The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh announced on 31 March 2026 that the country currently holds 192,919 tons of fuel oil in reserve. The disclosure came during a press briefing at the Secretariat, where ministry spokesperson and Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury said that 87,700 liters of illegally stored fuel were recovered across the country on 30 March as part of an ongoing government operation.

According to the ministry, the reserves include 128,939 tons of diesel, 7,940 tons of octane, 11,431 tons of petrol, and 44,609 tons of jet fuel. Officials stated that fuel supply remains stable through regular imports, and special attention is being given to maintaining adequate jet fuel stocks ahead of the upcoming Hajj season.

To strengthen oversight, the government has appointed “tag officers” at filling stations nationwide. In Dhaka Division alone, 479 officers are deployed across 13 districts and 116 in the metropolitan area, with similar arrangements in other divisions. The ministry expects this initiative to improve transparency and discipline in fuel management.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has emphasized the need to develop Bangladesh’s sports sector based on merit and competence, free from political influence. Speaking on Tuesday at a meeting with the newly elected board of Mohammedan Sporting Club in Dhaka, he said the Prime Minister wants to keep sports outside political interference and has already begun working toward that goal.

Fakhrul added that the Prime Minister also envisions sports as a viable profession for athletes, stressing that recognition or allowances are less important than ensuring players can pursue sports as a career. He reiterated that politics should have no place in sports and that excluding talented players for political reasons is deeply regrettable.

Calling on the young Sports Minister, himself a former national footballer, Fakhrul urged him to ensure that sports remain free from political bias. He reaffirmed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman shares the same vision for a depoliticized sports environment in the country.

Two separate cases have been filed under the Human Trafficking Prevention Act against nine brokers following the deaths of 12 young men from Sunamganj who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to travel from Libya to Greece. The cases were lodged on Monday night at Jagannathpur and Dirai police stations, with five accused in one case and four in the other.

According to the report, the Dirai case was filed by Salikur Rahman, father of deceased Sohanur Rahman from Basuri village, while the Jagannathpur case was filed by Habibur Rahman from Pailgaon village. Additional Superintendent of Police Sujan Sarkar stated that the names of the accused are being withheld for investigative reasons, and police operations to arrest them are ongoing.

District Commissioner Mohammad Elias Mia said that lists of suspected brokers were prepared by local executive officers and handed over to police. He added that the administration remains in support of the victims’ families.

A court in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila has placed Professor Dr. Md. Golam Kabir and his wife Hosne Ara on a three-day remand in connection with the shooting death of Kabir’s younger brother. The court rejected their bail plea after police sought a seven-day remand. The incident occurred on March 25 in Chatul village, where a dispute over selling trees from family land escalated into a violent confrontation. Golam Kabir allegedly shot his brother Humayun Kabir Mintu with a shotgun, leading to his death shortly after being rescued.

Following the incident, the victim’s wife Farida Begum filed a murder case with Boalmari Police Station, naming seven accused. Locals detained the main suspect, Golam Kabir, at the scene and handed him over to police, who later arrested his wife as well. Police officials said the investigation is ongoing to uncover the full circumstances behind the killing.

Boalmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain stated that the remand interrogation is expected to yield important information relevant to the case.

Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing was elected vice president by the country’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday, according to a parliamentary official. The official confirmed that Min Aung Hlaing received 247 votes out of 260 lawmakers during a live broadcast session, marking a significant step toward consolidating his hold on power and potentially becoming president.

Reports from Naypyidaw via AFP stated that three vice presidents are scheduled to be elected this week. Once the process is complete, the full parliament will vote to select one of them as president. The election marks a key moment in Myanmar’s ongoing political process under military control.

The development positions Min Aung Hlaing closer to the presidency, strengthening the junta’s influence over the country’s political institutions as the selection process continues.

Lebanon’s Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for 43 attacks on Israeli forces within a 24-hour period, according to a report citing Al Jazeera. In a statement, the group said that 26 of the attacks targeted Israeli troops positioned inside Lebanon, while the remaining 17 were directed at northern Israel.

Hezbollah further asserted that the operations struck four Israeli military bases, eight military facilities, one barracks, and four newly established border posts. The report did not include independent verification of these claims or any response from Israeli authorities.

The announcement underscores the continuing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel along the border area, though the report provided no details on casualties or damage.

A man was killed in Comilla’s Barura upazila on Monday night after being attacked by his son during a family dispute. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on March 30, when the son, identified as Abul Kalam, allegedly assaulted his father, Ali Akbar, with a sharp weapon. Ali Akbar was taken to a local government hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Family members said Abul Kalam, aged 35, had been suffering from mental health issues for about two years and previously worked as an autorickshaw driver. Following the attack, police arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and took it to the police station. With help from locals, the accused was detained and handed over to law enforcement.

Barura Police Station’s investigation officer Sanjay Sarkar stated that police responded quickly and that an investigation is underway. Further details will be provided after the inquiry is completed.

Economist Debapriya Bhattacharya has said that the new government faces significant challenges in preparing its first national budget amid structural weaknesses, incomplete reforms, and growing economic pressures. Speaking at a pre-budget media briefing titled “Citizen Thoughts and Expectations on the Budget” at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) office in Dhaka, he noted that maintaining fiscal discipline and prioritizing expenditures carefully are essential under current constraints.

Bhattacharya highlighted that the government is operating under severe budgetary limitations, making it difficult to balance spending and resources. He pointed to inherited liabilities from the previous government’s pay scale initiative, urging the formation of a new commission to review the issue. He also emphasized recovering illicitly transferred funds, expanding the tax base, and reducing inefficient subsidies, particularly in agriculture and energy. He identified four main pressures on the upcoming budget: structural weaknesses, election promises, limited fiscal space, and external imbalances.

He warned that without realistic expectations and effective short- and medium-term planning, the forthcoming budget may fail to stabilize the economy or sustain growth.

Bangladesh has sought significant investment and technical assistance from China to modernize and develop its sports infrastructure. The request was made by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque during a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The minister emphasized Chinese investment in a proposed sports institute and the need for skilled Chinese coaches and advanced training in volleyball, archery, and shooting.

During the meeting, the minister highlighted that the government is promoting all sports equally alongside cricket and football. He mentioned the introduction of special sports allowances and a digital sports card program for athletes. He also formally invited China’s national men’s football team to play a friendly match in Bangladesh and encouraged Chinese participation in the country’s growing sports industry.

Ambassador Yao Wen praised Bangladesh’s digital sports initiatives and athlete allowance program, expressing strong interest in investing in youth training centers and the proposed sports institute. He assured that China would consider the friendly match proposal and emphasized continued cooperation through regular exchange of sports equipment and expertise.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has alleged that its secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, has been receiving continuous threats from various transport owners, workers, and organizations. The threats reportedly began after the association published reports on excessive fares during Eid travel and subsequent road accidents. In response, an online general diary (GD) was filed on Tuesday at the Demra Police Station in Dhaka.

According to the GD, Chowdhury has been advocating for passenger rights and safety for two decades. The association claimed that during the previous Awami League government, he faced multiple legal cases and imprisonment under pressure from transport groups. Following the latest reports, unidentified individuals were seen monitoring his movements and inquiring about his and his family’s whereabouts.

Chowdhury has also released an online video message seeking the prime minister’s intervention to ensure his personal safety amid the ongoing threats.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan announced that from the next fiscal year, taxpayers will be able to file their income tax returns online throughout the year. He made the statement on Tuesday while presiding over a pre-budget discussion organized by the NBR. Currently, November 30 is observed as Income Tax Day, and taxpayers are required to submit their returns by that date.

The NBR chairman explained that the new system will replace the single deadline with four quarterly filing periods. Taxpayers who submit returns in the first quarter will receive tax rebates, while those filing in later quarters will face progressively higher tax rates. The aim is to give taxpayers flexibility in choosing their filing period. He also mentioned that 4.2 million people have submitted returns this year, and around 20,000 have applied for deadline extensions.

According to the chairman, online applications for time extensions are available, and tax officials can approve up to 90 additional days. He emphasized that improved governance and reduced revenue leakage will help increase overall tax collection.

Several members of Mir Jafar’s family in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, have reportedly been removed from India’s voter list. The issue emerged during the special summary revision process ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, sparking widespread attention across the state. According to reports, the names of more than a hundred members of the Nawab family were deleted, raising uncertainty over their right to vote.

Family members said they received hearing notices from the Election Commission and submitted the required documents. However, they claimed that most names were permanently excluded even after the hearings. The affected individuals live in the Killa Nizamat area of Murshidabad, where Mir Jafar’s descendants have resided for generations.

The incident has drawn attention because of the family’s historical significance. Mir Jafar became the Nawab of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey in 1757 with British support, and his 15th-generation descendant, Reza Ali Mirza, currently lives in the same area.

A Barishal court has sent Jihadul Islam Khan, joint general secretary of the district Chhatra Dal, to jail on charges of motorcycle theft in Mehendiganj. He was produced before the court on Sunday after being detained by police the previous night. According to police and local sources, Khan allegedly attempted to steal a rented motorcycle locked at a house in the Badarpur area around 1 a.m. Saturday. Police on patrol stopped him for questioning and detained him after inconsistencies appeared in his statements.

The motorcycle’s owner, Tanvir Islam, confirmed that the lock had been broken and filed a case with the local police station on Sunday. Police then showed Khan arrested in the case and sent him to jail through the court. Tanvir said he had bought the motorcycle with a loan and depended on it for his family’s livelihood, expressing gratitude for the police’s quick action.

Local BNP leader Asaduzzaman Mukta stated that although Khan holds a Chhatra Dal position, there had been prior complaints against him, and the party would take internal action if necessary.

A parliamentary committee has directed officials to remain vigilant in all procurement activities of the Bangladesh National Parliament Secretariat to prevent irregularities similar to past scandals. The directive was issued during a committee meeting held at the National Parliament Building, chaired by Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam Moni. The meeting also reviewed the malfunction of the Parliament’s sound system, with an investigation committee already working on the issue and expected to submit its report by April 2.

The committee emphasized ensuring high quality and reasonable pricing in the purchase of furniture and other items. It also discussed problems with the supply of safe drinking water and noted that steps have been taken to resolve them. The Chief Whip expressed hope that all members of parliament would soon be able to move into their residences.

Two sub-committees were formed to identify the causes of the sound system malfunction and to assess the quality of canteen food, water supply, and furniture used in the parliament members’ residences.

U.S. President Donald Trump has told his aides he is willing to conclude the American military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. officials. The report notes that such a move could prolong Tehran’s control over the vital waterway and complicate future efforts to reopen it.

Officials said Trump and his team recently reviewed the situation and believe that forcing the strait open could extend the conflict beyond the president’s preferred four-to-six-week timeframe. The president’s main objective, according to the report, is to destroy Iran’s naval and missile stockpiles, then de-escalate the conflict while applying diplomatic pressure on Tehran to allow free trade.

Washington may also press its European and Gulf allies to take the lead in reopening the strait if necessary. Although military options remain available, Trump is reportedly not prioritizing them at this stage.