Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States of launching an unprovoked attack on an Iranian warship in international waters. He stated that the strike targeted the IRIS Dena, which was a guest of the Indian Navy, and warned that the United States would have to face the consequences of its actions.

According to the report, the attack occurred on Wednesday near Sri Lanka’s southern coast, when US forces allegedly fired from a submarine, causing the Iranian vessel to sink. Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that 87 bodies had been recovered and 32 survivors rescued and treated. The ship reportedly carried around 180 people.

Araghchi wrote on X that the United States would deeply regret the precedent it had set. The incident has heightened regional tensions, with Iran signaling that it will respond to what it calls an unjustified act of aggression.

A US religious freedom watchdog has alleged that military commanders used extremist Christian rhetoric to justify the ongoing war with Iran. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) reported receiving over 200 complaints from service members across all branches, including the marines, air force, and space force. One noncommissioned officer said their commander told troops the conflict was 'all part of God’s divine plan,' citing biblical references to Armageddon and claiming that former President Donald Trump was 'anointed by Jesus' to ignite events leading to the end times.

MRFF president Mikey Weinstein said the complaints reveal growing Christian extremism within the military and a violation of the separation of church and state. He noted that service members often feel unable to challenge superiors who promote religious narratives. The watchdog shared one complaint filed on behalf of 15 troops of different faiths, including Christians, a Muslim, and a Jewish member.

The Pentagon did not respond directly to the allegations but instead circulated public clips of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussing the Iran operation. Hegseth has previously expressed support for Christian nationalist ideas and figures.

Hundreds of Afghans held protests across border provinces against Pakistan, accusing it of killing civilians and expressing support for Afghan soldiers fighting along the frontier. Demonstrations took place in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, and in Khost’s Gurbuz district, where participants placed flower garlands on soldiers and waved Taliban flags. The protests followed a week of intense border clashes that, according to the United Nations, left dozens of Afghan civilians dead and displaced thousands.

The UN mission in Afghanistan reported at least 42 civilian deaths and 104 injuries since February 26. Pakistan has not commented on civilian casualties but claimed to have killed over 430 Afghan soldiers, while Afghanistan said about 150 Pakistani troops were killed. The conflict reportedly began after Afghan forces launched operations in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes. The International Organization for Migration said around 66,000 Afghans have been displaced, and humanitarian aid operations have been suspended.

The World Food Programme warned that the suspension of emergency food assistance has affected about 160,000 people, worsening Afghanistan’s existing food crisis.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher MP, has alleged that former adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has become a key witness to what he described as election engineering during the February 12 polls. Speaking at a press briefing at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar on Thursday, he said Rizwana Hasan’s recent remarks confirmed the manipulation claims.

Dr. Taher questioned whether the then interim government or the current administration had colluded to prevent Jamaat-e-Islami from emerging as a major political force. He alleged that officials such as DCs, SPs, TNOs, OCs, and presiding officers were appointed to ensure a predetermined outcome. He urged the government to interrogate Rizwana Hasan to clarify the full situation and inform the nation.

He further mentioned that Jamaat had previously accused several advisers of involvement in election irregularities, naming Rizwana Hasan and Khalilur Rahman. Senior Jamaat leaders, including Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, were present at the briefing.

Multiple explosions were reported in Doha, the capital of Qatar, according to an AFP correspondent based in the city. The Qatari government had earlier announced that residents living near the US Embassy in Doha would be relocated as a precautionary measure. The evacuation process was underway when the explosions were heard across the city.

The incident follows a series of escalating attacks in the Middle East after a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran last Saturday. In retaliation, Iran reportedly targeted American facilities across the region. US embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were attacked earlier in the week, and the US consulate in Dubai also came under assault.

The explosions in Doha add to growing regional instability, prompting heightened security measures around diplomatic missions and raising concerns among Gulf states about further escalation.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj have emphasized the need for quick resolution of teachers’ administrative problems across Bangladesh. Speaking on Thursday at a meeting with officials of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), the minister directed that matters such as salaries, pensions, leave, transfers, training, and higher education be settled within set timeframes to avoid unnecessary delays for teachers visiting offices.

He urged officials to ensure better coordination, open discussion, and mutual cooperation to create a more effective work environment. The minister encouraged staff to express opinions freely and logically, aiming to reduce internal distance within the administration. To ensure transparency and eliminate lobbying in transfers, he instructed the introduction of an artificial intelligence-based software system.

Dr. Milan also stressed the importance of automation and digital methods to make service delivery faster and more modern. He called for expanding online services and developing systems that allow service seekers to easily identify the relevant desk or officer for their issues.

A United States submarine has sunk an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, resulting in at least 87 recovered bodies. The vessel, identified by Sri Lanka’s foreign minister as IRIS Dena, had recently participated in a joint naval exercise hosted by India and was returning home from an eastern Indian port when it was destroyed. The attack occurred thousands of kilometers from the Gulf, marking the first time since 1945 that a US attack submarine used torpedoes to sink a warship.

Yale University lecturer Sushant Singh said the incident has created uncomfortable questions for New Delhi, a key US partner, as the strike took place shortly after India had hosted the Iranian crew. He described the sinking of IRIS Dena just hours after leaving Indian waters as a major blow to India’s regional credibility. The ship was reportedly traveling through an area under Indian naval observation but outside any active conflict zone.

Analysts noted that India faces the challenge of protecting trade and energy routes, avoiding US-Iran tensions, and preventing normalization of third-party military actions near its maritime sphere. India has not publicly commented on the incident.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has reported that at least 105 civilian facilities were damaged in joint attacks by the United States and Israel across Iran. According to the organization, the assaults began on Saturday and have so far resulted in a total of 1,332 recorded strikes at 636 different locations nationwide.

Among the affected sites are at least 14 medical centers and seven buildings belonging to the Red Crescent itself. The organization stated that the attacks have impacted at least 174 cities across the country.

The Red Crescent warned that continued strikes on civilian infrastructure could further complicate the humanitarian situation in Iran. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and cited by the outlet Amar Desh.

Iranian General Kioumars Heydari has declared that Iran will not withdraw from the ongoing war until its objectives are fully achieved. Speaking to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Heydari stated that the country will continue fighting until it delivers a decisive blow to the United States. He emphasized that the duration of the conflict is not a concern for Iran.

Heydari, who serves as deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Iran’s military has gained extensive experience from its previous eight-year war and will only end the current conflict once its goals are met. He added that Iran aims to make its enemy regret and despair over its actions.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera and Iranian media, underscores Tehran’s determination to sustain military operations despite regional tensions and growing international concern over the conflict’s escalation.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam announced that closed state-owned jute mills will be reopened gradually under private management. He made the statement during a briefing at the Ministry of Textiles and Jute in Dhaka on Thursday, ahead of National Jute Day. According to the minister, seven mills are already being reopened in phases, while others will follow later under similar arrangements.

He noted that nine leased mills currently employ 7,200 workers, contributing positively to national production and employment. The minister also said that National Jute Day will be observed on March 6, inaugurated online by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The main event will take place at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, alongside a nine-day fair on jute and diversified jute products at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises from March 6 to 14.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reviving the jute sector as part of its broader goal to transform Bangladesh into a modern, democratic, upper-middle-income country with a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.

Former US President Donald Trump expressed gratitude to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after Rutte commented that the United States had received broad support from allied nations for its military strikes in Iran. Trump conveyed his thanks through a social media post, calling Rutte a great NATO leader.

Earlier, Rutte stated that although NATO was not directly involved in the US attacks on Iran, many allied countries strongly supported Washington’s actions. He noted that allies were cooperating with the United States in efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Rutte also suggested that several Western nations viewed the initiative to weaken Iran’s military strength as an important security measure within the alliance.

Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that disciplinary measures will be taken against government doctors found absent from their workplaces during official hours. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health conference room.

The minister cited the recent dismissal of Dr. Rajesh Majumdar, a physician at the 250-bed Shariatpur District Hospital, who was terminated for signing the attendance register and then attending patients at a private clinic during office hours. The minister urged other doctors to learn from this example and warned that political affiliation would not be accepted as an excuse for absenteeism.

He further stated that any government doctor found absent during official hours in the future could face license suspension and other disciplinary actions, reinforcing the ministry’s stance on maintaining accountability within the public healthcare system.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi has called for an immediate end to the ongoing war in the Middle East. In a post on social media platform X, he said that the Omani government is making every effort to assist all foreigners stranded in the country to return to their respective homelands.

According to his statement, Oman is cooperating with various countries and international airlines to facilitate the repatriation of those affected by the conflict. Al-Busaidi emphasized that regardless of nationality, every person has the right to safety and security as part of their human rights.

The minister’s remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of instability and concern across the Gulf region.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that since Saturday, it has documented 1,332 attacks by US and Israeli forces across Iran. According to the organization, strikes have occurred in 636 locations, including at least 105 civilian sites. Among the civilian targets were 14 medical centers and seven Red Crescent buildings. The attacks reportedly affected at least 174 cities across the country.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at a Pentagon press conference on Wednesday that the conflict with Iran could last eight weeks. He said the United States possesses sufficient military equipment to defeat Iran. The Red Crescent’s report highlights the scale of the ongoing strikes and their impact on civilian infrastructure.

The situation has raised regional concerns, with reports of Gulf countries expressing anxiety over the risk of civil war in Iran. The broader Middle East tensions have also affected financial markets, including a sharp decline in South Korea’s stock exchange.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has made it mandatory to use data from the ASYCUDA System’s Business Intelligence (BI) server for determining income tax based on actual information about imported goods and advance income tax payments at the import stage. The directive, issued on March 4 under the NBR’s Income Tax Wing, details procedures for tax officials to access and use the BI server. According to an NBR press release on March 5, the system will be used during tax audits, case reopenings, and corrections of faulty tax orders.

The order specifies that tax commissioners and range officers can log in to the BI server from pre-approved IP-bound computers to collect import-related data. Range officers must record the collected information in a designated register and inform relevant circle officers in writing. Initially, only range officers will have access to the BI server, not the assessing officers directly.

NBR stated that the initiative will enhance transparency, prevent tax evasion, expedite tax case resolution, and improve coordination between customs and income tax departments, marking a new phase in inter-departmental data sharing.