Four Bangladeshi cricketers left Dhaka on Monday morning to participate in the upcoming eleventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which begins on March 26. The departing players are Mustafizur Rahman, Shariful Islam, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Nahid Rana. Two others, Rishad Hossain and Tanzid Tamim, are scheduled to join later.

According to the report, six Bangladeshi players have secured contracts in this year’s franchise-based tournament. Mustafizur Rahman, known as the “Cutter Master,” drew particular attention after signing directly with Lahore Qalandars for 64.4 million Pakistani rupees. Parvez Hossain Emon will also play for Lahore Qalandars, while leg-spinner Rishad Hossain joined the new franchise Rawalpindi Pindis for 30 million rupees. Nahid Rana and Parvez were later picked up by their respective teams at a base price of 6 million rupees each.

The participation of multiple Bangladeshi players highlights the growing presence of the country’s cricketers in international franchise leagues.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari issued a new statement mocking former U.S. President Donald Trump as the American deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz approached. In an English-language video clip, Zolfaghari said, “Trump, you’re fired,” referencing the U.S. warning that Iran’s blockade of the strait could trigger attacks on its energy grid. Iran has responded with threats of severe retaliation.

Separately, Majid Farshi, director general of crisis management in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, reported two deadly attacks in the city of Tabriz. According to Fars News Agency, four people were killed and six injured in an assault on a residential unit in the Marzdaran area, while two others died in a park in Rabe Rashidi. These claims could not be independently verified, and there were no immediate comments from U.S. or Israeli officials.

Earlier, reports indicated one person was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on a radio station in Bandar Abbas, which operated a 100-kilowatt AM transmitter owned by Iran’s national broadcaster IRIB.

The Israeli military, known as the IDF, reported that Iran has launched another round of missile attacks targeting Israel. According to the IDF’s latest update, the country’s air defense systems are actively intercepting the incoming missiles. The strikes reportedly included cluster munitions aimed at Tel Aviv on Sunday night, which were neutralized in the air before reaching their targets.

Earlier reports indicated explosions in several parts of Tehran, Iran’s capital, though details about the cause or extent of those blasts remain unclear. The renewed exchange marks another escalation in hostilities between the two countries, with both sides reporting aerial activity and defensive responses.

The IDF stated that its air defense operations are ongoing to counter further threats, but no additional information on casualties or damage was provided in the report.

A severe fuel shortage has gripped Nilphamari district, leaving most petrol pumps without supply and forcing drivers and residents into long queues. Only a few stations have limited fuel, with customers restricted to small purchases. Despite the government ending rationing, most pump owners continue to sell under rationing rules. Meanwhile, petrol and octane are being sold at inflated prices in local markets, reaching up to Tk 300 per litre, far above the official rates of Tk 116 and Tk 120.

Motorists and farmers are among the worst affected. Drivers report waiting for hours without success, while farmers face difficulties irrigating their fields during the peak cultivation season. Pump owners say their stocks have run out due to inadequate supply and remain uncertain when normal distribution will resume.

Local authorities have warned of immediate action against illegal hoarding or overpricing. Officials from the Consumer Rights Protection Directorate confirmed that selling fuel above the government-fixed price is illegal, as the crisis continues to disrupt daily life across the district.

Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has announced an alliance with Humayun Kabir’s Am Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly election. The announcement was made on Sunday, with both parties confirming their joint participation in the polls. Kabir, a former Trinamool Congress leader, stated that his party would field 154 candidates across the state, including his own candidacy from Rejinagar and Naoda constituencies.

Kabir also mentioned that Poonam Begum would contest from Bhabanipur against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari. He told news agency ANI that the alliance with AIMIM might contest in eight constituencies. Owaisi, confirming the partnership, criticized Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year tenure, claiming that West Bengal’s Muslim community had not seen adequate development and had faced injustice.

AIMIM had previously contested the 2021 West Bengal election but failed to achieve significant results. The new alliance signals a renewed attempt to expand its political presence in the state.

The Middle East saw a sharp escalation in hostilities on Monday, with Israel launching what it described as a 'massive attack' on Tehran. Explosions were reported in the Iranian capital, and AFP journalists observed thick black smoke. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they intercepted new attacks, while debris from a downed missile injured an Indian national in Abu Dhabi. In Iran’s Bandar Abbas region, state media reported one death in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on a broadcasting center.

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned that the global economy faces a major threat from the ongoing energy crisis, comparing it to the oil shocks of the 1970s and the 2022 Ukraine war. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed support against Iranian missile and drone threats. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of directing Hezbollah’s military operations.

Israel’s military chief said ground operations in Lebanon will intensify, calling them “just the beginning,” while a spokesperson predicted fighting against Iran and Hezbollah could continue for several weeks.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has directed government officials to remain alert against any irregularities in canal excavation projects aimed at improving agriculture, protecting the environment, and boosting fish and duck farming. He made the remarks on Monday, March 23, at the inauguration of the Neha River re-excavation work in Raipur Union of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.

Addressing officials of the Water Development Board and the local administration, the minister emphasized that the work must be completed properly so that ordinary people benefit from it. He warned that the project should not be left unfinished after the inauguration and called for ensuring real progress. He also urged everyone to act honestly and responsibly, avoid misuse of religion, and contribute to positive social change.

Mirza Fakhrul added that the government has begun implementing its election pledges, including family cards, canal excavation, and agricultural cards for farmers. Referring to the global situation, he noted that ongoing wars are affecting various sectors, including agriculture, and called for preparedness to face these challenges.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol has warned that the current global energy crisis poses a greater threat than the oil shocks of the 1970s and the disruptions caused by the 2022 Ukraine war. Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on March 23, 2026, Birol said the world economy is facing a major threat as the situation combines two major oil crises and one gas crisis. He urged for a coordinated global response to mitigate the impact, warning that no country would remain unaffected if the crisis continues.

Birol revealed that at least 40 key energy facilities in the Middle East have been severely damaged due to ongoing conflict in the region. To stabilize the situation, the IEA has begun discussions with Asian and European countries about releasing emergency oil reserves. Earlier this month, IEA member states announced a record release of 400 million barrels of oil to curb soaring global prices.

He emphasized that restoring regular supply through the Strait of Hormuz is essential for energy security and confirmed the agency’s readiness to release additional reserves if necessary.

A nationwide fuel shortage has disrupted operations at filling stations across Bangladesh, leading to unrest among customers. The Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association issued a warning on March 23, 2026, urging station owners to ensure staff safety and maintain order. The association said fuel supply would normalize once banks reopen after the Eid holidays, allowing payment orders to resume.

According to the association, the disruption stems from global supply constraints linked to the Iran war, which has limited fuel availability from depots. The situation has caused long queues and incidents of vandalism and assaults on station staff in several areas. The association’s convener, Syed Sajjadul Karim Kabul, signed a letter advising owners to seek police assistance or take personal safety measures if necessary.

The letter also noted that despite the government lifting fuel rationing on March 15, supply has not yet stabilized. Normal distribution is expected to resume once banking operations restart on Tuesday after the holiday period.

A worker named Enamul Haque saved hundreds of passengers by stopping a train using a banana blossom petal in Dinajpur’s Fulbari area on Monday morning. The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. between the 352/5 and 352/6 kilometer points of the Fulbari-Birampur railway line near Purba Chandipur. Enamul noticed a one-foot break in the rail track and, lacking a red cloth, tied a red banana blossom petal to a stick and signaled an approaching intercity train from Dhaka to Panchagarh, which stopped in time.

Local residents alerted railway officials, and within half an hour, an engineering team arrived to repair the damaged section and restore train movement. Fulbari Station Master Shawkat Ali confirmed that train operations were halted for over thirty minutes before returning to normal. Enamul left for Faridpur after the incident, according to his family.

The quick action drew praise, especially in light of a recent derailment on the same route that disrupted service for 18 hours. Railway authorities credited Enamul’s presence of mind for preventing a potential disaster.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base and the US Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain. According to an IRGC spokesperson from the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, the Saudi base serves as a key hub for US military operations and intelligence aircraft, prompting the group to launch ballistic missiles at the site.

At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi-linked news agency Al-Masirah reported that the Iran-backed group carried out an attack near Israel’s Ben Gurion Air Base, striking what it described as the ‘Zionist Aerospace Industries Center’ using Arash-2 attack drones. The report claimed the drones caused significant destruction.

However, none of these attack claims have been independently verified. As of the time of reporting, neither US nor Israeli officials had issued any formal comments. The multiple, unconfirmed attack claims have heightened concerns over regional security and potential escalation across the Middle East.

A new CBS News and YouGov survey shows that 92 percent of Americans want the ongoing war with Iran to end as soon as possible. The poll, conducted online from March 17 to 20 among 3,335 adults, follows the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran on February 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other senior figures. Since then, retaliatory strikes have continued between the two sides.

According to the survey, 80 percent of respondents emphasized the safety of Iranian civilians, 73 percent supported halting Iran’s nuclear program, and 68 percent prioritized stopping Iran’s threats against other countries. Public opinion remains split on regime change in Iran, with 49 percent favoring Iran-aligned leadership and 51 percent opposing it. Two-thirds of Americans believe the war was more intentional than necessary.

The poll also found that 60 percent of Americans now oppose military action against Iran, up from 56 percent earlier in the month. About 68 percent said the Trump administration has failed to clearly explain the war’s objectives, and 57 percent think the conflict is going badly for the United States.

Foreign ministers of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan held a key meeting in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss forming a regional security alliance. The discussion took place on the sidelines of an Islamic nations’ conference, focusing on how to strengthen cooperation in defense and security matters.

According to diplomatic sources, Turkey initiated the idea last year, seeking to include Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with Egypt later joining the process. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the proposed alliance would serve as a security platform to enhance defense and military collaboration, though it would not be a formal defense pact like NATO.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing war in the Middle East, U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes. Participants discussed possible joint measures to manage the region’s security challenges. Observers noted that such cooperation could reshape strategic dynamics amid continuing instability and conflict in the Middle East.

A recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS shows that 59 percent of Americans oppose the Trump administration’s decision to launch a military strike on Iran, while 41 percent support it. The survey indicates widespread public unease and fear over the conflict, with 56 percent of respondents believing the confrontation could lead to a prolonged war. President Donald Trump, however, stated that he planned to end the conflict within four weeks and claimed progress was ahead of schedule.

According to the poll, 62 percent of Americans think Trump should seek congressional approval before taking further military action, and 60 percent believe he lacks a clear plan to handle the situation. Only 12 percent support sending ground troops to Iran, while 60 percent strongly oppose it. The data also reveal partisan divides: 77 percent of Republicans back the strike compared to just 18 percent of Democrats. Even within the Republican Party, “MAGA” supporters show near-total confidence in Trump, while others express concern about a long-term war.

Analysts suggest the negative public sentiment could pose a significant challenge for Trump’s party in the upcoming November congressional elections.

Multiple explosions were reported across Iran, including in the capital Tehran, on March 23, 2026. Loud blasts were heard in the central, eastern, and western parts of the city as air defense systems were activated. According to Al Jazeera, several other Iranian cities also experienced explosions amid ongoing airstrikes by the United States and Israel. The attacks followed Iran’s earlier strikes on Israeli installations, which had caused explosions in several Israeli areas.

Reports indicated that a radio station in Bandar Abbas was hit, killing one person, while residential areas in Khorramabad and Urmia suffered attacks that left several civilians dead. At least 1,500 people have been confirmed killed across Iran, with expectations that the toll will rise as the assaults continue. Explosions were also heard in Isfahan, Karaj, and Ahvaz, where a hospital was reportedly struck.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society stated that more than 80,000 civilian structures, including hospitals, schools, and its own offices, have been damaged or destroyed in the ongoing attacks.