International experts and human rights organizations have warned that US President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants and desalination facilities, would constitute a clear war crime. The warning follows Trump’s statement that if Iran fails to reach an agreement with Washington, the United States could launch widespread strikes on key non-military sites. Reports indicate that more than 113,000 civilian facilities in Iran have already been targeted during the ongoing conflict.

Former US ambassador for war crimes issues Stephen J. Rapp stated that attacking desalination plants would “certainly be a war crime” with little room for doubt. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged the US Congress to halt funding that could escalate the war and called for an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for possible war crimes.

Meanwhile, Israel announced plans to target civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon, with its military reportedly planning to destroy homes near the border. Human rights group Medical Aid for Palestinians alleged that Israel is using tactics similar to those deployed in Gaza to forcibly displace civilians.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a 20-minute primetime address from the White House on Wednesday evening, reiterating his earlier statements about the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran. He claimed the operation’s main strategic goals were nearly achieved after a month of fighting and predicted it would continue for another two to three weeks. Trump repeated threats against Iran and urged Americans to view the war as an investment in their future, despite polls showing most voters do not support the campaign.

The speech left major questions unresolved. Trump did not clarify Israel’s stance on his proposed timeline or address the 15-point peace proposal previously offered to Iran. His position on reopening the Strait of Hormuz also remained vague, as he alternated between pressuring Iran and urging allies to act independently. The role of U.S. ground troops in the region was similarly unclear.

The address came amid rising fuel prices and falling approval ratings ahead of midterm elections, highlighting Trump’s struggle to define a clear path out of the conflict.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Industries, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, informed the 13th National Parliament session on April 2, 2026, that 31 state-owned industrial enterprises are currently operating at a loss. The disclosure came during the question-and-answer session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The minister detailed that five enterprises under Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC), fourteen under Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC), and twelve under Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) are incurring losses.

Responding to another parliamentary question, the minister added that there are 15 sugar mills in the country, of which six have suspended crushing operations. The information highlights ongoing challenges in the management and profitability of state-owned industries across multiple sectors.

The parliamentary discussion underscores the government’s awareness of financial inefficiencies within key industrial corporations, though no immediate remedial measures or policy responses were mentioned in the session.

A special parliamentary committee has completed its review of 133 ordinances issued during the interim government and submitted its report to the National Parliament on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The report recommends repealing or abolishing 20 ordinances, maintaining 98 without changes, and keeping 15 effective through necessary amendments. The report also outlines the future applicability and possible revisions of the ordinances.

According to the committee’s findings, 16 of the 20 ordinances recommended for repeal will later be reintroduced in Parliament as bills by the relevant ministries, while four are proposed for permanent cancellation and preservation. Although the report was adopted unanimously, opposition members of the committee expressed dissent regarding several ordinances, submitting a formal note of dissent. Their objections covered four ordinances recommended to remain unchanged, two suggested for amendment, eleven to be reintroduced as bills, and three proposed for permanent repeal.

The report will now be discussed in the House before a final decision is made. The review process was undertaken to formalize the legal measures enacted during the interim government period.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that its recent attacks on several facilities in the Gulf region were intended as a warning. According to a statement published in Iranian media and cited by Al Jazeera, the IRGC said it targeted a US-linked steel plant in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and an aluminum facility in Bahrain in response to US strikes earlier in the week.

The statement emphasized that these operations were a cautionary message. The IRGC warned that if Iran’s industrial sector is attacked again, its next response would be more severe, targeting the core infrastructure and US economic facilities in the region. Since the start of the conflict, the IRGC has repeatedly warned it could strike US-linked or owned installations across the Gulf.

The announcement underscores rising tensions between Iran and the United States in the Gulf, with the IRGC signaling readiness for further escalation if hostilities continue.

Fuel and gas supply across Sylhet Division returned to normal on Thursday afternoon after petrol pump and CNG refueling station owners withdrew their indefinite strike. The decision came following a meeting with local administration officials, where assurances were given that business owners would not face harassment. The strike, initially called late Wednesday night, had disrupted fuel distribution across the region.

The meeting, chaired by Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam, included representatives from the city corporation, police, political leaders, and the owners’ association. The strike had been announced by the Sylhet divisional committee of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distribution Agents, and Petroleum Owners Association, citing harassment and extortion complaints. The association’s spokesperson confirmed early Thursday morning that the strike had been officially withdrawn, though communication delays meant some stations resumed operations later.

During the strike, truck and lorry drivers briefly blocked parts of the Dhaka–Sylhet highway in protest against mobile court fines and alleged extortion. Police intervened, and traffic returned to normal around midnight.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that war or military strikes cannot provide a lasting solution to Iran’s nuclear issue. Speaking during his visit to South Korea, Macron emphasized that military action by the United States or Israel would not permanently resolve the crisis and instead called for diplomatic engagement.

He warned that without a clear framework for diplomatic and technical discussions, the situation could deteriorate again within months or years. Macron also dismissed proposals for a military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as unrealistic, citing the high risks involved. He noted that such actions would expose vessels in the area to threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which possesses ballistic missiles and significant military capabilities.

Macron’s remarks highlight France’s continued preference for negotiation over confrontation in addressing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and regional security.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir stated that the current government is opposing comprehensive reforms and showing double standards in legal interpretations instead of respecting the public mandate. He made the remarks on Thursday at a seminar titled “Government’s Responsibility and Accountability in Delaying Implementation of Public Verdict,” organized by Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Speakers at the event, including political leaders, lawyers, and student representatives, criticized the government for delaying the implementation of the public verdict and warned of potential political instability. Shishir Monir emphasized that the concentration of state power in the constitution has created a cycle of authoritarian governance and underscored the necessity of the “July Charter” to balance power between the president and prime minister. Other speakers, including AB Party’s Asaduzzaman Fuad and photographer Shahidul Alam, discussed constitutional flaws and the need for national reform.

Participants agreed that continued government delay in implementing the public mandate could lead to renewed political unrest and urged immediate announcement of a roadmap for reform.

NASA has launched four astronauts toward the Moon under the Artemis-2 mission, marking the first crewed lunar journey in over five decades since the Apollo missions. The launch took place on Thursday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at around 6:35 p.m. local time, with a rocket featuring orange and white colors roaring into the sky. The crew includes three Americans and one Canadian astronaut.

Unlike the Apollo missions, the Artemis-2 astronauts will not land on the Moon. During the 10-day mission, they will orbit around the far side of the Moon, flying about 6,400 miles beyond the lunar surface. The astronauts will spend three hours in that region to analyze geological features and capture images. NASA will also monitor their physical and mental conditions after their return to better understand the effects of space travel on humans.

If the mission concludes safely, NASA aims to organize the next lunar landing mission by 2028, paving the way for humans to walk on the Moon again.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to former Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder in a case related to the attempted murder of businessman Imrul Kayes Faisal during the July uprising. The bail was approved on Thursday by Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman. Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Prosecution Division, Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan, confirmed the decision, stating that the defense lawyers had sought bail and the court approved it after a hearing.

According to case details, on July 19, 2024, Faisal participated in an anti-discrimination student movement at the Beribadh area of Mohammadpur, where he was shot and seriously injured. He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later filed an attempted murder case on September 26, 2024, with Mohammadpur Police Station.

Majumder was arrested by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on October 3, 2024, from the Bashundhara residential area and had been in custody since then.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for an attack on an Amazon cloud computing center in Bahrain, describing it as a “first real warning.” The claim was reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA on April 2, 2026. The IRGC said the strike was a response to recent U.S.-Israeli attacks in Iran that caused extensive damage to private infrastructure. The group warned that if such actions continued, it would take harsher measures in the future.

In its statement, the IRGC said that companies previously identified by the group would face stronger punitive actions if hostilities persisted. It also asserted that the U.S. president would bear responsibility for any destruction of regional assets belonging to these firms. The announcement follows heightened regional tensions after cross-border attacks and retaliatory threats.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that such claims of attacks could further escalate the risk of broader conflict across the Middle East, as both sides exchange warnings and retaliatory actions.

Saudi Arabia is increasingly frustrated with U.S. President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran war, as his erratic behavior and remarks about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have strained ties between Riyadh and Washington. Trump’s threats to destroy Iranian power plants, suggestions that Gulf states should bear the war’s costs, and crude comments about the Saudi crown prince during a Miami investment conference have deepened Saudi unease. Analysts say Riyadh, once heavily invested in strengthening its U.S. alliance, now feels disillusioned with the White House.

Experts cited in the report note that Trump’s unilateral decisions and disregard for consequences have alarmed Saudi leaders. The ongoing conflict, initially supported by Gulf states under pressure, has exposed their vulnerability to Iranian missile and drone attacks. Iran has struck key infrastructure across the region, including Saudi refineries and facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has joined regional diplomatic efforts with Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey to push for a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Observers warn that if Trump ends the war without curbing Iran’s regional threat, tensions could escalate further.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar has strongly condemned the government’s decision to increase the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and autogas in the private sector. In a statement issued on Thursday, he expressed deep concern that the move would negatively affect public life and industrial production.

Porwar stated that LPG is an essential household commodity and that the price hike would severely impact the cost of living, particularly for lower- and middle-income groups. He criticized the government for ignoring citizens’ purchasing power and described the decision as against public interest. He warned that higher energy costs would raise production expenses in medium and heavy industries, potentially driving up the prices of daily essentials.

According to the statement, the retail price of LPG has been raised by 32.30 taka per kilogram, setting the new price of a 12-kg cylinder at 1,728 taka, up from 1,341 taka last month. Autogas prices have also increased by 17.94 taka per liter to 79.77 taka. Porwar urged the government to withdraw the decision and take effective measures to boost imports or production instead.

Bangladesh’s law minister told Parliament that printing previous laws as part of the process to present ordinances issued by the interim government as bills would cost around 1.2 million taka. He said that reproducing the Code of Civil Procedure alone would require about 700,000 taka. The minister made the statement on Thursday after a special committee report was presented in the National Parliament.

He explained that attaching photocopies of entire previous laws with amendment bills would lead to high expenses. To reduce costs, the ministry proposed that lawmakers refer to the relevant laws on the Law Ministry’s website and in the Bangladesh Code. The minister added that the full bill would still be provided, along with a comparative study as requested.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad suggested that presenting comparative details of amended sections would help members understand the changes. Opposition leader Shafiqul Rahman noted that without the original bill, comparing amendments would be difficult. The Speaker assured that the specific changes would be clearly presented and explained in Parliament if necessary.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has said that the killing of BNP leader Ilias Ali must not remain unpunished. During a parliamentary session on Thursday, he urged lawmaker Tahsina Rushdir, Ali’s wife, to submit a written notice to the Home Minister if she wishes to seek action regarding the case. The Speaker described the matter as deeply significant and emotionally painful, assuring that both Parliament and the Home Minister would play an important role.

Earlier, government Whip Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu raised the issue under a point of order, citing media reports that alleged Ilias Ali was abducted from Banani, taken to the RAB-1 headquarters, and later killed and dumped in the Dhaleshwari River between March 17 and 20, 2012. He called the incident a crime against humanity and recalled Ali as a colleague and friend.

The Speaker emphasized that the issue is widely discussed across the country and mentioned that similar cases have been addressed by the International Crimes Tribunal, suggesting that justice should be ensured in this case as well.