Security analyst Mohammad Ali told Al Jazeera that a certain level of flexibility has emerged in the ongoing talks between the United States and Iran, attributing this shift to Pakistan’s mediation efforts. He noted that if the current ceasefire continues for a longer period, it would indicate that both sides are unwilling to escalate the conflict further.

Ali explained that while both parties may display strong public postures, the actual discussions at the negotiation table are more pragmatic, as each side remains aware of domestic political pressures. He emphasized that Pakistan has played an important role since the arrival of both delegations, holding separate meetings with each to encourage greater flexibility and to seize what he described as a historic opportunity.

According to Ali, the world is no longer in a position to endure further conflict or tension, particularly given the potential impact on global peace, security, and the energy economy.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed support for the Iranian delegation participating in the ongoing United States–Iran talks in Islamabad. In a post on his social media platform X, he stated that the delegation in Pakistan would negotiate courageously to protect the country’s interests. Pezeshkian emphasized that public service would continue uninterrupted regardless of the outcome of the discussions and that the government would remain by the people’s side.

The talks between the United States and Iran are being held in Islamabad, with Pakistan acting as the mediator. The discussions come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two nations, with both sides engaging through intermediaries. The Iranian president’s statement signals confidence in his delegation’s approach and underscores Tehran’s commitment to safeguarding national priorities during the negotiations.

The continuation of the talks and the president’s remarks suggest that Iran aims to maintain a firm stance while engaging diplomatically through Pakistan’s mediation.

More than a hundred journalists gathered at Islamabad’s main convention center to cover the ongoing United States–Iran dialogue, according to the report. The Pakistani authorities temporarily turned the venue into a media hub, located about half a kilometer from the main discussion site. Reporters spent long hours waiting as the talks continued, while the center offered high-speed internet, gourmet coffee, and elaborate meals under the slogan “Brewed for Peace.”

Inside the media center, facilities included biryani, kebabs, and desserts, along with coffee made from Brazilian and Ethiopian beans. Folk musicians performed outside on a small stage, adding a cultural touch to the environment. Despite these arrangements, several journalists expressed boredom and frustration, noting that there was little to do while waiting for updates.

The contrast between the high-level diplomatic discussions and the journalists’ idle hours highlighted the different realities surrounding the event, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered 1,400 rounds of ammunition during an operation in Panchhari upazila of Khagrachhari district. The operation took place on Friday afternoon in the remote Kathaltali area of Bauddhamonipara, following intelligence about an ammunition shipment. BGB reported the recovery in a press release on Saturday morning, confirming that no suspects were detained.

According to BGB, a patrol team led by Naib Subedar Md. Shah Alam of the Bauddhamonipara border outpost under the 3 BGB Battalion intercepted two motorcycles carrying four suspects. The suspects fled into the hilly area, abandoning their motorcycles and a bag that contained the ammunition. BGB stated that while returning from the site, its members were surrounded by a group of armed men, but reinforcements led by Acting Commander Major S.M. Imrul Kayes arrived promptly, forcing the attackers to retreat.

Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md. Robiul Islam said BGB maintains a zero-tolerance policy against illegal arms, ammunition, and smuggling along the border and that intelligence surveillance and patrols have been intensified.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said a US destroyer moving from the UAE’s Fujairah port toward the Strait of Hormuz came under surveillance by Iran’s armed forces. The information was also shared with an Iranian negotiation team in Pakistan. At the same time, journalist Barak Ravid of Axios, citing US officials, reported that American warships had already crossed the strait, though Iran’s Tasnim news agency denied this through an unnamed official.

Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder data indicated that the US warship USS Michael Murphy departed Dubai’s Jebel Ali port and was near the western part of the Strait of Hormuz, with its listed destination as Singapore. The movement comes as Iran has declared it will not allow US or Israeli ships to pass through the strategic waterway.

The situation highlights rising maritime tensions in the region, with both sides issuing conflicting accounts of naval activity and Iran asserting control over transit permissions in the strait.

Opposition Leader in Parliament and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman called for an end to political violence, emphasizing that future elections should not cause bloodshed or suffering. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while visiting the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital to see the injured Sherpur Jamaat secretary, who was hurt in election-related violence. Rahman said politics should be a battle of ideals, not weapons, and that those who harm people cannot truly represent them.

He criticized the recent by-elections in Sherpur and Bogura held on April 9, alleging widespread irregularities, fraud, and violence, particularly in Sherpur-3. He recalled previous incidents of deadly election violence in the same area and noted that one elderly man was severely injured this time. Rahman also highlighted the overcrowded condition of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, saying it reflected the poor state of the health sector.

Rahman pledged to raise these issues in Parliament and reaffirmed that his party would continue peaceful but firm movements to secure citizens’ rights, rejecting any path of violence.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the residency permits of several relatives of Masoumeh Ebtekar, Iran’s former vice president for women and family affairs, according to Al Jazeera. In a post on social media platform X, Rubio said that Ebtekar’s son Isa Hashemi, along with his wife and children, had their visas canceled.

Rubio stated that these individuals should never have been granted the privilege to live in the United States. He added that they are currently in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and are undergoing deportation procedures.

The announcement came as Iran and the United States held talks in Islamabad aimed at halting the ongoing conflict between the two countries, with reports suggesting some positive indications from the discussions.

Representatives from Iran and the United States are engaged in direct discussions in Islamabad, according to Al Jazeera. The meeting, which began as a closed-door session, lasted about two hours before breaking for dinner and is expected to resume. Sources cited by the report described the talks as taking place in a positive environment.

Initially, the two sides were expected to participate in indirect negotiations, but the format shifted to direct talks in the presence of Pakistani officials, which observers consider a significant step forward. Iranian sources indicated that some changes have occurred regarding the release of the country’s frozen assets.

Al Jazeera noted that the process remains at an early stage, with limited verified information available. The situation continues to evolve as more details emerge from the ongoing discussions.

The Alliance for Fair Election and Democracy (AFED) has reported indications of proxy voting at 11 percent of polling centers during the Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 by-elections. The organization presented its findings at a press conference held on Saturday at the Economic Reporters Forum auditorium in Dhaka. AFED stated that while most polling centers experienced peaceful voting, some irregularities occurred, including ballot counting before the end of voting in a few centers.

According to AFED spokesperson Harun-or-Rashid, about 12 percent of centers did not properly follow voter identification procedures, and one incident of physical intimidation was recorded. Around 47 percent of centers displayed campaign materials near polling areas, violating electoral codes. Unauthorized individuals were seen controlling access outside 12 centers, and in 15 cases, voters were reportedly directed on how to vote. Nearly half of the centers saw groups of voters arriving in the same vehicles.

AFED noted that voter turnout ranged between 31 and 64 percent, with many centers experiencing long periods of low attendance. The group recommended stronger training for polling officials, stricter enforcement of election-day codes, and expansion of postal voting based on pilot experiences.

Bangladesh has expanded its special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign to four major city corporations starting Sunday, April 12, 2026. The program will cover both city corporations in Dhaka, as well as Mymensingh and Barishal City Corporations. According to the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), the campaign aims to vaccinate 1,219,957 children aged six months to five years in these urban areas. The nationwide rollout is scheduled to begin on April 20, 2026.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the special vaccination drive on April 5, initially targeting 30 upazilas across 18 districts where measles infections were most severe. The campaign prioritizes regions with higher infection rates and includes all children aged six to 59 months, regardless of previous vaccination status. Vaccinations will be administered daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on weekly holidays.

Originally planned for May 3, the nationwide campaign start date was advanced to April 20 to accelerate measles prevention efforts across the country.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh has expressed disappointment over the BNP-led government's stance on national reforms following the July uprising. In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s joint secretary general and spokesperson, Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, said that the post-uprising period had created an unprecedented opportunity for reform through the Reform Commission and National Consensus Commission. He noted that the interim government had issued several ordinances to institutionalize political neutrality and strengthen constitutional bodies.

Rahman stated that the 13th National Parliament was expected to approve these ordinances and introduce further reform legislation. However, he said the BNP’s actions in its first parliamentary session had dashed public hopes. According to him, the government allowed key ordinances—such as those on referendums, enforced disappearance prevention, and the formation of a police commission—to lapse, and repealed seven others related to judicial independence, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Parliament Secretariat.

He argued that these ordinances could have dismantled authoritarian structures and advanced democracy. Islami Andolan condemned the repeals but urged BNP to present stronger reform bills in the next session, warning that otherwise, the public would press their demands independently.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under growing pressure over Israel’s ongoing offensive in Lebanon, according to multiple reports. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Netanyahu to halt attacks on Beirut and engage in dialogue with the Lebanese government. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s leadership, feeling cornered, agreed to speak directly with an Israeli representative despite the continuing assault, seeking to avoid Iranian mediation in ceasefire talks.

Initial meetings between the two sides are unlikely to yield major progress, as their positions remain far apart, particularly regarding whether to continue discussions amid active hostilities. The situation reflects deep divisions and limited trust between the parties.

Domestically, Netanyahu is also facing political strain. Recent opinion polls indicate a decline in his popularity, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s right-wing bloc projected to win more seats than Netanyahu’s Likud party in upcoming elections, according to Al Jazeera.

Leaders of Khelafat Majlis expressed deep concern at their central Majlis-e-Shura session in Dhaka, accusing the BNP government of taking an anti-people stance by repealing the Referendum Ordinance 2025 along with several other major ordinances. They said the cancellation of these laws, including those on enforced disappearance prevention, anti-corruption, human rights, and judicial reform, was pushing the country toward authoritarian rule.

The leaders also criticized the BNP’s July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, calling it a document of deception that undermined the spirit of the July uprising. They emphasized that the 48 proposals approved through the referendum must be reviewed by the elected parliament and implemented in line with the people’s verdict.

The session, chaired by Amir Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, also discussed the 2026 national election, public health issues such as rising measles cases, inadequate mosquito control, and shortages in government hospitals. The leaders urged the government to withdraw the decision to hold online classes three days a week and demanded accountability from the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in recent by-elections.

French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the current Middle East situation and maritime security, according to Al Jazeera. Macron stated on social media platform X that he reaffirmed his full support for the ongoing ceasefire in Lebanon, emphasizing the need for it to be fully respected and rapidly expanded.

The two leaders also discussed the urgent need to restore normal and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Macron said they agreed to maintain close communication to reduce regional tensions, ensure freedom of navigation, and work toward long-term peace and security, particularly in light of ongoing talks in Islamabad.

The conversation reflects continuing diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region and safeguard critical maritime routes amid heightened tensions and ongoing negotiations involving multiple regional actors.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has confirmed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit India, though the exact date has not yet been finalized. He made the remarks on April 10 while speaking to journalists in Port Louis, Mauritius, before returning home from the Ninth Indian Ocean Conference. The minister said that several preparatory activities will take place over the next few weeks to organize the visit.

Dr. Rahman stated that during his recent trip to India, he held important meetings with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, where the upcoming visit and other bilateral issues were discussed. He also met India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during the April 8 visit to New Delhi. According to the minister, both countries’ prime ministers have already exchanged letters and spoken by phone, expressing strong interest in advancing the Bangladesh-India relationship.

The discussions and planned visit are expected to strengthen diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries, though no specific timeline has yet been announced.