The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has issued new claims about Iran’s military losses in the ongoing Middle East war. In a video message on Wednesday, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper said that over three weeks of fighting, US forces carried out strikes on more than 10,000 Iranian military targets and conducted over 10,000 aerial operations. He asserted that Iran’s air defense systems have been severely weakened.

According to Cooper, 92 percent of Iran’s largest naval vessels have been destroyed, and the country’s missile and drone launch rates have dropped by more than 90 percent. He added that over two-thirds of Iran’s missile, drone, and shipbuilding facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Cooper stated that the US is on track to achieve its military objectives, including reducing Iran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.

Despite these claims, Tehran continues to launch drone and missile attacks on US and Israeli positions in the Gulf region, as well as on energy facilities, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and flight disruptions.

On March 26, 2026, Jamaat-e-Islami organized a rally and assembly in Chattogram city and Chandgaon Thana on the occasion of Bangladesh’s Independence Day. The procession moved through various city roads and concluded at Bahaddarhat intersection, where a brief assembly took place.

During the event, Jamaat leader and parliamentary candidate Dr. Abu Naser stated that the Election Commission had delivered a referendum verdict through two ballots, and it was now the elected government’s duty to implement it. He emphasized that the people were united in implementing the July Charter and that full independence would remain incomplete without its realization. Assistant city Jamaat leader Mohammad Ullah urged the government to take immediate steps to enforce the referendum’s outcome, warning that failure to do so would prompt public action.

Speakers at the assembly cautioned that if the issue was not resolved within parliament, they would mobilize people to the streets to ensure the referendum’s implementation.

Culture Minister Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury emphasized national unity beyond religion, ethnicity, and political differences during a religious discussion and cultural program held on Wednesday night, March 25, in Langalband, Bandar, Narayanganj. Speaking as the chief guest at the Mahashtami holy bath celebration, he said the government, under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, is working collectively to rebuild the country through teamwork since taking office.

The minister highlighted Bangladesh’s diverse cultural heritage, describing it as a source of unity and democratic beauty where differences in opinion and belief coexist. Referring to global unrest, he said Bangladesh aims to remain peaceful, tolerant, and culturally rich. He recalled Bengal’s historical prominence in knowledge and prosperity, mentioning that travelers once came here for its wealth and learning.

Chowdhury added that with proper leadership, Bangladesh can regain its lost glory and build a nation of new possibilities where all religious communities stand together. He also announced plans to further develop Langalband as part of the country’s ancient heritage.

Volunteers from Hafezzi Charitable Society Bangladesh (HCSB) took part in rescue operations following a bus accident at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari’s Goalanda upazila. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a passenger bus of Souhardya Paribahan lost control and plunged into the Padma River. Under the leadership of the organization’s general secretary, Maulana Ibrahim Khalil, the team coordinated with the Fire Service and Civil Defence to conduct rescue efforts, send the injured to hospitals, transfer bodies, and support affected families.

HCSB Director General Muhammad Raj stated that the organization has consistently responded to both domestic disasters and international humanitarian crises. He emphasized that their principle and duty are to stand beside people during emergencies, demonstrating that true service to humanity means immediate action rather than later financial pledges.

The rescue operation highlighted the organization’s commitment to rapid humanitarian response and coordination with official emergency services during national crises.

FIFA has announced the schedule for the final phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup, set to begin on April 1 and continue until the end of the tournament. According to FIFA, over one million tickets were sold in earlier phases between December and February. Additional tickets will be released gradually, meaning seat availability will vary over time. The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, featuring 104 matches in total.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino previously said ticket demand is unprecedented, with expectations that all matches will be sold out. However, criticism over ticket prices continues. The supporters’ group Football Supporters Europe has filed a complaint with the European Commission, alleging that FIFA’s dynamic pricing model has unfairly inflated prices. Earlier, group-stage tickets started at $140, while final match tickets reached up to $8,680, and semifinal tickets ranged from $920 to $1,125.

In this final phase, tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and fans can choose their preferred seats. Those who already purchased tickets can view their seat allocations from April 1.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the ongoing war against Iran has gone beyond all limits and is now out of control. Speaking at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, he said the conflict, which has lasted for more than three weeks, has reached a level that even leaders could not have imagined. Guterres cautioned that the world is facing the threat of a wider war, growing humanitarian suffering, and deeper global economic shocks.

Calling for an immediate halt to military escalation, Guterres urged all parties to replace confrontation with diplomacy and to restore full respect for international law. Addressing the main parties involved, he said that the United States and Israel should end the war now, as civilian casualties and humanitarian suffering continue to rise and the global economic impact becomes increasingly devastating.

He also called on Iran to stop attacks on Gulf countries, arguing that those nations are not parties to the conflict.

The United States has claimed that nearly two-thirds of Iran’s missile and drone production capacity has been destroyed, along with major damage to its naval production systems. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command, stated in a video message on Wednesday that 92 percent of Iran’s large naval vessels have been damaged or destroyed. He said Iran has effectively lost its ability to project naval power regionally or globally. The report was carried by AFP from Washington.

Cooper added that the conflict, which began with Israel’s involvement, has entered its fourth week and that the US is meeting or exceeding its operational goals. He said more than 10,000 military targets have been struck so far, and Iran’s missile and drone attack rate has dropped by 90 percent. According to him, Iran’s reconstruction capacity has also been broken.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran has no plans to hold talks with the United States and remains determined to continue fighting. The White House had earlier stated that discussions were ongoing.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Md. Mahabur Hasan, stationed at the Kaptai police outpost in Rangamati, has died following a road accident. According to Kaptai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan Rubel, the incident occurred on March 23, 2026, when the officer was traveling by CNG auto-rickshaw near the Manikchhari Army Camp gate on the Rangamati–Chattogram highway. The vehicle lost control and crashed, leaving him seriously injured.

Local residents rescued the injured officer and took him to Rangamati Medical College Hospital for initial treatment. He was later transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for advanced care, where he passed away at 5:50 p.m. on March 25, 2026, while undergoing treatment.

Police authorities confirmed that the body of ASI Md. Mahabur Hasan has been taken to his ancestral home in Sadar Upazila of Jashore district for burial.

Bangladesh celebrated the 55th anniversary of its independence with a colorful parade at the National Parade Ground of the old Tejgaon Airport on Thursday, March 26, 2026. President Md. Shahabuddin attended the event and received the salute, while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, chiefs of the three armed forces, cabinet members, senior government officials, foreign ambassadors, and other guests were also present.

The parade was organized under the supervision of the Armed Forces Division, guided by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, and managed by the 9th Infantry Division. This marks the return of the Independence Day parade after an 18-year gap, as the event had been discontinued since 2008 during the interim government period following the fall of the Awami League administration.

Preparations for the parade began at the start of Ramadan, culminating in a final rehearsal on Tuesday. Thousands of spectators gathered at the Tejgaon venue to witness the grand celebration.

Iran has initiated the process of drafting a new law to collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from state-run Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency. The chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s Civil Affairs Committee stated that a draft law has already been prepared and will soon be finalized by the legislative team.

He explained that under this plan, Iran would charge fees to ensure the security of vessels navigating the strait, describing it as a normal practice similar to tariffs imposed on other trade corridors. The official emphasized that since Iran guarantees the safety of ships and oil tankers in the area, collecting tolls is justified.

The report also noted that among Iran’s five conditions for ending the ongoing conflict, one includes international recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam stated that his party aims to build Bangladesh based on equality and human dignity, reflecting the aspirations of 1971 and the 2024 mass uprising. He made the remarks on Thursday morning at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar while paying tribute to the heroes of the Liberation War.

Nahid Islam said that many of the dreams of independence remain unfulfilled, which is why the new generation has again had to sacrifice blood and life. He expressed hope that such sacrifices would not be necessary in the future. Emphasizing the importance of equality and dignity, he reaffirmed his commitment to shaping the future of Bangladesh on these principles.

Marking the country’s Independence and National Day, he paid respect to those who fought for freedom, including the martyrs and the women who made sacrifices during the Liberation War.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that a war against Iran would be a catastrophe for the global economy. Speaking to journalists at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra, he called for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Pistorius stated that Germany is ready to assist in peace efforts and emphasized that the economic impact of the conflict has already become evident within just over two weeks.

He clarified that Germany had not been consulted before the conflict began and stressed that it is not Germany’s war, expressing a desire to avoid involvement. Pistorius urged both the United States and Iran to stop the fighting and killing, calling for an immediate ceasefire. He added that once a ceasefire is achieved, Germany would discuss operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement comes amid reports that prolonged conflict could worsen energy shortages and instability in Asia, while global gold prices have declined and Australia has imposed restrictions on Iranian tourists.

Following the failure of political negotiations, the Pakistan Army launched a brutal crackdown in Dhaka on the night of 25 March 1971 under Operation Searchlight, sparking widespread resistance across East Pakistan. As Bengali soldiers began organizing in early April, retired Colonel Mohammad Ataul Gani Osmani, known as 'Papa Tiger', was chosen to lead the emerging Mukti Bahini. Osmani, who had retired from the Pakistan Army in 1967, had previously joined politics and was elected to the National Assembly as an Awami League candidate in 1970.

During the non-cooperation movement, Osmani played a key role in mobilizing retired Bengali officers and secretly contacting serving ones to prepare for possible armed resistance. On 4 April 1971, at a secret meeting in Teliapara, senior officers including Majors Ziaur Rahman, K.M. Shafiullah, and Khaled Mosharraf unanimously selected Osmani as Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation Forces. The meeting also decided to divide Bangladesh into four military zones, later expanded to eleven.

On 10 April, the Mujibnagar Government formally appointed Osmani as Commander-in-Chief. Historians cited his seniority, wartime experience, and political legitimacy as key reasons for his selection. Under his leadership, the Mukti Bahini was organized into regular and irregular forces that fought until Bangladesh’s independence.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the parade marking the Great Independence and National Day on Thursday, March 26, 2026. He arrived at the National Parade Ground shortly after 10 a.m. and watched the parade from the gallery alongside his daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman. Upon their arrival, they were received by the Minister and State Minister for Liberation War Affairs and the chiefs of the three armed forces.

The event was attended by cabinet members, senior government officials, ambassadors from various countries, and both local and foreign guests. Following the national anthem, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Md. Shahabuddin, was given a guard of honor. He then inspected the parade in an open jeep accompanied by Parade Commander Major General S.M. Asadul Haque before returning to the saluting dais to receive the Independence Day parade salute.

The ceremony highlighted national pride and military discipline as part of the annual Independence and National Day celebrations.

A bus accident at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari claimed the lives of Jahangirnagar University economics master's student Ahnaf Rayan, his mother, and his niece. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a bus lost control while boarding a ferry and plunged into the Padma River. Rayan’s sister, Dr. Nusrat Jahan Khan Saba, was rescued injured, while the bodies of Rayan and his niece were recovered early Thursday after being missing for about ten hours.

Rayan, son of the late Ismail Hossain from Bhabanipur village in Rajbari, was the organizational secretary of the Rajbari Debate Association and a former president of the Jahangirnagar University Rajbari Students’ Welfare Association. His funeral prayer was scheduled to take place at his home on Thursday morning.

According to reports, the bus from Souhardya Paribahan carrying around 50 passengers sank instantly after losing control at the No. 3 ferry terminal area around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.