Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu inaugurated a canal excavation program at Damdama in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi on Monday afternoon. He said the nationwide canal digging initiative follows the vision of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, emphasizing that people will dig their own soil to bring water, cultivate the land, and achieve food self-sufficiency.

During his speech, the minister recalled the severe famine in Bangladesh between 1972 and 1975, noting that Ziaur Rahman had inspired citizens to dig canals across the country, transforming single-crop lands into triple-crop fields and moving the nation toward food self-sufficiency by 1977–78. He also reminisced about his student days in Rajshahi when he participated in canal digging led by Ziaur Rahman, which he said brought significant local change.

The event was attended by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT, Rehan Asif Asad, Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhter, Police Superintendent Mohammad Naimul Hasan, and other local officials, media representatives, and residents.

The Russian government has refused to comment on reports that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was taken to Moscow for emergency surgery. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia was aware of the media coverage but declined to provide any details. The reports, first published by Kuwait’s Al Jarida on March 15, claimed Khamenei was seriously injured in an Israeli attack and flown to Moscow for urgent treatment.

According to Al Jarida, Russian President Vladimir Putin arranged for Khamenei’s transfer aboard a military aircraft, and the operation was conducted at one of Putin’s presidential residences. The report also alleged that the mission to move Khamenei was highly secret. British outlets The Daily Mail and The Sun cited similar claims, including that Khamenei’s legs were severely injured and that he might be in a coma.

The incident follows the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike on February 28, after which Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as Iran’s new top religious leader. Russia has not confirmed any details of his reported treatment in Moscow.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry stated that diplomatic discussions cannot proceed unless Iran stops its ongoing attacks. At a weekly briefing, ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said that diplomacy could only resume if the assaults end, emphasizing that as long as Gulf countries remain under attack, it is not the time to form committees. He called for a firm stance to protect regional nations and demanded an immediate halt to the strikes.

Al-Ansari rejected a proposal from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to form a committee to investigate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gulf states. Iran has denied involvement in such attacks. The Qatari spokesperson noted that threats and strikes on civilian targets have continued since the conflict began, citing a missile intercepted near a residential area in Doha. He added that partial evacuation orders were issued after Iranian media warned that certain companies and areas could be targeted.

Al-Ansari said Qatar is working to reduce tensions but is unaware of any formal mediation between the United States and Iran at this time.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that his government will work tirelessly, day and night, to build the desired nation. He made the statement on Monday at a civic gathering and iftar event held at the Dinajpur Circuit House grounds. Rahman said that the country had seen no development in the past sixteen years and urged citizens to be patient as his government implements its development plans.

He shared personal memories of his maternal home in the area and outlined specific plans for local development. The Prime Minister said he would soon meet with industrialists to discuss establishing factories across the country to boost economic growth. He also pledged to set up industries in Dinajpur to create employment opportunities for the unemployed.

Rahman added that although the government’s term had not yet reached one month, work had already begun to fulfill election promises, including agricultural loan waivers, family card distribution, stipends for religious leaders, and canal excavation. He announced a plan to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals nationwide to address water shortages and improve irrigation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has expressed gratitude to Pakistan for showing solidarity with Iran as the country faces attacks from the United States and Israel, according to Al Jazeera. In a post on social media platform X, written in Urdu, Araghchi thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their firm support toward the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, Pakistan has increased its diplomatic engagement with regional countries. Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by phone with Iranian leaders ahead of his visit to Saudi Arabia. On March 12, Sharif and Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, made a quick trip to Riyadh to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held discussions with counterparts from China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman about the region’s serious and evolving situation.

A Bloomberg report cited ship-tracking data showing a Pakistani vessel crossing the Strait of Hormuz toward Pakistan. Al Jazeera said it sought confirmation from Pakistan’s information ministry and military but received no response.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said a delegation will travel to Kolkata to question two suspects in the murder case of Osman Hadi, once consular access is granted. She made the statement on Monday while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

Earlier, Bangladesh had requested consular access after India’s West Bengal Police Special Task Force arrested the main suspect and his associate in the case. On March 9, the minister stated that communication had already been established with the Kolkata Deputy Commissioner and that Bangladesh would proceed once access was approved. She also mentioned that the two countries have a prisoner exchange agreement that could be used if the suspects are confirmed.

The arrests took place on the night of March 7, when Indian police detained Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alomgir Hossain in Bongaon, a border area of West Bengal, following an operation linked to the murder of Inquilab Manch convener Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.

The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for an airstrike that destroyed a facility linked to Iran’s military space program in Tehran. According to a statement cited by Al Jazeera, the strike targeted a compound in the center of the Iranian capital where satellite attack capabilities were reportedly being developed. The Israeli Air Force said the operation was based on precise intelligence and that the site posed a threat to Israeli and global space assets.

The statement added that the compound housed several projects under Iran’s military space program, including work on the Chamran-1 satellite. That satellite was built by the Iranian Defense Ministry’s Electronics Industries and launched into orbit by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in September 2024. The Israeli military also reported that another space-related research facility of the Iran Space Organization in Tehran was attacked last week.

The report did not include any immediate response from Iranian authorities or independent verification of the Israeli claims.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan from the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology has been appointed as the 21st Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chittagong. The announcement was made by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon. Dr. Al-Forkan will replace outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yahya Akhtar. He currently serves as the Senior Vice-President of the university’s Nationalist Teachers’ Forum.

Dr. Al-Forkan stated that he learned about the appointment through media reports and has not yet received an official notification. He is the founding chairman of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and began his teaching career in 1993 as a lecturer, becoming a professor in 2006. He earned his PhD from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and completed postdoctoral research in Canada and the United States.

In addition to his academic career, Dr. Al-Forkan is involved in local BNP politics in Hathazari, Chittagong, and previously served as the convener of the election management committee for the BNP candidate in Chittagong-5 during the 13th national parliamentary election.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that a graduate degree will be the minimum qualification for appointment as president or chairman of managing committees and governing bodies of educational institutions. The decision, revealed at a press briefing at the Ministry of Education on March 16, 2026, applies to all schools, colleges, and madrasas across the country.

The minister explained that the new rule aims to ensure qualified and competent individuals lead educational institutions. He noted that previous regulations under earlier governments required candidates to be senior teachers or headmasters, which limited opportunities and led to allegations of favoritism and nepotism. The new policy seeks to create a fairer and more transparent system by emphasizing merit and capability.

According to the minister, the government intends to move away from restrictive practices and build an inclusive framework that promotes fairness and efficiency in educational governance.

Akij Bicycle, a subsidiary of Akij Venture Group, has launched its first export consignment to the Netherlands on March 12, 2026. The company described the shipment as a historic step for Bangladesh’s growing bicycle industry, which has been expanding rapidly in recent years. The export marks the brand’s entry into the global market while maintaining international production standards.

According to the company, this export initiative will help earn foreign currency for Bangladesh and create 1,000 new jobs. Akij Bicycle stated that sending locally manufactured, high-quality bicycles abroad will strengthen the country’s industrial base and enhance its global reputation. The company began operations in May 2023 and has quickly established itself as a trusted brand in the domestic market.

Akij Bicycle also plans to expand its exports to other developed countries, including markets across Europe, as part of its long-term growth strategy.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the United States and Israel have learned a significant lesson from their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Speaking at the Foreign Ministry’s weekly press briefing on Monday, he said Tehran is prepared to continue the war as far as necessary, according to Al Jazeera.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran has demonstrated its readiness to sustain the confrontation with both Israel and the United States. He added that the two countries now understand the nature of the Iranian nation, which, he said, does not hesitate to defend itself and is willing to fight wherever required.

The minister’s remarks underline Tehran’s firm stance amid heightened tensions, signaling that Iran intends to maintain its defensive posture for as long as it deems necessary.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu MP said the government is working to connect all canals with rivers to increase production. He emphasized that there is no alternative to canal renovation and re-excavation for resolving waterlogging, reducing pollution, improving irrigation, and boosting production. The government has taken an initiative to re-excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals. He made these remarks on Monday while inaugurating the excavation of Dadana Canal in Mirerpol area of Daganbhuiyan upazila in Feni.

The minister added that all canals across the country will be identified and their boundaries demarcated, with five government departments jointly working in the field. Party leaders and activists have been urged to cooperate with the officials. The event was presided over by Feni Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque, with several local officials and political representatives attending as special guests.

Under the B-Strong project, seven kilometers of the Dadana Canal will be re-excavated, bringing 320 hectares of land under cultivation. According to the administration, this will increase crop production worth around Tk 100 crore.

Rokonuazzaman Rokon, member secretary of the South District BNP, formally took charge as the new administrator of Mymensingh City Corporation on Monday. The handover ceremony took place at the Shaheed Shahabuddin Auditorium of the city building, where outgoing administrator and Divisional Commissioner Farah Shammi officially transferred responsibilities to him. The event was attended by local Members of Parliament Abu Wahab Akand and Zakir Hossain Bablu, along with city officials and BNP leaders.

After assuming office, Rokon announced that city residents should no longer address any city officials as “Sir,” emphasizing that all employees are public servants dedicated to serving the people. He pledged to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to him by the Prime Minister with sincerity and sought cooperation from residents and stakeholders.

Rokon outlined his priorities, including easing traffic congestion ahead of the upcoming Eid, forming a volunteer team for traffic management, and improving waste management. He also vowed to eliminate waterlogging and ensure a cleaner city, noting that 687 sanitation workers are currently employed. The ceremony created a festive atmosphere as attendees wished him success in urban development.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to Iran’s enemies as the conflict with Israel and the United States enters its sixteenth day, according to Al Jazeera. Araghchi stated that after fifteen days of war, opposing nations are now seeking help from other countries to ensure the security of the strategic waterway.

He emphasized that while Iran considers the strait open, it is closed to those who have carried out what he described as cowardly aggression against Iran and to their allies. Araghchi also claimed that the war began with attacks by the United States and Israel, who had demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender.

The statement underscores heightened regional tensions and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments, as the conflict continues without signs of de-escalation.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has warned that no influential person will be spared if found occupying government-owned canals. Speaking on Monday in Mirsharai, Chattogram, he said the government is ensuring transparency in project implementation and will not tolerate corruption. His remarks came after inaugurating the re-excavation of the Bamansundar canal under a nationwide initiative launched by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman to restore canals, rivers, and water bodies across 54 districts.

The minister said the program aims to strengthen environmental protection and climate resilience, continuing the canal excavation initiative started by late President Ziaur Rahman. The government plans to excavate about 20,000 kilometers of canals, with 1,200 kilometers targeted for completion within six months. In Mirsharai, a three-kilometer section of the Bamansundar canal is being re-excavated.

He added that the project will bring 15,000 hectares of land under cultivation, increasing annual crop output by 5,000 metric tons and reducing waterlogging. Trees will be planted along canal banks to boost the local economy and help Bangladesh benefit from global carbon credit mechanisms.