Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan extended Bengali New Year greetings to the nation and remarked that despite various obstacles and attempts to create disruption, the celebration was a success thanks to united efforts. He praised the team for organizing such a major event within just 8 days. Highlighting the goals behind the UN’s international recognition of the celebration, he emphasized showcasing Bangladesh’s diverse ethnic and cultural identity. “This year’s procession was the most vibrant and diverse ever,” he added, urging people not to lose the promise ignited by the mass uprising of 2024.

BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan has confirmed that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has returned to Dhaka on Monday evening after receiving medical treatment in Singapore. He traveled there with his wife, Rahat Ara Begum, on April 6 for a regular health checkup. Notably, in 2015, while imprisoned, a blockage was discovered in his internal carotid artery, after which he began annual follow-ups in Singapore.

In Netrokona’s Atpara, two leaders of the opposition youth group Jubo Dal assaulted the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) during a Pohela Boishakh event. The accused, Nur Farid Khan (secretary) and Modasser Hossain Kaiyum (joint convenor), reportedly tore down the event’s banner and confronted the UNO, Royal Sangma. Kaiyum later admitted that someone had sent him a banner image featuring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s name. They stormed the stage to inquire about it, creating a commotion. Officials clarified that the banner did not mention Mujib, after which the accused apologized to the administration.

Reacting to the Russian missile strike in Ukraine’s Sumy city that killed over 30 people, former U.S. President Donald Trump said, “They told me it was a mistake—but it’s terrible. The whole war is terrible.” He criticized the war as a misuse of power and blamed President Biden for its continuation. “If I had been president, this war would never have started. I’m trying to stop it and save lives,” Trump added, while avoiding a direct answer on who admitted the mistake. The victims had gathered to observe Palm Sunday. Ukrainian President Zelensky renewed calls for greater pressure on Russia and international security guarantees.

Police in Assam’s Cachar district baton-charged a protest against recent amendments to the Waqf law. Protesters responded by pelting stones, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). A senior police officer told PTI, “Some 300-400 people blocked roads without permission. When we tried to clear the area, some attacked us with stones. We had to use mild force.” A case has been filed, but no arrests have been made. Protesters claim the amended law discriminates against Muslims and demanded its repeal.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has claimed that the Awami League’s political demise began with the student-led uprising in Dhaka and culminated in Delhi. He stated, “The fall of fascism through mass participation from students and citizens will be remembered as a historic event in South Asia.” He also accused the Awami League of trying to distort Bengali culture, saying, “Boishakhi parades, fairs, and panta rice are part of our heritage. To undermine this, they introduced the so-called Mongol Shobhajatra.” He urged citizens to uphold Bengali culture and reject Indian cultural influence.

Following Bangladesh’s “March for Gaza,” thousands took to the streets of Karachi on Sunday in a massive show of support for Palestinians under siege. Organizers said over 100,000 people participated. Protesters carried images of slain Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar and placed rows of white shrouded mannequins representing children killed in Gaza, stirring strong emotions. The protest included thousands of women, many in burqas, and parents with children. Members of Christian and Hindu communities also joined the march, emphasizing solidarity across faiths.

In a disturbing incident in Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura, local businessman Suman Das forcibly cut a woman’s hair in public, accusing her of theft. With the help of his associate Rabbi, he pulled off the woman’s headscarf and cut her hair while she wore a burqa. Two other women and a child were also beaten with plastic pipes and rods. When bystanders tried to intervene, Suman allegedly issued threats. A video of the incident has gone viral. Suman owns SM Electric Corner, and Rabbi runs Maa Telecom. Locals gathered in front of Akhaura police station demanding swift arrest and punishment.

Jahangirnagar University celebrated Bengali New Year 1432 under the theme, “Harmony of the New Year, End of Fascism, and Triumph of Humanity.” The rally began at 9:45 AM from the Old Arts Faculty premises and concluded at the base of the Amar Ekushey monument. Led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Kamrul Ahsan and organized by the Fine Arts Department, the celebration emphasized the universal appeal of the New Year. “This festival is an inseparable part of Bengali identity and should be a pledge to establish an inclusive, egalitarian society,” the VC said.

Jessore district administration honored sculptor Mahbub Jamal Shamim, pioneer of the Pohela Boishakh processions, on Monday morning. The event took place at the Jessore Collectorate premises, where Deputy Commissioner Md. Azaharul Islam presented Shamim with a crest and a check. “This honor is not mine alone—it belongs to all cultural activists, social and political figures, and the entire nation,” Shamim said. The tradition that began in Jessore is now celebrated with grandeur by Bengalis in India and around the world. A colorful procession followed the ceremony, wishing prosperity for all.

In a New Year’s message on Facebook, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman said, “Happy New Year 1432! Heartfelt greetings to all at home and abroad.” He expressed gratitude to Allah that people of all beliefs can celebrate freely. “I firmly believe that our youth, with their sense of responsibility, will elevate the nation to new heights and fulfill the people’s aspirations.”

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, from prison, issued a message on the Bengali New Year urging the restoration of voting rights. “People’s fundamental rights were snatched by the fascist Hasina regime to establish autocracy,” he stated. Recalling the ongoing July Movement, he said, “Even in prison, I hear the fiery spirit of the youth. Police admit that when one protester is shot, another takes their place.” Rizvi also condemned cultural manipulation over the past 15 years, including propaganda targeting BNP leadership during festivals. “Why is electoral reform seen as separate from democracy? Democracy is a flowing river—voting rights are its lifeblood.”

Nahid Islam, convenor of the National Consensus Party (NCP), criticized previous governments for turning Pohela Boishakh into a political tool. “Its inclusive spirit was lost,” he said. “For the first time, we are celebrating a Boishakh free of fascist influence and the Hasina regime.” Emphasizing that the July Movement is for state transformation, not individual change, Nahid said, “The ongoing reforms must be implemented swiftly. Justice and change must be visible soon. The NCP is advancing with the agenda of forming a Constituent Assembly to dismantle fascism and restructure the state.”

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has demanded that the national daily Prothom Alo publicly apologize for using an image of a dog in an Eid greeting cartoon published on March 30. Recalling a previous instance where the editor apologized publicly at Baitul Mukarram for alleged disrespect toward the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he said, “This act shows a deeply offensive mindset. Even a sacred celebration like Eid was not spared. This cartoon must be retracted, and an apology to the nation is mandatory.”

A Hamas delegation currently participating in negotiations in Cairo has described the ongoing talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza and opening border crossings for humanitarian aid as “responsible” and “positive.” Hamas confirmed that discussions are also underway with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah regarding the reconstruction of Gaza and the integration of Palestinian institutions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. “We remain open to new proposals as long as the talks focus on a full cessation of hostilities in Gaza and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces,” the group stated. “We will not compromise on our legitimate demands: a total end to the war, Israeli withdrawal, Gaza’s reconstruction, recognition of our political rights, and an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”