Abdul Samad Dawood, CEO of Pakistan’s Engro Holdings, met with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to discuss potential investment opportunities. Dawood expressed optimism about Bangladesh’s telecommunications sector and highlighted interest in contributing to industrial development by utilizing gas supplies from Bhola.

Welcoming Engro’s interest, Professor Yunus emphasized Bangladesh’s focus on long-term, impactful projects that can bring meaningful change to people’s lives. He added, “We want to focus on initiatives that improve the lives of our people in sustainable ways.”

Dawood praised the recently held BIDA Summit, describing it as “warm, welcoming, and purpose-driven.” The Chief Adviser concluded the meeting by inviting Dawood to visit again, stating, “Bangladesh has a lot to offer—not just to investors, but to the world.”

A case has been filed against Sharmine Sheila, also known as Cream Upper, at Ashulia Police Station. The Sadar Upazila Women’s Affairs Officer accused her of subjecting her two-year-old child to cruel treatment for online income. The charges include forcing the child to perform actions against her will, such as forcing her to eat cake-like items, applying makeup, and enduring physical punishment while being filmed. Police have stated that legal actions are underway.

Ashiqur Rahman, a 30-year-old Youth League leader from Sonargaon, Narayanganj, died after setting himself on fire over a family dispute. He sustained severe burns on April 7 after pouring kerosene on himself and was admitted to the National Burn Institute. Despite receiving treatment, he passed away on April 10. Ashiqur was the general secretary of Ward 8 Youth League in Shambhupura Union. Police have acknowledged the incident and stated that an investigation is underway, with legal action to follow.

Russia and the United States have started a second round of talks in Istanbul to resolve issues affecting their embassy operations. The discussions, led by senior diplomats from both sides, aim to stabilize diplomatic missions without touching on political or security matters, including Ukraine. The talks follow years of mutual complaints about visa difficulties, restricted movements, and property disputes. Progress has reportedly been made on some issues, though no major breakthroughs are expected in this session.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain has left for Turkey to participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ public relations officer Kamrul Islam Bhuiyan. Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus was originally invited but could not attend. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will inaugurate the event. The adviser is scheduled to meet foreign ministers from Turkey, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, and Gambia, along with the Secretary-General of an international organization.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that no country wishes well for Bangladesh more than India does. Expressing concern, he highlighted the deep-rooted, people-centric relationship between the two nations. “The key takeaway from our BIMSTEC meeting is that due to historical reasons, India’s relationship with Bangladesh is very unique—it’s fundamentally a people-to-people connection, more than with any other country,” Jaishankar said. He also voiced concerns over rising fundamentalist trends in Bangladesh, stating, “As a country rooted in democratic traditions, elections are vital for democracy. We hope Bangladesh will stay on that path.”

Education Adviser Dr. C. R. Abrar has confirmed that SSC and equivalent exam results will be published within 60 days as per tradition. He assured that all sources of question paper leaks have been sealed. This year, over 1.92 million students are sitting for exams at 2,291 centers across the country. The exams began at 10 AM and will continue until May 13, with practicals scheduled from May 15 to 22.

After serving sentences in India for illegal entry, 14 Bangladeshi nationals were repatriated via the West Garo Hills district’s Tura prison. Upon completion of legal formalities, Indian immigration authorities handed them over to Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) in the presence of the Border Security Force (BSF).

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Bangladesh’s transshipment facility, granted in 2020 for exporting goods to third countries, has caused significant congestion at Indian airports. This has led to delays, increased costs, and shipment hold-ups for Indian exporters.

As a result, India has decided to withdraw the transshipment facility for Bangladesh. However, trade with Nepal and Bhutan via Bangladesh will remain unaffected.

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, paid a courtesy call on Information Adviser Md Mahfuz Alam. During the meeting, the High Commissioner expressed interest in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Pakistan Television (PTV), as well as between Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). The adviser also discussed the possibility of broadcasting Bangladeshi TV channels in Pakistan with government support.

Nine out of the world’s ten richest individuals have lost a combined $370 billion since the beginning of the year, primarily due to market instability triggered by former US President Donald Trump’s trade war policies.

Warren Buffett stands out as the only billionaire who saw his fortune grow—by $11.5 billion—during this period. Others were not so lucky: Elon Musk lost $135 billion, Larry Ellison $44.9 billion, Jeff Bezos $42.6 billion, Larry Page $34.7 billion, Sergey Brin $32.5 billion, Bernard Arnault $26.2 billion, Mark Zuckerberg $24.5 billion, Steve Ballmer $20.4 billion, and Bill Gates $9.45 billion.

Experts warn that continued trade tensions may deal a heavy blow to the global tech industry. China has already signaled this possibility by tightening controls on its tech exports.

During a meeting with UK Trade Envoy to Bangladesh, Baroness Rosie Winterton, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus called for enhanced cooperation with the UK to strengthen Bangladesh’s healthcare system. Regarding the upcoming national election, Dr. Yunus stated, “If political parties can agree on a short-term reform process, elections could be held in December. However, if a broader reform agenda is adopted, elections may be pushed to June.” Baroness Winterton expressed satisfaction with the reform roadmap, noting the strong historical ties between the two nations. Dr. Yunus emphasized Bangladesh’s transition period, highlighting a shortage of nurses. “Nursing is not only a national issue—it’s a global need. We aim to train more nurses for both Bangladesh and the world,” he added, seeking comprehensive UK support across sectors.

India has revoked the transshipment facility that allowed Bangladesh to export goods to third countries via Indian land customs stations, ports, and airports. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs issued the cancellation order on April 8, also scrapping a 2020 directive that enabled the process. Goods already in transit through India will be allowed to exit. The move follows lobbying from India’s apparel exporters. This decision impacts exports to Nepal and Bhutan, which relied on Indian territory for transport.

The Dhaka Education Board announced that students can fill up HSC forms with late fees from April 13 to 21 and must complete payment via Sonali Sheba by April 22. Institutions are responsible for ensuring form completion. HSC exams start June 26 and run through August 10, with practicals from August 11 to 21.

Ahead of the SSC, SSC Vocational, Dakhil, and Dakhil Vocational exams starting Thursday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has issued a public notice prohibiting entry of unauthorized individuals within 200 yards of exam centers under Sections 28 and 29 of the DMP Ordinance to ensure a peaceful environment.