Former BNP vice chairman and ex-president of the National Press Club, journalist Shawkat Mahmud, is reported to be in a critical condition while in custody. His family stated that prolonged illness and lack of proper medical care have left the 73-year-old facing life-threatening complications. His daughter, Mehet Mamun, has appealed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for his unconditional release and immediate medical attention.

According to the appeal, Mahmud suffers from heart disease, diabetes, COPD, respiratory problems, and age-related complications. He underwent six bypass surgeries in 2004 and had four stents placed in 2013 and 2022. Arrested on December 7 last year, he fell ill during remand and was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on January 6. The family claims he was detained in a false case and continues to face harassment through multiple charges.

The family also described severe financial distress, saying they sold their only car to cover legal and medical expenses. From prison, Mahmud reaffirmed his loyalty to BNP’s founding ideals and sought forgiveness for any unintentional mistakes, expressing readiness to accept any decision from the prime minister.

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail petition of Sanjay Chisim, one of the accused in the murder case of Inquilab Manch spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. The order was issued on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Sabbir Faiz after hearing arguments from Chisim’s lawyer. Court bench assistant Riaz Hossain confirmed the decision.

According to the case details, Hadi was shot by assailants on a motorcycle in the Box Culvert area of Paltan on December 12 after completing election campaigning in Motijheel. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18. The case was subsequently converted into a murder case. On January 6, the Detective Branch submitted a charge sheet against 17 individuals, including former ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi and Faisal Karim Masud. However, Inquilab Manch’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed a petition expressing dissatisfaction with the charge sheet.

Following the petition, the court granted the request and directed the CID to conduct further investigation into the case.

Former Bangladesh national team opener Imrul Kayes has expressed strong frustration over the prolonged suspension of domestic cricket in the country. In a Facebook post on April 1, 2026, he voiced concern about the current state of cricket and urged authorities to take immediate and effective action to resume competitions.

Kayes stated that cricket administrators have become so preoccupied with power struggles that on-field cricket has come to a halt, severely affecting domestic players who depend on these leagues for their livelihood. He noted that many cricketers are struggling financially due to the league shutdown, yet there appears to be little concern or initiative from those responsible. He emphasized that focusing solely on the national team is not enough and that the overall cricket structure needs equal attention.

Concluding his message, Kayes appealed to all stakeholders to set aside personal conflicts and restore cricket activities promptly. He also called on the Sports Minister to ensure that cricket progresses free from political influence.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Sylhet on April 30 for the first time since assuming office, where he will inaugurate the nationwide 'Notun Kuri Sports' program from the Sylhet District Stadium. The announcement was made by State Minister for Sports Aminul Haque during his inspection of the stadium on April 1. The event will be launched simultaneously across all districts, featuring seven sporting events including football and cricket.

During his visit, the state minister expressed optimism about making sports compulsory from grade four in the next academic year and introducing government sports scholarships. He emphasized the goal of building a healthy, drug-free society through a sports-friendly environment. Aminul Haque also criticized the previous government for alleged corruption that left the Sylhet District Stadium in poor condition.

The minister added that the government has already brought national athletes under a salary structure and provided sports allowances and honor cards. The district commissioner said the prime minister’s full itinerary will be announced later.

A new treatment approach called Mitral Valve Clipping, technically known as Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER), is transforming care for patients with mitral regurgitation, according to a report published on April 1, 2026. The condition occurs when the mitral valve fails to close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the left atrium and leading to complications such as heart failure and irregular heartbeat. Traditionally, open-heart surgery was the main treatment, but many patients, especially the elderly or those with other organ complications, were not suitable candidates.

The TEER procedure, using Abbott Laboratories’ MitraClip device, allows doctors to repair the valve without opening the chest or stopping the heart. A catheter is inserted through the femoral vein to deliver a clip that joins the valve’s leaflets, reducing backward blood flow. Studies, including the COAPT Trial, have shown that this method lowers hospitalizations and mortality while improving quality of life. Based on these findings, major cardiology societies have recognized TEER as an important treatment option.

However, the method is not suitable for all patients, particularly those with severe valve calcification, enlarged ventricles, or active infections, making expert evaluation essential.

Family members and relatives of businessman Selim Pradhan held a human chain protest in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday, demanding his unconditional release. They alleged that despite having no political affiliation, he was being deliberately implicated in multiple false cases and kept in jail even after securing bail. His sister Smriti Pradhan broke down in tears during her speech, calling the cases against him fabricated and conspiratorial.

Smriti Pradhan said her brother, who grew up in Japan, returned to Bangladesh to launch cleanliness initiatives in Rupganj and contribute to social welfare. She claimed that vested interests tried to harm him commercially and that he was previously detained for over four years under the Awami League government on false charges of aiding the BNP. Other family members, including Riyadul Islam and Mohibur Rahman Joy, echoed similar allegations, saying Selim Pradhan faced repeated arrests and harassment despite no proven political involvement.

Speakers at the protest urged the government to ensure equal justice for all citizens as guaranteed by the constitution and to consider Selim Pradhan’s case from a humanitarian perspective.

Police in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh area conducted a daylong special operation on Tuesday, arresting 43 individuals accused of involvement in various criminal activities. The operation was carried out across different parts of the Hazaribagh police station area, and law enforcement officials recovered illegal drugs from the detainees. The arrests were confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by Arifa Akhtar Preeti, Assistant Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

According to Hazaribagh police sources, officers seized 33 packets of cannabis and 27 yaba tablets during the operation. The arrested individuals, whose names and ages were listed by police, have been sent to court following their detention.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts by Dhaka Metropolitan Police to curb drug-related crimes and maintain law and order in the capital, as indicated by the official statement.

A Dhaka court has cancelled the bail of four accused, including two sons of Chittagong-6 MP Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, and issued arrest warrants against them. The order was given by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah on Wednesday after a petition from the plaintiff’s side. The accused are Samir Quader Chowdhury, Shakir Quader Chowdhury, Merina Irshad, and Ashiqur Rahman. The case involves allegations of assault, vandalism, and looting during an attempt to seize a flat in Gulshan belonging to the family of a late industrialist.

According to the case filed by Farzana Anna Islam, wife of late industrialist Mainul Islam, the accused tried to take possession of the flat using forged documents. The complaint states that the accused entered the house in July 2024, demanded Tk 5 crore, and later attacked the residents in August, injuring them and looting valuables. The court had earlier directed the CID to investigate and submit a report.

The court accepted the plaintiff’s request to cancel bail for the four accused who failed to appear, while the MP and his security guard were excused due to parliamentary duties.

A mobile court in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi fined Aminul Islam Tk 30,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act for illegally storing and selling fuel near his home in the Talanda area. The operation, led by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate, took place around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, near Talanda Lalit Mohan Degree College.

During the raid, authorities found that Aminul Islam had been hoarding fuel and selling it at inflated prices. Officials seized 138 liters of diesel and 5 liters of petrol from his possession. The confiscated fuel was sold on-site to local residents at government-fixed prices, and the proceeds were deposited into the state treasury. The accused was then fined Tk 30,000 in cash.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Naima Khan stated that the administration maintains a zero-tolerance policy against illegal fuel storage and overpricing and that similar drives will continue in the public interest.

A Dhaka court has once again postponed the submission of the investigation report in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. On April 1, 2026, Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman set May 7 as the new date for filing the report after the investigating officer, Additional Superintendent of Police Md Azizul Haque of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), failed to submit it.

The case involves several accused, including Rafiqul Islam, Bokul Mia, Masum Mintu, Kamrul Islam alias Arun, Abu Sayeed, and two security guards of the couple’s residence, Palash Rudra Pal and Enayet Ahmed, along with their friend Tanvir Rahman Khan. Tanvir and Palash are currently on bail, while the others remain in custody. The couple was murdered on February 11, 2012, and the case has since been transferred among multiple investigative agencies.

In September 2025, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-powered task force to complete the investigation within six months, removing the Rapid Action Battalion from the case. The Home Ministry later issued a notification forming a four-member task force led by the PBI chief.

Police in Ishwardi, Pabna, arrested a man on Tuesday night for impersonating a district assistant judge. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. at Ishwardi Police Station, where the suspect arrived with a woman and requested police protection to spend the night at the Ishwardi Dak Bungalow. He was sent to Pabna District Jail on Wednesday following a court order.

According to police sources, the man identified himself as Syed Zia Pir Mohammad Ali, son of the late Abdul Alim from Bagmara village under Kotwali Police Station in Jashore. Officers became suspicious due to inconsistencies in his speech and behavior, prompting an immediate verification of his identity. It was later confirmed that he was not a judge but had falsely claimed the position to deceive authorities.

Local sources reported that the detainee had previously worked as a tahsildar in a land office but lost his job over allegations of moral misconduct. The woman accompanying him reportedly left the scene after realizing the situation. Police confirmed a case has been filed against him.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan announced that even if five taka is collected in excess as advance income tax, it will be refunded. He stated that a pilot program for automating the income tax refund process is currently underway. Once completed successfully, any excess tax paid will automatically be returned to taxpayers’ accounts. He also mentioned that an automatic refund system has already been introduced for VAT.

Speaking at a pre-budget discussion with various stakeholders on Wednesday, the NBR chairman said that while tax refunds are celebrated globally, Bangladesh previously lacked such a system. The new initiative aims to ensure that taxpayers who pay more in advance income tax than required will receive the excess amount back.

The government deducts advance income tax at source from individuals and institutions at varying rates. At the end of the year, if the deducted amount exceeds the actual tax liability, the excess will be refunded; if less, the remaining amount must be paid.

Bangladeshi Islamic scholar Mizanur Rahman Azhari has rejected a British media report claiming that the Australian government canceled his visa and ordered him to leave the country. According to the Daily Mail, Azhari was touring Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra as part of the 'Legacy of Faith' series when his visa was revoked on Tuesday, leaving him awaiting departure from Australia.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Azhari stated that he had been in Australia for five days at the invitation of the local Muslim community and that the report was a misinterpretation of facts. He said the claim that his visa was canceled due to recent remarks was false, as he had not delivered any speech in Australia. Azhari alleged that certain interest groups and atheist factions had misused old, isolated statements to influence administrative decisions, similar to incidents he faced in the United Kingdom.

He reaffirmed his belief in communal harmony and peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that these values are evident in his previous discussions.

A passenger launch carrying devotees to the annual Char Monai religious gathering in Barishal sank in the Kirtonkhola River on Wednesday afternoon. The vessel, named MV Manik-4, had arrived from Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj with about 300 passengers. It was anchored near the riverbank during high tide, but as the tide receded, the launch tilted and sank. All passengers were onshore attending the event at the time, and no casualties or missing persons were reported.

Divers from the Barishal Fire Service and Civil Defence unit, along with officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), launched a joint rescue operation shortly after the incident. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and the rescue ship Hamza may be deployed from Barishal city if needed. Local administration and event organizers confirmed that passenger safety measures are being maintained.

As of 3:30 p.m., rescue efforts were ongoing, and officials continued to assess the condition of the sunken vessel to determine further recovery actions.

Crude oil prices dropped below $100 per barrel on April 1, 2026, as optimism grew over easing tensions in the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The international benchmark Brent crude fell 4.7 percent to $99.05 per barrel, while the U.S. standard WTI declined 4 percent to $97.33 per barrel. The decline in oil prices coincided with a notable rise in Asian stock markets.

South Korea’s KOSPI index rebounded by 8.4 percent after earlier losses at the start of the week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 5.2 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 2.3 percent, and China’s Shanghai Composite advanced 1.5 percent. The market movements reflected investor optimism linked to the apparent de-escalation of the regional conflict.

The report also noted that the ongoing war had disrupted the supply of around 12 million barrels of oil per day, underscoring the conflict’s continuing impact on global energy markets despite the recent easing of tensions.