Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Rangpur-3 MP ATM Azharul Islam has accused the government of adopting fascist tendencies by questioning the legitimacy of a national referendum. Speaking as the chief guest at a ward-level leadership conference organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka North on Friday in Vatara, Dhaka, he said the July Revolution was aimed at establishing good governance and justice, not merely changing power. He criticized the government for refusing to fully implement the July Charter and for opposing constitutional reforms promised in it.

Azharul claimed that the government’s stance on the referendum reflected ideological bankruptcy and a betrayal of the July spirit. He alleged that despite a major public mandate in the last election, election engineering prevented full reflection of the people’s will. He urged the government to act wisely and implement the July Charter immediately.

In his closing remarks, Dhaka North Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin said the government’s denial of the July Charter contradicted the will of 48 million voters who supported constitutional reform, warning that the people would compel its implementation through mass movements.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Dr. Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy Bir Bikram, convener of the National Committee for Implementation of the July Charter Movement, warned that people would return to the streets if the government failed to implement the July Charter in line with the referendum verdict. He made the statement on Friday during a human chain and rally organized by the committee in front of the National Press Club.

Speakers at the event accused the government of deceiving the people and urged immediate implementation of the referendum’s outcome. They asserted that the referendum represented the supreme will of the people, which all state institutions, including parliament and the judiciary, must uphold. The speakers warned that failure to do so would provoke a strong public response and severe consequences for the government.

Committee member secretary Ahmed Karim announced that a nationwide movement would soon be launched to build public opinion in favor of implementing the July Charter.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States could easily open the Strait of Hormuz and generate substantial revenue by extracting oil from the area. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that with a little more time, the US could open the strait, extract oil, and earn huge profits. He described the potential as a major 'gusher' for the entire world.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes, carrying a significant portion of global oil supplies. Recently, Iran has banned the passage of ships belonging to the United States, Israel, and their allies through the strait following US-Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. The situation has heightened tensions in the region, with energy security and freedom of navigation emerging as key concerns.

Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing geopolitical friction in the Gulf, where control over the Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue for global oil markets and regional stability.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s joint secretary general and spokesperson Gazi Ataur Rahman has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of betraying the July mass uprising. In a statement issued on Friday, April 3, he said the uprising aimed to permanently eliminate autocracy, and the interim government had issued several ordinances to ensure constitutional balance and strengthen democratic institutions.

Rahman alleged that although BNP came to power through the path paved by the July uprising, it has now proposed to repeal or amend ordinances that could prevent the return of autocracy. He said BNP’s actions contradict the sacrifices of students and citizens who fought for democracy. The ordinances in question include those strengthening the National Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and ensuring judicial independence.

He urged the government not to betray the blood of the people and to approve the ordinances issued to permanently abolish autocracy, emphasizing that BNP itself had once suffered under authoritarian rule.

Dr. Tasnim Jara, a former leader of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), has sharply criticized the BNP government’s initiative to repeal the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Ordinance. In a Facebook post on Friday, she questioned the rationale behind the decision and warned that it could further institutionalize a culture of impunity.

Jara stated that the government intends to cancel the ordinance, arguing that prior approval from the government would be required to investigate or arrest members of law enforcement agencies. She questioned whether fair justice is possible if permission must be sought from the same government to investigate its own forces. According to her, families of disappearance victims have previously been denied justice due to such procedural barriers.

She emphasized that the state’s primary duty is to ensure citizens’ safety, and requiring prior approval for investigations against security forces places the state above accountability. Jara described this as a clear violation of the constitutional principle that all are equal before the law.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh has called on the government to replace plans for appointing music teachers in primary schools with the recruitment of religious teachers. In a statement issued to the media on Friday, the organization’s president, Shaikhul Hadis Maulana Ubaidullah Faruq, and secretary general, Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi, emphasized the importance of religious education in nurturing moral and ethical values among children.

The statement argued that the government had pledged before the election to strengthen religious education, but that promise has not been reflected in current initiatives. The group described the move to appoint music teachers as contradictory to that commitment. It further stated that the primary education system should focus on developing morality, humanity, and religious values among students.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh urged the government to reconsider its decision promptly and to fulfill its electoral promise regarding religious education.

Jamaat-e-Islami central executive member and Dhaka South Nayeb-e-Ameer Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin said that if the government cancels the July Charter and other interim ordinances, leading to the rise of neo-fascism, the people will build resistance. He made the remarks on Friday while addressing an Eid reunion organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Shahjahanpur East Thana as the chief guest.

Dr. Helal alleged that the government’s intentions are harmful, claiming that both Awami League and BNP alliance leaders have supported authoritarian tendencies for personal gain. He urged the government to act cautiously and stated that Jamaat-e-Islami would cooperate with any government initiative taken in the interest of the nation. He emphasized that Jamaat is not merely an opposition party in parliament but a responsible, ideological, and patriotic organization.

The event was presided over by Shahjahanpur East Thana Ameer Muhammad Shariful Islam and conducted by Thana Secretary Muhammad Anwar Hossain. Several local leaders and activists attended the program.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has demanded the immediate release of Maulana Ainul Haque Kasemi, who is imprisoned in connection with the case over the vandalism of the Prothom Alo office. The demand was made in a statement issued on Friday afternoon by Hefazat’s Joint Secretary General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi. He said Kasemi has been in jail for one hundred days without trial, calling it a clear violation of human rights. The statement also urged the current BNP government to release all those allegedly innocent in the case.

Islamabadi claimed that Kasemi had no involvement in the vandalism and was falsely implicated because of his criticism of Prothom Alo. He described the detention as inhumane and accused the newspaper of ignoring the issue. The statement further called on civil society, human rights groups, and Islamic parties to raise their voices for the release of Kasemi and other detained clerics.

He also criticized Prothom Alo and The Daily Star for what he termed Islamophobic editorial policies and alleged past defamation of political leaders, calling for legal action against their editors.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizen Party’s southern region and Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4, posted a statement on his verified Facebook account on April 3, 2026. In the post, he wrote that everything about the 'Hasina system' is needed except Hasina herself. The post quickly went viral, drawing significant attention and engagement across social media platforms.

According to the source, the post was made at 12:21 p.m. and within four hours had received 317,000 reactions, 29,400 comments, and 14,000 shares. The statement has prompted widespread discussion online, with many users interpreting it as a pointed comment on current political issues. The report did not include any official response or clarification from Hasnat Abdullah or his party.

The viral nature of the post suggests growing public interest in the political undertones of his remark, though the broader implications remain unclear.

Dr. Rezaul Karim, a central executive member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and secretary of the party’s Dhaka North unit, described the current government as 'neo-fascist' during an Eid reunion event held at Russell Community Center in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. The event took place on Friday and was organized by Mohammadpur East Thana Jamaat.

He alleged that although 70 percent of the population voted in favor of Jamaat, the election results were altered through state mechanisms and the 'deep state' to bring the BNP to power. Dr. Karim accused the BNP of betraying the public by abandoning its pre-election promises and claimed that the results of a recent referendum were not being implemented under the advice of a 'fallen autocrat.' He further stated that the BNP, which was founded through a referendum, is now using tactics to avoid implementing it.

Warning the government, Dr. Karim said that any delay in implementing the referendum results would compel students and citizens to take to the streets demanding midterm elections.

A new political party named the Justice and Democracy Party (JDP) was officially launched at a press conference held at the National Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Friday afternoon. The party announced a 90-member central committee with Naeem Ahmad as convener, Advocate Abdul Alim as member secretary, and Md. Ahsan Ullah as chief organizer. The JDP called for the abolition of the 1972 Constitution and the drafting of a new constitution based on social democracy.

During the event, Naeem Ahmad said the party’s stance emerged amid national debates on constitutional reform and the formation of a constituent assembly. He argued that only a new constitution could ensure an equitable and prosperous Bangladesh, reflecting the aspirations of the 1971 Liberation War and the July 2024 uprising. The JDP also pledged to replace “socialism” with “social democracy” and “Bengali nationalism” with “Bangladeshism” in the state principles.

The party announced a one-month membership drive, public outreach demanding justice for the July killings, and a national representative conference in May. It also promised fair justice for all, including ruling party members, to prevent misuse of the judicial process.

A new controversy has emerged over U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed underground ballroom project at the White House. Initially kept secret, details surfaced after legal complications forced partial disclosure. The plan involves constructing a 90,000-square-foot ballroom costing about 400 million dollars, replacing the old Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) built during World War II. Construction had already begun, with workers demolishing the old facility to build a larger, modern structure.

Trump stated that the ballroom would protect the underlying military installation and include bomb storage, medical facilities, a hospital, secure communications, and biological defense systems. However, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon halted the project, ruling that Trump cannot proceed without congressional approval. The National Trust for Historic Preservation had filed the injunction request, which the judge accepted in part.

The U.S. Secret Service warned that stopping construction could compromise presidential security. White House officials admitted that parts of the project are classified, leaving questions about its true scope, cost, and military involvement unresolved.

West Bengal Police took Faisal Karim Masud, the main accused in the murder of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, and his associate Alamgir Hossain into 14-day remand for questioning. Amid this, a photocard circulated on social media claimed that Hasnat Abdullah, Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4 and leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), made a controversial statement about the case.

According to an investigation by the Rumor Scanner team, Hasnat Abdullah did not make the alleged comment. The claim originated from a satirical Facebook page called 'Dainik Mollardesh', which had posted the photocard on March 9. The page identifies itself as a satire and parody platform, and similar humorous posts were found there.

The investigation found no credible media or official sources supporting the claim. Review of Hasnat Abdullah’s verified Facebook page also revealed no such statement, confirming that the viral photocard was a satirical creation misrepresented as real news.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has described fascism as a contagious disease reflected in the current government's actions. Speaking at a leadership gathering in Keraniganj on Friday, April 3, he said the struggle of Jamaat and 11 allied parties would continue until people's rightful demands are fulfilled. He urged unity against oppression and warned that any attempt to create chaos would be met with a firm response.

During his address, Rahman criticized the government’s handling of the fuel crisis, saying official statements made it seem as if Bangladesh was floating on oil. He also condemned the decision to close schools and shift education online, calling it a sign of government foolishness.

The remarks came amid broader political tensions, with opposition groups continuing to challenge the government’s policies and governance style.

Former Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif has said that Tehran should declare victory and end the ongoing war. In an article published in the U.S.-based journal Foreign Affairs, Zarif called on Iran to pursue an agreement that would both conclude the current conflict and prevent future hostilities.

Zarif, who previously led Iran’s negotiations with the United States and other countries over its nuclear program, outlined a framework for ending the war under favorable terms for Tehran. His proposal includes lifting all sanctions in exchange for Iran limiting its nuclear activities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He also suggested that Iran and the United States commit to refraining from attacking each other in the future and explore economic cooperation beneficial to both nations.

According to Zarif, such an agreement could represent a pragmatic path toward stability and mutual benefit, potentially marking a shift in Washington’s willingness to engage under new conditions.