A joint operation by RAB-12 of Sirajganj and RAB-13 of Rangpur uncovered a counterfeit money factory in Gangachara upazila, Rangpur. During the raid, law enforcers arrested Md. Rubel Mia, aged 34, and seized fake currency and equipment used for producing counterfeit notes. The operation was confirmed in a press release signed by Additional DIG Md. Atikur Rahman Mia, PPM, on Wednesday morning.

According to the press release, the raid took place on Tuesday afternoon at Rubel’s residence in Chengmari area under Gangachara police station, where RAB recovered counterfeit notes worth Tk 192,500 along with printing materials. Earlier, on March 29, two individuals were arrested in Sirajganj with fake notes worth Tk 1,315,700, and information from that case led to the Gangachara operation.

RAB stated that the arrested individuals had been involved in producing and distributing counterfeit currency for a long time and were already facing multiple criminal cases.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Committee, stated that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen but not for the United States. He said it will remain accessible only to those who follow Iran’s new regulations. Azizi made the remarks addressing U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing that the 47 years of hospitality since the 1979 revolution have now permanently ended.

Azizi further commented that Trump has ultimately achieved his dream of changing Iran’s governance system, though this change has only affected the region’s maritime order. Meanwhile, Iran’s National Security Committee has approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Fars News Agency.

The announcement underscores Iran’s intent to assert control over one of the world’s most strategic waterways, linking its domestic policy shifts to regional maritime operations.

Iraq has secured a place in the upcoming FIFA World Cup after a 40-year absence, defeating Bolivia 2–1 in the intercontinental playoff final. The victory completed the list of 48 participating teams. Despite missing direct qualification from the Asian region, Iraq fought strongly in the playoff to achieve their goal. Coach Graham Arnold had earlier highlighted the players’ strong desire to reach the World Cup.

In the decisive match, Iraq took the lead in the 18th minute through Ali Almahadhi, but Bolivia equalized in the 38th minute via Moises Paniagua. Aymen Hussein restored Iraq’s lead in the 53rd minute, securing the win. This marks Iraq’s second World Cup appearance, the first being in 1986. Coach Graham Arnold also achieved a rare feat by leading a second nation, after Australia, to World Cup qualification.

The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iraq, placed in Group I, will face France, Norway, and Senegal, starting their campaign against Norway on June 16 in Foxborough.

Six people were killed and six others injured in separate road accidents on the Cumilla section of the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway on Wednesday. The incidents occurred between 6 a.m. and noon in Daudkandi’s Chandina, Nimsa, and Chauddagram areas. According to highway police sources, an unidentified bus hit a CNG-run autorickshaw at Daudkandi’s Baropara, killing Abdul Barek, 53, and Mostafa, 52, both residents of Sarkarpur village in Daudkandi.

In another accident near Nimsa Bazar in Burichang, three people were killed on the Dhaka-bound lane. They were identified as Jahirul Islam, 27, from Lalpur village in Begumganj; Sohel Rana, 35, from Keshabpur village in Meherpur Sadar; and Taim, a ninth-grade student of Bara Gobindapur High School in Chandina. In Chauddagram, one more person died after being hit by a bus, though the victim’s identity was not immediately known.

Highway police officials confirmed the fatalities and said investigations were underway to identify the vehicles involved and determine the causes of the accidents.

An Iranian cruise missile attack in Qatar damaged an oil tanker on April 1, 2026, according to the Qatari Ministry of Defense. The ministry reported that Iran launched three cruise missiles, two of which were intercepted, while the third struck a tanker leased by QatarEnergy. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, and no casualties were reported.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that the vessel was hit on its port side but stated that all sailors were safe. Authorities have begun an investigation into the incident and reported no environmental impact. The Qatari ministry shared details of the attack on social media platform X.

The incident adds to regional tensions, though officials emphasized that the situation is under control and that safety measures were promptly enacted following the strike.

The National Democratic Party (JAGPA) has launched a new membership drive, formally inaugurated on Wednesday morning at the Shafiul Alam Prodhan Auditorium in Paltan. The event was led by JAGPA Vice President and party spokesperson Rashed Prodhan, who also announced the formation of a non-political social organization called Adhipatjobadbiruddho Jatiyo Diksha-Azadi. Citizens from home and abroad can join JAGPA and Azadi through the website www.jogdaanbd.org.

Rashed Prodhan stated that JAGPA, founded by the late leader Shafiul Alam Prodhan, has been working for the people and the oppressed for 46 years. The membership initiative was launched to expand the organization following the national election. He said Azadi was established to build a patriotic platform against external and internal political, economic, and cultural dominance.

During the event, Rashed Prodhan announced five coordinators responsible for different regions, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and the expatriate division, to oversee and coordinate the membership activities.

A severe fuel shortage in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur has disrupted irrigation for the ongoing Boro season, raising concerns over crop yield. Irregular diesel and electricity supply have hindered water pumping in fields, leaving many farmers unable to irrigate on schedule. As a result, uncertainty looms over this year’s Irri and Boro rice production.

Local farmers said that delayed irrigation reduces Boro yield and causes grain sterility. Many are being forced to buy diesel at inflated prices, doubling their production costs. Farmer Shamsul Alam reported that diesel, once easily available at fixed rates, now costs two to three times more and is still difficult to obtain, putting cultivation at risk.

According to the upazila agriculture office, Boro rice has been cultivated on 3,910 hectares this season. The office warned that continued fuel shortages could prevent achieving the production target. Upazila Agriculture Officer Sabbir Ahmed stated that the issue is being addressed seriously and efforts are underway to normalize fuel supply through coordination with relevant authorities.

Police and the upazila administration in Sapahar, Naogaon, have initiated strict monitoring at Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna filling stations to prevent illegal hoarding and smuggling of fuel. The operation began on Saturday and has been extended to border areas to stop the flow of fuel into India.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumena Riaz told journalists on Monday that surveillance has been intensified at all three filling stations. She explained that due to higher fuel prices in India and the current global situation, certain groups have been attempting to hoard and smuggle fuel across the border for profit. To counter this, the administration has strengthened monitoring in border zones.

According to the UNO, local administration and law enforcement agencies have been deployed on the ground to ensure effective control during this period of fuel supply challenges.

An oil tanker was damaged off the coast of Doha, Qatar, after being struck by a projectile, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations on Wednesday. The agency reported that the vessel was hit on its port side, but all crew members were confirmed safe. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and stated that there were no environmental impacts.

The report follows a similar attack a day earlier near Dubai, where a tanker carrying two million barrels of oil from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia was damaged in a drone strike attributed to Iran. Local officials said the Dubai incident caused a fire on the vessel, which was later extinguished, and all crew members remained unharmed.

The consecutive attacks highlight rising maritime security concerns in the Gulf region, though the source did not specify who was responsible for the Qatar incident or whether the two events were connected.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent briefings on the ‘Epic Fury’ strategy toward Iran reflect ideas similar to those proposed by Italian General Giulio Douhet more than a century ago. Douhet, in his 1921 book ‘The Command of the Air,’ argued that future wars would be decided by large-scale aerial bombardment targeting not only military forces but also civilians, infrastructure, and supply systems. Hegseth’s emphasis on destroying Iran through airstrikes echoes this early 20th-century doctrine.

Although Hegseth has described his approach as a new American strategy, the resemblance to Douhet’s concepts suggests it is not an innovative war policy. The US official has also spoken about breaking civilian morale, stating that their mission involves killing enemies and undermining their will to fight. He expressed hope that the Iranian people would seize what he called an extraordinary opportunity, aligning with President Donald Trump’s message that “now is your time.”

The report highlights that the belief in easy victory through air power may be a misconception, as history shows the limits of such strategies.

Following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, public concern has grown in Bangladesh over the country’s fuel reserves and supply duration. Despite government assurances that there is no fuel crisis, long queues have formed at filling stations, and reports of disputes between customers and sellers have surfaced. According to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, as of March 31, Bangladesh held 128,939 metric tons of diesel, 7,940 metric tons of octane, 11,431 metric tons of petrol, and 44,609 metric tons of jet fuel. Experts estimate that the current diesel stock could last around 11 days, though new imports from Malaysia and India are expected to replenish supplies.

Energy officials maintain that monthly demand will be met and that the situation is under control. However, experts warn that Bangladesh’s limited storage capacity—only 30 to 40 days of supply—poses a risk to energy security. The government has deployed “tag officers” to monitor fuel stations and launched nationwide drives against illegal hoarding. On March 30, 391 raids resulted in 191 cases, fines totaling about one million taka, and the recovery of over 80,000 liters of fuel.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud stated that Bangladesh is also exploring alternative fuel sources and maintaining supply contracts with India, Malaysia, and Singapore.

A Mexican immigrant died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Los Angeles, bringing the total number of deaths in ICE detention to 14 during the first three months of 2026. ICE confirmed the death on Monday, stating that security staff at the Adelanto Detention Center found José Guadalupe Ramos unconscious in his bunk. He was taken to a local hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

ICE reported that Ramos had been arrested on February 23 in Torrance, California. He had prior convictions in 2025 for drug possession and theft. Medical examinations at the time of his detention revealed diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. In 2025, at least 31 people died in ICE custody, the highest number in two decades, and the figure continues to rise. Critics have described the detention policy as deadly for detainees.

Mexico’s foreign minister said the government will raise the issue of migrant detainee deaths with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

A Jubo Dal leader in Kishoreganj was allegedly abducted and severely beaten by a BNP leader after refusing to pay extortion money. The victim, Babul Mia, convener of Latibabad Union Jubo Dal, was reportedly taken from his business premises in the Katabaria area near the regional passport office on Tuesday afternoon. He was admitted to Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital with broken limbs.

According to Babul Mia, BNP’s joint general secretary of the upazila unit, Shahidul Islam Shahid, demanded Tk 6,000 from him. After Babul refused and informed the police, he was allegedly abducted and assaulted by Shahid’s associates. Babul’s father, Md. Hadis Mia, later filed a written complaint with the Sadar Model Police Station, naming Shahidul Islam as the main accused along with five others.

Shahidul Islam denied the allegations, claiming he had no dispute with Babul and was not involved in extortion. The officer-in-charge of Kishoreganj Model Police Station confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation is underway.

A Bangladeshi national was killed in a drone-related incident in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, according to the country’s official media office. Gulf News reported that a drone was shot down in the area, and debris from the destroyed aircraft struck the Bangladeshi worker, who was employed at a farm in Fujairah’s Al Riffa area. The incident occurred as authorities were monitoring the situation on site.

The UAE has not yet released the victim’s name or further personal details. Officials stated that security forces are working to ensure safety in the surrounding areas and are closely observing developments. They urged the public to rely solely on official sources for information and warned that spreading unverified reports could cause unnecessary panic.

Authorities continue to assess the situation in Fujairah, emphasizing the importance of accurate information dissemination during such security incidents.

A Russian military transport aircraft crashed in Crimea, killing 29 people, according to the country’s defense ministry. The incident occurred on the evening of March 31 near a mountain peak close to the Black Sea. The ministry confirmed that the victims included six crew members and 23 civilian passengers. The aircraft, identified as an AN-26, disappeared from radar around 8 p.m. Moscow time while on a scheduled flight within Crimea.

Russian authorities have not clarified the total number of people on board, but no survivors have been reported. State news agencies TASS and RIA cited defense officials as saying that preliminary investigations suggest a technical malfunction caused the crash.

The AN-26 model has been in service since the 1960s and is primarily used for cargo transport. Several previous accidents involving this aircraft type have been recorded, according to the report.