Lieutenant General (Retd.) Dr. Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy Bir Bikram, convener of the National Committee for Implementation of the July Charter Movement, warned that people would return to the streets if the government failed to implement the July Charter in line with the referendum verdict. He made the statement on Friday during a human chain and rally organized by the committee in front of the National Press Club.

Speakers at the event accused the government of deceiving the people and urged immediate implementation of the referendum’s outcome. They asserted that the referendum represented the supreme will of the people, which all state institutions, including parliament and the judiciary, must uphold. The speakers warned that failure to do so would provoke a strong public response and severe consequences for the government.

Committee member secretary Ahmed Karim announced that a nationwide movement would soon be launched to build public opinion in favor of implementing the July Charter.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has described U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to send Iran “back to the Stone Age” as an indication of possible large-scale war crimes. According to Al Jazeera, Pezeshkian said such statements reveal an intent to cause massive destruction, which could be considered a serious violation of international law.

Referring to his discussion with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Pezeshkian noted that he had raised the issue with his Finnish counterpart, who is a legal expert. He added that history contains many examples where silence in the face of crimes has come at a great cost.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions following reports of a U.S. acknowledgment of an Iranian warplane being shot down and warnings that any attack on Iran’s power facilities would constitute a war crime.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that global food prices have begun to rise due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. According to FAO’s monthly Food Price Index, which tracks international food commodity prices, global food costs increased by 2.4 percent between February and March. This marks the second consecutive month of price growth.

FAO attributed the increase mainly to the Middle East conflict, which has driven up fuel prices and, in turn, raised production and transportation costs for food products. The organization noted that continued instability around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key oil supply routes, could further worsen conditions for food-importing nations.

The report suggests that if tensions persist, the global food market may face additional pressure in the coming months, particularly affecting countries dependent on imports for essential commodities.

Israeli airstrikes have damaged major water supply infrastructure in southern Lebanon, causing widespread disruption to emergency services, according to the South Lebanon Water Establishment. The organization, citing Lebanon’s National News Agency, reported that facilities in Ibl al-Saqi and al-Maysat were hit, leading to significant damage.

The attacks also affected solar-powered systems at the al-Zahiriya station and Eastern Well No. 1 in the Kanarit region. The South Lebanon Water Establishment strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a clear violation of international law and conventions that protect civilian infrastructure.

In its statement, the organization emphasized that targeting essential facilities such as water supply systems contravenes humanitarian principles, which require such infrastructure to remain outside the scope of armed conflict.

Pakistan has announced that all public transport in the capital, Islamabad, will be free for the next 30 days as the country faces a severe fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing war in Iran. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday, April 3, that the decision was made under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and will take effect from Saturday, April 4. The Interior Ministry will allocate 350 million rupees to fund the initiative.

The government of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and economically significant province, has also introduced a similar free transport scheme to ease citizens’ financial burdens. The fuel shortage has intensified as oil prices have surged sharply, with diesel rising by about 55 percent to 520 rupees per liter and petrol by 42 percent to 458 rupees. The price hikes have directly affected the transport sector and the cost of essential goods.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also confirmed that two Pakistani ships successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and that 20 more are preparing to sail under the national flag.

Iran has claimed that a United States rescue mission to recover the pilot of a downed American fighter jet has so far failed. According to Iranian media, the country’s air defense system shot down the US aircraft, and images of the wreckage were published by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The report added that the pilot’s condition remains unclear.

Tasnim stated that the US operation involved Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules aircraft, but the effort did not succeed. The United States has not issued any official comment on the incident. Al Jazeera reported that the authenticity of Iran’s claims could not be independently verified.

The report also recalled that in March, a US F-35 fighter jet was damaged by an Iranian attack and forced to make an emergency landing, highlighting continuing military friction between the two nations.

Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported that 5,792 suspected measles cases and 94 deaths occurred nationwide over the past 19 days. The latest update, released Friday, stated that between April 2 and April 3 morning, 947 new suspected cases were identified. Of the total suspected cases, 771 have been confirmed as measles infections, and nine deaths have been officially verified as caused by the disease.

According to the DGHS, Cox’s Bazar district in Chattogram Division recorded the highest death rate. The agency also clarified that five previously reported deaths—three from Brahmanbaria, one from Lakshmipur, and one from Chandpur—were excluded from the national tally due to reporting errors. One death from Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital has now been included in the official count.

Dhaka Division has the highest number of confirmed infections. Since March 15, a total of 3,776 patients with measles symptoms have been hospitalized, of whom 2,527 have recovered and been discharged.

Bangladesh and Japan have completed a second round of high-level discussions on the operation and maintenance of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The meeting, held on Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on Japan’s revised proposal covering key issues such as embarkation fees, upfront payments, and revenue sharing. The session signaled renewed momentum toward finalizing a long-delayed agreement.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, and other senior officials attended the meeting. The Japanese delegation was led by Rieko Nakayama, Vice President of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Afroza Khanom emphasized that Bangladesh’s goal is to protect national interests while expediting the terminal’s launch. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat urged Japan to reconsider Bangladesh’s proposals and submit a further revised version.

The meeting followed an earlier round held on March 13 and reflected both sides’ intent to operationalize the nearly completed terminal through continued high-level engagement.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States could easily open the Strait of Hormuz and generate substantial revenue by extracting oil from the area. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that with a little more time, the US could open the strait, extract oil, and earn huge profits. He described the potential as a major 'gusher' for the entire world.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes, carrying a significant portion of global oil supplies. Recently, Iran has banned the passage of ships belonging to the United States, Israel, and their allies through the strait following US-Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. The situation has heightened tensions in the region, with energy security and freedom of navigation emerging as key concerns.

Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing geopolitical friction in the Gulf, where control over the Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue for global oil markets and regional stability.

State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad said the government is actively working to ensure uninterrupted diesel and electricity supply for farmers cultivating jute, rice, and maize. He made the remarks on Friday, April 3, during a meeting with journalists at the Water Development Board rest house in Faridpur. The minister also stated that there is no fuel shortage in the country.

He explained that despite global oil price increases caused by the ongoing war and global conditions, the government is maintaining a stable domestic supply. He accused some dishonest traders of creating an artificial crisis to exploit the public and instructed local administrations to strengthen monitoring. On river erosion in Faridpur, he said the government will undertake stronger and more sustainable projects to protect people’s property.

Farhad Hossain further announced a zero-tolerance policy against corruption in the Water Development Board, promising transparency in tender processes, canal excavation, and all development activities. Several local officials and members of parliament attended the event.

Saudi Arabia is moving forward with major infrastructure projects in Makkah to make travel for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims more convenient. According to Gulf News, Saleh Al-Rasheed, CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, confirmed that a new world-class airport and a modern metro system are being planned. The feasibility study for the airport has been completed, and strategic, economic, and investment aspects have been approved. Work is underway to develop an investment model in partnership with the private sector.

Al-Rasheed said the airport will be designed to benefit both residents and visitors without affecting the economic viability of nearby airports. The long-awaited metro project has also progressed, with feasibility and preliminary designs submitted for approval. Once operational, the metro is expected to reduce congestion and improve mobility during Hajj and Umrah.

The initiatives are part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, aimed at modernizing Makkah and improving pilgrim services through enhanced transport and infrastructure.

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.