Munni Akter, wife of missing BDR member Nazrul Islam Mallik, told Tribunal-1 on Thursday that her husband was abducted and brutally murdered after being tied up and placed in a cement sack. She made the statement during cross-examination by defense lawyer Aminul Gani Titu, representing Ziaul Ahsan. The incident relates to the 2009 BDR massacre at Pilkhana, in which Nazrul Islam Mallik was reportedly a direct witness.

During questioning, Titu asked whether Shoronkhola police had informed her that her husband was suffocated to death. Munni Akter denied this, stating that police told her he was bound, his abdomen cut, and his body placed in a cement sack. Earlier, in her deposition, she said she had heard that Ziaul Ahsan abducted and killed her husband because he was a witness to the BDR killings.

The testimony adds to ongoing proceedings surrounding the disappearance and death of individuals linked to the 2009 BDR massacre case.

The article reports that the current Bangladesh government has repealed laws and ordinances that previously granted independence to the judiciary and the National Human Rights Commission. The author criticizes Law Minister Asaduzzaman for defending the repeal in parliament, arguing that the government’s claim of no enforced disappearances or crossfire incidents in its first 42 days does not guarantee future accountability. The piece suggests that the government intends to maintain control over institutions that should function independently.

The report traces the history of judicial politicization in Bangladesh, citing examples from both Awami League and BNP governments. It notes that the Supreme Court Secretariat Act and the judicial appointment policy—introduced under Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s interim government—were crucial steps toward separating the judiciary from the executive. Their cancellation, the article argues, contradicts the BNP’s own reform pledges and undermines the 1999 Supreme Court directive to establish an independent judicial secretariat.

The author concludes that successive governments have resisted judicial independence to retain political control, warning that the latest repeals signal continued executive dominance over the judiciary.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has accused the government of delaying the implementation of the July Charter. Speaking on Wednesday evening at the Majlis-e-Shura session of Jamaat’s Dhaka North unit in Baridhara, he said the government initially termed the referendum illegal but later accepted its validity, leaving no scope to bypass the charter. He urged the authorities to abandon what he called a self-destructive stance and immediately convene the Constitutional Reform Council to implement the July Charter in its original form.

Parwar called on party members to transform Dhaka into an unyielding stronghold of the Islamic movement and to act with patience, wisdom, and determination. He emphasized that the movement is dedicated to humanitarian welfare rather than conventional politics and urged members to strengthen leadership qualities through study and consultation.

Dhaka North Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin reiterated that Jamaat’s politics aims at human welfare and divine satisfaction, calling for unity in serving people’s interests.

A mobile court in Babuganj, Barishal, fined three businesses a total of 85,000 taka for illegally hoarding fuel, LPG cylinders, and edible oil, and for selling them at inflated prices. The operation took place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Dehergati and Rahmatpur unions, led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Kamrunnahar Tamanna, based on intelligence from the National Security Intelligence (NSI).

During the raids, 2,300 liters of fuel were found stored in Rakudia, leading to a 10,000 taka fine for Md. Monir Sardar. In Natanhat, Md. Asif Iqbal of S A Corporation was fined 50,000 taka for illegally storing LPG cylinders, while in Rahmatpur, S M Mahbub Alam of S M Traders was fined 25,000 taka for hoarding 3,000 liters of edible oil. NSI sources said the operation followed a long period of surveillance.

The assistant commissioner stated that similar drives against illegal hoarding and overpricing would continue in the area.

Police have arrested Saiful Islam Tarek for the brutal killing of his wife, Shahida Akter Ripa, in Cox’s Bazar. The arrest was made in Dhaka with the assistance of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and the suspect was brought to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station on April 15, 2026. Earlier, on April 11, police recovered a headless and handless female body from an abandoned pond in the Janar Ghona area of Jhilongja Union.

According to police, Saiful confessed during interrogation that he mixed sleeping pills with sweets to make his wife unconscious before slitting her throat with a knife. He then severed her head and wrists to conceal her identity and disposed of the body parts separately in a nearby pond and the Bakkhali River. Police said they recovered the murder weapon and remnants of the drugged sweets based on his confession.

Authorities are continuing searches in the Bakkhali River to recover the missing head and wrists of the victim, following the suspect’s statement.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued a warning after discovering that a fraudulent group opened a fake WhatsApp account using the name and photo of its chairman, Md Abdur Rahman Khan, to demand money from various individuals. The warning was announced in an official notice released on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

According to the NBR statement, the scammers used the phone number +8801618-603328 to create the fake account and have previously engaged in similar fraudulent activities. The agency emphasized that the matter had come to its attention after multiple reports of such attempts.

The NBR urged all officers, employees, and members of the public to remain vigilant and avoid responding to any such fraudulent messages or demands for money.

Bangladesh welcomed the Bengali New Year 1433 with nationwide festivities centered in Dhaka, marked by a call for democracy and harmony. The day began at dawn under the banyan tree in Ramna Park with performances by Chhayanaut artists. This year’s celebration carried deeper political and cultural significance following the July uprising, blending joy with aspirations for justice and renewal. The traditional ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ was renamed ‘Baishakhi Shobhajatra,’ themed ‘Harmony of the New Year, Revival of Democracy,’ led by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor A.B.M. Obaidul Islam and attended by cultural figures and the Minister for Culture.

Political parties including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Amar Bangladesh Party joined the celebrations through rallies and fairs. The NCP organized a colorful fair at Banglamotor, while BNP’s cultural wing JASAS arranged music and dance events across the capital. Dhaka University became the festival’s epicenter with exhibitions, puppet shows, and traditional games. Tight security ensured a peaceful environment, allowing citizens to celebrate freely.

The UNESCO-recognized festival reflected a collective hope for a humane and democratic Bangladesh, transcending divisions and celebrating cultural identity.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a large consignment of yaba tablets worth Tk 12 million in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The operation took place at the Marichya checkpoint, where officers stopped a passenger CNG-run auto-rickshaw and detained its driver, Md Rubel, aged 25. During a detailed search, BGB personnel found 40,000 yaba pills hidden under the driver’s seat.

According to BGB sources, the search was conducted under the direction of Lt. Col. Kazi Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, commander of the Ramu Battalion (30 BGB), and led by Assistant Director Md Kabir Hossain. The driver initially denied carrying drugs but was later arrested after the narcotics were discovered. Rubel is a resident of Khutakhali village in Hwaikyang Union under Teknaf Police Station.

BGB stated that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy against smuggling and drug trafficking and that similar anti-narcotics operations will continue in the future.

Bangladesh Bank has resumed buying US dollars from commercial banks after a six-week pause. On Wednesday, the central bank purchased USD 70 million from one bank at a rate of Tk 122.75 per dollar. The last purchase took place on March 2, when USD 25 million was bought from two banks. Since July of the current fiscal year, the central bank has purchased a total of USD 5.56 billion. Officials said the recent purchase followed a decline in dollar demand as banks cleared earlier dues amid easing market pressure.

The central bank attributed the earlier market volatility to concerns over the Iran conflict, which had prompted banks to prepay foreign obligations. With remittance inflows rising—USD 1.6 billion in the first 14 days of April, up 25% year-on-year—dollar supply has improved. Bangladesh Bank has also set maximum buying rates for interbank and exchange house transactions to curb excessive pricing.

Officials stated that the bank is buying dollars to prevent an abnormal fall in the exchange rate, which could hurt remittance and export earnings. The country’s foreign exchange reserves now stand at USD 34.87 billion, or USD 30.20 billion under IMF’s BPM6 method.

The Bangladesh Bar Council has announced the postponement of its upcoming election, which was scheduled for May 19. The decision was made unanimously at an emergency meeting held on the night of April 15 at the Bar Council building. The council cited the ongoing nationwide energy crisis as the main reason for the postponement, noting that the situation could severely disrupt election campaigns across the country.

According to the official statement, the energy shortage has made it difficult for candidates contesting for seven general and seven regional seats to conduct their campaigns effectively. Several bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association, Dhaka Bar Association, and Chattogram District Bar Association, had requested the council to delay the election. Taking these appeals into account, the council decided to suspend the previously set schedule.

The May 19 election date had been fixed earlier on April 2 under the chairmanship of Attorney General and Bar Council Chairman Barrister Md. Ruhul Quddus Kajol, with senior committee representatives in attendance.

The National Citizens Party (NCP), a youth-led political organization, is expanding its ranks as several prominent figures from the anti-discrimination and anti-fascist July uprising prepare to join. According to party sources, discussions with leaders from United Peoples Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh), AB Party, and other July movement platforms have advanced significantly. The NCP aims to unite pro-July forces to pressure the ruling party and position itself as a major alternative political power in Bangladesh.

Senior NCP leaders confirmed ongoing talks with academics, business figures, and civil society representatives, some of whom are expected to join soon. The party is also in contact with disaffected Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) members, including children of senior leaders, who are reportedly considering joining. NCP leaders argue that unity among July forces is essential to safeguard democratic reforms and counter what they describe as a reversal of reform commitments by the current BNP-led government.

A general meeting is expected later in April to finalize decisions on new memberships, committee expansion, and future programs. The NCP plans to strengthen its organization while supporting broader opposition unity initiatives.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized a fishing boat carrying a large quantity of cement allegedly being smuggled to Myanmar. The operation took place on Wednesday morning, April 15, 2026, at the Sarikait Gachtali Ghat area in Sandwip, Chattogram. According to the Coast Guard headquarters, the raid was conducted based on secret information, leading to the recovery of 660 sacks of cement valued at approximately 363,000 taka.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the Coast Guard’s media officer, stated that the cement was being transported illegally to evade government duties. The suspected traffickers fled upon noticing the presence of Coast Guard personnel, and no arrests were made during the operation. The fishing boat used in the smuggling attempt was seized.

The Coast Guard confirmed that legal proceedings regarding the seized items are underway. Authorities also emphasized that similar operations will continue to prevent smuggling and illegal trade along maritime and coastal routes.

Police in Dhaka have arrested a suspected mugger accused of robbing passengers on moving vehicles in the city’s Jatrabari area. The detainee, identified as Md. Aminul Islam, 24, was apprehended on Wednesday night, April 15, following a targeted operation. The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Media and Public Relations Division, signed by Deputy Commissioner N M Nasir Uddin.

According to Jatrabari police sources, Aminul Islam was captured around 7:30 p.m. based on secret intelligence and with the help of technology. Authorities reported that he has multiple cases of robbery and mugging filed against him at Jatrabari Police Station. Preliminary interrogation revealed that he had been involved in robbing passengers on moving buses, microbuses, and other vehicles in the area for a long time.

Police stated that legal proceedings are underway against the arrested suspect.

The government of Bangladesh has imposed a 58-day ban on fishing in the country's maritime territory of the Bay of Bengal, effective from Wednesday until June 11. As a result, around 64,000 registered fishermen across seven upazilas of Bhola district have become temporarily unemployed. The restriction aims to protect fish resources during the breeding season. Each registered fisherman is set to receive 77 kilograms of rice during the ban period, distributed at a rate of 40 kilograms per month.

According to the district fisheries office, trawlers are returning from the sea to local docks, and rice distribution will begin once they arrive. Some fishermen have complained about irregularities and delays in previous relief distributions. Local officials assured that rice allocations have already reached union councils and will be distributed on time. Ice factory and fuel sellers have also been instructed not to supply trawlers during the ban.

Bhola’s district administration said it will monitor fair distribution and request NGOs to suspend loan installments for fishermen during the two-month fishing ban.

The ‘Boishakhi Entrepreneur Fair 1433’ at the University of Chittagong campus featured a mix of traditional Bangladeshi products and imported Chinese items. The two-day event, organized by the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CHAKSU), took place at the university’s Buddijibi Chattar and drew a large number of visitors. The fair was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan, with 75 stalls participating.

Among the highlights, the ‘Karukuti’ stall attracted attention with eco-friendly jute bags, floor mats, betel-nut shell plates, and shoes made from cooling mats. The marketing manager said their products are registered under the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation and the Ministry of Jute. Another stall, ‘Gift Basket by Kaniz Girls Priority,’ sold Chinese skincare products, jewelry, and artificial nails, drawing crowds of female students. Participants expressed satisfaction with sales and enthusiasm for future ventures.

Organizers stated that the fair aims to encourage student entrepreneurship and promote local products. Awards will be given to the top three stalls based on product quality and presentation after the event concludes.