Sarjis Alam, organizer of NCP’s northern region, has accused Awami League activists of orchestrating flash protests despite their involvement in past violence during political movements. He argued that if the government makes a sincere effort and other political parties join in, it will be possible to hold Awami League accountable for its past atrocities. Alam also alleged that Minister Arafat and several others played a direct role in detaining movement coordinators at the DB office and in shutting down internet services, yet they remain unpunished—an indication of the government’s limitations.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, has begun his Itikaf in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan. He will continue his spiritual retreat until the sighting of the Eid moon. If Ramadan consists of 29 days, his Itikaf will end on the 30th; if it extends to 30 days, he will observe Itikaf until the 31st. Itikaf is a period of spiritual seclusion where Muslims dedicate themselves solely to worship and remembrance of Allah, refraining from worldly affairs during the final days of Ramadan.

At a rally in Shahbagh demanding a ban on Awami League, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that the sacrifices of their comrades were not meant to rehabilitate the fascist League. He accused the party of never taking responsibility for its role in various killings and warned that anyone supporting them would face public opposition. Akhtar criticized the government for failing to initiate legal proceedings against the party, demanding immediate action. He insisted that Awami League’s ban must be enshrined in the July Charter and issued a stern warning: if the party’s registration is not revoked, students and the public will take to the streets to make it happen.

BNP has raised concerns over certain recommendations of the National Consensus Commission, which sought opinions from political parties. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir noted that the recommendations include the formation of new constitutional commissions, which, he argues, are designed to undermine and weaken both the legislative and executive branches. Salahuddin Ahmed added that such commissions would render elected representatives powerless, shifting most critical state functions to unelected officials. Moreover, the Secretary General accused some advisors of having ties to a new political party, raising further suspicions about the commission’s true intentions.

NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah has stated that the Awami League should be banned through judicial proceedings rather than executive orders. He questioned those advocating for the party’s participation in elections, asking, “Where was your call for inclusive elections when the midnight election took place in 2018 and a dummy election occurred in 2023?” Hasnat pointed out that cases of enforced disappearances, murders, the Pilkhana massacre, anti-India movement casualties, and the July genocide have yet to see justice. He asserted that there can be no inclusive election in Bangladesh with the Awami League, a party accused of mass killings. Expressing full confidence in the military, Hasnat warned that any political interference from the cantonment would not be accepted in post-2024 Bangladesh. He emphasized that the army should remain within its designated role.

A Bangladeshi youth was shot, and another narrowly escaped injury when bullets from Myanmar’s conflict zones struck the Tumbru border in Bandarban’s Ghumdhum union on Friday night. The injured—Jahangir Alam and Nur Hossain—were tending to a paddy field when the incident occurred.

A Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) member went missing in the Bay of Bengal while attempting to stop Rohingya infiltration. Simultaneously, a boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsized. One person was confirmed dead, 24 were rescued, while 15-20 remain missing, including women. Search operations are underway.

The Media Reform Commission has proposed a Grade 9 salary structure for journalists to ensure financial security. Commission Chief Kamal Ahmed also recommended a ‘Dhaka Allowance’ and a journalism protection law. He noted that only 52 of the 600 newspapers receiving government advertisements have substantial circulation, highlighting fraudulent practices in ad allocations. The proposal suggests that a single entity should own only one media outlet.

Families of 250 hostages, including 40 freed from Hamas captivity, have written to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding an end to military operations and negotiations with Hamas to secure the release of the remaining 59 captives. They criticized the government for prioritizing indefinite warfare over rescuing hostages.

For the first time since December, at least five rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel’s Metula on Saturday. The IDF reported that air defense systems intercepted them, with no casualties or damage. In response, Israeli artillery shelled southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility.

Israel’s High Court has blocked the dismissal of Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar. The ruling came just hours after the Israeli cabinet decided to remove him by April 10. Government ministers have vowed to defy the order, but the suspension remains in place until a court hearing on April 8.

The ‘Warriors of July’ have announced a nationwide blockade of Dhaka if a decision on banning the Awami League is not made within 48 hours. At a protest in front of Raju Memorial, they declared that they would not allow "rehabilitation" of the Awami League without restoring their lost limbs and avenging their martyrs. They warned that their movement was not just for elections but for freedom of speech, equality, and human dignity.

The Media Reform Commission has recommended lifting the ban on news bulletins in IPTV and online portals. The report states that while online platforms encourage independent media initiatives, their unregulated growth has led to unethical practices. It calls for revising the online media policy to establish better governance and practicality.

On Saturday, the Media Reform Commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Jamuna residence. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam later briefed the press, alongside Commission Head and senior journalist Kamal Ahmed.

The Election Commission (EC) has instructed that all pending National ID (NID) correction requests be resolved by June. From January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2024, there were 378,000 unresolved applications. A crash program has already addressed 98,044. Between January 1 and March 16, 2025, 302,266 new applications were submitted, with 179,926 resolved. Overall, 402,308 applications remain pending.