Former Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a key figure during the 2007 military-backed caretaker government, has been shown arrested in a human trafficking case. Police confirmed that he was shown arrested on Tuesday afternoon at Paltan Police Station, with the Detective Branch seeking a five-day remand. He had been detained the previous night from his residence in Baridhara DOHS, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police chief DIG Shafiqul Islam, who stated that Masud faces at least five cases.

Masud Uddin previously served as the coordinator of the National Coordination Committee for Serious Crimes Suppression during the 2007 emergency rule, a period marked by the detention of senior politicians and business leaders. He was closely associated with then Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed and played a central role in the anti-corruption drive that followed the “One-Eleven” political crisis.

The former general later became a Member of Parliament from Feni-3 under the Jatiya Party and was accused in several cases, including a 2024 incident in Feni. His arrest marks the first major action against him in nearly two years.

State Minister for Health Dr. M A Muhit conducted a surprise inspection of the South Surma Upazila Health Complex in Sylhet on March 24, 2026, through a video call from the Secretariat in Dhaka. During the call, he spoke with patients about the quality of medical services and the availability of government medicines. He also reviewed the hospital’s attendance register live on video to verify which doctors were present on duty.

The minister praised the doctors and staff after learning about their presence and the patients’ satisfaction. He emphasized that under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government is working tirelessly to ensure quality healthcare for every citizen. He urged doctors to maintain a service-oriented mindset and to build public trust to help create a “Healthy Bangladesh.”

A day earlier, on March 23, Dr. Muhit had similarly inspected the Zakiganj Upazila Hospital via video call, where he found one of four doctors absent and ordered an inquiry. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing world-class healthcare and reiterated plans to introduce a national health card for all citizens.

Iran launched a new round of ballistic missile attacks on Israel on Tuesday morning, according to Iranian state television. The strikes reportedly hit a building in northern Israel, while loud explosions were heard in Jerusalem, news agency AFP reported. Iran’s state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), stated on Telegram that missiles were fired at what it called occupied territories.

Shortly afterward, IRIB claimed that Iranian missiles had penetrated several of Israel’s defense systems. Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, released footage showing damage to a northern building but confirmed there were no casualties. The Israeli military issued multiple alerts, saying it had detected incoming Iranian missiles and was working to intercept them.

The renewed missile exchange marks another escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel, with both sides reporting defensive and retaliatory actions in recent weeks.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on the United States and Iran to return to the negotiating table and end the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking in Canberra, Australia, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, von der Leyen described Iran’s attempts to close the strategic waterway as “deplorable” and urged an immediate halt to hostilities to prevent further global economic instability.

She emphasized that threats to commercial shipping, the laying of mines, drone and missile attacks, and any blockade attempts must stop at once. Von der Leyen warned that the situation is already affecting global gas and oil prices, stressing that dialogue remains the only viable path to resolving the Middle East conflict.

Her remarks come amid rising regional tensions, including reports of missile strikes in Israel, air raids in Beirut, and casualties in Iraq and Ukraine, underscoring the broader instability affecting global security and trade.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has announced that Bangladesh will observe a symbolic one-minute blackout across the country on the night of March 25. According to the official directive, the blackout will take place from 10:30 p.m. to 10:31 p.m. on that day. The announcement was made through a government press release issued on March 24.

The directive specifies that key point installations, emergency service providers, and foreign missions in Bangladesh will remain exempt from the blackout program. The measure is described as symbolic, and no further operational details were provided in the announcement.

The ministry’s notice serves as a nationwide instruction for citizens and institutions to participate in the brief observance, while ensuring that essential and diplomatic services continue uninterrupted.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that two people were killed and five others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Beirut suburb of Bchamoun on Tuesday. The attack, part of a series of overnight strikes, targeted multiple districts in the capital’s southern suburbs, including areas such as Bir al-Abed, al-Ruwais, and Burj al-Barajneh.

According to Lebanon’s state news agency, Israeli warplanes carried out seven separate raids across the southern suburbs, areas known for Hezbollah influence. The Israeli military also reiterated its call for residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate. The strikes come amid intensified hostilities following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israel that began on March 2, launched in response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli strike.

Since the escalation, Israel has conducted widespread attacks across Lebanon, killing at least 1,039 people and deploying ground forces in the south. The United Nations has stated that nearly one in five Lebanese citizens has been displaced by the ongoing conflict.

On World Tuberculosis Day, observed on March 24, a report highlighted that 21 percent of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Bangladesh remain undiagnosed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country has an estimated 379,000 TB patients, while the National Tuberculosis Control Program identified 301,564 cases last year. Experts warn that untreated patients continue to spread the infection, increasing the risk of new cases.

Program data show that 56 percent of identified patients were men and 42 percent were women, with an average of 826 new cases and 19 deaths reported daily. WHO figures, however, suggest a higher daily death toll. The Global Tuberculosis Report 2023 ranks Bangladesh seventh worldwide for TB burden, with 42,000 deaths recorded in 2022.

Globally, around 10.6 million people have contracted TB in recent years, affecting men, women, and children across regions. World Tuberculosis Day commemorates Robert Koch’s 1882 discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for the disease.

A commander of Iraq’s former paramilitary coalition Hashd al-Shaabi and several fighters were killed in an airstrike in western Iraq’s Anbar province, the group said on Tuesday. The strike hit a base during a commanders’ meeting, and a group source blamed the United States for the attack. According to the source, seven members were killed and 13 others injured. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), as the group is also known, confirmed the death of Anbar province commander and operations chief Saad Dawai al-Bayji and condemned the attack.

The PMF is part of Iraq’s regular armed forces but includes several Iran-backed brigades. Iraqi authorities have repeatedly condemned attacks on the group since the start of the ongoing conflict that began after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran-aligned militias in Iraq and the region have claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. interests, prompting retaliatory strikes.

Last week, the Pentagon acknowledged for the first time that U.S. helicopters had been used in operations against Iran-backed groups in Iraq during the current conflict.

Iranian officials have denied holding any discussions with the United States, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claim that a 'very good and productive conversation' had taken place to end the ongoing conflict. The denial came just hours after Trump’s statement, with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posting on social media on March 23 that no talks had occurred.

In his post on X, Ghalibaf said the United States and Israel were 'trapped in Iran’s quagmire' and accused Trump of using 'fake news' to escape it. He further alleged that Washington and Tel Aviv were spreading false information to manipulate financial and oil markets. Ghalibaf added that the Iranian people demanded full and remorseful punishment for aggressors and that all Iranian officials remained committed to their supreme leader until that goal was achieved.

The exchange highlights continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington, even as international actors such as the European Union have urged both sides to engage in dialogue.

A missile attack by Iran caused significant destruction on a street in Tel Aviv, Israel’s capital, according to a live update from Al Jazeera on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The broadcast showed scenes of widespread devastation following Iran’s latest strike, with emergency workers and police gathered among debris-strewn streets. Several vehicles were severely damaged, including one overturned car and others crushed by the blast.

The report noted that recent missile attacks have struck various areas in Israel, including Tel Aviv, amid ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel. These assaults have resulted in damage to buildings and vehicles in multiple locations, reflecting a continuing escalation in the conflict.

The situation underscores the growing intensity of the Iran-Israel confrontation, with repeated missile exchanges causing visible destruction in urban areas.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapon emphasized that sports are essential alongside education for developing conscious and responsible citizens. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon while inaugurating a football tournament at Kendua High School field in Biratara Union of Dhanbari upazila, Tangail. The minister said that sports help protect society from criminal activities and encourage students to live healthy, disciplined lives.

He noted that students engaged in both study and sports remain free from unethical behavior, terrorism, and drugs. According to him, sports uplift the human spirit and contribute to higher educational performance. Swapon added that the government aims to keep the country free from terrorism, extortion, and misuse of power, focusing on public service as its main goal.

Local leaders from the Dhanbari upazila BNP and its affiliated organizations were present at the event, showing community participation in the initiative.

Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is pursuing diplomatic efforts to find a respectful resolution to the ongoing US and Israeli aggression against Iran. According to Turkish foreign ministry sources, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a series of phone calls on March 22 with Iranian, Egyptian, and European diplomats, as well as senior US officials. He also discussed regional de-escalation with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, and Pakistan. Ankara is emphasizing a short-term ceasefire to allow continued negotiations, though the possibility of renewed conflict remains if talks fail.

Former US President Donald Trump stated that Washington is engaged in productive discussions to ease Middle East tensions and has temporarily suspended strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure. Fidan warned that Israel might seek to prolong the conflict by targeting specific military and strategic sites, highlighting the critical role of the United States in shaping outcomes.

Turkey is also working to form a unified diplomatic front involving European, Gulf, and regional powers. Analysts note that Iran faces political and economic pressure and may enter talks, but lasting peace remains uncertain due to disputes over future attacks, compensation, and nuclear issues.

Lion Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury, Member of Parliament for Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda), announced a firm stance against corruption and extortion. Speaking on Monday at an Eid reunion event in Muradpur Union’s coastal area, organized by Italy expatriate Jubo Dal leader Nur Mohammad, he warned that illegal activities such as forced sale of construction materials, soil extraction from farmland, drug trade, and extortion would not be tolerated. He also cautioned that those involved would face organizational action for tarnishing the party’s image.

Aslam Chowdhury emphasized that proper implementation of ongoing development projects in Sitakunda would accelerate local infrastructure growth. He highlighted the importance of environmental conservation, planned industrialization, and sustainable development to transform Sitakunda into a modern, investment-friendly industrial zone.

Special guest Nurul Amin, MP for Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai), said such reunions strengthen fraternity, harmony, and mutual relations among people, expressing satisfaction at sharing Eid joy with Sitakunda residents.

A parliamentary special committee has begun its first meeting to review 133 ordinances issued during the interim government period. The meeting, held on Tuesday morning, marks the start of the committee’s formal work under the 13th National Parliament. The committee will examine the ordinances and prepare a report for submission to Parliament by April 2, as directed earlier.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of the committee, told reporters before the meeting that the special committee was formed under procedural rules because standing committees have not yet been established. He said the discussion would focus on which ordinances could be accepted, which might need amendments, and which require further changes. Some ordinances are reportedly seen as conflicting with the constitution, while others reflect the aspirations of the July uprising, including recognition and indemnity for those involved.

According to parliamentary rules, ordinances issued when Parliament is not in session must be presented on the first sitting day and passed within 30 days to remain valid. The next parliamentary session is scheduled for March 29 and will continue until April 30.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that the United Kingdom is not involved in any attacks on Iran. He acknowledged that U.S. forces are using some British bases, but only for defensive and limited purposes. Starmer emphasized that Britain is not participating in any military operations against Iran and will not take offensive actions in the future.

Referring to the Iraq war, Starmer said that the government has learned from past mistakes and shaped its current policy accordingly. He noted that British warplanes are deployed in West Asia for defensive missions and have already helped intercept some attacks. His remarks come amid heightened tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which prompted Iranian counterattacks targeting American and allied bases in the region.

Starmer stressed that ensuring the safety of British citizens in West Asia remains the government’s top priority. He warned that Iran’s escalating attacks are destabilizing the region and reiterated that lasting solutions should come through dialogue rather than military force.