The war in Iran has shaken up financial markets. See the impact of the conflict, in five charts
DHAKA, March 31, 2026 (BSS) – The Home Ministry today held a monthly budget review meeting under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal year 2025–26. The meeting was held at the Secretariat (Room No. 08, 3rd Floor), chaired by Senior Secretary of Home Ministry Manzur Morshed Chowdhury. Assistant Secretary (Planning-3 Section) Md Saiful Islam confirmed BSS of holding the meeting. The meeting reviewed the progress made on decisions taken in the previous meeting held on February 26 approving the minutes of that meeting, and assessing the implementation status of adopted resolutions.
Photo: UGCDHAKA, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed has proposed the formation of a ‘BIMSTEC Higher Education Network’ to ensure smooth and seamless exchange of teachers, researchers and students among higher education institutions of BIMSTEC member countries. He made the proposal while chairing a session at the closing ceremony of a seminar titled ‘Bridging Regions, Building Futures: BIMSTEC under the Spotlight’ held at the Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University. The seminar was jointly organized by the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University and the BIMSTEC Secretariat. He underscored the importance of such seminars in aligning higher education with regional needs and called for building concrete partnerships, advancing joint initiatives and strengthening institutional trust. Professor Dr Md Abdul Mannan of Dhaka University delivered the vote of thanks at the end of the event.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo. -File photoSANGSAD BHABAN, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo today said in Parliament that some 1.5 crore tree saplings will be planted throughout the country during this monsoon to cope with the environment and climate change. The planting of these saplings will be completed in early monsoon,” said the environment minister. The preparations have already been made for tree plantation campaigns and tree fairs at the national level, and tree fairs at divisional and district levels as a supportive programme for the tree plantation, said Mintoo. The environment minister said a 'Tree Monitoring App' will be developed for tree maintenance, observation and digital surveillance.
US President Donald Trump. Photo: CollectedWASHINGTON, United States, March 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump lashed out at France on Tuesday, saying it had been 'very unhelpful' in the US-Israel war on Iran. "The Country of France wouldn't let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the 'Butcher of Iran, who has been successfully eliminated!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Photo: CollectedDHAKA, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - In a resolute display of the nation’s burgeoning industrial prowess, three premier Bangladeshi firms are set to represent the country’s technical textile sector at the prestigious Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 exhibitions in Frankfurt, Germany. The twin exhibitions in Frankfurt are recognized as the world’s leading venues for technical textiles and garment processing. Representing the vanguard of the national textile sector’s modernization, three distinguished companies have been confirmed as exhibitors. As ambassadors of Bangladesh’s industrial advancement, these companies are expected to present cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and sophisticated product lines. Their participation underscores the nation's strategic transition from basic apparel to high-performance, technically advanced textile production, signaling Bangladesh’s readiness to compete at the highest levels of global innovation.
DHAKA, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - The government has decided to keep fuel oilprices unchanged for the month of April, keeping rates unchanged for a secondconsecutive month, with petrol, octane, diesel and kerosene to be sold atexisting prices. The information was disclosed today in an official order issued by theMinistry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. According to the order, the prices have been reviewed and adjusted in linewith the revised automatic fuel pricing guidelines by the competent authorityat the consumer level. As per the existing rates, the consumer-level price of Diesel in April hasbeen set at Taka 100 per liter. The price of Kerosene is Taka 112 per litre,Petrol Taka 116, and Octane Taka 120 per litre.
Despite pressures on the energy sector from ongoing Middle East conflicts, the government has kept retail fuel prices unchanged for April. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division on Tuesday said, under the “Automatic Fuel Price Determination Guidelines (Amendment)”, the authority has approved the continuation of existing retail rates. Diesel: Tk 100 per litreOctane: Tk 120 per litrePetrol: Tk 116 per litreKerosene: Tk 112 per litre
EU chief Antonio Costa. Photo: CollectedBRUSSELS, Belgium, March 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - EU chief Antonio Costa on Tuesday urged Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in a phone call to stop attacks on regional neighbours and engage with diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "To de-escalate the situation, I urged Iran to stop the unacceptable attacks on countries in the region and to engage positively on the diplomatic track, notably with the UN to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," European Council president Costa wrote on X.
A 6-month-old child has died at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) while showing symptoms of measles. Brig Gen Taslim Uddin, director of the hospital, told bdnews24.com that the child exhibited measles-like symptoms. “The infant died while receiving intensive care. At the moment, 32 children are admitted to the hospital’s measles corner, including four confirmed measles cases, highlighting a concerning trend in the region. The hospital is monitoring the situation closely, providing treatment and isolation for suspected and confirmed cases to prevent further spread.
Non-resident Irish Ambassador to Bangladesh Kevin Kelly met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam today at the foreign ministry. Photo: MoFADHAKA, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam today sought Ireland’s support for Bangladesh’s candidacy for the Presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during 2026–27. She made the appeal when non-resident Irish Ambassador to Bangladesh Kevin Kelly paid a courtesy call on her at the foreign ministry here, said a ministry’s press release. The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues, underscoring the importance of peace, stability and strengthened international cooperation. The Irish envoy congratulated the State Minister on her assumption of office and expressed optimism about further strengthening bilateral relations under the current government.
Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid spoke today in the Jatiya Sangsad session. “The newly developed onion storage facilities would help the growers as well as the consumers to store their necessary commodities throughout the year. At the same time the facilities will help to eradicate onion shortage of the country”, he added. A total of 26 lakh tonnes urea, 9.50 lakh tonnes triple super phosphate (TSP), 10.50 lakh tonnes muriate of potash (MoP), 16.85 lakh tonnes diammonium phosphate (DAP) have already been distributed among the farmers under the agriculture subsidy of Taka 16,240 crore, he said. “We are hopeful that there would be no any crisis of fertilizer in future in the country,” the minister said.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari. Photo: CollectedDOHA, March 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Gulf states are unified in calling for a de-escalation of the Middle East war, Qatar said Tuesday as Tehran launched new strikes against its neighbours. "Our understanding is that there is a very unified position in the Gulf on calling for the de-escalation and an end to the war," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a regular news briefing.
Wembanyama's double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds arrived just eight minutes and 31 seconds after he stepped on court, a new NBA record. Stephon Castle backed Wembanyama with 21 points while four other Spurs players finished in double figures. San Antonio's victory left them on 57-18 in the Western Conference, firmly on the shoulder of leaders Oklahoma City, who improved to 60-16 with a 114-110 overtime victory against Eastern Conference leaders Detroit. - 'Never-die mentality' -Wembanyama's rival and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scored 47 points as the Thunder escaped with a win against a short-handed Detroit. "Seven points down with three minutes left is nothing to us.
