SYLHET, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - A farmer lost his life after being struck by lightning while grazing cattle in Gowainghat upazila of the district on Wednesday morning. The deceased, Upendra Nam, 45, son of Rajni Nam of Chowdhury Kandi village in Nandirgaon union, was bringing his cattle to the Chowdhury Khal Naya Khadar field near his home around 9 am when the incident occurred. Local Union Parishad member Matiur Rahman confirmed the tragic incident.
TOKYO, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron praised Europe's "predictability" during a visit to Japan on Wednesday, contrasting it with countries that "could hurt you without even informing you" in an apparent swipe at Donald Trump. "I'm well aware that sometimes Europe can be seen as a continent that is slower than others," Macron told an audience of Japanese business leaders and investors in Tokyo. "But predictability has value, and we have demonstrated that over all these past years and, dare I say, even these past weeks: we are where you know we will go," he added. - Energy crisis -Following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo Wednesday, Macron spoke of their cooperation in the face of the "current energy crisis". This is why... we both advocate the return to peace, to a ceasefire, to calm, and to the free movement of people and goods through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman Khan. File PhotoDHAKA, April 1, 2026 (BSS) – The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is set to propose a further hike in the excise duty exemption limit, currently capped at Taka 3 lakh, as part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of doing business and provide financial relief to taxpayers. NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan today indicated that the move follows a series of reforms aimed at streamlining the tax system. Under the existing fiscal policy, he mentioned that the NBR provides an excise duty exemption for balances up to Taka 3 lakh. He recommended a 100% tax exemption on all expenditures related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), challenging the current regulatory treatment of these funds.
NAIROBI, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Explosions that ripped through the city of Bujumbura after a fire in a military arsenal have killed several dozen people in the Burundian economic capital, security sources told AFP on Wednesday. "It is impossible to establish a toll for the moment, but dozens and dozens of people have been killed, and there are hundreds or even thousands of injured," a high ranking army officer told AFP on Wednesday. "There are dozens of dead, but the toll may be higher," the senior police officer told AFP. The senior police officer, who joined the firefighting team late Tuesday, said efforts were immediately slowed by a water shortage. On social media, dozens of posts showed children being searched for by parents who lost track of them while fleeing.
HSIA 3rd terminal -File photoBy Tanzim AnwarDHAKA, April 1, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh is poised to unlock the long-delayed third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) as fresh negotiations with a Japanese consortium enter a decisive phase following submission of a revised, lower-cost proposal. The CAAB official indicated that the meeting could be decisive, with expectations that a final agreement may be reached shortly after. “A final agreement is expected to be reached next week following the April 3rd meeting,” he added. From prolonged delay to renewed momentumThe third terminal over 99 percent complete has remained non-operational for years due to unresolved management and operational arrangements. With revised pricing now on the table and high-level political engagement intensifying, officials said the process has entered its final stretch.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury today outlined a comprehensive strategy to navigate what he described as a ‘triple crisis’ facing the national economy, emphasizing a shift from debt-dependency to an investment-led growth model while prioritizing social inclusion in the upcoming budget. The Minister stressed that resource mobilization is critical, as the government cannot implement its commitments without securing adequate revenue. To foster a conducive environment, the Minister highlighted several reforms including policy stability, deregulation and financial discipline. Regarding international status, the Minister confirmed that the process for LDC (Least Developed Country) graduation is ongoing.
Sundarbans would be freed from pirates at any cost: Faridul IslamState Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam today spoke at Burigoalini Government Primary School ground in Shatkhira. Photo: BSSSATKHIRA, April 1 (BSS) - State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam today said that the government is determined to make the Sundarbans free from pirates at any cost. He made the remarks while inaugurating the honey collection season at Burigoalini Government Primary School ground under Shyamnagar upazila of the district. “Whenever the pirates detain fishermen in the Sundarbans, the transactions take place in nearby localities either in Khulna, Satkhira, or Bagerhat. Honey collection in the Sundarbans has been a tradition for 166 years.
NEW DELHI, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - India will tour Zimbabwe for three T20internationals in July, the country's cricket board said Wednesday, packingmore matches into their already-busy calendar. The matches will all be played in Harare -- on July 23, 25 and 26 -- beforethe teams meet again in January next year for three ODI matches in India. India last toured Zimbabwe in 2024, winning a five-match T20 series 4-1. Top-ranked India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, won the T20 World Cup last monthat home. Zimbabwe are a lowly 11th in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankingsbut were a surprise package at the World Cup, topping their group to make itthrough to the second stage.
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A major Kuwaiti bank said it will close its headquarters in the capital for two days starting Wednesday, as Iran carries out daily strikes on the Gulf more than one month into the Middle East war. "National Bank of Kuwait will close its headquarters and Subhan branch today, Wednesday, and tomorrow, due to current developments and in the interest of everyone's safety and business continuity," the bank said in a statement carried by state news agency Kuna. Earlier on Wednesday, Kuwait's civil aviation authority said the airport had been targeted in an Iranian drone attack that led to "a large fire" at fuel tanks. The oil-rich Gulf states have borne the brunt of Iran's attacks in response to the US-Israeli strikes that sparked the war. Tehran has threatened to target vital infrastructure across the Gulf, including energy sites.
Earlier, 58,457 metric tons of wheat arrived in the country through the first shipment, and 62,150 metric tons through the second shipment under the G2G agreement. The testing of wheat samples on the ship has begun, and arrangements are in place for the swift unloading of the 61,000 metric tons of wheat. 29,450 metric tons will be offloaded at Chattogram, with the remaining 31,550 metric tons at Mongla Port. All 467,884 metric tons of wheat under G2G-01 and G2G-02 agreements have arrived in the country, out of which 237,845 metric tons are under G2G-01 and 230,039 metric tons under G2G-02. The country's total wheat demand is around 7 million metric tons, with domestic production at 1 million metric tons.
TOKYO, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Japanese and South Korean stock indexes soared in early trade on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump indicated that the war with Iran may end in around two weeks. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 3.29 percent to 52,742.62, and South Korea's benchmark Kospi rose 4.83 percent to 5,296.29 points. Trump said on Tuesday that US forces would end operations in Iran "very soon", adding that he thought the military would leave "within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer". Wall Street stocks had already rocketed higher on Tuesday after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the president of the European Council that Tehran had the "necessary will" to end the war provided its enemies guaranteed it would not flare up again. They appeared to shrug off subsequent remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the more than month-long military campaign against Tehran was not over, vowing to crush Iran's "terror regime".
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