The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 111 bottles of Indian Eskaf syrup and a motorcycle during a special operation in the Sabri Khana Bridge area under the Kulaghat Special Camp in Lalmonirhat district. The operation, conducted by the 15 BGB Battalion on Monday night, followed intelligence information about smuggling activities. The seized items have a total estimated value of 224,400 taka, including 44,400 taka for the syrup and 180,000 taka for the motorcycle.

According to the Lalmonirhat Battalion, smugglers fled the scene after being signaled to stop, leaving behind the motorcycle and the contraband. Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam (PSC), commanding officer of the 15 BGB Battalion, stated that the force remains uncompromising in protecting the border, preventing smuggling, and combating human trafficking. He added that surveillance and patrols have been intensified in sensitive border areas.

The BGB confirmed that similar anti-smuggling operations will continue in the future to ensure a smuggling-free Bangladesh.

Israel and Lebanon are set to hold new talks on Thursday amid ongoing tensions between the two countries. The meeting, initiated by the U.S. State Department, will bring together ambassadors from both sides. According to reports, this will be a preliminary meeting rather than a formal peace negotiation. The main objective is to assess whether the recently implemented ceasefire, which began last Friday and is due to expire on Sunday, can be extended.

Hezbollah has criticized the planned talks, calling them humiliating and an unnecessary concession to Israel. The group argues that Lebanon’s government has limited diplomatic influence in the process and accuses Israel of using the talks to pressure Hezbollah into disarmament. Hezbollah also believes Lebanon’s position would be stronger if the discussions were linked to broader regional diplomacy involving Iran.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has responded by appointing a representative for the talks and clarified that only the government will officially represent Lebanon in the discussions.

The Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) has increased service charges by 8.5 percent, effective from one minute past midnight on Sunday, citing a rise in fuel prices. A letter announcing the new rate was sent to stakeholders on Monday morning. Business leaders, including those from the BGMEA and import-export sectors, expressed anger, saying the decision was made unilaterally without approval from the tariff committee or consultation with stakeholders.

BICDA argued that the adjustment was not a fee hike but a necessary fuel surcharge due to increased diesel costs. The association stated that all depot machinery and transport vehicles depend on fuel, and the recent government price increase of about 20 taka per liter has sharply raised operating expenses. The 19 private container depots handle a significant portion of Chattogram Port’s import and export containers, and their charges are normally set through a tariff committee under the port authority.

Business representatives warned that such unilateral action could destabilize the national economy and urged that the surcharge be suspended until proper discussions are held.

Member of Parliament Principal Selim Bhuiyan from Cumilla-2 entered an SSC examination center in Homna upazila and broadcasted a Facebook Live during the ongoing exam on Tuesday morning. The incident took place at a government high school, drawing widespread criticism for breaching examination rules. Despite strict security and restrictions, the MP entered the center and streamed the environment and activities inside, asking students about the exam’s difficulty and their performance.

Parents and students reported feeling disturbed, claiming the live broadcast distracted examinees and wasted valuable time. One guardian said the MP streamed for about ten minutes, which disrupted students’ concentration. Education officials noted that such actions violated ministry guidelines prohibiting unauthorized entry and the use of digital devices inside exam centers.

Local administrators confirmed that only designated teachers and the center secretary are allowed inside, and even they must use analog devices. MP Bhuiyan later said he visited to check on students’ well-being and was unaware that livestreaming was not permitted.

Iran has strongly condemned the United States for seizing its commercial vessel 'Tuska' in the Gulf of Oman, calling the action illegal and terroristic. In a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on April 21, 2026, Tehran demanded the immediate release of the ship and its crew, claiming that both the sailors and their families were being detained. Iran described the seizure as a violation of international law and a recent ceasefire agreement.

The US military stated that the Iranian crew had ignored multiple warnings over six hours before the destroyer USS Spruance ordered the engine room to be evacuated and fired several rounds to disable the ship’s engines. Iran warned that the move could have extremely dangerous consequences and urged the United Nations and other international bodies to condemn the US action. Senior Iranian officials had previously issued similar statements following the seizure.

Former US President Donald Trump said the United States would not lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports until an agreement with Iran is reached.

Ten individuals were sentenced to three months of imprisonment without labor for illegally extracting sand during a late-night operation in the Kolabagan area near Daulatdia ferry terminal in Goaland upazila of Rajbari district. The operation, conducted from midnight to early morning on April 21, 2026, was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Muntasir Hasan Khan with support from the Coast Guard, Daulatdia River Police, and other law enforcement agencies. Authorities seized one cutter and two bulkheads used in the illegal activity.

Following their arrest, a mobile court sentenced the offenders under Section 15 of the Sand Quarry and Soil Management Act, 2010, for violating Section 4 of the same law. The seized vessels were placed under the custody of the Daulatdia River Police outpost, and the convicted individuals were sent to jail.

According to the upazila administration, similar operations will continue to prevent illegal sand extraction, and strict legal measures will be taken against violators.

Police recovered the bloodied bodies of three young men from a remote forest in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday morning. The discovery was made around 9 a.m. in the North Shilkhali area of Baharchhara Union. Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam confirmed the incident. The deceased were identified as Aminul Islam Robi, 19, Mujibur Rahman, 38, and Nur Bashar, 20, all residents of the same locality.

According to police and local sources, laborers working on the eastern side of the hill spotted the bodies and alerted nearby residents, who then informed the police. Robi’s father, Ruhul Amin, identified his son’s body at the scene and demanded justice for what he described as a brutal killing.

OC Saiful Islam said police immediately reached the site, recovered the bodies, and began preparing an initial report. The bodies will be sent for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, and legal procedures are underway.

Serious allegations of mental and physical abuse have emerged at Dhaka University’s Dr. Kudrat-e-Khuda Hall, where first-year students of the Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology were reportedly subjected to late-night ‘guestroom’ sessions under the pretext of teaching manners. Victims said they were forced to sit for hours, verbally abused, and intimidated by senior students. The incidents allegedly took place over four consecutive nights, involving members of the 43rd batch and some linked to the student group Chhatra Dal.

According to the victims, the sessions were held mainly in rooms 1003 and 1004, and on one occasion in the hostel dining room. They described the activities as psychological torture and ragging, including offensive remarks about female classmates and forced displays of respect. One accused student denied any knowledge of the events, while another admitted to a “familiarization meeting” but rejected the torture claims.

The hall’s vice president said the matter would be discussed with university authorities, and the hostel warden stated that no formal complaint had yet been received but promised strict action if the allegations were proven.

Farmers in Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj are struggling to harvest ripe Boro paddy due to an acute shortage of laborers. Despite the crops being fully mature, harvesting has been delayed, raising fears of damage from further storms or rainfall. According to the local agriculture office, Boro paddy was cultivated across 45 haors this season, but heavy rains on March 14, 15, and 27 submerged about 410 hectares of land in 16 haors, completely destroying crops in 13 of them. Another storm on April 16 flattened ripe paddy, and rising water levels have made it impossible to use harvesters.

Farmers report that daily wages for harvest workers have surged to Tk 1,000–1,200, while the market price of paddy remains only Tk 27–28 per maund. Many are resorting to traditional sharecropping methods where workers take half the yield. Rising fuel prices have further increased costs for threshing and transporting paddy from the haor areas. Farmers are urging the government to ensure labor supply and fair pricing to prevent large-scale losses this season.

Local residents in Cumilla’s Burichong upazila have accused two brothers, Arif and Sharif, of closing a one-kilometer stretch of the Cumilla–Sylhet Highway by building a wall across it. The complaint, signed by over a hundred residents from Rampal, Paschim Farizpur, and Purba Shah Daulatpur, was submitted to the Burichong Upazila Nirbahi Officer on Tuesday. The road, used for more than 20 years, connects several villages and serves around 1,500 to 2,000 people daily, including students and commuters.

According to the complaint, the brothers, along with Shah Alam, allegedly used force on April 8 to block the road and erect structures on land belonging to the Roads and Highways Department. Locals said they were threatened when they tried to intervene. A previous meeting on April 15, mediated by a representative of a Member of Parliament, failed to resolve the issue, and construction resumed on April 20.

The Upazila Engineer stated that road paving work was ongoing and that he would inspect the site. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer confirmed receiving the complaint and said necessary action would be taken.

Students of Rajshahi Nursing College declared a complete shutdown on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, locking the college gates to demand the appointment of a permanent principal. The protest began around 11:30 a.m., with students stating that the absence of a principal for nearly three months has severely disrupted academic activities.

According to the students, the lack of leadership has caused administrative difficulties and uncertainty, raising fears of a potential session jam. They announced that all academic and administrative operations would remain suspended until their demand for a permanent principal is fulfilled.

The demonstration reflects growing frustration among students over prolonged administrative vacancies that they say are hindering their education and institutional stability.

Riverbank erosion has appeared at two points of the Jamuna River protection area in Kazipur, Sirajganj, during the dry season. Several sections have collapsed into the river, with locals blaming illegal sand extraction for intensifying water currents that struck the western bank. The Water Development Board (WDB) said there is no cause for panic, as sand-filled geo bags are being placed to prevent further damage.

Residents alleged that influential groups have been illegally extracting sand from the Jamuna using dredgers in areas such as Kazipur Eco Park, Palashpur Ghat, Meghai Ghat, and Dhekuriya. The WDB completed riverbank protection work in 2014, but recent collapses have raised fears for Meghai embankment, farmland, and nearby structures. Locals said the erosion has already consumed large portions of their land.

Officials stated that legal sand extraction must occur at least one kilometer away from public and private structures, embankments, and pipelines. The administration has conducted drives and imposed fines against illegal operators, vowing to prevent further unauthorized sand lifting.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced deep concern over ongoing restrictions and rising maritime tensions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said that in the past 48 hours there had been significant activity and confusion in the area. Guterres emphasized that all parties must respect international freedom and rights of navigation in the strait and expressed concern over recent maritime incidents.

The United Nations reiterated that no military objective can justify widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure or deliberate suffering of civilians. Dujarric noted that the situation has already begun to affect global supply chains, with about 10 to 12 percent of fertilizer shipments disrupted, leading to higher prices for urea and other fertilizers. Oil prices have also risen.

He added that the disruption is impacting the UN’s planning and procurement capacities, complicating humanitarian assistance operations worldwide.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil, and equivalent examinations have begun across Chattogram and three hill districts under the Chattogram Education Board. Starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, a total of 130,724 students from 1,218 schools are participating in the exams held at 218 centers. Among them, 56,351 are male and 74,373 are female students. The first paper of Bangla marked the start of this year’s examination session.

According to the board, 34,991 students are from the science stream, 43,983 from humanities, and 51,750 from business studies. The participating students include 92,338 from Chattogram, 18,924 from Cox’s Bazar, 7,417 from Rangamati, 8,071 from Khagrachhari, and 3,874 from Bandarban. To ensure smooth conduct, the board has formed 76 vigilance teams, including 66 general and 10 special teams.

The Chattogram Education Board has also requested uninterrupted electricity supply during the exams and instructed strict measures to prevent cheating and maintain security around examination centers.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard conducted a special operation on the Meghna River near Pata Canal in Daulatkhan upazila of Bhola, seizing approximately 4,000 liters of illegally transported petrol. The operation took place late Monday night, April 20, 2026, based on intelligence provided by the National Security Intelligence agency. The seized fuel was found in 22 drums being moved unlawfully through the river.

According to the Coast Guard’s South Zone media cell, the confiscated petrol was handed over to the Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land), Shawon Majumdar Suman, who took it into custody through a mobile court for further legal action. The official stated that the seized fuel would later be sold at the government-fixed price, and the proceeds would be deposited into the national treasury.

The operation reflects ongoing enforcement efforts against illegal fuel transport in riverine areas of Bhola, aiming to prevent revenue loss and ensure lawful trade of petroleum products.