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.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed that all Pahela Baishakh celebrations across Bangladesh must conclude by 6 pm to ensure a safe and peaceful observance of the Bengali New Year 1433. The decision was made at a law and order meeting chaired by Senior Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury at the Secretariat on April 8, 2026. A press release signed by Public Relations Officer Faisal Hasan confirmed the measures, which include strict security arrangements nationwide.

Key directives include mandatory closure of events at venues such as Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, Hatirjheel, and Rabindra Sarobar by 6 pm, with no new public entry after 5 pm. The ministry also banned lanterns, fireworks, gas balloons, and vuvuzelas, and prohibited wearing masks during the Dhaka University Fine Arts Faculty’s traditional procession. Dog squads, CCTV, watchtowers, and mobile courts will be deployed to prevent harassment and theft.

Fire service units, ambulances, and medical teams will be stationed at major venues, while the TSC metro station will remain closed on April 14 for security reasons. The ministry urged visitors to avoid carrying bags, lighters, or matches and to keep identification notes with children.

State Minister for Labour, Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare Nurul Haque Nur faced repeated difficulties while introducing a bill during a session of the National Parliament on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed allowed him to correct his mistakes during the presentation. The incident drew attention on social media, prompting reactions from political figures.

Former General Secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad and current BNP activist Rashed Khan publicly defended Nur through a verified Facebook post. He explained that the issue arose from an error in the written text of the bill, not from Nur’s reading ability. According to Rashed, ministers usually do not prepare the documents themselves, and the problem likely resulted from an official drafting mistake that Nur failed to notice earlier due to time constraints.

Rashed Khan added that Nur is new to parliament and one of the youngest among ministers and state ministers. He expressed hope that Nur would correct the error and perform better in the future, extending his best wishes to his former colleague.

Opposition members in Bangladesh’s parliament on Thursday criticized alleged irregularities in the Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 by-elections. During a bill discussion, MPs from Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Congress Party (NCP) claimed that the polls were marred by manipulation and violence. They warned that public trust in elections was eroding and that such trends could undermine the government’s foundation. Jamaat candidates reportedly boycotted the elections citing widespread irregularities.

NCP MP Abdul Hannan Masud alleged that opposition polling agents were expelled from centers, injured, and that minors were made to vote. Jamaat MP Nazibur Rahman compared the situation to the controversial 1994 Magura by-election, saying the same pattern was repeating. Local Government State Minister Mir Shah Alam rejected the allegations, arguing that opposition parties only boycotted after realizing defeat and urged them to abandon the tradition of election boycotts.

Jamaat MP Rashedul Islam later accused the government of designing laws to suppress opposition and claimed that violence in Sherpur-3 mirrored past authoritarian practices, warning that voter confidence could collapse if such incidents continued.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will begin selling nomination forms for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament on Friday, April 10. The sale will start at 11 a.m. at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan and continue until April 12. Each nomination form is priced at 2,000 taka. The announcement was made on Thursday, April 9, by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General and Adviser to the Prime Minister.

According to Rizvi, candidates will be able to collect and submit their nomination forms on the same days, with both the sale and submission closing on April 12. The process marks the party’s formal step toward selecting its representatives for the reserved women’s seats in the upcoming parliament.

The schedule indicates BNP’s preparation to finalize its list of nominees within a short timeframe, aligning with the parliamentary procedures for reserved seats.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that the BNP has proven Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to be bad but her policies to be good. He made the remark on Thursday night during an emergency press conference following a parliamentary session.

Earlier in the evening, the Jamaat-led opposition alliance called the emergency press conference after walking out of the 13th National Parliament. The walkout occurred around 6 p.m. in protest of what they described as the passage of several 'anti-people' bills. Before leaving, Dr. Rahman told the Speaker that despite the opposition’s logical objections, several such bills were passed, and the opposition would not take responsibility for them.

The opposition’s action highlighted growing tensions in parliament over legislative decisions, with the walkout signaling continued political friction between the ruling party and opposition blocs.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh announced that an Iranian delegation will travel to Islamabad for discussions with the United States, according to Iran’s Fars news agency. He stated that the next few hours are extremely critical and outlined conditions that must be met before any agreement can be reached.

Khatibzadeh emphasized that the United States must ensure an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and that Lebanon must be included in any regional peace initiative. His remarks highlight Iran’s insistence on linking regional stability to developments in Lebanon and its demand for broader inclusion in peace efforts.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran signaling that the outcome of the upcoming talks could depend on how these conditions are addressed.

The opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has called an emergency press conference following its walkout from the 13th National Parliament. The briefing is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, at 8:30 p.m. in the National Parliament’s Media Centre, according to a statement from the opposition. The event will address the walkout and broader issues related to the passage of what the opposition described as an anti-people bill.

Earlier in the evening, around 6 p.m., the opposition walked out of the parliamentary session, alleging that several anti-people bills had been passed despite their objections. Before leaving, opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that the opposition could not take responsibility for the passage of such bills, even though they had raised logical objections.

The press conference is expected to elaborate on the opposition’s stance regarding the bills and their protest actions in parliament.

Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Masudur Rahman announced his withdrawal from the Sherpur-3 (Sreebardi-Jhenaigati) parliamentary race on Thursday afternoon. He made the announcement through a verified Facebook post, alleging fake votes, vote rigging, various irregularities, and the expulsion of his polling agents from centers.

According to the district election office, three candidates are contesting in the constituency: BNP’s former MP Mahmudul Haque Rubel, Jamaat nominee and retired army officer Masudur Rahman Masud, and BASAD (Marxist) candidate Mizanur Rahman. Law enforcement authorities stated that 32 mobile teams and striking forces are active, with five to six officers deployed at each polling center. The district returning officer said a three-tier security system covers the entire area.

The Sherpur-3 constituency comprises 17 unions and one municipality, with 128 polling centers and 751 booths serving 413,377 registered voters. Security forces include army, BGB, RAB, and police units to ensure a peaceful election process.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has sharply criticized the Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 by-elections held under the current party government. In a Facebook post on Thursday afternoon, he said that the nation has now clearly seen the 'horrific form' of elections conducted under a partisan administration.

In his post, Dr. Rahman described the National Parliament as a 'sacred trust' and warned that those who enter it by overturning the people’s verdict through force could only harm the country and the nation. He emphasized that those who truly trust the people’s mandate never resort to coercion.

Commenting on the overall situation, the Jamaat leader said that the current state of elections under the party government is alarming for the democratic process in Bangladesh.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman expressed frustration in the Bangladesh Parliament on April 9, 2026, over the limited time allocated for discussions on bills. Referring to the Human Rights Commission Bill, he argued that while government members introducing bills were given unlimited time, opposition members were restricted to only two minutes, making meaningful debate impossible. He questioned the purpose of parliamentary participation without adequate opportunity to speak.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed responded by explaining that the time allocation followed past precedents, where two minutes were typically given for objections. He noted that he had already extended it to six minutes and promised to consider further increases if proposals were reasonable. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed added that due to time constraints for passing bills with dissent notes, extended discussions might not be feasible but assured that triple time had been allowed in relevant cases.

Following the debate, the opposition was later granted ten minutes instead of two for another bill, reflecting a partial accommodation of their demand for more discussion time.

Allegations of irregularities surfaced during the Bogura-6 by-election on Thursday, April 9, when a presiding officer was found taking premature signatures on result sheets and stamping ballots in advance. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. at Maltinagar Government Primary School and City Girls’ School polling centers. Jamaat-backed candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel raised the complaint after visiting the centers at 11:30 a.m., claiming that the officer was collecting signatures before vote counting had ended.

The accused officer, Nur Islam, a chemistry teacher at Government Azizul Haque College, initially said he took early signatures to save time but later admitted his mistake in front of a magistrate and media. Executive Magistrate Taswar Tanzamul Haque immediately seized and tore up the Form-16 documents, calling the act a serious administrative violation. The presiding officer was formally warned. However, a district election official described the incident as a mistake rather than a crime.

The by-election was held after BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman vacated the Bogura-6 seat, with voter turnout reported at 18 percent by 1 p.m., according to the district returning office.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque visited the Raju Sculpture area in Dhaka on Thursday to express solidarity with students who are on hunger strike demanding the implementation of a referendum verdict. During his visit, he inquired about the condition of the fasting students and voiced full support for their movement.

Haque praised the students’ peaceful protest and stated that standing for a just cause is the duty of every conscious citizen. He urged the concerned authorities to take prompt action to prevent the situation from becoming more complicated. Leaders from different levels of the Bangladesh Khelafat Chhatra Majlis were also present at the site and expressed their solidarity with the ongoing student movement.

The demonstration is part of a broader wave of student activism across several universities calling for the implementation of the referendum verdict and the July Charter, as noted in related events at Jagannath University and Jahangirnagar University.