Students of the Political Science Department at Barishal University blocked the Dhaka–Kuakata highway on Sunday afternoon, demanding action after a fellow student was injured in a road accident near the campus. The blockade began around 2 p.m. following frustration over the lack of compensation and resolution promised by the university administration.

The incident occurred on Saturday noon when a motorcycle carrying a student collided with an oil tanker near the university. The injured student, Tamim Hossain from the 14th batch of the Political Science Department, was hospitalized with serious injuries. Despite earlier discussions with the administration, students said no progress had been made, prompting them to stage the highway blockade.

Their four-point demand includes immediate police deployment at the nearby outpost, arrest of the driver involved, appointment of traffic police in front of the university, and compensation for the injured student.

Thirty leaders and activists from the anti-discrimination student movement and the platform Up Bangladesh have formally joined the National Citizens Party (NCP). The joining took place on Sunday afternoon at the NCP headquarters during an official ceremony attended by the new members.

Among those who joined are Ali Ahsan Junayed and Rafe Salman Rifat, both former presidents of the Dhaka University student organization and key initiators of Up Bangladesh. Others include Sani Abdul Haque, joint general secretary of AB Party; Rifat Rashid, president of the anti-discrimination student movement; Hasib Al Islam, chief coordinator; and Shahadat Hossain, office secretary. Several additional activists such as Shahriz Sultana Ira, Ayman Rahat, Hasan Tanvir, Wahid Alam, Mohammad Jasimuddin, Sajjad Sabbir, and S M Sweet also joined the party.

The event marks a notable expansion of NCP’s organizational base through the inclusion of leaders from multiple youth and student platforms.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that no date has been set for the next round of talks between Iran and the United States. He explained that both sides must first finalize the framework of an understanding before any new meeting can take place. His comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that direct discussions might resume this weekend.

The first round of talks between the two countries ended last weekend without any agreement. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in Turkey, Khatibzadeh said Iran is focused on finalizing the structure of an understanding and does not want to enter discussions that are likely to fail or escalate tensions. He added that progress had been made, but additional demands from the U.S. side prevented a deal, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Khatibzadeh emphasized that Iran would not accept being treated as an exception under international law, underscoring Tehran’s stance on sovereignty and legal equality in negotiations.

A large protest took place in Tel Aviv on Sunday night against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Demonstrators voiced anger over Netanyahu’s leadership, accusing him of damaging Israel’s relations with European countries and the United States. Protester Rafael Pnina said Netanyahu was destroying society from within and demanded answers about the events of October 7 and their aftermath.

Another protester, social activist Li Hoffman-Agiv, said she joined the rally to show solidarity with families of those killed since the conflict began on October 7. Chaim Trivax, another participant, accused the government of making wrong decisions in wars against Lebanon and Iran, claiming Netanyahu was pursuing conflict to avoid imprisonment.

According to the report, the protest highlighted Israel’s ongoing political divisions and growing public dissatisfaction with the government.

At least 20 people were injured in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur on Saturday evening after alleged attacks and vandalism at a temporary BNP office and nearby shops. The violence occurred around 7:30 p.m. in Komoleshwardi Charpara Bazar under Dadpur Union, reportedly involving Awami League supporters led by Union Parishad Chairman Mosharraf Hossain Musha. Police later intervened to bring the situation under control and deployed additional forces.

According to local sources, the conflict stemmed from a long-running land dispute over 21.50 decimals of land owned by resident Billal Hossain. Despite a High Court ruling, he claimed he could not take possession of the land, which remains under the chairman’s control. A planned arbitration meeting on Friday failed when the chairman’s side did not attend, leading to rising tensions and subsequent violence.

Police confirmed the clash was linked to the land dispute and said legal action is underway. The area is now calm under increased police presence.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to visit his ancestral home in Bagbari village of Gabtali upazila, Bogura, on Monday, marking his first return in nearly 20 years. The northern district is witnessing a festive atmosphere ahead of his arrival. This will also be his first visit to his home district since becoming prime minister. During the daylong official trip, he will inaugurate several development projects, including the Bogura City Corporation plaque, a new lawyers’ association building, and the e-bail bond system.

According to the schedule, the prime minister will leave Dhaka by road at 6 a.m. and reach Bogura Circuit House by 10:30 a.m. He will later visit Bagbari to launch a measles-rubella vaccination campaign and a family card distribution program, followed by inaugurating a canal excavation project in Nashipur. In the afternoon, he will address a public rally organized by the Bogura District BNP at Altafunnesa playground and inaugurate new facilities including the Bogura Press Club building and Baitur Rahman Central Mosque reconstruction.

Local residents expressed pride and excitement over the visit, while authorities have intensified security and beautification efforts across the district.

Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has accused President Donald Trump of engaging in a war that, she said, the American people do not want and that puts U.S. troops at risk. Speaking at a Democratic Party fundraising event in Detroit on Saturday, Harris claimed that Trump entered the conflict under the influence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Harris, who lost to Trump in the 2024 presidential election, described the war as unnecessary and harmful to ordinary Americans.

In response, Netanyahu rejected Harris’s allegation. He had previously stated at a press conference last month that no one could tell President Trump what to do. The exchange has added new tension to U.S. domestic politics amid ongoing unrest in the Middle East.

The remarks have intensified political debate in Washington as the U.S. faces scrutiny over its role in the region, with both leaders’ statements drawing attention to the influence of foreign policy decisions on internal political divisions.

The political distance between Bangladesh’s ruling BNP and the main opposition Jamaat-e-Islami has widened since the February 12 parliamentary election. Initially cooperative in building a fascism-free Bangladesh, the two sides are now divided over constitutional reform, implementation of the July Charter, and recognition of ordinances issued by the interim government. Disagreements that began in parliament have spilled onto the streets, with the opposition launching rallies and awareness campaigns demanding the July Charter’s implementation.

Tensions escalated after BNP lawmakers declined to take an oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, prompting Jamaat’s boycott of the government’s swearing-in ceremony. Subsequent disputes over ordinance approvals and ignored committee recommendations led to multiple opposition walkouts from parliament. Jamaat leaders accused the government of breaching trust, while BNP officials insisted the issues could be resolved through parliamentary dialogue. Political analysts warned that the growing mistrust threatens the post-revolution unity that followed the July uprising.

Analysts urged both parties to return to negotiation, cautioning that continued confrontation could erode public confidence in the new democratic order and derail expectations for stability and reform.

US Vice President JD Vance has expressed gratitude to Pope Leo for clarifying recent remarks that had sparked tension with former President Donald Trump. The Pope explained that his speech in Cameroon, where he said the world was being troubled by 'a few dictators,' was not directed at Trump. He emphasized that the address had been prepared two weeks earlier and was misinterpreted, not intended to provoke political conflict.

Vance, a Catholic himself, wrote on social media platform X that he was thankful for the Pope’s clarification. He noted that the media often amplifies conflicts and that while differences exist, the reality is more complex. Vance added that the President and the administration strive to apply moral values within a complicated reality, saying the Pope would remain in their prayers.

Earlier, Pope Leo had criticized the US-Israel stance on the Iran conflict, prompting Trump to call him weak on crime and poor on foreign policy. The episode has reignited global debate over the balance between religious and political positions.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that although some progress has been made in ongoing talks between the United States and Iran, major differences remain on key issues. He made the remarks in comments reported by Al Jazeera, noting that while partial agreements were reached, the two countries still hold widely divergent positions on important matters.

Ghalibaf described the United States as an enemy and claimed that Washington had failed to achieve its objectives despite setting deadlines and issuing warnings. He said the US had begun sending messages through mediators after failing to reach its goals directly. According to him, Iran accepted a temporary ceasefire to pressure the US into meeting its demands, and former US President Donald Trump agreed to it because Iran had prevailed on the battlefield.

He further asserted that the US had not succeeded in changing Iran’s political system or destroying its missile and attack capabilities, adding that Trump’s efforts had failed and emphasizing that Iran is not comparable to Venezuela.

Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4, Hasnat Abdullah, has issued a stern warning against any form of land syndicate operating in Debidwar upazila. He made the statement on Saturday afternoon during a public hearing organized by the upazila administration to raise awareness about land services, improve service quality, and address existing problems.

During the hearing, Abdullah listened to complaints from land service seekers and noted that a powerful syndicate was forcing ordinary people to pay extra money in land transactions. He said those involved would be identified and brought under legal action. The MP also mentioned that many expatriates face harassment from brokers when trying to buy small plots of land with their hard-earned money. He urged victims to file direct complaints and to inform him if issues remain unresolved through land officials.

The event was presided over by Debidwar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rakibul Islam, with other local officials and residents in attendance.

BNP’s former joint secretary general and Chattogram-4 Member of Parliament Professor Aslam Chowdhury has called on farmers to unite to secure their rights. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at his residence in Sitakunda during a courtesy meeting with leaders of the Mirsharai Upazila unit of the Krishak Dal.

During the meeting, Chowdhury discussed the current political situation, farmers’ fair rights, crises in the agricultural sector, fertilizer and irrigation issues, and ensuring fair prices for agricultural products. He emphasized strengthening the organization at the grassroots level to make it more active and effective.

A delegation led by Mirsharai Upazila Krishak Dal convener Ashraf Uddin and member secretary Abu Dawood attended the meeting. On behalf of the Krishak Dal, Aslam Chowdhury was presented with floral greetings and a crest of honor.

Bangladesh’s opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said workers’ earnings are falling due to a nationwide fuel shortage. Speaking on Saturday at the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation’s district and metropolitan leaders’ conference in Dhaka, he claimed transport workers wait three to five hours daily for limited fuel, losing valuable work time. He added that fuel stations are receiving only half their usual supply, worsening workers’ financial hardship.

Rahman alleged that the government’s policies have deepened the crisis and that opposition voices are being silenced in parliament. He also criticized the new banking law, saying it hands public deposits to “bank robbers.” Addressing labor leaders, he urged them to continue fighting for workers’ rights peacefully and to avoid unrest that could harm both owners and workers. He called on the government to establish specialized hospitals in labor-intensive areas and ensure education for workers’ children.

Jamaat’s deputy leader A.N.M. Shamsul Islam echoed the need for dialogue-based solutions to labor issues, saying workers have long been exploited for political gain.

The Narendra Modi government faced a major setback in the Lok Sabha on April 18, 2026, as it failed to secure passage of the constitutional amendment bill aimed at increasing the number of seats and implementing women’s reservation. The proposed amendment required a two-thirds majority in the lower house, but the ruling NDA alliance managed only 298 votes in favor against 230 votes opposed. Following the defeat, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the government would not proceed with the remaining two amendment bills.

The debate in Parliament centered on the 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, as well as the delimitation of constituencies. Home Minister Amit Shah responded to opposition members before the voting took place. During the session, the government unexpectedly implemented the women’s reservation law passed about two and a half years earlier, effective from April 16, 2026.

The defeated 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill had proposed that women’s reservation be enforced based on the redrawing of electoral boundaries, linking the reform to future delimitation exercises.

National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has urged opposition parties not to stage walkouts without valid reasons. He also called on the ruling party to allow the opposition adequate space to function and to maintain coordination with them. The Speaker made these remarks on Saturday afternoon while speaking to journalists after exchanging greetings with leaders of the Barishal Chamber of Commerce and Industries at the Barishal Circuit House.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stated that walkouts are a legitimate political practice for the opposition, but prolonged boycotts harm the Parliament and deprive citizens of their rights. He emphasized the need for unity among those who fought against autocracy, warning that disunity could allow exiled figures to return and reestablish misrule. Reflecting on the past sixteen years, he described that period as one of darkness marked by sham elections and the absence of public rights.

Expressing optimism, the Speaker said political parties should remain united against autocracy to ensure democracy endures and citizens retain their right to choose their government freely.