Former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul has declared the newly formed ad-hoc committee illegal and urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene. His statement came shortly after the National Sports Council (NSC) announced the committee and dissolved the elected BCB board. Bulbul left the NSC office following its press conference and later issued a press release on Monday night outlining his position.

In the release, Bulbul presented five points supporting his claim that the ad-hoc committee violates the BCB constitution. He stated that the BCB election was conducted lawfully, leaving no scope for irregularities, and that the NSC has no authority to form an investigative or ad-hoc body after the election. He also alleged that the move was politically motivated by the State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque. Bulbul described the dissolution as a dark chapter for Bangladesh cricket that damages the country’s international reputation and expressed concern for the sport’s future.

Bulbul further noted that a High Court rule on the matter remains pending and asserted that he will continue as BCB president until the court delivers a decision.

In Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, BNP leaders and activists held a large rally on Tuesday afternoon celebrating the formation of a new convening committee. The procession began at Uttar Bazar and ended at the municipal premises, followed by a brief street meeting attended by thousands from nine unions and the municipal BNP and its affiliated organizations.

Speakers at the event alleged that certain corrupt industrialists and businessmen, with the support of some officials, were involved in corruption, land grabbing, and filing false extortion cases to harass BNP members. They issued stern warnings against such actions and cautioned that those responsible would face accountability if the harassment continued. Committee convener Dr. Kamal Kader emphasized recognizing long-time activists and outlined plans for employment generation, sports facility development, and infrastructure improvement under Aslam Chowdhury’s leadership.

Other leaders criticized past leadership practices that sidelined grassroots activists and pledged to build a stronger organization based on dedication and merit. The new committee was also formally welcomed at a reception on April 5, attended by a large number of BNP members and supporters.

Michael Becker, a professor of international human rights law at Trinity College Dublin, described former U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat as both morally reprehensible and legally unacceptable. Becker said Trump’s statement, which implied indiscriminate destruction, suggested the possibility of large-scale war crimes. He added that any attack on Iranian civilians would constitute a crime against humanity.

Becker referred to Trump’s social media post in which he wrote that “an entire civilization will be destroyed tonight,” though Trump also claimed he did not want that to happen. Becker argued that whether the language was genocidal was irrelevant, as the statement itself represented an unlawful threat of further aggression. He urged members of the Republican Party to unconditionally condemn such shameful remarks.

The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and come amid heightened tensions following deadly missile attacks near the Iraq-Iran border and growing international criticism of Trump’s rhetoric toward Iran.

New images of wreckage from US aircraft have surfaced in Iran’s Isfahan province, sparking renewed tension. Residents of Parjan village near Shahreza reported hearing aircraft and explosions late Sunday night, followed by gunfire lasting through the night. By Monday afternoon, Iranian military and municipal workers were seen clearing debris from two US C-130 Hercules transport planes and at least two helicopters.

The United States stated that the operation was a complex rescue mission aimed at recovering two pilots from an F-15 fighter jet allegedly downed in Iran. According to US officials, the helicopters and transport planes were destroyed by their own forces after failing to take off, not by enemy fire. In contrast, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for downing two C-130s and two Black Hawk helicopters during the mission.

Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari described the US operation as a deceptive plan conducted at an abandoned airfield in southern Isfahan, asserting that Iranian forces completely foiled it. One Iranian officer was reported killed during the incident, and cleanup operations continue at the site.

White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt announced that Iran has been given seven hours to reach an agreement with the United States. She stated that if Tehran fails to comply, only President Trump knows how he will respond. Levitt told Al Jazeera that the Iranian government has until 8 p.m. Eastern Time to address the current challenge and finalize a deal with Washington.

The statement highlights a tense diplomatic moment between the United States and Iran, with the White House emphasizing that the president alone is aware of the potential course of action. The situation comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing disputes involving Iran’s activities and international negotiations.

The source also mentions related developments, including Iran’s vice president dismissing Trump’s threats, a Chinese and Russian veto on a UN Security Council resolution over the Strait of Hormuz, and reports of U.S. strikes causing power outages on Iran’s Kharg Island.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the country is not afraid of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran. His remarks came in response to a message posted by Trump on social media warning that he could destroy Iran 'tonight.' Aref emphasized that Iran’s ancient civilization has repeatedly overcome the 'misconceptions' of its enemies and will not be intimidated by such threats.

He added that Iran would respond to any aggression with firm resolve and by relying on its national strength. The statement reflects Tehran’s defiant stance amid heightened tensions following Trump’s online warning. The exchange underscores the continuing strain in U.S.-Iran relations.

The report also mentioned related developments, including a U.N. Security Council veto by China and Russia over the Hormuz Strait issue, a U.S. attack that caused a power outage on Iran’s Kharg Island, and calls for youth human chains around Iranian power plants.

A key United Nations Security Council resolution addressing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz failed to pass after China and Russia exercised their veto powers. The vote saw 11 countries in favor, two against—China and Russia—and two abstentions. The proposal had been viewed as an important step toward easing the ongoing regional tensions.

Analysts noted that the Strait of Hormuz is vital for global trade and energy supply, making consensus on the issue critical. However, differing positions among major powers prevented the resolution from being adopted, complicating diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation.

The failure of the resolution has raised concerns that instability in the Middle East could deepen further, with the path to a peaceful resolution becoming increasingly uncertain.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has connected its ASYCUDA World customs system with Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Transaction Management System (FXTMS) to enable real-time online verification of bank invoices. The integration was formally inaugurated by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday. According to NBR, customs officials will now be able to verify commercial invoices digitally without requiring hard copies.

Before this integration, banks had to submit certified commercial invoice hard copies to customs offices. Now, all invoice data will automatically transfer from the central bank’s FXTMS to the ASYCUDA system in real time. NBR stated that once the process is fully implemented, commercial invoices will be mandatorily attached to bills of entry. The initiative, jointly implemented by NBR and Bangladesh Bank with support from all commercial banks, marks a major step toward a paperless customs system.

The new connection is expected to reduce paperwork, curb revenue evasion, simplify and speed up import-export clearance, limit trade-based money laundering, and create a reliable database for product valuation.

Iran’s Kharg Island has been left without electricity following intense airstrikes by the United States. According to American and Iranian media reports, the attacks took place on Tuesday and targeted more than 50 sites across the island. The strikes caused a complete power outage, with Iranian outlets describing the event as a widespread blackout triggered by heavy bombardment.

The Wall Street Journal reported that US warplanes bombed over 50 military targets on the island. Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency stated that both US and Israeli aircraft carried out multiple rounds of air raids, resulting in numerous explosions. However, no confirmed information has yet been released regarding casualties or the extent of the damage.

The reports did not specify how long the blackout might last or whether any emergency response was underway, leaving the full impact of the attack unclear.

Iranian authorities have called on young people across the country to form human chains around all power plants, according to a report by the state-run Fars News Agency. A video released by the agency showed hundreds of people standing in a human chain in front of the Kazeroon Combined Cycle Power Plant. The footage, shared on social media on Tuesday, described the gathering as a public response to a government appeal for citizens to act as a protective presence around key infrastructure.

The move comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran, prompting renewed concern over the safety of the country’s critical facilities. Observers suggest the gatherings may serve both as a symbol of public resistance and as a precautionary measure against potential attacks.

Experts cited in the report noted that while the demonstrations could represent national solidarity, the use of civilians as potential human shields raises questions under international humanitarian law.

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has issued show-cause notices to 28 lower court judges for allegedly making critical remarks about their appointing and controlling authorities on social media. The ministry directed the judges to submit written explanations within seven working days. The letters, confirmed by officials of the Judicial Service Association, stated that such comments violated the Supreme Court’s directives on social media use and constituted misconduct under the Bangladesh Judicial Service (Discipline) Rules, 2017.

According to the ministry’s notice, the judges’ actions were deemed harmful to service discipline and contrary to the conduct expected from members of the judiciary. The letters warned that failure to respond within the stipulated time could lead to further action under the relevant disciplinary provisions.

Several judges, speaking anonymously, denied posting any such remarks on social media. They claimed that their discussions took place on private platforms and alleged that the government had been misinformed. Some judges suggested that the move aimed to discourage collective efforts concerning issues like a separate judicial secretariat and judicial appointment ordinances.

US President Donald Trump has again threatened to bomb Iran across the country, asserting that God supports America’s actions in the ongoing war. Speaking at a White House press briefing on Monday, Trump said he believes God endorses the joint US-Israel campaign against Iran, which has lasted five weeks and caused thousands of deaths, injuries, and the loss of 13 US soldiers. He added that while God dislikes conflict, He wants people to be safe.

Trump’s remarks mark a shift in his rhetoric, as he increasingly frames the conflict in religious terms after previously offering varied explanations for US involvement, including uncertainty over regime change as a goal. He also warned that Iran’s power and transport infrastructure could be destroyed, claiming that Iranians want their government overthrown and are urging the US to continue airstrikes.

When asked whether he sought divine guidance amid the escalating violence, Trump did not answer directly but suggested that God supports US actions despite disliking violence.

UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram MP at his office in Dhaka. The meeting was attended by UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sonali Dayaratne, Assistant Resident Representative Anwarul Haque, Assistant Programme Advisor (Governance) Dragan Popovic, and Senior Governance Specialist Tanvir Mahmud. Discussions covered e-governance, e-parliament initiatives, parliamentary standing committee activities, and procedural matters.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad emphasized the need to identify areas of cooperation between the UNDP and the National Parliament. He suggested that UNDP could assist in orientation courses for new members of parliament to familiarize them with their duties and responsibilities. He also proposed bilateral exchange visits, particularly involving women MPs, and highlighted the importance of digital library systems, smart technology in parliamentary sessions, and an in-house printing press.

Stefan Liller described the current parliament as vibrant and reaffirmed UNDP’s long-standing partnership with Bangladesh. Both sides also exchanged views on the ongoing energy crisis and democratic governance, noting the neutral stance of several European countries.

US Vice President JD Vance said extensive discussions and negotiations are taking place before the deadline set by President Donald Trump for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to Vance, if Iran fails to reach an acceptable agreement before the deadline, the United States will strike Iranian civilian infrastructure. He noted that the deadline, about 12 hours away, would determine the outcome, expressing hope for a positive resolution.

Vance made the remarks during a press conference in Budapest, Hungary, while President Trump posted on Truth Social that an entire civilization could be destroyed that night, though he claimed he did not want that outcome. Trump had previously threatened to bomb Iran back to the “Stone Age,” targeting power plants and bridges, dismissing concerns about potential war crimes.

The final deadline, set for 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday (6 a.m. Wednesday Bangladesh time), was approaching as reports indicated that attacks on Iranian rail and road bridges and other civilian infrastructure had already begun.

City Bank has received approval to raise Tk 1,200 crore through a bond issuance with a seven-year tenure. The approval was granted at a regular meeting of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) chaired by Khandaker Rashed Maksud. According to a press release signed by BSEC Director and Spokesperson Abul Kalam, the bond will be offered through private placement to institutional investors, banks, corporate entities, individual investors, and mutual funds. Each bond unit will have a face value of Tk 10 lakh and will be listed on the Alternative Trading Board (ATB) of the stock exchange.

The bond will be unsecured, non-convertible, fully redeemable, and carry an interest rate equal to the average of the upper limit of six-month fixed deposit rates plus an additional 3 percent. Shariah-based, foreign, and post-2012 approved banks will be excluded from the average rate calculation. It will be a subordinated bond, meaning other creditors will be paid before bondholders in case of bankruptcy.

Funds raised will be used by City Bank to provide loans in corporate, retail, and SME sectors. EBL Investments will act as trustee, while City Bank Capital Resources and IDLC Investments will serve as arrangers.