The death toll in Iran has risen to 1,045 following joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency on Wednesday. The attacks took place on Saturday and reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior officials.

In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes targeting US bases in the Middle East and Israeli installations, as reported by Al Jazeera. The escalation marks a significant intensification of hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The situation remains volatile as both sides continue military actions, raising concerns about broader regional instability.

Turkey has claimed that Iran attempted to launch a missile targeting Turkish territory, but the projectile was destroyed before reaching its destination. According to a report by AFP citing Turkish officials, NATO’s air defense system intercepted and neutralized the missile while it was still over Iraqi and Syrian airspace.

In a statement, Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said the ballistic missile was launched from Iran and was heading toward Turkey after crossing Iraq and Syria. NATO’s air and missile defense system deployed in the eastern Mediterranean detected and destroyed it in time, preventing any damage.

The incident follows a series of escalating attacks in the region after the United States and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran the previous Saturday. Since then, Iran has reportedly fired multiple missiles and drones targeting various installations in Middle Eastern countries.

Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher has warned that no leniency will be shown to those responsible for causing public suffering. Speaking at a meeting with officials of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) in Dhaka on Wednesday, he emphasized that the ministry would support honest and dedicated employees. He directed that no file should be unnecessarily delayed and that all tasks must be completed within the designated timeframe to prevent citizens from repeated visits to offices.

The minister acknowledged that RAJUK faces widespread public complaints, including bureaucratic delays, harassment, irregularities, and unnecessary complexities. He said these issues have damaged the organization’s image and must be addressed immediately. His remarks underscored the government’s focus on improving efficiency and accountability within public service institutions.

The directive signals a renewed push for administrative reform within RAJUK, aiming to restore public trust and ensure smoother service delivery to citizens.

US-Bangla Airlines has announced a special flight operation on the Dhaka–Chattogram–Abu Dhabi–Dhaka route to bring back Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing Middle East situation. The first flight is scheduled to depart from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, via Chattogram, and from Chattogram at 8:20 p.m. The return flight from Abu Dhabi will depart at 1:00 a.m. local time on March 5. The operation will use a 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft under flight numbers BS-349 and BS-350.

The Abu Dhabi Airport Authority has permitted US-Bangla Airlines, Etihad, and several other carriers to operate such special flights considering the current circumstances. Separately, US-Bangla has also arranged a special Dubai–Dhaka flight (BS-342) on March 4 to repatriate 28 Biman Bangladesh Airlines crew members stranded in the UAE since February 28 due to the conflict situation.

Priority will be given to Bangladeshi passengers whose visas have expired or are about to expire. Travelers are advised to contact US-Bangla sales centers or travel agencies in Bangladesh and the UAE for ticketing information.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized yaba tablets worth approximately Tk 7.5 crore in two separate operations in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, and arrested one drug trafficker. The operations were conducted early Wednesday, March 4, 2026, based on secret information. Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the Coast Guard’s media officer, confirmed the seizures and arrest.

According to the Coast Guard, the first operation took place around 4 a.m. near Zero Point Sea Beach Ghat, where 140,000 yaba tablets worth about Tk 7 crore were recovered in an abandoned state. No suspects were detained as the traffickers fled the scene. In the second operation, conducted around 5 a.m. near the Marine Drive area, officials searched a suspicious easybike and found 10,000 yaba tablets worth Tk 50 lakh, arresting one trafficker identified as Shahid Hossain, 40, from Teknaf Sadar Union.

Authorities stated that legal procedures are underway regarding the seized drugs, vehicle, and the detained suspect. The Coast Guard affirmed that similar anti-narcotics operations will continue in the future.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has released constituency-wise results of the 13th parliamentary election, twenty days after voting took place. The results were published on Wednesday on the EC’s official website. According to an EC official, the election was held on February 12 across 42,651 polling centers in 299 of the 300 constituencies. The gazette of elected members was issued on February 13, and the detailed results for 297 constituencies have now been made public.

Officials stated that results for Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 remain suspended due to pending court orders related to loan default allegations. The election in Sherpur-3 was canceled following the death of a candidate, and voting in its 128 centers will be held on April 9. A by-election for Bogura-6, vacated by Tarique Rahman, is also scheduled for the same day.

According to the EC’s final tally, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 of the 297 declared seats, returning to power after two decades.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has formed a 10-member taskforce to strengthen VAT collection and prevent tax evasion during the final four months of the 2025–26 fiscal year, from March to June. The taskforce will prepare and implement a time-bound short-term action plan aimed at achieving revenue targets. The order to form the taskforce was issued by NBR’s VAT Implementation and IT Wing on Wednesday.

According to the directive, the taskforce will focus on enhancing revenue mobilization through comprehensive monitoring, preparing specific and time-bound plans for the next 180 days, and aligning its actions with the government’s sustainable development goals. It will also work on expanding the tax net, converting loss-making sectors into profitable ones, ensuring recovery of outstanding dues, and expediting the resolution of pending cases and audits. The taskforce is led by Md. Shamsul Islam, Commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (North), with Ruhul Amin as member secretary.

NBR is also forming separate taskforces for income tax and customs divisions to improve overall revenue performance. The move follows a shortfall of 600 billion taka in revenue collection during the first seven months of the fiscal year.

An Iranian naval frigate reportedly sank off the coast of Sri Lanka following an attack from a submarine, according to Sri Lankan authorities. The incident occurred early in the morning when the vessel, identified as IRIS Dena, sent a distress signal. Sri Lanka’s navy and air force were deployed to assist in the rescue operation after receiving the alert.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that the ship had 180 people on board. Thirty injured sailors were rescued and taken to a hospital in Galle port for treatment. Authorities confirmed that 32 people have been located so far, while the fate of the remaining 150 crew members remains uncertain.

Rescue efforts are ongoing as Sri Lankan forces continue to search the area for survivors. Officials have not yet provided details on the source of the submarine attack or the current condition of the wreckage.

Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Saeed, told Al Jazeera that more than 65,000 people have registered at shelters after being displaced by recent Israeli attacks. The ministry is responsible for providing shelter and supplies to those affected. Saeed added that an additional 10,000 to 20,000 people may also have been displaced, many of whom initially stayed on the streets or with friends and relatives but now require assistance.

Saeed described the situation as difficult and said that people remain anxious, recalling the memories of the 2024 war with Israel and the daily sounds of drones and explosions. She also stated that the government has declared Hezbollah’s military activities illegal and aims to establish full state authority across all regions.

The report highlights the growing humanitarian strain in Lebanon as displacement numbers rise and the government seeks to manage both security and relief efforts amid ongoing tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of betraying both diplomacy and the American people who elected him. Araghchi made the remarks following a U.S. attack that he said occurred while constructive discussions on Iran’s nuclear program were underway.

In a post on X, Araghchi criticized Trump’s approach to negotiations, saying that treating complex nuclear talks like a land deal and covering reality with lies leads to unrealistic expectations. He added that such actions result in hatred and metaphorically described the situation as bombing the negotiation table.

The comments reflect Iran’s frustration over the disruption of diplomatic progress and signal renewed tension between Tehran and Washington following the attack.

A missile struck Saudi Aramco’s largest oil refinery at Ras Tanura on Wednesday, according to reports. It remains unclear which part of the complex was damaged. The refinery had been temporarily shut down on Monday following a drone attack.

Monday’s incident had led to accusations against Iran, but Tehran denied involvement, stating that it only targets facilities linked to U.S. and Israeli interests. Iranian officials claimed that Israel carried out a “disguised attack” on the Aramco site instead.

The renewed strike adds to regional tensions surrounding energy infrastructure in the Gulf, though the extent of the latest damage and potential impact on operations were not immediately known.

Iran has claimed responsibility for shooting down another US F-15 fighter jet. According to a report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday, the country’s air defense unit targeted and destroyed the aircraft. This follows an earlier announcement on Monday by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which stated that three US fighter jets had been downed using domestically developed air defense systems.

Images and reports related to the downed US aircraft and pilot ejections have since circulated across social media and various news outlets. On Monday morning, Iran’s armed forces had also shot down an F-15 jet in the airspace near the Iran-Kuwait border, an incident confirmed by Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense.

The latest claim adds to a series of escalating military incidents between Iran and the United States, though independent verification of the reported shootdowns was not mentioned in the source.

Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Madrid was surprised by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s support for U.S. pressure on Spain over the Iran issue. In an interview with state broadcaster TVE, Albares remarked that he could not imagine former German leaders Angela Merkel or Olaf Scholz making such comments.

During a visit to the White House on Tuesday, Merz stated that Madrid should be “satisfied” after agreeing to NATO’s higher defense spending target of 3.5 percent of GDP, following Trump’s threat to reduce trade with Spain. The U.S. president issued the threat after Spain refused to allow Washington to use its bases for an attack on Iran.

The exchange highlights growing diplomatic tension between Spain, Germany, and the United States over defense commitments and Iran-related policy coordination within NATO.

Bangladesh has sought assistance from the United States to address its ongoing energy crisis, according to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. He made the statement on Wednesday afternoon after a meeting at the Secretariat in Dhaka with Paul Kapur, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, who is currently visiting Bangladesh.

The minister said that Paul Kapur would discuss the matter with senior US officials before conveying Washington’s decision to Bangladesh. He added that the government plans to manage the situation using existing fuel reserves until normal supply resumes. Emphasizing conservation, he urged citizens to use available resources efficiently and noted that the ministry would soon issue a detailed directive to guide the public during the crisis.

The meeting reflects Bangladesh’s efforts to secure international cooperation amid supply constraints, with the government focusing on prudent resource management until external support or supply stabilization occurs.

A United Nations expert committee has expressed deep concern over the deaths of children in a bombing at a girls’ school in southern Iran. The attack took place on Saturday at Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, during the first day of US and Israeli strikes. According to UN experts, at least 160 children were killed in the incident.

In a statement, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said it was alarmed by reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, which have injured and traumatized children and claimed many young lives. The committee, composed of 18 independent experts, monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which protects children’s right to education and safety from violence.

Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, raised the issue in a letter to UN human rights chief Volker Türk on March 1, describing the attack as “unjustified” and “criminal.”