Exit polls for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election will be released 30 minutes after the final phase of voting on April 29, covering 142 constituencies, following the first phase on April 23 for 152 seats. Alongside Bengal, exit poll results for Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry will also be published. The contest in West Bengal remains primarily between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Suvendu Adhikari, with the Left Front and Congress as other participants.

According to the report, past exit polls in West Bengal have shown mixed accuracy. In 2016, they broadly predicted a TMC victory but underestimated its margin. In 2019, they captured the BJP’s rise but not the exact seat distribution. In 2021, most polls suggested a close race, yet the TMC won a landslide with 213 seats. The general pattern indicates that while exit polls often identify the winning party correctly, they frequently misjudge the scale of victory.

This historical inconsistency raises questions about the reliability of upcoming 2026 exit polls, especially given the high-stakes TMC–BJP rivalry and administrative concerns noted in the report.

Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest march in Lakshmipur on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, condemning recent attacks by Chhatra Dal and the rising cost of essential goods. The procession began in the Uttar Temuhani area and moved through several city streets before concluding with a brief rally at Dakshin Temuhani.

During the rally, speakers alleged that incidents of violence and disorder had increased across the country, disrupting the normal environment in educational institutions. They strongly condemned these acts and demanded that those responsible be brought under the law. The speakers also urged the authorities to ensure a peaceful and secure academic atmosphere.

Leaders and activists of the Lakshmipur city unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir participated in the demonstration, including city president Abdul Awal Hamdu, secretary Ismail Hossain Fayzal, office secretary Junaid Hossain Khan, and college affairs and law secretary Sarwar Hossain.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Saiful Alam Milon, representing Dhaka-12, told Parliament on Wednesday that WASA-supplied water in Dhaka is foul-smelling and contains insects, making it undrinkable. He raised the issue during a discussion on urgent public importance, urging the minister to take special measures to address the problem.

Milon also highlighted four major problems faced by Dhaka residents, including waterlogging caused by the closure of natural canals. He cited examples of water accumulation in areas such as Dhanmondi, Bijoy Sarani, and Panthapath, where blocked canals have worsened flooding during the monsoon. He called for immediate steps to resolve the issue.

The MP further criticized poor waste management and outdated gas lines across the city, urging the prime minister’s assistance to improve waste disposal and repair old gas pipelines that have caused widespread inconvenience in Dhaka.

BNP lawmaker Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan accused opposition parties of conspiring inside and outside Parliament to embarrass the government during a session on April 22, 2026. Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, he alleged that the opposition was acting like fascists and warned that their supporters would not remain silent but would protest. His remarks drew loud objections from opposition members, who accused him of using threatening and unparliamentary language.

Opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman strongly protested Wadud’s comments, questioning whether he was inciting public disorder and demanded that his remarks be expunged from the record. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed responded that the matter would be reviewed and any unparliamentary language removed. The session also saw references to recent clashes at Chittagong City College and further exchanges between ruling and opposition MPs over political tolerance and democratic conduct.

The Speaker urged both sides to maintain decorum and respond through speeches rather than interruptions, emphasizing that differing political ideologies should not disrupt parliamentary proceedings.

Abdul Hannan Masud, Member of Parliament for Noakhali-6 and leader of the National Congress Party (NCP), has called in parliament for the formation of a new administrative division centered on Noakhali. He raised the demand on Wednesday, emphasizing that residents of the greater Noakhali region have been campaigning for this administrative upgrade since 1994.

Masud argued that Noakhali’s distinct geographical position, rich history, and cultural diversity justify its recognition as a separate division. He noted that the district, one of Bangladesh’s oldest, held historical importance during British rule, including the establishment of a major airbase and the presence of Bhulua, once the largest river port in the southern region.

He further stated that people from greater Noakhali played leading roles in key national movements such as the Khilafat, anti-British, Language, and Liberation movements, as well as recent uprisings. Despite this legacy, he lamented that the region has long suffered from administrative and developmental neglect, leaving its population disadvantaged.

A land dispute has emerged in Burichang upazila of Cumilla, where Moynamoti Union BNP president Salahuddin Ahmed has been accused of forcibly occupying land belonging to Jubo Dal joint convener Sharif Ahmed. The allegation was made at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon by Sharif Ahmed, his brother Arif Ahmed, and other family members. They claimed that Salahuddin and his associates attacked them and vandalized their shop when they tried to stop the construction of a 10-foot road through their ancestral property.

According to Sharif Ahmed, their family owns 12 decimals of ancestral land in Rampal mouza, legally inherited from their grandfather Akmat Ali. He alleged that a local group is trying to grab their land by falsely portraying it as a public road. Family members, including Shah Alam and Hasina Akter, demanded justice, saying Salahuddin has no ownership or residence in the area but continues to exert pressure.

Salahuddin Ahmed denied the allegations, saying he intervened only to resolve the dispute on the instruction of local MP Haji Jasim Uddin and that local residents were present during the discussions.

Millions of voters in India’s West Bengal have reportedly lost their voting rights ahead of this week’s crucial state elections following a controversial electoral revision. Over 9.1 million names, more than 10 percent of the electorate, were removed from the rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Critics have described the move as a “bloodless political genocide,” alleging that Muslim and other minority voters were disproportionately targeted. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defended the process as necessary to prevent illegal voting by alleged infiltrators.

Opposition leaders, election experts, and civil society organizations have condemned the deletions as unconstitutional and politically motivated. Former Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi called the SIR unnecessary and administratively disastrous, warning that an AI-assisted algorithm used to flag “logical inconsistencies” in voter data ignored linguistic and cultural nuances. Affected citizens, including government employees and retired security personnel, said their names were removed despite valid documentation.

Legal challenges are underway, but few appeals have been heard before voting begins. Analysts warn that the mass disenfranchisement could reshape India’s democratic participation, creating a divided polity where minorities are systematically excluded from the political process.

In Sandwip upazila of Chattogram, BNP leader and upazila member secretary Alomgir Hossain Thakur has come under criticism after proposing to increase the Kumira-Guptachhara speedboat fare from Tk 250 to Tk 300 per passenger. The proposal was made during an open discussion meeting organized by the upazila administration on Monday, sparking public outrage. Although the administration indicated that the new fare would take effect, activists and residents questioned its legal validity.

According to meeting sources, the proposal followed demands from boat owners citing rising fuel prices. Thakur explained that he suggested Tk 300 as a compromise since owners wanted Tk 350. Jaglul Hossain Nayon, owner of Adil Enterprise, defended the increase, saying higher fuel and parts costs made current fares unsustainable. Upazila Executive Officer Mongchingnu Marma stated that the decision was reached with consensus and would remain effective until a gazette is issued.

However, over a hundred online activists challenged the legality of implementing the fare before approval from the BIWTA. Former BNP joint convener Belayet Hossain assured that no decision harming Sandwip residents would be accepted and said communication with the shipping minister was underway.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has pledged to replace fertilizer dealers appointed during the fascist era with new ones. The announcement came on Wednesday in the National Parliament during an unscheduled discussion, following a demand raised by Chief Whip Nurul Islam. The Chief Whip stated that the dealers appointed under the previous fascist government were still active but not distributing fertilizer properly, allegedly creating an artificial shortage. He urged the Prime Minister to cancel their licenses and appoint new dealers to ensure fair fertilizer prices for farmers.

In response, Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman said that the entire Parliament welcomed the proposal. He added that if there was full parliamentary consent, the government would soon take necessary steps to implement the decision.

The discussion reflected a unified stance among lawmakers to address fertilizer distribution issues and ensure transparency in the appointment process.

Jubo Mohila League leader Shilpi Begum was granted bail on Wednesday morning and released from Kashimpur Central Women's Jail in Gazipur along with her one-and-a-half-month-old daughter. She had been arrested on Monday night from her home at Tejgaon Railway Colony Station Road in Dhaka in connection with an explosives and violence case filed at Tejgaon Police Station. The following night, she entered the prison with her infant daughter.

On humanitarian grounds, the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court granted her bail on Tuesday night, with Judge Mostafizur Rahman issuing the order. However, due to pending signatures, her release was delayed, forcing her and her child to spend the night in jail. The necessary paperwork was completed on Wednesday morning, and after verification, both mother and child were freed around 11:30 a.m.

Senior Jail Superintendent Mosha. Kawalin Nahar confirmed that the bail documents arrived at the prison on Wednesday morning and were processed before Shilpi Begum’s release later that day.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced the suspension of ongoing peace talks with a key rebel faction, marking a major setback in his campaign against drug-linked armed groups. The decision comes as Petro nears the end of his term, with only four months remaining, and after limited progress toward his goal of securing peace agreements with various factions involved in the cocaine trade.

Since 2023, Petro had been negotiating with a dissident faction of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), led by a commander known as Calarca. The group, called EMDF, had rejected the 2016 peace accord. On the same day, Colombia’s largest drug-trafficking organization, Clan del Golfo, also ruled out the possibility of a peace deal with Petro, further complicating the situation.

Both negotiation tracks were central to Petro’s “Total Peace” initiative, aimed at reducing violence in the world’s largest cocaine-producing nation. However, the Calarca-led faction has reportedly continued attacks on security forces and civilians in border and Amazon regions, undermining the peace process.

Dr. Zahedur Rahman, Policy and Strategy Adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, shared details on Facebook about the lunch budget at the Prime Minister’s Office. He stated that during a meeting between the Prime Minister and representatives of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), the lunch menu included rice, bottle gourd with small shrimp, fried okra, boiled egg curry, lentils, and yogurt. According to his post, the combined budget for lunch and afternoon snacks at the Prime Minister’s Office is Tk150.

Dr. Rahman mentioned that this amount is more than five times lower than the previous allocation. His post highlighted the simplicity and cost-conscious approach of the current arrangement at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The disclosure offers a glimpse into the government’s spending practices and may reflect an emphasis on modesty and efficiency in official hospitality.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the country will take necessary and appropriate measures to safeguard its national interests and security. His comments were reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA, which cited a post on Telegram quoting Baghaei’s remarks.

The statement followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of an extension to a ceasefire at Pakistan’s request, during which he commented that Iran’s government was “badly divided.” Addressing the possibility of future talks with Washington, Baghaei said that diplomacy is one way to ensure national interests and security, and that Iran would act when it deems the diplomatic environment suitable.

The exchange highlights continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran emphasizing its readiness to respond as needed to protect its sovereignty and interests.

Algerian Ambassador Dr. Abdelouahab Saidani paid a courtesy call on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir at the Police Headquarters on Wednesday morning. The meeting took place in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, where the ambassador congratulated the newly appointed IGP and discussed areas of mutual interest.

During the discussion, both sides exchanged views on strengthening Bangladesh Police’s capacity in addressing irregular migration, human trafficking, and security-related matters. The IGP welcomed Algeria’s interest in supporting the enhancement of police capabilities and emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation between the police forces of the two countries.

Senior officials of Bangladesh Police were present at the meeting. Both parties expressed optimism about building stronger and more productive collaboration in the future.

Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam told Parliament that there is no plan to hand over Chattogram Port to any foreign operator. He made the clarification while responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Shahadat Hossain during the parliamentary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The minister explained that operators are appointed only for terminal management under government or Public Private Partnership Authority approval, and both domestic and foreign operators are eligible for consideration.

He added that several terminals are currently operated by both local and foreign entities to enhance port capacity in line with modernization and trade growth. For example, the Patenga Container Terminal is managed by a foreign operator, and a PPP agreement has been signed with Denmark-based Maersk Group subsidiary APM Terminals BV for the Laldia Container Terminal. The minister emphasized that Chattogram Port is an autonomous body governed by a board under a chairman, implementing government policy decisions as required.

The statement aimed to clarify the government’s stance amid questions about foreign involvement in port operations and to highlight ongoing modernization efforts at the country’s main seaport.