The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) conducted an eviction drive on April 6, 2026, at Nimsar Bazar in Burichang upazila of Cumilla. The operation targeted illegal structures built along both sides of the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. The drive began at 11 a.m. and continued until the afternoon, resulting in the removal of around 400 unauthorized establishments. The action followed a report published in the newspaper Amar Desh highlighting the influence of a political syndicate that had previously delayed enforcement.

According to RHD, prior notices had been issued instructing occupants to remove the structures by April 1, but noncompliance led to the eviction. The department, assisted by the Burichang upazila administration, deployed three bulldozers for the operation. The illegal encroachments had been causing severe traffic congestion due to roadside trading and vehicle parking.

Local residents noted that such drives occur periodically but illegal structures often reappear. RHD officials stated that similar operations will continue to ensure smooth traffic flow and safety, and they are considering constructing a service lane to prevent future encroachment.

In March, Balendra Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s new prime minister, leading a parliament filled with young lawmakers. His rise, backed by the four-year-old Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), contrasts sharply with Bangladesh’s Gen-Z movement, which, despite toppling the government in 2024, failed to transform into a viable political force. In Bangladesh’s February election, the established Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won decisively, while the youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) performed poorly.

Analysts attribute Nepal’s success to its coalition-based political system, voter frustration with traditional parties, and RSP’s strong organization and alliances. In contrast, Bangladesh’s youth movement lost momentum during the 18-month gap between protests and elections. The NCP’s alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami alienated many young and female supporters, while established parties capitalized on reformist rhetoric to regain public trust.

Despite setbacks, Bangladesh’s youth movement has influenced national reform debates and spurred a 31-point reform plan by the new government. Some young activists remain hopeful that with stronger organization and grassroots engagement, youth-led politics could still gain ground in the future.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that his party will implement the recent referendum verdict regardless of whether parliament accepts it. Speaking on Monday at the National Press Club during the 46th founding anniversary of the National Democratic Party (JAGPA), he said the people’s will is supreme and that his party will continue to honor it. He emphasized that the movement to enforce the verdict has already begun and will represent the interests of all citizens, not any single group.

Dr. Rahman criticized parliament for failing to engage in constructive debate and accused the government of mismanaging the ongoing fuel crisis, which has caused long queues and public suffering. He warned that the energy shortage could severely disrupt agricultural production and worsen food insecurity. He also condemned the closure of schools as part of energy-saving measures, arguing that such steps would harm children’s education and the nation’s future.

He pledged that Jamaat’s 77 members in parliament would safeguard national interests and resist any injustice, calling on citizens to join the struggle for what he described as the people’s victory over fascism.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has announced that voting for 50 reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament will be held on May 12. The election schedule will be declared on April 8, according to Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed of the Election Commission Secretariat. He confirmed that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will not be used in this election.

As per the announcement, the BNP-led alliance will receive 36 seats, the Jamaat-led alliance 13 seats, and one seat will go to an independent nominee. Under electoral law, the voting for reserved women’s seats must be completed within 90 days of the publication of the general election gazette. The final gazette for the 13th parliamentary election was published on February 13, setting a legal deadline of May 14 to complete the process.

The Election Commission’s timeline ensures compliance with the legal requirement for filling reserved seats within the stipulated period.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman will travel to New Delhi on Tuesday for a two-day official visit, followed by a confirmed trip to Beijing in the last week of April at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Delhi visit will take place en route to the Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, Mauritius, and marks the first ministerial trip to India since Bangladesh’s new government took office. During the visit, Rahman is scheduled to meet Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Diplomatic sources in Delhi said India initiated the visit to stabilize bilateral relations after a period of tension during the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Indian media have described the trip as a key step toward improving Dhaka-Delhi relations, with speculation about a possible future visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Bangladeshi officials, however, cautioned that Indian media reports are exaggerated and emphasized that the priority is building a stable and sustainable partnership.

Rahman’s upcoming Beijing visit is viewed as significant for advancing earlier policy decisions on economic, trade, and defense cooperation, as well as strengthening Bangladesh-China diplomatic engagement.

Former legal adviser Asif Nazrul has expressed confidence that the efforts behind the interim government’s ordinances will not go in vain. In a Facebook post on Monday, he said that the team had worked tirelessly to draft laws such as those concerning the Human Rights Commission, enforced disappearances, the Supreme Court Secretariat, judicial appointments, and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Nazrul stated that these laws were genuine reform initiatives, though they were initially dismissed or mocked by critics who questioned the government’s reform agenda. He noted that many of those critics now recognize the value of the ordinances and are demanding that they be retained. He described the process as one involving extensive research, internal discussions, and resistance within the government.

He added that other advisers also contributed to legal reforms in areas like revenue, financial management, information technology, and the environment, expressing hope that all these ordinances would be preserved.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called on the government to implement its commitments regarding judicial independence, reforms, and the establishment of an effective Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and independent Human Rights Commission. The appeal was made on Monday morning at TIB’s headquarters in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, where Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman expressed concern over the delay in appointing a new ACC chairman, noting that the commission’s inactivity raises doubts about investigations and case proceedings.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that past governance had seen misuse of power and corruption, and questioned whether the government genuinely intends to ensure judicial independence. He referred to a recent statement by the ruling party’s general secretary, who pledged to uphold the July Charter, and said TIB expects to see that promise realized.

Several TIB officials, including adviser Dr. Sumaiya Khair, Director of Outreach and Communication Muhammad Touhidul Islam, and Director of Research and Policy Md. Badiuzzaman, were present at the press conference.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday morning at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.

During the meeting, discussions covered bilateral relations, energy cooperation, and various issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and India. Both sides also emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties between the two neighboring countries.

The meeting reflects ongoing diplomatic engagement aimed at enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors of shared interest.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman will travel to New Delhi on April 7 for a three-day official visit, marking the first ministerial trip to India since Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s new government took office. The visit is viewed as a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

According to official sources, discussions from April 7 to 9 will focus on shaping the future direction of Bangladesh-India relations, emphasizing long-term cooperation based on mutual trust and respect. Dr. Rahman is scheduled to meet Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on April 8, as well as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The Prime Minister’s foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir will accompany him.

Key agenda items include energy cooperation amid a global fuel crisis, renewal of the Ganges water-sharing treaty, and Bangladesh’s candidacy for the UN General Assembly presidency for 2026–27, for which Dhaka may seek India’s support.

Recent reports suggest that the Republican Party may face a major setback in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 2026. Once considered politically dominant after Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2024, the party is now struggling with declining public support. Polls by RealClear Politics show Trump’s approval at 41.3 percent, with 56.3 percent disapproving. Republicans risk losing control of both the House and the Senate, with Democrats needing only three seats to reclaim the House. Key Republican strongholds such as Texas, Iowa, and Ohio are now viewed as competitive.

The downturn is largely attributed to economic dissatisfaction. Despite Trump’s promises of strong growth, the year began with job losses, rising fuel prices, and growing uncertainty. Unemployment rose to 4.7 percent, and gasoline prices increased by 19 percent. Trump’s approval on inflation has dropped to minus 34 points. Additional controversies, including the release of the Epstein Files and the Iran war, have deepened internal party divisions.

Analysts note that Democrats are outperforming expectations in special elections, signaling voter backlash against Trump’s policies rather than a surge in Democratic enthusiasm.

The government has announced a general holiday on April 13 in three hill districts—Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban—on the occasion of Chaitra Sankranti. The decision was confirmed through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, according to the report published on April 6, 2026.

The notification stated that while the day will be a general holiday in these three districts, it will be treated as an optional holiday for members of the relevant communities in other parts of the country. Chaitra Sankranti marks the end of the Bengali calendar year and is traditionally observed with various cultural and religious events in the hill regions.

The announcement ensures that local communities in the hill districts can celebrate the festival with official recognition, while others across Bangladesh may also observe it voluntarily.

A delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), led by Resident Representative Stefan Liller, met Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday afternoon at his official residence on Bailey Road. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including law and order, police reform, the establishment of an independent police commission, the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, the draft ordinance on enforced disappearance prevention and remedy, and the Rohingya issue.

During the meeting, the home minister welcomed the delegation and expressed belief in gradual and continuous development, noting that UNDP could assist in police restructuring and capacity building. The UNDP representative highlighted the organization’s long-standing cooperation with the National Human Rights Commission and said international best practices were being incorporated into the draft ordinance. The minister stated that both the human rights and enforced disappearance ordinances would be presented to parliament as bills after necessary review.

He also mentioned that the Armed Police Battalion responsible for security in Rohingya camps is not an investigative body but assured that security measures in the camps would be further strengthened.

The Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh has transferred six police officers, including two of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank, in a simultaneous reshuffle. The order was issued on Sunday by the Police-1 branch of the ministry. According to the notification, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner (Additional DIG) Raihan Uddin Khan has been transferred to the Police Headquarters as Additional DIG. AIG Saheli Ferdous, recently promoted to Additional DIG, has been posted to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn). Highway Police Superintendent Kazi Md. Shoaib has been reassigned to the Barishal Range DIG office as Superintendent of Police.

The same order also transferred Superintendent of Police Md. Moniruzzaman to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as SP. DIG Saleh Mohammad Tanvir of Police Headquarters (TR post) has been reassigned within the same office, while DIG Mahfuzur Rahman of the TR post has been transferred to the Rajshahi Sardah Police Academy as DIG. The notification, signed by Deputy Secretary Tawsif Ahmed, stated that the transfers were made in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again threatened Iran with an ultimatum, warning that the country must reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday, April 6, or face severe consequences. According to BBC reports cited by the source, Trump reiterated his warning on April 5, following a series of previous ultimatums issued since the start of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Trump’s first ultimatum on March 21 demanded that Iran reopen the waterway within 48 hours or face the destruction of its power plants. On March 23, he announced that productive talks had led to a five-day suspension of planned strikes. A third ultimatum on March 27 extended the deadline to April 6 at Iran’s request. As the deadline approached, Trump issued a final 48-hour warning on April 4 and repeated the same threat on April 5, adding that Iran’s power plants and bridges would be targeted if no deal was reached.

The Iranian government has repeatedly rejected Trump’s claims, asserting that his statements lack any factual basis.

At least ten people, including the officer-in-charge of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station Wahid Parvez, were injured when police clashed with anti-discrimination student protesters in Lakshmipur town on Sunday evening. The confrontation occurred around 5:30 p.m. in front of Chawk Bazar Mosque after Section 144 had been imposed to prevent gatherings. The situation led to panic in the area, with shops closing and additional police deployed.

According to police and local administration, the tension began the previous night following an altercation between a member of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and a district Chhatra Dal leader. In response, the student group called for a protest march, while Chhatra Dal supporters under the banner of July Fighters announced a counter rally. Authorities imposed Section 144 from 4:30 p.m. to prevent unrest.

Leaders from both groups blamed each other for the violence. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement alleged police used force against their peaceful protest, while police said the clash erupted as both sides attempted to hold simultaneous programs despite restrictions.