Leaders of Khelafat Majlis, in a central executive meeting held at the party’s Paltan headquarters, expressed deep concern that the government has not presented the July National Charter Implementation Order in parliament, despite previously supporting the charter and campaigning for a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum. They emphasized that the government bears a moral responsibility to implement the referendum’s verdict, which favored constitutional reform.

The leaders stated that the 48 proposals under the July National Charter, which were the subject of the referendum, must be discussed and reviewed by the elected parliament. They called for effective steps to amend the constitution in accordance with the referendum outcome. The meeting also highlighted severe disarray in the health sector, shortages of medicines and equipment in public hospitals, and rising measles cases and mosquito infestations.

Additionally, the party criticized the government’s decision to hold online classes three days a week as harmful to students and urged reconsideration. They suggested banning air conditioners and decorative lighting to address the energy crisis and improving public transport as alternative measures.

The government has issued a new set of office regulations and behavioral guidelines for officials and employees to enhance public service quality and administrative efficiency. According to a notice signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Mosammat Tania Ferdous of the Ministry of Youth and Sports on April 2, all government staff must remain in their offices from 9:00 to 9:40 a.m. daily. The directive aims to ensure better citizen services and strengthen inter-departmental coordination.

The notice reiterates earlier Cabinet Division instructions that were reportedly not being followed, causing disruptions in public service. It also calls for responsible energy use, advising officials to rely on natural light during the day, maintain air conditioner temperatures at or above 25 degrees Celsius, and ensure all electrical devices are turned off before leaving the office. Additionally, it prohibits decorative lighting without government approval and emphasizes cleanliness in offices, corridors, and restrooms.

To ensure compliance, each department and agency must form a vigilance team to monitor implementation. The government stated that these measures are intended to promote transparency and proper use of state resources.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that ensuring good governance requires an impartial and competent administration. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking Independence and National Day at North South University in Dhaka on Thursday, he warned that lack of neutrality in administration leads to disorder, corruption, and instability, creating opportunities for foreign interference.

Rizvi emphasized that Bangladesh’s independence was the result of a long struggle against exploitation and oppression, not limited to the nine-month Liberation War. He criticized attempts to distort the history of the Liberation War by attributing it to a single family or group, arguing that such practices harm the nation’s spirit. He also said that the true history of independence has not been properly presented to the younger generation, though they are increasingly aware and vocal against injustice.

He added that true independence requires ensuring citizens’ rights, freedom of expression, voting rights, and the rule of law. Rizvi called for merit-based administrative reforms to strengthen democracy and prevent the state from weakening under corruption and division.

Leaders of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Dhaka Metropolitan Sarbojonin Puja Committee met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday at his office in the Secretariat. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, who said the delegation discussed various problems faced by the Hindu community. Local Government Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with other senior officials, were also present.

During the meeting, the Hindu community leaders, including Basudev Dhar, Santosh Sharma, Jayanta Kumar Dev, and Tapas Chandra Pal, raised issues such as post-August 2024 persecution, job dismissals, and lack of justice. They also discussed the need for a minority commission, minority protection law, Hindu foundation, and reforms to the Debottar property law. Jayanta Kumar Dev said the Prime Minister listened to their concerns and assured gradual resolution.

According to Santosh Sharma, the Prime Minister gave assurances that the raised issues would be addressed in phases, signaling possible future policy attention to minority rights and legal protections.

An 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a protest in Dhaka demanding the implementation of the referendum verdict. The demonstration and rally are scheduled for Saturday after Asr prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The announcement came on Thursday, April 2, following a meeting in Gulshan, where alliance coordinator and Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad briefed reporters.

Azad accused the government of suppressing reform efforts and pursuing only constitutional amendments, describing its approach as authoritarian. Earlier, on Wednesday evening, opposition leader and Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed deep disappointment over the ruling party’s actions regarding the referendum outcome. The Jamaat-led opposition also staged a walkout from Parliament on the sixth day of its first session, protesting the government’s handling of related issues and alleged misrepresentation of the opposition leader.

Speaker of Parliament responded that walkout was the opposition’s right but urged them to stay for further discussions that might address their concerns.

Former Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Lieutenant General (Retd.) Sheikh Mamun Khaled, has reportedly made statements during interrogation regarding the disappearance of former BNP organizing secretary M Ilias Ali. According to investigation sources, he claimed that Ilias Ali was targeted after announcing protests over issues such as the Tipaimukh Dam and transit agreements with India. Mamun Khaled alleged that the incident was carried out under the direction of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with participation from a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) team.

Ilias Ali and his driver went missing from Dhaka’s Banani area on April 17, 2012, when Mamun Khaled was serving as DGFI chief. Currently under arrest in a murder case, he is being interrogated by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch. Investigators said he admitted that at least two DGFI officers provided technical support in the abduction, while others were aware of the plan. Authorities have also arrested former DGFI director Lt. Col. (Retd.) Md. Afzal Naser for questioning over related controversial activities.

Police officials stated that information from the detained former military officers is being verified and that the investigation is making significant progress.

US President Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron during a private lunch, according to a report published on April 2, 2026. In a video briefly posted on the White House YouTube channel, Trump joked that Macron’s wife treats him badly and referred to an alleged incident from May 2025 in which Brigitte was seen pushing Macron during a Vietnam trip. The French president had previously dismissed that footage as fake or propaganda.

Trump’s comments came while criticizing NATO allies for their role in the Iran war, saying that the alliance did not need the United States but he still offered help. He also described NATO as a “paper tiger,” implying weakness in the organization’s response to global conflicts.

The remarks, sourced from Geo News, add to ongoing tensions between Trump and European leaders over defense cooperation and alliance commitments.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar has strongly condemned the government’s decision to introduce online classes three days a week in all metropolitan schools and colleges. In a statement issued on April 2, 2026, he described the move, decided at a coordination meeting on March 31, as ill-conceived and harmful to students. He accused the government of using the energy crisis as a pretext to impose online learning, calling it a deliberate attempt to weaken the nation’s intellectual foundation.

Porwar argued that online-based education causes multiple harms, including exclusion of poor students due to high internet costs, increased device addiction, and moral decline among children. He cited the National Student Assessment 2022 and UNICEF surveys showing learning losses and higher dropout and child labor rates during the COVID-19 period. He also criticized the government’s unplanned implementation of the 2023 curriculum and lack of educational reform.

He urged the government to withdraw the decision immediately and ensure in-person classes for all students, emphasizing that education should remain a top national priority.

Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton has warned that President Donald Trump’s approach to Iran is putting American troops in danger. Speaking to MSNBC in response to Trump’s national address, Moulton described the president’s strategy as reckless and ineffective, claiming it has failed to achieve its stated goals and instead created a dangerous situation for US forces.

Moulton criticized Trump’s handling of Iran policy, saying the president boasted about tearing up the Obama-era deal while claiming regime change was never his objective. According to Moulton, Trump’s actions have effectively resulted in a regime change that replaced an elderly, ailing leader with a younger, more hardline figure, moving Iran in the opposite direction of US interests.

He further noted the inconsistency in Trump’s statements, pointing out that the president previously claimed to have destroyed Iran’s nuclear program but now suggests further bombing is needed to achieve the same goal.

Two intelligence agency reports have uncovered large-scale corruption in Bangladesh’s electronic voting machine (EVM) project, which cost Tk 3,825 crore. The reports allege that former security adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique and his associated firm Tiger IT played a central role in irregularities throughout the project’s approval, pricing, and procurement stages. Despite these findings, no effective investigation or action has yet been taken. The reports recommend swift legal measures against those involved and are expected to be sent to the government’s top level soon.

According to the audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the EVMs were purchased at prices more than ten times higher than market rates, leading to an estimated Tk 3,172 crore in excess expenditure. The project was approved hastily without field surveys, and only six constituencies used EVMs in the 2018 election despite plans for 150. Currently, only about 40,000 of the 150,000 machines remain functional, with no budget allocated for maintenance or storage.

The current Election Commission has decided to discontinue EVM use, and the Election System Reform Commission has supported this stance, effectively rendering the entire project a financial loss.

Several initiatives taken by Bangladesh’s interim government to establish an independent judiciary have entered a phase of uncertainty. The government’s move to repeal or amend ordinances related to judicial appointments, a separate judicial secretariat, and subordinate court regulations has sparked strong opposition from rival parties. Legal experts and former officials fear these steps could undermine previous reforms and court rulings supporting judicial autonomy.

The interim government had approved the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance in November 2025, following the July uprising, as part of broader institutional reforms. The secretariat began operations in December with appointed officers and staff. However, since the recent national election, its activities have slowed, raising doubts about the government’s commitment to judicial independence. Senior lawyers and former Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed emphasized that these reforms were designed to ensure transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.

Civil society leaders and the ‘Young Judges for Judicial Reform’ group have urged the new parliament to pass the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance within 30 days of its first session and to uphold the national consensus on judicial independence reflected in the July Charter.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for stronger defense, security, and economic cooperation with the European Union amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Speaking at a press conference in London, he said that the United Kingdom’s long-term national interest requires building a closer partnership with European allies and the EU. Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has sought to rebuild post-Brexit relations with the bloc, citing instability in the Middle East and the deep damage caused by Brexit as reasons for renewed cooperation.

Starmer emphasized that enhancing security and lowering the cost of living are opportunities too significant to ignore. His remarks come as the traditional “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom faces strain, with U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing Starmer’s stance on the Iran war. While Trump has hinted at reducing America’s role in NATO, Starmer reaffirmed that NATO remains the world’s most effective military alliance.

He stated that maintaining strong ties with both the U.S. and the EU serves Britain’s interests and announced that the UK will aim for a more ambitious economic and security cooperation agreement with the EU at a summit in Brussels later this year.

A Dhaka court has ordered the release of Tahmina Akter, a mother of three, who was detained at the National Memorial in Savar while paying tribute on behalf of the banned Awami League. The order was issued on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, by Senior Judicial Magistrate Afroza Sultana Sweety after accepting a report submitted by the Detective Branch (DB) police.

According to the DB report filed on March 31 by Sub-Inspector Abdul Muktalib of Dhaka District (South), Tahmina Akter lives in a rented house in Dhaka, her husband is an expatriate, and she has limited contact with her family. The report stated that on March 26, unidentified individuals associated with Awami League politics persuaded her to visit the National Memorial to lay a wreath and chant slogans for social media promotion. The investigation found no evidence linking her to any political activity or criminal offense.

Following the hearing, the court ordered her release under Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as no specific charges were substantiated against her.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that opposition parties have the right to walk out of parliament, describing it as part of parliamentary culture. He made the remarks on Wednesday, April 1, during a parliamentary session after opposition leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman announced a walkout over the government’s lack of decision on a referendum reform proposal and the formation of a constitutional council.

In his response, the minister explained that while the opposition’s walkout is within their rights, it is important that the government’s position also be recorded. He elaborated on procedural rules, noting that certain motions cannot be discussed under parliamentary regulations and that decisions on adjournment motions rest with the Speaker. Ahmed emphasized that discussions on such motions do not require a vote once they have been debated.

He further clarified that the Speaker has discretion over whether to consider adjournment motions and that opposition members have the privilege to raise issues, but those must follow established parliamentary procedures.

Government party lawmaker Zainul Abedin Faruk has submitted a motion in Bangladesh’s parliament to discuss the implementation process of the July National Charter. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed accepted the motion and scheduled a two-hour debate for April 5, 2026. The Speaker noted that this marks a rare precedent in the country’s 53-year parliamentary history, as it is the first time a motion from the treasury bench has been accepted for discussion.

Earlier, independent lawmaker Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal had also proposed a motion on the same issue, but no decision has been made on it yet. Opposition leader Shafiqul Rahman had previously brought another motion regarding the convening of the Constitutional Reform Council, which was discussed but left unresolved. The opposition later walked out in protest, alleging their proposal was being suppressed.

Faruk described the July National Charter as a political consensus document containing proposals for constitutional amendments and legal reforms. The upcoming debate is expected to clarify the government’s approach to implementing the 2025 charter.