No one will be spared if corruption found in projects: Agriculture MinisterAgriculture, Food, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid-File photoDHAKA, March 30, 2026 (BSS) - Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has emphasized that development projects must be undertaken and implemented with the highest priority on public welfare. The minister said that reasons must be identified for projects that have failed to achieve the expected success, and those responsible must be held accountable. He stressed that future projects should prioritize public welfare and involve long-term planning. The minister instructed prompt and effective measures to reduce soil acidity and mitigate its impacts. Agriculture Secretary Rafiqul I Mohammed, senior officials of the ministry, and heads of subordinate departments and institutions attended the meeting.

DHAKA, March 30, 2026 (BSS) – A bilateral meeting was held today between Bangladesh’s Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad and Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, aimed at strengthening services and cooperation related to Hajj and Umrah. Highlighting key aspects of Saudi Hajj management, the Bangladesh minister praised the remarkable progress made under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. He also commended the use of technology and modernization in Hajj management and expressed Bangladesh’s sincere gratitude to the Saudi government. During the meeting, the Bangladesh minister handed over a written proposal to the Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister for the welfare of Bangladeshi pilgrims. Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Delwar Hossain, Saudi Hajj and Umrah Deputy Minister Dr. Al-Hassan Al-Manakhra, Additional Secretary of the Hajj Subdivision Mohammad Ayatul Islam, Bangladesh Consul General in Jeddah Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain, Hajj Counsellor Mohammad Kamrul Islam, and other senior officials from both sides were also present on the occasion.

A Jamaat-e-Islami MP has questioned Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam over his claim that this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr travel was “more comfortable” than before, citing reports of significant casualties. Challenging this assertion, Milon cited conflicting casualty reports, noting that the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority recorded 170 deaths, while the Passengers' Welfare Association put the figure as high as 370. Referring specifically to a fatal bus accident at the Daulatdia ferry terminal, Milon pointed out that the minister had failed to visit the site. Invoking the Westminster parliamentary model, the Jamaat MP suggested that under such circumstances in the UK, a minister would have stepped down immediately. "Will the road transport minister resign?

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro met with Prime Minister's Defense Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam at the office of the Armed Forces Division in Dhaka Cantonment today. Photo : ISPRDHAKA, March 30, 2026 (BSS) - Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister's Defense Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam today. The envoy met him at the office of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) in Dhaka Cantonment here today, said a release of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) this afternoon. During the meeting, they discussed various issues of mutual interest, it said. They expressed the hope to further strengthen the bilateral military and strategic ties between the two countries, the ISPR added.

By Dean MurrayWartime shipwrecks will be further protected from scavengers under new safeguards. The Royal Navy said: "The vast majority of divers act responsibly. All 131 men aboard (111 Coast Guard sailors, four US Navy and 16 Royal Navy personnel) were lost. The Act was introduced 40 years ago, with additional sites added – this is the eighth tranche of new wrecks. The Royal Navy said protection prevents anyone from unlawfully interfering with the remains of vessels lost in military service.

OSLO, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Norway will temporarily slash its taxes on petrol and diesel to counter rising prices as the Middle East war disrupts global energy supplies, the government said Monday. As of April 1, the tax on petrol will be reduced by 4.41 kroner ($0.41) per litre and that on diesel by 2.85 kroner ($0.29) per litre, the government said in a statement. "Budget agreements are made to be respected," Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, of the Labour Party which opposed the move, told public broadcaster NRK. The tax cuts also apply to mineral oils used in fishing and hunting, the government said. Diesel cars accounted for 31.8 percent of the fleet, compared to 23.9 percent for petrol cars and 12.6 for various hybrids.

DHAKA, March 30, 2026 (BSS) - University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has directed all unauthorized branch campuses and study centers of both domestic and foreign universities operating in the country to immediately suspend their academic activities. In the order, the institutions have been asked to apply for approval to the commission by April 25, 2026. Authorities have already compiled a list of the unauthorized institutions. The order refers to the “Regulations for the Operation of Foreign University Branch or Study Centres 2014”, which clearly outlines the legal framework for operating such entities in Bangladesh. Under clause (i) of section 4(3) of these regulations, all unauthorized institutions must apply for approval by the April 25 deadline to regularize their status.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Mar 30, 2026 (BSS)- Vice-Chancellor of the Islamic Arabic University (IAU) Prof Muhammad Abu Jafar Khan has called for the cooperation of teacher leaders to restore the lost heritage of madrasa education in the country. “Madrasa education is an integrated system that ensures well-being in both worlds—this life and the hereafter. The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the importance of teachers' sincerity and subject-based instruction to ensure the vibrant presence of students in madrasa classrooms. “Teachers, students, and the university form one family. I need the advice and support of teacher leaders for constructive reform regarding academic syllabus, examination system, or any administrative matters,” he said.

Japan's Nikkei down more than 5%, S. Korea's Kospi dips over 4%TOKYO, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Japan's Nikkei tumbled over five percent in early trade Monday and South Korea's Kospi was down more than four percent after the price of oil rose again with no end in sight for the war in the Middle East. The price of the main US benchmark for oil, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), was up 3.23 percent at around 0015 GMT, once again surpassing $100 a barrel to reach $102.86. The Nikkei dipped 5.16 percent and the Kospi was down 4.41 percent before both indexes recovered slightly. His comments came after more than a month of aerial bombardments of Iran by US and Israeli forces, and as key regional players held talks in Pakistan. The war has escalated into a regional conflagration as Iran has retaliated with attacks on Gulf states and the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, sending energy markets into a tailspin and threatening the world economy.

ADB Country Director in Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong met with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo at the Bangladesh Secretariat today. During the meeting, they discussed matters relating to strengthening climate finance and partnership initiatives, said a ministry press release here. Both the sides also held detailed discussions on formulating the framework of the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) and identifying effective strategies for mobilizing climate finance through the platform. ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong highlighted that the BCDP aims to enhance partnerships for mobilizing climate finance, accelerate policy reforms, build capacity for innovative climate projects, and promote knowledge sharing. Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Mohammed Rayhan Kaosar and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.

US embassy resumes operations in Venezuela after seven yearsCollected photoWASHINGTON, United States, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US Embassy inVenezuela resumed operations Monday after being closed for seven years, theState Department announced, following Washington's ouster of leftistpresident Nicolas Maduro. "Today, we are formally resuming operations at the US embassy in Caracas,marking a new chapter in our diplomatic presence in Venezuela," the StateDepartment said in a statement.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Photo: CollectedCAIRO, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi onMonday urged his US counterpart Donald Trump to help end the Middle East war,now in its second month. "I say to President Trump: no one will be able to stop the war in our region,in the Gulf... Please, help us to stop the war, you are capable of it," Sisisaid in joint remarks to the press in Cairo alongside Cypriot President NikosChristodoulides.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman addressed the inaugural ceremony of the sports card and allowance distribution programme at his Tejgaon office this morning. Photo: BSSDHAKA, March 30, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the ‘Farmer Card’ distribution programme on a pilot basis on April 14 on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh-1433 Bangla Calendar. The premier himself disclosed the matter while he was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the sports card and allowance distribution programme at his Tejgaon office here this morning. “The ‘Farmer Card’ or ‘Krishak Card’ distribution programme is going to start from April 14. In that continuity, the 'Sports Card' has started from today,” he said.

File photoDHAKA, March 30, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh hockey team will depart for Thailand tomorrow (Tuesday) to take part in the Men's Asian Games Qualifier, set to take place from April 2-10 in Bangkok. National teams from across Asia will compete in this prestigious tournament for qualification to the Asian Games. Bangladesh pitted in Pool B along with Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan, will start their tournament campaign taking on Chinese Taipei on April 2. The Pool A consists with Oman, Hong Kong China, host Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Each team will compete in a round-robin format to determine the semi-finalists.

Photo: CollectedWASHINGTON, United States, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President DonaldTrump pushed concerns about surging world prices aside Monday and threatenedto destroy Iran's oil wells, power plants and main export terminal if Tehrandoes not quickly accept a peace deal. An earlier Trump comment warning of a possible assault by US ground troops toseize Iran's Kharg Island oil facilities had already sent prices higher, butthe US leader then doubled down in a combative social media post. Brent has already risen in price by nearly 60 percent this month, and the USbenchmark WTI by more than half. Israel said itsair defence batteries responded to "missiles launched from Iran", afterearlier announcing it was striking "terror regime military infrastructureacross Tehran". - Sleepless nights -The weeks of strikes have also taken a heavy toll on ordinary people in Iran.