U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal and made it clear that the naval blockade will remain in place until a nuclear agreement is reached. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that it is compiling a list of targets during the ceasefire period and warned of a strong response if hostilities resume.At present, an “indefinite” ceasefire is in effect between Iran and United States, which Trump unilaterally announced last week. However, tensions remain high across the Middle East due to Iran’s strict monitoring of the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing U.S. naval blockade.On Monday (April 27), the White House confirmed that Trump and his national security team had received a new proposal from Iran aimed at ending the conflict. Neither side has disclosed the full details of the proposal.Media reports suggest the proposal included reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for ending the conflict, while discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program would be held at a later date. Trump reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the offer.According to U.S. media outlet Axios, Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to end the two-month-long conflict in the Middle East. He reiterated that no peace deal would be reached unless Iran agrees to abandon its nuclear program and address Washington’s concerns. Until then, the naval blockade will remain in force.In an interview with Axios on Wednesday (April 29), the Republican leader claimed that Iran is seeking a deal with the United States to lift the blockade, which he described as “more effective than bombing.”Trump added that due to U.S. sanctions, Iran has been unable to export crude oil, pushing its storage facilities and pipelines “to the brink of explosion.” He stated, “The blockade is somewhat more effective than bombing. They’re suffocating. The situation is going to get worse for them. They will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.”He further said, 'They want to make a deal now. They don’t want me to keep the blockade, but I don’t want to lift it because I don’t want them to have nuclear weapons.' Trump also claimed that discussions with Iran are ongoing via phone.According to Trump, countries in the Middle East now face the moment to concede, saying, 'We surrender.' He added, 'The question is whether they will be tough enough. There will be no deal unless they agree not to have nuclear weapons.'In an effort to break the deadlock in negotiations, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has reportedly prepared plans for a 'short and powerful' strike against Iran. The move is intended to pressure Tehran into returning to the negotiating table with greater flexibility.In response to U.S. warnings, Iran’s military stated that it is finalizing its list of targets during the ceasefire. An IRGC spokesperson warned that if the United States or Israel launches further aggression, they will face a new military strategy and unprecedented resistance.Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense criticism during a congressional hearing his first on the Iran conflict where Democratic lawmakers engaged in heated exchanges. One lawmaker described the war as a 'strategic mistake' and a 'quagmire.'Calls for the defense secretary’s resignation have also emerged following the deaths of U.S. troops in the conflict. During the hearing, a lawmaker alleged that troops were deployed to a base despite it being on Iran’s target list, increasing the risk. Hegseth denied the claim, stating that proper measures had been taken to ensure troop safety.A senior Pentagon financial official informed Congress that since the conflict began in late February, the U.S. military has spent approximately $25 billion. The war has resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers and left hundreds more injured. A significant portion of the expenditure has gone toward weapons and damaged equipment, making it a major issue in U.S. domestic politics.

Bangladesh would be a trillion dollar economy during the current tenure of the BNP government.Members of the treasury bench expressed the hope while taking part in the discussion on the Thanksgiving Motion on the President’s speech in the House today. They said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to transform the country into a trillion-dollar economy.Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir-Bikram was in the chair.The government has already embarked upon the initiatives to implement its electoral pledges. And after successfully implementation of the pledges country’s economy will be drastically changed, said State Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat.Criticizing the opposition, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said the opposition is trying to misguide people on the issue of implementing the July Charter.Everything will be held under a legal framework as the people have give mandate to BNP to enact law, said Tuku.The first session of the 13th parliament began on March 12 with President Mohammed Shahabuddin delivering his address.The Business Advisory Committee later fixed 50 hours for discussion on the speech. Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam moved the motion of thanks on the president’s address, which was seconded by Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu.Stressing on keeping unity among the political parties, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said, the people this year have got such a parliament befitting to practicing democracy after nearly two decades.Accusing the opposition for capitalizing the July uprising, State Minister for Shipping Md. Rajib Ahsan said the leader of the opposition is distorting information on the July uprising.He said the opposition leader in a statement on April 14 said he had visited families of 1200 martyrs of July-August mass uprising, but the number of listed martyrs according to the gazette is 834.Taking part in the discussion, state minister for Information and Broadcasting Yeaser Khan Chowdhury said, We do not want to create any controversy over the July uprising. So, the opposition should not create any narrative about the July revolution.National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker of Cumilla-4 Md Abul Hasnat said the parliament was formed to fulfill people’s aspirations. But unfortunately we are watching a fascist culture prevailing inside the government.Opposition lawmaker M Abdul Baten of Dhaka-16 urged the government to take steps for rehabilitation of huge Urdu-speaking people living in critical condition in his constituency.BNP lawmakers Humam Quader Chowdhury (Ctg-7), Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui ( Tangail-7), Morshed Milton (Bogura-7), Biswas Jahangir Alam (Narail-1), Reza Kibria (Habiganj-1), Ahammad Sohel Monzoor (Pirojpur-2), Tamij Uddin (Dhaka-20), Nurul Islam (Bhola-4), Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan (Narayanganj-1), members of Jamaat e Islami members M Abdul Alim (Bagerhat-4), Abdul Karim (Gaibandha-2), M Tajuddin Khan (Meherpur-1), M Nazmul Huda (Meherpur-2), Abul Kawser M Nazrul Islam (Gaibandha-3), Amir Hamza (Kushtia-3), Abul Kalam Azad (Khulna-6), Md Izzatullah (Satkhira-1), Muhammad Abdul Khaleq (Satkhira-2), Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish member Mohammad Ullah (Mymensingh-2) and independent member Mohammad Salman Omer (Mymensingh-1) took part in the discussion.

In Chandina, Comilla, an organized mugging syndicate abducted a second-grade schoolgirl by posing as her mother’s friend and looted gold and silver jewelry from her person. This sensational incident took place last Thursday afternoon in the Chhaykot area of the upazila. The victim, a child named Jannat, is a student at Chhaykot Government Primary School and the daughter of local resident Saiful Islam. She had been staying at her maternal grandfather Tajul Islam's house for her studies.On the day of the incident, Jannat was walking home with her classmates after school ended at around 12:00 PM. On the way, near the Chhaykot Alir Moڑ area, a CNG auto-rickshaw pulled up in front of them. A woman wearing a burqa inside the vehicle identified herself as Jannat's mother's friend and offered to drop her home. Although Jannat was initially reluctant, the woman lured her with the promise of gifts and eventually took her into the vehicle. While her classmates returned home, Jannat did not, leaving her family members distraught. They later learned the details of the incident from her classmates.Nearly three hours after the abduction, locals spotted the child crying by the roadside in the Barkait Bazar area, at least five kilometers away from Chhaykot. An eyewitness named Sarwar Sohel, along with other locals, spoke to the child, tracked down her family, and reunited her with her relatives. By then, the muggers had snatched Jannat's gold earrings and silver anklets before abandoning her at that location and fleeing.Local residents claim that a specific syndicate has been targeting children and carrying out such crimes for a long time. Regarding the matter, Atiqur Rahman, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chandina Police Station, stated that the gang has been active in the area for the past few months. Police have initiated an investigation, and efforts are underway to identify and bring the criminals to justice swiftly.