Internationally renowned photographer and rights activist Dr. Shahidul Alam paid a courtesy visit to Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The meeting took place at the Vice-Chancellor’s office and focused on enhancing education in photography, film, and multimedia, as well as strengthening international cooperation in these fields.

During the discussion, participants explored the possibility of expanding joint educational and research programs between Dhaka University and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, a leading photography school in South Asia. Pathshala Principal Professor Kh. M. Harun was also present. The meeting emphasized the modernization of media, photography, film, and multimedia education in Bangladesh and the importance of global academic collaboration. Plans for organizing international seminars, symposiums, and conferences were also discussed.

The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged Pathshala’s significant role in developing photography and visual media education in Bangladesh and assured full institutional support for the advancement of its academic programs under Dhaka University’s affiliation.

US President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of targeting Iran’s water purification facilities as part of the ongoing conflict with Tehran, alarming several Gulf allies. These countries expressed deep concern that such attacks would constitute war crimes under international law, which prohibits strikes on civilian infrastructure. Regional sources told CNN that Gulf states have privately warned the Trump administration against such actions, fearing devastating retaliatory attacks.

Andrew Friedman, director of the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), cautioned that even threatening actions that could amount to war crimes unsettles allied nations, as they do not want to be complicit in such acts. The report noted that Iran has previously retaliated against US allies in the Gulf following US-Israeli strikes, and many Gulf nations rely heavily on desalination plants for drinking water.

Experts warned that if Iran responds by attacking Gulf desalination facilities, it could trigger a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite private warnings, no Gulf state has publicly opposed Trump’s stance, leaving the regional conflict increasingly volatile and complex.

Health authorities in Chattogram reported a sharp rise in children showing measles symptoms, with most of the affected being unvaccinated. Over the past 84 hours, 26 new children were admitted to various hospitals, bringing the total number of patients under treatment to 55. Among them, seven have been confirmed with measles and one with rubella. A five-and-a-half-month-old child from Cox’s Bazar, admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, died in the ICU, though confirmation of measles as the cause awaits lab results.

According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, 91 samples have been sent to the National Polio and Measles-Rubella Laboratory in Dhaka for testing. Data from Chattogram Medical College Hospital show that only three of the 33 admitted children received two vaccine doses, nine received one dose, and 21 were unvaccinated. Most of the unvaccinated are under nine months old. Health experts emphasized the need for full participation in routine immunization programs to prevent wider outbreaks.

Officials warned that without improved vaccination coverage, the current rise in infections could escalate further in the coming months.

Government Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced that a special parliamentary committee will soon be formed to amend the constitution in line with the July National Charter. He made the statement on Wednesday, April 1, after the third meeting of the parliamentary committee. The initiative includes the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) note of dissent.

Moni said the committee will be created with participation from all sides, including legal experts from both the ruling and opposition parties. The exact number of members has not yet been finalized. He emphasized that the government wants to make the parliament more effective and that constitutional amendments are necessary for various reforms.

The Chief Whip added that the government seeks cooperation from the opposition for the welfare of the country and hopes they will join the constitutional amendment committee soon.

OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it has closed a record-breaking $122 billion funding round, valuing the company at $852 billion post-money. The round was co-led by SoftBank, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, D. E. Shaw Ventures, and other investors. The total represents an increase from the $110 billion in commitments announced in February. OpenAI said the new capital will support its continued leadership in artificial intelligence development as anticipation builds for a potential initial public offering.

The company, which launched the ChatGPT chatbot in 2022, now reports more than 900 million weekly active users and over 50 million subscribers. OpenAI stated that AI is driving productivity and scientific progress, and that the new funding will help it operate at the scale required by current demand. CEO Sam Altman faces pressure to justify the company’s valuation as OpenAI reins in spending, including shutting down its short-form video app Sora.

OpenAI reported $2 billion in monthly revenue and $13.1 billion in revenue last year but remains unprofitable. Strategic investors include Amazon, Nvidia, and Microsoft, though the size of Microsoft’s latest investment was not disclosed.

US President Donald Trump said the ongoing US military operation in Iran could end within two to three weeks. Speaking at the White House, he described Iran’s new leaders as less radical and more reasonable compared to their predecessors. Trump stated that the joint US-Israeli strikes launched on February 28 had achieved their main objectives, including reducing Iran’s nuclear weapons capability.

According to Trump, the attacks that began in late February killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and several senior military and civilian officials. He claimed that the United States now dominates Iran’s airspace and that the leadership change in Tehran has made the regime more moderate. Trump also alleged that Iran’s new leaders are seeking a deal to end the conflict, though Iran has publicly denied such claims.

Trump added that the war could end even without a formal agreement between the two sides, suggesting a possible near-term de-escalation of hostilities.

More than a month after the joint US-Israel attack on Iran, US Defense Secretary Hegseth publicly acknowledged that Iran’s ballistic missiles do not pose a threat to the American mainland. Speaking at his first press conference since March 19, he said the missiles cannot reach US territory, contradicting the White House’s repeated characterization of Iran as an ‘imminent threat.’

Hegseth explained that the ongoing conflict is aimed at protecting US assets and allies in the region, adding that President Trump expects European partners to take reciprocal action. He also expressed frustration over the lack of support from allied nations, noting that assistance requests are often met with hesitation and obstacles.

The day before Hegseth’s remarks, President Trump urged the United Kingdom via Truth Social to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, calling on allies to show greater resolve in defending their own interests.

US President Donald Trump has said he is seriously considering withdrawing the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He made the remarks in an interview with the British daily The Telegraph, according to a BBC report. Trump described NATO as a 'paper tiger' and claimed that the United Kingdom no longer has an effective navy. He added that he was never influenced by NATO and that Russian President Vladimir Putin also knows the alliance is weak.

When asked whether he would reconsider US membership in NATO amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Trump replied that the matter had gone beyond reconsideration. In the same interview, he mocked the UK's military capabilities, saying its navy was outdated and its aircraft carriers were not functioning properly.

Analysts believe Trump's comments could reignite international debate, as NATO has long been regarded as the cornerstone of military cooperation between the United States and European nations.

Leading anti-tobacco organizations have expressed deep concern over the government’s decision to remove provisions banning e-cigarettes and the display of tobacco products at points of sale from the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. In a statement issued Wednesday, they warned that such changes could undermine public health and encourage nicotine addiction among youth.

The organizations stated that emerging tobacco products like e-cigarettes are highly harmful and act as gateways to nicotine dependence. They argued that allowing product displays at sales points would attract children and adolescents to tobacco use, reversing progress in tobacco control. The groups also noted that the removal of these clauses contradicts the ruling party’s electoral commitment to strengthen tobacco regulation.

Former interim government adviser and economist Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman called on the government and parliament to immediately reinstate the two clauses, emphasizing that public health and youth protection must take precedence over narrow profit interests.

A United States Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jet crashed near Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, March 31. The incident occurred about 25 miles northeast of Indian Springs within the controlled airspace of the Nevada Test and Training Range. Authorities confirmed that the pilot ejected safely, sustaining only minor injuries, and is currently under medical care.

According to the public affairs office at Nellis Air Force Base, the crash site lies within a restricted military zone, ensuring that no nearby civilian areas were affected. Emergency response teams quickly reached the location and carried out rescue operations. Officials stated that the cause of the crash remains unknown and that an investigation is underway.

The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter developed under the Joint Strike Fighter program. It is designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.

A drone strike hit the Sarsang oil field in Iraq’s Kurdish region on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report. The attack occurred in Duhok province, but no casualties have been reported so far. The incident adds to a series of recent drone-related disruptions in the region’s energy infrastructure.

Iraq’s National News Agency stated that a similar drone attack had earlier targeted the Lanaz oil refinery in Erbil city. Following that strike, all operations at the refinery were suspended. The latest attack underscores ongoing security concerns surrounding vital oil facilities in northern Iraq.

Authorities have not yet provided details about the source of the drones or the extent of the damage, leaving questions about the broader impact on oil production and regional stability.

Eight workers were burned in a fire at a steel mill in the Shyampur area of Dhaka’s Kadamtali on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. while iron melting work was underway at the RMM Steel Mill in the Dhaka Match area. The injured workers were rescued by colleagues and taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment.

According to Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman, a resident physician at the institute, the burn percentages among the victims ranged from 4 to 40 percent. Md. Hira suffered 17 percent burns, Md. Khalilur Rahman 9 percent, Md. Rojob Ali 4 percent, Motiur Rahman 10 percent, Md. Arshad Mia 11 percent, Md. Liton Mia 7 percent, Md. Manik Mia 40 percent, and Yusuf Mia 5 percent. Hira and Manik have been admitted to the hospital, while the remaining six are under observation.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire or the current condition of the admitted workers.

Iran’s conflict with the United States and Israel has entered its second month, with Iran continuing retaliatory attacks on U.S. installations. In solidarity with Iran, Yemen’s Houthi movement has threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to increase pressure on Israel and the United States, according to Al Jazeera.

Reporting from Sana’a, Al Jazeera’s correspondent Youssef Mawri said Houthi attacks on southern Israel have intensified. Houthi leaders declared that their operations will not stop until their conditions are met, including Israel’s acceptance of a ceasefire in Gaza and the cessation of Israel’s participation in U.S. military actions against Iran.

Senior Houthi leader Mohammed al-Bukhaiti stated that the group still has several strategies to escalate the conflict, one of which could be the complete closure of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Five people were killed and at least four others injured in three separate road accidents on the Cumilla section of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Wednesday, April 1. The incidents occurred between early morning and mid-morning in Daudkandi, Nimsar, and Chandina areas. Two autorickshaw drivers, Barek and Mostafa, died in Daudkandi when an unidentified speeding vehicle hit their autorickshaw. Four others were injured and hospitalized.

Earlier, around 3:45 a.m., two men, Mohammad Zohirul Islam and Sohel Rana, were killed near the Nimsar market U-turn when their vehicle crashed on the Dhaka-bound lane. Police recovered the bodies and are working to identify the vehicle involved. Later in the morning, a ninth-grade student, Ibne Taim, died after being hit by a truck while crossing the road in Chandina.

Police officials from Daudkandi and Mainamati Highway Stations said legal procedures are underway, injured victims are receiving treatment, and the deceased have been handed over to their families.

The government of Bangladesh will begin a measles vaccination campaign at the upazila level from Sunday, April 5, in response to a worsening outbreak across the country. Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain announced the initiative at a press conference in Dhaka on April 1, stating that vaccinations will start first in the most affected areas. Vaccines will reach those regions within two days, and all health workers’ leave has been canceled to ensure full participation.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, measles has spread rapidly in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Barishal, and Mymensingh, with more than 700 infections and over 50 deaths reported. Public health experts have urged immediate government action, warning that a single patient can transmit the disease to 16–18 others if left unchecked.

Bangladesh’s routine immunization program provides two doses of the measles vaccine to children at nine and fifteen months of age through about 120,000 vaccination centers. The last national measles campaign was conducted in December 2020.