BNP leader Mirza Abbas has called the meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highly significant and necessary. “The government had been trying to make it happen. It was needed, and it finally happened,” he remarked.

Abbas urged India to “immediately send Sheikh Hasina back” so that she can face trial, calling her a “fascist” whose prosecution is imperative. He also demanded the rightful share of Teesta River water for Bangladesh and called for necessary renovations of the Teesta Barrage to be undertaken by Bangladesh, with no compromises on national interests.

Responding to critics, Abbas clarified BNP’s stance on reform. “Some say reform talk irritates BNP. That’s not true. We support reform—alongside elections. We just reject any reform that undermines the people’s rights,” he said.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has returned to Dhaka after attending the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. He landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at approximately 10:05 PM Bangladesh time on Friday aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. Earlier, he departed Bangkok at 8:45 PM local time. Dr. Yunus was seen off at the airport by Jiraporn Sindhuprai, Minister attached to the Thai Prime Minister’s Office.

Speaking after Friday prayers in Rangpur, National Citizens’ Party (NCP) leader Sarjis Alam announced that the newly formed party is working toward fielding candidates in all 300 constituencies in the upcoming national election. He stated, “For over a decade, politics has moved away from the people. We aim to restore that connection and represent citizens in Parliament.”

Alam criticized regional disparities in budget allocation over the past 16 years, noting that while South Bengal has seen significant investment, North Bengal has primarily been a contributor. “We expect the next government to address these imbalances,” he said.

He acknowledged the challenges of nominating candidates nationwide as a one-month-old party but affirmed their commitment to the goal. On foreign relations, Alam emphasized the need to shift from a one-sided policy with India to a relationship built on mutual respect and equality.

In a recent post, Press Secretary Shafiqur Alam asserted that Islamic extremism has never seen a significant rise in Bangladesh — and there is no indication that it will in the future.

He criticized some Western journalists for drawing unfounded parallels between Bangladesh and conflict-ridden nations like Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Syria due to a lack of nuanced understanding of Bangladeshi society.

Highlighting key incidents — such as the 1994 exile of Taslima Nasrin, the 2004 attack on author Humayun Azad, the 2005 nationwide bombings, and the rise of Bangla Bhai — he emphasized that despite these, no widespread resurgence of Islamist extremism has taken place.

Between 2013 and 2016, Bangladesh faced a spate of targeted attacks on atheist bloggers, secular and LGBTQ activists, and even foreign nationals — nearly 20 lives were lost. Yet, society at large remained largely resilient and unchanged.

Alam, who admits to once falling into the same narrative trap, stressed that the social and familial diversity of Bangladesh serves as a strong defense against extremism. “This diversity,” he said, “will keep Bangladesh from straying down the wrong path.”

In a bid to strengthen international collaboration against corruption, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The signing ceremony was attended by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
ACC Chairman Dr. Mohammad Moin and NACC President Suchart Trakulkasemsuk signed the MoU, which aims to enhance bilateral cooperation in data sharing and joint operations. Moin expressed hope that the agreement would help both nations track down and prosecute corrupt individuals, including those taking refuge in neighboring countries.

India has ramped up its military presence in the strategically crucial Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the “Chicken’s Neck,” deploying advanced weaponry. This move follows remarks by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus during his China visit, where he referred to India’s northeast as landlocked and described Bangladesh as the gateway to the sea for the region.
Indian Army officials stated the corridor is one of their most fortified areas, home to the Trishakti Corps headquartered in Sukna. The corps is equipped with Rafale jets, BrahMos missiles, and advanced air defense systems, ensuring maximum readiness against potential threats.

In response to the Trump administration’s new tariffs on Chinese imports, China has announced a 34% additional tariff on all U.S. goods, effective from April 10. The Chinese finance ministry confirmed the surcharge will be applied over existing duties. Additionally, China has restricted the export of seven rare minerals, including gadolinium and yttrium. Beijing also plans to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization. This comes as the U.S. imposes a universal 10% tariff on all imports.

Jamaat leader Mohammad Selim Uddin paid tribute to the late Tanifa Ahmed, calling her a valiant fighter and frontline leader of the July Revolution. He stated that her courageous role will forever be remembered with deep respect by the nation. Tanifa, who served as the co-spokesperson of Mirpur Model Police Station during the mass uprising, tragically lost her life along with her uncle Shamim in a devastating road accident in Lohagara. Selim Uddin emphasized that while death is determined by divine will, accidents are beyond human control. He urged everyone to channel their grief into action and commit to building the Bangladesh Tanifa dreamed of. He also pledged full support to the bereaved family.

Sohail Rana, a banned Chhatra League leader and former president of the Savar Sadar Union unit, was arrested by police in the early hours of Friday in Savar. Authorities revealed that Rana had been in hiding since the political shift in August. Although he claimed via Facebook that he was in India, he was actively spreading anti-interim government propaganda while remaining in the country. Using digital surveillance, police tracked him down and arrested him from a rented house. Rana faces nine cases, including charges of attempted murder and opening fire on protesters.

The Bangladesh Armed Forces are continuing rescue and medical operations in Myanmar following a recent natural disaster, according to ISPR. On Friday, teams conducted rescue missions in Naypyidaw’s Zabuthiri Township and surrounding areas, retrieving one body and rescuing several people trapped in buildings, in cooperation with local authorities and fire services.
Bangladesh’s medical teams are providing care at the 50-bed Zabuthiri Hospital and the 100-bed Lewe Hospital. A coordination meeting was also held with representatives from Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry, fire department, and delegates from 16 other countries.

In a bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, both leaders underscored the importance of strengthening trade and connectivity. Dr. Yunus invited Bhutan to send a delegation of investors to the upcoming investment summit in Dhaka.

Discussions also touched upon the designated economic zone for Bhutan in northern Kurigram, where Bhutanese entrepreneurs plan to invest in fruit processing and other manufacturing industries aimed at regional export. Prime Minister Tshering requested a dedicated fiber-optic internet link from Bangladesh, to which the Chief Adviser assured full cooperation.

Dr. Yunus expressed interest in expanding educational opportunities for Bhutanese students in Bangladesh’s medical colleges and universities. The Bhutanese Prime Minister congratulated Yunus on his recent appointment as BIMSTEC Chair.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a 25% tariff on selected U.S. automobile imports in response to what he called violations of free trade principles. Though Canada was initially exempt from Trump’s global tariff measures due to USMCA compliance, new U.S. policies have targeted various goods including vehicles, steel, and aluminum.
Calling Trump’s trade policies a “tragedy,” Carney warned that they could destabilize the global economy and marked the end of an era of American economic leadership.

Hefazat-e-Islam has issued a statement condemning the passage of the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill in India, calling it a step toward state appropriation of Muslim religious institutions including mosques, madrasas, and orphanages.
The statement criticized the Modi government for earlier banning triple talaq, passing anti-conversion laws, and enacting the Citizenship Amendment Act, describing these as part of a systemic campaign against India’s Muslim minority. Hefazat termed it a “religious war” waged by Hindu nationalist forces against Muslims using legal and state machinery.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has urged Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to simplify the visa process for Bangladeshi citizens traveling to Thailand, especially those seeking medical treatment. Dr. Yunus highlighted the difficulties faced by Bangladeshi medical travelers during their meeting, to which the Thai Prime Minister responded with reassurance.

The Chief Adviser also emphasized enhancing bilateral trade, maritime cooperation, and increasing air connectivity between the two nations. He proposed launching direct flights from Chattogram to Thailand, noting that such a route previously existed and had a positive impact on trade and travel. Dr. Yunus congratulated the Thai Prime Minister on her appointment as BIMSTEC Chair and paid tribute to the late Thai King Bhumibol, acknowledging his role in recognizing Bangladesh’s independence.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has sought cooperation from Sri Lanka to recover billions of dollars siphoned abroad from Bangladesh. He made the request during a meeting with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harin Fernando.

Prime Minister Fernando informed that Sri Lanka has already taken several steps to recover illicit funds, including passing a new law in Parliament aimed at accelerating the repatriation process.

Both leaders discussed various aspects of the July uprising and emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties and mutual understanding between the two nations. They also pledged to expand trade and bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser also briefed the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on the upcoming elections in Bangladesh and ongoing political reforms.