The U.S. government has recently revoked the visas of nearly 5,000 international students, including many from India and Bangladesh. Around 50% of the cancellations are due to violations related to visa conditions, including fraud and misrepresentation. Officials have warned students to avoid agents and ensure they meet all academic and legal requirements.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X expressing deep concern over the abduction and brutal murder of Bhavesh Chandra Roy in Jessore. He described the incident as part of a pattern of systematic violence against Hindu minorities under the interim government. Jaiswal called on the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of minorities and not to make excuses or discriminate in fulfilling their responsibilities.

In a humanitarian gesture marking Easter Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine from Saturday 6 PM to Sunday 6 PM local time. His forces were instructed to suspend all military operations during this period. While Ukraine has yet to respond officially, Putin stated, “We hope Ukraine will reciprocate. However, our forces must remain ready to respond to any provocations or violations.”

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam visited a local police station to inspect the living and dining arrangements for lower-ranking officers. He described the conditions as very poor and said the Chief Adviser had directed them to find solutions. He also mentioned efforts to improve law and order, including a new initiative to assign police officers to their home districts, allowing them more time with family, especially given their limited leave allowances.

At a memorial event for Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, Sharmin S Murshid reflected on the failures of post-1971 politics. She said that freedom fighters were neither utilized nor rehabilitated after independence, and democracy, equality, and justice remained elusive. “That’s why events like July 24 happened,” she said. Murshid called for a cultural shift within political parties and warned young people against adopting outdated political practices. She urged them to follow the idealistic path set by Dr. Zafrullah.

In a Facebook post, the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of national security during visa evaluations. The embassy stated that no visas are issued unless all security concerns are resolved. Applicants submitting fake documents will not only be denied visas but may also face legal action in both the U.S. and their home country. US chairperson Moin Chowdhury advised visa applicants to avoid brokers and fraudulent paperwork.

Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Ray Podder emphasized the importance of school-level autonomy to improve primary education. He called for empowering school heads and officials to ensure children’s literacy in language and mathematics. He said the ideal scenario would be for primary schools to be autonomous with their own budgeting and accountability mechanisms. Though not currently feasible, he announced that mid-day meals will soon be introduced in all primary schools in 165 upazilas under two ongoing projects.

After a meeting with the 12-party alliance, BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan stated that there’s no need for a movement to demand elections, as this government was formed with their support. “We’ve already demanded elections by December and believe necessary preparations are in place,” he said. Khan emphasized the need for justice against those involved in fascism and human rights violations. The 12-party alliance has reportedly expressed agreement with the BNP’s stance.

The Women’s Reform Commission has recommended that sex workers and domestic workers be recognized as laborers under the country’s existing labor laws. Among its proposals is increasing the number of parliamentary seats to 600, with each constituency having one general seat and one reserved seat for women — both to be filled through direct elections. The commission believes this reform can be implemented under the interim government. If a bicameral system is introduced, the commission also recommends that 50% of the upper house seats be equally nominated by all parties with an equal number of men and women, and the remaining 50% be allocated on a non-partisan basis, ensuring representation from five women’s rights movements.

NCP leader Arif Sohel wrote that banning the Awami League alone is not sufficient unless it’s based on legal trials. He referred to past failures where executive orders had no effect, such as the ban on the Chhatra League. He argued for prioritizing the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the July massacre and all affiliated groups. Sohel called for a full ban on the political activities of the Awami League and its affiliates until trials are concluded. His post was shared by Hasnat Abdullah.

Akhtar Hossain, Member Secretary of the NCP, stated that the government must move toward elections by delivering visible progress on justice and institutional reforms. He emphasized that the government should be granted time only based on performance, not delays. Hossain said that while discussions have started on constitutional matters, there has been no progress yet on reforming the judiciary, Election Commission, public administration, ACC, or police. The party also demanded rewriting the constitution and holding constituent assembly elections.

BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie has said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must be brought to justice first, followed by members of her family, for alleged enforced disappearances, killings, and misrule. He asserted that without this, true reform and elections cannot take place. “Until democracy is firmly rooted, fascist forces will continue to oppress the people,” he added. Annie called for the destruction of authoritarianism as the movement’s next slogan.

Senior Joint Chief Coordinator of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), Abdul Hannan Masud, has clarified controversy surrounding a photo of him in a luxurious office. Masud stated that the picture was taken at a temporary NCP office, not his personal space, and he is an advisor to the labor wing of the NCP at the port—not a port authority advisor.

Hafiza Akhter Jhumur has publicly accused Ahidul Islam Durjoy, a field officer of the National Intelligence Agency, of defrauding her of Tk 2 million under the false promise of marriage. She alleged that they met in 2020 while working for CODEC NGO, during which time Durjoy took inappropriate photos of her and used them to blackmail her into a relationship. He reportedly took large sums of cash from her under various pretexts and issued a fake cheque worth Tk 2 million. Durjoy is currently in prison in connection with the case.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has accused the Awami League of establishing one-party rule through three fraudulent elections, thereby undermining the political system. He hailed the July uprising as the end of fascist rule. Parwar urged all patriotic forces to support the roadmap laid out by the interim government for holding a neutral national election. He emphasized that establishing a democratic and equitable state through fair elections is now the nation’s top priority.