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.

A student of Dhaka University has begun an indefinite hunger strike demanding the implementation of the July Charter and the national referendum verdict. The protest started on Wednesday afternoon at the base of the Raju Sculpture near the TSC area. The striker, Md. Sadiq Munwar Munem, a student of International Relations and an executive member of the Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall Students’ Union, accused the government of undermining promises of reform and equality made for a new Bangladesh. Munem’s demands include placing the referendum issues before parliament, converting key ordinances such as those on enforced disappearance prevention into bills, and announcing a clear roadmap for implementing the remaining points of the July Charter. Later in the evening, leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and students from various departments expressed solidarity. DUCSU Social Service Secretary A.B. Zubair criticized the government for ignoring the referendum’s outcome despite broad public support. Zubair warned that continued delay in implementing the referendum verdict could escalate the movement, potentially involving thousands of participants. Students present said they seek no further loss of life but are ready for stronger action if necessary.

Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central literature secretary, Saidul Islam, has called on the government to implement the full July Charter without delay, warning that ignoring the people’s referendum would provoke renewed mass protests. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon in Dhaka while addressing a rally following a protest march organized by the organization’s Dhaka Metropolitan East branch. The demonstration was held to protest what the group described as government procrastination in implementing the people’s verdict expressed through a referendum. The march began from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and concluded with a rally in front of the National Press Club. The event was presided over by Asif Abdullah, a central executive member and Daksu transport secretary, and conducted by metropolitan secretary Imdadul Haque Miazi. Central publication secretary Amirul Islam attended as a special guest. Speakers criticized the ruling party for allegedly rejecting reform proposals and accused it of betraying public trust. Participants warned that failure to implement the July Charter in line with the 70% referendum mandate would lead to a nationwide movement involving students, families of martyrs, and the general public.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that reports have emerged of ceasefire violations in a few conflict zones, describing them as actions that undermine the spirit of the ongoing peace process. He made the remarks in a statement posted on X, emphasizing the importance of restraint and adherence to the agreed ceasefire. Sharif urged all parties involved to observe a two-week period of restraint and to fully comply with the ceasefire terms so that diplomacy can lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflicts. Pakistan is currently acting as a mediator in discussions between Iran and the United States, according to the report. The statement reflects Pakistan’s concern over maintaining the integrity of the peace process and ensuring that recent violations do not derail diplomatic efforts toward stability in the affected regions.

The Election Commission has announced that voting for the reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament will take place on May 12. Based on the results of the 13th parliamentary election, the BNP-led alliance is set to receive 36 of these seats. Speculation has been ongoing about who will be nominated from the alliance for these positions. Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam stated that priority will be given to dedicated and experienced female leaders who have proven themselves through political struggle. He emphasized that those with long-standing contributions to politics and the ability to contribute effectively in parliament will be favored. He also expressed confidence that the parliamentary leader’s decision will ensure representation from all sections. According to the announced schedule, nomination papers must be submitted by April 21, with scrutiny on April 22 and 23. Appeals regarding rejected nominations will be heard on April 26–28, withdrawal is set for April 29, and symbols will be allocated on April 30.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir regarding what he described as Israel’s violations of a ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon. The discussion was disclosed by Araghchi through the messaging platform Telegram. According to Araghchi’s post, he expressed gratitude to Pakistan for what he called the country’s effective efforts to promote peace, security, and an end to hostilities in the region. The exchange comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding ceasefire arrangements and regional stability. The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide further details on the content of the conversation or any subsequent diplomatic steps following the call.