During the first session of the National Parliament, National Citizens Party (NCP) member-secretary and MP Akhtar Hossain stated that the people had given their verdict in favor of implementing the July National Charter. He argued that calling this verdict unconstitutional was audacious and dishonored Parliament. He added that whether or not the referendum ordinance was approved in Parliament, there was no scope to declare the referendum invalid.

Akhtar Hossain referred to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s earlier call in Rangpur urging citizens to vote “yes” in the referendum, questioning why those who supported it now refuse to accept its outcome. He also raised constitutional questions about the interim period between August 5 and 8, when, according to him, there was no functioning government in Bangladesh, and about the legality of appointments and parliamentary dissolution during that time.

He further recalled that the Consensus Commission, formed under the interim government to reform the state structure, had discussed the implementation of the July Charter with participation from several current ministers and MPs. Hossain criticized those who, despite attending those discussions, now appear to have forgotten their earlier positions.

Jamaat-e-Islami has not been invited to the annual religious gathering organized by the Charmonai Darbar in Barishal. The three-day event will begin on Wednesday after the noon prayer, with Pir Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim delivering the opening sermon. The gathering will conclude on Saturday morning with the final prayer. According to organizers, central leaders from several political parties, including the BNP and the National Citizens Party (NCP), have been invited to attend.

The Mahfil committee confirmed that both BNP and NCP received official invitations, though it remains unclear which BNP leaders will attend. NCP representatives, including spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, chief organizer Sarjis Alam, and Sarowar Tushar, are expected to arrive Wednesday night and speak at Thursday’s clerics’ assembly. The organizing committee has completed all preparations, forming its own security and medical teams as worshippers begin to arrive.

The exclusion of Jamaat, once a political ally of Charmonai, marks a notable change in the invitation list for this year’s event.

Lebanon’s state news agency reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks over the past four weeks has risen to 1,268. Citing the country’s Health Ministry, the report added that a total of 3,750 people have been injured during this period. The strikes have targeted various parts of Beirut and southern Lebanon.

According to the report, Israel has continued regular assaults since the conflict began, claiming that its operations are aimed at infrastructure linked to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel confirmed that nine of its soldiers have been killed after ground forces entered Lebanese territory.

The escalation reflects the ongoing intensity of the conflict, with both sides reporting casualties and damage as fighting persists across multiple fronts.

Police in Dhanbari, Tangail, have arrested a 16-year-old boy named Asif on charges of slaughtering and selling dog meat. The arrest followed the recovery of a slaughtered dog’s head and other parts from beneath an abandoned bed at a meat seller’s stall in the town’s raw market area. The operation was conducted on Saturday by the Dhanbari Upazila Executive Officer Miz Nurjahan Akter Sathi and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Sayem Imran.

Authorities said CCTV footage from the scene helped identify Asif as a suspect. He was detained on Monday, March 29, and later sent to Tangail District Jail. Police reported that during initial questioning, Asif admitted involvement in the slaughter and sale of dog meat.

Law enforcement officials stated that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest others connected to the incident. Another accused person with an existing arrest warrant was also sent to jail the same day. The case has caused significant public concern in the local area.

China and Pakistan have jointly called for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks to end the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The announcement came on March 31, 2026, following a meeting in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The joint statement, reported by China’s Xinhua and Al Jazeera, emphasized the need to ensure the security of key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement described the current situation as alarming and stressed that dialogue and diplomacy, rather than military action, are the only effective means to restore long-term stability. It also highlighted the negative impact of disruptions to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on the global economy.

The five-point initiative includes an immediate halt to hostilities, protection of sovereignty and security of Iran and Gulf states, cessation of attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure, assurance of maritime safety, and the establishment of a sustainable peace framework based on the UN Charter and international law.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused France of closing its airspace to American military aircraft bound for Israel. According to an Al Jazeera report on March 31, Trump stated on social media that France acted in a 'very uncooperative' manner by denying access at a time when a U.S. operation targeting a senior Iranian official was underway.

Reuters earlier reported that France’s refusal occurred over the weekend, marking its first such action since the start of the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The report also noted that Spain had previously taken a similar stance. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on March 30 that Spain would not allow its airspace or military bases to be used for any Iran-related military operations.

Reuters added that the Spanish decision means U.S. military aircraft heading to the Middle East must now avoid Spanish airspace, though exceptions may apply in emergencies. Spain’s finance minister said the move aligns with the government’s policy of not supporting or participating in a war deemed unilateral and contrary to international law.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a warning targeting US technology companies operating in the Middle East. According to a statement cited by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC has instructed employees of these firms and nearby residents to leave the areas immediately. The warning specifically names major US companies including Boeing, Tesla, Meta, Google, and Apple, among at least fifteen firms that could face attacks starting at 8 p.m. local time tomorrow.

The IRGC claims that American ICT and artificial intelligence companies are the main architects of target identification and surveillance operations, and therefore will now be considered legitimate targets. The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Iranian media emphasizing the potential for imminent strikes on US-linked assets.

Authorities have reportedly urged people in affected areas to evacuate urgently as a precaution against possible attacks, though no further operational details were disclosed.

The government has decided to open the Rajshahi Children’s Hospital, which has remained unused for three years since its construction was completed. Health Services Division Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury announced during a visit to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital that the facility will begin partial operations within three months. Initially, only outpatient services will start, with other departments expected to open in the next fiscal year.

Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, Professor Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas, also visited the site and mentioned plans to activate other completed but idle health infrastructures, including the district and chest hospitals. Construction of the 200-bed children’s hospital began about eight years ago at Bandhgate in Rajshahi at a cost of Tk 35 crore. Despite completion three years ago, it remained closed due to delays in government handover, leading to theft of equipment.

The hospital includes 12 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) beds. The decision to open it followed reports of child deaths while waiting for NICU care. Overcrowding at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital’s pediatric ward, which admits up to 700 patients against 200 beds, has intensified the need for the new facility.

Abidul Islam Khan, a young politician from Dhaka University and a key leader of the July uprising, met Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus at Yunus Centre on Tuesday afternoon. During the meeting, Abidul presented his authored book titled 'Sphulingo Theke Dabanal' to Dr. Yunus. According to a statement from Yunus Centre, the meeting was a courtesy visit, and Dr. Yunus expressed his appreciation and thanked the author for the gift.

Abidul Islam Khan said the book is based on his personal experiences and observations of the turbulent events of July, which he described as a relentless struggle against misrule, autocracy, and suppression of people's voices. He emphasized that July represents unity and is not the property of any single group, urging that all perspectives must be heard to preserve its true history.

The meeting lasted about half an hour, during which both discussed various aspects of the July uprising and the spirit of building a democratic new Bangladesh inspired by that movement.

In Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet, attacks, vandalism, and looting were reported following the murder of Samad Ahmad. Two separate complaints were filed—one in the Sylhet Senior Judicial Magistrate Court by Sajna Begum on March 16, and another at Osmaninagar Police Station by Laila Begum on March 28. The incidents have created severe tension and fear in the area.

According to the reports, Samad Ahmad was killed on March 8 during a village arbitration meeting over a road dispute. His wife, Dolly Begum, filed a murder case naming 13 accused and several unidentified persons. Police have arrested six suspects, but the main accused, Sakil Mia, remains at large. The police officer in charge said operations are continuing to arrest him soon.

Following the murder, Sajna Begum’s and Laila Begum’s homes were attacked and looted by unidentified groups. The accused parties deny involvement, claiming the allegations are fabricated. Local residents have urged urgent administrative intervention to restore law and order.

The SME Foundation will provide Tk 125 crore in loans to cottage, micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs in Bangladesh’s agro-based and food processing sectors. The financing, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be distributed through banks and financial institutions at a maximum interest rate of 9 percent. The agreement was signed on March 31, 2026, at the headquarters of Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BIFFL) in Dhaka.

Under the agreement, funds from BIFFL’s Food Value Chain Improvement Project will be used to finance entrepreneurs on easy terms. The initiative, operated with JICA’s assistance, aims to strengthen the food value chain, ensure food security, and enhance entrepreneurial skills. Women entrepreneurs will receive special priority. The program covers fruit, vegetable, and spice processing, rice and pulse milling, edible oil and seed processing, organic fertilizer, and biopesticide production, along with related wholesale, logistics, and retail sectors.

The initiative also includes financing for machinery purchase, factory upgrades, and warehouse construction, as well as training and technical support. It is expected to strengthen the food value chain, reduce import dependence, expand export opportunities, and create rural employment.

A banned Chhatra League leader has been accused of severely beating a 76-year-old freedom fighter, Wahiduzzaman Naimul, in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj on Tuesday afternoon. The attack allegedly took place in front of the Gist Polytechnic Institute near the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Naimul suffered broken limbs and deep head injuries from sharp weapons and was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses said the assault occurred during a land measurement dispute involving Naimul and a local group. The accused, Tuhin Pradhan, a former assistant secretary of Gazaria upazila Chhatra League and vice president of Donia College unit, reportedly led 10–12 attackers. Naimul claimed Tuhin and his associates ambushed him after a local arbitration meeting and continued to threaten him later that night.

Dr. Sharmin Sultana of Gazaria Upazila Health Complex confirmed Naimul’s critical condition, citing multiple fractures and severe head injuries. Police said they visited the scene and would take legal action based on the complaint, while attempts to contact the accused were unsuccessful.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman will visit India on April 7 amid rising global oil prices driven by the Middle East conflict. This will be the first ministerial visit from Bangladesh since Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s government took office. According to Indian media reports, the visit will focus on discussions over energy imports and the Ganges water-sharing agreement.

During the trip, Dr. Rahman is scheduled to meet Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on April 8. He may also meet India’s Energy Minister Hardeep Puri to discuss additional fuel supplies, particularly diesel. The report adds that Bangladesh has nominated Dr. Rahman for the presidency of the UN General Assembly for 2026–27 and may seek India’s support for the bid.

The 1996 Ganges water-sharing treaty between Bangladesh and India, set for renewal soon, is currently under hydrological and technical review by both sides, adding significance to the upcoming discussions.

A Chhatra Dal leader in Lakshmipur, Md Didar Mahmud, has been expelled on charges of violating party discipline. He was serving as the general secretary of the 20th Char Ramani Mohan Union Chhatra Dal under Sadar upazila. The expulsion was announced Monday night through a press release signed by the president and general secretary of Sadar upazila (West) Chhatra Dal.

Following the announcement, mixed reactions emerged among party members. Several activists protested the decision on social media. Mujahidul Islam Shamim, joint convener of Sadar upazila (West) Chhatra Dal, said Didar had long been active in movements and that expulsion was not a solution. College Chhatra Dal joint convener RN Raju condemned the decision, while leader Musa Abdullah questioned the motive behind the expulsion. Didar himself claimed he was targeted for protesting alleged irregularities by a local union council member.

Sadar upazila (West) Chhatra Dal general secretary Mizanur Rahman Mizan stated that the expulsion followed directives from the local MP and BNP leadership. Upazila (West) BNP convener Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Khokon said Didar committed a serious disciplinary offense, prompting the organizational decision. The incident has sparked debate in the local political arena.

Israel is planning to establish a buffer zone inside southern Lebanon and take control of the area up to the Litani River, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. He stated that around 600,000 displaced residents from southern Lebanon will not be allowed to return home until the security of northern Israel is fully ensured.

Katz also warned that all houses near the Lebanon-Israel border would be destroyed. The move is described as part of a long-term plan aimed at protecting Israel’s border from Hezbollah attacks and strengthening control over the region.

The announcement comes amid ongoing conflict and rising casualties in Lebanon, where reports indicate that 1,268 people have been killed.