US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will need to reconsider its relationship with NATO once the Iran war ends. Speaking on Fox News on Tuesday, Rubio questioned the value of decades of heavy spending and troop deployments if the US is denied access to allied bases when needed.

He argued that it is time to assess whether the alliance still serves American interests or has become one-sided. Rubio noted that while the US continues to defend Europe, some allies refuse to allow the use of their bases and airspace during critical moments. He described these as legitimate questions that Washington must now confront.

NATO, formed in 1949, currently has 32 member states and is tasked with ensuring the political and military security of its members, according to the report sourced from The Guardian.

The Australian government has cancelled the visa of Bangladeshi religious preacher Mizanur Rahman Azhari and ordered him to leave the country. According to a report published by the Daily Mail on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Azhari was touring Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra as part of his ‘Legacy of Faith’ series when the decision was made. His visa was revoked on Tuesday, and he is currently awaiting departure from Australia.

The report noted that Azhari had previously faced restrictions on entering the United Kingdom and delivering public sermons in Bangladesh. Australian Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam told the Senate that several groups, including the Australia-based Federation for Ethnic and Religious Minorities, had warned lawmakers about Azhari’s visit. The Daily Mail also cited a 2023 event in the United States where Azhari allegedly made antisemitic remarks, praising Hitler and describing Jews in derogatory terms.

Duniam stated in the Senate that Azhari has been accused of spreading ethnic hatred globally, referencing the UK’s 2021 decision to bar his entry over alleged anti-Hindu rhetoric.

At least eight people were injured on Tuesday afternoon when two rival groups of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clashed over extortion from trucks in the Forest Office area of Korerhat Union, Mirsarai upazila, Chattogram. The confrontation involved chasing and counter-chasing between the groups, causing panic among locals. Witnesses reported that armed displays took place along the Baraiyarhat–Khagrachhari road, and the injured were admitted to various hospitals.

According to local sources, the conflict stemmed from disputes over collecting 1,000 taka per truck carrying wood and sand. After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, extortion was reportedly managed by local BNP-affiliated leaders Mohammad Alamgir and Masud Kala. Following the February 12 national election, Nur Uddin’s group took over the collection, intensifying the rivalry. Residents said the groups had long been at odds over extortion, drug control, and other criminal activities.

Jorarganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kazi Nazmul Haque confirmed the clash, stating it occurred over dominance in the area. Police later visited the scene, and the situation was reported to be under control.

After the appointment of a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General, discussions have intensified within the Bangladesh Police over who will become the next commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Following the resignation of Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali on February 25, Additional Commissioner Md. Sarwar has been serving as acting commissioner. He is expected to retire in about six weeks, prompting speculation about his successor.

According to police headquarters sources, two candidates are currently leading the race: Barrister Zillur Rahman, chief of Railway Police from the 15th batch, and Md. Faruk, Additional Director General of RAB and former DMP Additional Commissioner from the 17th batch. The current IGP, also from the 15th batch, reportedly prefers a junior officer for the post, while his batchmates want the position to remain within their group, creating internal friction. Some officers who felt sidelined under the previous government are also lobbying for influence.

Officials said the government seeks a capable and trusted officer to lead the DMP, which oversees about 32,000 personnel and plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order in Dhaka. The appointment may occur soon, though it could also be delayed until after Sarwar’s retirement.

After securing a sweeping victory in the 13th parliamentary election, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders are now competing intensely for nominations to the reserved women’s seats. The party is struggling to manage hundreds of aspirants from both central and grassroots levels, including long-time activists, former MPs, and new faces. The Election Commission plans to announce the schedule for these seats between April 7 and 10, following a commission meeting on April 6.

According to party sources, priority is being given to women with long-standing political contributions, roles in past movements, and sacrifices for the party. Consideration is also being extended to families of senior leaders who were killed or injured in political struggles. Former MPs, wives and daughters of senior BNP leaders, and several cultural figures are among those under discussion. Three female candidates who contested but lost in the 13th election are also being considered.

BNP’s nomination board is preparing an initial list that will be shortened before final approval by the party’s chairman, Tarique Rahman. The final decision will be made after the Election Commission announces the official schedule.

A heated debate erupted in Bangladesh’s National Parliament over the opposition’s motion to convene a meeting of the Constitutional Reform Council. The discussion, held on Tuesday and lasting more than two hours, centered on the legality of the July Charter Implementation Order and the scope of the president’s authority to issue it. Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman defended the order’s legitimacy, while Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad and Law Minister Asaduzzaman called it unconstitutional and beyond presidential powers. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad described the debate as lively but reached no decision.

Government members proposed forming a special all-party parliamentary committee to draft constitutional amendments, while the opposition suggested a joint committee with equal representation from both sides. The dispute reflected deep divisions over whether the July Charter and related referendum were constitutionally valid. Several MPs from Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and BJP participated, presenting contrasting interpretations of the president’s authority, the referendum’s outcome, and the council’s legitimacy.

The session concluded without resolution, leaving the future of the Constitutional Reform Council uncertain as both sides maintained their positions and urged the Speaker to decide on next steps.

Mahmudur Rahman, writing in the newspaper Amar Desh on April 1, 2026, expressed surprise and satisfaction at the arrests of retired Lieutenant Generals Masud and Mamun Khaled, whom he described as key figures behind the 1/11 political events. He viewed the arrests as a sign that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had not forgotten the injustices of that period. Rahman reflected on his own opposition to the 1/11 regime and its long-term effects on Bangladesh’s institutions.

He argued that the 1/11 government had caused lasting damage to the judiciary, election system, military, and media, and accused its architects of undermining national sovereignty through foreign influence. Rahman called for legal accountability for those involved, asserting that the crimes committed against the state could not be forgiven. He also reiterated his newspaper’s support for the government’s efforts to protect national sovereignty.

In a separate section, Rahman responded to comments by government adviser Dr. Zahedur Rahman, defending Amar Desh against allegations of bias and emphasizing its independence from political or oligarchic control.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since assuming office, prompting speculation about his health and whereabouts. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Khamenei was seriously injured in a February 28 attack and placed in intensive care, a claim echoed by some Western media. Tehran denied these reports but did not clarify his exact location.

Amid growing rumors, several outlets reported that Khamenei was receiving treatment in Moscow under Russian President Vladimir Putin’s supervision and had sent messages to the Iraqi people and during Nowruz from an undisclosed location. Both statements were read on state media by another person.

In a recent interview with RTVI, Russian Ambassador to Tehran Alexey Dedov stated that Khamenei remains in Iran. He said the leader’s absence from public view is due to security reasons and that Iranian authorities have repeatedly affirmed his presence in the country. Dedov emphasized that Khamenei is staying in a secure location away from hostile threats.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has received a direct message from Washington through US special envoy Steve Witkoff, but clarified that no formal negotiations or agreements are underway between the two countries. The statement came as Iran remains engaged in conflict with the United States and Israel.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s past experience with the United States has been negative, recalling the 2015 nuclear deal from which Washington later withdrew. He stated that Tehran’s trust in the US is now at zero and accused Washington of lacking sincerity. Regarding the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi explained that the route is blocked only for those engaged in war with Iran.

He further warned that if any country attempts a ground attack, Iran is fully prepared to respond strongly. The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera, highlighting Tehran’s firm stance amid heightened regional tensions.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shafiqul Islam Masud criticized the government for prioritizing development rhetoric over the July Charter during a parliamentary discussion on a motion raised by opposition leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman. Speaking in the session, Masud said that for 17 years development narratives had overshadowed elections, and now, even before the election ink dried, the July Charter was being forgotten.

Masud recalled past protests where young people demanded state reform, not minor corrections, and questioned why the reform agenda had been sidelined. He argued that instead of focusing on constitutional reform within 30 days as planned, attention had shifted to projects like family and agricultural cards. He also questioned the fairness of appointing administrators in 11 city corporations and 42 district councils, suggesting that qualified individuals outside the ruling party were overlooked.

Masud further challenged claims that the Constitutional Reform Council’s oath was illegal, saying that if it were so, those who presented the documents should first face legal scrutiny.

During the first session of the National Parliament, National Citizens Party (NCP) member-secretary and MP Akhtar Hossain stated that the people had given their verdict in favor of implementing the July National Charter. He argued that calling this verdict unconstitutional was audacious and dishonored Parliament. He added that whether or not the referendum ordinance was approved in Parliament, there was no scope to declare the referendum invalid.

Akhtar Hossain referred to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s earlier call in Rangpur urging citizens to vote “yes” in the referendum, questioning why those who supported it now refuse to accept its outcome. He also raised constitutional questions about the interim period between August 5 and 8, when, according to him, there was no functioning government in Bangladesh, and about the legality of appointments and parliamentary dissolution during that time.

He further recalled that the Consensus Commission, formed under the interim government to reform the state structure, had discussed the implementation of the July Charter with participation from several current ministers and MPs. Hossain criticized those who, despite attending those discussions, now appear to have forgotten their earlier positions.

Jamaat-e-Islami has not been invited to the annual religious gathering organized by the Charmonai Darbar in Barishal. The three-day event will begin on Wednesday after the noon prayer, with Pir Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim delivering the opening sermon. The gathering will conclude on Saturday morning with the final prayer. According to organizers, central leaders from several political parties, including the BNP and the National Citizens Party (NCP), have been invited to attend.

The Mahfil committee confirmed that both BNP and NCP received official invitations, though it remains unclear which BNP leaders will attend. NCP representatives, including spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, chief organizer Sarjis Alam, and Sarowar Tushar, are expected to arrive Wednesday night and speak at Thursday’s clerics’ assembly. The organizing committee has completed all preparations, forming its own security and medical teams as worshippers begin to arrive.

The exclusion of Jamaat, once a political ally of Charmonai, marks a notable change in the invitation list for this year’s event.

Abidul Islam Khan, a young politician from Dhaka University and a key leader of the July uprising, met Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus at Yunus Centre on Tuesday afternoon. During the meeting, Abidul presented his authored book titled 'Sphulingo Theke Dabanal' to Dr. Yunus. According to a statement from Yunus Centre, the meeting was a courtesy visit, and Dr. Yunus expressed his appreciation and thanked the author for the gift.

Abidul Islam Khan said the book is based on his personal experiences and observations of the turbulent events of July, which he described as a relentless struggle against misrule, autocracy, and suppression of people's voices. He emphasized that July represents unity and is not the property of any single group, urging that all perspectives must be heard to preserve its true history.

The meeting lasted about half an hour, during which both discussed various aspects of the July uprising and the spirit of building a democratic new Bangladesh inspired by that movement.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman will visit India on April 7 amid rising global oil prices driven by the Middle East conflict. This will be the first ministerial visit from Bangladesh since Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s government took office. According to Indian media reports, the visit will focus on discussions over energy imports and the Ganges water-sharing agreement.

During the trip, Dr. Rahman is scheduled to meet Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on April 8. He may also meet India’s Energy Minister Hardeep Puri to discuss additional fuel supplies, particularly diesel. The report adds that Bangladesh has nominated Dr. Rahman for the presidency of the UN General Assembly for 2026–27 and may seek India’s support for the bid.

The 1996 Ganges water-sharing treaty between Bangladesh and India, set for renewal soon, is currently under hydrological and technical review by both sides, adding significance to the upcoming discussions.

A Chhatra Dal leader in Lakshmipur, Md Didar Mahmud, has been expelled on charges of violating party discipline. He was serving as the general secretary of the 20th Char Ramani Mohan Union Chhatra Dal under Sadar upazila. The expulsion was announced Monday night through a press release signed by the president and general secretary of Sadar upazila (West) Chhatra Dal.

Following the announcement, mixed reactions emerged among party members. Several activists protested the decision on social media. Mujahidul Islam Shamim, joint convener of Sadar upazila (West) Chhatra Dal, said Didar had long been active in movements and that expulsion was not a solution. College Chhatra Dal joint convener RN Raju condemned the decision, while leader Musa Abdullah questioned the motive behind the expulsion. Didar himself claimed he was targeted for protesting alleged irregularities by a local union council member.

Sadar upazila (West) Chhatra Dal general secretary Mizanur Rahman Mizan stated that the expulsion followed directives from the local MP and BNP leadership. Upazila (West) BNP convener Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Khokon said Didar committed a serious disciplinary offense, prompting the organizational decision. The incident has sparked debate in the local political arena.