Prime Minister’s adviser on finance and planning, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, said that the current Prime Minister does not believe in rhetorical speeches. Speaking at a meeting on equitable regional development at the Faridpur Deputy Commissioner’s office on Friday, he noted that the Prime Minister announced a 10,000 taka loan waiver for farmers, livestock owners, and fishermen during the first cabinet meeting and introduced a family card within the first month of forming the government.

He stated that equitable regional development is underway, with coordination meetings already held in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Titumir criticized the previous government’s economic model for failing to create employment and highlighted rising unemployment, especially among women and graduates. He added that inflation over the past three years has increased hardship and poverty, but the Prime Minister has prioritized public welfare as the top agenda.

During his daylong visit, Titumir inspected industrial and research facilities, including the Zobaida Karim Jute Mill and the River Research Institute, emphasizing stronger roles in production and river management research.

A human chain was organized in front of the Narsingdi Press Club on Friday afternoon, following Jumu'ah prayers, demanding the release of Islamic scholars arrested in connection with the July Movement. Local residents and participants from various professions joined the demonstration, calling for justice and the unconditional release of the detained clerics.

Speakers at the event alleged that several scholars, including Maulana Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri, Maulana Ainul Haque Kasemi, and Maulana Abdullah Al Mamun, were arrested without valid cause during the previous government’s tenure. They claimed the charges against them were baseless and urged authorities to ensure fair treatment. Organizers stated that their movement would continue until the detainees are freed.

According to the report, the arrests occurred between 2023 and 2025, with some detainees allegedly re-arrested under special powers even after receiving bail. Participants concluded the protest by pressing the government to secure the immediate release of the scholars.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie said that BNP leader M Ilias Ali was a dedicated and courageous figure who fought for democracy and free elections in Bangladesh. Speaking on Friday, April 17, 2026, after Jumma prayers at the Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) Dargah Mosque in Sylhet, Annie stated that Ilias Ali might not have been abducted if he had not spoken for the people’s rights. The event was a prayer gathering organized by the Sylhet District BNP, seeking the safe return of the missing leader.

Annie added that the BNP had come to power through the people’s mandate after years of struggle and that Tarique Rahman was now serving as Prime Minister. He mentioned that many BNP activists had been victims of repression and casualties during the July–August movement. Annie also announced that Tarique Rahman would soon visit Sylhet to inaugurate the Bhasia River dredging project and the “Notun Kuri Sports” program at the district stadium.

Sylhet District BNP President Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury and MP Emran Ahmad Chowdhury also spoke, describing Ilias Ali as a symbol of public rights and calling his disappearance a tragic and unresolved issue.

A controversy has erupted in Feni after district council administrator and local BNP leader Professor M A Khalek allegedly received a ‘VIP protocol’ and ‘guard of honor’ from school students. The incident took place on Thursday during the annual sports competition at Motobi Adarsha High School in Feni Sadar upazila. Witnesses said students lined up to welcome him with flowers and red ribbons in a military-style formation, a gesture usually reserved for heads of state or war heroes.

The event drew sharp criticism on social media and among locals, who questioned the appropriateness of using students for such displays. Many argued that even the prime minister does not accept such protocols, calling the practice undesirable and urging an end to it. Professor Khalek said he did not personally request the arrangement, claiming the school authorities acted out of enthusiasm. Acting head teacher Monindra Kumar Nath said the arrangement followed previous practice but did not clarify the official protocol rules.

The school, with 260 students, reportedly spent about 50,000 taka on the event. Locals linked the incident to political influence and excessive flattery within educational institutions.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that it is reviewing Bangladesh’s request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been residing in New Delhi since leaving Dhaka on August 5, 2024. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a weekly press briefing in New Delhi on Friday that the request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes, and that India will continue constructive discussions with all concerned parties.

The statement follows Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s visit to India on April 8, during which he met Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Rahman later told reporters that Bangladesh had reiterated its earlier request for Hasina’s return under the existing extradition treaty but declined to disclose further details for strategic reasons. Jaiswal emphasized that both sides agreed to explore proposals to deepen bilateral cooperation and that follow-up meetings between officials are expected soon.

The discussions also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest, reflecting both governments’ intent to strengthen ties under Bangladesh’s new administration.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sent special gifts for Bangladeshi pilgrims traveling for Hajj this year. The gifts, sent on his behalf, arrived at the Dhaka Hajj Office on Friday. According to the office’s director, Md. Lokman Hossain, the items include one hundred thousand bottles of mineral water, which are being distributed to pilgrims at the Hajj camp. Additional gift packages containing backpacks, soap, water pots, petroleum jelly, miswak, and Ajwa dates have also been prepared for the passengers of the inaugural Hajj flight.

The inaugural Hajj flight is scheduled to be launched tonight at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will officiate the ceremony. This year, a total of 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims are set to perform Hajj.

The initiative reflects the government’s gesture of goodwill toward the pilgrims, ensuring they receive essential items before their journey to Saudi Arabia.

Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah organized a symbolic protest in his constituency of Debidwar, Cumilla, by distributing candles among local residents. The event took place on Friday afternoon in Khaiyar village of Rasulpur Union, where he highlighted the suffering of people caused by the ongoing power shortages linked to the national energy crisis.

During his address, Abdullah criticized the government for not acknowledging the real situation, stating that while officials claim there is no fuel shortage, citizens are facing prolonged power outages. He explained that the candle distribution was intended as a symbolic act to draw attention to the persistent electricity crisis.

Local residents reported that frequent load-shedding has severely disrupted daily life, particularly during the hot weather. They urged the authorities to take immediate action to restore regular electricity supply and reduce public hardship.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Tehran will not accept any temporary ceasefire, emphasizing that its goal is to end all wars across the region. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Khatibzadeh said any ceasefire must include all conflict zones from Lebanon to the Red Sea, describing this as a ‘red line’ for Iran. He insisted that the ongoing conflict should be brought to a complete end rather than paused temporarily. On the Strait of Hormuz, he noted that the waterway has historically remained open for international navigation despite being within Iran’s territorial waters.

He accused the United States and Israel of fueling instability in the region, saying their actions are harming global trade and the broader economy.

The 25th anniversary of the Barai Bari border clash between Bangladesh’s then BDR and India’s BSF will be observed tomorrow in Roumari upazila of Kurigram. On April 18, 2001, Indian border guards entered Barai Bari village and launched an attack that triggered a 42-hour-long confrontation. The fighting left three BDR members dead and six civilians injured, while 16 BSF soldiers were killed and two captured by locals. The violence destroyed 179 houses near the border.

Since then, local residents and the administration have commemorated the day as Barai Bari Day, but it has yet to receive official state recognition even after 25 years. Former lawmaker Ruhul Amin and local defense volunteers had joined the BDR in resisting the attack. A memorial now stands at the site honoring the three fallen BDR soldiers.

Residents continue to demand that Barai Bari be declared a “heroic village” and that Barai Bari Day be granted national recognition, reflecting the community’s long-standing call for official acknowledgment of their sacrifice.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has started interviewing candidates seeking nomination for reserved women’s seats in the upcoming 13th National Parliament. The two-day interview process began on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the party’s Gulshan office at 3 p.m. On the first day, aspirants from Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, and Faridpur divisions were interviewed. Candidates from five other divisions are scheduled to appear the following day.

The interviews are being conducted by the BNP nomination board, which includes party chairperson and prime minister Tarique Rahman, secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and senior leaders Nazrul Islam Khan, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Before the interviews began, Rizvi emphasized that women have played a crucial role in the party’s democratic struggle over the past 15–17 years and that their sacrifices would be duly recognized.

He added that the board would also consider candidates’ ability to speak effectively in parliament, contribute to lawmaking, and their educational qualifications before making final selections.

Pakistan has intensified security measures in Islamabad ahead of a possible high-level second-round meeting expected to address nuclear issues. Around 10,000 police officers have been deployed across the capital, with an additional 10,000 personnel being mobilized from nearby provinces. Special search and combing operations have begun under the Inspector General’s directive, while checkpoints and patrols have been increased at city entry and exit points. Movement at major bus terminals has also been restricted.

The country’s prime minister, army chief, and armed forces leaders are preparing to welcome world leaders to what has been described as a historic event. The Foreign Ministry indicated potential progress on nuclear matters, with diplomats from Tehran to Washington maintaining close contact. Islamabad aims to ensure a secure and respectful environment for all participants.

The preparations follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s remark suggesting that the second round of talks could take place in Islamabad by the end of the week. The first round was held on April 11, but no final decisions were reached on Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, or U.S. sanctions.

A visiting delegation of Bangladesh’s BNP, including Chattogram-10 MP Saeed Al Noman, shared their experiences from a recent trip to China, highlighting the country’s extensive grassroots development model. After visiting Fangxing Community in Anhui Province and other areas, the delegation praised the Chinese Communist Party’s (CPC) people-centered approach, noting that around 700,000 neighborhood service centers have been established across the country to serve citizens.

According to Noman, these centers act as community hubs where people of all ages gather for education, exercise, cultural activities, and social interaction. They also provide employment assistance and administrative services, making them vital to daily life. He described the CPC’s integration into citizens’ lives as a key factor behind China’s success.

Following the community visits, the BNP delegation attended a dinner hosted by the Anhui vice governor and senior officials, where discussions focused on strengthening Bangladesh-China bilateral ties, development cooperation, and fostering long-term party-to-party relations.

A large-scale citizenship and voter registration crisis has emerged in India’s West Bengal, where many Muslim residents report being excluded from the electoral rolls following the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Families such as that of Aminul Islam in Murshidabad have lost voting rights despite presenting valid documents, leading to fears of statelessness and social exclusion. Reports indicate that around 9.2 million people have been removed or placed under adjudication, with Muslims disproportionately affected.

Data from the Shabar Institute and Alt News suggest that 60 percent of those excluded are Muslim, far exceeding their population share. In constituencies like Nandigram and Bhabanipur, Muslim voters have been disproportionately disenfranchised. Human rights concerns are rising as residents in border districts such as Malda and Murshidabad face harassment, surveillance, and intimidation by security agencies, drawing comparisons to Kashmir.

Observers warn that the exclusion could trigger forced displacement toward Bangladesh, with both BSF and BGB reporting incidents of attempted pushbacks. Rights groups fear the situation may escalate into a regional humanitarian and security crisis affecting South Asia’s stability.

The Supreme Court Chamber Judge of Bangladesh has suspended a High Court order that had halted the recruitment examination for head and assistant head teachers under the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). As a result, the examination, scheduled for April 18, can now proceed. The Chamber Court order was issued on April 16 by Justice Md Rezaul Haque.

Earlier the same day, a High Court bench comprising Justice Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice A F M Saiful Karim had ordered a two-month suspension of the exam and the NTRCA’s revised circular issued on March 25. The High Court also asked the education secretary and NTRCA to explain within four weeks why the revised circular should not be declared illegal.

The dispute arose after NTRCA increased the required teaching experience for applicants from 10–15 years to 18 years, disqualifying many who had already applied under the original January 29 circular. A total of 114 applicants filed the petition challenging the revised circular’s legality.

Myanmar’s government has reduced the prison sentence of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as part of a New Year general amnesty. Her lawyer told Reuters on Friday that the reduction amounts to one-sixth of her total sentence. It remains unclear whether the Nobel laureate will be allowed to serve the remainder of her sentence under house arrest.

Suu Kyi has been serving a 27-year prison term on multiple charges, including incitement, corruption, electoral fraud, and violation of state secrets laws. She was ousted from power in a 2021 military coup that overthrew her elected government.

The partial reduction of her sentence comes amid continued political repression in Myanmar, though the government has not clarified whether the amnesty signals any broader policy shift toward detained political figures.