In an official statement, the Pakistani government refuted reports claiming that Pakistani journalists had visited Israel. It emphasized that Pakistani passports explicitly state they are not valid for travel to Israel. The statement reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance of not recognizing Israel and reaffirmed its unwavering support for Palestinian rights based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the people of Bangladesh on Independence Day. He affirmed the U.S. government’s support for Bangladesh’s journey toward a bright and democratic future. He also emphasized continued U.S. partnership in economic development and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. The statement reiterated the U.S. commitment to working together for a safer, stronger, and more prosperous future.

Israel is forcibly evacuating nearly 100,000 Palestinians from border areas in Gaza.

The Israeli military has issued a final warning for residents of Jabalia, stating that failure to vacate the area will result in military strikes. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced on X (formerly Twitter), “This is the final warning before an attack on Jabalia. Move to designated shelters in the south.”

Previously, similar warnings were issued for Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun.

On Tuesday, Russia expressed interest in signing a new agreement to ensure the security of maritime traffic in the Black Sea. However, it stipulated that the US must instruct Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to comply.

According to a White House statement, following technical-level discussions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the US and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea.

The deal includes:
• Restoring Russia’s agricultural and fertilizer exports
• Reducing maritime insurance costs
• Easing access to ports and financial transactions

As part of the agreement, Russia and Ukraine will be prohibited from attacking each other’s energy facilities.

The Bangladesh Army has strongly refuted a misleading report by India Today, which claimed that the country’s military is planning to overthrow the interim government. In an official statement, the army labeled the report as “a blatant distortion of facts, a baseless rumor, and completely false.” It criticized India Today for repeatedly publishing inaccurate and fabricated stories about the Bangladesh military.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will embark on a four-day official visit to China starting Wednesday at the invitation of the Chinese government. He is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping on Friday morning, with economic cooperation being the primary focus. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) may also be signed. He emphasized that both India and China are Bangladesh’s friends, and relations with both remain strong.

Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin has confirmed that Bangladesh is prepared for a meeting between Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. “We are waiting for a positive response from India. If this meeting happens, it could break the current stagnation in bilateral relations,” he stated. He also hinted at possible discussions with China regarding the Teesta water management project.

During a recent US State Department briefing, a journalist raised concerns about extremist attacks and the arrest of journalists in Bangladesh. However, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce refrained from giving a direct response. Instead, she emphasized that the Trump administration and the Secretary of State remain fully committed to diplomatic solutions to all issues.

Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has alleged that a certain group, enriched by Awami League’s financial backing, continues to spread rumors and misinformation. She pointed out that false narratives and fake information were widely circulated in the past as well.

“When the economy was in turmoil during their time in power, they kept people distracted with stories about Russell Biper and, after August 5, by labeling others as ‘robbers’ to divert attention,” she said.

Speaking to the media, Rizwana emphasized, “It is the responsibility of the press to present accurate information. Many have established media outlets solely to sustain their business interests, often with dishonest motives. People must discern which media outlets are committed to delivering the truth and which ones are deliberately misleading the public.”

She further added that many media organizations refused to acknowledge the July Movement. “Even a day before August 5, they did not report in favor of the students. However, they later changed their stance—yet they show no remorse for their initial silence,” she remarked.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed Israel’s aggression in Gaza over a phone call. Araghchi condemned the attacks on Gaza’s civilians and called for urgent, coordinated action by Muslim nations. He also denounced the ongoing US and UK military aggression in Yemen. Prince Faisal reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s strong opposition to Israel’s deadly actions.

Pakistan’s ISPR reported that at least 16 insurgents were killed in a security operation in Ghulam Khan Kalla, North Waziristan, while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan government to enhance border management. The statement emphasized that Afghanistan must prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.

India’s revenue department has lifted the export duty on onions, effective April 1. Previously, a 20% duty was imposed, following an earlier export ban and subsequent 40% tariff. The decision comes at a time when onion prices in Bangladesh are already low. Historically, such moves have led to an influx of Indian onions, further lowering prices in Bangladesh and adversely affecting local farmers.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained 15 Bangladeshis, including women and children, attempting to illegally cross into India from Maheshpur. The arrests were made during routine patrols in Kanchanpur and Khosalpur. Separately, BGB recovered 48 bottles of Indian liquor from a raid in Polianpur. The detained women and children have been transferred to the Jessore Justice & Care Center.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is set to visit China for a three-day official trip this week, and major announcements are anticipated. The visit has drawn global attention, including from the US and India. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen stated, "We hope this visit brings positive outcomes for Bangladesh-China relations." Given recent regional tensions and India’s growing concerns, the visit is expected to be geopolitically significant, focusing on trade expansion, investment, healthcare, education, and water management cooperation.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Tawhid Hossain stated that Delhi has not yet responded to Bangladesh’s query regarding the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Four days earlier, Bangladesh had sent a diplomatic note requesting a bilateral meeting between the two heads of state on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit. Indian media has been reporting negatively on the meeting, though Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed that Bangladesh’s request is under consideration.