In a departure from his usual practice of open remarks at the start of meetings with world leaders, Donald Trump opted for silence during his recent summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

The two leaders exchanged smiles and a handshake but declined to answer media questions. Reporters were quickly ushered out of the room. Analysts suggest Trump’s silence may signal a calculated strategy toward Putin, though it gave no clear indication of the meeting’s outcome.

Two separate cocktail bomb blasts shook Dhaka on Friday night.

The first explosion occurred around 12:45 AM near the NCP office in Banglamotor. Witnesses reported several individuals on motorcycles throwing explosives before fleeing. Police confirmed no casualties but launched an investigation.

Earlier, at 10 PM, another cocktail blast went off near bus counters at Russell Square, close to Dhanmondi 32. Officers collected evidence from the site. Kolabagan Police OC Md. Fazle Ashish said no arrests had yet been made.

A much-anticipated summit between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine conflict took place at the Elmendorf-Richardson base in Anchorage, Alaska, early Friday (Bangladesh time 1:30 AM).

Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin arrived separately in Anchorage, where they exchanged a formal handshake on a red-carpeted walkway before proceeding to talks. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and John Ratcliffe were also present.

The summit, however, faced protests outside. Anchorage residents rallied against Trump for inviting Putin, whom many accuse of war crimes, and criticized the exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from peace talks.

A newborn tragically died in Shariatpur after an ambulance transporting the infant was stopped by a local driver syndicate demanding extortion fees.

According to police sources, Noor Hossain Sardar’s wife, Ruma Begum, had just given birth to a son at a local clinic. Doctors advised transferring the newborn to a Dhaka hospital for advanced medical care due to cold-related complications. At around 9 PM, when the family set out for Dhaka, local ambulance drivers, businessmen, and the driver of the Shariatpur Civil Surgeon, Abu Taher Dewan, along with his son Subuj Dewan, blocked the vehicle.

The syndicate reportedly refuses to let any outside ambulance operate without paying regular extortion fees. They allegedly seized the ambulance keys and demanded money. As a result, the critically ill newborn passed away before reaching Dhaka.

Shariatpur Civil Surgeon Dr. Rehan Uddin stated that he had no prior knowledge of the incident. The tragic event has sparked outrage over the monopolistic control of patient transport in the region.

Maruf Kamal Khan quoted Enayetullah Khan on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, describing him as a skilled actor who deceived the people while claiming the title of Father of the Nation. Enayetullah said Mujib’s three-year misrule devastated the nation, exploited resources, suppressed culture, and sold off sovereignty, leaving the economy in ruins. He compared Mujib to a tragic Greek character—charismatic yet weak, ambitious yet betraying those who trusted him.

A three-day Hajj and Umrah fair is underway to simplify registration and reduce middleman harassment for 2026 pilgrims. Hosted at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center by HAB, the fair runs until Saturday evening and is open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM.

Religious Adviser Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain noted that the event seeks to streamline pilgrim access to government-registered agencies, ensuring a fraud-free Hajj experience.

Former MP and former Central Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat’s Women’s Wing, Begum Rokeya Ansari, was laid to rest in Banani Cemetery following a Janaza at Baitul Mukarram. Ansari passed away at a private hospital on Thursday. Jamaat leaders, including the Amir and Secretary General, expressed deep condolences.

Jamaat leader Abdul Halim alleged that Awami League-Bakshal plotted to eliminate Jamaat and create a leadership vacuum by executing Allama Saidi under the guise of war crimes trials. Halim described Saidi as a globally renowned Quranic scholar and orator, victimized by false charges.

He called for a high-powered investigative committee, emphasizing that dedication to faith, not titles, motivates their commitment to sacrifice.

AB Party leader Asaduzzaman Fuad suggested that Dr. Yunus could resign if Jamaat and NCP do not participate in elections. He warned that the upcoming elections risk becoming one-sided, similar to previous 1973 and 2018 elections conducted by the ruling Awami League.

Fuad emphasized that BNP faces internal challenges with rebel candidates in 130–135 constituencies and that unity and sacrifice are needed to lead the party toward fair participation.

NCP leader Abdul Hannan Masud hailed Begum Khaleda Zia’s unwavering leadership. “If she had compromised, such a massive mass uprising and Sheikh Hasina’s downfall would not have happened,” he said, urging immediate government action to prevent river erosion in Hatia.

Masud called for unified efforts by BNP, Jamaat, NCP, and other parties to transform Hatia into a model sub-district. He claimed that the success of the uprising allowed him to speak openly today, whereas otherwise, he might have been silenced.

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, speaking at a prayer gathering for Begum Khaleda Zia’s 81st birthday, criticized Sheikh Hasina’s government as oppressive. He said, “We saw reforms under the Fakhruddin-Moinuddin government, but after that came Hasina’s monstrous regime. Democracy was murdered; countless BNP leaders, including Ilias Ali, Chowdhury Alam, Zakir, and Suman, were disappeared or killed, and the economy destroyed.”

Rizvi emphasized that BNP supports necessary reforms and called for elections to occur on their announced schedule. He praised Begum Khaleda Zia as a symbol of national independence and sovereignty, saying her leadership has inspired efforts to challenge the current government.

Police have filed cases against 42 individuals, including Mahiyuddin Roni, for attacking doctors, nurses, and staff participating in a human chain protest at Barisal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

OC Mizanur Rahman said, “The complaints are under verification. Legal action will follow accordingly.” Among the accused, 12 have been named, and 30 remain unidentified.

The case alleges that the attackers wielded knives, iron rods, SS pipes, hockey sticks, and other improvised weapons. Roni allegedly struck cleaning worker Rafiqul Patwari on the head with an iron rod, causing serious injuries. Roni currently leads a health sector reform movement.

Unprecedented plundering in Bangladesh’s banking sector under the Awami League government has left banks facing liquidity shortages, slowing industrial growth. Machinery imports fell 25% in FY2024-25, while LC openings dropped similarly, limiting future industrial imports. Raw material imports for export industries rose, boosting exports, but non-export sectors saw declines. Political instability, rising interest rates, and reduced private sector credit have prolonged nearly five years of industrial slowdown, affecting production growth, credit availability, and loan recovery across multiple sectors.

A mass food poisoning incident has affected 365 school students in Sragen, Indonesia, following the consumption of free meals under President Prabowo Subianto’s “Free Meal Program.” This marks the largest such incident in the program’s history.

Despite previous improvements to kitchen and distribution standards after earlier incidents, the problem recurred. Sragen Chief Sigit Pamungkas confirmed that food samples are being tested in laboratories and the kitchens involved have been temporarily closed.

Students reported that the meal included turmeric rice, boiled egg slices, fried tempeh, cucumber-lettuce salad, apple slices, and a box of milk. So far, over 15 million people have benefited from the program, which aims to reach 80 million recipients by the end of the year.

India’s rice prices surged nearly 14% in just two days following Bangladesh’s announcement of duty-free rice imports. Major Indian traders quickly exported rice to Bangladesh, creating a temporary supply-demand imbalance in India. Prices of popular varieties like Sarna, Miniket, Ratna, and Sona Masuri saw significant increases. Bangladesh’s duty withdrawal aims to stabilize domestic prices and curb inflation, while Indian exporters benefit from new demand, helping offset global price declines and boosting their profits.