The Malaysian Immigration Department detained 148 undocumented immigrants—including Bangladeshis—on Saturday in Johor. Immigration Director Nor Faizal stated that the detainees failed to produce valid travel documents or work permits and were found to have misused their social visit passes. Some claimed their passports and permits were held by their employers. During the raid, an immigration officer sustained serious injuries after being struck by a fleeing foreign worker.

Prominent academic Dr. Salimullah Khan has urged the government to allocate a minimum of 6% of the national income to the education sector. He referenced Sri Lanka’s new government, which has pledged 10% for education, noting that while Bangladesh may not reach that figure, 6% is the least that should be done. Dr. Khan criticized economists like Hossain Zillur Rahman, who argue such funding would be wasted on infrastructure. “Allocate a separate budget for buildings if needed,” he said. “But don’t ignore ongoing educational expenses while talking about democracy—it’s contradictory.”

A young man named Hasan has been arrested by RAB on Friday night in Rupganj, Narayanganj, for allegedly attempting to rape a five-year-old girl. According to RAB-11 Deputy Commander Ishtiaq Ahmed, the incident took place in the Ariabo area of Tarabo Municipality, where Hasan reportedly lured the child with chocolate before attempting the assault. Locals rushed to the scene upon hearing the child’s screams, prompting the suspect to flee. The child’s father later filed a formal complaint at Rupganj Police Station.

Professor Dr. Nazmul Hossain, Director General of the Directorate of Health Education, clarified that there is no decision to shut down any medical colleges in the country. Of the 37 colleges, six are relatively new and still lack full infrastructure, particularly Nilphamari Medical College. He criticized the previous government for establishing these institutions without proper planning and said that the 2022–23 expansion of 1,030 additional seats has placed a heavy burden on resources. However, he warned, “If the quality of education cannot be ensured, strict measures will be taken. We cannot allow the emergence of incompetent doctors.”

Adviser Farida Akhter rebuffed claims that the interim government is unelected, stating, “We were elected by the people and students who brought about this change.” She emphasized that families of those injured or martyred during the uprising have stood by their decision to participate, demanding justice for the atrocities committed under the previous government. “The interim government’s top priority must be to prosecute Sheikh Hasina and others responsible for the killings. There can be no leniency,” she declared. Administrator Mohammad Ejaz added, “We must honor the July Movement as we honor the Liberation War.”

Religious Adviser Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain has called on imams and khatibs to actively speak out against dowry practices, emphasizing that such acts are not only unethical but also illegal. Addressing a gathering of religious leaders, Dr. Hossain pledged to advocate for the demands of the Nikah Registrar Forum, which include legislative changes to ensure marriages and divorces are registered by the bride’s local registrar, and for marriage registration fees to be divided into three fair tiers as proposed by the government’s Reform Commission. He also warned registrars against charging extra fees beyond the prescribed amounts. Additionally, Dr. Hossain expressed concern over road safety, calling the Dhaka–Chattogram highway a “death trap,” and assured that work is underway to improve it. He expressed optimism that the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway will soon be expanded to six lanes.

A power unit at the Adani Group’s plant in Godda, Jharkhand, India, has been shut down, reportedly due to technical issues, which may lead to increased load shedding in Bangladesh. While the first unit, which was also shut earlier on April 8, has resumed production and is supplying electricity, the second unit was taken offline around 1 AM on April 11. This has resulted in a shortfall in power supply. The plant previously delivered up to 1,400 MW of electricity, and even after April 8, it continued to supply over 750 MW. Now, with the second unit offline, power shortages are expected to worsen. Disputes over coal pricing and unpaid dues have strained relations between Adani and Bangladesh’s Power Development Board (PDB). Critics have long argued that the controversial power import deal—signed under the previous Awami League government—has heavily disadvantaged Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has emphasized the need to expedite the reform process to ensure national elections are held in December. In a meeting with National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Professor Ali Riaz and member Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr. Yunus stressed the urgency of advancing reforms. The Commission representatives reported that discussions with political parties are ongoing, based on the recommendations of various reform commissions. So far, eight parties have participated in separate dialogues, with a meeting scheduled with the BNP on Thursday. Public awareness campaigns and opinion surveys have also been launched to gather feedback on the proposed reforms and to engage the public in the process.

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed stated that insights gathered from divisional-level seminars will be incorporated into a strategic plan for the modernization of the judiciary. The Supreme Court is set to begin work on this comprehensive reform strategy, which aims to fulfill the promise of a revitalized judiciary following the July revolution. He affirmed that the people will soon regain their trust in the judicial system. He also mentioned that, with strong government support, new judicial positions have been created to reduce the backlog of cases—a move that will significantly improve judicial efficiency. Initial steps have also been completed for the establishment of specialized commercial courts. Two special committees are working continuously to expedite the launch of the Supreme Court Research Institute in Cox’s Bazar.

The Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has warned that there are ongoing attempts to obstruct the investigation and trial process regarding crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising.
According to the prosecution, false information and malicious rumors about the investigators and prosecutors are being circulated regularly on social media, aiming to mislead the public—especially families of the martyrs.
They further revealed that a significant amount of money has been spent to hire the prominent UK law firm Doughty Street Chambers to orchestrate this disinformation campaign.

The US dollar has dropped to its lowest value in three years, driven by global market instability and new tariffs imposed by the US government. According to the US Dollar Index and Forbes, the value fell to 99.01, marking an 8% decline over the past year. The steep drop followed President Donald Trump’s announcement of unprecedented import tariffs on dozens of countries. While the tariffs were later suspended for most nations, markets across the US, Europe, and Asia experienced significant disruptions.

Shaykh Ahmadullah, founder of As-Sunnah Foundation, stated that people from all political, ideological, and religious backgrounds in Bangladesh stand united in support of the Palestinian people. Speaking at the “March for Gaza,” he said, “Today we stand shoulder to shoulder to show the world that despite our differences in thoughts and beliefs, we are united in demanding justice, freedom, and land rights for the oppressed people of Palestine. Every Bangladeshi—regardless of religion, race, or ideology—stands in solidarity with Palestine.” Earlier, a declaration was read out at the event, demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza and calling on world leaders to sever all ties and agreements with Israel.

The ‘March for Gaza’ concluded with a tearful mass prayer, as millions raised their hands in unison for the freedom and peace of Palestine. Mufti Abdul Malek, Khatib of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, led the heartfelt monajat.
He prayed, “The brutality inflicted by Israel upon Palestine is a grave wound to humanity. O Allah, protect the oppressed Muslims and bless Palestine with freedom.”
The prayer sought an end to the Israeli assault on Gaza, rescue for those trapped under rubble, healing for the injured, protection for children and civilians, and a global awakening of conscience. The gathering called on world leaders to take decisive action and demanded justice for the ongoing aggression against unarmed Palestinians.

Islamic scholar Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azharī electrified the crowd at Suhrawardy Udyan by chanting, “Why is my brother a martyr? UN, we demand answers!” His words sparked a wave of emotional slogans echoing across the grounds: “Palestine Zindabad!”, “Al-Quds Zindabad!” Addressing the massive gathering, Azharī declared, “This ocean of people proves that in every one of our hearts, there lives a Palestine.”
He added, “We marched and endured beatings, but today we’ve witnessed—Bangladesh stands firmly with Palestine and Al-Aqsa.”

Standing on the main stage of the ‘March for Gaza’ event at Suhrawardy Udyan, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman read out a formal declaration in solidarity with Palestine. The declaration urged leaders of the Muslim world to sever all ties with Israel and take immediate action to halt the Israeli aggression in Gaza. People from all walks of life joined the rally, calling on the global Muslim community to unite against Israel’s brutalities. A special prayer was held for the oppressed people of Palestine, led by Baitul Mukarram National Mosque’s Khatib, Maulana Abdul Malek. Leaders from various political parties demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other perpetrators be brought to trial under the International Criminal Court. The crowd chanted, “Free, Free Palestine!”