BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the new BNP-led government, one month after assuming office, has begun to make its electoral pledges visible. Speaking to journalists at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing all issues agreed upon in the July Charter.

Mirza Fakhrul stated that despite global challenges such as the Iran-Israel conflict, Bangladesh has not faced any fuel shortages or price hikes due to the government’s competence. He added that preparations for local government elections are progressing quickly, with plans to complete them within the year. The minister also assessed the government’s first month as successful across all sectors.

He emphasized that the government’s main challenge now is to rebuild and strengthen the national economy. Fakhrul reiterated that the administration remains dedicated to fulfilling the July Charter commitments agreed upon by the BNP.

Former Bangladesh national cricket team opener Tamim Iqbal has expressed interest in taking an organizational role at Mohammedan Sporting Club. He made the remarks on March 18, 2026, while attending a prayer gathering organized for the recovery of BNP leader and permanent club member Mirza Abbas. Tamim said he had not yet thought deeply about working as a sports organizer but would gladly join if the club felt his involvement would benefit them.

Tamim also recalled his personal connection with Mirza Abbas, mentioning that Abbas attended his wedding and had long been associated with Mohammedan and the broader sports community. He said his presence at the prayer event was important to him and joined others in wishing Abbas a speedy recovery. The gathering reflected the close ties between the club’s sporting and social circles.

Tamim’s comments come shortly after he expressed interest in becoming president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, signaling his growing inclination toward sports administration.

US President Donald Trump has warned that he could destroy what remains of Iran and hand over responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz to the countries that use it. He issued the warning on Wednesday in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the United States no longer needs the vital waterway for global oil supply.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s key oil transit routes. Trump suggested that transferring its control to other nations would push America’s inactive allies to act faster. Iran has maintained that the strait remains open but has warned that ships from US and Israeli allies will not be allowed to pass if attacks continue. Reports indicate that tankers from India, Turkey, and Pakistan have crossed the strait with Iran’s permission since the conflict began.

Following reports of an attack on one of Iran’s major natural gas facilities, crude oil prices rose above $108 per barrel. Despite Trump’s repeated calls, most NATO and Asian allies have declined to send warships to the area, except South Korea, which said it would consider the request.

Nine coaches of the Nilshagar Express derailed in Santahar, Bogura, on Wednesday afternoon while traveling from Dhaka to Nilphamari’s Chilahati. Bangladesh Railway said it may take around 12 hours to complete the rescue operation. In the meantime, the railway authority has introduced a transshipment plan to help passengers from five northern districts reach their destinations.

According to Additional Director General (Operations) Mohammad Nazmul Islam, passengers from Nilphamari, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, and Joypurhat will need to change trains at the accident site until normal rail communication is restored. He acknowledged that the arrangement may cause inconvenience but said it is the only temporary solution available. A committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the derailment.

Fire Service officials reported that 47 people were rescued from the accident site and sent to Naogaon Sadar Hospital for treatment.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that the military has been authorized to target any senior Iranian officials without requiring additional approval. Katz stated that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have granted the Israel Defense Forces permission to eliminate Iranian officials once intelligence and operational preparations are complete. He added that Israel will continue to locate and eliminate such figures.

Katz claimed that Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, was killed in an airstrike the previous night, though Iran has not confirmed his death. He also suggested that further operations could occur in Lebanon in the coming days, emphasizing that the conflict will continue on both the Iranian and Hezbollah fronts. Earlier, Israel claimed responsibility for airstrikes in Tehran that killed Ali Larijani, his son, and Basij chief General Gholamreza Soleimani, deaths later confirmed by Iran.

Turkey condemned Israel’s targeted killings of Iranian leaders, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calling them illegal acts beyond the laws of war, according to AFP and Al Jazeera reports.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed the death of the country’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib. In a post on social media platform X, Pezeshkian expressed grief over what he described as the cowardly killing of Khatib, senior security official Ali Larijani, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and several of their family members and associates.

The deaths of Larijani and Nasirzadeh had been confirmed earlier by Iranian authorities. Prior to Pezeshkian’s statement, Israel had claimed responsibility for killing Khatib during an overnight operation. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel, following a series of targeted attacks on Iranian officials.

The confirmation from the Iranian president underscores the gravity of the situation and may lead to further political and security repercussions within the region, though no immediate response from Tehran was detailed in the report.

Russia has strongly condemned a reported missile strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on March 18, 2026. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran reported a projectile impact at the site but said there was no damage to the facility and no injuries. The agency warned, however, that such attacks could pose risks of radioactive contamination.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described the incident as an irresponsible and completely unacceptable act, noting that the projectile landed only a few meters from an active reactor. She added that Russia had previously warned the United States and Israel about the presence of Russian citizens working at the plant.

The IAEA continues to monitor the situation, emphasizing the importance of protecting nuclear facilities from any form of military action that could endanger safety and security.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken full responsibility for the medical treatment of a one-and-a-half-year-old girl who miraculously survived a deadly road accident in Sherpur, Bogura. The accident claimed the lives of four members of the same family. The injured child is being transferred to the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Agargaon, Dhaka, for advanced treatment. The Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Rumman, confirmed the decision.

According to Rumman, the Prime Minister has spoken with the Bogura Deputy Commissioner and the Director of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital to ensure the best possible care for the injured. He also communicated with the director of the Neurosciences Hospital in Dhaka, instructing them to provide the highest level of treatment and confirming that all medical expenses will be covered by the Prime Minister.

The accident occurred on Wednesday morning when a microbus carrying 12 passengers from Dhaka to Rangpur crashed in Sherpur, Bogura. The victims were traveling to Rangpur’s Kaunia to celebrate Eid with relatives.

Dr. Atik Mojahid, central joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Member of Parliament for Kurigram-2, has accused the government of moving toward fascism. Speaking at an iftar and discussion meeting organized by the district branch of Jatiya Juboshokti in Kurigram on Wednesday evening, he criticized the appointment of unelected party leaders as administrators in 42 district councils and 13 city corporations, calling it undemocratic.

He condemned what he described as the government’s fascist behavior, comparing it to past authoritarian periods in Bangladesh’s history. Mojahid urged the government to hold elections and said his party would respect them if they won through a fair process. Addressing party activists, he warned against exploiting poor people by misusing his name for financial gain.

The meeting was chaired by district Juboshokti convener M. Rashid Ali and attended by several NCP and affiliated organization leaders, including representatives from the women’s, student, and workers’ wings.

Saudi Arabia announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, meaning the country will complete 30 days of fasting for Ramadan. The Supreme Court, through the Royal Court, confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated nationwide on Friday, March 20, 2026.

According to the report, members of the moon-sighting committee observed cloudy weather across most parts of the kingdom, with rain expected in several areas. These conditions affected the visibility of the moon, leading to the official decision that the crescent was not visible. The announcement was made on Wednesday evening following the committee’s observations.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims, celebrated on the first day of Shawwal after the sighting of the new moon.

Global oil prices rose sharply after Iranian media reported an attack on a facility at one of the world’s largest natural gas fields. On Wednesday, Brent crude oil climbed to $108.60 per barrel, marking a five percent increase compared to Tuesday’s level. The report also noted that gas prices in the United Kingdom rose by nearly six percent following the news.

The incident has drawn renewed attention to energy market volatility linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Iranian report did not specify the extent of the damage or identify the perpetrators of the attack. The price surge reflects market sensitivity to potential disruptions in global energy supply.

The situation underscores ongoing instability in the region’s energy infrastructure, which continues to influence global oil and gas markets amid heightened uncertainty.

Iranian authorities announced the arrest of more than one hundred individuals accused of acting in the interests of the United States and Israel, labeling them as “traitors.” The Ministry of Intelligence stated that 111 pro-monarchy cells operating across 26 of Iran’s 31 provinces were dismantled overnight. These groups were alleged to support the US-backed regime that was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The ministry also reported the seizure of weapons and urged citizens to report suspicious activities.

According to the statement, 21 people were detained for allegedly sending videos to foreign-based “terrorist” media outlets during a nationwide internet shutdown that has lasted three weeks. Authorities further claimed to have confiscated 350 Starlink satellite internet terminals being smuggled into the country. State news agency Fars reported that some detainees in Karaj, near Tehran, had burned and desecrated images of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reported killed at the start of the current conflict on February 28.

The announcement comes amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, with Tehran asserting that its adversaries are facing defeat.

Railway authorities have formed a four-member investigation committee after nine coaches of the Dhaka–Chilahati-bound Nilsagar Express derailed in Bagmari area of Adamdighi upazila, Bogura. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when the train, which departed Dhaka at 6:45 a.m., reportedly failed to follow a banner signal while heading toward Tilakpur station. A total of 66 passengers were injured in the accident.

According to official information, 20 injured passengers are receiving treatment at Naogaon Sadar Hospital, while 40 others were released after primary care. Six more were treated and released from Adamdighi Upazila Health Complex in Bogura. Relief trains from Ishwardi and Parbatipur were dispatched to assist in rescue operations. The investigation committee is led by the chief transport officer and includes the mechanical engineer, chief engineer, and chief signal engineer.

Railway authorities have warned that Thursday morning’s Nilsagar Express and Ekota Express departures from Dhaka may face slight delays. They have expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to passengers.

Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Amin-ur Rashid stated that Bangladesh has adequate food reserves to meet national demand and that the ongoing war will not impact the country’s food supply. He made the remarks on Wednesday, March 18, at the inauguration of a food distribution program held at Shimpur High School field in Cumilla Adarsha Sadar upazila.

The minister said the current BNP-led government is fulfilling its pre-election promises, unlike previous administrations. He highlighted initiatives such as the distribution of family cards and upcoming farmer cards, which will begin on the first day of the Bengali New Year in 11 districts. Plans are also underway to introduce agricultural insurance to compensate farmers for crop losses due to floods or droughts, and the government has waived agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka.

Amin-ur Rashid emphasized strengthening the agriculture-based economy, ensuring fair prices for farmers, and establishing mini cold storages to prevent seasonal price drops. Each beneficiary under the food distribution program received 30 kilograms of rice.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed local authorities to take immediate measures to minimize damage and passenger suffering following a train accident in Santahar, Bogura. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, when nine coaches of the Dhaka–Nilphamari-bound Nilsagar Express derailed in the Alamdighi area. The Prime Minister spoke with the Bogura Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to assess the situation and instructed them to ensure prompt rescue operations and passenger support.

According to the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, Tarique Rahman ordered the quick recovery of the derailed train, restoration of communication, and proper medical treatment for the injured. The Prime Minister has been closely monitoring the situation, as Bogura is his electoral constituency. He was elected Member of Parliament from Bogura-6 in the 13th National Election held on February 12, 2026, before later vacating the seat after taking oath as Prime Minister.

A four-member investigation committee has been formed to look into the derailment, which reportedly left over a hundred passengers injured.