Police in Chattogram’s Bayezid area have arrested Sadeq Abdullah, a leader linked to the July Movement, in connection with a case filed by the Muniria Youth Tabligh, a religious organization based in Raozan. The case involves allegations of bribing a prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal. Bayezid police said Abdullah was wanted under a court warrant issued in the case and would be handed over to Raozan police.

The Muniria Youth Tabligh, associated with the Awami League, has long faced criticism for alleged land grabbing, intimidation, and militant activities under a religious guise. Its leader, Munir Ullah, has been accused of various irregularities. Abdullah, a student of Haji Muhammad Mohsin College and linked to Islami Chhatra Shibir, was an active participant in the 2024 July–August student movement.

Family members and political figures, including a senior official of the National Citizen Party, condemned the arrest, calling it politically motivated and demanding Abdullah’s release within 24 hours. Police maintained that the arrest was carried out strictly under judicial orders.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh has described the verdict in the Abu Sayeed murder case as a significant advancement in the judicial process. The party made the statement on Thursday, emphasizing that the ruling marks progress in addressing the killing of students and civilians during the July uprising. It also urged the government to swiftly arrest the fugitives still at large.

Party joint secretary general and spokesperson Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman said only two of the 25 accused have been arrested, while the rest remain absconding. The tribunal sentenced two police officers to death and handed various prison terms to 25 individuals, including a former assistant police commissioner, a former metropolitan police commissioner, and the vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University. Rahman noted that the tribunal’s verdict represents only the first stage of the legal process, with further hearings expected in higher courts.

He added that the government must act more sincerely to apprehend the convicts and ensure justice. Rahman also expressed concern over the lack of visible progress in arresting the political masterminds behind the July killings.

Two parliamentary by-elections in Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 concluded under the BNP government with BNP candidates winning both seats. In Bogura-6, BNP’s Rezaul Karim Badsha secured 133,516 votes, defeating Jamaat’s Abidur Rahman Sohel by 76,611 votes. In Sherpur-3, BNP’s Mahmudul Haque Rubel won by a margin of 118,966 votes, while Jamaat’s candidate Masudur Rahman withdrew midday citing irregularities. The Sherpur-3 election had been postponed earlier following the death of a Jamaat candidate during the campaign.

Voting in both constituencies was largely peaceful, though isolated incidents occurred. In Sherpur, six individuals were detained for alleged fake voting, and two police officers were injured while controlling unrest. Jamaat’s Masudur Rahman alleged ballot fraud and the expulsion of his polling agents, claims denied by BNP’s Rubel, who said the election was fair and well-secured. Election officials reported no written complaints regarding the boycott.

In Bogura, minor irregularities were reported, including a presiding officer collecting early signatures on result sheets, later deemed a procedural mistake. Authorities described the overall voting process as peaceful and orderly.

BNP-nominated candidate Mahmudul Haque Rubel has won the Sherpur-3 parliamentary by-election by a margin of more than three times his nearest rival’s votes. The unofficial results were announced by Returning Officer and District Election Officer Mohammad Jahangir Alam at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the district election office.

According to the declared results, Rubel, who contested under the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, secured 166,117 votes. His closest competitor, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Md. Masudur Rahman, received 47,051 votes. The announcement confirmed a decisive victory for the BNP in this constituency.

The report also mentioned that BNP candidates achieved victories in both Bogura and Sherpur constituencies, while opposition parties in parliament criticized alleged irregularities in the two elections.

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman accused the BNP government of adopting fascist practices, citing Thursday’s two-seat by-elections as evidence. Speaking at a press briefing at the National Parliament complex on Thursday night, he said the elections showed no change in political behavior and condemned the killings of two local Jamaat leaders in Sherpur. He demanded justice through the Speaker and criticized the government for undermining democratic norms.

Dr. Rahman said the opposition had raised objections to several bills in Parliament, arguing that some sought to curtail citizens’ rights, weaken the Supreme Court’s authority, and damage the electoral system. He alleged that ministers were given unlimited time to speak while opposition members faced restrictions. The opposition walked out in protest but did not boycott Parliament, pledging to continue representing public interests.

He further warned that the BNP’s approach to local government appointments and judicial control could lead to a one-party system similar to past authoritarian models, vowing to resist any return to fascism with public support.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the initiation of direct talks with Lebanon. He stated that Lebanon had requested to sit for direct discussions, prompting him to instruct that the process begin as soon as possible.

The directive comes despite continued Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon following a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. According to the report, Israeli attacks on Beirut and other areas have resulted in 203 deaths and at least 1,000 injuries as of Wednesday. The situation remains tense as regional actors respond to the escalating violence.

The report cites Al Jazeera as the source of information, indicating that the developments are unfolding rapidly amid heightened regional tensions.

In Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Thursday, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain stated that if the Supreme Court verdict declaring him the elected mayor was considered invalid, then the entire interim government should also be declared illegal. His remarks came in response to an allegation from Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, who claimed Ishraq had demanded recognition as a legitimate mayor from an election held during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.

The discussion arose during a point of order while debating the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Bill. Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam questioned the circumstances under which Ishraq was declared mayor and why he was not sworn in despite a Supreme Court ruling and a gazette notification. Nahid Islam later clarified that he had resigned from the interim government before Ishraq’s 2025 protest and requested correction of what he called false information.

Speaker Nurul Islam Moni allowed Ishraq to respond, after which he reiterated that his mayoral verdict had been upheld by a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad has emphasized that the government’s image is closely tied to the management of Hajj and warned that any negligence will not be tolerated. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ashkona Hajj Camp in Dhaka to review overall preparations for this year’s pilgrimage. The minister said this year’s Hajj is the first under the current government and must be managed more efficiently and beautifully than in the past.

Kaikobad described pilgrims as guests of Allah and instructed officials to serve them as family members. He announced that offices and agencies providing exemplary service during the Hajj will be rewarded. Representatives from various ministries and organizations involved in Hajj management presented their readiness and pledged to ensure smooth and efficient operations.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including the Religious Affairs Secretary, the Additional Secretary of the Hajj Wing, the Director General of the Islamic Foundation, and leaders of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, along with representatives from multiple government and private entities.

Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque stated that the BNP-led government must stand with the people's democratic aspirations rather than citing constitutional limitations. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the representative conference of the Industrial Area Police Station unit of Revolutionary Youth Solidarity in Ashulia.

Haque emphasized that the BNP government should fulfill the people's hopes for change and prioritize employment for millions of unemployed youth. He called for rapid expansion of investment and necessary measures to prevent frustration among young people, noting their repeated sacrifices in national movements. He also stressed that the opportunity created by the formation of a new BNP-led government to build a democratic, progressive, pluralistic, and non-communal state and society must not be wasted.

The event was presided over by Liton Mondal, convener of the Industrial Area Committee of Revolutionary Youth Solidarity, and attended by party leaders including Akbar Khan, Bepari Bindu, Babor Chowdhury, Anisur Rahman, and Faruk Hossain.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into allegations of embezzling several crore taka and laundering the money abroad under the guise of operating, repairing, and maintaining the sound system installed in the plenary hall of the National Parliament building. The inquiry targets Zahidur Rahim Jowardar, Chief Executive Officer of Communication Technology Limited, along with others linked to the project.

According to the ACC, Zahidur Rahim is a close relative of former Health Minister Zahid Maleque and served as a cashier for former Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury. The information was disclosed by ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md. Akhtarul Islam at a press conference held at the commission’s headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, on Thursday afternoon.

The ACC’s investigation marks the beginning of formal scrutiny into alleged misuse of public funds related to the Parliament’s technical maintenance, with potential implications for accountability in government-linked contracts.

A surge in the collection of nomination papers has been observed at the Election Commission (EC) for the reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. According to Returning Officer and EC Joint Secretary Md. Moin Uddin Khan, 49 nomination papers were collected on the first day following the announcement of the election schedule on April 8. Candidates can submit their papers until April 21, accompanied by the required documents and deposit.

The EC announced that the BNP-led alliance will receive 36 of the 50 reserved seats, the Jamaat-led alliance 13, and one seat will go to an independent alliance. The verification of nomination papers will take place from April 22 to 23, appeals can be filed on April 26, and decisions on appeals will be made on April 27 and 28. The deadline for withdrawal is April 29, symbol allocation will occur on April 30, and voting is scheduled for May 12.

The strong turnout for nomination papers indicates heightened political interest and competition surrounding the reserved women’s seats in the upcoming parliamentary session.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN), has warned that the current government’s failure to learn from past mistakes signals danger for everyone. He made the remarks on Thursday, April 9, at a roundtable discussion titled “Citizen Thoughts and Challenges on Human Rights Protection and Ordinances Related to an Independent Judiciary,” organized by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Majumdar questioned the government’s decision to repeal two ordinances concerning the appointment of judges to the higher court and the judicial secretariat. He recalled that in 2018, many BNP leaders and activists sought legal protection from the courts but received no remedy. He cautioned that repeating such patterns could endanger everyone’s safety. He urged lawmakers to consider the consequences of their decisions and warned that excessive parliamentary majority could lead to authoritarian tendencies.

Other speakers at the event included HRSS Chairman Shahjada Al Amin Kabir, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Shishir Monir, journalist Abu Sayeed Khan, and several civil society representatives.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a boycott of the Sherpur-3 by-election, alleging widespread irregularities. Election Commission (EC) Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said that returning officers of the two constituencies concerned have been instructed to investigate the allegations and submit reports. He stated that the commission will take necessary action after receiving the findings. The secretary made these remarks at his office on Thursday afternoon while speaking to journalists.

Earlier in the day, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged at a press conference that the ruling party had engaged in vote rigging, ballot stuffing, and expulsion of Jamaat polling agents. He claimed that presiding officers had signed result sheets early in the morning and later allowed fake votes, while agents were forced out of polling centers. Jamaat also alleged that women voters were obstructed, workers assaulted, and the administration remained inactive.

The party demanded suspension of voting in affected centers, re-voting, and legal action against presiding officers. The EC secretary reiterated that the allegations are being taken seriously and that results should not be delayed while the investigation proceeds.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has launched a zero-tolerance policy to keep city roads and footpaths free from illegal occupation and to ease traffic congestion. On Thursday, two mobile courts operated separately at Saidabad Bus Terminal and Gulistan’s GPO Link Road areas, led by DSCC executive magistrates. The drives resulted in the removal of numerous illegal structures and the closure of unauthorized counters.

At Saidabad, nearly 100 illegal bus counters were sealed during the second consecutive day of operations, and long-standing unauthorized structures occupying footpaths were demolished. The action follows a March 10 meeting among DSCC, DMP, and transport leaders that decided to remove all illegal counters outside the terminal and allocate spaces inside in an orderly manner. In Gulistan, footpaths and roads near Baitul Mukarram Market were cleared, reopening pedestrian access.

DSCC also issued a public notice warning that goods cannot be kept on footpaths in front of shopping malls and markets. Violators risk trade license cancellation and legal action. The corporation stated that such eviction and monitoring drives will continue regularly in the public interest.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan stated that the process of implementing the Media Reform Commission’s recommendations is underway and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforming the media sector. He made these remarks on Thursday while addressing an event jointly organized by the Citizen Platform for SDGs, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF).

The minister emphasized that investigative journalism and civic initiatives can play vital roles in state governance. He thanked ERF and other stakeholders, noting that their criticism, observations, and analyses help the government make more effective and accountable decisions. Swapan also mentioned ongoing efforts to ensure journalists’ safety, establish mechanisms for redress against abuse, and develop welfare structures for retired journalists.

He further stressed the importance of formulating an advertising policy to ensure transparency and accountability in the media sector and highlighted the need to strengthen technology-based “reform tracking” systems. The minister expressed hope that joint efforts by the government, media, and civil society would help build a transparent and responsible media environment.