Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad stated that many conspiracies are ongoing against the government and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He made the remarks on Wednesday, April 15, during a training session for Hajj team members at the Hajj Office conference room in Ashkona, Dhaka. The minister urged the members to remain vigilant so that the government’s image is not tarnished.

Addressing the Hajj team members, Kaikobad emphasized that they are going as servants of the pilgrims and that serving the pilgrims well is a way to earn divine satisfaction. He warned that negligence in serving the pilgrims would not be tolerated and that those who fail to perform their duties properly would be sent back from Makkah. Those who perform well would be given the opportunity to serve again in the following year.

The training session was presided over by Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad and attended by several members of parliament and senior officials from the Hajj division.

On April 15, 2026, Cumilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah told the national parliament that he could no longer face his constituents due to the dire condition of the Cumilla-Sylhet highway. Addressing the Speaker, he pleaded for immediate government action to widen the road, describing it as a lifeline for one million people. He said administrative weakness had stalled work on the highway for the past 10 to 12 years.

Abdullah highlighted that the road, only 18 feet wide, connects Cumilla and Sylhet through Burichang, Brahmanpara, and Debidwar, linking to Brahmanbaria. He described it as the only route between Sylhet and Chattogram and said it had turned into a “procession of death,” with more than 30 fatalities in April alone. He urged the Speaker to draw the minister’s attention to stop the recurring accidents.

On the same day, Cumilla-5 MP Jasim Uddin also called for the immediate start of a four-lane expansion project on the Cumilla-Sylhet highway.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared that his government will not yield to pressure to join a war against Iran. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Starmer said he would not change his decision despite calls for Britain to take part in the conflict. His comments came after former US President Donald Trump suggested that the trade deal signed between the United States and the United Kingdom last year could be altered at any time.

Starmer emphasized that the conflict with Iran was not Britain’s war and that joining it would not serve the country’s national interest. He described the recent remarks and pressures as attempts to push the UK toward involvement in the conflict but reaffirmed his stance against participation.

The exchange underscores tensions between London and Washington over foreign policy priorities, particularly regarding Iran, though no immediate shift in UK policy was indicated.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been listed among Time magazine’s “The 100 Most Influential People of 2026,” published on Wednesday. The list includes global leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The profile on Rahman was written by Charlie Campbell, editor of Time’s Singapore bureau, highlighting his political rise after years in exile.

According to the magazine, Rahman had been living in exile in southwest London until former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in 2024. Following a landslide election victory in February, he returned to Bangladesh after 17 years abroad. His mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, passed away five days after his return. In a January interview with Time, Rahman expressed his determination to unite the nation and revive its struggling economy amid high inflation, youth unemployment, and strained relations with India.

Time also noted that although corruption allegations against Rahman were later dismissed by the court, they could shorten his political honeymoon period. The 2026 list also features Google CEO Sundar Pichai, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that China has agreed not to send weapons to Iran. According to the report, Trump had earlier sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging Beijing not to supply arms to Tehran. The claim follows a statement from a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who dismissed media reports that China was preparing to deliver a new air defense system to Iran as completely fabricated.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said China was pleased with his decision to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as beneficial for both China and the world. He added that the United States and China were working together intelligently and effectively, emphasizing that cooperation was preferable to conflict.

The report, citing BBC as its source, did not include any official confirmation from Chinese or Iranian authorities beyond the spokesperson’s denial of the arms supply report.

Seventeen officers holding the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) have been transferred under a government order issued on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The officers, who were previously serving as Superintendents of Police in various units after being promoted to supernumerary Additional DIG positions, were reassigned through a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs signed by Deputy Secretary Tawsif Ahmed. The order was issued by the President’s directive.

According to the notification, the transfers include Mohammad Anwar Hossain from the Industrial Police to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Kamrul Hasan Mahmud within the Special Branch (SB), Tofayel Ahmed within Rangpur Metropolitan Police, and several others reassigned within their respective units or to the Police Headquarters. The reshuffle affects officers from units such as the CID, SB, CMP, RMP, and DMP.

The order stated that the transfers were made in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

The Government of Bangladesh has cancelled the names of 6,476 individuals found to be falsely listed as freedom fighters. Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan disclosed the information in parliament on April 15, 2026, during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The cancellations were made following investigations by the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA), which identified non-freedom fighters included in the gazette, red Muktibarta, and Indian lists.

The minister stated that identifying false claimants is an ongoing process. Complaints are investigated, and necessary actions are taken against those proven to have submitted fake information. Since August 2024, 842 complaints have been received, and 481 names have been recommended for final cancellation after verification. The process applies uniformly across all regions, including Rangpur-4.

Khan added that JAMUKA subcommittees conduct hearings and investigations before recommending cancellation of certificates and benefits. The ministry aims to make the lists more transparent through continued scrutiny based on specific complaints.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and former Islami Chhatra Shibir secretary general Mohammad Shishir Monir announced that the Jamaat-e-Islami-supported 'Green Panel' will not participate in the upcoming Dhaka Bar Association election, calling it a rigged process. He made the statement at a press conference held on April 15, 2026, at the Dhaka Bar premises, where he alleged that the election commission had been unfairly formed to favor one panel.

Monir claimed that out of 11 commission members, 10 were selected from a single panel, violating the association’s tradition of equal representation. He demanded a transparent, digital vote-counting process and equal participation in commission formation. He warned that if the current setup continued, the Green Panel would boycott the election, insisting on a fair and inclusive process.

The Dhaka Bar Association election is scheduled for April 29–30, 2026, with around 30,000 lawyers eligible to vote for 23 executive committee positions. The current ad hoc committee, formed by BNP- and Jamaat-aligned lawyers after the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, is overseeing the association’s activities.

Top leaders of the eleven-party alliance have called a meeting to determine the next phase of their ongoing movement. The meeting will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka. Following the meeting, a press briefing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the same venue. The information was confirmed by Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the alliance and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Before this announcement, the alliance carried out a week-long series of programs from April 9 to April 15 across the country. These included leaflet distribution, public outreach, demonstrations in all metropolitan and district areas, and a national seminar in Dhaka. The programs were organized to press for the implementation of a referendum verdict.

The upcoming meeting is expected to finalize new programs following the completion of the previous week-long campaign, marking the next step in the alliance’s political activities.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam announced that both the government and opposition parties will jointly bring a proposal for constitutional amendment. Speaking to the media at the National Parliament tunnel on Wednesday, he said that while some differences remain between the two sides, consensus will be reached soon to move forward together.

He emphasized that the main goal of the amendment is to strengthen democracy, preserve independence and sovereignty, and promote constructive national development. Nurul Islam also urged the media to highlight positive news alongside negative reports, citing the example of coverage about the temporary closure of the Eastern Refinery PLC and the arrival of two ships carrying 200,000 metric tons of oil.

The Chief Whip further noted that the Prime Minister has been working for the overall welfare of the country, ensuring justice and protecting sovereignty. He added that the government aims to build skilled human resources by promoting multilingual education, including Arabic, Mandarin, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and English as a second language.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stated in parliament that Bangladesh had invited its own misfortune regarding India’s Tipaimukh Dam. He made the remark on Wednesday during the question-and-answer session after a supplementary question from BNP lawmaker Abdul Malik of Sylhet-3. Earlier, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu said he would discuss the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Speaker recalled his experience as a former water resources minister, saying that India initiated the Tipaimukh project at the request of Bangladesh’s then foreign minister Abdus Samad Azad. Abdul Malik had raised concerns about floods and droughts in Sylhet caused by upstream water flow from the Barak River, asking what plans the government had to address the issue.

In response, Minister Mintu said he would consult the foreign ministry to find a long-term solution and take measures to reduce the recurring water crisis. The Speaker’s comment followed this exchange, linking the current challenges to earlier decisions involving the dam project.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on a four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. The trip comes as Islamabad prepares for a possible second round of talks between the United States and Iran, following an initial round held last Saturday. The announcement coincides with remarks suggesting that developments could occur in Islamabad within the next two days.

According to the ministry, Sharif’s visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar will focus on bilateral relations. In Turkey, he is scheduled to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and hold bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.

The timing of the visit highlights Pakistan’s active diplomatic engagement in the region, particularly as discussions involving the United States and Iran continue to evolve.

Iran has stated that it has no information about any new negotiations with the United States, despite recent remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that something might happen in Islamabad within the next two days. The statement came through Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing a diplomatic source who clarified that no new discussions have been confirmed.

According to IRNA, messages have been exchanged between Tehran and Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator, but no concrete progress has been made. The source added that Pakistan remains committed to its mediation efforts even after previous talks between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad ended without agreement. Iran has not yet issued any public response to Trump’s latest comments.

A two-week ceasefire announced on April 8 is set to expire on April 22, adding urgency to diplomatic developments in the region.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his country prefers dialogue over war, emphasizing that Iran does not want conflict. He cautioned that any attempt by the United States to impose its will or force Iran into submission would not succeed. The remarks were reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Pezeshkian questioned the legitimacy of targeting civilians, prominent individuals, and children, as well as destroying key facilities such as schools and hospitals, under international law and humanitarian principles. His comments reflect Iran’s stance on the need for diplomatic engagement rather than military confrontation.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not mention any ongoing or planned negotiations between Iran and the United States, indicating that no new talks have been initiated at this stage.

Two members of the US Congress have resigned following separate sexual misconduct scandals. Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell announced his resignation on Monday after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or misconduct. Hours later, Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas also stepped down after admitting to a relationship with a former aide amid mounting pressure.

In his resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Swalwell expressed regret for past mistakes and apologized to his family, colleagues, and voters. He stated that he would fight what he described as serious and false allegations but accepted responsibility for his errors. Gonzales admitted to having a relationship with a staff member who later died by suicide. He also faces allegations of sending inappropriate messages to another former employee, which he has not publicly addressed.

The resignations mark a rare bipartisan fallout in Congress, highlighting ongoing scrutiny over personal conduct among elected officials.