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.

Poet and political thinker Farhad Mazhar stated that a democratic state is not built merely through elections. Rather, elections often lead to the rise of plundering mafia classes. For a truly democratic state to emerge, the rise and active participation of strong communities is essential. He emphasized that when a community stands up, when a locality becomes organized, only then does the foundation of democracy take shape. Development should not be based on voting, but on the decisions of the community itself. The community understands best what is good and what is harmful. He further added, "In my society, not only Muslims but Hindus, Buddhists, Christians—people of all faiths—are included. A shrine (mazar) constantly preaches this truth. The cultural practices that occur here speak in one language—the language of humanity. There is no truth greater than human beings." Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said, “When we listen to the grief of the families of the martyrs of the July uprising, it devastates us. Remembering this pain is what inspires our journey forward.” He announced that a "July Museum" is being established to preserve the memory of the July uprising, which will offer a unique experience.

Inquilab Manch has launched a month-long signature campaign and leaflet distribution demanding justice for recent massacres and a ban on the “fascist Awami League.” They plan to culminate with a “Martyrs’ Rally” at Shahbagh on April 25. Spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi shared on Facebook that activists have been visiting door-to-door, skipping meals and sleep to rally public support. Following campaigns in Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Barisal, and Khulna, Hadi is heading to Dhaka for the Gaza march and will continue outreach in Rangpur and Rajshahi next. Members are also visiting the graves of martyrs in each region.

In protest against the genocide in Gaza, the ‘March for Gaza’ will be held on Saturday at Suhrawardy Udyan. Islamic scholar Shaykh Ahmadullah issued five guidelines for participants, including personal responsibility for the event’s success, maintaining cleanliness, bringing essentials like water, umbrellas, and masks, avoiding provocation, and cooperating with volunteers. Participants are instructed to carry only the Bangladeshi and Palestinian flags, avoiding political symbols. Any attempt to incite violence will be deemed a conspiracy, and joint efforts with law enforcement will be made to resist wrongdoers.

PUSAB has issued five key directives for students of private universities participating in the ‘March for Gaza’ campaign. Students must wear their institutional ID cards during the event and arrive ahead of time to ensure a prompt start at 12 PM. Participants are urged to remain vigilant against any individuals trying to incite disorder. All students are considered volunteers and must collectively maintain discipline during the large-scale march. Full cooperation with the organizers is expected to ensure a peaceful procession to Suhrawardy Udyan.

Energy Adviser Mohammad Fawzul Kabir Khan has said that the government is doing its utmost to reduce load shedding during the summer. However, if power cuts become inevitable, they will begin in Dhaka before other regions. He clarified that there are two types of power outages: load shedding due to reduced production and disruptions caused by natural incidents such as storms or transformer failures. The adviser noted that uninterrupted power supply, as during Ramadan, may not be possible in the summer. However, the government is making every effort. He stressed that rural areas will not be solely targeted—load shedding will start in the capital. He also encouraged the public to conserve electricity.