Dhaka: Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, former adviser to the interim government and spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has alleged that a so-called “deep state” had devised a strategy to keep the interim government in power until 2029. He made these remarks at a discussion titled “From Blood-Stained Independence to Reforms and Referendum: The Political Duty of Implementation”, organized by Dhaka Metropolitan South NCP at the party’s central office in Banglamotor on Thursday afternoon, marking Independence Day.

Asif said that during the early days of their tenure in government, they were approached by powerful institutions—referred to as the “deep state”—with an offer. “They told us: ‘Sheikh Hasina’s tenure runs until 2029. You complete that term, and we will support you,’” he stated.

He added that the proposal came with specific conditions, including facilitating certain interests and following a roadmap designed to keep opposition figures—particularly from the BNP—out of elections.

According to him, the plan involved prolonging legal cases against BNP leaders so they would remain ineligible to contest elections. “If their sentences were not overturned, they would not be able to participate even if elections were held,” he said, mentioning Tarique Rahman as an example.

Asif claimed that a full strategy had been presented to them on how to remain in power through compromise, but emphasized, “We did not agree to it.”

He also accused large corporations of hoarding fuel, alleging that parts of the BNP were involved in such syndicates. Drawing from his experience in the previous government’s purchasing committee, he questioned how a crisis could emerge within a month when reserves were supposed to last two months, suggesting involvement of individuals close to the government.

Criticizing BNP further, he alleged that the party had appointed its loyalists as administrators in various institutions, undermining democracy. “If those appointed as administrators later contest elections, what fairness remains for others?” he asked.

Asif maintained that their government remained committed to democracy and ensured elections were held fairly. “To prevent any controversy, we voluntarily resigned before the election,” he said. However, he criticized the current government for appointing two key figures from the previous administration to ministerial positions, despite earlier demands for resignations to ensure a level playing field.

NCP Joint Convener Sarwar Tushar also spoke at the event, criticizing how the study of history in Bangladesh remains confined to narrow debates—particularly over who declared independence first. He emphasized that true history encompasses the broader struggles, sacrifices, and contributions of the people. “Unfortunately, the narrative of history changes with every change in government,” he said.

Tushar expressed disappointment that despite hopes for reform following recent mass uprisings, political parties are still failing to honor their commitments to the public. He drew parallels with unimplemented reform proposals following the 1990 political transition, suggesting a similar pattern continues today.

DHAKA – A court here today set April 9 for hearing a plea to show former Feni-3 lawmaker Lt Gen (Retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury arrested in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged embezzlement of Taka 119 crore through sending workers to Malaysia.

Dhaka Senior Special Judge Court’s acting Judge Mainuddin Chowdhury passed the order, fixing the date for hearing in the presence of the accused. Earlier, Investigation Officer and ACC Assistant Director Md Abul Kalam Azad filed the plea.

The petition stated that accused Masud Uddin Chowdhury, in collusion with others, allegedly abused government authority to secure appointment as an agent for recruiting workers to Malaysia and collected fees exceeding the government-fixed rate of Taka 78,990.

The accused allegedly realised an additional Taka 119.32 crore from workers at different stages, causing unlawful financial loss. The illegally collected money was reportedly laundered through concealment, transfer and conversion, prompting the case under the Penal Code, the Money Laundering Prevention Act and anti-corruption laws.

The ACC also said showing him arrested in the case is necessary to ensure a fair investigation, as he may otherwise obstruct the probe.

Earlier, a team of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police detained Chowdhury during a raid in the Baridhara DOHS area of the capital on March 23 following a tip-off.

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Zunayed on March 24 placed him on a five-day remand in a separate case accusing him of forming a syndicate, embezzling Taka 24,000 crore and involvement in human trafficking.

Washington, D.C. — Dr. Zubaida Rahman, a prominent physician and social worker, held a meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Charles J. Harder, according to a verified Facebook post by the BNP Media Cell.

The discussion focused on key issues related to the development of future generations, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for children, and advancing sustainable progress in education and public health sectors. Particular emphasis was placed on family-based support programs, child nutrition and mental development, and fostering inclusive societies through mutual cooperation.

Among those present at the meeting were Dr. Morshed Hasan Khan, Tarek Md. Ariful Islam, Dr. Shah Muhammad Aman Ullah, Mehnaz Mannan, and D. M. Salahuddin Mahmud.

Washington, D.C. — Dr. Zubaida Rahman delivered a speech at the “Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit,” held in Washington, D.C., at the invitation of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. The two-day summit was inaugurated on Tuesday at the U.S. State Department.

Dr. Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, addressed the opening session, emphasizing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. She called on developed nations to support Bangladesh in leveraging AI responsibly to bring meaningful reforms to its education system.

She highlighted that the government is working to deliver innovative technologies and healthcare services to children at their doorsteps. “It is a great honor for me to join you all at this historic ‘Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit,’” she said, expressing gratitude to the First Lady for bringing together global leaders to focus on children’s future and shared commitments.

“We believe that the future of every nation is written in the lives of its children,” Dr. Rahman stated. “The education we provide today and the values we instill will shape the nations of tomorrow.”

Speaking from her perspective as a physician, she reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring quality healthcare for every child, with a strong emphasis not only on treatment but also on preventive care from early stages of life.

Dr. Rahman also stressed the role of technology, particularly ed-tech, in bridging the gap between urban and rural communities. She underscored the importance of ensuring the safe and ethical use of these technologies so that children can grow up in a secure and supportive environment.

On women’s empowerment, she noted Bangladesh’s strong legacy, referencing former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for her contributions to human rights and for introducing free education for girls up to the 12th grade. She added that the current government is committed to extending free education for women up to the postgraduate level.

A judicial appointee of former President Ronald Reagan on Tuesday ordered Voice of America (VOA) to rehire its employees and resume international broadcasting. The ruling from District Judge Royce C. Lamberth comes more than a year after President Trump significantly downsized the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and directed Voice of America to dismiss all but 68 employees. Lamberth said the Trump administration was in a “flagrant and nearly year-long” refusal to uphold congressional mandates by dwindling its staff and resources.

Two weeks ago, he ruled that Kari Lake was unlawfully serving as the head of USAGM. USAGM is overseen by six bipartisan House and Senate committees. Lawmakers provide funding for the independent agency which focuses on countering misinformation abroad, according to its website.

The two rulings have been celebrated by both plaintiffs, including VOA Director Michael Abramowitz who brought one of the cases against the administration. A separate lawsuit was filed by VOA’s White House bureau chief, Patsy Widakuswara, Press Freedom Editor Jessica Jerreat and USAGM’s Director of Strategy and Performance Assessment, Kate Neeper.

The latter group said it was eager to “rebuild the trust of the global audience” that the broadcaster has been unable to serve for the past year, according to the Washington Post. Officials from USAGM and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

TEHRAN – President Donald Trump said Monday the United States and Iran had held “very good” talks towards ending the three-week Middle East war, putting threatened US attacks on Iran’s power plants on hold in a stunning about-turn. In a social media post that immediately sent oil prices tumbling, Trump said Washington and Tehran had held “productive conversations” over the last two days towards “a complete and total resolution” of hostilities in the Middle East.

In Iran, media outlets quoted the foreign ministry denying any such talks and suggesting Trump was angling to bring down energy prices sent soaring by the war — with no mention of his claim on state television’s latest news bulletin.

But Trump asserted he had told the Pentagon, on the basis of talks to date, to “postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings.”

He said the US-Iranian sides would keep talking “throughout the week.”

The bombshell announcement came ahead of a Monday night ultimatum for the Islamic republic to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane — or see Trump “obliterate” its power plants.

In response, Iran had threatened to deploy naval mines in the Gulf and target power plants across the region — ramping up its rhetoric after warnings the world faced an energy crisis of historic proportions if the US-Israeli war with Iran drags on.

Tehran has retaliated against US-Israeli attacks by throttling traffic through Hormuz, conduit for a fifth of global crude, hitting energy sites and US embassies across the Gulf as well as targets in Israel. Israel hit Tehran with fresh strikes on Monday, with the latest wave reported by the military minutes after Trump’s announcement.

The head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warned overnight that, in the event of a protracted war, daily oil losses put the world on track for a crisis worse than the combined impact of both 1970s oil shocks and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Oil prices have been driven above $100 a barrel by the conflict — and they tumbled sharply after Trump’s announcement, while and European stocks rebounded. International benchmark Brent North Sea crude plunged more than 14 percent to $96.00 per barrel, while the main US oil contract West Texas Intermediate shed more than 14 percent to $84.37 per barrel.

Sign of the conflict’s tentacular impact, the world’s second economy China had said earlier Monday it was capping domestic fuel cost increases to mitigate the effect of surging oil prices.

Weighing in before Trump’s post, China’s foreign ministry had warned of an “uncontrollable situation” should the war expand further. Key Iran ally Russia meanwhile called after Trump’s announcement for an “immediate cessation of hostilities”.

In a call with Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi, Russia’s Sergei Lavrov called for “a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran,” the Russian foreign ministry said.

The US president had offered varying timelines and objectives for the war, saying Friday he was considering “winding down” the operation — only to later threaten Iran’s power plants, of which it has more than 90.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has yet to comment on Trump’s announcement, has spoken of a long-term campaign against Iran’s government, a state sponsor of Hamas, which launched the October 7, 2023 attack triggering the Gaza war.

In Lebanon, Israel has also expanded its ground campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah, warning of “weeks of fighting” there. The Lebanon violence has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than a million, according to the health ministry.

On Monday Israel’s military said it was working to intercept a new salvo of missiles from Iran — while confirming its own artillery fire had killed an Israeli civilian a day earlier near the Lebanese border.

In Iran, at least 3,230 people have died in the war, including 1,406 civilians, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. AFP is not able to access the sites of strikes nor independently verify tolls in Iran.

The United States Department of State has temporarily suspended the issuance of visas for citizens of Bangladesh. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka announced this in a statement on Monday (March 23). According to the embassy, it is the responsibility of the U.S. government to protect taxpayers’ interests and ensure that immigrants do not misuse public welfare benefits after entering the country. A recent review found that the usage rate of such benefits is comparatively higher among citizens of certain countries, and Bangladesh is included in that list.

The objectives behind this decision include reducing pressure on public welfare programs, safeguarding taxpayer funds, and reassessing immigration policies. This suspension is not limited to immigrant visas only. It also includes Tourist visas, Student visas and other non-immigrant visas

The statement further mentioned that this temporary suspension will allow for a comprehensive review of the visa screening and selection process. The goal is to ensure that future policies prioritize the interests of U.S. citizens. It is worth noting that no specific timeline has yet been announced regarding how long this suspension will remain in effect or when normal visa services will resume.

DHAKA – The government has issued directives to properly follow the National Flag Rules enacted in 1972 (amended in 2010) as it is the duty of every citizen to follow the guidelines for the proper use of the national flag. An official handout issued today said hoisting of the national flag is mandatory on the Great Independence and National Day as well as on other days designated by the government.

According to constitution, the national flag shall consist of a red circle on a green background. The flag rules further specify that the color of the flag shall be dark green with a red circle in the middle. The flag shall be rectangular in shape with proportions of 10×6 (length × width), featuring the red circle centered within the dark green field.

The radius of the circle shall be one-fifth of the length of the flag. Depending on the size of buildings, three standard flag sizes are used: 10×6, 5×3, and 2.5×1.5. The rules state that the flag must not be used to cover any part of motor vehicles, trains, or vessels, including their body, front, or rear. No other flag or colored flag may be flown above the national flag of Bangladesh. When displayed on a wall (other than on a pole), the flag must be placed flat against the surface.

In public auditoriums or meetings, the flag should be positioned behind the speaker at a higher level. If displayed across a street, it must be hung vertically. The national flag must not be lowered or allowed to touch the ground, including in cemeteries.

It must never be carried horizontally or flat; it should always be held aloft and free. The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered with due respect. During formal flag hoisting ceremonies, the national anthem must be sung simultaneously. When the anthem is played and the flag is displayed, all present must stand facing the flag, while uniformed personnel should salute. When displayed on a motor vehicle, the flagstaff must be securely fixed to the chassis or radiator cap clamp. Nothing may be written or inscribed on the national flag.

DHAKA – A one-minute symbolic blackout will be observed across the country on the night of March 25. The blackout will take place from 10:30 pm to 10:31 pm nationwide, said an official handout today.

However, key point installations (KPIs), emergency facilities, and foreign missions located in Bangladesh will remain outside the purview of the blackout.

YouTube has signed a new global partnership with FIFA that will position the platform as a preferred digital destination for content tied to the upcoming World Cup. The agreement is designed to expand how fans access tournament content across TV, mobile devices and social video formats, bringing official footage, archival material and creator-led coverage together on the platform.

“By spotlighting FIFA’s premium content and unlocking new opportunities for media partners and creators, this agreement will engage global fans in ways never seen before,” said FIFA secretary general, Mattias Grafström.

Under the deal, FIFA will release portions of its digital archive on its official YouTube channel, including full-length matches and historic moments from previous World Cups. The move is intended to build anticipation ahead of the event while giving fans access to decades of tournament footage.

The partnership also introduces new distribution opportunities for official broadcast rights holders. Media partners—including Bell Media in Canada—will be able to publish extended highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, Shorts and on-demand video on their own YouTube channels, with monetization options tied to the platform’s advertising ecosystem.

Live sports has traditionally been a safeguard against the steady flow of advertising dollars from traditional broadcasters to the digital giants, but short-form sports content on channels like YouTube and Tiktok is gaining in popularity, with fans, particularly Gen Z, increasingly consuming highlight clips online rather than watching full matches. FIFA’s official YouTube channel has 24.7 million subscribers and more than 12,000 videos.

For the first time in the competition’s history, participating broadcasters will also have the option to live stream the opening 10 minutes of every match on YouTube, offering fans a preview of the action while directing viewers to full broadcasts on their primary platforms. A limited number of full matches may also be streamed directly on YouTube as part of the agreement.

The initiative also places creators at the centre of tournament coverage. A global group of yet-to-be-announced YouTube creators will receive access to matches, players and other behind-the-scenes moments, producing commentary, tactical analysis and storytelling content designed for digital audiences.

“As the world’s attention turns to the action in Canada, Mexico and the United States, this collaboration with YouTube reinforces our ambition to maximize the tournament’s impact across the ever-evolving media landscape, offering fans everywhere easy access to an immersive view of the biggest single-sport event in history,” Grafström said.

The YouTube partnership follows FIFA’s partnership with TikTok, also as a preferred platform. TikTok will have access to new original content that will bring the World Cup to life beyond90-minute matches, including curated clips, and special World Cup content. A creator program will give “a select group of global TikTok creators” access to behind-the-scenes moments like press conferences and training sessions, while a larger group will be given new access to FIFA archival footage.

The collaboration signals FIFA’s broader strategy to extend the tournament’s footprint beyond traditional broadcast. For YouTube, the deal reinforces the platform’s growing role as a distribution hub for live sports and sports-adjacent content, particularly around major global events.

“Whether you’re a hardcore or a casual fan, this partnership will help usher in the next generation of fans while showcasing that no other platform unites the world around major moments like YouTube,” said Justin Connolly, vice-president and global head of media and sports at YouTube.