Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin emphasized the need for political consensus in upholding electoral code of conduct. Speaking at National Voter’s Day celebrations, he stated, “We aim to ensure a free and fair election. We are not working under anyone’s agenda; our priority is the agenda of 180 million people and Bangladesh.” He also warned that rigging elections may bring short-term victory but ultimately harms the political party itself.

In observance of the holy month of Ramadan, the Islamic Foundation has organized a month-long Islamic book fair at the southern courtyard of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The fair was inaugurated on Saturday by Adviser Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain. The book fair will remain open to the public daily from 12 PM to 8 PM. This year, a total of 64 stalls have been set up, offering a wide range of Islamic literature, including translations and interpretations of the Holy Quran, collections of Hadith, and various fundamental and research-based books on Islam.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has seized Tk 2.5 crore from the residence of former DGFI chief, retired Lt. General Saiful Alam. ACC Director General Md. Akhtar Hossain stated on Sunday that on February 27, based on intelligence inputs, law enforcement agencies raided Alam’s Cantonment residence and recovered nearly Tk 2.45 crore. The confiscated money and other evidence have been presented in court. The ISPR has yet to comment on the matter. Notably, Saiful Alam was forced into retirement on September 11.

After the fall of the Awami League government, hooligans who had been in hiding in the Daulatpur char region of Kushtia have resurfaced. These criminals are instilling fear in the area through sporadic gunfire, bomb attacks, extortion, robbery, and even murder. The residents of the char areas are living in constant fear. On September 30, in broad daylight, Philipnagar Union Parishad Chairman Noim Uddin Sentu was shot dead in his office. On the night of November 2, businessman Nurul Islam was beaten and robbed of five lakh taka, gold jewelry, and his mobile phone. A few days later, a woman was also targeted in a similar mugging incident. Numerous such crimes continue to take place, while the police claim that operations against the criminals are ongoing.

A sub-inspector of CMP Patenga Police Station, Yusuf Ali, was assaulted by a group of individuals who accused him of being a “fake police officer.” Following the attack, 10 suspects were arrested and will be presented in court today. According to the officer-in-charge of Patenga Model Police Station, the arrests were made on Saturday night during raids in different areas, including Panchlaish, under the directive of the Deputy Commissioner of the CMP Port Division. The attack occurred on February 28 at a police checkpoint on the Outer Ring Road of Patenga Police Station.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Md. Sanaullah announced that the final voter list will be published by June 30. Speaking at an event on Voter Day, he explained that while a preliminary voter list has already been released based on 2024 data due to legal obligations, further updates will be made. New data collected from door-to-door surveys will be incorporated, while deceased voters will be removed. He also mentioned that a supplementary voter list will be created and integrated before the final publication. The commissioner expressed hope for a transparent and fair election process.

Arab leaders recently gathered in Riyadh for an emergency summit on the Gaza crisis. A Wall Street Journal report claimed that Qatar obstructed an invitation to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. However, Doha has strongly refuted these allegations, stating in a Saturday statement that the claims were based on unreliable sources, rumors, and unverified information. The statement also emphasized that Qatar remains one of the largest donors to the Palestinian Authority, reaffirming its strong ties with Palestine.

Officials from 25 different government cadres staged a symbolic strike on Sunday, wearing black badges in protest against the recent suspensions of several colleagues. The protest was led by the Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council, demanding equal treatment for all cadres. The Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) General Education Cadre, one of the largest groups within the civil service, was heavily involved, with the participation of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) Director General, Professor Muhammad Azad Khan. Protesters claimed that 13 officers were suspended over social media posts, while similar actions by members of the Administration Cadre went unpunished.

According to an Al Jazeera report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shut down humanitarian aid access to Gaza following the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement—just as Ramadan begins. Earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Avi Berkowitz, proposed a ceasefire deal in exchange for the release of all hostages, but only for the duration of Ramadan. Israel agreed to the proposal, but Hamas rejected it, insisting on a permanent ceasefire instead. Due to this disagreement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has taken this controversial and harsh measure, cutting off vital aid to the war-torn region.

The Gazipur Metropolitan Police reported that a joint task force arrested 58 individuals during a special operation named ‘Operation Devil Hunt.’ The operation, which began Saturday morning, continued until 7 AM Sunday. Among the arrests, 44 were made in Tongi West, six in Tongi East, three each in Pubail and Gacha, and one each in Sadar Metro and Konabari police station areas. Since its launch on February 8, the operation has resulted in 440 arrests across the metropolitan area.

Two leaders of the BNP-affiliated student organization, Chhatra Dal, were arrested in Mirpur with cocktails and a toy gun. A joint force operation apprehended them late Friday night from an attic in Mirpur-1. Following their arrest, both were expelled from Chhatra Dal. The expelled leaders are Imran Hossain, former Secretary of Environment and Climate Affairs for Dhaka Metropolitan West Chhatra Dal, and Rajib Biswas, Joint Convener of the newly formed committee at Government Bangla College. Police stated that they acted on intelligence reports indicating the presence of criminal elements in the area.

The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered four individuals to appear in court on April 9 in connection with the murder of Abu Sayeed, the first martyr of the mass uprising. Additionally, the prosecution has been instructed to submit the investigation report by that date. Prosecutor Tajul Islam stated that Sayeed was expelled from Rokeya University campus by Chhatra League activists and their associates. He stood with open arms against discrimination but was shot dead. The prosecution alleges that former ASI Amir Hossain and Constable Sujon Chandra Roy were directly involved, while university proctor Shariful Islam and Chhatra League member Emran Chowdhury Akash, among others, played an instigating role.

The submission of the investigation report in the journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder case has been postponed for the 116th time. Although the report was due on Sunday, the investigating agency failed to submit it, leading the court to set a new deadline of April 6. Notably, on September 30, the case was transferred from RAB to a high-powered task force formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi were murdered on February 11, 2012.

Speakers at the 2025 Calligraphy Art Competition award ceremony highlighted the role of calligraphy artists in the July uprising, particularly in creating graffiti that influenced public sentiment. They emphasized the need for both government and private initiatives to promote calligraphy. A total of nine artists were awarded across three categories. In the junior category, Fatema Kaniz Sajida won first place, followed by Mehjabin Rahman and Sumaiya Sarwat. In the senior category, Naushin Zahra Subha secured first place, with Md. Nazrul Islam and Montazhar Hasan taking second and third, respectively. Among professionals, Munira Mumtahina won first place, followed by Tasrin Sultana Anika and Iftekharul Alam Tawhha.

Following an unprecedented verbal spat between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, concerns are mounting over NATO’s stability and Europe’s security. Analysts believe Trump’s efforts to strengthen ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin have heightened tensions. BBC journalist Jeremy Bowen suggests that this rift signals a deepening crisis between the U.S. and NATO’s European members. Trump stated that Zelensky should return for negotiations only if he is ready for peace. Speculation is growing that Washington may reduce military aid to Ukraine following the dispute.