NASA successfully launched the Artemis-2 mission on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts toward the Moon for the first time in 54 years. The crew includes three Americans—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch—and one Canadian, Jeremy Hansen. The launch took place at 6:35 p.m. local time, drawing cheers from NASA staff and spectators after years of delays and budget increases.

Before liftoff, the astronauts delivered brief remarks, with Hansen emphasizing that the mission represents all of humanity. Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson addressed the crew, highlighting the global partnerships and the hopes of a new generation carried by the Artemis team.

The mission’s first phase will test the spacecraft’s safety and reliability. Over a roughly 10-day flight, the astronauts will orbit the Moon without landing, while also testing manual control capabilities during docking simulations.

Police in Dhaka’s Bangshal area have arrested two individuals in connection with a theft that took place in a rented flat. The arrested are Sheikh Zalamim, aged 34, and Madhab Chandra Dhar, aged 60. According to a press release issued on Wednesday night by the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division, cash and gold ornaments were recovered following the arrests.

According to Bangshal police, the incident occurred after Sheikh Zalamim and his wife were sublet tenants in a flat on the seventh floor of Mokka Dulary Tower on Malitola Road. When the flat owners returned from a trip to Chandpur on March 27, they found the door lock broken and valuables missing. The stolen items included 30,000 taka in cash, multiple gold ornaments weighing 11 vori 2 ana, a smartphone, property documents, a checkbook, and business papers. A case was filed by the victim, Md. Saiful Islam Sohan, at Bangshal Police Station.

Police said Zalamim was arrested on March 31 from Fulbaria intersection, and based on his information, Madhab Chandra Dhar, a jewelry shop manager, was later detained with a gold chain. Efforts to identify and arrest other suspects are ongoing.

The Narsingdi district administration conducted two separate raids on Wednesday night, April 1, following intelligence provided by the National Security Intelligence (NSI). The operations targeted shops in the Paikdona Bazar and Paikdona Mor areas of Narsingdi Sadar upazila, where large quantities of fuel were allegedly hoarded illegally. Executive Magistrates Md. Masud Rana and Khalid Hasan led the raids, seizing octane, petrol, and diesel from the sites.

According to the district administration, Humayun Enterprise in Paikdona Bazar was fined 40,000 taka for storing 270 liters of octane and 700 liters of diesel. Ayaz Enterprise on Danga Road was fined 50,000 taka for hoarding 1,000 liters of diesel and 200 liters of octane. The seized fuel from Ayaz Enterprise was sold in the open market, and proceeds were returned to the owner, while the fuel from Humayun Enterprise was sold and deposited into the government treasury.

Officials stated that similar operations will continue to prevent artificial fuel shortages in the district.

Authorities in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria seized approximately 5,200 liters of illegally stored diesel on Wednesday evening, April 1, 2026. The operation took place at Selim Store in Purvabhag New Market, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Sahel Ahmed. The fuel was found in 32 drums during the raid, which was conducted based on confidential information.

The seizure is part of a nationwide campaign to curb illegal fuel hoarding amid a global energy shortage. Following the operation, an individual named Md. Faisal was fined 10,000 taka under Section 20 of the Petroleum Act, 2016 for illegal storage. The confiscated diesel was later sold at government-fixed prices in the Nasirnagar Upazila Parishad premises to meet local demand.

Officials stated that such enforcement actions will continue as part of efforts to stabilize the fuel supply and prevent black-market trading during the ongoing energy crisis.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan held a phone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The discussion focused on regional conditions, geopolitical risks, and strategies to maintain stability in conflict-prone areas.

According to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, both leaders emphasized the current impact on regional security and the importance of international efforts to ease tensions. They also discussed the necessity of establishing lasting peace through multilateral dialogue and diplomatic initiatives.

The conversation underscored the shared concern over regional instability and highlighted the need for coordinated global engagement to promote peace and security.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has addressed an open letter to the American people, asserting that Iran has never pursued aggression, expansion, or colonialism in modern history. He stated that while Iran has not initiated any wars, it has firmly resisted those who attacked it. The letter was reported by Al Jazeera.

Pezeshkian strongly rejected portrayals of Iran as a ‘security threat,’ arguing that such depictions do not reflect reality. He described Iran as one of the world’s oldest and most continuous civilizations. According to him, the narrative of Iran as an aggressor is driven by external interests seeking to justify political and economic agendas.

The president claimed that powerful actors use this narrative to legitimize pressure on Iran, maintain military dominance, sustain the arms industry, and control strategic markets.

Israel has claimed responsibility for conducting more than 400 airstrikes on various infrastructure targets in Tehran over the past two days. According to a statement from the Israeli military, the air force used 650 munitions in operations aimed at what it described as the 'Iranian regime’s infrastructure.' The statement added that Israeli warplanes carried out extensive overnight raids across central Tehran, striking multiple key facilities.

Israel further asserted that around 15 weapons production centers were damaged in the attacks, including a central complex reportedly linked to Iran’s Ministry of Defense. The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not specify the exact locations or the extent of the damage.

Iran has not issued any immediate response or provided official information regarding casualties or material losses resulting from the strikes.

U.S. President Donald Trump has turned his frustration toward NATO as the Iran war intensifies, raising new concerns about the alliance’s future. European allies have refused to provide military support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and, in some cases, denied U.S. aircraft access to their bases. In an interview with the British newspaper The Telegraph, Trump called NATO a “paper tiger” and said he is seriously considering withdrawing the United States from the alliance.

The tension is not new. Trump has previously labeled NATO “obsolete” and threatened to withhold protection from members that fail to increase defense spending. The situation has deepened as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington might reconsider its NATO ties if European nations continue to block base access. Former U.S. ambassador Ivo Daalder said the crisis has shaken the alliance’s trust, calling it potentially NATO’s biggest challenge in history.

Despite the rift, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed full commitment to NATO, and Secretary-General Mark Rutte argued that Trump’s pressure has strengthened the alliance. The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara this July is expected to test the alliance’s cohesion amid growing calls in Europe for greater defense autonomy.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense reported that an Iranian-launched cruise missile struck a Qatari oil tanker early Wednesday. The vessel, named Aqua 1 and operated under lease by QatarEnergy, was hit within Qatar’s territorial waters. All 21 crew members aboard managed to evacuate safely, and no casualties were reported. QatarEnergy confirmed the incident and stated that there was no negative environmental impact from the strike.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) acknowledged responsibility, saying its naval missile caused damage to the tanker, which it claimed was Israeli-owned. The conflicting narratives from Qatar and Iran have drawn attention to the already tense regional situation.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that the incident could further escalate tensions in the region, though no immediate retaliatory actions were mentioned.

Iran has launched its largest missile attack on Israel since the start of the ongoing conflict, according to multiple international media reports. On Wednesday, Iran fired around ten ballistic missiles targeting Israel’s central region, triggering air raid sirens in Tel Aviv, Shephelah, and nearby areas. Residents reportedly heard explosions, and Israeli media indicated that missile debris may have struck several locations, prompting rescue operations. One missile was alleged to have carried a cluster warhead that dispersed smaller bombs midair.

In response, the Israeli military announced a broad offensive targeting Iranian military infrastructure in Tehran. The report added that since February 28, the United States and Israel have jointly conducted airstrikes in Iran, resulting in about 1,340 deaths, including the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, according to claims cited in the report.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes not only on Israel but also on U.S. bases in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and air travel.

A fire broke out on the luxury launch Kirtonkhola-10, which had been chartered from Dhaka to Barishal for the Char Monai Mahfil. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, when an electrical short circuit ignited cabin number 325. No one was inside the cabin at the time, and there were no casualties. The launch authorities quickly brought the fire under control.

According to the Mahfil’s media coordinator, the vessel had been rented to transport participants to the three-day Falgun Mahfil and was anchored on the Kirtonkhola River near the event site. Although the cabin’s contents were completely burned, the fire did not spread beyond the cabin.

Organizers of the Char Monai Mahfil stated that many other launches were anchored at the Char Monai ghat, accommodating thousands of visitors. They urged all launch operators to remain vigilant to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Continuous heavy rainfall has submerged vast areas of haor land in Sunamganj’s Madhyanagar upazila, leaving farmers in deep concern as their nearly ripe Boro paddy fields are now underwater. The flooding has caused significant crop damage, with many fields already showing signs of rot. Farmers in Togor and Rupeshwar haors reported that about half of their farmland is submerged, and the lack of effective drainage has made it impossible to save the crops.

Local farmers have installed irrigation machines in several haor areas, including Kailani, Rupeshwar, Goraduba, and Banchapra, to pump out water, but continuous rain has kept the situation critical. Many farmers said that proper sluice gates and river dredging could have prevented such waterlogging. The Madhyanagar agriculture office confirmed that 13,620 hectares were cultivated this season, with at least 250 hectares already affected, though locals claim the damage is greater.

Officials stated that they are monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps. The district administration emphasized long-term solutions such as canal dredging and sluice gate construction to prevent future flooding and protect farmers’ livelihoods.

Gunmen opened fire at the village home of former South Chattogram District Chhatra Dal general secretary Md Mohsin in Satkania’s Kanchana Union around 1 a.m. on Tuesday. Two local Chhatra Dal leaders, Mohammad Rakib and Shafik, were injured and received primary treatment. Mohsin was not at home during the attack.

Mohsin alleged that armed cadres of Jamaat-Shibir carried out the shooting after failing to find him, and he demanded a fair investigation, swift arrests, and intervention from the home minister. In response, Jamaat’s Satkania upazila secretary Tarek Hossain rejected the accusation, saying it was inappropriate to blame Jamaat without investigation and warning that such claims could allow real perpetrators to escape accountability. He stated that Jamaat does not believe in reckless politics.

Satkania Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monjurul Haque said police had visited the scene and would take necessary legal action after investigation.

The Chittagong Port Authority has seized an imported goods container that was released using fake documents. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a group attempted to remove the container through the port gate. Authorities detected the forgery soon after and launched a joint operation with law enforcement. By 11:30 p.m., the container and its trailer were recovered from the Halishahar area.

According to port sources, the container, numbered HMMU-4175990X40, was imported by Fahim Attire and Composite Ltd. It was illicitly released on March 31 using falsified on-chassis permits, invoices, and gate passes prepared by J S International C&F Agent. Security officials identified the forgery after verifying the documents and tracked the container’s location using CCTV and digital tools.

The container was found near Shahjalal Truck Terminal at a workshop named BMD Saiful Engineering. The suspects fled before the raid. Chittagong Port Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said an investigation committee has been formed, and preparations are underway to file a case against those involved.

During a parliamentary discussion on the President’s address, a proposal was raised to suspend the session and send members of parliament to their constituencies to inspect hospitals amid a worsening measles situation. Md. Monowar Hossain, MP for Magura-1, described the outbreak as taking on an epidemic form and suggested that Parliament recess on Thursday so MPs could directly monitor local health conditions.

Hossain highlighted poor healthcare infrastructure in his constituency, noting that a 200-bed hospital remains only partially operational, with nonfunctional lifts and incomplete ICU and dialysis units. Other MPs used the same discussion to raise issues including compensation, education administration, river dredging, bridges, and regional development.

The session also featured calls from other members for equal recognition of all martyr families, tougher anti-drug laws, and renewed attention to historical political movements. Several MPs expressed differing views on omissions and emphases in the President’s speech, reflecting a broad range of constituency and national concerns.