Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma led a four-member delegation in a meeting with Defense Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) A K M Shamsul Islam. The meeting took place on Wednesday at the office of the Armed Forces Division in Dhaka Cantonment.

During the discussion, both sides addressed issues related to bilateral defense cooperation, training, and the enhancement of regional security. They also exchanged views on strengthening the existing military relations between the two countries and explored prospects for future progress in defense collaboration.

The meeting reflected the ongoing engagement between Bangladesh and India in defense and security matters, emphasizing mutual interest in maintaining and expanding cooperative frameworks.

Opposition Chief Whip and NCP convener Nahid Islam, Member of Parliament for Dhaka-11, proposed skipping the discussion on the President’s address during the 11th day of the first session of the 13th National Parliament. He made the proposal on Wednesday, April 8, while raising a point of order in the session presided over by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal. Nahid argued that the parliament must pass several ordinances as bills by April 9 or 12 and that priority should be given to completing this legislative process within the limited time.

He explained that both government and opposition members had agreed earlier to focus on passing the ordinances instead of continuing the debate on the President’s speech. Nahid emphasized that this approach would prevent any future claims that the opposition lacked time to discuss bills where they had dissenting opinions. He also noted the absence of the Leader of the House and requested that the discussion on the President’s address be shortened to expedite the legislative process.

Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal acknowledged the proposal, assuring that both treasury and opposition benches were working together to ensure an effective and strong parliament. Government Chief Whip Nurul Islam supported Nahid’s remarks, noting that 133 ordinances were pending and praising the opposition’s cooperation.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, editor of Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN), stated that the referendum on the July National Charter was approved by the people and should be implemented fully. He criticized the delay in its execution and accused the BNP of presenting weak arguments regarding the note of dissent. He made these remarks on Wednesday at a roundtable discussion titled “Politics of Ordinance Repeal and Referendum Denial: Bangladesh in the Era of Parliamentary Autocracy” held at the National Press Club.

Majumdar argued that BNP’s claim that the issue is not in the constitution is unfounded, citing historical precedents such as the caretaker government led by Justice Shahabuddin, which also lacked constitutional basis but was formed through political consensus. He explained that the note of dissent represents a minority view within the 14-member parliamentary committee, where 11 members were from the ruling party and three from the opposition. The majority view, he said, was approved in the referendum and endorsed by the people.

He concluded that BNP’s reasoning on the matter is unconvincing and inconsistent with democratic consensus.

Following a report published by the newspaper Amar Desh, the local administration in Banaripara upazila of Barishal launched an eviction drive to remove illegal structures from the Sandhya River’s char area. The operation began on Wednesday morning near the ferry ghat’s southern side and continued until evening. The drive was led by the upazila land office’s surveyor Mamun and process server Md Khayer, assisted by 10–12 workers. Local BNP leaders, including upazila president Shahe Alam, were present during the operation.

During the eviction, upazila BNP joint secretary Abdus Sabur Khan reportedly began constructing a new house within 50 yards of the ferry ghat, prompting local residents to question the administration’s actions. Assistant Commissioner (Land) GMA Munib stated that all illegal structures would be removed in phases. The drive followed an Amar Desh report alleging that influential groups, including BNP leaders, were selling parts of the river char.

The report drew strong public attention, leading to a surge in newspaper demand in Banaripara. Meanwhile, Amar Desh staff reporter Nikunja Bala Palash received threats from alleged land grabbers after the publication.

The Cumilla Metropolitan unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest march and rally on Wednesday afternoon in Cumilla, denouncing what it described as government delays in implementing the public verdict reflected in a recent referendum. The demonstration began at Tomchom Bridge and moved through several city streets, including Kandirpar, before concluding with a rally.

During the event, Cumilla Metropolitan Shibir president Hasan Ahmed alleged that the February 12 election was fair until noon, after which polling centers were taken over and ballots manipulated. He accused the government of coming to power through vote engineering and ignoring the people’s mandate. Hasan further warned that if the authorities failed to implement the so-called July Charter, which he claimed represented 70% of public opinion, they would face consequences similar to those of former leader Hasina.

Other speakers included Cumilla University Shibir president Mozammel Hossain Abir and city secretary Nazmul Hasan Panchayet, along with other local and university leaders.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called on citizens across the country to participate in the 11-party alliance’s announced program demanding the immediate convening of a constitutional reform council session, implementation of the referendum verdict, and resolution of the ongoing energy crisis. The weeklong program is set to begin on Thursday. The call was made by Jamaat’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, in a statement sent to the media on Wednesday.

Porwar said the February 12 referendum, held to give legal basis to the national election and the July Charter, was not implemented by the BNP government, which he described as deceitful toward the people. He stated that 70 percent of citizens voted in favor of the referendum’s “yes” outcome, and the 11-party alliance, including Jamaat, is determined to realize that mandate through street movements.

The program includes nationwide public outreach and leaflet distribution from April 9, protest rallies in all major cities on April 11, district-level protests on April 12, and a national seminar in Dhaka on April 13. The leaflet campaign will be formally inaugurated at Shahbagh, Dhaka, on Thursday afternoon.

India has agreed to return two suspects in the murder case of Shahid Osman Hadi, convener of the July Revolutionary and Anti-Imperialist Inquilab Manch, to Bangladesh. The decision was announced by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, April 8, following meetings in New Delhi between Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and his Indian counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar, as well as Oil and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri. The discussions were attended by Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah.

According to the ministry statement, both sides emphasized strengthening bilateral relations and discussed key regional and international issues. Dr. Rahman thanked India for arresting the suspected killers and confirmed that the extradition would proceed under the existing treaty. Bangladesh also reiterated its request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal.

During the talks, India pledged to ease visa procedures for Bangladeshis, particularly for medical and business purposes. Bangladesh requested increased supplies of diesel and fertilizer, which India indicated it would consider positively.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled Hafez Azizul Haque, owner of Messrs Soad Filling Station and member secretary of the Gauripur upazila BNP, following allegations of fuel manipulation in Mymensingh’s Gauripur. The decision was announced on Wednesday through a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The statement said Azizul Haque was removed from all party positions and primary membership for involvement in unethical activities.

The expulsion followed a mobile court operation led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md Nurul Huda Monir, which uncovered the disappearance of around 50,000 liters of petrol during a fuel inspection on Tuesday. The station’s manager, Md Jalil Hossain Rifat, was arrested, and a case was filed under the Special Powers Act of 1974 for illegal fuel trading and hoarding. The incident sparked widespread attention after being reported in national media.

Gauripur BNP’s acting convener Md Habibul Islam Khan Shahid stated that the party would not take responsibility for any member’s misuse of position. Legal proceedings against those involved are underway.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Following the meeting, Jaishankar stated in a Facebook post that both countries agreed to maintain close communication. He expressed satisfaction in hosting Rahman and his delegation and said they discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, as well as exchanged views on regional and global developments.

Earlier, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval hosted Khalilur Rahman for a dinner in New Delhi as part of efforts to reset bilateral ties. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, India views this visit as part of the Tarique Rahman government’s initiative to build a new relationship based on mutual trust and shared interests.

The report also noted that Khalilur Rahman, an experienced diplomat, became the first minister to visit India after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s decisive victory in the February general election. His delegation included Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.

Ahead of peace talks scheduled for Friday in Islamabad, U.S. President Donald Trump clarified his stance on Iran’s nuclear program. He stated that Iran would no longer be allowed to enrich uranium, but sanctions on the country would be lifted if a deal is reached. Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday.

In his message, Trump said the United States would work closely with Iran and claimed that a “highly productive regime change” had already taken place there. He added that the two countries would cooperate to remove all buried nuclear waste or materials. Trump also mentioned that Iran would be freed from tariffs and sanctions and asserted that many of the 15 points proposed by the United States to end the war had already reached consensus.

The statement comes as preparations continue for the upcoming Islamabad peace discussions, where Iran’s nuclear activities are expected to be a key topic.

The Justice and Democracy Party (JDP) has labeled both the ruling BNP and opposition Jamaat-e-Islami as fundamentally opposed to reforms, claiming that unnecessary political debates are being created to divert attention from the country’s ongoing crises. Speaking at an emergency press conference at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen on Wednesday, JDP convener Naeem Ahmad said that only through public resistance can the desired reforms be achieved and urged citizens to support parties clearly in favor of reform.

Ahmad described the anti-reform tendencies of both the government and opposition as unfortunate for the nation. He alleged that debates in parliament are being used to distract the public from issues such as the energy crisis and potential agricultural disruption, while actions like hawker evictions are being taken to divert public focus. The JDP also expressed concern over irregularities in energy supply, possible collusion among ruling party members, and the closure of four out of five state fertilizer factories.

The party announced a human chain protest on April 10 in front of the National Museum, demanding uninterrupted diesel and fertilizer supply to farmers at fair prices.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar announced that comprehensive security measures have been reinforced for the upcoming Pahela Baishakh celebrations. Speaking at a coordination meeting on April 8, 2026, at the DMP headquarters, he said that all security and intelligence agencies are working together to ensure a seamless safety plan across Dhaka during the Bengali New Year 1433 festivities.

The meeting focused on security and traffic management for various cultural events expected to draw large crowds across the city. Representatives from multiple agencies, including intelligence units, specialized police divisions, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, city corporations, Fire Service, WASA, and several cultural organizations such as Chhayanaut and Charukala Institute, attended the session. A detailed security plan was presented by DMP Joint Commissioner (Operations) Mohammad Shahidullah.

Officials emphasized that the goal is to ensure public safety, smooth movement, and minimal inconvenience for citizens during the celebrations, reflecting public trust in law enforcement.

A human chain in Khulna on April 8, 2026, criticized the government for not turning 16 key ordinances, including the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Ordinance, issued during the interim government, into law. The event was organized by the Khulna unit of the human rights organization Odhikar and began at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Khulna Press Club, ending with a rally and assembly at Picture Palace intersection.

Speakers said the government had pledged to present all interim ordinances, including those on enforced disappearance prevention and the Human Rights Commission, in parliament for enactment but failed to do so. They alleged that this inaction protects perpetrators of disappearances, killings, and torture, and betrays victims and their families. The speakers demanded immediate passage of the ordinances into law and accountability for those responsible, warning that failure to act could lead to the resurgence of authoritarian forces.

The event was chaired by journalist Muhammad Nuruzzaman, with several local human rights activists, journalists, and victims of enforced disappearance participating.

A platform named 'Movement for Implementation of Referendum Verdict' organized a torch procession in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area on Wednesday evening, April 8, demanding the swift execution of the recent referendum verdict. The procession began at the Science Laboratory Gate and ended at Shahbagh’s Shaheed Osman Hadi Square. Participants called for the formation of a constitutional reform council, enforcement of the ordinance against enforced disappearances, protection of human rights, and implementation of key anti-corruption measures.

In a brief speech after the march, Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) Social Service Secretary A.B. Zubair stated that ignoring the referendum verdict would mean denying the people’s sovereign power. He alleged that attempts were being made to weaken or nullify important ordinances, including those related to human rights and judicial independence. Zubair emphasized that nearly 70 percent of voters supported the referendum, calling it a decisive mandate.

He warned that continued delay in implementing the verdict would intensify the movement. The event concluded with a short rally at Shahbagh, attended by students from various institutions and members of the public.

At a roundtable discussion held at the National Press Club in Dhaka, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan questioned the Prime Minister, suggesting sarcastically that if criticism or satire against her is not allowed, a law should be enacted explicitly banning such actions. The event, titled 'Politics of Ordinance Repeal and Referendum Denial: Bangladesh in an Era of Parliamentary Autocracy,' was organized by the NCP Reform Implementation Committee.

Bhuiyan alleged that within two months of forming the government, the BNP had shown clear signs of repressive tendencies, citing the show-cause notices issued to 28 judges for private discussions and arrests over Facebook posts critical of the Prime Minister. He argued that the parliament had become ineffective due to the ruling party’s two-thirds majority, forcing the opposition to take to the streets.

Other speakers, including Badiul Alam Majumdar, Farida Akhter, and Dilara Chowdhury, criticized the government’s handling of the July Charter and referendum, warning that ignoring the referendum’s outcome and repealing key ordinances could deepen the national crisis and undermine democratic accountability.