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.

According to an official order signed by DMP Joint Commissioner Faruq Hossain, prior approval from higher authorities is now mandatory before arresting any suspects named in the cases filed in connection with the recent public uprising. The directive cites the large number of named individuals in such cases and requires credible evidence—including victim or eyewitness testimony, audio-visual proof, photographs, and mobile call records—before proceeding with arrests. Hossain emphasized the importance of protecting innocent individuals from harassment while ensuring actual offenders are held accountable. He also noted that personal rivalries have sometimes led to the wrongful inclusion of innocent people. A similar directive had been issued earlier on September 10, barring the arrest of government officials without substantial evidence.

Standing on the main stage of the ‘March for Gaza’ event at Suhrawardy Udyan, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman read out a formal declaration in solidarity with Palestine. The declaration urged leaders of the Muslim world to sever all ties with Israel and take immediate action to halt the Israeli aggression in Gaza. People from all walks of life joined the rally, calling on the global Muslim community to unite against Israel’s brutalities. A special prayer was held for the oppressed people of Palestine, led by Baitul Mukarram National Mosque’s Khatib, Maulana Abdul Malek. Leaders from various political parties demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other perpetrators be brought to trial under the International Criminal Court. The crowd chanted, “Free, Free Palestine!”

Foreign Affairs Adviser Tawhid Hossain has urged Slovakia to ease visa regulations for Bangladeshis and hire more workers, particularly in the automobile industry. During a bilateral meeting, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár agreed to send a business delegation to Bangladesh to explore investment and B2B opportunities. Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, and economic assistance.

Legal Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul acknowledged current judicial shortages and logistical problems but assured they are being addressed. “We’ve just started. It takes time to recruit judges, but the crisis will be resolved while we are in government,” he said. The government is also considering referring family court cases to arbitration to reduce court burden. The Bandarban chapter of the Judicial Service Employees Association called for a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court and parity in pay with the Judicial Service scale.

Just hours before U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman, Donald Trump declared, “I want Iran to be a great, happy nation, but they can’t have nuclear weapons.” Saudi Arabia expressed hope for a new deal between the U.S. and Iran, potentially stricter than previous ones, aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

A general diary (GD) has been filed with Shahbagh police after parts of a sculpture—depicting Sheikh Hasina and a dove of peace—were set ablaze at the Faculty of Fine Arts. A university investigation committee has also been formed. Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said, “It appears to be a planned act, though nothing is confirmed. CCTV footage is currently inaccessible due to a forgotten password, but we are exploring alternative ways to retrieve it.” Professor Saima Haque Bidisha added that the decision to reconstruct the motif lies with the artists, and the administration will provide support as needed.

Ali Riaz, Vice Chair of the National Consensus Commission, stated that all parties have agreed on the urgent need for state reform. “Although the initiative was launched by the interim government, it reflects the will of the people, who have long struggled for democracy,” he said. He expects preliminary discussions to conclude by mid-May and hopes consensus can be reached on several key issues.

As temperatures soared during the massive ‘March for Gaza’ gathering in Dhaka, the Tawheed Foundation stepped in to offer free water and juice to attendees. Organized by the Palestine Solidarity Movement Bangladesh, the event drew large crowds. A volunteer said, “We just wanted to provide some comfort to the people here. We also hope everyone boycotts Israeli products.”

Thousands gathered in Dhaka today for the ‘March for Gaza’ rally, with processions arriving from every direction. Protesters came on foot, by bus, pickup truck, rickshaw—and even on horseback. Demonstrations converged from locations like Paltan, Gulistan, Shahbagh, and Nilkhet, all heading to Suhrawardy Udyan. A declaration of solidarity with Palestine will be read out in Bangla, English, and Arabic, followed by prayers to conclude the event.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order removing household water usage limits, originally introduced to conserve water. According to Al Jazeera, Trump criticized the regulations, saying, “I want to shower properly and take care of my beautiful hair. But I have to stand under the water for 15 minutes for it to even get wet. It’s ridiculous.” The previous limits were introduced by Obama in 2009, reinstated by Biden, and now scrapped again by Trump, who argued, “Water remains the same, and we’re opening it up for the people so they can live.”

According to Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal, Israeli forces have resumed airstrikes on Gaza in violation of the ceasefire, killing at least 500 children. One such strike targeted a newborn named Sham and her family. She lost her arm in the blast and died hours later. On the same day, orders were issued for evacuations in Shuja’iyya and Khan Yunis, leaving many Palestinians without any clear destination. Since March 18, over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 3,800 wounded in renewed Israeli airstrikes.

NCP Joint Convenor Sarwar Tushar has alleged that TV producers are being pressured politically to reduce his participation in talk shows. In a Facebook post, Tushar wrote, “I was going to ignore it, but I can’t stay silent anymore. Three different producers told me the same thing over the past week—they’re under ‘political pressure’ and only trying to include me on air.” He questioned, “What is this political pressure? Who is behind the effort to silence me? And why?”