The opposition parties in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament walked out on Thursday evening, protesting what they called the passage of 'anti-people' bills. The walkout occurred shortly before 6 p.m. while Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal was presiding. This marks the third walkout by the opposition in the current parliament. Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced the decision, stating that despite their objections, several controversial bills were passed, and they would not take responsibility for them.

After the walkout, NCP member secretary and MP Akhtar Hossain told reporters that the day was painful for the independence of the judiciary. He criticized the government for using its majority to pass laws that expand its power, calling the approach one-sided. In response, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed thanked the opposition for participating in all stages of the legislative process and questioned the logic of walking out afterward.

The bills passed included the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Reenactment) Bill, the Supreme Court Secretariat (Repeal) Bill, the Supreme Court Judges Appointment (Repeal) Bill, and several others, all approved by voice vote despite opposition objections.

The Jagannath University (Jabi) branch of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti organized a human chain on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the university’s sculpture square, demanding the implementation of the July Charter and the verdict of the national referendum. Leaders and activists of the organization participated in the event, criticizing the current political situation, the independence of the judiciary, and recruitment practices in state institutions.

Speakers at the rally called for the realization of the spirit of the July Movement and urged all concerned to act accordingly. Joint convener Ferdous Sheikh emphasized that Bangladesh’s foreign relations should be based on mutual respect and justice, not dependency. Member secretary Shahin Mia warned that ignoring past movements and public expectations could harm political parties, while convener Faisal Murad stressed the need for constitutional reforms and restoration of public trust through electoral and legal changes.

Participants collectively demanded that the government promptly implement the July Charter and the referendum’s public mandate.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis chief Maulana Mamunul Haque has called on the BNP to implement the referendum verdict, urging the party to learn from past mistakes. He made the appeal on April 9 at Dhaka University’s Daksu premises during the second session of a reform dialogue titled “July Charter and Reform: New Bangladesh or Old Fascism.” The event was chaired by Daksu Vice President Sadiq Kayem and attended by academics, political leaders, and civil society representatives.

Speakers at the dialogue warned that if the ruling BNP ignores the public mandate expressed through the referendum, citizens may again take to the streets. They emphasized that disregarding the people’s mandate for constitutional reform would endanger democracy. Professor Dilara Chowdhury criticized BNP’s dual stance on constitutional amendments, while others highlighted the need for structural reform to ensure judicial independence and power balance.

Participants noted that about 70 percent of voters supported constitutional reform in the recent referendum, giving it moral and political legitimacy. Several speakers cautioned that ignoring this outcome could trigger renewed political unrest and undermine democratic institutions.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged that serious irregularities, including vote rigging, fake voting, and expulsion of polling agents, occurred during the by-elections in Bogura and Sherpur constituencies held on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, he described incidents such as presiding officers forcing agents to sign result sheets early, ballot stuffing, and intimidation of voters and agents.

Porwar claimed that in Sherpur’s Shreebordi area, agents were expelled from 13 polling centers by noon and that violence was used against Jamaat activists. He accused local BNP groups of attacking Jamaat agents and obstructing women voters. Despite repeated appeals to police, army, and returning officers, he said no action was taken. He urged the Chief Election Commissioner to suspend voting in affected centers and take legal action against responsible presiding officers.

Jamaat leaders present at the briefing demanded intervention to ensure fair voting and warned that the public would not accept one-sided election results if irregularities continued.

Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, deleted a social media post in which he announced that an Iranian delegation was traveling to Islamabad to begin talks with the United States. The post, made on Thursday on platform X, mentioned that the discussions were to take place at the invitation of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and based on Iran’s proposed ten-point framework. The ambassador did not explain why the post was later removed.

According to the deleted message, Moghadam had also accused Israeli authorities of repeatedly violating the ceasefire to undermine diplomatic efforts, which he said had created public doubt in Iran about the peace process. The talks were expected to follow a two-week conditional ceasefire between Iran and the United States, agreed on April 9 through Pakistan’s mediation.

The upcoming meeting was scheduled for Saturday with US Vice President JD Vance, as part of the ongoing diplomatic engagement facilitated by Islamabad.

A Dhaka court has ordered a three-day remand for retired Lieutenant General Sheikh Mamun Khaled, former Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), in connection with the murder of BNP activist Mokbul Hossain. The order was issued on Thursday, April 9, 2026, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Junaid after a hearing. The prosecution confirmed the decision following a police request for further interrogation.

Police presented Mamun Khaled before the court after completing a previous 14-day remand and sought a new seven-day remand, citing the need for detailed questioning. The remand petition alleged that Khaled had politically supported the previous government in suppressing opposition activities and played a significant role behind the incident. Defense lawyers sought bail and cancellation of the remand, which the court denied.

According to the case, BNP announced a one-point movement on December 10, 2022, demanding the fall of the then government. During clashes near the BNP’s Nayapaltan office, activist Mokbul Hossain was shot dead. The case was filed on September 30 against 256 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish lawmaker Sayeduddin Ahmad Hanzala submitted a special privilege notice in the Jatiya Sangsad after alleging that he was publicly called a 'militant MP' in the parliament area on March 30. The issue was raised during Thursday’s session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, who referred the notice to the parliamentary committee on privileges for further examination and reporting.

Hanzala told the House that the remark had spread on social media, causing him social humiliation and violating his parliamentary privileges. He described the term as a 'fascist word' and said that for the past 17 years, such language had been used to defame religiously observant individuals. He urged the Speaker to ensure that all members, regardless of party affiliation, could maintain their dignity.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad confirmed that the matter would be investigated by the standing committee on privileges, which he chairs, to determine whether the MP’s special rights were infringed.

The Bangladesh Parliament has passed the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Reenactment) Bill 2026, effectively canceling the interim government’s human rights ordinance and reinstating the 2009 National Human Rights Commission Act. The bill was introduced by Law Minister Asaduzzaman and passed under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. Opposition objections, raised by NCP lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah from Comilla-4, were rejected by voice vote.

During the debate, Hasnat Abdullah criticized the bill, warning that repealing the 2025 ordinance could turn the commission into a political tool for repression. He argued that the 2009 law had previously been used to suppress opposition parties and lacked independence, as most members of its selection board were from the ruling party. He also noted that investigations into human rights violations required prior government approval, undermining transparency.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman called for more time to discuss the issue, citing its importance to political transparency and public safety. The Speaker allowed limited additional time before the bill was passed.

Voting in the Bogura-6 by-election began on Thursday, April 9, with notably low voter turnout across polling centers. By noon, no center had recorded more than 10 percent turnout, with some reporting as low as 7 to 8 percent. At the Coronation School and College center, only 107 votes were cast out of 4,060 registered voters by 9:30 a.m. Presiding officer Mehedi Hasan noted that turnout was lower compared to the February 12 election but hoped participation would increase later in the day.

At 11:30 a.m., Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel alleged that BNP activists had taken control of the Rajapur polling center after expelling his agents. He also claimed that election agents were asked to sign result forms in advance at the Maltinagar Primary School center, which he said violated election rules. Sohel further alleged the returning officer’s involvement in these irregularities.

The constituency has 454,043 registered voters and 150 polling centers, with heightened security at 53 identified as sensitive. Eight platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh, along with army and RAB patrols, were deployed. Returning officer Fazlul Haque stated that all necessary security measures were in place to ensure peaceful voting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had promised a decisive victory in the war against Iran, is now facing growing domestic challenges as his objectives appear increasingly unattainable. He had pledged to change Iran’s regime, destroy its missile capabilities, and seize its enriched uranium. However, continued Iranian bombardment of Israel has made those goals seem unrealistic.

Some analysts suggest that Netanyahu’s failure to achieve his war aims could prove even more damaging than his inability to prevent the events of October 7, 2023. According to Al Jazeera journalist Nida Ibrahim, Israel may hold elections later this year, and opposition leader Yair Lapid has begun openly criticizing Netanyahu.

The coming weeks are expected to be crucial as Netanyahu seeks ways to navigate the political and military challenges arising from the ongoing conflict and domestic discontent.

Rafia Sultana Rafi, senior joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Bogura district and former student of Dhaka University, passed away early Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at a private hospital in Dhaka. She was 32 years old. According to family and party sources, she was admitted to the hospital around 10 p.m. after feeling unwell, later transferred to the ICU as her condition worsened, and died around 3 a.m. She is survived by her husband and two daughters.

Rafi studied in the Department of Islamic Studies at Dhaka University during the 2012–13 session and was active in various student movements. She contested for the vice president post in the Rokeya Hall student union election in 2019 and participated in the quota reform movement in 2018 and the July Revolution in 2024. Later, she joined the NCP and served as senior joint convener in Bogura, also holding a founding joint convener role in the Ganaodhikar Parishad.

Her death has cast a shadow of mourning across NCP and related political circles. Party leaders expressed deep sorrow, prayed for her departed soul, and conveyed condolences to her bereaved family.

A violent clash erupted on Thursday morning in the Chandni Housing area of Fatullah, Narayanganj, between two factions of the Jubo Dal over control of the garment wastage (jhoot) business. The confrontation, which began around 10 a.m., involved gunfire and left at least eight people injured, including two who were shot. The gunshot victims, madrasa student Imran, 11, and Rakib, 25, were first taken to Narayanganj 300-bed hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where Imran’s condition was reported as critical.

Local sources said the conflict stemmed from a dispute over unloading jhoot from a garment factory affiliated with Best Style (Pvt.) Ltd. The groups, led by union Jubo Dal leader Sarzil Ahmed Abhi and Fatullah Thana Jubo Dal convener Masud, had been at odds for several days. Witnesses reported that Abhi’s group fired several blank rounds, causing panic in the area and forcing shops to close.

Police said the situation is now under control, with additional forces deployed. Authorities are working to identify those involved and take legal action.

Authorities in Islamabad have announced a sudden two-day local holiday starting Thursday, April 9, 2026. The decision comes ahead of scheduled talks between the United States and Iran to be held in the Pakistani capital on Friday, April 10. The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon through a notice posted on X. Essential services including MCI, CDA, ICT administration, ICT police, IESCO, SNGPL, and hospitals will remain operational during the holiday.

The official notification did not specify a reason for the closure. However, Islamabad authorities have previously imposed holidays or restrictions before major diplomatic events for security reasons. The upcoming meeting will see Pakistan acting as a mediator between the US and Iran.

According to the White House, US Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation in the discussions. The talks are considered significant given the involvement of high-level representatives from both countries.

Former Member of Parliament and central Awami League executive committee member Advocate Safura Begum Rumi was arrested by Lalmonirhat district Detective Branch (DB) police. The arrest took place on the night of April 8 in a residential area of Mohammadpur, Dhaka. Police said she had been in hiding since the fall of the Awami League government and was wanted in several cases, including one for murder.

According to Lalmonirhat DB police, the arrest followed a tip-off that led a team to conduct a raid in Mohammadpur. Safura Begum Rumi also served as the general secretary of the Lalmonirhat District Lawyers’ Association and as the president of the district unit of the Awami League’s women’s wing.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the ongoing cases or the next legal steps following her arrest.

Former Speaker Shirin Sharmin was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) police last Tuesday after remaining in hiding for nearly 20 months. Following her arrest, she was presented before a court, which rejected the DB’s remand request and ordered her to be sent to jail. Senior DB officials conducted an initial interrogation, during which she disclosed some information while withholding other details.

According to the interrogation, Shirin Sharmin took refuge in military custody after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, and later moved between four different residences to avoid arrest. She was ultimately detained from a house in Dhanmondi. She admitted to maintaining indirect contact with several mid-level Awami League leaders but denied involvement in forming a “reformed” Awami League. She also claimed that ex-ministers Hasan Mahmud and Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury had encouraged her to join such efforts, which she refused.

DB officials stated they are verifying her statements and compiling a list of mid-level leaders who communicated with her. They suspect the banned Awami League faction may be involved in anti-state conspiracies and plan to seek further remand for continued investigation.