A large-scale conflict erupted after the United States and Israel launched major attacks on Iran on February 28, killing the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated, sparking a regional war that has left thousands dead across the Middle East, with most casualties reported in Iran and Lebanon. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 3,636 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, including more than 150 in attacks on girls’ schools. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported at least 1,900 deaths in Iran. Lebanese authorities said 1,530 people, including 129 children, were killed by Israeli strikes since March 2. Three Indonesian UN peacekeepers died in southern Lebanon, while Iraq reported 117 deaths. Israel’s ambulance service confirmed 23 deaths from Iranian and Lebanese missile attacks, and its military reported 11 soldiers killed. The US Central Command said 13 American soldiers were killed and over 300 wounded. Casualties were also reported in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and northern Iraq, underscoring the widespread regional impact of the conflict.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced that the ongoing session of the Bangladesh National Parliament will continue on Friday. He made the statement on Wednesday, April 8, during a break in the current parliamentary session. According to him, 44 ordinances have already been passed as bills, and the parliament aims to resolve all 133 ordinances by Friday. Considering the workload, the decision was made to hold the session on Friday as well. The Chief Whip expressed dissatisfaction over the malfunctioning and mismanagement of the parliament building’s sound system, alleging that the contractors who received the tender had outsourced the work to others. To meet the constitutional requirement of converting 133 ordinances into law, the parliament has been holding two sessions per day since Tuesday, April 7. The continuation of the session on Friday underscores the parliament’s effort to complete legislative obligations within the stipulated timeframe.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed strong protest and condemnation over the dissolution of the elected committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the formation of an ad-hoc committee allegedly composed of party loyalists. In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, the party’s central youth and sports affairs chief and assistant secretary general, voiced deep concern over the move. Zubair stated that dissolving the elected BCB committee and forming an ad-hoc body with partisan members is a blatant interference in the internal affairs of a sports organization. He described the action as contrary to democratic practices, values, and the rule of law, emphasizing that such steps are unacceptable in a parliamentary democracy. He further warned that this decision not only undermines good governance in the sports sector but also damages Bangladesh’s image internationally. Zubair called for the immediate cancellation of the ad-hoc committee, respect for the elected body, and the establishment of transparency and accountability in sports administration.

A CNG-run autorickshaw driver named Md. Mamun Farazi, aged 33, was killed after being hit by a speeding passenger bus in Dhaka’s Farmgate area on Wednesday afternoon. The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. in front of the Daily Star building. Witnesses said a Labbaik Paribahan bus struck the autorickshaw with force, causing the driver to be thrown onto the road. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at 1:09 p.m. Local residents reportedly detained the bus immediately after the incident. Police confirmed that the body was kept in the hospital morgue and that Tejgaon Police Station had been informed. The victim’s identity was confirmed through his driving license, which showed he was from Hirajhil area of Siddhirganj in Narayanganj and the son of Md. Sikandar Farazi. Authorities have not yet provided further details about the detained bus driver or any ongoing investigation into the fatal collision.

According to data from shipping software company AXS Marine released last night, a total of 1,441 ships were waiting on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 959 vessels were positioned on the western side inside the Gulf, while 621 ships were waiting on the eastern side to either load gas, fuel oil, chemicals, or dry cargo, or to deliver goods to Gulf countries. AXS Marine reported that since the war began on February 28, no LNG carriers have crossed the strait. Many ships had turned off communication systems to conceal their positions and avoid potential attacks. Between March 23 and April 6, only 51 tankers passed through the strait, including 15 carrying crude oil and nine transporting chemicals. Before the conflict, an average of 51 ships crossed the strait daily, indicating a sharp decline in traffic. Before the ceasefire announced last night, Iran allowed ships owned by China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan to pass. Following diplomatic discussions, Malaysia and Thailand were also granted permission, and on April 2, Philippine-flagged vessels received clearance.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that 10,568 technical and madrasa educational institutions across Bangladesh will receive free Wi-Fi within the next six months. He made the statement on April 8 during the first parliamentary session’s question-and-answer segment, responding to a query from MP Md. Selim Reza of Sirajganj-1. The initiative aims to modernize technical and madrasa education nationwide. Rahman said the government plans to establish technical schools and colleges in every upazila and polytechnic institutes in every district. Alongside free Wi-Fi, smart classrooms, teacher training, and inclusion of technical courses will be introduced to make madrasa education more modern and relevant. The Prime Minister also mentioned plans to expand school feeding programs and install multimedia classrooms in all primary and secondary institutions. To reduce digital inequality, the government will provide free Wi-Fi to 1,500 additional institutions and introduce unique digital IDs for students and teachers. The Bangladesh Computer Council will also launch training programs in fields such as agriculture intelligence, cybersecurity, mobile app development, Python programming, and digital marketing within six months.

Voting for the postponed 13th parliamentary election in Sherpur-3 constituency, covering Sreebardi and Jhenaigati upazilas, will take place tomorrow, Thursday. Authorities have completed all preparations, including the distribution of ballot papers, ballot boxes, and other necessary materials to every polling center. The constituency has 128 polling centers with 751 booths, where 413,377 registered voters are expected to cast their votes. According to Sherpur’s Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, 32 mobile teams and striking forces will be deployed to ensure security. Each polling center will have five law enforcement officers, while key centers will have six. The election was previously postponed following the death of Jamaat candidate Nuruzzaman Badol on February 12. As per the revised schedule, voting will now be held on April 9. The contesting candidates are Masudur Rahman Masud from Jamaat-e-Islami and Mahmudul Haque Rubel from the BNP.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of former cultural affairs minister and actor Asaduzzaman Noor’s income tax records in connection with a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was issued on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz. Court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed the directive. According to the ACC’s petition, Noor is accused of abusing his power for personal gain and unlawfully possessing assets worth 53.71 million taka beyond known income sources. The petition also alleges suspicious transactions totaling 1.58 billion taka across 19 bank and financial institution accounts. The ACC filed the case under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act and the Money Laundering Prevention Act, appointing an investigating officer to lead the inquiry. The court stated that seizing Noor’s complete tax records, including permanent and miscellaneous sections, is necessary for a fair investigation. The documents will be reviewed as part of the ongoing probe.

A retail shop in Crystal Lake, Illinois, known as the 'Trump Truth Store + Hangout,' has temporarily closed due to a sharp decline in customer traffic. Owner Lisa Fleischman announced the closure on Facebook, citing the ongoing Iran war as the main reason for the drop in sales. She said that since President Donald Trump launched 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran on February 28, sales of political T-shirts, hats, and memorabilia have plummeted. Fleischman told The Chicago Tribune that public interest in items such as red caps, flags, and shirts bearing slogans like 'God, Guns, and Trump' has fallen dramatically. She noted that customers appear uncertain and hesitant to wear such merchandise amid the current conflict. In recent days, she had hinted at the closure, mentioning health issues and considering shifting the business online. Fleischman added that she could no longer cover even half of her rent and was unsure how long she could sustain the business. The store will remain closed until further notice.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Traffic Division conducted a daylong operation on Tuesday in the Gulshan-2, Kakoli, Banani, Chairman Bari, and Amtoli Road areas of the capital. During the drive, 11 traders were fined a total of Tk 78,000 for occupying sidewalks and roads. No arrests were made during the operation, but legal action was taken against those who violated regulations. According to the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division, the operation was part of an ongoing effort to ensure smooth pedestrian movement and maintain order on city streets. The department stated that eviction drives will continue to uphold traffic discipline and public convenience. The DMP emphasized that such enforcement actions are aimed at keeping public spaces free from illegal encroachments and ensuring safer, more organized urban mobility.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited delegations from the United States and Iran to Islamabad for peace discussions scheduled for Friday. The meeting aims to promote dialogue between the two nations amid ongoing regional tensions. According to Iranian news agency ISNA, the US delegation may be led by Vice President JD Vance, while Iran’s delegation is expected to be headed by Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf. The talks will take place in Pakistan’s capital, reflecting Islamabad’s effort to facilitate communication between Washington and Tehran. The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not specify the agenda or expected outcomes of the meeting, but the involvement of high-level representatives suggests a significant diplomatic engagement.

In Bangladesh’s parliament, Brahmanbaria-2 MP Rumin Farhana voiced concern over child deaths from measles and a severe vaccine shortage. During a special discussion chaired by Speaker Hafiz Ahmed, she criticized mismanagement in the health sector. Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain acknowledged the vaccine shortfall but said the government had stabilized the situation. Rumin alleged that routine immunization suffered major gaps after the COVID-19 period, worsened by unpaid wages of vaccine transport workers for nine months and staff shortages. She cited data showing 98 suspected and 16 confirmed child deaths from measles between March 15 and April 4, and claimed vaccine reserves for 10 diseases were nearly depleted. The minister confirmed the wage arrears and said payments had begun. He added that unused ADB funds of 604 crore taka were being used through UNICEF to procure vaccines, with 419 crore finalized and 200 crore worth already delivered. Emergency vaccination began on April 5 in 18 high-risk districts, with nationwide campaigns set for May 20 and city programs from April 12. The minister said WHO and UNICEF reported 41 measles deaths and assured that vaccine stocks were now stable.

The Narayanganj Metropolitan Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam’s General Secretary, Maulana Ferdousur Rahman, has been issued a show-cause notice for alleged activities violating party discipline. The notice, signed by district president Mufti Monir Hossain Kasemi, was released on Wednesday afternoon. Rahman has been instructed to respond within seven days. According to the letter, Rahman organized a council meeting for April 9 without approval from the district or metropolitan Majlis-e-Amela and without informing the district president. The letter accuses him of acting with personal motives, creating internal conflict, and misleading central leaders with false information. These actions were described as contrary to party discipline and potentially disruptive to organizational order. The notice also directed the suspension of the announced council and required Rahman to submit a written explanation to the district president, district and metropolitan Majlis-e-Amela, and the central committee by April 16.

A lawyer has filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, former legal adviser to the interim government, alleging corruption and illegal accumulation of wealth. The complaint was submitted on Wednesday by a Supreme Court lawyer, and the ACC has accepted it for review. The petition also requested an investigation into the alleged corruption and assets of Nazrul’s then personal secretary, Shamsuddin Masum, who now serves as a district judge. According to the complaint, citing newspaper reports, during Nazrul’s tenure as legal adviser, large-scale bribery occurred in the transfer of sub-registrars within the Ministry of Law, amounting to around one billion taka. It alleged that transfer orders were issued or suspended based on bribe payments, with Masum acting as an intermediary in the transactions. The complaint described the corruption as widespread and requested the ACC to take appropriate legal action after investigation. The ACC’s next steps or timeline for inquiry were not specified in the report.

A Dhaka court has placed former Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) director Afzal Naser on a fresh four-day remand for interrogation in a case filed over the killing of BNP activist Mokbul Hossain. The order was issued on Wednesday afternoon by Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah, following a request from the prosecution. Sub-Inspector Tofazzal Hossain of the Motijheel Detective Branch had sought a seven-day remand, but the court granted four days. According to the report, Naser had already been in remand since Sunday in connection with the same case. Earlier, he was also remanded for six days in another case related to the killing of Delwar Hossain during the July movement. This marks the third time he has been placed on remand. The prosecution argued that further interrogation was necessary to gather more information, while Naser’s lawyer opposed the request, saying there was no substantial evidence against him and that questioning could be done at the jail gate. The case stems from a 2022 incident when BNP announced a one-point movement, and police raids at the party’s Nayapaltan office led to violence that killed Mokbul Hossain. The case was filed in September 2024 against 256 people, including Sheikh Hasina.