Photo: BSSDHAKA, Mar 8, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said he would write to the Prime Minister seeking the introduction of government allowances for the families and children of disappeared persons. "A letter will be sent to the Prime Minister demanding that the government introduce allowances for the families and children of the disappeared persons," he said. Mentioning that the families of the disappeared persons are passing their days in immense hardship, he said, "We will take initiative in this regard very soon." The BNP Secretary General said elections have been held in the country, some have become ministers, some members of parliament, while many have secured high positions. In an emotional voice, the BNP Secretary General said he had seen many children of those who were missing or killed during the movement since their childhood.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed was speaking with journalists after holding two separate meetings at the Home Ministry. Photo: CollctedDHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) – Citing the need to conserve fuel amid existing global situation, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said no lighting or illuminations will be arranged across the country marking the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr and Independence Day this year. “We have taken a very important decision to stop lighting across the country to save fuel against the global context,” he said. According to officials, the decision is part of a broader effort to reduce energy consumption as the government responds to ongoing global challenges affecting fuel supply and prices. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been put on alert across the borders to check fuel smuggling.

JERUSALEM, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel early Sunday, warning of incoming missiles from Iran, with no reports of damage or casualties. An Israeli military statement said air defences were responding to "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel". Alerts were activated across much of northern Israel including the port city of Haifa, according to the army's Home Front Command, which ordered residents to go into shelters or safe rooms. Israeli media reported that several missiles were launched, and at least most of them were intercepted. Missile attacks in the war -- which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 -- have killed 10 people in Israel.

TEHRAN, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's security chief Ali Larijani said on Saturday that the United States and Israel were seeking to break the Islamic republic apart. "Their issue was... the fundamental disintegration of Iran," said Larijani in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on state TV. On February 28, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered a war in the Middle East. Iran responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as US interests across the region. "I think the most important problem the Americans have is that they do not understand the context of West Asia, especially Iran," said Larijani.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin addressed the celebration of International Women’s Day 2026 and the Best Indomitable Women Award ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium today. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, March 08, 2026 (BSS) – President Mohammed Shahabuddin today stressed on ensuring women’s safety both at home and outside the home to fully realise the benefits of policies adopted for women’s development and prosperity. The President was addressing the International Women’s Day–2026 celebration and the Best Indomitable Women Award ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here. Late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was honoured with the “Best Indomitable Woman in Advancing Democracy” award. Begum Khaleda Zia also introduced education stipends for girls to increase female enrolment, the President said, adding that the initiative received international acclamation.

SYDNEY, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Police in Australia's Northern Territory warned of "crocs everywhere" on Sunday and said they had moved more than a thousand people across the state into shelter after massive floods. He said "at least" 90 homes were without power and warned residents against swimming in the waters. Assistant police commissioner Travis Wurst also warned residents of Katherine not to "do something silly" and jump in the water. A number of schools will remain closed into Monday due to the flooding, Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said. The vast Northern Territory is one of the country's most sparsely populated areas and is frequently hit with extreme weather.

JAKARTA, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Three Indonesian crew members are missing after the United Arab Emirates-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, Jakarta's foreign ministry said in a statement. "One Indonesian survivor is currently receiving burn treatment at a hospital in the city of Khasab, Oman. The other three Indonesians are still being searched for by the local authorities," the ministry said Saturday. Before it sank, the Musaffah 2 experienced an explosion that caused it to catch fire, the statement said, adding that an investigation is ongoing by local authorities.

TEHRAN, March 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Explosions hit Iran's central Yazd province on Sunday, state media reported, as war raged with the United States and Israel. It was not immediately clear what was hit in the strikes but the official IRNA news agency said the blasts occurred on the periphery of Yazd city. Earlier explosions were reported in other parts of the country including the Iranian capital Tehran and the central Isfahan province.

Rise of women’s cricketAmong the most prominent figures in Bangladesh women’s cricket is national team captain Nigar Sultana Joty. Born in Rangpur, Joty began playing cricket as a child at a time when girls in the sport were still uncommon. She was part of the historic squad that won the Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup in 2018, Bangladesh’s first major international women’s cricket title. Her perseverance eventually earned her a place in the national team, where she has become one of Bangladesh’s leading fast bowlers. “But we dreamed that Bangladesh women’s cricket would reach a bigger stage.

A Dhaka court on Sunday rejected the bail petition of journalist Anis Alamgir in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Anis Alamgir’s lawyer Taslima Jahan Popy said they had sought bail for her client, but the court rejected the plea. “We held a hearing seeking bail for Anis Alamgir. A team of detectives from the Detective Branch (DB) police took Anis Alamgir to their office after 8pm on December 14, 2025, for questioning. Recently, the High Court granted bail to Anis Alamgir in the case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Sunday predicted that rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind would take place at different parts of the country in next 24 hours commencing 9am. "Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country," a Met Office bulletin said. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added. The highest temperature on Saturday was recorded 34.2°C at Sylhet under Sylhet division and Sunday's minimum temperature is 17.3°C at Sylhet under Sylhet division.

Today is International Women's Day. For women who are pregnant, or recovering, or simply unwell, every delay carries real risk -- for Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi host community women alike. Over 80% of Rohingya women surveyed show symptoms of depression. Bangladeshi women in Cox’s Bazar are feeling it too -- overcrowded facilities, shrinking income opportunities, rising prices, and shared services buckling under pressure. International Women's Day has been with us for over a century -- over 100 years of resistance and the demand for rights.

A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed after taking cognizance of a charge sheet filed in a case over alleged illegal assets worth more than Tk11 crore. Md Riaz Hossain, bench assistant of the court, confirmed the development and said police had been asked to submit a report by March 30 on whether Benazir Ahmed had been arrested. According to the charge sheet, Benazir declared movable assets worth Tk6.45 crore and immovable assets worth Tk5.74 crore in her asset statement. However, the investigation found evidence of movable assets worth Tk7.52 crore and immovable assets worth Tk8.15 crore in her name, bringing the total value of assets identified to about Tk15.68 crore. As a result, assets worth Tk11.04 crore were identified as being acquired beyond known sources of income.

Aminul Haque, a candidate from the Dhaka-16 constituency, has filed an application with the High Court challenging the results of the 13th national parliamentary election. A single High Court bench led by Justice Md Zakir Hossain is likely to hear the application on Sunday. Earlier, more than 15 candidates filed petitions with the High Court contesting the election results in different constituencies. The court accepted the petitions for hearing and ordered the preservation of relevant materials, including ballot papers, from those constituencies. Under Section 49 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, an Election Tribunal has been formed within the High Court to hear petitions related to alleged electoral irregularities.

State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki said the main objective of the present government is to provide relief to people. He made the remarks while addressing an iftar gathering organised by the district and city units of Ganosamhati Andolan at a convention hall in Narayanganj city on Saturday evening. He also stressed the need for unity and cooperation among all to overcome current global challenges and advance the country through democratic processes. Referring to the last national election, he said the country has crossed an important milestone in its democratic journey. Lawmaker Advocate Abul Kalam of Narayanganj-5 and Advocate Abdullah Al Amin of Narayanganj-4, Administrator of Narayanganj City Corporation Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan and local BNP leaders were present at the program.