Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman met United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper in London. Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir accompanied the foreign minister during the engagements. Bangladesh has nominated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman as its candidate for the position. The foreign minister will also attend the Commonwealth Day celebration at Westminster Abbey and join a reception at St James's Palace. The 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting brought together foreign ministers and senior representatives from 56 member states to discussglobal challenges and set the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled later this year.

DHAKA, March 9, 2026 (BSS) - A court here today ordered the freezing of 445 bank accounts belonging to 61 individuals over alleged involvement in onlinegaming, gambling and laundering money abroad. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order, accepting a plea filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The plea said former City Bank PLC official Sheikh Md Wajih Uddin allegedly deposited around Taka 51 lakh in cash into five bank accounts after beingdefrauded online. After reviewing the transactions, the investigators found indications that the accounts were linked to fraud, online gaming, hundi operations,laundering of local and foreign currencies, cryptocurrency trading and customs duty evasion. Therefore, the plea said, freezing the funds in the mentioned accounts is urgently necessary.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman attends Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting in London. Photo : MoFADHAKA, March 9, 2026 (BSS) - Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman led the Bangladesh delegation to the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London, where ministers from 56 member states discussed strengthening multilateralism and preparing for the Commonwealth summit later this year. The foreign ministers discussed the current global situation, particularly the erosion of the rules-based international order and the growing challenges facing international institutions and norms. On the sidelines of the meeting, the Bangladesh delegation is expected to hold bilateral engagements with foreign ministers and senior officials from the participating countries. The 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) also marked the beginning of Commonwealth Day activities, which are celebrated annually across the 56-member organisation today, the second Monday of March.

Reading time: about 7 minutesStudents packed the Student Assembly’s Thursday meeting to debate two contentious resolutions: Resolutions 61 and 55. The resolutions focus on Cornell Tech’s partnership with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and University-sponsored events that feature people accused of war crimes or human rights violations. “When this university extends an official invitation to an individual radically implicated in war crimes, it is not engaging in open inquiry,” Burns said. Levi Schmuel ’27 criticized Resolution 55 specifically for what he described as selective focus and ambiguous language. What's stopping you?”The Student Assembly heard more than an hour of public comment before continuing deliberations on the measures.

Photo : BNP Media CellDHAKA, Mar 8, 2026 (BSS) - The BNP Media Cell has decided to step up its activities to more effectively publicize the Prime Minister's nation-building initiatives and the government's development work. The decision was taken at a meeting held today at the BNP media cell office in Gulshan. Participants in the meeting held detailed discussions on strategies to highlight and disseminate information about the government's activities through various media platforms. The meeting was presided over by BNP Media Cell Convener Professor Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel. Among others present were Cell Member Secretary and Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Helal Uddin, State Minister for Social Welfare Farjana Sharmin and Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atiqur Rahman Ruman.

India opener Sanju Samson completed a remarkable turnaround to be named the Player of the Tournament at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The 31-year-old scored half-centuries in India's last three matches at the T20 World Cup, chiming in with a pair of Player of the Match performances against the West Indies and England before yet another impressive innings in the title decider against New Zealand. Samson revealed he sought advice from a host of more experienced players and even reached out to India great Sachin Tendulkar prior to Sunday's final. But with Abhishek Sharma struggling to find his best form, Samson found his touch to peak at the right time and help deliver India yet another t20 World Cup title. "To be very honest, this entire process started one-two years before, when I was with the 2024 World Cup winning team in West Indies.

Trump says new Iran leader won't last long without his approvalTEHRAN, March 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that Iran's next supreme leader would not last long without his approval, as Tehran prepared to reveal the successor to the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump told ABC News on Sunday, referring to Iran's next leader. Several blasts were heard over Israel's commercial hub of Tel Aviv after the Israeli military said it had detected a salvo of missiles from Iran. Two Israeli soldiers were killed during the fighting in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said. Trump has suggested Iran's economy could be rebuilt if a leader "acceptable" to Washington replaces the late supreme leader.

BEIJING, March 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - China's envoy to the Middle East urged de-escalation in the conflict-ridden region and called for attacks on civilians to be condemned during talks with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Beijing said Monday. The war, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, has threatened global energy security and trade, as well as China's oil supplies. Beijing was "deeply concerned" by the current situation in the region, special envoy Zhai Jun told Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan during talks on Sunday, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout. In a separate meeting with Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, head of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Zhai called for a "return to the negotiating track as soon as possible". China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that the war "should never have happened" and called for an end to fighting.

From cyclone shelters to early warning systems, we have shown the power of community mobilization to save countless lives. Yet, it is also putting lives at risk, especially with false claims during disasters - whether about poisoned food, biased aid, or fabricated inaction. Such baseless narratives not only demoralize those risking their lives but also weaken public confidence in humanitarian responses. Misinformation spreads faster than truth, and in the age of social media, rumours can escalate into panic within minutes. Bangladesh must therefore treat misinformation as a disaster risk in itself.

February’s figures tell the story starkly: Food prices have pushed inflation to 9.13%. It has been years, and inflation continues to be a problem we are having difficulties to find a solution for. Far from being a festive and spiritual month and occasion, the constant inflation only adds trouble and misery to the lives of the everyday citizen. That means curbing hoarding and profiteering, and ensuring that subsidies and support reach those who need them most. Growth figures, export targets, and infrastructure projects matter little if inflation continues to erode the purchasing power of the majority.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Saudi defence ministry said Monday it had thwarted a drone attack targeting an oil field in the kingdom's east, near the Emirati border. "Four drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field were intercepted and destroyed," a defence ministry statement said.

HRW accuses Israel of 'unlawfully' using white phosphorus in new Lebanon attacksBEIRUT, Lebanon, March 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Human Rights Watch on Monday accused Israel of "unlawfully" using white phosphorus over residential parts of a southern Lebanese town last week. "The Israeli military unlawfully used artillery-fired white phosphorus munitions over homes on March 3, 2026, in the southern Lebanese town of Yohmor," the New York-based rights group said in a report. White phosphorus, a substance that ignites on contact with oxygen, can be used to create smokescreens and to illuminate battlefields. "Israel should immediately halt this practice and states providing Israel with weapons, including white phosphorus munitions, should immediately suspend military assistance and arms sales and push Israel to stop firing such munitions in residential areas," he added. Lebanese authorities and HRW have over the past years accused Israel of using controversial white phosphorus rounds, in attacks authorities say have harmed civilians and the environment.

JAKARTA, March 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A landslide on Indonesia's biggest landfill buried trucks and food stalls, killing four people, rescuers said Monday as they searched for at least five more reported missing. The landslide struck at 2:30 pm on Sunday (0730 GMT) at Bantargebang, a landfill just 25 kilometres outside the capital, according to the national search and rescue agency. The collapse took place after hours of heavy rain in the area, local media reported. The Jakarta environmental agency did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comments. A landfill landslide killed 143 people in West Java in 2005, triggered by a methane gas explosion and heavy rain in the area.

PARIS, France, March 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - France will host a video meeting of G7 finance ministers on the Middle East crisis on Monday, as the war fuels fears for the global economy. French finance minister Roland Lescure earlier told Franceinfo radio he had agreed with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other G7 finance ministers to hold the meeting over a week after the start of the US-Israel war against Iran. Finance ministers and the central bank governors of the member countries would attend, he added. A first meeting of finance ministers under the French presidency was held on January 27. Frederik Ducrozet, chief economist at asset manager Pictet, said the G7 finance ministers and central bankers would likely issue a statement after the meeting to calm markets.

A joint forces operation is underway in Jungle Salimpur of Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong to dismantle criminal hideouts. “A joint forces’ operation is underway in Jungle Salimpur. He added that law enforcement agencies cordoned off the entire Jungle Salimpur area early in the morning. As of the latest reports, members of the joint forces have divided into several groups and begun search operations inside Jungle Salimpur. Hill cutting and plot trading are still ongoing in Jungle Salimpur.