Top leaders of the eleven-party alliance have called a meeting to determine the next phase of their ongoing movement. The meeting will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka. Following the meeting, a press briefing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the same venue. The information was confirmed by Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the alliance and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Before this announcement, the alliance carried out a week-long series of programs from April 9 to April 15 across the country. These included leaflet distribution, public outreach, demonstrations in all metropolitan and district areas, and a national seminar in Dhaka. The programs were organized to press for the implementation of a referendum verdict.

The upcoming meeting is expected to finalize new programs following the completion of the previous week-long campaign, marking the next step in the alliance’s political activities.

According to a report by The Washington Post, the United States is preparing to send thousands more military personnel to the Middle East within the next few days. The move is described as part of the Trump administration’s effort to increase pressure on Iran to reach an agreement. The report cited U.S. officials familiar with the deployment plan.

Reuters also reported on the story, noting that it has not yet independently verified the accuracy of The Washington Post’s claims. The report was further referenced by BBC sources. The development comes amid ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic discussions involving Iran and neighboring countries.

No official confirmation or detailed timeline has been provided regarding the troop deployment, leaving uncertainty about the exact scale and objectives of the operation.

Bangladesh Bank has resumed purchasing US dollars from the market after a one-and-a-half-month pause. On Wednesday, the central bank bought USD 700 million from a commercial bank at a rate of 122.75 taka per dollar. The last such purchase occurred on March 2, when it acquired USD 250 million from two banks. Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the transaction.

From July to April 15 of the current fiscal year, the central bank has purchased a total of USD 5.56 billion. The increase in remittance inflows has prompted banks to sell dollars to the central bank. During the first 14 days of April, remittances reached USD 1.6 billion, marking a 25 percent rise compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, total remittances have amounted to USD 27.81 billion, up 20.6 percent year-on-year.

The combined effect of higher remittances and dollar purchases has strengthened Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves, which now stand at USD 34.66 billion, or USD 29.97 billion under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method.

An Iranian supertanker has crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is heading toward Iran’s Imam Khomeini port despite existing United States sanctions, according to a report by Fars News Agency. The vessel, identified as a very large crude carrier under sanctions, has a capacity of two million barrels of crude oil.

The report did not clarify whether the tanker was carrying oil or returning empty. The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States over sanctions and maritime activities in the region. The movement of such a large vessel through one of the world’s most strategic waterways highlights the continuing friction surrounding Iran’s oil exports and the enforcement of international restrictions.

Further details about the tanker’s cargo or its destination activities were not disclosed in the report.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam announced that both the government and opposition parties will jointly bring a proposal for constitutional amendment. Speaking to the media at the National Parliament tunnel on Wednesday, he said that while some differences remain between the two sides, consensus will be reached soon to move forward together.

He emphasized that the main goal of the amendment is to strengthen democracy, preserve independence and sovereignty, and promote constructive national development. Nurul Islam also urged the media to highlight positive news alongside negative reports, citing the example of coverage about the temporary closure of the Eastern Refinery PLC and the arrival of two ships carrying 200,000 metric tons of oil.

The Chief Whip further noted that the Prime Minister has been working for the overall welfare of the country, ensuring justice and protecting sovereignty. He added that the government aims to build skilled human resources by promoting multilingual education, including Arabic, Mandarin, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and English as a second language.

The Israeli military has resumed airstrikes in parts of southern Lebanon, urging civilians to evacuate before launching the attacks. Officials said operations are being carried out with 'significant force' along the southern bank of the Zahrani River. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that anyone near Hezbollah members, facilities, or vehicles could be at risk.

According to the report, the renewed offensive marks an escalation in Israel’s military activity in the region. The IDF’s statement emphasized the danger to those in proximity to Hezbollah targets, suggesting a focus on militant infrastructure. Civilians were reportedly instructed to leave affected towns before the strikes began.

The situation follows ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with recent discussions about a possible ceasefire in Lebanon mentioned in related reports. However, no confirmation of such an agreement has been provided.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Primary and Mass Education, Bobby Hajjaj, indicated that both the number of primary school scholarships and the amount of financial support could be increased. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning after visiting the Primary Scholarship Examination center at Motijheel Government Primary School in Dhaka.

The minister said the government is considering changes to the scholarship policy, including reviewing the amount of money awarded and the number of students eligible. New criteria may also be introduced for both public and private school students to encourage greater participation from students and parents. He added that the government aims to raise the national literacy rate to 96 percent and plans to strengthen non-formal education alongside primary education.

Referring to the resumption of the primary scholarship examination after a 16-year break, the minister noted that students and parents are pleased with the decision. The government plans to expand such initiatives further to motivate children to attend school and continue their education.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced that 35 people have been arrested across the country in a series of operations. According to a statement published by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), those detained include individuals allegedly linked to Mossad, arms traffickers, and members of separatist groups. The arrests were carried out in six provinces.

The ministry said the detainees face various national security-related charges and had been under surveillance for an extended period. However, authorities have not released detailed information about the identities of the suspects or the specific allegations against them. The investigation remains ongoing, according to the official statement.

The report, sourced from Al Jazeera and IRNA, did not provide further details about the timing or nature of the alleged activities, leaving the broader context of the arrests unclear.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stated in parliament that Bangladesh had invited its own misfortune regarding India’s Tipaimukh Dam. He made the remark on Wednesday during the question-and-answer session after a supplementary question from BNP lawmaker Abdul Malik of Sylhet-3. Earlier, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu said he would discuss the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Speaker recalled his experience as a former water resources minister, saying that India initiated the Tipaimukh project at the request of Bangladesh’s then foreign minister Abdus Samad Azad. Abdul Malik had raised concerns about floods and droughts in Sylhet caused by upstream water flow from the Barak River, asking what plans the government had to address the issue.

In response, Minister Mintu said he would consult the foreign ministry to find a long-term solution and take measures to reduce the recurring water crisis. The Speaker’s comment followed this exchange, linking the current challenges to earlier decisions involving the dam project.

The first full day of the United States’ naval blockade on Iranian ports left questions about its effectiveness. According to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, the uncertainty may stem from inadequate preparation and interference with ship transponders. BBC Verify’s analysis of maritime tracking data showed that at least four Iran-linked vessels, including two that had visited Iranian ports, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Three other non-Iranian ships also passed through the strait after the blockade began at 10 a.m. US time on Monday.

US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the blockade had been fully implemented, claiming that within less than 36 hours, US forces had completely halted all economic trade to and from Iran by sea. Earlier, the command reported that six commercial ships had turned back toward an Iranian port following US military instructions. However, BBC Verify data indicated that at least two Iran-linked vessels also changed course after crossing the strait.

The mixed signals between official statements and independent tracking data highlight ongoing uncertainty about the blockade’s real impact on maritime movement in the region.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on a four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. The trip comes as Islamabad prepares for a possible second round of talks between the United States and Iran, following an initial round held last Saturday. The announcement coincides with remarks suggesting that developments could occur in Islamabad within the next two days.

According to the ministry, Sharif’s visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar will focus on bilateral relations. In Turkey, he is scheduled to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and hold bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.

The timing of the visit highlights Pakistan’s active diplomatic engagement in the region, particularly as discussions involving the United States and Iran continue to evolve.

Iran has stated that it has no information about any new negotiations with the United States, despite recent remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that something might happen in Islamabad within the next two days. The statement came through Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing a diplomatic source who clarified that no new discussions have been confirmed.

According to IRNA, messages have been exchanged between Tehran and Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator, but no concrete progress has been made. The source added that Pakistan remains committed to its mediation efforts even after previous talks between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad ended without agreement. Iran has not yet issued any public response to Trump’s latest comments.

A two-week ceasefire announced on April 8 is set to expire on April 22, adding urgency to diplomatic developments in the region.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his country prefers dialogue over war, emphasizing that Iran does not want conflict. He cautioned that any attempt by the United States to impose its will or force Iran into submission would not succeed. The remarks were reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Pezeshkian questioned the legitimacy of targeting civilians, prominent individuals, and children, as well as destroying key facilities such as schools and hospitals, under international law and humanitarian principles. His comments reflect Iran’s stance on the need for diplomatic engagement rather than military confrontation.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not mention any ongoing or planned negotiations between Iran and the United States, indicating that no new talks have been initiated at this stage.

Two members of the US Congress have resigned following separate sexual misconduct scandals. Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell announced his resignation on Monday after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or misconduct. Hours later, Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas also stepped down after admitting to a relationship with a former aide amid mounting pressure.

In his resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Swalwell expressed regret for past mistakes and apologized to his family, colleagues, and voters. He stated that he would fight what he described as serious and false allegations but accepted responsibility for his errors. Gonzales admitted to having a relationship with a staff member who later died by suicide. He also faces allegations of sending inappropriate messages to another former employee, which he has not publicly addressed.

The resignations mark a rare bipartisan fallout in Congress, highlighting ongoing scrutiny over personal conduct among elected officials.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman met with European Union Ambassador Michael Miller in Dhaka on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. During the courtesy meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides discussed the long-standing bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the EU, which they described as having evolved into a broad and multidimensional partnership.

The meeting focused on key areas of mutual interest including ongoing reform initiatives, migration management, skills development, rule of law, and good governance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that detailed discussions were also held regarding the foreign minister’s upcoming visit to Brussels, where he will lead a delegation. One of the main objectives of the visit is to complete the initial process for signing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), aimed at institutionalizing and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Miller assured continued EU support for Bangladesh’s reform process, while Minister Rahman expressed appreciation for the EU’s role as one of Bangladesh’s major development and trade partners.