Iran has strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump following a bunker-buster bomb attack on Sharif University in Tehran early Monday. Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref described the strike as a symbol of Trump’s madness and ignorance in a post on social media platform X. He said Trump failed to understand that Iran’s knowledge cannot be destroyed by bombs, as the nation’s true strength lies in the willpower of its scholars and intellectuals.

Aref, an engineer educated at Stanford University, added that no act of barbarism in history has been able to strip science from the Iranian people, asserting that science is rooted in the nation’s soul. As of now, the United States has not issued any official comment on the incident.

Sharif University, often compared to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for its scientific contributions, has previously lost several professors allegedly linked to Iran’s nuclear program, according to the report.

A legal notice has been sent to relevant government authorities requesting a travel ban on former Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The notice was issued on Monday, April 6, 2026, by Supreme Court lawyer M. Ashraful Islam. It calls for restrictions on Yunus and 24 former advisers, alleging their involvement in transferring the measles vaccination program from the state system to the private sector.

According to the notice, the lawyer accused those named of participating in what he described as an unlawful act that shifted a national immunization initiative into private control. Ashraful Islam shared details of the notice through a Facebook post, stating that the move was necessary due to the alleged misconduct.

The notice marks a new legal development involving Dr. Yunus, though the government’s response or any official action on the request was not mentioned in the report.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) conducted an eviction drive on April 6, 2026, at Nimsar Bazar in Burichang upazila of Cumilla. The operation targeted illegal structures built along both sides of the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. The drive began at 11 a.m. and continued until the afternoon, resulting in the removal of around 400 unauthorized establishments. The action followed a report published in the newspaper Amar Desh highlighting the influence of a political syndicate that had previously delayed enforcement.

According to RHD, prior notices had been issued instructing occupants to remove the structures by April 1, but noncompliance led to the eviction. The department, assisted by the Burichang upazila administration, deployed three bulldozers for the operation. The illegal encroachments had been causing severe traffic congestion due to roadside trading and vehicle parking.

Local residents noted that such drives occur periodically but illegal structures often reappear. RHD officials stated that similar operations will continue to ensure smooth traffic flow and safety, and they are considering constructing a service lane to prevent future encroachment.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury informed the Bangladesh Parliament that as of December 31, 2025, the total amount of defaulted loans in the country stood at Tk 5,44,831.88 crore. He also stated that loans linked to current Members of Parliament and their associated entities amounted to Tk 11,117.31 crore. The information was presented on Monday during a parliamentary question-and-answer session chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, in response to a question from NCP lawmaker Abul Hasnat (Hasnat Abdullah).

In his reply, the finance minister presented a list of the top 20 loan defaulting institutions. The list included companies such as S. Alam Super Edible Oil Ltd., S. Alam Vegetable Oil Ltd., S. Alam Refined Sugar Industries Ltd., Sonali Traders, Bangladesh Export Import Company Ltd., Global Trading Corporation Ltd., Keya Cosmetics Ltd., Deshbandhu Sugar Mills Ltd., Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Ltd., and Beximco Communications Ltd., among others.

According to the minister, Tk 3,330.08 crore of the total defaulted loans were not shown as defaults following court directives.

The Islamic Foundation has urged the public to stay alert against fraudulent recruitment letters being circulated on social media using its name. The organization stated in a press release on Monday that the letters, claiming to offer teaching positions under the mosque-based child and mass education project, are entirely fake and have no connection with the foundation.

According to the statement, teacher recruitment for the project is conducted through committees led by the Upazila Executive Officer at the sub-district level and the Deputy Commissioner at the district level. Candidates are selected through written and oral examinations organized by these committees, and there is no alternative process for recruitment.

The foundation warned that a group of fraudsters is deceiving people by offering false promises of employment through these fake letters. It requested the public to remain cautious and avoid any financial transactions with such fraudulent groups.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Boby Hajjaj said the government has no plan to close primary schools or shift to online classes despite the ongoing measles outbreak and energy crisis. He stated that the ministry prefers continuing in-person education and is not considering online learning at this stage. Hajjaj made the remarks on April 6 after inspecting infrastructure and educational activities at several primary schools in Dhaka.

He explained that no final decision has been made regarding school closures, and the ministry is working to maintain normal academic activities. The government is also preparing to introduce several new initiatives in the education sector by June or July, with field-level preparations already underway. The minister emphasized that the government is prioritizing physical infrastructure improvements in schools and has instructed heightened health precautions for students.

Hajjaj added that online classes are not very effective for young children, so the ministry will continue face-to-face teaching. He assured that the government will take further measures based on expert advice if the health situation worsens.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a strong warning that any US attack on Iran’s infrastructure would have far-reaching consequences for global energy and the economy. He cautioned that American officials would be held accountable for any resulting catastrophe. The warning came during a phone conversation on April 5 between Araghchi and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, where they discussed recent regional developments linked to the US-Israel conflict and other international matters.

Araghchi described US threats against Iran’s infrastructure as an attempt to normalize war crimes and genocide, vowing that Iran’s armed forces would deliver a decisive and comprehensive response if such threats were carried out. He emphasized that the repercussions would extend beyond Iran and the region, severely impacting global energy and economic stability.

Barrot, for his part, stressed the need to end the ongoing war and identified infrastructure attack threats as a source of regional tension. He also underscored the importance of resolving disputes through diplomacy. The two ministers additionally discussed consular issues between Iran and France.

Fishermen near Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf caught 101 maunds of hilsa fish in a single haul on Sunday afternoon. The catch was brought to the island’s jetty, where local traders purchased the fish for about Tk 3.3 million. The fish, weighing between 500 grams and over one kilogram each, were caught by the trawler ‘FB Dwip,’ owned by Abul Kalam of Jaliapara. The trawler, led by skipper Nurul Islam, had gone to sea on Friday morning with 15 fishermen and made the large catch early Sunday.

Local fish trader Faruk bought the entire catch, according to the fishermen. Abdul Gani, president of the Shah Porir Dwip Small Fish Traders Association, said hilsa had been scarce in recent months, causing financial strain for fishermen. The large sale is expected to help recover earlier losses, and the fish are being sent to Dhaka and other districts.

The Teknaf Upazila Fisheries Office stated that government-imposed fishing bans during breeding seasons have contributed to increased hilsa production and size.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has assured business leaders that the Export Development Fund (EDF) will be increased to 5 billion dollars. The commitment came during a meeting at the central bank on Monday with representatives of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), including its Secretary General Md. Alamgir. He told reporters that the EDF, formed from foreign currency reserves to support exporters, had previously stood at 7 billion dollars but had fallen to about 2.2 billion dollars. Business leaders urged that the fund be raised to 5 billion dollars, and the governor responded positively, promising a gradual increase.

During the meeting, FBCCI representatives also emphasized the need to keep interest rates stable and eventually bring them down to single digits to boost investment and competitiveness in the industrial sector. They called for increased private sector credit flow by reducing government borrowing pressure and ensuring financing for productive sectors. BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem added that the EDF reduction had been influenced by IMF conditions and proposed raising it further to 8 billion dollars in the future.

The business community also requested extending the loan default period from three to six months, preventing cross-defaults among related firms, and lengthening loan rescheduling terms from five to ten years. FBCCI further recommended introducing low-interest green financing to promote solar and renewable energy investments.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that its intelligence chief, Major General Seyed Majid Khademi, was killed in a joint attack carried out by the United States and Israel. The strike took place early Monday, April 6, and was described by the IRGC as a “terrorist attack.” No further operational details were released about the assault.

The report noted that regional tensions have been rising since a previous joint strike on February 28. That earlier attack and subsequent clashes reportedly caused more than 2,000 deaths, including Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response to the latest incident, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on targets in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf areas hosting US military bases.

Tehran has also imposed restrictions on shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, heightening global trade concerns and signaling a potential escalation in the regional conflict.

In March, Balendra Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s new prime minister, leading a parliament filled with young lawmakers. His rise, backed by the four-year-old Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), contrasts sharply with Bangladesh’s Gen-Z movement, which, despite toppling the government in 2024, failed to transform into a viable political force. In Bangladesh’s February election, the established Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won decisively, while the youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) performed poorly.

Analysts attribute Nepal’s success to its coalition-based political system, voter frustration with traditional parties, and RSP’s strong organization and alliances. In contrast, Bangladesh’s youth movement lost momentum during the 18-month gap between protests and elections. The NCP’s alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami alienated many young and female supporters, while established parties capitalized on reformist rhetoric to regain public trust.

Despite setbacks, Bangladesh’s youth movement has influenced national reform debates and spurred a 31-point reform plan by the new government. Some young activists remain hopeful that with stronger organization and grassroots engagement, youth-led politics could still gain ground in the future.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock will observe ‘Jatka Conservation Week 2026’ from April 7 to 13, aiming to increase Hilsa production and ensure sustainable conservation. Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced the program at a press conference in Dhaka, stating that catching juvenile Hilsa (jatka) will be completely prohibited in rivers and the sea during this period. The inaugural event will be held on April 7 in Chandpur Sadar.

The minister said the government’s main goal is to enhance Hilsa production by enforcing seasonal fishing bans, establishing sanctuaries, and implementing the Fisheries Conservation Act effectively. He noted that these measures have helped raise Hilsa output to 500,000 metric tons in the 2024–25 fiscal year. However, challenges such as river siltation, climate change, and pollution continue to threaten this progress.

This year’s theme, “If we stop catching jatka, rivers and seas will be full of Hilsa,” will guide activities across 20 Hilsa-rich districts, with central and local programs planned to promote awareness and compliance.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that his party will implement the recent referendum verdict regardless of whether parliament accepts it. Speaking on Monday at the National Press Club during the 46th founding anniversary of the National Democratic Party (JAGPA), he said the people’s will is supreme and that his party will continue to honor it. He emphasized that the movement to enforce the verdict has already begun and will represent the interests of all citizens, not any single group.

Dr. Rahman criticized parliament for failing to engage in constructive debate and accused the government of mismanaging the ongoing fuel crisis, which has caused long queues and public suffering. He warned that the energy shortage could severely disrupt agricultural production and worsen food insecurity. He also condemned the closure of schools as part of energy-saving measures, arguing that such steps would harm children’s education and the nation’s future.

He pledged that Jamaat’s 77 members in parliament would safeguard national interests and resist any injustice, calling on citizens to join the struggle for what he described as the people’s victory over fascism.

The article highlights ninth-century scholar Al-Kindi as the originator of systematic code-breaking technology. His work laid the foundation for cryptanalysis, the process of decoding encrypted messages to reveal their original content. Al-Kindi’s treatise, titled 'A Manuscript on Deciphering Cryptographic Messages,' introduced a method later known as frequency analysis, which remains a fundamental approach in deciphering classical ciphers.

The text explains that encryption, the conversion of information into cipher text using algorithms and secret keys, has long been used to secure communication, especially in warfare. During the Second World War, code-breaking played a decisive role when Allied cryptanalysts deciphered German Enigma messages. However, the conceptual groundwork for such breakthroughs traces back to Al-Kindi’s early insights.

Al-Kindi developed his method through a deep study of Arabic script and the statistical frequency of letters. His discovery marked the beginning of a long evolution in cryptography, later advanced during the European Renaissance. Frequency analysis continues to serve as a basic analytical tool for understanding and breaking simple substitution ciphers.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has announced that voting for 50 reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament will be held on May 12. The election schedule will be declared on April 8, according to Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed of the Election Commission Secretariat. He confirmed that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will not be used in this election.

As per the announcement, the BNP-led alliance will receive 36 seats, the Jamaat-led alliance 13 seats, and one seat will go to an independent nominee. Under electoral law, the voting for reserved women’s seats must be completed within 90 days of the publication of the general election gazette. The final gazette for the 13th parliamentary election was published on February 13, setting a legal deadline of May 14 to complete the process.

The Election Commission’s timeline ensures compliance with the legal requirement for filling reserved seats within the stipulated period.