The Begum Rokeya University Journalists’ Association (BEROBISAS) held a human chain on Sunday afternoon at the university’s media premises to protest the recent attack on members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJAS) by activists of the student wing of a political party at Shahbagh police station. Participants demanded exemplary punishment for those involved and called for ensuring journalists’ safety and a free media environment.

Speakers at the event, including BEROBISAS President Abu Sayeed, General Secretary Kamruzzaman Pulok, and other members, described the assault as a direct attack on press freedom and democratic practice. They urged authorities to identify and prosecute the attackers swiftly. Kamruzzaman Pulok termed the incident a blatant attempt to silence the free press, while Abu Sayeed emphasized that such violence is unacceptable and must be resisted.

Journalists from various print and electronic media outlets joined the protest, reiterating the demand for a secure environment for journalism across all campuses in the country.

The platform 'July Unity' has demanded the immediate arrest and trial of those involved in the recent attack on Dhaka University students, two Daksu editors, and journalists. The demand was made at a press conference held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, Dhaka. Organizer Munshi Kobi Burhan Mahmud read a written statement, joined by other organizers including Fahim Faruqi and Riadul Islam Jubah.

According to the statement, the attack occurred on April 23 inside Shahbagh Police Station when students and journalists went to file a general diary. The group alleged that individuals identifying as members of the Chhatra Dal carried out a planned assault. July Unity leaders accused the police of negligence, claiming officers delayed accepting the complaint and allowed the attackers to act. They also alleged that threats were spread on social media before the incident.

The platform demanded exemplary punishment for the attackers and accountability for the police officers involved, asserting that the assault was politically motivated and aimed at silencing student voices.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Jashore on Monday to accelerate development in Bangladesh’s southwestern region. This will be his first visit to Jashore since assuming office. According to the official itinerary, he will arrive at Jashore Airport at 10:15 a.m. and inaugurate the re-excavation of the historic Ulashi–Jadunathpur canal in Sharsha upazila, followed by a local gathering. Later, he will lay the foundation stone for a 500-bed hospital at Jashore Medical College, visit the Jashore Institute Public Library, and address a large political rally organized by the district BNP at the central Eidgah in the afternoon.

Preparations for the visit have been underway for over a week, with the Special Security Force tightening security and law enforcement maintaining strict surveillance. The Water Development Board is implementing the canal project, while the Public Works Department is responsible for the hospital construction. Local BNP leaders have inspected the rally venue, expecting a large turnout. The Prime Minister will also briefly visit the historic Jashore Club before returning to Dhaka.

The Ulashi–Jadunathpur canal holds historical significance as the starting point of a past national canal excavation program, and its revival has generated strong local interest.

Bangladeshi diplomats stationed at the United Nations, particularly in Geneva, are presenting the newly elected government’s agenda and vision through active multilateral diplomacy. According to a press release from Bangladesh’s mission in Geneva, the diplomats are building a strong and dynamic presence across various UN offices and agencies. They are moving beyond traditional diplomacy to influence global policymaking on peace, climate change, and sustainable development.

The release described their ongoing efforts as “active diplomacy,” which is significantly strengthening Bangladesh’s position in the international arena. The statement also paid tribute to the tireless efforts of representatives from all UN member states in advancing multilateral diplomacy toward a shared goal of building a better world for future generations—a vision aligned with the founding purpose of the UN in 1945.

The remarks were made on the occasion of International Delegates Day, which recognizes the vital role of representatives in promoting dialogue, cooperation, and multilateral solutions. The mission noted that delegates embody the spirit of multilateralism and work together to address global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, development constraints, and security threats.

NCP lawmaker Abul Hasnat, representing Cumilla-4, told the Bangladesh Parliament on April 26, 2026, that a renewed atmosphere of fear and intimidation is emerging in the country. Speaking during the discussion on the President’s address, he said citizens should be able to criticize the Prime Minister and express opinions freely on social media without fear. He alleged that opposition voices are being suppressed through legal cases and that individuals have been detained for online criticism.

Hasnat criticized what he described as a return to a “vicious cycle” of blame and repression, warning that campuses are again becoming unstable. He accused the ruling party of using students for political purposes while their own children study abroad. He also said the Human Rights Commission has been weakened and that the cancellation of the Police Reform Commission ordinance contradicts claims of reform.

Calling for an end to divisive politics, Hasnat urged all parties to understand the language of the younger generation and work collectively for structural change and freedom of dissent.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mashum Mostafa, representing Netrakona-5, raised a demand for personal and organizational security in the National Parliament on Sunday. He described an attack that allegedly took place on Friday evening at the Giripath Filling Station in Atkapara area of Purbadhala, along the Shyamganj–Birishiri road. According to him, a group identifying themselves with the BNP vandalized his car, assaulted his associates, and attempted to break into a mosque where he had taken shelter during evening prayers.

Mostafa told Parliament that the attackers tried to kill him and that professional killers had been hired for the purpose. He credited mosque worshippers for preventing the attackers from breaking in. The MP appealed to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for protection for himself, his family, and his party workers. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed responded that nine people had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Mostafa argued that only one of those arrested was a listed suspect and that the others were innocent. Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the incident as very unfortunate and assured that a fair investigation would be conducted to identify and punish the real perpetrators.

Syed Abdal Ahmad, Executive Editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, has been appointed as the Principal Information Officer (PIO) of the Government of Bangladesh. The appointment, equivalent to the rank of Secretary (Grade-1), was announced on Sunday through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration’s Contract and Foreign Branch. According to the notification, the appointment is on a one-year contractual basis, effective from the date of joining, and requires him to sever ties with any other professional or institutional engagements.

The notification further stated that other terms and conditions of the appointment will be determined by the contract agreement. Ahmad is a veteran journalist who previously served as Deputy Press Secretary to Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia from 1992 to 1996. He has received several awards, including the Philips Award in 1989, the ESCAP-FEJEB Award, and the Dhaka Reporters Unity Lifetime Honor in 2025.

Ahmad has held leadership roles in the National Press Club, served on the Media Reform Commission under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and authored over 20 books on politics, literature, and social issues.

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarek Rahman announced in the National Parliament that the fuel rationing restrictions previously imposed on police and other emergency service agencies have been withdrawn. He stated that the decision was made two days earlier and expressed hope that such problems would not recur. The exemption applies to law enforcement, ambulances, and fire service units.

The announcement followed remarks from Comilla-6 Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury, who raised the issue of a customs officer’s killing in Comilla. He said police had cited fuel shortages as a reason for reduced duty hours, which affected their ability to respond. Chowdhury demanded the immediate withdrawal of the fuel rationing system for police, warning that it could otherwise lead to a deterioration in law and order and hinder public movement.

The prime minister’s statement indicates that emergency and law enforcement operations are expected to return to normal following the lifting of fuel restrictions.

The Bangladesh Parliament has passed a bill abolishing the provision that allowed Members of Parliament to import vehicles duty-free. The amendment to the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order 1973 was passed on Sunday without any discussion or amendment proposals. Law Minister Md. Anisul Huq introduced the bill, which had been approved earlier by the Cabinet on Thursday.

With the passage of the bill, Section 3C of the existing law has been repealed. That section had entitled MPs to import one car, jeep, or microbus duty-free—excluding value-added tax, development surcharge, and import permit fees—under government-specified conditions during their tenure, and to import another after five years from the last import date.

Both ruling and opposition parties had previously stated that their members would not accept duty-free cars, signaling political consensus behind the reform.

In Debiganj of Panchagarh, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad has forgiven a college student who was arrested after posting criticism of him on Facebook. The minister also assured legal assistance for the student’s bail. The student, identified as Rishat, was sent to jail on Saturday after being presented before the Panchagarh Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-5.

According to police and local sources, Rishat had criticized a parliamentary speech by the minister in his Facebook post. Following the post, a local leader of the Debiganj Sadar Union Jubo Dal filed a case, leading to his arrest. After learning that the accused was a minor, the minister contacted Rishat’s father, Ashraf Ali, and promised necessary legal support. Ashraf Ali confirmed that the minister had spoken to a lawyer regarding his son’s bail.

The minister stated that the student was of his own child’s age and that mistakes can happen, so he decided to forgive him. The family now awaits the court’s decision on the bail application.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington would not stop him from pursuing victory in the ongoing war with Iran. The attack occurred late Saturday night at the Hilton Hotel, and police have already detained the suspect. Speaking at a press conference afterward, Trump described the attacker as a lone wolf and said investigators shared that view.

When asked whether the incident was linked to the Iran conflict or his personal security, Trump said he did not believe so but could not confirm definitively. He added that U.S. investigators were working on the matter and would soon have more information. Trump reiterated his stance on Iran, saying the U.S. had to act to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and that he had previously canceled the Obama-era nuclear deal.

Trump emphasized that such attacks would not deter him from continuing his efforts against Iran, asserting that the incident appeared to have no direct connection to other events.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen met with Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Sunday. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in media, culture, and knowledge-based sectors. The ambassador congratulated the minister on assuming office and handed over a proposal to increase collaboration between Turkish state television and radio and Bangladesh Television and Radio.

During the discussion, the minister recalled his visit to Turkey in March to attend the Strategic Communication Summit and thanked the Turkish government for organizing the event. He described the summit as a timely initiative and emphasized the importance of establishing order and regulation in digital platforms through collective international efforts rather than by individual countries.

The report also noted that during the minister’s earlier visit to Turkey, both sides had agreed in principle to sign a memorandum of understanding on knowledge exchange and information sharing in modern information management between Bangladesh and Turkey.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem has responded to allegations made by student leader Abidul Islam Khan, describing them as part of an organized activism campaign. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Kayem claimed that the allegations were being used to conceal the misdeeds of the BNP-affiliated student organization and to divert attention from national crises and campus unrest.

Kayem’s post cited various incidents of violence, extortion, and campus attacks allegedly committed by BNP and its student wing since August 2024. He accused the group of spreading false information through social media pages and using artificial intelligence to create fake images for propaganda. Kayem also denied that the DU Insiders page, linked to him, was involved in harassment or misinformation, asserting that a separate, fake page was responsible for objectionable content.

He further alleged that student activists had engaged in intimidation, phone checks, and assaults on journalists and student representatives. Kayem concluded that such actions reflected authoritarian tendencies and warned that the public would eventually hold the perpetrators accountable.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid announced that all Bangladesh-flagged ships, including the MV Joyjatra, will be able to pass through the Hormuz Strait despite the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. She made the statement to reporters on Sunday afternoon.

In the same briefing, the minister said Bangladesh has demanded a proper investigation and justice over the killing of two Bangladeshi students in the United States. She added that the process of bringing back the body of student Jamil to Bangladesh is underway.

The announcement comes as regional tensions have raised concerns about maritime safety and the security of international shipping routes, though the minister confirmed that Bangladeshi vessels will continue their passage through the strategic strait.

The Republican Party in the United States is reorganizing its campaign strategy ahead of the November midterm elections. The move comes as rising fuel prices and a sharp decline in President Donald Trump’s popularity have created new challenges for the party. Economic pressure stemming from the ongoing war with Iran has become a major concern for voters.

Party strategists are now emphasizing economic messaging and policy achievements to regain voter confidence. They are also working to prevent the midterm elections from turning into a direct referendum on Trump’s leadership. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, Trump’s approval rating has dropped to just 36 percent.

The party’s renewed focus on economic issues suggests an effort to stabilize voter sentiment before the elections, though it remains uncertain whether these adjustments will reverse the downward trend in public support.