An Iranian delegation currently in Pakistan for talks with the United States on ending the ongoing war has been named 'Minab 168'. The name commemorates a deadly attack on a primary school in Minab, where more than 168 students and teachers were killed. Iran says the delegation’s name symbolizes the suffering of civilians and the need to end the conflict.

According to the report, Iran has faced continuous attacks for 40 days targeting civilians and infrastructure. The country accuses the United States and Israel of striking over 800 schools, more than 30 universities, health centers, and other facilities. By naming the delegation 'Minab 168', Iran aims to send a message to the United States and the international community about the human cost of the war.

The report adds that the name also represents a diplomatic opportunity, reflecting Iran’s attempt to resolve the crisis through dialogue.

A report released by the Road Safety Foundation on Saturday revealed that 576 road accidents occurred across Bangladesh in March, resulting in 532 deaths and 2,221 injuries. Among the deceased were 66 women and 98 children. The report also documented 14 waterway accidents causing 12 deaths and 48 railway accidents leading to 67 deaths. The data was compiled from national and regional media sources along with the foundation’s own information.

According to the analysis, most accidents occurred on regional and national highways, with 171 on national highways and 264 on regional roads. Motorcyclists accounted for the highest number of fatalities at 204, followed by passengers of three-wheelers and buses. Dhaka division recorded the highest number of deaths, while Sylhet had the lowest. The report noted that most crashes were caused by excessive speed and loss of vehicle control.

The foundation identified faulty vehicles, poor road conditions, reckless driving, and driver incompetence as major causes. It recommended technological monitoring of speed and motivational training for drivers to reduce accidents.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the outcome of the upcoming discussions in Islamabad will depend entirely on the priorities of the United States. He urged Washington to focus on an 'America First' policy rather than an 'Israel First' approach, according to Al Jazeera.

Aref posted on X that if US representatives concentrate on their 'America First' interests, a mutually beneficial agreement could be achieved. He warned against any implementation of an 'Israel First' agenda, saying such a move would lead to a situation without an agreement and compel Iran to continue its defense efforts more vigorously than before.

Aref further cautioned that such a scenario would impose a greater cost on the world. The Islamabad talks reportedly involve complex issues, including Iran’s assets and a Lebanon ceasefire, with the United Nations Secretary-General having made appeals to both the US and Iran before the discussions.

The United States and Iran are set to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan, to discuss a range of contentious issues including the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has insisted that formal negotiations can only begin once Washington commits to lifting sanctions and supporting a ceasefire in Lebanon, where nearly two thousand people have been killed since fighting began in March.

Iran seeks recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, including the right to collect transit fees and control access, while the US wants the waterway to remain open without restrictions or tolls. Washington has signaled interest in easing sanctions if Iran makes concessions on its nuclear and missile programs. Tehran, however, refuses to compromise on its missile arsenal and demands the withdrawal of US forces from the region.

The talks are expected to be complex, with Iran also seeking compensation for wartime damages and a commitment to non-aggression. The United Nations Secretary-General has urged both sides to engage constructively before the Islamabad meeting.

A shocking incident occurred in Khudiram Sarkarpara of Goaland municipality, Rajbari, where a drug-addicted youth attacked his mother for refusing to give him money. The victim, 40-year-old Shikha Rani Ghosh, was severely injured and is now in critical condition at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The attack took place around 3 a.m. on April 10, when her son, 19-year-old Gobinda Ghosh, struck her repeatedly with a machete while she was asleep, severing her left ear and causing deep wounds to her head and neck.

According to police and family sources, Shikha Rani had been living with her son at her parental home after her husband left her about 20 years ago. Gobinda had become addicted to drugs and frequently quarreled with his mother over money. After the attack, neighbors rescued the injured woman and took her to several hospitals before she was transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Local residents detained Gobinda inside the house and alerted police. Officers from Goaland Ghat Police Station arrested him and seized the blood-stained machete and other evidence. A case has been filed by the victim’s mother, Usha Rani Ghosh, and the accused has been sent to Rajbari court.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran is participating in ongoing discussions with the United States under conditions of deep distrust. He clarified Tehran’s stance during a telephone conversation with German Foreign Minister Johann Wedfull, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency. Araghchi said Washington’s repeated diplomatic betrayals and broken promises have left no room for trust.

He emphasized that Iran remains highly skeptical because of the United States’ history of violating diplomatic norms, but vowed to continue defending the rights and interests of the Iranian people. The upcoming peace talks are scheduled to take place in Islamabad, with mediation from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that Araghchi’s remarks may be intended to increase pressure on the United States ahead of the negotiations, which will be led on the U.S. side by Vice President J.D. Vance. Observers are watching to see how Iran’s message of distrust will affect the peace process.

An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim. The delegation, which arrived early Saturday, included Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the secretary of the Defense Council, the governor of the Central Bank of Iran, and several lawmakers.

The meeting took place as U.S. Vice President JD Vance was also in Islamabad leading an American delegation. Reports indicated that the discussions in Islamabad were complex, with key issues involving Iran’s assets and a ceasefire in Lebanon. Ahead of the talks, Tehran issued a firm message emphasizing its readiness to respond strongly if provoked.

The developments come amid heightened diplomatic activity involving Iran, Pakistan, and the United States, with the United Nations Secretary-General previously calling on both Washington and Tehran to engage in dialogue.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered five anti-personnel landmines and various explosive materials near the Naikhongchhari border in Cox’s Bazar. The operation was conducted on April 9 by a patrol team from the Targupara Border Outpost under the 11 BGB Battalion. The recovered items included five suspected improvised explosive devices, a metal detector, a solar panel, dry food, mobile phones, power banks, and civilian clothing. The discovery was made between border pillars 53 and 54 near the zero line.

BGB’s Ramu Sector confirmed the recovery in a briefing on April 10, led by Lieutenant Colonel Fayezul Kabir. The explosives were secured with sandbags and marked with red flags. For public safety, vehicle movement in the area was temporarily suspended, and additional patrols were deployed. A general diary was filed at Naikhongchhari Police Station, and coordination was initiated to deploy an army bomb disposal team.

In a separate operation the same day, the 34 BGB Battalion recovered flammable chemicals from the Baishfari area. BGB stated that intelligence surveillance and coordinated security measures have been intensified to prevent sabotage and ensure border safety.

For the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the United States and Iran are set to hold high-level diplomatic talks. The historic meeting is taking place this afternoon in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking the first formal face-to-face dialogue between the two nations since the 2015 nuclear agreement. Relations had sharply deteriorated after the U.S. withdrawal from that deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump.

The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President J.D. Vance and including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, arrived in Islamabad on Saturday morning. They were received by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Army Chief General Asim Munir. Pakistan’s foreign ministry expressed hope that both sides would engage constructively and reiterated its willingness to mediate for a lasting resolution.

The meeting follows six weeks of war between Iran and the United States, triggered by a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Analysts view the Islamabad talks as a decisive moment that could determine whether the conflict ends and the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the upcoming peace talks between Iran and the United States, calling on both sides to participate with goodwill. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, conveyed the message during a press briefing at the UN on Friday, emphasizing the importance of using this opportunity to work toward a lasting and comprehensive agreement aimed at easing tensions and preventing renewed conflict.

Dujarric added that the Secretary-General reaffirmed there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of disputes in full compliance with the UN Charter and international law. The UN’s position underscores its continued commitment to diplomatic solutions amid ongoing regional and bilateral strains.

The call comes as both nations prepare for discussions amid complex regional dynamics, including issues related to Iran’s assets and ceasefire efforts in Lebanon, as noted in related reports.

Pakistan has emerged at the center of global diplomacy as it hosts long-anticipated peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad. The discussions, beginning today, follow Pakistan’s successful mediation of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and its adversaries. To commemorate the occasion, Islamabad has been decorated with digital billboards displaying the ‘Islamabad Talks’ logo, and the government has declared a two-day public holiday.

The world’s attention is now on these talks, with hopes that they will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring an end to ongoing conflicts. Abdul Basit, a South Asia expert at Nanyang Technological University, described the development as a major victory for Pakistan, noting that the country helped avert a potential global crisis when others could not.

Analysts caution that failure of the talks could expose Pakistan to severe risks, including renewed conflict with neighboring Iran. For a nation that only two years ago faced near-default and continues to manage tense relations with India, the success of these negotiations is seen as crucial. Pakistani citizens have taken to social media to celebrate what they view as a diplomatic triumph.

Israel has come under intense international criticism following airstrikes in Lebanon during an ongoing ceasefire. On Friday, Israeli attacks in Nabatieh killed at least 13 security personnel, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The strikes targeted areas near a government complex, including a state security office. Earlier in the week, an assault on a residential area in Beirut left more than 300 dead and over a thousand injured.

Countries across Europe, Asia, and South Asia have condemned the attacks. Pakistan, which mediated the ceasefire, sharply criticized Israel, while India and Japan expressed deep concern and urged respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty. Ireland’s foreign minister called the strikes “barbaric” and demanded enforcement of the ceasefire. The Arab League reaffirmed its solidarity with Lebanon and emphasized the need to include the country in the U.S.-Iran truce agreement.

Iran’s parliament speaker linked future talks with the United States to a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s frozen assets, signaling potential complications in upcoming negotiations in Islamabad.

A high-level and sensitive round of talks between Iran and the United States is set to begin in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. Iran’s 71-member delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, includes senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Central Bank Governor Naser Hemmati, and members of the Supreme National Security Council. The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, comprises around 100 members including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper, and White House Policy Planning Director Michael Anton.

At the center of the discussions is a 15-point proposal from the Trump administration, reportedly covering Iran’s nuclear commitments, uranium transfer, defense restrictions, and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has indicated it will negotiate based on its own 10-point plan, while Vance warned that Washington will maintain a firm stance if Tehran lacks goodwill. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the talks as a decisive moment for bilateral relations.

Security has been tightened around Islamabad’s Serena Hotel, where the discussions are taking place, reflecting the global significance of the negotiations.

A United States delegation has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, to participate in discussions with Iran aimed at ending ongoing hostilities. The delegation is led by US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Jared Kushner and senior adviser Steve Witkoff. They were received by Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker. According to Reuters, around 100 members of the US delegation are already in the city.

The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived earlier on Friday. It includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Deputy of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani, and other senior officials. Pakistan’s top officials, including Ishaq Dar, Asim Munir, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, welcomed the Iranian team.

Reports indicate that the Islamabad talks face complexities, with key issues involving Iran’s frozen assets and a ceasefire in Lebanon. The United Nations Secretary-General has also urged both the United States and Iran to engage constructively before the discussions begin.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Commerce, Industry, Textiles and Jute, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, inaugurated the country’s first government-managed ‘Krishoker Hat’ in Sylhet on April 11, 2026. The initiative, jointly organized by the Sylhet District Administration and the Department of Agricultural Extension, aims to reduce middlemen’s influence, ensure fair prices for farmers, and provide consumers with safe and affordable food. The market, located near Tilagor Point, allows marginal farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers without intermediaries.

During the inauguration, the minister said the government is introducing new measures to bring transparency and balance to the market system. He noted that agricultural products often change hands multiple times before reaching consumers, causing unjustified price hikes. The ‘Krishoker Hat’ is expected to create a win-win situation for both farmers and consumers. The program will operate weekly under local administration supervision to prevent extortion or unexpected costs.

The minister also announced plans to digitize the supply chain from import to retail, strengthen the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh’s operations, and expand irrigation and canal re-excavation to boost agricultural production and market stability.