US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has announced her resignation from the Trump administration. In a message released on Monday, she said that although her tenure in office has ended, she will continue working for American workers and plans to return to the private sector.

Speculation about her departure had circulated for weeks, following recent removals of Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi from the administration. The White House communications director, Steven Cheung, praised Chavez-DeRemer’s service, calling her tenure “outstanding.” However, her time in office was marked by multiple controversies. Reports alleged that she, her aides, and family members sent personal messages to young female staffers and used staff for personal errands during official trips. Her husband and father also faced allegations of inappropriate contact with young female employees, prompting an internal investigation that led to the removal of four officials, including her former chief and deputy chief of staff.

At least three employees reportedly filed civil rights complaints citing a hostile work environment. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling will serve as acting secretary until a permanent replacement is named.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s political and agriculture adviser Nazrul Islam Khan at the Prime Minister’s Tejgaon office on Tuesday morning. The meeting focused on issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and China.

During the discussion, both sides emphasized strengthening cooperation in agriculture, forestry, and education. They discussed modern agricultural technology, forestation for environmental conservation, and skill development programs in the education sector. Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan sought more active Chinese involvement in these areas.

Ambassador Yao Wen assured that China would continue its cooperation in various development sectors in Bangladesh. The meeting was also attended by Cultural Counsellor Li Xiaopeng and Second Secretary Huang Maocong from the Chinese Embassy.

China has expressed full support for Pakistan’s efforts to advance peace talks between the United States and Iran. The statement came from China’s ambassador to Pakistan, who praised Islamabad’s initiative to facilitate dialogue between the two countries.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong to discuss regional developments. During the meeting, Jiang commended Pakistan’s continued efforts to ease communication between Washington and Tehran, describing them as helpful for ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

The discussion underscores China’s backing of Pakistan’s diplomatic role in regional peacebuilding, particularly in fostering dialogue between the US and Iran.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has announced that both its Appellate and High Court Divisions will conduct court sessions virtually every Wednesday and Thursday each week. The decision was conveyed through a notice signed by Registrar General Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui under the directive of the Chief Justice. The new arrangement will take effect on April 22, 2026, and remain in force until further notice.

According to the notice, the move considers the current global energy situation and will be implemented under the Information Technology Use Act 2020 and the Supreme Court’s existing practice directions. On other working days, court proceedings will continue in person. Daily cause lists and virtual meeting IDs for cases eligible for virtual hearings will be published on the Supreme Court’s official website and can also be obtained from the respective benches.

The directive aims to ensure judicial continuity while adapting to energy and technological considerations, marking a structured integration of virtual proceedings into the court’s weekly operations.

A total of 150 students from educational institutions in Dhaka will be allowed to attend the 13th National Parliament session under six specific conditions. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education announced the decision on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. According to the notice, 100 students will be selected from the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, 25 from the Directorate of Technical Education, and 25 from the Directorate of Madrasa Education. Seats have been allocated in the visitor galleries, including 50 in the children’s gallery and 100 in the Shiuli/Shimul galleries.

The initiative follows a request from the Minister of Education and the Minister of Primary and Mass Education, Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, to facilitate student participation in parliamentary proceedings. The conditions include prior application through institutional channels, submission of identification documents, mandatory security checks, and restrictions on carrying electronic devices or food. Students must wear modest attire or uniforms and follow all instructions from on-duty officials.

Authorities retain the right to revoke permission without explanation, ensuring strict adherence to the rules during the parliamentary visit.

Mahmuda Alam Mitu, joint chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has maintained its political commitment within the 11-party alliance. She made the remark on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, after submitting nomination papers for reserved women’s seats on behalf of the alliance.

Mitu expressed gratitude to both the NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami, noting that she was nominated as a qualified candidate by her party and that Jamaat had honored the alliance’s commitments. She contrasted Jamaat’s approach with other larger parties that, despite having more seats, failed to respect coalition candidates. She also highlighted the inclusion of a martyr’s mother, representing the family of Shaheed Jabir, as a significant gesture within the alliance.

Mitu pledged to work alongside other women leaders to promote social protection, safety, and health for women and children, and to contribute to welfare-oriented legislation in the parliament.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Asaduzzaman Ahmad stated that Italy is one of Bangladesh’s most important development partners within the European Union. He emphasized that Bangladesh attaches special importance to its relationship with Italy, particularly in areas such as safe migration. The minister made these remarks during a meeting with Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro at his office in the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the ambassador said Italy is keen to expand bilateral relations and highlighted that the Italian government is committed to ensuring safe migration and preventing illegal migration. He announced that Italy’s new migration policy will take effect in June, aiming to facilitate safe migration and expedite the repatriation of undocumented migrants. The ambassador also mentioned that the next meeting of the Bangladesh-Italy Joint Working Group on migration and labor issues will be held in Italy.

The meeting also discussed law and order, security, economic cooperation, and trade expansion. The ambassador delivered a congratulatory letter from Italy’s Interior Minister and invited the Bangladeshi minister to visit Italy later this year.

Three women from Brahmanbaria have been nominated for reserved seats in the national parliament. They are Sanjida Islam Tuli and Nadia Pathan Papon from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and Engineer Mardia Momtaz from Jamaat-e-Islami. The announcement was made on April 21, 2026.

Sanjida Islam Tuli, from Nabinagar’s Laurfatehpur village, is the coordinator of 'Mayer Dak', a platform for families of disappeared persons, and the sister of missing BNP leader Sajedul Islam Suman. She previously contested the 13th national election from Dhaka-14 and is known for her activism on enforced disappearances. Nadia Pathan Papon, from Bijoynagar’s Chandura village, has long been involved in BNP’s student politics and currently serves as a member of the party’s Dhaka South unit.

Engineer Mardia Momtaz, nominated by Jamaat-e-Islami, is the daughter of Engineer Momtazul Karim of Paikpara in Brahmanbaria town. A graduate and postgraduate in civil engineering from BUET, she works as a lecturer at Daffodil International University and is also known as a researcher and writer.

The government of Pakistan has advised US President Donald Trump to avoid harsh or provocative public remarks, according to a report by The Washington Post. The advice comes as Pakistan plays a mediating role to facilitate a potential second round of talks between Iran and the United States.

A Pakistani official told Reuters that Iran has responded positively and that the situation is improving. The official expressed hope that an Iranian delegation might join the discussions within one or two days. Pakistan has maintained close contact with both Tehran and Washington before the current ceasefire period ends to help advance the negotiation process.

The report also noted that Pakistan’s mediation efforts are aimed at ensuring progress in the dialogue, with the country actively engaging both sides to sustain momentum toward de-escalation.

US media reported that Vice President JD Vance will leave the United States on Tuesday for a visit to Pakistan. According to Axios, citing three sources, Vance is scheduled to depart by Tuesday morning. Multiple sources told CNN that a second round of discussions between US and Iranian delegations is planned for Wednesday in Islamabad, as reported by BBC Bangla.

A source told the BBC on Monday that a US delegation led by Vance would travel to Pakistan soon. However, Tehran has not yet confirmed whether Iran will participate in the upcoming talks. The reports indicate that Vance may arrive in Islamabad by Wednesday.

The visit comes as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States, Pakistan, and potentially Iran, though the details of the agenda and participants remain uncertain.

A Sirajganj court has issued an arrest warrant against Member of Parliament Mufti Amir Hamza in a defamation case. The order was given by Judge Suman Karmakar of the Chowhali Amli Court on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Advocate Humayun Kabir Colonel, general secretary of the Sirajganj District Lawyers Association and additional public prosecutor, confirmed the information. Earlier, on April 2, the court had summoned Amir Hamza to appear in connection with the case, and he was scheduled to attend the hearing today.

The defamation case was filed by Advocate Humayun Kabir Colonel, who alleged that Mufti Amir Hamza made remarks labeling State Minister for Power and Energy and BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku as an atheist and anti-Islamic. The case was lodged on April 2 following those comments.

The court’s decision marks a new development in the ongoing legal proceedings against the MP, with further actions expected following the issuance of the arrest warrant.

A formal complaint has been submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) alleging that former three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was poisoned while in prison, leading to a severe deterioration of her health. The complaint was filed on Sunday by Mominul Haque Milon, a Canada-based chairman of the 'Mother of Democracy Begum Khaleda Zia Forum'. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam confirmed receiving the complaint on Monday, stating that it concerns a family issue and that the tribunal will contact Khaleda Zia’s family before taking further steps.

The written complaint claims that an international conspiracy during the 1/11 caretaker government period aimed to destroy the Zia family through fabricated cases. It references the 2010 Zia Charitable Trust case and the 2018 verdict that sentenced Khaleda Zia to prison. The document alleges that during her imprisonment, she was denied proper medical care and subjected to slow poisoning, resulting in serious illness. It further accuses the then government, led by Sheikh Hasina, of orchestrating a politically motivated plot to eliminate Khaleda Zia.

The complaint requests identification and prosecution of all individuals allegedly involved in the incident.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared that the country will not engage in negotiations under any form of threat. In a social media post, he sharply criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy, accusing him of using sanctions and ceasefire violations to turn the negotiation table into a platform for coercion and surrender.

Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran rejects discussions conducted under pressure and hinted that new strategies and capabilities have been prepared on the battlefield over the past two weeks. His remarks came amid heightened tensions surrounding U.S.-Iran peace discussions, with reports also noting China’s support for Pakistan’s role in the dialogue and a drop in global oil prices following related news.

The statements underscore Iran’s firm stance against perceived U.S. pressure tactics and suggest that Tehran may be preparing for both diplomatic and strategic responses in the near term.

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will maintain its port blockade on Iran until a new agreement is reached. He stated that the blockade is exerting significant pressure on Iran’s economy. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday, Trump claimed that Iran is losing around 500 million dollars daily, creating instability within the country.

The statement came as the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran nears its end, and uncertainty grows over a second round of peace talks scheduled to take place in Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in a phone conversation that the US’s “violation of the ceasefire” has become a major obstacle to diplomatic progress.

Araghchi added that Iran will consider all aspects of the situation before deciding its next steps. The developments come amid regional diplomatic efforts, with Pakistan mediating and China expressing full support for the dialogue process.

Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Peter Magyar has suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could face arrest if he visits Budapest. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Magyar said that any country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) must detain individuals who are subject to ICC arrest warrants if they enter its territory.

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had maintained close ties with Netanyahu’s right-wing government. In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes committed during the Gaza war.

Magyar’s remarks indicate a possible shift in Hungary’s stance toward Israel under the new leadership, contrasting with the previous government’s alignment with Netanyahu’s administration.