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.

The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of inconsistency between its statements and actions regarding the implementation of the July Charter. The allegation was made by AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju during a protest rally and procession held on Thursday at Bijoy-71 Square in Dhaka’s Paltan area. The event was organized to protest what the party described as delays over the July Charter and attempts to repeal the Referendum Ordinance.

Senior AB Party leaders, including Dr. Abdul Wahab Minar and Barrister Zobaer Ahmed Bhuiyan, also addressed the gathering. Monju stated that the success of the July uprising depends on the implementation of the July Charter and warned that failure to do so would render the uprising meaningless. He criticized the government for creating constitutional disputes over the referendum and the charter, calling such actions disappointing.

Monju further emphasized that political movements belong on the streets and warned that if hesitation continues over the July Charter, the party will return to the streets to fulfill the aspirations of the July uprising.

French President Emmanuel Macron sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for comments Trump made about Macron’s wife during a private luncheon in Washington. Speaking to reporters in South Korea on Thursday, Macron described the remarks as “neither refined nor dignified” and said they were not worth responding to, signaling his displeasure.

A White House video showed Trump mocking Macron and his wife Brigitte’s French accent and making sarcastic references to a past incident, claiming she treated him poorly. The comments sparked widespread reaction in France, where political leaders denounced Trump’s behavior as unacceptable. National Assembly Speaker Yaël Braun-Pivet called the remarks undignified and irresponsible given the gravity of global affairs.

The controversy emerged amid rising international tensions over Iran and ongoing discussions about NATO’s role, adding further strain to diplomatic discourse between the allies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone conversation emphasizing the need to intensify political and diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war in the Middle East. According to a Kremlin statement cited by Al Jazeera, both leaders stressed the urgency of achieving a ceasefire and pursuing a lasting resolution to the conflict.

The timing of the call is considered significant as Ukraine recently signed an air defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. Ukraine aims to use its experience countering Iranian-made Shahed drones and has proposed supplying cost-effective drone defense technology in exchange for expensive air defense missiles used by Gulf countries.

During the discussion, Putin and the Saudi Crown Prince also noted that the current crisis has disrupted energy production and transportation, negatively affecting global energy security.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with Kazuyuki Kataoka, the Country Representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), at the minister’s office in Dhaka on Thursday. The meeting focused on expanding trade and investment and strengthening mutual economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan. The minister highlighted opportunities for Japanese investors in special economic zones, infrastructure development, industrialization, and export diversification, emphasizing Bangladesh’s stable economic growth and investment-friendly policies.

Muktadir described the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as a milestone for boosting bilateral trade and investment. He noted that the agreement would serve as a reference for Bangladesh’s future EPA negotiations with other countries. The minister said Japanese investment has already contributed to major infrastructure projects such as the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the metro rail system. Both sides expressed commitment to further enhance economic ties, with JETRO expected to continue supporting trade promotion and market access for Bangladeshi products in Japan.

A protest meeting organized by Young Women for Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC) and five other organizations expressed deep concern over the recent deterioration of Bangladesh’s child immunization program. The meeting, held on Thursday, highlighted that nearly 400,000 children missed full vaccination and about 70,000 received none due to government negligence, vaccine supply disruptions, shortage of field health workers, reduced international support, and limited access for marginalized communities.

Speakers warned of the resurgence of preventable diseases such as measles and a rising risk of child mortality. Research cited at the meeting indicated that a functioning immunization program could save around 94,000 children annually, a goal now under threat. The keynote was presented by YWDRC Executive Chairman Sultana Nusrat Afroze, with representatives from several partner organizations also addressing the event.

The participants issued six demands to the government, including increased budget allocation, improved vaccine supply and cold chain systems, recruitment and training of health workers, special vaccination campaigns in remote areas, awareness drives to counter misinformation, and stronger coordination with international partners.

Iraq has opened a new overland energy route to export oil to Europe through Syria, marking a significant shift in regional energy logistics. The Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) Director General Ali Nazar said a deal has been reached to export 50,000 barrels per day of Basra Medium crude via Syria, with plans to increase the volume later. The oil will reach European markets through Syria’s Baniyas port.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, convoys of fuel trucks have already begun entering Syria through the Al-Tanf border crossing, signaling the country’s reemergence as a key transit hub. The Syrian Petroleum Company stated that the imported oil will first be stored and then transported to Baniyas for export. Communications Director Safwan Sheikh Ahmad said the first convoy includes 299 tankers and described the initiative as an important step in restoring Syria’s role in the regional energy corridor.

The development comes amid ongoing Middle East tensions, potentially reshaping trade and energy supply routes across the region.

A high-level meeting will be held on April 3 at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to finalize the operation and maintenance agreement for the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The process advanced after a Japanese consortium submitted a revised, lower-cost proposal addressing Bangladesh’s concerns over service charges, operational control, and revenue sharing. Officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed that the agreement is now in its final stage.

The Japanese consortium—comprising Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo Corporation, Sojitz Corporation, and Narita International Airport Corporation—submitted the new proposal following government instructions to restart talks. The terminal, financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at a cost of about Tk 21,398 crore, is 99 percent complete but has remained idle due to unresolved management issues. The new government prioritized resolving these delays after taking office.

If consensus is reached at the April 3 meeting, officials expect the long-delayed terminal to begin operations soon, easing congestion and inefficiencies at the airport and marking a major step in Bangladesh’s aviation expansion.

Russia has announced its readiness to assist in resolving the ongoing conflict involving Iran, following aggressive attacks by the United States and Israel and Iran’s retaliatory strikes. The situation has heightened tensions across the Middle East, prompting several countries, including Pakistan and Turkey, to seek ways to de-escalate the crisis.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Russia is prepared to contribute to resolving the Iran conflict. He said President Vladimir Putin continues discussions with regional leaders and emphasized that Moscow stands ready to help restore peace as quickly as possible if its assistance is needed.

The statement underscores Russia’s intention to play a diplomatic role in stabilizing the region as multiple nations engage in mediation efforts.

Dr. Md. Shakirul Islam Khan (Shakil), an international researcher, has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Foreign Employment in the Asia-Pacific region with the rank of secretary. The appointment was announced through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration’s Contract and Foreign Recruitment Division on Thursday. His appointment will remain effective during the Prime Minister’s tenure or until her satisfaction, whichever comes first.

According to the notification, Dr. Khan must resign from any other professional, business, or institutional affiliations before assuming his new role. A former student and teacher of Bangladesh Agricultural University, he has published over 150 scientific papers and articles in peer-reviewed international journals. He previously held key positions at Oita University and Ehime University in Japan, as well as in various international organizations.

As Special Assistant, Dr. Khan will assist in implementing the Prime Minister’s programs and policies and oversee projects and initiatives as directed by the Prime Minister.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, told Parliament that the government is considering revising the power purchase agreement signed with India’s Adani Power Limited. The minister said the previous Awami League government had signed the deal at an abnormally high price. He made the statement on Thursday in response to a question from a member of Parliament during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

According to Tuku, the 2017 agreement with Adani Power (Jharkhand) Limited was reviewed by a national committee formed during the interim government, led by a retired Supreme Court judge. The committee included power and energy experts, legal specialists, economists, and chartered accountants, and also sought opinions from an international law firm specializing in international agreements. The committee’s report concluded that the deal was signed at an unusually high rate compared to domestic and international markets.

Based on the committee’s findings, the government is actively considering options such as seeking arbitration in an international court or renegotiating the contract with Adani Power.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has issued an urgent set of 31 directives to all exam center secretaries ahead of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations beginning on April 21, 2026. The instructions, signed by Exam Controller Professor S M Kamal Uddin Haydar, outline detailed procedures for handling question papers, maintaining exam security, and ensuring proper conduct during the tests.

According to the directives, irregular and improvement candidates will sit for exams based on the 2025 syllabus, while regular candidates will follow the 2026 syllabus. The guidelines emphasize strict verification of question paper packets, secure transportation with police presence, and prohibition of mobile phones except for the center secretary’s non-camera device. Each exam hall must have at least two invigilators, and seating arrangements must adhere to specific spacing rules. The board also mandated the use of approved calculators only and required that all classes remain closed during exam hours.

The instructions aim to prevent question leaks, ensure fairness, and maintain discipline across all centers under the Dhaka Education Board’s jurisdiction.