A passenger launch named MV Rejwan collided with an oil tanker on the Daulatdia-Paturia river route on Thursday morning, leaving at least ten passengers injured. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. after the launch departed from Paturia Ghat toward Daulatdia Ghat. Two passengers fell into the river during the collision but managed to swim back to the vessel safely.

According to Rajbari Fire Service and Civil Defense officials at Daulatdia Ghat, the injured passengers were assisted upon arrival and handed over to their relatives. Daulatdia River Police Station Officer-in-Charge Trinath Saha stated that the oil tanker was en route from Nagarbari to Dhaka when the collision nearly occurred. The launch master reversed the vessel sharply to avoid a major crash, causing a jolt that led to minor injuries among several passengers.

All injured passengers later continued to their destinations, and no fatalities were reported in the incident.

Iran launched attacks on energy facilities in four Gulf countries in response to an Israeli strike on its South Pars gas field, one of the world’s largest. On the 20th day of the conflict, key oil and gas installations in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia were targeted, according to Al Jazeera.

Qatar reported that its main gas production hub at Ras Laffan Industrial City was hit by Iranian missiles early Thursday, causing significant damage. In Kuwait, drone attacks ignited fires at the Mina al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries, though no casualties were reported. In the UAE, debris from intercepted missiles caused explosions at the Habshan gas facility and Bab oil field, also without casualties. In Saudi Arabia, a drone crashed into the Samref refinery near Yanbu port, with damage assessments ongoing.

The series of attacks has heightened concerns over Middle East energy security and further escalated regional tensions.

On the 20th day of the US-Israeli offensive in Iran, US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that the country is facing rising fuel prices linked to the conflict. Speaking at a manufacturing plant in Michigan on Wednesday, Vance said Americans are struggling with higher gas costs and noted that measures are being prepared for announcement within 24 to 48 hours, though he declined to provide details before President Donald Trump’s statement.

The conflict, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes, has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route previously handling about one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG exports. Iran has warned that vessels from the US, Israel, and their allies will be attacked if they attempt passage. At least 16 ships and tankers have been hit since the war began, though some from India, Turkey, and Pakistan reportedly crossed with Iranian permission.

Global crude prices have surged past $108 per barrel, intensifying domestic and international pressure on Washington. Despite repeated calls from Trump, NATO and Asian allies have largely refused to send warships to secure the strait, leaving the US increasingly isolated in the conflict.

Israel is reportedly planning to seize villages along the southern Lebanese border as part of efforts to strengthen security on its northern frontier. According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, citing Israeli media, Channel 12 reported that Israel aims to take control of frontline villages to prevent rocket and anti-tank attacks. The military may be instructed to occupy any area from which attacks are launched toward Israeli territory, with such control potentially continuing until further notice.

The report did not specify which villages might be targeted. An unnamed Israeli security source described the move as a strategic measure that could serve as a bargaining tool in the future. The source also claimed that Lebanon’s government has no effective alternative other than disarming or dismantling Hezbollah.

Despite a ceasefire in place since November 2024, border tensions have escalated again, with intensified Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon. Lebanese authorities reported that since March 2, at least 968 people have been killed and 2,432 injured in the attacks.

A drone crashed at the Samref oil refinery operated by Saudi Aramco in the port city of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The country’s defense ministry confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that the extent of damage is currently being assessed. The crash occurred as tensions in the Middle East intensified following a series of retaliatory attacks.

The incident came after Iran launched strikes on several oil refineries across the region in response to an Israeli attack on what is described as the world’s largest natural gas field located in Iran. The crash at the Saudi facility adds to the growing instability in the Gulf, where U.S. installations have also been targeted in recent days.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the drone crash or whether it was linked to the ongoing regional hostilities.

Iran has expressed anger at the United Nations for remaining silent over the killings of several top Iranian leaders during ongoing US-Israeli attacks. The conflict has entered its twentieth day, with Iran continuing counterstrikes on American installations in the Gulf region. Tehran’s envoy to the UN Security Council has formally lodged a letter criticizing the Council’s inaction.

According to the letter cited by Mehr News, Iranian representative Amir Sayyed Iravani accused the Security Council’s inaction of emboldening Israel to intensify its targeted killings. He warned that if the situation remains unchecked, such assassinations could become commonplace and spread to other countries.

The report also mentioned that the United States may ease restrictions on Iranian oil and that Iran is considering collecting tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the conflict.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced deep concern over a potential nuclear disaster as tensions escalate among Iran, the United States, and Israel in the Middle East. WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director, Hanan Balkhy, told Politico that the organization is preparing for possible radiation risks and warned that any such incident would have catastrophic consequences. She said that while preparations are underway, the damage could not be fully prevented and its effects might last for decades.

The report notes that the United States possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, while Israel, though not officially acknowledging it, is regarded as the only nuclear-armed state in the region. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has not yet enriched uranium to weapons-grade levels, though its nuclear program remains a source of long-standing concern. In June last year, the United States carried out strikes on Iran’s Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow nuclear facilities, which President Donald Trump claimed were “completely destroyed.”

Balkhy cited the 1945 atomic bombings in Japan and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster as examples of long-term health and environmental impacts. WHO is currently advising governments on preparedness measures, though details of its guidance have not been disclosed.

Eid al-Fitr is being celebrated today, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Afghanistan, Niger, and Mali following the sighting of the Shawwal moon. The announcement was made on Wednesday, after which final preparations for the festival began overnight in these countries. The celebration marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, and ushers in a period of joy and festivity for Muslims.

The date of Eid varies across countries depending on local moon sightings. While some nations are observing Eid today, others will celebrate it a day later. According to the report, 23 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Canada, will begin Eid celebrations on Friday, March 20, 2026.

The variation in celebration dates highlights the regional differences in moon sighting practices that determine the Islamic calendar’s transition from Ramadan to Shawwal.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has launched a nationwide security plan ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure public safety and prevent potential sabotage. According to a press release issued on March 19, 2026, RAB has deployed extensive personnel across all battalions, strengthened intelligence surveillance, and implemented field-level operations to safeguard Eid congregations and travelers heading home for the holidays.

The measures include operating control rooms, maintaining striking reserves, conducting regular foot and mobile patrols, and setting up checkpoints at key locations. In Dhaka, a multi-layered security ring has been established around the National Eidgah, with entry-point searches, CCTV monitoring, and bomb disposal units on standby. Similar security reinforcements have been made at major Eidgahs in Sholakia and Dinajpur, where sweeping operations are being carried out before and after Eid.

RAB has also intensified monitoring at transport hubs such as bus terminals, railway stations, launch terminals, and ferry ghats to prevent harassment, ticket black marketing, and fare overcharging. Its cyber monitoring team remains active to counter online rumors and misinformation, aiming to ensure a peaceful and orderly Eid celebration nationwide.

Afghanistan is celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, March 19, 2026, following the sighting of the Shawwal moon. The Taliban administration announced the decision late Wednesday night, according to Khaama Press. The country’s Supreme Court confirmed that the moon was sighted in Helmand, Farah, and Ghor provinces, and the government’s moon-sighting committee approved the testimonies. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid declared Thursday as the first day of Eid and extended greetings to the nation.

The announcement has created a difference in Eid dates compared to many other Muslim-majority countries. Saudi Arabia said Eid would be observed on Friday as the moon was not sighted on Wednesday, a decision also followed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Turkey, Australia, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq have also set Friday for Eid based on astronomical calculations.

The variation in Eid dates arises from differing moon-sighting methods. Some countries rely on physical sightings, while others use astronomical calculations. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan has increasingly emphasized its own moon-sighting process rather than aligning with Saudi Arabia.

Qatar has declared the military and security-affiliated officials and staff of Iran’s embassy in Doha as persona non grata. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that those affected must leave Qatar within 24 hours. The decision follows repeated attacks by Iran on Qatari territory, according to the ministry’s statement issued on Wednesday evening.

The ministry said a formal memorandum was handed to the Iranian embassy, confirming that Qatar considers the Iranian military and security-linked personnel and their staff as unwelcome. The announcement came during a meeting between Ibrahim Yousuf Fakhro, Director of the Protocol Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Iranian Ambassador Ali Saleh Abadi.

Qatar’s foreign ministry emphasized that if Iran’s hostile behavior continues, Doha will take additional measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and national interests.

French President Emmanuel Macron held phone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following an Iranian missile attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial city. The area is a key center for the country’s natural gas production.

In a post on social media platform X, Macron said that attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water supply systems, must stop immediately. He emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, ensuring their basic needs, and maintaining the stability of global energy supplies by avoiding further military escalation.

The discussions and Macron’s statement highlight growing international concern over the security of critical energy facilities and the potential impact of regional tensions on global energy stability.

Mohammad Elmasry of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies stated that Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field has intensified debate over who controls U.S. foreign policy. Former U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was unaware of the strike. Elmasry, however, suggested it is unlikely Trump was uninformed, arguing that Israel would not have acted without his approval.

Elmasry further claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have influenced Trump to authorize the move, pointing to growing unease in Washington. He asserted that Israel controls many aspects of U.S. foreign policy and noted that even Trump’s supporters are beginning to question the relationship. According to him, Israel’s goal is to create instability, bring down the Iranian state, and spread chaos across the Gulf and the wider Middle East.

Elmasry warned that the consequences of such actions could be disastrous for Gulf countries, Europe, and the United States.

Mohammad Abdul Bashir (Bashir Jamal), Managing Director of the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust, announced that journalists will receive retirement allowances under the current government. He made the statement on Thursday at a meeting with district and upazila journalists organized by the Shayestaganj Press Club in Habiganj, where he attended as the chief guest. Bashir Jamal described the government as journalist-friendly and said several initiatives are being taken for journalists’ welfare.

He recalled that former President Ziaur Rahman had arranged housing for journalists, and Begum Khaleda Zia had expanded those efforts. Bashir Jamal noted that many journalists work without regular pay but continue their profession out of respect for truth. The Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust, he said, works to support helpless, distressed, and affected journalists.

He assured that all journalists in Habiganj would receive assistance through the Welfare Trust. The meeting was chaired by Shayestaganj Press Club President Moinul Hasan Ratan and attended by several local media representatives.

The National Moon Sighting Committee of Bangladesh will hold a meeting this evening to review moon sighting information for the holy month of Shawwal and determine the date of Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival for Muslims. According to an Islamic Foundation press release issued on Wednesday, the meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the conference room of the Islamic Foundation located at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

The statement added that the meeting will be chaired by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad. The Islamic Foundation has requested that if the Shawwal moon is sighted anywhere in the country, people should inform the committee through the provided phone numbers or contact the respective district commissioner or upazila executive officer.

The committee’s decision will confirm the official date of Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal, based on verified moon sighting reports.