The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a notification announcing new office hours for all government and private offices in Bangladesh, effective from Sunday, April 5, 2026. According to the circular, offices will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until further notice. The decision follows cabinet approval of the proposal on Thursday, and the official notification was released on Saturday night.

The circular specifies that emergency services will remain outside the scope of the new schedule. It also directs Bangladesh Bank to adjust the working hours of banks and financial institutions from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with banking services available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Supreme Court will issue separate instructions regarding court office hours. For private sector industries and factories, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will provide necessary guidance in accordance with the Bangladesh Labour Act.

The new schedule aims to standardize working hours across sectors while allowing flexibility for essential and industrial operations.

Bangladesh has established its first Private Sector Advisory Council, comprising nine leading industrialists from the country’s top private enterprises. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) announced the formation on Saturday, stating that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman created the council to enhance structured engagement between the government and business leaders. The council includes chairpersons and managing directors from major groups such as ACI, Apex Footwear, Runner, Pran-RFL, Bay, Incepta, DBL, Rangs, and Pacific Jeans.

The council’s inaugural meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday morning, chaired by the Prime Minister. Senior ministers and officials, including the finance, energy, and commerce ministers, as well as the BIDA chairman, attended. Members welcomed the initiative, praising the government’s openness to collaboration with the private sector to foster a more business-friendly environment.

According to BIDA’s executive chairman, the council represents a key reform aimed at creating a structured mechanism for private sector input at the highest level of government decision-making.

Iran’s top joint military command claimed on Friday that its advanced new air defense system was responsible for shooting down two US warplanes. The state news agency IRNA reported that one of the aircraft was an F-15E flying over southwestern Iran, while the other, an A-10 Warthog, was participating in a rescue mission for the first aircraft’s crew.

According to IRNA, military spokesperson Ebrahim Zulfaqari described the incident as a major humiliation for the United States and Israel. He credited Iran’s domestically developed air defense technology for the success and said the new systems were being deployed across the country to ensure full control of Iranian airspace.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not yet officially confirmed any details regarding the reported downing of the aircraft, leaving key aspects of the incident unverified.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s nominated candidate for the Bogura-6 by-election, Principal Abidur Rahman, has accused ruling party activists of obstructing his campaign and creating an atmosphere of intimidation. Speaking at a press conference at the Jamaat office in Bogura city on Saturday, he claimed that the administration was not taking effective action against complaints filed by his party. Rahman alleged that BNP activists were attempting to turn the election into another 'Magura-style' event and that his campaign workers were being threatened and attacked in several unions.

He detailed incidents including threats to female workers in Shakharia Union, restrictions on campaign activities in Fapore Union, and physical assaults in Erulia. Rahman said he had submitted 15 complaints supported by video evidence but had seen no visible administrative response. He demanded strict enforcement of the electoral code of conduct, arrest of identified criminals, installation of CCTV cameras at polling centers, cancellation of partisan presiding officers, and deployment of the army before election day.

Rahman warned that any attempt at vote rigging would be strongly resisted, emphasizing the need for a free and fair election environment.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, has called on business leaders across the country to cooperate in implementing government decisions aimed at conserving electricity during the summer and irrigation season. He made the appeal on Saturday afternoon during a meeting with representatives of business organizations held at the Bijoy Hall of the Power Building in Dhaka.

The minister stated that the decision will initially be in effect for three months, with the possibility of adjustment before Eid-ul-Azha following discussions with business stakeholders. Business leaders assured their compliance with the government’s directives and presented several recommendations and demands. The minister requested temporary cooperation and promised to discuss their proposals further.

He added that government institutions have already taken various initiatives under cabinet decisions to ensure uninterrupted power supply and energy conservation during the peak summer and irrigation period. The meeting was also attended by the State Minister for Textiles and Jute, Md. Shariful Alam, and the State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Anindya Islam Amit.

The United Nations Security Council has once again postponed a scheduled vote on a proposal aimed at ensuring the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a UN official cited by the BBC, the vote, initially planned for Friday and later rescheduled for Saturday, did not take place as planned. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that no new official date has yet been set for the vote.

The proposal, introduced by Bahrain as the current president of the Security Council, calls on member states to take all necessary defensive measures consistent with the situation to secure maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz for at least six months. The repeated delay underscores ongoing procedural or political challenges within the Council regarding the measure.

It remains unclear when the Security Council will reconvene to decide on the proposal, leaving uncertainty over the next steps in addressing maritime security in the strategic waterway.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the import of 500,000 tons of refined diesel from Kazakhstan and two cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Singapore to meet urgent energy demands arising from the Middle East conflict. The approval was granted on Saturday, April 4, during an online meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The information was confirmed by Siraj Uddoula Khan, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting reviewed three proposals for importing 1.6 million tons of diesel and 100,000 tons of petrol. Among these, the committee approved the direct purchase of high-speed diesel from Kazakhstan’s Kazakh Gas Processing Plant LLP and LNG from Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd. Other proposals, including imports from UAE-based DBS Trading House FZCO and Oman-based Maxwell International SPC, were withdrawn by the Energy Division after receiving approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

The decision reflects the government’s effort to secure energy supplies through direct procurement to address immediate fuel shortages caused by regional instability.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of devastating consequences if Tehran fails to comply. The warning was delivered through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he reminded followers of his earlier demand for Iran to either reach an agreement or reopen the vital waterway within ten days. He stated that only 48 hours remain before Iran faces what he described as a catastrophic outcome.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies, handling a large share of the world’s daily oil shipments. Recent conflicts have heightened tensions in the area, leading to instability in global energy markets. Iran has defended its decision to restrict access, citing its right to self-defense, but said the waterway remains open to ships not linked to the United States, Israel, or their allies.

The situation has added pressure to international diplomatic efforts and raised concerns about potential disruptions to global oil flows.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam stated that the July Revolution was not intended to replace one political party with another in power. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at a large protest rally and procession organized by the 11-party alliance at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram, demanding implementation of the referendum verdict and protesting the ruling party’s stance against it.

ATM Azharul Islam, also an MP, said the current prime minister, home minister, cabinet members, and MPs were elected because of the July Revolution, which aimed to end fascist rule, not to establish one-party dominance. He called for constitutional reform to build a new Bangladesh and warned that Jamaat would take to the streets if the government acted against the people. Other alliance leaders, including those from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, National Citizen Party, and Liberal Democratic Party, criticized the BNP for rejecting the referendum results and accused the government of ignoring public will.

Speakers at the rally emphasized that implementing the July Charter and respecting the referendum outcome were essential to prevent authoritarianism and ensure accountability in governance.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain stated that 70 percent of beneficiaries selected under the previous government’s aid programs were fake and that the current administration is working to correct this. He made the remarks on Saturday at the Dinajpur Shishu Academy auditorium during a check distribution ceremony for private orphanages and ashrams organized by the Dinajpur District Administration and the Department of Social Services.

The minister urged those responsible for orphanages to care for children as their own and instructed officials at all levels to conduct regular field visits to ensure proper treatment of orphans. He emphasized that no mistreatment of orphaned children would be tolerated. Dr. Hossain also reaffirmed that the BNP government would faithfully implement its election manifesto and the national charter signed at the Parliament’s South Plaza, which he described as a national document.

He added that the government is working to rehabilitate orphaned children through proper care, education, and training so they can integrate into mainstream society.

Iran has announced that ships carrying essential goods will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Iranian state media cited by CNN. The decision comes after Tehran had previously restricted navigation in the vital waterway, disrupting global maritime transport.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, and its closure or restriction has significant global trade implications. World leaders have been making strong efforts to ensure the security of the strait, though some commercial vessels have continued limited passage under the earlier restrictions. Iran had previously stated that the waterway would remain open to ships not linked to the interests of the United States, Israel, or their allies.

The new permission for essential goods transport is expected to ease some of the pressure on international shipping and supply chains affected by the earlier restrictions.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman held a meeting with the newly appointed administrators of 14 district councils on Saturday evening at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The information was confirmed by Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of the party’s media cell.

Earlier, on March 30, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had met with the newly appointed administrators of 42 districts. The latest meeting marks a continuation of his engagement with local administrative leadership following recent appointments.

The meeting reflects the Prime Minister’s ongoing efforts to coordinate with district-level administrators, though details of the discussions or decisions taken were not disclosed in the report.

Russia has removed additional personnel from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant as safety concerns intensify. The state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed that it had withdrawn more workers due to what it described as a worrying situation. According to Russian media, 198 employees were evacuated from the site on Saturday. Rosatom has been gradually pulling out staff since the outbreak of war in Iran in late February.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that a security worker at the Bushehr facility was killed during a recent attack, which also damaged one of the plant’s buildings due to shockwaves and debris. Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev warned that conditions around the plant were moving toward the “worst possible scenario.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned that attacks by the United States and Israel near the Bushehr nuclear site pose serious risks not only to Iran but to the entire Gulf region.

Senior lawyer Shishir Monir said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) decision to repeal several important ordinances goes against the public interest. He expressed his remarks on Saturday at a roundtable discussion titled ‘Implementation of the July Charter’ organized by Nexus for Defense and Justice at the National Press Club.

Monir questioned why the BNP was withdrawing from the reform process, saying it was difficult to understand their reasoning. He emphasized that the people had already given their historic verdict through a referendum, and there was no scope for manipulation of that decision. He argued that if government or constitutional institutions publish their audit reports online for public access, there should be no objection from the authorities.

He further stated that citizens have the right to know how much money is spent in the Supreme Court and in elections. Monir warned that declaring all ordinances void while expecting the public to remain passive would not be acceptable in the country.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of disrespecting the nation by avoiding the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council and disregarding the referendum. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon during an eleven-party alliance protest rally held at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka.

At the same rally, National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary and Rangpur-4 MP Akhtar Hossain said all political parties had agreed on constitutional reform rather than amendment, alleging that BNP avoided the referendum to keep state power concentrated in one person’s hands. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis chief Mamunul Haque added that BNP’s politics was opportunistic and warned that people would take to the streets if the party ignored public opinion.

Following the speeches, thousands of activists joined a procession led by eleven-party alliance leaders that started from Baitul Mukarram and proceeded through Paltan and Nightingale intersections.