A tragic road accident in Pabna’s Ishwardi on Thursday claimed five lives, including a child, in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam stated that the bus was heading towards Ishwardi when it collided with the oncoming auto-rickshaw. Five people died on the spot, while another was critically injured. The bus driver and assistant fled the scene immediately after the accident, but authorities have seized the vehicle.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed that there is no reason to alter the election date, as the government is committed to holding elections on schedule. He also clarified that there are no plans to ban the ruling party. However, he stated that leaders accused of crimes, particularly murder and crimes against humanity, would be tried in Bangladeshi courts. Yunus noted that a UN fact-finding mission had reported possible war crimes during the July rebellion and that the government is considering referring cases against Awami League leaders to the International Criminal Court. He added that Dhaka is working to gather aid for Rohingya refugees and aims to raise global awareness through a UN conference. He also accused Indian media of spreading anti-Bangladesh misinformation.

Ali Riaz warned that efforts are being made to hinder the reform process both internally and externally. He emphasized the need for vigilance and public participation, stating that without civic engagement, pressure, and inclusion, reforms cannot progress. He also criticized the judiciary, calling it “practically destroyed” and stressed the need for a cultural shift in politics. “Without an accountable system of governance, elections will only bring the same problems,” he argued. He noted that despite constitutional secularism, religious minorities have faced persecution. While members of the Constitutional Reform Commission agreed on various issues, they were divided on retaining the state religion.

The government expects the media to maintain a neutral and responsible role, said Adviser Md. Mahfuz Alam. While welcoming media criticism, he emphasized that constructive criticism helps the government make better decisions. At the same time, he stressed that the media should also highlight the government’s positive initiatives. He also criticized the role of the media over the past 16 years. To ensure discipline, the government has established a Media Reform Commission, and he urged media owners, journalists, and all stakeholders to cooperate in the reform process.

Two clothing stores in Naogaon city—Asman Big Bazaar and Shilamani Garments—were caught selling locally made garments at inflated prices by falsely labeling them as Indian products. The store owners failed to provide purchase receipts for the items. As a result, the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate fined each store BDT 50,000, totaling BDT 100,000 in penalties. The shop owners admitted to the fraud during the operation.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against Saima Wazed Putul for allegedly securing a World Health Organization (WHO) job using false information and forcibly extracting BDT 3.3 billion from 20 banks under the name of Suchona Foundation.
• WHO Job Fraud: The ACC claims that in 2023, Putul falsely stated in her CV that she was involved in faculty work or training manual development at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), which helped her secure the position of WHO South-East Asia Regional Director.
• Bank Fund Misuse: As former chairperson of Suchona Foundation, Putul allegedly colluded with top banking officials and misused power to extract BDT 3.3 billion from banks, leading to the corruption charges against her.

According to a press release from the Cabinet Division on Thursday, the government spent 1.98 billion BDT on medical treatment and related expenses for 40 critically injured protesters from the July-August 2024 mass uprising. The expenses covered medical care, travel, accommodation, food, visas, passports, banking charges, and other necessities for 40 patients, 25 attendants, and one interpreter. The Health Services Division reported this expenditure to the Advisory Council. Additionally, the draft amendment of the Public Procurement Ordinance 2025 has been approved, pending legislative and parliamentary vetting.

The Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms and hailstorms across various regions of Bangladesh over the next three days. Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience gusty winds, lightning, and rain by Friday morning at 9 AM. Some areas could witness hailstorms. Additionally, the mild heatwave affecting Rajshahi and Sirajganj is expected to subside. Similar weather patterns are likely to persist across Dhaka, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet until Saturday morning.

The Election Commission has officially revoked the registration of 96 election observer organizations that were approved under the administration of Hasina. This decision was finalized in a meeting chaired by Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam on Thursday. The commission plans to approve new observer groups. Until November 2023, 67 domestic observer groups were registered with the EC. Ahead of the 2024 elections, 29 more organizations were added, bringing the total to 96. According to the law, these observer groups were authorized to monitor any election in Bangladesh until December 5, 2028.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has dismissed Ananta Jalil’s claims that 240 garment factories in Bangladesh have shut down. He stated, “Before attempting to gain benefits from the government, Ananta Jalil should verify his facts.” He also denied claims that Bangladeshi factories are closing down daily or that thousands of workers have lost their jobs. “In reality, Bangladesh’s exports have increased by 11% over the past seven months. According to reports from local administration and industrial police, about 99% of factories in Gazipur, Ashulia, and Savar remained operational this week,” he added. The Press Secretary urged Ananta Jalil to present accurate data and statistics.

Aliif Group has announced the indefinite closure of three factories in Konabari, Gazipur. Workers reported that employees of Aliif Group’s Swadhin Garments Ltd. in Jorun had been demanding Eid bonuses, leave payments, and half of their current month’s salary for several days. However, the management had not responded. As a result, around 800 workers began a strike on Wednesday morning. On Thursday, the factory management issued a notice declaring an indefinite shutdown.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, setting a two-month deadline for reaching a nuclear agreement. Khamenei condemned Trump’s ultimatum as “bullying tactics.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that the letter is still under review and a response is being prepared. Trump remarked, “We cannot allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. While I prefer a peace agreement, other options remain on the table.”

The Technical and Madrasa Education Division announced on Thursday a proposal to provide government salaries to teachers of Qaumi madrasas as part of an initiative to improve the education system. Under this proposal, madrasas will be categorized into four grades based on student numbers and establishment years.
• Grade 1: Madrasas with over 500 students and established more than 25 years ago. The head of the institution would receive 10,000 BDT per month, while four teachers and one staff member would each receive 7,000 BDT per month.
• Grade 2: Madrasas with over 300 students and over 15 years old. The head would get 8,000 BDT, while four teachers and one staff member would receive 5,000 BDT each.
• Grade 3: Madrasas with over 100 students and at least five years old. The head would receive 5,000 BDT, while teachers and staff would get 3,000 BDT each.
• Grade 4: All other madrasas fall under this category.

The Advisory Council has approved an executive order granting government employees an extended nine-day holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr. Initially, five days of leave were planned from March 29 to April 2, with April 3 as a working day before the weekend break on April 4 and 5. However, to ensure a continuous holiday period, the government has declared April 3 a holiday as well, effectively extending the break to nine days.

The Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, announced that amendments to the Women and Child Repression Prevention Act have been passed. The decision was made during a meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday. In a press conference, Shafiqul Alam stated that modifications have been made to provisions regarding forced intercourse under false promises of marriage. Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar and Apoorbo Jahangir were also present at the briefing.