Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman returned to the country on Friday after completing his official visit to the United States. During the trip, he participated in several programs in the state of Georgia and met with key officials. The visit was confirmed in a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday.

As part of the visit, the state of Georgia presented a special resolution to General Waker-Uz-Zaman in recognition of the commendable contributions of Bangladeshi peacekeepers to United Nations peacekeeping missions. In addition, bilateral meetings were held with important figures to discuss various issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the United States.

The ISPR statement highlighted that the engagements during the visit reflected ongoing cooperation and shared interests between the two nations in defense and peacekeeping matters.

Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has sharply criticized the Indian central government for allowing former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to remain in Delhi for about one and a half years. Speaking ahead of the West Bengal elections, Banerjee questioned why Hasina continues to be sheltered in India and suggested that powerful industrial interests might be influencing the decision.

He implied that Hasina’s stay in India may not be purely diplomatic but could involve deeper economic motives. Banerjee directly asked whether major business groups such as Adani or Ambani were being protected through this arrangement. He accused the Modi government of prioritizing corporate interests over public welfare and using Hasina’s presence as a political shield in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.

Banerjee further argued that the government should focus on domestic issues like unemployment and inflation instead of hosting foreign leaders at public expense. His remarks have sparked debate over India’s foreign policy and the relationship between political power and corporate influence.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that two major conditions remain unfulfilled, preventing the start of talks with the United States. In a post on social media platform X, he said both sides had agreed on two preconditions: implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon and releasing Iran’s frozen assets. Ghalibaf emphasized that these must be met before any negotiations can begin.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance has departed for Pakistan and expressed optimism about the upcoming discussions. Although not officially confirmed, reports suggest that Ghalibaf may join Iran’s negotiating team. Iranian state media claimed that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, but no official confirmation has been received from Israel.

The situation underscores the fragile diplomatic environment surrounding the anticipated Iran–US meeting, with both sides signaling conditions and expectations ahead of formal engagement.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of Bangladesh’s Revolutionary Workers Party, stated that unplanned evictions of street vendors have created a humanitarian crisis. He made the remarks on Friday at the party’s central committee meeting of the Revolutionary Workers Solidarity held at its office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Haque said that the eviction drives in Dhaka and other cities without rehabilitation measures have left thousands of families in distress, destroying the small capitals of many livelihoods.

He urged the city corporations and relevant ministries to consider the livelihoods and human dignity of working people when planning urban policies. Haque emphasized that millions of laborers form the foundation of the cities through their hard work and that their displacement could lead to broader social crises if alternative livelihoods are not arranged.

The meeting was presided over by Mir Mofazzal Hossain Moshtaq, president of the Revolutionary Workers Solidarity, and was attended by party leaders including Akbar Khan, Mahmud Hossain, Abul Kalam Azad, Saiful Islam, and Firoz Ali.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman claimed that the outcome of the recent election was determined behind the scenes through manipulation and blackmailing. Speaking at a press briefing on Friday evening after walking out of the parliamentary session, he alleged that the election’s integrity was compromised and that evidence of such manipulation had surfaced in two recent elections. He also criticized a minister’s remarks and questioned the legitimacy of the electoral process.

Dr. Rahman detailed that since the parliament session began on March 12, 133 ordinances from the interim government were tabled, which by rule must be resolved within 30 calendar days. A special committee was formed with members from both government and opposition, but he said the ruling party finalized a report without informing opposition members, eroding trust. He further alleged that key bills related to national security and citizens’ interests were ignored and allowed to lapse.

He accused the government of breaking promises made in parliament and undermining democratic norms. Rahman reaffirmed that his party would continue its struggle to protect citizens’ rights and uphold the people’s mandate.

US Vice President JD Vance has departed for Islamabad to lead the American delegation in the upcoming United States–Iran dialogue scheduled for Saturday. The talks are taking place during a two-week temporary ceasefire between the two sides, marking one of the most challenging diplomatic tests since Vance assumed office.

According to the report, Vance faces the complex task of balancing multiple interests, including those of President Donald Trump, Tehran, Israel, and US allies, while also managing pressure from domestic supporters opposed to foreign interventions. The discussions aim to explore a lasting resolution that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize oil prices, though such an outcome remains uncertain.

Before leaving Washington, Vance stated that President Trump had given the delegation clear instructions for the negotiations. However, no details about those directives or the potential results of the talks have been disclosed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expelled Spain from a civil-military coordination center established to implement the Gaza ceasefire. The center, located in Kiryat Gat, was formed as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. Netanyahu announced the decision on April 10, 2026, citing Spain’s repeated criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon.

In a statement, Netanyahu accused Spain of spreading falsehoods about the Israeli army, which he described as the world’s most moral force. He said Israel would not remain silent against countries that attack it diplomatically and warned that such hostility would have consequences. The move follows Spain’s strong condemnation of Israel’s policies and military operations in the region.

Observers view this expulsion as a sign of escalating diplomatic strain between Israel and Spain, potentially affecting broader international relations surrounding the Gaza ceasefire process.

Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Kudduz stated that the government is continuously working to ensure the independence of the judiciary and uphold citizens’ constitutional right to justice. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon while speaking to journalists after a meeting with local dignitaries at the Dak Bungalow hall in Maheshpur, Jhenaidah.

He emphasized that establishing justice is a constitutional commitment and that judicial independence is a cornerstone of a democratic state. The Attorney General said the government has taken steps to improve court infrastructure, increase the number of judges, and reduce case backlogs. He added that initiatives are underway to modernize and digitize the judicial process to make legal services more accessible to the public.

Local lawyers, professionals, and community representatives attended the meeting and expressed their views on the justice system, welcoming the government’s initiatives to strengthen judicial independence and ensure fair justice.

The Bangladesh Parliament has passed an amendment to the July Uprising Memorial Museum Ordinance, allowing the Minister or State Minister for Cultural Affairs to serve as the chairperson of the museum’s governing board. The bill was approved on Friday through a voice vote, following a proposal by ruling party MP Anichur Rahman. Opposition lawmakers walked out, accusing the government of breaking a prior agreement to pass 98 ordinances without changes.

Previously, the ordinance required that the board be chaired by a distinguished expert in education, history, literature, or culture. The amendment replaces that provision, transferring leadership to the cultural affairs minister. It also empowers the government to remove any board member and eliminates the fixed three-year term for the chairperson. Former interim government adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, who currently holds the chair as an expert, will lose his position once the law takes effect.

Opposition MPs protested the move, claiming it places the museum under direct government control. The Speaker and ministers defended the amendment as a legitimate parliamentary process, though some acknowledged that the prior committee understanding had been disrupted.

A special National Investigative Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Aasiya Andrabi to three life terms on March 24. Andrabi, 64, founded the banned all-women’s group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM). Her associates Sofi Fehmeeda, 36, and Nahida Nasreen, 61, received 30-year prison terms. The three were arrested in 2018 under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sections of the Indian Penal Code. The court dropped major terrorism charges but convicted Andrabi for provoking hostility between communities, undermining national integration, and instigating public disorder.

Legal experts and activists condemned the verdict, calling it part of a broader pattern of India’s suppression of dissent in Kashmir. They argued the conviction was based mainly on speech and ideology rather than violent acts. The court acknowledged no direct evidence of inciting violence but cited Andrabi’s statements endorsing separatist ideas. Critics, including the Kashmir Times, questioned the court’s emphasis on her lack of remorse, saying it risked punishing beliefs rather than proven crimes.

The case has reignited debate over India’s use of the UAPA, which was expanded in 2019 to allow individuals to be labeled as terrorists, and its implications for free expression in the disputed region.

Leaders of Khelafat Majlis expressed deep concern at their central executive meeting in Dhaka, alleging that the BNP government is leading the country toward fascist rule by repealing several major ordinances. These include the Referendum Ordinance 2025, the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Ordinance, the Anti-Corruption Commission Ordinance, the Human Rights Commission Ordinance, and the Judicial Reform Ordinance. The party also labeled the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order 2025 as a document of deception, accusing the BNP of betraying the spirit of the July uprising despite being a signatory to the charter.

The leaders demanded that the elected parliament review the 48 proposals approved through the referendum and take effective steps to reform the constitution accordingly. They criticized the government for severe disorder in the health sector, shortages of medicines and equipment in public hospitals, and rising measles deaths among children. They also opposed the decision to hold online classes three days a week, calling it harmful to students, and urged the government to withdraw it.

The meeting further raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 by-elections and called for accountability from the Election Commission.

During a parliamentary session on Friday, April 10, 2026, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed addressed Hasnat Abdullah, urging him to remain patient and composed during discussions. The Speaker remarked, “This is not Shahbagh Square, this is the Parliament,” emphasizing that members must wait their turn and listen carefully during proceedings.

He further noted that the scope for oral exchanges in Parliament is limited and advised members to submit notices for adjudication. Referring to a statement by the law minister, the Speaker suggested that if necessary, members could discuss among themselves and bring a revised bill in the next session, which the ruling party would consider.

Hafiz Uddin also called for maintaining a positive parliamentary environment, highlighting that the current Parliament was formed after a major July uprising and a fair election that brought a large opposition presence. He expressed hope that all parties would move forward in a spirit of cooperation.

The opposition party has accused the ruling party of violating a prior parliamentary agreement during the passage of the July Memorial Museum Bill. Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam raised the allegation after the bill was passed under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. He claimed that the ruling party introduced an amendment only thirty minutes before the bill’s passage, breaking the consensus reached in a special committee.

According to Nahid Islam, both government and opposition members had earlier agreed that 98 ordinances from the interim government would be passed unchanged. The July Memorial Museum Bill was one of those ordinances. He argued that the last-minute amendment undermined the spirit of cooperation and rendered the special committee unnecessary. The opposition protested what they described as deceitful tactics used to pass the bill.

Nahid Islam further criticized the inclusion of a minister as head of the museum, calling it part of a broader trend of politicizing national institutions. He cited examples of similar politicization in the central bank, local government, and sports boards, warning that such actions erode institutional neutrality.

Pakistan has implemented extensive security measures in its capital, Islamabad, ahead of a possible meeting between the United States and Iran. According to Al Jazeera, nearly 10,000 security personnel, including police, army, and special forces commandos, have been deployed across the city. Schools and offices have been closed for a day to ensure the event proceeds smoothly, and all roads leading to the government’s ‘Red Zone’ have been sealed off. The meeting, initially scheduled for today, has been postponed to tomorrow due to logistical issues.

Local sources describe the situation as a highly sensitive diplomatic moment that took weeks of preparation and faced last-minute complications. Delegates from various countries have already begun arriving in Islamabad, though Pakistani officials have not disclosed who is attending or what will be discussed.

Officials expressed optimism that the talks could yield positive outcomes contributing to regional peace, though key details about Iran’s conditions and the meeting’s agenda remain undisclosed.

Pakistan’s potential role as mediator in upcoming discussions between the United States and Iran is both crucial and risky, according to Maria Sultan, chairperson of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Islamabad, she noted that Pakistan maintains close ties with Saudi Arabia and Gulf states while sharing a border with Iran, where prolonged instability would be undesirable for Islamabad.

Sultan explained that Pakistan initiated the mediation effort amid the inaction of major global powers, as NATO and the European Union did not step forward and the United States felt isolated. She argued that Pakistan’s ability to maintain relationships across diverse cultures and power blocs positioned it uniquely for this role. Cooperation from Saudi Arabia and China, along with interest from the involved parties, has also supported the process.

While describing the situation as cautiously optimistic, Sultan warned that a full-scale regional war could have devastating consequences, including civilian casualties, damage to energy infrastructure, and potential nuclear risks. She emphasized that the talks, though difficult, could lead to a positive outcome if all sides recognize the realities of war and the value of peace.