PARIS, France, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran will "boycott the UnitedStates" but "not the World Cup", Iranian football federation president MehdiTaj said in a video released by the Iranian press agency Fars. "We will be preparing for the World Cup. We will boycott the United Statesbut not the the World Cup," Taj said in the video released on Wednesday. But the Republican president then triggered uproar last week after statingthat Iran's football team should not travel to the tournament "for their ownlife and safety". Iran hit back at Trump's comments saying that "no one can exclude Iran'snational team from the World Cup".

BANGKOK, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Thailand's new parliament on Thursday elected Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, keeping the conservative in the top office after his party routed its election rivals. "This parliament has voted for Anutin Chanvirakul to become prime minister," House Speaker Sophon Zaram said on the floor of the legislature, noting the incumbent had garnered more than half of the ballots cast. The third-placed Pheu Thai party of jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra agreed to join Anutin in a coalition alongside 14 smaller parties, and parliament anointed him on Thursday. The 59-year-old millionaire heir to a family construction fortune -- who championed the decriminalisation of cannabis in Thailand -- was first elected prime minister in September. The Pheu Thai-led government fell after Anutin pulled Bhumjaithai out of the then coalition, and parliament later elected him prime minister.

Photo: DMPDHAKA, March 19, 2026 (BSS) - The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has implemented comprehensive, multi-layered security arrangements to ensure a safe, peaceful, and festive celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr across the capital. Sarwar outlined the security plan during a press briefing at the National Eidgah Maidan on Thursday morning. The main Eid congregation will be held at the National Eidgah at 8:30 am, with an estimated capacity of around 35,000 worshippers. In case of adverse weather, the congregation will be shifted to the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 9:00 am. Describing the arrangements as "integrated and well-coordinated", the Acting Commissioner emphasized that multiple security layers will encircle the National Eidgah Maidan.

“This time, the Eid Jamaat at the National Eidgah will be a historic one for some reasons.The President will offer Eid prayers here. The state minister however, said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has given his consent to offer Eid prayers at the National Eidgah. So, after a long time, the nation will see two VVIPs to offer prayers in the National Eidgah together. We hope that our cabinet members and other high-ranking officials who are present will also offer prayers here.”He said there are arrangements for about 35,000 people to offer prayers at the National Eidgah. In response to a query, Mir Shahe Alam said that about 40,000 men and women together will be able to offer Eid prayers here.

Several thousand street children, known locally as "shegues", are estimated to live in the megacity of nearly 17 million, where NGOs are trying to give them a future. The educator has been running an outreach programme for more than 11 years for the Work to Rehabilitate and Protect Street Children (ORPER) NGO. - 'Useful in society' -Another association also works in the same district to "restore hope" to the street children through education. "When you graduate, you can become entrepreneurs," the French teacher for the Programme for Monitoring, Educating and Protecting Street Children (OSEPER) said. "I often cry at night when I think of the past," the teen, who spent several months living among a group of street children, said.

Photo: BSSRANGAMATI, March 19, 2026 (BSS)- Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Advocate Dipen Dewan, MP, today said that wealthy and conscious people of the society should come forward to support the underprivileged instead of relying solely on the government. Dipen Dewan said the organisation has been working for the welfare of the underprivileged children of the society for a long time, which deserves praise. He assured that necessary support will be provided to further expand the activities of this organisation in the future. Rangamati Sadar Zone Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ekramul Rahat, District BNP leader Shashat Chakma Rinku, Rangamati Press Club President Anwar Al Haque, District Red Crescent Society General Secretary Md. General Secretary of the organisation Rupam Tanchangya presided over the event while its Director Iqbal Hossain moderated it.

KARACHI, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Heavy rain and strong winds left at least18 people dead in Pakistan's financial capital Karachi, city authorities andrescue services said on Thursday. Thirteen people died when a wall collapsed on Wednesday, while five people,including two women, were killed elsewhere in the city. Light to moderate rain fell across Sindh province, of which Karachi is thecapital, but was heavier in some areas, meteorologists said. Rain in March is common in Punjab province in east-central Pakistan butunusual in Sindh, which is in the southeast. Last year, monsoon rains in Pakistan killed more than 1,000 people.

Symbolic PhotoDHAKA, March 19, 2026 (BSS) - A meeting of the National Moon SightingCommittee will be held today to fix the date of Holy Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggestreligious festival of the Muslims. The meeting will be held at 6 pm at the conference room of the BangladeshIslamic Foundation (BIF) at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The meeting will review the information on sighting of the moon of ShawwalMonth. People have been requested to contact on phone number 02-41053294, 02-226640510 and 02-223383397, if the moon of Holy Shawwal Month is sightedanywhere in the sky of Bangladesh. The Islamic Foundation also requested people to inform Deputy Commissioner orUpazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of the concerned district or upazila over theabove telephone numbers if they see the moon anywhere in the country.

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The notice of default was issued due to a breach of terms in the agreement between TCIDA and the Vecino Group, the property owner of Asteri. The notice prompts the Vecino Group to to meet the terms of its agreement before TCIDA takes further action. While Asteri is closed, the Vecino Group is providing displaced residents with alternate housing options. Once Asteri passes the safety tests, the city of Ithaca will lift the order to vacate, the release added. Further details regarding reentry will be communicated directly to residents as they become available, according to the Tuesday press release.

TEHRAN, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran executed three people on Thursday convicted of killing police officers and carrying out operations in favour of the United States and Israel during unrest earlier this year, the judiciary said. These would be the first officially announced executions related to the protests which broke out in Iran late December against the rising cost of living before morphing into nationwide anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9. "Three individuals convicted in the Dey (January) unrest, on charges of murder and operational actions in favour of the Zionist regime and the United States, were hanged this morning," the judiciary's Mizan Online website said. Iranian authorities said the protests began in late December as peaceful demonstrations before turning into "foreign-instigated riots" involving killings and vandalism. Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, including members of the security forces and innocent bystanders, and attributed the violence to "terrorist acts".

Photo : Bangladesh High Commission in LondonLONDON, March 18, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh participated in the 36th Extraordinary Session of the IMO Council here expressing concern over maritime safety risks amid the Middle East crisis and urging diplomatic efforts to ensure secure and uninterrupted global shipping. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) convened the session to deliberate on the evolving situation in the Middle East and its implications for global maritime safety and security. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Deputy High Commissioner Dr Nazrul Islam, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh High Commission in London. Bangladesh reiterated its support for the uninterrupted and lawful navigation of vessels in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The delegation also urged all concerned parties to engage meaningfully to resolve the ongoing crisis through constructive dialogue and diplomatic efforts.

BANGKOK, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Thailand's new parliament on Thursday elected Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, according to an AFP tally of the vote, keeping the conservative in the top office after his party routed its election rivals. Anutin passed the 250-vote threshold to win the premiership, according to a tally by AFP journalists as the vote continued.

Prof. Anwarul Azim Arif. Photo : CollectedCHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY, Mar 19, 2026 (BSS) - Former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Chittagong (CU) and former professor of the department of Management Anwarul Azim Arif passed away in the early hours of today while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the city. Professor Anwarul Azim Arif served as the 16th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chittagong from 2011 to 2015. He also served as vice-chancellor of Premier University and International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC). Prof. Anwarul Azim Arif was the chairman of Social Islami Bank Limited.