Pakistan’s potential role as mediator in upcoming discussions between the United States and Iran is both crucial and risky, according to Maria Sultan, chairperson of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Islamabad, she noted that Pakistan maintains close ties with Saudi Arabia and Gulf states while sharing a border with Iran, where prolonged instability would be undesirable for Islamabad.

Sultan explained that Pakistan initiated the mediation effort amid the inaction of major global powers, as NATO and the European Union did not step forward and the United States felt isolated. She argued that Pakistan’s ability to maintain relationships across diverse cultures and power blocs positioned it uniquely for this role. Cooperation from Saudi Arabia and China, along with interest from the involved parties, has also supported the process.

While describing the situation as cautiously optimistic, Sultan warned that a full-scale regional war could have devastating consequences, including civilian casualties, damage to energy infrastructure, and potential nuclear risks. She emphasized that the talks, though difficult, could lead to a positive outcome if all sides recognize the realities of war and the value of peace.

The opposition walked out of Bangladesh’s parliament on Friday evening, accusing the ruling party of breaching trust. The walkout, led by Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at around 7:35 p.m., followed his allegation that the government had violated an earlier understanding. Before leaving, he also accused Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed of losing neutrality.

The dispute arose after the July Memorial Museum Bill was passed in an amended form, allegedly breaking a prior agreement reached in a special committee meeting. The disagreement led to prolonged debate between the two sides before the opposition left the chamber. This marks the fourth walkout by the opposition during the current parliamentary session.

The repeated walkouts highlight deepening tensions between the ruling and opposition parties over legislative procedures and perceived breaches of parliamentary consensus.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has arrived in Port Louis to attend the Ninth Indian Ocean Conference. The event began on Friday in the Mauritian capital, bringing together leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the Indian Ocean region to discuss regional cooperation, shared responsibilities, and future governance frameworks. During the visit, Dr. Rahman is expected to hold bilateral meetings and seek support for Bangladesh’s candidacy for the presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (2026–27).

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the minister will meet with counterparts from participating countries on the sidelines of the conference. The delegation includes the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir. The conference is jointly organized by the India Foundation, the Government of Mauritius, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Before arriving in Mauritius, Dr. Rahman held several meetings in New Delhi with top Indian leaders. India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal are also scheduled to address the conference.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member Md. Mobarak Hossain announced that a mass movement will be organized to secure the legal foundation of the July Charter. He made the statement on Friday at the Jamaat-e-Islami Jessore district ward presidents’ conference 2026, where he attended as the chief guest. Hossain said more than 1,400 people were martyred in the July revolution, but no proper list or visible initiatives have yet been taken.

He claimed that Jamaat Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has been assisting the families of martyrs and the injured, while the interim government has failed to take significant steps for them. Hossain also said a commemorative book has been published to honor the martyrs’ sacrifices. He accused political groups of betraying the public by abandoning their positions despite a “yes” victory in the referendum and criticized the BNP for rejecting 70 percent of the referendum result.

He warned that if the July Charter is not legally recognized, Jamaat will take to the streets with public support. The conference concluded with leaflet distribution and public outreach programs demanding implementation of the referendum verdict and the July Charter.

An eleven-party alliance distributed leaflets in Setabganj Bazar of Bochaganj upazila, Dinajpur, on Friday afternoon demanding the implementation of the referendum verdict. The campaign took place around 4 p.m. at various shops and among pedestrians, urging the government to act on the public decision made earlier this year.

According to the leaflets, citizens voted in the February 12, 2026 election to form a 'Constitution Reform Council' alongside the National Parliament, but the government has not implemented the decision, thereby disregarding the people's mandate. The alliance leaders stated that structural reforms of the constitution are essential to meet public expectations and announced their intention to continue peaceful movements until the referendum verdict is implemented.

The leaflets also alleged that the government is obstructing various constitutional and administrative reforms. Local leaders of the alliance, including Maulana Aminul Haque, Mahabub Alam, and Masum Billah, were present during the distribution.

Iran has reaffirmed its firm stance on the ceasefire issue ahead of upcoming discussions with the United States. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi stated that Iran does not support any ceasefire that would allow opponents to regroup and launch new attacks. Speaking in Tehran to foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations, he said that consensus had been reached on Iran’s proposed ten-point plan as the basis for dialogue.

Ravanchi emphasized that Iran welcomes diplomacy and dialogue but not those based on misinformation or aimed at deception and future military aggression. He added that Iran has clearly informed its allies that it will not accept any situation lacking proper guarantees against renewed hostilities.

The upcoming U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad have drawn both curiosity and concern from the international community, reflecting heightened regional tensions surrounding the ceasefire issue.

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 appointment was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday, April 10, 2026. According to the official statement, Verma, an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1994 batch, will assume his new responsibilities in Brussels soon.

Verma has been leading India’s mission in Bangladesh since September 2022. His new posting comes at a time when India’s engagement with the European Union has gained strategic importance following the signing of a bilateral trade agreement on January 27. The agreement aims to expand trade in goods, services, and investments between India and the EU and is expected to take effect in early 2027.

India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the free trade agreement will create a future-ready trade framework to support emerging economic sectors, particularly targeting a $300 billion export goal in engineering and manufacturing.

The Bangladesh National Parliament passed a total of 41 bills over two days, marking a new record in the country’s legislative history. On Thursday, April 9, during the 11th working day of the 13th Parliament’s first session, 31 bills were passed by voice vote, including 28 ordinances from the interim government without changes and three additional bills replacing ordinances. The session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal. Opposition parties objected to the Local Government (Municipality) (Amendment) Bill 2026, but it was passed despite their protest.

Opposition leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman announced a walkout, calling the bills anti-people. Jamaat-e-Islami MP Najibur Rahman argued that the amendments undermined elected local representatives, while State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam defended the changes as necessary to prevent authoritarian resurgence and to end party-symbol elections. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed thanked opposition MPs for participating in the legislative process before walking out.

On Friday, April 10, ten more bills were unanimously passed without debate. A special committee reported that out of 133 ordinances from the interim government, 98 were approved unchanged, 15 with amendments, and 20 were either repealed or strengthened as new bills.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed frustration in the National Parliament on Friday, April 10, after the unanimous passage of the Finance Bill for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. He said that opposition members were not provided with necessary documents before the session began, despite prior requests made during the second meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

Dr. Rahman explained that the opposition had asked for all 133 ordinances and related documents to be delivered at least three days in advance, or at minimum one day before the session. However, he received the documents only when they were placed on the table during the session. He remarked that without time to review the materials, he could not responsibly vote for or against the bill.

He added that government party members might have understood the documents quickly due to their expertise, but opposition members could not. He sought guidance on how to proceed under such circumstances.

The Bangladesh National Parliament has passed the July Fighters Welfare and Rehabilitation Ordinance 2026, aimed at supporting families of martyrs and participants of the July uprising. The proposal was introduced on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. by Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan. The bill seeks to ensure welfare, rehabilitation, and recognition of those who contributed to the uprising.

According to the source, the minister emphasized that the legislation also intends to preserve the history and ideals of the July uprising within the national and state framework. Following the presentation, Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal put the bill to a vote, and members of parliament approved it by saying “yes.”

The passage of this bill marks a formal step toward institutionalizing the memory and welfare of those associated with the July uprising, reflecting the government’s commitment to honoring their legacy.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis organized a protest rally and procession in Dhaka on Friday as part of its nationwide program demanding full implementation of the recent referendum verdict. The demonstration took place after Friday prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

During the pre-procession rally, party Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad stated that around 70 percent of voters supported the 'yes' option in the February 12 referendum held alongside the national election. He accused the government of delaying the implementation of the people's decision and urged the BNP-led government to act immediately in line with public expectations.

Ahmad warned that if the demand is ignored, the party, along with an eleven-party alliance, would intensify its movement. Leaders from the party’s central and Dhaka metropolitan units also addressed the gathering. Similar protests were held across the country on the same day.

The Speaker of the National Parliament has approved an additional 100 seats for students in the visitors’ gallery, following a request from Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan MP. Previously, 50 seats were reserved for students under 12 years of age. With this expansion, a total of 150 seats will now be available for students to observe parliamentary proceedings directly.

According to the minister, the initiative aims to familiarize younger generations with parliamentary and democratic practices. He referenced the late President Ziaur Rahman’s efforts to engage students in learning about the nation’s resources and potential. The minister expressed his desire for Generation Z to become more knowledgeable and politically aware about the state.

National Parliament Secretary Md. Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan welcomed the initiative, noting that students visiting the parliament will receive briefings about its operations before sessions begin. This will help them learn about the architecture, history, and traditions of the country’s legislature.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei released a new written statement through state media on Thursday night, his first public message since assuming leadership after the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the start of the war. In the statement, Mojtaba warned that Iran would seek justice for every martyr killed in joint US-Israeli attacks and vowed to demand compensation for losses and injuries.

The message called on Iran’s supporters to take to the streets, asserting that public voices could influence negotiations. It emphasized that Iran never sought war and still does not, but would not retreat from defending its legitimate rights. The statement also mentioned that Iran would take the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new stage, though no details were provided.

Meanwhile, US and Iranian representatives are scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Friday to discuss the ceasefire, according to The Guardian.

Jamaat-e-Islami held a protest rally and procession in Dhaka demanding the cancellation of the Bogura by-election and the suspended Sherpur constituency election. The demonstration took place on Friday after Juma prayers at the north gate of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, with Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar attending as the chief guest. The party alleged widespread vote rigging, attacks on polling centers, and assaults on its activists during the elections.

During his speech, Mia Golam Porwar stated that the elections in Bogura and Sherpur proved that no election under a partisan government can be fair. He claimed that the ruling party’s misconduct surpassed even controversial elections from previous administrations. Jamaat demanded new election schedules for both constituencies and the arrest and punishment of those involved in attacks on its members.

The rally was presided over by Dhaka North Jamaat Ameer Muhammad Selim Uddin and attended by several central and metropolitan leaders. Following the gathering, participants marched through various streets in Dhaka.

Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Kudddus Kajol stated that the July mass uprising gave birth to an anti-fascist spirit in Bangladesh, describing the current government as an expression of that revolutionary ideal. He made the remarks on Friday, April 10, 2026, while speaking to journalists after a meeting with local dignitaries at Kotchandpur Pilot High School field in Jhenaidah.

Kajol said the people had hoped for the creation of an anti-fascist state through the July revolution, and the government’s commitment to fulfilling that aspiration is clear. He added that the government has already introduced a policy to protect participants of the July movement. On the verdict in the Shahid Abu Sayed murder case, he noted that the tribunal delivered its judgment based on evidence, and any aggrieved party may appeal within 30 days.

Regarding judicial independence, the Attorney General said the government is determined to establish a separate secretariat for the judiciary, and the law minister has clarified this stance in parliament. He added that the High Court’s ruling on the matter is not final, and the issue will be settled after the Supreme Court’s decision.