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.

Railway authorities have started recovering nine coaches of the Nilshagar Express that derailed in Adamdighi, Bogura, on Wednesday afternoon. A rescue train from Ishwardi, Pabna, arrived at the site around 6:45 p.m. and began operations, confirmed Santahar Railway Station Master Khadija Khatun. Another rescue train from Parbatipur, Dinajpur, is also on its way to assist in restoring rail communication as quickly as possible.

The derailment occurred around 2:15 p.m., injuring many passengers, including those who were on the train’s roof and jumped off during the accident. The incident disrupted rail communication between Dhaka and five northern districts—Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, and Joypurhat—as well as between Dinajpur and other northern regions. However, train movement on the Dhaka–Rangpur–Lalmonirhat line remains normal.

Local sources said rail track repair work was underway at the site, and a red flag had been placed, but the driver reportedly failed to notice it. No fatalities have been reported so far, and 47 injured passengers were taken to Naogaon General Hospital for treatment.

The US Embassy in Dhaka has issued a new directive for Bangladeshi citizens regarding the use of B1-B2 visitor visas. Published on the embassy’s official Facebook page on March 18, the notice explicitly prohibits using the visa to give birth in the United States. The embassy stated that some visa holders had recently attempted to secure US citizenship for their children through such actions, known as “birth tourism,” which violates visa regulations.

The directive also clarifies that B1-B2 visa holders are not allowed to engage in paid employment in the United States. They may only attend business meetings or conferences. Using the visitor visa to pursue academic degrees or earn credits toward a student program is also forbidden; those seeking full-time study must obtain an F-1 student visa.

The embassy said the warning comes amid stricter immigration and visa policies under the US President’s second term. Violating these rules could result in visa cancellation and entry bans to the United States.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that the United States is responsible for the recent attacks in several cities across neighboring Gulf countries. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, he claimed that Iran should not be blamed for the strikes, arguing that the U.S. moved its troops from military bases to hotels in those cities, effectively making them targets.

Araghchi explained that Iran’s operations did not only target official enemy bases but also locations where U.S. forces had gathered and established facilities. His remarks came amid heightened regional tensions following multiple incidents involving Iranian and U.S. interests in the Gulf region.

The statement reflects Iran’s attempt to shift responsibility for the attacks onto Washington, emphasizing that the presence and movement of U.S. forces in civilian areas contributed to the escalation.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, distribution of health cards and agricultural cards will begin in the last week of June 2026 as part of a pilot project. He made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon while addressing a humanitarian aid distribution event organized by the Belabo Upazila administration in Narsingdi, marking Eid-ul-Fitr 2026. The minister also stated that the government has started providing honorariums to imams, muezzins, temple priests, and other religious service holders.

During his speech, the minister said that farmers’ agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka have been waived with interest by the prime minister. He urged citizens not to pay any bribes for government services and to report any such demands directly to him. He further pledged to make his constituency Belabo-Monohardi free from drugs and corruption and to gradually eliminate these issues nationwide.

At the event, 193 underprivileged people from eight unions of Belabo Upazila received 2,000 taka each, totaling 386,000 taka, from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund.

The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh has expressed concern over misleading social media posts regarding a food aid program held in Dhaka in the presence of the Chinese ambassador. In a statement posted on its verified Facebook page on March 18, the embassy said some online content about the charity event did not reflect the facts. It reaffirmed China’s friendly policy toward Bangladesh and its support for the country’s elected government, pledging continued cooperation to strengthen bilateral ties for mutual benefit.

The clarification followed social media claims that Jamaat-e-Islami had distributed large quantities of food after the event. The embassy’s statement came in response to these claims. The distribution took place at Mirpur Adarsha High School field, where over a thousand local residents received food packages. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman jointly handed over the aid packages.

During the event, Yao Wen said China would continue implementing projects to improve the well-being and living standards of both nations’ people, while Rahman thanked the embassy, calling the initiative a reflection of China’s friendship with Bangladesh.

The results of the 49th central examination of Befaq-ul-Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh (Befaq) have been released, showing an overall pass rate of 80.95 percent. The announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon at the Befaq auditorium in Kajla, Dhaka, by the organization’s secretary general, Maulana Mahfuzul Haque. The exams were held from January 17 to 24 across the country in seven levels, with 354,036 students participating. Of them, 286,591 passed.

According to the results, 53,500 students achieved Mumtaz (star marks), 55,747 obtained Jayyid Jiddan (first division), 65,673 received Jayyid (second division), and 111,671 earned Maqbul (third division). Detailed results have been published on Befaq’s official website.

Among the institutions, Jamia Islamia Darul Ulum Dilu Road Madrasa in Dhaka achieved notable success, securing 191 positions in the combined merit list, ranking second nationwide and first in Dhaka. Teachers, students, and parents expressed satisfaction and attributed the success to hard work, dedication, and cooperation.

China has pledged to continue its mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire and end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The statement came as the joint attacks by Israel and the United States in Iran entered their nineteenth day. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with the United Arab Emirates’ special envoy to the president, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

During the meeting, Wang Yi said the war should never have happened and that there is no justification for its continuation. He also expressed China’s support for the UAE’s sovereignty and security. The Chinese foreign ministry emphasized that Beijing remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.

The situation follows a series of regional developments, including arrests in Iran and condemnations from Russia and Qatar over recent attacks, underscoring the growing international concern over the conflict’s escalation.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that global hunger could reach record levels in 2026 if the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues. The agency estimates that more than 45 million additional people could face severe food insecurity, adding to the current 318 million already struggling worldwide. Rising oil prices above 100 dollars per barrel and disruptions to shipping routes have intensified the crisis.

According to the WFP, the situation mirrors the global food shock seen during the 2022 Ukraine war. Even though the conflict is not directly affecting major food-producing regions, higher fuel costs are driving up transportation, fertilizer, and agricultural expenses, pushing food prices higher. A WFP official warned that those already vulnerable will suffer the most if humanitarian aid remains insufficient.

The near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz and increased risks in the Red Sea have disrupted maritime trade, further raising the prices of oil, fertilizer, and food. Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia are identified as the most at risk, with food insecurity projected to rise by up to 24 percent in some regions.