Election Commissioner A.F.M. Sanaullah announced that an advisory team comprising experts will be formed today to ensure the voting rights of Bangladeshi expatriates. He noted that 115 out of 178 countries allow overseas citizens to vote, primarily through embassies, postal ballots, and online or proxy voting. Due to limitations in embassy reach, these three options are being studied for implementation in Bangladesh.

Starlink officially launched its trial internet services in Bangladesh at the opening ceremony of the Bangladesh Investment Summit held at Hotel InterContinental. Attendees could experience the service, and the summit proceedings were live-streamed using Starlink’s internet. BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun confirmed the company’s registration with BIDA.

According to the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, 315 road accidents during Eid-ul-Fitr travel claimed 322 lives and injured 826. Additionally, 21 rail accidents left 20 dead and 8 injured, while 4 waterway incidents killed 10 and left one injured and one missing. In total, 340 accidents across all modes of transport resulted in 352 deaths and 835 injuries. Compared to last year, road accidents dropped by 21.05%, fatalities by 20.88%, and injuries by 40.41%.

Starlink is launching its pilot internet service in Bangladesh today during the Bangladesh Investment Summit at Hotel InterContinental. Attendees will experience Starlink’s satellite-based internet services firsthand, with the event being livestreamed using the technology. Starlink received investment registration from BIDA on March 29, and the process for acquiring a commercial NGSO license from BTRC is underway. The technology was first tested in Bangladesh in July 2023, and Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus recently discussed the service with Elon Musk in a virtual meeting.

The death toll from a nightclub roof collapse in the Dominican Republic has risen to 66, including a professional baseball player. At least 155 people have been hospitalized. The incident occurred during a live concert, and a video shows a performer pointing toward the rear of the club moments before the roof began to cave in. Rescue operations continue as several individuals remain missing.

At a ceremony held at the IMO Delegates Lounge in London, Advisor Sakhawat Hossain formally announced Bangladesh’s candidacy for Category ‘C’ membership of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council. The event was attended by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. The advisor highlighted Bangladesh’s commitment to environmental protection, climate action, digitization, and women’s participation in the maritime sector. A replica model of a Bangladeshi ship was also presented to the IMO Secretariat, marking the first installation of such a model at the IMO headquarters.

Tamanna Sharmin, wife of Sajjad Hossain alias “Chhoto Sajjad,” an accused in a double murder case, voiced her outrage during a Facebook Live after police publicly paraded her husband as part of an anti-terror drill. “Is my husband a sacrificial cow that he must be tied up and paraded through the streets with a microphone? Couldn’t OC Arif have just shot him if he wanted to?” she exclaimed. Sajjad, a suspect in over a dozen cases, was arrested last month at Bashundhara City. Prior to his arrest, he had threatened OC Arif in a Facebook Live. Tamanna had previously claimed she would spend lavishly to get him out of jail and is now accused of plotting to kill rival gangster Sarwar Hossain Babla for tipping off police.

Local activists staged a protest demanding an end to Israeli war crimes in Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Starting from Gabtola Mosque, protesters marched through local markets distributing awareness leaflets, stickers, and posters. They urged shopkeepers to stop selling Israeli products and prioritize domestic alternatives. Several store owners voluntarily removed Israeli goods and destroyed them in public. Holding placards that read, “Don’t let your money fund bombs in Gaza,” protesters declared their intent to continue the resistance until Palestine gains freedom.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md. Ejaz announced plans to deploy 5,000 volunteers during this monsoon season to raise public awareness about dengue prevention. Speaking at a public hearing, he stated, “These volunteers will visit every DNCC neighborhood to educate residents on how to prevent dengue.” He also mentioned increased monitoring of mosquito control teams and promised immediate action against negligence. Additionally, laboratory testing will be conducted to verify the effectiveness of the mosquito repellents currently in use. Discussions are ongoing to involve the Bangladesh Army in supervising mosquito control efforts, and local housing societies will also be engaged in the initiative.

Former MP of Sirajganj-3, Dr. Abdul Aziz, was attacked and handed over to police by a group of students and locals shortly after being released on bail Tuesday night. He had been in custody since February 4 on charges of attempted murder and possession of explosives. The High Court granted him bail, but upon release from the district jail, he was intercepted, beaten, and later taken into custody by police. Earlier, Aziz was arrested by RAB in Dhaka’s Kalabagan area and transferred to Tarash Police Station before being sent to jail through court proceedings. He had also been taken on remand multiple times.

According to the Press Wing of the Chief Adviser, 62 individuals have been arrested across the country—including in Sylhet, Chattogram, and Khulna—following attacks, vandalism, and looting at various commercial establishments such as Bata and KFC during recent solidarity protests over the Palestine issue. Four criminal cases have been filed in relation to the incidents. In Narayanganj’s Nitaiganj area, police detained four individuals for threatening to destroy beverages and attempting to raid a Coca-Cola distributor’s warehouse. Meanwhile, 31 people were arrested in Khulna for attacks on Bata and KFC outlets, and four more were apprehended in Cumilla for vandalizing a KFC restaurant.

Residents of Hatiya have staged protests and sit-ins against an alleged conspiracy to detach Bhasan Char from Hatiya Island and merge it with Sandwip. The demonstrators stated that Bhasan Char’s administrative status is a settled matter and accused certain quarters of trying to provoke regional unrest by shifting it under Sandwip’s jurisdiction. They specifically accused Sandwip resident and adviser Fazlul Kabir Khan of meddling in the issue and demanded his resignation for disturbing regional peace. Historically, Sandwip was separated from Noakhali in 1954, and newly formed chars in the sea have since been administered under Noakhali. Protesters allege that efforts are now underway to reverse this arrangement.

Railways Advisor Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan has advised against unnecessary and excessive spending in railway development projects. Highlighting the ongoing shortage of locomotives and coaches, he emphasized the need for prompt completion of the current project to procure 200 coaches. Addressing a representative of Shohoz.com, the ticketing partner of Bangladesh Railway, he warned that if the company fails to take effective measures against ticket scalping, their agreement with the railway authorities might be reconsidered. He also instructed Shohoz.com to operate with greater diligence and accountability.

In Magura, DNA test results confirmed that Hitu Sheikh was involved in the rape of an 8-year-old girl named Asiya. The incident caused public outrage, and despite a month passing since the crime, teachers, classmates, and locals are demanding swift justice. The school had just reopened after Ramadan break. DIG Police stated that other suspects are also being investigated and the charge sheet will be filed soon. The primary accused has already confessed under Section 164 in court.

Nobel laureate and renowned American economist Paul Krugman has criticized the United States for imposing high tariffs on Bangladeshi apparel. He warned that such measures will ultimately harm consumers. Krugman explained that while efforts to bring production back to the U.S. under the guise of national security are ongoing, it is equally important to maintain production in friendly and neighboring countries to ensure a resilient supply chain. “In that context, imposing high tariffs on countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, Canada, and Mexico was not the right move,” he said. Krugman also noted that tariffs alone are ineffective in reducing trade deficits, as various factors diminish their impact.