Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the role of the armed forces in the July movement has given hope to the people. He made the remarks on Sunday morning at the armed forces' assembly in Dhaka Cantonment, emphasizing that a strong and united military ensures Bangladesh cannot be defeated.

Rahman stated that the armed forces belong to the nation, not to any individual, party, or family, and urged them to maintain professionalism without compromise. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the military and ensuring justice for the Pilkhana massacre, which he said had been intended to weaken the army.

The Prime Minister added that the government seeks a military respected by foreign powers and trusted by citizens. He called for the armed forces to uphold high moral standards and preserve the patriotic spirit instilled by President Ziaur Rahman across all ranks.

Israeli airstrikes continued across Lebanon, deepening the humanitarian crisis and sparking widespread protests. Reports from Beirut and southern Lebanese cities indicated that numerous people were killed within the past 24 hours. Grieving families carried bodies through the streets as funerals turned into large demonstrations, highlighting the growing desperation among civilians.

Protesters condemned Israel’s ongoing attacks and criticized the international community’s silence, demanding immediate action to stop the bloodshed. Scenes from mass burials underscored the scale of civilian suffering as the conflict escalated. The Israeli military stated that it would continue targeting what it described as objectives in Lebanon.

The escalating violence has paralyzed daily life in Beirut and other major cities, forcing thousands to flee their homes in search of safety. The situation remains dire, with civilians bearing the heaviest toll of the continuing hostilities.

Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur is hosting the four-day 'Shaheed Abu Sayeed Book Fair 2026' from April 12 to April 15. The event, announced through a university notice signed by Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Ferdous Rahman, will take place at the university’s Independence Memorial Ground. Various publishing houses will participate, and the fair will remain open to all visitors.

Alongside the book fair, the university administration has arranged several programs to celebrate Chaitra Sankranti and the Bengali New Year 1433. A kite-flying competition will be held on April 13 at 4 p.m. at the football field, followed by a festive procession on April 14 at 9:15 a.m. from the south gate of the administrative building. A Baishakhi fair will take place in front of the academic buildings, and a cultural program will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the media square.

The book fair will be inaugurated at 3 p.m. by the father of Shaheed Abu Sayeed. Due to the current fuel shortage, the fair will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with cultural events each afternoon.

A total of 126,000 applications have been submitted nationwide for 2,703 vacant Trainee Recruit Constable (TRC) positions in the Bangladesh Police, according to an official announcement on April 12, 2026. On average, about 47 candidates are competing for each post. Applicants aged between 18 and 20 are now waiting for physical tests and subsequent selection stages, which will determine the final qualified candidates.

Police Headquarters’ Public Relations Officer Kamrul Ahsan confirmed the figures. Sources said the strong response reflects the government’s active initiative to strengthen public security and address long-standing manpower shortages in the force. The application process has concluded, and preparations for field-level physical examinations are underway.

Authorities have emphasized transparency in the recruitment process, warning that any lobbying or financial transactions will lead to disqualification. A zero-tolerance policy has been adopted to prevent broker involvement, and any falsified information will result in application cancellation and legal action.

A local leader of the Weavers’ League in Khulna was hacked to death by unidentified assailants late Saturday night. The victim, identified as Sonamiya, aged 38, was the convener of the organization’s Ward No. 10 unit. The attack occurred around 12:15 a.m. in the Nayabati area of Khalishpur in Khulna city. Police confirmed the incident through the Khalishpur Police Station duty officer.

According to local accounts, Sonamiya was inside his tea shop when three attackers arrived on a motorcycle and entered the shop. They assaulted him with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured. He attempted to flee to a nearby house for safety, but the assailants followed and attacked him again. Locals rescued him and took him first to Khalishpur Clinic and later to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The attackers reportedly wore masks and a helmet and fled the scene immediately after the assault. Police have not yet identified the perpetrators or the motive behind the killing.

Bangladesh’s government directive to close shopping malls and commercial establishments by 7 p.m. to conserve energy has caused major disruptions in the retail sector. Small and medium traders across the country report that reduced operating hours have sharply cut daily sales, with many struggling to cover rent, wages, and utility bills. Retailers are urging authorities to extend business hours to 8 p.m. to recover part of the lost revenue.

Shop owners in Dhaka’s major markets, including New Market, Bashundhara City, and Gulistan, say sales have dropped by 40–50 percent since the rule took effect. The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association estimates daily losses in the hundreds of crores of taka, noting that 60–70 percent of retail transactions usually occur after sunset. The group has appealed to the prime minister to allow shops to remain open until 8 or 9 p.m.

Experts warn that the restriction may reduce domestic consumption and slow economic activity, even as it helps save electricity. They recommend balancing energy conservation with economic stability through better coordination between government and private sectors.

Iran has denied a claim by the United States that two American warships crossed the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the USS Frank E. Petersen and USS Michael Murphy had passed through the strait and were operating in the Arabian Sea as part of a broader mission. According to CENTCOM, the operation aimed to clear the strait of naval mines allegedly placed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and to ensure maritime security.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters rejected the US statement in a brief response. A spokesperson said the CENTCOM commander’s claim about the movement and entry of US ships into the Strait of Hormuz was strongly denied. The spokesperson added that all navigation and movement in the area are fully under the control of Iran’s armed forces.

The conflicting statements highlight ongoing maritime tensions between the two countries over control and security in one of the world’s most strategic waterways.

An earthquake was felt in Sylhet and surrounding areas on Sunday morning at 9:21 a.m., according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake originated in Silchar, Assam, India, and registered a magnitude of 4.3 on the Richter scale. No casualties or property damage have been reported so far, though residents in border areas experienced panic during the tremor.

Just five days earlier, on April 7, a 4.9-magnitude earthquake had struck the same region, also felt across Sylhet and nearby districts. The recent activity follows a series of tremors recorded in different parts of Bangladesh in recent months.

The report recalls that a 5.7-magnitude earthquake centered in Narsingdi’s Madhabdi area on November 21 had caused ten deaths and multiple injuries nationwide, underscoring growing concern over the country’s seismic vulnerability.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that recent talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad ended without an agreement due to what he described as excessive demands from the US side. He emphasized that despite the lack of a deal, diplomacy never ends and that discussions between the two countries had covered several issues, reaching understanding on some while differing on two or three key points.

Baghaei told Iranian media that the Islamabad meeting was the longest round of talks in the past year, lasting 24 to 25 hours. He noted that the discussions took place in an atmosphere of mistrust following a 40-day conflict, and that no one had expected a single meeting to produce a final agreement. He reiterated that diplomats must continue their duties in both war and peace.

According to Baghaei, the success of future negotiations depends on the sincerity and goodwill of the opposing side and recognition of Iran’s legitimate rights and interests.

Israeli citizens awoke to news that US President Donald Trump had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, following earlier threats to destroy Iranian civilization. Iranian media reported that the truce was based on a ten-point proposal including ending hostilities, allowing Tehran to continue uranium enrichment, ensuring security for Iran’s allies, compensating for damages caused by US-Israeli aggression, and collecting transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

If a permanent peace agreement emerges from these terms, it could severely damage Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political career. A report in The New York Times stated that Netanyahu had largely acted alone in pushing Trump toward aggression against Iran. Acceptance of Iran’s conditions would strengthen Tehran, contradicting Netanyahu’s earlier war objectives and undermining his regional strategy.

The developments threaten Israel’s regional standing and the Abraham Accords initiative to normalize ties with Arab states. With Iran potentially controlling the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf nations could become dependent on Tehran for energy exports, weakening US influence in the region.

The United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement after 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, ending a high-stakes negotiation aimed at easing tensions following recent military clashes. US Vice President J.D. Vance left Pakistan first, followed by the Iranian delegation, as both sides accused each other of causing the breakdown. Vance said Washington’s proposals were rejected by Tehran, particularly on nuclear and regional security issues, and described the US offer as a “final and best” one.

Iran’s state media, Press TV, blamed Washington’s “excessive demands” for the failure, citing sharp disagreements over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear rights, and other unresolved matters. Iranian negotiators claimed that US-imposed conditions disrupted the normal environment for dialogue.

The Islamabad meeting was arranged through Pakistan’s mediation after over a month of hostilities that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched attacks in Iran, prompting Iranian strikes on Israeli and US bases in the region. Despite the collapse of this round, both sides had earlier indicated willingness to continue discussions.

An Iranian high-level delegation has departed from Pakistan after a round of talks between Iran and the United States ended without a final agreement, according to Mehr News Agency. The delegation included Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The discussions, held in Islamabad under Pakistan’s mediation, lasted about 21 hours but concluded without a deal.

The talks failed to resolve key issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, regional security, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. US Vice President JD Vance also left Islamabad, stating that Iran did not accept the conditions proposed by the United States. Sources indicated that while some progress was made, neither side was willing to make final concessions, leaving the outcome as neither a complete failure nor a success.

Pakistan expressed its willingness to continue facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States in the future, signaling its ongoing role as a mediator in regional diplomacy.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that negotiations with the United States in Islamabad made progress on some matters but failed to reach an agreement due to differences on two or three key issues. He disclosed this in an interview with Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB on Sunday, noting that while both sides agreed on certain points, significant gaps remained on others.

Earlier, U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that the absence of a firm Iranian commitment to abandon nuclear weapons was a major obstacle in the discussions. Although Iranian state media had previously dismissed the possibility of further talks, Baghaei adopted a more flexible tone, emphasizing that diplomacy never ends and that no one expected all issues to be resolved in a single meeting.

Baghaei added that Iran would continue communication with mediator Pakistan and other friendly nations in the region. However, he did not clarify whether there were concrete plans to resume direct talks with the United States.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that two guided-missile destroyers have begun clearing sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said the operation is part of a broader mission to fully remove mines allegedly laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen and USS Michael Murphy have crossed the strait and are operating in the Arabian Gulf as part of the effort.

In a post on social media platform X, CENTCOM stated that the mission aims to ensure the free flow of commerce through the vital waterway. Admiral Cooper added that a new safe passage will soon be opened to secure maritime trade routes. Despite the mine-clearing efforts, the report noted that Iran retains missile-launching capabilities.

US President Donald Trump also commented on the operation via Truth Social, saying the United States is beginning the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz for the benefit of nations worldwide.

A large-scale fraud allegation has surfaced in Keraniganj, Dhaka, involving around 10,000 investors and hundreds of crores of taka. The accused is Naznin Akter Usha Nazim, daughter of former Shuvadda Union Parishad chairman Nazim Uddin and managing director of International Amusement Club. Victims claim they were denied promised plots, dividends, or refunds and instead faced threats and harassment. The projects include Bashundhara Riverview, Hasnabad Housing, Chandarchar BCRSP, and several others launched by Nazim Uddin before his death in 2013.

After Nazim Uddin’s death, his family inherited his assets, and Usha became the club’s managing director. The club’s operations stopped, and investors allege Usha secretly sold properties. In January 2025, victims filed a case against Nazim’s family members, accusing them of embezzlement and intimidation. Usha denies wrongdoing, calling the allegations false, though she admits selling some project lands and refusing refunds to permanent members.

The projects remain inactive, and thousands of investors are yet to recover their money. The dispute has left the International Amusement Club defunct and its members without resolution.