A long-distance bus traveling from Sylhet to Cox’s Bazar came to a stop in Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Wednesday morning, April 15, 2026, due to a fuel shortage. Around 30 passengers were stranded on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway near Banur Bazar in Bhatiari Union. The bus had departed from Sylhet the previous evening but ran out of fuel midway, causing significant disruption for travelers.

Passengers reported repeated difficulties obtaining fuel during the journey, with the bus assistant attempting unsuccessfully for over an hour to collect fuel from nearby filling stations. One passenger said they had to wait in long lines and pay extra for small amounts of fuel, yet the supply remained insufficient. Another passenger expressed concern about missing a scheduled training session in Cox’s Bazar.

Driver Osman Gani stated that the trip required about 160 liters of fuel, but the bus started with only 70 liters. Despite efforts to refuel en route, most stations could not provide enough fuel, leading to the breakdown. He added that some passengers bound for Chattogram were being assisted with local transport, while alternative arrangements were being made for others.

The 2025 primary scholarship examinations have begun across Bangladesh on Wednesday at 10 a.m., starting with the Bangla subject test that will continue until 12:30 p.m. The schedule was approved by the National Steering Committee of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on March 5, followed by the publication of detailed timings by the Directorate.

According to the official schedule, the English test will be held on April 16, primary mathematics on April 17, and Bangladesh and Global Studies with Primary Science on April 18. Each exam will start at 10 a.m. and last for two and a half hours. However, in the three hill districts—Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban—the exams will follow a different timetable, beginning with mathematics on April 17 and ending with English on April 20.

Authorities have also announced that students with special needs will receive an additional 30 minutes for each test, ensuring inclusive participation across all examination centers.

A recruitment process at Tajpur Degree College in Osmaninagar, Sylhet, has stalled after the institution collected application fees from candidates but failed to proceed with hiring. The college had announced vacancies for several positions on September 10 of the previous year, inviting permanent Bangladeshi citizens to apply within 15 days and submit a non-refundable fee of 500 taka per post. Around 46 applicants responded, but no written or oral tests have been held, leaving candidates disheartened and uncertain.

The delay stems from a September 28 circular issued by the Ministry of Education, which transferred recruitment responsibilities to district commissioners, creating a conflict with the college’s earlier notice. Acting Principal Md Khorsuzzaman said the matter has been reported to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education) and that a decision will be made soon. However, ADC (Education) Masud Rana stated he was unaware of the recruitment notice or any suspension of the process.

Applicants have demanded either completion of the recruitment or a clear explanation regarding their applications and fees.

Ninety-two students from Baligaon High School in Feni Sadar upazila have been granted permission to sit for this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. The confirmation came on Monday, April 13, from the district’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT), following earlier reports in local newspapers about the students’ uncertain exam participation.

The issue arose when the school’s office assistant, Mihir Chandra Shil, allegedly embezzled 117,000 taka meant for board fees, preventing the issuance of admit cards. Despite months passing, the head teacher and other officials failed to verify whether the payment had been made. The problem surfaced when other schools received admit cards but Baligaon High School did not. Teachers later collected 125,000 taka from coaching funds and contacted the Comilla Education Board to resolve the matter.

With assistance from the district administration, the school’s governing body, and the Feni Sadar Upazila Executive Officer, the board finally issued the admit cards, ensuring that all 92 students could participate in the exams starting April 21.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Traffic Division has issued special traffic instructions for Pahela Baishakh celebrations on April 14, 2026. From 5 a.m. until further notice, 14 diversion points will be enforced around Ramna Park, Ramna Batamul, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, and adjacent areas. The DMP Acting Commissioner Md. Sarwar stated that several major intersections, including Banglamotor, Hotel Intercontinental, Kakrail Church, High Court (West), and Nilkhet, will be closed or diverted to manage festival traffic.

To reduce congestion, DMP advised alternative routes for vehicles heading toward Mirpur-Farmgate, Golap Shah Mazar-High Court, and Science Lab areas. Specific parking zones have been designated, including Navy Gap to Holy Family Hospital, Matsya Bhaban to Segunbagicha, and Abdul Gani Road. Some areas are reserved for law enforcement vehicles only.

The DMP urged city residents to follow the traffic guidelines and celebrate the Bengali New Year in a festive and orderly manner.

Professor Dr. Abdus Salam has been appointed as the new Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Dhaka. He is currently serving as the acting Dean of the Faculty of Science. The appointment was made on Monday, April 13, 2026, through a notification signed by ASM Kashem, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Education, following the approval of the President and Chancellor.

According to the notification, the appointment was made under Article 13(1) of the Dhaka University Order, 1973. Professor Salam will serve a four-year term from the date he assumes office. He will receive the same salary and allowances as his current position, along with other benefits as per university regulations. The order also states that he must reside full-time on the university campus and that the President and Chancellor reserve the right to revoke the appointment at any time.

The appointment strengthens the university’s academic leadership structure as it continues its administrative and educational activities under the new academic leadership.

The National University of Bangladesh has released new instructions for the 2025–26 academic year’s first-year undergraduate (honours) admission test, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The test will be held simultaneously across the country at designated college centers by division and district. The directive, issued on April 12, outlines responsibilities for center secretaries, including downloading candidate lists using official credentials and arranging seating by group while maintaining proper distance.

Each examination room must seat students from humanities, business studies, and science groups in multiples of ten. If a college lacks sufficient space, nearby institutions may be used as venues, with seating plans published at least three days before the exam. To ensure transparency, invigilators must verify candidates’ faces with attendance photos, and proxy participation is strictly prohibited. Two question sets per group will be used, and OMR sheets must be correctly filled.

Electronic devices are banned, and late entry beyond 30 minutes will not be allowed. Answer sheets and attendance lists must be sealed and submitted to regional centers by 8 p.m. the same day. The center fee is set at 125 taka per candidate.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced that two stations on the MRT Line-6 will remain closed on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in observance of Pahela Baishakh. According to a notice issued by the sub-project director for public relations, Md. Ahsan Ullah Sharifi, Shahbagh Metro Station will remain closed until noon, while Dhaka University Metro Station will be closed for the entire day.

The temporary closure aims to accommodate the celebrations of the Bengali New Year, which draw large crowds to central Dhaka. DMTCL has requested passengers to make alternative travel arrangements during the closure period and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.

The company stated that normal metro operations will resume after the temporary shutdown, ensuring minimal disruption to commuters once the festivities conclude.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Ahsan Habib Palash stated that there is no information suggesting any threat or untoward incident ahead of Pahela Baishakh celebrations. Speaking at a press briefing after inspecting security arrangements at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka on Monday, April 13, he said RAB is fully prepared to ensure public safety during the festivities.

According to RAB, multi-layered security measures have been set up at key celebration venues including Shahbagh, TSC, Ramna Batamul, Hatirjheel, and Manik Mia Avenue. The force has deployed 15 battalions nationwide, operating 308 patrols—181 pickup and 127 motorcycle units—alongside plainclothes intelligence surveillance. Bomb disposal units, dog squads, control rooms, CCTV monitoring, and reserve forces are also on standby. A cyber monitoring team is working round the clock to prevent misinformation or provocative content on social media.

Special measures have been taken to ensure the safety of women and children, with immediate action instructed against any harassment complaints. RAB urged festivalgoers to remain alert and seek assistance from nearby law enforcement if needed.

An opinion piece by Dr. Mohammad Abdul Halim Chowdhury, published on April 13, 2026, highlights the gap between teacher training programs in Bangladesh and their actual impact on classroom teaching. Despite the existence of PTI, B.Ed, M.Ed, and HSTTI courses from primary to higher secondary levels, the article argues that these programs often fail to produce meaningful changes in teaching quality. The author notes that teachers obtain certificates but show limited improvement in classroom performance.

The article identifies several structural issues, including outdated syllabuses, lack of practical application, and questionable evaluation practices. It points out that training content is often centrally designed without reflecting ground realities, and practical components are reduced to formalities. Problems such as favoritism in grading, ethical lapses, and a focus on financial benefits rather than professional growth further weaken the system. International organizations like UNESCO and the World Bank are cited as emphasizing the importance of effective teacher training.

To address these challenges, the author recommends revising syllabuses with grassroots input, strengthening research-based training, ensuring transparency in evaluation, monitoring post-training teaching, and linking incentives to performance.

The Ministry of Education has directed the preparation of a list of retired and physically capable teachers to strengthen classroom teaching activities across all educational institutions in Bangladesh. The directive, issued through a letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Shirin Akter of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, was sent to all district commissioners, upazila executive officers, and the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.

According to the letter, teaching activities in non-government educational institutions have been disrupted due to a shortage of teachers and delays in recruitment by the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). To address this, district commissioners have been asked to form upazila-based pools of retired teachers who are physically capable of teaching.

The ministry instructed that, with the advice of upazila executive officers and approval from managing committees, governing bodies, or ad hoc committees, institutions may temporarily appoint teachers from these pools. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education has been requested to issue necessary guidance on covering honorarium expenses from the institutions’ essential funds.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj announced that Bangladesh’s new education vision will emphasize skill enhancement and career development. He said this during a seminar titled “The Role of Teachers and the State in Improving Education Quality,” held at the Tarabo Municipal Auditorium in Rupganj, Narayanganj, on Sunday afternoon. Hajjaj noted that although several commissions and policies had been formed in the past, the education system lacked a clear vision until now. He stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has set the new direction for the sector.

The minister explained that the government is working to make the education system more practical and modern, focusing not only on certificates but also on developing students’ skills, innovative thinking, and employability. He called for collective efforts to promote skill-based education and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving educational quality.

Member of Parliament for Narayanganj-1, Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan Dipu, added that sustainable education requires coordinated efforts among teachers, students, parents, and administrators, along with digital expansion, teacher training, and institutional accountability.

The Ministry of Education has directed the creation of a list of retired and physically capable teachers across Bangladesh to increase classroom teaching activities. According to an official letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Shirin Akter, managing committees of educational institutions have been instructed to recruit teachers from this list as needed. The directive was sent to all district commissioners, upazila executive officers, and the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.

The ministry explained that teaching activities in classrooms are being disrupted due to a shortage of teachers and delays in recruitment by the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). To ensure quality education, upazila-based pools of retired teachers will be formed with the approval of local managing committees and guidance from upazila executive officers. Institutions will cover honorarium expenses from their own essential funds.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan also stated that retired teachers might be appointed as presidents of managing committees or governing bodies of schools, colleges, and madrasas. He added that a commission could be formed for this purpose, though no formal decision has yet been made.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced new regulations to improve service quality for Hajj pilgrims and prevent harassment by accommodation and service providers in Makkah and Madinah. According to a Gulf News report published on Saturday, the new rules will impose doubled fines for repeated violations, and licenses may be permanently revoked for persistent offenders. The monitoring and enforcement period will run from the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Qi'dah until mid-Muharram.

The ministry stated that penalties will increase with each repeated offense, including during and after the Hajj season. In addition to financial fines, administrative actions such as temporary suspension or sealing of establishments may be applied. Companies found violating rules three times consecutively could lose their licenses entirely.

Fines will range from 2,000 to 14,000 riyals for hotels and accommodations, and from 1,000 to 50,000 riyals for temporary Hajj camps. The penalties are scaled according to company size, from 25 percent for small firms to 100 percent for large ones. Authorities said the measures aim to ensure maximum safety and comfort for pilgrims and reflect a zero-tolerance policy toward negligence or fraud.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan has said that retired teachers from schools, colleges, and madrasas may be appointed as presidents of managing committees or governing bodies in various private educational institutions. He made the remarks on Sunday while addressing a program at Azimpur Government Girls School and College auditorium in Dhaka.

The minister explained that a commission could be formed with retired teachers to select presidents for managing committees across the country, which he believes would help improve the education system. He noted that no formal decision has been made yet, but the process is under consideration. The minister was speaking at a meeting with center secretaries of the Dhaka region ahead of the upcoming SSC and equivalent examinations, organized by the Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Education.

During the event, the minister emphasized that improving teaching quality is a top priority, noting that many teachers do not teach properly, leading parents to rely on private tutors or coaching centers.