Foreign Affairs Adviser Tawhid Hossain has urged Slovakia to ease visa regulations for Bangladeshis and hire more workers, particularly in the automobile industry. During a bilateral meeting, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár agreed to send a business delegation to Bangladesh to explore investment and B2B opportunities. Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, and economic assistance.

Legal Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul acknowledged current judicial shortages and logistical problems but assured they are being addressed. “We’ve just started. It takes time to recruit judges, but the crisis will be resolved while we are in government,” he said. The government is also considering referring family court cases to arbitration to reduce court burden. The Bandarban chapter of the Judicial Service Employees Association called for a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court and parity in pay with the Judicial Service scale.

Just hours before U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman, Donald Trump declared, “I want Iran to be a great, happy nation, but they can’t have nuclear weapons.” Saudi Arabia expressed hope for a new deal between the U.S. and Iran, potentially stricter than previous ones, aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Ali Riaz, Vice Chair of the National Consensus Commission, stated that all parties have agreed on the urgent need for state reform. “Although the initiative was launched by the interim government, it reflects the will of the people, who have long struggled for democracy,” he said. He expects preliminary discussions to conclude by mid-May and hopes consensus can be reached on several key issues.

As temperatures soared during the massive ‘March for Gaza’ gathering in Dhaka, the Tawheed Foundation stepped in to offer free water and juice to attendees. Organized by the Palestine Solidarity Movement Bangladesh, the event drew large crowds. A volunteer said, “We just wanted to provide some comfort to the people here. We also hope everyone boycotts Israeli products.”

Thousands gathered in Dhaka today for the ‘March for Gaza’ rally, with processions arriving from every direction. Protesters came on foot, by bus, pickup truck, rickshaw—and even on horseback. Demonstrations converged from locations like Paltan, Gulistan, Shahbagh, and Nilkhet, all heading to Suhrawardy Udyan. A declaration of solidarity with Palestine will be read out in Bangla, English, and Arabic, followed by prayers to conclude the event.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order removing household water usage limits, originally introduced to conserve water. According to Al Jazeera, Trump criticized the regulations, saying, “I want to shower properly and take care of my beautiful hair. But I have to stand under the water for 15 minutes for it to even get wet. It’s ridiculous.” The previous limits were introduced by Obama in 2009, reinstated by Biden, and now scrapped again by Trump, who argued, “Water remains the same, and we’re opening it up for the people so they can live.”

Popular Islamic preacher Mizanur Rahman Azhari encouraged citizens to join the ‘March for Gaza,’ organized by the Palestine Solidarity Movement Bangladesh. From early morning, crowds began pouring into Suhrawardy Udyan from Shahbagh, Doel Chattar, and Nilkhet. Azhari posted that he was en route himself, urging others to participate in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

In response to Trump’s hike in tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, Beijing imposed up to 125% tariffs on U.S. imports but declared it would not escalate further. The news triggered a global stock market downturn, a dip in the dollar’s value, and a rush on U.S. government bonds. Gold prices soared to record highs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassent said bilateral trade deals could stabilize markets. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a meeting with Spain’s PM, urged joint EU-China resistance to U.S. “bullying” and expressed interest in rules-based global trade.

Amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, former U.S. President Donald Trump took a hardline stance, maintaining sanctions and threatening tougher actions. Ahead of a key nuclear deal negotiation with Iran, the U.S. deployed the USS Carl Vinson to the Gulf region. It joins the USS Harry Truman, already stationed there for operations against Houthi rebels. Washington claims both deployments aim to pressure Iran into compliance.

Thousands are expected to gather today at Suhrawardy Udyan for the ‘March for Gaza,’ organized by the Palestine Solidarity Movement Bangladesh. The event, starting at 3 PM, will be presided over by Baitul Mukarram Khatib Maulana Abdul Malek. Organizers have completed preparations, including a stage, watchtower, power supply, and the installation of 200 loudspeakers across the venue. People began arriving since morning, waving Bangladeshi and Palestinian flags. Participants include people from all walks of life and representatives from across the political spectrum.

OpenAI has filed a countersuit against Elon Musk, escalating their ongoing legal conflict. The tech firm accused Musk of harassment and asked the court to prevent him from taking further “unlawful and unjust actions” against the company. Musk co-founded OpenAI with Sam Altman in 2015 but left in 2018. After launching xAI in 2023, Musk has been accused of attempting to block OpenAI from becoming a for-profit entity. He previously sued OpenAI to halt changes to its corporate structure.

Murshidabad’s Suti police station area witnessed renewed unrest over the amended Wakf law. Protesters attempted to block the national highway, prompting police intervention. Hindustan Times reported that some protesters threw bombs and stones at police officers, injuring several. In response, police used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. However, eyewitnesses claimed only stones were thrown during the clash.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan firmly rejected any proposal involving the forced displacement of Palestinians. Speaking at a ministerial meeting on the Gaza war, he stated, “Gaza’s residents are deprived of even the basic necessities for survival.” He emphasized that humanitarian aid must not be conditional on a ceasefire and urged the international community to work collectively to remove all barriers. The meeting also called for an immediate ceasefire and the restoration of Palestinian authority over East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank.

Md. Alam (40) was arrested in Bogura after smuggling 1,700 yaba pills inside his stomach, packed in 34 packets disguised with bananas. His accomplices, Smriti Begum and her son-in-law Md. Apel (35), were also detained. According to police, the pair are notorious drug traffickers and used Alam to smuggle pills from Teknaf. Upon arrival by bus, Apel was waiting to receive him, but law enforcement, acting on a tip-off, apprehended them.