Bangladesh’s Law Minister Asaduzzaman stated in parliament on April 5, 2026, that those involved in enforced disappearances will not escape justice. Responding to a question from MP Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman during the eighth day of the 13th National Parliament’s first session, he referenced more than 700 victims of enforced disappearance, including the current Home Minister, and emphasized that offenders would not evade legal accountability.

The minister explained that the government is reviewing the Human Rights Commission Act and the Enforced Disappearance Prevention Act to ensure consistency with the International Crimes Tribunal Act of 1973, which already defines enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity. He noted that the proposed ordinance allows for a maximum sentence of ten years, while the ICT Act provides for life imprisonment or the death penalty, creating a need for harmonization.

Asaduzzaman added that the laws will be revised to make them more contemporary, welfare-oriented, and justice-focused. He said discussions with stakeholders would take place later in the session to finalize a bill ensuring that no offender can escape punishment.

State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Rajib Ahsan announced that all vessels in Bangladesh will soon be brought under a digital registration system to make the country’s waterways safer, more organized, and modern. He said a comprehensive policy will also be formulated to ensure proper registration, operation, and discipline in water transport. The announcement came on Sunday during a meeting at the Department of Shipping headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, focused on resolving fuel shortages for lighter vessels engaged in cargo transport.

The state minister stated that there is currently no fuel crisis affecting passenger or cargo vessels and that water transport operations are running normally. To prevent potential future shortages, the ministry plans to form a coordination cell to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply and hold meetings with fuel-supplying companies. He emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining safe and smooth navigation and urged vessel operators to comply with laws and avoid hoarding or wastage amid the global fuel situation.

The initiatives aim to strengthen discipline and efficiency in the country’s maritime transport system through digitalization and better coordination.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for attacks on petrochemical facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. According to a statement carried by Iranian media, the strikes were carried out in response to earlier attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure and a bridge in Karaj, west of Tehran. The IRGC described the action as retaliation against assaults allegedly conducted by the United States and Israel.

The statement further warned that if civilian facilities in Iran are targeted again, the IRGC will launch a second wave of attacks that would be stronger and more extensive. The situation has become more tense as U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly set a 48-hour deadline, warning that if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, American forces could target energy and desalination infrastructure.

The developments mark a sharp escalation in regional tensions, with both sides signaling readiness for further confrontation if demands are not met.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face severe consequences if it continues to block the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared that Tuesday would be 'Power Plant Day' and 'Bridge Day' in Iran, implying possible military action if the strait is not reopened promptly. He stated that failure to comply would lead to harsh military measures and make conditions in Iran 'like hell.'

Analysts cited in the report said Trump’s remarks have further escalated tensions in the Middle East. Earlier, Trump had issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that Iran reopen the strait, warning that otherwise 'hell will descend' on the country. Iran rejected the ultimatum, calling it a sign of weakness and confusion.

Iranian military officials responded strongly, with General Ali Abdullahi Ali Abadi describing Trump’s threats as desperate and irrational, while spokesman Ebrahim Zulfakari warned that any escalation would turn the entire region into a 'hell' for the United States and its allies.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has expressed deep concern over the safety of Iran’s nuclear facilities following a reported US-Israeli strike. In a message posted on social media platform X, Tedros warned that such attacks pose a serious risk of nuclear accidents with potentially devastating health consequences lasting for generations. He added that as the conflict escalates, so do the associated risks and threats.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a projectile struck near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, killing one worker after debris fell on the site. Bushehr is Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant and is located in a city of about 250,000 people, considered one of the country’s key industrial and military centers.

The incident has heightened international concern about the potential for further escalation and the safety of nuclear infrastructure in conflict zones.

An emergency vaccination campaign against measles and rubella began in Mymensingh on Sunday morning to protect children from the two infectious diseases. The program was inaugurated at Churkhai Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa center by Member of Parliament Abu Wahab Akand Wahid. Health officials, local administrators, and community representatives attended the event. On the first day, vaccination centers saw large crowds of parents eager to immunize their children.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the campaign aims to vaccinate 164,500 children aged six to 59 months across Sadar, Trishal, and Phulpur upazilas. Parents expressed relief after receiving the vaccines, saying they were worried by recent reports of measles-related hospitalizations and deaths in different parts of the country. The campaign is being conducted in phases to ensure full coverage.

Mymensingh Medical College Hospital reported that 19 new children showing measles symptoms were admitted in the past 24 hours, with 63 currently under treatment and six deaths recorded so far. Authorities said the government is prioritizing rapid implementation to curb the outbreak and strengthen child health protection.

A clash reportedly broke out between US and Iranian forces during a search and rescue mission in Iran to recover the second crew member of a US F-15 fighter jet that had been shot down. The injured crew member was rescued, according to Donald Trump, who said the injuries occurred when the aircraft was downed, not during the gunfire. The incident took place as multiple US warplanes participated in the operation.

Trump stated that no US personnel were killed or injured in the clashes. However, Iranian sources claimed that a US drone was shot down during the search effort. Video footage from the previous Friday appeared to show several individuals firing at a US Black Hawk helicopter.

The confrontation adds to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, which have recently been marked by mutual accusations and military incidents, according to the report.

NASA’s Artemis-2 mission, launched from Florida, will send four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor J. Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day journey around the Moon without landing. The mission, originally planned for November 2024, was delayed due to technical issues. It aims to test flight strategies and prepare for Artemis-3, scheduled for next year. The next human landing on the lunar surface is expected with Artemis-4, planned for 2028.

The Artemis program, launched in 2017 after several canceled projects, involves thousands of people and an estimated cost of $93 billion. It seeks to establish a sustainable lunar presence through a lunar orbit station and a surface base, paving the way for future Mars missions. NASA has partnered with private companies, selecting SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s lander designs for future lunar landings.

NASA’s renewed lunar focus also reflects growing geopolitical interest, as both the United States and China aim to explore resource-rich regions of the Moon. Artemis-2 will mark the first time in over 50 years that humans view the Moon’s far side directly, capturing images for future scientific analysis.

The government of Bangladesh is implementing a large-scale food assistance program to ensure food security for ultra-poor families. Under the Food-Friendly Program, 5.5 million families across 495 upazilas are receiving 30 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 15 per kilogram. Food Minister Md. Abdul Bari shared the information in parliament on April 5, 2026, during the 13th session. The 2025–26 fiscal year budget allocates 1 million tons of rice for this program, distributed over six months annually.

The minister said that fortified rice enriched with vitamins A, B-1, B-12, B-9, iron, and zinc is being distributed to improve nutrition. A total of 370,000 tons of fortified rice is being supplied across 248 upazilas for five months. To stabilize market prices, the Open Market Sale (OMS) program operates through 1,091 centers in 12 city corporations, 14 industrial districts, and 52 district towns, selling rice at Tk 30 per kg and flour at Tk 24 per kg.

The Food Directorate is also supplying rice to 6.77 million Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) family cardholders. The minister affirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining food security and price stability for low-income citizens.

Opposition members of parliament held a meeting at the National Parliament building ahead of the scheduled session on Sunday afternoon. The meeting took place at 2:30 p.m. in the opposition conference room on the ninth floor of the west block of the Parliament complex. It was chaired by the Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.

During the meeting, participants discussed various issues, including the opposition’s role in the ongoing parliamentary session. The opposition leader provided guidance to the attending members of parliament on related matters. Following the meeting, the MPs joined the parliamentary session, which began at 3:30 p.m.

The meeting was part of the opposition’s preparations to coordinate their activities and positions during the current session of the National Parliament.

Bangladesh is bracing for up to three hours of daily load-shedding as fuel shortages, worsened by the ongoing war in the Middle East, disrupt electricity generation. Despite having double the production capacity needed to meet demand, the country cannot produce enough power due to limited fuel supply. The government has ordered shopping malls and shops to close after 6 p.m. and shortened office hours by one hour to manage the crisis.

An internal analysis by the Power Development Board (PDB) indicates that if gas supply falls below 800 million cubic feet, power generation could drop below 4,500 megawatts. During April and May, electricity demand may reach 18,500 megawatts, while production could remain around 16,200 megawatts. On a recent public holiday, demand peaked at 14,350 megawatts, with load-shedding reaching up to 1,000 megawatts at night.

The situation may worsen if rainfall remains low and temperatures rise. The Meteorological Department forecasts multiple heatwaves in April, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius, potentially increasing electricity demand further.

A clash broke out between two groups of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) during a footpath eviction drive in the Shimrail area of Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, on Sunday noon. The operation, led by the district administration and the Roads and Highways Department, aimed to remove illegal structures along both sides of the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. Assistant Commissioner (Executive Magistrate) Shamit Raja and several law enforcement agencies, including police and Ansar members, were present during the drive.

Witnesses reported that tension arose before the operation began, as rival BNP factions gathered in the area. Supporters of former district BNP acting convener Monirul Islam Robi’s son, youth leader Riazul Islam Rinaz, and former city Chhatra Dal vice president Abdul Kadir’s group engaged in verbal disputes that escalated into chasing and counter-chasing. Police intervened with baton charges to disperse both sides and restore order.

Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Barik stated that the clash was not directly related to the eviction drive but stemmed from a dispute over control of a microbus stand. Additional police have been deployed, and the situation is now under control.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for united cooperation from people of all religions to build a happy and prosperous 'Better Bangladesh'. He made the appeal on Sunday at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Secretariat during a greeting and exchange meeting with Christian community representatives marking Easter Sunday. According to the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, a 13-member delegation led by Philip P. Adhikari, President of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Bangladesh, met the Prime Minister and exchanged greetings.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized equal respect and love for all religions, stating that religion belongs to individuals but the country belongs to everyone. He noted that national progress requires unity beyond religious and ethnic lines. Referring to the recent national election, he said that voters from all faiths supported the BNP, disproving earlier assumptions. He also described the fragile state of the economy and infrastructure when his government took office and mentioned preparations to address energy challenges arising from the Israel-Iran conflict.

Christian leaders praised government welfare initiatives and requested reserved parliamentary seats for Christian women and a public holiday on Easter Sunday. The Prime Minister assured that their demands would be considered.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka on Sunday, April 5, 2026. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman. During the meeting, both sides discussed a range of issues of mutual interest.

As part of the meeting, Ambassador Christensen presented the Prime Minister with two historical photographs and a replica of the White House. One photograph featured the late President Ziaur Rahman with former US President Jimmy Carter, while the other showed former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with former US President George H. W. Bush. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir were also present at the meeting.

The meeting underscored the continuation of diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and the United States, reflecting ongoing interest in strengthening bilateral relations.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with French Ambassador Jean-Marc Serre-Charles at his office in Dhaka to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and France. The meeting focused on expanding existing collaboration and reviewing progress on ongoing development projects.

During the discussion, Minister Alamgir described France as an important development partner for Bangladesh and emphasized the need to broaden cooperation, particularly in rural development, infrastructure, and rural connectivity. He highlighted the potential for French support in improving inter-district communication in underdeveloped regions and presented related challenges and development needs to the ambassador.

Ambassador Serre-Charles praised the existing partnership and expressed France’s interest in deepening engagement with Bangladesh’s development journey. He noted particular optimism about enhancing cooperation in rural communication systems and safe water supply. Senior officials from the ministry and relevant departments were also present at the meeting.