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.

Islami Chhatra Shibir has demanded justice for an alleged attack by Chhatra Dal members on its activists and general students at Government City College in Chattogram on Tuesday. The demand was made by Shibir president Nurul Islam Saddam during an emergency press conference held at the organization’s central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka. He claimed that the attack was carried out by hired thugs and street youths to destabilize the campus, leaving several Shibir activists injured.

According to Saddam, the incident began after disputes over poster campaigns and graffiti between the two student groups. He alleged that Chhatra Dal members tore down Shibir banners and used offensive language in their writings. When Shibir representatives informed the college administration, a confrontation occurred, followed by a violent assault later in the day. Saddam also accused the police of inaction during the attack and compared Chhatra Dal’s behavior to that of ruling party student groups.

He further alleged that such incidents reflect broader political failures and rising campus unrest. Shibir called on the government to ensure coexistence and take immediate action against those responsible for the violence.

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman announced in parliament that the government has formulated and begun implementing a five-year action plan to fulfill its electoral pledges. Speaking during a question-and-answer session on Wednesday, he said the plan covers the first 180 days of the administration, the 2026–27 fiscal year, and the next five years. The initiative aims to build a developed, prosperous, and dignified Bangladesh through coordinated efforts in democracy, good governance, economic growth, and human values.

The Prime Minister outlined priorities including free and fair elections, administrative transparency, rule of law, human rights, and freedom of expression. The plan also targets anti-corruption measures, industrialization, job creation, and human resource development. Additional focus areas include education, health, agriculture, and social protection to create an inclusive and equitable society.

Key initiatives already underway include dredging 20,000 kilometers of canals and rivers, issuing family and farmer cards, providing stipends to religious workers and athletes, planting 250 million trees, forgiving small agricultural loans, and expanding healthcare and education support nationwide.

S M Ziauddin Haider from Jhalokathi has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Affairs with the rank of a state minister. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, confirming his appointment under the Rules of Business. According to the order, he will receive the salary, allowances, and privileges equivalent to those of a state minister.

Ziauddin Haider hails from Keora Union in Jhalokathi Sadar upazila. Following the announcement, a celebratory atmosphere emerged in his home district. Local political, social, and cultural leaders extended their congratulations and expressed optimism that Dr. Ziauddin Haider would play a significant role in promoting national welfare through his new responsibilities.

The appointment underscores the Prime Minister’s continued focus on strengthening health-related advisory roles within the administration, as reflected in the formal notification issued by the Cabinet Division.

Dr. Md. Saimum Parvez has been appointed as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The appointment was announced through a notification signed by Md. Golam Rabbani, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, on Wednesday under the order of the President. The appointment is contractual for one year, effective from the date of joining, with the rank equivalent to a secretary. He must relinquish any other professional or institutional affiliations before assuming the role.

Dr. Parvez previously served as Special Assistant to the BNP Chairperson’s Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee and was a member of the party’s Central Election Steering Committee. He also leads the BNP’s think tank and content generation team and contributed to the party’s election manifesto committee. Additionally, he has been working as a technical expert in the government’s five-year project to plant 250 million trees.

The appointment places Dr. Parvez in a key advisory position on environmental and climate policy matters at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The High Court has directed that all election documents, including ballot papers and result sheets, for the Jhalakathi-1 (Rajapur-Kathalia) constituency be preserved. The order was issued on Wednesday by Justice Md Zakir Hossain’s bench following a petition filed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami alleging irregularities and vote rigging in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

According to court sources, the petition was filed citing election irregularities, prompting the court to order the safekeeping of all related materials after a preliminary hearing. Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate for the constituency, Dr. Faizul Haque, contested the election, while BNP’s Rafiqul Islam Jamal was declared the winning Member of Parliament.

Dr. Faizul Haque stated that the election had seen widespread irregularities and that the court’s directive would help uncover the truth. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Mohammad Monir represented the petitioner during the hearing.

The Election Commission on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, cancelled the nomination of Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), for a reserved women’s seat in the 13th National Parliament. The commission stated that her nomination was not accepted because it was submitted after the official deadline. According to the report, Tabassum submitted her papers at 4:19 p.m. on April 21, while the deadline was 4:00 p.m.

The commission also suspended the nomination of another NCP candidate, Monira Sharmin, citing that she had not completed three years since resigning from government service. Under Article 12(1)(ch) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), a person is ineligible to contest parliamentary elections if less than three years have passed since their resignation or retirement from public service.

Both decisions reflect the Election Commission’s enforcement of legal and procedural requirements for candidate eligibility in the reserved women’s seat selection process.

Farida Khanam, a Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Magistrate of Dhaka. The appointment was confirmed on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, through an official notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. The order, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Ismail Hossain, stated that the decision was made in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

According to the notification, Farida Khanam will replace the current DC, Md. Rezaul Karim, who has been transferred to the Cabinet Division as a Deputy Secretary. As the new DC, Farida Khanam will serve as the administrative and judicial head of Dhaka district. The Ministry of Public Administration issued the order to ensure continuity in the district’s governance and administrative functions.

The reshuffle reflects routine administrative adjustments within the government, aimed at maintaining effective management and coordination across ministries and districts.