Supreme Court senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir has written an open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging him to take effective measures to resolve waterlogging caused by rain in the Haor regions, including Sunamganj. The letter, posted on Facebook on Friday morning, appeals to the prime minister to visit the affected areas by helicopter and take immediate action to protect farmers whose single annual crop is being destroyed by stagnant water.

In his message, Monir emphasized that residents of Haor areas depend on one crop for their livelihood, which is now at risk due to persistent waterlogging. He requested the prime minister to consider deploying army personnel if necessary and to strengthen administrative efforts for drainage improvement across Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, and Netrokona. He also highlighted the need for increased canal excavation in Dirai-Shalla and warned that unplanned embankments are causing significant damage.

Monir concluded by expressing hope that the government’s ongoing canal excavation program would bring lasting relief to the region’s farmers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that as global power competition intensifies, water will become the most strategic and valuable resource of the future, overtaking oil and carbon-based fuels. He made the remarks on Thursday during a public event, emphasizing that climate change, drought, population growth, urbanization, and industrialization are putting increasing pressure on global water resources.

Erdogan highlighted that 2.2 billion people currently lack access to safe drinking water, and according to the World Water Development Report, nearly 6 billion people may face shortages of clean water by 2050. He noted that only 2.5 percent of the world’s total water supply is fresh water, while the global population has risen from 3 billion in 1960 to over 8 billion today, with rainfall levels remaining unchanged.

He warned that as demand for clean water rises, rapid consumption and pollution are accelerating the depletion of water resources, making water a visible factor in regional armed conflicts.

Bangladesh is witnessing sharply contrasting weather conditions, with a heatwave intensifying across five divisions including Dhaka, while the northern district of Panchagarh remains shrouded in dense fog and cold air. On April 2 and 3, residents in Panchagarh experienced misty mornings, dew-covered fields, and a noticeable chill, unusual for the late spring season. The Bangladesh Weather Observation Team (BWOT) reported that temperatures in parts of Dhaka, Barishal, Rangpur, Khulna, and Rajshahi divisions could rise to between 36 and 39 degrees Celsius.

Local residents in Panchagarh expressed surprise at the return of cold weather, while doctors reported a rise in cold-related illnesses among children and the elderly. According to the Tetulia weather office, increased humidity and lower temperatures have caused steam fog formation, driven by active monsoon winds and sudden rainfall.

BWOT forecasts that the current heatwave may persist until April 6, with scattered thunderstorms offering brief relief. The national weather office also warned that a cyclone could form in the Bay of Bengal later in April, alongside severe nor’westers and hailstorms that may push temperatures up to 41 degrees Celsius.

Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has initiated a mega project aimed at reducing dependence on foreign vessels by adding 25 new ships to its fleet. The state-owned maritime company currently operates seven ships on international routes and reported record business of Tk 800 crore in the current fiscal year, with a net profit of Tk 306 crore. BSC officials confirmed that the expansion will strengthen Bangladesh’s presence in global maritime trade.

According to BSC sources, the corporation has begun purchasing five new ships, including two 63,500 DWT bulk carriers financed internally and three more under government loans. Future plans include acquiring four large vessels through government-to-government arrangements, six modern container ships, six LNG carriers, and several chemical and product oil tankers. The organization is also investing in infrastructure projects in Khulna and Chattogram and launching a maritime training center to develop skilled manpower.

Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek stated that BSC is experiencing its best period, with record profits boosting confidence. He said the corporation aims to deliver world-class maritime services and enhance its contribution to the national economy.

Bangladesh’s electronics and technology manufacturing sector, once advancing toward self-sufficiency through local investment and innovation, is now facing severe challenges due to recent tariff policies and regulatory inconsistencies. Industry stakeholders report that while import duties on certain finished components have been lifted, raw materials for local production are subject to high tariffs, making imports more profitable than domestic manufacturing. This shift threatens both local and foreign investment and risks undermining national export targets.

According to data, the domestic electronics and ICT market reached USD 9.44 billion in 2026, growing at an average of 15 percent annually, with local brands dominating major product segments. However, the National Board of Revenue’s revised SRO No. 274 has removed supplementary duties on imported parts already produced locally, while raw material imports face tariffs of 15–45 percent. Experts warn that this imbalance could close backward linkage industries and endanger millions of jobs tied to the sector.

Industry leaders and analysts urge the government to restore protective tariffs on locally produced parts, reduce raw material duties, and ensure fair treatment of local brands in public procurement to safeguard the sector’s sustainability.

Bangladesh Bank has intensified efforts to recover funds laundered abroad under the guise of loans from five merged banks. Governor Mostakur Rahman instructed administrators of these banks to finalize non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with foreign legal support firms within April. The directive was issued during a meeting at the governor’s office on Thursday. The banks include Social Islami Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, and Exim Bank.

According to the report, the first four banks were under the control of S Alam Group, which allegedly withdrew Tk 225,000 crore in loans. Exim Bank was operated under NASA Group, which has loans totaling Tk 9,214 crore. Ten banks have already signed 36 NDAs to recover funds laundered by six major industrial groups, including S Alam, Aramit, Sikder, Beximco, Orion, and NASA groups. Among them, S Alam Group alone is linked to ten NDAs, three of which have been completed.

The governor emphasized expediting legal processes to recover the laundered assets and restore the financial health of the affected banks.

The government of Bangladesh has announced new working hours for all public and private offices to tackle the ongoing energy crisis. Starting Sunday, April 5, offices will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., reducing the daily schedule by one hour to a total of seven working hours. The decision was disclosed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani following a cabinet meeting held on Thursday, April 2.

In addition to the revised office schedule, separate timings have been set for banks and financial institutions, which will now remain open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The government has also introduced further measures to conserve energy, including mandatory closure of shopping malls and shops after 6 p.m. and restrictions on decorative lighting at wedding events.

These steps are part of a broader effort to manage the country’s energy consumption amid supply challenges, with the new schedules expected to remain in effect until further notice.

Bangladesh is importing 100,000 metric tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia through an alternative route to avoid complications in the Strait of Hormuz. The oil will be shipped from Yanbu Commercial Port, located near the Red Sea, directly to the state-owned Eastern Refinery in Chattogram. The tanker is scheduled to load the oil on April 20. Meanwhile, another vessel, MT Nordic Pollux, carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil, remains stranded at Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia due to the absence of special clearance from Iran.

According to the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), both shipments—one from Yanbu and the other from Ras Tanura—are expected to reach Chattogram by the first week of May, totaling 200,000 tons of crude oil. Once refined, the oil will yield diesel, petrol, octane, furnace oil, and kerosene, helping ease the ongoing fuel supply strain. BSC officials said diplomatic efforts are underway to obtain Iranian clearance for the stranded vessel.

The new route through the Red Sea is considered safer as it lies outside the Hormuz Strait, reducing potential military or political disruptions to oil transport.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Industries, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, informed the 13th National Parliament session on April 2, 2026, that 31 state-owned industrial enterprises are currently operating at a loss. The disclosure came during the question-and-answer session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The minister detailed that five enterprises under Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC), fourteen under Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC), and twelve under Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) are incurring losses.

Responding to another parliamentary question, the minister added that there are 15 sugar mills in the country, of which six have suspended crushing operations. The information highlights ongoing challenges in the management and profitability of state-owned industries across multiple sectors.

The parliamentary discussion underscores the government’s awareness of financial inefficiencies within key industrial corporations, though no immediate remedial measures or policy responses were mentioned in the session.

Fuel and gas supply across Sylhet Division returned to normal on Thursday afternoon after petrol pump and CNG refueling station owners withdrew their indefinite strike. The decision came following a meeting with local administration officials, where assurances were given that business owners would not face harassment. The strike, initially called late Wednesday night, had disrupted fuel distribution across the region.

The meeting, chaired by Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam, included representatives from the city corporation, police, political leaders, and the owners’ association. The strike had been announced by the Sylhet divisional committee of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distribution Agents, and Petroleum Owners Association, citing harassment and extortion complaints. The association’s spokesperson confirmed early Thursday morning that the strike had been officially withdrawn, though communication delays meant some stations resumed operations later.

During the strike, truck and lorry drivers briefly blocked parts of the Dhaka–Sylhet highway in protest against mobile court fines and alleged extortion. Police intervened, and traffic returned to normal around midnight.

NASA has launched four astronauts toward the Moon under the Artemis-2 mission, marking the first crewed lunar journey in over five decades since the Apollo missions. The launch took place on Thursday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at around 6:35 p.m. local time, with a rocket featuring orange and white colors roaring into the sky. The crew includes three Americans and one Canadian astronaut.

Unlike the Apollo missions, the Artemis-2 astronauts will not land on the Moon. During the 10-day mission, they will orbit around the far side of the Moon, flying about 6,400 miles beyond the lunar surface. The astronauts will spend three hours in that region to analyze geological features and capture images. NASA will also monitor their physical and mental conditions after their return to better understand the effects of space travel on humans.

If the mission concludes safely, NASA aims to organize the next lunar landing mission by 2028, paving the way for humans to walk on the Moon again.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar has strongly condemned the government’s decision to increase the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and autogas in the private sector. In a statement issued on Thursday, he expressed deep concern that the move would negatively affect public life and industrial production.

Porwar stated that LPG is an essential household commodity and that the price hike would severely impact the cost of living, particularly for lower- and middle-income groups. He criticized the government for ignoring citizens’ purchasing power and described the decision as against public interest. He warned that higher energy costs would raise production expenses in medium and heavy industries, potentially driving up the prices of daily essentials.

According to the statement, the retail price of LPG has been raised by 32.30 taka per kilogram, setting the new price of a 12-kg cylinder at 1,728 taka, up from 1,341 taka last month. Autogas prices have also increased by 17.94 taka per liter to 79.77 taka. Porwar urged the government to withdraw the decision and take effective measures to boost imports or production instead.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with Kazuyuki Kataoka, the Country Representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), at the minister’s office in Dhaka on Thursday. The meeting focused on expanding trade and investment and strengthening mutual economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan. The minister highlighted opportunities for Japanese investors in special economic zones, infrastructure development, industrialization, and export diversification, emphasizing Bangladesh’s stable economic growth and investment-friendly policies.

Muktadir described the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as a milestone for boosting bilateral trade and investment. He noted that the agreement would serve as a reference for Bangladesh’s future EPA negotiations with other countries. The minister said Japanese investment has already contributed to major infrastructure projects such as the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the metro rail system. Both sides expressed commitment to further enhance economic ties, with JETRO expected to continue supporting trade promotion and market access for Bangladeshi products in Japan.

Iraq has opened a new overland energy route to export oil to Europe through Syria, marking a significant shift in regional energy logistics. The Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) Director General Ali Nazar said a deal has been reached to export 50,000 barrels per day of Basra Medium crude via Syria, with plans to increase the volume later. The oil will reach European markets through Syria’s Baniyas port.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, convoys of fuel trucks have already begun entering Syria through the Al-Tanf border crossing, signaling the country’s reemergence as a key transit hub. The Syrian Petroleum Company stated that the imported oil will first be stored and then transported to Baniyas for export. Communications Director Safwan Sheikh Ahmad said the first convoy includes 299 tankers and described the initiative as an important step in restoring Syria’s role in the regional energy corridor.

The development comes amid ongoing Middle East tensions, potentially reshaping trade and energy supply routes across the region.

A high-level meeting will be held on April 3 at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to finalize the operation and maintenance agreement for the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The process advanced after a Japanese consortium submitted a revised, lower-cost proposal addressing Bangladesh’s concerns over service charges, operational control, and revenue sharing. Officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed that the agreement is now in its final stage.

The Japanese consortium—comprising Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Sojitz Corporation, and Narita International Airport Corporation—submitted the new proposal following government instructions to restart talks. The terminal, financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at a cost of about Tk 21,398 crore, is 99 percent complete but has remained idle due to unresolved management issues. The new government prioritized resolving these delays after taking office.

If consensus is reached at the April 3 meeting, officials expect the long-delayed terminal to begin operations soon, easing congestion and inefficiencies at the airport and marking a major step in Bangladesh’s aviation expansion.