Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that Bangladesh has not yet become free from international influence. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at a seminar titled “Impact of the Global Energy Crisis on Bangladesh’s Agriculture: Ways to Overcome” held at the Krishibid Institute in Farmgate. Rahman said there is a gap between slogans and implementation in the country’s governance.

He criticized the current state of society, saying it is running through confusion and that lessons from the past have not been learned. He alleged that political syndicates are responsible for the ongoing fuel crisis, despite government claims that the country is thriving on oil. Rahman emphasized that the survival of agriculture is essential for the survival of the nation.

He further urged that everyone must fulfill their rightful duties and responsibilities, adding that if people act with a sense of divine accountability, Bangladesh will achieve true liberation.

A strong race has begun among eight BNP women leaders from Cumilla seeking nomination for reserved seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. Following the Election Commission’s announcement of the schedule for 50 reserved women’s seats, 52 nomination forms were sold on Thursday. The vote is set for May 12. The BNP leaders have submitted detailed resumes highlighting their political contributions, loyalty, and organizational experience to the party high command and are lobbying ministers and MPs for support.

The eight leaders in discussion are Samira Azim Dola, Raihan Rahman Helen, Shahinaz Akter, Advocate Sabera Alauddin Hena, Sakina Begum, Dilara Shirin, Advocate Dalia Rahman, and Shamima Akter Ruby. Several have already collected nomination papers. Party sources said the BNP high command will consider those who played active roles during the past 17 years of political struggle. BNP won eight of Cumilla’s eleven constituencies in the last election, with three leaders appointed as ministers.

According to the election schedule, nomination submission ends April 21, scrutiny will be held April 22–23, and voting will take place on May 12.

Ahead of elections in West Bengal, political tensions have risen over the issue of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday sharply criticized the Narendra Modi government, asking why Hasina has been sheltered in Delhi for the past one and a half years and whether any major industrial interest is behind this decision.

Banerjee suggested that Hasina’s stay in India may not be solely for diplomatic reasons but could involve deeper economic considerations. He questioned whether the Modi government’s decision was influenced by the interests of major business groups such as Adani or Ambani. According to him, India’s involvement in Bangladesh’s internal politics and the use of Hasina as a political shield may be linked to corporate motives.

The controversy follows Hasina’s flight to India after a student-led uprising in Bangladesh. Although the Indian government initially described her stay as temporary and humanitarian, the prolonged duration has sparked domestic debate, which Banerjee has used to criticize the government’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.

India has appointed Pranay Verma, currently serving as the country's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, as its next ambassador to Belgium and the European Union. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment in a statement on Friday, confirming that Verma will soon assume his new responsibilities in Brussels. His tenure in Dhaka, which began in September 2022, is now nearing completion.

Reports in Indian media had recently indicated that Verma would be transferred to Brussels, a posting that has gained importance following the signing of a trade agreement between India and the European Union on January 27. The agreement aims to expand bilateral trade in goods, services, and investments, with implementation expected by early 2027.

According to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the free trade agreement is designed to create a future-ready trade framework supporting emerging economic sectors. India has set an export target of 300 billion dollars, particularly focusing on engineering and manufacturing industries.

At least 20 people were injured in a series of clashes between two factions of the National Citizens Party (NCP) in Dhamrai, Dhaka, on Friday, April 10. The violence broke out around 4 p.m. at Haji Kamrul Super Market in the Kalampur bus station area during the inauguration of the NCP’s temporary office for Dhaka North District and Dhamrai Upazila.

According to local sources, the conflict began when NCP members who were denied party positions protested against the current committee during speeches following the office inauguration. The argument escalated into physical clashes between the two groups. Nabila Tasnid, convener of NCP Dhaka North District, alleged that a faction opposed to the new office attacked to protect their personal interests. Meanwhile, Israfill Islam Khokon, chief coordinator of NCP Dhamrai Upazila, said their existing committee had been active and already had an office, questioning the need for a new one.

The incident has raised concerns about internal divisions within the NCP’s local leadership in Dhamrai.

A long-standing ideological dispute between Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and sections of Qawmi madrasa-based Deobandi scholars continues to persist. The disagreement, rooted in writings by Jamaat founder Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi, has resurfaced around the 13th national election. Qawmi leaders allege that Maududi’s views on prophets and companions contradict core Sunni beliefs, prompting some clerics to declare voting for Jamaat as religiously forbidden. Hefazat-e-Islam’s Amir Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari publicly called voting for Jamaat haram and endorsed a rival candidate, intensifying the divide.

Jamaat leaders, however, deny any doctrinal deviation, asserting that their faith aligns with mainstream Islam and that Maududi’s opinions are personal, not institutional. They accuse a small group of Qawmi clerics of reviving disputes during elections. Despite tensions, Jamaat has sought reconciliation, with its Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman apologizing to Qawmi scholars and urging unity. Some younger Qawmi clerics, including Maulana Ali Hasan Usama, believe the conflict is easing and can be resolved through dialogue.

The dispute, once theological, has evolved into a political rivalry influencing alliances and electoral strategies within Bangladesh’s Islamist landscape.

Bangladesh Police have expressed a strong preference to return to the uniform used during the Awami League administration, with over 90 percent of members reportedly supporting the move. The Police Headquarters has already sent the collective opinions of all units to the Ministry of Home Affairs, but no final decision has been made. This has led to a stalemate over whether the force will revert to the old design or adopt a new one. The ministry is reportedly cautious, fearing that the old uniform could reignite political controversy linked to past unrest.

The debate over police attire began after the 2024 interim government introduced a new uniform to distance the force from earlier political symbolism. However, dissatisfaction grew among officers, who argued that the new design undermined morale and professionalism. The old blue-olive mix uniform, they said, was more recognizable and comfortable. Senior officials, however, worry that returning to it could revive memories of the July uprising.

The ministry is now reviewing several modernized design options, including new colors and fabrics suited to Bangladesh’s climate. Officials aim to balance tradition with modernization while avoiding political bias.

The Police Reform Commission, formed by Bangladesh’s interim government on October 3, 2024, to make law enforcement more accountable and citizen-oriented, has submitted its 355-page final report to the government on January 15, 2026. Despite detailed short-, medium-, and long-term reform proposals, there has been no visible progress in implementing them. Bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of political will are cited as the main obstacles.

The commission’s recommendations include establishing transparent interrogation rooms, ensuring female police presence during questioning of women, ending the misuse of anonymous cases, and empowering the National Human Rights Commission to investigate rights violations by law enforcement. It also calls for reviewing the necessity of the Rapid Action Battalion, creating anti-corruption watchdog committees at police stations, and reforming recruitment, promotion, and training systems. Eleven proposals were identified as immediately actionable.

Experts warn that without political commitment, the reform process may stagnate, undermining public trust in the police and hindering improvements in Bangladesh’s law and order system.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that while Iran maintains goodwill toward the United States, it does not trust Washington. Speaking to Iranian state media, he said the Iranian delegation is confident but skeptical of its American counterparts. Ghalibaf added that if the United States is ready for a genuine agreement, Iran could also be prepared to engage.

He emphasized that Iran’s past experiences in negotiations with the United States have consistently ended in failure and breaches of commitments. His remarks come as discussions between the two countries face renewed attention, with reports highlighting tensions over Iran’s assets and the Lebanon ceasefire issue.

The comments signal Tehran’s cautious stance before any potential talks, underscoring a demand for credible assurances from Washington before progress can be made.

An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Islamabad to hold discussions with US officials on a possible ceasefire. The team includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Supreme National Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolkadr, Defense Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati. Upon arrival, the delegation was received by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Tehran University professor Zohreh Kharazmi told Al Jazeera that Iran entered the Islamabad talks with confidence, viewing the meeting itself as a sign of a shift in the US position. She noted that while former US President Trump had demanded unconditional surrender as recently as March 6, Washington is now at the negotiation table. Kharazmi emphasized that Iran remains firm on its conditions and expects some of them to be accepted in later rounds.

Kharazmi also highlighted that control over the Strait of Hormuz remains central to Iran’s bargaining position, describing it as a means to recover war costs.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is traveling to Islamabad to join talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled to begin Saturday, aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire in the Middle East. Before his departure, President Donald Trump told reporters that Iran’s nuclear program would be the main focus of the discussions and that no backup plan was necessary. He added that a good deal with Iran would mean the absence of nuclear weapons and claimed that regime change had already occurred in Iran.

Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen soon, though he noted the United States did not need it. He rejected reports that Iran might impose tolls on ships passing through the strait, saying Washington would not allow that. Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation including senior officials such as Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already arrived in Islamabad for the talks.

The discussions are expected to address Iran’s assets and the Lebanon ceasefire, though their duration remains uncertain, according to Trump.

Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad has completed the process of validating ordinances issued by the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Out of 133 ordinances, 113 were approved through 87 bills, while seven were repealed through four separate bills. Thirteen ordinances, including those on referendum, police commission, and anti-corruption amendments, were not approved, causing a total of 20 ordinances to lose effect from today. The parliament passed 91 bills over six consecutive days, marking an unprecedented legislative pace in the country’s history.

The repealed ordinances include those related to the National Human Rights Commission, Supreme Court Secretariat, and parliamentary administration. The fate of actions taken under the unapproved ordinances remains unclear, raising questions about the legal status of the 2026 referendum and other activities conducted under them. The opposition walked out of parliament after accusing the ruling party of breaking a committee agreement by amending the July Uprising Museum Bill at the last moment.

The session concluded with the passage of 28 bills on its final day, covering development authorities, financial reforms, and social welfare measures. The next parliamentary sitting is scheduled for April 15 at 11 a.m.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iranian leaders ahead of a scheduled meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump claimed that Iran holds no real power and that its leaders are being kept alive solely for negotiation purposes. He also asserted that Iran’s only leverage lies in temporarily blocking the Strait of Hormuz and accused Iranian leaders of being better at propaganda than warfare.

The Islamabad meeting aims to determine steps toward a permanent end to ongoing conflict, with both delegations expected to arrive by Friday night. Despite an Israeli strike on Lebanon that violated a ceasefire, Pakistan confirmed the talks would proceed as planned. However, continued hostilities and disputes over the Strait of Hormuz have raised doubts about the meeting’s potential success.

Observers expressed concern that escalating tensions and mutual distrust could undermine progress toward a lasting ceasefire agreement.

BNP’s former joint secretary general and Sitakunda MP Aslam Chowdhury said the real strength of a political organization lies in the sacrifice, patience, and struggle of its grassroots activists. Speaking at a views exchange meeting at his Sitakunda residence on Friday afternoon, he stated that while senior leaders may err, grassroots members never betray the cause. He credited the grassroots for sustaining leadership and securing his nomination with the party’s symbol.

Chowdhury identified organizational weakness as a major reason behind the party’s unsatisfactory performance in the recent national election. He called for self-criticism, internal analysis, and structural reform to overcome future challenges. Emphasizing long-term planning and organized strategies, he urged activists to strengthen ties with the public and increase social and religious engagement to build stronger community connections.

During the meeting, the Sitakunda upazila BNP announced partial leadership changes in the local Jubo Dal committee, appointing Shahabuddin Raju as president and Mohammad Ismail Hossain as general secretary, while retaining the existing structure. The full committee has not yet been declared.

Two Dhaka University students have experienced a decline in their physical condition after continuing a hunger strike for 58 hours at the Raju Sculpture premises. On Friday night, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam visited the site to assess the situation and expressed concern for their health. He stated that the university administration wants the students to remain healthy and that their demands will be properly conveyed to the government. He also mentioned that the issue would be discussed in the national parliament among both ruling and opposition parties.

The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the health risks faced by the fasting students and said that a medical team had been sent the previous night to examine them, but the students refused treatment. The visit was attended by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha, deans, the proctor, and other senior officials. DUCSU Social Service Secretary A. B. Zubair reported that one student’s mother broke down in tears upon seeing her son’s weakened condition but did not pressure him to end the strike.

Members of martyr families and injured individuals have also visited the site to express solidarity, while eyewitnesses noted that despite physical weakness, the students remain mentally strong though disappointed by the lack of visible state response.