At Jagannath University, AKM Rakib, president of the JBU Student Rights Council and vice president candidate backed by the BNP-aligned student group, issued a stern warning to the government regarding the implementation of the referendum. His statement came late on March 30 through a verified Facebook post, following the announcement of the repeal of the Referendum Ordinance Bill. Rakib reaffirmed his strong stance in favor of the referendum and cautioned the authorities against any irregularities in its execution.

In his post, Rakib criticized both the BNP and the government for their positions opposing the referendum. He argued that the July movement, which led to the formation of an interim government, had broad participation across political lines and that the referendum was a key part of the reform process initiated by that government. He questioned why the ruling party was now hesitating over the referendum despite previously supporting it during the national election.

Rakib declared his continued commitment to anti-fascist activism and vowed to resist any attempt to undermine the July movement or the referendum process.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that Tehran has received various proposals and requests for talks from the United States, but these were delivered through intermediaries, including Pakistan, rather than directly. He clarified that since the start of the ongoing conflict with the United States, Iran has not engaged in any direct negotiations.

Regarding a possible ceasefire, Baghaei reaffirmed that Iran remains firm in its previous stance. He emphasized that with continued U.S. military aggression, Tehran’s main priority is to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and existence. His remarks came amid heightened tensions and conflicting statements between the two nations.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had claimed that discussions between the United States and Iran were continuing and progressing positively. Iran directly rejected that claim, asserting that it has not participated in any such talks and that Washington’s statements do not reflect reality.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has urged Saudi Arabia to remove United States military forces from its territory, saying that now is the right time to do so. He made the statement in a post on the social media platform X, where he also shared an image of a US aircraft reportedly damaged in an Iranian attack.

In his post, Araghchi emphasized that Iran respects Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation. He added that Iran’s operations are directed against enemies and aggressors who do not respect Arabs or Iranians. His remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and follow recent reports of Iranian military actions.

The statement underscores Iran’s continued opposition to US military presence in the region and signals Tehran’s intention to strengthen ties with neighboring Arab states while maintaining a firm stance against perceived external threats.

Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, passed a law on Monday approving the death penalty by hanging for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of killing Israelis. The legislation, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, passed by 62 votes to 48. Ben-Gvir celebrated the outcome and dismissed international pressure to withdraw the bill, calling it a historic moment. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has filed an appeal against the law with Israel’s Supreme Court.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the measure as a “dangerous escalation,” asserting that Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land. Hamas and other Palestinian groups condemned the law as discriminatory and a violation of international law, urging the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene. The UN Human Rights Office in Palestine and Amnesty International both said the law breaches international human rights standards, while the Council of Europe called it a “serious regression.”

European governments including Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom had urged Israel to withdraw the bill, citing commitments to a global moratorium on the death penalty.

At the 356th Governing Body session of the International Labour Organization (ILO), representatives from 47 countries expressed full support for Bangladesh’s current democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The countries congratulated the government for assuming office through a free and fair election and pledged to work together based on mutual cooperation. The discussion took place in Geneva on Monday, where Bangladesh presented its ninth progress report on labor sector reforms.

The session also reviewed a case filed in 2019 by five worker representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation, alleging Bangladesh’s failure to comply with ILO Conventions 81, 87, and 98. Following that, the previous government submitted a five-year labor reform roadmap in 2021. During the latest discussion, 19 countries, two regional groups representing 28 nations, and employer representatives praised the new government’s legal and administrative reform commitments and called for the case’s swift resolution.

Bangladesh’s delegation highlighted its commitment to transparency, accountability, and alignment with the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. The government announced the formation of a parliamentary committee to convert the 2025 Labor Law Amendment Ordinance into law and pledged to accelerate the process.

Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Naib-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South, stated that there is no possibility of revoking the July Ordinance. Speaking at an Eid reunion organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Shahbagh East Thana on Monday afternoon, he said the ordinance was issued after political parties, including the BNP, signed the July Charter. He emphasized that implementing the July Charter is essential for building a new Bangladesh envisioned by the nation.

Dr. Helal expressed concern over a special government committee’s recommendation to repeal the ordinance, noting that the BNP had initially supported the charter and referendum. He recalled that BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had urged citizens to vote “yes” in the referendum held on election day. However, he accused the BNP of later turning against the people after coming to power.

He urged the government to implement the July Charter in line with the referendum’s verdict before public discontent escalates, asserting that the nation has pledged to rebuild Bangladesh based on the spirit of July.

Journalist leader and former president of the National Press Club and BFUJ, Shawkat Mahmud, has been shown arrested in a Shahbagh police case as an unidentified accused. After being detained last December and later released on bail before Eid, he was rearrested at the jail gate. The case, in which Awami League figure Latif Siddiqui and others are already on bail, alleges a conspiracy to distort and erase the history of the Liberation War. Family members of Mahmud broke down in tears, claiming he had no connection to the incident and that his name was not in the original complaint.

According to the case documents, the charges stem from an event organized by a group called “Moncho 71” at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium on August 28 of the previous year. Authorities allege that participants delivered provocative speeches aimed at destabilizing the country and toppling the interim government. The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana granted police permission to show Mahmud arrested in the case following an application by the investigating officer.

The prosecution stated that preliminary investigation found evidence linking Mahmud to the alleged anti-state activities. The case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act for actions deemed subversive during the “Moncho 71” event.

Bangladesh’s Minister for Religious Affairs Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaykobad) held a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah at the King Salman International Convention Center in Medina on Monday at 11 a.m. local time. Both sides expressed consensus on enhancing cooperation and services related to Hajj and Umrah, with expectations that the meeting will bring new momentum to services for Bangladeshi pilgrims.

During the meeting, the Bangladeshi minister highlighted Saudi Arabia’s progress in Hajj management under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, noting the use of technology and modernization in pilgrimage management. He conveyed Bangladesh’s appreciation to the Saudi government and emphasized the historic, brotherly ties between the two nations. He also expressed optimism that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, bilateral cooperation in religious and development sectors would reach new heights.

The Bangladeshi minister handed a written proposal for the welfare of Bangladeshi pilgrims to the Saudi minister and exchanged courtesy gifts on behalf of both governments.

Former Chief Justice A B M Khairul Haque has been shown arrested in two separate murder cases filed over incidents during the July anti-discrimination movement in Dhaka’s Jatrabari and Adabor areas. On March 30, 2026, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jamshed Alam issued the order following hearings in both cases. The hearings were held in Haque’s presence after he was brought to court from prison.

The Jatrabari case involves the killing of madrasa student Arif, for which Sub-Inspector Mahmudul Hasan had sought Haque’s arrest on March 10. The Adabor case concerns the death of garment worker Rubel, with Sub-Inspector Mohammad Tipu Sultan submitting a similar request on March 29. Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki represented the state, while Haque’s lawyer opposed the arrest orders. The court ultimately granted both requests.

Haque had earlier secured bail in five other cases filed during the interim government period, including one related to the killing of a Jubo Dal activist and others concerning alleged forgery in the caretaker government verdict. He was first detained on July 24 of the previous year from his Dhanmondi residence.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud has said that if the constitution were properly upheld, the current Prime Minister and Home Minister would have to stay abroad. Speaking in Parliament on March 30, 2026, during the discussion on the President’s address, the Patuakhali-2 MP argued that under the 1972 Constitution, the Prime Minister should not be in Bangladesh. He warned that if the government continues to deny the referendum, the people of Bangladesh would rise again to implement it.

Masud criticized the government for alleged constitutional inconsistencies and questioned its commitment to justice, citing the unresolved case of Sharif Osman Hadi’s murder. He also described personal experiences of arrest and detention, claiming political repression under the current administration. Referring to the July Charter and referendum issues, he accused the ruling party of betraying the public’s mandate.

He further stated that rejecting the referendum would mean disregarding the will of about 70 percent of the people and warned that such denial could lead to renewed unrest and repression similar to past years.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Saiful Alam Milon from Dhaka-12 sharply criticized Road Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam in parliament on Monday, questioning his statement that this year’s Eid travel was comfortable. Speaking on a point of order, Milon asked how many more people must die before the minister feels discomfort, citing reports that between 170 and 370 people died during the Eid journey period. He also questioned whether the minister would resign over the fatalities.

Milon referred to a bus accident at Daulatdia ferry terminal and criticized the government’s compensation of Tk 25,000 for the deceased and Tk 15,000 for the injured. He argued that in other parliamentary systems, such as Britain’s, a minister would have resigned after such incidents. His remarks followed the minister’s earlier press conference where Sheikh Robiul Alam claimed that Eid travel had been more comfortable than in previous years.

Earlier in the same session, Jamaat MP Shahjahan Chowdhury raised concerns about limited question time in parliament, while BNP MP Zainul Abdin Faruk responded to maintain unity among ministers.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani Rouf will not leave Beirut and will continue his duties there. The statement came after the Lebanese government ordered the ambassador to leave the country last week following his designation as persona non grata.

Baghaei said at a weekly press conference that Iran’s embassy in Beirut remains open and that, based on discussions with relevant parties, the ambassador will continue his work from his residence. Multiple Lebanese sources told BBC Persian that the ambassador will not depart, and law enforcement cannot forcibly remove him because the embassy is considered Iranian territory under diplomatic norms.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry had accused Sheibani of making comments interfering in the country’s internal politics, marking an unprecedented move in the history of Tehran–Beirut relations.

Opposition lawmakers in Bangladesh’s National Parliament strongly protested during a speech by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam on Monday, after she claimed that there was no ongoing energy crisis in the country. The protest erupted while she was responding to a supplementary question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem, who had raised concerns about energy shortages and the deaths of several people allegedly linked to disputes over fuel sales.

Speaker intervention was required to restore order, allowing the minister to complete her remarks. Shama Obaid stated that the government was working to ensure energy supply from multiple sources under the prime minister’s guidance and that Bangladesh was actively engaging with various ministries to secure stable energy imports beyond the Middle East.

She added that the government’s top priority amid the Middle East conflict was the safety of Bangladeshi citizens living there. According to her, five Bangladeshis had died in the region, and two bodies had been repatriated. She also noted that 186 citizens were brought back safely from Tehran with IOM assistance.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed wished a bright future for Comilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah during the fourth meeting of the first session of the 13th National Parliament on Monday, March 30, 2026. The exchange took place when Hasnat Abdullah addressed the minister in Parliament.

During the session, Hasnat Abdullah raised a supplementary question to the Home Minister but initially did not use the customary honorific term as per parliamentary rules. He later acknowledged the oversight and corrected himself. Abdullah also mentioned his age and noted that the Home Minister had entered Parliament in 1991, expressing willingness to correct conventional mistakes.

The first session of the 13th National Parliament began on March 12, 2026, and the interaction between the two lawmakers reflected a cordial tone within parliamentary proceedings.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to visit China tomorrow as part of efforts to facilitate direct talks between the United States and Iran. During his trip to Beijing, he is expected to meet with China’s foreign minister to discuss bilateral relations and various regional issues.

The visit comes as Islamabad intensifies diplomatic initiatives to bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiation table. Over the past week, Ishaq Dar has coordinated with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt in a four-party diplomatic effort aimed at organizing direct dialogue between US and Iranian representatives in Pakistan.

China has already expressed support for Pakistan’s initiative. Following recent discussions, Ishaq Dar confirmed that Beijing is offering full backing to Islamabad’s attempt to host potential US-Iran talks.