Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced that Bangladesh’s road management system will be reorganized ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, which he described as more challenging than Eid-ul-Fitr. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning while inaugurating a tree-planting program at the Madani Avenue link road from the Purbachal 300 Feet Expressway in Dhaka. The minister noted that around 15 million people are expected to leave Dhaka while about 10 million sacrificial animals will enter the city. He also mentioned that the government is considering the possibility of constructing another Jamuna Bridge and will test a demo train before any project approval.

The minister launched a large-scale nationwide tree-planting initiative under the Road Transport and Highways Division to promote environmental balance and sustainable development. He urged citizens, government offices, and organizations to turn the campaign into a people’s movement rather than a ceremonial event. State Minister Habibur Rashid said the government has adopted a plan to plant 2.5 billion trees in five years as part of its long-term vision for a sustainable and livable Bangladesh.

Officials from the ministry and related departments attended the inauguration ceremony.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni has announced that a special parliamentary committee will soon be formed to address constitutional amendments. Speaking to reporters after a parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday, he said the committee will include representatives from all parties, including independents, in proportionate numbers. He added that the committee could have 15 to 20 members, though the exact number has not yet been finalized.

Moni emphasized that both ruling and opposition party legal experts will be included in the committee to ensure broad participation. He urged opposition parties to join, saying that constitutional reform is essential for the country and should not be delayed. He also stated that the government aims to make parliament more effective and to solve national issues through parliamentary processes.

A parliamentary press release added that the meeting recommended installing an echo-free sound system in the session chamber, improving internet speed, ensuring safe drinking water in the parliament area, and preparing residences for members by April 10.

Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that the ruling party is unwilling to fully implement the July Charter under the guise of forming a constitutional amendment committee. The party’s senior Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament ATM Azharul Islam made the remark on Wednesday afternoon at the 13th National Parliament building, where Barrister Najibur Rahman MP was also present.

ATM Azharul Islam stated that there is no question of the opposition joining the government’s proposed constitutional amendment committee, arguing that mere amendments are insufficient and that full reform is necessary. He also commented that some statements by the opposition leader had been misquoted, which he said was not acceptable.

Earlier in the morning, the third meeting of the parliamentary committee was held in the Cabinet Room of the National Parliament. The discussion reflects ongoing political disagreement over the process and scope of constitutional reform linked to the July Charter.

The opposition parties in Bangladesh’s National Parliament staged a walkout on Wednesday afternoon after failing to receive a response regarding their demand to convene a meeting of the Constitutional Reform Council. Opposition leader Shafiqul Rahman announced the walkout, leading members out of the chamber in protest against what they described as an attempt to suppress their proposal by introducing another motion.

The dispute followed Tuesday’s discussion on a pending motion about convening the council. The ruling party had proposed forming an all-party special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendments, but the opposition disagreed, insisting that any committee should center on the Constitutional Reform Council. During Wednesday’s session, Shafiqul Rahman sought a ruling from Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, who replied that the earlier motion was inadmissible for legislative reasons but that further discussion could be allowed.

The opposition leader maintained that their demand reflected public sentiment and accused the government of disregarding voter expectations. The Speaker acknowledged their right to walk out, and opposition members subsequently left the chamber.

Iran has expressed dissatisfaction and sorrow over Bangladesh’s official statement following the joint attack by the United States and Israel. Speaking at a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday, Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi said Tehran had expected Bangladesh, as a Muslim-majority nation, to directly condemn the aggression. Instead, Bangladesh only expressed concern, which Iran found disappointing.

The ambassador noted that countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Spain had explicitly condemned the attack, contrasting their positions with Bangladesh’s cautious response. Although Iran will not send an official letter to Dhaka, Jahanabadi said he would personally raise the issue with Bangladesh’s prime minister in a future meeting. He emphasized that Iran targets only US bases in the region, not neighboring Muslim countries, and questioned why Arab states allow such bases on their soil.

Despite the discontent, the ambassador reaffirmed Iran’s intention to strengthen ties with Bangladesh and welcomed any peace initiatives Dhaka might take in the Middle East. He also assured cooperation in ensuring the safe return of Bangladeshis from Iran.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government will provide free school uniforms to 200,000 primary school children. He made the statement on Wednesday, April 1, during a live question-and-answer session with members of parliament at the National Assembly. The session was part of a scheduled 30-minute segment dedicated to questions for the prime minister.

During his remarks, Rahman expressed gratitude to voters and emphasized his responsibility to serve all citizens, including those who did not vote for him. He said the government had already begun implementing its election manifesto, including plans to plant 15 million saplings of various species during the current monsoon season. He also stated that the introduction of family and farmer cards would help stabilize the economy and prevent inflation.

According to the prime minister, an additional 30,000 families will receive family cards within the next three months, and 40 million more families will be included over the next four years.

Government Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced that a special parliamentary committee will soon be formed to amend the constitution in line with the July National Charter. He made the statement on Wednesday, April 1, after the third meeting of the parliamentary committee. The initiative includes the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) note of dissent.

Moni said the committee will be created with participation from all sides, including legal experts from both the ruling and opposition parties. The exact number of members has not yet been finalized. He emphasized that the government wants to make the parliament more effective and that constitutional amendments are necessary for various reforms.

The Chief Whip added that the government seeks cooperation from the opposition for the welfare of the country and hopes they will join the constitutional amendment committee soon.

US President Donald Trump has said he is seriously considering withdrawing the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He made the remarks in an interview with the British daily The Telegraph, according to a BBC report. Trump described NATO as a 'paper tiger' and claimed that the United Kingdom no longer has an effective navy. He added that he was never influenced by NATO and that Russian President Vladimir Putin also knows the alliance is weak.

When asked whether he would reconsider US membership in NATO amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Trump replied that the matter had gone beyond reconsideration. In the same interview, he mocked the UK's military capabilities, saying its navy was outdated and its aircraft carriers were not functioning properly.

Analysts believe Trump's comments could reignite international debate, as NATO has long been regarded as the cornerstone of military cooperation between the United States and European nations.

The Puja Celebration Front in Muradnagar, Comilla, has strongly protested what it described as false and malicious social media campaigns linking Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad MP to a temple fire. At a press conference held in Comilla city on March 31, 2026, the organization’s northern convener Dulal Debnath said certain groups were spreading misinformation to destroy communal harmony and damage the minister’s relationship with the Hindu community.

Speakers including Professor Din Dayal Pal, Doyananda Thakur, Ratan Das, and Bijon Kumar Das stated that the fire occurred near a banyan tree adjacent to the minister’s house, not inside a temple. They alleged that some Facebook pages intentionally circulated videos and photos to create fear between Hindus and Muslims. The speakers emphasized that Kaikobad had long supported underprivileged Hindus and maintained peaceful relations among all communities.

The Puja Celebration Front urged authorities to investigate the incident, bring those responsible under the law, and called on residents not to believe rumors that could disrupt Muradnagar’s communal peace.

Opposition lawmakers led by Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman walked out of the national parliament session on Wednesday, April 1, protesting the lack of action on convening a Constitutional Reform Council meeting and alleging that their proposal was being suppressed by another motion. The walkout occurred during a discussion on a motion related to constitutional reform.

In response, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told the parliament that walkouts are part of parliamentary culture and that the opposition has the right to do so. He emphasized that the statements made during the session should remain on record and clarified procedural issues regarding the motion. The minister explained that the motion had been accepted by the deputy speaker in the speaker’s absence, but he had objected earlier, noting that such matters should be handled under Rule 68 and that issues requiring legislation cannot be discussed through a motion.

He further stated that since the issue had already been discussed for two hours, parliamentary practice dictates that it is considered “talked out,” meaning no further voting is required after the discussion concludes.

New York City Mayor Zohra Mamdani has criticized the United States and Israel’s war against Iran, saying it should be opposed from every perspective. In an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, she stated that the conflict has already cost 23 billion dollars, despite Americans facing a crisis of affordable living costs.

Mamdani, who campaigned on a promise to reduce living expenses in New York City, argued that such a vast amount of money could have transformed the lives of working-class Americans if invested in Medicare, education, or student debt relief. She said that by pursuing another regime-change war, the government has thrown away opportunities to improve domestic welfare.

Her remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, highlight growing concerns about the financial and social costs of foreign military engagements amid economic challenges at home.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Committee, stated that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen but not for the United States. He said it will remain accessible only to those who follow Iran’s new regulations. Azizi made the remarks addressing U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing that the 47 years of hospitality since the 1979 revolution have now permanently ended.

Azizi further commented that Trump has ultimately achieved his dream of changing Iran’s governance system, though this change has only affected the region’s maritime order. Meanwhile, Iran’s National Security Committee has approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Fars News Agency.

The announcement underscores Iran’s intent to assert control over one of the world’s most strategic waterways, linking its domestic policy shifts to regional maritime operations.

The National Democratic Party (JAGPA) has launched a new membership drive, formally inaugurated on Wednesday morning at the Shafiul Alam Prodhan Auditorium in Paltan. The event was led by JAGPA Vice President and party spokesperson Rashed Prodhan, who also announced the formation of a non-political social organization called Adhipatjobadbiruddho Jatiyo Diksha-Azadi. Citizens from home and abroad can join JAGPA and Azadi through the website www.jogdaanbd.org.

Rashed Prodhan stated that JAGPA, founded by the late leader Shafiul Alam Prodhan, has been working for the people and the oppressed for 46 years. The membership initiative was launched to expand the organization following the national election. He said Azadi was established to build a patriotic platform against external and internal political, economic, and cultural dominance.

During the event, Rashed Prodhan announced five coordinators responsible for different regions, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and the expatriate division, to oversee and coordinate the membership activities.

The government has appointed new deputy commissioners in four districts—Rajbari, Thakurgaon, Pabna, and Rangpur. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Wednesday announcing the appointments.

According to the notification, Afroza Parvin, Director of the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority, has been appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Rajbari. Mohammad Rafiqul Haque, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, will serve as the Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon. Aminul Islam, also a Deputy Secretary of the same ministry, has been assigned to Pabna, while Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Secretary (Deputy Secretary) of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), has been appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur.

The appointments reflect routine administrative reshuffling by the government to strengthen local governance and ensure effective district-level administration.

A new Reuters and Ipsos poll reveals that about two-thirds of Americans believe the United States should quickly end the Iran war, even if its stated goals have not yet been achieved. The survey, conducted from Friday to Sunday, found that 66 percent of respondents favored a rapid conclusion to the conflict, while 27 percent supported continuing the war until objectives are met. Six percent did not respond to the question.

The poll also highlights divisions among supporters of former President Donald Trump’s Republican Party. Around 40 percent of Republican respondents favored ending the war soon, whereas 57 percent believed the U.S. should remain engaged until its goals are fulfilled. The survey, which included 1,021 participants, indicates that public support for the war is steadily declining among the general population.

According to the report, the findings suggest growing war fatigue among Americans and increasing pressure on policymakers to reconsider the duration and objectives of U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict.