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.

Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing has been elected president, five years after leading a coup that removed the country’s elected government. The parliamentary vote took place on Friday, where he secured at least 293 out of 584 votes, formally consolidating his control over the war-torn nation.

His nomination was proposed earlier in the week after the new parliamentary session began. In accordance with the constitution, Min Aung Hlaing stepped down as commander-in-chief of the armed forces before assuming the presidency. The current parliament is dominated by his loyalists, as one-quarter of the seats are reserved for the military and the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won about 80 percent of the remaining seats in the recent election.

Min Aung Hlaing, aged 69, had orchestrated the 2021 coup against Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s administration, triggering widespread protests that later evolved into nationwide armed resistance against military rule.

Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, is set to become the country’s next president after a parliament dominated by his loyalists convened on Friday. He resigned as commander-in-chief to assume the post, fulfilling a long-delayed promise of returning to civilian rule, though the process remains largely symbolic. The military’s party, the USDP, won nearly 80 percent of contested seats in an election widely seen as predetermined.

The new government is expected to remain heavily militarized, with General Ye Win Oo, a close ally of Min Aung Hlaing, confirmed as the new army chief. The incoming president has also formed a powerful advisory council with authority over both civilian and military affairs. Analysts and opposition groups say the shift will not alter Myanmar’s ongoing conflict, which has displaced millions and devastated the economy since the coup.

Opposition forces, including the National Unity Government, continue to reject the election as illegitimate and vow to fight for a federal constitution. Meanwhile, economic hardship, fuel shortages, and widespread displacement persist across the country.

Serious allegations have emerged that land worth hundreds of millions of taka under Bangladesh Railway’s East Zone in Chattogram was allocated without a tender, violating the Railway Land Allocation Policy. The allocation reportedly took place at SRV Station, involving a syndicate of officials from the commercial branch, land property office, and security forces allegedly linked to former Awami League MP Fazle Karim Chowdhury. The process bypassed mandatory steps such as open tender and joint approval from key departments, sparking anger among railway employees.

Documents show that the company receiving the allocation, Utsab Trading and Engineering, had no connection to railway transport or storage, failing to meet policy requirements. Despite this, it was granted 4,500 square feet of land in January 2025, and a license fee notice was later issued. Investigation reports and design documents lacked required signatures from senior officials, and the design was approved without authorization.

Railway Director General Md. Afzal Hossain stated that any irregularities in land allocation would be investigated and appropriate action taken.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has directed the formation of a strong task force to strictly enforce the national building code. The instruction came during a high-level meeting with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on Thursday. The meeting also approved several measures to enhance earthquake preparedness, including structural safety assessments, public awareness, curriculum inclusion, research funding, and improved rescue capacity.

Officials said the Prime Minister emphasized comprehensive readiness for potential earthquakes, with a proposal to classify buildings into green, yellow, and red categories based on safety. A detailed engineering assessment for major cities is under approval. The meeting also set a goal to train 100,000 volunteers within two months and to integrate disaster topics into examinations and teacher training. Universities will receive government funding for disaster research.

The meeting identified 445 safe shelters in Dhaka and reported 4,869 rescue tools across agencies. Each ministry was instructed to allocate a separate disaster management budget. The Prime Minister also gave policy approval to link the Fire Service with the Disaster Management Ministry to strengthen coordination.

Twenty-one officials from Bangladesh Television (BTV) are set to travel to England, Belgium, and Germany to learn about digital broadcasting and inspect equipment under the contractor’s sponsorship. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued government orders for the trips, scheduled between April 4 and May 1, 2026. Thirteen officials will attend factory training in Germany and Belgium, while eight others will conduct pre-shipment inspections of digital transmitters and related equipment. The visits are part of the nationwide digital terrestrial broadcasting project for BTV.

The project, initially approved in 2018 under then Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, has faced allegations of corruption and conflict of interest. Originally budgeted at Tk 260 crore, the cost was later increased to Tk 329 crore. Reports indicate that several officials included in the trips are not BTV engineers but ministry staff or officers on deputation. The contractor will cover all travel expenses, though the ministry’s orders describe the funding source as the “inviting organization.”

Information Minister Yasser Khan Chowdhury stated that the government has no financial involvement in the trips and that the visits aim to enhance officials’ technical experience.

Bangladesh’s government is set to regain control over the appointment of Supreme Court judges after a parliamentary special committee recommended the cancellation of several ordinances issued during the interim government. Among the 133 ordinances reviewed, 20 will not be approved this session, including three related to judicial independence. The Supreme Court Judge Appointment Ordinance 2025, which created an independent council led by the Chief Justice to recommend judicial appointments, is among those to be repealed. The committee argued that the ordinance conflicted with the constitution and limited the president’s role in appointments.

The committee’s report, presented by its chairman Zainul Abedin, also proposed repealing the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, citing concerns that it would disrupt coordination between the judiciary and the executive. Opposition members from Jamaat-e-Islami filed dissent notes on 20 ordinances, arguing that some reforms strengthened judicial independence and anti-corruption mechanisms. Legal experts and civic groups expressed deep concern that repealing these ordinances would undermine judicial independence and the rule of law.

The cancellation of these ordinances is expected to take effect after April 10, potentially reversing key reforms introduced by the interim government and reigniting political debate over constitutional and judicial reforms.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George as part of a major leadership reshuffle at the Pentagon. The decision was confirmed on Thursday, April 2, by two officials from the US Department of Defense and one related source, according to Reuters.

The Pentagon, however, officially described the move as a retirement, stating that General George, the 41st Army Chief of Staff, is retiring immediately despite having more than a year left in his term. In a statement, the Pentagon expressed gratitude for his decades of service and extended best wishes for his retirement.

No specific reason for General George’s sudden departure has been disclosed by the Department of Defense, leaving the circumstances surrounding the decision unclear.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Israel is a 'good team player' and will act according to his instructions. In an interview with Time magazine, Trump said that Israel would stop fighting when he tells them to stop, emphasizing that they would only continue if provoked. He added that when he stops, Israel will also stop, suggesting a close alignment between his decisions and Israel’s actions.

The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and highlight Trump’s assertion of strong influence over Israel’s military and diplomatic behavior. His comments suggest that he views the U.S.–Israel relationship as one where Washington’s directives are followed closely by Tel Aviv.

The statement underscores Trump’s approach to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, portraying a dynamic where American leadership directly shapes Israel’s actions in conflict situations.

US President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her position, according to reports published on April 3, 2026. Deputy Attorney General Tope Blache is set to replace Bondi. Trump announced the decision on his social platform Truth Social, stating that Bondi is leaving to take an important new role in the private sector. He praised her as a patriotic and loyal friend who served with dedication, noting that under her leadership, homicide rates fell to their lowest level since the 1900s.

Sources indicated that Trump had been dissatisfied with Bondi over her handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and her reluctance to prosecute political rivals. The president had reportedly discussed her removal with close allies and spoke to Bondi personally about it on Wednesday. Last month, Trump had also removed Kristi Noem from the Department of Homeland Security.

Reports suggest Bondi might be assigned another role, though discussions about appointing her as a judge did not progress. CNN reported that Bondi had attempted to pursue legal action against Trump’s rivals, but courts dismissed those cases.