Trump says Zelensky 'has to get a deal done,' insists Putin readyWASHINGTON, United States, March 6, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump on Thursday described Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky as the obstacle to a deal with Russia, whose leader Vladimir Putin he insisted was cooperative. "Zelensky, he has to get on the ball, and he has to get a deal done," Trump said in an interview with Politico. "I think Putin is ready to make a deal," Trump said. Trump has long said that US support for Ukraine is wasteful to the United States and has spoken admirably in the past about Putin, whom he invited to Alaska in August. Trump has balked at taking more aggressive action against Putin, arguing that he is the only leader who can negotiate with both sides.

Tehran denied the allegation and blamed Israel, Azerbaijan's ally, of trying to stage a provocation. "Today a terrorist act was carried out from the Iranian side against the territory of Azerbaijan," Aliyev told a hastily convened security council meeting. Fortunately, the drone targeting the school did not reach its objective and instead fell and exploded near the school," it said. "The pipeline is buried underground along most of its route, making it difficult to disable," he said, adding that "above-ground facilities -- such as terminals and pumping stations -- could still be vulnerable to Iranian drone strikes." Iran has long expressed concern that Israel -- a close ally of Azerbaijan and a key arms supplier -- could use Azerbaijani territory to stage attacks.

Amid fears that the Middle East war could trigger a fuel shortage or price hike in Bangladesh, drivers of private cars and motorcycles have been crowding petrol pumps in the capital to buy fuel. Long queues were seen at several fuel stations across Dhaka on Friday, similar to the previous day. Pump operators said many people are buying extra fuel due to rumours or concerns about a possible shortage, nearly doubling sales compared to normal times. However, officials said there has been no instruction so far to increase fuel prices or reduce supply. Meanwhile, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku is set to visit petrol pumps to monitor the situation.

An Indian fighter jet crashed during a training flight in the northeast, killing its two pilots, the Indian air force said Friday. The two-seater long-range Sukhoi fighter jet crashed in Assam state’s Karbi Anglong district after it took off from an airbase late Thursday, IAF said in a statement, reports UNB. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of the two pilots. The Indian air force operates over 260 of them. India has had other jet crashes in June 2024 and January 2023.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Mia Golam Parwar, on Friday signed the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka in honour of Iran's Supreme Religious Leader, Shaheed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R.A). Parwar expressed deep condolences to the government and people of Iran on behalf of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He said that the contributions of influential Muslim religious leaders throughout history are always remembered with respect. He prayed that Allah Almighty may grant His infinite mercy on them and give patience and strength to all concerned. They expressed their sympathy for the people of Iran and the Muslim Ummah, and prayed to Allah Almighty for peace, prosperity, justice, and stability for the Muslim world, including the Middle East.

The United Nations rights chief said Friday that 56 Afghan civilians had been killed -- nearly half of them children -- since hostilities with neighboring Pakistan intensified last week. The neighbors have clashed along the frontier since February 26, when Afghanistan launched a border offensive in retaliation for Pakistani air strikes. Turk said that since the intensification of hostilities, “56 civilians, including 24 children and six women, have been killed.”“A further 129 people, including 41 children and 31 women, have been injured,” he said. And since the start of the year, the numbers are even higher, with 69 civilians killed in Afghanistan and 141 injured, he said. Pakistan insists it has not killed any civilians in the conflict.

Ghorashal-Palash Urea Fertiliser Factory, one of Southeast Asia’s largest and environment-friendly fertilizer plants, has temporarily halted production due to an ongoing gas shortage in the country. The Polash plant has a daily production capacity of 2,840 metric tons, and sources from the factory said the shutdown is disrupting the production of roughly 2,800 metric tons of fertilizer each day. Factory insiders revealed that the warehouse currently holds 525,000 metric tons of fertilizer. For uninterrupted operations, the plant requires a daily gas pressure of 71–72 PSI, though production can continue at a reduced rate if gas pressure is maintained at 52–53 PSI. The factory’s temporary closure is expected to impact fertilizer supply in the coming weeks unless gas availability is restored.

Urging greater use of modern science and technology in the jute sector, President Shahabuddin said innovations and diversification should be introduced in jute products. We must create skilled manpower in this sector and ensure fair prices for jute products,” the President said. He said steps have been taken to make the jute sector technologically advanced, expand research, develop high-yield jute seed varieties, and use jute for diversified purposes. The President believes these initiatives will strengthen the economy and bring prosperity to the jute sector. Nurul Basir, and business representative Abul Hossain, President of Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA), among others, spoke on the occasion.

The government of Bangladesh awarded 12 individuals and organizations on the occasion of National Jute Day, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research, production, export, and entrepreneurship in the jute sector. This year, 12 awards were distributed across various categories, including jute seed production, research, jute-based product manufacturing, and exports. Nurul Islam received the award for best researcher in jute seed, jute, and jute-based product research.Md. Shahanur Alam Sentu was recognized as the best jute seed producer. Jute Mills Limited was honored as the best jute mill for jute-based product manufacturing, while Helal Ahmed of the same company received the best jute-based product exporter award.

Primary investigation found that two shell companies—Meghmala International Ltd in the name of Israt Jahan Mim and Meghmala Estate Ltd in the name of Morsalin Islam Sourdip—were established. Through these entities, loans of Tk200 million each, totaling Tk400 million, were taken from the Gulshan branch of First Security Islami Bank PLC in 2012 through fraud and forgery. The loan amount obtained through the fake companies was deposited in an account of Morsalin Islam Sourdip at the Dhanmondi branch of First Security Islami Bank PLC. Later, Tk400 million was debited from that account and deposited into another account titled “Union Bank (Proposed)” at the Banasree branch of First Security Islami Bank PLC. CID’s investigation further found that Morsalin Islam Sourdip purchased sponsor shares of Union Bank PLC during its inception using the fraudulently obtained loan money.

Argentina's superstar Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were feted by President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday in honor of their 2025 MLS Cup championship. Messi was at the forefront as Miami players, coach Javier Mascherano and team co-owner Jorge Mas flanked Trump, who opened proceedings with comments on military action in the Middle East. "I shouldn't say this because I'm old, but I watched Pele play," Trump said. There's a lot more pressure put on you than anyone would know because you're sort of expected to win," Trump added. Inter Miami's global success is "not only because of Lionel Messi, but these men standing behind you have changed the culture of football in the United States of America forever," Mas said.

President Donald Trump said Thursday it would be a "waste of time" currently to consider sending US ground troops into Iran, NBC News reported, dismissing the Iranian foreign minister's warning that such a move would spell disaster for invaders. They've lost everything. They've lost their navy. Trump also indicated he is keen to see Iran's leadership structure removed and that "we want to go in and clean out everything" quickly. Trump said earlier he would "have to be involved" in the appointment of Iran's next leader after US-Israeli strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei when the conflict began on Saturday.

On this day in 2013, killers brutally murdered the brilliant 17-year-old -- a boy loved by everyone in the closely-knit port city of Narayanganj. Initial leads suggested that unraveling the mystery and booking the killers would be a matter of a few days. They rightly recalled that back in 2013, two of the killers gave confessional statements under Section 164, detailing the murder. After a decade of leads, arrests, and confessions, is it still too hard to press charges? If justice is not served after 13 years, Taqi’s soul will haunt the conscience of this nation forever.

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 286 at 11:53am. The city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season.

Two people were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a microbus on the Dhaka–Barisal highway in the Kasba area of Gournadi upazila in Barishal on Friday morning. Two people, including the driver of the microbus, died in the accident while three others were injured. Police rescued the injured and sent them to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal for treatment, he said. The vehicles involved in the accident have been seized, while the bus driver managed to flee the scene. Traffic on the Dhaka–Barisal highway remained disrupted for some time after the accident but returned to normal later.