Germany’s national airline Lufthansa has suspended all flights between Germany and Tel Aviv until April 9, citing the ongoing war in the Middle East and related restrictions on air travel in the region. The airline stated that all Tel Aviv-bound flights are currently on hold due to safety and operational concerns.

In addition to the Tel Aviv route, Lufthansa will also suspend flights to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, until April 5. Meanwhile, Italy’s ITA Airways announced that its scheduled flights will continue as planned. The decision follows similar actions by British Airways, Air Canada, and major U.S. carriers including Delta, United, and American Airlines, which have all halted their Tel Aviv operations.

The suspensions reflect growing caution among international airlines as regional tensions and airspace limitations disrupt normal flight operations across the Middle East.

The Committee for Correct Lunar Month Implementation has called on the Bangladesh government to announce the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal 1447 Hijri based on Islamic Sharia and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s lunar data. At a press conference held on March 17, 2026, at the National Press Club, the committee alleged that the National Moon Sighting Committee ignores Quranic, Sunnah, and astronomical principles, causing millions of Muslims to fast on Eid day mistakenly.

Mufti Rafiqul Islam, the committee’s secretary general, stated that according to Quranic verses and astronomical calculations, the new moon of Shawwal will be born at 7:23 a.m. on March 19, 2026, marking the start of Shawwal from the evening of that day and Eid-ul-Fitr on March 20, 2026. He criticized the national committee for following solar calendar practices while neglecting lunar calculations.

The committee urged the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Islamic Foundation, and the National Moon Sighting Committee to complete pending discussions and resolve the issue promptly to prevent religious errors during Eid observance.

Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah launched rocket attacks targeting Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese city of Khiam. According to a statement from Hezbollah, the Israeli troops were positioned near a municipal building in the city when the attack occurred.

Earlier, Hezbollah had announced that it carried out a similar rocket strike on Israeli forces in Maroun al-Ras, a border town in Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil district. The incidents were reported by Al Jazeera and highlight continued hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The report did not include information on casualties or responses from Israeli authorities, leaving the immediate impact of the attacks unclear.

The government of Bangladesh has declared March 18 as a public holiday by executive order ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, with the regular Eid holidays beginning on March 19. Despite the general closure of banks during this period, the central bank has issued special instructions to keep certain branches open to facilitate salary, bonus, and allowance payments for garment workers and officials, as well as export bill settlements.

According to Bangladesh Bank’s directive issued on March 10 by its Department of Off-site Supervision, branches of scheduled banks located in garment industry areas will remain open on March 18 and 19 in a limited capacity. These include branches in Dhaka, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Valuka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram. Transactions will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with offices operating until 2 p.m., including a short break for prayers.

Banks have also been instructed to provide allowances to employees working during the holidays in accordance with regulations, while ensuring adequate security at all open branches.

The MV Sugandha launch, operating on the Dhaka-Hatia route, became stranded on a river shoal after being caught in a storm early Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The vessel, carrying more than a hundred passengers, has remained stuck for about 15 hours near Charbhairabi area before reaching Ilisha Ghat. Despite the tide rising, low water levels prevented the launch from floating again.

Passengers reported severe hardship and lack of assistance, saying that even after informing the Coast Guard and Navy, no effective rescue measures had been taken by late afternoon. Some passengers described being trapped with small children without food or means to disembark as evening approached. The launch’s master, Mostafizur Rahman, said the vessel anchored to maintain control during the storm but became stuck when the tide receded.

MV Sugandha had started its inaugural journey from Dhaka’s Sadarghat on Monday evening as one of two newly launched government-allocated vessels intended to improve travel on the Dhaka-Hatia route.

Israel announced that it has killed Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani in a targeted attack, vowing to continue pursuing the country’s top leaders. The strike is part of a broader campaign that began when Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran.

Since the start of the joint offensive, several senior Iranian figures have been reported killed. Following the first day of strikes on February 28, Iran declared the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other casualties from the initial wave included security adviser Ali Shamkhani, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guard commander General Mohammad Pakpour, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdul Rahim Mousavi.

The report underscores the severe impact of the ongoing military operations on Iran’s leadership structure, though further details about the attacks or Iran’s response were not provided.

Iran has rejected a ceasefire proposal sent by the United States, according to an Iranian official cited by Reuters. The proposal was delivered to Tehran through two intermediary countries. The announcement came on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, as Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly took a firm stance against both the United States and Israel during his first foreign policy session.

The official said Khamenei expressed a hardline position on taking ‘revenge’ against the two nations, though it was unclear whether he attended the meeting in person. In his response, Khamenei stated that peace would not be possible until the United States and Israel admitted defeat, bowed down, and paid compensation. The rejection underscores Tehran’s continued defiance amid escalating hostilities.

The conflict began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched attacks targeting Iran’s top leadership. Those strikes killed the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aged 86, and several senior military commanders. Following his father’s death, Mojtaba Khamenei was declared Iran’s new Supreme Leader.

The United Nations has launched an investigation into a deadly attack on a school in Iran, calling for a transparent and independent inquiry. The organization emphasized the need for accountability for the victims and assessment of the attack’s impact on civilians. It has also requested access to Iran to conduct on-site verification of the incident.

Max du Plessis, a member of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, stated that during the first day of U.S.-Israel strikes, two missiles hit the Shajare Tayyebah primary school, killing 168 children. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, he said the investigation is in its early stages and that credible reports confirm the death toll, underscoring the urgency of an impartial investigation.

According to a U.S. military inquiry, American forces may be responsible for the attack, though no final conclusion has been reached. If confirmed, it would mark one of the deadliest civilian casualty incidents involving U.S. military action in the Middle East in decades.

Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike near Beirut’s international airport on Tuesday, targeting a road close to the Ansar Stadium in the Burj al-Barajneh area. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, this was the third such strike in the southern suburbs of the capital.

The report cited Mohammad Aziz, head of Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority, who confirmed that operations at Beirut International Airport remain normal and that the main access routes are still open. The strike occurred near the old airport road, located close to the airport itself.

No disruptions to civilian air traffic were reported following the attack, and the report did not mention any casualties or damage details.

Iran announced that it carried out attacks on Israeli cyber technology and weapons production centers as part of an operation named 'True Promise 4'. The statement was released on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, by Iran’s military, which said the strikes targeted what it described as facilities belonging to the occupying Israeli regime.

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing the country’s armed forces, the attacks specifically hit the Israeli police’s cyber technology center and several weapons manufacturing sites. The report added that drone strikes began in the morning, focusing on Israel’s cyber-technology hub and the Rafael weapons production center.

The report, sourced from Al Jazeera, did not include details on the scale of damage, casualties, or Israel’s response to the attacks.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed ministers to maintain law and order during the upcoming Eid holidays. The directive was issued at a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, March 17, at the Secretariat. Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie informed the media about the discussions following the meeting. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said the prime minister emphasized addressing public concerns over market management, law enforcement, and energy stability during the seven-day Eid vacation.

Cabinet Secretary Dr. Nasimul Gani stated that the meeting also discussed rape and violence against women cases. The prime minister ordered speedy disposal of such cases and called for stronger coordination among relevant departments. He noted that ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence remains a top government priority.

The cabinet approved changes to the supplementary budget for the current fiscal year and made a policy decision on a World Trade Organization issue. Additionally, the ministries of agriculture, food, and disaster management were instructed to assess recent damage caused by flash floods, hailstorms, and storms across different regions.

Iran has launched additional missiles toward Israel, prompting the Israeli military to activate its defense systems to intercept the attacks. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that their defense mechanisms were engaged to counter the incoming projectiles. Iranian state media also reported that missiles were fired toward what it described as 'occupied territories.'

The renewed missile exchange marks an escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel. Both sides have been engaged in heightened tensions, with Iran framing its actions as targeting occupied areas and Israel maintaining defensive operations to protect its territory. The reports from both Israeli and Iranian sources confirm the continuation of direct military confrontation.

Further details on the scale of the attacks, potential damage, or casualties were not provided in the initial reports, leaving the full impact of the incident unclear.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) announced on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, that 98 percent of operational garment factories in Dhaka and Chattogram have paid Eid bonuses to their workers. According to the BGMEA statement, out of 2,127 active factories, 2,080 have completed bonus payments, including 1,753 in Dhaka and 327 in Chattogram.

The association also reported that 2,104 factories, representing 98.92 percent, have paid February salaries, while 870 factories, or 40.90 percent, plan to pay advance wages for March. Among these, 840 are located in Dhaka and 30 in Chattogram. The data reflects the overall wage and bonus payment status across the country’s two main industrial hubs.

The BGMEA’s update provides a snapshot of the sector’s compliance with wage and bonus obligations ahead of Eid, indicating strong adherence among most factories in the ready-made garment industry.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that up to 45 million people in the Middle East could face severe food shortages by June if the United States and Israel continue their military actions against Iran. The agency’s Deputy Executive Director, Carl Skau, said rising costs of food, oil, and maritime transport are pushing millions toward acute hunger. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, he noted that global hunger levels could surpass the current record of 319 million people.

According to the WFP, the escalating conflict is driving up essential commodity prices and disrupting supply chains across the region. The organization expressed concern that without immediate international action, the situation could trigger a major humanitarian crisis.

The WFP urged the global community to act swiftly to preserve food security and prevent further deterioration of living conditions in the affected areas.

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced that it has confiscated hundreds of Starlink systems capable of connecting to the internet via satellite networks. According to the ministry, the devices were illegally brought into the country by the United States and Israel. The announcement was reported by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

The ministry stated that the search for illegal Starlink systems will continue until all satellite internet terminals serving what it called “enemy services” are fully identified. It further declared that possessing or using Starlink systems constitutes a crime that could warrant the “harshest punishment” during wartime, particularly for individuals linked to or working on behalf of hostile entities.

The statement underscores Iran’s ongoing efforts to control access to foreign communication technologies and to prevent what it describes as external interference through satellite-based internet systems.