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Four people, including two 17-year olds, have reportedly confessed to the “rape” of a 14-year-old orphaned girl in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka Upazila, according to police. All four of them are local residents, with two of them identified as Md Hossain, 21, Md Mehedi Hasan, 20. She lost her mother in her childhood and her father died later, after a second marriage, according to the officer. And as her stepmother tortured her regularly, she fled to Mymensingh where managed a job in late 2025,” Mamun said. She was later rescued and sent to a hospital, prompting police investigation into the incident.

Photo: BSSKISHOREGANJ, March 18, 2026 (BSS) - The country's largest Eid congregation ground, the historic Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj, is fully prepared for the 199th Eid-ul-Fitr congregation. Additional security measures have been taken this year as well, with five platoons of BGB deployed. The Eid congregation will be held at 10:00 am. Farhad Hossain stated that enhanced security measures have been in place every year since the 2016 incident. Since then, security has been strengthened every year, though the number of attendees at the Eid congregation has not declined.

Postal ballots for Sherpur-3, Bogura-6 polls to be sent by March 25DHAKA, March 18, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) will send postal ballots to voters residing inside the country by March 25 for the elections to Sherpur-3 and by-polls to Bogura-6 constituencies. He said that postal ballots have already been sent to registered expatriate voters for these two constituencies. The ballots will be sent to voters registered inside the country by March 25. Khan said postal ballots have already been dispatched to 1,281 registered expatriate voters for Bogura-6 constituency while 383 registered expatriate voters in Sherpur-3 constituency have also received their postal ballots. Bogura-6 constituency election: Returning Officer Md.

SYDNEY, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia next week, raising expectations a free-trade deal can be struck after years of negotiations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday confirmed he will meet von der Leyen in Canberra on March 24. "I look forward to welcoming President von der Leyen to Australia and continuing discussions to further expand our cooperation," Albanese said in a statement. Australia's largest export market is China, and the United States its largest source of investment. Trade Minister Don Farrell, who spoke on Tuesday with Sefcovic, told Sky News Australia that an EU deal would add Aus$10 billion (US$7.1 billion) in trade for Australia in the first year.

Main Eid jamaat at National Eidgah at 8:30 am, five congregations at Baitul MukarramNational Eidgah Maidan. File PhotoDHAKA, March 18, 2026 (BSS) - The country’s main Eid congregation will be held at the National Eidgah at 8:30 am on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr. Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek, will lead the prayers at the National Eidgah. Besides, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, a total of five Eid congregations will be held sequentially at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, and 10:45 am. Maulana Mizanur Rahman, Senior Pesh Imam of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, will lead the first congregation; Mufti Muhibbullahil Baqi Nadvi, Pesh Imam of the mosque, will lead the second; Maulana Md.

This moment, suspended between winter and spring, is the perfect time of year to revisit Frances Hodgson Burnett’s springtime classic The Secret Garden. On my recent reread, I particularly appreciated the recurring idea of ‘coming alive’ in connection with springtime. As spring brings Yorkshire moors and gardens to life, Mary herself comes alive with them. Having spent nearly all her time over the past several weeks in the garden, Mary has been growing stronger and happier, and she is convinced that the garden is exactly what Colin needs as well. Upon seeing the secret garden in the full bloom of spring, Colin exclaims, “I shall get well!

Photo: BSSNAOGAON, March 18, 2026 (BSS) - Nine coaches of a train named Nil Sagar Express derailed in Santahar of Bogura, adjacent to Naogaon and more than fifty passengers are reported injured in the accident today. The accident occurred around 2:00 pm when the Chilhati, Nilphamari bound intercity train reached Bagbari area near Santahar Junction Station after departing from Dhaka. Ahead of the upcoming Eid, hundreds of passengers were traveling by the Nil Sagar train via Santahar to different districts. As usual, repair work was ongoing on the railway track near Bagbari adjacent to Santahar Station. Before the train could comprehend the situation, it reached the spot and nine coaches derailed.

Iraqi security official says drone hits US embassy in BaghdadBAGHDAD, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An explosion was heard in Baghdad early Wednesday, an AFP journalist said, as Iraqi officials reported a drone and rocket attack targeting the US embassy. Another witness saw a fire on the edge of the embassy grounds from her balcony, and a security official said the blaze was caused by a drone. "The embassy was the target of a drone and rocket attack," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Another drone, targeting a US diplomatic and logistics centre at Baghdad's airport, was shot down, according to another security official. Hours later, an AFP journalist heard another explosion, with a security official saying "a drone directly hit the embassy".

LONDON, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The International Maritime Organization will begin an "extraordinary session" on Wednesday to discuss shipping amid the Middle East war, as fears grow over the fate of thousands of stranded ships and seafarers. The London-based UN agency -- responsible for regulating international shipping safety -- is set to consider adopting possible resolutions during the two-day gathering at its London headquarters. The IMO's 40-member council could vote Thursday on several proposed resolutions, including one to "establish a safe maritime corridor to allow the safe evacuation of seafarers and ships stranded in the Persian Gulf". It has also left around 20,000 seafarers stranded on approximately 3,200 vessels west of the strait, according to the IMO. Noting Iran had "threatened and attacked commercial vessels and seafarers, as well as civilian maritime infrastructure" it said the attacks were "unjustifiable and must cease".

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MOSCOW, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russia on Wednesday condemned the Oscar-winning documentary "Mr Nobody Against Putin", saying it had featuredchildren filmed without their parents' consent, in Moscow's first officialreaction to the film scooping the prestigious award. Small-town Russian school videographer Pavel Talankin, 35, won the AcademyAward together with US filmmaker David Borenstein for the documentary, whichchronicles pro-war patriotic lessons introduced in Russia's schools underPresident Vladimir Putin amid Moscow's Ukraine offensive. Russia's human rights council, a government body, said that "images of minorswere used without obtaining the consent of their parents" in the documentary. The documentary has proved polarising even among anti?Kremlin Russians, andsome argued that children were filmed without parental consent. Since sending troops against neighbouring Ukraine four years ago, the Kremlinhas suppressed opposition to the war.

COLOMBO, March 18, 2026 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's economy expanded 4.8 percent in the final quarter of 2025, slowing sharply after a devastating cyclone that killed 641 people, official data showed Wednesday. Cyclone Ditwah, which struck in late November, caused an estimated $4.1 billion in damage, according to the World Bank -- the worst natural disaster to hit the island since the 2004 Asian tsunami. However, the World Bank warned late last year that Sri Lanka's recovery remained "uneven and incomplete", with many households yet to regain livelihoods lost during the 2022 crisis. The World Bank had forecast Sri Lanka's economy to grow 4.6 percent last year, but the country performed slightly better according to the statistics department's figure. Sri Lanka's economy suffered its worst recession in 2022, contracting 7.3 percent, when then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to resign following months of street protests.

Iran women's football team arrive in Turkey on way homeISTANBUL, March 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Iranian women's national footballteam landed at Istanbul Airport on Tuesday after several members of thedelegation withdrew their asylum bids in Australia and decided to returnhome. Footage from Turkish news agency DHA showed the players, wearing Iraniannational team tracksuits, walking through the arrivals area at IstanbulAirport. The players arrived in Turkey via Oman and Kuala Lumpur, having leftAustralia where they were competing in the Asian Cup. "The female football players and technical teams are children of thehomeland, and the people of Iran embrace them," Iranian parliament speakerMohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X on Wednesday. Iranian authorities had previously accused Australia of pressuring theplayers to stay.

Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, March 18, 2026 (BSS)- Freedom fighter (FF) Shamsuzzohah of Paba Upazila in Rajshahi was laid to eternal rest with state honour. His funeral prayer (janaza) and the state tribute ceremony were held at 11:00 am on Wednesday (March 18) at the Darusha High School playground in Paba. Earlier, he passed away around 7:30 pm on Tuesday (March 17) while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. During the state honour ceremony, a smartly turned-out squad from Karnahar Police Station presented a guard of honour in the presence of Acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Mehedi Hasan. His contribution to the Liberation War will be remembered with deep respect by the country's people.