South Korea’s military reported that North Korea launched multiple unidentified ballistic missiles into the East Sea early Sunday, local time around 6:10 a.m. The missiles were fired from the Sinpo area, marking the latest in a series of weapons tests by the nuclear-armed state. In response, South Korea’s presidential office decided to convene an emergency security meeting, while surveillance and alert levels were heightened amid concerns of further launches.

According to AFP, Pyongyang has recently conducted several weapons tests, including ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles as well as cluster munitions. Analysts view the latest launch as a signal of North Korea’s rejection of Seoul’s efforts to improve strained relations. Earlier this year, Seoul had expressed regret over a drone intrusion into North Korea, which was initially welcomed by Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong. However, Pyongyang later labeled South Korea its “most hostile state.”

The report also notes that North Korea continues to defy UN sanctions restricting its nuclear and missile programs. Recent satellite imagery cited by a South Korean lawmaker suggests Pyongyang is accelerating naval modernization with possible Russian military assistance.

Rail Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has assured that a new shuttle train and additional coaches will soon be introduced for Chittagong University (CU). The assurance came on Saturday night, April 18, during a meeting at the Chittagong Circuit House with CU unit Chhatra Dal leaders, confirmed by the organization’s general secretary Abdullah Al Noman.

During the meeting, Noman presented the minister with details of the difficulties faced by students using the shuttle train, including overcrowding and safety concerns. He requested a new pair of shuttle trains, more coaches for the existing service, and improved security measures. The minister listened attentively and promised to address the issues soon.

According to Noman, more than half of CU’s 28,000 students depend on the shuttle train for daily commuting. He described the train as an emotional symbol for students that has now become a source of hardship due to limited seating and safety problems.

In Rangpur’s Gangachhara upazila, work has begun on the Teesta irrigation canal renovation and expansion project in Alambiditar Union, leaving more than a hundred families fearing the loss of their homes. The project, costing Tk 1,452 crore, is being implemented based on a survey conducted about 35 years ago, causing widespread concern and anger among residents.

According to the report, the project’s second phase began in 2022, but its original feasibility study dates back decades. Over time, the Teesta irrigation project’s effectiveness has declined sharply, with irrigation coverage falling far short of targets. Residents in Brahmottorpur village said they have received eviction notices as canal expansion work proceeds on both sides of their settlement. Local representatives and activists argue that the project is outdated and risks creating a humanitarian crisis if evictions occur without rehabilitation.

Officials from the Water Development Board maintain that the land was legally acquired in the 1980s–90s and compensation was paid, though local authorities acknowledge complaints that some residents were unaware or uncompensated. The project remains controversial as locals question whether it will truly benefit the region under current water conditions.

Dismissed employees from six banks staged a sit-in in Dhaka’s Motijheel area on Sunday morning, demanding that control of Islami Bank and five other banks be returned to S Alam Group and that they be reinstated in their jobs. The protest took place in front of Islami Bank’s head office in Dilkusha, with participants from Islami Bank Bangladesh, First Security Islami Bank, Union Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, and Social Islami Bank. Their three-point demand included reinstatement, restoration of S Alam’s control, and dissolution of the current boards.

Many of the protesters were residents of Patiya in Chattogram, the home area of S Alam Group chairman Saiful Alam Masud. Sources said the protest followed a new law allowing former owners to return to their banks. Thousands reportedly arrived in Dhaka from Patiya over the previous two days and stayed in hotels before joining the demonstration.

Bank sources stated that only employees with forged certificates or who skipped evaluation tests were dismissed, and that reinstatement was not possible. They added that Bangladesh Bank had restructured the boards after finding evidence of large-scale fund withdrawals linked to S Alam.

A volunteer wing leader of the BNP was hospitalized following an alleged attack by party members in Kazipur upazila of Sirajganj on Saturday night. The incident occurred at Dhekuriya Bazar, where Abdullah Al Mamun, member secretary of the Maijbari Union Volunteer Team, was reportedly assaulted with sharp weapons and sticks. Locals rescued him and took him to the hospital. Preparations are underway to file a case over the incident.

Kazipur Police Station’s investigation officer Abu Sayeed said no formal complaint had been received yet, but action would be taken once a report is filed. Former general secretary of Kazipur BNP, Abdus Salam, described the attack as unfortunate and said the individuals involved had previously maintained good relations. He added that the assault appeared to stem from internal disputes.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions within local BNP and affiliated organizations in the Sirajganj district, with law enforcement awaiting an official complaint to proceed with legal measures.

Despite a ceasefire being in effect, the United States has maintained a blockade around Iran’s ports and the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between the two countries. Iran has reimposed strict control over the vital waterway, saying the move is a response to the US blockade and accusing Washington of breaking its commitments. At least two commercial ships came under fire while attempting to cross the strait on Saturday.

At the center of Iran’s control strategy are small, fast-attack boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Many of these vessels, hidden in coastal tunnels, have survived US strikes and can quickly mobilize, attack, and retreat. Their swarm tactics make them difficult to track or target effectively. Although a convoy of eight tankers recently passed through the strait, Iran soon reasserted its dominance over the route.

The situation marks a shift from open warfare to controlled confrontation in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints, through which about 20 percent of global oil exports pass.

Two journalists were assaulted on Saturday morning, April 18, in the Kashimpur area of Vedarganj upazila, Shariatpur, while filming alleged illegal fuel sales at Messrs Faria Filling Station. The victims were Zahid Hasan Tipu, correspondent of Daily Inqilab, and Ashiqur Rahman Hridoy, correspondent of Daily Samakal. Tipu filed a written complaint at Sakhipur Police Station the same evening, accusing pump owner Faruk Madbar and his nephew Zaman Madbar of the attack.

According to the victims and local sources, the filling station had long been accused of hoarding fuel in drums and selling it at inflated prices instead of supplying waiting vehicles. When the journalists began recording the scene, the pump owner and his associates allegedly obstructed them and attacked Tipu. Locals rescued the injured journalists and took them to Vedarganj Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

Local journalist leaders condemned the incident, calling it an attack on press freedom and demanding swift legal action. Police confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation was underway.

Several leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), according to a report published on April 19, 2026. Those joining include President Rifat Rashid, Chief Coordinator Hasib Al Islam, Office Secretary Shahadat Hossain, Legal Cell Secretary Mahfuz, and Kushtia University unit convener S M Sweet, along with other unit leaders.

Rifat Rashid is taking charge as the chief organizer of the National Youth Force, while Hasib Al Islam will serve in the Dhaka University branch of the National Student Force. Shahadat Hossain and S M Sweet are joining the NCP central committee. The information was confirmed to the newspaper by several responsible leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

The report also notes that leaders from other organizations, including AB Party, UP Bangladesh, and the July Movement, have recently joined the NCP, indicating a broader trend of political realignment.

Saudi Arabia has announced new restrictions for the current Hajj season, prohibiting the performance of Hajj using visit visas. The authorities stated that entry to the holy city of Makkah and other sacred sites will only be allowed for those holding official Hajj permits from the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul-Qadah until the 14th of Dhul-Hijjah. Anyone entering or staying in Makkah without authorization during this period will face legal penalties.

Violators attempting to perform Hajj without proper permits may face fines of up to 20,000 Saudi riyals. Expatriates or visit visa holders found performing Hajj illegally will be deported and banned from re-entering Saudi Arabia for ten years. The authorities have also set a deadline for Umrah pilgrims to leave the country, with overstaying considered a legal violation. Service providers failing to report such cases could face fines up to 100,000 riyals.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said these measures are part of an operational plan to ensure safety, order, and smooth movement during one of the world’s largest gatherings. This year’s campaign slogan is “No Hajj without a permit.”

Long queues were seen at filling stations across Dhaka on Sunday morning as motorists waited to buy fuel despite a recent price hike. The government adjusted fuel prices effective from midnight on Saturday, setting diesel at 115 taka per liter, kerosene at 130 taka, petrol at 135 taka, and octane at 140 taka. The adjustment followed rising prices in the global market.

Buyers expressed frustration over the increase, saying it has already affected daily life and raised the cost of goods. At stations in Asad Gate, Tejgaon, and Paribagh, fuel was being rationed, and many drivers complained of not receiving their desired amount even after waiting for hours.

The Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association welcomed the government’s decision, saying it would reduce artificial shortages and hoarding tendencies while improving transparency in fuel distribution. The association added that aligning domestic prices with international markets helps stabilize supply and ensures fair business operations.

Iran is encountering two distinct strategies from the United States, according to Abbas Aslani, a senior fellow at Tehran’s Center for Middle East Strategic Studies. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Aslani said the first strategy involves negotiations, but questioned why Washington continues to impose naval blockades, expand sanctions, and strengthen its military presence in the region if it truly seeks an agreement.

He added that the second US strategy centers on pressure and threats. With the expiration of two ceasefire agreements—between the United States and Iran, and between Israel and Lebanon—Aslani warned that the likelihood of renewed confrontation is increasing. He noted that there are no signs of extending these truces, and no party appears to be discussing their renewal.

Aslani concluded that both sides seem to be using the lapse of ceasefires to exert pressure on each other, a situation that could ultimately lead to the resumption of conflict.

Iran has declared that it will not send its enriched uranium abroad, particularly to the United States, under any proposal. The announcement was made by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh during a diplomatic meeting in Turkey, as reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA and cited by Al Jazeera. Tehran also stated that there is no possibility of reopening discussions on this issue.

Khatibzadeh explained that while messages have been exchanged between Iran and the United States at various levels, Washington has presented conditions and demands that Tehran considers exaggerated and unacceptable. He further indicated that there remains a significant gap between the two sides on nuclear matters, which continues to hinder progress in negotiations.

As a result, prospects for any new progress or agreement in the Iran–United States nuclear talks remain uncertain for the time being.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have threatened to shut down the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime passage linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The warning came from Hussein al-Ezzi, deputy foreign minister of the Houthi government, who said that if U.S. President Donald Trump continues to obstruct peace efforts, the strait could be closed. In a post on social media platform X, al-Ezzi declared that if Sanaa decides to close Bab al-Mandeb, no force could reopen it.

Al-Ezzi urged Trump and his allies to immediately end all actions and policies that hinder peace and to respect the rights of the Yemeni people and nation. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a vital global shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Suez Canal, facilitating the transport of crude oil, energy supplies, and other goods between the Gulf, the Mediterranean, and Asia.

The statement underscores the strategic importance of the strait and signals potential risks to international maritime trade if tensions escalate further.

At least 280 people, including women and children, were aboard a wooden trawler that sank in the Andaman Sea while attempting to reach Malaysia from Bangladesh. Only nine survivors were rescued by a Bangladeshi-flagged ship and later handed over to the Coast Guard. The incident occurred after the vessel departed from the Cox’s Bazar coast on April 4, 2026, and capsized near the Andaman Islands following rough weather. Most passengers were from Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Ukhiya, and Chattogram, with some Rohingya refugees among them.

Local sources said human traffickers lured jobless youths and Rohingya women with false promises of employment and marriage before sending them on the dangerous sea journey. Despite repeated tragedies, the main traffickers remain at large, while six Bangladeshi survivors have been jailed as alleged smugglers. Families of the missing accuse authorities of inaction and claim traffickers continue operating openly. Police and Coast Guard officials confirmed the sinking but could not provide information on the missing passengers.

Local representatives reported that dozens of residents from Teknaf’s coastal villages remain unaccounted for, as families continue searching for their loved ones amid growing frustration over the lack of enforcement against trafficking networks.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social praising Israel as a great ally of the United States. In his message, Trump described Israel as brave, fearless, loyal, and intelligent, asserting that the country knows how to fight hard and win. He stated that whether people like Israel or not, it has proven itself as one of America’s greatest allies.

The post came a day after Trump had reportedly told Israel to stop bombing Lebanon. His latest remarks, however, expressed strong support for Israel’s conduct and resilience during times of conflict and pressure. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and published by the outlet Amar Desh.

The timing of Trump’s statement suggests a shift in tone following his earlier call for restraint, though the source does not elaborate on any official policy implications or reactions from other parties.