Meghna Alam is facing serious allegations of blackmail involving high-profile diplomats and wealthy businessmen. According to investigators, she strategically developed intimate relationships with influential individuals and secretly recorded compromising footage of these encounters. Later, she and her accomplices allegedly used these videos to demand large sums of money. Among her key collaborators is Md. Dewan Samir (58), reportedly a leader of a human trafficking ring. Their most recent target was Isa bin Yousuf Al Duhailan, the outgoing Saudi ambassador to Bangladesh. The group allegedly demanded $5 million from him. The diplomat sought assistance from the Saudi foreign ministry, prompting a case to be filed at Bhatara Police Station. Samir is currently on a 5-day remand while Meghna Alam remains in custody. Investigators confirm that evidence gathered during interrogation supports the allegations.

The formal celebrations of Bengali New Year 1432 concluded with a dramatic protest in Uttara at 12:30 AM on Monday night. Demonstrators threw shoes and set fire to a portrait representing authoritarianism, chanting slogans such as “Hit Hasina’s cheeks with shoes, in rhythm!”—signaling defiance against the current regime.

Beloved actress Gulshan Ara Ahmed, widely known for her roles in “Bachelor Point” as Kabila’s mother and the Chairman of Noakhali, passed away at 6:40 AM on Tuesday. She had been on life support following a heart attack. Director Kajol Arefin Ami mourned her passing, praying for her eternal peace and forgiveness from the Almighty.

British MP Tulip Siddiq has dismissed an arrest warrant issued in Bangladesh as politically driven and baseless. Speaking to journalists in London, she said the Bangladeshi authorities were conducting a “media trial” and had ignored legal correspondence from her lawyers. The Anti-Corruption Commission is reportedly investigating alleged embezzlement of $5 billion from infrastructure projects by Sheikh Hasina’s family. Bobby Hajjaj has accused Tulip of facilitating an overpriced nuclear power deal with Russia in 2013—allegations she denies.

Students of Patuakhali Science and Technology University staged protests after the death of fellow student Mainuddin, accusing Patuakhali Medical College Hospital of medical negligence. Witnesses claim he was left untreated in the ICU for an hour after drowning before a doctor attended to him—by which time he had already died. The hospital has denied any shortcomings in care. The situation was later brought under control after the deployment of police and army personnel.

Bangladesh and Turkey have expressed commitment to elevating their partnership following a meeting in Ankara between Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Tawhid Hossain and Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam with Turkey’s Foreign Ministry. According to a statement, Turkey will grant Bangladesh access to a wide range of bilateral cooperation programs typically reserved for its closest allies. The move is seen as a positive step toward deeper diplomatic and strategic collaboration.

Following criticism from Chhatra Dal regarding the absence of slain leader Wasim Akram’s photo in a drone light show, film director and advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki acknowledged the concern. He said, “I, too, feel the pain of not including Wasim’s photo, or those of madrasa students from Jatrabari. It wasn’t intentional but due to thematic and technical constraints.” Farooki emphasized that all martyrs of the July uprising are equally important and promised comprehensive coverage of all victims in the upcoming July Memorial Museum.

A local Awami League leader named Saimon has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a 2015 attack on the motorcade of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Karwan Bazar. Police said he will be produced in court on Tuesday. Earlier, on April 6, another party leader, Sabbir Hossain, was arrested in connection with the same case. The attack occurred during a campaign for BNP mayoral candidate Tabith Awal.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit Moscow this week for consultations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the ongoing nuclear discussions with the United States. A preliminary round of talks, mediated by Oman, took place last Friday, and both sides described it as “constructive.” A follow-up meeting is expected this Saturday, potentially in Rome. Iran has emphasized that the discussions will focus solely on nuclear activity and sanctions relief.

The death toll from a Russian strike on Sumy, Ukraine, has climbed to 35, with 117 injured. While Russia claimed it targeted a military meeting, Ukrainian officials say the attack took place on Palm Sunday as civilians headed to church. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as cowardly. Western leaders including those from the UK, Germany, and Italy have denounced the strike. Donald Trump called it “horrible” but added, “I heard it was a mistake.” According to the UN, over 12,654 civilians have been killed and 29,392 injured in Ukraine during the first three years of war.

Dina Khaled Zaurub, a 22-year-old Palestinian artist known for painting portraits of victims of Israeli bombings, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza. In 2015, she received the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights award for her work highlighting the plight of children in armed conflict. Her family’s tent near the Sand Beach Resort in western Khan Yunis was hit by a bomb, resulting in her death.

The Hajj journey for 1,358 Bangladeshi pilgrims remains uncertain as 20 Hajj agencies have yet to arrange housing in Makkah and Madinah, despite the deadline expiring. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has instructed the agencies to complete the process by 8 PM Monday. Previously, agencies were supposed to finalize all service contracts by February 14, a deadline extended to April 3. With regular housing permits closed as of Sunday, only limited hotel bookings remain possible—and even those may be halted at any moment.

At least 50 people, including an Additional Superintendent of Police, were injured in violent clashes between residents of Badarpasha and West Rajoir villages in Madaripur. The conflict, rooted in a longstanding feud, erupted Sunday evening around 6 PM and lasted until 10 PM. Shops and police vehicles were vandalized and set on fire, while crude bombs were detonated during the unrest. In response, the local administration imposed Section 144 from 1 PM to 1 AM Monday. Police have filed a case naming 60 individuals and accusing another 2,000 unknown persons.

In a major development, Rangamati’s Additional Police Superintendent Anirban Chowdhury and Narsingdi’s Senior Assistant Commissioner Md. Saiful Islam have been arrested in connection with a warrant issued in a genocide case from Narsingdi. Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim of the International Crimes Tribunal confirmed the arrests on Monday. Both officials have been ordered to be sent to prison. Anirban Chowdhury was taken into custody for questioning from the Rangamati SP’s office on Sunday. The case relates to the killing of 10th-grade student Tahmid Bhuiyan in police firing on July 18, during which another person also died when protesters marched with his body.

Kazi Fazle Elahi, Vice-President of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at Government Mujib College in Companiganj, Noakhali, was severely injured after being attacked by fellow party leaders. Elahi had recently resigned in protest over the inclusion of ruling party affiliates and teenage gang members in the new JCD committee. He was allegedly assaulted by JCD President Zahidul Islam Saimun, General Secretary Arup Majumdar, and others in two separate attacks. Elahi has since filed a case against the attackers, naming 25-30 people including Saimun, Arup, Akib, and Shanto.