Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus departed Dhaka on a four-day official visit to Qatar on Monday evening via Biman Bangladesh Airlines. He will participate in the “Arthna Summit 2025” at the invitation of Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. According to Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Dr. Yunus is also expected to meet with the Emir during his visit.

Speaking to journalists about his legal hearing in a Shahbagh murder case during the mass uprising, former minister Shahjahan Khan confirmed his intention to run in the next election. “Of course I’ll contest—why wouldn’t I?” he said, slamming the current Awami League regime as fascist. “The war criminals are in power while the freedom fighters are in jail,” he added. Earlier, he had been accused of threatening two police officers at the International Crimes Tribunal.

KUET Director of Student Welfare Professor Dr. Abdullah Elias Akhtar has called on students to resolve issues through dialogue instead of resorting to hunger strikes. He assured students that he would discuss the suspension of 37 students with the university administration. Assistant Professor Raju Ahmed added that necessary legal assistance would be provided regarding the case against the students and discussions are underway to withdraw the case. He clarified that the KUET administration has no involvement in the case.

BNP leader Ishraq Hossain demanded the immediate arrest of all suspects involved in the murder of Prime Asia University student Parvez, allegedly a Chhatra Dal activist. He warned that if the public learns that authorities are obstructing justice, they will surround police stations in protest. Chhatra Dal’s central president claims discrimination and implicates political opponents in the murder.

Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Christian world, has passed away at the age of 88. Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over his death. The first non-European pope since 741 AD, Pope Francis was widely respected for his continued efforts to reform the Catholic Church. Just a day before his death, he addressed thousands at St. Peter’s Square with a “Happy Easter” message.

A study by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) revealed that Bangladesh lost an estimated Tk 2.26 trillion in tax revenue in 2023 due to evasion. Corporate tax evasion alone accounted for half of the losses—around Tk 1.13 trillion. The causes include high tax rates, weak administration, a complex legal framework, and widespread corruption in the taxation system.

A Dhaka court has granted a 7-day remand for three individuals accused in the murder case of Prime Asia University student Zahidul Islam Parvez. The accused—Al Kamal Sheikh alias Kamal (19), Alvi Hossain Junayed (19), and Al Amin Sani (19)—are all former students of Banani Bidyaniketan School. The plaintiff’s lawyer had initially sought a 10-day remand.

India has expressed concern over Bangladesh’s new dam construction on the Muhuri River near Tripura, fearing that nearby villages could flood during the monsoon. In response, the state government sent a high-level delegation to the border. Tripura official Kiran Gitte stated that India is also building protective infrastructure to safeguard the Belonia region and surrounding areas. Repairs and construction are expected to be completed by June.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka stated that the Trump administration has deported 31 undocumented Bangladeshis—30 men and one woman. The embassy vowed to continue cracking down on visa fraud and illegal immigration, warning that those involved will face lifetime bans and criminal charges. “A country without secure borders cannot survive as a nation,” the statement concluded.

For the first time, a comprehensive investigation report has been filed in the tribunal regarding the Chankharpul massacre and the killing of student martyr Anas. Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam confirmed that the July-August killings involved eight suspects. He had previously stated that evidence connects 45 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and other leaders of the 14-party alliance, to the atrocities.

Special Assistant Faiz Ahmad Tayyeb confirmed that Fiber@Home has committed to reducing internet prices across three levels: 10% at the International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) level, 10% at the International Internet Gateway (IIG) level, and 15% at the National Transmission level. ISPs have already begun offering 10 Mbps for Tk 500. Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company also reduced IIG rates by 20% for wholesale clients. The only remaining adjustment is expected from the three private mobile operators.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to democracy and vowed to block any fascist influences. The Khilafat Majlis has endorsed eight key reform points proposed by the NCP, including elections post-reform, suspension of Awami League’s registration, and constitutional recognition of July’s martyrs. The July Charter will outline these agreements as a roadmap for post-reform elections.

During a meeting with Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, reform advocate Ali Riaz stated that the primary goal of political reforms is to prevent the resurgence of fascism. He emphasized the need for a society where everyone has the freedom to speak, enforced rule of law, and an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. He thanked the Khilafat Majlis delegation for their contributions to the reform commission.

The Labour Reform Commission submitted its draft report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Monday. Among the key recommendations is eliminating the use of informal or class-based pronouns such as “tui” and “tumi” in professional settings. The commission, led by Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, was formed in November to improve labour standards across the country.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus highlighted Bangladesh’s commitment to inclusive and climate-resilient urban development in a video address to the UN ESCAP session. He called on the global community to embrace his “Three Zero” vision—zero wealth concentration, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, is leading the Bangladesh delegation in Bangkok.