Begum Khaleda Zia is an indomitable symbol of democratic progress: Dr. Zubaida RahmanEminent physician Dr. Zubaida Rahman today spoke as a special guest at the 'International Women's Day 2026' celebration and 'Best Indomitable Woman' award distribution ceremony in Dhaka. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Mar 8, 2026 (BSS) - Eminent physician Dr. Zubaida Rahman said BNP’s former chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was an ‘indomitable symbol of the progress of democracy’. Dr. Zubaida Rahman and her daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman were present as special guests on the programme. Calling a guide for democracy-loving people, Dr. Zubaida said, Begum Zia is a mother, a warrior and a strong voice for justice. a nation moves forward,” Zubaida Rahman, the daughter-in-law of late President Ziaur Rahman, quoted a popular United Nations (UN) reference as saying.

INDIAN WELLS, United States, March 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - World number four Coco Gauff retired injured from her third-round match at Indian Wells to send rising Filipina talent Alexandra Eala into the last 16 on Sunday. Eala, 20, was leading 6-2, 2-0 when Gauff threw in the towel, having received treatment on her left arm during an injury timeout late in the final set. A trainer worked on Gauff's shoulder and arm and after she was broken in the final game of the opening set, returned to wrap her forearm. It was to no avail, and Gauff went to the net and told Eala she was calling it a day after dropping her serve in the second game of the second set. "But this is still a really big moment for me to be able to play on Stadium One of Indian Wells and against such a great competitor," she added, wishing Gauff a speedy recovery.

Several explosions were also heard Monday in the Qatari capital Doha, AFP journalists said, as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait all reported new attacks. Qatar's defence ministry said on Monday that its forces had intercepted a missile attack. Elsewhere in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said the kingdom intercepted and destroyed two drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field in the southeast of the country. Kuwait's defence ministry said the country's air defences were working to intercept a missile and drone attack on Monday. The United States said Sunday that it was ordering embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran strikes the kingdom.

HONG KONG, March 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Asian stock markets plunged Monday as oil prices soared 30 percent on fears about supplies from the Middle East as the US-Israeli war against Iran continued into a second week with no sign of letting up. He added at the weekend that the spike in prices was a "small price to pay" to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat, reiterating the White House's insistence that the rise is temporary. That came with maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz -- through which a fifth of global crude and gas passes -- halted since the war began on February 28. With the prospect of the global economy taking a blow from the crisis, equity markets extended last week's losses. Compounding the downbeat mood was news Friday that the US economy unexpectedly lost jobs in February, while unemployment edged up.

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14 Penn State, that status is in question. Cornell (3-2) fell 19-7 to Penn State (4-2), after being thoroughly dominated the entire game. However, the Red’s goal from junior midfielder Ryan Waldman was answered by Penn State piling on another two. Cornell would score once more before half, sending the teams to the locker rooms with Penn State holding a 10-2 lead. The Red were unable to string together more than two goals and Penn State found another seven goal run.

Despite minimal faults and no major falls, Cornell still finished fourth with a total score of 193.175. Junior Addy Rothstein and sophomore Sarah Goetter tied with the team’s highest score of 9.750. Whitaker frequently brings the team’s highest score and also has the highest start value on vault. “The maximum she can get is our highest start value,” Hall added. Freshman Lauren Golioto was added into the beam lineup for the first time last week and kept her place for this meet as well.

DHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) –The government has ordered to close all the public and private universities across the country from tomorrow (Monday) in an attempt to maintain austerity of power and energy at the national level facing the ongoing global crisis. The holiday will be effective in accordance to the scheduled date of the academic calendar of the Eid-ul Fitr. Some instructions also have been given in the office order on power saving. All the public and private universities across the country will remain close according to the university’s academic calendar marking the holy Ramadan and Eid-ul Fitr, said the order. At the same time, the ministry also has requested to implement the 11-point directives at the universities aiming to ensure power and energy saving and responsible attitude in the universities.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim. Photo: collectedDHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) - Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck a brilliantcentury as BCB XI cruised to a 40-run victory over BCB All Stars in a warm-upgame at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Opting to bat first, BCB XI compiled a respectable 295-8 with Tanzid leadingthe way. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain claimed 5-40 to rip through BCB All Stars whoeventually managed to put up 255-9. BCB All Stars made a solid start, thanks to opener Jishan Alam and NaimSheikh, who added 100 runs in 20 overs.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, met with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at the latter's office in the Bangladesh Secretariat today. Photo: MinistryDHAKA, Mar 08, 2026 (BSS)- British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke has reiterated that the United Kingdom will continue its support for Rohingya refugees displaced from Myanmar. During the meeting, the minister said four issues are particularly important for socio-economic development of Rohingyas. She added that the UK also supports the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, but stressed that the process must be safe and voluntary. The home minister thanked the British High Commissioner for congratulating him on assuming office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).

Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader, according to reports carried by Iranian state media. The development marks a significant political transition in Iran following the assassination of Ali Khamenei amid the ongoing regional conflict. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has long been regarded as a powerful figure within the country’s political and religious establishment, despite never holding elected office or publicly campaigning for leadership. Although he has remained largely out of the public spotlight, Mojtaba has spent decades operating within the inner circle of the former supreme leader. Throughout his father’s leadership, Mojtaba Khamenei was widely believed to wield considerable influence behind the scenes, particularly within the supreme leader’s office and among conservative political networks.

A Bangladeshi national has been killed in a missile strike on a residential building in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Kharj Governorate, as regional tensions continue to escalate amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense Agency confirmed in a statement posted on social media platform X that two people were killed and 12 others injured when a missile struck a residential compound in the central Saudi city. The missile strike comes as hostilities in the Middle East intensify following the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 and the subsequent escalation across the region. Earlier this week, drone attacks targeted the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US consulate in the United Arab Emirates, according to reports. The Al-Kharj strike is among the latest incidents affecting civilian areas as the broader confrontation between Iran and its adversaries continues to unfold across the region.

On Sunday, the first trading day of the week, the DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), tumbled 4.42 percent to settle at 5,008.99. The market witnessed a similar rout in February 2012, when the index lost 236 points on Feb 1 and 229 points on Feb 6. It's war, war, and more war news," Ahmed told bdnews24.com. Total turnover rose to Tk 5.31 billion from Tk 4.59 billion in the previous session, with the banking sector leading trading at Tk 1.15 billion, followed by pharmaceuticals and chemicals (Tk 0. Shock after shock, and yet growth is at 3.3%," Georgieva told Bloomberg.