Bangladesh’s Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has urged Japan to take initiatives for automobile manufacturing in Bangladesh. The call was made on Monday, April 13, during a courtesy meeting with Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi at the minister’s office in Motijheel, Dhaka. The minister highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two nations and Japan’s significant role in Bangladesh’s industrial and socioeconomic development.

During the meeting, the minister emphasized cooperation based on mutual interests and referred to existing memorandums of understanding between Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation and Japanese companies Mitsubishi and Toyota. He invited Japan to move forward with automobile production projects under these agreements. In response, the ambassador said work on the matter is underway and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s economic progress.

The Japanese ambassador also welcomed Bangladesh’s proposal to establish a Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) for ship recycling in Sitakunda, Chattogram, and said feasibility studies would begin soon. Senior officials from the Ministry of Industries and the Japanese Embassy attended the meeting.

Professor Dr. Abdus Salam has been appointed as the new Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Dhaka. He is currently serving as the acting Dean of the Faculty of Science. The appointment was made on Monday, April 13, 2026, through a notification signed by ASM Kashem, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Education, following the approval of the President and Chancellor.

According to the notification, the appointment was made under Article 13(1) of the Dhaka University Order, 1973. Professor Salam will serve a four-year term from the date he assumes office. He will receive the same salary and allowances as his current position, along with other benefits as per university regulations. The order also states that he must reside full-time on the university campus and that the President and Chancellor reserve the right to revoke the appointment at any time.

The appointment strengthens the university’s academic leadership structure as it continues its administrative and educational activities under the new academic leadership.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, announced that a national movement has already begun and must be carried forward to success. He made the statement on Monday, April 13, at a national seminar in Dhaka titled “Government Against the Referendum Verdict: Bangladesh Facing Crisis.” The event was chaired by Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis leader Allama Mamunul Haque and attended by several opposition figures, including MP Nahid Islam, Dr. Col. Oli Ahmed, and Mahmudur Rahman.

In his speech, Dr. Rahman used a metaphorical story to suggest that unseen forces influence the country’s political instability and government decisions. Referring to the July uprising, he said the movement was driven not only by students or politicians but also by workers who sacrificed their lives against fascism and for change. He described the current parliament as a “July product” and warned the government against opposing the spirit of that uprising.

Rahman criticized what he called the government’s double standards and vowed that the opposition would not accept illegal privileges or compromise on public interests. He urged citizens to join the movement, emphasizing that it seeks respect for the people’s mandate and the fulfillment of the martyrs’ promises.

The New Zealand cricket team arrived in Bangladesh on April 13, 2026, to play a three-match One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 (T20) series. Four players landed in Dhaka at 11 a.m., while the rest of the squad were scheduled to arrive at 11 p.m. The visiting team will begin preparations for the ODI series immediately, with three days allotted for practice before the first match. The opening two ODIs will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

While New Zealand begins its training sessions, the Bangladesh team will take a break on April 14 in observance of the Bengali New Year. The home side is expected to resume practice on Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming series. The matches mark another chapter in the cricketing ties between Bangladesh and New Zealand, with both teams focusing on fine-tuning their strategies ahead of the contests.

Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, said the current government has been possessed by what he called Sheikh Hasina’s ‘ghost of insulting the people’. Speaking on Monday at a national seminar titled ‘Government Against the Referendum Verdict: The Nation in Crisis’ at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, he sharply criticized the government’s attitude toward citizens. The event was organized under the initiative of the 11-party electoral alliance, with opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP as chief guest and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam MP as special guest.

Mamunul Haque alleged that the government undermines people’s sovereignty by prioritizing its parliamentary majority and ridiculing citizens. He also criticized Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed for allegedly calling voters ignorant, saying such arrogance reflects the same spirit of contempt once associated with Sheikh Hasina’s rule. Haque urged the government not to underestimate public power and warned against ignoring the results of the recent referendum.

He called on citizens to ensure the success of a rally organized by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis at Suhrawardy Udyan on April 24.

All members of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh have resigned following the repeal of the ordinance under which they were appointed. The resignations came after the National Parliament passed the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Reintroduction) Bill by voice vote on April 9, 2026. The bill, effective upon presidential approval and gazette publication, nullifies the interim government’s ordinance and reinstates the 2009 National Human Rights Commission Act enacted under the Awami League government. The outgoing members sent an open letter to the media after their resignation.

Commission member Nur Khan stated that the government did not directly ask them to resign but that the situation had been left unclear. Since their appointments were based on the now-repealed ordinance, they considered resignation appropriate. Commission Secretary Kudrat-e-Elahi said the repeal automatically dissolved the previous commission. The members, including Chairperson Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, had been appointed on February 5, 2026, during the final phase of the interim government’s tenure.

The resignations mark a transition back to the earlier legal framework for the commission’s operation under the 2009 law.

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman warned that the current government will not be able to survive by opposing the July movement. Speaking on Monday at a national seminar titled “Government Against Referendum Verdict: Nation Facing Crisis” at the Diploma Engineers Auditorium in Dhaka, he said the government’s stance against July would fail and that the aspirations of July would be realized through the people’s referendum. The event was organized by an 11-party alliance as part of a week-long program demanding implementation of the referendum result.

Dr. Rahman described the ongoing movement as a continuation of the July uprising, emphasizing that it was not limited to students or politicians but included a majority of workers. He accused the government of double standards and criticized what he called fascist tendencies in parliament. He also warned against political control of financial institutions, citing alleged interference in Islami Bank, and urged citizens to resist such actions.

He reaffirmed that the movement seeks to honor the sacrifices of the July martyrs and uphold the rights of the people, rejecting any form of dynastic or authoritarian rule in Bangladesh.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced special traffic arrangements for the Pahela Baishakh celebrations in the capital. Starting from 5 a.m. on April 14, several roads around Ramna Park, Ramna Batamul, Suhrawardy Udyan, and Dhaka University areas will be closed or diverted until further notice. Fourteen diversion points have been designated, including Banglamotor, Hotel Intercontinental, Police Building, Kakrail Church, and Nilkhet crossings. Alternative routes have been advised for vehicles traveling toward Shahbagh from different parts of the city.

Designated parking areas have been set near Ramna Park and Dhaka University, including sections of Navy Gap to Holy Family Hospital, Matsya Bhaban to Segunbagicha, and Katabon to Palashi crossings. Law enforcement vehicles will have specific parking zones near the Shilpakala Academy. Fire Service, Civil Defence, ambulance teams, and divers from the River Police will be deployed, while mobile toilets and tourist police service centers will be available at event venues.

The DMP urged citizens to report any suspicious or unusual activities to the national emergency service 999 or the DMP control room numbers provided.

Five recently departed commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission have issued a joint open letter responding to what they describe as incorrect and misleading information presented in the national parliament regarding several human rights-related ordinances. They stated that their intervention was driven by a sense of responsibility toward victims facing uncertainty after the ordinances were not passed. The letter was released on Monday, April 13, 2026.

In the letter, the commissioners argued that parliamentarians presented false claims while supporting the repeal of the enforced disappearance and human rights ordinances. They clarified that the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance serves as a principal law underpinning other related ordinances, including those on enforced disappearance prevention and accountability for the July uprising. They specifically corrected two points: the maximum punishment for enforced disappearance, which they said includes the death penalty and life imprisonment, and the existence of clear provisions for investigation timelines and fines.

The commissioners expressed regret that the reinstated 2009 Human Rights Commission Act lacks these provisions. They emphasized that their statement was made not for personal or institutional interest but to address victims’ suffering and legal uncertainty.

The National University of Bangladesh has released new instructions for the 2025–26 academic year’s first-year undergraduate (honours) admission test, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The test will be held simultaneously across the country at designated college centers by division and district. The directive, issued on April 12, outlines responsibilities for center secretaries, including downloading candidate lists using official credentials and arranging seating by group while maintaining proper distance.

Each examination room must seat students from humanities, business studies, and science groups in multiples of ten. If a college lacks sufficient space, nearby institutions may be used as venues, with seating plans published at least three days before the exam. To ensure transparency, invigilators must verify candidates’ faces with attendance photos, and proxy participation is strictly prohibited. Two question sets per group will be used, and OMR sheets must be correctly filled.

Electronic devices are banned, and late entry beyond 30 minutes will not be allowed. Answer sheets and attendance lists must be sealed and submitted to regional centers by 8 p.m. the same day. The center fee is set at 125 taka per candidate.

The Bangladesh government has issued a circular reducing operational expenditures across nine sectors to address the energy crisis triggered by the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. The Cabinet Division released the directive following decisions made at the fourth cabinet meeting on April 2, 2026, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

According to the circular, fuel allocations for government vehicles will be reduced by 30 percent, and interest-free loans for vehicle purchases and all foreign training funded by the government will be suspended. Domestic training expenses, meeting and seminar costs, and travel expenditures will also face significant cuts. Additionally, the purchase of vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and computers in the public sector will be halted entirely, while energy use in government offices will be reduced by 30 percent. Expenditures on building decoration and land acquisition will also be curtailed.

The measures are intended to manage the fiscal impact of the energy shortage and ensure efficient use of public resources until further notice.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir stated that the government will follow legal procedures to bring Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Monday, April 13, after meeting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat.

Kabir emphasized that the BNP government will not make any agreements that compromise national interests. He said discussions with India covered several mutual issues, and the government thanked India for supplying fuel through a pipeline. He added that India has agreed to simplify medical and business visa procedures starting next week. Regarding the killers of Hadi, Kabir said the process of bringing them back to the country is ongoing.

On the Prime Minister’s first foreign trip, Kabir mentioned that no final decision has been made yet. The visit could be to a SAARC member country, but the matter remains under consideration.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced that two stations on the MRT Line-6 will remain closed on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in observance of Pahela Baishakh. According to a notice issued by the sub-project director for public relations, Md. Ahsan Ullah Sharifi, Shahbagh Metro Station will remain closed until noon, while Dhaka University Metro Station will be closed for the entire day.

The temporary closure aims to accommodate the celebrations of the Bengali New Year, which draw large crowds to central Dhaka. DMTCL has requested passengers to make alternative travel arrangements during the closure period and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.

The company stated that normal metro operations will resume after the temporary shutdown, ensuring minimal disruption to commuters once the festivities conclude.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a notification announcing the transfer of Dr. Nurunnahar Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, to the Planning Commission as a member (secretary). The order was released on Sunday, April 12, 2026. In a separate notification, Zakaria, who had been serving as a member (secretary) of the Planning Commission, was appointed as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping.

Dr. Nurunnahar Chowdhury was promoted to Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping on November 2 of the previous year, after serving as Additional Secretary in the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. She belongs to the 17th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre. Zakaria was promoted to the rank of secretary on March 25 while serving as Chairman (Additional Secretary) of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and was later posted to the Financial Institutions Division before being assigned to the Planning Commission.

The reshuffle reflects an administrative rotation among senior officials, aligning with the government’s ongoing personnel management practices.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming daily life in Bangladesh, offering new opportunities in education, health, business, and communication. However, recent incidents highlight growing misuse of the technology. On April 10, 2026, a student at Pabna University of Science and Technology was expelled for using ChatGPT during an admission test, while on April 5, 2026, a man in Chattogram was arrested for creating a fake image of the home minister using AI. These cases reflect a broader trend of fraud, misinformation, and unethical use of AI tools.

The report warns that excessive reliance on AI is weakening critical thinking and creativity, especially among students. Deepfake technology and AI-generated content are blurring the line between truth and falsehood, making it difficult for people to verify information. This poses risks not only to individuals but also to national security and social stability.

The article calls for stronger digital awareness, tighter cybersecurity, and a clear national policy to regulate AI use. Without proper guidance and ethics, the country’s technological progress may come at the cost of social and moral decline.