The Bangladesh government and a Japanese delegation have held a high-level meeting to discuss the operation and maintenance of the third terminal of Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Embarkation fees, upfront fees, and revenue sharing were on the agenda, according to a media statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB). On Wednesday, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the facility could become operational within nine months. During the latest meeting, Civil Aviation Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said the government is working to inaugurate the third terminal soon, ensuring maximum convenience for passengers. The Japanese delegation was comprised of officials from the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka, an assistant vice-minister and representatives of a Japanese consortium.

Photo : BSSDHAKA, March 13, 2026 (BSS)- Defending champion Mohammedan Sporting Club played out to a 1-1 goal with Bangladesh Police Football Club in a match held at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla today (Friday). In the day’s match, Brazilian forward Paulo Henrique scored the first goal for Police converting penalty in the 39th minute. But the lead lasted for few minutes as Uzbek midfielder Muzaffar Muzaffarov restored the parity for Mohammedan in the 42nd minute of the match. With the day’s outcome, Bangladesh Police bagged 16 points from eleven matches while the traditional black and white Motijheel outfit Mohammedan secured 11 points from eleven outings. In the remaining eleventh round matches tomorrow (Saturday), Brothers Union will play against Abahani Limited Dhaka at Birshreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, PWD SC meet Arambagh Krira Sangha at Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur and Fortis Football Club face Bashundhara Kings at Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital.

Iran has said it will allow Bangladeshi oil tankers to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz despite rising tensions in the Middle East. "I have spoken with Iranian government officials and they are ready," the envoy told reporters after an event in the capital. "If you have vessels intended to transport fuel, we will allow them to pass safely so that the people of Bangladesh do not face hardship." Iran has further warned the international community to brace for oil prices as high as $200 per barrel, as it maintains its promise to block any tankers attempting passage through the waterway. The threat has already sent shockwaves through global markets, with nearly 20 percent of the world's daily oil consumption typically passing through this maritime chokepoint.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, March 13, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh wrapped up Pakistan innings for 274 in 47.3 overs, giving them a target of 275 to win the second ODI and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. After being asked to bat first, he and Sahibzada Farhan put on 103 runs in just 13 overs to give the side a high-flying start. The start gave Pakistan a hope to take the total past 300-run but Bangladesh bowlers bounced back in the middle overs to control the things. Salman Agha, however, found some rhythm to make 64 off 62 to lead the charge as Pakistan put up a strong total to challenge Bangladesh. Rishad claimed 3-56in nine overs while Meidhy took 2-34 in 10 overs.

US military raises toll to six crew dead in aircraft crash in IraqWASHINGTON, United States, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US military on Friday announced that the entire crew of six was killed when an aerial refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq -- an incident it said was not caused by "hostile fire." "All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased," US Central Command said in a social media post. "The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," said the military command, which is responsible for US forces in the Middle East. This brings the total of confirmed US deaths in the operation against Iran to 13.

SYDNEY, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Australia has ordered all non-essential officials in Lebanon to leave, Canberra's foreign minister said Friday, after issuing the same command to diplomats in Israel and the United Arab Emirates. "Essential Australian officials will remain in-country to support Australians who need it," she added. The warning came hours after Canberra issued the same order to officials in Israel and the United Arab Emirates. "We urge Australians in the Middle East to leave if you can and if it's safe to do so," Wong said. Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf states like the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.

A team of specialist neuro doctors has completed brain surgery on BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. After nearly four hours in surgery, he [Mirza Abbas] was moved to the neuro ICU at 7pm,” he said. Rafiqul added that Abbas is now under “close monitoring” by the medical team. Abbas, who serves as the political advisor to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and is a member of BNP’s Standing Committee, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on Wednesday after falling unconscious during Iftar. Atiqur Rahman Rumon, Tarique’s assistant press secretary, said: “The prime minister instructed the hospital authorities to take immediate measures to ensure he receives the best possible treatment.”

MOSCOW, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Moscow on Friday urged the United States to lift more sanctions on its oil exports to stabilise the global energy markets, upended by the war in the Middle East. US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region have virtually halted transit through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices spiralling. The United States has temporarily allowed the sale of oil from Russia -- one of the world's largest oil producers and exporters -- that is at sea, as oil prices hold above $100 a barrel. But he added: "without significant volumes of Russian oil, market stabilisation is impossible." The move came after Washington last week temporarily allowed Russian oil that was stranded at sea to be sold to India.

PARIS, France, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky met French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday for talksaimed at ramping up pressure on Russia to end its four-year invasion. "After all, we want to ensure that Russia does not exploit the war in Iran toweaken Ukraine," he said. US-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow to end the Ukraine war have alsobeen derailed by the Middle East conflict. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Kyiv of deliberately delaying reopening theDruzhba pipeline, which pumps Russian oil to the two landlocked states andUkraine says was damaged by Russian strikes in January. Zelensky said last week it could take four to six weeks to make the pipelineoperational again.

KHULNA, Mar 13, 2026 (BSS) – Sabbir and Mitu, a newlywed couple who had vowed to spend their lives together, were tragically separated after death in the devastating road accident in Rampal. Bride Marzia Akter Mitu was laid to rest at Naksha village in Koyra upazila of Khulna, while her husband Ahadur Rahman Sabbir was buried at Sholobunia village in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat. Following Thursday afternoon’s accident that claimed 14 lives, authorities handed over the bodies to relatives without autopsy upon family request later that night. Earlier Friday morning, funeral prayers for Mitu, her sister Lamia, and paternal grandmother Rashida Begum were held around 9:30 am at a field beside their house in Naksha village. The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom over Naksha village since Thursday.

Speaker of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram and Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal today paid rich tributes to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The ceremony began with the newly elected Speaker paying his respects at the gravesites, followed by the Deputy Speaker. To honour the memory of the late leaders, both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker observed a few moments of solemn silence. He also lauded Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia as the leader who made boundless sacrifices to reinstate parliamentary democracy inBangladesh. Highlighting his commitment to impartiality in legislative proceedings, the Speaker announced that both he and the Deputy Speaker haveresigned from their respective party positions.

GENEVA, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - UN chief Antonio Guterres said he had arrived in Beirut on Friday for a "solidarity" visit to Lebanon, where the Middle East war has claimed more than 687 lives since March 2. "I have just landed in Beirut for a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. They did not choose this war. They were dragged into it. The UN and I will spare no effort in striving for the peaceful future that Lebanon and this region so richly deserve," the United Nations secretary-general said on X.

Four US crew dead after crash of refuelling aircraft in Iraq: US militaryBAGHDAD, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Four US crew members were killed when an American KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, the US military said Friday, adding that the incident was not caused by "hostile fire". "Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue," US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement on X. An investigation was underway into Thursday's crash, it added. "However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," it said.

JAKARTA, March 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An April summit of the D-8 bloc of Muslim-majority developed countries that includes Iran has been postponed due to the war in the Middle East, host Indonesia said Friday. No new date was announced for the meeting that was to have stretched over four days, culminating in a leaders' summit on April 15. Apart from Iran and Indonesia, the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation also includes Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. Refering to "developments since February 28" when the US-Israeli attacks on Iran started, Indonesian foreign ministry official Tri Tharyat said it was decided to hold the D-8 meeting at a later date. "Last night, the foreign minister signed a letter addressed to his counterparts announcing the postponement of the D-8 summit," added Tri.

Clad in a brown Banarasi saree and with bright henna on her hands, Marzia Akhter Mitu of Naksa village in Khulna’s Koyra Upazila was prepared for a new chapter in her life. But, on the way to her in-laws’ house in Bagerhat’s Mongla Upazila, dreams of a happy conjugal life shattered in tragedy. A Navy bus and the microbus carrying Mitu, her husband Abdur Rahman Sabbir, and others of their family crashed head-on, killing 14 people in Bagerhat’s Rampal Upazila on Thursday afternoon. Mitu's paternal grandmother Rashida Begum was laid to rest in her village home, he said. Hundreds of people had gathered at the family’s home in Naksa village to see the four bodies.