The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have issued an urgent warning to Iranian citizens, advising them to avoid train travel and stay away from railway lines for the next 12 hours. The statement, released on the IDF’s Persian-language X account, urged Iranians to refrain from using trains across the country until 9 p.m. local time, citing safety concerns. The IDF warned that being near trains or railway tracks could pose a serious risk to life.

This warning came as U.S. President Donald Trump gave Iran a deadline until 8 p.m. Tuesday local time to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump threatened that failure to comply would result in the destruction of Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants. Experts noted that targeting civilian infrastructure could be considered a war crime under international law.

The situation reflects escalating tensions in the region, with recent reports of attacks involving Israel and Iran in multiple countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

The date for the 2026 Independence Award ceremony in Bangladesh has been changed. Originally scheduled for Thursday, April 9, the event will now take place on Thursday, April 16, at 4 p.m. at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. The change was announced on April 7 through a press release from the Department of Information, citing the Cabinet Division as the source.

According to the announcement, the rescheduling was made due to unavoidable circumstances. The Independence Award is the highest state honor in Bangladesh, recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions at the national level. This year, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, along with 14 other distinguished individuals and five institutions, has been selected for the award.

The new date ensures the ceremony will proceed with the same recipients and venue, maintaining the tradition of honoring national excellence despite the brief postponement.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported that American forces have carried out more than 13,000 strikes on targets in Iran since the start of the conflict. The joint offensive by the United States and Israel began on February 28, and fighting has continued for over five weeks. CENTCOM said the operation, codenamed “Operation Epic Fury,” has so far damaged or destroyed more than 155 Iranian naval vessels.

According to CENTCOM, the targets of the US attacks have included headquarters of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), air defense systems, ballistic missile bases, and naval ships and submarines. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reporting that more than 3,500 people have been killed in Iran since the joint strikes began, including at least 1,665 civilians.

The report underscores the continuing intensity of the US-Israel campaign and the heavy toll on Iranian infrastructure and civilian life, as the conflict shows no sign of abating.

Saudi Arabia has reopened the King Fahd Causeway, the only road link connecting it with Bahrain, after a temporary closure following an Iranian airstrike. The bridge was shut down as a precaution when debris from an attack on a nearby energy facility raised concerns about potential damage. Authorities confirmed that the causeway was reopened about five hours later.

Social media updates indicated that vehicle movement across the bridge has resumed. The King Fahd Causeway spans approximately 15.5 miles, serving as a vital transportation route between the two Gulf nations.

The reopening restores a key regional connection that had been briefly disrupted by security concerns following the Iranian strike near Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain has announced that the government is taking necessary steps to recruit 100,000 health workers in line with its current election manifesto. He made the statement in parliament on Tuesday, April 7, while responding to a starred question from ruling party member Ikramul Bari Tipu, representing Naogaon-4.

The minister detailed recent recruitment efforts, noting that on January 22 of the current year, 2,984 assistant surgeons and 279 dental surgeons were appointed through the 48th BCS, while 98 assistant surgeons (MBBS) and 22 dental surgeons were recruited through the 44th BCS. Additionally, on December 18 of the previous year, 162 assistant surgeons (MBBS doctors) were appointed through the 27th BCS.

These initiatives reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the national healthcare workforce and fulfill commitments outlined in its electoral pledges.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday denied bail and remand for former Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury and ordered her to be sent to jail in connection with an attempted murder case filed at Lalbagh Police Station. The Detective Branch (DB) had earlier sought a two-day remand for her in the same case, which was filed over an incident during an anti-discrimination movement in the capital.

DB police arrested Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury early Tuesday from her cousin Arif Masud Chowdhury’s residence in Dhanmondi and later interrogated her at the DB office on Minto Road. According to DB Additional Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam, she faces six cases in different police stations across Dhaka, including Uttara and Banani. She had been in hiding since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, and resigned from her position as Speaker on September 2 of the same year.

Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, who first became Speaker in April 2013 and was re-elected in January 2024, is also accused in a separate murder case filed in Rangpur over the death of gold worker Muslim Uddin during the July uprising.

Intel announced on Tuesday that it will join Elon Musk’s Terafab AI chip complex project alongside SpaceX and Tesla to produce processors supporting Musk’s robotics and data center goals. The company shared a photo of CEO Lip-Bu Tan and Musk meeting at Intel’s campus, noting that the collaboration aims to accelerate Terafab’s target of generating one terawatt per year of compute capacity for AI and robotics. Intel’s shares rose more than 2% following the announcement.

The partnership follows Musk’s earlier plans for Tesla to build a large AI chip fabrication facility to power autonomous vehicle development, with Intel now confirmed as a collaborator. Musk previously said SpaceX and Tesla would construct two advanced chip factories in Austin, Texas—one focused on cars and humanoid robots, and another for AI data centers in space. SpaceX has also confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering expected later this year.

For Intel, the deal represents a significant step in its turnaround strategy under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, as the company seeks to regain competitiveness in AI and semiconductor manufacturing through restructuring, job cuts, and new partnerships.

Iran has submitted a 10-point proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, as the deadline for a possible new U.S. strike approaches. According to Iranian state media, the proposal was delivered to Washington through Pakistan. It calls for guarantees against future attacks on Iran, an end to Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the lifting of all economic sanctions. In return, Tehran would lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the plan, Iran would collect about two million dollars in fees from each vessel passing through the strait, sharing the revenue with Oman to rebuild war-damaged infrastructure. U.S. President Donald Trump described the proposal as important but insufficient, warning that if the strait is not reopened by the set deadline, large-scale airstrikes on key Iranian infrastructure could follow. Analysts noted that attacks on civilian infrastructure could constitute war crimes under international law.

Iranian media emphasized that the proposal seeks a permanent end to hostilities rather than a temporary truce and includes a protocol for safe maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Observers said that with both sides maintaining hardline positions, a swift resolution remains uncertain.

Local Government State Minister Mir Shah Alam told Parliament that outgoing interim government chief Dr. Muhammad Yunus is visiting London to hand over the July Movement trophy to current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and bring back the election date. He made the statement on Tuesday during discussions on the President’s address in the National Parliament.

Mir Shah Alam asserted that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) holds the trophies of three major movements—1971, 1990, and July-August—arguing that no other political party can claim all three. His remarks triggered protests from opposition members, prompting the Speaker to call for order. The minister further said that Dr. Yunus’s London visit proves which party and leader played the leading role in the student and public movements that led to a free and fair election.

Opposition leader Shafiqul Rahman later objected to what he called false information presented in Parliament and requested the Speaker to expunge any untrue or unparliamentary statements. The Speaker assured that the remarks would be reviewed and corrected if necessary.

The government will investigate corruption allegations raised against the interim administration, according to Dr. Zahidur Rahman, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasting. He made the announcement on Tuesday at a press conference held at the Department of Information in the Secretariat. Rahman stated that the Anti-Corruption Commission, once restructured, will lead the investigations and that the government will also examine whether any irregularities are occurring within its own ranks.

He emphasized the government’s commitment to curbing corruption and maintaining internal accountability. Addressing other issues, Rahman said that the government plans to bring battery-run autorickshaws under regulation due to concerns over excessive electricity use and road safety. He noted that many drivers lack training and that some vehicles are technically faulty, increasing risks on major roads.

On the banking sector, Rahman said it had weakened under the previous administration but that restructuring efforts have begun. He cautioned that rapid changes could undermine public confidence, so reforms are being implemented gradually and carefully.

At least 18 people, including two children, were killed in US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran following US President Donald Trump’s rejection of a ceasefire proposal and his threat to “blow up” the country. According to Iran’s state media, the attacks targeted both military and civilian areas, with Alborz province suffering heavy casualties. The provincial deputy governor confirmed the deaths, while 24 others were reported injured.

Additional strikes were reported at Khorramabad Airport in western Iran, where authorities are assessing the extent of the damage. The Iranian Red Crescent strongly condemned the attacks on civilian areas, claiming that at least 17 non-military sites were hit nationwide. The organization stated that assaults on unarmed civilians violate international humanitarian law and could constitute war crimes.

Iranian media reported that the total death toll from overnight strikes across the country was approaching two dozen, though official figures are still being verified.

Jamaat-e-Islami activist Bibi Sawda was released on bail on April 7, 2026, after being arrested under Section 54 in Bhola. She was detained from her home on April 5 for sharing a Facebook post about the ongoing fuel crisis. Upon her release, Sawda expressed anger and grief over what she described as suppression of freedom of speech, warning that if such rights were taken away, a new mass uprising could begin. Thousands of female Jamaat activists gathered at the Bhola District and Sessions Judge Court premises during her release.

Her lawyer, Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun, said the court granted unconditional bail as the case was bailable and the prosecution failed to present valid grounds to oppose it. The bail order was issued by Senior Judicial Magistrate Saurav Roy Mithu after hearing arguments from both sides.

Bhola district Jamaat leaders had earlier condemned the arrest, calling it inhumane since Sawda was taken away in front of her speech-impaired three-year-old child. They demanded her immediate release and warned of protests against what they termed authoritarian actions.

A Ukrainian drone attack struck civilian infrastructure in Russia’s Vladimir region, killing three people when a drone hit a residential building, according to the regional governor. The incident was reported on Tuesday, with the governor confirming that the victims included two adults and a seven-year-old boy. A five-year-old girl was also injured and hospitalized with burns.

The governor, Alexander Avdeyev, stated on Telegram that enemy drones targeted civilian infrastructure in the region. The report, citing AFP, did not specify the exact location or the extent of the damage beyond the affected residential building.

Authorities have not released further details about the attack or any potential response measures following the incident.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police have sought a two-day remand for former Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in an attempted murder case filed at Lalbagh Police Station. The remand petition was submitted to the court on Tuesday afternoon. Earlier that morning, she was shown arrested in the same case linked to the anti-discrimination movement.

According to the report, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was detained early Tuesday from her cousin Arif Masud Chaudhury’s residence in Dhanmondi and later interrogated at the Detective Branch office on Minto Road. She also faces a murder case related to the July uprising, in which a gold worker named Muslim Uddin was shot dead in Rangpur on August 27, 2024. Police said she has six cases filed against her in various police stations across Dhaka.

The report adds that Shirin Sharmin had been in hiding since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, and resigned from her position as Speaker on September 2 of the same year.

Israel is reportedly attempting to portray Iran’s railway network as a legitimate military target, according to information cited by Israeli Army Radio from security sources. The sources claim that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) uses the rail system to strengthen its military operations by transporting weapons and supplies across the country.

Analysts suggest that Israel is shaping a narrative to justify potential strikes on such infrastructure, similar to previous actions in Gaza where Israeli forces attacked health facilities. In Iran’s case, Israel is said to be broadening its list of potential targets to include institutions that support the country’s governmental structure, as no signs of internal collapse have yet appeared.

Experts further warn that Israel might adopt strategies aimed at worsening living conditions for ordinary Iranians to incite public unrest against the government. However, they caution that such measures could backfire, uniting even government critics in defense of the state.