India’s Home Ministry has reportedly proposed releasing crocodiles and snakes in riverine areas along the Bangladesh-India border that remain unfenced. The proposal, reported by The Telegraph India, aims to strengthen border security in regions where surveillance is difficult. However, the plan has triggered internal disagreement within the Border Security Force (BSF).

Former BSF Director General and Padma Shri recipient Prakash Singh criticized the idea as foolish, warning that it could endanger civilians living near the border. He questioned how animals could distinguish between Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. According to a senior BSF source, the ministry has asked the force to assess the feasibility of the proposal, but many officers oppose it due to potential risks, especially during floods.

A follow-up meeting is scheduled next week to continue discussions. The India-Bangladesh border stretches about 4,096 kilometers, with roughly 175 kilometers consisting of rivers and difficult terrain that complicate monitoring, according to the Home Ministry.

A protester threw a red liquid at exiled Iranian figure Reza Pahlavi in Berlin on Thursday, shortly after he left a press conference at the Federal Press Conference building. Video footage showed Pahlavi being struck on the neck and shoulder as he walked toward his car. He waved to supporters before quickly leaving the area. German police immediately detained the protester.

Earlier at the press conference, Pahlavi had sharply criticized the ongoing ceasefire between the United States and Iran, calling it ineffective and arguing that expecting behavioral change from the Iranian government was misguided. He advocated for continued military pressure on Iran.

Pahlavi, who has lived in exile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has recently sought to position himself as a potential political figure in Iran amid the ongoing Iran-Israel-United States conflict. The attack is believed to have been motivated by opposition to his pro-war stance.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has called for peaceful and successful implementation of the 11-party alliance’s previously announced mass rallies to be held on Saturday, April 25, in all major cities except Dhaka. In a statement issued on Thursday, he said the rallies aim to press for the implementation of the referendum verdict, resolution of the energy crisis, control of rising commodity prices, and solutions to various public hardships.

Porwar stated that the country is going through a deep crisis and that citizens voted ‘yes’ in the referendum with high expectations. He emphasized that implementing the referendum’s outcome is the government’s main responsibility. According to him, the movement is not for any particular group but for restoring democratic rights and building a just society.

He urged Jamaat members, alliance activists, and patriotic citizens to ensure the rallies are orderly and peaceful. Porwar also prayed for national peace and prosperity and sought cooperation from all to maintain discipline during the program.

The administration of Chittagong Government City College has formed a three-member investigation committee following repeated clashes between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir over a dispute involving the word 'Gupta'. The committee was established on Thursday, confirmed by Principal Abu Saleh Mohammad Naeem Uddin around 3 p.m. He declined to disclose the names of the committee members citing security reasons. The principal stated that the situation during the incident was serious and that the committee will determine who was involved and recommend disciplinary action as per regulations.

The clashes began on Wednesday morning, April 21, when tensions between the two student groups escalated on the college campus. By noon, the situation turned violent, leading to an hour-long chase, brick-throwing, and widespread panic. Police and college authorities intervened to restore order, but violence resumed later in the afternoon during a protest by Chhatra Shibir. Both groups claimed that at least 20 people were injured in the confrontations.

The investigation committee is expected to review the events and identify those responsible for the unrest within the college premises.

The government has cancelled all fertilizer dealers who were appointed during the previous Awami regime, described as a fascist period by officials. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced the decision at a press conference in the Parliament lobby on Thursday, stating that new dealers will be appointed very soon to replace those removed.

In the same briefing, Moni said a ten-member committee has been formed to address the country’s ongoing energy crisis. The committee will include five members from the ruling party and five from the opposition, and will be led by Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. The proposal for the committee was supported by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following a suggestion from the opposition leader.

The proposal was unanimously passed in Parliament, signaling a rare moment of cross-party consensus on tackling the energy issue.

Leaders of various labor organizations have called for the formation of a joint oversight committee to monitor the proceedings of the Rana Plaza case. The demand was made on Thursday at a discussion held at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity. The event, titled 'Thirteen Years of Rana Plaza Collapse: Current State of Occupational Health and Safety in the Garment Industry,' was organized by the Industrial Bangladesh Council (IBC).

At the meeting, Ruhul Amin, chairman of the Workers Resource Center, emphasized that the Rana Plaza tragedy claimed 1,137 lives and left 2,500 people permanently disabled, yet no factory owner died—only workers. He urged the formation of a joint committee to ensure the case is concluded swiftly. IBC senior vice president Abul Kalam Azad also stressed the need for such a committee to prevent further worker deaths in factories.

IBC’s women affairs secretary Chaina Rahman demanded justice for the Rana Plaza owner and others involved, while the session was presided over by IBC president and freedom fighter Kutubuddin, with several other labor leaders in attendance.

A Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activist was killed and at least 20 others were injured in a clash between two rival groups in Madhabpur village of Monoharpur Union, Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah, on Thursday morning. The deceased was identified as Mohon Sheikh, aged 66, a supporter of former district Jubo Dal senior joint convener Zahid Joarder. He was reportedly beaten to death by supporters of upazila BNP president Abul Hossain. Locals took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to local sources, the conflict stemmed from a long-running dispute over establishing dominance between the two BNP factions. Following the news of Mohon Sheikh’s death, both sides engaged in violent clashes using local weapons, leaving around 20 people injured and at least 12 houses vandalized. Police have been deployed in the area to prevent further violence.

Dr. Nahid Emran Tonni of Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex confirmed receiving Mohon Sheikh’s body and said the injured were being treated, with one referred to Faridpur for advanced care. Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla stated that the incident occurred due to a power struggle and that the situation remains tense.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said there is no pressure to extend the ceasefire with Iran, emphasizing that he is not in a hurry to end the war. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that he wants a 'better deal' with Iran rather than a quick resolution.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said on Wednesday that President Trump has clearly presented his final conditions to the Iranian side. She added that Washington is now waiting for Tehran’s response. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the United States has informed Tel Aviv that the current ceasefire with Iran will expire on Sunday.

According to Israel’s state broadcaster Kan, Washington told Israeli officials that the deadline set by President Trump for Tehran is only a few days away, signaling that the next phase of U.S.-Iran negotiations could depend on Iran’s forthcoming reply.

Dhaka Metropolitan West Chhatra Dal General Secretary Akram Ahmed has announced a 'zero tolerance' policy against individuals conducting secret political activities. The declaration came during a protest rally in Mirpur, Dhaka, organized to condemn recent attacks on Chhatra Dal and general students at Chittagong City College and Pabna Ishwardi Government College. The rally began at the Tolarbagh footbridge and concluded near the Directorate of Primary Education in Mirpur-2.

In his address following the rally, Akram Ahmed alleged that for the past 16–17 years, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her followers had established a fascist regime that held ordinary citizens hostage. He further accused members of Shibir of carrying out covert attacks on Chhatra Dal activists and students. Akram stated that his organization would take a firm stand against such secret political operations in every educational institution and neighborhood under its jurisdiction.

He warned that any future attacks on Chhatra Dal members would be resisted. Several senior leaders of Dhaka Metropolitan West Chhatra Dal were present at the event.

Two leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), identified as A.B. Zubair and Mosaddeq Ali Ibn Mohammad, were reportedly attacked by activists of the Chhatra Dal in the Shahbagh area of Dhaka. The incident was reported on April 23, 2026, according to the source.

The report, published by Amar Desh, stated that the attack took place under the jurisdiction of Shahbagh Police Station. No further details about the circumstances of the attack, the condition of the victims, or any police action were provided in the initial report.

Further information is expected as the story develops, as the source indicated that more details are forthcoming.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem, also known as Barrister Arman, told the national parliament on Thursday that many individuals allegedly involved in enforced disappearances still occupy important positions in Bangladesh. Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, he said these individuals are attempting to create instability in the country and must be brought to justice.

Drawing on his own experience as a former victim of enforced disappearance, Kasem became emotional while recounting the suffering of affected families. On their behalf, he presented three demands: ensuring accountability, guaranteeing the economic security of victims’ families, and preventing future occurrences of such crimes. He called for strong laws, political will, and the establishment of independent commissions on disappearances and human rights.

Kasem also mentioned testifying before the International Crimes Tribunal against powerful groups still in authority, saying witnesses face ongoing risks. He urged that justice for disappearances not become a superficial exercise reminiscent of authoritarian times and called for state recognition of victims.

U.S. President Donald Trump continues military operations against Iran without new authorization from Congress, as a key legal deadline approaches under the War Powers Resolution. The law allows a president to deploy troops for only 60 days without congressional approval, and that period is set to expire within a week. Despite this, most Republican lawmakers are still backing Trump, effectively giving him a political free pass.

Public support for the war is declining, and Trump’s approval rating is also falling. Confidence in the Republican-controlled Congress has hit a low point, while the U.S. military has requested an additional 200 billion dollars to cover war expenses. Rising living costs and fuel prices have fueled voter dissatisfaction.

Observers are now watching how Republican members of Congress will respond once the legal time limit expires, as their stance could determine the future of Trump’s wartime authority.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman proposed that load-shedding in Dhaka should begin from the Parliament area. He made the suggestion on Thursday while participating in an unscheduled discussion in Parliament. Earlier, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said that a decision had been taken to implement 110 megawatts of load-shedding in the capital on a trial basis to reduce the disparity between urban and rural areas. The decision was made following the Prime Minister’s advice and discussions with the opposition leader.

During the session, when the Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed noted that power cuts could disrupt parliamentary proceedings, Dr. Rahman clarified that he was not referring to the Parliament session itself but to other facilities within the Parliament complex. He emphasized that the Parliament area should experience load-shedding in the same way as other parts of the capital.

The discussion highlighted the government’s plan to distribute power shortages more evenly across regions and the opposition’s call for fairness in implementing the policy.

West Bengal recorded an exceptionally high voter turnout during the first phase of its assembly elections, following the removal of about 9.1 million names from the electoral roll through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. According to the Election Commission, by 5 p.m. on Thursday, the average turnout across 152 constituencies had reached 89.93 percent, surpassing previous records from 2021 and 2024. South Dinajpur district reported the highest turnout at 93.12 percent, followed by Cooch Behar at 92 percent. Seven of the sixteen districts voting that day saw participation above 90 percent.

Analysts and observers noted that voter enthusiasm was unusually strong from early morning. Political analyst Biswajit Bhattacharya described the steady rise in turnout as unprecedented. Researcher Sabir Ahmed from the Sabar Institute suggested that many migrant workers may have returned home to vote, driven by concern over the SIR process. Asif Farooq of the Migrant Workers’ Unity Forum said voters were eager to ensure their names remained on the rolls, even keeping photocopies of voter slips as proof.

Observers believe the heightened turnout reflects public determination to assert voting rights amid uncertainty caused by the SIR exclusions.

Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam has declared that Lebanon will not sign any agreement that does not include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. He made the statement in an interview ahead of scheduled talks in Washington on Thursday. The remarks followed his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he reiterated Lebanon’s firm stance against any proposal allowing Israeli presence in buffer zones that would prevent displaced Lebanese from returning or rebuilding destroyed areas.

Salam emphasized that Lebanon is entering the discussions with the belief that the United States is the only actor capable of exerting real influence over Israel. He credited Washington’s role in achieving a ceasefire and urged continued U.S. pressure on Israel. Addressing Western demands for Hezbollah’s disarmament, he described it as a long-term process that cannot happen overnight.

The prime minister underscored that Lebanon’s participation in talks should not be interpreted as a sign of flexibility, stating that while the outcomes remain uncertain, Lebanon’s objectives are clear.