The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, has said that the world is currently experiencing the largest energy crisis in history. In an interview with France Inter radio, he explained that the combined effects of petrol and gas shortages and the situation surrounding Russia have created an unprecedented global crisis. Birol described the situation as the most severe energy disruption the world has ever faced.

He added that ongoing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in energy supply are driving up oil prices, putting significant pressure on the global economy. In March, IEA member countries decided to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves to stabilize markets affected by conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The IEA’s emergency release aims to ease market volatility and mitigate the economic strain caused by supply disruptions and rising energy costs.

A fresh spell of heatwave has intensified across Bangladesh since Monday, affecting nine districts including Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Dhaka, Faridpur, Khulna, Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) reported that the heatwave, currently mild to moderate, could spread to more areas and persist until around April 26. The highest temperature recorded in the past 24 hours was 38°C in Rajshahi, while Dhaka reached 36.2°C.

According to forecasts signed by meteorologist Dr. Omar Faruq, temperatures are expected to rise further, with the heatwave possibly turning severe in parts of Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, and Dhaka divisions by April 25–26. Earlier this month, several heatwaves were recorded, with Chuadanga registering the year’s highest temperature of 39.7°C on April 3. Brief rainfall in Sylhet, Rangpur, and Dinajpur was noted, but most regions remained dry.

Meteorologists expect rainfall to increase from April 26 or later, potentially continuing into early May, which could bring relief from the ongoing heat.

Authorities have announced that all import-export and immigration activities at the Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh will remain suspended for three days. The closure begins on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and will continue until Thursday, April 23, 2026. The decision was confirmed by the port’s manager, Abul Kalam Azad.

According to an official letter signed by Sandeep Kumar Ghosh, District Magistrate and Returning Officer of Jalpaiguri, India, the suspension is linked to the upcoming Lok Sabha election in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district, scheduled for April 23, 2026. The letter instructed relevant authorities to halt all trade and passenger movement through the port during this period.

The temporary closure affects both import-export operations and immigration services, meaning no goods or travelers will be allowed to cross through the Banglabandha checkpoint until the election concludes.

Widespread and prolonged power outages have severely disrupted daily life in Rajshahi amid an ongoing heatwave. Residents across both urban and rural areas are facing frequent electricity cuts lasting eight to fifteen hours a day, affecting farmers, small businesses, industrial workers, and students. The situation has become particularly worrying as the SSC examinations begin, with students and parents expressing concern over study interruptions and health impacts due to sleepless nights and extreme heat.

Farmers in Tanore, Paba, Godagari, Durgapur, and Mohanpur upazilas report severe irrigation crises, threatening boro paddy and other crops. Many have resorted to diesel-powered pumps, but fuel shortages and higher costs are adding financial strain. Business owners in Rajshahi city say production and sales have dropped sharply due to power cuts, while households struggle with water shortages and mosquito infestations.

Electricity officials, however, claim the situation is under control. NESCO’s managing director asserts that supply exceeds demand, while rural electricity managers acknowledge limited load shedding but describe it as temporary. Locals remain skeptical, warning that prolonged disruptions could harm agriculture, the local economy, and students’ performance.

A severe shortage of bottled soybean oil has hit markets across Bangladesh, with retailers reporting that companies have drastically reduced supply. Many firms are allegedly refusing to sell bottled oil unless retailers also purchase other products. Prices have risen above government-fixed rates, with five-liter bottles selling for 960–970 taka instead of the official 955 taka. Loose soybean and palm oil prices have also increased, reflecting the broader supply strain.

Retailers and consumers say the shortage has persisted for more than six weeks. Companies cite reduced profit margins on bottled oil as the reason for limiting distribution. The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association recently met with the commerce minister to seek a price adjustment, but no decision was made. The ministry and the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission decided against raising prices, opting instead to explore other incentives for producers.

Consumer rights advocates accuse companies of creating an artificial crisis to pressure the government into approving higher prices. They urge stronger monitoring to prevent unfair trade practices and stabilize the edible oil market.

Individuals and companies accused of large-scale corruption in Bangladesh’s power sector continue to evade accountability nearly two years after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Despite the interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus repealing the indemnity law for the energy sector and exposing years of irregularities, no punitive action has been taken. Huge sums of money allegedly laundered abroad remain unrecovered, while the sector still pays high capacity charges to private power producers.

The report details how politically connected business groups, including Summit and Orion, received billions of taka in payments for idle or underperforming plants. The Power Development Board (PDB) admits it cannot easily terminate contracts without risking legal disputes. Current Power Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said the government is reviewing legal options to recover stolen funds and end exploitative capacity charge arrangements.

According to official data cited, over 100,000 crore taka was paid in capacity charges between 2008 and 2024, with most private plants operating far below licensed capacity. The sector remains financially strained, with unpaid loans exceeding 149,000 crore taka and ongoing pressure to raise electricity prices.

A mild earthquake was felt in Dhaka and several parts of Bangladesh early Tuesday morning, April 21, 2026, at 6:29 a.m. local time. The tremor measured 5.1 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located in Myanmar’s Sagaing region near Homalin, close to the Indian state of Manipur. The quake originated about 66 kilometers below the surface, which reduced its intensity at ground level despite its moderate magnitude.

According to India’s National Center for Seismology, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake also struck Manipur’s Kamjong area at 5:59 a.m. Indian time the same day. The depth and proximity of the two seismic events suggest they were part of the same regional tectonic activity affecting the border areas of Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh.

Due to the earthquake’s depth, no major damage or strong shaking was reported in Bangladesh, and the tremor was described as mild across affected regions.

A mobile court of the Gazipur district administration fined a brick kiln three lakh taka during an anti-illegal brick kiln drive in Sreepur upazila. The operation took place on Monday afternoon in the Latifpur area, led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Prabhakar Roy. The court found the kiln operating in violation of government regulations and filed a case against its owner.

Officials from the Department of Environment in Gazipur, including Research Officer Md. Mokbul Hossain and relevant inspectors, participated in the operation as prosecutors. Members of law enforcement agencies provided security support during the drive.

Magistrate Prabhakar Roy stated that similar mobile court drives will continue regularly to enforce environmental protection and government directives against illegal brick kilns.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan inaugurated the excavation and cleaning activities of the Tolarbag Canal, stretching from Mirpur Mazar Road to Gabtoli Main Road, on Monday afternoon in Mirpur. During the event, he emphasized the importance of maintaining work quality, ensuring timely completion, and proper use of public funds.

The administrator stated that DNCC’s primary commitment is to build a livable city by ensuring efficient use of taxpayers’ money. He instructed officials to closely monitor contractors to prevent substandard work and stressed that all projects must be completed within the tender-specified timeframe. He also mentioned that he personally inspects sites and approves bills only after satisfactory progress.

Highlighting the role of clean canals in mosquito control, he urged residents not to dump waste into waterways. Ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, he announced that DNCC has prepared a waste management plan to clean the city within six hours on Eid day and continue operations for 72 hours.

Expatriates Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury inaugurated the excavation of the Barni Sabri canal in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet on Monday, April 20, 2026. The project, under the Employment Generation Program for the Poorest (EGP), covers a 1.5-kilometer stretch that will connect to the Gile Katagang canal. The excavation will employ 214 laborers for 43 days, each earning a daily wage of Tk 500, alongside the use of excavator machines.

The total cost of the project is approximately Tk 9.3 million, with half of the budget allocated for wages of the ultra-poor workers. Local administrative and political representatives, including the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Robin Mia, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Palash Talukdar, and several BNP leaders, were present at the inauguration ceremony.

The initiative aims to improve local water management and create temporary employment opportunities for low-income residents under the government’s poverty alleviation program.

Popular Bangladeshi band Nagar Baul, led by Mahfuz Anam James, has undergone a significant lineup change. Guitarist Sultan Raihan Khan Rana has left the band after more than fifteen years of performing with James in numerous concerts at home and abroad. He parted ways recently due to personal reasons, ending a long professional association. Rana had not been seen performing with the band for some time and was absent from their recent Pahela Baishakh concert in Pabna.

At that event, guitarist Ismamul Farhad Elin performed with James, and it has now been confirmed that he has officially joined Nagar Baul as Rana’s replacement. According to the band’s spokesperson Robin Thakur, Rana could no longer dedicate enough time to the group because of personal commitments and decided to leave after discussions with other members. Elin formally joined the band in March 2026, having previously played as a guest artist in 2020 and gained recognition as a guitarist for the band Shunno. The current lineup includes James, Ahsan Elahi Fanti, Talukdar Sabbir Shawon, and Ismamul Farhad Elin.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has accused influential bus and launch owners’ associations of attempting to unilaterally increase fares in violation of international consumer rights laws. The allegation was made by the association’s secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, at a press conference held on Monday afternoon at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. He claimed that transport owners were fixing fares without passenger representation by influencing certain government officials.

The association argued that while fare adjustments should reflect changes in fuel prices, the current process lacks transparency and excludes passengers. It alleged that fare calculations are based on arbitrary cost components determined by owners, with no opportunity for verification by government or independent parties. The group also criticized the use of outdated buses in Dhaka and Chattogram, claiming inflated costs are used to justify higher fares.

The Passenger Welfare Association demanded government intervention and warned of strong protests if fare hikes exceed justified levels. Representatives from the Consumer Association of Bangladesh also spoke at the event, supporting the call for fair fare determination.

Two diesel-carrying ships have anchored at the Dolphin Jetty of Chattogram Port, and fuel unloading has already begun. According to a press release from Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) issued on Monday afternoon, the MT Oaktree carrying 35,000 metric tons of diesel and the MT Cape Bonny carrying 33,000 metric tons arrived between midnight and 8 a.m. on Sunday. Unloading from both ships started before noon.

BPC also reported that three more vessels—MT Lian Song Hu with 41,000 metric tons of diesel, MT Pacific Indigo with about 33,000 metric tons of diesel, and MT Nave Cielo with about 27,000 metric tons of octane—are waiting at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port. The corporation stated that these arrivals have strengthened the country’s fuel reserves.

The port authority confirmed that all necessary logistics and security measures have been reinforced to ensure quick unloading. BPC added that the fuel will be distributed to depots and marketing networks nationwide to help stabilize supply and meet ongoing demand.

A workshop titled 'Climate Change, Women's Livelihoods and the Context of the Southwest Region' was held on April 20, 2026, at the Humayun Kabir Balu Auditorium of Khulna Press Club. Participants called for a separate budget allocation for coastal areas and the creation of gender-friendly laws to improve the lives of women and children. They also urged the government to adopt a long-term national plan to solve the drinking water crisis affecting residents of Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira.

Speakers at the event, organized by Badabon Sangho, highlighted that inadequate communication systems and water scarcity are the main challenges for coastal communities. These issues contribute to health problems, including skin diseases, while access to healthcare remains limited. The workshop was chaired by Professor Anarul Kadir of Sundarban Academy and featured contributions from academics, journalists, and social activists.

Speakers further noted that climate change has deeply affected the livelihoods of people in the three districts. Rising salinity, natural disasters, shrimp farming expansion, land-use changes, and industrialization are threatening the environment and biodiversity of the Sundarbans region.

Hasan O Rashid has officially assumed the role of Managing Director of Eastern Bank PLC (EBL), one of Bangladesh’s leading private banks. Before joining EBL, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Prime Bank PLC. With over 31 years of experience in the banking sector, Rashid has held senior positions at Credit Agricole Indosuez, HSBC, and Standard Chartered Bank.

Rashid is recognized for his leadership in transformation, innovation, and strategic management. Between 2015 and 2021, he served as Additional Managing Director at EBL, where he played a key role in strengthening the bank’s position. Under his leadership, EBL’s balance sheet doubled, trade finance operations expanded significantly, and the bank introduced financial instruments such as commercial paper and zero-coupon bonds for the first time in Bangladesh.

He holds degrees in economics and business administration from Capital University in the United States and a master’s in international management from Thunderbird’s Garvin School. Rashid is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh, and is active in several professional and social organizations.