Two Microsoft employees, Ibtihal Abusad and Baniya Agarwal, have been fired after staging a protest during the company’s 50th-anniversary event. Their protest targeted the use of Microsoft’s AI technology in Israeli military operations.

As Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of AI at Microsoft, was presenting features of the company’s chatbot Co-Pilot, Ibtihal Abusad interrupted the session, walking toward the stage and shouting:
“Mustafa, you should be ashamed. You claim to be using AI for the betterment of humanity, but in reality, you’re empowering Israel’s weaponry and fueling the war machine. Over 50,000 people have died, and yet you continue to aid and support this brutality!”

She threw a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian resistance, and continued, “Stop using AI to carry out genocide in our region!”

Baniya Agarwal, another employee, joined in, yelling, “Shame on you! You are hypocrites!”

Both employees were immediately dismissed following the incident.

Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin expressed optimism regarding the letter recently sent to the US administration, which aims to include 100 additional Bangladeshi products in the duty-free category to reduce trade deficit. “We haven’t received a response yet, but the intention is clear—we’re working to minimize the trade gap,” he said. Financial Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed confirmed that the Chief Adviser sent the letter to the Trump administration just yesterday. “We’re expecting a positive outcome. Both sides are willing to cooperate for a win-win situation,” he added.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Tawhid Hossain stated that despite Myanmar’s junta government identifying 180,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh for repatriation, the current situation in Rakhine makes it unfeasible. “Of the 250,000 names reviewed, they cleared 180,000 and are reviewing the rest,” he said. He emphasized that approval of the list doesn’t mean immediate return. Bangladesh has urged the junta to expedite the verification of the remaining 700,000–800,000 Rohingya. The adviser stressed the need for creating a conducive environment for voluntary repatriation with dignity and safety, in cooperation with the international community.

Bangladesh has officially joined the Artemis Accords as the 54th signatory, marking a significant step toward peaceful and sustainable space exploration. The non-binding multilateral agreement, initiated by NASA in October 2020, promotes transparency and cooperation in outer space activities. With this move, Bangladesh is committing to responsible space resource utilization, heritage preservation, and global collaboration aligned with its national development goals. Chowdhury Ashiq stated, “This marks a new chapter in Bangladesh–US space cooperation and will accelerate our own space research initiatives.”

Donald Trump has threatened to impose up to 50% tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting a fierce response from Beijing, which warned that it will “fight to the end.” The escalating trade war has caused turmoil in global markets and increased fears of a recession. In retaliation, China announced a 34% tariff on US goods effective Thursday. Trump then raised the stakes further, stating total tariffs on Chinese imports could reach 104% if Beijing does not back down. A Chinese spokesperson criticized the US for its “blackmailing tactics.”

A court has fined Nasima Akter (44) for lodging a false dowry complaint against her ex-husband SM Golam Mostafa. She has been fined Tk 1,000 or face one month’s imprisonment in default. Nasima filed the case in 2022, but the court found the allegations to be baseless and filed with malicious intent. Her ex-husband has been acquitted of all charges.

PSC Chairman Mobasher Monem stated that efforts are underway to conclude the 44th BCS recruitment process promptly. All viva voce interviews are expected to end by June 17, with the final results published by June 30. The 44th BCS aims to recruit 1,710 officers across various cadres, including 250 in Administration, 50 in Police, 10 in Foreign Affairs, 14 in Ansar, 30 in Audit and Accounts, and 776 in Education. The exam received 350,716 applications.

Bangladesh has secured the 47th position in the list of the world’s most powerful countries, according to the US News global power rankings. The top five spots are held by the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Germany. India is ranked 12th, while countries like Pakistan, North Korea, Bhutan, and the Maldives were not included in the 89-nation list. Despite ongoing conflict, Ukraine ranks 14th, and Israel takes the 10th spot. Among Middle Eastern nations, Saudi Arabia ranks 9th, the UAE 11th, Iran 16th, Turkey 17th, Qatar 19th, Kuwait 25th, Egypt 32nd, and Jordan rounds out the top 50. The 2024 rankings are based on leadership, economic and political influence, military strength, international alliances, and global exports.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that security measures are being intensified ahead of Pohela Boishakh celebrations. Responding to recent vandalism in foreign-owned stores like Bata, he said, “It’s my duty to ensure national security—action will be taken against those responsible.” When asked about public satisfaction with law enforcement during the government’s 8-month tenure, he replied, “I’m as satisfied as the people are.” Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki added that Dhaka University will decide on April 10 whether the traditional rally will retain the name ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’. This year’s festivities will see large crowds and participation from 26 ethnic communities.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met with Ki-Hak Sung, Chairman of South Korea’s Youngone Corporation, who is leading a delegation of South Korean investors attending a four-day investment summit in Dhaka. Foreign investors have already visited several key economic zones including Anwara, Korean EPZ, and Mirsarai. On Tuesday, 36 investors from countries including China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, and India, as well as NRBs, toured the Japanese Economic Zone in Narayanganj to assess facilities, work environments, and discuss logistics and energy concerns.

Dr. Md. Hemayetul Islam Arif of Rajshahi University penned an open letter to Railway Adviser Mohammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, expressing concern that even after 54 years of independence, direct rail connectivity between all divisions has not been achieved. Despite advancements like metro rails and high-speed trains, Rajshahi still lacks direct rail access to Chattogram. The professor emphasized that constructing a dual gauge rail line in select areas could unlock immense potential in trade, agriculture, education, and tourism in the region.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has uncovered that several candidates used forged Freedom Fighter certificates to secure government jobs, including in the 38th to 43rd BCS exams. Initial investigations confirm that multiple individuals benefited from the Freedom Fighter quota under false pretenses. Currently, 89,235 individuals are employed under this quota, most of whom were appointed during the Awami League’s tenure. Notably, over the past 15 years, 29,485 were recruited in primary and mass education, while 23,063 joined the police force.

Islamic scholar Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azhari condemned the recent looting during protests, calling it “petty and disgraceful.” In a Facebook post, he wrote, “Those engaging in such acts are honest only due to a lack of opportunity. They derail good initiatives and shift focus from smart movements to irrelevant chaos.” He emphasized that a believer’s protest must be rational and intelligent.

Former US President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is not considering suspending tariffs, although he indicated openness to negotiations. “Many countries are coming to us for deals, and they will make fair agreements. In some cases, they will pay significant tariffs,” Trump said. After speaking with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, he added, “You have to open up your markets—we don’t sell cars in Japan, but Japan sells millions of cars in our country.” Trump also stated that even Israel, despite receiving $4 billion in US aid annually, won’t be exempt from tariffs.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has stated on X (formerly Twitter) that it was advised about the discontinuation of new American aid for 14 countries. While it didn’t specify the nations affected, the agency warned that, if implemented, “this would amount to a death sentence for millions facing extreme hunger and starvation.” The Trump administration has also informed the UN Population Fund that two programs will be terminated—one in Afghanistan and another linked to Syria. USAID, which once had an annual budget of $42.8 billion and accounted for 42% of global aid, has been severely impacted.