Iran has claimed that a US special operation to rescue a missing American pilot has failed. The statement came after US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that the mission was one of the most courageous in US history and had been completed successfully. Following Trump’s post, Iranian authorities and state media rejected the claim, describing the operation as unsuccessful.

A spokesperson for Iran’s central military headquarters, Khatam al-Anbiya, said in a statement that US forces made desperate attempts to recover the downed pilot but failed due to the efforts of Iranian forces. The United States had earlier confirmed that there was an exchange of gunfire between American and Iranian troops during the mission.

Iran’s military further alleged that Washington’s announcement of a successful rescue was an attempt to conceal its defeat. The incident has added to the ongoing tensions between the two countries, which have previously clashed over military and political issues.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has attributed the current measles outbreak to mismanagement by previous governments. He made the remark on Sunday while inaugurating a measles vaccination campaign at the Nawabganj Upazila Health Complex in Dhaka.

The minister announced that measles vaccinations will begin simultaneously across all districts and upazilas on May 3. In Dhaka North and South City Corporations, as well as in Mymensingh and Barishal, vaccinations will start earlier on April 12. He also stated that the government has initiated the process of purchasing measles vaccines using 604 crore taka that remained unspent during the COVID-19 period.

According to World Health Organization data cited by the minister, 82 percent of measles patients are under five years old, and this group will be prioritized for vaccination, with others to follow in phases.

Iran has claimed to have shot down a US C-130 transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters in the southern province of Isfahan. According to Tehran, the incident occurred during a US mission to rescue missing crew members. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf shared an image of the event on social media, while state television broadcast footage showing the downed aircraft.

A statement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters said the aircraft were destroyed during what it described as a reckless and hostile rescue operation by enemy forces south of Isfahan. Iranian authorities have portrayed the incident as a major victory, arguing that it disproves US claims about the weakness of Iran’s air defense capabilities.

The situation remains tense following recent US-Israeli attacks in Iran. US President Trump has warned of potential large-scale strikes on key Iranian infrastructure within hours or days, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Tasnim News Agency.

Iran and Oman have held a high-level meeting aimed at maintaining normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transport routes, according to Al Jazeera. The meeting, reported by the Oman News Agency, brought together the deputy foreign ministers of both countries to discuss ways to ensure safe and uninterrupted passage through the strait.

Technical experts from Iran and Oman presented several proposals and plans to preserve stability in the area. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global energy supplies, and recent tensions have raised concerns about its security. Following a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, Tehran had temporarily declared the route closed to shipping.

Iran later announced that the strait would remain safe for all nations except the United States, Israel, and their allies, signaling a partial reopening of the crucial maritime corridor.

Bangladesh’s Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, told parliament that the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States has disrupted the process of sending Bangladeshi workers to several Middle Eastern labor markets, including the United Arab Emirates. He made the statement on Sunday in response to a question from BNP lawmaker Shafiqul Rahman during a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

The minister explained that the government alone cannot manage the overseas employment process and therefore issues licenses to private recruiting agencies to involve them in manpower export. He highlighted government initiatives to expand labor markets in Dubai and other Asian countries. Chowdhury also reported that in 2025, a total of 1,132,519 Bangladeshis secured overseas employment, including 62,352 women workers. He added that over 15 million Bangladeshis are currently working in 176 countries worldwide.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the rights and welfare of expatriate workers and noted that previous administrations had neglected these issues. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to maintain transparency and competition in labor recruitment, particularly regarding Malaysia.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed met with a delegation led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Stefan Liller at his official residence on Bailey Road on April 5, 2026. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including law and order, police reform, the establishment of an independent police commission, the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, the Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearances Ordinance, and the Rohingya issue.

During the meeting, the minister emphasized that police reform is an ongoing process and that Bangladesh believes in gradual improvement. He noted that UNDP could assist in strengthening police capacity and restructuring efforts. The UNDP representative assured continued cooperation, highlighting the organization’s long-standing involvement with the National Human Rights Commission and its contribution to drafting the related ordinance.

The Home Minister stated that both the Human Rights Commission and Enforced Disappearances ordinances would be presented to Parliament after further review. He also clarified that the Armed Police Battalion deployed in Rohingya camps is not an investigative body but assured that security measures there would be further strengthened.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued a directive requiring voters in the upcoming Bogura-6 by-election to apply indelible ink on the opposite hand from the one used during the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on February 12. The by-election is scheduled for April 9, and the EC has sent letters to returning officers instructing them to follow this guideline. The rule applies specifically to voters who already have ink marks from the previous election.

According to the EC notification, voters who did not cast their ballots in the February 12 election will continue under the previous ink-use instructions. The Bogura-6 by-election will feature candidates Md. Abidur Rahman from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md. Rezaul Karim Badsha from the BNP, and Al Alim Talukder from the Bangladesh Development Party.

The seat became vacant after BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, who won both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 constituencies, chose to retain Dhaka-17. The EC subsequently declared Bogura-6 vacant and announced a new schedule. The same-day Sherpur-3 general election will not follow this ink-hand rule.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended a prayer gathering held for the late Dilara Hafiz, wife of National Parliament Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom. The prayer took place after Maghrib prayers on Saturday, April 5, at the mosque inside the National Parliament complex in Dhaka.

Dilara Hafiz had passed away earlier in Singapore while undergoing medical treatment. According to the report, she died at 1:29 p.m. local time on Saturday at Singapore General Hospital at the age of 78. She is survived by her husband, one son, one daughter, grandchildren, and numerous admirers.

The event was organized to pray for the salvation of her soul, reflecting respect and remembrance for the Speaker’s late spouse.

Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the Prime Minister, and Abu Abdullah M. Saleh (Shibli), the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, have been appointed as official spokespersons of the Prime Minister’s Office. The announcement was made through a government notification issued on Sunday, stating that under Rule 28(4) of the Rules of Business, 1996, both officials will handle the dissemination of official information to the press, media, and other platforms.

Mahdi Amin, who holds the rank of minister of state, oversees the ministries of Education, Primary and Mass Education, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Labour and Employment. He previously served as a key member and spokesperson of the BNP’s central election management committee during the 13th national election and has contributed to policy discussions on education, employment, and inclusive development. Saleh Shibli, a veteran journalist, has worked with several major media outlets and served in various press roles, including as Press Secretary to BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman.

Both officials have long-standing professional ties with the current Prime Minister and are expected to coordinate official communications from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has appointed four judicial magistrates to oversee and curb electoral offences in the upcoming by-elections for Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 constituencies, scheduled for April 9. The appointments were confirmed on April 5 through a notification issued by Mohammad Didar Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the EC’s Law Branch. The magistrates will conduct summary trials under the Representation of the People Order and Section 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and submit reports to the Commission. They will serve from April 7 to 11.

The appointed magistrates include Md. Mehedi Hasan and Md. Kamal Hossain for Bogura, and Md. Sultan Mahmud Milon and Md. Hasan Bhuiyan for Sherpur. Earlier, the EC had deployed 20 executive magistrates to ensure compliance with the electoral code of conduct in these constituencies.

The Bogura-6 seat became vacant after BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, who won the February 12 election, retained another constituency. The Sherpur-3 election was rescheduled after a candidate’s death during the same national polls.

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.