A joint team of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB), Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, and Cox’s Bazar district police arrested Arif Mainuddin, aged 50, for allegedly impersonating a Prime Minister’s adviser. He was detained around 1:30 a.m. on March 21 in the Chakaria area of Cox’s Bazar. The arrest was announced at a press briefing at the DMP Media Center on Sunday by DB chief Shafiqul Islam.

According to police, Mainuddin created a fake government gazette dated February 17, 2026, claiming he had been appointed as an adviser to the Prime Minister with the rank of state minister. He used this forged document to deceive individuals in both public and private sectors. Investigators also found that he had produced counterfeit visiting cards and used a falsified government logo and letterhead to circulate another fake gazette on February 10, 2026, declaring himself a specially honored person of the state.

Authorities recovered false gazettes, visiting cards with the Prime Minister’s photo, and two mobile phones from his possession. Legal proceedings against him are underway.

US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has claimed that President Donald Trump has lost control of the ongoing war against Iran and is now deeply anxious. Murphy, a key member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the joint US-Israel military operation has entered its fourth week, drawing increasing criticism from lawmakers.

He alleged that Trump’s war strategy is failing and that the situation is becoming increasingly complex. Earlier, Trump had threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants if the Iranian government did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Murphy had previously described the campaign as “Trump’s mad war,” warning that the sharp rise in fuel prices was beginning to affect the entire US economy.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights growing political tension in Washington as the conflict continues without clear resolution or congressional consensus.

U.S. Democratic lawmaker Yasamin Ansari from Arizona sharply criticized President Donald Trump for his recent threats against Iran. Ansari accused the White House of being led by a 'mad dictator' determined to push the country and the world toward destruction. Her comments came after Trump warned that Iran’s power plants would be destroyed if the country failed to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

In a statement, Ansari described Trump’s stance as extremely dangerous, citing his shift from promising help to Iranian protesters to threatening war crimes against an entire population. The lawmaker, whose parents immigrated from Iran, has previously condemned Trump’s military actions toward Iran as reckless and illegal, warning that such decisions could lead to severe consequences, including the loss of American soldiers’ lives.

The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and critics within the U.S. over its handling of Iran policy and military threats in the region.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that despite the ongoing war in the Middle East, Bangladesh has not experienced any impact on commodity prices. He said fuel prices and transport fares have remained stable and there has been no fuel shortage. The minister made these remarks on Sunday at a post-Eid Mezban gathering at his residence in Mehedibagh, Chattogram, emphasizing that the country is progressing normally and will continue to do so with public cooperation.

He added that the stable democratic environment in Bangladesh is reflected in the people's expressions of freedom and joy during Eid. According to him, the elected democratic government has ensured that citizens feel a sense of ownership and participation in national progress. Chowdhury urged citizens to maintain cooperation and restraint to sustain the country's forward momentum.

The Mezban event was attended by leaders and activists from BNP and its affiliated organizations, creating a festive atmosphere of Eid reunion. Similar gatherings were also organized by the Chattogram City Mayor and several Members of Parliament, who said such events strengthen unity and fraternity within the party.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported that three ballistic missiles were launched toward areas near the capital, Riyadh, early Sunday. According to a ministry spokesperson, one missile was intercepted while the other two landed in uninhabited zones. The country’s civil defense issued an early morning alert, which was withdrawn within seven minutes after confirming the threat had subsided. The ministry also stated that five drones were intercepted after midnight.

The attacks come as Iran continues to target Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes that have intensified regional conflict. Several of these assaults have reportedly targeted energy facilities in oil-rich nations, raising fears of sudden disruptions in global energy supplies.

The latest missile and drone incidents underscore the growing instability across the Gulf region and the potential risks to vital energy infrastructure if hostilities persist.

Fuel unloading operations at Chattogram Port are continuing at full capacity to maintain stable electricity generation and ensure national energy security. Since March 3, following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, 25 fuel-carrying vessels have been successfully unloaded. One vessel is currently discharging fuel at the jetty, another is waiting offshore, and two more are en route to Bangladesh by sea.

According to port sources, the unloaded cargoes include LNG, LPG, diesel, furnace oil, jet fuel, and octane, essential for domestic transport and industrial operations. Shipping officials said energy imports are being prioritized, keeping vessel arrivals steady and unloading processes expedited. The LPG SEVAN vessel from Oman is currently unloading LPG, while the AB OLIVIA from Thailand has brought base oil to meet lubricant demand.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation described the completion of 25 unloadings in less than a month as a major success, ensuring no artificial fuel shortage. Port authorities noted that timely unloading saves millions of taka and stabilizes the market, supporting the country’s economic momentum if the incoming vessels arrive as scheduled.

An Iranian missile strike on southern Israel caused extensive damage on Saturday, hitting the small city of Arad. Israel’s air defense system failed to intercept the missile. According to Israel’s emergency services, at least 88 people were taken to hospitals, with 10 reported in serious condition. Additional attacks were reported near Dimona, a southern city close to Israel’s key nuclear facility, where several people were also injured.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke with the mayor of Arad following the attack and described the situation as an “extremely difficult evening” for the city. In a message posted on social media platform X, he announced that emergency response forces working in the field would be further strengthened and urged citizens to follow safety instructions.

Netanyahu also stated that Israel remains determined to continue striking its enemies on all fronts, signaling a firm stance following the Iranian assault.

At least six people were killed and more than one hundred injured when an Iranian missile struck the southern Israeli city of Arad, according to local media reports on March 22, 2026. Emergency teams rescued sixty-four injured individuals from the site, with seven reported in critical condition and fifteen moderately wounded.

Following the attack, the Israeli cabinet held an emergency phone meeting to discuss the situation in Arad and nearby Dimona. The Israeli military confirmed that a 450-kilogram Iranian rocket hit Arad and acknowledged that it failed to intercept the missile.

The incident has further intensified the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, sparking renewed regional tension, according to the report.

United States President Donald Trump has warned that Iran’s power plants will be “obliterated” if Tehran fails to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days. The threat came as Israel launched new attacks on Tehran, with explosions reported in the eastern part of the Iranian capital. The developments mark the 23rd day of the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

In response, Iran has continued its retaliatory strikes against Israel and other regional countries. Nearly 100 people were reported injured after Iranian missiles hit towns near an Israeli nuclear facility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as “a very difficult evening in the battle for our future,” following strikes on the towns of Arad and Dimona.

The escalating exchanges highlight the deepening conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a critical flashpoint in the confrontation.

Saudi Arabia has ordered Iran’s military attache, assistant military attache, and three embassy staff members to leave the kingdom within 24 hours, citing repeated Iranian attacks on its territory. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision on Saturday, declaring the Iranian diplomats personae non gratae. The move follows a series of missile and drone strikes that have targeted Saudi cities and energy facilities since the start of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

According to Saudi authorities, hundreds of Iranian projectiles have been launched toward the kingdom, most of which were intercepted. Recent incidents include drone attacks on energy infrastructure in eastern Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, as well as disruptions at the Red Sea port of Yanbu after a drone struck the nearby SAMREF refinery. The port remains Saudi Arabia’s only export outlet after Iran blocked tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The expulsion comes days after Qatar took similar action against Iranian military and security attaches. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said earlier that trust in Iran had been “shattered” and warned that continued attacks would have serious consequences for bilateral relations.

OpenAI is preparing to launch a desktop “superapp” that will combine its ChatGPT application, coding platform Codex, and browser into a single unified product. The initiative aims to simplify the user experience and strengthen the company’s focus on engineering and business customers. The move marks a significant step in OpenAI’s strategy to consolidate its tools and make them more accessible through a cohesive interface.

The company’s Chief of Applications, Fidji Simo, will lead the transition and coordinate with the sales team to market the new product. OpenAI President Greg Brockman, who currently oversees computing operations, will assist Simo in managing the product redesign and related organizational adjustments. According to an OpenAI spokeswoman, these leadership roles are intended to ensure a smooth rollout and alignment across teams.

The planned integration signals OpenAI’s continued effort to refine its product ecosystem and enhance usability for professional users, though specific launch details were not disclosed.

YouTube has started surveying users in March 2026 to determine whether videos on its platform "feel like AI slop," as part of a new effort to address the spread of low-quality AI-generated content. The poll asks viewers to rate videos on a scale from "not at all" to "extremely" in response to the question, "does this feel like AI slop?" Reports of the survey surfaced across X, Reddit, and other platforms, with screenshots shared by accounts such as vidIQ showing YouTube’s interface for collecting user feedback.

The initiative follows growing concern within the YouTube community about the rise of entire videos produced using AI software that attract billions of views despite being considered low quality. The Google-owned platform has been balancing its use of AI tools while attempting to curb their misuse. Earlier this month, Google also announced an investment in an AI animation studio to create children’s content aimed at countering the surge of poor-quality AI videos.

It remains unclear how YouTube will use the survey data or whether repeated labeling of videos as “AI slop” will influence its recommendation algorithms.

At least six people were killed when a Qatari military helicopter crashed in the Gulf state’s territorial waters following a technical malfunction, the government confirmed on Sunday. Seven people were on board, and search operations are continuing for one missing crew member. Qatar’s defence ministry said the helicopter experienced a malfunction during a routine duty, while the Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed that one Turkish soldier and two personnel from Turkish defence firm Aselsan were among the dead. Authorities have begun inspections to determine the exact cause of the crash.

The Qatari defence ministry identified the deceased as three members of the Qatar Armed Forces, one officer from the Qatar-Turkiye Joint Forces, and two Turkish civilian collaborators. Officials extended condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized that there was no indication of hostile action behind the incident.

The crash occurred as Qatar faces heightened regional tensions following Iranian attacks on its Ras Laffan Industrial City, which caused significant damage to its liquefied natural gas facilities and reduced export capacity by 17 percent, resulting in an estimated $20 billion annual revenue loss, according to QatarEnergy’s CEO Saad al-Kaabi.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a series of programs to commemorate the country's Independence and National Day. According to a press release signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday, March 22, the programs will begin on March 26 with the hoisting of national and party flags at 6 a.m. at the BNP central office in Naya Paltan and all party offices across the country. Following tributes by the President and Prime Minister at the Savar National Memorial at 5 a.m., BNP leaders will pay their respects there as well.

After the floral tributes at the memorial, party leaders and activists will visit the mausoleums of late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka to offer prayers and floral wreaths. A special prayer session organized by the BNP’s Ulama team will also be held at the site. On March 25 at 2:30 p.m., a discussion meeting will take place at the Institution of Engineers, Dhaka, featuring national leaders and distinguished guests.

The press release added that posters have already been distributed and a commemorative publication will be released. BNP’s district, metropolitan, and local units, along with affiliated organizations, will hold similar events nationwide to mark the occasion.

Two main accused in the murder of Inquilab Manch spokesperson Hadi, identified as Faisal Karim Masud alias Rahul and Alamgir Hossain, were produced before the Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Court in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on Sunday, March 22, 2026, after completing a 14-day police remand. When questioned by journalists about the killing, Faisal denied any involvement, stating he did not commit the act or participate in such activities. He declined to comment on whether he had been falsely implicated.

Before the court appearance, Faisal underwent a medical examination at Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital. The two were arrested on March 8 from Bangaon, near the Bangladesh border, by the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF). According to STF sources, both men had confessed to the killing and had entered India through the Meghalaya border, staying in various locations for several months. They were charged under specific legal provisions and remanded to police custody.

Hadi was shot on December 12, 2025, in Dhaka’s Paltan area by helmeted assailants on a motorcycle and later died on December 18 while receiving treatment in Singapore.