HONG KONG, March 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Oil prices resumed their push higher Tuesday as several countries pushed back against Donald Trump's demand that they help secure the key Strait of Hormuz, while Iran continued to target crude-producing neighbours. Still, equities extended Monday's gains as tech firms rallied after Nvidia said it expected to make at least $1 trillion in revenue through the end of 2027. With the crisis showing no sign of ending soon, both main crude contracts rose more than two percent to sit around $100. Traders were also cheered by news from monitor Marine Traffic that a Pakistani oil tanker became the first non-Iranian tanker to transit Hormuz with its automatic transponder system activated. And a drone and rocket attack targeted the US embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday, a security official said.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat. Photo: CollectedJAMALPUR, March 16, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat today inaugurated the excavation of two canals here in the district aimed at improving irrigation and agricultural productivity. Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony in Islampur Upazila, the state minister said that although 39 countries have increased fuel prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Bangladesh has not raised fuel prices considering the hardships faced by farmers and ordinary people. During the programme, Millat inaugurated the excavation of the 12-kilometre Katakhali canal in the Gyebandha area of Islampur Upazila. Later, the state minister also inaugurated the excavation work of another five-kilometre canal in Madarganj Upazila.

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DHAKA, Mar 16, 2026(BSS) - Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Md Selim Fakir has been appointed as the Registrar and Director General (DG) of the Directorate of Cooperatives today. A gazette notification of the Public Administration Ministry signed by its Deputy Secretary Deputation-1 Mohammad Nur-a-Alam said the government has already transferred Md Selim Fakir to the ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives and made him Registrar and Director General of the Directorate of Cooperatives.

M. Nazeem A. Choudhury has recently been promoted to Additional Managing Director (AMD) of Prime Bank PLC. Mr Choudhury has more than 25 years of diversified experience in business development, sales and marketing and communications, according to a media release. Prior to his joining at Prime Bank as Deputy Managing Director, he served in multiple capacities with Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Metlife, Eastern Bank and Meghna Bank. He completed his MBA from the Institute of Business Administration and has a Master’s degree in English from Dhaka University. He is a certified project management professional and also has an internationally recognized certification for Islamic Finance Professionals, AAOIFI (Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions).

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has called for a united international front and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle the rising tide of digital fraud and global scams. The minister made the appeal on Sunday while speaking as a panelist at a high-level roundtable during the "Global Fraud Summit 2026" in the Austrian capital. The media release said the minister underscored the growing challenges Bangladesh faces from digital scams, multi-level marketing (MLM) Ponzi schemes, and corporate corruption, reports bdnews24.com. Citing data from Global Financial Integrity (GFI), the minister noted that an average of $8.27 billion was laundered from Bangladesh annually through trade mis-invoicing between 2009 and 2018. The home minister is leading a five-member delegation at the two-day summit.

He said a decision has been taken to appoint a new chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Milon said Prof. Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam, a professor of the Physics Department of DU, has been nominated as the new Vice- Chancellor (VC) of the university. Earlier, DU VC Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan submitted his resignation on February 22. At the press conference, the minister also announced the appointment of new vice-chancellors at six other universities. Besides, Prof. Md Masud has been nominated as the new VC of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), while Prof. Mohammad Al-Forkan has been nominated as CU VC.

DHAKA, March 16, 2026 (BSS) - A comprehensive 180-day joint action plan was unveiled on Sunday evening to overhaul the investment climate in Bangladesh. The plan was presented to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman by Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Ashik Chowdhury, according to a press release issued today. The roadmap coordinates the strategic efforts of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) and the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA). The 180-day roadmap has been structured around 25 initiatives under three key pillars - robust infrastructure, investment facilitation and investment development. Under investment facilitation, emphasis has been placed on institutional reform and improved investor services.

Shariful Alam said the excavation of the Aribil canal in Kishoreganj will improve irrigation facilities for farmers and help reduce agricultural production costs. The government has started excavating the canal as part of a nationwide canal restoration programme. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Aribil canal excavation in Nikli Upazila today, the state minister said the project will increase the flow of surface water and expand irrigation coverage in agricultural lands. He explained that greater availability of surface water will reduce farmers' dependence on electricity and fuel for irrigation, thereby lowering production costs. After the ceremony, Shariful Alam, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kishoreganj-6, formally inaugurated the excavation work of the Aribil canal.

Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury -File PhotoMOULVIBAZAR, March 16, 2026 (BSS) - Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury today said that the canal excavation programme will add a new dimension to the local economy to increase agricultural production and protect the environment. “After the excavation work, various fruit-bearing and medicinal saplings would be planted along both the banks of the canals,” he said while inaugurating the excavation work of the Katagang canal at Sadar upazila of the district here. The minister said the excavation of canals will bring significant improvements to the irrigation system. Emphasizing on public participation, he said that when former President Ziaur Rahman launched canal excavation programmes across the country, ordinary people voluntarily joined the initiative with shovels in hand to improve their livelihoods. He also expressed his hope that the public would once again unite voluntarily to implement the development mission of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

GREELEY — Thousands of union workers employed by the largest meatpacking company in the U.S. went on strike early Monday morning, calling for higher wages and safer working conditions at the JBS facility in Greeley. Striking employees carry picket signs near the JBS meatpacking plant Monday in Greeley. JBS employees have been working on an extension of the expired contract since July and gave a seven-day notice that they planned to strike. In Greeley, workers process cattle into cuts of meat that end up on dinner tables nationwide. Striking employees protest as shift workers enter a parking lot near the JBS meatpacking plant Monday in Greeley.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed addressing at Global Fraud Summit 2026 in Vienna. Speaking as a panelist at a high-level discussion titled "National Commitments/Pledges on Combating Fraud" at the Vienna International Centre, the minister highlighted Bangladesh's firm stance on strengthening national security and combating financial crimes, according to a Home Ministry press released received here today. In his remarks, the Home Minister outlined several key initiatives taken by Bangladesh to prevent money laundering and financial fraud. He also emphasized the importance of international legal cooperation to dismantle transnational criminal networks. High-level representatives from various countries attending the session praised Bangladesh's proactive measures and technology-driven approach to preventing fraud and financial crimes.

DHAKA, Mar 16, 2026 (BSS) - The holy Shab-e-Qadr, also known as Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Decree or Power), when the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), is being observed across the country tonight. "On the occasion of the holy Lailatul Qadr, I extend my heartfelt greetings and mubarakbad to all Muslims around the world, including the countrymen," he said in a message issued on Sunday. The prime minister said Lailatul Qadr is a glorious and blessed night when the Holy Quran was revealed in the holy month of Ramadan. Tarique Rahman prayed to Allah Almighty that infinite mercy and blessings of the holy Lailatul Qadr are poured in on all. May the glory of the holy Lailatul Qadr bring peace, harmony and welfare to our lives," he added.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Mohammad Mostakur Rahman. Senior officials from Bangladesh Bank were also present during the meeting,which centered on deepening the economic and institutional relationshipbetween the two nations, said a press release. The dialogue emphasized three primary pillars of cooperation: the expansionof economic and trade ties, the promotion of increased investment, and thereinforcement of institutional collaboration. The discussions reflected a mutual commitment to enhancing the strategicpartnership and fostering closer economic ties. The meeting highlighted specific strategies to bolster technical ties andstreamline financial operations.

DHAKA, Mar 16, 2026 (BSS) - The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has launched an online facility allowing individual taxpayers to apply for an extension to submit their income tax returns for the 2025-2026 tax year. According to a press release issued today by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the deadline for submitting income tax returns for individual taxpayers has been extended until March 31, 2026. The revenue authority has made online submission of income tax returns mandatory for most individual taxpayers for the current tax year, with a few exceptions. The NBR said taxpayers must be registered in the e-Return system and submit their application before March 31, 2026 to avail the online extension facility. Taxpayers for whom online return submission is not mandatory may apply for an extension either through the online system or by submitting a written application directly to the relevant tax circle.