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.

A total of 74 women candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have collected nomination papers from the Election Commission (EC) to contest in the reserved women’s seats of the 13th National Parliament. The nomination papers were collected on Sunday from the office of Assistant Returning Officer Monir Hossain at the Election Building in Agargaon. According to the EC’s list, 199 women have collected nomination papers over three days, all of whom are BNP candidates.

The BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan has been selling nomination forms for three days, with the final day of collection and submission being today. Party sources said that 1,025 nomination forms were sold over the first two days, each priced at 2,000 taka, with a 50,000 taka security deposit required upon submission. The EC announced the election schedule on Wednesday, setting April 21 as the last date for submission of nomination papers.

Scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 22 and 23, appeals may be filed on April 26, and the final withdrawal date is April 29. Symbols will be allocated on April 30, and voting is scheduled for May 12.

An eleven-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami held a protest rally and procession in Feni on Sunday, demanding the immediate implementation of the referendum verdict. The demonstration, part of a central program, began in front of Jahiriya Mosque and concluded with a brief assembly at the Shaheed Minar square. Leaders warned that if their demands were not met, the alliance would announce tougher programs.

The rally was presided over by Mufti Abdul Hannan, Ameer of Feni district Jamaat, and conducted by Assistant Secretary Advocate Jamal Uddin. Several alliance leaders, including Professor Abu Yusuf, ANM Abdur Rahim, Engineer Nazrul Islam, Maulana Amir Hossain, Maulana Muzafor Ahmad Jafri, Fazlul Haque, Soikat Islam Zahid, and Shah Wali Ullah Manik, addressed the gathering. Speakers accused the government of delaying the implementation of the “July Charter” despite many becoming ministers and MPs after the July uprising.

They further warned that any betrayal of the sacrifices made during the July movement would not be tolerated and that the alliance would respond strongly if the referendum verdict was not enforced.

Imdadul Haque Molla, founder director of Ontimex Communication Ltd and former president of the Internet Service Provider Association, testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 that the nationwide internet shutdown on July 18, 2024, occurred due to a government decision. He said that after a fire broke out at the Mohakhali Disaster Management Building that afternoon, internet services began to fail in some areas and were completely cut off across the country by around 9 p.m.

Molla explained that internet providers operate at the final distribution level, while bandwidth is supplied through International Internet Gateways (IIGs), the state-owned Submarine Cable Company, and International Terrestrial Companies (ITCs). When contacted, IIGs informed them that bandwidth supply from ITCs had been stopped, leading them to conclude that the shutdown was government-directed.

He added that on July 23, 2024, then-ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak visited the site and said the outage was due to a data center fire, which Molla described as a political statement since the fire had not affected the data center itself. The tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, set April 16 for the next hearing.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has instructed party leaders and activists to cooperate with security forces to maintain law and order across the country. He gave the directive on Sunday at the National Parliament Secretariat following the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament from Bogura-6 (Sadar) and Sherpur-3 constituencies, according to his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.

The Prime Minister emphasized that party members should work with the administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure peace in their respective areas. He urged them to report any activities that could disrupt local harmony and warned against taking the law into their own hands. He further stressed that development and peace in every area must be preserved at any cost.

The directive comes as part of the government’s broader effort to ensure stability and development at the local level, reinforcing the importance of coordination between political activists and law enforcement authorities.