Police have arrested Ishtiaq Noor Chowdhury, son of Awami League leader Moniruzzaman Chowdhury, for leading the looting of a Bata showroom in Sylhet during a protest march. The incident took place in the Dargah Gate area, where Ishtiaq, wearing a traditional Saudi headscarf, was seen stuffing shoes into sacks — the first to begin the theft.

A viral video shows Ishtiaq stealing shoes from the store, drawing widespread outrage. His father, Moniruzzaman Chowdhury, is a known Awami League figure in the city’s Subidbazar area, police confirmed.

The looting occurred on Monday when a protest rally was held in Sylhet condemning the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Amid the demonstration, infiltrators entered and ransacked several shops across the city. Authorities have begun taking action against those involved.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has returned from official visits to Russia and Croatia, where he met with top military and civilian officials. His engagements included meetings with the Chief of the Russian Army, the Deputy Defense Minister of Russia, and the Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces. On April 7, he met with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Alexander Fomin, and on April 10, he held talks with Croatian Lt. Gen. Tihomir Kundid.

The Department of Prisons has denied recent rumors of an attack in the VIP zone of Keraniganj Jail, calling reports by YouTube channel ‘Taufiq Maruf Journal’ misleading and baseless. “No such incident has occurred in Keraniganj or any other jail in the country,” said an official statement. Authorities assured that the safety of all inmates, including VIP prisoners, is strictly maintained.

Adviser Farida Akhter rebuffed claims that the interim government is unelected, stating, “We were elected by the people and students who brought about this change.” She emphasized that families of those injured or martyred during the uprising have stood by their decision to participate, demanding justice for the atrocities committed under the previous government. “The interim government’s top priority must be to prosecute Sheikh Hasina and others responsible for the killings. There can be no leniency,” she declared. Administrator Mohammad Ejaz added, “We must honor the July Movement as we honor the Liberation War.”

BNP leader Abu Naser Md. Rahmatullah said that the people of Bangladesh want their government to intervene in the wake of Israel’s brutal assault on Palestine. “Remaining silent during such an unimaginable humanitarian crisis would be an insult to humanity,” he stated. Rahmatullah called for a united global voice against the atrocities in Gaza and Rafah. “As soldiers of Ziaur Rahman and Tarique Rahman, we strongly condemn these attacks,” he added, urging international dialogue to resolve the crisis.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim to have taken full control of the strategic Gaza city of Rafah. According to IDF statements, the ‘Morag Corridor’ between Khan Younis and Rafah is now under complete Israeli control, effectively cutting the city off from the rest of Gaza. Rafah had become a primary refuge for Gazans after previous ceasefires, but Israel has now ordered civilians to evacuate this area as well. The Israeli Defense Minister stated that this is the final chance for Hamas to surrender and release hostages. “If Gazans don’t comply, Israeli operations will expand across the entire strip,” he warned.

Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim stated that the current model of democracy, invented by the United States, has failed to bring peace. “If their version of democracy truly ensured harmony, we would see peace worldwide,” he said, accusing the U.S. of being the chief instigator of global unrest, especially in Palestine. The leader of Bangladesh’s Islami Andolan stressed that true peace can only be achieved through the implementation of Islamic values in state and society. “There can be no genuine freedom for humanity without Islamic governance,” he added.

Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has said that the arson attack on the Pahela Baishakh parade effigies at the Faculty of Fine Arts was a direct challenge to the July Movement. “These acts were committed by fascist sympathizers,” he said. He assured the public that the perpetrators will be apprehended swiftly. Cutting short his Sylhet trip, Farooki added that this year’s Baishakh celebrations will be inclusive of all religions and communities, aiming to reintroduce the nation through unity. Urging spontaneous participation in the festivities, he said, “This is not a time for fear or hesitation. Law enforcement is ready to ensure a festive and secure atmosphere.”

BNP leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu has declared that the party will remain on the streets and continue its movement until the people’s voting rights are fully restored. “Our movement is far from over,” he said. Referring to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Dudu noted that Yunus has pledged to hold a free, fair, and neutral election around December. “People must be able to vote without fear,” he said, emphasizing that BNP wants to see a detailed election roadmap. Once the roadmap is in place, the party will begin preparations, including forming an election board and announcing candidates. “We believe BNP will return to power with the people’s mandate,” he added. Dudu also claimed, “We ousted the monstrous, murderous Hasina government on August 5, a regime that dismantled the constitution and endangered Bangladesh’s sovereignty.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has declared that the controversial anti-Waqf law will not be implemented in her state, rejecting legislation seen as targeting the Muslim community. She questioned the justification for violence and warned that those inciting unrest will face consequences. Mamata accused certain political parties of exploiting religion for political gain and urged citizens not to fall for such provocations. Protests against the Waqf law are spreading across India, including in West Bengal. Meanwhile, the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has launched a sweeping campaign to identify and seize thousands of allegedly disputed Waqf properties. In Muzaffarnagar, over 300 individuals were issued legal notices and fined ₹200,000 each for wearing black armbands during Friday prayers in protest against the law.

Religious Adviser Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain has called on imams and khatibs to actively speak out against dowry practices, emphasizing that such acts are not only unethical but also illegal. Addressing a gathering of religious leaders, Dr. Hossain pledged to advocate for the demands of the Nikah Registrar Forum, which include legislative changes to ensure marriages and divorces are registered by the bride’s local registrar, and for marriage registration fees to be divided into three fair tiers as proposed by the government’s Reform Commission. He also warned registrars against charging extra fees beyond the prescribed amounts. Additionally, Dr. Hossain expressed concern over road safety, calling the Dhaka–Chattogram highway a “death trap,” and assured that work is underway to improve it. He expressed optimism that the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway will soon be expanded to six lanes.

Fisherman Nikhil Howlader alleged at a press conference on Saturday that he is forced to pay extortion money to local BNP leader Nazrul Islam Munshi in order to fish in the sea near Char Montaj in Patuakhali. Nikhil accused Nazrul and his associates of intimidation and threats to his life when he refused to pay. He claimed that his fishing trawler was seized as a result of his refusal. A video of Nikhil seeking justice from locals has since gone viral on social media. He further alleged that Nazrul’s group later returned to issue death threats. Nazrul has denied all accusations.

A power unit at the Adani Group’s plant in Godda, Jharkhand, India, has been shut down, reportedly due to technical issues, which may lead to increased load shedding in Bangladesh. While the first unit, which was also shut earlier on April 8, has resumed production and is supplying electricity, the second unit was taken offline around 1 AM on April 11. This has resulted in a shortfall in power supply. The plant previously delivered up to 1,400 MW of electricity, and even after April 8, it continued to supply over 750 MW. Now, with the second unit offline, power shortages are expected to worsen. Disputes over coal pricing and unpaid dues have strained relations between Adani and Bangladesh’s Power Development Board (PDB). Critics have long argued that the controversial power import deal—signed under the previous Awami League government—has heavily disadvantaged Bangladesh.

US President Donald Trump has excluded smartphones, computers, and various tech devices from new reciprocal tariffs, including a steep 125% levy on Chinese goods. The decision follows warnings from US tech companies about potential price surges, with iPhones and other devices possibly tripling in cost. Many gadgets, especially Apple’s, are manufactured in China, though companies are shifting production to India and Vietnam. The exemptions serve as a temporary relief while the US negotiates better trade terms. China remains subject to higher tariffs.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has emphasized the need to expedite the reform process to ensure national elections are held in December. In a meeting with National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Professor Ali Riaz and member Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr. Yunus stressed the urgency of advancing reforms. The Commission representatives reported that discussions with political parties are ongoing, based on the recommendations of various reform commissions. So far, eight parties have participated in separate dialogues, with a meeting scheduled with the BNP on Thursday. Public awareness campaigns and opinion surveys have also been launched to gather feedback on the proposed reforms and to engage the public in the process.