LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir delivered the keynote address at a family card distribution function at the premises of Sammilit UI Alim Madrasa in Rahimanpur Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila on Tuesday. Photo: BSSTHAKURGAON, Mar 10, 2026 (BSS) - Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, MP, today said the family card is a source of strength and empowerment for women in the country. "With this card you (women) will be able to stand anywhere with confidence. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on behalf of all for introducing this family card and choosing this area to launch the programme. Mirza Fakhrul said they have started work at the initial stage and eventually the card will reach every household across the country.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, March 10, 2026 (BSS)- Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today said the government has formally begun its initiative to ensure economic empowerment of women at all levels through the distribution of 'Family Cards'. Women will be able to bring multiple benefits to their families through these cards," the law minister added. Asaduzzaman said around 37,000 family cards have been issued initially under a pilot project, with the ownership given to the female head of the household or another female member of the family. The minister also warned that any corruption in the issuance of family cards would be dealt with strictly. At the seminar, MJF Program Coordinator Ruma Sultana presented the keynote paper.

DHAKA, March 10, 2026 (BSS) - The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has opened a control room to ensure the welfare and safety of Bangladeshi expatriate workers amid the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. According to a ministry office order on March 9, the control room will operate from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily from March 10 to March 16, said an official handout received here. The control room has been set up at the Expatriate Call Center on the seventh floor of the Expatriate Welfare Bhaban in Eskaton, Dhaka. Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan will supervise the overall management of the control room, while Md. It also said the officials on duty at the control room will maintain communication with the labour welfare wings of Bangladesh missions abroad whenever necessary in response to the situation in the Middle East.

The service will be open to Chinese people working and studying in North Korea, as well as North Koreans working, studying and visiting family abroad, according travel agents for official ticketing booths in Beijing and Dandong. "It's great to see the international train service resuming," Rowan Beard, tours manager at Young Pioneer Tours, told AFP on Tuesday. He confirmed his company, one of several firms that specialise in travel to North Korea, would also be able to book tickets running from Thursday. "While it isn't initially intended for tourists, it will provide another travel option once tourism to North Korea eventually returns, serving as an alternative to flying." Last year, direct flights and train services resumed between North Korea and Russia, as the two have pulled closer since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

MUMBAI, India, March 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - India ordered tighter controls over natural and cooking gas on Tuesday following import disruptions caused by the Middle East war, with restaurants warning it could spark widespread closures. The world's most populous nation is the fourth largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyer, and second-largest buyer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), such as that used for cooking -- much of which is sourced from the Middle East. Indian industries including several ceramics and tile firms have already said they are facing a cutback in gas supplies that could impact production. Restaurants and hotels across India also warned of disruptions to operations, after a separate ministry order on Monday that prioritised domestic LPG supplies to households. The National Restaurant Association of India warned that the government order had resulted in LPG suppliers "across the country" signalling that supplies to eateries would be stopped.

MEHERPUR, March 10, 2026 (BSS) - The population of bees in Meherpur has declined alarmingly due to the excessive and unplanned use of pesticides, raising concerns about reduced yields in seasonal fruit orchards, particularly mango and litchi. Agricultural experts fear that production targets may not be achieved if the trend continues. However, indiscriminate pesticide spraying in orchards and crop fields is causing bees to die or leave the area. "But despite several rounds of pesticide spraying, fewer flowers are forming. Experts also recommend avoiding pesticide spraying during the flowering stage of crops and increasing the use of organic alternatives and pheromone traps.

Photo: PMODHAKA, Mar 10, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the government will bring four crore families, headed by women, under the Family Card programme within the next five years. "...I firmly believe that my government will be able to gradually bring this family card to all the four crore families in Bangladesh, headed by women, within the next five years, InshaAllah," said. This work (Family Card progamme) has started in 14 places or 14 upazilas across Bangladesh involving about 37,000 women, he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the government's landmark "Family Card" programme to ensure women empowerment in the country as he distributed cards among them. Under the pilot programme, beneficiaries of the city's Karail slum, Sattala slum, Bhasantek slum, Mirpur Circle or Shah Ali's Ward-8, Alimia's Tech slum (Ward-14) and Baganbari slum received family cards today.

BANGKOK, March 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Thailand and Vietnam encouraged public employees on Tuesday to work from home and take up other energy-saving measures as the Middle East war disrupted oil supplies and sent fuel prices swinging. Thai authorities said government workers should shift to remote work where possible and asked that government offices set their air conditioners to 26C to conserve energy. Thailand said last week it had secured two months' worth of oil supplies but was suspending exports to conserve its holdings. Hanoi also recommended the public limit the use of personal vehicles, and instead opt for public transit, cycling or carpooling. Vietnam has so far avoided mass shortages, but state media reported that dozens of smaller petrol stations have either temporarily closed or shortened their operating hours due to dwindling supplies.

Vance, Hegseth attend return of seventh US troop killed in Iran warDOVER, United States, March 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US Vice President JD Vance on Monday attended the dignified transfer ceremony for the seventh soldier killed in the Middle East war. Benjamin Pennington, 26, died March 8 from injuries sustained in a March 1 strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. During the ceremony, uniformed soldiers silently carried a flag-draped coffin from a C-17 aircraft to a transfer vehicle while Vance, Hegseth and Caine saluted. The United States began a massive campaign of strikes on Iran alongside Israel on February 28. "It is a profound reminder of the cost of war," Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, told CNN after the silent ceremony.

Photo: PIDDHAKA, Mar 10, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said empowering women is crucial as it is quite impossible to advance the country leaving half of the population behind. This work (Family Card progamme) has started in 14 places or 14 upazilas across Bangladesh involving about 37,000 women," he said. Last week, Tarique Rahman said, the government announced waiving off agricultural loans up to Taka 10,000, including interest. Earlier, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the government's landmark "Family Card" programme to ensure women empowerment in the country as he distributed cards among them. The Family Card programme is part of the government's commitment to achieving national development and social justice by empowering women and recognising them as the heads of families in social protection programmes.

Iran Guards say will block oil exports as long as war continuesTEHRAN, March 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iranian forces will not allow the export of oil from the region to allies of the United States and Israel as long as the war continues, a Revolutionary Guards spokesman said Tuesday. Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US interests across the region. Shipping traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20 percent of the world's crude oil usually transits, has been severely disrupted. Iranian forces have repeatedly targeted oil tankers passing through the strategic waterway since the war began. "Their efforts to reduce and control the price of oil and gas will be temporary and fruitless," IRGC spokesman Naini said.

The Forest Department officially started re-excavation and renovation of the lake on February 7 under the Salban Restoration Project. Photo: BSSTANGAIL, March 10, 2026 (BSS) - Renovation work on Gargaria Lake in Madhupur National Park has begun with the aim of protecting biodiversity and resolving the water crisis faced by wildlife in the forest. The Forest Department officially started the re-excavation and renovation of the lake on February 7 under the Salban Restoration Project. Madhupur Garh, which covers about 45,565.18 acres of forest land, is home to various wildlife species including chitra deer, maya deer, mukhpora hanuman and numerous birds and animals. Despite the concerns, he acknowledged that renovating the lake will help ensure safe drinking water for wildlife in the forest.

Strike blamed on US kills four Iran-backed fighters in Iraq: armed groupBAGHDAD, March 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Four fighters from the Tehran-backed Kataeb Imam Ali group were killed on Tuesday in air strikes blamed on the US in northern Iraq, the armed faction announced. The group said its fighters were killed in "American aggression" against their position in the Debs district of Kirkuk province. The Iraqi government's security information cell confirmed that several Hashed fighters were killed in a "bombing" in Kirkuk, without attributing the strike to anyone. Since the start of the Middle East war, bases belonging to Hashed al-Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilisation Forces, have been hit several times, with strikes targeting pro-Iran fighters. On Monday night, two drones were downed near the military base, a security source told AFP.

ISTANBUL, March 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Turkey's Halkbank said it had reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice to settle a years-long criminal case against the state-run bank over violating sanctions on Iran. The move effectively seeks to draw a line under a case that has been a source of long-running tension between Washington and Ankara. US prosecutors hit Halkbank with criminal charges in 2019 over suspicions it was involved in a years-long scheme to launder billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil and natural gas proceeds in violation of sanctions on Tehran. "With the court's approval, the criminal case against our bank in the US... will be concluded," it added. The Turkish bank said it had been informed by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is responsible for enforcing sanctions, "that it has closed the administrative proceedings against Halkbank without taking any further action".

Iran says missile attacks to continue, US talks 'not on agenda'TEHRAN, March 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday thattalks with the United States were not on the agenda as their war entered its11th day. "I don't think talking with the Americans would be on our agenda anymore,"Abbas Araghchi told PBS News, saying Tehran had a "very bitter experience"during previous negotiations with the US. The Israeli and US attacks took place two days before Washington and Tehranwere scheduled to hold talks following three prior rounds of negotiations. Iran has responded to the US-Israeli attacks with drone and missile strikestargeting Israel and US interests across the region. Gharibabadi said Iran "did not start the aggression and the war... we aredefending ourselves".