The Anti-Discrimination Employees’ Unity Forum has demanded the resignation of advisors Asif Mahmud and Nurjahan Begum. They also thanked the government for dismissing two allegedly corrupt APS officials. According to media reports, Moazzem Hossain amassed 400 crore BDT through lobbying, while similar allegations exist against Tuhin Farabi and Dr. Mahmudul Hasan. While some have been removed, the Forum stressed that responsibility ultimately lies with their superiors. The ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) has launched investigations against the two former APS officers.

The UN Security Council strongly condemned the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, India. In a press statement, Council members called for accountability and international cooperation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s National Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, issued a press release expressing Pakistan’s willingness to support a neutral international investigation into the Pahalgam attack.

Workers and representatives from 22 affected factories staged a protest in front of the Australian High Commission, demanding the return of embezzled funds from Australia’s Mosaic Brands and justice at an international court. Taslima Akhter stated that Bangladeshi workers hope the Australian government will promptly act through its High Commissioner to ensure their dues and protect 22 factories. She urged immediate efforts to recover nearly 2.5 billion BDT owed to workers and factories.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that Bangladesh’s national election will be held between December and June. He emphasized that ongoing reforms will continue during this period and that political party opinions regarding election timing are irrelevant. Alam assured that once reforms are completed, an election date will be announced without unnecessary delays.

The Search Committee tasked with restructuring Bangladesh’s sports federations has been granted an extension until May 10. Initially expected to complete their work by April 20, the committee requested more time to finalize new leadership proposals for the federations. So far, 31 out of 52 federations have had ad-hoc committees formed, with the remaining expected to be completed by early May.

Students at United International University (UIU) staged a fresh protest, accusing the administration of conspiring to cripple the university through mass resignations. Students locked in the VC, deans, and department heads, demanding that all resignation letters—except those of VC Prof. Dr. Abul Kashem Mia and CSE department head Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nurul Huda—be withdrawn. Earlier, students had launched protests demanding the dismissal of Prof. Huda for alleged mistreatment.

DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz announced a citywide crackdown on unauthorized autorickshaws, workshops, and charging stations. DNCC, in collaboration with DMP, has already compiled a list of targets. Residents and homeowners’ associations have been urged not to permit illegal vehicles into their neighborhoods, emphasizing that a proactive local community would make it easier to eliminate such unauthorized operations.

Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud criticized the practice of appointing election-losing candidates as mayors through court verdicts, calling it an endorsement of rigged elections under Sheikh Hasina’s rule. Citing the cases of BNP candidates Shahadat Hossain and Ishraq Hossain, Mahmud urged political parties to refrain from legitimizing such elections. He clarified that they were not official parties to the lawsuits.

Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway line to show solidarity with job seekers on hunger strike at Dhaka University. Their eight-point demand includes punishment for those involved in the 46th BCS written exam question leak, assurances against cancelling the exam, raising viva-voce slots to 100 in the 45th BCS, and timely announcements of BCS results. They also demanded increasing the number of PSC members and ensuring employment for those who pass the viva exams.

In Agra, members of the extremist Hindu group ‘Gau Raksha Dal’ opened fire on two Muslim brothers, killing one and injuring another while they were closing their family biryani shop. Gulfan Ali died on the spot, while Saif Ali was injured. In a video released the following day, two youths claiming to be members of the group confessed to the murder and threatened to kill 2,600 Muslims in retaliation for earlier incidents. Despite this, Agra police are framing the incident as a case of personal rivalry, although the group is known to have ties to the RSS.

A group of 10–15 outsiders attacked four students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) for allegedly not inviting the Vice Chancellor to an event, stating, “The VC is your guardian, why didn’t you invite him?” The students—Mohan, Sheikh Mujahid, Galib Rahat, and Md. Obaidullah—suffered cuts and bruises and are now receiving treatment at the KUET Medical Center. Police teams have been deployed to arrest the attackers, according to OC Kabir Hossain.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser, paid his last respects to Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square, alongside leaders from over 130 countries. During the ceremony, Yunus exchanged greetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, EU President Ursula von der Leyen, former U.S. President Joe Biden, and leaders from Finland, Kenya, Montenegro, Ecuador, East Timor, Honduras, Iceland, Portugal, and Belgium, among others.

Amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, former U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that harsher sanctions could be imposed on Russian President Vladimir Putin, including banking restrictions. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met privately at Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome, signaling continued U.S. pressure on Russia. Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin for a fourth round of talks in Moscow.

Lamya (17), daughter of July Uprising martyr Jasim Uddin, committed suicide by hanging at her home in Shekhertek on Saturday night. She had recently been a victim of gang rape and was scheduled to travel to her village for university entrance exams preparation. Family members allege that threats and harassment, possibly via phone, led her to take her life. The rapists had reportedly been released on bail.

Kashmiri students across India, including Punjab and Uttarakhand, are facing threats, harassment, and eviction from their homes. After an incident on April 22, Kashmiri student Asif Dar recounted being verbally abused and targeted due to his ethnicity. Across India, landlords are expelling Kashmiri tenants, and shopkeepers are refusing to serve them, with right-wing mobs targeting Muslim students.