United News of Bangladesh

A 20-year-old youth who was abducted from Thakurgaon's Baliadangi has been reunited with his family after five years. Police and relatives rescued Samaun Ali, son of Abdus Sobhan, a resident of Gogbasti village in Bhanor union, in the small hours on Saturday after kidnappers left him at the Baliadangi intersection, said Baliadangi Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Dibakar Adhikari on Saturday afternoon. Family members said Samaun was abducted by his cousin, Jamirul Islam alias Mithun, five years ago under the false promise of a job in Dhaka. A few days after taking Samaun, Mithun cut off all communication with the family. Despite multiple attempts to contact Mithun and pay money for Samaun’s return, Sobhan was unable to get his son back. Arrest warrants issued against 58 over Sylhet Medical University recruitment scam After years of searching in various places, including Dhaka, and unsuccessful efforts to resolve the issue, Sobhan filed a case against Mithun and his father Abdul Khalek in Thakurgaon court seven months ago. The court took action, ordering Baliadangi police to rescue Samaun. Inspector Dibakar Adhikari, also the investigating officer, said, "We began our investigation following the court’s order." He said that realising the police were closing in, the kidnappers abandoned Samaun at Baliadangi intersection.  "After completing the legal procedures, we will hand Samaun over to his family. He appears to be in poor health and requires medical care." Samaun said that he was taken to a warehouse in Narsingdi district, where he worked while someone else collected his wages.  Two individuals fined a lakh for operating illegal battery recycling factory in Kushtia His communication with the outside world was cut off soon after, and for the past five years, he was unable to say where he was or what he had been doing.  However, he mentioned that he had suffered various forms of torture during his captivity. Samaun's father, Sobhan, shared his frustration, saying, "I repeatedly asked for my son back through local mediation, but the accused ignored me. It was only when the police began taking action after we filed the case that they returned my son." The return of Samaun has brought relief and happiness to his family, who now feel they have a new lease on life.

Rail communication between Dhaka and Mymensingh was restored after more than an hour, following the withdrawal of the blockade by Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) students. The Dhaka-bound Agnibina Express departed for Dhaka at 9:56 pm after the protesting students lifted their blockade on the railway line. Dhaka-Mymensingh rail communication disrupted amid BAU students’ protest The students blocked the railway track near Jabbar’s Mor area of the university around 8:45 pm, expressing solidarity with the hunger-striking students at Dhaka University who are demanding reform of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and punishment for those involved in question leaks. Earlier at 7:00 pm, they staged a protest rally and a human chain in front of the Central Library of the university. Couple dies after being hit by train while taking selfie in Dhaka During the demonstration, the students placed an eight-point demand. The students warned that they would launch a more intensified movement if their demands were not met.

Seven Bangladeshi returned home on Saturday after serving a three-year imprisonment in India for illegal entry. The returnees are: Rabiul Islam (28), Faisal (30), Mintu Barai (32), Aynal Matabbar (35), Ripon Kholifa (35), Shahidul Sheikh (33), and Alamin Hossain (26). They are residents of Jashore, Narail, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Brahmanbaria, and Barisal districts. Ibrahim Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Benapole Immigration Police, said the Petrapole Immigration Police of India handed them over to the Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police nn Saturday evening. Later, they were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station after completing immigration procedures, he said.One of the returnees, Faisal, is a wanted fugitive, facing charges in a weapons case at Nabinnagar Police Station in Brahmanbaria. The OC said that Faisal will be taken to Jashore Court on Sunday. The other six individuals were handed over to their families by the NGO Justice and Care. Muhith Hossain, Senior Programme Officer at Jessore Justice and Care, confirmed that six of the returnees were received at Benapole Port Police Station and will be reunited with their families. Ripon Kholifa said that they had travelled to India's Kolkata, three and a half years ago through a broker in search of work. While working there, they were arrested by Indian police. The court sentenced them to three years in prison for illegal entry, and they were sent to Dum Dum Central Jail.

A couple died after being hit by a speedy train while taking a selfie in the capital's Airport area on Saturday evening. The deceased were identified as Masum, 28, and his wife Iti Akhter, 25, residents of Khilkhet area in Dhaka. Dhaka-Mymensingh rail communication disrupted amid BAU students’ protest The accident occurred around 6:30pm when the couple was taking a selfie near a train line. At that time, the Jamuna Express hit them, causing them to fall and die on the spot, said Zainal Abedin, officer-in-charge of Kamalapur Railway Police Station. Masum hailed from Narsingdi and Iti from Mymensingh. On information, police recovered the bodies and sent them to the hospital morgue for autopsy. Human chain formed demanding facilities for rail passengers in Gazipur The bodies will be handed over to the family members after the post-mortem, the OC added. No case has been filed in connection with the incident yet, he said.

Golam Mainuddin, the former independent director of Apex Footwear Limited, has been elected as the chairperson of the company's board of directors. He was elected by a single majority vote in the 282nd board meeting of the company on April 23, according to a press release. Traders seek easier VAT management, improved law & order “His valuable advice and policy steps have played an important role in the management of Apex Footwear Limited. With his new responsibility as chairman, a new era is beginning for the company in the coming days,” said the release. Mainuddin is widely appreciated for his role as chairman of British American Tobacco Bangladesh. He has also served in leadership positions in several companies.

Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway line on Saturday night, expressing solidarity with the hunger-striking students at Dhaka University who are demanding reform of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and punishment for those involved in question leaks. The students blocked the railway track near Jabbar’s Mor area of the university around 8:45 pm, halting the Dhaka-bound Agnibina Express train. Earlier at 7:00 pm, they staged a protest rally and human chain in front of the Central Library of the university. During the demonstration, the students placed an eight-point demand, which includes: Before the 46th BCS written examination: a) Expel and punish those involved in question leaks;b) Guarantee that the 46th BCS will not be cancelled in the future;c) Publish the final results (for successful viva-voce candidates) of the 44th BCS by July and arrange the 46th BCS written exam by late July or early August. The viva-voce score for the 45th BCS must be 100 marks. Its written results must be published by July and the final results announced within 2025. A specific roadmap must be published for every BCS exam, including disclosure of marks for preliminary, written, and viva-voce examinations, and exam schedules must be announced at least two months in advance. Immediate issuance of an ordinance to increase the number of PSC members to 25-30. To ensure speed, security, and impartiality in the evaluation of written scripts, arrangements must be made to check scripts within the PSC premises. Re-choice opportunity for cadre preference must be provided before viva exams. Since the 44th BCS viva is ongoing, this opportunity must be given before the final result. This system should be implemented for all future BCS exams. Withdraw the plan for pre-verification (preliminary police verification) before publishing the final results. No gazette notification can be withheld except in cases of clear charges of criminal offense or sedition. Cancel the "Non-Cadre Rules-2023" and ensure job placements for all candidates who pass the BCS viva. The students warned that they would launch a more intensified movement if their demands were not met.

 BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said China wants to see a strong, stable and democratic Bangladesh.  “They always want to see stability in Bangladesh. They want to see a strong and prosperous Bangladesh and democratic environment in the country,” he said after a meeting with a visiting delegation from the Communist Party of China (CPC).​ The two-hour meeting, which began around 6:30 pm, was held at the capital’s Westin Hotel. Fakhrul said it was basically a meeting between the two parties—BNP and CPC—as they have a longstanding relationship.  Judges who aided Hasina’s fascist regime must face trial: Rizvi He mentioned that the relationship between the two parties had been disrupted over the last 15 years due to the Awami League’s rule.  “We are now reviving that relationship. So, our ties with the Communist Party of China are now deepening gradually. It will continue to grow in the future,” the BNP leader said.​ In response to a question, Fakhrul said elections are Bangladesh’s internal matter and that China usually does not interfere in any country’s internal affairs.  He, however, said they briefed the Chinese delegation about the country’s election and political situation.​ Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said they had very good discussions with the BNP delegation.  “We discussed cooperation between our two parties and also discussed that the Communist Party of China and BNP will work together to enhance cooperation between the two countries,” he said.​ Responding to a question, the Chinese envoy said, “We were briefed by the BNP secretary general about BNP’s viewpoint for the next election.”  He also reiterated that elections are Bangladesh’s internal matter and that the people of Bangladesh will make the decision on it.​ A seven-member BNP delegation, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, attended the meeting.    The other members included Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Ismail Zabiullah, Legal Affairs Secretary Kaiser Kamal, Chairperson’s Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee member Humayun Kabir, Media Cell member Mahmuda Habiba, and BNP Chairperson’s Private Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.​ The CPC delegation was headed by Peng Xiubin, Director General of the Southeast and South Asian Affairs Bureau under the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Other members included Deputy Director Chen Xuanbo, Third Secretary Chen Yongpei, and Attaché Zhang Guyu.​ Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen also joined the meeting, accompanied by Political Section Director Zhang Jing and Political Section Attaché Liu Hongru.​  

Local Government, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain on Saturday stressed the need for maximum transparency in ministry-level recruitment processes, noting that sometimes officials discreetly inquire if candidates have any personal connections. Speaking to reporters after visiting the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University center where recruitment exams for the Rural Poverty Alleviation Foundation were held, Asif said, “It is from the demand for merit-based recruitment that the mass uprising happened. Therefore, ensuring that no irregularities take place remains our highest priority. We want the recruitment process to be as transparent as possible." When asked about his potential involvement in politics, he said, "Because I led from the front during the July mass uprising, there are public expectations that we will work for the country in the long term. However, it is not yet the time to decide which political party I may join." He further clarified that there is no reason to assume that he will be joining a new political party. Regarding the transfer of Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) bank funds, Asif explained that some banks had been marked with red alerts by Bangladesh Bank, indicating risk. He was referring to Bangladesh Bank's stress testing of the banking sector that marked banks under 3 categories - green, yellow and red. Red indicated the riskiest banks that may have gone bust, putting deposits at risk.  Health sector reform commission to submit report after reviewing proposed tobacco law amendments Transferring the BCB's money from those banks was a good initiative, Asif said. "That’s why the money was shifted from one bank to another. However, we will review whether any internal procedures of BCB were violated in the process," he added. Addressing the news about his APS (Assistant Personal Secretary) being removed, Asif said, "A report surfaced claiming that he was removed. Both the Ministry of Public Administration and we have documentation showing that he resigned voluntarily and his resignation was accepted. Resignation and removal are not the same thing. It is unfortunate that the matter was portrayed in such a manner by some media outlets." Asif also alleged that there were efforts to spread misinformation through external pressure. "When we communicated with some media houses, they informed us that external parties were pressuring them to circulate such narratives. It feels like a media trial is underway," he said. On the issue of asset declarations, Asif clarified that he did not have a TIN (Tax Identification Number) before as he was a student. Govt trying to renegotiate rates with power plant operators: Energy Adviser “I have now obtained a TIN and plan to submit my income tax return next year. I will formally declare all my assets, including my bank accounts, after stepping down from my responsibilities. However, I am ready to disclose them even now if required." Regarding the allocation of cattle haat (makeshift markets) in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) area, the adviser said, "Many applicants did not fulfil the necessary criteria. Therefore, DNCC decided to lease these spaces as 'khas' (government-owned) land." He urged the North City Corporation's administrator to reconsider the decision to ensure that the government's revenue from the cattle markets is not hampered.

'Paal: Moving through Memories, Myths, and Motion', a unique exhibition reflecting the vibrant journey of the ‘Gangaburi’ River Heritage Project, began on Friday at Brihatta Art Space in Hazaribagh in the capital. Developed under the artistic direction of acclaimed artist Bishwajit Goswami, the exhibition features three large sails symbolising Land (Bhumi), Water (Jol), and Air (Paban). Created through collaborations with artists and communities centring the Buriganga River, the sails incorporate natural materials, folk poetry, and traditional crafts, presenting a powerful metaphor for the interconnectedness of people, nature, and time. The inaugural ceremony on Friday was joined by eminent personalities, including Ekushey Padak-winning art maestro Farida Zaman; Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Country Director Frank Werner; urban traditional artists and rickshaw painters Md Hanif Pappu and Syed Ahmed Hossain; BTV journalist and researcher Imran Uz-Zaman; Brihatta Art Foundation co-founder Nusrat Mahmud; officials from various embassies; students from different institutions and art enthusiasts from different walks of life. Speaking at the event, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Country Director Frank Werner said, "The project belongs to the community, the artists, and the audience. Under the umbrella of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes of Culture), we supported the initiative, but this is truly your project; and by putting the exhibition on a boat and bringing it to the community, the project changed the conventional concept of accessing culture." He further mentioned that the book accompanying the project is not merely a catalogue but a piece of art-based research that documents the entire journey. Artistic director Bishwajit Goswami explained, "Art is fluid, like a river. If you try to stop a river, you destroy its nature. Through this work, we are exploring how collaboration and collective efforts can foster learning and growth. This is just the beginning—the project and its ideas will continue to evolve." Art maestro Farida Zaman praised the artistic collaboration and officially inaugurated the exhibition. The Gangaburi project’s selected artists for 2023 included Ahmed Rasel, Aminul Islam Ashik, Anannya Mehpar Azad, Kazi Sydul Karim Tuso, Md Khairul Alam (Shada), Nur A Alaa Siddique, and Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury.

Around 21 districts in the southern region of the country, including the entire Barishal Division and parts of Khulna Division, were plunged into darkness on Saturday evening following a major power grid failure. According to officials at Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the grid collapse began at 5:45 pm in one district and then gradually spread across the 21 districts. However, the power transmission was restored within 45 minutes to one hour in all the affected areas, they said. Power supply in Bangladesh faces summer strain despite smooth Ramadan “A good number of districts had their power supply restored within 15 to 20 minutes due to the prompt measures taken by PGCB,” said the transmission entity in an official statement. It added that the transmission system is currently operating normally following the restoration across the Barishal and Khulna regions. Summer power crisis looms with renewables still struggling to catch up The reason behind the massive grid failure could not be confirmed immediately, as no PGCB official could determine the exact cause as of filing this report. So far, no committee has been formed to investigate the incident, an official said.  

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has agreed to the proposals for the introduction of the proportional representation (PR) system, a bicameral parliament and the provision to prevent any individual from becoming Prime Minister more than twice. “If the PR system is introduced, we think the irregularities, the use of muscle power and money in elections, as well as voter-less polls, would be stopped,” said Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher. Jamaat for bicameral parliament with 5-yr tenure  The Jamaat leader was briefing reporters on the outcomes of his party’s first-day talks with the National Consensus Commission. A 10-member Jamaat delegation, led by Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, participated in the discussion, which began at 10:30am with Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Professor Ali Riaz in the chair. Taher said his party had been in favour of the PR system from the beginning. The PR system means elections would be held simultaneously across the country on the basis of symbols or political parties. Then, the number of seats in parliament would be determined for a party proportionally to the number of votes that party receives nationwide, he explained. Noting that there is a PR system in more than 60 countries worldwide, the Jamaat leader said, “We think it is better.” He said they discussed only the Constitution-related reform recommendations during Saturday's talks, which continued until 5pm. Jamaat to fully support constructive, realistic reforms: Taher Jamaat-e-Islami agreed on some issues and raised its own proposals on others, he added. Taher said they agreed with the proposal that no person would be Prime Minister more than twice. Regarding Article 70 of the Constitution, which bars an MP from voting in Parliament against his or her party, he said they proposed lifting the bar for MPs except in cases of constitutional amendment, passage of the finance bill or budget, and votes of confidence. He mentioned that they agreed, in principle, to the proposed National Constitutional Council (NCC), although they have differing opinions regarding its formation process. Taher said they had disagreed with the NCC earlier but finally agreed in principle during the talks. The Jamaat leader also said they agreed to a bicameral parliament with a five-year tenure. During the lunch break of the discussion, Taher said, "We've agreed on the bicameral parliament issue.” He said there were proposals to reduce Parliament and Presidential tenures to four years from five years. “But we told them that it wouldn’t be right. The tenures should be of five years.” Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion, moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. The Jamaat delegation members included its Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretaries General Rafiqul Islam Khan, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, and Ehsanul Mahbub Jubair, Publicity and Media Affairs Secretary Matiur Rahman Akand, Jamaat Dhaka South City unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and Shishir Monir. On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties, aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The Commission has already held talks with 16 political parties, including BNP and the National Citizen Party (NCP). Formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Commission aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms.  

Mohammedan Sporting Club clinched a four-wicket win over Gazi Group Cricketers in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League Super League match on Saturday. In other matches, Abahani Limited and Agrani Bank also registered wins. Chasing 237, Mohammedan reached the target off the final ball, finishing at 237 for 6. Mohammad Saifuddin starred with 3 for 42 and an unbeaten 30, while Rony Talukdar contributed 55 runs at the top. Earlier, Gazi Group posted 236, thanks to Munim Shahriar’s 80. Mustafizur Rahman and Saifuddin shared six wickets between them to keep Mohammedan in control. At BKSP Ground 4, Abahani overpowered Legends of Rupganj by seven wickets. Mosaddek Hossain delivered a superb spell, taking 4 for 41 to restrict Rupganj to 225 for 9. In the chase, Parvez Hossain Emon scored 73, and Jishan Alam added 63, helping Abahani cruise to 226 for 3 with 12.3 overs to spare. Meanwhile, Agrani Bank Cricket Club beat Gulshan Cricket Club by 137 runs at BKSP Ground 3. Imranuzzaman led the charge with a sparkling 123 off 108 balls, while Pritom Kumar blasted 59 from just 29 balls to lift Agrani to 340 for 7. Gulshan CC never got going in their chase and were bowled out for 203. Sandip Roy starred with the ball, grabbing 5 for 35. After winning in this round, Abahani strengthened their hold at the top of the Super League table with 26 points from 15 matches, winning 13 games. Mohammedan follow closely behind with 24 points, securing 12 wins. Agrani Bank sit at the bottom among the six teams, with 16 points from 15 matches after winning eight games.  

Member of the Health Sector Reform Commission and Chairman of the Community Clinic Health Support Trust Dr. Mohammad Zakir Hossain on Sunday assured that the commission will thoroughly review the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Law and submit its report accordingly. He made this assurance at a youth conference held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. He emphasized that fighting against tobacco is a challenging task, but it is a challenge that must be taken on. At the conference, DORP Youth Forum presented six major proposals in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the draft amendments formulated by the Health Services Division. These proposals include: eliminating designated smoking areas in all public places and public transport to protect non-smokers, banning the display of tobacco products at points of sale to prevent indirect promotion, prohibiting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by tobacco companies, implementing measures to protect children and youth from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, banning the sale of loose and single-stick tobacco products, and increasing the size of graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%. Additionally, the youth forum highlighted various strategies, achievements, challenges, and demands related to achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh. Speaking as a special guest, Director General (Joint Secretary) of the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) Md. Akhtaruzzaman stated that banning designated smoking areas and the retail sale of single tobacco sticks are already under consideration. He affirmed that all six demands will be implemented gradually. Former additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Hossain Ali Khondker mentioned that Myanmar has amended its tobacco control law 12 times. So Bangladesh should learn from Myanmar’s example and expedite the passage of the proposed amendments. The conference was chaired by A.H.M. Noman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DORP. The keynote presentation was delivered by Mohammad Zobair Hasan, Deputy Executive Director of DORP. DORP has been engaged in various development initiatives since 1987 and is widely recognized for pioneering the introduction of the Maternity Allowance program in Bangladesh.    

Energy Advisor Dr. M. Fouzul Kabir Khan has said that the government is trying to renegotiate the tariffs charged for electricity by the power plant operators. “We’re now discussing with the power plant operators how they can offer a lower tariff. We’re trying to understand why there is a big gap between their tariff rates,” he told a seminar at Bidyut Bhaban in the city on Saturday. He said that the government will set a standard benchmark tariff on which basis each power plant can offer its tariff. Green Energy Olympiad launched spotlighting youth, climate leadership “Initially, we will focus on coal-fired power plants in the private sector. Then we will see our public sector plants in this process,” he added. Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh, jointly with Chevron Bangladesh, organised the seminar titled: “Energy Crisis: Way Forward” with FERB chairman Shamim Jahangir in the chair.   Eminent energy expert and former professor of BUET Dr. Ijaz Hossain made the keynote presentation while it was addressed by energy expert and vice president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Prof. M. Shamsul Alam, research director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, energy secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam, Petrobangla chairman Rezenur Rahman, and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairman Md. Rezaul Karim. Dr. Fouzul Kabir disagreed with the idea that if gas prices were hiked, it would discourage new investment in the industrial sector, saying that after the increase in gas prices, about 700 new applications were submitted by industry owners to supply gas. He also said that the government has taken steps to keep load shedding at a minimum scale. Dr. Hossain said that the current crisis in the power and energy sector has been a result of the previous government’s wrong policy and political favoritism. He said that there had been no exploration of natural gas since 2010, and instead, the previous Awami League government promoted gas imports. Dr. Moazzem said that the energy and power sector needs huge reforms to overcome its current crisis. “The Energy Policy 2004 must be reviewed and updated,” he said, adding that the growth forecast in the energy sector also needs amendment to reduce dependence on imported gas. Echoing the view, Dr. Shamsul Alam said the government should review the plan for LNG imports, as the industry will not be able to afford the highly expensive imported gas. “It’s really impossible for industry to survive in paying per unit gas price at Tk 70,” he said.    

Across the Netherlands, people donned orange clothes — from tuxedos to feather boas — and boats packed with revelers clogged Amsterdam's canals to celebrate their king's birthday Saturday. In an Amsterdam park, a dog called Lucy sported orange-dyed fur. “I love it. It’s a day where every year everyone just comes together, just celebrates and it doesn’t matter where you’re from everyone is just accepted," said 22-year-old Dicky van Warmerdam. "And if you look around, it’s just a giant party and who doesn’t want that?” The official royal walkabout by King Willem-Alexander and family members in the eastern town of Doetinchem started an hour later than planned so as not to clash with the funeral at the Vatican of Pope Francis. In a video message, Willem-Alexander said the day of Dutch celebration “has two faces” due to the pope's funeral, and paid tribute to Francis. “For many Catholics and non-Catholics, he was a source of inspiration,” the king said. The king's 58th birthday is on Sunday, but King's Day was held a day earlier. The celebrations began Friday night with street markets in the central city of Utrecht and parties in other towns and cities. Pope Francis laid to rest as world leaders mourn By Saturday afternoon, some canals in the Dutch capital were crammed with boats, the water sometimes barely visible through the throngs of people and clouds of orange smoke from flares. In a message on social media, Amsterdam Municipality said parts of the city were “too full” and urged people not to visit Amsterdam and “celebrate King's Day somewhere else.” Other cities also reported that events were overcrowded. In Amsterdam's Vondel Park, children spread out blankets and sold unwanted toys, clothes and books in one of the many “free markets” that spring up on sidewalks and parks. And it wasn't just the Dutch who were celebrating in Amsterdam. “It is a great moment for togetherness, to be with friends, you know, ... to make new connections," said 23-year-old Lorenzo Soldi from Italy.

As Bangladesh gear up for the second Test against Zimbabwe starting Monday in Chattogram, the focus remains on the collective responsibility of the team rather than individual performances that often fail to win the match. Wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali said that the burden should not fall on just one player like Mushfiqur Rahim. Mushfiqur has recently come under tremendous pressure for his poor performances, and Jaker came to his defence. BCB defends financial decisions, rejects allegations of irregularities “Mushfiq bhai is not playing alone. Everyone has to take responsibility and contribute. It’s unfair to expect him to deliver every time,” Jaker told reporters on Saturday in Chattogram. Jaker said that the entire batting unit must step up, recalling how lower-order resistance, including Hasan Mahmud’s 58-ball 12 in Sylhet, helped Bangladesh fight despite the defeat. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe opener Ben Curran, one of the main players who contributed to the team's win in Sylhet, is keeping an eye on family matters even while preparing for the second Test. Curran’s brothers, Tom and Sam, are busy with franchise leagues — Tom in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Sam in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Both his brothers represent England in international cricket. “I try to follow their matches whenever possible. We talk regularly, especially on match days. We are a very close family,” Ben said on Saturday in Chattogram. Ben Curran, who chose to represent Zimbabwe like his father Kevin Curran, played a vital role in the 2nd innings of the first Test, scoring 44 in a tight chase of 174. While Bangladesh aim for a spin-heavy strategy to bounce back, Zimbabwe seem quietly confident after the win in the first match. The second and final Test will be played in Chattogram from April 28th.//    

Pope Francis was laid to rest on Saturday at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore following a moving funeral service at the Vatican, attended by global leaders and hundreds of thousands of mourners. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who led the funeral Mass, described the late pontiff as a man who "touched minds and hearts" and who "wanted to build bridges, not walls". His words captured the spirit of a papacy that prioritised compassion, dialogue, and unity over division. An estimated 400,000 people gathered in and around St Peter’s Square to pay their final respects, as Rome came to a near standstill for the historic farewell. Adieu to Pope Francis:  Global leaders unite in Vatican for historic funeral Among the dignitaries present were former US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prince William, representing the United Kingdom. In a notable moment before the service began, Trump and Zelensky held a brief meeting inside St Peter’s Basilica. President Zelensky later described the encounter as one that "has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results". The conversation hints at possible future cooperation between the two political figures. Prof Yunus pays last respect to Pope Francis, attends his funeral with global leaders The Ukrainians also released an official photograph showing Trump and Zelensky in deep discussion alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, signalling a rare moment of unity among leaders whose countries have played pivotal roles on the global stage. The atmosphere throughout the day was one of solemn reflection mixed with admiration for a pope who had, throughout his pontificate, championed the marginalised and called for peace in a fractured world. Pope Francis' final resting place, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, held special significance for him. It was there that he often prayed before and after his apostolic journeys, seeking protection and guidance from the Virgin Mary. As the bells of Rome tolled and the crowds dispersed, there was a prevailing sense that Pope Francis' message of hope, humility, and inclusiveness would resonate long beyond his lifetime. Source: With inputs from BBC  

A joint operation will be conducted to shut down illegal battery-run auto-rickshaw workshops and charging stations in the capital, said Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Ejaz on Saturday. “DMP has already listed such workshops and charging points. DNCC and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will jointly conduct the drives at night to shut these down,” he said. The DNCC administrator came up with the information while talking to reporters after inaugurating the construction work for 20 kilometers of road, 34 kilometres of drainage and 15 kilometers of footpath in the Mirpur Pallabi area under Wards 6, 7, and 8 of the city. He also urged the House Owners Association in different parts of the city to keep illegal rickshaws out of residential areas. “Please don’t allow commercial activities or illegal vehicles here. With community support, we can stop unauthorised vendors and rickshaws,” he said. Urging the residents to verify mouza maps before purchasing any plots from housing companies, the DNCC administrator said “Ensure the land is not designated as a water body. Buying such plots will lead to complications later.” He also urged the residents to plant large trees in the upcoming monsoon instead of small saplings like Krishnachura (royal poin ciana) and Sonalu (Golden shower) to transform the Pallabi area into a lush, green space.      

The Titans' battle of Bangladesh  Premier League (BPL) Football between league leader Dhaka Mohammedan  SC and former champions  Dhaka Abahani Limited ended in a goalless draw at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Saturday. The traditional black and whites Mohammedan SC were restricted to 10-man in the 42nd minute of the match but they snatched one important point from Abahani fighting equally. Mahbub Alam of Mohammedan SC got marching order in the 42nd minute of the match after receiving a direct red card. For right charge In the day's another match, defending champions Bashundhara Kings dropped points to mediocre Rahmatganj Friends Society also in a goalless affairs at the FL, Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Saturday afternoon. In the day's other match, Brothers Union Club beat Chittagong Abahani Ltd by 2-0 goals at the District Stadium Mymensingh Saturday afternoon. Gambian medio Zakaria put the Gopibagh outfit Brothers ahead in the 13th minute while  Nigerian forward Mfon Sunday confirmed the Brother victory scoring one more goal in the 76th minute After the day's matches in the 12th round Dhaka Mohammedan SC is comfortably dominating the league securing 31 points, Dhaka Abahani followed them with 27 points, holders Bashundhara Kings were in distant 3rd with 21 points while Rahmatganj MFS are in the 4th slot with 19 points,    

A massive explosion and subsequent fire rocked Iran’s Shahid Rajaei port in the south of the country on Saturday, reportedly linked to a chemical shipment used in missile propellants. The blast claimed the lives of four people and left more than 500 injured, AP reports. The incident unfolded as Iranian and US officials met in Oman for the third round of discussions concerning Tehran’s fast-advancing nuclear programme. While Iranian authorities did not directly suggest the explosion resulted from an attack, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, leading Iran’s negotiation team, noted on Wednesday, “Our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response.” Chemical shipment tied to missile fuel For hours after the blast, Iranian officials provided little clarity regarding the cause, only stating that the explosion was unrelated to the nation’s oil sector. At least 281 people injured in Iran post explosion However, the private security firm Ambrey reported that the port had received a shipment of “sodium perchlorate rocket fuel” in March.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has strongly denied allegations of financial irregularities following media reports questioning its recent banking transactions. In a statement issued on Saturday, the BCB described the recent reports as “misinformed” and “intentionally constructed” to tarnish the image of the Board and its President, Faruque Ahmed. The BCB said that upon taking charge in August 2024, Faruque prioritized safeguarding the financial assets of the board. Following a reassessment, the BCB withdrew BDT 250 crore from banks considered risky and reinvested BDT 238 crore into institutions categorized in the “Green” and “Yellow” zones by Bangladesh Bank. The remaining BDT 12 crore was kept for operational expenses. Sourav Ganguly calls for severing all cricketing ties with Pakistan The Board clarified that all banking decisions were made with full knowledge and approval of the board members, involving two designated signatories — the heads of the finance and tender & purchase committees — and not by the president alone. The BCB also revealed that since September 2024, its financial restructuring led to a 2–5% increase in interest earnings from fixed deposits. At the same time, BCB secured nearly BDT 12 crore in sponsorships from three banking partners, with another BDT 20 crore pledged for infrastructure development. This statement of BCB came amidst criticisms claiming that the president moved the fund from one bank to another without the knowledge of other board members.

If the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election is organized within June of this year, it will be most peaceful and acceptable—this is the opinion of a large majority of students of the University. In a survey conducted by the "Advisory Committee" formed by the Dhaka University administration to successfully organize the DUCSU and hall union elections, students have expressed this opinion. Dhaka University’s ICT Cell started this survey on March 23. The results of the survey were submitted to the Advisory Committee on April 6. DU students call for DUCSU electionsIn the survey, 1,743 students of the university participated by answering 8 questions through their respective institutional emails. Out of the participants, 1,307 students (74.9%) have given their opinion in favor of organizing the DUCSU election within the next 3 months. Of the rest, 279 students (16%) said that if the DUCSU election is held within the next 6 months, it will be peaceful and acceptable. Another 95 students have given their opinion in favor of holding the DUCSU election within one year.And 62 students think that if the DUCSU election is held after more than one year, it will be peaceful and acceptable. Some 1,266 students who participated in the survey think the DUCSU election is extremely necessary, while just 31 students think it is completely unnecessary. To ensure a peaceful and neutral DUCSU election, 903 students (51.8%) have given their opinion that ensuring strict security measures from the administration is the most important step. Some 309 students (17.5%) have expressed their opinion in favor of making voting and counting fully digital. In response to the question, "Where can polling centers be set up to make the DUCSU election free and fair"—860 students (49.3%) have given their opinion in favor of setting up polling centers in some pre-selected academic buildings (such as Curzon Hall, Social Sciences Building, Arts Building). Some 394 students (22.6%) have given their opinion in favor of setting up polling centers both in halls and academic buildings. Another 305 students (17.5%) are in favor of setting up polling centers in residential halls. As many as 725 students (41.6%) are in favor of allowing anyone to be a candidate who will have at least one year of valid studentship from the day of nomination submission. In addition, students have also mentioned in the survey the need for conditions like having a minimum CGPA for candidacy, setting an age limit, and provisions that candidates should not be accused of certain specific crimes including criminal offenses. For forming a fair and neutral Election Commission, a majority (1,033 students) have suggested that students and teachers jointly determine the commission.  

Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday said that this season's Boro paddy harvest in the country has been satisfactory and harvesting will be completed within the scheduled timeframe. “Arial Beel is an area rich in natural diversity. Everyone must remain vigilant to protect its biodiversity and environment. Necessary measures have been taken to ensure water drainage and facilitate crop transportation in Arial Beel and the surrounding areas,” he said while visiting Arial Beel in Srinagar upazila of Munshiganj district to inspect the Boro harvest and exchange views with farmers. During the interaction, farmers requested the withdrawal of cases filed against those who had protested the construction of an airport in Arial Beel. In response, the adviser assured them that necessary steps would be taken to withdraw the cases. Farmers also urged for the establishment of patrol posts to prevent illegal soil trading, to which the adviser directed the concerned authorities to set up patrol posts urgently. Adviser Asif Nazrul trashes report by Indian portal as false, defamatory Speaking at the event, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said that locals must cooperate to preserve the environment of Arial Beel. Adilur also noted that several development projects have been undertaken for Munshiganj, and emphasised that the projects must be implemented properly to ensure food security and achieve self-sufficiency in food production. Agriculture Secretary Md Emdad Ullah Mian and senior officials of the district administration were also present.

Jaipur, Indian state Rajasthan, Apr 26 (UNB): A renewed dialogue among SAARC leaders must begin immediately to foster peace, stability, and mutual cooperation across South Asia, speakers urged at an international conference held at Apex University in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on Saturday. They emphasised that the SAARC Journalists Forum — an organisation comprising journalists from the SAARC nations — can play a crucial role in facilitating this process. The two-day conference, titled "The Role of Journalism for Peace and Stability in South Asia", was jointly organised by the SAARC Journalists Forum, India Chapter, and Apex University. Raju Lama, President of the Forum's Central Committee based in Nepal, warned that South Asia is steadily drifting towards instability, raising fears of potential conflict. "The situation could worsen if urgent steps are not taken," he cautioned. Recalling a rare moment of diplomatic warmth at the 2016 SAARC summit, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shook hands, Lama said Nepal has consistently worked for peace and remains committed to promoting dialogue among SAARC leaders. Addressing the conference, Apex University Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Khemraj Chowdhury stressed that the urgency for cross-border dialogue among South Asian nations has never been greater. "It is no longer possible to establish peace through arms. We must awaken people's conscience and foster values that promote harmony," he said. Dr Chowdhury added that journalists have a significant responsibility to build public pressure through accurate and ethical reporting, reminding attendees that many wars throughout history have ended through dialogue. In a session focused on the challenges and prospects of journalism in South Asia, Prof Rakesh Goswami of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) highlighted the growing threat of misinformation. "Today, social media spreads information rapidly, often without verification or responsibility, shaping public opinion before the truth emerges," he said. He cautioned that widespread misinformation and disinformation on social platforms have become major challenges for traditional media. Raising awareness about the dangers of false information is now more important than ever, he added. Representing Bangladesh, Rafiqul Islam Azad, former President of the Dhaka Reporters Unity, observed that freedom of expression and the health of the media are closely tied to the strength of democracy in each country across the region. "When democracy is weakened, freedom of the media and freedom of speech suffer alongside it," he said. The conference drew journalists, academics, communication experts, and journalism students from across SAARC member countries, all of whom shared a common belief: journalism can and must play a pivotal role in promoting peace, understanding, and cooperation in South Asia.  

Small traders, struggling with high interest rates, weak law enforcement and complex regulations amid global challenges, on Saturday called for easier VAT management and improved law and order to revive trade and investment. The small traders of Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Shyamoli and Adabor areas expressed these concerns during an interactive view-exchanging meeting organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI). The meeting, held at Tokyo Square Convention Centre, Mohammadpur, focused on issues such as the recent trade and investment scenario, law and order, income tax and VAT matters, high inflation, elevated interest rates, traffic congestion and related challenges. The discussion was held with DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed in the chair. In his opening remarks, the DCCI President said the current global economic conditions, compounded by domestic business challenges, the complexity of the tax and VAT system, crises in foreign exchange management, delays in export-import processes, and an overall weak law and order situation are adversely impacting the economy, particularly affecting SME entrepreneurs. "In the current circumstances, there is no alternative to building a safe, stable, and predictable business environment," he said. FBCCI and Bhutan delegation explore enhanced agricultural trade cooperation Taskeen mentioned that the Dhaka Chamber has already proposed, for the upcoming budget, the complete automation of revenue management, rationalisation of tax rates, the introduction of a single-digit VAT rate, fixing a 1% VAT for the informal sector, and the development of a VAT return app — all aimed at improving the business environment and boosting government revenue collection. He highlighted that easy access to credit, enhanced mobility through automation of export-import activities, and timely policy support from the government are crucial to maintaining the momentum of industrialisation. The DCCI President reiterated that businessmen are willing to pay taxes and VAT, but they do not want harassment. Emphasising the importance of the rule of law, he said it is vital to ensure effective enforcement to maintain active business operations at every level. Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, Additional Director (SME and Special Programmes Department) of Bangladesh Bank, said the central bank recently issued a master circular on 17 March 2025 to increase credit flow to the SME sector. To facilitate entrepreneurs, he informed that the term loan period has been extended from 5 to 7 years, recognising that investors require at least two years to establish a factory. He also shared that under various schemes, Bangladesh Bank has created a Tk 25,000 crore fund dedicated to SME entrepreneurs, offering loans at a maximum interest rate of 7%, with an even lower rate of 5% for women entrepreneurs and reduced rates for agro-entrepreneurs. Besides, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) has recently been reduced from 5.5% to 3% to increase credit flow to the private sector. Md Milon Sheikh, Additional Commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (West), said about 80% of the government's total revenue target has been achieved through the National Board of Revenue (NBR), describing it as a very challenging task. He noted that VAT collection growth in Mohammadpur and surrounding areas has increased by around 15–20% this year, and 98% of small businesses in the area have been brought under VAT registration within the last three months. Regarding the proposal for a mobile app to facilitate online VAT registration, he welcomed the idea, saying the government would seriously consider it as it would reduce human contact and minimise harassment. He urged SME entrepreneurs not to overlook VAT matters but rather to familiarise themselves with VAT laws for their own benefit, acknowledging that it remains a complex, mathematics-driven subject. Md Alamgir Kabir, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Tejgaon Zone), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said that the law and order situation in the area has improved considerably over the past two months, with a notable decrease in the number of criminal cases. He said on 27 March, around 63 extortionists were arrested during police block raids, and more recently, 71 miscreants were apprehended in a single day in the Mohammadpur area alone. Besides, he mentioned, around 63 patrol teams are actively working across this large area under a robust policing strategy to ensure public safety. He assured that police are ready to extend all possible support to small traders during the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha celebrations. Tania Sultana, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, Tejgaon Zone), stressed the need for increasing public awareness and adherence to traffic rules to reduce congestion, emphasising that traffic jams are not created by the police.

Environment, Forests, Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan urged the country’s brightest students to dedicate their talents to building an eco-centric, sustainable Bangladesh. She came up with the urge while as the chief guest at a programme where a total of 2,391 high-achieving students were awarded at the 24th O and A Level Awards Presentation Ceremony 2025. The event was jointly organised by The Daily Star and HSBC, held on Saturday at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Exhibition Center in Dhaka. Social movement crucial to tackle noise pollution: Adviser Rizwana “We must consume less, pollute less, reuse, recycle, and ensure fair distribution of resources. Only by redefining our relationship with nature can we break free from the cycle of environmental degradation,” she said. Addressing the awardees, Rizwana urged the students to focus not only on individual success but also on collective responsibility and sustainable development. “What once seemed impossible is now within our reach, thanks to the vision and promise of students like you. A new Bangladesh awaits—one that must be defined not by individual success alone, but by a shared commitment to the environment and society,” she said. The advisor also warned against the ongoing brain drain, encouraging students to return after studying abroad to serve the country. “If our brightest minds do not invest their talents here, how can we expect change?” she asked. She further urged the audience to rethink conventional definitions of development, saying, “Development should not be measured merely by personal possessions. Our vision must place nature at its center—where consumption is responsible, and environmental stewardship is fundamental.” Regretting the use of plastic bottles at the event, Rizwana stressed the need for behavioral change and sustainable practices in all aspects of life, including events and public gatherings. In her closing remarks, she congratulated the students and called on them to give back to the nation. “Love your country. Serve it selflessly. What Bangladesh has given you, you must pass forward to the next generation,” she said. Earlier in the day, Dr Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Law Ministry, attended the first session of the ceremony as the chief guest. The event was presided over by The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam and attended by senior officials from HSBC, The Daily Star and a large number of students, teachers and parents from across the country.  

The Anti-Tobacco Teachers’ Forum, Mothers’ Forum, and Youth Forum have made a strong and urgent appeal for the immediate amendments to the Tobacco Control Law. This demand was raised during a discussion meeting held on Saturday morning at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro. Speakers at the event highlighted the devastating impact of tobacco products and stressed that without passing this amendment quickly, it will be impossible to protect public health. Snigdha Baul, Deputy Director, Bangladesh Accreditation Council, Ministry of Education attended the event as a special guest. Dr. Khaleda Islam, Convener of the Teachers’ Forum against tobacco, and Shibani Bhattacharjee, Convener of the Mothers’ Forum against tobacco were also present in the meeting. From the representatives of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs;Jannatul Ferdous, Research Officer was also present at the event. Quoting alarming statistics, Shibani Bhattacharjee shared, “Every year in Bangladesh, around 38.4 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke. Among them, nearly half of adult smokers (49%) face exposure in restaurants, and 44% on public transport. Women and children are the worst affected.” Dr. Khaleda Islam expressed grave concern about the growing tobacco use among the youth. “Now a days, many young people are becoming addicted to tobacco, which is having a serious negative impact on their studies and mental well-being. Adviser Asif Nazrul trashes report by Indian portal as false, defamatory “According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 6.9% of Bangladeshi adolescents (aged 13–15) use tobacco in some form 9.2% among boys and 2.8% among girls. These numbers are alarming,” she said. Ashrafia Jannat, Convener of the Youth Forum against tobacco, added that the Global Adult Tobacco Survey shows that over 61,000 children in Bangladesh suffer from diseases caused by secondhand smoke. These shocking numbers show just how life saving a strong law can be. Presenting the key points of the event, , Project Coordinator of Nari Maitree Nasrin Akter stated, “Every day, 442 people die in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related causes. To stop this tragic loss of life, it is crucial to pass the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Law, developed by the Ministry of Health in alignment with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The key proposed changes include: 1. Elimination of designated smoking areas. 2. A complete ban on the display of tobacco products. 3. Prohibition of single-stick cigarette sales, unpackaged and loose smokeless tobacco items. 4. A total ban on tobacco companies’ involvement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. 5. Increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%. 6. Strong legal measures to protect young people from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. The discussion was attended by young Advocates from various universities, along with representatives from the Anti-Tobacco Mothers’ Forum, Teachers’ Forum, and Youth Forum.

A member of Bangladesh Army suffered bullet injuries when a group of robbers opened fire on him during a robbery attempt at Mekhal in Hathazari upazila of Chattogram district early Saturday. The deceased was identified as Shahidul Islam Sayem of the area. Nazmul Hossain, officer-in-charge of Hathazari Model Police Station, said a group of masked robbers, numbering four, looted valuables from a grocery shop named ‘Gausia Grocers’ after keeping the shopkeeper hostage at gunpoint in the early hours of Saturday. Seeing the incident on CCTV, Sayem appeared at the shop owned by his elder brother to impede the robbers. Human chain formed demanding facilities for rail passengers in Gazipur Sensing danger, the robbers opened fire on him and left the place safely, leaving Sayem injured. He was taken to Combined Military Hospital for treatment. Hathazari Model Police Station's Sub-Inspector Nazmul Hossain said that Sayem was home on leave from the Army. Preparations are underway to file a case in this incident. Earlier, on April 19, a house was looted in Ward No. 6 of Dhalai Union of Hathazari.

Metro rail services in Dhaka resumed on Saturday evening, two hours after a disruption caused by an electrical fault, leading to significant inconvenience for hundreds of passengers. Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the interruption occurred at around 5:10 pm due to an issue in the power supply system. Services resumed at 6:55 pm, after urgent repair efforts. The disruption happened when a train came to an abrupt halt upon reaching Shahbagh Station, while another train stopped at Agargaon Station, leaving numerous commuters stranded inside the trains and at various platforms. Human chain formed demanding facilities for rail passengers in Gazipur An official from Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) earlier said, “At present, metro rail services are temporarily suspended. The fault occurred in the power supply system between Shewrapara and Shahbagh. Our teams are working urgently to resolve the issue. Work is going on, and services will resume as soon as the problem is rectified.” This is not the first time Dhaka’s metro service has faced such difficulties. On May 25 last year, operations were similarly disrupted due to a technical fault, which took about an hour to fix.

All Ukrainian troops have been forced from Russia's Kursk region, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff for Russia’s Armed Forces, gave Russian President Vladimir Putin the news in a meeting Saturday, Peskov told Russian state news outlet Interfax. Ukrainian officials have not commented on the claim, reports AP. In a statement, Putin congratulated the Russian soldiers and commanders and said that Kyiv’s incursion had “completely failed”. “The complete defeat of our enemy along Kursk’s border region creates the right conditions for further successes for our troops and in other important areas of the front," he said. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Vatican City on the sidelines of the pope's funeral. The presidents met at St Peter’s Basilica for about 15 minutes and agreed to continue negotiations later on Saturday, Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nykyforov said. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung also confirmed the meeting and said they “met privately today and had a very productive discussion.” Adieu to Pope Francis:  Global leaders unite in Vatican for historic funeral Shortly after arriving in Rome last Friday, Trump said on social media that Ukraine and Russia should meet for “very high-level talks” on ending the three-year war sparked by Russia’s invasion. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Friday, and Trump said both sides were “very close to a deal.” Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said that “very significant meetings may take place” in coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed. “Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said. “Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.” Three people were killed overnight by Russian attacks across Ukraine, local officials also said.

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul has strongly denied allegations published by the Indian online portal News Arena India, which ran a report titled ‘B'desh legal advisor meets top LeT operative post J&K attack’. Dr Asif Nazrul dismissed the allegations as false, defamatory and utterly irresponsible, as the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs clarified in a statement issued on Friday. According to the statement, on April 24, a report of News Arena India alleged that Asif Nazrul met with a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative following the recent Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir—an accusation the statement described as completely baseless. Clarifying the events, the statement said Adviser Asif Nazrul had met leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, a legally operating platform of Islamic scholars in Bangladesh, to address politically motivated cases filed during the previous government’s tenure. The meeting took place several days before the date cited by News Arena India and focused solely on legal matters, the statement added. The statement further clarified that Hefazat-e-Islam’s political engagement is widely recognised, including by western embassies in Dhaka, and international rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented past crackdowns against the group. Delayed elections may jeopardise foreign investment prospects: Mustafizur Rahman Besides, the report falsely claimed that the adviser posted an inflammatory message on Facebook implicating Indian leaders in the Pahalgam massacre. In reality, the post in question was authored by an Indian citizen criticising security lapses. He shared the post with a caption condemning the attack. Recognising the potential for misinterpretation, he voluntarily deleted the post within hours, the statement added. Adviser Asif Nazrul condemned the Pahalgam attack, offered condolences to the victims and called for quick justice. It also urged media outlets to uphold journalistic standards and verify facts before publication.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday said the judges who abetted in establishing Sheikh Hasina’s fascist regime in Bangladesh must face trial to prevent such abuse of the judiciary in the future. “The judiciary is one of the key elements that helped establish fascism. Justice Khairul Haque, Justice Enayetur Rahim, Justice Asaduzzaman and countless others are among those who contributed to the establishment of fascism,” he told a discussion. The Nationalist Research Foundation (NRF) organised the programme titled ‘60 lakh accused in false cases under fascism: How far the redress’ at the Jatiya Press Club. Rizvi said Justice Asaduzzaman unlawfully sentenced a patriotic leader like Khaleda Zia in a false case, while Justice Enayetur Rahim doubled her jail term. “Why won't those judges be punished? The judges of fascism must face trial. If their trial is ensured, no one in the future will dare to use the judiciary to carry out their evil intentions and impose undemocratic repression on the people,” he said. Drawing a comparison to post-World War II trials, Rizvi said at the Nuremberg Trials, those who served as judges in Hitler's court and sentenced millions of prisoners to death at his command without listening to any logic were brought to justice. “If they could be tried, then why can’t those who prolonged the fascism of Sheikh Hasina be tried now? Their trial must be ensured,” he said. Rizvi voices concern over corruption allegations against advisers The BNP leader urged the interim government to remain alert so that it does not get infected by the virus of the previous fascist regime of Sheikh Hasina. He said the interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, has been running the country for the last eight months, as Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5 last year in the face of a mass uprising. “The people expect the interim government to restore the free and fair elections that Sheikh Hasina tried to usurp and make invisible,” the BNP leader said. He questioned why the interim government is keeping people in uncertainty over the election. “Why is the election swinging like a pendulum between December and June? Make it clear to the people.” Delayed elections may jeopardise foreign investment prospects: Mustafizur Rahman Rizvi alleged that Sheikh Hasina's regime implicated around 60 lakh BNP leaders and activists in false cases to suppress the opposition and continue her authoritarian rule and plundering. “This was the manifestation of torture by the fascist regime.” Earlier, addressing the programme, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s adviser Mahadi Amin said there are countries in the world whose entire population is less than 60 lakh. “But in Bangladesh, 60 lakh BNP members are accused in various cases.” Rizvi echoed Mahadi’s sentiment by comparing the figure to Denmark’s population, saying, “Denmark has around 50 lakh people. Yet, here, we have more accused BNP members than the population of an entire country.” He also criticised the selective withdrawal of cases under the current government, noting that while Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has seen his legal troubles eased, cases against BNP leaders and activists remain unresolved. BNP’s International Affairs Secretary Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim presented the keynote paper at the programme, held with NRF Convener Syed Abdal Ahmed in the chair.

People in Gazipur formed a human chain at Joydebpur Railway Junction to press home their 10-point demand including facilities for railway passengers on Saturday. Leaders from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party also participated in the human chain and staged a sit-in there expressing solidarity with the locals and anti-discrimination students. They also demanded einstatement of all intercity train stops at Joydebpur Railway Junction. Md Shahiduzzaman, former vice-president of Gazipur Metropolitan unit BNP and president of the Nationalist Lawyers’ Forum, Engineer Shamsul Haque, president of Gazipur Heritage and Development Organization, Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar, a central leader of the Jatiya Party, Taj Uddin Ahmed Taj, a leader of Jamaat’s Business Forum, Professor MA Baten, general secretary of the Heritage and Development group and DUET student leader Rakibul Hasan, among others also spoke at the programme. They said the number of passengers using Joydebpur Station has increased but the station’s daily revenue has dropped from Tk 800,000 to Tk 300,000 over the past three years. They also alleged that there is a plot to privatise the Turag Express train which operates between Gazipur and Dhaka. They also threatened to go for a tougher movement if their demands are not met. Located in the heart of the industrial and densely-populated Gazipur Metropolitan area—Joydebpur Station serves roughly one lakh passengers daily, with commuters traveling to Dhaka and other destinations. As a result of a long-standing movement, the Railway Adviser inaugurated four pairs of trains between Gazipur and Dhaka on December 24 last year. Before the inauguration, the adviser had assured solutions to various issues, including reinstating all train stops at Joydebpur, resumption of monthly ticket services and addressing other concerns. Despite the resumption of monthly ticket services more than two months ago, passengers continue to face various hurdles. Due to poor scheduling, the two newly launched trains have failed to serve passengers effectively. Organisers said a revised timetable based on commuter demand has already been submitted, but no progress has been made on other demands despite repeated discussions with railway officials. The speakers accused corrupt railway officials and contractors of deliberately keeping the new trains idle throughout the day to serve vested interests. They also alleged that intercity trains are still not stopping at Joydebpur despite high passenger demand and claimed there is a conspiracy to hand over the Turag Express to private ownership. In this context, they urged the authorities to swiftly implement their 10-point demand to ensure train service for the nearly one lakh daily commuters passing through Joydebpur Station. The other demands include ensuring all intercity non-stop trains halt at Joydebpur, running all trains on schedule, preventing monthly tickets from being limited to specific trains, managing all Gazipur-bound trains from Joydebpur Station and eliminating corruption from Bangladesh Railway while improving passenger facilities.  

Pope Francis' funeral was held today at the Vatican, marking the end of a remarkable pontificate that touched the lives of millions. His coffin was brought to the church in Rome where he will be buried, surrounded by leaders and dignitaries from around the world, as well as an estimated 250,000 mourners. Of those, 50,000 gathered inside St Peter's Square to pay their respects to the late pontiff. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who led the service, paid tribute to Pope Francis, describing him as a man who "touched minds and hearts" and strove to "build bridges, not walls." The sentiment echoed the Pope’s lifelong mission of peace and unity, both within the Catholic Church and the broader global community. Among the mourners were several prominent political figures, including former US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prince William. The presence of these figures underscored the worldwide respect for Pope Francis and the significant influence he had during his tenure. Before the funeral service, Trump and Zelensky met privately inside St Peter's Basilica for a brief, yet "very productive" conversation, according to the White House. The two leaders are expected to meet again later today to continue their discussions. Iran to ink $4b oilfields deal with Russia Additionally, a photograph released by the Ukrainian officials showed Trump and Zelensky speaking with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, further emphasising the global importance of the event. For viewers in the UK, the funeral service and related coverage can be streamed on BBC One and iPlayer, with live commentary available on the BBC World Service. Pope Francis' passing marks the end of a pivotal era for the Catholic Church, and his funeral has become a poignant moment for people of all faiths to reflect on his contributions to global peace, humanitarian work, and the Church itself. Source: With inputs from BBC

The number of injured from an explosion Saturday at a port in southern Iran jumped to 281, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. IRNA quoted Mojtaba Khaledi, the spokesman of Iran’s National Emergency Organization, as giving the figure. The blast happened at the Rajaei port just outside of Bandar Abbas, a major facility for container shipments for the Islamic Republic that handles some 80 million tons (72.5 million metric tons) of goods a year. Social media videos showed black billowing smoke after the blast. Others showed glass blown out of buildings kilometers (miles) away from the epicenter of the explosion. Authorities have offered no cause for the explosion yet. Industrial accidents happen in Iran, particularly at its aging oil facilities that struggle for access to parts under international sanctions. But Iranian state TV specifically ruled out any energy infrastructure as causing or being damaged in the blast. Indian Air Force jet accidentally drops non-explosive store in Madhya Pradesh Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, a provincial disaster management official, told Iranian state TV that first responders were trying to reach the area while others were attempting to evacuate the site. Hasanzadeh said the blast came from containers at Rajaei port in the city, without elaborating. State TV also reported there had been a building collapse caused by the explosion, though there were no immediate other details offered. Rajaei port is some 1,050 kilometers (652 miles) southeast of Iran's capital, Tehran, on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil traded passes. The blast happened as Iran and the United States met Saturday in Oman for the third round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program.

The main congregation of Eid-ul-Azha will be held at the Jatiya Eidgah on the premises of the Supreme Court at 7:30am. However, if the weather turns unfavourable, the main congregation will instead be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 8am. Jamaat for bicameral parliament with 5-yr tenure  The decision was made at an inter-ministerial meeting held last week chaired by Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain regarding preparations for the celebration of Eid-ul-Azha, said a media release on Saturday. Subject to the sighting of the moon, Muslims in Bangladesh are expected to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of Muslims on June 7.

A US judge has dismissed a lawsuit that challenged Warner Bros’ ownership of “Superman” copyrights in 10 countries, ruling that federal courts lack jurisdiction over the matter. Mark Peary, nephew of the late “Superman” co-creator Joe Shuster, filed the suit against Warner Bros. and its DC Comics division in January, claiming Shuster’s estate had the right to terminate the “Superman” copyrights in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, and other regions. In a decision on Thursday, US District Judge Jesse Furman stated that the court had no authority to decide the estate’s rights under foreign copyright laws, according to Variety. “The Court concludes that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over this case; the case therefore must be and is dismissed,” Furman wrote. However, Peary quickly responded by lodging a near-identical case in New York state court on Friday morning. The new action seeks an injunction that could potentially disrupt the scheduled 11 July release of “Superman,” a reboot directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet. Previously, Peary’s lawyer, Marc Toberoff, had attempted to secure a federal injunction to prevent the film’s release in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Ireland unless the Shuster estate received compensation. China's Ne Zha 2 Stays Atop Hollywood's ‘A Minecraft Movie’ at the Worldwide Box Office By dismissing the federal case, Judge Furman also rendered the requested injunction moot. Copyright claims involving “Superman” have sparked decades of legal battles since Shuster and Jerome Siegel created the iconic character and sold the rights for $130 in 1938. In 2013, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled against the Shuster estate, determining that Shuster’s sister had relinquished all claims following his death in 1992. Toberoff maintained that while the 9th Circuit decision resolved the matter under US law, the estate’s international rights remained unaddressed. He argued that British law allowed the estate to terminate copyright in 2017, marking 25 years after Shuster’s death. He further contended that the Berne Convention, an international copyright treaty, gave US courts the power to enforce foreign copyrights. Warner Bros’ lawyers rebutted that the Berne Convention is not enforceable in federal courts. Toberoff has yet to initiate proceedings in the UK or other jurisdictions, citing practical difficulties. Warner Bros’ legal team also emphasised that “Superman” copyright issues had been thoroughly litigated and concluded. The character is expected to enter the public domain in 2034.

Investment in Bangladesh could face obstacles if the upcoming national election is not held within the promised timeframe, warned Professor Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). "If the next election in Bangladesh is not held within the pledged timeframe, political uncertainty may arise, consequently hampering investment," he said while speaking at a shadow parliament debate competition on 'Prospects and Challenges of Foreign Investment' organised at the FDC on Saturday. Mustafizur Rahman emphasised that political stability was essential for sustainable investment. Although a recent investment summit had generated optimism about foreign investment in Bangladesh, the actual commitments received were not particularly substantial, he added. Then CPD Distinguished Fellow said the ambition expressed at the summit to elevate Bangladesh to Singapore’s level within the next decade was unrealistic, but if an investment-friendly environment was maintained, the country could achieve a position comparable to Thailand within that time. Reflecting on past government reports, he said, "Investment statistics during previous administrations often presented an unrealistic picture. For instance, the Seventh Five-Year Plan projected $33 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), whereas the actual inflow was only $11 billion." Jamaat to fully support constructive, realistic reforms: Taher Dr Mustafizur Rahman also compared Bangladesh's FDI situation with other countries, saying, "Vietnam’s current FDI stands at $360 billion, while Bangladesh has attracted only $22 billion. Moreover, the current situation in India and Pakistan poses concerns for foreign investment in Bangladesh. If war breaks out, India's military expenditure will rise, potentially disrupting the tariff advantages we currently enjoy with them." At the shadow parliament debate organised by Debate for Democracy, Eden Mohila College defeated Dhaka College to emerge victorious. The event was held with its chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron in the chair.

Indian officials said Saturday that Pakistani forces fired on their positions along the contested border in Kashmir for the second straight night, escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors after last week’s deadly attack on Indian tourists. India blamed the attack—which killed 26 people, mostly tourists—on Pakistan-backed militants, calling it a terrorist act. Pakistan denied involvement, and a previously unknown group called the Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility. It marked one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the region in years. The Indian army reported overnight fire from several Pakistani posts along the Line of Control, prompting retaliatory fire. No injuries were reported. Pakistan has not commented, and the claims remain unverified. Despite the border flare-up, daily life in Pakistan-administered Kashmir appeared normal, with markets open and no mass evacuations. Diplomatic FalloutFollowing the attack, India suspended a key water-sharing agreement, closed the sole land crossing with Pakistan, and revoked visas for Pakistani citizens. Pakistan responded by cancelling Indian visas, shutting its airspace to Indian airlines, and halting trade. Citizens on both sides began returning home via the Wagah border crossing. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to respond forcefully to any Indian moves to block water flows and expressed willingness to join an impartial investigation into the attack. India continues to label all militancy in Kashmir as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies this, while many local Kashmiris view the armed movement as a legitimate fight for independence or unification with Pakistan. International ReactionsIran offered to mediate between the two countries, with its foreign minister highlighting the deep historical ties with both nations. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that India and Pakistan would resolve the conflict on their own, though he declined to get directly involved. U.S. intelligence official Tulsi Gabbard publicly backed India’s efforts to bring the attackers to justice. Crackdown in KashmirFollowing the attack, Indian forces ramped up operations in the Kashmir Valley, detaining over 1,500 people, according to police. Troops also used explosives to demolish the homes of suspected militants in southern Kashmir, damaging surrounding houses. Authorities have used house demolitions as a common tactic against militancy, despite concerns from locals and human rights groups.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday attended the funeral of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square and paid his last tribute to the Pope. The Chief Adviser was greeted by senior officials of the Vatican as he entered St. Peter's Basilica, where the mortal remains of the Pope were lying in state, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Prof Yunus stood in solemn silence in front of the coffin to pay his last respects to the late Pope Francis. He then joined the two-hour-long funeral mass along with leaders of the world's more than 130 countries. Ahead of the funeral and after the service, the Chief Adviser exchanged greetings with some of the world leaders, including the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, EU President Ursula von der Leyen, former US president Joe Biden, President of Finland Alexander Stubb, Kenyan President , Montenegro President, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, President of Ecuador, President of East Timor, Prime Minister of Honduras, President of Iceland, President of Portugal, the King and Queen of Belgium, Prime Minister of Belgium, Prince Albert of Monaco, Prince and Princess of Norway, Prime Minister of Tunisia, Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein, Director General of WHO, President of IOC Tomas Bach, foreign ministers of Sri Lanka, Bahrain and Syria, former US secretary of state John Kerry. Pope Francis was laid to rest Saturday following the funeral Mass at St. Peter’s Square attended by presidents, princes and as many as a quarter-million more. Late Pope Francis was the big admirer of the Prof Yunus’ work for the marginalised people across the globe and his vision for a three zero work where there will be no unemployment, no poverty and zero carbon emission. The Vatican also launched a joint Three Zero Initiative in Rome with the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate. Earlier, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus visited Bangladesh House in Rome on Friday and signed visitor’s book, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Azad told UNB. An hour after his arrival in Rome from Doha, Qatar, the Chief Adviser visited St. Peter Square on Friday afternoon to pay homage to the mortal remains of Pope Francis. Prof Yunus' presence represents a significant tribute to the memory of the Pontiff, with whom he had established a deep and genuine bond, founded on shared values and a common vision for humanity. The Chief Adviser was received by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Italy and the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Vatican City. He will depart the Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport around 8:00 am (12:00pm Bangladesh Standard Time) on Sunday and is expected to reach home in the early hours on Monday, Azad said  

Former Indian cricket captain and ex-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly, has called for an end to cricketing relations between India and Pakistan. "100 per cent, this (breaking ties with Pakistan) should be done. Strict action is necessary. It is no joke that such things happen every year. Terrorism cannot be tolerated," Ganguly said during his interview with ANI after Pahalgam attack. Hyderabad notches its first IPL win at Chepauk as Chennai's struggles continue In recent years, the two sides have only faced each other in ICC tournaments like the T20 and 50-over World Cups, the ICC Champions Trophy, and Asia Cup events organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami wants a bicameral parliament in Bangladesh with five-year tenure, said its Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher on Saturday. “We've agreed on the bicameral parliament issue” he said at a press briefing during the lunch break of talks with the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex. He said there were proposals to reduce Parliament and Presidential tenures to four years from five years. “But we told them that it wouldn’t be right. The tenures should be of five years,” said Taher. A 10-member Jamaat delegation, led Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, participated in the discussion that began at 10:30am with Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. Jamaat to fully support constructive, realistic reforms: Taher Jamaat delegation members included its Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, assistant secretaries general Rafiqul Islam Khan, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Ehsanul Mahbub Jubair, publicity and media affairs secretary Matiur Rahman Akand, Jamaat Dhaka South City unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and Shishir Monir. On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 16 political parties, including BNP and National Citizen Party (NCP). The commission formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has detained eight more members of Awami League and its associated bodies including banned Chhatra League from various parts of the capital for their alleged involvement in bringing out sudden processions. Shamim Ahmed Shahid,  General Secretary of Ward No. 57 Jubo League unit under Kamrangirchar Thana; Md. Zia Mia (45), President of Ward No. 33 Jubo League unit under Bangshal Thana; Md. Abdur Rob Patowary (50), Vice President of Ward No. 28 Awami League unit under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Thana; Md. Kabir Hossain alias Pani Kabir (35), Vice President of Ward No. 28 Jubo League under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Thana; MK Azim, former President of Ward No. 48 Chhatra League and a candidate for the position of General Secretary of Ward No. 48 Awami League and Md. Delwar Hossain (42), leader of Krishak League under Turag Thana among the detainees. Madaripur AL leader picked up after sharing ‘defamatory’ post on CA They were detained as part of a crackdown against those involved in participating in flash processions that aimed at creating panic among public and destabilising the country, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) of DMP Talebur Rahman. Legal proceedings against the detainees are underway, he added.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday expressed concerns over serious corruption allegations involving certain advisers of the interim government.​ “I know that most advisers are not involved in corruption, but accusations of corruption are being raised, and the scale of that corruption is serious,” he said while addressing a discussion.​ The Nationalist Research Foundation (NRF) organised the programme titled “60 lakh accused in false cases under fascism: How far the redress” at the Jatiya Press Club.​ Rizvi said allegations have been levelled against the Health Adviser's Personal Assistant (PA) and another adviser's Assistant Private Secretary (APS), describing it as a "terrible thing."​ He said their party has deep respect for the students' movement and their pivotal role in the mass uprising against Sheikh Hasina’s regime.​ Don’t miss the reform opportunity: Ali Riaz to political parties “Students would have done well if they had raised their voices on campuses against the corruption in state, politics, society and bureaucracy. Their strong voices are needed to address the many injustices and misdeeds that have infiltrated the state,” the BNP leader said. He said the students should have exercised greater caution upon becoming part of the government and holding power. He questioned, “Why should an allegation of corruption worth a hundred of crores of taka be brought against their APSs? Why should they be accused of being involved in transfer trading?”​ Rizvi also said allegations that some leaders of Students Against Discrimination (SAD) are exploiting their influence in various ministries for personal gain.​ “Just as there are parliamentary standing committees, there are also ministerial committees of students. This is tarnishing the image of the students. Why should they do this?”​ Rizvi also alleged that students have formed a committee to oversee railways ministry. Referring to a former Director General of Railways, he claimed that SAD leaders were involved in black marketing of tickets worth several hundred crores during Ramadan ahed of Eid-ul-Fitr. He questioned, “Why should students play the role of a watchdog in a department like the Railways? They are supposed to be on campus, where they will speak out against injustice, corruption, and irregularities.”​ The BNP leader said the interim government should have addressed these issues with stern measures. Govt to appoint officials from admin cadre in new Revenue Management Division Rizvi accused the leaders and activists of the Awami League of amassing substantial wealth through widespread looting. He alleged that Sheikh Hasina's regime implicated around 60 lakh BNP leaders and activists in false cases to suppress opposition and continue her authoritarian rule and plundering. He questioned why these cases have not been withdrawn, despite eight months having passed since the interim government assumed power.  He also queried why the cases against Chief Adviser Prof Yunus were dismissed, yet similar steps have not been taken regarding the false cases against the 60 lakh political leaders and activists.​ “These cases should have been archived in the courts during these eight months of the interim government's tenure... these cases should be disposed of,” he observed.​

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday expressed regret after an "inadvertent drop" of a non-explosive aerial store from one of its aircraft caused property damage in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district. According to Indian media, a heavy metallic object fell from the sky, striking the home of Manoj Sagar and damaging two outer rooms. Shivpuri’s Superintendent of Police, Aman Singh Rathor, confirmed that four occupants of the house were unharmed. “Police and administrative teams are at the scene,” Rathor said. In a statement posted on X, the IAF said it had launched an inquiry into the incident and regretted the damage caused. Separately, senior police official Prashant Sharma said the exact origin of the object would be confirmed following an investigation. He described the item as "extremely solid" with visible burn marks. "The Gwalior airbase has been contacted, and an expert team is expected to arrive to ascertain the nature and source of the object," Sharma added. Pakistan ready for ‘neutral investigation’ into Pahalgam attack, says PM Shehbaz Sharif The incident came as tensions escalated between India and Pakistan following a deadly attack earlier this week in India-occupied Kashmir. In Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination, gunmen opened fire on visitors, killing at least 26 people — mostly men from different parts of India, along with one individual from Nepal — and injuring 17 others. Responding to India's allegations, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) urged New Delhi to avoid its "reflexive blame game" and condemned what it described as the "cynical, stage-managed exploitation" of the Pahalgam incident to advance political aims. With inputs from India Today

After a long nine-day break during Eid, government officials and employees in Bangladesh are set to enjoy yet another round of consecutive holidays in May, thanks to a combination of public, executive and weekly holidays. According to the gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, the first set of upcoming holidays begins on May 1 (Thursday), marking International Workers’ Day. 29 tonnes of govt rice seized during anti-hoarding drive in Naogaon This will be followed by the regular weekend on Friday and Saturday, granting government staff a three-day break. Later in the same month, another three-day holiday period awaits them. On May 11 (Sunday), the country will observe Buddha Purnima, a public holiday. As the day falls right after the regular weekend, public servants will once again have three consecutive days off. These holidays follow the extended Eid-ul-Fitr vacation, during which government employees enjoyed a rare nine-day break. The government had initially announced a five-day holiday for Eid. Later, through an executive order, April 3 was added to the list, effectively creating a continuous break from March 28 to April5. Currently, Bangladesh has around 1.5 million government officials and employees. According to leave regulations, casual leave cannot be used to bridge the gap between two holidays. Doing so would count the days as continuous leave. But, there are provisions for earned leave and optional leave, which employees can avail with prior approval from their respective authorities. Each government employee is entitled to three days of optional leave annually, based on their religious observances. These optional leaves can be combined with general, executive, or weekly holidays, provided prior permission is obtained. Over 3,000 trees felled, yet Biyanibazar’s Tk 40 bn highway project faces uncertainty The Ministry of Public Administration has clarified that offices governed by separate rules and regulations—such as Bangladesh Bank—or institutions providing emergency services, will declare their holidays in the public interest as per their own internal policies and legal framework. With so many holidays lining up, government employees are enjoying a well-paced work-life rhythm this year—though it raises questions about service delivery continuity in critical public sectors.  

The government is likely to appoint officials from administration cadre alongside existing employees in the proposed Revenue Management Division, according to a draft law recently approved by the Advisory Council. According to the draft law which lays out the structure for the new division,  “Various posts in the administrative division of the Revenue Management Division will be filled from the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre and employees working in the National Board of Revenue (NBR).” The interim government has already cleared the draft law which seeks to split the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into two separate entities: the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division. NBR officials may ‘lose grip’ as govt plans new revenue division It was proposed by the committee to provide recommendations on tax policy reforms, improvements in tax administration, automation and other related matters. The government formed the committee on October 9 last year, comprising former NBR chairmen Muhammad Abdul Mazid and Nasiruddin Ahmed and former NBR members Delwar Hossain and Aminur Rahman. According to the proposed law, it is necessary to separate the government's revenue policy formulation activities and revenue collection management activities. The proposed law says it is necessary to create a Revenue Policy Division and a Revenue Management Division by restructuring the current system to make revenue collection more transparent, accountable and efficient. As Parliament is dissolved, the President will promulgate the ordinance under Article 93(1) of the Constitution, to be titled The Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025. Once the ordinance is promulgated, the government will establish the Revenue Management Division under the Ministry of Finance through a gazette notification. NBR tightens law to prevent abuse of bond law and facilities The government will formulate an appropriate organizational structure for the Revenue Management Department. The draft law mentioned that Government will give priority to a qualified government servant with experience in revenue collection work in the appointment of Secretary/Senior Secretary of the Revenue Management Department. According to the NBR officials, this clause will pave the way for the Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner (Land) to be eligible for getting any post in the priposed Revenue Management Division saying that these two posts also involved with revenue collection like the other NBR officials. It also said that Recruitment will be made from the Bangladesh Civil Service (Customs and Excise) and Bangladesh Civil Service (Tax) cadres for various posts in the Income Tax, Value Added Tax and Customs Law implementation related sub-divisions of the Revenue Management Division. The proposed law said that posts assigned by the Revenue Management Division in the field level implementation of the laws mentioned in the schedule shall be fillable from the officers working in the Bangladesh Civil Service (Tax), Bangladesh Civil Service (Customs and Excise) cadre and the field level employees of the Revenue Management Division. The Revenue Management Division shall be the controlling authority of the officers working in the Bangladesh Civil Service (Tax) and Bangladesh Civil Service (Customs and Excise) cadre. The Revenue Management Division shall perform all departmental activities related to the appointment, promotion, posting and discipline of all employees outside its cadre. The Income Tax Appeal and Customs and Value Added Tax Appeal Offices shall be under the administrative control of the Revenue Management Division. Scope of work of the Revenue  Management Division. The Revenue Management Division shall perform the following functions, namely:- (a) Enforcement of the laws and related rules as mentioned in the Schedule. (b) Proper implementation of international agreements relating to customs. (c) Proper implementation of international agreements relating to the avoidance of double taxation. (d) Human resource management of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Customs and Excise) and Bangladesh Civil Service (Tax) cadres. (e) Non-cadre human resource management of the Revenue Management Division and its subordinate departments. (f) Strengthening tax services, incentive programs and taking effective initiatives to bring everyone into the tax net with the aim of expanding the tax base. (g) Budget preparation, budget implementation and logistics related activities of the Revenue Management Division. (h) Formulation of procedures related to revenue management; (i) To undertake and implement necessary projects to increase the efficiency, effectiveness and dynamism of revenue management activities and to ensure transparency and accountability. (j) Supervision and management of subordinate offices. (k) To complete comprehensive automation activities quickly by establishing interconnection between the inter-wings of the Revenue Management Department and the Revenue Policy Department and all the related departments. (l) To coordinate with the Revenue Policy Department on various issues related to revenue policy formulation and implementation, to provide necessary training to develop skilled manpower and to conduct audit and intelligence activities; and (l) To perform any other duties assigned by the government. The draft further states that  once the Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Management Division are established, the current manpower of the National Board of Revenue will be transferred to the Revenue Management Division. From this manpower pool, necessary postings will be made to the Revenue Policy Division based on the committee’s recommendations. At the same time, the existing Internal Resources Division will be abolished, and its manpower will be vested in the Revenue Policy Division. The government will also appropriately divide the Internal Resources Division’s current functions between the Revenue Policy Division and other departments under the Finance Ministry. Both the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Divisions will be authorised to frame rules, issue orders, and provide clarifications as necessary for smooth functioning.              

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher on Saturday said his party would extend full support to constructive and pragmatic reforms aimed at ensuring the welfare of the country and its people. “Jamaat fully agrees with any pragmatic changes or reforms that are beneficial for the country, the nation and people,” he said in his opening speech at the talks with the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Taher emphasised that Jamaat is committed to cooperating with initiatives that promote national interest, provided they are realistic and beneficial for the public. He also called for inclusive dialogue to make the reform process more effective and sustainable. Jamaat joins talks with Consensus Commission A 10-member Jamaat delegation, led Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, participated in the discussion that began at 10:30am with Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. Taher said they never want to prioritise party or personal interests over what is beneficial for the country and the nation. “We agree that the nation wants to see a new Bangladesh,” he said, adding that people are frustrated with Bangladesh even after 54 years of independence and they feel deprived at least to some extent. Noting that Bangladeshis a brave nation, he said whenever people were deprived, they protested and resisted.  “We had become independent in 1947 but did not get freedom. We gained independence in 1971 through a long struggle but didn’t become independent. We’ve gained a second wave of freedom or a new Bangladesh through the July mass uprising. But whether we are truly free, only time will tell,” he said. He criticised past leaders for failing to value the people’s sacrifices and needs. “We hope the new opportunity before us will not be wasted like before. We must tread cautiously and, if necessary, act firmly. We must work to correct the fundamental issues.” Plot underway to foil election: Murad  Taher reaffirmed Jamaat’s strong commitment to Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. “We do not fear the red-eyes (threats) of any foreign power. We will not allow interference in our independence.” Highlighting Jamaat’s internal democratic practices, he said, “Our party holds elections on time, without campaigns, candidates or panels, and through secret ballots.” “We want elections in the country that the people of Bangladesh and the world will recognise as real elections. In the last three terms, no proper election has taken place,” he added. Referring to the consequences of power without elections, he said the country has plunged into chaos, affecting the entire nation. “We do not want a repetition of this. We want transparent and fair elections, and we will fully cooperate to that end.” Taher said Jamaat envisions a corruption-free Bangladesh. “Corruption is the biggest reason behind the sorry state of today’s Bangladesh. Without corruption, chaos cannot thrive. Getting elected without votes is a major form of corruption. Earning money without labour is corruption. Pocketing funds in the name of development is corruption. A corruption-free Bangladesh is Jamaat’s commitment,” said Taher. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. Jamaat delegation members included its Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, assistant secretaries general Rafiqul Islam Khan, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Ehsanul Mahbub Jubair, publicity and media affairs secretary Matiur Rahman Akand, Jamaat Dhaka South City unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and Shishir Monir. On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. AL being rehabilitated under Yunus-led government: BNP's Ripon The commission has already held talks with 16 political parties, including BNP and National Citizen Party (NCP). The commission formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms.  

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed his willingness to allow a "neutral investigation" into the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 people, including a Nepalese national, were killed. The attack, among the deadliest since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, has prompted strong diplomatic and security measures from the Indian government against Pakistan, which has been accused of providing support to the handlers and backers of the terrorist group involved. Indian military alleges Pakistani troops fired across Kashmir border for 2nd night Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sharif said Pakistan is open to participating in a "credible" probe, reports NDTV. "The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation," Sharif said. The Resistance Front (TRF), considered a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Sinovac hosts "Open Day for International Media" to showcase global collaboration Pakistan has repeatedly been accused of sheltering and financing terror outfits engaged in cross-border operations. Indian intelligence reports suggest that Adil Ahmed Thoker, a key suspect in the attack, crossed over into Pakistan, received military training from terror groups there, and infiltrated into India six years later along with several Pakistani militants. "Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Sharif further said. His comments come a day after Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the New York Times that Pakistan was "ready to cooperate" with "any investigation which is conducted by international inspectors."    

Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz on Saturday said the scope for reform that has emerged must not be missed under any circumstances. “We are at a historic moment. We owe a debt to the brave martyrs who have created this opportunity for us. It must not be allowed to slip away,” he said. Prof Riaz made the remarks while delivering his introductory speech at the talks with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. He said this opportunity should be utilised to build a Bangladesh where no one will face oppression and no one has to deal with extrajudicial measures. Plot underway to foil election: Murad  Prof Riaz said they are keen to reach a national consensus quickly. “We will hold discussions and through dialogue, our goal is to move forward towards reaching a national charter,” he said. “We are all together in this process. We are making a collective effort. This is not an issue of any single political party. In fact, it is not just a matter of political parties—it concerns everyone. We are trying to reflect the aspirations of the nation,” he added. Mentioning that discussions will continue, if necessary, he said they all share the same goal. “We are trying together, and our collective success depends on our sincere joint efforts.” A 10-member Jamaat delegation, led by its Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, participated in the session. The discussion began at 10:30am with Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. Jamaat delegation members included its Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, assistant secretaries general Rafiqul Islam Khan, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Ehsanul Mahbub Jubair, and Jamaat Dhaka South City unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul. Rizvi demands action against ex-officials for aiding fascism, praises CEC’s election stance On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogue with political parties aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 15 political parties, including BNP and National Citizen Party (NCP). The commission, spearheaded by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms.  

Dhaka’s air quality remained in the 'moderate' category on Saturday morning, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI). With an AQI score of 80 at 9am, the densely populated capital ranked 20th among the world’s most polluted cities. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Dhaka’s ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ air quality continues Cities like Delhi, Lahore and Kathmandu topped the global pollution list this morning with AQI scores of 324, 205, and 172 respectively — indicating air quality ranging from ‘very unhealthy’ to ‘hazardous’. A recent report by Unicef revealed that more than 500 million children in East Asia and the Pacific are breathing unhealthy air, with air pollution linked to the deaths of 100 children under the age of five every day. The AQI is based on the measurement of five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ground-level ozone (O₃). Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution, especially during the winter months, though air quality tends to improve during the monsoon season. In 2023, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Bangladesh was reportedly 16 times higher than the World Health Organization’s guideline for safe air. According to a 2019 report jointly conducted by the Department of Environment and the World Bank, the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka are brick kilns, vehicle emissions, and dust from construction sites. Experts have repeatedly warned that the capital is becoming increasingly uninhabitable due to unchecked pollution, with limited action being taken by the authorities.  

The death toll from the road crash on the Chattogram-Rangamati road in the Rubber Bagan area under Kawkhali upazila of Rangamati, climbed to six with the death of another person on Saturday. The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately. Earlier in the day, five people were killed and one was injured in a collision between a pickup and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Chairman Para Rubber Garden area around 10:30 am. The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed immediately, said Officer-in-Charge of Kawkhali Police Station Saiful Islam Sohag. Zahidul Alam, additional superintendent (Kaptai circle) of Rangamati Police, said three people died on the spot while three others died on way to hospital.

A colourful blend of culture and entrepreneurship is on display at the Pakistan Lifestyle Exhibition, currently underway at the Gulshan Shooting Club in Dhaka.  The event, which began on April 23, offers a platform for showcasing the Pakistani traditions while fostering cross-border collaboration. The exhibition brings together over 30 stalls featuring authentic Pakistani cuisine, traditional attire, and handcrafted footwear for both men and women. Visitors are experiencing a rich blend of flavour and fashion, highlighting Pakistan’s cultural heritage. Organised by Pakistan Livestyle in partnership with Bangladesh-based Gameplay Limited, the event aims to strengthen cultural and business ties between the two nations. Thousands gather in New Mexico for the largest powwow in North America “This exhibition has opened boundless opportunities for both nations to share and represent their unique lifestyles. It’s more than an event — it’s a celebration of cultural harmony,” said Faisal Titumir, Chairman and Co-founder of Gameplay Limited. Echoing the sentiment, Shagufta Bakht, CEO of Pakistan Livestyle, remarked in her inaugural speech, “The gate to cultural collaboration between Pakistan and Bangladesh is now wide open. We envision increased business ventures and entrepreneurial interest arising from this initiative.” The exhibition will remain open to the public until April 27. Pakistan Livestyle is a prominent event organiser promoting Pakistan’s culture, fashion, and heritage through global platforms. Gameplay Limited is known for curating impactful events that foster community engagement and diversity in Bangladesh.      

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami joined talks with the National Consensus Commission on Saturday morning. The discussion began at 10:30 am with National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. A 10-member Jamaat delegation, led by its Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher participated in the discussion at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.  On March 20 last, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. Plot underway to foil election: Murad  The commission has already held talks with 16 political parties, including BNP and National Citizen Party (NCP). Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms. In its initial phase, it compiled key recommendations from five reform commissions — addressing constitutional, public administration, electoral, judicial, and anti-corruption reforms — and shared them with 39 political parties for feedback.  Rizvi demands action against ex-officials for aiding fascism, praises CEC’s election stance To date, 34 parties have responded. The Commission aims to complete its first round of talks with political parties by the first week of May, begin a second round in the second week of May, and reach a national consensus by mid-July.      

The Indian military on Saturday accused Pakistani forces of firing on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region for a second straight night, amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following a deadly attack on Indian tourists. In a statement, the Indian army said soldiers at multiple Pakistani posts opened fire overnight across the LoC, prompting Indian troops to respond with small arms fire. The Indian military labeled the firing as “unprovoked” and reported no casualties. This follows a similar incident reported on Friday, when Indian forces claimed they were targeted with small arms fire in the Gurez sector the previous night. ICE is reversing the termination of legal status for international students around the US There was no immediate response from Pakistan, and the claims have not been independently verified. Both countries have a history of blaming each other for initiating border clashes in the contested Himalayan region. The escalation comes in the wake of Tuesday’s attack near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 people, mostly tourists. India labeled the incident a terrorist attack and blamed Pakistan for supporting it. Pakistan, however, denied involvement, and a little-known group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility. The attack was the worst against civilians in the region in years and has triggered heightened tensions. India and Pakistan, who each claim Kashmir in full and have fought two wars over it, have since taken retaliatory measures. India suspended a longstanding water-sharing treaty on Wednesday, shut down the only operational land border crossing, and announced all Pakistani visas would be revoked by Sunday. In response, Pakistan canceled Indian visas, closed its airspace to Indian aircraft, and halted bilateral trade. Travelers from both countries began returning home through the Wagah border near Lahore on Friday. Iran to ink $4b oilfields deal with Russia Islamabad also issued a stern warning, saying any attempt by India to stop or divert river waters would be treated as an “act of war.” The move threatens to worsen water shortages in parts of Pakistan already facing drought conditions. India maintains that all militant activity in Kashmir is backed by Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies, asserting instead that the insurgency reflects a local struggle for independence among Kashmir’s Muslim-majority population.    

Raninagar upazila administration has seized 29.31 tonnes of rice meant for government’s Food-Friendly Programmes and other social safety schemes from two warehouses of a rice trader during an anti-hoarding drive. Tippe-off that a group of unscrupulous traders had stockpiled government rice, the drive led by Raninagar Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Sheikh Nowshad Hasan was conducted in Kutkutitala area of Abadpukur Bazar on Friday. Expatriate killed by lightning strike in Sylhet The rice was recovered from two godowns belonging to Jahangir Alam Babu in the area. Technical food inspector Md Anisur Rahman of the Raninagar Upazila Food Controller's Office, police from the Ekdala outpost, and several government-registered OMS and Food Friendly Programme dealers were also present during the drive. Magistrate Sheikh Nowshad Hasan told UNB on Saturday morning that a mobile court raided the two warehouses and found 453 sacks of 50-kg rice and 222 sacks of 30-kg rice. Several empty government rice sacks were also found at the scene, he said. However, the main accused, Jahangir Alam Babu, and others fled the scene before the raid. The seized rice worth Tk 12 lakh was to the Raninagar government food warehouse for safekeeping. Magistrate Hasan said a case under the Special Powers Act will be filed on Saturday by the Upazila Food Department with Raninagar police against Jahangir and others involved in the illegal hoarding. Police are working to arrest the accused.  

Sylhet, Apr 25 (UNB) – An expatriate died after being struck by lightning in Sylhet’s Gowainghat upazila on Friday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Jibon Mia, 40, son of Shahjan Mia of Dalarpar village in South Pantumai under West Jaflong Union. Quoting locals, Gowainghat Police Station’s second officer Sub-Inspector Utsab said when Jibon went to a field to bring in his cattle after Asr prayers a lightning strike hit him, killing him on the spot. Jibon married off one of his daughters on Sunday and was scheduled to return to Dubai soon, locals said, adding that his sudden death cast a shadow of grief over the area.

Sunrisers Hyderabad made history on Friday by clinching their first-ever win against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, securing a five-wicket victory in the Indian Premier League. Chennai struggled to build momentum, managing only 154 runs after being stifled by sharp bowling spells from Harshal Patel, who grabbed 4 for 28, and captain Pat Cummins, who chipped in with 2 for 21. Hyderabad chased down the target with ease, reaching 155/5 in 18.4 overs. Ishan Kishan top-scored with 44, while Kamindu Mendis anchored the finish with a composed 32 not out off just 22 balls. Cricketers voice concerns over inconsistent BCB decision and call for urgent reforms Reflecting on the win, Cummins said, “We haven’t had the best record against CSK, so it’s nice to change that. We would’ve liked to finish it a bit more cleanly, but overall, very pleased with the result.” Hyderabad was eighth on the table after its third win in nine matches while Chennai was in danger of missing the playoffs after a seventh defeat.   Kishan and Mendis star in chase Chennai made early inroads in Hyderabad's chase when Khaleel Ahmed had Abhishek Sharma caught at extra cover for 0 off the second ball, and Travis Head’s off bail was knocked back on 19 by Anshul Kamboj in the last over of the batting powerplay. Hyderabad promoted in-form batter Heinrich Klaasen ahead of Nitish Kumar Reddy but the South African could score only 7 off eight balls, holing out against Ravindra Jadeja. But with heavy dew settling in, it became difficult for the bowlers to grip the ball. Kishan timed the ball well and struck five boundaries and a six. Left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad gave Chennai hope when he dismissed Kishan to a great catch by Sam Curran and Aniket Verma to reduce Hyderabad to 106-5 in the 14th over. But Mendis and Reddy, 19 not out, combined in a match-winning stand of 49 runs to finish off the game with eight balls to spare. Pace pins down Chennai Chennai top order has struggled to fire all season. Shaik Rasheed was caught in the slips off the first ball and Curran’s promotion to No. 3 didn’t work out. The 17-year-old Ayush Mahtre showed smashed six fours in his 19-ball 30 but he, too, fell inside the powerplay as Chennai limped 47-3. South Africa Dewald Brevis, known for his big hitting, made an impactful debut for Chennai as he slammed four sixes in his 42. He was out to a stunning diving catch by Mendis at long-off. The middle order couldn't compensate for the top order as Patel and Cummins squeezed, and Chennai was all out with one ball remaining. "In the first innings the wicket was slightly better and 157 wasn’t a justifiable score,” Dhoni said. “It wasn’t turning a lot, a little two-paced but nothing out of the ordinary. Yes, second innings there was a bit of help … but we were 15, 20 runs short.”  

The referee assigned to the Copa del Rey final, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea, became visibly emotional on Friday as he spoke about the abuse his child has endured due to public criticism of referees, particularly fueled by top football clubs like Real Madrid. Speaking to reporters, De Burgos shared his pain following the release of a video by Real Madrid’s own TV channel that accused him of being biased against the club. “It’s heartbreaking to see your child come home from school in tears because classmates are calling his father a crook,” he said, his voice trembling. “I tell my son that his father is an honest man. Like any athlete, I make mistakes, but I always act with integrity,” he added. “I want him to be proud of me and of the profession I represent. No one should have to endure the kind of attacks my fellow referees are facing.” The Real Madrid TV video claimed that Madrid won 64% of its games refereed by De Burgos, compared to 81% won by Barcelona under his watch. An unnamed voice called it “an incredible difference” while also questioning his talent and showing images of his alleged errors. The video was accompanied by dramatic music. It failed to say who the opponents were in those matches or if they were played home or away. AHF Cup Hockey : Holders Bangladesh eliminated from semifinal losing to Oman Many neutral observers see this as Madrid attempting to pressure referees before games. Madrid faces Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday in Seville. Bashing referees The club’s TV has made it a regular practice to air videos discrediting referees. Its part of a hostile publicity campaign the club has launched this season against soccer’s rule keepers. In February, the club sent a letter to the Spanish Football Federation claiming that the record 36-time league champion was being routinely harmed by refereeing decisions. It said “decisions against Real Madrid have reached a point that the adulteration and manipulation of the competition cannot be ignored.” Another referee who red-carded Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham for cursing at him was reported by some Spanish media outlets of having business activities that meant a conflict of interest with refereeing. The federation looked into the matter before clearing him of any suspicions.   Not taking it anymore De Burgos spoke along with video assistant referee Pablo González Fuertes at the now customary pre-Copa del Rey press conference for the referee crew, a rare moment for referees to be questioned by the press. González Fuertes supported his fellow referee and launched a warning that Spain’s referees were going to take unspecified actions to curtail attacks on their honor. “Do not have the least doubt that we are going to have to start taking more serious measures,” González Fuertes said, without giving details. He added that he was worried that the verbal hate referees receive from players and as well on social media could have real-world consequences. “One day we will have a real problem and we will all hold our heads and condemn what happened, but who will be held responsible for the situation?” Madrid responds Madrid fired back at the referees, calling their statements “unacceptable" in a statement issued late Friday. “These statements, which have surprisingly placed in the spotlight videos made by a media outlet protected by freedom of expression, such as Realmadrid TV, made in a premeditated manner 24 hours ahead of the final against one of its participants, demonstrate, once again, these referees clear and manifest animosity and hostility towards Real Madrid,” the club said.        

As temperatures rise, prolonged heatwaves and increasingly erratic weather patterns are expected to intensify public discomfort in Dhaka in the coming months. Several regions across the country have been experiencing mild to moderate heatwaves since late March — a trend showing no signs of abating. Experts say that the mid-April temperature surge already resembles peak summer conditions, warning that intense heat and extended heatwaves may dominate most of the year, disrupting daily life.  Meteorologists predict further rises in temperature from late April through the middle of the year. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), this month’s temperatures are likely to remain above normal, with an elevated risk of severe heatwaves across the country. Climate change has significantly altered Bangladesh’s weather patterns, impacting natural ecosystems, agriculture, livelihoods, and the broader economy.  Temperature may rise slightly in 24 hrs The country’s once-distinct six seasons are becoming increasingly blurred, with winter ending prematurely and summer-like heat beginning well before the official start of the season. As in recent years, BMD sources expect this year’s summer and monsoon seasons to be prolonged. Annual reports from the Met Office show that just a decade ago, Bangladesh regularly experienced prolonged cold spells in January and February, with dense fog and temperatures dropping to 7–8°C in parts of northern Bangladesh.  In contrast, the average minimum temperature this January stood at 13.6°C — about one degree higher than the previous year. Professor Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Chairman of the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), told UNB that the average temperature in Dhaka has risen by over 3°C in the past 7–8 years. Winter-weary East Coast hit with another storm as temperatures plunge elsewhere “In 2017, the average temperature in areas under Dhaka South City Corporation was 33.50°C, which climbed to 36.54°C in 2024. The trend suggests a further rise by mid-2025. Dhaka North City Corporation has seen an even steeper increase — nearly 4°C. The average there jumped from 33.39°C in 2017 to 37.38°C last year,” he said. According to CAPS data, the most dramatic temperature increase was recorded in Mohakhali, where the average rose from 33.50°C in 2017 to 41.5°C in 2024 — a staggering 7.5°C rise. Areas such as Tejgaon, Mirpur-10, and Farmgate also saw temperature increases of over 3.5°C during the same period. He noted that heatwaves began affecting various regions from late March and are still ongoing. While some areas, including Dhaka, have experienced nor’westers, temperatures are likely to rise further. Professor Kamruzzaman emphasised the urgency of adopting climate-resilient policies and effective environmental measures.  “Only three of the six seasons are now discernible — summer, monsoon, and a shortened winter. Seasons like autumn, late autumn, and spring are gradually vanishing. Although several recommendations were made last year during extreme heat conditions and some government initiatives were taken, little progress is visible,” he said.  He blamed global warming, deforestation, unplanned urbanisation, and carbon emissions for causing severe disruptions. “If immediate steps aren’t taken, the situation may worsen in the coming years,” he warned. Chuadanga sees sudden fall in temperature Bazlur Rashid, a meteorologist at the BMD, told UNB that this year is also likely to experience higher-than-usual temperatures.  “While it is hard to pinpoint exactly when the temperature will peak, the mid-April heat indicates it may escalate soon,” he added. He pointed out a shift in heatwave patterns — previously beginning in March, they now start later and last longer. This year’s heat build-up began in late March and is expected to continue. Senior meteorologist Abul Kalam Mallik said climate change is impacting agricultural output, biodiversity, and overall living standards.  “The once six-season cycle is rapidly collapsing. Irregular rainfall, extreme heat, and prolonged droughts are becoming the new reality,” he said. Dr Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said the Paris Climate Agreement target of limiting global warming to below 1.5°C has already been breached. “Accumulated greenhouse gases from fossil fuels continue to heat the planet. In Bangladesh, forest coverage has declined alarmingly, and rural water bodies are disappearing as canals and ponds are filled in. This loss of natural cooling agents is exacerbating the rise in temperature,” she said.      

Fantasy animation movie ‘Ne Zha 2,’ released on January 29, 2025, is running successfully at the worldwide box office. It now fends off fresh competition from the live-action fantasy comedy ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ which debuted on April 4 this year. Their cinematic face-off brings new energy to global screens. Let’s dive into how a mythical hero from the East keeps building victories over a pixel-powered quest from the West. Ne Zha Universe at a Glance The ‘Ne Zha’ universe, delicately woven from ancient Chinese mythology, is brought vividly to life by writer-director Jiaozi (Yang Yu). The saga began with ‘Ne Zha’ (2019), a groundbreaking fantasy animation inspired by Xu Zhonglin’s 16th-century epic ‘Investiture of the Gods’. It introduced a fiery yet misunderstood boy born from a spirit bead, destined to battle evil while carrying the weight of society’s fear and rejection. Amidst chaos and heroism, Ne Zha’s clash with Ao Bing ended in sacrifice, though their souls endured. In the direct sequel, ‘Ne Zha 2: The Devil Boy Churns the Sea’, the narrative rises again, this time with Taiyi Zhenren’s mystical plan. The deity aims to restore the two fallen warriors using the sacred seven-coloured lotus. Read more: South Indian Films Releasing in May 2025: Must-watch Lineup Ne Zha 2’s Journey From Mainland China to Hollywood With a production budget soaring to 600 million yuan, 'Ne Zha 2' stands as a creative milestone and China’s most expensive animated film to date. The figure is more than USD 80 million, based on an exchange rate of 1 Chinese Yuan = USD 0.14. Within just three days of its domestic release, the film surged past 1.1 billion yuan (USD 150.95 million). With the figure, it gets the fastest title ever to cross the 1-billion threshold in the Chinese movie industry. By its eighth day, it had already eclipsed 5 billion yuan (USD 686.15 million), overtaking the lifetime total of its predecessor. Meanwhile, it solidifies its place as the highest-grossing animated feature in mainland China. As of February 8, 2025, ‘Ne Zha 2’ had amassed over 7.2 billion yuan (USD 988 million), earning the historic title of the top-grossing Chinese film of all time. In doing so, it became the first non-Hollywood production to break the 7-billion mark globally. It even outperformed the single-territory box office record of the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Read more: Kesari Chapter 2 Review: Akshay Kumar Fronts a Bold Patriotic Courtroom Saga Within weeks, ‘Ne Zha 2’ outpaced the global lifetime earnings of Inside Out 2 (2024), becoming the highest-earning animated film in history. The fantasy epic crossed the USD 2 billion mark on March 9, becoming only the seventh film in history to achieve this feat. It stands as the first animated feature from outside the United States to reach that level. Remarkably, it’s also the first non-English-language animation to do so and only the second ever not produced by Disney. Its overseas debut at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles sold out instantly, with the film pulling in USD 7.2 million on its U.S. opening weekend. The English dub, now rolling out across theatres in Australia and the United States, promises to reignite its momentum. Ne Zha 2 vs. A Minecraft Movie Helmed by Jared Hess, 'A Minecraft Movie' opened strong in China, delivering the most impressive debut in the country this year. Between April 4 and 6, the Legendary and Warner Bros.-backed live-action fantasy comedy collected 105.5 million yuan (USD 14.7 million). While this performance marked a domestic triumph, it wasn’t enough to challenge ‘Ne Zha 2’ on the international stage. Read more: Top Pakistani Dramas in 2025 Showcasing Strong Female Leads In its tenth weekend, ‘Ne Zha 2’ continued its financial ascent with another USD 10 million, raising its global haul to USD 2.11 billion. The Cococartoon-produced mythological animation remains the top-grossing film of 2025 by a comfortable margin. With support from premium screening formats like IMAX, its momentum shows few signs of slowing, even in the face of new releases. On the contrary, the Jason Momoa and Jack Black-starrer film finished its opening weekend with USD 162.8 million in domestic earnings and USD 313 million worldwide. Its timing, arriving over two months later, meant it faced a global market already captivated by the Chinese fantasy epic. As of now, ‘Ne Zha 2’ leads the box office with USD 2.15 billion, while ‘A Minecraft Movie’ stands at USD 729.2 million. Read more: Popular Indian Universities and Institutes to Learn AR-VR Technology Critical reception reflects this divide: the Mandarin movie holds an IMDb rating of 8.2 and scores 95% from critics and 99% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. In contrast, the Hollywood film sits at 5.9 on IMDb, with a critic score of 48% and an audience score of 86%. This is a respectable showing but far from rivalling the acclaim of its Eastern counterpart. What’s So Special About Ne Zha 2 The mythology-based movie stands as a brilliant fusion of cultural authenticity and universal storytelling. The movie’s themes are confronting institutional prejudice, challenging destiny, and carving one’s own path. All these resonate deeply across cultures, yet are rooted in Chinese traditions and folklore. Read more: May 2025 Bollywood Releases: 10 Most Hyped Hindi Films To Watch The movie’s opening, featuring the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, highlights China’s rich cultural heritage. It also pays homage to a music form inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This gesture serves as a poignant reminder of the nation’s deep-rooted traditions while offering a window into its diversity. Behind The Screen The film’s graphics, meticulously crafted under the expert direction of Shi Chaoqun. It captures the essence of Chinese landscapes and mythological realms with striking precision. The battle sequences are nothing short of a visual masterpiece, blending cultural symbols and folklore. The timeless action sequences are beautifully rendered in the visuals. They showcase the artistry of Chinese animation, brought to life by over 4,000 professionals from 138 studios across five years. Read more: May 2025 Amazon Prime Video Originals Streaming Lineup: Movies, Series, Shows The production credit goes to Liu Wenzhang and Wang Jing. Lending the voices are Lu Yanting, Han Mo, Lu Qi, Zhang Jiaming, Wang Deshun, and Zhuo Yongxi. Verdict The ongoing box-office clash between ‘Ne Zha 2’ and ‘A Minecraft Movie’ continues to captivate audiences worldwide. While the Hollywood film had a strong debut, the Mandarin one remains a powerful force, steadily building global dominance. Whether the live-action adventure can sustain its momentum or if the animated epic will reclaim its crown is yet to be determined. What’s certain is that this cinematic rivalry is poised to leave lasting marks on the box office landscape. Read more: 10 Best Films, Documentaries on Palestine That Everyone Should Watch

A record-breaking global coral bleaching event has now affected a staggering 84% of the world’s reefs, according to an update released Wednesday by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). This marks the worst bleaching event ever recorded and the fourth global incident since 1998—now surpassing the previous peak between 2014 and 2017, which impacted around two-thirds of reefs. The ongoing crisis, which began in 2023, is being driven by rapidly warming oceans. “This is a turning point,” said Mark Eakin, a retired NOAA scientist and coral expert. “We may never see ocean temperatures drop below the threshold that causes widespread bleaching again.” UAE offers free-of-charge portable desalination plants to cover arid Cyprus' summer water needs Last year was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth, with ocean temperatures—particularly in non-polar regions—reaching an average 20.87°C (69.57°F). This is catastrophic for coral, which rely on algae living inside them for nutrients and vibrant color. Prolonged heat stress causes the algae to become toxic, forcing the coral to expel them. What remains is a pale, fragile skeleton, leaving the coral at extreme risk of dying. Coral reefs are critical ecosystems, often called the “rainforests of the sea” for the diversity of marine life they support—up to 25% of all marine species rely on them. They also play a vital role in food security, coastal protection, and global economies through tourism and fisheries. The scale of the current bleaching has been so severe that NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program has had to expand its alert system to accommodate the growing risk of coral death. While restoration efforts are underway—from coral nurseries in Florida to propagation projects in Dutch labs using fragments from reefs off the Seychelles—scientists emphasize that these efforts are only temporary fixes. “The only real solution is cutting greenhouse gas emissions,” said Eakin. “Anything short of that is just a Band-Aid.” Melanie McField, co-chair of the Caribbean Steering Committee for the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, stressed the urgency of action. “People need to understand the consequences of doing nothing. Inaction is a death sentence for coral reefs.” The warnings come amid increased fossil fuel expansion under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has prioritized deregulation and energy development over climate initiatives. Experts caution that dismantling environmental protections will further accelerate reef loss and threaten global marine ecosystems. “If we don’t act decisively,” Eakin warned, “we risk losing these ecosystems forever.”      

A newly discovered carnivorous caterpillar on the Hawaiian island of Oahu has earned the nickname “bone collector” for its eerie habit of wearing the remains of its prey. This unique insect prowls along spiderwebs, feeding on insects caught in the web and using their body parts—like ant heads and fly wings—to decorate its silk case. While Hawaii is home to several caterpillars that build protective cases from natural materials like lichen and sand, this is the first known to use the body parts of other insects. “Carnivorous caterpillars already do some wild things, but this one really stands out,” said Dan Rubinoff, a researcher at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Google's parent begins year with robust growth despite legal, competitive and economic threats Scientists believe the bizarre decoration may serve as camouflage, helping the caterpillar avoid detection by the spiders whose webs it raids. The research, published Thursday in Science, reveals that these caterpillars are extremely rare—only 62 have been spotted in over two decades of fieldwork. Not only do these caterpillars feed on other insects, but they are also cannibalistic, sometimes turning on each other. Their lineage dates back over 6 million years, predating the Hawaiian islands themselves. Today, they cling to survival in a remote mountain forest, threatened by invasive species and habitat loss. “This discovery highlights the urgent need for stronger conservation efforts,” Rubinoff emphasized.    

Big Tech stocks led Wall Street to a positive finish on Friday, capping off a turbulent week marked by market swings tied to President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war. The S&P 500 climbed 0.7%, extending a strong three-day rally and pulling within 10.1% of its all-time high from earlier in the year. Strong gains from Nvidia and other major tech names helped the Nasdaq composite outperform with a 1.3% jump. However, the upbeat performance in tech masked a more uneven day overall—more stocks in the S&P 500 declined than advanced. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a modest gain of just 20 points, or 0.1%. Alphabet climbed 1.7% in its first trading after Google’s parent company reported late Thursday that its profit soared 50% in the beginning of 2025 from a year earlier, more than analysts expected. Alphabet is one of the biggest companies on Wall Street in terms of size, and that gives its stock’s movements extra influence on the S&P 500 and other indexes. Another market heavyweight, Nvidia, was also a major force pushing the S&P 500 index upward after the chip company rose 4.3%. They helped offset a 6.7% drop for Intel, which fell even though its results for the beginning of the year also topped expectations. The chip company said it’s seeing “elevated uncertainty across the industry” and gave a forecast for upcoming revenue and profit that fell short of analysts’ expectations. It wasn’t just Intel. Roughly three out of every five stocks in the S&P 500 sank, including Eastman Chemical, which dropped 6.2% after it gave a forecast for profit this spring that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mark Costa said that the “macroeconomic uncertainty that defined the last several years has only increased” and that future demand for its products “is unclear given the magnitude and scope of tariffs.” Asian shares soar after Wall Street rallies into a 3rd day Skechers U.S.A., the shoe and apparel company, pulled its financial forecasts for the year due to “macroeconomic uncertainty stemming from global trade policies” even though it just reported a record quarter of revenue at $2.41 billion. Its stock fell 5.3%. Companies across industries have increasingly been saying the uncertainty created by Trump’s tariffs is making it difficult to give financial forecasts for the upcoming year. Stocks bounced back from a steep slide on Monday on hopes that Trump may be softening his approach on trade and his criticism of the Federal Reserve, which had earlier shaken markets. The hope is that if Trump rolls back some of his stiff tariffs, he could avert a recession that many investors see as otherwise likely because of his trade war. But Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs may nevertheless be pushing households and businesses to alter their spending and freeze plans for long-term investment because of how quickly conditions can change, sometimes seemingly by the hour. “Business owners scrambling to figure out their supply chains and exposure to tariffs is more than just a distraction,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. “It could be an existential threat, especially for smaller businesses that don’t have the scale or resources to have the same supply chain flexibility as larger firms.” All told, the S&P 500 rose 40.44 points to 5,525.21. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 20.10 to 40,113.50, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 216.90 to 17,382.94. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose modestly across much of Europe following more mixed movements in Asia. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.9%, but stocks in Shanghai slipped 0.1%. In the bond market, Treasury yields eased some more, and the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.32% late Thursday. It’s been generally falling since approaching 4.50% earlier this month in a surprising rise that suggested investors worldwide may have been losing faith in the U.S. bond market’s reputation as a safe place to park cash. Yields have dropped as several reports on the U.S. economy have come in weaker than expected, bolstering expectations that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates later this year to support growth. A report on Friday morning said sentiment among U.S. consumers sank in April, though not by as much as economists expected. The survey from the University of Michigan said its measure of expectations for coming conditions has dropped 32% since January for the steepest three-month percentage decline seen since the 1990 recession. The value of the U.S. dollar meanwhile held steady against the euro and other rival currencies. It’s been recovering some of its sharp, unexpected losses from earlier this month that had rattled investors.      

The U.S. government announced Friday that it is reversing recent terminations of legal status for international students, following widespread legal pushback. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had removed many students from its federal database, stripping them of their legal right to stay in the country. However, multiple federal judges across the country have since issued temporary orders restoring the students’ status as part of lawsuits contesting the terminations. Foreign students face visa revocation Over 1,200 international students were affected, losing their visas or legal status—putting them at risk of deportation. Many reported being unaware of any serious violations, with some citing only minor issues or confusion about the reasons for the crackdown. As a result, some students left the U.S., while others have been forced to stop attending classes or go into hiding. Government says it will restore student status Word of the policy pivot came Friday from lawyers representing the government in several of the lawsuits. Iran to ink $4b oilfields deal with Russia A lawyer for the plaintiff in one of the lawsuits, Brian Green, provided The Associated Press with a copy of a statement a government lawyer emailed to him on the restoration of legal status for people whose records were recently terminated. It says: “ICE is developing a policy that will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations. Until such a policy is issued, the SEVIS records for plaintiff(s) in this case (and other similarly situated plaintiffs) will remain Active or shall be re-activated if not currently active and ICE will not modify the record solely based on the NCIC finding that resulted in the recent SEVIS record termination.” SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database that tracks international students’ compliance with their visa status. NCIC is the National Crime Information Center, a database of criminal justice information maintained by the FBI. Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant Homeland Security secretary, said ICE had not reversed course on any visa revocations but did “restore SEVIS access for people who had not had their visa revoked.” Several colleges said Friday they noticed legal status already had been restored for some of their students, but uncertainty remained. “It is still unclear whether ICE will restore status to everyone it has targeted and whether the State Department will help students whose visas were wrongly revoked,” said Greg Chen of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Legal fights may not be over Green, who is involved in lawsuits on behalf of several dozen students, said his cases only sought restoration of the student status and that he would be withdrawing them as a result of the statement Friday from ICE. But lawyers in the Oakland case are seeking a nationwide order from the court prohibiting the government from arresting or incarcerating students, transferring them to places outside their district or preventing them from continuing work or studies. Pam Johann, a government lawyer, said it was premature to consider anything like that given that ICE was in the process of reactivating records and developing a policy. “We should take a pause while ICE is implementing this change that plaintiffs are seeking right now, on its own,” she said. But U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White asked her to humor the court. “It seems like with this administration there’s a new world order every single day,” he said. “It’s like whack-a-mole.” He ordered the government to clarify the new policy.    

For decades, the Charkhai-Sheola-Dubag road in Biyanibazar was a tranquil route, flanked by dense green foliage and the soothing rustle of leaves overhead.  The tall trees that stood sentinel on either side of the road not only provided a cool canopy for pedestrians and vehicles alike, but also served as vital shelter for birds and small wildlife. Today, that peaceful picture has vanished. In a dramatic and controversial transformation, more than 3,000 trees were recently felled to make way for a long-anticipated infrastructure initiative: the Sylhet-Charikhai-Sheola Highway Development Project.  Bangladeshi stone worker detained by BSF  from Sylhet border The once-green corridor now lies exposed, its barren path shimmering under the unforgiving sun. Yet despite the sweeping clearance and the environmental cost, the future of the Tk 42.57 billion mega project remains uncertain. On 13 February, the project’s director, Khan Md Kamrul Ahsan, suspended a tender for vehicle rentals meant to support project supervision.  The decision has only added to mounting questions about the project’s fate.  Simultaneously, the critical phase of land acquisition—essential to the project’s progression—has ground to a halt. The initial clearing of trees began after a formal notice was issued on 1 September last year by Mir Mukut Md Abu Sayeed, Executive Arboriculturist of the Roads and Highways Department.  Blockade on Lalmonirhat-Burimari rail route continues for 5th day The notice authorised the auctioning of trees along two key routes: the Sylhet-Golapganj-Charikhai-Jakiganj road (R-250), from Kadamtoli to Charikhai, and the Sheola-Charikhai road (R-281), from Sheola Bridge to Dubag point. The felling operation proceeded swiftly across 32 auction lots, sparking criticism and concern among local residents and environmental advocates. One such voice is Mufti Shabbir Ahmad, former vice-chairman of the Biyanibazar Upazila Parishad, who mourned the loss of the green cover that once characterised the region.  “These trees provided shade to pedestrians for decades, and birds chirped from their branches. Cutting them all down has dealt a serious blow to the local environment,” he said. The road expansion was envisioned as a crucial step towards improving passenger and freight movement between Sylhet and the Sheola land port, a growing trade hub along the Bangladesh-India border. According to the Roads and Highways Department, the total cost of the project stands at Tk 42.57 billion. Of this, the World Bank has pledged Tk 28.87 billion in loans, while the remaining Tk 13.70 billion is expected to be covered by the government. The project’s scope is both vast and ambitious. It involves the acquisition of 247.13 acres of land, 4.28 million cubic feet of earthworks, and 42.985 kilometres of pavement construction.  The design also includes 1,575 person-months of consultancy services, the building of 31 culverts, three bridges, one flyover, six overpasses, two underpasses, four footbridges, seven pedestrian crossings, and a toll plaza. Road crash in Pabna leaves 2 SSC candidates dead  Although listed as an unauthorised new project under the 2022–2023 Annual Development Programme (ADP), its inclusion was meant to facilitate external financing and fast-track its implementation. Yet, visible progress remains elusive. In response to growing doubts, Project Director Khan Md Kamrul Ahsan attempted to allay fears.  “The project has not been cancelled — we are simply progressing at a slower pace,” he said, without elaborating on a concrete timeline for resumption. However, with no developments on land acquisition and no visible on-site activity, locals are beginning to lose faith. Many now question whether the irreversible damage to the local environment—especially the loss of thousands of trees—was worth it. For the people of Biyanibazar, what was once a beacon of promise has become a symbol of uncertainty. The road, now stripped of its soul, stands as a stark reminder of what has been lost—and what may never be realised.    

The two-day Meet Bangladesh Exposition (MBX) ended on Friday with enthusiasm from the buyers to source Bangladeshi products, as some manufacturers had already received orders. The MBX was organised to showcase Bangladesh's potential export sectors: Medical and Personal Protective Equipment (MPPE), Leather and Leather Goods, Footwear, Plastics, and Light Engineering. The event took place at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) and was organised as part of the EC4J Project (Export Competitiveness for Jobs) in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and the World Bank, aimed at positioning Bangladesh as a preferred sourcing destination for global markets. Bangladeshi manufacturers gained valuable insights about their sectors and how to export their products to world markets by joining various seminars during the exposition, the organisers claimed.

Sinovac, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, hosted its "Sinovac Open Day for International Media" event on Friday, welcoming journalists from around 30 countries. The event provided an in-depth look at Sinovac’s operations and ongoing global initiatives aimed at advancing public health. The programme began with a welcome speech from Pearson Liu, Senior Assistant to the Chief Business Officer of Sinovac Holding Group Co., Ltd. In his address, Liu highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation, global partnerships, and the development of life-saving vaccines. He emphasised Sinovac’s role in combating global health challenges, underscoring its dedication to improving health outcomes worldwide. Ying Zhang, Deputy General Manager of Sinovac Life Science Co., Ltd., also spoke at the event, offering insights into the company’s research and development strategies, particularly focusing on vaccine production and distribution. Zhang outlined the company’s international collaborations and its mission to provide accessible, effective healthcare solutions globally. Replying to a question about the quality and safety of vaccines delivered to countries like Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic, Perry Peng, Country Business Development Manager of Sinovac's International Department, said Sinovac ensures the highest standards of quality and safety for every country it serves.

Five lakh trees will be planted in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC)  area this year, said its Administrator Mohammad Azaz.  He made the statement while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of renowned painter Md Abu Selim's solo exhibition titled 'Save the Environment' at Alliance Française de Dhaka in Dhanmondi on Friday evening. The DNCC Administrator said, "We have started planting trees along roads, sidewalks, medians, and all public spaces in the DNCC area. This year, we will plant 5 lakh trees. The community will be involved in this initiative, as well as organizations working to protect the environment." He also said that City Corporation employees are cleaning garbage every day to keep Dhaka city clean.  But it is very sad that there is so much garbage on the streets, sidewalks, fields, parks, canals, and drains in Dhaka that our workers get tired of collecting it. “People throw garbage indiscriminately everywhere in the city. “ “If we want to build a clean Dhaka, we must stop throwing garbage in public spaces.,” he added. “Our City Corporation workers must also strive to work more efficiently in cleaning efforts. We are focusing on improving this." He further added that in many areas, garbage is being thrown into canals and beels instead of being properly disposed of at STS (Sequenced Transfer Stations).  “Many people are discarding waste through kitchen windows. As a result, the city is becoming filthy, our own homes are getting dirty, and public health is being harmed. “ This garbage, especially plastic and polythene, accumulates in rainwater, providing breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, which can lead to dengue., he said. This practice must be stopped, and everyone must be aware, he said. Later, the DNCC Administrator inaugurated the art exhibition and visited the displays with other guests.

A Bangladeshi youth sustained injuries after being shot by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the Akhaura border in Brahmanbaria on Friday. The injured, Asadul Islam, 28, is a resident of Itna village in Moniyand union and son of Ferdous Mia.  He was admitted to Brahmanbaria General Hospital for treatment. Quoting locals, Akhaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) GM Rashedul Islam said Asadul crossed the border into India, prompting BSF personnel patrolling the area to open fire with pellet guns, injuring him. Lt Col Ziaur Rahman, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-60, said it is not yet clear why the youth crossed the border.  “We are trying to gather details by speaking to him. Communication is also underway with BSF regarding the incident,” he added.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday detained a Bangladeshi stone worker from the border area of Jaintapur upazila in Sylhet. The detainee was identified as Ekhlas Uddin, 27, son of Bilal Uddin from Noyagatti village under Nijpat union of the upazila. Lt Col Nazmul Haque, commanding officer of Sylhet Battalion (Border Guard Bangladesh-48), said they formally raised the matter with the BSF on Friday.  In response, the Indian force confirmed that Ekhlas had been handed over to the Dawki police.  He is currently in their custody, added Lt Col Nazmul. According to local sources, on Thursday, Ekhlas and several other workers went to collect stones from the bordering Shreepur stone quarry using ‘barki’ boats from the Balughat area in Bangla Bazar.  Around 1:30 pm, the boats reportedly entered Indian territory near border pillar 1280/1-S.  While most workers managed to flee as the BSF patrol approached, Ekhlas was detained and taken away by the Indian force.

More than 50 people were injured in a clash between supporters of the Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Ajmiriganj upazila’s Naogaon village in Habiganj on Friday. Of the injured, five who were in critical condition are now receiving treatment at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Others received primary treatment at Baniachang Upazila Health Complex and Habiganj Sadar Hospital. According to police and local sources, tensions had been simmering for a long time between supporters of BNP leader Akhtar Mia and Awami League’s Shahjahan Mia, also known as Shahjahan Member, over establishing dominance in the area. The situation escalated following a family dispute on April 22, during which a supporter of Akhtar Mia was allegedly assaulted by followers of Shahjahan. The incident further fueled hostilities between the two groups. On Friday morning, both sides reportedly engaged in a violent clash wielding locally made weapons, which lasted for about two hours. At least 50 people were reportedly injured during the violence, locals said. On information, police rushed to the spot and managed to bring the situation under control, said ABM Maidul Hasan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ajmiriganj Police Station. “Additional forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further unrest,” said the OC.

Four Bangladeshi women athletes who recently accompanied Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on a official visit to Qatar returned home and shared their experience with the media on Friday at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. This historic visit was the first time that female athletes joined the head of government as official delegates on a foreign mission. Footballers Afida Khandakar and Shaheda Akhter Ripa, and cricketers Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana represented Bangladesh’s growing presence in women’s sports. Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder introduced the athletes to the media on Friday, after they returned home.  “They visited Qatar’s sports facilities, met with senior sports officials, and were interviewed by the local media. It was a completely new experience for them,” Azad Majumder said. Sharmin Sultana was one of the two women cricketers of this visit, she said the tour was significant for them.  “We visited two major stadiums, one of which hosted the men’s FIFA World Cup and is now dedicated to women’s football. We also had the chance to speak with the founder of the Qatar Foundation, which supports women’s sports,” Sharmin said in front of the media.  “It was an honour. People congratulated us throughout the trip,” Sumaiya Akhter, the other cricketer, said.  Shaheda Akter Ripa noted that the visiting team discussed injury management challenges for female athletes in Bangladesh during their meetings. “We raised the issue of limited rehab facilities for women in sports” he said, recalling their meeting with the high official of Qatar Foundation.  “It was a huge achievement for us and for women’s sports in Bangladesh to travel as official representatives with the Chief Adviser,” Afida Khandakar, the woman footballer, said.  The visit was part of Bangladesh’s official delegation to the Earthna Summit in Doha. After finishing the Qatar visit, the Chief Adviser travelled to the Vatican to attend the funeral of the Pope, who recently passed away after suffering prolonged illness.

Bangladeshi filmmaker Adnan Al Rajeev’s short film 'ALI' has been officially selected for the prestigious Official Competition at the Festival de Cannes — marking a historic first for Bangladesh. Announcing the news in a Facebook post on Friday, Rajeev shared his journey behind the film. “Some journeys don’t start with a script. They begin with a quiet belief — that the stories from where we come from deserve a place on the world’s biggest stages,” he wrote, stating that “ALI was that belief." Last year, he attended Cannes as a producer; this year, he returns as a director, stepping into the Official Competition. “Cinema was never meant to be a solo journey. It’s beautiful chaos, a symphony of hearts beating together,” he wrote, acknowledging the extensive team behind ALI, including producers Kristine De Leon and Tanveer Hossain, writer Arvin Belarmino, and several members of the cast and crew. Rajeev also highlighted 'Katalog.', the production company behind 'ALI', calling it “a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia” that now stands tall at Cannes. He expressed deep gratitude to his wife and longtime partner, actress Mehazabien Chowdhury, calling her his “silent strength” and “lucky charm.” Curtain falls on Maheen Khan’s ‘Crafting The Many Threads of Cultural Textiles’ Renowned filmmaker and Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki also shared his excitement about the achievement. Adnan Al Rajeev was groomed as a director by Farooki, as part of his Chabial team. In a social media post, Farooki wrote, “Some news makes you emotional. This is one such! When Adnan first came to my den in Mohakhali some 18 years ago, I saw a boy eager to leave a mark! Yesterday when he called me to share the news… I was over the moon!” Farooki called it a “historic feat,” noting that ALI is the first Bangladeshi short film to be selected in competition at Cannes. “This is the best news from my gang of bhai-brothers so far! But I know this is not the last. More to follow!” he added. Rajeev ended his post with a powerful message for all South Asian storytellers: “This isn’t just a Cannes moment. It’s a message to every Bangladeshi filmmaker — we belong here. Our stories matter. And finally, the world is listening.” The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 13 to May 23. This year, a total of 11 films will compete in the Short Film category, and Bangladesh’s 'Ali' is one of the contenders in the category.

Train operations on Lalmonirhat-Burimari railway route have remained suspended for the past five days as locals continue a blockade demanding the direct launch of the intercity train "Burimari Express" on the route. According to railway authorities, four passenger trains operate daily on the Lalmonirhat-Burimari route. But since Monday, train services have been halted due to the ongoing blockade. Nur Alam, Station Master of Patgram Railway Station, said, “Train movement remained suspended on Lalmonirhat-Burimari route since Monday due to the blockade. Four trains usually run on this route every day.” He added that the protest began over the demand to operate the Burimari Express directly from Burimari to Dhaka. Manikganj market sees vegetable prices between Tk 80–120 “Only higher authorities can confirm when the train will begin direct operations,” he said. ATJ Siddiqui, president of “Patgram Sangram Unnayan Parishad”, said locals made this demand several times in the past through blockades on  roads and railways. “The railway authorities have promised at least five times, with specific dates, to launch the Burimari Express directly from Burimari. As they failed to keep their promises, we resumed the blockade. The protest will continue until our demand is met.” Abdullah Al Mamun, Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Lalmonirhat Railway Division, said the authorities are preparing to launch the direct intercity train from Burimari to Dhaka, but several logistical arrangements are still in progress.

Four-time champions Bangladesh miserably eliminated from the semifinal stage of the 10-nation Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup losing to their traditional rivals Oman by a narrow 4-5 goals  at CBK Hockey Field in Jakarta Friday evening. Oman, which booked a seat for the final at the coffin of Bangladesh, will play the final on Sunday (April 27) at 6 pm at the same venue against Chinese Taipei, which qualified for the title deciding match crushing  Kazakhstan by 7-1 goals in the day's first semifinal. Both the finalists ---Oman and Chinese Taipei--also qualified for the final round of this year's Men's Asia Cup Hockey as the two top teams of the ongoing AHF Cup Hockey. With the day's shocking defeat, Bangladesh missed the final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey after a long times. The eight team final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey 2025 billed for the Indian city of Rajgir, Bihar from Aug 27 to Sept 7 next. Six teams--Defending champions South Korea, hosts India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and China--directly qualified for the final round of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey as per their ranking.  However, Bangladesh will play the 3rd place deciding match against Kazakhstan on Sunday (April 26) at 3:30 pm Bangladesh time. In the day's 2nd semifinal, Sohanur Rahman Shobuj struck twice for Bangladesh in the 13th and 54th minutes -- first one from penalty corner and 2nd from a penalty stroke. Ashraful Islam and Obaidur Rahman Joy scored the remaining two goals for Bangladesh in the 24th and 38th minutes respectively.

Dhaka District Jubo Dal President Yasin Ferdous Murad on Friday alleged that a plot is underway not only to delay the upcoming election but also to thwart it for an extended period. “The people of the country want the election to take place before December this year. But, certain quarters are attempting to delay the polls under the guise of reforms. There are also efforts to prevent the election for a prolonged period,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks during an extended meeting of the BNP in the Suapur Union of Dharmarai Upazila, held at the local Union Parishad office. Leaders and activists from BNP, Jubo Dal, and other associated bodies of the party attended the meeting. Rizvi demands action against ex-officials for aiding fascism, praises CEC’s election stance Murad urged party leaders and workers to remain vigilant, warning them against falling into any traps and to avoid causing a chaotic situation. He also said various plots are being hatched against BNP to damage its reputation. “But, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, all these conspiracies will be foiled, and the people will regain their voting rights.” The Jubo Dal leader also called upon the interim government to announce an election roadmap by December, once the necessary reforms are completed. AL being rehabilitated under Yunus-led government: BNP's Ripon Murad referred to Tarique Rahman’s outlined plan for the next BNP government, saying that they will establish an equal and humane state by implementing the 31-point plan for restructuring the state framework. “This will include family cards, farmer cards, unemployment benefits, employment opportunities, free healthcare, fair prices for agricultural products, increased purchasing power for the public, and ensuring fair wages for workers,” he said. 

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and a group of other senior cricketers met the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed on Friday to express frustration over recent decisions that they believe undermine the dignity of players and damage the integrity of the game. Their concerns centre around three key issues, including inconsistent disciplinary actions against Towhid Hridoy, a national team player, who has been playing for the Mohammedan Sporting Club in the ongoing season of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. Initially, Towhid was handed a two-match ban for misbehavior towards an umpire, the BCB's umpires committee unilaterally reduced the suspension to one match—overstepping their authority. After Towhid played two matches, the BCB reversed course and imposed the ban again, which has prompted Tamim to describe the move as “absurd” and “unjustifiable.” “This process makes no sense,” Tamim told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. “He served the penalty already. How can they now ban him again?” The players were also disturbed by a recent anti-corruption enactment involving two cricketers reenacting an alleged fixing incident in front of media—an act they labeled humiliating and unprecedented. Along with all these, the premature leak of 10 players’ names accused of fixing in the BPL also drew criticism from the cricketers. New Zealand to invest in a new franchise in US-based Major League Cricket “What if some of them are innocent?” Tamim questioned. “Publishing names before an investigation is a violation of basic rights.” Urging urgent action, Tamim said that players are the sport’s biggest stakeholders. “This needs immediate resolution,” he said, following a tense meeting with BCB officials. “The board must treat players with the respect they deserve.”

Iran is set to sign a $4 billion energy agreement with Russian companies to jointly develop seven oilfields, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad announced on state television on Friday. The deal marks a significant step in Tehran and Moscow’s efforts to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors as both face mounting Western sanctions. “The deal aims to develop seven Iranian oilfields in cooperation with Russian firms,” Paknejad said, underscoring the growing energy alliance between the two countries. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Iran and Russia have increasingly aligned, strengthening cooperation in areas such as defence, banking, agriculture and energy, reports Al Jazeera. In January, the two countries formalised their partnership by signing a strategic treaty aimed at deepening bilateral relations. Friday’s agreement is viewed as part of a broader push to dismantle existing barriers in their collaboration. It also comes at a time when Iran is seeking renewed momentum in nuclear negotiations with the United States, set to resume in Oman on Saturday. Houthi rebels shoot down 7 US Reaper drones worth $200 million in recent weeks Tehran recently held consultations with key allies Moscow and Beijing ahead of the talks. Paknejad met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Thursday, who serves as President Vladimir Putin’s liaison with the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The meeting took place amid growing tensions within OPEC+—the bloc of OPEC members and allied producers led by Russia—over proposals to raise oil production for a second straight month in June. This push for increased output highlights internal disputes over quota compliance and coincides with renewed US pressure to curb Iranian oil exports.

The World Food Program says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory. The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days, reports AP. Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the UN. The WFP has been supporting 47 kitchens that distribute 644,000 hot meals a day, said WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa. At least 39 people killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, Palestinians say It was not immediately clear how many kitchens would still be operating in Gaza if those shut down. But Etefa said the WFP-backed kitchens are the major ones in Gaza. Israel cut off entry of all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza on March 2 and then resumed its bombardment and ground offensives two weeks later, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

A Russian general was killed by a car bomb on Friday, Russia’s top criminal investigation agency said, in the second such attack on a top Russian military officer in four months. The Investigative Committee said that Lt Gen Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, was killed by an explosive device placed in his car in Balashikha, just outside Moscow, reports AP. The committee's spokesperson, Svetlana Petrenko, said that the explosive device was rigged with shrapnel. She said that investigators were at the scene. Russian media ran videos of a vehicle burning in the courtyard of an apartment building. The committee did not mention possible suspects. Trump says Zelenskyy is prolonging war in Ukraine by resisting calls to cede Crimea to Russia Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described Moskalik's killing as a “terror attack.” The attack follows the killing of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, who died on December 17 when a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building exploded as he left for his office. The Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the killing of Kirillov, and Ukraine's security agency acknowledged that it was behind that attack. Kirillov was the chief of Russia’s Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, the special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemy’s use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. Kirillov’s assistant also died in the attack. Friday's bombing came just as US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, was expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss a US-brokered peace plan for Ukraine. The meeting is their fourth encounter since February.

Appreciating the government efforts to support the remittance fighters abroad, expatriate Bangladeshis in Qatar sought a number of measures from the interim government, including reduction of cargo charges from Bangladesh. In a session with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Doha on Thursday, the Bangladesh community leaders sought initiatives to facilitate easy migration for Bangladeshi professional job seekers in collaboration with Qatari government. They also sought prompt legal assistance to expatriates from the embassy and new and bigger premises for Bangladesh Embassy in Doha. Modernisation of the existing school and building of a new English medium school, end to harassment for tax issues and charging remittance fee based on income.    The Chief Adviser listened to all these issues and assured them of full cooperation from the government. He asked the senior officials to note and  take necessary actions to address the issues and concerns of the expatriate community.  Prominent Bangladeshi business in Qatar Md Alamgir Hossain Ali said expatriates should no longer be harassed at the airport. He said the diasporas should be served with due respect and compassion while entering or exiting the country. Prof Yunus leaves Qatar for Vatican to pay last tribute to Pope Francis Ali, who is living in Qatar for over 34 years, also raised the demand for the introduction of a separate immigration service, especially for those traveling with their families, so that they can enter and exit the country easily, safely, and with dignity. "Prof Yunus listened to us very attentively and provided logical, humane and future-oriented answers to each point. His speech clearly reflected the brilliance of leadership, sweetness of heart and love for people," Ali told UNB after the meeting. All the expatriate leaders present were happy, inspired and confident after listening to his words, Ali said, adding that his (Prof Yunus) promise has lit a light of hope among our expatriates. "When an international personality like Prof Yunus Sir pays attention to the problems and possibilities of the expatriates, then the expatriates feel respected, not neglected," he said. Welcoming the expatriate community, the Chief Adviser expressed gratitude to them for their hard work and efforts in keeping the positive image of the country in Qatar and for managing time to attend the event  despite their busy schedules. He extended sincere thanks and appreciation for their contribution to the national economy and to the country's development activities by way of their valuable remittances. The Chief Adviser hoped that with their help and cooperation, the interim government would be able to meet the challenges facing the economy and carrying out the reform initiatives and rebuilding processes undertaken by his government. He called them the assets of the country and asked their counsels and suggestions to the building of the new Bangladesh where all can live in a free society with honour and dignity. Prof Yunus arrives in Rome to pay last tribute to Pope Francis The Chief Adviser also urged the businessmen to come to Bangladesh with their knowledge, expertise and money, and invest in booming sectors. In his brief comments, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain shared his observations regarding the existing and future state of manpower market in Qatar and outlined the prospect of sending skilled workers/professionals in Qatar. He highlighted several initiatives of the present government taken for the overall wellbeing of the expatriate community abroad. He also addressed the concerns of expatriates and assured them of efforts to resolve such issues. The Foreign Adviser instructed the embassy officials to extend legal assistance for the expatriates in getting their rights as well as proving all support services including  e-passport service, consular services etc. In his intervention, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan shared with the meeting as to how the interim government paid lending dues left by the last government, including the 254 million dollar LNG dues to the Qatari government. He urged the expatriate community to send more remittance to the country to keep alive the battered economy. The Bangladesh community members appreciated Prof Yunus' leadership in putting the country back on track with improved overall economic performance. During the programme, the Community leaders drew attention to the following issues: During the community meeting, the Chief Adviser was also accompanied by National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Senior Secretary and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Md. Nazrul Islam, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, senior officials from the Mission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Around 100 expatriates, including academics, doctors, businessmen, investors and professionals, attended the event.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday questioned why the interim government has not acted against those, including Justice ABM Khairul Haque, ex-Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and KM Nurul Huda, who aided Sheikh Hasina in establishing fascism. “Why are those responsible for establishing fascism still at large? Why haven’t those who destroyed institutions and used their entrusted positions to serve Sheikh Hasina and entrench fascism been arrested yet?” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at an event organised by “Amra BNP Poribar” to provide financial assistance to the mother of Abdullah Bin Jahid, who was martyred during the July mass uprising, at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. Rizvi alleged that ABM Khairul Haque obstructed the continuity of democracy, paved the way for the rise of a tyrant like Sheikh Hasina and assisted in establishing a brutal fascist regime. BNP committed to restoring democracy, voting rights at any cost: Tarique “Why is Justice Khairul Haque still at large? Why is he still beyond reach?” he asked. The BNP leader alleged that Justice Khairul Haque, in collusion with both domestic and foreign anti-democratic conspirators, abolished the non-partisan caretaker government and enabled Sheikh Hasina to retain power without elections. He also said Khairul Haque is primarily responsible for the deaths of numerous young people and adolescents, including Abu Sayed, Mir Mugdho, and Jahid, who were gunned down by the law enforcement agencies of Hasina's fascist regime, as he paved the way for the rise of such fascism. Rizvi said Khairul Haque revoked the caretaker government system for his own benefit, as he later became the chairman of the Law Commission and took Tk10 lakh from the Prime Minister's fund for his treatment. He also questioned why former Chief Election Commissioners Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and KM Nurul Huda have not been arrested, despite having aided a bloodthirsty leader like Sheikh Hasina, who did not hesitate to shoot and kill children to stay in power AL being rehabilitated under Yunus-led government: BNP's Ripon “They (Rakib-Huda) destroyed the electoral system and democracy. Why can they still remain out of touch. This is big question of people,” the BNP leader said. He also expressed disappointment that no action has been taken against the judges who wrongfully sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in false cases. “It is a pity that no action has been taken against those who killed democracy and strengthened Sheikh Hasina’s hand in establishing fascism. If the government has even the slightest respect for the blood of the martyrs, there is no reason for these individuals to remain untouched,” the BNP leader said. He said it is the responsibility of the interim government to arrest the killers of democracy, regardless of where they are now, stressing that the people expect to see such an initiative from the government. Rizvi also expressed frustration that the government has not yet taken steps to withdraw the false cases against 60 lakh BNP leaders and activists, despite some cases against advisers being dropped. He praised Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin for his commitment that the Election Commission will not wait for reform suggestions from the National Consensus Commission, but will proceed with election preparations using the powers currently available to it. People waiting for election by December: Khosru The BNP leader said elections should not be delayed for the completion of reforms, as state overhauling is a contentious process. “So, the CEC’s remarks are positive… we are reassured about the election from his statement,” he said.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon on Friday alleged that the current administration under Dr Yunus is gradually facilitating the rehabilitation of members of the deposed Awami League (AL). “A process is underway within the Yunus administration to reintegrate Awami League leaders in various ways — sometimes in the name of advisers, sometimes as special assistants,” he said while speaking at a rally held at Shimulia Ghat in Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj. Ripon accused the current government of accommodating people  who had actively opposed democratic values and helped sustain authoritarian rule. People waiting for election by December: Khosru “We are seeing those who once supported Sheikh Hasina, backed corruption, opposed the democratic process, encouraged autocracy, and clapped in support of repression, being placed within the administration of the Yunus government,” he added. The rally was organised to demand an end to illegal sand extraction across the country, proper river management and visible steps toward the construction of an international-standard container port at Shimulia Ghat.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus arrived in Rome, Italy on Friday to attend the funeral of Pope Francis and pay his last tribute to the Pope. Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder confirmed Prof Yunus' arrival in Rome. An hour after his arrival in Rome from Doha, Qatar, the Chief Adviser visited St. Peter Square on Friday afternoon to pay homage to the mortal remains of Pope Francis. Heads of state and royals started converging on Rome on Friday for the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square. US President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are among the leaders arriving Friday, the last day Argentine pope will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica before his coffin is sealed in the evening in preparation for his funeral Saturday, reports AP. The Vatican said 130 delegations are confirmed, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning sovereigns. His presence represents a significant tribute to the memory of the Pontiff, with whom he had established a deep and genuine bond, founded on shared values and a common vision for humanity. Foreign journalists laud Prof Yunus for leading Bangladesh interim govt successfully The Chief Adviser was received by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Italy and the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Vatican City. Earlier, the Chief of Protocol of the State of Qatar, Ibrahim bin Yousif Abdullah Fakhroo, saw off Prof Yunus at Hamad International Airport in Doha as he departed for the Vatican around 12:25pm (Bangladesh Time). His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, will offer an official greeting to the chief adviser and the Bangladesh delegation at St. Peter Square. On Saturday, at around 9:30 am, Prof Yunus will again visit St. Peter Square to attend the Funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis, Azad said. He will depart the Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport around 8:00 am (12:00pm Bangladesh Standard Time) on Sunday and is expected to reach home in the early hours on Monday. Late Pope Francis was the big admirer of the Prof Yunus’ work for the marginalised people across the globe and his vision for a three zero work where there will be no unemployment, no poverty and zero carbon emission. The Vatican also launched a joint Three Zero Initiative in Rome with the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Friday called upon the government to hold local government polls before the national election to demonstrate the Election Commission’s sincerity and capacity. “There is now an Election Commission in place, which claims it will deliver the best election in the country’s history. We want to an acid test from them. Hold local elections first and let us see your sincerity and capability,” he said while addressing a party conference in Mymensingh. He said people are suffering due to the absence of elected representatives in local government bodies. “So, hold the local polls first. Show your commitment and ability. If people are satisfied with that, they’ll support you fully in the future. But if irregularities are found, people will show you a red card.” Referring to a recently submitted report on women's affairs reform commission, Dr Shafiqur criticised certain recommendations as being contrary to the Quran and Sunnah. “Those who made these recommendations do not represent the 95 million mothers of this country. We will not allow them to take society in the wrong direction.” He urged the Chief Adviser to reject the report upon his return to the country and called for the formation of an inclusive commission comprising people from all classes, professions, and ideologies. 'Janata Party Bangladesh' launched under Ilias Kanchan’s leadership Besides, he stressed that Jamaat would not tolerate any move to benefit a particular party or group but would support all efforts aimed at benefiting the public. The Jamaat chief questioned, “If the past practices continue, what was the point of all the bloodshed and sacrifices? What will we say to the nation?” He said they are prepared to fight once again, if necessary, to build a corruption-free, injustice-free, and tyranny-free Bangladesh. Calling for a new political culture, he urged the youth to lead the change, saying, “Youth have always brought about transformation, including the movements of July and August.” They took to the streets to protect your dreams and aspirations. Don’t rest until the rightful demands are met, he said, adding, “You are tomorrow’s leaders, and we’ll work as your workers. We want to give you the opportunity to serve the country and its people.” Dr Shafiqur also alleged that the deposed Awami League, along with its allies and some government officials, had looted Tk 28 trillion from the country—four to five times the national budget. He urged the European Union and other foreign representatives to help recover the stolen money and return it to the public fund. “We want a Bangladesh where there is no discrimination based on political belief or religion. Everyone must enjoy equal rights,” he added. He reiterated Jamaat’s vision of a humane, corruption-free, and just Bangladesh based on Islamic principles and the Holy Quran, where people of all faiths can practice their religions freely. “Islam respects all religions. We are united in establishing humane governance—there is no division among us. Together, we will build the Bangladesh we envision.”

Noted actor Ilias Kanchan on Friday launched a new political party named 'Janata Party Bangladesh' with a pledge to turn Bangladesh into a country of justice. Kanchan, who is also the chief of the road safety advocacy group Nirapad Sarak Chai, has taken the helm as the chairman of the newly-formed party. Journalist Shawkat Mahmud, former vice-chairman and advisory council member of BNP who was later expelled from the party, has been made the secretary general of the new party. The party was formally introduced at an event held at Hotel InterContinental’s ‘Ruposhi Bangla’ hall in Dhaka. “Just as I have served the people of this country with honesty through Nirapad Sarak Chai, I now wish to serve the nation with the same integrity through this political platform. I hope people will support, inspire, us and view any of our shortcomings with generosity,” said Kanchan. He also explained the reason that prompted him to enter politics. “For 32 years, I worked to promote road safety without any assistance from the government. I have come to realise that meaningful change is not possible without political will and support from the state.” Shawkat Mahmud said, “History bears witness that new political forces often emerge in the aftermath of mass uprisings, revolutions, and movements in Bangladesh. As the state is going to be reshaped by the spirit of the mass uprisings of 1971 and 2024, the emergence of a new political party has become inevitable.” At this crucial juncture in the nation’s history, he said, “We are announcing the formation of this new party with a commitment to ensuring justice, public welfare, democracy, and sovereignty by eliminating inequality, fascism, and all forms of dominance.” Mahmud said Janata Party Bangladesh is rooted in the ideals of the Liberation War, the National Revolution of 7 November, the mass uprising of the 1990s, and the spirit of the 2024 July Revolution. Jamaat Ameer expounds on moral lessons emanating from July Uprising “Our core slogan will be ‘We will build a nation of justice’. We aim to move forward in building a new Bangladesh based on equality, dignity, and social justice,” he said. Presenting an 18-point charter of the Janata Party Bangladesh, Mahmud said the party’s distinctiveness lies in its genuine patriotism, ideological transparency, courage, internal democracy, and its unified commitment to public service. “We want to return the ownership and policy-making rights of the state to the people. Guided by the wisdom of the elderly, the active participation of expatriates, and the energy of youth, we aim to take the nation to new heights of knowledge, science, and development.” In essence, he said they envision a truly just and sovereign Bangladesh as a new force for a safer future. Party chairman Ilias Kanchan announced the party’s 27-member central committee and its intention to apply for registration with the Election Commission. The key members of the committee include: Executive Chairman and Spokesperson Golam Sarwar Milon; Vice-Chairmen Rafiqul Haque Hafiz, ABM Waliur Rahman Khan, Rehana Salam, Md Abdullah, MA Yusuf, and Nirmal Chakraborty. Secretary General Shawkat Mahmud will be supported by Senior Joint Secretary General M Asaduzzaman; Joint Secretary Generals ABM Rafiqul Haque Talukder Raja, Al Amin Raju, and Nazmul Ahsan. Nurul Kader Sohel has been named as Coordinator, while Murad Ahmed will serve as Organising Secretary. The honorary members include Retired Major Imran, Retired Colonel Sabbir, Technology Affairs Secretary Gulzar Hossain, and Publicity Secretary Hasibur Reza Kallol. Advisory council members are Shah Md Abu Zafar, Retired Major Mujib, Iqbal Hossain Mahmud, Farhad Hossain Mahbub, Zafar Iqbal Siddiqui, Auwal Thakur, Touhida Faruqi, and Mamunur Rashid. Kanchan mentioned that the committee would be further expanded in due course.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is contemplating to introduce a system to account its officers for skipping any business entity without enlisting that in the Value Added Tax (VAT) net. For this purpose, the existing VAT law has to be changed. The revenue collecting authority is thinking to implement this plan aiming to induct every business entity having Tk 50 lakh turnover early under the VAT net. It has reduced the amount from Tk 3 crore in last January. NBR lifts 5pc advance import tax on crude soybean and palm oil Currently, the NBR is under huge pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to improve the revenue collection to increase the tax-GDP ratio to 7.9 percent by next June, which is currently 7.4 percent. The IMF has stopped to release the 3rd and 4th tranches of the $4.7 billion loan programme  asking the government to fulfill all its conditions. It has asked the NBR to collect some Tk 2 lakh crore in the remaining months of the 2024-25 fiscal to meet the conditions for the last two trenches of the $4.7 billion loan. Talking to UNB a senior official of the NBR said this week that it might take time, but the system should be like that if any VAT officer goes to a place every shop of that area should come under the VAT net. NBR lifts suspension of Tax Tribunal member Shafiqul, cites no reason In this connection, he said that after reducing the VAT yearly turnover to Tk 50 lakh it means that any shop that sells Tk 15,000 per day is eligible to come under the VAT net. “So there is no need to ask any shop owner whether it sells upto this amount. Each and every shop has to be under VAT net, there should be combing drive in a specific area, big or small,” he said wishing anonymity. He also said that the NBR is thinking to implement this plan without any discrimination. “We are thinking to make changes in the respective law to hold responsible the specific official for any specific region who will skip any shop,” he added. Next budget to focus on removing non-tariff barriers: NBR Chairman He said that if any business entity is skipped, the official of that particular region will be liable. Responding to a query regarding shortage of manpower for this job, the NBR official said that they are aware about this. “If necessary, it will take time. But no business entity should be left out from this net. If needed the area can be a small Initiative,” he said. NBR chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan recently  in a pre-budget meeting said that they had reduced the yearly turnover amount intensionally to bring all business entity under the VAT net. “We want to expand the VAT net, we have started our job, we want to ensure 100 percent coverage in a specific area, no one will be left out,” he told the meeting. The NBR has been able to collect some Tk 50,844 crore till February 2025 against the target of Tk Tk 69,103 crore. It had been able to collect Tk 53,426 crore till February 2024. It’s a 4.83% negative growth.  

Although prices of some varieties of vegetables have slightly decreased, most other items are being sold for Tk 80 to Tk 120 per kilogram in Manikganj kitchen markets. During a visit to the markets on Friday morning, it was seen that ridge gourd, snake gourd, brinjal, and pointed gourd were selling at Tk 80 per kg, while yardlong beans and drumsticks were priced at Tk 120 per kg. The prices of potatoes and onions remain unchanged, with potatoes selling at Tk 25 per kg and onions at Tk 60 per kg. Green chilies and tomatoes are both being sold at Tk 80 per kg. Local garlic is priced at Tk 120 per kg, Chinese one at Tk 240, ginger at Tk 120, and turmeric at a high of Tk 400 per kg. Road crash in Pabna leaves 2 SSC candidates dead  However, the prices of okra, bitter gourd, and cucumber have fallen by Tk 20 per kg, now selling at Tk 60. The price of lemons has also dropped. Egg prices have gone down as well. A set of four brown eggs is being sold at Tk 45, while white eggs are priced at Tk 40 per. Beef is being sold at the government-fixed price of Tk 800 per kg, while mutton is Tk 1,200 and goat meat Tk 1,000 per kg. Broiler chicken is being sold at Tk 190 per kg. Fish prices have risen by Tk 20 to Tk 50 per kg. Vendors claimed that the price hike is due to a decline in river fish availability. Consumers complained that prices at the Manikganj kitchen markets were higher on Friday compared to other days, alleging that due to a lack of market monitoring, sellers are setting prices at their own will. Two SSC examinees hacked on way to exam centre in Faridpur On the other hand, vendors claim that high wholesale prices are forcing them to sell at increased rates in the retail market.    

Md. Abdul Khaleque, secretary to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, reaffirmed Bangladesh government’s unwavering commitment to uphold the constitutional guarantee in promoting and protecting the rights of all citizens and to fully implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. He said this at the 24th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), being convened on 21 April-2 May 2025 in New York recently. In his statement, Khaleque informed the Forum about the implementation progress of the CHT Peace Accord. He also highlighted the land management system prevailing in the CHT region, which runs in accordance with mainly the provisions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, 1900. The secretary emphasised the government’s continued financial support and allocation in the CHT region to ensure infrastructural development and promote advancement in education, healthcare, livelihoods, sports and etc. Bangladesh’s constitutional commitment to protect and promote the unique local culture, heritage and traditions of the ethnic sects and communities has also been reiterated in Bangladesh’s statement. US$10mn approved to enhance climate resilience in CHT: ICIMOD Participating in the thematic dialogue on the ‘Financing of Indigenous Peoples' Work and Participation Across the Multilateral and Regional System,’ the Bangladesh delegation acknowledged the importance of their meaningful participation in relevant multilateral and regional system on issues affecting them; however, the importance of respecting the established UN practices and procedures was also underscored by the Bangladesh delegation. The Bangladesh delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Land, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from ethnic communities from both the CHT region and plain land.

Speakers at an inception workshop on the e-Parliament Feasibility Study emphasised the need for digital transformation to ensure a more inclusive, transparent, and citizen-responsive Parliament in Bangladesh. The workshop was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat (BPS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday at a hotel in Dhaka, with support from the Embassy of Switzerland. As part of UNDP’s Strengthening Institutions, Policies, and Services (SIPS) project, this initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and SDG 5: Gender Equality. BUET, BRTC chosen for feasibility study for expansion of airport runway Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, addressed the event as Chief Guest. He remarked, “For a Parliament to truly represent the people, it must be transparent, participatory, and accountable. The e-Parliament initiative offers a historic opportunity to rebuild public trust and restore parliamentary oversight, values that have long been missing from our political culture. But for this to succeed, we must also ensure free, fair, and inclusive elections that bring genuine representatives to the House.” Stefan Liller, UNDP resident representative in Bangladesh, highlighted the initiative’s purpose,“Technology can expand access, reduce time and cost, and enable real-time policy analysis. But the ultimate goal is a more accountable, participatory, and responsive institution.” Feasibility study will identify opportunities for increased US investment in Bangladesh cold chain: Helen LaFave “UNDP is proud to continue its work with the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat as a partner, a knowledge broker, and a long-term ally in strengthening democratic governance,” he further added. Corinne H Pignani, chargée d’affaires a.i , Embassy of Switzerland, also joined as Special Guest and noted, “The best way to serve the citizens is to enable citizen-centric management of parliamentary affairs.” Md. Mizanur Rahman ndc, secretary of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, gave the welcome remarks. Other notable speakers included A K M Benjamin Riazi, Additional Secretary, BPS; and Anowarul Haq, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh. Virtual presentations were also delivered by Agata Walczak Agata Walczak, Democratic Institutions and Processes Specialist, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP and Avinash Bikha, Parliamentary Digital Transformation Specialist, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), who shared global best practices from countries like Armenia, Bhutan, and Serbia, highlighting the impact of digital tools on parliamentary transparency and public engagement. Dhaka, Beijing announce 7 outcomes, including completion of feasibility study on FTA The event brought together over 80 participants, including officials from all wings of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, representatives from relevant government departments, development partners, and UNDP experts. Through collaborative group work and stakeholder dialogue, the workshop focused on identifying the specific e-service needs of Members of Parliament and Secretariat staff, evaluating existing ICT infrastructure and capacity, and outlining a roadmap toward establishing a comprehensive e-Parliament system.

The body of a newborn was recovered from a toilet at private Ibn Sina Hospital in Jashore on Thursday night. According to hospital authorities, the infant was found in a toilet located inside Room 101, designated as a female sample collection room and used exclusively by women patients. Al Amin Hossain, a cleaner working the night shift, spotted the body while performing routine cleaning duties around 11pm. He noticed a polythene-wrapped bundle inside a waste bin and found the newborn’s body, with the hospital administration being informed immediately. Senior Assistant Manager Asif Nawaz said he and other officials rushed to Room 101 upon receiving the report and retrieved the infant and took it to the emergency department, where physicians declared it dead. Body of newborn found near DU's TSC area Being informed, a team from Kotwali model police station went to the spot and took custody of the body. Abul Hasnat Khan, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said an investigation was underway and CCTV footage was being scrutinised to identify those involved. Legal action will be taken following the post-mortem report, he added.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus left Qatar for the Vatican on Friday to attend the funeral of Pope Francis and pay his last tribute to the Pope. His presence represents a significant tribute to the memory of the Pontiff, with whom he had established a deep and genuine bond, founded on shared values and a common vision for humanity. The chief adviser is expected to reach Rome by 2:15 pm (Italy time), where he will be received by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Italy and the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Vatican City, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. The Chief of Protocol of the State of Qatar, Ibrahim bin Yousif Abdullah Fakhroo, saw off Prof Yunus at Hamad International Airport in Doha as he departed for the Vatican around 12:25pm (Bangladesh Time). An hour after his arrival, the chief adviser will visit St. Peter Square at 3:15 pm on Friday to pay homage to the mortal remains of Pope Francis. Bangladesh to observe 3-day state mourning following Pope Francis’ death His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, will offer an official greeting to the chief adviser and the Bangladesh delegation at St. Peter Square. On Saturday, at around 9:30 am, Prof Yunus will again visit St. Peter Square to attend the Funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis, Azad said. He will depart the Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport around 8:00 am (12:00pm Bangladesh Standard Time)on Sunday and is expected to reach home in the early hours on Monday.

A Sylhet court has issued arrest warrants against 58 people, including former Vice-Chancellor and Acting Registrar of Sylhet Medical University (SMU), in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations of irregularities and abuse of power in staff recruitment. Judge of Sylhet Metropolitan Senior Special Court Rokonuzzaman passed the order after accepting chargesheets against the accused on Thursday afternoon, said court official Kripasindhu Das at night. The ACC submitted the chargesheet on April 20, accusing former VC Dr. Morshed Ahmed Chowdhury and Acting Registrar Md. Noimul Haque Chowdhury of illegally appointing and promoting individuals without adhering to required qualifications, age limits, or institutional approval. According to the charge sheet, between 2019 and 2023, the university recruited 220 staff on ad hoc basis, bypassing University Grants Commission (UGC) and syndicate approval. In many cases, appointments were renewed multiple times violating the 2018 University Act, which allows only a six-month extension. The ACC found that 46 appointees lacked age eligibility, 18 had no relevant work experience, and several had academic deficiencies—including four with third-division results and two without required degrees. Despite being hired temporarily, some were illegally promoted to higher salary grades. 2 excavators disabled, 4 trucks seized in Feni for illegal soil extraction Moreover, the university created 141 unauthorized posts beyond the 112 approved by the UGC, and salaries were paid using funds from the Health Ministry's development budget without necessary approvals. The irregularities came to light through a UGC investigation conducted in 2023. Based on their findings, the ACC filed a case against the accused on April 1, 2024, at its Sylhet Integrated District Office. The accused list includes administrative staff and faculty members such as Fahima Khanam Chowdhury, Anjan Debnath, Maidul Islam Chowdhury, and others. The ACC alleged that the recruitment practices were not only unlawful but also resulted in significant misuse of public funds and positions of authority.    

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast rain or thunder showers in Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions in 24 hours commencing 9:00am on Friday. “Rain or thunder showers with lightning flashes and temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.,” said a met office update. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, according to the BMD. Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Prevailing heat wave may continue, reads it. Meanwhile, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi division and the districts of Tangail, Manikgonj, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Jashore and Chuadanga and it may continue. Rains likely in six divisions, including Dhaka in next 24hr: BMD The country’s highest temperature 39 degree Celsius was recorded in Rajshahi over the past 24 hours till 6pm on Thursday while the lowest temperature 22 degree Celsius was recorded in Tetulia till 6am on Friday. A trough of low lies over West Bengal to North Bay across Southwestern part of Bangladesh.  

Agricultural loan disbursement in Bangladesh has slowed down, with banks disbursing Tk 3,639 crore less than the target of Tk 28,500 crore during the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2024–25. According to the latest agricultural loan update from Bangladesh Bank, banks disbursed a total of Tk 24,861 crore over the 9-month period—around Tk 3,639 crore short of the agricultural loan disbursement target. Among the banks, two failed to disburse any agricultural loans during this period, while nine banks disbursed less than one-third of their respective targets, according to the central bank report. Commercial banks are required to allocate 2 percent of their total loan disbursements to the agriculture sector. Accordingly, the target for FY 2024–25 was set at Tk 38,000 crore. During the July to March period, banks were expected to disburse 75 percent of the annual agricultural loan target. However, only 65 percent had been disbursed by March. Private banks, in particular, have fallen behind, disbursing Tk 14,727 crore against a target of Tk 19,390 crore. In contrast, state-owned banks have slightly exceeded their targets. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, loan demand in banks has remained low, attributed to political unrest and efforts to oust the government. Following Sheikh Hasina’s fall on 5 August, a reform drive in the banking sector was initiated. CIB report mandatory for agricultural loans: Bangladesh Bank "Since the beginning of the current fiscal year, the demand for loans in banks has been low due to political uncertainty. At that time, banks adopted a cautious approach to loan distribution," said the Managing Director of a private bank, requesting anonymity. He added that Bangladesh Bank’s policy of curbing inflation by raising interest rates and reducing money supply has also had an impact on loan disbursements. Dr Jahangir Alam, a renowned economist specialising in agricultural and rural development, told UNB that the reduced loan flow to other sectors, including industry, trade and services, also negatively impacted agricultural loans. "As a result, agricultural loan also took a hit. But the priority of financing in the field of food security was ignored," he said. He noted that a strategy to increase agricultural loan had been determined some time ago to ensure food security. As part of that plan, banks were mandated to allocate 2 percent of their total loans to agriculture, Jahangir Alam said. He urged that special attention be given to enhancing agricultural loan disbursement to safeguard food security and reduce dependence on food imports. Banks without rural branches typically distribute agricultural loans through microfinance organisations (NGOs) registered with the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), a government regulatory body. Agricultural Loans in Bangladesh: Banks Offering Loans to Farmers and Farms Banks failing to meet their agricultural credit distribution targets will face penalties, according to Bangladesh Bank, which is monitoring the matter. Locally owned Padma Bank and foreign-owned Woori Bank have yet to begin agricultural loan disbursement for the fiscal year. Union Bank has disbursed only 5.31 percent of its target. First Security Islami Bank and IFIC Bank have disbursed 13 percent each, Madhumoti Bank also 13 percent, while Shahjalal Islami Bank, Mutual Trust Bank, and Social Islami Bank have each disbursed 23 percent. Southeast Bank has disbursed 16 percent. Among foreign banks, HSBC has disbursed only 9 percent. Despite the relatively low loan volumes, foreign-owned Standard Chartered Bank, Bank Alfalah, State Bank of India, and Habib Bank have all achieved their annual agricultural loan disbursement targets within the first nine months.

Thousands have gathered in New Mexico for a vibrant celebration of Native American and Indigenous culture, as the annual Gathering of Nations powwow gets underway. Touted as the largest event of its kind in North America, the festival began Friday with a striking grand entry, where dancers in colorful, bell-adorned regalia made their way into the arena at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds, moving in time with powerful drumbeats. The multi-day event brings together performers, artisans, and musicians from Indigenous communities around the world. Highlights include the selection of Miss Indian World and majestic horse parades, where riders are judged on their connection with their horses and the craftsmanship of their traditional attire, including beadwork and feathered headdresses. Powwow roots Powwows are a relatively modern phenomenon that emerged in the 1800s as the U.S. government seized land from tribes throughout the Northern and Southern Plains. Forced migrations and upheaval during this period resulted in intertribal solidarity among Plains people and those from the southern prairies of Canada. Alliances were formed, giving way to the exchange of songs and dances during gatherings between different tribes. In the decades that followed, powwows were advertised to pioneers heading westward as “authentic” Native American dance shows. For some, it was an exploitation of their cultures. Assassin’s Creed Mirage partners with Shangri La museum for historic exhibit The word powwow was derived from pau wau, an Algonquian Narrtick word for “medicine man,” according to the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Scholars say English settlers misused the word to refer to the meetings of medicine men and later to any kind of Native American gathering. Today, some of the large powwows like the Gathering of Nations have become more commercialized events that use dancing and drumming competitions with big prize money to provide a glimpse into Indigenous cultures. Reconnecting with culture At ceremonial dances, participants wear traditional regalia specific to their tribe, whereas powwow attire often is more contemporary and flashy with sequins and sparkles. It's about dressing to impress the judges, said Warren Queton, a Kiowa Tribe legislator and adjunct instructor at the University of Oklahoma who has participated in community dancing and cultural events since he was a boy. Queton, who served as the head gourd dancer at the university's recent spring powwow, said ceremonial dances are deeply rooted in community, identity and cultural values. It's a struggle to keep traditional cultural practices and commercial powwows from being lumped into the same category, he said. They have very different meanings in Native American and Indigenous cultures. There has been a focus on promoting smaller powwows held in tribal communities. Queton said these gatherings serve as a way for people who live elsewhere to return home and reconnect with their families and the land, and to share traditions with younger generations. “Knowing where you come from, your land, your oral traditions, your language, but also values and traits — that can only be learned from a community,” he said. “That’s why those smaller dances are so important because people learn those community values. They’re all a part of our identity.” Capturing good energy There still are elements of tradition woven in to modern powwows. Competitors wear feathered bustles, buckskin dresses, fringed shawls and beaded head and hair pieces. Some of the elaborate outfits are hand-stitched designs that can take months to complete. The sounds, movements and emotions that radiate from the dancing are challenging to capture on canvas. But Cochiti Pueblo painter Mateo Romero did just that when he partnered with the U.S. Postal Service to create a series of powwow stamps to be unveiled Friday during Gathering of Nations. Powerfully hypnotic, atavistic and somatic is how the artist describes the dancing. One of his pieces depicts what is known as a fancy shawl dance with its dips, pivots, hops and twirls. Each tassel on the shawl flows and flips, accentuating the dancer's movements. Romero said he used color, thick and thin paint and soft and hard edges along with photographic elements to create something that feels alive, embedded with feeling and bright pops of color. Romero called it a huge honor to transform powwow culture into a postage stamp filled with “good energy.” “I look at it as a sort of vehicle to express this sentiment, the energy, the celebration, the vibration, the beauty of it,” he said. “It’s the power of it.”  

As Kunal Kapoor prepares for the release of Jewel Thief—premiering on Netflix on April 25, 2025—he recently took a moment to reflect on one of his most iconic films, Rang De Basanti. During an interview with the YouTube channel Khaane Mein Kya Hai, Kapoor shared an interesting behind-the-scenes moment involving Aamir Khan and the film's powerful climax. Kapoor, who played Aslam in the 2006 hit alongside Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan, Atul Kulkarni, and Soha Ali Khan, revealed that the emotional radio scene at the film’s end was originally intended to feature the entire group. However, Aamir suggested a major change: only one character should take the lead. Most assumed that Aamir, being the star, would take center stage. But in a surprising move, he insisted Siddharth be the one to deliver the scene, arguing it would be more impactful. "Everyone thought it would be Aamir,” Kunal said. “But he asked, 'Who's the smartest, most articulate guy in the group?' and we all knew it was Siddharth. So Aamir said, ‘Let him speak on the radio.’” Pakistani actor's return film faces boycott calls in India Kunal praised Aamir’s selflessness and vision, recalling him saying, “If every character in the film works, the film works. And if the film works, it’s good for all of us.” Aamir Khan’s decision is still remembered as a moment of true collaboration in Bollywood, contributing to Rang De Basanti being hailed as one of his most iconic performances to date.    

Cyprus will receive free-of-charge portable desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates to cover the tourism-reliant island nation’s water needs this summer as reservoir deposits are nearly depleted, officials said Thursday. Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou told the state broadcaster that the UAE agreed to provide Cyprus, at no cost, an undetermined number of desalination plants that will produce a combined 15,000 cubic meters (530,000 cubic feet) of potable water daily. Panayiotou didn’t disclose exactly when the units will arrive and become operational, but she said UAE authorities are aware the need is immediate as the summer tourism season kicks into high gear and water needs reach their peak. She said the deal is the result of secret negotiations over the last few months to cover Cyprus water needs that became acute when a fire knocked out one of its five static desalination plants, resulting in cuts to agricultural water supply. Each onshore unit produces 235,000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily. The plant won’t be back in operation until August and the portable units from the UAE will cover that lost water capacity, said Panayiotou. Technical staff are still trying to work out exactly where the portable units will be placed to maximize their utility, Panayiotou said. She didn’t say when those units will be returned to the UAE. Nearly 2,000 drug plants are overdue for FDA checks after COVID delays, AP finds Apart from its own desalination plants, Cyprus continues to rely on an extensive reservoir network with a total capacity of 330 million cubic meters. Water levels across the 108 reservoirs — the most relative to population than any other European country — are less than a quarter of their capacity following the second-driest winter in a decade. Reservoirs were at 47.2% capacity in 2024, official figures show. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides disclosed the UAE deal during an interview with local TV station ANT1, hailing the agreement as the result of Cyprus’ expanded diplomatic outreach and the friendly relations it has developed particularly with the Emirates and other countries in the region. Panayiotou said irrespective of the UAE assistance, the government’s medium- and long-term planning to permanently alleviate the island’s water shortages is moving ahead. The planning includes the procurement of four additional mobile desalination plants expected to begin operating in late autumn, each capable of producing 30,000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of drinkable water daily. Another two static desalination plants will be built over the long term, each with a 140,000 cubic meter (5 million cubic feet) daily output. KBAA plants 500 trees at NICVD to promote healing, wellness Panayiotou unveiled last month a government plan to subsidize construction of private desalination plants at hotels. Tourism accounts for 13.5% of Cyprus’ gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals last year exceeded 4 million people, setting a new record.

Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down seven U.S. Reaper drones in less than six weeks, a loss of aircraft worth more than $200 million in what is becoming the most dramatic cost to the Pentagon of the military campaign against the Iran-backed militants. According to defense officials, three of the drones were shot down in the past week — suggesting the militants' targeting of the unmanned aircraft flying over Yemen has improved. The drones were doing attack runs or conducting surveillance, and they crashed both into the water and onto land, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The U.S. has increased its attacks on the Houthis, launching daily strikes since March 15, when President Donald Trump ordered a new, expanded campaign. He promised to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. Central Command spokesman Dave Eastburn said Thursday night that the U.S. has struck more than 800 Houthi targets. “These strikes have destroyed multiple command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities, advanced weapons storage locations, and killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders,” Eastburn said. Another defense official said that although hostile fire is likely the cause of the drone losses, the incidents are still under investigation. The official noted that the increase in U.S. strikes can add to the risk to aircraft, but said the U.S. will take every measure possible to protect troops, equipment and interests in the region. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on sensitive military issues. The sophisticated drones, built by General Atomics, cost about $30 million each, and generally fly at altitudes of more than 40,000 feet (12,100 meters). Houthis leaders have consistently touted the strikes in public statements. One of the defense officials said the U.S. lost Reaper drones on March 31 and on April 3, 9, 13, 18, 19 and 22. Yemen's Houthi rebels fire a missile toward northern Israel, a rare target for the group U.S. senators, meanwhile, are raising concerns about civilian casualties caused by the American strikes in Yemen. Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tim Kaine of Virginia wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday questioning whether the Trump administration is “abandoning the measures necessary to meet its obligations to reducing civilian harm.” Specifically, they questioned reports that U.S. strikes at the Ras Isa fuel terminal in Yemen last week potentially killed more than 70 civilians. “Military leaders agree that ingraining civilian harm mitigation practices within U.S operations leads to better outcomes and that civilian casualties actually undermine the mission that the military has been sent in to do,” their letter said. In addition to downing the drones, the Houthis have been persistently firing missiles and one-way attack drones at U.S. military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They haven't hit any. The U.S. has been using an array of warships, fighter jets, bombers and drones to strike the Houthis, and aircraft can now launch from two Navy carriers in the region. Hegseth decided in March to beef up the Navy warship presence in the Middle East, ordering the USS Harry S. Truman to extend its deployment there, as the USS Carl Vinson steamed toward the area. The Truman, along with two of the destroyers and a cruiser in its strike group, is now in the Red Sea. And the Vinson, along with two destroyers and a cruiser, is in the Gulf of Aden. The third destroyer assigned to the Truman is in the Mediterranean Sea. And two other U.S. Navy destroyers are in the Red Sea, but aren't part of the Truman's group. Hegseth is weighing whether to grant a request by U.S. Central Command to once again extend the Truman's deployment. A decision to do that could keep the Truman and at least some of its strike group in the region for several more weeks. US airstrikes killed 12 people in Yemen’s capital, the Houthi rebels say It has been rare in recent years for the U.S. to have two aircraft carriers in the Middle East at the same time. Navy leaders have generally been opposed to the idea because it disrupts ship maintenance schedules and delays time at home for sailors strained by the unusually high combat tempo. Last year, the Biden administration ordered the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to remain in the Red Sea for an extended time, as U.S. warships waged the most intense running sea battle since World War II. Prior to that it had been years since the U.S. had committed that much warship power to the Middle East. The Houthis have been waging persistent missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end the Israeli war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From November 2023 until this January, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually.