JHENAIDAH, Mar 28, 2026 (BSS) - Two farmers were killed and four others injured in a lightning strike in Shailkupa upazila of the district today. The deceased were identified as Samir Biswas, 40, son of Sushil Biswas and Apu Biswas, 22, son of Prakash Biswas. Both were residents of Kharibaria village in the upazila. According to local sources, the incident occurred around 12 pm while a group of farmers were harvesting onions in a field of Kharibaria village. Among them, Ranjit Master, 63, has been admitted to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex, where he is currently receiving treatment.

BFF president Tabith Awal met with the players and officials of Bangladesh U-20 women’s national team. Photo: BSSDHAKA, March 28, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Tabith Awal met with the players and officials of Bangladesh U-20 women’s national team at the team hotel in Thailand today (Saturday). The BFF boss extended his best wishes to the squad ahead of the upcoming AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, encouraging the team as they prepare to represent Bangladesh on the continental stage. Bangladesh U-20 women’s national team, which pitted in group A along with host Thailand, China and Vietnam, will start their tournament campaign taking on Thailand on April 1 before facing China and Vietnam on April 4 and 7 respectively.

22 migrants die off Greece after six days at sea: survivorsATHENS, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Twenty two migrants have died off the coast of Greece after six days at sea in a rubber boat, survivors told the Greek coastguard Saturday. The coastguard late Friday said 26 people, including a woman and a minor, were rescued by a Frontex European border agency vessel off the Crete. Survivors said the bodies of those who had died were thrown into the sea.

NEW DELHI, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - India opened a second international airport in the capital New Delhi on Saturday, as part of the country's rapid push to expand its air industry. The Noida International Airport is 75 kilometres (45 miles) from the city, and will serve 12 million passengers a year in its initial phase, with the potential to grow to as many as 70 million. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airport, a greenfield project in Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state with estimated 243 million people. "The airport would boost economic activity in western Uttar Pradesh, creating opportunities for farmers, small businesses and young people," he said. It will complement the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport, 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the centre.

TEHRAN, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Gulf countries and Israel came under missile fire and Israeli forces struck Iran on Saturday, as the war raged into its second month with Washington expressing hopes for progress in talks with Tehran. The war began when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes across Iran, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and sending shockwaves across the globe. Iranian strikes have shattered the Gulf's reputation for stability, hitting Dubai's airport, Bahrain's capital and energy facilities across the region during the course of the war. Tehran also called for an end to US and Israeli attacks on aligned regional groups -- a reference to Hezbollah, among others, Tasnim reported. Lebanon was drawn into the war after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2.

MINNEAPOLIS, United States, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Massive nationwide protests against US President Donald Trump are expected Saturday as millions of people vent fury over what they see as his authoritarian bent and other forms of cruel, law-trampling governance. And now they have something new to fume over -- the war in Iran that Trump launched alongside Israel, with ever-shifting goals and timelines for completion. The second "No Kings" day in October drew an estimated seven million protesters, according to organizers. Trump wants to rule over us as a tyrant," the "No Kings" movement said. "America is at an inflection point," said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.

JAKARTA, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Indonesia began enforcing a social media ban for children under the age of 16 on Saturday, after a minister warned digital platforms there was "no room for compromise." The Southeast Asian nation announced the ban this month citing threats from online pornography, cyberbullying and internet addiction, as concerns grow globally over the impact of social media on children's wellbeing. Other digital platforms operating in the country should "immediately align their products, features and services with applicable regulations," Meutya said. Indonesia's ban follows a similar policy in Australia implemented in December -- signs that the global reckoning over social media's potential harms to children is gathering steam. Britain's upper house of parliament voted this week in favour of banning children from social media, adding pressure on the government to follow suit.

NEW DELHI, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - India has approved defence purchases worth about $25 billion, the defence ministry said, including additional Russian-made S-400 long-range missile systems. The approvals were given by the Defence Acquisition Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, according to a statement issued late on Friday. It has also signed capital procurement contracts worth 2.28 trillion rupees ($25 billion), the highest in a single fiscal year. For the air force, the approved items include new medium transport aircraft to replace old AN-32 and IL-76 planes, additional S-400 air defence systems, drones and upgrades to Su-30 fighter jet engines. For the army, the council approved an air defence tracking system, armour-piercing tank ammunition, radios, artillery, and an aerial surveillance system for battlefield monitoring.

Dhoni to miss start of IPL with calf strainNEW DELHI, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Indian stalwart M.S. Dhoni is likely to miss the first two weeks of the IPL with a calf strain, his team Chennai Super Kings said on Saturday. Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of TATA IPL 2026," Chennai said in a statement. Dhoni played all 14 matches last year, scoring 196 runs, but Chennai finished bottom of the 10-team table.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Pakistan will host talks next week with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey on the war in the Middle East, a senior foreign ministry official told AFP on Saturday. "We will host a quadrilateral meeting on Monday," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the exact representation was not yet confirmed. Ankara's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the private A Haber broadcaster that the meeting was initially planned to be held in Turkey. "However, since our Pakistani counterparts are required to remain in their country, we moved the meeting to Pakistan," he said late on Friday. Earlier on Friday, Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he expected a direct US-Iran meeting in Pakistan "very soon", without revealing his source.

WASHINGTON, United States, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Friday "Cuba is next" in his latest threat against the Caribbean island, as he dismissed concerns that recent American military actions would cost him political support. Cuba's communist government has faced mounting pressure from Trump, who imposed a de facto oil blockade in January and mused about "taking" the country. "I built this great military. Trump did not specify what he planned to do with Cuba, telling the media to "disregard that statement" before repeating "Cuba's next" to laughter from the audience. In his Friday speech, the Republican president also made a teasing comment dubbing the Strait of Hormuz the "Strait of Trump."

Govt to consider restoring any of suitable previous police uniform: Home MinisterHome Minister Salahuddin Ahmed spoke as the chief guest at the passing-out parade of the 43rd BCS (Police) batch, held at the Bangladesh Police Academy parade ground in Sardah, Rajshahi. Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, March 28, 2026 (BSS) - Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the government is considering revising the current police uniform, acknowledging dissatisfaction within the force. "The police force is not satisfied with the current uniform. The Home Minister inspected the parade and received a formal salute before distributing medals among officers who excelled in different training categories. Among others present were Land Minister Md.

Acting on directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, BGB personnel began operations on March 25, covering 19 depots across nine districts, according to a BGB press release. Each camp is ensuring strict administrative and security measures. BGB members are actively monitoring depot activities, preventing illegal fuel storage and sales, and strengthening surveillance to address any potential sabotage or disruption. In parallel, BGB has intensified border security measures to curb fuel smuggling. Authorities reaffirmed that these proactive measures are essential to maintaining order in the fuel market and safeguarding national energy security amid global volatility.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israel carried out dawn airstrikes on several towns in southern Lebanon on Saturday, state media reported, while Hezbollah announced attacks on Israeli forces, a month into the Middle East war. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported "a series of strikes" at dawn on the town of Majdal Selm and "successive strikes" on the towns of Kafra, Hanniyeh, Touline and Adloun. It added that several Israeli strikes also targeted the city of Nabatiyeh, hitting "residential and commercial buildings and a fuel station". At the same time, the agency reported strikes on border towns, particularly Taybeh, along with "an attempt by enemy forces to advance toward the Litani area". Hezbollah also announced it targeted the Israeli military's Northern Command headquarters, north of the city of Safed in northern Israel, with a volley of rockets.

DHAKA, March 28, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh hockey team will depart for Thailand on Tuesday (March 31) by US-Bangla Air lines 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. The Pool A consists with Oman, Hong Kong China, host Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. The Asian Games qualifying tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Muscat, Oman from March 28. But the Middle East turmoil due to the Iran-US war, the Asian Hockey Federation has shifted the venue and date of the tournament from Oman to Thailand.