Release of the US–Bangladesh trade deal text has triggered scrutiny over tariffs, sovereignty, and policy risks, as former officials and economists voice growing concern.
President Donald Trump has clarified that the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in "full effect," despite the historic reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. While the restoration of commercial transit has eased global oil markets, the administration signaled that the blockade is the final leverage point in ongoing negotiations with Tehran.
Tensions in the Gulf reached a new peak on Saturday as Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the Strait of Hormuz "will not remain open" if Washington continues its port blockade. Rejecting President Trump's optimistic social media posts, Ghalibaf insisted that Iranian authorization is mandatory for all transit, dismissing claims of a finalized peace deal as "false."
A dramatic shift in the Middle East conflict has sent global oil prices into a tailspin and sparked a massive rally on Wall Street. Following Iran's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial shipping, the Dow Jones jumped over 1,000 points, signaling investor confidence that a global energy crisis may be averted.
April 17, 2026, marks the 55th anniversary of the historic oath-taking of Bangladesh’s first government in Mujibnagar. While official state ceremonies were scaled back this year, the nation continues to remember the strategic and diplomatic foundation laid by leaders like Tajuddin Ahmad and Syed Nazrul Islam in the 1971 mango grove.
