The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has instructed all transport owners and workers not to increase bus fares until the government issues an official decision. The directive was announced on Tuesday by the association’s secretary general, Saiful Alam, through a press release. It emphasized that operators must follow the existing fare chart and cannot charge passengers more than the current rates without a government notification.

According to the association, the transport sector is under growing financial pressure due to recent increases in diesel prices by 15 taka per liter and a rise in the dollar exchange rate, which has raised the cost of imported spare parts and overall vehicle maintenance. Transport leaders have urged the government to promptly and rationally revise fares in line with fuel and maintenance costs to maintain sector stability.

The association’s statement reflects ongoing tension between operational costs and regulated fares, highlighting the need for a balanced government response to sustain the transport industry.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, announced that any person recording and sharing videos of others on social media without consent, under the guise of being a 'content creator', will face investigation and trial within 90 days under the Cyber Security Act 2026. He made the statement in a written reply during the parliamentary question session on Tuesday.

The minister explained that the Cyber Security Act 2026, passed on April 10, 2026, criminalizes intentional online blackmailing, sexual harassment, revenge porn, or extortion through digital content. Offenders may face up to five years in prison or fines up to 5 million taka, depending on the severity and victim’s age. The law empowers the National Cyber Security Agency to remove harmful content, authorize emergency searches, and collaborate internationally to identify cross-border crimes.

Future measures include strengthening the agency’s capacity, establishing a digital forensic lab, and using advanced cybersecurity tools for real-time detection. The law also mandates transparency in content blocking and international cooperation for crimes committed from abroad.

The United States is considering a currency swap arrangement to help ease the dollar liquidity shortage in the oil-dependent economy of the United Arab Emirates. President Donald Trump confirmed the possibility in an interview with CNBC, saying the UAE’s central bank had requested the measure following economic disruptions linked to the Iran-US conflict. Trump expressed surprise at the request from such a wealthy ally but said he viewed it positively, emphasizing the UAE’s longstanding friendship with the United States.

The potential support reflects broader instability in Middle Eastern economies caused by ongoing regional conflicts. The move comes as diplomatic friction grows between the UAE and Iran after Emirati authorities arrested several Iranian nationals. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the arrests as baseless, urging the UAE to respect human rights and return to neighborly conduct.

The developments underscore the dual economic and diplomatic pressures facing Gulf states as they navigate the fallout from regional tensions and shifting alliances.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the import of nearly 175,000 metric tons of fuel oil worth Tk 1,698.21 crore to address urgent energy needs arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The approval came on Tuesday during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division submitted the proposals for the imports.

According to the Finance Ministry, the committee approved the purchase of 50,000 metric tons of EN590-10 PPM diesel and 25,000 metric tons of gasoline 95 unleaded (octane) from DBS Trading House FZCO through direct procurement, costing Tk 1,023.61 crore. Additionally, 100,000 metric tons of EN590-10 PPM sulfur diesel will be imported from Archer Energy LLC under the same method for Tk 674.60 crore. The ministry noted that fuel import proposals have been approved in almost every recent committee meeting.

The meeting also approved consultancy contracts for Dhaka WASA’s DESWS project and procurement of 30 million new hessian bags for the Food Department through open tendering.

Bangladesh Bank has removed Emdadul Islam from his position as Managing Director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited. The central bank also advised the company’s chairman to take necessary measures and appoint an experienced official as acting MD. The decision followed findings that Emdadul Islam concealed key information during his appointment process.

According to Bangladesh Bank’s inspection, while serving as MD of GSP Finance Company (Bangladesh) Limited, Emdadul Islam classified a defaulted loan of Keya Cosmetics as regular without central bank approval, reducing the company’s non-performing loan ratio from 16.04 percent to 8.86 percent. He also restructured loans of subsidiary GSP Investment in violation of central bank directives, leading to a fine of 1 million taka. Additionally, he imposed extra interest on Doreen Hotels and Resorts Limited during the COVID-19 period, ignoring regulatory instructions.

Bangladesh Bank stated that Emdadul Islam failed to disclose these issues in his application and affidavit for the International Leasing MD post, prompting his removal.

The Forest Department recovered 42 deer traps and detained two fishermen during separate operations in the Sundarbans under the Satkhira range. On Tuesday, April 21, patrol members from the Munshiganj outpost conducted a raid in the Belayet’s Bharani and Cherar Khal areas, where they found 42 'mala traps' set to capture deer. Acting on secret information, the team discovered the traps strategically placed to ensnare roaming deer.

A day earlier, on Monday, April 20, a smart patrol team carried out another operation in the Dingi Mari sanctuary area under the Kadamtala Forest Station. Two fishermen were arrested for illegally entering the sanctuary to catch fish and crabs. Authorities seized a boat, about 30 kilograms of crabs, and various fishing tools. The detainees were later sent to court under forest law.

Assistant Conservator of Forests Md. Moshior Rahman stated that operations to prevent illegal hunting and resource extraction in the Sundarbans will continue. Local residents alleged that an organized poaching group remains active, sometimes operating with the support of influential individuals, and urged strict legal action against them.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will hold joint meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, to ensure uninterrupted telecommunication services and network management amid the ongoing energy crisis. The meetings are being organized in response to concerns raised by stakeholders in the telecom sector.

Earlier, on March 12, BTRC sent a letter to the Posts and Telecommunications Division requesting priority allocation of fuel and electricity. Following that, on March 13, the division forwarded letters to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Power Division, and all district commissioners seeking necessary action. On April 20, BTRC again wrote to the Posts and Telecommunications Division requesting law enforcement support for fuel transport and tower site maintenance.

The April 22 meeting will include Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, mobile operators, NTTN operators, tower companies, and the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh. The April 23 meeting will involve the Power Development Board, Rural Electrification Board, PGCB, power distribution companies, and telecom operators. The meetings aim to adopt measures to resolve energy-related challenges affecting telecom operations.

The Department of Environment has fined three illegal brick kilns in Gopalganj a total of nine lakh taka and halted their production activities. The mobile court operation was conducted on Tuesday in Sadar upazila under the initiative of the Gopalganj district office of the Department of Environment. The fined brick kilns are Sheikh Bricks, Molla Bricks, and Gazi Bricks. Executive Magistrate Md. Sajjad Zahid Ratul led the mobile court, while Inspector Moniruzzaman Sheikh served as prosecutor.

Assistant Director Mahfuzur Rahman of the Gopalganj district office stated that the operation was carried out under the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2013, amended in 2019, for various violations. During the drive, electricity connections were disconnected, and the kilns were dismantled using excavators to stop production. The Gopalganj district police, Ansar force, and Fire Service assisted in the operation.

Officials said such drives will continue in the district to control air pollution and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

A mobile court in Shariatpur Sadar upazila conducted an operation on Tuesday afternoon against an illegal brick kiln that had continued operations despite multiple administrative notices. The court, led by Executive Magistrate Tushar Saha, dismantled part of the chimney of Messrs. Howlader Bricks in Shaulpur area and imposed a fine of one lakh taka on the owner under the Brick Manufacturing and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act.

According to the Department of Environment, the kiln had been ordered to shut down in February 2023 for lacking legal approval, but the owner ignored the directive. The site was also found to be only 250 meters from a primary school, violating the rule that prohibits brick kilns within one kilometer of such institutions. Officials said the action was taken to reduce environmental and public health risks.

Assistant Director of the Department of Environment, Russell Noman, stated that similar drives against illegal brick kilns will continue in line with High Court directives. Local residents expressed relief, citing long-standing smoke and pollution problems caused by the kiln.

Widespread allegations of irregularities, corruption, and fund misappropriation have surfaced in a canal excavation project under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi. Farmers from Tulatala and Angaria villages claim that the excavation of the Rarhibari canal was carried out superficially, ignoring government guidelines and resulting in misuse of allocated funds. The project, which includes 13 canal excavations and 3 embankment constructions with a total budget of Tk 36.5 million, allocated about Tk 5.245 million for the two canals in question.

Local farmers allege that instead of proper dredging, only minimal silt was removed, turning the canal into a narrow trench. They also reported that numerous fruit and forest trees were cut down, and the steep excavation of the banks risks collapse. Farmers say they have lost trees and will not benefit from irrigation or fish farming as expected.

In response, the canal excavation association’s president and the Rajapur Upazila Engineer denied the allegations, asserting that all work followed official schedules and was properly supervised.

Member of Parliament Rumin Farhana criticized the government in the National Parliament for borrowing Tk 44,500 crore within just 52 days of assuming power. Speaking during a supplementary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on April 21, she highlighted that the government had already exceeded its bank borrowing target for the fiscal year. The budget had set a target of Tk 1.04 trillion, but by early April, borrowing had reached Tk 1.12761 trillion, surpassing the target by 108 percent.

Citing a Bangladesh Bank report, Rumin Farhana noted that revenue collection was about Tk 7,500 crore short of the target, forcing the government to rely heavily on bank loans. She questioned whether the government had any concrete plans to expand the tax base or increase revenue collection.

In response, the finance minister said the large borrowing figure was a carryover from the previous administration’s liabilities, not the result of the current government’s actions. He assured Parliament that the government’s policy is to gradually reduce domestic bank borrowing, with visible results expected in the next budget.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir stated that the government will not tolerate any artificial crisis or manipulation in the market. He made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting of the task force committee on commodity prices and market conditions at the Ministry of Commerce conference room. The minister emphasized that no group or individual can hold the market hostage in a country of 180 million people.

He explained that global conditions, particularly conflicts in the Middle East, have created pressure on energy and supply chains, but the government is closely monitoring the situation and import levels remain stable. Responding to questions about soybean oil supply, he said that while bottled oil supply has slightly decreased, loose oil remains sufficient. The government is aware of any overpricing beyond fixed rates and will take necessary action.

Muktadir urged traders not to influence the market through speculation and to set prices based on the real impact of fuel costs. He called on all stakeholders to trust the government as it works toward a permanent pricing system to ensure long-term market stability.

Theatre and cultural figures in Bangladesh have alleged that the country’s art scene is facing stagnation due to low-quality content and ongoing political instability. The concerns were voiced on Sunday morning at a seminar titled “Our Culture and the Artist’s Responsibility,” held at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka. The event was part of a daylong celebration marking actor, director, and filmmaker Tauquir Ahmed’s 60th birthday.

At the seminar, veteran theatre personality Mamunur Rashid said that the rise of view-based commercialism has harmed the creative industry, leaving artists demotivated and unable to produce quality work. He also lamented that Bangladeshi artists still lack the freedom of expression enjoyed by their counterparts in neighboring and developed countries. Rashid praised Tauquir Ahmed and his contemporaries for their perseverance despite these challenges.

Other speakers included Abul Hayat, Afzal Hossain, Azizul Hakim, Mir Sabbir, and Deepa Khandakar. The program also featured screenings and writings on Tauquir Ahmed’s films, stage plays, and television works, followed by a performance of his stage play “Tirthajatri.”

National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Akhtar Hossain has demanded that the government reduce the recently increased prices of fuel oil and LPG gas, saying the sudden hike has negatively affected people's livelihoods. Speaking in parliament on Tuesday under an urgent public importance notice, he said the government had earlier stated it would not raise prices but did so anyway, and the extent of the increase was excessive.

Hossain noted that Bangladesh is facing an energy crisis amid a global conflict but alleged that some artificial factors may also be contributing to the domestic fuel shortage. He questioned what steps the government has taken to address these issues, saying such information remains unclear. He also warned that the rise in LPG prices would make cooking and production activities difficult for many.

The MP called on the government to identify hoarding and other failures in the energy supply chain and to bring fuel and LPG prices down to a tolerable level to restore relief in public life.

Bangladeshi short film 'Ali', directed by Adnan Al Rajib, has won the Diversity Award at the prestigious Filmfest Bremen 2026 in Germany. The award was announced on April 19 during the festival’s official ceremony in Bremen, recognizing the film’s creative portrayal of social realities and stories of marginalized communities. The director joined the event virtually to express gratitude, dedicating the achievement to his team and the people of Bangladesh.

Filmfest Bremen is one of Europe’s notable international film festivals. The Diversity Award honors films that creatively highlight themes of identity, diversity, and marginalized voices. 'Ali' had previously received a Special Mention in the Short Film category at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, drawing international attention.

Competing with films from various languages and cultures, 'Ali’s' success at Bremen reinforces its global appeal and demonstrates how a powerful story can transcend geographical boundaries.