The U.S. has delivered a second THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system to Israel. The massive American C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft landed at Israel’s Nevatim Air Base and remained for eight hours during the offloading process. This marks a continued expansion of U.S.-Israel defense cooperation.

The BDR Welfare Council staged a sit-in at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar from 9 AM to 7:30 PM Sunday, raising two demands: reinstatement of dismissed BDR members with full benefits and the release of members still detained despite securing bail. The group claims to represent victims of the 2009 Pilkhana massacre.

A Dhaka court sentenced Evaly CEO Mohammad Rassel and Chairperson Shamima Nasrin to three years in prison for fraud. They were also fined BDT 5,000 each, or an additional six months in jail if unpaid. The case was filed after a customer paid for a Yamaha bike in 2021 but did not receive it. A BDT 500,000 cheque issued in lieu also bounced due to insufficient funds.

Bangladesh’s economic advisor Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the impact of new US tariffs will be manageable. The government has initiated discussions with US authorities to mitigate the effects. He noted that recent efforts to control import costs have reduced the trade deficit, inflation was curbed during Ramadan and Eid, and foreign reserves are showing positive trends.

A massive fire broke out across three factories in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, injuring a Bangladeshi worker who is currently in critical condition. Local media confirmed the victim is Bangladeshi but did not release his identity. The fire destroyed 80% of a textile and recycling facility, 70% of a metal factory, and 90% of a wood-processing plant.

UK MP Tulip Siddiq is facing renewed controversy for allegedly misleading the British Parliament about a luxury flat she owns in Dhaka. Earlier, she resigned from a ministerial post over a flat gifted by a close associate of Sheikh Hasina. Siddiq claims she received the Dhaka flat as a gift from her parents in 2002 and legally transferred it to her sister in 2015. However, The Daily Mail reports she still holds the title, and the gift deed appears to be forged.

Bangladeshi legal scholar Asif Nazrul condemned India’s amended Waqf Act, calling it a discriminatory move by the Modi government. In a Facebook post, he said the law permits non-Muslims on Waqf property boards and grants the government control over Waqf assets, sparking fears of historical property confiscation. He questioned why non-Muslims are excluded from Hindu temple boards but allowed in Waqf governance, calling it part of a broader Hindutva-driven oppression.

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees legally residing in the US under the humanitarian parole program received emails instructing them to leave within seven days or face forced removal. A Homeland Security spokesperson later confirmed the emails were sent in error and the Ukrainian Parole Program, launched after Russia’s 2022 invasion, remains active. Despite the correction, the emails caused significant fear among recipients.

Mass protests erupted in the US and several European cities following new tariff policies introduced by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which have severely impacted the global economy. Demonstrations took place in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London, as well as in various US states, including Washington, D.C. Protesters carried signs reading “No Kings in America” and “Deport Musk.” The protests were largely organized by overseas Democratic supporters.

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.