Bangladesh and Bhutan have stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in trade and energy sectors. The discussion took place on Tuesday at the Secretariat in Dhaka during a courtesy meeting between Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Bhutan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dasho Karma Hamu Dorji. Both sides discussed expanding bilateral trade and investment as well as enhancing regional cooperation, with particular focus on renewable energy, including solar and hydropower projects.

The commerce minister highlighted that although South Asian countries collectively have a GDP of about 59 trillion US dollars, intra-regional trade remains around one percent, far below potential. He emphasized the need for stronger economic partnerships among neighboring countries and suggested that establishing small-scale hydropower plants near border areas could be mutually beneficial.

The Bhutanese ambassador congratulated the minister on his appointment and expressed Bhutan’s interest in deepening bilateral trade ties. He noted that the distance between Bhutan and Bangladesh’s Burimari border is about 100 kilometers, making trade and investment convenient. He also mentioned that Bhutanese students study in Bangladeshi medical colleges, contributing to cultural exchange between the two nations.

A severe shortage of drinking water has hit Ramganj upazila in Lakshmipur, where deep tube wells are failing to draw water due to ongoing drought and a sharp drop in groundwater levels. Residents, including business owners, are struggling to obtain safe water, with many resorting to shallow tube wells or carrying water from distant sources. The municipal water plant is unable to meet demand, leaving households and institutions in distress.

Local residents reported that most deep wells have become nonfunctional, forcing them to buy bottled water or use pond water for daily chores. The head teacher of a local primary school said the school’s motor pump has stopped working, while others complained of irregular municipal supply. According to the assistant engineer of Ramganj Municipality, a 2023 earthquake originating in Sirundi village caused the groundwater level to drop significantly, worsening the crisis.

Officials said a new water plant in Kazirkhil area is expected to start operation within a few days, which may ease the shortage. The upazila administration has pledged to coordinate with the public health engineering department to take necessary measures.

The Bangladesh government is taking extensive preparations to send a large number of skilled workers to Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) category across 16 sectors. Japan has set a target to recruit 820,000 foreign workers in these sectors by March 2029, and experts believe Bangladesh could supply up to 40 percent of that demand if properly prepared. Previously, Bangladesh could send workers to only six sectors, but now it is expanding readiness for all 16.

According to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the government is implementing short-, medium-, and long-term plans to train workers in Japanese language, culture, and technical skills. Initiatives include upgrading training centers, launching hybrid courses, and strengthening cooperation with Japanese institutions. The ministry has also established a “Japan Cell” and enhanced the labor wing at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo to facilitate recruitment.

The government is also promoting student migration, aiming to send 10,000 students to Japan in 2026 with easy loan facilities. Officials say these measures will deepen bilateral cooperation and expand employment opportunities for Bangladeshi citizens in Japan.

In Tangail’s Mirzapur upazila, allegations have surfaced that topsoil from triple-crop farmland is being sold to brick kilns and other sites. For nearly two months, soil has been excavated day and night from cultivable land in three villages of Fatepur Union—Bahonatali, Nishchintapur, and Mushuriaghona—using excavators. The soil is reportedly being transported by trucks to nearby brick kilns. Local residents claim that influential individuals are involved and that soil is being taken even from others’ land without consent.

Officials from the agriculture department have warned that removing the top 15 centimeters of soil will severely reduce fertility, requiring more fertilizer and lowering yields. The Fatepur Union administrator said he had discussed halting the excavation with the assistant commissioner (land). The assistant commissioner, Tarek Aziz, stated that no legal permission had been issued for soil cutting and that investigations and legal action would follow.

The ongoing removal of fertile soil threatens long-term agricultural productivity in the affected villages if not stopped promptly.

A mobile court in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram fined a brick kiln Tk 200,000 for violating the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act. The operation took place on Monday at Messrs. Chowdhury Bricks, owned by Saiful Islam, located in Minjiritala under Saral Union Parishad. The court, led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Omar Sani Akon, also ordered the destruction of raw bricks found at the site.

Senior Chemist Jannatul Ferdous from the Chattogram District Department of Environment office served as the prosecutor during the mobile court proceedings. The executive magistrate stated that such drives would continue to ensure environmental protection.

The enforcement action highlights ongoing efforts by local authorities to regulate illegal brick kilns and safeguard agricultural land and the environment in the region.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman has disclosed the current diesel reserves in Bangladesh. Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Tuesday while discussing government progress, he said the country currently holds 170,000 tons of diesel in stock. An additional 180,000 tons are expected to arrive by April 30. He assured that there is no fuel shortage and that long queues at fuel stations are not being observed.

Dr. Zahed also commented on the issue of militancy in Bangladesh, acknowledging that militant elements exist but emphasizing that the situation has not reached a level that should cause public fear. He noted that claims of widespread militancy during the Awami League’s tenure were exaggerated, while assertions made during the interim government that no militants existed were also inaccurate.

The adviser’s remarks aimed to clarify both the energy supply situation and the government’s stance on internal security concerns.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall in the haor basin of northeastern Bangladesh could cause flooding in low-lying areas of three districts. The latest forecast, issued on Tuesday, said that water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara and Danu-Baulai rivers have decreased, while the Bhogai-Kangsa river has risen. The rivers are currently flowing below pre-monsoon danger levels.

According to the forecast, heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours in the haor basin and upstream areas has raised the risk of rising water levels. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department and global weather agencies predict continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region over the next three days. As a result, water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara, Manu-Khowai, and other rivers in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj districts are expected to rise.

By the third day, the Surma, Kushiyara, Khowai, and Juri rivers may flow above pre-monsoon danger levels, potentially causing flooding in low-lying areas of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj. Water levels in the Danu-Baulai and Bhogai-Kangsa rivers in Netrakona and Kishoreganj may also increase to warning levels.

Bangladesh has started receiving approximately 925 megawatts of electricity from India's Adani Power Plant. The second unit of the plant was synchronized with Bangladesh’s national grid on Monday evening, beginning supply at around 7:45 p.m. According to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairman, power supply will gradually increase, helping to boost overall generation and reduce load-shedding across the country.

BPDB officials also stated that from April 28, additional 600 megawatts each are expected to come from SS Power and RNPL. RNPL is a joint venture between Bangladesh’s Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) and China’s state-owned Norinco, which will begin producing 600 megawatts from the same date.

BPDB data show that on Saturday evening, Bangladesh’s peak electricity demand reached 16,900 megawatts, while maximum generation without Adani’s supply was 14,712 megawatts. The new imports are expected to ease the supply gap and improve grid stability.

A severe shortage of fuel and electricity has brought life in the Rangpur region to a standstill, according to a report published on April 28, 2026. Worsening load-shedding has disrupted industrial production, halted irrigation, crippled transport, and severely affected students’ studies. Residents report that both fuel and electricity shortages have created a major crisis across the agriculture-dependent northern districts, with irrigation pumps unable to operate and crop yields at risk.

Industrial zones in Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, and Rangpur are facing production losses, leaving factory owners and workers in financial distress. Cold storage operators warn of potential spoilage of stored potatoes and vegetables due to insufficient fuel for generators. Auto-rickshaw drivers, dependent on electricity for charging, are also struggling to earn a living. Long queues and occasional clashes have been reported at fuel stations.

Power officials and experts acknowledge that many power plants have shut down due to the fuel crisis. They urge the government to restore supply quickly and explore alternative energy sources to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

A dam in the Eron Beel area of Madhyanagar in Sunamganj has broken due to hill runoff from India, flooding hundreds of hectares of Boro paddy fields. The breach occurred on Tuesday morning when rising water pressure in the Monai River near the Indian border caused a road adjacent to Hamidpur village to collapse, allowing water to enter the fields.

Local farmers reported that 5 to 6 villages have several hundred acres of Boro crops at risk. The agriculture department stated that the affected area covers 114 hectares, of which 40 hectares have already been harvested. Residents are working to block the water flow to protect the remaining crops.

According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sanjay Ghosh, the damaged structure is a village road, not a Water Development Board dam. The road was washed away by runoff descending from Durgapur in Netrokona. Around 5 to 10 hectares of land have been submerged, and efforts are underway to prevent further erosion.

Farmers in Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur have regained relief as diesel supply returned to normal, allowing irrigation to resume and revitalizing paddy fields. Earlier, irrigation in the upazila’s Irri-Boro fields was disrupted on March 30 and April 22 due to a diesel shortage, causing several hectares of paddy to wilt and raising fears of poor yield.

Following a report published by the newspaper, the upazila administration and agricultural officials took steps to improve the situation. Upazila Executive Officer Amit Dutta confirmed that diesel is now being supplied according to farmers’ demand and that there is no current shortage. Upazila Agriculture Officer Mahfuzur Rahman stated that with adequate diesel, irrigation and paddy production are proceeding smoothly, and yields are strong.

According to the upazila agriculture office, Irri-Boro paddy cultivation has been successful across 5,610 hectares of land, indicating a positive outcome after the earlier supply crisis.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, advised Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra seaports to hoist local cautionary signal number 3 due to variations in air pressure over the Bay of Bengal. Fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay have been instructed to stay close to the coast and proceed with caution. The forecast also indicated partly cloudy to cloudy skies over Dhaka and surrounding areas, with chances of rain and thunderstorms.

The department predicted rain with gusty or squally winds and lightning across several divisions, including Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Chattogram. Moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in parts of Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, with a slight drop in day and night temperatures nationwide. Extended forecasts for Wednesday and Thursday suggest continued rainfall and thunderstorms across most regions.

Meteorologist Dr. Md. Bazlur Rashid said rainfall has eased recent heat conditions and that no heatwave is expected until early May. Earlier heatwaves had affected multiple districts, with Rajshahi recording 40°C last week.

In Syedpur of Nilphamari, unpaid electricity bills in 24 Bihari camps have reached Tk 66 crore as of February 2026, creating a prolonged dispute over who should bear the cost. Despite repeated letters from the local electricity office to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, no resolution has been reached. The ministry has stated it will only pay bills up to 2016, arguing that camp residents are now Bangladeshi citizens and must pay their own bills.

Field visits revealed that while each camp has a government-installed meter, many residents also use direct connections from nearby poles without meters. The camps consume about Tk 50 lakh worth of electricity monthly. Officials warn that continuous power use is maintained to prevent fire hazards from illegal connections.

Local leaders and rights activists attribute the crisis to poor planning and lack of formal integration of the camps into the city structure. They say the government is losing revenue while residents face safety risks. Camp representatives have called for dignified rehabilitation to resolve the issue permanently.

A tube well installation in Dheoban village of Rajnagar upazila, Moulvibazar, was stopped after gas began emerging from the pipe instead of water at a depth of 55 feet. The incident occurred on Saturday at the home of a farmer named Kipend in Ward No. 2 of Panchgaon Union. Workers noticed the unusual emission and informed the homeowner, who then advised relocating the drilling site. However, the same phenomenon occurred again, prompting workers to stop the work and fill the hole with soil.

The unexpected gas release caused concern and curiosity among local residents. Acting chairman of Panchgaon Union Parishad, Jubel Ahmed Russel, visited the site after receiving reports. Following the advice of the upazila executive officer, the drilling work was suspended to avoid potential risks.

Upazila executive officer Bipul Sikder stated that the administration is closely monitoring the situation and has contacted Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX), sending them video footage and photographs for assessment.

International crude oil prices continued to rise as diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran to ease tensions remained stalled. As of 00:51 GMT, Brent crude futures for June delivery increased by 45 cents, or 0.4 percent, reaching $108.68 per barrel. The previous session saw a 2.8 percent gain, marking the seventh consecutive day of upward movement. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery rose by 58 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $96.96 per barrel after a 2.1 percent increase the day before.

Analysts attributed the sustained price rise to geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East and the deadlock in US-Iran discussions, which have raised concerns about potential supply disruptions. These factors have maintained upward pressure on oil prices in global markets.

The ongoing instability in the region and lack of diplomatic progress suggest that volatility in energy markets may persist if the situation remains unresolved.