BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit the party’s central office in Naya Paltan on Saturday. The information was confirmed by BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, who informed the media about the planned visit.

On Friday, March 27, Tarique Rahman announced his plan to go to the central office while speaking at a discussion meeting organized by the BNP at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Ramna, Dhaka. The event was held to mark the occasion of the country’s Independence and National Day. Following the meeting, he told party leaders and activists that he would visit the Paltan office the next day.

The visit marks a notable move by the BNP chairperson to engage directly with the party’s central operations, as indicated by his public statement during the commemorative event.

State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Helal described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a simple, humane, and honest leader whose political legacy is rare worldwide. He made the remarks on Friday at the S Rahman Hall of Chittagong Press Club during a program organized by ‘Amra BNP Poribar’. The event included the presentation of financial gifts from the Prime Minister for the wedding of martyr Jamal’s daughter Tania Akter Rumi and for the education of Dhaka University student Jopel Chakma.

Mir Helal said Tarique Rahman, despite being the successor of former President Ziaur Rahman and three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, leads a modest life and believes in action over words. He emphasized Rahman’s compassion for people and animals and his dedication to humanitarian service even on public holidays.

During the event, the State Minister also announced a monthly scholarship for Jopel Chakma and provided medical assistance for Marzia Akter Maisha, a blood cancer patient. Several officials and members of ‘Amra BNP Poribar’ attended the ceremony.

A vessel named MV Ubon Naree carrying 62,150 tons of wheat from the United States has arrived at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port, marking the second phase of wheat imports under a government-to-government arrangement. The Food Ministry announced the arrival in a press release on Friday, noting that sample testing of the wheat has already begun and unloading preparations are underway.

Of the total shipment, 37,290 tons will be unloaded at Chattogram port and the remaining 24,860 tons at Mongla port. The ministry confirmed that all wheat contracted under the agreements has now reached Bangladesh. Earlier, the first shipment brought in 58,457 metric tons of wheat.

According to the ministry, Bangladesh’s annual wheat demand stands at around 7 million tons, while domestic production is about 1 million tons. The remaining demand is met through imports by both government and private sectors.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for a prompt and transparent investigation into a bombing at a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran. The attack killed 168 people, including 110 children, according to local authorities. Türk made the appeal during a UN Human Rights Council discussion on protecting children in conflict situations.

Reports from U.S. media indicated that American military investigators suspect U.S. forces may have unintentionally struck the school, though no final conclusion has been reached. Türk emphasized that those responsible for the attack must face a thorough, impartial, and accountable investigation to uncover the truth.

The call underscores growing international concern over civilian casualties in conflict zones and the need for accountability in incidents involving potential military error.

A Dhaka-bound passenger bus caught fire on the Jessore-Dhaka highway near Fatepur Daitola in Jessore Sadar upazila on Friday afternoon. Although all passengers escaped safely, their belongings were completely destroyed in the blaze. The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. when the Narail Express bus departed from Jessore city’s Monihar counter. Witnesses said the driver stopped the bus immediately after flames erupted from the engine, allowing passengers to evacuate.

Police and fire service personnel arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, according to Masud Khan, officer-in-charge of Jessore Kotwali Police Station. However, passengers reported that the bus was already fully burned before firefighters arrived. Fire service officials confirmed that a sub-officer was present at the site, but further details were unavailable as he could not be reached by phone.

Some passengers alleged that the bus had mechanical issues before departure and that the driver was reluctant to operate it. The incident caused heavy traffic congestion on both sides of the highway as vehicles were halted following the fire.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, focusing on Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Iran and the United States. The meeting took place in Islamabad, where China expressed support for Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative and praised its role in promoting dialogue. The discussions centered on efforts to ease tensions and encourage negotiations amid ongoing conflict.

According to the report, Pakistan had earlier conveyed a 15-point proposal from the United States to Iran aimed at ending the current war, but Iran rejected the proposal and presented its own demands. Following the meeting, Ishaq Dar stated on social media that both sides reaffirmed the need to restore peace and stability across the Middle East and the wider region. They agreed to continue supporting efforts to de-escalate tensions, resume peace talks, protect civilians, ensure maritime safety, and uphold the UN Charter.

The talks highlight China’s backing of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and both countries’ shared interest in regional stability and multilateral cooperation.

Bangladesh is facing a growing public health challenge as one in four adults, or 23.5 percent, suffers from hypertension, according to the Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey 2022. The condition is now the country’s leading disease, responsible for a large share of heart-related deaths. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ 2025 survey found hypertension at the top of the ten most common diseases, while WHO data show that over half of affected adults are unaware of their condition and only 16 percent manage it effectively through regular medication.

The World Health Organization’s 2025 report indicates that 1.4 billion people aged 30–79 worldwide live with hypertension, with most residing in low- and middle-income countries. In Bangladesh, inadequate funding—only 4.2 percent of the health budget goes to noncommunicable disease control—has hindered consistent medicine supply to community clinics. The government has introduced several initiatives, including adding amlodipine to the community clinic medicine list and expanding NCD corners across the country.

Health officials say ensuring uninterrupted drug supply and inter-ministerial cooperation will be crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases by one-third by 2030.

French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin stated that France’s position in the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is entirely defensive. In an interview with C-News, she emphasized that France’s strategy in the Middle East is centered on diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation in the region.

Vautrin highlighted that France’s primary goal is to pursue diplomatic initiatives as the only way to ensure peace, particularly in response to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. She noted that many countries are concerned about the situation and that finding a resolution is of utmost importance.

The minister’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, including reports of deadly attacks in Iran’s Qom city and continued threats of intensified military action by Israel.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to intensify military attacks on Iran, accusing Tehran of launching missile strikes against Israeli civilians. According to a report by the Times of Israel, Katz told military officials that upcoming operations would be broader and target sites linked to Iran’s alleged attacks on Israeli civilians. He stated that Iran would pay a heavy price and that Israel would continue its operations with full force until all war objectives are achieved.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as a source, comes amid heightened regional tensions following recent deadly incidents, including an attack in Iran’s Qom city that killed 18 people and injuries to two Israeli soldiers in Lebanon. Katz’s remarks signal a possible escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, with both sides trading accusations of aggression.

The situation underscores the growing instability in the Middle East, as multiple fronts remain active and international actors express concern over the widening scope of hostilities.

Iran’s Ministry of Sports has announced that no national or club teams will be sent to countries it considers hostile. The decision, reported by Iranian state television on March 27, 2026, comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The ministry stated that the restriction applies to all sports teams and will remain in effect until further notice. It cited concerns over the safety of Iranian athletes and teams in those countries.

Although the announcement did not specifically mention the World Cup, the move has raised uncertainty about Iran’s participation in upcoming international competitions. The ban could also affect club football, including Tractor Sazi FC’s scheduled Asian Champions League Elite match in Dubai, Saudi Arabia. Relevant federations and clubs have been instructed to contact the Asian Football Confederation to discuss possible rescheduling.

The decision underscores how regional political tensions are beginning to influence sports engagements and may complicate Iran’s international sporting commitments if the restrictions persist.

Balendra Shah, leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), was sworn in as Nepal’s youngest prime minister during a special ceremony at the presidential residence, Sheetal Niwas, on Friday. President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shah, who becomes the country’s 47th prime minister.

Shah, a 35-year-old structural engineer and former rapper, won a decisive victory in the March 5 general election from the Jhapa-5 constituency, defeating former prime minister and CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli. The seat had long been considered Oli’s stronghold. The election followed last year’s anti-corruption ‘Gen Z’ protests, in which 76 people were killed. Shah’s RSP secured 182 of the 275 parliamentary seats, paving his way to the premiership.

As the former mayor of Kathmandu, Shah is also the first Madhesi—an inhabitant of Nepal’s southern plains bordering India—to hold the country’s top political office, marking a generational and social milestone in Nepal’s leadership.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka have been severely disrupted due to the ongoing war in several Middle Eastern countries. Between February 28 and March 27, a total of 797 flights on Middle Eastern routes were cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. On Friday, March 27, airport authorities announced the cancellation of an additional 22 flights.

According to airport sources, the cancellations stem from temporary airspace closures by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan. The closures have directly affected flights between Dhaka and these destinations, with daily cancellations ranging from 20 to 46 flights throughout the month.

The latest cancellations include flights operated by Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines, and Jazeera Airways. The situation continues to cause significant travel disruptions for passengers bound for the Middle East.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that focusing excessively on the past blinds one eye, while forgetting it blinds both. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon at a discussion organized by the BNP at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Dhaka, marking Independence and National Day. Rahman said that over the past 17 years, excessive debate about history has overshadowed the country’s core historical narrative.

He emphasized that while national aspirations are limitless, resources are finite, and unity is essential to overcome challenges. The Prime Minister cautioned against diminishing the glory of the Liberation War under the guise of discussion or research. He stressed that Bangladesh’s independence and the Liberation War are inseparable from the role of Ziaur Rahman, whose contributions should be discussed and researched without undermining the nation’s founding history.

Rahman concluded that collective effort and unity could enable Bangladesh to handle any situation and build a self-reliant nation.

Two members of Israel’s military were seriously injured in southern Lebanon, according to a statement from the Israeli army. The statement said that an officer and a soldier were wounded during fighting in the area and have been hospitalized. Israeli forces are currently conducting ground operations in the region.

Israel has been carrying out attacks in Lebanon since March 2, targeting the armed group Hezbollah. The Israeli military claims the operations are directed against Hezbollah positions, while the group has continued launching drone and missile strikes toward Israel from Lebanese territory. The situation marks an escalation in the ongoing hostilities between the two sides.

The continued exchange of attacks underscores the volatility along the Israel-Lebanon border, with both sides sustaining casualties as operations persist.

The upazila administration of Sreemangal in Moulvibazar conducted a drive on Thursday against illegal storage of LPG cylinders and fuel. The operation was led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Islam Uddin and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mohibullah Akon, with participation from law enforcement agencies, RAB-9, and the Fire Service. During the drive, two establishments were fined Tk 50,000 each for illegally storing LPG gas, and another was fined Tk 50,000 for keeping excess octane and petrol.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mohibullah Akon confirmed the fines and stated that such drives would continue. The operation aimed to curb unauthorized storage of flammable materials that pose safety and regulatory risks in the area.

The continuation of these enforcement activities indicates the administration’s intent to maintain compliance with fuel storage regulations and prevent potential hazards in Sreemangal.