Following an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) request, a court has ordered the freezing of 21 bank accounts linked to three associates of fugitive businessman Prashanta Kumar (PK) Halder. Among them, Md. Siddiqur Rahman holds 11 accounts, Mahfuza Rahman Baby has four, and Anita Kar has six. The ACC’s initial investigation revealed that they withdrew Tk 40 crore from FAS Finance and Investment Limited and laundered the money through multiple layers, transferring it to fake companies and individuals to conceal its origin. As a result, freezing their accounts was deemed necessary.

The High Court upheld the death sentences of 20 convicts and life imprisonment for five others in the Abrar Fahad murder case on Sunday. Abrar’s younger brother, Faiyaz, expressed satisfaction with the verdict and urged its swift execution. He also voiced concern over one of the convicts escaping from jail on August 5 last year, calling it a frustrating incident that should not be repeated. Faiyaz admitted that before August 5, they had not expected such a strong ruling from the High Court, attributing it to the changed circumstances. However, he acknowledged that several steps remain before the verdict is enforced.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will meet with 127 police officers tomorrow, Monday, at his Tejgaon office to discuss the law and order situation. According to the Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) will begin with an opening speech. They will brief on various initiatives taken by the police since August 5 and share measures to restore police morale. The upcoming Police Week is scheduled for April 29, where the Chief Adviser will deliver a speech and provide guidance.

Abu Katal, also known as Faisal Nadeem, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the mastermind behind the 2023 Jammu-Kashmir attacks, was shot dead in Pakistan. Unidentified gunmen ambushed his vehicle, leading to his death. Nadeem, identified by Indian authorities as a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative, was accused of orchestrating the attack in Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, which resulted in seven deaths and several injuries. Reports indicate that he was active in Kashmir in the early 2000s before retreating to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his negotiation team to continue discussions on the release of hostages. This decision comes after US special envoy Steve Wiccoff proposed the release of 11 surviving hostages. Israel has stated that half of the living captives should be freed by mid-April, during the Passover holiday ceasefire extension. Hamas, in return, has proposed extending the ceasefire and releasing additional Palestinian detainees in exchange for the last surviving Israeli-American hostage, Edan Alexander, along with the bodies of four other Israeli-American dual nationals. However, both Israel and the US have rejected the proposal.

The United States and Israel have reportedly initiated talks with the governments of Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland about forcibly displacing Palestinians. In February, former US President Donald Trump announced a plan to ‘occupy’ Gaza and transform it into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East,’ with Palestinians being expelled from the region. Egypt, however, has rejected this plan and proposed a $53 billion alternative reconstruction initiative for Gaza, which has been backed by Arab leaders.

The High Court has upheld the death penalty for 20 convicts in the murder case of BUET student Abrar Fahad, while five others have been sentenced to life imprisonment. The verdict was delivered at 11 AM on Sunday by the High Court bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahman. Expressing satisfaction, Abrar’s father, Barkat Ullah, stated, “I am pleased with the High Court’s decision. Now, I want to see the swift execution of the verdict.”

Afroza Abbas, President of the Women’s Wing of the BNP, has blamed Sheikh Hasina’s administration for the rise in rape incidents across the country. She claimed that under Hasina’s rule, rapists have not been brought to justice and, in some cases, were even rewarded, which has encouraged such crimes to escalate. Afroza Abbas urged authorities to expedite trials, stating, “There’s no need for lengthy evidence collection; the culprits should be punished publicly. If the law doesn’t allow it, then a new law should be enacted. The people’s will is the law.” She further demanded Islamic-style punishments, citing that Sharia law prescribes public stoning for rapists.

Police arrested top Chattogram gangster Sajjad Hossain, accused in multiple murder cases. Following his arrest, his wife, Sharmin Akter Tamanna, posted a defiant video on Facebook, declaring they would spend huge amounts of money to secure his release. She warned those responsible for his arrest and claimed Sajjad would return soon. Sajjad, wanted for extortion, land grabbing, and murder, had previously threatened police. Despite past escape attempts, he was finally caught in Dhaka. Authorities are tightening measures to prevent his release.

A joint task force has arrested four members of the teenage gang ‘Tunda Babu’ from Mohammadpur. Authorities recovered local weapons and drugs from the suspects. The arrests were made late Saturday night in different areas of Mohammadpur and Adabor. According to the Basila Army Camp, the gang leader, Babu, also known as ‘Tunda Babu,’ was recently apprehended by RAB. In his absence, his brother Swapan had taken charge of the group, recruiting and training young teenagers in the use of weapons.

A meeting held at the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday, attended by a 32-member student delegation, finalized the decision to establish a new university for the capital’s seven government colleges under the name ‘Dhaka Central University.’ During discussions, students presented two different opinions regarding the university’s name. Seventeen students supported the name ‘Dhaka Central University,’ while others opposed it, arguing that ‘Dhaka College’ was previously known as ‘Dhaka Central College.’ Instead, they suggested naming it ‘Federal University.’

A divisional-level dialogue on disaster forecast-based early warning was held in Khulna under the leadership of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, with support from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the International Red Cross, and the Red Crescent Federation. The event focused on identifying vulnerabilities in cyclone- and heatwave-prone districts in the southwestern region of Bangladesh and enhancing forecast-based humanitarian assistance. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Chairman, Major General Dr. Azizul Islam, emphasized the need to implement the decisions made during the dialogue to ensure tangible improvements rather than keeping them confined to paperwork.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has recommended raising the annual tax-free income threshold from 350,000 BDT to 400,000 BDT for individual taxpayers in the upcoming fiscal year. Women and senior citizens (65+) will also have a 400,000 BDT exemption, while disabled individuals and transgender taxpayers will be exempt up to 475,000 BDT. Freedom fighters will have a 500,000 BDT exemption.

Four individuals suspected of being robbers were beaten by locals in Shibchar, Madaripur, before being handed over to the police. Authorities recovered knives and sharp weapons from them. The suspects were spotted acting suspiciously near Pachchar Circle early Sunday morning. When confronted, they tried to attack locals but were overpowered and captured.

A factional clash within BNP in Raozan, Chattogram, resulted in the death of Komor Uddin (36), a Jubo Dal activist aligned with BNP Vice Chairman Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury. The incident occurred inside an office at Amir Hat Bazar after Tarawih prayers on Saturday night. Police are investigating the case.