U.S. President Donald Trump urged several countries, including the United Kingdom, China, France, Japan, and South Korea, to help keep commercial shipping lanes open in the Strait of Hormuz. The appeal received mixed responses, with some nations declining to participate in any military or NATO-led operations.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK is working with allies on an effective plan but will not join a NATO mission or engage in a wider war. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius rejected Trump’s call, saying it was not Germany’s war. Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told parliament that Japan is not considering any maritime security operation under current conditions in Iran. Australia’s cabinet member Catherine King also ruled out sending warships to the area.

South Korea stated it would maintain close communication with the United States and decide after careful review. A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington avoided a direct comment but emphasized that ensuring stable and uninterrupted energy supplies is a shared responsibility.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam said the government has started walking the old path and has taken a clear stance against reforms. He made the remarks on Monday at an iftar and discussion event organized by NCP Dhaka Metropolitan North at the National Bangla High School field in Mirpur, Dhaka.

Nahid Islam emphasized that the NCP’s struggle for reform and change will continue, stating that the party stands for justice and against corruption. He urged supporters to be ready to open new horizons if the government continues on its old course and to prepare for the fight to implement reforms.

NCP senior joint convener and Dhaka Metropolitan North convener Ariful Islam Adib said the party’s leaders and activists in the city are ready for the struggle to implement change and the July Charter. Other party leaders, including Nasiruddin Patwari, Monira Sharmin, and Sardar Amirul Islam Sagor, also spoke at the event.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that 20,000 kilometers of canals will be excavated across Bangladesh within the next five years. He made the statement on Monday, March 16, 2026, at a public gathering in Sahapara, Balarampur Mouza of Kaharol upazila, Dinajpur, marking the start of canal excavation work. Rahman said the initiative aims to retain excess monsoon water, reduce flood damage, and ensure water supply for agriculture during dry seasons.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of agricultural productivity and efficient water use, noting that underground water should be preserved for future generations. He said the excavation of the 12-kilometer Sahapara canal will benefit 31,000 farmers, enable irrigation for 12,000 hectares of land, and support 350,000 people. The project also includes road construction along the canal and planting 10,000 trees. Rahman added that four crore families will receive family cards, and farmer cards will be distributed next month to small and marginal farmers.

He further stated that the northern region will see the development of agro-based industries to create employment for farmers’ children, reaffirming that public cooperation is essential for implementing national plans.

A new video showing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordering coffee at a Jerusalem café has sparked widespread debate on social media. Many users claimed the clip was generated using artificial intelligence. The controversy follows earlier speculation about Netanyahu’s safety after another video appeared to show him with six fingers on one hand. The latest video was posted on the prime minister’s official X account, apparently mocking rumors of his death.

The AI chatbot Groq, responding to a user query on X, asserted that the video was AI-generated and described it as a deepfake with no real-world basis. Several social media users also questioned the video’s authenticity, pointing to visual inconsistencies such as the coffee cup’s movement and changes in Netanyahu’s facial shape. Groq reiterated its claim, calling the video a “100% confirmed advanced AI deepfake.”

However, the café identified as the filming location, The Sataf in Jerusalem, posted photos on Instagram showing Netanyahu drinking coffee there, stating they were honored to host the prime minister and his staff.

Iran has confirmed its plan to participate in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup despite security warnings from the United States. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stated that, as of now, Iran is expected to compete in the tournament. At a press conference at AFC headquarters, Secretary General Windsor Paul John said the organization is monitoring the situation but believes Iran will play, emphasizing that Iran is one of Asia’s strongest teams.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump warned on social media that Iran’s team should reconsider participation for safety reasons. In response, Iran’s national football team issued a statement on its official Instagram account asserting that participation in the World Cup is governed by FIFA, not by any individual or country. The team highlighted its early qualification through consistent success.

The uncertainty stems from ongoing conflict in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, now entering its second week. The regional war has begun to affect global affairs and discussions surrounding preparations for the World Cup, scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026.

Professor Dr. Md. Roich Uddin, from the Department of Islamic Studies at Jagannath University, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the university. The announcement was made on Monday, March 16, 2026, at a press conference held at the Ministry of Education, where Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon officially declared his appointment.

Dr. Roich Uddin has long been associated with Jagannath University’s academic, research, and administrative activities. He previously served as the general secretary and is currently the president of the university’s teachers’ association. He also leads the pro-BNP teachers’ organization, JnU Sadadal. His research and writings in Islamic Studies have earned recognition among teachers and students, and he has participated in several national and international seminars and conferences.

He replaces Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, who was appointed by the interim government on September 18, 2024, and was removed before completing his term. The new appointment marks a leadership change at the university’s top administrative level.

Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu inaugurated a canal excavation program at Damdama in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi on Monday afternoon. He said the nationwide canal digging initiative follows the vision of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, emphasizing that people will dig their own soil to bring water, cultivate the land, and achieve food self-sufficiency.

During his speech, the minister recalled the severe famine in Bangladesh between 1972 and 1975, noting that Ziaur Rahman had inspired citizens to dig canals across the country, transforming single-crop lands into triple-crop fields and moving the nation toward food self-sufficiency by 1977–78. He also reminisced about his student days in Rajshahi when he participated in canal digging led by Ziaur Rahman, which he said brought significant local change.

The event was attended by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT, Rehan Asif Asad, Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhter, Police Superintendent Mohammad Naimul Hasan, and other local officials, media representatives, and residents.

The Russian government has refused to comment on reports that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was taken to Moscow for emergency surgery. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia was aware of the media coverage but declined to provide any details. The reports, first published by Kuwait’s Al Jarida on March 15, claimed Khamenei was seriously injured in an Israeli attack and flown to Moscow for urgent treatment.

According to Al Jarida, Russian President Vladimir Putin arranged for Khamenei’s transfer aboard a military aircraft, and the operation was conducted at one of Putin’s presidential residences. The report also alleged that the mission to move Khamenei was highly secret. British outlets The Daily Mail and The Sun cited similar claims, including that Khamenei’s legs were severely injured and that he might be in a coma.

The incident follows the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike on February 28, after which Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as Iran’s new top religious leader. Russia has not confirmed any details of his reported treatment in Moscow.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry stated that diplomatic discussions cannot proceed unless Iran stops its ongoing attacks. At a weekly briefing, ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said that diplomacy could only resume if the assaults end, emphasizing that as long as Gulf countries remain under attack, it is not the time to form committees. He called for a firm stance to protect regional nations and demanded an immediate halt to the strikes.

Al-Ansari rejected a proposal from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to form a committee to investigate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gulf states. Iran has denied involvement in such attacks. The Qatari spokesperson noted that threats and strikes on civilian targets have continued since the conflict began, citing a missile intercepted near a residential area in Doha. He added that partial evacuation orders were issued after Iranian media warned that certain companies and areas could be targeted.

Al-Ansari said Qatar is working to reduce tensions but is unaware of any formal mediation between the United States and Iran at this time.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that his government will work tirelessly, day and night, to build the desired nation. He made the statement on Monday at a civic gathering and iftar event held at the Dinajpur Circuit House grounds. Rahman said that the country had seen no development in the past sixteen years and urged citizens to be patient as his government implements its development plans.

He shared personal memories of his maternal home in the area and outlined specific plans for local development. The Prime Minister said he would soon meet with industrialists to discuss establishing factories across the country to boost economic growth. He also pledged to set up industries in Dinajpur to create employment opportunities for the unemployed.

Rahman added that although the government’s term had not yet reached one month, work had already begun to fulfill election promises, including agricultural loan waivers, family card distribution, stipends for religious leaders, and canal excavation. He announced a plan to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals nationwide to address water shortages and improve irrigation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has expressed gratitude to Pakistan for showing solidarity with Iran as the country faces attacks from the United States and Israel, according to Al Jazeera. In a post on social media platform X, written in Urdu, Araghchi thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their firm support toward the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, Pakistan has increased its diplomatic engagement with regional countries. Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by phone with Iranian leaders ahead of his visit to Saudi Arabia. On March 12, Sharif and Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, made a quick trip to Riyadh to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held discussions with counterparts from China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman about the region’s serious and evolving situation.

A Bloomberg report cited ship-tracking data showing a Pakistani vessel crossing the Strait of Hormuz toward Pakistan. Al Jazeera said it sought confirmation from Pakistan’s information ministry and military but received no response.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said a delegation will travel to Kolkata to question two suspects in the murder case of Osman Hadi, once consular access is granted. She made the statement on Monday while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

Earlier, Bangladesh had requested consular access after India’s West Bengal Police Special Task Force arrested the main suspect and his associate in the case. On March 9, the minister stated that communication had already been established with the Kolkata Deputy Commissioner and that Bangladesh would proceed once access was approved. She also mentioned that the two countries have a prisoner exchange agreement that could be used if the suspects are confirmed.

The arrests took place on the night of March 7, when Indian police detained Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alomgir Hossain in Bongaon, a border area of West Bengal, following an operation linked to the murder of Inquilab Manch convener Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.

The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for an airstrike that destroyed a facility linked to Iran’s military space program in Tehran. According to a statement cited by Al Jazeera, the strike targeted a compound in the center of the Iranian capital where satellite attack capabilities were reportedly being developed. The Israeli Air Force said the operation was based on precise intelligence and that the site posed a threat to Israeli and global space assets.

The statement added that the compound housed several projects under Iran’s military space program, including work on the Chamran-1 satellite. That satellite was built by the Iranian Defense Ministry’s Electronics Industries and launched into orbit by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in September 2024. The Israeli military also reported that another space-related research facility of the Iran Space Organization in Tehran was attacked last week.

The report did not include any immediate response from Iranian authorities or independent verification of the Israeli claims.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan from the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology has been appointed as the 21st Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chittagong. The announcement was made by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon. Dr. Al-Forkan will replace outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yahya Akhtar. He currently serves as the Senior Vice-President of the university’s Nationalist Teachers’ Forum.

Dr. Al-Forkan stated that he learned about the appointment through media reports and has not yet received an official notification. He is the founding chairman of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and began his teaching career in 1993 as a lecturer, becoming a professor in 2006. He earned his PhD from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and completed postdoctoral research in Canada and the United States.

In addition to his academic career, Dr. Al-Forkan is involved in local BNP politics in Hathazari, Chittagong, and previously served as the convener of the election management committee for the BNP candidate in Chittagong-5 during the 13th national parliamentary election.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that a graduate degree will be the minimum qualification for appointment as president or chairman of managing committees and governing bodies of educational institutions. The decision, revealed at a press briefing at the Ministry of Education on March 16, 2026, applies to all schools, colleges, and madrasas across the country.

The minister explained that the new rule aims to ensure qualified and competent individuals lead educational institutions. He noted that previous regulations under earlier governments required candidates to be senior teachers or headmasters, which limited opportunities and led to allegations of favoritism and nepotism. The new policy seeks to create a fairer and more transparent system by emphasizing merit and capability.

According to the minister, the government intends to move away from restrictive practices and build an inclusive framework that promotes fairness and efficiency in educational governance.