US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he expects the ongoing war with Iran to end within the next few weeks. Speaking in an interview on ABC News’ program ‘This Week,’ Wright expressed optimism that the conflict could conclude even sooner.

He noted that once the war ends, energy supplies are likely to return to normal and fuel prices may decrease. According to Wright, the instability in global energy markets caused by the conflict should gradually subside after peace is restored.

The comments come amid continuing hostilities between Iran and Israel, with reports of missile and drone attacks in the region, and international calls for a ceasefire.

Prime Minister and BNP Chair Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Dinajpur on Monday to inaugurate a canal excavation program. He will arrive at Saidpur Airport at 10 a.m. by air and then travel to Dinajpur in a special bulletproof bus. The visit was confirmed by Abdur Gafur Sarkar, president of the organizational district BNP of Saidpur. Local BNP members have organized a welcome procession in Saidpur to greet him along the route from the airport to the city.

According to the schedule, after landing in Saidpur, Tarique Rahman will travel by bus to Kaharol to inaugurate the canal excavation project. Following the event, he will visit Dinajpur town to pay respects at his grandparents’ graves and attend an iftar at the Circuit House field. He is expected to return to Dhaka by air at 8 p.m. the same day.

Additional Superintendent of Police Anwar Hossain stated that strict security measures have been arranged for the Prime Minister’s visit, with SSF, intelligence personnel, and 3,000 police officers deployed across the area.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a 16-point directive to ensure uninterrupted emergency healthcare during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays across Bangladesh. The order, signed by Dr. Abu Hossain Md. Moinul Ahsan, Director of Hospitals and Clinics, instructs all government hospitals to keep emergency departments, labor rooms, operating theaters, laboratories, blood banks, CT scan, and MRI services operational around the clock.

The directives include maintaining adequate staffing by arranging phased leave schedules, ensuring the presence of on-call specialist doctors at upazila level, and keeping sufficient stocks of medicines, IV fluids, and surgical supplies before the holidays. Ambulance services must remain active, and hospital authorities are required to coordinate with local administration and law enforcement for security. Fire safety precautions and continuous communication between hospital heads and staff are also mandated.

Private hospitals and clinics are instructed to keep emergency and maternity services open under registered physicians and to provide primary care before referring patients. Any disaster or accident must be immediately reported to the DGHS control room.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of spreading false information about the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. In a post on its Persian-language page on social media platform X, CENTCOM stated that the IRGC had once again claimed to have disabled the warship. CENTCOM clarified that the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group continues to maintain full control over Iranian airspace from the sea.

The report added that, in addition to the Abraham Lincoln, the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is also currently deployed in the region. According to US media reports cited in the source, the United States is sending additional troops to the Persian Gulf, including an amphibious ready group composed of about five thousand marines and sailors.

The developments come amid heightened tensions in the region, with multiple reports of military movements and exchanges involving Iran and other regional actors.

Iran has launched a large-scale ballistic missile and drone attack on Israel on Sunday, March 15, 2026, marking the 16th day of the ongoing conflict between the two nations. According to reports, missiles struck Tel Aviv and at least two other cities, injuring two people in central Israel and three more in the occupied West Bank. The Times of Israel cited emergency service Magen David Adom confirming that two 50-year-old men were wounded in the attack.

The report added that one of the missiles carried cluster munitions, dispersing submunitions across southern and central Israel, including the city of Eilat. Local authorities in Eilat stated that an Iranian ballistic missile equipped with cluster bombs was intercepted by Israel’s air defense system before impact. The attack occurred amid heightened tensions as Iran accused Israel and the United States of imposing an “unjust war.”

The situation underscores the intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel, with no indication of ceasefire or negotiation efforts from Tehran, according to related reports.

Yemen’s Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, has threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in support of Iran as the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive against Tehran enters its 16th day. Houthi military official Abed al-Thawr said on Saturday that if a decision for intervention is made, their first step could be to impose a naval blockade against the United States and Israel. Citing Press TV, he added that commercial ships, warships, and even aircraft carriers heading toward those countries could be detained.

Al-Thawr further stated that the Houthis are considering a complete closure of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to all vessels bound for Israeli ports. The joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran began on February 28, targeting Tehran and several major Iranian cities. The White House claimed the strikes were aimed at neutralizing Iran’s potential missile and nuclear threats.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched counterattacks on Israeli facilities and U.S. bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Reports also claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials were killed in the strikes.

India’s Election Commission has announced the schedule for assembly elections in four states—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and West Bengal—and the union territory of Puducherry. The announcement was made in New Delhi by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on March 15, 2026. In West Bengal, voting will take place in two phases, on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4 across all states and the union territory.

In West Bengal, the first phase on April 23 will cover all districts except Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, East Burdwan, South 24 Parganas, and North 24 Parganas, which will vote in the second phase on April 29. The announcement came shortly after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that pending dearness allowances for government employees would be cleared and monthly stipends for mosque muezzins and Hindu priests would be increased.

The decision follows previous protests by state employees demanding payment of pending allowances, and a Supreme Court directive ordering the state government to settle the dues. A day before the schedule was announced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a rally in Kolkata and unveiled development projects worth 180 billion rupees for West Bengal.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman announced that his party will take to the streets if the issue of forming a constitutional reform council under the July Charter is not resolved within parliament. He made the statement on Sunday evening after the national parliament session, emphasizing that the opposition had sought a resolution by the end of the day. Rahman noted that questions were raised about the oath of the reform council, the timing of its session, and whether the referendum results would be honored.

During the same parliamentary session, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed responded that the constitution does not recognize the existence of a constitutional reform council, meaning the prime minister cannot advise the president to convene it. He suggested that the matter be discussed in the parliamentary business advisory committee. Rahman said the opposition would submit a formal notice and continue discussions in parliament but would move to street action if no solution emerged.

The opposition expressed hope that the government would accept their demands to implement the July Charter and convene the reform council as per the constitutional process.

A Dhaka court has ordered the arrest of Nasa Group chairman Nazrul Islam Majumdar in connection with an attempted murder case filed at Vatara Police Station. The order was issued on Sunday by Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam following a police petition. Defense lawyer Saidur Islam confirmed the development, noting that Majumdar currently faces more than 20 cases. The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Hafizur Rahman, had submitted the arrest petition on March 11, and the court set the hearing date in the accused’s presence.

According to the case statement, the incident stems from political unrest following remarks by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on July 16, 2024, which led to student protests in Dhaka. On July 18, 2024, during a demonstration supporting the “July Movement,” the complainant Rohan and others were allegedly shot at by the accused and unidentified individuals, resulting in injuries. Majumdar was previously detained by the Detective Branch on October 1, 2024, in Gulshan and has remained in custody since then.

The court’s latest order formalizes his arrest status in this specific case while he continues to face multiple other legal proceedings.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced key deadlines for Umrah pilgrims during the current season. The ministry stated that the last day to issue Umrah visas will be the first day of Shawwal, corresponding to March 20. Pilgrims must enter Saudi Arabia by the 15th of Shawwal, or April 3, and depart by the first day of Dhul Qadah, April 18.

The ministry reaffirmed that only those with valid Hajj visas may perform Hajj, and Umrah visas cannot be used for that purpose. Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah praised Umrah companies for their cooperation during Ramadan, highlighting their role in assisting stranded pilgrims and facilitating their return. He emphasized the importance of adhering to scheduled airport arrivals and updating departure information through the Nusuk Makkah platform.

Officials also reviewed performance indicators for the Umrah season and discussed preparations for the third Umrah and Visit Forum in 2026, aimed at strengthening partnerships and improving pilgrim services in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

An Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Sidon has killed a Hamas official, according to a report by AFP. A Hamas source, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the deceased as Wisam Taha, a member of the organization. The attack targeted an apartment in a residential building in Sidon, as reported by Lebanon’s state media.

Sidon hosts Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp and has been struck multiple times by Israel in recent months. Israel has stated that its operations in the area are aimed at targeting Hamas members. The latest strike adds to a series of cross-border incidents that have heightened tensions in the region.

The report did not provide further details about casualties or official responses from either side following the attack.

The State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Anindya Islam Amit, has issued nine directives to all district commissioners to strengthen oversight of fuel supply and distribution across Bangladesh. The instructions were given on Sunday during an online meeting on discipline in fuel supply and marketing management, attended by the Cabinet Secretary, the Public Administration Secretary, and all district commissioners. The ministry confirmed the details in an official press release.

The directives include daily verification of depot stock, ensuring supply from depots to petrol pumps, monitoring all categories of fuel customers, investigating pump closures, preventing illegal hoarding and smuggling, maintaining depot security, and ensuring that no fuel is sold at inflated prices. The minister emphasized that offenders must face exemplary punishment and called for increased surveillance at the district level.

He also urged local administrations to promote electricity conservation by limiting decorative lighting, maintaining air conditioner temperatures at or above 25 degrees Celsius, and turning off signboard lights after business hours. The minister sought cooperation from district administrations to address the ongoing global energy challenges.

Bangladesh has sought Russia’s support for its candidacy for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly for the 2026–2027 term. The request was made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam during a courtesy meeting with Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigorievich Khokhin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

During the meeting, both sides discussed strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation on various international issues. The Russian ambassador congratulated the state minister on assuming office and expressed optimism about the future of Bangladesh-Russia relations. Shama Obaed Islam highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two countries and noted expanding cooperation in energy, trade and investment, science and technology, education, skilled manpower migration, and people-to-people contact.

Both parties expressed satisfaction with the progress of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Samira Munshi, the only Muslim woman serving on the White House Religious Liberty Commission, has resigned in protest against what she described as an unprovoked war by the United States and Israel against Iran. Appointed by President Donald Trump, Munshi announced her resignation on March 15, 2026, condemning what she called the administration’s injustice and cruelty both domestically and abroad.

In a statement shared on X, Munshi said the US government’s military action against Iran was illegal and deeply disturbing to her. She claimed the operation began without proper authorization from the US Constitution or Congress. Her resignation marks a rare public dissent from within a presidential advisory body over the administration’s foreign policy decisions.

According to the report, Munshi’s departure underscores growing criticism of the US-led military campaign against Iran, which some observers have described as lacking legal and moral justification.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched a new round of missile attacks on multiple targets inside Israel, marking the first use of its solid-fuel Sejjil missile. According to a statement cited by Tasnim News, the strike was part of the retaliatory military campaign named True Promise 4, representing the 54th missile assault against Israel.

The IRGC said the latest operation also involved Khorramshahr, Kheibar Shekan, Qadr, and Emad missiles, targeting command and control centers linked to Israel’s aerial military operations. The force claimed that key military and defense infrastructure, as well as troop assembly points within the occupied territories, were successfully hit.

The attacks come as part of Iran’s ongoing retaliation for the February 28 U.S.-Israeli strike in Iran that killed senior military officials and civilians. Iranian forces have since been conducting missile and drone operations against Israeli and American regional bases.