Jamaat-e-Islami has announced an emergency press conference following recent statements made by the law minister, home minister, and the chief whip of the national parliament. The event is scheduled for Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka. Senior central leaders of the party are expected to attend the briefing.

The announcement was confirmed by Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, the party’s assistant secretary general and head of its central media and publicity department. The press conference comes in direct response to the remarks made by the government officials the previous day, though the content of those statements was not detailed in the report.

The development indicates Jamaat’s intent to formally address the government’s recent positions and clarify its stance amid ongoing political discussions.

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works is planning a new official residence for Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, designed with advanced safety and security features. According to ministry sources, the residence will include an underground bunker and tunnel to protect the Prime Minister and family from external threats. The design will follow modern standards used in other countries’ prime ministerial residences. The project is being developed after the former official residence, Ganabhaban, was converted into the July Uprising Memorial Museum.

Officials said the new residence will be located in a central area of Dhaka, with Minto Road, Hare Road, and Bailey Road under consideration. The site will be chosen to ensure easy access to the Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Office, and other key government institutions. The Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department has been tasked with selecting the location, while discussions between the Prime Minister and the Housing Minister have already taken place.

The Prime Minister currently operates from his private residence in Gulshan-2 and uses the state guesthouse Jamuna for official events. Construction of the permanent residence will begin once the final location is approved.

Bangladesh’s new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is confronting an immediate diplomatic challenge as both the United States and China intensify efforts to expand their influence in Dhaka. The US has expressed concern over China’s growing presence, with Ambassador Brent Christensen pledging to counter Beijing’s influence, prompting a sharp response from the Chinese embassy. Analysts say this rivalry has created a new geopolitical equation for Bangladesh’s foreign policy.

The situation follows a period of heightened engagement during the previous interim government, when China deepened ties through infrastructure and defense cooperation, while the US pressed Dhaka to limit dependence on Beijing. Bangladesh recently signed a trade deal with Washington under pressure, which diplomats describe as geopolitically driven. Since taking office, Rahman’s government has faced renewed US pressure to implement the deal and finalize major purchases, including Boeing aircraft, while China has invited Dhaka to strengthen bilateral and political relations.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has stated that both the US and China are vital partners and that Bangladesh will maintain balanced relations guided by national interests. Analysts view the situation as both a challenge and an opportunity, urging cautious diplomacy to preserve strategic autonomy.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) saw a festive atmosphere at its Nayapaltan headquarters as the deadline for submitting nominations for reserved women’s seats in the 13th Parliament ended on Sunday. More than 1,200 nomination forms were sold over three days, and over 900 completed forms were submitted by female leaders. Although the official deadline was 5 p.m., submissions continued until 9 p.m., and the party decided to accept additional forms on Monday.

According to party sources, the BNP’s parliamentary board will now verify the submitted biographies before shortlisting candidates for interviews and development plan discussions. The party has 36 reserved seats but may review over 100 candidates. Interviews are scheduled to begin on April 16, led by Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan after his return from medical treatment. Selection will consider regional representation, with special attention to districts where BNP candidates lost in the general election.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned of disciplinary action against any misconduct toward celebrity aspirants, emphasizing that organizational ability and intellect will guide the final selection.

Multiple factions are engaged in efforts to seize control of North Western University in Khulna, Bangladesh, leading to internal conflict and legal battles. Since August, the institution has faced disruptions following attempts to take over key trustee positions. Founding trustees were barred from campus, and several were implicated in a vandalism case linked to a political office attack. Trustee Pabitra Kumar Sarkar, who challenged the legitimacy of the current board, was later arrested by the Detective Branch police.

The university, established in November 2012 as Khulna’s first private university, has seen leadership changes tied to political shifts. After former chairman Talukder Abdul Khaleque went into hiding, BNP-backed Sirajul Haque Chowdhury took charge, later replaced by Mizanur Rahman in May 2025. The University Grants Commission (UGC) later declared Mizanur Rahman and Hafizur Rahman invalid trustees, and a January 2026 court ruling barred them from acting as trustees.

Despite the court order, both continued activities and appealed the verdict, with a hearing set for April 16. Sarkar’s arrest before the hearing has raised concerns among his associates, who allege pressure to withdraw the case.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the United States could find a path to agreement with Iran if it abandons its authoritarian stance and respects the rights of the Iranian nation. He made the remarks in a brief statement posted on social media platform X on Sunday night.

In his message, Pezeshkian also praised Iran’s Parliament Speaker and head of the national delegation, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, congratulating him and other members of the negotiating team. He expressed his hope that divine support would guide their efforts.

The statement reflects Pezeshkian’s emphasis on mutual respect as a foundation for potential understanding between Tehran and Washington, while also highlighting internal unity within Iran’s leadership.

Public support among Americans for the ongoing war with Iran has declined, according to a new CBS and YouGov poll. The survey found that support fell by two percentage points from the end of last month, standing now at 36 percent. The drop follows a broader decline in President Donald Trump’s popularity, which had already fallen to 38 percent in a Reuters and Ipsos poll in February, marking the lowest level since his return to office for a second term.

By late March, 62 percent of Americans opposed the Iran war, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with its domestic impact. The latest consumer price index showed rising inflation in the United States, which many Americans view as a negative consequence of the conflict. The combination of economic strain and declining presidential approval appears to be shaping public sentiment toward the war.

The polling data suggest that continued inflation and opposition to the Iran war could further challenge Trump’s administration in maintaining public support.

A local BNP leader, Juel Amin, has been expelled from the party in Saghata upazila of Gaibandha following allegations of illegal sand extraction. The expulsion was announced on Sunday through a press release signed by Saghata Union BNP President Nazrul Islam Babu and General Secretary Atikur Rahman. The statement cited violations of party discipline and involvement in unethical activities as reasons for the disciplinary action.

Earlier, a report in Amar Desh revealed that trucks carrying illegally extracted sand from the Jamuna River had endangered a flood control embankment built at a cost of about Tk 25 crore. Following the report, police conducted a raid on Friday and detained BNP leader Juel Amin and Awami League leader Sabuj Mia. Both were accused of long-term involvement in illegal sand extraction and trade.

Local residents expressed concern that the activities had placed the riverbank embankment at serious risk of collapse and demanded strict action against those responsible.

A court in Jamalpur’s Melandah upazila has ordered ten leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations, including the president of the local Chhatra League, to be sent to jail. The order came on Sunday afternoon when the accused surrendered before the Madarganj Amli Court and sought bail in a case filed under the Special Powers Act. Judge Romana Akter rejected their bail petitions and directed that they be taken into custody.

According to court sources, the decision followed a hearing in which the court considered the allegations brought against the accused. Those sent to jail include Hossain Ali, Ariful Islam Shawon, Kamrul Hasan Al-Amin, Johurul Islam, Saiful Islam, Maji, Babor Ali, Sujon, Fazil Haque, and Mosaddik Hossain Jewel. Police Inspector (Unarmed) Abul Hossain of the Jamalpur Chief Judicial Magistrate Court confirmed the court’s order, stating that the accused were warrant-listed individuals who had surrendered voluntarily.

The incident has reportedly caused a stir in the local area following the court’s decision.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV for opposing the ongoing war with Iran. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump accused the Pope of being weak on crime and disastrous on foreign policy. The Pope had earlier urged an end to the Iran conflict, calling it a product of a misguided pursuit of power and warning that civilization could face destruction if peace was not reached.

Responding to Trump’s earlier remarks about Iran, Pope Leo said such threats were unacceptable and raised both legal and moral concerns. Trump countered by saying he did not want a Pope who tolerated Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He further advised Pope Leo to correct himself, use common sense, stop appeasing leftists, and focus on being a great Pope rather than a politician.

Trump also claimed partial credit for Pope Leo’s election, suggesting that Vatican support for the first American-born Pope came due to White House influence during his presidency.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Bogura on April 20 for a one-day official trip. According to the itinerary, he will arrive at the Bogura District Police Lines helipad by helicopter from Tejgaon Airport in the morning. At 10:45 a.m., he will inaugurate the e-Bail Bond program at the District and Sessions Judge Court premises. At 11 a.m., he will officially announce the inauguration of the Bogura City Corporation.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister will attend a program at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Degree College field to launch the Family Card distribution initiative and inaugurate the excavation project at Chowkirdah Canal in Bagbari Nashipur. In the afternoon, he will visit Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Village Hospital and spend time at the ancestral home of the late President Ziaur Rahman. After prayers and a break at the Bogura Circuit House, he will depart for Dhaka at 4 p.m.

The visit has generated significant enthusiasm across northern Bangladesh, with local authorities implementing extensive security measures. Senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office will accompany him on this official tour.

Tangail is witnessing extensive preparations ahead of Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s visit. The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in Tangail tomorrow, April 14, to inaugurate the nationwide farmer card distribution program on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh. According to the itinerary, he will first pay respects at the mausoleum of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani before attending the main event at the district stadium, where he will distribute farmer cards and address a farmers’ gathering. Later, he will inaugurate an agricultural fair at the municipal ground.

Excitement has spread among BNP leaders, activists, and local residents eager to welcome their leader. The city has been cleaned and decorated, and stage construction at the stadium is nearly complete. Roads and infrastructure have been repaired, including a 40-kilometer stretch from Mirzapur’s Gorai to the city bypass. Security measures have been intensified, with a four-tier protection system in place around the event area.

Officials said all administrative preparations are complete, and the event is expected to highlight the government’s focus on supporting farmers through the new card initiative.

Authorities in Narayanganj have announced the start of an eviction drive from Monday to remove illegal occupiers and hawkers from the BB Road footpath. The initiative aims to reduce long-standing traffic congestion and restore pedestrian movement across the city. The decision was formally communicated through an administrative notice confirming that the operation begins on April 13, 2026.

According to the notice, BB Road’s footpath has become nearly unusable due to hawkers and encroachers, severely disrupting pedestrian and vehicular movement. The decision to launch the eviction drive was taken unanimously at a high-level meeting held on April 5, attended by Narayanganj-5 Member of Parliament Abul Kalam, City Corporation Administrator Sakhawat Hossain Khan, the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police, and the RAB-11 commander.

The operation will be led by MP Abul Kalam and Administrator Sakhawat Hossain Khan under the City Corporation’s initiative. Mobile courts from the district administration will operate simultaneously to take immediate legal action against violators.

US Vice President JD Vance has said that reaching a deal with Iran remains possible, even though Tehran has not agreed to abandon its nuclear program. Vance left Islamabad after presenting what was described as a final proposal to Iranian negotiators, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official stated that Vance, who led the US delegation, returned with the belief that Iranian leaders hold a mistaken perception of their leverage in negotiations with the Trump administration. Despite extended discussions, the two sides failed to reach agreement on several key issues, including halting Iran’s uranium enrichment, establishing a broader regional peace framework with allies, and finding a permanent solution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tariffs or tolls.

The talks ended without a breakthrough, leaving major questions unresolved about the future of US-Iran relations and regional stability, according to the summary provided by the US official.

Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam announced that the Bangladesh Parliament has set a record by passing 117 bills within five days. He made the statement while briefing journalists at the National Parliament Building after the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected MPs Md. Rezaul Karim Badsha and Md. Mahmudul Haque Rubel. He emphasized that democracy is built on mutual trust between the ruling and opposition parties.

The Chief Whip explained that a special committee comprising both ruling and opposition members reviewed 133 ordinances. After detailed scrutiny, 16 ordinances were identified for amendment, while 117 were passed as bills within five days. He described the achievement as unprecedented in the country’s history and credited the Parliament Secretariat and BG Press staff for their tireless work. He also expressed disappointment that opposition members walked out over minor amendments but acknowledged that walkouts are part of democratic practice.

He further mentioned that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has allocated an additional 360 billion taka in subsidies to address the energy crisis, stressing that national resources should serve public welfare rather than be siphoned abroad.