A Natore court has sentenced six individuals, including a local Awami League leader, to life imprisonment and fined each Tk 50,000 in connection with the 1999 murder of farmer Mesher Ali in Singra upazila. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by Judge Saiful Islam of the Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-3, according to Additional Public Prosecutor Advocate Shahed Mahmud Titu.

The convicted individuals are Mahbub Mridha, president of the Hatianandah Union Awami League and former UP chairman, along with Idris Ali, Abu Raihan Mridha, Kartik Mondal, Abul Hossain, and Yunus Ali. The case stemmed from a land dispute between Mesher Ali and his neighbor Soleman Mridha. On February 23, 1999, Mesher Ali was lured out of his home by a neighbor and later found critically injured; he died on the way to the hospital. His son filed a murder case the following day against eight people.

Police arrested the accused and submitted a charge sheet. Over the years, two accused died and two went into hiding. After 26 years of proceedings, the court convicted all six remaining accused, including the absconding ones.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled Hafez Azizul Haque, owner of Messrs Soad Filling Station and member secretary of the Gauripur upazila BNP, following allegations of fuel manipulation in Mymensingh’s Gauripur. The decision was announced on Wednesday through a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The statement said Azizul Haque was removed from all party positions and primary membership for involvement in unethical activities.

The expulsion followed a mobile court operation led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md Nurul Huda Monir, which uncovered the disappearance of around 50,000 liters of petrol during a fuel inspection on Tuesday. The station’s manager, Md Jalil Hossain Rifat, was arrested, and a case was filed under the Special Powers Act of 1974 for illegal fuel trading and hoarding. The incident sparked widespread attention after being reported in national media.

Gauripur BNP’s acting convener Md Habibul Islam Khan Shahid stated that the party would not take responsibility for any member’s misuse of position. Legal proceedings against those involved are underway.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has launched a nationwide crackdown to stabilize the edible oil market and prevent manipulation by dishonest stockpilers. Over the past two days, mobile courts led by RAB executive magistrates conducted surprise raids in Dhaka’s Tejgaon, Hazaribagh, Mohammadpur, and Tongi areas, as well as other parts of the country. Authorities identified 114,442 liters of illegally hoarded oil, imposed fines totaling 71,000 taka, and seized 22,642 liters on the spot.

In earlier operations on April 7, RAB-8 fined three businesses in Patuakhali Sadar 11,000 taka, while a special drive in Chattogram uncovered large-scale fraud and hoarding. Officials also seized 1,042 liters of oil that had been bottled without quality certification and labeled with fake company tags. In Nasirabad and Karnaphuli areas, RAB recovered 9,600 and 12,000 liters of illegally stored oil respectively, fining the involved businesses 60,000 taka.

RAB’s media wing stated that the operations aim to stop syndicates from creating artificial shortages and ensure market stability through continued surveillance and enforcement.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque emphasized the need for science-based, evidence-driven, and sustainable initiatives to prevent drug abuse. He made the remarks while joining virtually as chief guest at a seminar titled “Youth Voice for Evidence-Based Prevention: Prevent, Don’t Promote,” held in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, on Wednesday morning. The event was jointly organized by the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) Bangladesh Chapter and Dhaka Ahsania Mission to mark World Health Day.

The seminar, chaired by ISSUP Bangladesh Chapter Chairman Dr. M A Mohit Kamal, featured speakers including Professor Dr. Golam Rahman, Additional Director General of the Department of Narcotics Control Mohammad Golam Azam, and Professor Dr. Mehzabin Haque of Dhaka University. Speakers highlighted that drug abuse is not only a personal health issue but also a major threat to social stability and future generations. They stressed the importance of combining traditional methods with scientific and evidence-based strategies.

Participants also underscored the need to make mental health and rehabilitation services more accessible and youth-friendly, reduce drug availability, and strengthen family and institutional roles in prevention. A youth declaration presented at the seminar recommended implementing science-based prevention programs.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Iran accepted a ceasefire under intense pressure, avoiding further escalation. He said that if Tehran had rejected Washington’s conditions, the next targets would have been Iran’s power plants, bridges, and oil and energy infrastructure. According to Hegseth, such strikes would have delayed Iran’s reconstruction by decades, but the country’s leadership realized that an agreement was the better option.

Hegseth added that President Donald Trump had the capability to cripple Iran’s entire economy within minutes but chose to show mercy instead. The ceasefire announcement came less than two hours before the deadline Trump had set for Iran, which he revealed on social media. The report cited BBC as its source.

The statements highlight the US administration’s portrayal of the ceasefire as a result of strategic pressure rather than concession, emphasizing Trump’s decision to restrain from harsher measures.

A clash broke out between Dhaka University students and doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, leading to the suspension of emergency services. The incident began around 5:30 p.m. when a student seeking treatment was advised to buy a prescribed medicine from outside the hospital. After failing to find the medicine, the student returned with classmates, and an argument with on-duty doctors escalated into physical confrontation. Several people were injured, and the situation quickly spread tension across the hospital area.

Following the incident, intern doctors stopped emergency services, demanding workplace safety. Patients from across the country faced severe difficulties, with some waiting in ambulances for hours. Police arrived promptly and brought the situation under control. By evening, the hospital area remained tense as students gathered in protest.

Doctors stated that emergency services would remain closed until those responsible for the attack were punished and full security was ensured. Dhaka University’s assistant proctor confirmed that the university authorities were investigating the matter.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has reported significant progress in its operations to eliminate piracy from the Sundarbans, the country’s largest mangrove forest. According to the agency, a total of 61 members of several notorious pirate gangs have been arrested over the past one and a half years through continuous operations. The detained individuals include members of the Karim-Sharif, Nana Bhai, Chhoto Suman, Alif, and Asabur groups. The Coast Guard stated that both regular joint operations and special missions based on secret intelligence are being conducted.

Authorities said a large cache of weapons and ammunition was seized during the drives, including 80 firearms, 599 live rounds, 308 blank rounds, and 1,950 airgun pellets. Additionally, 78 fishermen and three tourists were rescued alive from pirate captivity. The Coast Guard has intensified patrols across rivers and canals inside and around the Sundarbans, destroyed several identified hideouts, and continues to maintain communication with local residents and forest-dependent communities to ensure their safety.

The agency affirmed that joint operations will continue until the Sundarbans is completely free of piracy.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Following the meeting, Jaishankar stated in a Facebook post that both countries agreed to maintain close communication. He expressed satisfaction in hosting Rahman and his delegation and said they discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, as well as exchanged views on regional and global developments.

Earlier, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval hosted Khalilur Rahman for a dinner in New Delhi as part of efforts to reset bilateral ties. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, India views this visit as part of the Tarique Rahman government’s initiative to build a new relationship based on mutual trust and shared interests.

The report also noted that Khalilur Rahman, an experienced diplomat, became the first minister to visit India after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s decisive victory in the February general election. His delegation included Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.

Cursor has released version 3.0, transforming its platform into a unified workspace for AI coding agents. The update allows developers to run multiple agents simultaneously across local machines, cloud environments, isolated worktrees, and remote SSH sessions. The new Agents Window enables parallel execution and switching between cloud and local setups within the same interface. Cursor also introduced a /best-of-n feature that runs tasks across multiple models in parallel, letting developers compare outputs and select the strongest result.

The company is positioning Cursor 3 as an orchestration layer rather than a traditional AI-enhanced editor. The release reflects a broader industry shift toward platforms that help developers manage, review, and coordinate multiple AI agents efficiently. Cursor’s enterprise focus includes self-hosted cloud agents, audit logs, sandboxed terminal commands, and admin controls, aimed at organizations seeking secure AI integration within their own infrastructure.

Cursor’s approach underscores the growing competition to become the default workspace for AI development. The company’s bet is that developers want a full AI workspace with parallel workflows and enterprise-grade controls, though it remains uncertain whether more agents will lead to better software outcomes.

Ahead of peace talks scheduled for Friday in Islamabad, U.S. President Donald Trump clarified his stance on Iran’s nuclear program. He stated that Iran would no longer be allowed to enrich uranium, but sanctions on the country would be lifted if a deal is reached. Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday.

In his message, Trump said the United States would work closely with Iran and claimed that a “highly productive regime change” had already taken place there. He added that the two countries would cooperate to remove all buried nuclear waste or materials. Trump also mentioned that Iran would be freed from tariffs and sanctions and asserted that many of the 15 points proposed by the United States to end the war had already reached consensus.

The statement comes as preparations continue for the upcoming Islamabad peace discussions, where Iran’s nuclear activities are expected to be a key topic.

The Justice and Democracy Party (JDP) has labeled both the ruling BNP and opposition Jamaat-e-Islami as fundamentally opposed to reforms, claiming that unnecessary political debates are being created to divert attention from the country’s ongoing crises. Speaking at an emergency press conference at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen on Wednesday, JDP convener Naeem Ahmad said that only through public resistance can the desired reforms be achieved and urged citizens to support parties clearly in favor of reform.

Ahmad described the anti-reform tendencies of both the government and opposition as unfortunate for the nation. He alleged that debates in parliament are being used to distract the public from issues such as the energy crisis and potential agricultural disruption, while actions like hawker evictions are being taken to divert public focus. The JDP also expressed concern over irregularities in energy supply, possible collusion among ruling party members, and the closure of four out of five state fertilizer factories.

The party announced a human chain protest on April 10 in front of the National Museum, demanding uninterrupted diesel and fertilizer supply to farmers at fair prices.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar announced that comprehensive security measures have been reinforced for the upcoming Pahela Baishakh celebrations. Speaking at a coordination meeting on April 8, 2026, at the DMP headquarters, he said that all security and intelligence agencies are working together to ensure a seamless safety plan across Dhaka during the Bengali New Year 1433 festivities.

The meeting focused on security and traffic management for various cultural events expected to draw large crowds across the city. Representatives from multiple agencies, including intelligence units, specialized police divisions, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, city corporations, Fire Service, WASA, and several cultural organizations such as Chhayanaut and Charukala Institute, attended the session. A detailed security plan was presented by DMP Joint Commissioner (Operations) Mohammad Shahidullah.

Officials emphasized that the goal is to ensure public safety, smooth movement, and minimal inconvenience for citizens during the celebrations, reflecting public trust in law enforcement.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture, Mohammad Aminur Rashid, has called for greater scientific involvement in research to enhance jatka (juvenile hilsa) production. Speaking on Wednesday at a workshop titled “Hilsa Research: Achievements, Jatka Conservation and Future Actions” held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium, he emphasized the need for planned research to maximize jatka production and ensure proper hatching of hilsa eggs. He urged scientists to develop methods that increase production without compromising the fish’s natural taste and quality.

Addressing fishermen, the minister encouraged them to propose effective measures to stop jatka catching, noting that hilsa scarcity affects the entire country. State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku highlighted that Bangladesh produces 70–80 percent of the world’s hilsa and stressed the importance of protecting this national resource. He also mentioned that 40,000 fishing families have recently begun receiving food assistance, including rice, flour, oil, sugar, lentils, and potatoes, worth about six thousand taka per family.

Senior officials from the Fisheries Research Institute, Department of Fisheries, and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University also attended the event, underscoring the government’s coordinated efforts to sustain hilsa production.

Sri Lanka has strengthened its tourism partnership with Bangladesh by successfully organizing a ‘B2B Roadshow and Networking Event’ in Dhaka. The event, held on Monday at a city hotel, was arranged by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to enhance business ties between tourism stakeholders of both countries. The initiative aims to expand cooperation in tourism promotion and create new opportunities for sustainable tourism and cultural exchange.

Bangladesh Tourism Board CEO Nuzhat Yasmin said the partnership would open new horizons for sustainable tourism and cultural exchange. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody, highlighted the island’s natural beauty and hospitality as key attractions for Bangladeshi travelers. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Buddika Hewawasam described Sri Lanka as a safe and diverse destination and mentioned ongoing work on special travel packages and joint campaigns with local operators.

Representatives from the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh and BOATA expressed strong interest in expanding outbound tourism to Sri Lanka. The event concluded with a networking dinner, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to positioning itself as an affordable and leading destination for Bangladeshi tourists.

A human chain in Khulna on April 8, 2026, criticized the government for not turning 16 key ordinances, including the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Ordinance, issued during the interim government, into law. The event was organized by the Khulna unit of the human rights organization Odhikar and began at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Khulna Press Club, ending with a rally and assembly at Picture Palace intersection.

Speakers said the government had pledged to present all interim ordinances, including those on enforced disappearance prevention and the Human Rights Commission, in parliament for enactment but failed to do so. They alleged that this inaction protects perpetrators of disappearances, killings, and torture, and betrays victims and their families. The speakers demanded immediate passage of the ordinances into law and accountability for those responsible, warning that failure to act could lead to the resurgence of authoritarian forces.

The event was chaired by journalist Muhammad Nuruzzaman, with several local human rights activists, journalists, and victims of enforced disappearance participating.