Ahead of peace talks scheduled for Friday in Islamabad, U.S. President Donald Trump clarified his stance on Iran’s nuclear program. He stated that Iran would no longer be allowed to enrich uranium, but sanctions on the country would be lifted if a deal is reached. Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday. In his message, Trump said the United States would work closely with Iran and claimed that a “highly productive regime change” had already taken place there. He added that the two countries would cooperate to remove all buried nuclear waste or materials. Trump also mentioned that Iran would be freed from tariffs and sanctions and asserted that many of the 15 points proposed by the United States to end the war had already reached consensus. The statement comes as preparations continue for the upcoming Islamabad peace discussions, where Iran’s nuclear activities are expected to be a key topic.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called on the European Union to suspend its cooperation agreement with Israel following a deadly attack in Lebanon that killed 254 people on the same day a ceasefire was declared. Sánchez accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of showing contempt for human life and international law, describing the assault as Israel’s harshest strike against Lebanon. He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, citing more than 200 deaths and over a thousand injuries. Sánchez urged the international community to condemn Israel for violating international law and insisted that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. He emphasized that no impunity should be granted for what he described as a criminal act. The EU-Israel Association Agreement, signed in 2000, serves as the legal foundation for trade, political dialogue, and economic cooperation between the two sides. The Spanish leader’s appeal adds pressure on the EU to reconsider its ties with Israel amid growing concerns over civilian casualties and adherence to international law.

The Justice and Democracy Party (JDP) has labeled both the ruling BNP and opposition Jamaat-e-Islami as fundamentally opposed to reforms, claiming that unnecessary political debates are being created to divert attention from the country’s ongoing crises. Speaking at an emergency press conference at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen on Wednesday, JDP convener Naeem Ahmad said that only through public resistance can the desired reforms be achieved and urged citizens to support parties clearly in favor of reform. Ahmad described the anti-reform tendencies of both the government and opposition as unfortunate for the nation. He alleged that debates in parliament are being used to distract the public from issues such as the energy crisis and potential agricultural disruption, while actions like hawker evictions are being taken to divert public focus. The JDP also expressed concern over irregularities in energy supply, possible collusion among ruling party members, and the closure of four out of five state fertilizer factories. The party announced a human chain protest on April 10 in front of the National Museum, demanding uninterrupted diesel and fertilizer supply to farmers at fair prices.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar announced that comprehensive security measures have been reinforced for the upcoming Pahela Baishakh celebrations. Speaking at a coordination meeting on April 8, 2026, at the DMP headquarters, he said that all security and intelligence agencies are working together to ensure a seamless safety plan across Dhaka during the Bengali New Year 1433 festivities. The meeting focused on security and traffic management for various cultural events expected to draw large crowds across the city. Representatives from multiple agencies, including intelligence units, specialized police divisions, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, city corporations, Fire Service, WASA, and several cultural organizations such as Chhayanaut and Charukala Institute, attended the session. A detailed security plan was presented by DMP Joint Commissioner (Operations) Mohammad Shahidullah. Officials emphasized that the goal is to ensure public safety, smooth movement, and minimal inconvenience for citizens during the celebrations, reflecting public trust in law enforcement.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture, Mohammad Aminur Rashid, has called for greater scientific involvement in research to enhance jatka (juvenile hilsa) production. Speaking on Wednesday at a workshop titled “Hilsa Research: Achievements, Jatka Conservation and Future Actions” held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium, he emphasized the need for planned research to maximize jatka production and ensure proper hatching of hilsa eggs. He urged scientists to develop methods that increase production without compromising the fish’s natural taste and quality. Addressing fishermen, the minister encouraged them to propose effective measures to stop jatka catching, noting that hilsa scarcity affects the entire country. State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku highlighted that Bangladesh produces 70–80 percent of the world’s hilsa and stressed the importance of protecting this national resource. He also mentioned that 40,000 fishing families have recently begun receiving food assistance, including rice, flour, oil, sugar, lentils, and potatoes, worth about six thousand taka per family. Senior officials from the Fisheries Research Institute, Department of Fisheries, and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University also attended the event, underscoring the government’s coordinated efforts to sustain hilsa production.

Sri Lanka has strengthened its tourism partnership with Bangladesh by successfully organizing a ‘B2B Roadshow and Networking Event’ in Dhaka. The event, held on Monday at a city hotel, was arranged by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to enhance business ties between tourism stakeholders of both countries. The initiative aims to expand cooperation in tourism promotion and create new opportunities for sustainable tourism and cultural exchange. Bangladesh Tourism Board CEO Nuzhat Yasmin said the partnership would open new horizons for sustainable tourism and cultural exchange. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody, highlighted the island’s natural beauty and hospitality as key attractions for Bangladeshi travelers. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Buddika Hewawasam described Sri Lanka as a safe and diverse destination and mentioned ongoing work on special travel packages and joint campaigns with local operators. Representatives from the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh and BOATA expressed strong interest in expanding outbound tourism to Sri Lanka. The event concluded with a networking dinner, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to positioning itself as an affordable and leading destination for Bangladeshi tourists.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has accused the United States of violating the terms of a ceasefire agreement following Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that killed at least 254 people on Wednesday. The allegation was reported by Al Jazeera and shared by Baghaei through a social media post. In his post, Baghaei shared a video of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that Lebanon was not included in the two-week ceasefire agreement. Baghaei questioned whether this statement represented an early-stage breach of the agreement by the United States. A day earlier, he had also shared a post from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which claimed that both Iran and the United States had agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon. The exchange highlights growing diplomatic tension surrounding the scope and interpretation of the ceasefire, particularly regarding Lebanon’s inclusion in the agreement.

A human chain in Khulna on April 8, 2026, criticized the government for not turning 16 key ordinances, including the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Ordinance, issued during the interim government, into law. The event was organized by the Khulna unit of the human rights organization Odhikar and began at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Khulna Press Club, ending with a rally and assembly at Picture Palace intersection. Speakers said the government had pledged to present all interim ordinances, including those on enforced disappearance prevention and the Human Rights Commission, in parliament for enactment but failed to do so. They alleged that this inaction protects perpetrators of disappearances, killings, and torture, and betrays victims and their families. The speakers demanded immediate passage of the ordinances into law and accountability for those responsible, warning that failure to act could lead to the resurgence of authoritarian forces. The event was chaired by journalist Muhammad Nuruzzaman, with several local human rights activists, journalists, and victims of enforced disappearance participating.

Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) registration has officially begun on both ends of the Padma Bridge to ensure faster and more modern toll collection. Between April 3 and Wednesday, a total of 546 vehicles completed registration under the program. According to the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, field-level registration started at a transport depot in Faridpur using a portable RFID scanner, while a designated booth at the Mawa end remains open daily for registration. Additional registration points will gradually open at Madaripur Terminal, Dhaka’s Rajarbagh, Saidabad, and Jatrabari. The ETC system allows toll payments through digital wallets such as Tap, bKash, Nagad, and Upay. Vehicles using ETC can cross the Padma Bridge toll plaza without stopping, reducing congestion and saving time and fuel. Each transaction automatically deducts tolls and sends an SMS confirmation to the registered mobile number. Bridge Division Secretary and Executive Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf stated that the ETC system will enable faster vehicle movement across the bridge, contributing to greater national economic efficiency.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan announced that individuals who have taken money abroad can bring it back to Bangladesh without any penalty if they pay regular taxes. He made the statement on Wednesday during a pre-budget discussion with business and entrepreneur associations at the NBR headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. The chairman clarified that taxpayers who did not declare foreign-held funds in their returns may submit a revised return within 180 days and pay applicable taxes to regularize the money. During the meeting, the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) requested reinstatement of a provision allowing investment of undisclosed income, but the NBR chief rejected the idea of tax amnesty, stating that the authority aims to end the culture of tax evasion and low-rate amnesties. He also discussed simplifying money transfers through legal channels and proposed reforms to property registration taxes to ensure transparency and compliance. Khan emphasized that increasing revenue is essential for stabilizing the economy and funding government welfare and development programs, as Bangladesh’s revenue-to-GDP ratio remains low.

After three hours of intense tension, chasing, and a halt in medical services, the situation at Dhaka Medical College Hospital began returning to normal late Wednesday night. Emergency services resumed around 9:30 p.m. following assurances of a proper investigation and justice from the authorities. The hospital’s main gate reopened to the public around 10:15 p.m. To control the situation, Dhaka University and Dhaka Medical authorities held an emergency meeting. A six-member high-level investigation committee, led by Dr. Nadim Ahmed of the surgery department, was formed to identify those responsible. The committee was instructed to submit a full report by Saturday. Both institutions pledged to take strict administrative and legal action after reviewing CCTV footage. The clash reportedly began around 5:30 p.m. over a minor issue involving a Dhaka University student seeking treatment. The incident escalated into a physical altercation, injuring at least four people. Intern doctors stopped work in protest, paralyzing emergency services. Although they resumed duties after the investigation assurance, they warned of a complete shutdown if visible action is not taken within 24 hours.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement with the United States and that Israel’s ongoing war against Hezbollah there must stop. He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, citing Al Jazeera as the source of the report. Araghchi claimed that the inclusion of Lebanon was already part of prior understandings, contradicting Israel’s recent statements. He said the world is witnessing genocide in Lebanon and that it is now up to the United States to honor its commitments. He also suggested that easing regional tensions requires addressing the situation in both Gaza and Lebanon as part of any ceasefire talks. According to the report, on the first day of the US-Iran ceasefire, Israeli attacks in Lebanon killed 254 people and injured 1,165, even though Hezbollah had halted its strikes on Israel in observance of the truce.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. She made the clarification during a briefing on Wednesday, noting that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussed the ceasefire the previous night. According to Leavitt, Netanyahu supported the initiative and remains an important partner in the discussions. When asked whether Lebanon might be included in the agreement in the future, Leavitt said discussions on the matter are ongoing. On the same day, Netanyahu emphasized that Hezbollah is not part of the ceasefire with Iran and that Israel will continue its operations against the group. The report added that on the first day of the US-Iran ceasefire, Israeli attacks in Lebanon killed 254 people and injured 1,165, even though Hezbollah had halted its attacks on Israel in respect of the truce.

A platform named 'Movement for Implementation of Referendum Verdict' organized a torch procession in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area on Wednesday evening, April 8, demanding the swift execution of the recent referendum verdict. The procession began at the Science Laboratory Gate and ended at Shahbagh’s Shaheed Osman Hadi Square. Participants called for the formation of a constitutional reform council, enforcement of the ordinance against enforced disappearances, protection of human rights, and implementation of key anti-corruption measures. In a brief speech after the march, Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) Social Service Secretary A.B. Zubair stated that ignoring the referendum verdict would mean denying the people’s sovereign power. He alleged that attempts were being made to weaken or nullify important ordinances, including those related to human rights and judicial independence. Zubair emphasized that nearly 70 percent of voters supported the referendum, calling it a decisive mandate. He warned that continued delay in implementing the verdict would intensify the movement. The event concluded with a short rally at Shahbagh, attended by students from various institutions and members of the public.

At a roundtable discussion held at the National Press Club in Dhaka, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan questioned the Prime Minister, suggesting sarcastically that if criticism or satire against her is not allowed, a law should be enacted explicitly banning such actions. The event, titled 'Politics of Ordinance Repeal and Referendum Denial: Bangladesh in an Era of Parliamentary Autocracy,' was organized by the NCP Reform Implementation Committee. Bhuiyan alleged that within two months of forming the government, the BNP had shown clear signs of repressive tendencies, citing the show-cause notices issued to 28 judges for private discussions and arrests over Facebook posts critical of the Prime Minister. He argued that the parliament had become ineffective due to the ruling party’s two-thirds majority, forcing the opposition to take to the streets. Other speakers, including Badiul Alam Majumdar, Farida Akhter, and Dilara Chowdhury, criticized the government’s handling of the July Charter and referendum, warning that ignoring the referendum’s outcome and repealing key ordinances could deepen the national crisis and undermine democratic accountability.