At a meeting with NCP, National Consensus Commission Vice-President Prof. Ali Riaz said there is now a real chance to build a new Bangladesh. “Our job is to prevent the return of fascist rule,” he declared. While acknowledging differing views on reform proposals, he emphasized the need to identify consensus points and develop a national charter reflecting public aspirations. He praised NCP for their role in resisting authoritarianism and called for continued commitment to state reform.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Bangladesh’s future won’t be shaped by global leaders like Trump, Modi, or Xi, but by its own people. “We must unite like we did during the uprising,” he said, expressing confidence in the country’s potential. He also thanked Dr. Yunus for his efforts and warned that failure to resolve U.S. tariff issues could escalate problems. Fakhrul urged special focus on addressing the needs of farmers.

During a meeting with the National Consensus Commission, NCP convenor Nahid Islam stated that the 2024 uprising was not meant to replace one party with another but to establish a democratic system that upholds public rights through meaningful reforms. He emphasized the need for constitutional change and stronger judicial and electoral frameworks. “We must ensure no return to authoritarianism or fascism,” he added, urging the public to embrace the July Charter as a symbol of this commitment.

Rafiqul Islam, joint general secretary of the Awami League’s Labagamara North Union unit in Cumilla, attended a local Jamaat-e-Islami conference, claiming he did so as a Muslim participating in Islamic events. “The event was held in my village, and I felt obligated to attend,” he stated. However, Jamaat leaders denied any knowledge of him or other Awami League members attending the event, asserting that members of other parties are typically not allowed to attend their gatherings.

Retail onion prices have surged from Tk 30–35 to Tk 70 per kg. Investigations reveal that a syndicate of middlemen has been hoarding onions, citing the ban on Indian imports to create market instability. The group aims to send a message that the domestic supply cannot meet demand without Indian imports. Experts warn that this group is attempting to push local onion prices over Tk 100 in the coming months. Vegetable prices have also increased, prompting experts to recommend stricter government market control, similar to measures taken during Ramadan.

At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two BNP factions in Chuknagar Bazar, Khulna, over control of market lease operations. One group was led by Sheikh Helal Uddin, chairman of Atlia Union Parishad and current general secretary of the local BNP unit, while the other group was headed by former general secretary Daulat Sardar. The altercation escalated when both groups attempted to collect lease fees even after the lease term had expired. Police and army personnel intervened to restore order.

At a party meeting on Friday chaired by NCP convenor Nahid Islam, it was announced that the party will launch a protest in Dhaka demanding reforms in the judiciary and the holding of National Assembly elections. The party has reorganized 64 districts into 19 zones for better organizational management. It was also decided that district committees will have 31–51 members and sub-district committees 21–41, with convenors required to be at least 40 years old. Allegations of misconduct led to the formation of a new internal disciplinary and investigation committee.

As part of the weeklong celebration of the Sangrai festival, a key event for the Marma community, a three-day “Friendship Water Festival” concluded in Bandarban. The closing ceremony was attended by Hill Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma and diplomats including EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro, and Dutch representative Andre Karstens. The adviser said the event showcased the peaceful coexistence in the hills to foreign guests and stressed that all residents of the hills are equals. The festival committee expressed gratitude for the diplomatic engagement and called on all citizens of Bangladesh to remain united in harmony, like the colorful Sangrai celebrations.

Azizur Rahman Azad, a student leader from Islami Chhatra Shibir, wrote on Facebook that over 11,000 political cases are currently filed against their members. He said that in October, the party’s central leadership met with legal adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, who promised to resolve the cases soon. However, Azad claims there has been no progress in the past eight months, and his passport application was repeatedly denied due to pending cases. Despite four visits to the Agargaon and Uttara passport offices, nothing was resolved until he secured a court order—twice. “Yesterday, I finally received a message: ‘Your passport is ready for delivery.’ If this is how I’m treated, imagine what the general public must go through,” he added. In a warning, he said, “Those sitting in power under the guise of reform are eroding citizens’ fundamental rights. If a mass uprising erupts, the responsibility will lie with these so-called advisers.”

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has arrested three Indian nationals at the Daulatpur border in Kushtia with 69 bottles of Phensedyl. In separate operations, BGB also seized 14 kg of marijuana and 485 yaba tablets abandoned along the border. The detainees—Md. Jewel Mondal (25), Md. Rakibul Mondal (35), and Md. Bapon Mondal (32)—are all residents of Murshidabad, India. Two Bangladeshi citizens, Md. Nizam Mondal (45) and Md. Sharif Mondal (25), managed to escape. The arrested individuals have been handed over to local police.

In a late-night raid in Kuala Lumpur’s Medan Imbi area, Malaysian immigration authorities detained 506 undocumented migrants, including 165 Bangladeshis. Medan Imbi has long been known as a hotspot for illegal immigrants. Authorities reported violations such as overstaying visas, lack of proper documentation, and abuse of work visit passes. Immigration Chief Datuk Zakaria Shaban warned of strict action against violators.

The Armed Forces Division reported that between April 10–17, joint operations across Bangladesh led to the arrest of 390 criminals, including listed terrorists, fugitives, drug dealers, and gang members. Authorities recovered 10 illegal firearms, 46 rounds of ammunition, narcotics, stolen electronics, foreign currency, and large sums of cash.

Citizens in Narayanganj marched under the banner ‘March for Yunus,’ demanding state reforms before any elections. Speakers asserted that Nobel Laureate Dr. Yunus was chosen by the people and therefore has a mandate. “The July uprising remains unaddressed. Blood was shed for reform, not just ballots,” they said. The speakers warned that without structural changes, any new government would also turn authoritarian.

Mohammad Akram Hossain, a 25-year-old from Ashuganj, died while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war after joining the Russian army. His family received the news on Friday through a call from one of his fellow fighters. Akram had learned welding and moved to Russia with hopes of improving his family’s financial condition and securing his future. For eight months, he worked as a welder in a Chinese company in Russia. However, about two and a half months ago, he was lured by a broker into joining the Russian military as a contract soldier and took part in the war in Ukraine, which ultimately led to his death. According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), the government is in contact with the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to bring back his body.

Violent clashes erupted in Chattogram between Chhatra Dal and anti-discrimination student activists. Protesters from both groups held separate rallies, accusing each other of betrayal and violence. Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi of the anti-discrimination group said, “We are now forced to stand against our former allies.” Chhatra Dal’s joint convener Sabir Ahmed countered, claiming that the dispute originated from internal issues at Mostafa Hakim Degree College, which were politicized by their opponents. Two activists were critically injured in the clash.