The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is continuing its strategy of integrating expatriate talent into its youth teams. Following the success of winning the SAFF Under-20 Championship with expatriate players Ronan Sullivan and Declan Sullivan, BFF has now confirmed plans to include two more expatriates, Adam Abbas and Zidan Yusuf, in the national U-20 squad. The move comes as part of preparations for the upcoming AFC Under-20 Asian Cup qualifiers.

According to BFF Vice President Fahad Karim, both players, based in England, have expressed interest in representing Bangladesh. Nineteen-year-old right winger Adam Abbas has experience playing in youth teams of top English clubs, and his performance videos have impressed BFF’s technical team. His passport process is expected to be completed by June. Meanwhile, 18-year-old center-back Zidan Yusuf, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, already holds a Bangladeshi passport and currently plays for Walton & Hersham FC’s main team. He is expected to join the U-20 training camp soon.

BFF aims to strengthen its squad with these additions as it targets success on the Asian stage.

In Phulbaria upazila of Mymensingh, the local office of the Bangladesh Awami League has transformed into a betel leaf market. The office, located beside the government pond on Post Office Road, was once a hub of political activity but became inactive after the student and public movement on August 5, which led to a shift in local political dynamics. Following damage during the unrest, the office was abandoned and later repurposed as a trading spot.

Local sources report that every morning, betel farmers from nearby villages bring their produce to the site, where wholesalers and traders gather to negotiate prices and conduct sales for about two hours. Residents say the market has become a regular fixture, attracting over a hundred farmers and buyers daily. The organized trading system benefits local growers and traders.

According to locals, the conversion of the political office into a commercial market has created a new form of economic activity in the area, contributing modestly to the local economy.

A Comilla court has ordered former army officer Hafizur Rahman to be sent to jail after a three-day remand in connection with the murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a Victoria Government College student killed ten years ago. The order was issued on Saturday by Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdullah Aman. Investigation officer Tariqul Islam of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) said Hafizur was interrogated on key issues during remand, and his DNA sample has been collected for testing. Further legal steps will follow after verification of the obtained information.

Tonu’s father, Iyar Hossain, expressed dissatisfaction with the arrest, saying he wanted to see all suspects brought to justice, not just one. The PBI had earlier collected DNA samples from three retired army personnel, including Hafizur, for matching with evidence found in 2017. The case was filed in 2016 after Tonu’s body was discovered inside the Comilla Cantonment area.

The investigation continues as authorities await DNA test results to determine the next course of action.

Indian politician Raghav Chadha lost around one million social media followers within 24 hours of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As of Friday, April 24, his Instagram following dropped from 14.6 million to 13.3 million, according to the report. The decline followed his formal entry into the BJP, marking a sharp reaction from his online audience.

According to Hindustan Times, Chadha had been highly popular among India’s youth, with many from Generation Z reportedly dissatisfied with his sudden party switch. Social media users circulated calls to unfollow him after the announcement, which appeared to gain traction among younger audiences.

Chadha’s popularity had been largely built through viral videos of his speeches in the Rajya Sabha and his public image, which resonated with younger voters. His marriage to Bollywood actor and singer Parineeti Chopra also contributed to his public profile.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman emphasized the need for women to play a leading role in building society and to safeguard their personal and organizational integrity. He made the remarks on Saturday during the closing session of a three-day training camp organized by the women’s wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for district and city secretaries and assistant secretaries, held at Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa in Tongi, Gazipur.

The program, which began on Thursday, focused on discipline, moral development, and the cultivation of social leadership. Speakers including central and regional leaders discussed Islamic leadership, accountability, and the importance of moral excellence. Women’s wing secretary Nurunnisa Siddika highlighted the role of leadership in organizational management, while other sessions covered Quranic and Hadith studies and practical workshops on enhancing organizational skills.

The event concluded with a review session, departmental planning, and a closing prayer led by assistant secretary Saeeda Rumman. Participants were urged to strengthen their capabilities and maintain the organization’s positive image.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon stated that the alleged exam question leak is nothing but a rumor, which has already been proven beyond doubt. He made the remark on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in a Facebook post, rejecting the claims circulating on social media. The minister criticized the National Citizens Party (NCP), a youth-led political group, for issuing statements without fact-checking and called their actions baseless and disappointing.

Earlier, NCP’s Joint Member Secretary and Education and Research Secretary Faisal Mahmud Shanto alleged that question leak accusations had surfaced since April 20, but the Education Ministry and relevant authorities had shown no visible response. The party accused the government of negligence that could endanger the country’s education system.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Education Board urged students, parents, and the public to remain cautious about false and misleading information related to the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations.

The Comilla University Journalists’ Association (CUBSAS) organized a human chain on Saturday evening at the Shaheed Abdul Kaiyum Square of the university, protesting the recent attack on Dhaka University journalists by members of the student wing of a political party. The demonstration demanded justice for the victims and called for ensuring a free and safe environment for independent journalism. Journalists from national and local print and electronic media joined the event.

Speakers at the protest described the assault as a direct threat to press freedom, freedom of expression, and democratic values. They urged authorities to identify and punish those responsible for the attack. Participants also criticized the silence of the university administration and law enforcement agencies, saying it legitimized such violence. They called on the government to stand by journalists who have faced attacks at various institutions.

CUBSAS leaders warned that if effective measures are not taken to stop violence against journalists and ensure their safety, university journalists across the country may launch stronger movements.

In Sukash Union of Singra upazila, Natore, acting Union Parishad chairman Sohrab Hossain has repaid double the market value of rice to 247 poor women after being found guilty of misappropriating rice from the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) program. The repayment, including fines, was made on Saturday at the union council office in the presence of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah Al Rifat. Each beneficiary received 3,425 taka.

According to the investigation, rice allocated for 247 cardholding women in March was withdrawn from the local food warehouse but sold in the open market instead of being distributed to beneficiaries. Following media reports, the upazila administration formed an inquiry committee that confirmed the embezzlement. Under section 9 of the VWB Implementation Guidelines 2011, double the market value must be recovered for misappropriated government goods.

UNO Abdullah Al Rifat stated that the recovery followed government rules and that no irregularities in government allocations would be tolerated. Sohrab Hossain admitted his wrongdoing, citing misunderstanding and external influence, and returned both the double value and the women’s savings. Beneficiaries expressed relief after receiving their due payments.

An eleven-party alliance held a protest march and rally in Rangpur on Saturday, demanding the implementation of a referendum verdict and resolution of the ongoing energy crisis. The procession began in front of Rangpur Public Library, moved through key city roads including Payra Square and Rangpur Press Club, and concluded at Shapla Square with a brief rally.

Speakers at the rally urged the government to act swiftly on the referendum outcome and take effective measures to address fuel shortages and power disruptions. They alleged that the spirit of the July uprising, through which the current government assumed office, was being neglected over time. The speakers warned that ignoring the people’s verdict could lead to political consequences.

They further stated that fuel shortages and power outages have severely affected ordinary citizens, particularly the working class, and that rising commodity prices have worsened the situation. The alliance leaders demanded immediate action to ease public suffering and warned of tougher programs if their three-point demands were not met.

The football world has been stunned by the soaring price of a single ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. According to the report, one ticket has been listed for sale at nearly 2.3 million US dollars, equivalent to about 282.2 million Bangladeshi taka. The final match is scheduled to take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States. Four seats in row 45, block 124, seats 33 to 36, have been made available for purchase.

These tickets are being offered through FIFA’s official resale or exchange marketplace, where prices are set by agreement between buyers and sellers rather than by FIFA itself. The organization, however, charges a 15 percent fee from both parties for each transaction. The minimum listed price for a final ticket stands at 10,923 dollars, placing it far beyond the reach of most fans.

The extraordinary ticket prices have already become a major topic of discussion surrounding the world’s biggest football event, months before the tournament begins.

A joint anti-drug operation by the Pirgacha upazila administration and police in Rangpur led to the arrest of a drug dealer with cannabis at Pirgacha railway station on Saturday afternoon. The arrested man, Mohammad Roni, 32, from Guabari village, was caught red-handed while selling cannabis during a mobile court operation led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Debashish Basak.

During the search, authorities seized 14 packets of cannabis and 600 taka in cash from Roni. Locals alleged that he had been openly selling cannabis in the station area for a long time. After admitting his crime, the mobile court sentenced him to one month of imprisonment and fined him 500 taka under the Narcotics Control Act. He was later sent to Rangpur Central Jail.

Officials stated that such anti-drug operations will continue in the public interest and reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics in Pirgacha.

Bangladesh Army clinched the title in the Radiant Pharmaceuticals Limited Independence and National Day Volleyball Championship held on Saturday at the Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium. In the final match, the Army team defeated the Air Force by 3-1 sets to secure the championship. The Water Development Board (PDB) finished third after beating Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) by the same margin.

Sifat Hossain of the Army was named the tournament’s best player and best opposite attacker. PDB’s Mazharul Islam was recognized as the best outside attacker, while Ashikuzzaman of the Army won the best setter award. Parvez Mosharraf from the Air Force was chosen as the best middle blocker, and Abdul Hakim of the Army received the best libero award.

After the final, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain handed over the prizes to the winners. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mahfuzul Alam Khan, Federation Vice-President Mashudul Alam, and Organizing Committee Secretary Sohel Rana Lincoln were also present at the ceremony.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the need to ensure freedom of navigation without tolls or fees. Speaking at a joint press conference in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron said the goal is to fully reopen the strait within the coming days or weeks under international law to help stabilize the situation.

His remarks came a day after Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of French energy giant TotalEnergies, warned that a prolonged conflict with Iran could trigger a global energy shortage. Pouyanné cautioned that if the situation continues for another two or three months, the world could face a severe energy crisis already affecting Asian countries.

He further noted that halting 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply would have catastrophic consequences, underscoring the urgency of restoring stability in the region.

A case has been filed following an attack on police officers in Sarikaith Union of Sandwip, Chattogram, late Saturday night. The case names 11 individuals and includes 35 unidentified suspects, bringing the total number of accused to 46. Police have so far arrested six people in connection with the incident. The case was filed at Sandwip Police Station on Saturday afternoon, with the police as the complainant, confirmed Officer-in-Charge Sujan Halder.

According to the case statement, around 12:30 a.m. police conducted an anti-drug operation at the home of a man named Didar in Ward No. 7 of Sarikaith Union. Upon arrival, they encountered several armed local groups allegedly linked to drug networks. During a clash between these groups, the police came under sudden attack. The attackers reportedly confined and assaulted the officers, obstructing official duties and attempting to cause serious harm. Additional police forces later rescued the injured officers and detained six suspects.

Police reported that the situation in the area is now under control and operations to arrest the remaining fugitives are ongoing.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that the government will move away from borrowing through money printing and local bank loans, citing the economic damage caused by such practices. Speaking at a pre-budget discussion organized by the Ministry of Finance on Saturday, he said this policy had raised interest rates and crowded out the private sector, undermining sustainable growth.

He emphasized a policy framework that avoids inflationary pressure from excess money supply and supports entrepreneurs. The minister said the government aims to democratize the economy to ensure inclusive growth, highlighting initiatives such as the ‘Family Card’ program to empower women financially. He also stressed strengthening primary healthcare to reduce personal medical costs and identified small and medium enterprises as the main drivers of employment and growth.

Chowdhury pointed to challenges in the banking sector, currency depreciation, and high inflation, while reaffirming efforts to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio. He also underscored investment in education, skills, and renewable energy to harness demographic advantages and ensure energy security.