Former Pakistani High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has made a controversial statement suggesting that if Pakistan were attacked by any foreign power, the country would retaliate by striking India. His remarks, made during a discussion on a hypothetical war scenario, have sparked widespread debate and criticism. Basit specifically mentioned Mumbai and New Delhi as potential targets, saying Pakistan would not hesitate to respond in such a situation.

Although Basit described his comments as reflecting an extreme and unlikely situation, he maintained that Pakistan would have no choice but to attack India if threatened. His remarks have quickly spread among Indian citizens, particularly because of his past role as Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017, a period marked by tense bilateral relations.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, especially between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghan authorities have accused Pakistani forces of conducting recent airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktika, claims that have further strained Pakistan’s relations with its neighbors.

Bangladesh’s Health and Family Welfare Minister and Narsingdi-4 MP, Bir Muktijoddha Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul, declared his commitment to transforming the healthcare system, stating he would rest only when patients are satisfied. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at a public reception organized by residents of Shibpur at the Shibpur Government Pilot Model High School field.

During his speech, the minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is an innovator and that he was entrusted with ministerial responsibility based on the prime minister’s confidence. He emphasized that his primary goal is to ensure healthcare reaches every citizen’s doorstep. Bakul also alleged widespread corruption in the previous government’s quick rental power projects, which he said still affect the country. He noted that the current government has distributed 39,000 family cards, waived loans up to 10,000 taka for farmers, and plans to issue health and farmer cards by June.

The event was chaired by Narsingdi-3 MP and district BNP general secretary Monjur Elahi, with several local BNP leaders attending as special guests.

Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad warned that people would again take to the streets if any attempt is made to establish constitutional autocracy in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Eid reunion of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Maheshkhali South branch.

Azad emphasized that the swift implementation of the July Charter, in line with public expectations and the referendum’s verdict, is now essential. He cautioned that using the constitution as a pretext to delay this process could provoke public anger and unrest, potentially leading to mass upheaval. He also criticized the government for widespread mismanagement and harassment faced by travelers during Eid, citing a report from the Passengers Welfare Association that claimed this year’s harassment broke a 20-year record.

Several district and upazila-level leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Islami Andolon Bangladesh attended the event, where Azad reiterated the need for democratic stability and accountability in governance.

After three weeks of war with Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a deepening crisis that appears increasingly beyond his control. Global oil prices have surged, Washington has grown isolated from its allies, and despite Trump’s earlier promise of a short campaign, preparations are underway to deploy more troops to Iran. The president has lashed out at NATO members for refusing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and declared he will no longer support the alliance. His claim of military victory contrasts sharply with reports of continued Iranian missile attacks and energy supply disruptions.

Analysts and former officials say Trump has trapped himself in a conflict with no clear exit plan, threatening both his political legacy and his party’s prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. White House officials insist the campaign has achieved major military successes, but advisers are urging Trump to find an “honorable exit” as allies remain reluctant to join the fight. The conflict has also strained ties with Israel and fueled domestic unease over rising fuel prices.

According to Reuters, thousands of additional U.S. Marines and naval troops are being deployed to the Middle East, though no decision has been made on a ground invasion. Analysts warn that without a defined strategy, Trump’s control over the war narrative and his political movement could weaken further in the coming weeks.

An Eid reunion and cultural event was held on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Bauphal Public Ground in Patuakhali. The gathering, organized in a festive atmosphere, saw spontaneous participation from local leaders and people from various professions. Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, Member of Parliament for Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal), attended as the chief guest and issued a stern warning against corruption and syndicate activities.

In his speech, Dr. Masud emphasized that there would be no compromise in maintaining law and order in Bauphal and ensuring public safety. He directed the administration to take strict action against theft, robbery, and fuel syndicate manipulation. Declaring that exploitation and syndicate dominance would not be tolerated, he pledged to stand by the people as their servant and work toward a safe and just society.

The event also featured cultural performances by local artists, followed by prayers for national welfare and distribution of sweets. Speakers called for unity to build a peaceful and prosperous Bauphal.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a warning that any attack by the United States or Israel on Iran’s power plants would trigger the destruction of key infrastructure across the Gulf region. His statement was made on the social media platform X, according to a BBC Persian report cited by the source.

Ghalibaf stated that all energy and oil facilities in the region would be considered legitimate targets if such an attack occurred. He further cautioned that oil prices could remain elevated for a prolonged period under those circumstances.

The warning underscores heightened regional tensions and signals potential economic repercussions if hostilities escalate in the Gulf.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Secretary General, Principal Hafiz Maulana Yunus Ahmad, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of at least 23 people in various accidents across the country on Eid day. In a statement released to the media on Sunday morning, he specifically mentioned the accident at Padua Bazar railway gate in Cumilla, saying that the responsibility could not be placed solely on the lineman. He emphasized the need to investigate systemic management issues within the railway sector.

Yunus Ahmad said that the party is urging everyone to travel carefully and avoid risky behavior during the holiday period. He prayed for the forgiveness of the deceased and conveyed sympathy and condolences to their families. The statement reflected concern over the recurring mismanagement in transport systems, particularly during national holidays.

The party’s remarks highlight ongoing public anxiety about transport safety and management failures during major travel seasons, calling for greater accountability in railway operations.

Pope Leo, the leader of the Catholic Church, described the ongoing war in the Middle East as “a shame for all humanity” and renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire. Speaking during his weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, he said he is observing the situation in the Middle East and other violence-stricken regions with deep concern.

The American-born pontiff emphasized that humanity cannot remain silent in the face of so much suffering. He said the pain of the helpless victims of the conflict is a source of sorrow for all humankind. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera.

Pope Leo further urged people to continue praying so that hostilities may end and the path to peace can be opened.

Iran is reportedly collecting a $2 million fee from certain ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing war, according to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi. He made the claim on Iran’s state television, as reported by the BBC on March 22, 2026. Boroujerdi stated that a 'new governance system' is being implemented in the strait and that 'war has its costs,' describing the move as an expression of Iran’s authority and rights.

The BBC noted that it could not independently verify the lawmaker’s claim. The report did not specify which ships were affected or how the fee was being enforced. The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflict, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical maritime route for global oil transport.

The lack of verification and details leaves uncertainty about the scope and legitimacy of the reported fee collection, as well as its potential impact on international shipping through the strait.

Faisal Karim Masud, the prime accused in the murder of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, and his associate Alamgir Hossain were sent to jail by a West Bengal court after police interrogation. Faisal denied involvement in the killing during a court appearance following their arrest near the India-Bangladesh border in Bongaon on March 8. The Special Task Force (STF) had detained them for alleged illegal entry and questioned them for 14 days before presenting them to the Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Judicial Court, which ordered 12 days of judicial custody. They are scheduled to appear again on April 2.

According to STF sources, both Faisal and Alamgir admitted during interrogation to their role in the Dhaka murder of Osman Hadi, who was shot on December 12 last year. Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Mancha, later died in Singapore on December 18. Bangladeshi investigators had earlier linked Faisal, a former leader of a banned student organization, to the attack.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that efforts are underway to bring the two detainees back to Bangladesh for further legal proceedings.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the BNP government is working to advance Bangladesh through reforms aimed at achieving economic prosperity and excellence in training, intellect, and technology. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at the Eid reunion of the Pekua Government Model GMC Institution Alumni Association in Cox’s Bazar.

The minister said that the traditional education system had created millions of unemployed graduates in the past. To address this, the government plans to restructure the education system to produce skilled and employable citizens. He added that technical education would be made mandatory to build a competent workforce and that the government had already begun implementing its election pledges, including initiatives to empower women through family cards.

Salahuddin Ahmed also announced that farmers would soon receive agricultural cards and noted that the government had waived agricultural loans of ten thousand taka with interest in its first cabinet meeting after taking office.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep concern and anger over the ongoing mismanagement in the country’s road and rail transport systems, citing frequent accidents and public suffering. In a statement issued on Sunday, March 22, 2026, the party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, said that repeated road and rail accidents causing numerous deaths demonstrate severe disorder in the transport sector.

Porwar directly blamed Sheikh Robiul Alam, Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping, for negligence, incompetence, and irresponsibility, which he said have deprived citizens of basic travel safety. He accused relevant government agencies of failing to take effective measures to ensure safety, pointing to poor monitoring, unfit vehicles, weak traffic management, and inadequate security at rail crossings as causes of the crisis.

Referring to a train-bus collision in Comilla at 3 a.m. on March 22 that killed 12 people and injured at least 10, Porwar offered condolences to the victims’ families and called for a proper investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

At least 64 people, including 13 children, were killed in an attack on Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in Sudan’s East Darfur state, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the attack occurred on Friday night in the state capital Al-Daein, leaving 89 others injured, among them eight health workers. The hospital’s pediatric, maternity, and emergency departments were severely damaged, rendering the facility nonfunctional and halting emergency medical services in the city.

Tedros stated that this incident brings the total number of deaths from attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan’s ongoing war to over 2,000. Since the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in mid-April 2023, WHO has verified 213 attacks on health facilities, resulting in 2,036 deaths. Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers said the latest hospital strike was carried out by a military drone.

The war has triggered one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises, displacing over 12 million people and leaving more than 33 million in need of aid.

Iran carried out attacks on military and security installations in five Israeli cities—Arad, Dimona, Eilat, Beersheba, and Kiryat Gat—on the night of March 22, 2026, Bangladesh time, according to Al Jazeera. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that more than 200 people were killed in the strikes. Israel has not confirmed any fatalities, but its ambulance service reported 88 people injured in Arad and 39 in Dimona, while international media cited around 150 injured.

The IRGC also claimed responsibility for attacks on Ali Al-Salem base in Kuwait and Al-Minhad and Al-Dhafra bases in the United Arab Emirates. Following the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the severity of the assault for the first time, describing the night as a “terrible evening.”

The incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, with multiple countries reportedly affected by the Iranian strikes, though independent verification of casualties remains unclear.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that although a major part of fascism has ended, its dark shadow still lingers over the country. Speaking on Sunday at the Sylhet Circuit House during an Eid greetings and exchange meeting with local journalists, he noted that despite political transformation following the national election, irregularities, disorder, and a culture of vengeance persist. He described the law and order situation as alarming and urged political parties to act responsibly to build an accountable and just society.

Rahman stated that although the public voted for change in the recent referendum, the outcome has not been fully implemented, raising concerns of renewed public distrust. He called for strict action against fare overcharging during Eid travel and urged the government to protect public funds and interests. He also emphasized the need for constitutional reform, saying that 65 percent of voters supported reform but their expectations remain unmet.

The Jamaat leader criticized President Md. Shahabuddin for alleged links with fascism and requested the ruling party to address the issue. He also demanded specific development plans for Sylhet and called for early local government elections to strengthen grassroots democracy.