A devastating bus accident occurred near Bhubaneswar, Odisha, involving more than 70 Bangladeshi tourists en route to Puri. The bus overturned, killing one pilgrim and injuring at least 15 others, several of whom are in critical condition. The identity of the deceased remains unknown. Preliminary reports indicate the bus lost control near Uttarachak and flipped over. Police and fire service teams have initiated a rescue operation.

Turkey is preparing to take control of Syria’s Tiyas Airbase (T4) following Israeli attacks in the region. The country is deploying air defense systems, including the S-400 missile defense system, and plans to station radar systems with a range of 600 kilometers at the airbase. This would allow Turkish forces to track potential threats from Tel Aviv in real time. Israeli forces are attempting to prevent Turkish control of the base, but analysts suggest that Turkey remains undeterred in its plans, with suspicions that Israeli influence may be behind domestic protests in Turkey.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China and India to contribute to global humanitarian efforts, stating that the US will no longer bear the majority of the responsibility. In the aftermath of the earthquake in Myanmar, Rubio urged wealthy nations, including China and India, to participate in providing aid. He defended the US’s response to the Myanmar earthquake, dismissing claims of delay, and emphasized that the Myanmar military junta made it difficult for aid efforts to proceed.

The Secretary-General of the International Muslim Scholars Union, Ali al-Qaradaghi, issued a fatwa urging all Muslim nations to immediately intervene militarily, economically, and politically to stop the Israeli genocide and widespread destruction in Gaza. In the 15-point decree, al-Qaradaghi warned that Arab and Islamic governments failing to act would be committing a grave sin against their oppressed Palestinian brothers. He also prohibited the sale of weapons or the provision of logistical support to Israel through international waterways like the Suez Canal, Bab El-Mandeb, and the Hormuz Strait. The fatwa has been supported by 14 other prominent Islamic figures.

The Police Headquarters has confirmed that no major crimes occurred during the recent Eid holidays, thanks to timely and effective measures taken by law enforcement. Enamul Haque Sagar, a police spokesperson, stated that ensuring a safe and peaceful Eid was a priority, and efforts are continuing to ensure a secure return for people after the holidays. He further mentioned that road accidents had decreased compared to last year, although several motorcycle accidents occurred, resulting in casualties. Authorities stressed the need for greater awareness among passengers and drivers to prevent such accidents in the future.

Saudi Arabia has imposed a temporary visa restriction on 14 countries—including Bangladesh and Pakistan—during the Hajj season.
The ban affects Umrah, business, and family visit visas and is expected to remain in place until mid-June.
Travelers holding Umrah visas may enter Saudi Arabia until April 13.
Other countries on the restricted list include India, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Yemen.
Saudi authorities said the ban was necessitated by past incidents where long-term visa holders performed Hajj without authorization, leading to severe overcrowding.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has declared that no waste— including that in the Matuail Sanitary Landfill—can be incinerated.
Acknowledging that relocating the Matuail dump entirely will take time, she announced that two nearby steel mills will be shut down to mitigate environmental impact.
“No battery burning or lead extraction from batteries will be allowed,” she added, citing enforcement actions already taken by the Department of Environment.
During an inspection, Rizwana noted that air pollution in Dhaka has become a serious health concern and instructed city corporations and relevant agencies to adopt coordinated measures. She emphasized a dual approach: penalties for violations alongside public awareness campaigns.

In response to complaints of overcharging, the Bangladesh Navy conducted a surprise raid at the Barguna municipal bus terminal. It was revealed that transport staff on Dhaka-bound routes were charging passengers between BDT 200 to 600 more than the government-fixed fares.

Upon hearing about the operation, most ticket sellers fled the counters, making it difficult to take immediate action. However, Navy personnel intervened by coordinating with members of the local bus owners’ association to ensure passengers were refunded the excess fare.

Supradeep Chakma, Adviser on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, has stated that the region will see no discrimination and will move forward through communal harmony. He urged collective effort to maintain peace and unity among all communities—hill people, Bengalis, Marmas, Chakmas, Tripuras, and Bawm. “Everyone should see themselves as citizens of Bangladesh and live together peacefully in mutual respect,” he said. He emphasized that the interim government formed through public uprising is working toward this inclusive vision.

According to the updated Passport Index by Nomad Capitalist, Bangladesh ranks 181st out of 200 countries, placing it near the bottom of the list of most powerful passports in the world.

The index evaluates passports based on five key criteria: visa-free travel access, international taxation on residents, opportunities for dual citizenship, global reputation, and personal freedom. Ireland secured the top spot with a score of 109, granting its citizens visa-on-arrival access to 176 countries.

In contrast, Bangladesh scored 38 and currently allows visa-on-arrival travel to just 50 countries. Nepal ranks slightly higher than Bangladesh, while Myanmar ranks just below. India holds the 148th position, and Pakistan is further down at 195th.

The Upazila Administration in Durgapur, Netrakona, launched a drive against buses charging excessive fares from passengers returning to Dhaka. Several transport companies, including Ma Moni Enterprise, Sathi Paribahan, and St. Martin CBC, were found collecting fares without printed tickets and inflating prices.

Under the supervision of the UNO, passengers were refunded the overcharged amounts, and bus counters were warned against repeating such practices. Travelers expressed great satisfaction after receiving their money back.

Actress Pori Moni has been accused of severely assaulting a domestic worker over a dispute involving her child’s feeding. The victim has filed a complaint with the local police. In a Facebook live session, Pori Moni responded, “The woman in question hasn’t even been working with us for a month. She may claim to be a domestic worker, but I don’t consider her as such.” She stated she has evidence but chooses not to release it out of respect for the legal process. Accusing the media of conducting a trial against her, she said, “If I have done wrong, I absolutely deserve to be punished. Anyone can file a complaint, but should someone be judged guilty before the investigation is complete?” She concluded, “This is real life—not a reel for social media.”

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed has announced that the establishment of the Supreme Court Secretariat is now on the brink of realization. He stated that this initiative will significantly contribute to ensuring the independence and autonomy of the judiciary.

Speaking on judicial reform, the Chief Justice highlighted that the phased implementation of the reform roadmap is enabling the judiciary to play a pivotal role in shaping the “New Bangladesh” envisioned for the post-July 2024 era. He emphasized that judicial reform has itself become a symbol of the word “reform” and noted that the judiciary is the only arm of the state that has actively pursued internal reforms for decades.

“We have never been this close to achieving full separation of powers,” he said. “If this opportunity is lost, it would be severely detrimental to the dignity, integrity, and relevance of the judiciary.”

After attending the annual Snan Utsav (Holy Bath Festival) in Narayanganj, Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam addressed concerns over misinformation by foreign media. “Some foreign outlets have good relations with our media, but they often spread false news. You must counter them with the truth to expose their lies,” he said.

Alam encouraged the press to report any real issues transparently, but warned against publishing misinformation. He also noted that river conditions and pilgrim turnout were better this year, and praised the coordinated efforts of the Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Ansar, magistrates, and local administration. Highlighting Bangladesh’s religious harmony, he proposed turning the holy site into a tourist destination.

The United States has imposed a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi imports—an alarming move initiated by former President Donald Trump that poses serious risks to the country’s export sector. In response, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called an emergency meeting tonight to address the situation.

According to Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, top experts, advisers, and officials will attend the meeting, scheduled for 7:30 PM at the Jamuna office. Dr. Yunus earlier assured that the matter would be resolved through discussion and diplomacy.