Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has criticized the decision of Culture Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury to introduce music education in primary and secondary schools, saying it would undermine the religious freedom of Muslim students. In a statement issued on Thursday, the group’s Amir Allama Muhibullah Babunagari and Secretary General Allama Sajedur Rahman said that since musical instruments are not permitted in Islam, mandatory music lessons would be a religious issue for devout Muslim parents.

The leaders argued that just as it would be unreasonable to require all students to learn animal sacrifice regardless of faith, it is also inappropriate to impose music education on everyone. They urged the minister to withdraw what they called an anti-public decision to avoid public discontent. Hefazat leaders added that specialized institutions already exist for music education, and parents who wish to teach music to their children can do so privately.

They reiterated their long-standing demand for appointing religious teachers in primary schools, saying this would ensure the religious freedom of students of all faiths and help build morally upright citizens.

Austria has rejected a request from the United States to use its airspace for a military operation against Iran. The Austrian Defense Ministry stated that the decision was made in line with the country’s long-standing policy of neutrality. According to a report by the state broadcaster ORF, Washington had made multiple such requests, though the exact number was not disclosed.

A spokesperson for the Defense Ministry said that each request would be reviewed individually and coordinated with the Foreign Ministry. Austria has maintained a policy of military neutrality for decades, and while it has not imposed a blanket ban on US military aircraft, each request is being considered separately.

The report also noted that Spain and Italy have taken similar positions. Spain announced that its airspace would remain closed to US military aircraft involved in the conflict, while Italy recently denied Washington permission to use a military base in Sicily.

During the seventh day of the first session of the 13th National Parliament, Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman accused Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed of presenting false information. Speaking on a point of order, he alleged that the minister skillfully portrayed truth as falsehood and vice versa. The Home Minister responded by terming the word 'false' unparliamentary and requested that it be expunged from the record. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram presided over the heated exchange.

In his clarification, the Home Minister stated that his earlier comment referred to an inaccurate statement made by the opposition leader regarding a private member’s adjournment motion. He explained that, according to Rule 62, the motion was accepted after the opposition’s walkout, making the earlier claim incorrect. Dr. Rahman countered that the confusion arose because a similar proposal had been brought earlier under a different name, and he had not provided any false information.

The exchange highlighted procedural disagreements between the two leaders, with the Speaker advising against reopening previous discussions.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has submitted a charge sheet against 22 individuals, including several restaurant owners, in connection with the Bailey Road fire that killed 46 people in Dhaka. The charge sheet was filed on Thursday by CID Inspector Shah Jalal Munshi after evidence confirmed offenses under seven sections of the Penal Code. Two accused were recommended for exemption due to death, and two others were cleared for lack of evidence, according to DMP Deputy Commissioner Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan.

The accused include owners and managers of multiple restaurants such as Chayer Chumuk, Kacchi Bhai, Khanaz, Tawaz, Zesty, Fuko, Mezbanikhana, Ambrosia, Pizzain, and Street Oven. The CID report stated that the accused jointly violated government safety regulations by operating without proper authorization and using gas cylinders and electric ovens illegally. The fire broke out at the seven-story Green Cozy Cottage building on February 29, 2024, around 9:45 p.m., killing 46 people, three of whom were completely burned.

The case was initially filed by Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Ramna Model Police Station before being transferred to the CID for investigation.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali announced that investigations into cases filed by families of those killed or injured during the 2024 student and public movement have progressed between 82 and 90 percent. Speaking at a press conference at the city police headquarters on Thursday, he said 69 of the 151 total cases in Chattogram were filed across nine police stations, while the rest were complaint cases in court. These cases involve 21,906 accused individuals, including political activists, businesspeople, and others, with 15 classified as murder cases. Only one investigation report has been completed so far.

The commissioner stated that investigators are working independently without external pressure, which has caused some delay in submitting reports. He also pledged to address the issue of top criminal Sajjad Ali Khan through Interpol and to prevent extortion and terrorism under political cover.

Despite the reported progress, families of victims expressed dissatisfaction, saying investigations have stalled and witness appearances remain difficult. They also alleged that after the new government took office, official follow-ups and financial or rehabilitation support stopped.

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary Santosh Sharma said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assured the withdrawal of false and harassing cases filed against members of the Hindu community. He shared this information with reporters after a meeting with the Prime Minister at the Secretariat on Thursday. The organization also placed several demands, including making the Durga Puja holiday at least three days long.

Sharma stated that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, where various issues faced by the Hindu community were discussed. The Prime Minister listened attentively and promised to resolve them gradually. He also announced the appointment of Bijon Kanti Sarkar as a special assistant representing the community.

The delegation raised issues such as reforming the vested property law, establishing a minority ministry and commission, ensuring proportional representation of Hindus in national life, and seeking justice for violence triggered by false social media propaganda. The Prime Minister reportedly assured that these matters would be addressed in phases.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan announced that business operations will no longer be allowed on footpaths or roads. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon at a meeting with small and floating traders at Mukul Fouz Field in Mirpur, held to discuss clearing sidewalks from Mirpur-10 to Mirpur-1. Khan said the city corporation would arrange alternative business locations and urged traders to cooperate with the plan.

He emphasized that those who previously facilitated footpath businesses would no longer be allowed to do so. The DNCC would work with a humanitarian approach to address traders’ concerns. Traders, in turn, requested designated relocation sites, sufficient time for transition, and locations suitable for continuing their livelihoods. They warned that sudden eviction would put their families in crisis.

Khan assured that a practical solution would be reached through discussions with a five-member traders’ delegation. He also said DNCC would issue tokens to traders to prevent extortion and urged them to report any illegal demands.

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.