News Desk: A prominent London-based law firm has challenged the prosecution and death sentence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, directly contesting the legality and fairness of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) proceedings. Kingsley Napley, known for its work in criminal litigation, extradition and white-collar crime, has filed a detailed objection against the proceedings of the ICT, which on Nov 17, 2025 sentenced Hasina to death in absentia.

The three-member ICT bench, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, found her guilty of crimes against humanity linked to the violent state crackdown on student-led protests in July and August 2024.

The conviction covered multiple charges, including incitement, ordering killings and failing to prevent atrocities. In a 10-page letter sent on Monday, Kingsley Napley described the trial as “fundamentally incompatible with basic international standards for fairness and due process”.

Acting on Hasina’s behalf, the firm argued the case unfolded in a “hostile environment”, pointing to the banning of the Awami League’s political activities under anti-terror legislation in May 2025 and alleged intimidation of its legal team. The letter reads, “Sheikh Hasina has been prosecuted and sentenced in absentia for capital offences in proceedings that… violate her fundamental rights under international law.

“This correspondence does not constitute acceptance of, submission to, or recognition of the legitimacy of these proceedings as currently constituted.”

A central claim in the filing is the alleged lack of judicial independence. The firm says the ICT bench was reconstituted in October 2024 with judges said to have “overt political affiliations to opposition parties”.

It highlights Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud’s appointment to the High Court just six days before joining the tribunal, alleging he had “pre-determined Sheikh Hasina’s guilt”.

Citing a reported August 2025 courtroom exchange, the lawyers say Justice Shafiul told state-appointed defence counsel, “You’ll try your best to save your clients from the gallows”, arguing this suggests the verdict was a “foregone conclusion”.

The firm also questions the neutrality of former chief prosecutor Md Tajul Islam, noting his past role as defence counsel for senior Jamaat-e-Islami figures and his participation in rallies calling for an Awami League ban during the trial.

Beyond alleged bias, the objection challenges the ICT’s jurisdiction. It argues amendments made in August 2024 to extend the tribunal’s mandate beyond 1971 war crimes to include the July-August 2024 protests amount to an “unlawful expansion” and a “legal impossibility”.

Kingsley Napley says such cases should be handled under the regular criminal justice system, warning that imposing the death penalty after flawed proceedings amounts to “summary execution” under international law.

The firm has demanded the verdict be “immediately set aside as legally void” and sought a response within 14 days, cautioning that Hasina may pursue remedies through international human rights bodies. Authorities have defended the trial as essential for justice over the July killings.

DHAKA  – Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has requested the United States to grant Bangladesh a special waiver to import refined diesel and other petroleum products from Russian sources to ease energy pressures. The request was made during a meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright at the Department of Energy in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, according to a message received here today.

During the talks, the foreign minister highlighted Bangladesh’s ongoing energy challenges stemming from global supply chain disruptions, particularly ahead of the critical planting season, and stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply for farmers and safeguard food security.

Rahman explained that Bangladesh could not take advantage of the earlier limited world-wide waiver by US on Russian oil at sea since none of the tankers were bound for Bangladesh at that time. Besides, the two sides discussed the options to buy more refined oil out of Russian crude from third countries to meet immediate need.

US Energy Secretary Wright acknowledged the energy challenges Bangladesh is facing and expressed his country’s commitment to support Bangladesh during these difficult times to help ensure its energy security.

He said the US will positively consider the requests of Bangladesh and assured that he and his team would work closely with the relevant departments of the US government to this end. The two sides also discussed longer-term cooperation for sustainable energy solutions for Bangladesh and the prospects of increasing procurement of US energy products.

Secretary Chris Wright was assisted by Chief of Staff to the Secretary Carl Cole, Senior Advisor to the Secretary Audrey Robertson, Senior Advisor to the Secretary Andrew Rapp, Director, Office of Asian Affairs Margaux Murali and Fellow, Office of Asian Affairs Hamna Khan. From Bangladesh side, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Deputy Chief of Mission DM Salahuddin Mahmud and Economic Minister Dr. Md. Fazle Rabbi attended the meeting with the Foreign Minister.

SANGSAD BHABAN – Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today said the government has started preliminary work to fulfill its commitments to the people as they are the source of all political power. “Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) believes that the people of this country are the source of all political power. The present government has already started the preliminary work to implement the promises made to them,” he said.

The premier said this while replying to a supplementary question from treasury bench member from Patuakhali-4 constituency ABM Mosharrof Hossain in the House with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the chair. Highlighting the role of elected public representatives, he said all programmes will be presented gradually in parliament by the lawmakers, who have been elected through a neutral election and to be implemented accordingly.

Criticizing past political parties for making empty promises, the Leader of the House said, “In the past, many political parties made various promises, and some even distributed tickets”.

“However, the mandate given by the people in the last election has proven that people have spontaneously supported BNP’s welfare-oriented plans, including ‘Family Card’ and ‘Farmer Card’,” he added. Expressing gratitude to the countrymen, Tarique Rahman said, the government will fully honour the trust placed by the people on it. “We are firmly committed to fulfilling every promise made to them with our highest efforts,” he added.

SANGSAD BHABAN – Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman today said that all reform initiatives must be implemented within the framework of the Constitution, stressing that the constitution remains the supreme legal foundation of the state and parliament. He said this while taking part in a discussion on the motion for summoning the session of the Constitution Reform Council in parliament today.

Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman placed the motion in the House under the Section 62 of the Rules of Procedure for summoning the session of the Constitution Reform Council in line with July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025. The Law Minister said that opposition members who questioned the legitimacy of the constitutional process should carefully read the relevant ordinance and provisions.

He said the July Charter is the central focus of current political discourse and that it represents the public mandate following the July 24 mass uprising. “The people have given us the mandate to conduct all activities under the constitution and bring necessary reforms through parliament,” he said.

The law minister explained that the July Charter outlines reform measures that must be adopted through parliamentary processes rather than through extra-constitutional means.High lighting key constitutional commitments in the July Charter, Asaduzzaman referred to provisions on women’s representation and the proposal to appoint a deputy speaker from the opposition.

He noted that the government had demonstrated commitment to democratic values by offering the deputy speaker position to the opposition in line with the July Charter spirit.

The minister stressed that the Constitution is deeply connected with the sacrifices of the Liberation War martyrs and the democratic struggles of the people, adding that the constitution has been amended at different times to restore democracy, judicial independence and multi-party governance.

He recalled the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991 under Begum Khaleda Zia and said that constitutional continuity and democratic reform have always been achieved through parliamentary processes. “Our commitment is to move forward through constitutional amendments in line with the July Charter and the people’s mandate,” he added.

Asaduzzaman further stated that any order or directive without constitutional backing cannot be treated as law, explaining that ordinances issued under Article 93 of the constitution carry legal validity, whereas other orders without constitutional authority cannot bind parliament. He emphasized that parliament is sovereign in law-making and cannot be compelled by unauthorized orders.

The law minister also highlighted historical precedents, noting that many countries adopted constitutions through political consensus and parliamentary processes. He said Bangladesh must follow the same path by amending the constitution through a parliamentary committee and democratic deliberation.

Welcoming the proposal to form a special parliamentary committee on constitutional reform, he urged the Speaker to constitute a committee where all parties can discuss and analyze the July Charter provisions and bring a constitutional amendment accordingly.

“The July Charter should guide reforms, but all actions must be taken through constitutional and parliamentary procedures,” he said, adding that national unity and democratic consensus are essential for sustainable constitutional reform.

DHAKA – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the Education Ministry to explore alternative measures to ease traffic congestion in the capital during school hours. The premier came up with the directive at a meeting with Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj at the Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said possible ways to reduce traffic congestion in city during school hours and what alternative arrangements could be introduced for this were discussed in the meeting.

“The Prime Minister asked the ministry to prepare proposals in this regard,” he added. Explaining the matter, Ruman said, “For example, it has been observed that around 100 cars crowd in front of a school for 150 students, causing serious traffic jams and difficulties for students to reach their institutions”.

The premier advised the minister to address these issues and find alternatives. After the meeting with the education minister, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku and State Minister Aninda Islam Amit also met the Prime Minister. Subsequently, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan also called on the Prime Minister.

DHAKA – The newly-formed government of Bangladesh has received congratulations and full support from 47 countries during discussions on Bangladesh at the 356th Governing Body session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. The countries expressed their commitment to work in cooperation with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government, which assumed office with a public mandate through a free, fair and credible election, according to a message received here Today.

The discussion also addressed a case filed in June 2019 under Article 26 of the ILO Constitution by five worker representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation, accusing the then government of failing to comply with Conventions 81, 87, and 98.

In response, the previous government submitted a five-year labour sector reform roadmap to the ILO Governing Body in 2021. Progress on the roadmap has been reviewed in eight Governing Body sessions over the past five years, and the current government today presented the ninth progress report.

Representatives from all participating countries voiced their support for the current government. Of the 56-member Governing Body, 19 member states, 28 countries from two regional groups, and employers’ representatives praised the new government’s strong commitment to legal and administrative reforms in the labour sector and urged the rapid settlement of the ongoing case.

Bangladesh’s delegation included Minister of Labour, Employment, and Expatriates’ Welfare Ariful Haque Chowdhury and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Labour, Employment, and Education Mahdi Amin. Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to Geneva Nahida Sobhan and Secretary of Labour Abdur Rahman Tarafdar were also present.

At the outset of the discussion, Adviser Mahdi Amin conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to all Governing Body members and highlighted the Prime Minister’s personal commitment to labour rights, worker protection, and social justice. He noted that the Bangladeshi people had given the government a strong electoral mandate emphasizing citizens’ rights, human rights, rule of law, freedom of speech, broad-based employment creation, quality education, skills development, and merit-based growth. The adviser said these priorities align with the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda.

He also informed the session that a parliamentary special committee had been formed to enact the Bangladesh Labour Law Amendment Ordinance 2025 and assured that the government would expedite the process. He stressed that the government is positively disposed toward amendments developed through tripartite discussions, which will enable inclusive, sustainable, and employment-driven development.

Reaffirming Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s firm commitment to institutionalizing democracy, strengthening democratic values, and ensuring workers’ rights, the adviser sought continued support from the ILO and other stakeholders. After extensive discussions, it was unanimously decided that the next session on the case will be held in March next year.

DHAKA – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today called on athletes not to be affiliated with any political party or group during professional sports tenure, saying rather they should represent the country through sporting excellence. “In your (sports persons) professional sports career, you should not get involved with any political party or group, rather represent the country through your sporting excellence,” he said.

The prime minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the sports card and allowance distribution programme at his office here this morning. Tarique Rahman also urged the sports persons to lead Bangladesh to a higher position in the global sports arena by winning games at home and abroad. “I believe that if you have patriotism, a strong will, and team spirit, no one can stand in your way of successful progress,” he said.

The premier said that sports is no longer just a matter of hobby, entertainment, or physical exercise, but is now recognized as a profession worldwide. “Bangladesh will also not lag behind. Before the 2026 national election, we pledged in our party manifesto that if the BNP gets the opportunity to run the state through people’s mandate, we would establish sports as a profession. The implementation phase of that promise formally began today,” he added.

Noting that defeat does not mean losing, but is part of victory, Tarique Rahman quoted Albert Einstein as saying: “A person who has never been defeated has never done anything”.

He said the government has started implementing a plan to bring sportspersons under a structured salary framework based on a specific policy so that they can pursue sports professionally without financial uncertainty for themselves and their families.

“For the first time in the country’s history, athletes are being brought under a salary structure and provided with sports allowances,” the premier said.

Highlighting the government’s other initiatives to improve the living standards of the countrymen, he said his government has already introduced Family Card, honorarium allowances for imams, khatibs and religious leaders of other faiths, and a nationwide canal excavation programme.

The prime minister also said that the government is set to launch the ‘Farmers Card’ programme on April 14 from Tangail district. Stating that the government is implementing its commitments step by step, he said, “As part of that continuity, the ‘Sports Card’ has been launched today”.

Tarique Rahman said physically challenged individuals who are capable of contributing to sports will also receive sports cards. Under the theme “Sports for All”, he said the government has taken all initiatives to ensure facilities for underprivileged groups and persons with special needs, who want to participate in sports, both at home and abroad.

Highlighting the government’s plans, the premier said a wide range of programmes has been undertaken to establish sports as a profession. Noting that cricket and football are currently the most popular sports in the country, he said apart from these, there are many other sports like archery, boxing, yoga, gymnastics, carrom, weightlifting, wushu, swimming, para swimming, athletics, para athletics, karate, sepak takraw, table tennis, kabaddi, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, bridge, futsal and badminton.

“If these sports are supported by the government and private sector, those also can bring honor to the country,” he said. Tarique Rahman also mentioned that Bangladesh recently became champions in SAFF women’s futsal for the first time. He said the government has started implementing short, medium, and long-term plans to develop sports as profession. A plan has been taken to make sports compulsory from grade four in the education curriculum to ensure involvement of interested students in sports along with their studies, the premier added.

“We want our children to become interested and skilled in sports alongside their studies,” he said, adding that the Education Ministry has already begun revising the curriculum accordingly. Stating that ‘Notun Kuri Sports’, a talent hunt programme, is going to be launched nationwide in a new format, the prime minister said, “In independent Bangladesh, ‘Notun Kuri’ was initiated in 1976 to find out talented children and adolescents in different fields,”.

Although this popular programme of Bangladesh Television (BTV) was closed for many years at one point, the programme has now been re-launched on BTV, he said. ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ is going to be launched nationwide from Sylhet on April 30 to find sports talent among children and adolescents in a different way, he added.

Earlier, the premier inaugurated the sports card and allowance programmes around 10:30am. He launched the allowance programme by pressing a button on a laptop when an amount of Taka 100,000 was instantly transferred to each athlete’s accounts through Sonali Bank’s online system.

On the occasion, Tarique Rahman handed over sports cards to 129 athletes and honoured athletes who achieved success at the international level. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke at the function as the guest of honour with State Minister for Sports and Youth Md Aminul Haque in the chair. Sports and Youth Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam delivered the welcome address.

Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, Land Minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Adviser Md Ismail Zabiullah, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam and BNP Vice Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon were present on the occasion, among others. After the inaugural ceremony, the prime minister took part in a photo session with the athletes outside the Shapla Hall.

New York: The 2026 FIFA World Cup, widely regarded as the largest sporting event in human history, is set to kick off on June 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking a historic expansion of the global football spectacle. The tournament will run through July 19 and, for the first time, will feature 48 teams instead of the traditional 32, ushering in a new era for international football.

Under the revamped format, the 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a newly introduced Round of 32. As a result, the total number of matches will rise from 64 to 104, played over a span of 39 days, making this the longest and most extensive World Cup ever.

The opening match will take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where hosts Mexico will face South Africa. Canada will begin its campaign on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto, while the United States will also play its opening match the same day at SoFi Stadium in California. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will be temporarily branded as the “New York/New Jersey Stadium” for the duration of the tournament.

A total of 16 host cities have been selected and divided into three geographic regions across North America. Matches in the western region will take place in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, while the central region includes Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, and Kansas City. The eastern region will host games in Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, and the New York/New Jersey area. Among the venues, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will host the most matches, with nine games scheduled, while MetLife Stadium will host eight matches, including the final.

The United States will host the majority of the tournament, with 78 matches, including all games from the quarterfinal stage onward. Canada and Mexico will each host 13 matches. The knockout phase will begin with the Round of 32 on June 28, followed by the Round of 16 from July 4–6, quarterfinals from July 9–11, semifinals on July 14–15, the third-place match on July 18, and the final on July 19.

The group stage draw for the tournament took place on December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C., setting the stage for several high-profile matchups. Among the notable fixtures, Spain will face Cape Verde on June 15, Argentina will begin its campaign against Algeria on June 16, and England will take on Croatia on June 17. Other anticipated clashes include Belgium versus Iran on June 21 and Brazil against Scotland on June 24 in Miami. The United States will open its tournament against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium.

As host nations, the United States, Canada, and Mexico automatically qualify for the tournament. They will be joined by a diverse lineup of teams from across the globe, including leading football nations from Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, making it one of the most internationally representative tournaments ever.

This edition will be historic not only for its expanded format but also for being the first World Cup jointly hosted by three countries and the first ever to take place in Canada. North America has previously hosted the tournament in 1970 and 1986 in Mexico and in 1994 in the United States, but never on this scale.

With 16 cities, 104 matches, and some of the world’s most advanced stadiums, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be the most ambitious and spectacular edition in the tournament’s 96-year history. For football fans in the New York region and beyond, the chance to witness the final at MetLife Stadium, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, represents a rare and historic opportunity. The countdown to kickoff has officially begun.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday said the government is considering to reinstate a traditional uniform for the Bangladesh Police, as many members of the force are reportedly dissatisfied with the current attire. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after the basic training closing parade of the 43rd BCS (Police) batch at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi on Saturday.

The minister attended the event as chief guest and noted that discussions on the uniform are ongoing at the highest levels of government. Emphasizing equality before the law, Salahuddin Ahmed said the country is undergoing a significant transformation, placing greater responsibility on law enforcement officials. He urged police officers to carry out their duties with honesty, efficiency, and professionalism, while maintaining humane conduct and deep respect for the law. “Discipline, chain of command, loyalty, and coordinated leadership are the core strengths of any force,” he said. “In the eyes of the law, everyone is equal, whether a political activist or an ordinary farmer.”

Highlighting the role of police in ensuring the rule of law, the minister stressed that the force must remain free from political influence. “The government believes the police should not serve any political party or group. Our goal is to build a modern, service-oriented, and people-friendly police force,” he said, adding that steps have already been taken to increase manpower.

He also announced that efforts are underway to establish an independent and robust Police Reform Commission aimed at safeguarding the force from political interference. At the beginning of his speech, the minister paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War, freedom fighters, the proclaimer of independence Ziaur Rahman, and those killed during the July mass uprising.

Earlier, he took the salute and inspected the parade, and later distributed awards among trainees for outstanding performance in various categories. A total of 80 officers participated in the training program, which began on March 1, 2025. Of them, 72 successfully completed the course. Among the graduates, six were female cadre officers and 66 were male.

The closing parade ceremony was attended by Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Members of Parliament from various constituencies, and other senior government officials.

New York: The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested several undocumented immigrants involved in serious criminal activities across the United States in a recent enforcement operation, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Authorities said the individuals were either convicted or accused of grave offenses, including child abuse, rape, sexual violence, drug trafficking, fraud, and assault. Among those detained are several Bangladeshi nationals, whose names, photos, and alleged crimes have been প্রকাশ on the official DHS website.

In a statement, Lauren Vees, Deputy Assistant Secretary at DHS, confirmed that law enforcement agencies targeted individuals involved in dangerous and violent crimes. She emphasized that those who harm vulnerable individuals, particularly children, or pose a threat to public safety should not be allowed to remain in the country.

According to DHS data, Kazi Abu Sayeed was arrested in Fort Scott, Kansas, facing charges of exploiting a minor as well as operating illegal gambling activities. Shahed Hasan was detained in Raleigh, North Carolina, on allegations of carrying a concealed weapon and committing theft. In Buffalo, New York, Mohammad Ahmed was arrested over accusations of sexual assault and other related offenses, while MD Hossain was taken into custody in Queens, New York, also on allegations of sexual abuse.

Elsewhere, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed was apprehended in Chantilly, Virginia, for alleged involvement in marijuana distribution and possession of hallucinogenic substances. Nawaz Khan was arrested in Marlin, Texas, in connection with serious drug-related offenses. Shahriar Abir was taken into custody in Pensacola, Florida, on theft charges, while Alamgir Chowdhury was arrested in Mount Clemens, Michigan, accused of credit card fraud.

Authorities further reported that Ishtiaq Rafi was detained in Manassas, Virginia, facing charges related to weapons violations and possession of synthetic drugs. In Phoenix, Arizona, Kanak Parvez was arrested on allegations of fraud.

DHS stated that these arrests were part of coordinated operations carried out by ICE along with federal law enforcement partners, as part of ongoing efforts to identify and remove individuals involved in serious criminal conduct from the United States.