A Tk 20 crore bridge built over the Ichamati River in Harirampur, Manikganj, has remained unused for two years because no connecting roads were constructed. The bridge, completed in December 2024 by contractor Dhrubo Construction under a Roads and Highways Department (RHD) project, was meant to link the Jhikta Bazar area. However, land acquisition and occupation disputes have stalled the construction of approach roads, forcing locals to continue using an old, damaged bridge at great risk.

Residents report severe difficulties transporting agricultural goods and commuting safely. Local traders near Jhikta Bazar have reportedly obstructed road construction, demanding compensation for their shops. RHD officials confirmed that the process of land acquisition and eviction is ongoing and expressed hope that the issue will soon be resolved so that work can resume.

Until the link roads are built, the new bridge remains inaccessible, prolonging public suffering and traffic congestion in the area.

Severe navigability crisis during summer and destructive erosion in the monsoon are displacing residents of Gangachara’s char areas in Rangpur along the Teesta River. Vast tracts of land have become uninhabitable, leaving thousands in distress. During the dry season, the river turns into a sandy desert, while in the rainy season it causes devastating floods and erosion, destroying homes, schools, roads, and farmland. Many families have lost their homesteads and livelihoods, forcing some to migrate elsewhere.

Villagers from areas such as Anandabazar, Bagdohra, Motukpur, Binbina, Ichli, Shankardah, and Kashiyabari report worsening conditions. Fishermen lose work as the river dries up, and farmers face irrigation shortages. Locals say repeated promises have failed to bring lasting protection. They demand a permanent embankment from Minar Bazar to Mahipur to prevent further destruction.

Gangachara’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jasmin Akter said the administration is closely monitoring the situation. Rangpur-1 MP Raihan Siraji called the Teesta crisis central to the region’s economy and urged swift implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.

A sudden drop in paddy and rice prices across several districts of the Rajshahi region has left farmers and traders in severe distress. Over the past month, paddy prices have fallen by Tk 200–400 per maund, while rice prices have dropped by Tk 2–6 per kilogram. Farmers are struggling to recover production costs, and mill owners and traders are facing losses. The situation has created instability in the agricultural and food sectors, raising fears of a prolonged crisis.

Local traders attribute the price fall to rising transport costs, reduced buyer turnout from other districts, and increased supply ahead of the new harvest. Farmers report selling paddy below production cost, while rice mill owners cite higher imports reducing demand for domestic rice. Agricultural economists point to an imbalance between supply and demand, driven by stockpiling and import pressure.

Experts warn that if the downturn continues, farmers may lose interest in rice cultivation, threatening future food production. The Rajshahi Rice Mill Owners’ Association has urged the government to set a minimum support price and strengthen market monitoring to stabilize prices.

The dredging of the Ichamati River, which flows through the heart of Pabna, has come to a standstill due to a severe fuel shortage. Excavators have remained idle for eight days as contractors failed to obtain sufficient diesel, creating uncertainty about completing the project on schedule. Field visits revealed that machinery and workers are inactive, and local residents have expressed growing frustration over the prolonged delay.

Contractors, including Ahad Builders, stated that the ongoing energy crisis has made it impossible to secure the required fuel. They reported daily financial losses from halted operations, rising labor costs, and equipment rentals. Residents warned that if the work remains stalled before the monsoon, public funds could be wasted and newly dredged sections might refill with silt.

Project Director Sudhanshu Kumar Sarkar described the disruption as temporary, saying efforts are underway through the district administration to restore fuel supply. Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam confirmed that the issue has been reported to the Ministry of Energy and expressed hope for a quick resolution.

The Bangladesh Land Ministry has fallen short of its land development tax collection target, with only 41.77 percent of the combined goal achieved by February 2026. Government institutions have shown the least compliance, contributing just 9 percent of their target, while the general service sector, including private landowners and residential properties, reached 32.77 percent. The ministry now faces the challenge of collecting nearly one thousand crore taka by June 29.

According to ministry sources, a total of 656.97 crore taka is owed by government agencies such as Bangladesh Railway, the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, and the Shipping Ministry. To accelerate revenue collection, the ministry is organizing a five-day “Land Development Tax Fair” from May 10 to 14 across 516 AC Land Offices nationwide. The event aims to encourage tax payment and raise awareness about digital land services, record management, and name registration.

Officials believe the fair could significantly improve tax collection, as a similar three-day event last year generated 3.25 crore taka. The ministry has formed multiple committees led by additional secretaries to ensure the fair’s success.

The Ministry of Railways has renewed its initiative to construct a 500-bed hospital and a 100-seat medical college in Chattogram’s CRB area, a site known for its dense greenery and biodiversity. The project, previously halted for nearly four years amid environmental protests, is now being reconsidered under Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam of the BNP government. The minister is scheduled to visit the proposed site in the Goalpahar area on April 19 to inspect it before granting policy approval.

Researchers and environmentalists have warned that the hospital project could destroy the area’s natural ecosystem. A four-month study led by Chittagong University’s Associate Professor Omar Faruk Russell identified 183 species of medicinal plants in CRB, many used to treat serious diseases such as cancer and heart ailments. The study also found 223 plant species overall, including several endangered and century-old trees.

Local residents and cultural groups regard CRB as the “lungs” of Chattogram—a rare urban refuge combining nature, history, and community life. The renewed construction plan has reignited public debate over balancing development with environmental preservation.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suspended the next tranche of its loan to Bangladesh, citing insufficient progress in revenue and banking sector reforms. The disbursement, scheduled for June under a $5.5 billion program, has been delayed as key conditions remain unmet. The decision was confirmed by members of Bangladesh’s delegation attending the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, led by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

According to the IMF, Bangladesh failed to advance in areas such as revenue mobilization, banking discipline, subsidy reduction in the energy sector, and implementation of a market-based exchange rate. The organization has proposed initiating discussions on a new loan framework with revised conditions. IMF officials indicated that a review mission will not proceed until significant progress is achieved, making a June disbursement unlikely.

Economists warn that the delay could strain Bangladesh’s foreign reserves and budget support, potentially affecting financing from other development partners who view IMF assessments as key indicators. The IMF’s Asia-Pacific director emphasized that strong political will is needed to implement overdue reforms in fiscal and financial sectors.

Global oil markets saw a significant decline after Iranian officials announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial ships. On April 18, 2026, Brent crude and US oil prices dropped below 90 dollars per barrel, with Brent crude settling 9.1 percent lower at 90 dollars and 38 cents by the end of the day.

The development comes amid a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, though Washington continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that Tehran would close the Strait again if the blockade persists. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime route through which one-fifth of the world’s crude oil is transported.

The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran, disrupting shipping through the strategic waterway. The latest move to reopen the Strait has temporarily eased oil supply concerns but tensions remain high in the region.

Iraq has resumed crude oil exports from its southern region after more than a month of suspension caused by disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Middle East Eye. On Friday, loading began on a Maltese-flagged tanker named Agios Fanourios 1 near Iraq’s southern oil terminal, with around two million barrels of Basra crude expected to be loaded.

Shipping and trade data indicate that the tanker entered the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, following an earlier attempt by several tankers to pass during a U.S.-Iran ceasefire. The vessel is reportedly bound for Vietnam’s Nghi Son refinery, where it will deliver the crude oil cargo.

Officials said another tanker is expected to arrive at Iraq’s southern export terminal within the next two days, signaling a gradual normalization of oil export operations after the recent disruption.

The International Monetary Fund has lowered its global growth forecast for 2026 from 3.3 to 3.1 percent, citing the economic fallout from the United States-Israeli war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has disrupted vital energy exports and damaged Gulf infrastructure, while a prolonged war could push global growth down to 2.5 percent. Low-income and developing nations are expected to suffer most from rising energy and commodity prices, and global shipping faces additional strain.

Despite the downturn, several industries are thriving amid the turmoil. Wall Street banks such as Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan Chase reported double-digit profit increases in early 2026, driven by heavy trading activity. The crypto-based prediction platform Polymarket has also surged, earning millions in daily fees from users betting on geopolitical outcomes. Meanwhile, global defence firms are benefiting from rising military spending, and the AI sector remains resilient, with Taiwan’s chip exports and TSMC’s profits reaching record highs.

The war has also accelerated the global shift toward renewable energy. Governments across Asia are implementing emergency measures and new incentives to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, driving a 70.92 percent annual rise in the S&P Global Clean Energy Transition Index.

BRAC Bank has signed an agreement with the SME Foundation to strengthen financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs and boost the country’s production sector. The signing ceremony took place in Dhaka, where BRAC Bank Managing Director and CEO Tarek Refaet Ullah Khan and SME Foundation Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury signed the deal in the presence of senior officials from related sectors.

Under the agreement, Tk 300 crore will be distributed nationwide through banks and financial institutions from the SME Foundation’s revolving fund. BRAC Bank will provide Tk 40 crore in collateral-free loans. Entrepreneurs can borrow between Tk 1 lakh and Tk 25 lakh at an 8 percent interest rate. The program will prioritize women-led enterprises, manufacturing sectors, and cluster-based businesses.

Officials stated that the initiative aims to expand financing opportunities for marginal and small entrepreneurs, contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The event was attended by the Minister of Industries, Commerce, and Textiles Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, SME Foundation Chairman and Industries Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman, and Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar.

Global oil prices dropped sharply on April 17, 2026, after Iran announced that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz was now fully open for commercial shipping. Following the declaration by Iran’s foreign minister, Brent crude fell below $90 per barrel, down from over $98 earlier in the day. The U.S. benchmark, Nymex Light Sweet Crude, also saw a notable decline.

Before recent conflicts, Brent crude traded below $70 per barrel, but prices had surged past $100 in early March and peaked at $119 later that month. The latest announcement reversed part of that upward trend, signaling relief in global energy markets.

Stock markets in Europe and the United States responded positively to the news. Paris’s CAC and Frankfurt’s DAX indices each rose by more than two percent, while London’s FTSE also gained modestly. In early U.S. trading, the Dow Jones increased by 1.3 percent and the S&P by 0.7 percent, reflecting renewed investor optimism.

A severe cyclone accompanied by intense hailstorm struck the Char Bagdohra area of Noheli Union in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur on Friday night, destroying more than 100 houses. The storm, which began around 1 a.m., caused extensive damage in wards 7, 8, and 2, leaving hundreds of families homeless and struggling under open skies. Many houses lost their tin roofs or were completely destroyed as large hailstones pierced through the structures.

Local residents described the sudden storm as devastating, with several families including those of Suja Mia, Rafiqul, Suman, Jahanur, and others suffering severe losses. Many said their homes are now uninhabitable due to holes in the roofs and water damage. Residents expressed despair over losing their homes overnight and uncertainty about rebuilding without assistance.

Union Parishad member Rezaul Haque Bullet confirmed that a list of affected families is being prepared, while Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jesmin Akter stated that relief distribution will begin soon and further measures will be taken for those most severely affected.

A severe fuel shortage has gripped Chattogram, mirroring the nationwide crisis triggered by the ongoing war in the Middle East. Many petrol pumps across the city have run dry, forcing drivers to wait in lines stretching up to a kilometer. Some motorists have waited four to five hours without receiving fuel, leading to frustration and occasional scuffles at filling stations. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation reported that Chattogram Division has 383 petrol pumps, with 46 located in the city.

Most city pumps are out of octane, and those still operating are rationing fuel, causing traffic congestion around the stations. Several major pumps, including those in Katalganj, New Para, Baluchhara, and Oxygen areas, remained closed due to lack of supply from depots. Only a few stations, such as QC Petrol Pump in Gani Bakery area, continued limited operations.

Officials and station managers attributed the crisis to reduced depot supply and panic buying by consumers. They warned that unless supply normalizes soon, the situation in Chattogram could deteriorate further, disrupting transportation and goods movement.

The Power Development Board (PDB) has announced that electricity supply will remain suspended for eight consecutive hours across large parts of Sylhet city on Saturday, April 18, due to urgent repair and development works. The outage will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to a notice signed by Abdur Razzak, Executive Engineer of the Sales and Distribution Division-2 of the Sylhet PDB.

The suspension will affect areas under the 11 kV feeder, including Chalibandar, Kastoghar, Sobhanighat, Bishwaroad, Zailroad, Bandar Bazar, Amjad Ali Road, Kalighat, Chararpar, Machimpur, Mahajanpotti, Hawkers Market, Laldighirpar, Dakbangla Road, Burhan Uddin Mazar area, Shaplabag, Kushighat, Mendibag, Mirapara, Noagaon, Sadatikor, Mirerchak, Muktirchak, Muradpur, Tultikor, and Pirerchak.

The PDB stated that power supply will be restored as soon as the maintenance work is completed and apologized to consumers for the temporary inconvenience, requesting public cooperation during the repair period.