Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury informed Parliament that current members of parliament collectively owe Tk 11,117.31 crore in loans, of which Tk 3,330.08 crore are classified as defaulted. He provided the information in response to a written question from Comilla-4 MP Md. Abul Hasnat during the ninth day of the first session of the 13th National Parliament, presided over by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

The minister stated that the total loan amount includes debts held by MPs and institutions linked to their interests in banks and financial companies. He also mentioned that, according to court directives, the total defaulted amount of Tk 3,330.08 crore has not yet been officially recorded as defaulted.

The disclosure highlights the scale of financial obligations among sitting lawmakers and their associated entities, as well as the ongoing legal and procedural complexities in classifying certain loans as defaults.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid has issued important directives to enhance non-urea fertilizer management during a meeting held at the Agriculture Building in Dhaka. The meeting, organized by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), focused on improving fertilizer distribution and ensuring sustainable agricultural growth across the country.

During the session, the minister highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives for balanced and sustainable development, identifying agriculture as a top priority sector. He announced a master plan to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals over the next five years, with 5,000 kilometers already under implementation in the 2025–2026 fiscal year. He also stated that a farmer card distribution program will begin soon to support marginal farmers and emphasized strengthening the activities of agencies under the Agriculture Ministry to make fertilizer management more efficient.

The minister assured that the country has sufficient fertilizer reserves and that continued imports will prevent any shortage. Plans are also underway to explore the use of railways for fertilizer transport to reduce costs and improve accountability.

The eleven-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has called a top-level meeting to decide on future movement programs related to implementing the referendum verdict. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area, followed by a press conference at noon at the same venue. The information was confirmed by Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the alliance and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Earlier, on April 2, the alliance leaders met and issued a press release demanding effective steps to implement the referendum’s public verdict and to form a constitutional reform council immediately. They also warned that if their demands were not met, they would launch street movements. Following that decision, the alliance held a protest rally and procession at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram on Saturday afternoon and announced further public outreach and leaflet distribution programs.

According to the earlier announcement, the upcoming April 7 meeting will finalize the outline and next steps of the movement.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC carried out a series of operations on April 5, 2026, to identify and remove illegal gas connections across several districts. The drives were led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md. Tarif Al Tawhid in Narayanganj, targeting five locations in Dattapara, Dailerbag, and Pirojpur under Sonargaon. During the operation, four illegal lime factories and one restaurant had their gas connections cut, with 30 feet of GI pipe and 11 regulators seized. Authorities also collected fines totaling 15,500 taka.

On the same day, gas connections were disconnected at Paragon Ceramics Ltd. and other commercial entities in Gazipur due to unpaid bills. Additional operations in Dashra and Bandutia, Manikganj, resulted in the removal of illegal distribution lines and disconnection of 16 double-burner stoves. Earlier, on March 31, Titas Gas teams in Savar and Ashulia disconnected several industrial clients for outstanding dues.

The company’s ongoing enforcement actions aim to curb illegal gas use and recover unpaid bills from industrial and commercial consumers.

Boeing Vice President Paul Righi met with Bangladesh’s Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam Rita, at her office on Monday. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present during the meeting. The discussion focused on various aspects of Boeing’s agreements with the government and explored opportunities for leasing aircraft to meet the country’s current aviation needs.

During the meeting, Paul Righi expressed Boeing’s interest in leasing narrow-body aircraft, particularly from the 737 series, to Bangladesh. Minister Afroza Khanam Rita emphasized the importance of advancing the leasing process as soon as possible to support the nation’s aviation capacity and service expansion.

The meeting highlighted ongoing cooperation between the government and Boeing, signaling potential progress in Bangladesh’s efforts to strengthen its civil aviation fleet through international partnerships.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament that the government has a concrete plan to strengthen Bangladesh’s stock market and make it a vibrant source of long-term financing. Responding in writing to a parliamentary question, he said the government aims to enhance governance, transparency, accountability, and investor education to build a sustainable and dynamic capital market. Plans include developing a strong bond market, listing fundamentally sound companies, and bringing unlisted state-owned enterprises to the market.

The minister detailed initiatives such as introducing exchange-traded funds, sukuk, green bonds, commodity and financial derivatives, and improving mutual fund governance to encourage wider participation. He also highlighted measures to curb irregularities, strengthen enforcement, modernize and digitize the market, and ensure whistleblower protection and corporate governance.

Ongoing legal reforms include merging the 1969 Securities and Exchange Ordinance and the 1993 BSEC Act into a new 2025 law, reviewing the draft Capital Market Stabilization Fund Act 2026, and updating corporate governance and debt securities rules. The government also plans to integrate investment education into school curricula and expand public awareness through training and media programs.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Joint Secretary General, Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi, issued a statement on April 6, 2026, urging people to organize modest and shirk-free cultural rallies during the upcoming Pahela Baishakh celebrations. He noted that the Ministry of Culture decided to rename the traditional ‘Mangal’ and ‘Ananda’ processions as ‘Baishakhi Shovajatra’ and expressed doubt about how free the event would be from what he described as Hindu cultural influence.

In his statement, Islamabadi said that Islam does not oppose decent artistic or cultural practices as long as they do not conflict with the spirit of Tawheed. He emphasized that idol-making or displaying animal figures is fundamentally prohibited in Islam and encouraged Bengali Muslims to celebrate in a dignified manner that reflects their own cultural and religious identity. He also criticized what he called “Hindutvadi cultural fascism” and urged showcasing Muslim heritage, including symbols like horses, in cultural rallies.

Islamabadi further criticized secular cultural groups such as Udichi for promoting what he described as aggressive Bengali nationalism that excludes ethnic minorities, calling for a more inclusive and faith-conscious cultural expression.

Iran has sharply criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing it of inaction that allegedly encourages attacks on nuclear facilities. In a letter sent on Monday to the IAEA chief, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said the agency’s failure to act decisively has emboldened aggressors, particularly against key sites such as the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Eslami stated that Bushehr, Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant, has been targeted four times. The most recent attack on April 4 killed one security guard and injured several others near the facility. He warned that any strike on an active reactor could release radioactive materials, posing severe risks to human life, the environment, and neighboring countries.

Calling the assaults a clear violation of international law, Eslami criticized the IAEA’s limited response, arguing that mere expressions of concern are insufficient and could lead to further attacks if stronger measures are not taken.

US Congresswoman of Iranian descent Yasmin Ansari has strongly criticized the bombing at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran. She questioned why such an attack was carried out in a city of ten million people, targeting a major educational institution.

Ansari compared Sharif University to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, emphasizing its importance in engineering education. She noted that many of its graduates have gone on to work in Silicon Valley and have contributed to the founding of some of America’s most successful technology companies. The report also describes Silicon Valley as a major technology hub located about 60 kilometers southeast of San Francisco.

The bombing occurred amid ongoing regional tensions, with reports mentioning damage to 28 sites in Israel and related diplomatic efforts involving Pakistan, the United States, and Iran.

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has launched an affordable electric vehicle (EV) service for female students to ease campus transportation amid the ongoing energy crisis. The service officially began on Monday, funded by the university’s research sector. The EV was developed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering under a University Grants Commission–funded research project led by Professor Dr. Shahjada Mahmudul Hasan and inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. S. M. Abdur Razzak.

The initiative follows reduced diesel bus trips that had caused travel difficulties for students. Each vehicle costs about 500,000 to 600,000 taka to produce, significantly less than similar EVs used at other universities, which cost up to 1.8 million taka. Initially, the service will operate every 20 minutes for female students traveling between hostels and key campus points.

RUET officials stated that the project promotes research-based learning and practical experience. They plan to expand the service for all students if additional funding becomes available, aiming to establish a sustainable and modern campus transport system.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that Bangladesh’s per capita income reached 2,769 US dollars in the 2024–25 fiscal year. He cited official data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics while responding to a written question from Dhaka-18 Member of Parliament S.M. Jahangir Hossain in the National Parliament on Monday, April 6, 2026.

The minister stated that one of the government’s key goals is to achieve a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. To reach this milestone, the government is preparing action plans focusing on investment, employment, economic democratization, creative economy, and sports economy. He emphasized that the government is working simultaneously across multiple sectors—employment, investment, production, exports, remittances, skill development, social protection, and macroeconomic stability—to increase citizens’ income.

The announcement reflects the government’s broader economic strategy aimed at sustainable growth and inclusive development through diversified policy initiatives.

At a webinar titled “Sustainable Financing to Combat Hypertension: Bangladesh Perspective,” experts emphasized the urgent need for increased and sustained funding to address the growing prevalence of hypertension and other noncommunicable diseases in Bangladesh. The event, organized by PROGGA with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator ahead of World Health Day, highlighted that hypertension now tops the list of the country’s ten most common diseases, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ Health and Morbidity Status Survey 2025. Noncommunicable diseases account for 71 percent of total deaths, yet only 4.2 percent of the national health budget is allocated to this sector.

Speakers noted that despite the government’s decision to supply hypertension medication through all community clinics, inadequate funding has hindered consistent distribution, limiting access for marginalized populations. Health officials and experts, including representatives from the Health Economics Unit, National Heart Foundation, and Dhaka University, called for increased budget allocations, efficient fund management, and effective implementation of public health policies to ensure uninterrupted medicine supply and reduce premature deaths.

Participants stressed that ensuring sustainable financing in the 2026–27 national budget is essential to strengthen hypertension control and protect public health nationwide.

In response to a parliamentary question from MP Hasnat Abdullah, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a list of the top 20 loan defaulters in Bangladesh. The disclosure took place on Monday, April 6, 2026, during a question-and-answer session chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal. According to the minister, as of December 31, 2025, total defaulted loans amounted to Tk 5,44,831.88 crore, while loans defaulted by current members of parliament and their affiliated entities totaled Tk 11,117.31 crore.

The minister’s list showed that half of the top 20 defaulting institutions are owned by or associated with S Alam Group. The companies include S Alam Super Edible Oil Ltd., S Alam Vegetable Oil Ltd., S Alam Refined Sugar Industries Ltd., S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Ltd., and S Alam Trading Company Pvt. Ltd., among others. Other major defaulters named include Beximco Communications Ltd., Deshbandhu Sugar Mills Ltd., and Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd.

The disclosure highlights the concentration of large-scale loan defaults among a few major business groups, raising renewed attention to financial governance and accountability in the banking sector.

Four bodies were recovered from the rubble of a building destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Israel’s Haifa city, according to a BBC report. Local sources said the missile hit the building the previous day. Security officials noted that the bomb did not detonate upon impact and remained active when rescue teams arrived, complicating the search operation. Rescuers had to tunnel through concrete from an adjacent building to reach the trapped victims.

Residents described living under the threat of Iranian attacks as a daily ordeal despite Israel’s multilayered air defense system. Surveys indicate that after more than five weeks of conflict, public support among Jewish Israelis for the war is gradually declining. Anti-war demonstrations have intensified, with reports of crackdowns and arrests, including of Arab-Israeli activist Alon-Lee Green.

Israel claims success in targeting Iranian ballistic missile bases and leadership, while Iran aims to undermine Israel’s sense of security through such strikes.

The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new government approved six projects out of eight discussed. The meeting, held on Monday at the Secretariat with the Prime Minister presiding, reviewed a total of eight projects and deferred two for further consideration. Originally, 19 projects were scheduled for presentation, but time constraints led to the session being adjourned after partial discussion.

According to the Planning Ministry’s public relations officer Jasim Uddin, the remaining projects from the agenda will be discussed in next week’s meeting. This session marked a departure from the long-standing practice of holding ECNEC meetings at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Officials indicated that the decision to hold the meeting at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Room was made to accommodate the Prime Minister’s current workload and Secretariat-based activities.