Former interim government chief adviser and Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called on global leaders to take immediate and effective measures to end the ongoing war in the Middle East. In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, he warned that the conflict is pushing an already wounded world toward deeper instability and causing immense suffering for civilians, particularly children. Dr. Yunus described the war as not merely a regional crisis but a profound moral challenge for all humanity. He said the conflict is heightening global uncertainty and instability, with poor nations bearing the greatest cost as marginalized communities face worsening hardship. He emphasized the urgent need for courage, compassion, and a clear vision to build global unity. He urged world leaders to act decisively to uphold international law, prioritize diplomatic dialogue over military escalation, and strengthen multilateral cooperation. According to him, humanity must choose peace over war, dialogue over aggression, and unity over division.

RAB-11 arrested a suspected drug dealer named Md. Siam, aged 23, during a special anti-narcotics operation in Bishnupur area under Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station. The operation was conducted early Wednesday based on secret information. Authorities recovered two DB police jackets, one handcuff, 7,900 yaba pills, two bottles of beer, five bottles of foreign liquor, and three bottles of cough syrup from his possession. According to RAB sources, Siam is a resident of Ranguri village in Cumilla’s Kotwali area and the son of Md. Mojibur Rahman. He had allegedly been collecting yaba and other narcotics from border areas and selling them wholesale and retail across different parts of the country. He also reportedly used the police jackets and handcuffs to impersonate law enforcement officers and commit fraud and other crimes. RAB-11 Deputy Director and Company Commander Major Sadman Ibne Alam stated that the operation was part of ongoing anti-drug drives, which will continue. Legal action is being processed against the detainee.

Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has warned that the ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel, and Iran could collapse if the Lebanon front is not included. Hezbollah parliament member Ibrahim Mousawi stated that the Hezbollah-Israel front is part of the deal and insisted that if Israel fails to comply, Iran and the wider region will respond. Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced that its ground operations and fighting against Hezbollah would continue, echoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position that the ceasefire agreement does not cover Lebanon. Despite the ceasefire taking effect, Israel has continued to carry out attacks in southern Lebanon. Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has repeatedly emphasized that any agreement must include the Lebanon front, underscoring Tehran’s consistent stance on regional inclusion in ceasefire arrangements.

Four workers were burned in a fire caused by a short circuit while repairing an air conditioner at the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) academic building in Mirpur. The incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday on the third floor of the building. The injured were identified as Al Mamun, 34, Selim, 30, Russel, 45, and Sujon, 31. They were rescued and taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment in the afternoon. According to a colleague, sparks from the short circuit ignited the fire during the repair work. Inspector Md. Faruk of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost confirmed that the injured are currently receiving treatment at the emergency department of the burn institute. Authorities are monitoring their condition. Relevant authorities have begun investigating the cause of the fire to determine the exact circumstances behind the short circuit and subsequent injuries.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables Company Limited (BSCCL) has announced that maintenance and fault repair work on the country’s second submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE 5, will begin at 10 p.m. on Thursday and continue until 6 a.m. on Monday. During this period, internet users across Bangladesh may experience slower speeds and partial disruptions. The state-owned company expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience. According to BSCCL, the maintenance involves repairing a detected ‘shunt fault’ in the cable system located in Kuakata. Circuits connecting to Singapore through this cable will remain temporarily closed, potentially affecting services dependent on international bandwidth. However, the country’s first submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE 4, based in Cox’s Bazar, will remain operational to prevent a total internet outage. BSCCL stated that the repair work is being carried out through an international consortium and is expected to be completed within the scheduled time, after which normal internet service will be restored.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and opposition lawmaker Hasanat Abdullah engaged in a heated exchange in Parliament on Wednesday, April 8, during the passage of the July Freedom Fighters Indemnity Bill. The dispute centered on allegations of political influence and control over the newly formed ad hoc committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and other key institutional positions. Hasanat Abdullah accused the government of turning the BCB into a “father’s blessing cricket board” and claimed that Bangladesh Bank had also been taken over. In response, the Home Minister rejected the accusation, stating that no such “father’s or mother’s blessing committee” had been formed under the current administration. He countered that during the interim government, the then sports adviser had misused power to influence district committees and unilaterally form a BCB body. Salahuddin Ahmed further alleged that during the interim government, Bangladesh Bank and universities were subjected to political control, which he said disrupted the economy. The Speaker later urged the minister to return to the bill discussion.

A mobile court in Sirajganj conducted raids on several warehouses belonging to edible oil dealer Messrs Sanjay & Brothers and fined the company 90,000 taka under two sections of the Consumer Rights Protection Act. The operation took place on Wednesday from morning until 3 p.m. in the Kalibari area of Sirajganj town, jointly led by the district administration and the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection. Executive Magistrate Umme Naznin Nishat, who led the mobile court, stated that the dealer had initially claimed to own only two warehouses, but officials later discovered 11 warehouses containing various stored goods, including edible oil. The company was fined 50,000 taka under Section 43 for illegal marketing practices and 40,000 taka under Section 45 for failing to sell promised products properly. Assistant Director Sohel Sheikh of the Consumer Rights Directorate said that more than ten warehouses were found storing food items without following proper regulations. He urged consumers to report any shortage of edible oil so that further inspections could be carried out.

Several countries including China, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Oman, Germany, Australia, and others have welcomed the recently announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The ceasefire, reportedly lasting two weeks, was described by many governments as a positive step toward easing tensions in the Middle East. Statements of support were issued through official channels and social media, with leaders emphasizing the need for dialogue and restraint. China’s foreign ministry said it had worked toward lasting peace in the region, while Japan called the truce a positive move and awaited a permanent peace deal. France’s President Emmanuel Macron praised the development but warned that Lebanon’s crisis must also be addressed. The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to help sustain the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, Germany, and Australia highlighted the importance of diplomatic efforts and thanked mediating nations such as Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Other nations, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Iraq, and New Zealand, echoed calls for compliance with the ceasefire terms and avoidance of provocations. Many expressed hope that the truce would lead to a permanent resolution and regional stability.

A severe hailstorm struck Phulbari upazila in Dinajpur on Tuesday, April 7, causing extensive damage to around 4,000 houses and 1,528 hectares of cropland. The storm, which lasted from late afternoon to evening, hit several villages in Eluari Union, including Rudrani, Ushahar, Banahar, Panikata, Jalpaitli, and Damodarpur. Large hailstones pierced tin roofs and destroyed mango, litchi, and other fruit orchards. Local residents reported that their nearly mature paddy crops were completely ruined. Following the storm, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Hasan, Project Implementation Officer Mizanur Rahman, and Agriculture Officer Saif Abdullah visited the affected areas. The administration has prepared a preliminary list of damages, and committees have been formed in each ward to assess actual losses. Officials confirmed that the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry will provide assistance to affected families. According to the agriculture office, crop losses include 1,500 hectares of paddy, 10 hectares of maize, and smaller areas of vegetables and fruits. The local administration has informed higher authorities and expects special allocations for relief support.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCL) has announced that internet services across the country may face disruptions for three days due to maintenance and repair work on the nation’s second submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE-5. The company issued a press release on Wednesday stating that the repair work will begin at 10 p.m. on Thursday and continue until 6 a.m. on Monday, April 13, totaling three days and eight hours of maintenance. The maintenance involves fixing a ‘shunt fault’ in the submarine cable system located in Kuakata. BSCCL expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience and assured users that efforts are underway through the consortium to complete the repair as quickly as possible. The company also confirmed that normal service will be restored within the scheduled timeframe once the repair is completed. During the maintenance period, internet users across Bangladesh may experience slow connectivity or temporary service interruptions, according to the BSCCL statement.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of six bank accounts belonging to Monir Ahmed, Managing Director of Ahmedia Finance and Commerce Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, and his wife, Sakhina Ahmed. The order was issued on Wednesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, confirmed by court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) inspector Billal Hossain had earlier filed a petition seeking to block the accounts. The petition stated that Monir Ahmed allegedly collected funds from around 1,000 to 1,100 members of the cooperative, promising high profits, and misappropriated approximately Tk 58.34 crore. The funds were reportedly used to purchase flats and land, linking him to money laundering and illicit wealth accumulation. The court deemed the account freeze necessary for proper investigation. The order aims to facilitate the ongoing investigation into alleged financial fraud and money laundering involving the cooperative’s leadership.

The Actors’ Association of Bangladesh has announced a special memorial event titled “Bondhu Priyo Shams Sumon… Smritite Amlan” to honor late National Film Award-winning actor Shams Sumon. The event will take place on Thursday, April 9, at 6 p.m. at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The association’s general secretary, Rashed Mamunur Rahman Apu, confirmed the arrangement. According to the organizers, the gathering will feature a video documentary on Shams Sumon’s life and work, followed by recollections from his colleagues. Shams Sumon, who passed away on March 17, had a long and diverse career across stage, television, and film. He earned the National Film Award in 2008 for his supporting role in the film “Swapnopuron.” He also served as the station head of Radio Bhumi and as program director at Channel i. Once a familiar face in television dramas, Shams Sumon was admired for his acting talent, personality, and sincerity toward his peers, which made him beloved across the entertainment community.

At the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday, Muni Akter, wife of slain Nazrul Islam, testified as the third witness against dismissed army officer Major General Ziaul Ahsan. She stated that on March 15, 2010, five to six men in plain clothes abducted her husband from Bamta Mor in Kotalipara, Gopalganj, and he was never seen again. Later, police recovered his body from the Baleshwar River in Sharankhola, Bagerhat. She said she later learned that then RAB intelligence chief Ziaul Ahsan was responsible for her husband’s disappearance and killing. Muni Akter told the tribunal that her husband had worked as a medical assistant at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana and fled after witnessing the 2009 BDR mutiny killings. He later took a job at Madhumati Clinic in Kotalipara under a false name. After his disappearance, she filed a case with Kotalipara Police Station. Authorities later informed the family that his body had been buried as unclaimed, and it was reburied after DNA confirmation. She appealed for justice for her husband’s abduction and murder, asserting that he was targeted for witnessing the BDR killings.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Shishir Muhammad Monir stated that the main challenge with the July Charter lies in its implementation process rather than its content. He made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled “State Reform from July Spirit: Challenges and Prospects,” organized by the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir. Monir alleged that the government altered the previously agreed framework for constitutional reform after the election, abandoning the planned referendum meant to gather public opinion on four key issues. He explained that the reform council was supposed to complete its work within 180 days and form a bicameral parliament, but the process stalled as council members did not take oath. Out of 84 reform proposals, 47 were constitutional and 37 non-constitutional, with 30 of the constitutional ones reaching consensus. He emphasized the need for structural reforms to overcome political stagnation, including limiting the prime minister’s tenure and separating party and government leadership. Monir also warned that weak state institutions allow hidden forces to influence governance and urged young people to prepare for ethical leadership in the future.

OpenAI has introduced a new policy blueprint aimed at reinforcing child protection frameworks in the United States amid the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Attorney General Alliance, and other child safety organizations, outlines a coordinated approach to prevent and detect child sexual exploitation online. The blueprint emphasizes modernizing laws to address AI-generated and altered child sexual abuse material (CSAM), improving provider reporting and coordination for investigations, and embedding safety-by-design measures into AI systems. The framework integrates legal, operational, and technical strategies to identify risks earlier, accelerate responses, and enhance accountability across the digital ecosystem. It underscores that no single intervention can solve the problem alone, calling for shared standards and stronger collaboration between technology providers and law enforcement. State Attorneys General Jeff Jackson and Derek Brown, co-chairs of the Attorney General Alliance’s AI Task Force, endorsed the blueprint as a significant step toward aligning industry practices with enforcement needs. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Attorney General Alliance both commended OpenAI’s continued commitment to child safety and responsible AI design, highlighting the importance of collective action to protect children online.