Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the United States’ unlawful behavior and contradictory positions are inconsistent with diplomatic principles. The conversation took place by phone, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

During the call, Araghchi expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of the U.S. administration, saying that American leaders’ positions and conduct violate international norms and diplomatic etiquette. He added that Iran will closely monitor the behavior of other parties and will always make appropriate and necessary decisions to protect its national security and interests.

The report cited Al Jazeera as its source but did not provide further details about any specific outcomes or next steps following the discussion.

Sanjida Islam Tuli, coordinator of the platform 'Mayer Dak' for families of disappeared persons in Bangladesh, has been nominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for a reserved women’s seat in the 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made on Monday at the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Following the nomination, Tuli expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman for selecting her. She described the nomination as both an honor and a major responsibility, pledging to uphold honesty, dedication, and accountability in serving the people. Tuli emphasized that her political goal is public welfare, not personal gain, and vowed to work for equality in education, healthcare, and employment opportunities while standing against corruption and injustice.

Tuli previously contested the 13th National Election from Dhaka-14 constituency under the BNP’s symbol but lost to Jamaat’s Barrister Arman by 15,857 votes. Her nomination is seen as a continuation of her long-standing social and public engagement.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance has nominated 13 candidates for the reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made on Monday evening at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar during a press conference led by alliance coordinator and Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad. The nomination papers are scheduled to be submitted on Tuesday morning at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, followed by a press briefing by alliance leaders.

Among the nominees, eight are from Jamaat’s women’s wing, including central leaders such as Nurunnisa Siddika, Marzia Begum, and Advocate Sabikun Nahar Munni. Other nominees include the mother of July martyr Jabir Ibrahim, two leaders from the National Citizen Party (NCP), one from the National Democratic Party (JAGPA), and one from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish. Azad stated that the alliance maintained proportional representation and also honored a martyr’s family by nominating a non-party representative.

Earlier, in the February 12 election, Jamaat won 68 seats, NCP six, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish two, and one candidate from Khelafat Majlish was elected as a member of parliament.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has expressed deep concern over the arrest and harassment of citizens and political activists across the country for expressing dissenting opinions online. In a joint statement issued on Monday, the organization’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah condemned the incidents, alleging that the government has become desperate to silence public voices on social media within two months of coming to power.

The statement cited several recent arrests, including individuals from Mymensingh, Dhaka, Munshiganj, Thakurgaon, and Bhola, allegedly detained for sharing Facebook posts or cartoons. The leaders described these actions as part of a broader effort to suppress dissent, accusing the government of double standards after promising freedom of speech before the election. They also criticized the misuse of the Cyber Security Act and Section 54 to target activists and ordinary citizens.

Chhatra Shibir demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, including Hasan Nasim and Azizul Haque, and urged the government to accept criticism instead of intimidating the public.

In the Bangladesh Parliament on April 20, 2026, Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed engaged in a heated exchange over an adjournment motion under Rule 62 concerning the national energy situation. The Deputy Speaker had earlier rejected two similar motions, citing that the Energy Minister had already delivered a statement under Rule 300. Dr. Rahman argued that the ongoing energy shortage was the most pressing issue in the country and warranted immediate discussion, while the Home Minister questioned the necessity of another debate after the ministerial statement.

The Home Minister maintained that there was no energy or fuel crisis, asserting that price adjustments were made only to prevent smuggling and maintain order. He suggested that the discussion could proceed under Rule 68 without adjourning the session. Dr. Rahman accepted this proposal but requested extended time and the presence of the Leader of the House during the debate. The Deputy Speaker agreed to allow a one-hour discussion under Rule 68, emphasizing the need for a constructive and harmonious parliamentary dialogue.

The exchange highlighted differing perspectives between the government and opposition on the severity of the energy situation and the appropriate parliamentary procedure for addressing it.

Sarjis Alam, the northern chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of deceiving its alliance partners. In a Facebook post on Monday night, he said BNP failed to include any alliance members in the new cabinet, despite earlier promises of forming a strong national government. Alam noted that out of 25 ministers, none came from allied parties, and BNP also did not nominate any allies for the 36 reserved women’s seats, all of which went to BNP members.

He contrasted this with Jamaat-e-Islami, which, despite receiving only 12 reserved seats, allocated one seat each to NCP, JAGPA, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish. Alam said this demonstrated Jamaat’s political commitment and generosity, which he believes will serve as an example in future Bangladeshi politics.

The statement reflects growing frustration among smaller alliance partners over what they view as BNP’s lack of inclusiveness and failure to honor coalition commitments.

The United Arab Emirates’ state security agency announced on Monday that it had arrested members of an Iran-aligned group accused of planning sabotage operations aimed at disrupting national security and unity. According to the UAE’s official news agency WAM, the detainees were allegedly preparing coordinated acts of sabotage within the country to destabilize peace and cohesion.

Investigations revealed that the group sought to recruit Emirati youth to advance its own agenda and had been collecting funds through unauthorized means to transfer abroad. Authorities said the network maintained secret contacts with foreign organizations and held covert meetings both domestically and internationally to plan attacks on sensitive sites. The group faces charges of running a clandestine organization, pledging allegiance to foreign powers, and attempting to undermine national stability.

The arrests follow last month’s reported crackdown on a Hezbollah- and Iran-linked money-laundering network. The UAE government reiterated that it would not tolerate any form of foreign interference in its internal security affairs amid ongoing regional geopolitical tensions.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has nominated Beethika Binte Hossain, wife of late BNP leader and former Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu, for a reserved women’s seat in parliament. Party members believe the nomination reflects recognition of both her husband’s lifelong political sacrifices and her own contributions to the party’s grassroots activities. The Election Commission has already announced the schedule for the reserved women’s seat election, with April 21 set as the last date for nomination submission and April 22–23 for scrutiny.

Shafiul Bari Babu was known as a strong voice against fascism and autocracy, spending much of his life in hiding or in prison for his political activism. Following his death in 2020, Beethika became active in politics, working in Lakshmipur’s Ramgati and Komolnagar areas to strengthen local party structures and support community initiatives. She also founded a humanitarian organization named “Orpon Alok,” which assists oppressed and underprivileged people.

According to party sources, BNP is finalizing candidates based on merit, sacrifice, and organizational contribution. Leaders view Beethika’s nomination positively and expect her to strengthen the party’s position in parliament.

Tasmiya Pradhan, chairperson of the National Democratic Party–JAGPA, has been nominated by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance for a reserved women’s seat in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The nomination was confirmed by Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami and coordinator of the alliance. Among the 13 nominees, nine are from Jamaat-e-Islami, two from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), one from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and one from JAGPA.

The 11-party alliance secured 77 seats in the national election held on February 12, entitling it to 13 reserved women’s seats. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will receive 36 of the 50 reserved women’s seats. The ruling party finalized its list of candidates earlier on the same day, followed by the announcement from the 11-party alliance.

The newly nominated women members from the alliance are expected to work in parliament to fulfill public expectations, according to the report.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reaffirmed his commitment to implement every promise of the July Charter signed by the BNP at the South Plaza of Parliament. Speaking at a rally organized by the Bogura district BNP at Altafunnesa Field on Monday, he said each word and letter of the charter would be realized. He highlighted that after years of curtailed freedoms, the people regained their voting and speech rights through the 2024 mass movement that ousted autocracy.

Rahman accused previous regimes of corruption under the guise of development and said the February 12 election gave the BNP a five-year mandate to govern. He detailed several fulfilled pledges, including the launch of family and farmer cards, waiver of agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka, and honorariums for religious institution staff. He also announced plans for canal excavation, manpower export expansion, and new educational and transport projects in Bogura.

The Prime Minister criticized some political parties for focusing only on constitutional issues while ignoring reforms in health, administration, law enforcement, and women’s development. He urged citizens to stay alert against misinformation and reaffirmed that the government’s goal is to fulfill the people’s mandate through continued reform and development efforts.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has released its list of nominees for 36 reserved women’s seats in the Jatiya Sangsad. The announcement was made on Monday afternoon by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, the party’s senior joint secretary general and adviser to the prime minister. Although May 12 was initially set for voting in this indirect election, procedural reasons mean no voting will be required, making the nominated candidates virtually confirmed as members of parliament.

Among the BNP nominees are nine former MPs, including Begum Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, and Rehana Akter Ranu. The remaining 26 nominees are new faces such as Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Nawaz Halima Arly, and Sanjida Islam Tuli. The reserved women’s seats in parliament total 50, distributed at one seat for every six general members. Based on this ratio, the BNP alliance will receive 36 seats, the Jamaat alliance 13, and independents one.

The announcement marks a key step in finalizing women’s representation in the current parliament through party nominations rather than direct elections.

US President Donald Trump has stated that Israel did not provoke him into starting a war against Iran. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, he rejected reports claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pressured him in late February to launch a joint attack on Iran.

Trump dismissed those allegations, asserting that the decision to take military action was entirely his own. He said the events of October 7 and his lifelong belief that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons influenced his decision. Trump added that if Iran’s new leaders act wisely, the country could have a prosperous future ahead.

The statement comes amid ongoing discussions about US-Iran relations and follows reports of regional diplomatic efforts involving Pakistan and China.

A Dhaka court has ordered one-day jail gate interrogation of former State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak in a money laundering case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was issued on Monday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez, according to court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain. The ACC’s investigating officer and Assistant Director Al-Amin had submitted the petition seeking permission for the interrogation.

According to the petition, Palak allegedly abused his power to acquire assets worth Tk 8.73 crore beyond known sources of income. The ACC investigation found that he and his associates held 25 bank accounts containing Tk 32.04 crore, of which Tk 29.84 crore had already been withdrawn. The commission suspects the funds were obtained through bribery and corruption, constituting an offense under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.

The case was filed on December 12, 2024, at the ACC’s Integrated District Office, Dhaka-1, under sections of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004 and the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947. As Palak is currently in custody, the ACC sought permission to question him at the jail gate, which the court approved after a hearing.

Subarna Shikdar (Thakur), who serves as the Forest and Environment Affairs Secretary of the Kashiani Upazila unit of the Awami League in Gopalganj, has been nominated by the BNP as a candidate for a reserved women's seat in parliament. The announcement, made on Monday, has triggered widespread criticism on social media.

According to local Awami League sources, Subarna’s name appeared as number 27 on the official list of the Kashiani Upazila Awami League committee formed during its triennial conference on November 30, 2022. The list was signed by Gopalganj District Awami League General Secretary GM Shahabuddin Azam. In the BNP’s newly announced list of 36 candidates for reserved women’s seats, Subarna’s name appears at number 20.

Attempts to reach Subarna Shikdar (Thakur) for comment were unsuccessful, as she reportedly disconnected the phone when contacted.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance has nominated 13 candidates for the reserved women's seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made on Monday evening at the alliance’s press conference held at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar. Alliance coordinator and Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad declared the names, adding that nomination papers would be submitted on Tuesday morning at the Election Commission office in Agargaon.

Among the nominees, eight are leaders from Jamaat’s women’s division, one is the mother of July martyr Jabir Ibrahim, two are from the National Citizen Party (NCP), one from the National Democratic Party (JAGPA), and one from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish. Azad stated that the alliance, which had jointly participated in the February 12 election, continues to act together as the parliamentary opposition. He noted that some parties without parliamentary representation were still given seats as part of the alliance’s political commitment.

The alliance leaders, including representatives from Jamaat, NCP, JAGPA, and Khelafat Majlish, attended the press conference, expressing unity and commitment to collective political action.