Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency has claimed that the country’s air defense system shot down a US warplane in central Iran. The agency published several photos allegedly showing the wreckage of the aircraft. According to the report, markings on the downed plane suggest it belonged to the United States European Command.

Earlier speculation that the aircraft might be an F-35 was not repeated in Tasnim’s latest report. The agency stated that the plane was part of the 48th Squadron based at the US European Command’s Lakenheath Air Base in the United Kingdom, which it claimed had been deployed to the CENTCOM region for operations against Iran. The report also noted that the US European Command operates several advanced fighter jets, including F-35, F-15, F-22, and F-16 models.

As of the time of reporting, US officials had not issued any formal comment regarding the alleged incident.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s joint secretary general and spokesperson Gazi Ataur Rahman has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of betraying the July mass uprising. In a statement issued on Friday, April 3, he said the uprising aimed to permanently eliminate autocracy, and the interim government had issued several ordinances to ensure constitutional balance and strengthen democratic institutions.

Rahman alleged that although BNP came to power through the path paved by the July uprising, it has now proposed to repeal or amend ordinances that could prevent the return of autocracy. He said BNP’s actions contradict the sacrifices of students and citizens who fought for democracy. The ordinances in question include those strengthening the National Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and ensuring judicial independence.

He urged the government not to betray the blood of the people and to approve the ordinances issued to permanently abolish autocracy, emphasizing that BNP itself had once suffered under authoritarian rule.

Dr. Tasnim Jara, a former leader of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), has sharply criticized the BNP government’s initiative to repeal the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Ordinance. In a Facebook post on Friday, she questioned the rationale behind the decision and warned that it could further institutionalize a culture of impunity.

Jara stated that the government intends to cancel the ordinance, arguing that prior approval from the government would be required to investigate or arrest members of law enforcement agencies. She questioned whether fair justice is possible if permission must be sought from the same government to investigate its own forces. According to her, families of disappearance victims have previously been denied justice due to such procedural barriers.

She emphasized that the state’s primary duty is to ensure citizens’ safety, and requiring prior approval for investigations against security forces places the state above accountability. Jara described this as a clear violation of the constitutional principle that all are equal before the law.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh has called on the government to replace plans for appointing music teachers in primary schools with the recruitment of religious teachers. In a statement issued to the media on Friday, the organization’s president, Shaikhul Hadis Maulana Ubaidullah Faruq, and secretary general, Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi, emphasized the importance of religious education in nurturing moral and ethical values among children.

The statement argued that the government had pledged before the election to strengthen religious education, but that promise has not been reflected in current initiatives. The group described the move to appoint music teachers as contradictory to that commitment. It further stated that the primary education system should focus on developing morality, humanity, and religious values among students.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh urged the government to reconsider its decision promptly and to fulfill its electoral promise regarding religious education.

The Detective Branch’s Cyber and Special Crime (South) Division arrested four Rohingya individuals allegedly involved in a human trafficking network from a hotel in Dhaka’s Motijheel area. The detainees were identified as Md Ferdous, Nuru Bibi Dur Akter (19), Umme Kulsum (20), and a minor in conflict with the law. The arrests were made on Thursday afternoon following a tip-off, and the information was confirmed on Friday by Assistant Police Commissioner Arifa Akhter Preeti of the DMP Media and Public Relations Division.

According to DB sources, officers recovered four mobile phones and two printed visa copies used in trafficking activities during the operation. A regular case has been filed at Motijheel Police Station in connection with the incident. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects had been involved in human trafficking for an extended period. They have since been sent to court for further legal proceedings.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed a total of 69 missiles and drones during the latest wave of attacks launched by Iran. The report, published on Friday, cited Al Jazeera as the source of the information.

According to official data, the UAE’s defense forces have been actively responding to repeated aerial assaults since the conflict began. The ministry’s statement indicates that Iran continues to carry out large-scale missile and drone strikes, suggesting an ongoing escalation in hostilities between the two sides.

The figures released by the UAE highlight the intensity of the current confrontation and the continued reliance on advanced air defense systems to counter aerial threats in the region.

The United Kingdom is deploying an air defense system to Kuwait following a drone attack on the country's oil refinery last night. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as reckless and discussed the deployment with Kuwait’s Crown Prince during a phone call on Friday morning. A Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister reaffirmed the UK's commitment to supporting Kuwait and Gulf allies.

According to the spokesperson, the deployment aims to protect both Kuwaiti and British personnel as well as regional interests, while avoiding escalation into a wider conflict. The two leaders also agreed on the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, British Defence Secretary John Healey announced that a Rapid Sentry air defense missile system had already arrived in Kuwait to strengthen its defenses.

Downing Street clarified that the move is part of broader efforts to maintain stability in the Gulf region.

Jamaat-e-Islami central executive member and Dhaka South Nayeb-e-Ameer Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin said that if the government cancels the July Charter and other interim ordinances, leading to the rise of neo-fascism, the people will build resistance. He made the remarks on Friday while addressing an Eid reunion organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Shahjahanpur East Thana as the chief guest.

Dr. Helal alleged that the government’s intentions are harmful, claiming that both Awami League and BNP alliance leaders have supported authoritarian tendencies for personal gain. He urged the government to act cautiously and stated that Jamaat-e-Islami would cooperate with any government initiative taken in the interest of the nation. He emphasized that Jamaat is not merely an opposition party in parliament but a responsible, ideological, and patriotic organization.

The event was presided over by Shahjahanpur East Thana Ameer Muhammad Shariful Islam and conducted by Thana Secretary Muhammad Anwar Hossain. Several local leaders and activists attended the program.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has accused Israel of carrying out an attack on a power plant and associated desalination facility in Kuwait. In a statement released by its public relations office, the IRGC condemned the incident as an abnormal and illegal assault on civilian infrastructure. The statement described the attack as evidence of what it called the moral decline of the Zionist regime and denounced it as inhumane.

The IRGC further warned that U.S. military bases and personnel across the Middle East, as well as Israeli military and security installations in the occupied Palestinian territories, could become potential targets. The statement framed the attack as part of a broader pattern of aggression against civilian facilities in the region.

The report did not include any response from Israel or Kuwaiti authorities, leaving the details of the incident and its immediate consequences unclear.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has demanded the immediate release of Maulana Ainul Haque Kasemi, who is imprisoned in connection with the case over the vandalism of the Prothom Alo office. The demand was made in a statement issued on Friday afternoon by Hefazat’s Joint Secretary General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi. He said Kasemi has been in jail for one hundred days without trial, calling it a clear violation of human rights. The statement also urged the current BNP government to release all those allegedly innocent in the case.

Islamabadi claimed that Kasemi had no involvement in the vandalism and was falsely implicated because of his criticism of Prothom Alo. He described the detention as inhumane and accused the newspaper of ignoring the issue. The statement further called on civil society, human rights groups, and Islamic parties to raise their voices for the release of Kasemi and other detained clerics.

He also criticized Prothom Alo and The Daily Star for what he termed Islamophobic editorial policies and alleged past defamation of political leaders, calling for legal action against their editors.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizen Party’s southern region and Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4, posted a statement on his verified Facebook account on April 3, 2026. In the post, he wrote that everything about the 'Hasina system' is needed except Hasina herself. The post quickly went viral, drawing significant attention and engagement across social media platforms.

According to the source, the post was made at 12:21 p.m. and within four hours had received 317,000 reactions, 29,400 comments, and 14,000 shares. The statement has prompted widespread discussion online, with many users interpreting it as a pointed comment on current political issues. The report did not include any official response or clarification from Hasnat Abdullah or his party.

The viral nature of the post suggests growing public interest in the political undertones of his remark, though the broader implications remain unclear.

Dr. Rezaul Karim, a central executive member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and secretary of the party’s Dhaka North unit, described the current government as 'neo-fascist' during an Eid reunion event held at Russell Community Center in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. The event took place on Friday and was organized by Mohammadpur East Thana Jamaat.

He alleged that although 70 percent of the population voted in favor of Jamaat, the election results were altered through state mechanisms and the 'deep state' to bring the BNP to power. Dr. Karim accused the BNP of betraying the public by abandoning its pre-election promises and claimed that the results of a recent referendum were not being implemented under the advice of a 'fallen autocrat.' He further stated that the BNP, which was founded through a referendum, is now using tactics to avoid implementing it.

Warning the government, Dr. Karim said that any delay in implementing the referendum results would compel students and citizens to take to the streets demanding midterm elections.

A new political party named the Justice and Democracy Party (JDP) was officially launched at a press conference held at the National Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Friday afternoon. The party announced a 90-member central committee with Naeem Ahmad as convener, Advocate Abdul Alim as member secretary, and Md. Ahsan Ullah as chief organizer. The JDP called for the abolition of the 1972 Constitution and the drafting of a new constitution based on social democracy.

During the event, Naeem Ahmad said the party’s stance emerged amid national debates on constitutional reform and the formation of a constituent assembly. He argued that only a new constitution could ensure an equitable and prosperous Bangladesh, reflecting the aspirations of the 1971 Liberation War and the July 2024 uprising. The JDP also pledged to replace “socialism” with “social democracy” and “Bengali nationalism” with “Bangladeshism” in the state principles.

The party announced a one-month membership drive, public outreach demanding justice for the July killings, and a national representative conference in May. It also promised fair justice for all, including ruling party members, to prevent misuse of the judicial process.

A fire broke out at the Habshan Gas Complex, one of the United Arab Emirates’ major gas processing centers, after debris from an intercepted missile or drone fell on the site. The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed the incident and stated that all operations at the gas field have been temporarily suspended to bring the situation under control. No casualties have been reported so far.

According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, authorities have taken swift measures to ensure safety and prevent further damage. The fire response teams are working to contain the blaze and assess the extent of the impact. The cause of the incident was linked to debris from an aerial object that was intercepted before reaching its target.

The temporary shutdown of the Habshan facility underscores the region’s vulnerability to aerial threats and the importance of rapid emergency response in protecting critical energy infrastructure.

A severe diesel shortage has hit Babuganj upazila and nearby areas of Barishal during the peak Boro season, leaving thousands of farmers unable to operate irrigation pumps. As a result, many paddy fields are drying up and cracking, raising fears of a major production setback. Farmers in Rakudia village reported that their pumps have stopped due to lack of fuel, and they are struggling to collect small amounts of diesel for short-term use.

Local fuel traders and pump owners said supply from depots has fallen sharply, making it impossible to meet demand. Farmers, many of whom cultivated their land on credit, now face potential financial losses. At Kamini Filling Station, officials said farmers wait in long lines but receive only limited fuel each day. The local administration has intensified market monitoring to prevent hoarding and overpricing, while the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has introduced written permits to help farmers access fuel.

Officials warned that unless diesel supply normalizes soon, irrigation disruptions could affect the entire Barishal region’s Boro production targets.