The government has amended the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Rules, 2009, allowing both manual and online registration. Required signatories can now digitally sign or provide fingerprints for online registration. Legal barriers to implementing the online system have been resolved, and software development is underway.

Election Commissioner A.F.M. Sanaullah announced that an advisory team comprising experts will be formed today to ensure the voting rights of Bangladeshi expatriates. He noted that 115 out of 178 countries allow overseas citizens to vote, primarily through embassies, postal ballots, and online or proxy voting. Due to limitations in embassy reach, these three options are being studied for implementation in Bangladesh.

Starlink officially launched its trial internet services in Bangladesh at the opening ceremony of the Bangladesh Investment Summit held at Hotel InterContinental. Attendees could experience the service, and the summit proceedings were live-streamed using Starlink’s internet. BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun confirmed the company’s registration with BIDA.

Ahead of the SSC, SSC Vocational, Dakhil, and Dakhil Vocational exams starting Thursday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has issued a public notice prohibiting entry of unauthorized individuals within 200 yards of exam centers under Sections 28 and 29 of the DMP Ordinance to ensure a peaceful environment.

According to the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, 315 road accidents during Eid-ul-Fitr travel claimed 322 lives and injured 826. Additionally, 21 rail accidents left 20 dead and 8 injured, while 4 waterway incidents killed 10 and left one injured and one missing. In total, 340 accidents across all modes of transport resulted in 352 deaths and 835 injuries. Compared to last year, road accidents dropped by 21.05%, fatalities by 20.88%, and injuries by 40.41%.

A tribunal has ordered the investigation into the murder of BSMRU student Shahid Abu Sayeed to be completed within two months. Four accused—former ASI Md. Amir Hossain, ex-constable Sujon Chandra Roy, and Chhatra League leaders Md. Shafiqul Islam and Imran Hossain—were shown arrested and sent to jail. The prosecution stated that initial evidence implicates 26 individuals, and the investigation is nearing completion.

A Dhaka court has shown actress Shomi Kaiser as arrested in an attempted murder case filed at Uttara East Police Station during the July uprising. Although she was previously granted bail on March 12, the court issued the arrest order on April 9. The actress was initially detained from her Uttara residence on November 5.

Faiz Ahmad Tayyab, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, has requested that the ‘March for Gaza’ rally scheduled for April 12 be postponed by a week. He cited the Bangladesh Investment Summit taking place from April 9, with over 600 investors from 50 countries visiting various companies, EPZs, high-tech parks, and startups. He urged organizers to consider the international presence and adjust the program accordingly. He also reiterated the Chief Adviser’s condemnation of Israeli aggression.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated that Bangladesh possesses groundbreaking ideas capable of transforming the world. “There are immense business opportunities here,” he said. “These ventures are not just beneficial for Bangladesh but can create global impact.” He cited microcredit as an example, which started in a small Bangladeshi village and eventually became a major financial industry in the United States. Dr. Yunus became emotional while recalling the Liberation War. Awards were presented to Walton (domestic investor), bKash (foreign investor), Square Pharmaceuticals, and Square Fabrics for their contributions. Korean Export Processing Zone Chairman Ki-Hak Sung received honorary citizenship under a special category.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced plans to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, on a grand scale, envisioning a future free from fascism and autocracy. The party plans to host cultural fairs, Baishakhi parades, folk music concerts, traditional village games like ha-du-du, and panta ilish feasts across cities, districts, and upazilas. The BNP will also seek another meeting with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to discuss a concrete election roadmap and is considering organizing a solidarity rally for Palestine.

Starlink is launching its pilot internet service in Bangladesh today during the Bangladesh Investment Summit at Hotel InterContinental. Attendees will experience Starlink’s satellite-based internet services firsthand, with the event being livestreamed using the technology. Starlink received investment registration from BIDA on March 29, and the process for acquiring a commercial NGSO license from BTRC is underway. The technology was first tested in Bangladesh in July 2023, and Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus recently discussed the service with Elon Musk in a virtual meeting.

At the 58th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development (CPD), Bangladesh urged the international community to invest more in universal health and wellbeing, especially for youth. Professor Dr. Sayedur Rahman outlined Bangladesh’s focus on expanding healthcare access through social business models and community empowerment. He highlighted progress in maternal and newborn health through midwife training and education. Later, he spoke at a high-level side event organized by UNFPA on the role of midwives in improving maternal and neonatal care.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the country’s GDP growth rate rose to 4.48% in the October–December quarter, up from 1.81% in the previous quarter (July–September). In compliance with IMF guidelines, Bangladesh now releases quarterly GDP figures. The report notes modest growth in agriculture and services sectors, while industrial growth also saw improvement, albeit at a slower pace.

At a ceremony held at the IMO Delegates Lounge in London, Advisor Sakhawat Hossain formally announced Bangladesh’s candidacy for Category ‘C’ membership of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council. The event was attended by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. The advisor highlighted Bangladesh’s commitment to environmental protection, climate action, digitization, and women’s participation in the maritime sector. A replica model of a Bangladeshi ship was also presented to the IMO Secretariat, marking the first installation of such a model at the IMO headquarters.

Tamanna Sharmin, wife of Sajjad Hossain alias “Chhoto Sajjad,” an accused in a double murder case, voiced her outrage during a Facebook Live after police publicly paraded her husband as part of an anti-terror drill. “Is my husband a sacrificial cow that he must be tied up and paraded through the streets with a microphone? Couldn’t OC Arif have just shot him if he wanted to?” she exclaimed. Sajjad, a suspect in over a dozen cases, was arrested last month at Bashundhara City. Prior to his arrest, he had threatened OC Arif in a Facebook Live. Tamanna had previously claimed she would spend lavishly to get him out of jail and is now accused of plotting to kill rival gangster Sarwar Hossain Babla for tipping off police.