United News of Bangladesh

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would “immediately” begin a blockade to stop ships from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement. Trump sought to exert strategic control over the waterway responsible for the transportation of 20% of global oil supplies before the war, hoping to take away Iran’s key source of economic leverage in the fighting. The president added that he has “instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.” Trump also said the U.S. was ready to “finish up” Iran at the “appropriate moment," stressing that Tehran's nuclear ambitions were at the core of the failure to end the war. Face-to-face talks ended earlier Sunday after 21 hours, leaving a fragile two-week ceasefire in doubt. U.S. officials said the negotiations collapsed over what they described as Iran’s refusal to commit to abandoning a path to a nuclear weapon, while Iranian officials blamed the U.S. for the breakdown of the talks without specifying the sticking points. Neither side indicated what will happen after the 14-day ceasefire expires on April 22. Pakistani mediators urged all parties to maintain it. Both said their positions were clear and put the onus on the other side, underscoring how little the gap had narrowed throughout the talks. “We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” Vice President JD Vance said after the talks. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led Iran in the negotiations, said it was time for the United States “to decide whether it can gain our trust or not.” He did not mention the core disputes in a series of social media posts, though Iranian officials earlier said the talks fell apart over two or three key issues, blaming what they called U.S. overreach. Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons but has insisted on its right to a civilian nuclear program. It has offered “affirmative commitments” in the past in writing, including in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. Experts say its stockpile of enriched uranium, though not weapons-grade, is only a short technical step away. Since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, it has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country will try to facilitate a new dialogue between Iran and the U.S. in the coming days. “It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to cease fire,” Dar said. The deadlock — and Vance’s take-it-or-leave-it proposal that Iran end its nuclear program — mirrored February’s nuclear talks in Switzerland. Though Trump has said the subsequent war was meant to compel Iran’s leaders to abandon nuclear ambitions, each side's positions appeared unchanged in negotiations following six weeks of fighting. An Iranian diplomatic official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the closed-door talks, denied that negotiations had failed over Iran's nuclear ambitions. “Iran is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but it has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” they said, reiterating Iran's longstanding negotiating position. There was no word on whether they would resume, though Iran said it was open to continuing the dialogue, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported. “We have never sought war. But if they try to win what they failed to win on the battlefield through talks, that’s absolutely unacceptable,” 60-year-old Mohammad Bagher Karami said in downtown Tehran. US moves to shift status quo in Strait of Hormuz The United States and Iran entered talks with sharply different proposals and contrasting assumptions about their leverage to end the war. Before negotiations began, the ceasefire was already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel’s continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran’s 10-point proposal ahead of the talks called for a guaranteed end to the war and sought control over the Strait of Hormuz. It included ending fighting against Iran’s “regional allies,” explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah. Pakistani officials told The Associated Press in March that the U.S. 15-point proposal included monitoring mechanisms and a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program. Speaking on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorized to discuss details, they said it also covered reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Indeed, Iran’s closure of the strait has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war. During the talks, the U.S. military said two destroyers transited the critical waterway ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Iran’s state media, however, reported the country's joint military command denied that. “We’re sweeping the strait. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” Trump said as talks extended into early Sunday morning. Israel presses ahead in Lebanon The impasse raises new questions about fighting in Lebanon. Israel has pressed ahead with strikes since the ceasefire was announced, saying the agreement did not apply there. Iran and Pakistan claimed otherwise. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported six people were killed Sunday morning in an Israeli strike in Maaroub, a village near the southern coastal city of Tyre. Though Israel’s strikes over Beirut have calmed in recent days, its attacks on southern Lebanon have intensified alongside a ground invasion it renewed after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel in the opening days of the Iran war. Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin Tuesday in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office has said, after Israel’s surprise announcement authorizing talks despite the lack of official relations between the countries. Protests erupted in Beirut on Saturday over the planned negotiations. Israel wants Lebanon's government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, much like was envisaged in a November 2024 ceasefire. But the militant group has survived efforts to curb its strength for decades. The day the Iran ceasefire deal was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began, according to the country's Health Ministry.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli airstrikes on several towns in the Nabatieh district have killed at least 10 people and injured nine others. According to the report, an Israeli air attack on the town of Kfar Sir killed four people, including a paramedic, and injured four more. In a separate strike on the town of Zefta, three people were killed, including a member of the Lebanese Civil Defence, while two others were wounded. Israeli blitz stuns Beirut, AP reporter describes scenes of horror A third attack on the town of Toul left three people dead and three others injured, the report added. Source: Al Jazeera

Iran has reiterated its rejection of a temporary ceasefire, insisting on a permanent end to the conflict with guarantees to prevent future war, as tensions rise ahead of a deadline set by US President Donald Trump. Iran’s representative to the United Nations said Tehran would not accept a short-term truce and instead seeks a lasting peace with verifiable assurances. The position reflects Iran’s consistent stance amid the ongoing crisis, reports Al Jazeera. Responding to Trump’s warning that a “whole civilisation will die,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the strength of a “civilised nation” would ultimately prevail over the logic of brute force. Diplomatic sources say the gap between the two sides remains wide, making any agreement difficult and protracted. Meanwhile, the White House has denied reports that it is considering the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, even as Trump maintained strong rhetoric, warning Tehran to strike a deal or face a massive assault. The US president had earlier set a deadline of 8pm Eastern Time (local time 6:00 AM in Bangladesh), demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for global energy supplies—or risk attacks on key infrastructure. Trump warns ‘whole civilization’ could die, says Iran still has time to act Vice President JD Vance said the US could use tools “not yet decided,” sparking speculation, though the White House dismissed claims that nuclear options were implied. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said only the president knows the final course of action. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned it would retaliate strongly if civilian infrastructure is targeted, raising fears of wider regional consequences. At the UN Security Council, Iran’s Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani criticised a draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz as “biased and indefensible,” saying it misrepresents Iran as the aggressor while ignoring the root causes. He maintained that Iran’s actions were in self-defence. Adding to concerns, a nuclear expert warned that any strike on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant could trigger a disaster comparable to Chernobyl or Hiroshima, with long-term environmental and humanitarian consequences across the Gulf region.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that “a whole civilization” could be destroyed, while urging Iran to agree to a deal ahead of his looming deadline. The warning came about 12 hours before a deadline set by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe military strikes. In a post on his social media platform, Trump wrote, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” adding, “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” Despite the stark warning, Trump signaled there was still a chance to avoid escalation, saying that “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen.” The comments come amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, with fears growing over possible military action if no agreement is reached.

Bangladesh’s economy is grappling with intensifying pressure from multiple fronts  including the Middle East conflict and a volatile energy market which experts warn could destabilise macroeconomic stability. Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, chairman of think-tank Policy Exchange Bangladesh, told UNB that recent geopolitical tensions have sparked fresh concerns over energy security, threatening to disrupt power generation, industrial output, and the agricultural sector. A former World Bank economist, Dr. Reaz said the combination of internal structural weaknesses and external shocks poses a significant challenge for the government. “Middle East conflict and energy volatility, the escalating military activity involving the US, Israel, and Iran has sent ripples through the international energy market. Analysts fear that a prolonged conflict will lead to severe supply chain disruptions,” he added. Crucially, uncertainty of free vessel movement in the ‘Strait of Hormuz’ and Qatar Energy has reportedly declared "Force Majeure" on several long-term Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply contracts due to production setbacks. This development threatens gas supplies to major economies like South Korea, China, and parts of Europe, potentially driving up global oil and gas prices. For an import-dependent nation like Bangladesh, this translates into higher transport costs and immediate inflationary pressure on essential goods, said economic analysts Dr. Reaz. Domestic supply concerns amidst global volatility, domestic fuel supply has come under scrutiny. Despite reports of long queues at petrol pumps and claims of shortages from pump owners, the government maintains that stocks are sufficient, he pointed out. Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, attributed the pressure to "panic buying." He urged citizens to avoid unnecessary hoarding, assuring that supply would remain steady if demand followed normal patterns. Economists warn that fuel shortages will hit every sector of the economy. Gas-dependent sectors such as RMG, textiles, cement, and fertilizer face production cuts, which could shrink export earnings and deplete foreign exchange reserves. Scarcity of diesel and octane threatens irrigation and mechanized farming, raising fears of reduced food production. Increased production and transport costs are expected to drive the cost of living even higher. Politicians and Experts warning that the political landscape is also reacting to the crisis, which would be affected living cost of people. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned that the Middle East war could have a devastating impact on the national economy, specifically citing the inevitable rise in oil and commodity prices. Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), described the energy and banking sectors as the "two lungs" of the economy—both of which are currently in a weakened state. He emphasized that the government must prioritize four areas: maintaining macroeconomic stability, reforming the banking sector, ensuring energy security, and boosting private investment. CPD reports a decline in private sector credit flow due to high interest rates. The closure of several industries and the migration of some entrepreneurs have exacerbated the employment crisis. Furthermore, the banking sector remains high-risk due to a massive volume of non-performing loans (NPLs) and a lack of good governance. Experts suggest that to mitigate these pressures, Bangladesh must intensify domestic gas exploration, find cost-effective LNG sources, and implement rigorous banking reforms. Whether the current administration can navigate these global and domestic hurdles remains the primary focus of the nation’s economists and business community.

The Middle East war poses a greater risk to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and to a lesser extent Laos, due to their high dependence on imported energy and limited reserve supplies, says S&P Global Ratings, noting that these countries are particularly vulnerable to rising oil prices and potential supply disruptions. In their base case scenario, the war is unlikely to have a material impact on their sovereign ratings for these countries, but a more prolonged price and supply shock in global energy markets could cause more pronounced credit damage. Asian stocks decline, oil prices rise amid uncertainty over Iran conflict At S&P Global Ratings with analyst-driven credit ratings, research, and sustainable finance opinions provide critical insights that are essential to translating complexity into clarity so market participants can unlock opportunities and make decisions with conviction.  Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are showing signs of economic recovery. The three countries have made progress, but sustained high energy prices and potential disruptions to trade and remittances could derail their fragile economies. Laos is comparatively less exposed due to its hydropower electricity generation and balanced fiscal position. While still vulnerable to extended energy price and supply shocks, the conditions supporting the positive outlook on our long-term ratings remain intact for now. “Our ratings on Bangladesh can likely withstand the shorter-term economic disruptions associated with our base case scenario,” said the report by the American credit rating agency. However, the country faces mounting growth, inflation, and external risks if the spike in energy prices endures longer than they currently anticipate, S&P said.   The duration of the Middle East conflict and associated price shock, as well as the physical availability of fuel supplies, will be key determinants of the impact on the sovereign's creditworthiness. Higher fuel prices are likely to arrest the gradual decline in inflation over the next three to six months, and could sap underlying recovery momentum in the economy. Nearly 50% of Bangladesh's electricity generation is gas-fired, and nearly a quarter of its gas needs are met through imports. Meanwhile, the economy is almost entirely reliant on imports for crude and refined oil products. Oil supply reserves are likely to be less than one month, after which measures to curb consumption may become more pronounced if imports remain constrained. While the government and national energy companies have been able to secure some additional gas, diesel, and petrol supplies recently, the availability of these could become scarcer if the conflict endures. Officials have moved quickly to implement measures aimed at blunting the hit from higher fuel prices. These include a cap on retail fuel prices alongside a temporary rationing mechanism, cuts to operations at fertilizer plants to prioritize gas supply to power plants, and early school closures to manage energy consumption. The country is already grappling with stubbornly high inflation, which rose to 9.2% in February from 8.6% in January, and an extended moderation in growth following the collapse of the previous government in mid-2024. The Bangladesh National Party's solid margin of victory in February 2026 elections, and a relatively smooth transition from the caretaker government, mitigates risks of policy paralysis, and could help to restore policy continuity and political stability following a period of heightened uncertainty. However, policy tools available to the officials will be bound by price pressures, the taka exchange rate, foreign reserve targets, and the government's limited revenue-generation capacity. Bangladesh's revenue to GDP ratio is among the lowest of all rated sovereigns. It is estimated that it will be around 9% in the current fiscal year (ending June 2026). The war will also be an unwelcome headwind against Bangladesh's improving external position. Foreign exchange reserves rose to US$29.6 billion as of March 12, 2026, a substantial boost compared to just US$19.7 billion at the same time in 2025. The country's overall current account balance has improved, too, supported by surging remittance inflows, and despite a slowdown in the ready-made garment export sector. The accumulation of a more meaningful foreign exchange buffer, and the current account's modest surplus position so far this fiscal year, will help to alleviate the immediate stresses that could arise from a period of acutely high energy prices. However, a more drawn-out conflict would pressure Bangladesh's economy across a variety of fronts, including through the import channel, which could shift the current account back into a deficit depending on the length and scale of the price shock.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed at fuel depots across the country to prevent hoarding, maintain discipline in fuel distribution. The deployment was made following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs as reports emerged of attempts to illegally stockpile fuel due to supply concerns and price hikes in the international market, said Shariful Islam, public relations officer of BGB headquarters. The deployment, supervised by the BGB headquarters, is being carried out under a coordinated and structured plan to ensure depot security, he said. BGB personnel are operating from temporary base camps set up at secure locations, especially in areas far from their unit headquarters. Govt forms vigilance teams in all districts to monitor fuel supply Since the morning of March 25, BGB members have been deployed at 19 depots in nine districts—one in Dhaka, two in Kurigram, three each in Rangpur and Rajshahi, two in Sylhet, three each in Moulvibazar and Cumilla, and one each in Brahmanbaria and Sunamganj. The deployed personne are carrying out regular monitoring and ensuring strict implementation of administrative and security measures. They are also strengthening intelligence surveillance, preventing illegal fuel hoarding and sales and taking prompt action to avert any sabotage. Besides, border patrols have been intensified to prevent fuel smuggling. Measures include increased river patrols, installation of checkpoints and regular inspections of trucks and other vehicles used in import and export activities at border points.

Bangladesh currently has about a month’s supply of fuel, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said on Wednesday, noting that the country normally maintains a 15-day reserve. Ghani made the remarks during a briefing at the Press Information Department following a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. He said the government is taking steps to further increase fuel reserves to ensure stability amid the ongoing international energy crisis. Asked about the Prime Minister’s response to the ongoing international energy crisis, the Cabinet Secretary said, “The Prime Minister reviewed all available government resources, assessed progress, and examined the steps taken by the ministries. I can briefly say that the reserves are sufficient.” Commenting on panic buying, Ghani said, “Excess fuel purchased unnecessarily could go to waste. The situation should normalize in a few days once public confidence returns. Under the government’s plan, the reserves are being increased further.” PM calls for unity, tolerance to accelerate Bangladesh’s  development Regarding the rise in jet fuel prices, Ghani explained, “The international price of jet fuel has increased. Airlines operating here also follow the international rate, so the price movement is aligned with global trends.” He confirmed that the one-month reserve includes all types of fuel and added that the Cabinet Committee on Purchase has approved the acquisition of two cargoes of LNG. Ghani also said that fuel not immediately available under contracts is purchased from the spot market, and decisions have to be made quickly, often within 10 hours of the cargo’s arrival. Responding to rumors about a fuel price hike, he said, “I am not aware of any such plan, and there are no signs of it at this stage.” The Cabinet Secretary reiterated that fuel is being procured from multiple sources to maintain and expand the country’s reserves.

Iran will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said Wednesday, according to the German press agency dpa. The 2026 World Cup, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iran had been drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt, with all group-stage matches set to take place in the United States. Iran was also absent from last week’s planning summit for World Cup participants held in Atlanta. Earlier, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that U.S. President Donald Trump had assured Iran that its national team would be welcome to compete in the tournament.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday failed to adopt a draft resolution calling for an immediate halt to military activities and urging all parties to avoid further escalation in the Middle East. The resolution, proposed by Russia, also sought to condemn attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. However, it did not pass after receiving four votes in favour, two against and nine abstentions. Russia, China, Pakistan and Somalia supported the proposal, while the United States and Latvia voted against it. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia expressed disappointment over the outcome, saying some council members failed to gather the “strength and wisdom” needed to support the resolution. Earlier the same day, the Security Council adopted another resolution related to the Middle East crisis, which followed the joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iran that began on Feb 28 and Tehran’s subsequent retaliatory attacks across the region. The resolution, introduced by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), was approved with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions. It condemns Iran’s attacks on GCC countries and Jordan, calls on Tehran to immediately stop such actions and declares them a breach of international law and a threat to international security. Reacting to the decision, Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the resolution was “a manifest injustice” against Iran, describing it as unlawful and inconsistent with the UN Charter and international law.