Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam announced that the Bangladesh Parliament has set a record by passing 117 bills within five days. He made the statement while briefing journalists at the National Parliament Building after the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected MPs Md. Rezaul Karim Badsha and Md. Mahmudul Haque Rubel. He emphasized that democracy is built on mutual trust between the ruling and opposition parties. The Chief Whip explained that a special committee comprising both ruling and opposition members reviewed 133 ordinances. After detailed scrutiny, 16 ordinances were identified for amendment, while 117 were passed as bills within five days. He described the achievement as unprecedented in the country’s history and credited the Parliament Secretariat and BG Press staff for their tireless work. He also expressed disappointment that opposition members walked out over minor amendments but acknowledged that walkouts are part of democratic practice. He further mentioned that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has allocated an additional 360 billion taka in subsidies to address the energy crisis, stressing that national resources should serve public welfare rather than be siphoned abroad.

A total of 74 women candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have collected nomination papers from the Election Commission (EC) to contest in the reserved women’s seats of the 13th National Parliament. The nomination papers were collected on Sunday from the office of Assistant Returning Officer Monir Hossain at the Election Building in Agargaon. According to the EC’s list, 199 women have collected nomination papers over three days, all of whom are BNP candidates. The BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan has been selling nomination forms for three days, with the final day of collection and submission being today. Party sources said that 1,025 nomination forms were sold over the first two days, each priced at 2,000 taka, with a 50,000 taka security deposit required upon submission. The EC announced the election schedule on Wednesday, setting April 21 as the last date for submission of nomination papers. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 22 and 23, appeals may be filed on April 26, and the final withdrawal date is April 29. Symbols will be allocated on April 30, and voting is scheduled for May 12.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj announced that Bangladesh’s new education vision will emphasize skill enhancement and career development. He said this during a seminar titled “The Role of Teachers and the State in Improving Education Quality,” held at the Tarabo Municipal Auditorium in Rupganj, Narayanganj, on Sunday afternoon. Hajjaj noted that although several commissions and policies had been formed in the past, the education system lacked a clear vision until now. He stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has set the new direction for the sector. The minister explained that the government is working to make the education system more practical and modern, focusing not only on certificates but also on developing students’ skills, innovative thinking, and employability. He called for collective efforts to promote skill-based education and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving educational quality. Member of Parliament for Narayanganj-1, Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu, added that sustainable education requires coordinated efforts among teachers, students, parents, and administrators, along with digital expansion, teacher training, and institutional accountability.

An eleven-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami held a protest rally and procession in Feni on Sunday, demanding the immediate implementation of the referendum verdict. The demonstration, part of a central program, began in front of Jahiriya Mosque and concluded with a brief assembly at the Shaheed Minar square. Leaders warned that if their demands were not met, the alliance would announce tougher programs. The rally was presided over by Mufti Abdul Hannan, Ameer of Feni district Jamaat, and conducted by Assistant Secretary Advocate Jamal Uddin. Several alliance leaders, including Professor Abu Yusuf, ANM Abdur Rahim, Engineer Nazrul Islam, Maulana Amir Hossain, Maulana Muzafor Ahmad Jafri, Fazlul Haque, Soikat Islam Zahid, and Shah Wali Ullah Manik, addressed the gathering. Speakers accused the government of delaying the implementation of the “July Charter” despite many becoming ministers and MPs after the July uprising. They further warned that any betrayal of the sacrifices made during the July movement would not be tolerated and that the alliance would respond strongly if the referendum verdict was not enforced.

Imdadul Haque Molla, founder director of Ontimex Communication Ltd and former president of the Internet Service Provider Association, testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 that the nationwide internet shutdown on July 18, 2024, occurred due to a government decision. He said that after a fire broke out at the Mohakhali Disaster Management Building that afternoon, internet services began to fail in some areas and were completely cut off across the country by around 9 p.m. Molla explained that internet providers operate at the final distribution level, while bandwidth is supplied through International Internet Gateways (IIGs), the state-owned Submarine Cable Company, and International Terrestrial Companies (ITCs). When contacted, IIGs informed them that bandwidth supply from ITCs had been stopped, leading them to conclude that the shutdown was government-directed. He added that on July 23, 2024, then-ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak visited the site and said the outage was due to a data center fire, which Molla described as a political statement since the fire had not affected the data center itself. The tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, set April 16 for the next hearing.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has instructed party leaders and activists to cooperate with security forces to maintain law and order across the country. He gave the directive on Sunday at the National Parliament Secretariat following the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament from Bogura-6 (Sadar) and Sherpur-3 constituencies, according to his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman. The Prime Minister emphasized that party members should work with the administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure peace in their respective areas. He urged them to report any activities that could disrupt local harmony and warned against taking the law into their own hands. He further stressed that development and peace in every area must be preserved at any cost. The directive comes as part of the government’s broader effort to ensure stability and development at the local level, reinforcing the importance of coordination between political activists and law enforcement authorities.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi has called for an extension of the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran. In a post on social media platform X, he urged all parties to pursue compromise to avoid further conflict, according to Al Jazeera. Al-Busaidi said that achieving success may require difficult concessions, but those would be far less painful than the suffering caused by war and failure. He noted that before the recent escalation, he had discussed the situation with Vice President Vance, and both he and former President Trump had expressed a sincere and firm desire to prevent conflict. Oman had previously played a key mediating role between Washington and Tehran, but talks collapsed after US-Israeli strikes in late February. Amid heightened tensions, new diplomatic efforts are underway to maintain and extend the ceasefire, with Oman once again advocating for restraint and dialogue.

US President Donald Trump issued a sharp military warning against Iran, saying the United States could destroy the country within a single day. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that US forces could target Iran’s energy infrastructure, including power plants. He also defended his proposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that Iran cannot decide which ships are allowed to pass. Trump added that all ships would have safe passage, or none would. He compared the planned blockade to the US sanctions on Venezuela but said it would be on a much larger scale, suggesting it could increase oil shipments to the United States. The comments followed the failure of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, where disputes centered on Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s remarks have further heightened tensions in the Middle East, raising fears of potential military confrontation despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Bangladesh Bank has issued a strict directive requiring all bank branches to accept torn, damaged, and dirty currency notes from the public and provide usable replacements. The circular, released on Sunday, warns that any bank showing reluctance to serve customers in this regard will face legal action under the Bank Company Act, 1991. The directive takes immediate effect. According to the central bank, despite previous instructions to ensure smooth cash transactions, a large number of defective notes remain in circulation. To address this, banks must set up special counters to regularly collect damaged notes of all denominations, particularly smaller ones such as 5, 10, 20, and 50 taka, and replace them with usable notes. The move aims to maintain the quality of currency in circulation and ensure uninterrupted public access to clean and usable banknotes across the country.

Brazilian football star Neymar returned to action for Santos, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 home win over Atlético Mineiro at Vila Belmiro. The match marked his first full appearance since recovering from a knee injury, as he continues his push to regain form and fitness ahead of the World Cup. Despite not scoring, Neymar was active in attack and contributed to the team’s performance. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti signaled optimism about Neymar’s progress, saying the forward is on the right path and could improve further in the next two months. Neymar has around 11 matches to prove himself before Brazil’s World Cup squad is announced. His chances of making the tournament have reportedly risen from 37 percent to over 57 percent on prediction platform Polymarket. Santos’ victory lifted them to 14th place in the league table with 13 points from 11 matches, while Atlético Mineiro remain eighth with 14 points. The club now faces a busy schedule with upcoming fixtures in both the Copa Sudamericana and the domestic league.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness for Russia to act as a mediator in resolving ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. According to a report published on April 12 by Roya News, Putin informed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian of Moscow’s willingness to assist in political and diplomatic solutions to regional tensions. A Kremlin statement reaffirmed Russia’s preparedness to help reduce tensions and promote dialogue among the involved parties, emphasizing support for broader international efforts toward a fair and lasting peace in the region. The initiative comes after the failure of recent Iran–United States discussions held in Pakistan. Following the talks, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated that no agreement was reached and that Tehran had rejected Washington’s proposal. In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said both sides had reached understandings on several issues but still differed on two to three key points. Roya News noted that Putin’s phone call with Pezeshkian reflects Russia’s active engagement in Middle Eastern crises and its effort to position itself as a key mediator.

After nearly 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, peace talks between the United States and Iran ended without any progress. Both delegations left the venue after failing to reach consensus on several critical issues, according to the Arabic-language outlet Al Jarida. The report identified six main reasons for the breakdown: disagreement over a permanent ceasefire in Lebanon involving Hezbollah, disputes about the release of Iran’s frozen assets, and U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment and remove enriched uranium under international supervision. Additional points of contention included restrictions on Iran’s missile and drone programs, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and Washington’s refusal to pay compensation for damages from a February 28 U.S.-Israeli military strike. These fundamental differences prevented any advancement in the peace process, leaving future dialogue between the two nations uncertain.

Chief Whip of the National Parliament Md. Nurul Islam stated that democracy is a matter of mutual trust between the government and the opposition. He made the remarks on Sunday at the National Parliament complex while briefing journalists after the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected MPs Md. Rezaul Karim Badsha and Md. Mahmudul Haque Rubel. During the event, the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urged members to seek administrative help or inform him if problems arise, emphasizing that no one should take the law into their own hands. Addressing the energy crisis, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister allocated an additional subsidy of 360 billion taka to resolve the issue, stressing that national resources should serve public welfare rather than be siphoned abroad. He also mentioned that a special parliamentary committee reviewed 133 ordinances, recommending amendments to 16 and passing 117 within five days, marking a record in Bangladesh’s legislative history. The Chief Whip expressed disappointment over the opposition’s walkout over minor amendments but acknowledged it as part of democratic practice. He also discussed plans to enrich the July Museum by integrating historical movements from 1971 to 2024.

A Dhaka court has sentenced one person to death and seven others to life imprisonment for the murder of Sheikh Kalam and Zahid Khan in Nawabganj, committed seven years ago during a robbery attempt. The verdict was delivered on Sunday afternoon by Acting Additional District and Sessions Judge-8 Muhammad Munir Hossain. Bench Assistant Md. Sajib confirmed the information. The death sentence was handed to Sheikh Nasir, 48, who was also fined 20,000 taka. The seven others received life imprisonment and fines of 50,000 taka each, with two of them remaining absconding during the verdict. According to the case details, the victims were attacked while traveling by motorcycle on a rural road in Nawabganj. The assailants blocked the road with a banana tree to stop them and then attacked with sharp weapons and sticks, leaving both men fatally injured. Locals and police arrived after hearing their cries, but the attackers fled. The victims were taken to Nawabganj Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared them dead. Police investigation led to a charge sheet filed in January 2021, and the court later began trial proceedings, hearing testimony from 18 of 37 witnesses.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir held separate meetings with German Ambassador Dr. Rüdiger Lotz and Swedish Ambassador Niclas Wik at his office in the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and the two European nations. During the meeting with the German envoy, the minister emphasized Europe’s importance as a key export destination for Bangladesh and called for German investment in the light engineering, textile, and leather sectors. He noted that the government is working to remove non-tariff barriers and create an investment-friendly environment. Dr. Lotz expressed Germany’s interest in deepening trade relations, improving skill development, and ensuring a level playing field for businesses. In the subsequent meeting with the Swedish ambassador, both sides discussed enhancing trade and investment ties. The minister said steps have been taken to remove non-tariff barriers with Sweden, while Ambassador Wik expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh’s telecom sector, citing Sweden’s global leadership in that field.