Teachers, officials, and staff of the National University held a silent protest wearing black badges in solidarity with the people of Palestine, denouncing the ongoing genocide and grave human rights violations by Israel in Gaza. The demonstration was led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ASM Amanullah. The protest aimed to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemn the continued atrocities.

Adviser Farida Akhtar revealed that a proposal has been submitted to establish a Fisheries and Livestock Bank to protect fishermen from exploitative lending practices. “Once operational, the bank will free fishing communities from dependency on informal moneylenders,” she said. Addressing local fishermen, she emphasized their responsibility: “You are the custodians of hilsa. If you protect the young fish (jatka), the rivers will replenish.” She highlighted that 65.88% of the country’s hilsa comes from Barisal Division and reaffirmed the ongoing conservation program running until June 30. Districts showing success in jatka preservation will be officially recognized. Various demands were also submitted to the adviser during her visit.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

At least five people were killed and 35 injured when a local bus lost control and crashed into a ditch after hitting an electric pole in Bakunda, Faridpur, around 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday. According to police, the victims include three men and two women. Identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. Senior Fire Officer Md. Nazrul Islam verified the incident.

According to the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, 442 women and girls were victims of abuse in March, based on reports from 15 national newspapers. Among them, 163 were raped, including 125 girls. Two girls were murdered after being raped, and two others committed suicide due to assault. There were 70 attempted rapes, including 55 girls. Sixteen women and girls were sexually harassed, while dowry-related abuse affected five women, two of whom were killed. Two underage domestic workers were also murdered, and eight individuals, including six girls, were abducted.

Barrister Turin Afroz, former prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal, has been arrested in connection with a murder case linked to a recent uprising. Police from Uttara West Station conducted a raid at her residence on Road 11 in Sector 3 of Uttara on Monday night and made the arrest. Officer-in-Charge Hafizur Rahman confirmed the arrest and stated that Afroz also faces multiple cases in Nilphamari.