Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni has announced that a special parliamentary committee will soon be formed to address constitutional amendments. Speaking to reporters after a parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday, he said the committee will include representatives from all parties, including independents, in proportionate numbers. He added that the committee could have 15 to 20 members, though the exact number has not yet been finalized.

Moni emphasized that both ruling and opposition party legal experts will be included in the committee to ensure broad participation. He urged opposition parties to join, saying that constitutional reform is essential for the country and should not be delayed. He also stated that the government aims to make parliament more effective and to solve national issues through parliamentary processes.

A parliamentary press release added that the meeting recommended installing an echo-free sound system in the session chamber, improving internet speed, ensuring safe drinking water in the parliament area, and preparing residences for members by April 10.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told parliament on Wednesday that Bangladesh is tracing approximately 234 billion US dollars allegedly laundered abroad during the previous regime. Responding to a written question from MP Md. Abul Kalam, he said the government aims to recover the funds for public welfare. According to him, assets worth about 70,446 crore taka have already been seized or frozen domestically and overseas under court orders.

The prime minister said the interim government’s white paper committee estimated that between 2009 and 2023, illicit financial outflows averaged 16 billion dollars annually. Ten countries have been identified as destinations for the laundered money, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Thailand, the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong-China. Agreements on mutual legal assistance have been reached with Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the UAE, while talks with the remaining seven countries are ongoing.

Rahman added that a task force led by the Bangladesh Bank governor is pursuing recovery through 11 priority cases, with 141 total cases filed so far. The government has made asset recovery a top priority in its broader anti-corruption and anti-money laundering strategy.

Bangladesh has imported an additional 7,000 tons of diesel from India through the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline to the Parbatipur depot in Dinajpur. The consignment arrived at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday after pumping began on March 28 from the Numaligarh Refinery in Assam. The information was confirmed by the Deputy Manager (Operations) of Padma Oil PLC’s Parbatipur depot, Md. Ahsan Habib Chowdhury.

According to the report, the government continues regular diesel imports from India via pipeline to ensure national fuel security. Earlier, on March 11 and 23, two separate consignments of 5,000 tons each were received, bringing the total imported volume through the pipeline to 17,000 tons. Distribution to registered dealers began on Wednesday afternoon, and the depot remained open on Friday under government instruction to maintain normal fuel supply.

To ensure security, members of the Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed at the Parbatipur depot, overseeing the distribution process to dealers.

Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that the ruling party is unwilling to fully implement the July Charter under the guise of forming a constitutional amendment committee. The party’s senior Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament ATM Azharul Islam made the remark on Wednesday afternoon at the 13th National Parliament building, where Barrister Najibur Rahman MP was also present.

ATM Azharul Islam stated that there is no question of the opposition joining the government’s proposed constitutional amendment committee, arguing that mere amendments are insufficient and that full reform is necessary. He also commented that some statements by the opposition leader had been misquoted, which he said was not acceptable.

Earlier in the morning, the third meeting of the parliamentary committee was held in the Cabinet Room of the National Parliament. The discussion reflects ongoing political disagreement over the process and scope of constitutional reform linked to the July Charter.

International Energy Agency (IEA) chief Fatih Birol has stated that the ongoing war has disrupted global oil supplies by about 12 million barrels per day. Speaking in a podcast with Nicolai Tangen, head of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, Birol said around 40 key regional energy facilities have been damaged due to the conflict.

He warned that the disruption could double in April compared to March, with Europe expected to feel the impact soon. Birol highlighted that the most severe shortages are currently in jet fuel and diesel, noting that Asia is already experiencing the effects and that Europe may face similar challenges by April or May.

Analysts believe the situation has sparked renewed concerns in the global energy market, as the supply disruptions and fuel shortages threaten to intensify economic pressures worldwide.

A Bangladeshi national was killed in the United Arab Emirates after debris from a downed drone struck him. The Fujairah emirate authorities confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday. According to the government’s media office, the UAE’s air defense system successfully intercepted a drone within its airspace, and the wreckage fell on a farm in the Al-Riffa area, causing the fatality.

Rescue teams and relevant authorities are currently at the site, monitoring the situation and working to ensure the safety of the surrounding area. The report was carried by Gulf News and confirmed by Fujairah’s government media office.

The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of drone and missile attacks linked to ongoing conflicts affecting oil supply and regional security.

The Bangladesh English Medium School Parents’ Forum has opposed the Education Ministry’s proposal for a 3+3 online class model, under which students would attend three days of online and three days of in-person classes each week. In a statement issued on Wednesday, forum president A.K.M. Ashraful Haque demanded cancellation of the plan and presented four alternative measures aimed at saving electricity without disrupting students’ education.

The forum argued that the proposed model would increase financial pressure on parents due to the cost of high-speed internet and digital devices, while working parents would struggle to supervise online classes. Instead, they suggested holding four days of in-person classes weekly and keeping schools closed for the remaining three days to reduce travel and institutional electricity use. Additional proposals included shortening school hours, limiting air conditioner use, and maximizing natural light and ventilation.

The statement warned that implementing the 3+3 model could harm students’ academic progress, especially with upcoming O- and A-Level exams and session finals approaching in May.

The opposition parties in Bangladesh’s National Parliament staged a walkout on Wednesday afternoon after failing to receive a response regarding their demand to convene a meeting of the Constitutional Reform Council. Opposition leader Shafiqul Rahman announced the walkout, leading members out of the chamber in protest against what they described as an attempt to suppress their proposal by introducing another motion.

The dispute followed Tuesday’s discussion on a pending motion about convening the council. The ruling party had proposed forming an all-party special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendments, but the opposition disagreed, insisting that any committee should center on the Constitutional Reform Council. During Wednesday’s session, Shafiqul Rahman sought a ruling from Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, who replied that the earlier motion was inadmissible for legislative reasons but that further discussion could be allowed.

The opposition leader maintained that their demand reflected public sentiment and accused the government of disregarding voter expectations. The Speaker acknowledged their right to walk out, and opposition members subsequently left the chamber.

Iran has expressed dissatisfaction and sorrow over Bangladesh’s official statement following the joint attack by the United States and Israel. Speaking at a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday, Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi said Tehran had expected Bangladesh, as a Muslim-majority nation, to directly condemn the aggression. Instead, Bangladesh only expressed concern, which Iran found disappointing.

The ambassador noted that countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Spain had explicitly condemned the attack, contrasting their positions with Bangladesh’s cautious response. Although Iran will not send an official letter to Dhaka, Jahanabadi said he would personally raise the issue with Bangladesh’s prime minister in a future meeting. He emphasized that Iran targets only US bases in the region, not neighboring Muslim countries, and questioned why Arab states allow such bases on their soil.

Despite the discontent, the ambassador reaffirmed Iran’s intention to strengthen ties with Bangladesh and welcomed any peace initiatives Dhaka might take in the Middle East. He also assured cooperation in ensuring the safe return of Bangladeshis from Iran.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government will provide free school uniforms to 200,000 primary school children. He made the statement on Wednesday, April 1, during a live question-and-answer session with members of parliament at the National Assembly. The session was part of a scheduled 30-minute segment dedicated to questions for the prime minister.

During his remarks, Rahman expressed gratitude to voters and emphasized his responsibility to serve all citizens, including those who did not vote for him. He said the government had already begun implementing its election manifesto, including plans to plant 15 million saplings of various species during the current monsoon season. He also stated that the introduction of family and farmer cards would help stabilize the economy and prevent inflation.

According to the prime minister, an additional 30,000 families will receive family cards within the next three months, and 40 million more families will be included over the next four years.

According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, at least ten Iranian nurses were killed in a joint attack carried out by the United States and Israel. The report stated that the medical workers were killed at their workplaces during the assault. Despite the fatalities, Iran’s healthcare services have continued to operate normally, with no reported disruptions.

The ISNA report cited the Director General of the Nursing System Organization, who confirmed that medical operations across the country remain unaffected. The source of the report was identified as Al Jazeera, which also covered related developments in the ongoing conflict.

The broader context of the report mentioned that the war has disrupted the supply of about 12 million barrels of oil per day, and that Iran used over a hundred missiles and drones in its own attacks. The situation has also raised security concerns among Gulf allies of former US President Donald Trump.

Internationally renowned photographer and rights activist Dr. Shahidul Alam paid a courtesy visit to Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The meeting took place at the Vice-Chancellor’s office and focused on enhancing education in photography, film, and multimedia, as well as strengthening international cooperation in these fields.

During the discussion, participants explored the possibility of expanding joint educational and research programs between Dhaka University and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, a leading photography school in South Asia. Pathshala Principal Professor Kh. M. Harun was also present. The meeting emphasized the modernization of media, photography, film, and multimedia education in Bangladesh and the importance of global academic collaboration. Plans for organizing international seminars, symposiums, and conferences were also discussed.

The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged Pathshala’s significant role in developing photography and visual media education in Bangladesh and assured full institutional support for the advancement of its academic programs under Dhaka University’s affiliation.

US President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of targeting Iran’s water purification facilities as part of the ongoing conflict with Tehran, alarming several Gulf allies. These countries expressed deep concern that such attacks would constitute war crimes under international law, which prohibits strikes on civilian infrastructure. Regional sources told CNN that Gulf states have privately warned the Trump administration against such actions, fearing devastating retaliatory attacks.

Andrew Friedman, director of the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), cautioned that even threatening actions that could amount to war crimes unsettles allied nations, as they do not want to be complicit in such acts. The report noted that Iran has previously retaliated against US allies in the Gulf following US-Israeli strikes, and many Gulf nations rely heavily on desalination plants for drinking water.

Experts warned that if Iran responds by attacking Gulf desalination facilities, it could trigger a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite private warnings, no Gulf state has publicly opposed Trump’s stance, leaving the regional conflict increasingly volatile and complex.

Health authorities in Chattogram reported a sharp rise in children showing measles symptoms, with most of the affected being unvaccinated. Over the past 84 hours, 26 new children were admitted to various hospitals, bringing the total number of patients under treatment to 55. Among them, seven have been confirmed with measles and one with rubella. A five-and-a-half-month-old child from Cox’s Bazar, admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, died in the ICU, though confirmation of measles as the cause awaits lab results.

According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, 91 samples have been sent to the National Polio and Measles-Rubella Laboratory in Dhaka for testing. Data from Chattogram Medical College Hospital show that only three of the 33 admitted children received two vaccine doses, nine received one dose, and 21 were unvaccinated. Most of the unvaccinated are under nine months old. Health experts emphasized the need for full participation in routine immunization programs to prevent wider outbreaks.

Officials warned that without improved vaccination coverage, the current rise in infections could escalate further in the coming months.

Government Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced that a special parliamentary committee will soon be formed to amend the constitution in line with the July National Charter. He made the statement on Wednesday, April 1, after the third meeting of the parliamentary committee. The initiative includes the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) note of dissent.

Moni said the committee will be created with participation from all sides, including legal experts from both the ruling and opposition parties. The exact number of members has not yet been finalized. He emphasized that the government wants to make the parliament more effective and that constitutional amendments are necessary for various reforms.

The Chief Whip added that the government seeks cooperation from the opposition for the welfare of the country and hopes they will join the constitutional amendment committee soon.