Electricity generation at the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant in Dinajpur has come to a complete stop after its last operational unit ceased production at midnight on April 22. The 125-megawatt Unit 1 stopped functioning when stones mixed with coal caused a boiler pipe to burst, according to the plant’s chief engineer Abu Bakkar Siddique. The shutdown has disrupted power supply to the national grid.

Repair work is underway, and it may take four to five days to resume production. The plant’s other two units—one of 125 megawatts and another of 275 megawatts—had already been out of operation due to mechanical faults. The Barapukuria plant, built in 2006 beside the Barapukuria coal mine, was designed to produce 525 megawatts through three units but has never reached full capacity because of recurring technical issues.

The complete halt in production marks another setback for the coal-based facility, which has faced repeated operational interruptions over the years.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit announced in parliament that the government has decided to implement a 110-megawatt load shedding in Dhaka on a trial basis. The decision aims to ensure that farmers are not affected by electricity shortages during the irrigation season and to reduce inequality between rural and urban areas. The announcement was made on Thursday under Rule 300 in the National Parliament.

The minister expressed regret for the public suffering caused by ongoing power cuts, noting that current nationwide load shedding stands at around 2,000 megawatts but is expected to decline within seven days. He explained that despite high theoretical generation capacity, actual production remains lower due to gas shortages and maintenance at some power plants. Bangladesh currently faces a daily gas shortfall of about 1,164 million cubic feet.

Amit said the government, guided by the Prime Minister and in consultation with the opposition leader, is prioritizing uninterrupted electricity for agriculture. He added that visible progress in expanding gas infrastructure is expected within 180 days under the government’s priority plan.

A new analysis by real estate consultancy Knight Frank projects that the number of billionaires worldwide could rise to nearly 4,000 within the next five years. The firm’s report indicates that the current global billionaire population stands at 3,110 and is expected to grow by 25 percent to 3,915 by 2031. The study also found a sharp increase in multimillionaires, with individuals holding assets worth at least 30 million dollars rising from 162,191 in 2021 to 713,626 globally.

Knight Frank’s head of research, Liam Bailey, attributed the rapid wealth expansion to profits from the technology sector, particularly artificial intelligence. He noted that business scalability has reached record levels, enabling faster accumulation of wealth through technology and AI. The report highlights that Saudi Arabia is expected to see the fastest growth in billionaires, from 23 in 2026 to 65 by 2031, while Poland and Sweden will also experience significant increases.

The findings come amid widening global inequality. The World Inequality Report shows that 0.001 percent of the world’s population controls more than three times the total wealth of the poorest groups, while Oxfam reported a record number of new billionaires last year.

The government of Bangladesh has increased bus fares by 11 paisa per kilometer in response to rising fuel prices. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced the decision on Thursday at the ministry’s meeting room in the Secretariat. The minimum fare remains unchanged at 10 taka. In Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas, bus and minibus fares have been raised from 2.42 taka to 2.53 taka per kilometer, while long-distance bus fares have increased from 2.12 taka to 2.23 taka per kilometer.

The minister stated that the revised fares will take effect immediately and will apply only to diesel-powered buses. CNG-run buses are excluded from this adjustment. He also mentioned that fares would be reduced again if fuel prices decrease. No decision has yet been made regarding railway fare adjustments.

Earlier, a 12-member fare adjustment committee of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority had discussed a possible 22 paisa increase per kilometer for city and inter-district buses, but that proposal was not finalized.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has said that even after 55 years of independence, the country has not been able to establish a second oil refinery, which he described as an urgent necessity in the current context. He made the remarks on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the Capstone Course conducted by the National Defence College in Mirpur, Dhaka.

General Waker-uz-Zaman emphasized that global crises are emerging one after another, making energy security more critical than ever. He underscored the importance of developing energy infrastructure to address these challenges. The army chief also stated that no institution can sustain itself without accountability and expressed his expectation that the army will always remain within a framework of accountability.

According to the source, a total of 45 fellows participated in the course, including members of parliament, senior military and police officers, academics, doctors, high-ranking representatives from government and private organizations, diplomats, and business leaders. Senior officials from various institutions attended the ceremony.

Authorities in Chauddagram, Cumilla, are investigating allegations against the Chaudhury Filling Station for selling fuel at inflated prices during nighttime hours while claiming shortages during the day. The issue resurfaced after earlier irregularities, including a fine of 50,000 taka imposed on August 25 for underweight fuel sales. Despite this penalty, reports indicate that the station’s manager, Nasir Uddin, charged an extra five taka per liter for diesel and additional amounts for petrol and octane.

Local transport operators and motorcycle riders have complained of being unable to purchase fuel during the day. However, after 8 p.m., soil transport businesses reportedly collect large quantities of fuel in drums. During a field visit on Tuesday evening, journalists observed fuel being loaded into vehicles, and one buyer confirmed paying extra for diesel. When questioned, the manager refused to comment and left the scene.

Chauddagram Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Nurul Amin visited the site following complaints but stated that the accused had left before his arrival. He added that further action would be taken if similar allegations arise again.

The administration of Kishoreganj upazila in Nilphamari has introduced a mandatory fuel card system to regulate fuel distribution. Starting Thursday, April 23, 2026, no vehicle will receive fuel without a valid fuel card. The upazila executive officer, Arifur Rahman, inaugurated the distribution by handing cards to two recipients at his office. The initiative aims to restore order at filling stations and prevent fuel hoarding.

According to the upazila administration, a verification and distribution committee has been formed to process applications and issue cards. On the first day, 280 cards were distributed after verification. Residents can collect cards from their respective union councils, while government employees can obtain them from the rural development office. Each card specifies the fuel allocation based on the applicant’s occupation and needs.

The administration stated that fuel supply operations will be conducted under the supervision of law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance. The card distribution process remains ongoing.

In Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet, around 400 families in Dayamir Union’s Chakbazar area have been trapped in prolonged waterlogging caused by inadequate drainage during the ongoing Dhaka–Sylhet highway expansion into six lanes. Residents report that even light rainfall floods homes and roads, turning the area into a near-permanent waterlogged zone. Despite repeated appeals, no effective relief has been provided so far.

The problem began when the old drainage system in Chakmandal Kapan village was filled in during highway construction without building a replacement. As a result, homes, roads, mosques, markets, and schools are inundated, severely disrupting daily life. Students, patients, and livestock face particular hardship, while crop harvesting has been hampered. Locals also fear waterborne diseases and accidents involving children.

Project manager Debashish Roy stated that houses built over the original drainage channels contributed to the issue but assured that the project team would address any suffering caused by the expansion. Residents have urged authorities and local representatives to take immediate action to install a permanent drainage system.

Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that six closed jute mills will be leased to the private sector by December. He made the statement during a press briefing at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday morning. The minister said the initiative is expected to bring investments ranging from 200 to 500 crore taka and create new employment opportunities.

The announcement marks a step toward revitalizing the jute industry through private sector participation. The government aims to attract investment and generate jobs by transferring management of the closed mills to private operators. The decision follows ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and productivity in the sector.

If implemented as planned, the leasing process could help restore industrial activity in the affected areas and contribute to broader economic growth through renewed jute production and export potential.

Private sector lender Southeast Bank is struggling to recover its defaulted loans, with 71 percent of its total Tk 2,513 crore in defaults concentrated among the top 10 borrowers as of December last year. According to the bank’s internal report, these top defaulters owe Tk 1,779 crore, with KSRM and S Alam Group alone accounting for nearly Tk 1,000 crore. The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a case against KSRM Group’s chairman Abdul Khaleq Pathan and six others for allegedly embezzling funds from the bank’s Gulshan branch using forged documents.

S Alam Group ranks second with Tk 474 crore in defaulted loans, followed by FARR Ceramics Limited with Tk 338 crore and Padma Poly Cotton Knit Fabrics Limited with Tk 171 crore. Other defaulters include Tang Hai Knitting and Dyeing, Bishwas Garments, Care Specialized Hospital, ABN Properties, Intramex Group, and NASA Group. Bank officials said recovery efforts are ongoing, though some defaulters have fled or been jailed.

Managing Director Khalid Mahmud Khan stated that the bank is maintaining contact with clients and attempting to regularize loans where possible, including through rescheduling and asset sales.

Bangladesh’s Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced that bus fares across the country have been increased by 11 paisa per kilometer, effective immediately from April 23, 2026. The minimum fare remains unchanged at 10 taka. The decision was made following a meeting with transport workers and owners at the Secretariat on Thursday.

According to the minister, the fare adjustment applies only to diesel-powered buses, while CNG-powered buses are excluded from this increase. He added that if fuel prices decrease in the future, bus fares will also be reduced accordingly. No decision has yet been made regarding fare adjustments for rail or water transport.

Currently, the fare for long-distance routes is set at 2 taka 12 paisa per kilometer, while in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas, the rate stands at 2 taka 42 paisa per kilometer.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced a reduction in gold prices across the country. According to a notice issued on Thursday morning, the price of 22-carat gold has been cut by Tk 3,266 per bhori, setting the new rate at Tk 246,927. The revised prices took effect from 10 a.m. the same day. BAJUS stated that the adjustment was made considering the decline in the local market price of pure gold.

Under the new pricing, 21-carat gold now costs Tk 235,671 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 202,020, and traditional gold Tk 164,521. The previous adjustment occurred on April 15, when BAJUS raised the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 2,216 per bhori to Tk 250,193. That change also took effect at 10 a.m. on the same day.

So far in 2026, BAJUS has adjusted gold prices 56 times, increasing them 32 times and reducing them 24 times. In 2025, the association made 93 adjustments, with 64 increases and 29 decreases.

Five sluice gates built at a cost of several crore taka over various canals in Ramganj, Lakshmipur, have remained nonfunctional for more than two decades. Constructed during the 2001–02 fiscal year under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to control floods, improve irrigation, and reduce waterlogging, the structures are now obstructing natural water flow. As a result, local residents face irrigation shortages, water stagnation, reduced fish breeding, and rapid canal siltation.

Local farmers and residents said the gates became useless soon after installation due to lack of maintenance. Officials from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Water Development Board (WDB), and the Department of Agriculture each denied responsibility for the structures, leaving their management unclear. The canals have become clogged with water hyacinth and waste, producing foul odors and stagnant black water.

Ramganj Upazila Engineer Sajjad Mahmud Khan stated that only one sluice gate in Katakhali falls under his office and that repair proposals have been submitted. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Farashid Bin Enam, said the gates would either be removed or repaired depending on their potential benefit to residents.

Bangladesh’s state-owned sugar mills under the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) have failed to meet their production targets for the 2025–26 crushing season. The nine operational mills produced 43,326 tons of sugar against a target of 51,857 tons, falling short by 8,531 tons, or more than 16 percent. Compared to the previous season, production dropped by 2,861 tons. Only Thakurgaon and Zeal Bangla sugar mills exceeded their targets, while North Bengal Sugar Mill recorded the highest output and Joypurhat the lowest.

The total sugarcane crushed this season was 782,673 tons, below the target of 850,000 tons. The overall sugar recovery rate slightly improved to 5.53 percent from 5.5 percent last season but remained unsatisfactory. Officials attributed the decline to outdated machinery, lack of modern processing methods, and poor-quality cane varieties. Most mills are decades old, with ten of fifteen mills having exceeded their operational lifespan.

Although a modernization plan was proposed earlier, it stalled after the government changed in 2024. A task force was formed to revive closed mills, but the finance ministry did not allocate funds, leaving production suspended and equipment deteriorating.

Bangladesh’s Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant has received a commissioning license for fuel loading from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, marking the project’s final preparatory stage before power generation. Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said Prime Minister Tarek Rahman will inaugurate the fuel loading by the end of this month, with Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to attend virtually. The government expects the plant to supply 1,000 megawatts to the national grid by December 2026.

Experts, however, caution that commercial power generation may take six to twelve months after fuel loading due to required testing and safety checks. The process involves inserting nuclear fuel into the reactor and conducting phased operational tests under strict safety protocols aligned with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh has already completed grid capacity and transmission line work for the first unit.

The Ruppur project, launched in 2017 with Russian financial and technical assistance, has faced multiple delays due to safety and infrastructure challenges. Despite progress, experts emphasize that ensuring nuclear safety and emergency preparedness remains the state’s primary responsibility.