The 25th BIMSTEC Senior Officials' Meeting began today in Bangkok, ahead of the upcoming summit on April 4, 2025. A five-member delegation led by Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin is representing Bangladesh. The meeting will discuss free trade agreements, trade facilitation, customs cooperation, and investment opportunities.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury credited police vigilance for ensuring a peaceful Eid. He noted that law enforcement officers worked tirelessly to maintain security, and their leaves were canceled for this purpose. He also assured that while criminals will be dealt with firmly, innocent citizens will not be harassed.

Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam has stated that the government will take a tough stance against any attempts to destabilize the country. Addressing concerns raised in a New York Times report, he emphasized that the administration would prevent any rise in political or religious extremism. He also stressed the government’s commitment to upholding democratic principles.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, is set to travel to Bangkok on Thursday to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. He will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Tawhid Hossain and Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin. This will be their first overseas diplomatic mission together. The summit will take place from April 2-4 in Thailand's capital.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Libya confirmed on Tuesday night that local law enforcement rescued 23 abducted Bangladeshi nationals and arrested two kidnappers. The embassy thanked Misrata's law enforcement agencies for their swift action and assured that legal assistance would be provided to the rescued individuals.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait have officially informed the United States that they will not allow their airspace or military bases to be used for any attacks on Iran. This follows threats from the US president to bomb Iran. Meanwhile, Washington has approved the sale of MQ-9 Reaper drones to Qatar and advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia. With these restrictions, the US has now deployed B-2 bombers to the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean. Iran has already threatened retaliation if attacks originate from Diego Garcia. The US currently has two aircraft carriers and approximately 40,000 troops stationed in the Middle East.

At least 10 people were killed and six others injured in a head-on collision between a high-speed Relax Transport bus and two HiAce vans in Lohagara, Chattogram, on Wednesday morning. The accident temporarily halted traffic on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway for an hour before emergency services cleared the road. The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed.

Three days after the shocking double murder in Chattogram, a case has been filed against Sajjad Hossain, alias "Chhoto Sajjad," and his wife, Sharmin. The case was lodged by Firoza Begum, the mother of victim Mohammad Manik. Additionally, Mohammad Hasan, Mobarak Hossain Imon, Khorshed, Raihan, and Borhan have also been named in the case. According to reports, on the night of March 29, Manik, Sarwar, Abdullah, Robin, Hridoy, and Imon were socializing near a bridge when assailants on 6-7 motorcycles opened fire on their car, killing two people on the spot.

Mohammad Hasan, who was arrested on charges of rape, committed suicide in police custody at Bhola Sadar Model Police Station around midnight on Monday. Reports indicate that earlier that day, during Eid, a housewife from Medua village accused Hasan of raping her when she went to store meat in his refrigerator. Enraged locals caught Hasan and assaulted him before handing him over to the police, who then admitted him to Bhola Sadar Hospital. After receiving medical treatment, he was placed in custody at 8 PM. Later, he reportedly hanged himself in the toilet.

Two separate explosions at fireworks factories in West Bengal and Gujarat have resulted in the deaths of 21 people and injured six others. Authorities reported that the first explosion occurred on Tuesday morning at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Disa, Banaskantha district, Gujarat, killing at least 13 people and injuring six. The second explosion took place late Monday night in Raipur, Dholahat, under Patharpratima police station in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The blast, which occurred at a house storing fireworks, claimed eight lives, including four children from the same family. Local sources fear that more people may be trapped under the rubble in Gujarat.

Hefazat-e-Islam leaders, Amir Allama Muhibullah Babunagari and General Secretary Allama Sajedur Rahman, have strongly condemned the inclusion of idol representations in the Eid procession organized by the Ministry of Culture. While appreciating the government's efforts to create a safe and free environment for Eid celebrations, they criticized what they termed an "anti-Islamic" act. They claimed that reintroducing the historic "Eid procession," a centuries-old tradition from the Mughal and Sultanate periods, was a step toward cultural revival for Bangladesh's Muslim community. However, they warned that incorporating idols into such religious celebrations contradicts the spirit of Eid and vowed to launch protests if such incidents recur.

A heated dispute over the purchase of a motorcycle battery escalated into a violent clash between residents of Baniyagaon and Chargao villages in Bahubal, Habiganj. Following an argument between two individuals, announcements were made over loudspeakers, leading to a mass brawl where torches were used as weapons. At least 50 people, including police officers, were injured in the chaos. A joint force of police and military was deployed to restore order. Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam confirmed that the situation is now under control and reported that three police personnel were among the injured.

India’s Supreme Court has strongly condemned Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s bulldozer policy, declaring it unconstitutional and inhumane.

In a case concerning the demolition of homes in Prayagraj, the court ordered compensation of 1 million rupees to affected families. Several houses, including those of a lawyer and a professor, were demolished without proper legal procedures. Authorities had mistakenly identified the land as belonging to a slain gangster, Atiq Ahmed, leading to the demolition just one day after informing the residents.

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for his upcoming visit to Hungary, Amnesty International has urged Hungarian authorities to arrest him on charges of war crimes in Gaza.

In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu over the Gaza conflict. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán previously invited Netanyahu and declared that Hungary would not enforce the ICC's warrant. On Tuesday, Amnesty’s head of research and policy, Erika Guevara-Rosas, reiterated the call for Netanyahu’s arrest.

In response to Myanmar’s devastating earthquake, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has provided humanitarian aid, including one ton of hygiene kits, eight tons of dry food, 2.5 tons of water, four tons of medicine, one ton of hygiene products, and 1.5 tons of relief tents.

On Tuesday, the society’s chairman, Major General (Retd.) Dr. Md. Azizul Islam, officially handed over 200 hygiene kits to Assistant Chief of Air Staff AVM Javed Tanvir at Kurmitola Air Base.