The Trump administration has temporarily halted the 25% tariffs imposed on most Canadian and Mexican goods on Thursday. In response, Canada has also delayed its retaliatory tariffs. However, this suspension is set to expire on April 2, after which Trump has threatened to impose counter-tariffs on all global trade partners. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated, “On April 2, reciprocal tariffs will be implemented. We hope Mexico and Canada take sufficient measures to curb fentanyl shipments into the U.S.” Earlier this week, Trump had imposed the 25% tariff on both nations.

A devastating fire erupted at a textile warehouse in Pabanartek, Jamgara, Ashulia, on Friday afternoon. According to Fire Service officials, the blaze broke out in a tin-shed storage facility owned by Md. Sharif. Two firefighting units from DEPZ Fire Service initially responded, followed by two more units from Zirabo Modern Fire Service. The fire was brought under control after an hour-long effort. No casualties have been reported so far.

The US State Department announced plans to use AI-powered monitoring to revoke visas of foreign students identified as Hamas sympathizers. The initiative, termed “Catch and Revoke,” will analyze social media accounts of thousands of student visa holders to detect potential affiliations with the Palestinian resistance group. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that individuals supporting Hamas or similar organizations pose a national security threat. Axios reported that the review will focus on accounts active since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.

The Nobel Committee has received 338 nominations for this year’s Peace Prize, including 244 individuals and 94 organizations. While the full list remains classified for 50 years as per Nobel regulations, US politicians have hinted that former President Donald Trump is a strong contender. Congressman Darrell Issa confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that he would be nominating Trump, asserting that “no one is more deserving” of the prestigious honor.

Filmmaker and advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki took to Facebook on Thursday to express his firm stance against misogyny. In his post, he questioned whether anyone had cared about the gender, attire, or political affiliation of their fellow protestors when fighting against Hasina’s oppressive regime in July. He pointed out that Bangladesh had opposed the stigmatization of beards, caps, and burqas in the past and should do the same now. His message was clear: “A straight ‘NO’ to all forms of misogyny—never before, not now, not in the future.” He ended his post with a thought-provoking question about who truly benefits from the political manipulation of power.

Despite prior warnings from Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the banned extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir organized a “March for Khilafah” procession after Friday prayers at Baitul Mukarram. The march proceeded toward Bijoynagar but was intercepted by police after about 15 minutes. Law enforcement used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the protesters, causing them to scatter. However, the group regrouped and attempted to continue the demonstration, leading to another round of police action. Protesters retaliated by hurling stones and bricks at security forces. Several individuals were detained during the clashes.

After an arduous nine-hour effort, forest officials and local villagers successfully rescued a wild elephant that had been trapped in the mud for 22 hours in Chattogram’s Banshkhali Upazila on Thursday afternoon. Anisuzzaman, a ranger at the Jaldi Forest Range, reported that the 40-year-old female elephant was already suffering from malnutrition and had become further weakened due to prolonged immobility. “We first sprayed water on the elephant to remove the mud from its body and soften the ground,” he explained. “With the help of at least 35 villagers, we were finally able to pull the elephant to safety.” The animal has been given saline-infused water, and further medical attention is being arranged.

On Wednesday, officials and employees of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) staged protests demanding the resignation of Chairman Khandaker Rashed Maksud and his leadership team. They continued their demonstrations with a strike on Thursday. Addressing the situation, Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed remarked, “This is beyond my jurisdiction. The BSEC Chairman is in charge, and he has been given full responsibility to handle the matter.” He further stated that the government had instructed Maksud to continue his work with even greater rigor. Meanwhile, Maksud affirmed that discussions with the government had taken place, emphasizing that their mandate remains firm: “We must stay on course and strengthen our efforts—there is no room for backing down.”

Dhaka University has reaffirmed its rule requiring students to keep their ears and faces visible during tutorial presentations and examinations. However, some female students have expressed unwillingness to comply. In response, the university’s public relations office issued a statement announcing that female students wearing niqabs or hijabs will be identified by female teachers, officers, or staff to maintain both personal privacy and institutional security. The administration also stated that female assistant proctors may be involved in the identification process when necessary. Additionally, authorities are exploring the feasibility of implementing fingerprint or biometric identification systems in the future.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested three members of the banned extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir while they were allegedly planning a pre-announced program at Baitul Mukarram. DMP spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed the arrests on Friday morning. The detainees were identified as Monirul Islam (40), Mohtasin Billah (40), and Mahmudul Hasan (21). The DMP had earlier warned that any attempt by banned organizations to hold gatherings would face strict action. The arrests were made during a late-night raid in Uttara’s Sector 11 and Sector 12.

In a special operation on Thursday evening, the Bangladesh Navy recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition in Kutubdia Upazila. While no suspects were arrested, officials revealed that the raid was conducted based on intelligence reports. The recovered items included a single-barrel shotgun, a shotgun, and six rounds of live ammunition, all found abandoned in the Manoharkhali area of Baraghop Union. The seized weapons have been handed over to Kutubdia police for further legal proceedings. The navy has assured continued efforts to prevent illegal arms trafficking in the region.

In a case related to the 2016 police operation at a so-called militant hideout in Kalayanpur, the International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the arrest of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque, former DMP Commissioner Md. Asaduzzaman Mia, and former Mirpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Jasim Uddin. The operation, which was later deemed controversial, resulted in the fatal shooting of nine young men with Islamic leanings, allegedly under a fabricated narrative. The tribunal has directed authorities to present the three accused before the court on March 24 in connection with charges of crimes against humanity.

China has vowed to retaliate against U.S. tariffs, declaring its readiness to engage in any trade war. The Chinese Embassy in Washington issued a statement condemning the latest tariff hikes imposed by the U.S. government. Former President Donald Trump, in his first speech after securing a second term, announced additional tariffs, set to take effect on April 2. In response, China, along with Canada and Mexico, has threatened countermeasures. Analysts warn that the situation is escalating into a full-scale global trade war. On Tuesday night, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, while Chinese goods were hit with an additional 10% tariff.

At least 48 people have been killed in violent clashes between Syrian government forces and loyalist fighters of former president Bashar al-Assad. Among the dead are 16 security personnel. The violence erupted in the Latakia province, prompting the authorities to impose a curfew in the region. Syrian state media agency SANA reported that government troops are now advancing toward the city of Jableh with “significant military reinforcements.” The Syrian-based Step News Agency stated that government forces had killed around 70 former pro-Assad fighters and detained over 25. The country’s defense ministry has called for the surrender of weapons to restore order.

Danish beauty queen and Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, is set to visit Bangladesh in May for humanitarian work, announced Bangladeshi Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari. In a Facebook post, he expressed his delight at welcoming Theilvig and her team to the Bangladeshi Embassy. Theilvig made history by becoming the first Miss Universe from Denmark. Her upcoming visit aims to engage in philanthropic activities in Bangladesh.