U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Iran over its activities in the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post on April 10, 2026, he accused Iran of behaving 'very badly' regarding the passage of oil tankers, saying such actions violate existing agreements. Trump claimed that Iran was reportedly charging fees from tankers passing through the strait and urged Tehran to stop immediately.

His remarks have heightened tensions just two days after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect. Earlier, Trump had announced that if Iran fully, immediately, and safely reopened the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would suspend military operations for two weeks.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supply, has not yet returned to normal operations. Since the conflict began on February 28, shipping through the area has remained limited, raising concerns about stability in the region.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel a “devil” and a “curse for humanity” in a post on social media platform X, accusing it of continuing to kill civilians in Lebanon despite ongoing ceasefire discussions. He alleged that Israel was committing genocide in Lebanon following its actions in Gaza and Iran, and said those who created Israel on Palestinian land should “burn in hell.”

In response, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Asif’s comments, describing them as a call for Israel’s destruction. The statement said such remarks were intolerable, particularly from a government that claims to act as a neutral mediator for peace.

The exchange comes as Israel continues airstrikes in Lebanon despite diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan to broker a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Lebanese authorities reported intensified Israeli attacks since Wednesday, killing at least 303 people and injuring 1,150, while the health ministry said 1,888 have been killed and 6,092 injured since March 2.

South Korea has decided to send a new special envoy to Tehran to safeguard its citizens and commercial vessels amid the ongoing Iran-Israel war. The decision was confirmed by South Korea’s official news agency Yonhap. Former ambassador to Kuwait, Chung Byung-ha, has been appointed to the post and is expected to depart for Tehran soon.

According to Yonhap, Chung’s primary responsibility will be to coordinate the safe passage of South Korean ships and ensure the security of nationals in the Middle East during the conflict. He will particularly focus on resolving issues related to South Korean commercial ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The appointment came a day after a phone conversation between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key energy supply routes, has seen severe disruption due to the Iran–United States–Israel conflict. Yonhap reported that at least 26 South Korea-linked commercial vessels are currently stranded there, posing a major challenge for the new envoy.

After the verdict in the July revolutionary martyr Abu Sayeed murder case, his family members and comrades expressed strong dissatisfaction, calling the judgment incomplete and demanding full justice. They criticized that those who ordered the killing received lighter sentences, while those who executed the orders were given harsher punishments. The verdict included varying prison terms, with some receiving five to ten years and two defendants sentenced to death.

Family members, including Sayeed’s sister Sumi Akter, said they were disappointed as they had expected tougher penalties, especially for teachers and senior police officials allegedly involved. Comrades such as Faruk Ahmed, Shamsur Rahman Suman, Nayan, and Ahmadul Haque Alvi echoed similar frustration, arguing that key instigators and student organization members received lenient sentences despite their direct roles in the attack.

Abu Sayeed, an English department student at Begum Rokeya University, was shot dead by police on July 16 during the quota reform movement. His death became a symbol of the July uprising, and his supporters now hope the case will set a precedent for justice in other related killings.

BNP’s women leaders in Bogra have stepped up their activities to secure party nominations for reserved seats in the national parliament. The political atmosphere in the district has become more active following the upcoming by-election in the Sadar constituency. At least ten leaders are reportedly preparing for nomination, with six names gaining particular attention as they maintain communication from grassroots to central levels.

Among the prominent figures are Advocate Shahajadi Laila Arjuman Banu, acting president of the district women’s wing, and former reserved seat MP Nur Afroz Begum Jyoti, both of whom have long political experience. Other contenders include Nazma Akhter, Nihar Sultana Tithi, Suraiya Jerin Roni, and Advocate Rahima Khatun Mary, all holding or having held key positions in the district women’s committee. Each is emphasizing their political experience, activism, and loyalty to strengthen their case for nomination.

District BNP president Rezaul Karim Badsha stated that the party’s high command will make the final decision based on merit and dedication.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of acting in violation of existing international agreements by imposing fees on tankers passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump warned that Iran should immediately stop collecting such fees if reports are accurate. The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy route, carrying about 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG shipments.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to begin direct talks with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations. The U.S. State Department is expected to host a meeting in Washington next week to discuss a possible ceasefire. However, Netanyahu told northern Israeli residents that no ceasefire is currently in effect.

Recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have caused heavy casualties, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting at least 303 deaths and 1,150 injuries. The World Health Organization warned that evacuation orders in southern Beirut threaten hospitals treating hundreds of patients, calling the situation nearly impossible to manage.

The '36 July Memorial' in Chattogram’s New Market area, built to honor the martyrs of the July Revolution, has turned into a garbage dump less than three months after its inauguration on February 5, 2026. The site, located on railway land behind a police box, is now surrounded by waste, weeds, and debris. Locals report that the area has become a hub for drug users and muggers at night, while nearby traders and drivers use it as a dumping ground and parking space, creating noise, pollution, and foul odor.

Local activists, July Revolution veterans, and civic groups have expressed outrage, calling the neglect a sign of government disregard for the movement’s legacy. They accuse various authorities—including the district administration, railway, and public works department—of shifting responsibility instead of maintaining the site. Activists also criticized the memorial’s hidden location and lack of visibility.

Chattogram’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Sharif Uddin acknowledged the problem, citing public irresponsibility and promising sustainable cleaning measures through a coordination committee involving relevant agencies.

A severe shortage of safe drinking water has persisted for years in the hilly border areas of Durgapur upazila in Netrokona. Thousands of residents in Kullagora and Sadar unions, including villages such as Gopalpur, Bhabanipur, Fanda, Baromari, Bharatpur, and Gazikona, are forced to collect and drink dirty water from mountain streams. Locals, including elderly residents like Minati Hajong, described the daily hardship of fetching water from muddy sources, often leading to illness.

Community members expressed frustration that despite repeated appeals, no permanent solution has been implemented. Leaders from the Hajong community, including the president of the Bangladesh National Hajong Organization, urged the government to launch a large-scale project to supply clean water through pipelines. Public Health Engineering Department officials acknowledged the challenge of installing deep tube wells due to rocky soil but said a project has been proposed and will begin once approved.

Local authorities, including the upazila executive officer and the area’s member of parliament, stated that deep tube wells are being allocated and installed gradually to ensure safe water access for all affected villages.

More than 60 countries have jointly condemned recent Israeli attacks on United Nations peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. The coordinated statement, initiated by Indonesia, described the assaults as unacceptable and called for immediate measures to ensure the safety of peacekeeping personnel. The joint declaration followed a series of incidents that left peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, and Poland injured.

The coalition of nations also expressed deep concern over Lebanon’s worsening humanitarian situation, citing widespread civilian casualties, infrastructure destruction, and the displacement of over one million people. The United Nations reported that preliminary findings indicated one peacekeeper was killed by Israeli tank fire on March 29, while two others died the following day from an explosive device that the UN assessed was likely planted by Hezbollah.

The statement urged all parties involved to respect international law and take immediate steps to protect UN personnel operating in the conflict zone.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, has refused India’s proposal to move to a third country such as Qatar. She fled to India on August 5, 2024, following a nationwide uprising that forced her from power and has remained in Delhi since then. Despite repeated requests from the Bangladeshi government for her repatriation, New Delhi has declined, creating a diplomatic dilemma for the Modi administration.

Analysts note that India’s stance has become contradictory. While the government publicly campaigns against illegal immigration from Bangladesh, it continues to shelter Hasina and other former Bangladeshi leaders who entered without proper documentation. This inconsistency, they argue, undermines India’s credibility both domestically and in its relations with Dhaka.

Diplomatic sources suggest India initially sought to reorganize Bangladesh’s Awami League leadership through intermediaries but failed due to Hasina’s firm refusal to cooperate. Observers believe her continued stay has turned into a political burden for India, complicating its efforts to balance regional diplomacy and internal policy narratives.

Bangladesh’s interim government has introduced major reforms in Hajj management for 2025 and 2026, focusing on transparency, cost reduction, and administrative efficiency. Under the leadership of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the government enforced strict anti-corruption measures, cancelled licenses of errant agencies, and enhanced oversight. The ‘Labbayk’ mobile app was launched to streamline registration, flight information, and emergency support. Around 87,000 pilgrims successfully completed Hajj in 2025, with improved services including trained guides, medical centers, and digital tracking.

Financial transparency was strengthened through refunding surplus funds to pilgrims and recovering about 380 million taka from Saudi accounts of Hajj agencies. The government reduced airfare by about 40,000 taka over two years and set the 2026 minimum Hajj package at 467,167 taka, significantly easing financial pressure on pilgrims. It also decided not to send anyone on government expense, ensuring fairness and cost control.

A sudden Saudi decision to cut Bangladesh’s Hajj quota from 80,000 to 60,000 was later reversed through diplomatic engagement, restoring the full quota. Officials described the 2026 preparations as disciplined, technology-driven, and among the most successful in the country’s history.

Iran and the United States agreed to a temporary ceasefire late Tuesday, 39 days after their conflict began, with Pakistan mediating the deal. A key goal was reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but Iran has kept it closed after Israel, backed by the U.S., continued attacks in Lebanon. Tehran has instead released an alternative shipping route to avoid mines and requires vessels to coordinate with its navy. Iranian officials insist the strait’s reopening depends on U.S. restraint and regional stability.

Disagreement persists over whether Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire. Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 303 people and injured over 1,165, prompting condemnation from Lebanese and Iranian leaders. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that continued Israeli attacks would render talks meaningless, while Hezbollah retaliated with rocket fire into northern Israel. U.S. and Iranian delegations are set to meet in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss the truce.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard imposed a one-dollar-per-barrel toll on oil shipments through Hormuz, payable in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, during the ceasefire period. The situation remains tense as both sides prepare for further negotiations.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Thursday sentenced two police officers to death for the murder of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed, recognized as the first martyr of the July 24 Revolution. The tribunal also handed life imprisonment to three others, ten-year sentences to five, five-year sentences to eight, and three-year sentences to eleven individuals. Those convicted include police officials, university teachers, administrators, doctors, and student leaders. The verdict was delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.

The tribunal found the 30 accused guilty of crimes against humanity, including targeted and systematic killings, political persecution, and joint criminal responsibility. Six of the accused are currently in custody, while 24 remain fugitives. The prosecution expressed satisfaction with the verdict but may appeal after reviewing the full judgment. In contrast, the defense announced plans to appeal, claiming unfair sentencing.

Abu Sayeed’s family and fellow students expressed dissatisfaction, saying more perpetrators deserved capital punishment. The prosecution and victims’ families called for the swift execution of the death sentences and the arrest of those still at large.

An eleven-party alliance in Rangpur city distributed leaflets on Thursday evening demanding the implementation of the recent referendum verdict. The campaign took place around the Rangpur Press Club and Jahaj Company intersection, with leaders from various parties including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party participating.

During the event, Rangpur city Jamaat-e-Islami chief ATM Azam Khan alleged that despite the February 12 election result supporting the formation of a Constitutional Reform Council, the government has ignored the public mandate. He accused the authorities of betraying the people by disregarding the referendum outcome and obstructing state reform efforts. Khan further claimed that the government’s unilateral decisions undermine democratic values and weaken judicial independence and constitutional neutrality.

He warned that if the government delays implementing the referendum verdict, a mass movement will be launched. The alliance leaders urged citizens to unite for the realization of the referendum’s mandate through continued public awareness efforts.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka North unit held a leaflet distribution program at Moghbazar intersection in the capital on Thursday afternoon. The event was inaugurated by Mohammad Selim Uddin, a central executive council member and the unit’s amir. He stated that the people had spontaneously given a historic public mandate in favor of implementing the July Charter and demanded that the government fully implement it, including every detail. He warned that otherwise, the people would be compelled to enforce the mandate themselves.

The campaign was part of an 11-party initiative aimed at raising public awareness under the slogan calling for the immediate convening of the Constitutional Reform Council, implementation of the referendum verdict, and resolution of the energy crisis. Several central and local Jamaat leaders attended the event. Selim Uddin criticized the government for allegedly ignoring the referendum results, claiming that about 70 percent of voters had supported it. He accused the authorities of attempting to undermine the public verdict through authoritarian means.

He urged the government to act wisely and return to a positive course before it is too late, emphasizing that conscious citizens would resist any attempt to subvert the people’s will.