Perplexity has expanded its integration with the financial data network Plaid, allowing users in the US and Canada to securely link bank accounts, credit cards, and loans to their Perplexity accounts. This builds on an earlier connection that supported brokerage accounts. Through Plaid’s access to over 12,000 financial institutions, users can now view a complete picture of their finances in one place, including spending, debt, and net worth.

Once connected, Perplexity’s Computer can analyze spending patterns, create custom trackers, and generate dashboards for budgeting, debt payoff, retirement readiness, and cash flow forecasting. The integration offers read-only access, ensuring that user data never touches Perplexity’s servers. Standard users can access basic portfolio features, while Pro and Max subscribers gain access to advanced analytical tools.

Perplexity’s financial analyses draw on real-time data from sources such as FactSet, Nasdaq, and S&P Global. The company plans to extend the integration to mobile platforms and additional countries, and to include crypto wallets, real estate, and other asset types in future updates.

The Bangladesh National Parliament passed a total of 41 bills over two days, marking a new record in the country’s legislative history. On Thursday, April 9, during the 11th working day of the 13th Parliament’s first session, 31 bills were passed by voice vote, including 28 ordinances from the interim government without changes and three additional bills replacing ordinances. The session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal. Opposition parties objected to the Local Government (Municipality) (Amendment) Bill 2026, but it was passed despite their protest.

Opposition leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman announced a walkout, calling the bills anti-people. Jamaat-e-Islami MP Najibur Rahman argued that the amendments undermined elected local representatives, while State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam defended the changes as necessary to prevent authoritarian resurgence and to end party-symbol elections. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed thanked opposition MPs for participating in the legislative process before walking out.

On Friday, April 10, ten more bills were unanimously passed without debate. A special committee reported that out of 133 ordinances from the interim government, 98 were approved unchanged, 15 with amendments, and 20 were either repealed or strengthened as new bills.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed frustration in the National Parliament on Friday, April 10, after the unanimous passage of the Finance Bill for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. He said that opposition members were not provided with necessary documents before the session began, despite prior requests made during the second meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

Dr. Rahman explained that the opposition had asked for all 133 ordinances and related documents to be delivered at least three days in advance, or at minimum one day before the session. However, he received the documents only when they were placed on the table during the session. He remarked that without time to review the materials, he could not responsibly vote for or against the bill.

He added that government party members might have understood the documents quickly due to their expertise, but opposition members could not. He sought guidance on how to proceed under such circumstances.

The Bangladesh National Parliament has passed the July Fighters Welfare and Rehabilitation Ordinance 2026, aimed at supporting families of martyrs and participants of the July uprising. The proposal was introduced on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. by Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan. The bill seeks to ensure welfare, rehabilitation, and recognition of those who contributed to the uprising.

According to the source, the minister emphasized that the legislation also intends to preserve the history and ideals of the July uprising within the national and state framework. Following the presentation, Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal put the bill to a vote, and members of parliament approved it by saying “yes.”

The passage of this bill marks a formal step toward institutionalizing the memory and welfare of those associated with the July uprising, reflecting the government’s commitment to honoring their legacy.

An Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf has arrived in Pakistan to hold discussions with U.S. representatives headed by Vice President J.D. Vance, according to a Wall Street Journal report on April 10, 2026. The talks are expected to take place in Islamabad, though uncertainty remains over whether they will proceed.

The main point of contention stems from Lebanon’s exclusion from a recent ceasefire between Iran and the United States. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who mediated the truce, announced that Lebanon would be covered by the ceasefire. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later declared that Lebanon was not included, followed by Israeli military strikes that killed over 200 people and injured around 1,200. Iran has since demanded that attacks on Lebanon stop before any dialogue with the U.S. can continue.

Israeli media outlet Kan reported that Iran has suspended its planned talks with the U.S. in Islamabad, as Tehran insists on including Lebanon in the ceasefire framework.

Police in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district arrested two fugitives on Thursday night by disguising themselves as farmers. The detainees were identified as Kawser Sheikh, a known drug dealer and member of a highway robbery gang from Paschim Hasamdia area of Bhanga municipality, and Khabir Matubbar, a Nasimon driver from Purbo Sadordi village under Chumurdi union. Both had been absconding in separate criminal cases.

According to police sources, Khabir Matubbar was wanted in a 2025 case filed at Magura Police Station, while Kawser Sheikh was a fugitive in a regular case under Bhanga Police Station. Despite continuous efforts, police had failed to capture them earlier due to their frequent change of locations.

Sub-Inspector Ataur Rahman and Assistant Sub-Inspector Azizul of Bhanga Police Station conducted the special operation that led to their arrest. The operation ended a prolonged search for the two accused individuals.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis organized a protest rally and procession in Dhaka on Friday as part of its nationwide program demanding full implementation of the recent referendum verdict. The demonstration took place after Friday prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

During the pre-procession rally, party Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad stated that around 70 percent of voters supported the 'yes' option in the February 12 referendum held alongside the national election. He accused the government of delaying the implementation of the people's decision and urged the BNP-led government to act immediately in line with public expectations.

Ahmad warned that if the demand is ignored, the party, along with an eleven-party alliance, would intensify its movement. Leaders from the party’s central and Dhaka metropolitan units also addressed the gathering. Similar protests were held across the country on the same day.

A fatal road accident occurred on Friday morning, April 10, 2026, in the Salandar area of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila when a BRTC bus and a pickup truck collided head-on on the Dhaka-Panchagarh highway. One person was killed and three others were injured in the crash. The injured were admitted to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital for treatment.

According to Thakurgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monir Hossain, the BRTC bus was traveling from Panchagarh to Rangpur, while the tile-laden pickup was heading from Dhaka to Panchagarh. The collision took place at Singpara in Salandar. The deceased, a tile company employee, was critically injured and later declared dead at Thakurgaon 250-bed General Hospital. His identity has not yet been confirmed.

The bus helper and the pickup driver were among the injured. After receiving initial treatment, they were referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for advanced care.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru stated that rebuilding public trust has become a major challenge for the new BNP-led government. He made the remarks on Friday, April 10, during a statement under Rule 300 in the National Parliament, which began its session earlier that morning under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. Khasru said the government assumed office at a time when nearly all economic indicators are under pressure.

In his address, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury acknowledged that the economic challenges are deep and multidimensional but expressed hope that good governance, reforms, and public participation could help overcome the situation. He criticized the previous government for corruption and mismanagement, claiming that mega projects failed to deliver expected benefits and led to large-scale capital flight. He argued that the economy had lost its industrial momentum, resulting in reduced employment and productivity.

The minister also emphasized the current government’s commitment to building a developed, dignified, and equitable state, outlining its guiding philosophy and policy direction to the nation.

The Speaker of the National Parliament has approved an additional 100 seats for students in the visitors’ gallery, following a request from Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan MP. Previously, 50 seats were reserved for students under 12 years of age. With this expansion, a total of 150 seats will now be available for students to observe parliamentary proceedings directly.

According to the minister, the initiative aims to familiarize younger generations with parliamentary and democratic practices. He referenced the late President Ziaur Rahman’s efforts to engage students in learning about the nation’s resources and potential. The minister expressed his desire for Generation Z to become more knowledgeable and politically aware about the state.

National Parliament Secretary Md. Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan welcomed the initiative, noting that students visiting the parliament will receive briefings about its operations before sessions begin. This will help them learn about the architecture, history, and traditions of the country’s legislature.

A Bangladeshi man named Saleh Ahmed Joydhar, aged 30, was shot dead by an Indian Khasi on Thursday afternoon near the Kalairag (Kawar Tuck) border area of Companiganj upazila in Sylhet. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on the Indian side of the border. According to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), three Bangladeshi nationals had crossed about one kilometer into India and entered a Khasi betel nut plantation between Chongket and Markan gardens. The Indian Khasi reportedly fired several rounds from a shotgun, suspecting them of theft, killing Saleh on the spot. His companions later brought his body back to Bangladesh.

BGB stated that the three men involved had previously been linked to smuggling activities. Earlier, on April 1, another Bangladeshi named Saddam Hossain went missing after crossing into India from the Utma border area of the same upazila. Police confirmed that Saleh’s body has been recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The incidents have raised renewed concern over cross-border safety and illegal movement along the Sylhet frontier.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his country has helped several Middle Eastern nations shoot down Iranian-made Shahed drones. Zelensky made the remarks following his visit to the Middle East last week, highlighting Ukraine’s role in countering the drones that Iran supplies to Russia.

According to Zelensky’s post on social media platform X, Ukraine deployed military experts to the Middle East, including interceptor drone and electronic warfare specialists. These teams demonstrated how to operate interceptors and successfully destroyed Iranian Shahed drones in multiple countries. Zelensky described the outcome as a success.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, underscores Ukraine’s growing involvement in assisting other nations with drone defense, drawing on its extensive experience combating Shahed drones in its own conflict with Russia.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education, Labour and Employment, Mahdi Amin, held a bilateral meeting with Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education, Zambry Abdul Kadir, in Putrajaya. The discussion focused on enhancing cooperation in higher education, research, skills development, and workforce mobility, with particular emphasis on expanding scholarship opportunities and improving the integration of Bangladeshi students in Malaysian society. Bangladesh’s Ministers for Expatriates’ Welfare and Labour were also present at the meeting.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral relations in education and skills development. Malaysia recognized the mandate of Bangladesh’s newly elected government led by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman and expressed readiness to deepen institutional engagement under new policies. Mahdi Amin highlighted the importance of expanding international education opportunities to strengthen Bangladesh’s global human resource competitiveness and called for a structured scholarship system ensuring academic excellence, welfare, and social inclusion for Bangladeshi students in Malaysia.

The meeting concluded with mutual understanding to reinforce scholarship frameworks, improve student support systems, and deepen long-term educational and social ties between the two countries, contributing to a sustainable knowledge-based partnership.

France and Pakistan have voiced deep concern over Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon and what they described as violations of a declared ceasefire. The issue was discussed during a phone call on Friday morning between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, both ministers emphasized the need for full implementation and respect for the ceasefire to restore stability in Lebanon.

Pakistan had previously acted as a mediator in the recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, claiming that Lebanon was included in the deal. France also supported including Lebanon in the ceasefire framework. However, the United States and Israel rejected this claim, asserting that the Iran-U.S. understanding had no connection to the Lebanese situation. The Israeli airstrikes, launched just hours after the ceasefire announcement, killed at least 254 people, including women and children.

Both France and Pakistan warned that continued Israeli attacks could undermine Pakistan’s mediating role and jeopardize the broader peace process. They called on the international community to take swift and effective action to address the escalating crisis.

Uncertainty surrounds the planned talks between the United States and Iran over ending the ongoing war, though Pakistan is fully preparing to host the meeting in Islamabad. Representatives from Washington and Tehran are expected to meet in the Pakistani capital, where strict security measures have been implemented, including road closures around the Red Zone that houses government buildings and embassies.

According to BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet, a senior Iranian foreign ministry official said the meeting has not yet been finalized. Reports that an Iranian delegation had already arrived in Islamabad were denied, and related social media posts were removed. Despite this, Pakistan’s preparations suggest that the talks may proceed as planned.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that discussions will not take place until a ceasefire is achieved in Lebanon. Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh reiterated this position in an interview with the BBC’s ‘Today’ program.