The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that multiple rocket attacks struck central Israel, causing additional damage. Search and rescue teams have been deployed to the affected areas, according to the IDF. The country’s emergency service agency shared several images on its Telegram account showing smoke rising from buildings and debris scattered across the area.

The report follows earlier incidents linked to ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran. The IDF’s latest update indicates that the situation remains tense, with visible destruction in several locations. The emergency services’ visual evidence highlights the extent of the damage caused by the recent attacks.

Further assessments of the damage and casualties are expected as rescue operations continue in the impacted zones.

Large numbers of visitors are continuing to crowd various tourist spots in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram even after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays ended on March 23. Families and travelers from across the country are visiting the area’s hills, waterfalls, lakes, and coastal sites to enjoy its natural beauty. Popular destinations such as Mahamaya Ecopark, Khaiyachhara Waterfall, Napittachhara Trail, Sonapahar Project, Arshi Nagar Future Park, Muhuri Irrigation Project, and Domkhali Beach are witnessing heavy daily attendance.

Local authorities and site managers have strengthened safety, cleanliness, and visitor management measures. Operators of major attractions reported that visitor numbers remain high, with guides and precautionary systems in place at key sites like Khaiyachhara. The upazila administration is maintaining regular monitoring to prevent disorder or accidents.

According to local business owners, the sustained tourist presence has boosted hotel, restaurant, and transport activity. Officials believe that with proper planning and management, Mirsarai could further establish itself as one of Bangladesh’s leading tourism destinations.

Ariful Islam Munna, aged 51, died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura. He had been seriously injured the previous day, Monday, March 23, when unidentified assailants stabbed him in front of Khandakar Para High School in Fapore Union under Bogura Sadar upazila.

Munna was a resident of Fapore Khandakar Para and the son of the late Dr. Yasin Ali. Locals rescued him after the attack and took him to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.

The report did not mention any motive behind the attack or whether any suspects had been identified or detained by authorities.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced on Tuesday that jet fuel prices for both domestic and international routes have been increased by nearly 90 taka per liter. According to the official notification, the new rates will take effect from midnight. The domestic jet fuel price has been raised from 112.41 taka to 202.29 taka per liter, marking an increase of 89.88 taka or about 80 percent. For international flights, the price has been adjusted from 0.7384 to 1.3216 US dollars per liter, a rise of approximately 79 percent.

BERC officials stated that the adjustment was made to align with current market conditions, import costs, and international fuel prices. The new rates will remain in effect until further notice.

The decision reflects the regulator’s response to global energy market fluctuations and rising import expenses, which have influenced domestic fuel pricing structures.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom was aware of the ongoing discussions between the United States and Iran. He emphasized that the UK wants to see a reduction in tensions and an end to the conflict as quickly as possible. Starmer welcomed the news of the talks between Washington and Tehran, describing them as a positive step toward de-escalation.

Starmer further noted that any agreement reached through these discussions should impose strict conditions on Iran, particularly concerning nuclear weapons. His remarks reflect the UK government’s position of supporting diplomatic engagement while maintaining firm oversight on nuclear issues.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the UK signaling its preference for diplomacy and stability in addressing the ongoing crisis.

Social Welfare Minister Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain has stated that BNP leader and adviser Mirza Abbas’s health condition is improving. Speaking to the media on Monday, March 23, he said doctors have reported positive signs in various parameters, indicating gradual recovery. He added that as the issue involves the brain, full recovery will take time, and he requested prayers for Abbas.

Mirza Abbas is currently undergoing treatment under close medical supervision at Singapore General Hospital. His personal secretary Mizanur Rahman Sohel, who is also in Singapore, said doctors helped Abbas sit up in a chair around 10 a.m. on Monday, which they consider a positive development. Abbas has started speaking slowly. His wife Afroza Abbas and son Yasir Abbas are staying by his side at the hospital.

Earlier, on March 15, Mirza Abbas was flown from Dhaka to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced medical treatment.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest U.S. aircraft carrier, returned on Monday to a naval base on the Greek island of Crete after participating in wartime operations in the Middle East. The vessel had previously resupplied with food, fuel, and ammunition at Souda Bay in February. On March 12, a fire broke out in the ship’s laundry room, injuring two crew members and damaging around 100 berths.

The Ford, along with another U.S. carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, played a key role in a major air campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February. The withdrawal of the Ford is expected to leave a significant gap in U.S. military presence in the region. Reports also indicated that the ship faced serious toilet malfunctions at sea, forcing sailors to queue for use, and that crew morale had declined due to multiple operational difficulties.

According to U.S. military sources cited by AFP, the damage and morale issues have added to the challenges faced by the carrier during its deployment.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s central general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has warned that legal action will be taken against leaders of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) if investigations prove they spread false information about a reported rape incident in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali. Speaking at a post-Eid meeting with journalists at the Noakhali Press Club on Monday night, Nasir accused NCP leaders of creating a false narrative and spreading propaganda to mislead the public.

He alleged that senior NCP figures shared unverified information on social media to inflame the situation and that some individuals linked to Jamaat-Shibir and NCP were using the sensitive Hadi murder case for political purposes. Nasir also claimed that BNP and its affiliates had been vocal in demanding justice for the murder, while NCP had no visible role at that time. He described the alleged misinformation as an attempt to divert the murder investigation.

Nasir reaffirmed that the real perpetrators must face justice and warned that any political group spreading falsehoods or linking BNP leaders to fabricated stories would face legal consequences.

Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid stated that agriculture will be the main driving force of Bangladesh’s economy. He made the remarks on Tuesday at the Agriculture Ministry’s conference room during a post-Eid greeting event with officials and employees of the Agriculture and Food Ministries. The event was attended by the Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan, Agriculture Secretary Rafiqul E. Mohamed, and Food Secretary Md. Firoz Sarkar.

The minister said Bangladesh’s geography and environment are highly suitable for agriculture and that scientific farming methods could produce more food than the country’s demand. He emphasized that most people depend on agriculture and that the rural economy is rooted in it. The government has launched programs such as distributing farmer cards and canal excavation to strengthen the sector and is implementing a coordinated plan to make agriculture the core of the economy.

He added that food security will be a major challenge in the future and urged officials to work sincerely to meet nutritional needs and ensure a better country for future generations. Nazrul Islam Khan called for honesty and dedication in advancing agriculture and announced a nationwide tree-planting initiative to combat climate impacts.

A total of fifteen members of Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi, including a commander, were killed in an attack in western Iraq on Tuesday, according to a statement from the group. The statement, cited by AFP from Baghdad, said the strike targeted an operations center in Anbar province and described it as a 'treacherous American attack.' The new death toll updates an earlier report that had listed seven fatalities.

Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), is a former paramilitary coalition that has since been integrated into Iraq’s regular armed forces. The organization includes factions with pro-Iranian affiliations, and it accused the United States of responsibility for the latest strike.

The statement did not provide further details about the nature of the attack or the U.S. response, leaving uncertainty about the broader military or political consequences of the incident.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said Bangladesh has not yet sent a formal letter to India regarding the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces charges of crimes against humanity. She stated that during the interim government, Bangladesh had sent a letter to India seeking Hasina’s repatriation. However, under the new government, the issue has only been raised verbally with the Indian envoy so far.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Shama Obaid said the current government has been in office for one month and has held several meetings with India’s High Commissioner. She confirmed that both she and the foreign minister discussed the matter during those meetings.

According to the report, Bangladesh previously sent a letter to India on December 23 requesting Hasina’s return. Sheikh Hasina has been staying in India since fleeing there on August 5 of the previous year.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai confirmed that a building in the city was damaged by a direct hit from an Iranian missile. The incident left four people slightly injured, who were treated by emergency responders. According to an AFP correspondent at the scene, an old three-story building in the northern upscale area of the city was destroyed.

Israeli media, including Army Radio, reported that police believe the damage was caused by three to four warheads launched from a rocket launcher. Each warhead was estimated to contain around 100 kilograms of explosives. Israel’s emergency services released a video showing extensive destruction from the explosion and stated that all four injured individuals were treated and released shortly afterward.

The report comes amid ongoing conflict, with local media noting that thousands have been injured in Israel since the start of the war.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, former social welfare minister Rashed Khan Menon, and former Supreme Court justice A.H.M. Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik in a defamation case filed over alleged derogatory comments about former president Ziaur Rahman. Metropolitan Magistrate Rounak Jahan Taki issued the order on Tuesday after a hearing. The information was confirmed by DMP Prosecution Division Deputy Commissioner Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan.

According to court sources, Inu was shown arrested in the case and produced before the court, while Menon and Manik were brought for appearance. After hearing bail petitions from their lawyers, the court granted bail to all three. Menon and Manik had earlier been shown arrested in the same case on January 21. The case was filed on August 22, 2024, by lawyer Ziaul Haque, and the court had directed the Police Bureau of Investigation to conduct an inquiry.

The complaint alleged that Manik made controversial remarks about Ziaur Rahman during a television talk show in October 2022 and at a seminar in February 2021, while Inu and Menon made similar comments in separate events in July 2013.

Former army officer and ex-MP Masud Uddin Chowdhury has been arrested in a human trafficking case filed at Paltan Police Station in Dhaka. The arrest was confirmed by Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam at a press briefing on Tuesday. Chowdhury was detained from Baridhara late Monday night and later produced before the court. According to police, he faces a total of 11 cases—six in Feni and five in Dhaka—covering charges including murder, attempted murder, and human trafficking.

DB officials stated that three of the Feni cases are under trial, and Chowdhury had been absconding, prompting the court to issue arrest warrants. He also faces multiple allegations under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Criminal Investigation Department. Chowdhury, a key figure during the 2007 military-backed caretaker government, previously served as coordinator of the National Coordination Committee on Serious Crimes.

Police have sought a five-day remand for further interrogation, while court proceedings on his detention are ongoing.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Bangladesh will face increased spending on fuel imports due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. He made the statement on Tuesday, March 24, after a meeting with an IMF delegation at the Secretariat. The delegation, led by Krishna Srinivasan, Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, also met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman earlier in the day.

The minister said discussions with the IMF included whether the government would bear the additional fuel costs, adding that further talks would take place during the upcoming Spring Meetings in Washington. He noted that the IMF had raised issues related to the war context, challenges in the banking and stock market sectors, and tax-to-GDP matters. Chowdhury emphasized that despite the war and fuel crisis, transportation and commodity prices remained stable during Ramadan and Eid due to timely government decisions.

He added that the IMF loan review is scheduled for July, with preliminary discussions to be held in April in Washington. The minister said Bangladesh is negotiating IMF conditions gradually, aligning them with the country’s current economic realities.