Pesme, Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, met with Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid on Sunday at the ministry’s conference room. The meeting began with an exchange of greetings, where the minister welcomed the delegation and received congratulations on assuming office.

During the discussion, the minister announced the introduction of a 'Krishak Card' initiative aimed at protecting farmers’ interests, boosting production, and ensuring sustainable agricultural development. The program will begin on a pilot basis in 11 blocks across several districts this year before expanding nationwide. The World Bank delegation expressed interest in increasing investment in the agricultural sector, particularly in input supply, product processing, and market development. The minister welcomed this proposal.

Both sides expressed optimism about strengthening mutual cooperation to enhance sustainability in agriculture and improve farmers’ livelihoods. Senior officials from the agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and food ministries, along with World Bank’s South Asia Regional Director for Sustainable Development, Dina Umali-Deininger, attended the meeting.

Authorities in Israel have warned of a potential chemical leak following an Iranian attack on the Neot Hovav industrial zone near Beersheba. The incident occurred on March 29, 2026, and residents living close to the area were instructed to stay indoors as a precaution. Emergency services confirmed that one person was injured in the attack.

The Neot Hovav industrial zone is located about four miles from the southern Israeli city of Beersheba and houses facilities containing hazardous materials. Israeli media reported that residents were told to keep their windows closed due to fears that dangerous substances from the affected factory could spread into nearby areas.

The warning follows heightened regional tensions, with Iranian and Israeli military actions reported in recent days. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation to prevent further risks to public safety.