Sarzis Alam has called on the people of Bangladesh to respond unitedly on April 7 to the general strike requested by Gaza residents protesting Israeli brutality. He wrote that global activists have called for a shutdown of schools, colleges, offices, and courts to demand an end to the genocide. “But as human beings and as Muslims, our response should not be limited to closures. Students and citizens across the country, regardless of political affiliation, must take to the streets to protest against Israeli war criminals,” he said. “We may not be able to wage war directly, but we can show solidarity by marching together without party banners and chanting slogans against Netanyahu.”

The U.S. has delivered a second THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system to Israel. The massive American C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft landed at Israel’s Nevatim Air Base and remained for eight hours during the offloading process. This marks a continued expansion of U.S.-Israel defense cooperation.

A massive fire broke out across three factories in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, injuring a Bangladeshi worker who is currently in critical condition. Local media confirmed the victim is Bangladeshi but did not release his identity. The fire destroyed 80% of a textile and recycling facility, 70% of a metal factory, and 90% of a wood-processing plant.

UK MP Tulip Siddiq is facing renewed controversy for allegedly misleading the British Parliament about a luxury flat she owns in Dhaka. Earlier, she resigned from a ministerial post over a flat gifted by a close associate of Sheikh Hasina. Siddiq claims she received the Dhaka flat as a gift from her parents in 2002 and legally transferred it to her sister in 2015. However, The Daily Mail reports she still holds the title, and the gift deed appears to be forged.

Bangladeshi legal scholar Asif Nazrul condemned India’s amended Waqf Act, calling it a discriminatory move by the Modi government. In a Facebook post, he said the law permits non-Muslims on Waqf property boards and grants the government control over Waqf assets, sparking fears of historical property confiscation. He questioned why non-Muslims are excluded from Hindu temple boards but allowed in Waqf governance, calling it part of a broader Hindutva-driven oppression.

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees legally residing in the US under the humanitarian parole program received emails instructing them to leave within seven days or face forced removal. A Homeland Security spokesperson later confirmed the emails were sent in error and the Ukrainian Parole Program, launched after Russia’s 2022 invasion, remains active. Despite the correction, the emails caused significant fear among recipients.

Mass protests erupted in the US and several European cities following new tariff policies introduced by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which have severely impacted the global economy. Demonstrations took place in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London, as well as in various US states, including Washington, D.C. Protesters carried signs reading “No Kings in America” and “Deport Musk.” The protests were largely organized by overseas Democratic supporters.

A devastating bus accident occurred near Bhubaneswar, Odisha, involving more than 70 Bangladeshi tourists en route to Puri. The bus overturned, killing one pilgrim and injuring at least 15 others, several of whom are in critical condition. The identity of the deceased remains unknown. Preliminary reports indicate the bus lost control near Uttarachak and flipped over. Police and fire service teams have initiated a rescue operation.

Turkey is preparing to take control of Syria’s Tiyas Airbase (T4) following Israeli attacks in the region. The country is deploying air defense systems, including the S-400 missile defense system, and plans to station radar systems with a range of 600 kilometers at the airbase. This would allow Turkish forces to track potential threats from Tel Aviv in real time. Israeli forces are attempting to prevent Turkish control of the base, but analysts suggest that Turkey remains undeterred in its plans, with suspicions that Israeli influence may be behind domestic protests in Turkey.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China and India to contribute to global humanitarian efforts, stating that the US will no longer bear the majority of the responsibility. In the aftermath of the earthquake in Myanmar, Rubio urged wealthy nations, including China and India, to participate in providing aid. He defended the US’s response to the Myanmar earthquake, dismissing claims of delay, and emphasized that the Myanmar military junta made it difficult for aid efforts to proceed.

The Secretary-General of the International Muslim Scholars Union, Ali al-Qaradaghi, issued a fatwa urging all Muslim nations to immediately intervene militarily, economically, and politically to stop the Israeli genocide and widespread destruction in Gaza. In the 15-point decree, al-Qaradaghi warned that Arab and Islamic governments failing to act would be committing a grave sin against their oppressed Palestinian brothers. He also prohibited the sale of weapons or the provision of logistical support to Israel through international waterways like the Suez Canal, Bab El-Mandeb, and the Hormuz Strait. The fatwa has been supported by 14 other prominent Islamic figures.

Saudi Arabia has imposed a temporary visa restriction on 14 countries—including Bangladesh and Pakistan—during the Hajj season.
The ban affects Umrah, business, and family visit visas and is expected to remain in place until mid-June.
Travelers holding Umrah visas may enter Saudi Arabia until April 13.
Other countries on the restricted list include India, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Yemen.
Saudi authorities said the ban was necessitated by past incidents where long-term visa holders performed Hajj without authorization, leading to severe overcrowding.

According to the updated Passport Index by Nomad Capitalist, Bangladesh ranks 181st out of 200 countries, placing it near the bottom of the list of most powerful passports in the world.

The index evaluates passports based on five key criteria: visa-free travel access, international taxation on residents, opportunities for dual citizenship, global reputation, and personal freedom. Ireland secured the top spot with a score of 109, granting its citizens visa-on-arrival access to 176 countries.

In contrast, Bangladesh scored 38 and currently allows visa-on-arrival travel to just 50 countries. Nepal ranks slightly higher than Bangladesh, while Myanmar ranks just below. India holds the 148th position, and Pakistan is further down at 195th.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said, “I have spoken with President Xi. Bangladesh needs support in these critical times, and China has shown interest.”
Yunus emphasized that Bangladesh presents new opportunities for economic and trade development, attracting interest from Chinese investors and entrepreneurs.
On poverty, Yunus noted, “The face of poverty is the same everywhere. The solution lies in recognizing human creativity and supporting it institutionally.”
He drew parallels between his “Three Zero” philosophy and President Xi’s modernization framework, stating they align closely in values.

The United States has moved forward with the sale of more than 20,000 assault rifles to Israel, a deal initiated during the Trump administration. Although the Biden administration initially paused the sale over concerns that the weapons could be used by extremist settlers in the occupied territories, a March 6 notification from the U.S. State Department to Congress indicates the transaction is now back on track. According to documents reviewed by Reuters, the sale includes 5.56mm caliber fully automatic Colt carbines, worth an estimated $24 million. Earlier, President Biden had imposed sanctions on individuals and organizations allegedly involved in violence in the West Bank — sanctions that were swiftly revoked by Trump upon taking office.