Petitioners in India’s Supreme Court sought a stay on the Waqf Act, but the court declined to issue one. However, the justices considered issuing an interim order with three key points. The move was postponed after the central government’s legal representatives requested more time to present their explanation. The matter will be heard again on Thursday.

The proposed interim directives include:
1. No land or institution currently declared as Waqf property can be declassified as non-Waqf during the pendency of the case.
2. District Magistrates may investigate Waqf-related properties but cannot issue any binding orders.
3. Members of Waqf Boards and Councils must be Muslim, although non-Muslims may join only by virtue of holding specific offices.

On the occasion of Historic Mujibnagar Day, Adviser Faruk-E-Azam paid tribute at the Mujibnagar Memorial on April 17. Speaking at the event, he expressed deep concern over individuals falsely identifying themselves as freedom fighters, calling it “shameful.” He stated that actions have already been taken against fake freedom fighters.

Referring to the Mujibnagar Government formed on April 17, 1971, at the mango orchard in Meherpur, he called it a heroic and historic chapter in Bangladesh’s journey to independence. “The Mujibnagar government was internationally recognized and played a key role in organizing the Liberation War,” he said.

He also clarified that the current government has no intention of renaming the Mujibnagar Government, emphasizing, “History cannot be erased. It must be preserved in its rightful place.” Additionally, he noted that there are over 2,700 legal cases pending, many related to this issue, and the government is waiting for court verdicts.

The government has decided to amend the Bank Resolution Act and modernize judicial processes, Environment Adviser Rizwana Hasan announced. “The judiciary remains largely outdated. From now on, court summons can be issued via phone calls, SMS, or other modern devices,” she said. Information related to cases can also be sent via email or WhatsApp. The government has also approved key policy-level amendments to the colonial-era Civil Procedure Code (CPC), aiming to ease case backlogs. “Previously, after a verdict, a new suit had to be filed for execution. Now, execution clauses will be included in the original verdict,” she explained. The amendment to the Bank Resolution Act will enhance the powers of Bangladesh Bank and help curb financial irregularities.

Traffic on the road from Khilkhet to Kuril and Bashundhara will be suspended for 29 hours from 7 PM on April 17 to midnight on April 18 due to utility relocation work for the MRT Line-1 project. Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited has advised commuters to take alternate routes, including using the U-turn in front of Radisson Hotel and Kuril Flyover.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that the government of Bangladesh strongly condemns the recent attacks on Muslims in India and calls for full protection of the minority community. Dhaka urged both the central Indian government and the West Bengal state government to ensure the safety of Muslim citizens. The interim government also vehemently protested attempts to link Bangladesh to communal violence in Murshidabad, where Indian security forces reportedly opened fire on a Muslim protest linked to the Wakf Bill.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus held a meeting with a visiting US delegation led by Deputy Assistant Secretaries Nicole A. Chulick and Andrew Herrup. During the discussion, the US expressed strong support for Bangladesh’s ongoing reform initiatives and praised the country for sheltering 1.2 million Rohingya refugees. The Chief Adviser highlighted the identification of 180,000 Rohingyas for repatriation to Rakhine as a significant step forward. Nicole Chulick commended Bangladesh’s holistic approach to the Myanmar crisis. Dr. Yunus expressed gratitude to the Trump administration for reinstating Rohingya aid and granting additional tariff waivers. He also voiced support for Trump-era trade policies.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia may return to the country at any time next month, according to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Speaking to the media, he said, “I visited Khaleda Zia recently to check on her health. Since we couldn’t meet in Bangladesh, it was purely a courtesy call—there was no formal discussion.” He added that Khaleda Zia is recovering and preparing to return to Bangladesh.

In a significant diplomatic move, Bangladesh has called on Pakistan to formally apologize for the 1971 genocide and return $4.2 billion in assets that belonged to Bangladesh before independence. The appeal was made during the first foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries in 15 years. Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary stated that Pakistan has shown initial willingness to engage in discussions on both demands. The two nations also expressed interest in strengthening trade, connectivity, and cooperation in education, agriculture, and transportation. The talks mark a thaw in bilateral relations, which have seen improvement since the change in government in Dhaka last year. Direct shipping routes have resumed, and Bangladesh has eased visa processes for Pakistani citizens to further boost engagement.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained two Bangladeshi nationals on Wednesday in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, as they attempted to illegally cross the border into India. Further investigations are ongoing.

Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan revealed plans to establish a ‘Blue Network’ encircling Dhaka by restoring and freeing canals and rivers from encroachment and pollution. Six canals are currently under excavation, with a total of 19 targeted for restoration this year. Work will also begin to save four rivers—Buriganga, Turag, Balu, and Shitalakkhya. She appealed for World Bank assistance in this effort during a meeting with their representatives.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s legal counsel Shishir Monir urged party members not to lose hope over the registration issue, expressing optimism that the party would soon regain both registration and its election symbol. He also noted that the release of senior leader ATM Azharul Islam, who has been imprisoned for over a decade, may be decided this month. Court hearings are expected to resume after the Chief Justice returns at the end of the month.

The National Consensus Party (NCP) has formally requested the Election Commission to extend the deadline for political party registration by 90 days. In its letter, the NCP stated that it was formed in response to the people’s aspirations during the recent mass uprising. While the interim government initiated a series of reforms, including the formation of an electoral reform commission that submitted recommendations, no visible progress has been made. The Election Commission’s move to issue a registration notice on March 10—without implementing necessary reforms or updating existing laws—has drawn criticism. The NCP argues that the current requirements under the 2008 Political Party Registration Rules are unreasonable and unconstitutional. It also highlighted the reform commission’s recommendations, including relaxed conditions for local office establishment and renewal of registration every five years.

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch has described her recent visit to Dhaka as a positive experience, highlighting fruitful discussions between the two countries. “I’m happy to be in Dhaka—the food was great and the shopping was enjoyable. Our talks were productive,” she said. Baloch led Islamabad’s delegation in the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held on the Padma River, while Bangladesh was represented by Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin. This marked the sixth round of foreign secretary-level talks and the first in over a decade. Baloch is also scheduled to meet with the Chief Adviser during her visit.

A Dhaka court has sentenced fugitive gold trader Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan and seven others to life imprisonment for the 2018 murder of Inspector Mamun Imran Khan. Among the convicted are Arav’s wife Suraiya Akter Keya and five others. Arav and his wife remain at large. Inspector Mamun was murdered on July 7, 2018, and his body was later discovered in a forest in Gazipur.

Meghna Alam, accused of blackmailing Saudi Ambassador Isa bin Yusuf Al-Duhailan for $5 million, claimed in court that the ambassador is her husband. She denied allegations of aborting his child and said the ambassador was spreading false information. Meghna stated she was imprisoned without trial and denied legal representation. Meanwhile, another witness named Samir denied having any romantic relationship with Meghna, saying he was a common man who had lived abroad.