Iran carried out a series of missile attacks targeting Israel early Thursday morning, prompting thousands of Israelis to take shelter in bomb shelters. According to Israel’s emergency services cited by AFP, there were no immediate reports of casualties. Explosions were heard in Jerusalem, and within two hours, three separate alerts were issued. In some areas, the military advised residents to leave shelters after the warnings were lifted.

The attacks come as Iran announced plans to intensify strikes against Israeli and U.S. installations across the Middle East. The escalation follows ongoing hostilities in the region, including recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed five people, among them a Hamas leader. The situation has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.

No immediate information was available on the scale of damage or Israel’s potential response to the Iranian missile attacks.

The Jubo Dal central committee has expelled Zahidul Islam, general secretary of Nilganj Union Jubo Dal in Kalapara, Patuakhali, following the death of small businessman Idris Khan after an alleged assault linked to a Facebook post. The expulsion was announced on March 4, 2026, through a press release signed by Minhazul Islam Bhuiyan, assistant office secretary of the central committee. The decision was made by Jubo Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna and general secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Noyon MP. A murder case has been filed with Kalapara Police Station naming Zahidul as the prime accused.

Police and family sources said Idris Khan had posted allegations against Zahidul on Facebook during the recent national election, which reportedly angered him. Idris was allegedly called to the local Jubo Dal office on February 26, where he was beaten. He later died on March 2 while being taken to hospital after his condition worsened. His body was sent for autopsy and buried in his village.

The incident has sparked widespread reaction in the area, with locals and relatives demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved. Police said an investigation is underway.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered assistance to Middle Eastern allies to help counter possible attacks from Iran. He announced that Ukraine is preparing a plan to deploy experts in the Gulf region to help partner nations defend against Iranian drones and missiles. Zelensky said he has spoken with leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain regarding the initiative.

According to the Ukrainian president, he has instructed officials to design a plan that supports allied countries without weakening Ukraine’s own defense capabilities. In a post on X, Zelensky stated that Ukraine can contribute to saving lives and stabilizing the situation. He emphasized that Ukrainian military forces have the necessary capacity, and teams are already coordinating the deployment of specialists.

Zelensky added that Ukraine is ready to help protect civilians, restore safe maritime navigation, and maintain stability in the region, underscoring Kyiv’s willingness to extend its defense expertise beyond its borders.

A major explosion occurred on an oil tanker off the coast of Kuwait, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident took place about 30 nautical miles southeast of Mubarak Al Kabeer port, resulting in an oil spill at sea. UKMTO confirmed that no fire was reported and all crew members were safe and in good health. The agency also noted that a small vessel was seen fleeing the area following the blast.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior later stated that the explosion happened outside the country’s territorial waters, at least 60 kilometers from Mubarak Al Kabeer port. The cause of the explosion has not been disclosed. The incident has raised concerns about maritime safety and environmental impact in the Gulf region.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on cleanup operations or potential disruptions to shipping routes in the affected area.

Israeli attacks in Lebanon continued for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday, with ground forces entering several border towns and conducting airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah positions. According to AFP footage from Beirut, smoke was seen rising from Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut after early morning strikes. Before the assault, the Israeli military had warned residents to evacuate, citing planned operations against Hezbollah-linked targets. Sirens were repeatedly sounded in northern Israel, urging civilians to seek shelter, though no immediate casualties or damage were reported.

The escalation follows the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes late last week. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on Monday, drawing Lebanon deeper into the regional conflict. Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem vowed in a Wednesday speech to intensify operations, claiming at least 15 attacks across Israel, including in Tel Aviv.

Lebanese government figures indicate at least 72 people have been killed and 437 injured since Monday, with around 83,000 displaced from their homes.

Production at two major fertilizer factories in Chattogram—Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO)—was temporarily halted from 3 p.m. Wednesday following a government directive due to an ongoing gas shortage. Authorities said the decision was made after gas pressure dropped to levels that made normal production impossible.

According to factory sources, CUFL typically produces around 1,100 to 1,200 metric tons of urea fertilizer daily, while KAFCO has a daily capacity of about 1,725 metric tons of urea and 1,500 metric tons of ammonia. With gas supply suspended, this large-scale production has been stopped. Officials explained that fertilizer production is entirely gas-dependent, and operating under low pressure could damage machinery, prompting the temporary shutdown for safety reasons.

Although the sudden halt has raised some concern about fertilizer supply, officials assured that production will resume quickly once gas supply stabilizes to ensure market availability.

A growing number of Bangladeshi citizens have been drawn into Russia’s war in Ukraine, often through deception and coercion. According to testimonies collected by BBC Bangla, young men were lured with promises of high-paying jobs or permanent residency, only to find themselves forced into combat after arriving in Russia. Some, like Mohon Miaji from Munshiganj, joined the Russian army believing they would work in non-combat roles but were sent to the front lines instead. Many have been killed, injured, or gone missing, leaving families in Bangladesh without information or support.

Investigations revealed that trafficking networks, including Bangladeshi and Indian intermediaries, transported recruits via Middle Eastern countries before taking them to Russia. Victims reported being forced to sign Russian-language contracts they could not read, effectively binding them to military service. The networks allegedly confiscated passports, withheld salaries, and extorted additional payments by promising to move soldiers to safer zones. Families of victims described severe emotional and financial distress, with some losing their only breadwinners.

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry confirmed that several nationals remain active in the conflict, with many unaccounted for or permanently disabled.

Hundreds of young people gathered at the Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) shrine area in Sylhet on Wednesday night, chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi’s killing. The demonstration erupted after Tarawih prayers, coinciding with the presence of Nasir Uddin Patwari, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), who had attended a party iftar and prayers at the Dargah Jame Mosque.

As Patwari and other NCP leaders prayed, crowds of youths assembled in the shrine courtyard and nearby streets, filling the area with chants such as “We want justice for Hadi’s murder.” The protest reflected growing anger over the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a prominent activist of the July–August movement and a candidate for Dhaka-8, who was shot dead on December 12 after Friday prayers.

According to the report, Patwari is touring various parts of the country during Ramadan, meeting people after Tarawih prayers. His supporters have been voicing demands for justice for Hadi and for a country free from extortion.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that nearly 100,000 people left Tehran within the first two days following recent attacks. The agency said that escalating violence across the Middle East and other regions has displaced large numbers of people.

According to the report, Lebanon has seen around 58,000 people taking shelter in other people’s homes, on streets, or in open spaces. Meanwhile, Syrian authorities stated that on March 2, approximately 10,000 Syrians and about 1,000 Lebanese entered Syria, which is roughly three times the country’s average daily entry rate.

The UNHCR findings highlight a rapid surge in displacement linked to the latest wave of violence, reflecting the growing humanitarian pressure in the region.

Residents of Uttar Manipur village in Gharamora Union, Homna upazila of Cumilla, staged protests demanding the arrest of those responsible for the brutal killing of a mother and two children. Sixteen days have passed since the February 16–17 night when unidentified assailants entered the home of expatriate Zahidul Islam and slit the throats of his wife Papia Akter Sukhi, their four-year-old son Hossain, and five-year-old nephew Zubair. Police recovered the bodies from three separate rooms and completed autopsies, but no arrests have been made.

The killings have sparked fear and anger in the community. On Wednesday, locals held a human chain, protest march, and rally at Uttar Manipur Bazaar, chanting for justice and demanding exemplary punishment for the killers. Speakers, including family members and local figures, condemned the crime and urged authorities to identify and arrest the perpetrators quickly.

Homna police said multiple teams from PBI, DB, CID, and RAB are investigating but have yet to find clues or suspects. The lack of progress has deepened frustration among residents and the victims’ families.

Nepal began voting on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to elect a new parliament, marking the first national election since the government fell six months ago following a deadly anti-corruption uprising. The vote, running until 5 p.m. local time, is being described as one of the most competitive since the end of the civil war in 2006. Around 19 million registered voters are choosing representatives to replace the interim government that has ruled since the September 2025 protests.

The 2025 Gen Z–led movement began as opposition to a temporary social media ban but grew into a nationwide campaign against corruption and economic mismanagement, resulting in at least 77 deaths and the fall of former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s administration. Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki urged citizens to vote without fear, while thousands of security personnel were deployed to maintain order.

Over 3,400 candidates are contesting 165 directly elected seats in the 275-member lower house, with the remaining 110 to be allocated by party lists. Analysts expect no single party to win an outright majority, and preliminary results are expected within 24 hours.

Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani has claimed that more than 500 US soldiers have been killed since a war began on Saturday. He made the statement on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X. According to TRT World, the Pentagon has reported only six US military deaths since the conflict started, including four in Kuwait.

Larijani accused former US President Donald Trump of dragging the American people into what he called an unjust war with Iran, allegedly influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He questioned whether the United States now prioritizes its own interests or those of Israel after the reported casualties. Larijani also warned that the martyrdom of Imam Khamenei would come at a high cost.

The war reportedly began with a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, resulting in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders. Iranian authorities said around 1,050 Iranians have been killed in four days, including 165 schoolchildren in Minab. Larijani stated that Iran is prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Former president of the Rupsha Upazila unit of the Labor Party and ex-president of the Rupsha–Bagerhat Inter-District Road Transport Workers Union, Masum Billah, was shot and hacked to death by assailants in Khulna on the night of March 4. The attack occurred around 9 p.m. in front of a shoe showroom at Dakbangla intersection. Locals rushed him to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police arrested one suspect, Ashok Ghosh, at the scene and recovered a foreign pistol and ammunition.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, six to seven attackers carried out the killing as a contract operation. Deputy Police Commissioner (South) Tajul Islam said the group had divided payment among themselves before the attack. The detained suspect confirmed that seven people were involved, armed with firearms and sharp weapons. Police believe the killing was financially motivated.

Investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the remaining suspects involved in the planned murder.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur held a meeting in Dhaka with a six-member delegation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan. The meeting took place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, during Kapur’s official visit to Bangladesh.

Paul Kapur arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, March 3, 2026, via Delhi for a two-day visit. Upon arrival, he was received by officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Dhaka. On Wednesday, March 4, he met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid, Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. Kapur also attended a discussion session with a business delegation that evening.

The meetings were part of Kapur’s scheduled engagements during his visit to Bangladesh, focusing on diplomatic and bilateral discussions with government and political representatives.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapoor held a meeting in Dhaka with a five-member delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The meeting took place during his official visit to Bangladesh.

Kapoor arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, March 3, 2026, after traveling from Delhi for a two-day visit. He was received at the airport by officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Dhaka. On Wednesday, March 4, he met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid, Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. He also attended a discussion with a business delegation that evening.

The series of meetings formed part of Kapoor’s broader diplomatic engagements in Dhaka, focusing on bilateral and regional issues, though specific discussion details were not disclosed in the source.