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.

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed stated that insights gathered from divisional-level seminars will be incorporated into a strategic plan for the modernization of the judiciary. The Supreme Court is set to begin work on this comprehensive reform strategy, which aims to fulfill the promise of a revitalized judiciary following the July revolution. He affirmed that the people will soon regain their trust in the judicial system. He also mentioned that, with strong government support, new judicial positions have been created to reduce the backlog of cases—a move that will significantly improve judicial efficiency. Initial steps have also been completed for the establishment of specialized commercial courts. Two special committees are working continuously to expedite the launch of the Supreme Court Research Institute in Cox’s Bazar.

The Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has warned that there are ongoing attempts to obstruct the investigation and trial process regarding crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising.
According to the prosecution, false information and malicious rumors about the investigators and prosecutors are being circulated regularly on social media, aiming to mislead the public—especially families of the martyrs.
They further revealed that a significant amount of money has been spent to hire the prominent UK law firm Doughty Street Chambers to orchestrate this disinformation campaign.

Information Adviser Md. Mahfuz Alam met with Turkish Minister of Trade, Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, to discuss key aspects of bilateral trade and economic relations. Adviser Alam invited Turkish investors to explore opportunities in Bangladesh’s economic zones. Minister Bolat expressed Turkey’s interest in strengthening economic ties with Bangladesh and showed enthusiasm about holding the next Bangladesh-Turkey Joint Economic Commission meeting in Dhaka later this year.

The US dollar has dropped to its lowest value in three years, driven by global market instability and new tariffs imposed by the US government. According to the US Dollar Index and Forbes, the value fell to 99.01, marking an 8% decline over the past year. The steep drop followed President Donald Trump’s announcement of unprecedented import tariffs on dozens of countries. While the tariffs were later suspended for most nations, markets across the US, Europe, and Asia experienced significant disruptions.

Shaykh Ahmadullah, founder of As-Sunnah Foundation, stated that people from all political, ideological, and religious backgrounds in Bangladesh stand united in support of the Palestinian people. Speaking at the “March for Gaza,” he said, “Today we stand shoulder to shoulder to show the world that despite our differences in thoughts and beliefs, we are united in demanding justice, freedom, and land rights for the oppressed people of Palestine. Every Bangladeshi—regardless of religion, race, or ideology—stands in solidarity with Palestine.” Earlier, a declaration was read out at the event, demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza and calling on world leaders to sever all ties and agreements with Israel.

The ‘March for Gaza’ concluded with a tearful mass prayer, as millions raised their hands in unison for the freedom and peace of Palestine. Mufti Abdul Malek, Khatib of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, led the heartfelt monajat.
He prayed, “The brutality inflicted by Israel upon Palestine is a grave wound to humanity. O Allah, protect the oppressed Muslims and bless Palestine with freedom.”
The prayer sought an end to the Israeli assault on Gaza, rescue for those trapped under rubble, healing for the injured, protection for children and civilians, and a global awakening of conscience. The gathering called on world leaders to take decisive action and demanded justice for the ongoing aggression against unarmed Palestinians.

Islamic scholar Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azharī electrified the crowd at Suhrawardy Udyan by chanting, “Why is my brother a martyr? UN, we demand answers!” His words sparked a wave of emotional slogans echoing across the grounds: “Palestine Zindabad!”, “Al-Quds Zindabad!” Addressing the massive gathering, Azharī declared, “This ocean of people proves that in every one of our hearts, there lives a Palestine.”
He added, “We marched and endured beatings, but today we’ve witnessed—Bangladesh stands firmly with Palestine and Al-Aqsa.”

Bangladesh has proposed the recruitment of a significant number of workers in Slovakia’s automotive and other sectors, along with easing visa procedures for Bangladeshi citizens. Foreign Affairs Adviser Tawhid Hossain made the appeal during a meeting with Slovak Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blanár. Emphasizing the importance of enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation, Adviser Hossain urged deeper engagement. Minister Blanár agreed to send a Slovak business delegation to Bangladesh to explore B2B opportunities and potential investment avenues.