Low-cost airline Transavia, part of the Air France-KLM Group, announced on Sunday that it will cancel some flights scheduled for May and June due to rising jet fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The company said the cancellations represent about 2 percent of its total scheduled flights. Passengers affected by the cancellations will be offered free rescheduling, vouchers, or full refunds.

The report noted that the fuel crisis is spreading across Europe, which imports nearly half of its energy from Gulf countries. Disruptions in supply through the vital Strait of Hormuz have intensified market pressure since late February, following attacks in Iran by the United States and Israel. Around 20 percent of the world’s hydrocarbons pass through this route.

European Union Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warned that Europe is heading toward a deeper energy crisis, which could further raise fuel prices and force more airlines to cancel flights. Transavia has already increased average round-trip fares by about 10 euros.

Twenty-four government electricity meters were installed across 24 Bihari camps in Syedpur, Nilphamari, but no bills have been paid for the past 11 years. Each month, electricity worth about Tk 5 million is consumed, and by February 2026, the total unpaid amount reached Tk 660 million. Field visits revealed that many residents also use direct connections from power lines without meters, keeping fans running continuously to avoid fire or disconnection risks.

Residents said they pay small amounts monthly but are unsure whether the money reaches the electricity office, as they cannot obtain meters in their own names. The Syedpur Camp Development Committee stated that they do not seek free electricity but want proper rehabilitation and the right to pay bills formally. A human rights activist attributed the problem to poor planning and the camps’ exclusion from formal urban infrastructure, which causes revenue losses and safety hazards.

According to the local NESCO official, the government installed one meter per camp and repeatedly requested the Disaster Management Ministry to clear dues. The ministry agreed to pay bills only up to 2016, citing that residents are now Bangladeshi citizens and responsible for their own payments.

A Chinese national, Chen Bao Ming, visiting Bheramara in Kushtia, Bangladesh, has faced repeated power outages during his stay. Chen, from Hebei province, arrived on April 20 to meet and marry Taslima Khatun, a 19-year-old resident of Paschim Behula village in Bheramara. The couple, who met online a year earlier, completed their court marriage in Kushtia and are now living at Taslima’s family home, where frequent load-shedding has caused discomfort amid intense summer heat.

Local residents said electricity cuts occur several times a day, leaving them without power for hours. The situation has been particularly embarrassing for the family hosting a foreign guest. Ironically, Bheramara is home to key national power infrastructure, including the 410-megawatt combined cycle power plant and facilities linked to the Bangladesh-India Maitree Super Thermal Power Project.

The contrast between Bheramara’s role as a power generation hub and its residents’ struggle with electricity shortages highlights broader questions about energy distribution and planning in Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief in Bangladesh has initiated a Tk 9.5 crore software project titled Integrated Disaster Management System (IDMS) to enhance transparency and accountability in disaster response. The system will operate through mobile and web applications and a website, aiming to verify beneficiary data, ensure fair distribution of relief allowances, and prevent duplicate benefits. Reliable ministry sources confirmed that the project is part of the government’s broader digital transformation in disaster management.

According to project details, about Tk 5 crore will be spent on software development, while the rest will cover training, piloting, and related activities. The system will be linked to the national ID database to verify information, with a memorandum of understanding planned between two agencies. Pilot implementation will begin in 18 upazilas, including Shyamnagar, Koyra, and Sharankhola, with user training provided. Officials said third-party testing will assess the software’s effectiveness.

While proponents see IDMS as a step toward reducing waste and improving transparency, some senior officials expressed concern over its high cost and implementation challenges, warning that it could invite controversy if not executed properly.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has initiated a new plan to improve mobile network and internet quality inside homes across the country. The regulator is preparing to allocate spectrum from the ‘e-GSM’ band to mobile operators to enhance network capacity. Currently, about 40 percent of mobile users live in cities and 60 percent in suburban and rural areas, where weak signals, call drops, and slow internet remain major issues. BTRC has already allocated 700 MHz spectrum to Grameenphone and is now moving forward with the e-GSM band initiative.

BTRC currently holds 8.4 MHz of e-GSM spectrum, with Robi and Banglalink each requesting 3.4 MHz. Before final allocation, a one-month trial has begun to check for possible interference with the 850 MHz band near border areas. Robi stated that its infrastructure is ready for e-GSM deployment, while Banglalink said it will decide on further investment based on test results.

If successful, the initiative is expected to strengthen indoor mobile signals, reduce call drops, and improve internet speed and stability, particularly in rural and remote regions.

Three members of a family were killed when a large tree fell on their house during a storm in Melandah upazila of Jamalpur early Monday. The victims were identified as Khuki Begum, 65, and her daughters Farida Akter, 40, and Fate Akter, 37, all residents of Purbadagi area under Nayanagar Union. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when strong winds uprooted a mahogany tree that crashed onto their tin-roofed house while they were asleep.

According to local and fire service sources, the storm struck suddenly during the night, causing the tree to collapse on the house. Due to darkness and heavy winds, rescue operations could not begin immediately. In the morning, police and fire service personnel, assisted by locals, recovered the bodies from under the debris.

The tragedy cast a pall of grief over the Purbadagi area. Melandah Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jinnatul Ara said the administration took necessary measures at the site and would provide assistance to the bereaved family.

An opinion piece published on April 27, 2026, argues that Bangladesh must significantly increase its education budget to strengthen the nation’s intellectual foundation. The article notes that while visible infrastructure projects such as bridges and metro rails are expanding, the country’s “invisible infrastructure” of knowledge and human capital remains underfunded. UNESCO and the International Labour Organization recommend allocating 4–6 percent of GDP or 15–20 percent of the national budget to education, but Bangladesh’s spending has stagnated around 2 percent of GDP for over a decade.

The author highlights structural weaknesses in spending, with most funds directed toward buildings, furniture, and salaries rather than research, teacher training, or laboratory development. This imbalance, the article warns, undermines educational quality and contributes to brain drain. The piece also stresses that inadequate funding widens inequality between rich and poor students and between urban and rural schools.

It concludes that prioritizing education in upcoming budgets and long-term plans is essential for building a smart, self-reliant Bangladesh capable of meeting global challenges through skilled and creative human resources.

International oil prices climbed after the collapse of a second round of ceasefire talks between Washington and Tehran. On Sunday, Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil pricing, rose by more than 2 percent. As of 12:30 a.m. GMT, the price stood at 107.35 dollars per barrel, nearly 47 percent higher than before the conflict began.

Despite the diplomatic deadlock, major Asian stock markets opened on a positive note. Investors appeared to largely disregard the uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire discussions. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index gained about 0.4 percent in early trading, while South Korea’s KOSPI index rose by as much as 1.5 percent.

The stalled negotiations have heightened concerns over energy supply stability, but market sentiment in Asia suggests cautious optimism amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of at least 14 people caused by sudden lightning strikes in different districts of the country. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and Secretary of the Central Publicity and Media Department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, conveyed the condolences in a message sent to the media on Sunday. He said that five of the victims were from Gaibandha district and several others were seriously injured.

In his statement, Zubair described the incident as tragic and painful, offering condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a quick recovery for the injured. He emphasized the need to raise public awareness and take preventive measures to deal with natural disasters like lightning. He also urged the authorities to ensure safety during such hazardous conditions and to provide financial assistance to the affected families.

Zubair prayed for the forgiveness of the deceased and for patience and strength for their grieving families.

Fourteen people, including a child, were killed by lightning strikes across seven districts in Bangladesh on Sunday, according to local reports. The fatalities occurred in Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Panchagarh, Bogura, and Natore. Gaibandha recorded the highest number of deaths, with five people killed in separate incidents in Sundarganj and Saghata upazilas. Victims included farmers, laborers, and residents caught outdoors during sudden storms.

In Thakurgaon, two people died in Pirganj upazila, while Sirajganj and Jamalpur each reported two deaths. One tea worker was killed in Panchagarh, a young man in Bogura, and a seasonal farm laborer in Natore. Several others were injured, and livestock deaths were also reported. The incidents occurred in the afternoon amid sudden thunderstorms and heavy rain.

Authorities and locals rescued the injured and took them to nearby hospitals. The report highlights the recurring danger of lightning during seasonal storms across rural Bangladesh, often affecting people working in open fields or near their homes.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said it will take several months for the global oil market to return to normal even after the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He made the remarks in an interview with Russia’s VGTRK broadcaster, according to Anadolu, noting that the Middle East crisis has caused a severe shortage of energy resources worldwide.

Novak explained that a large volume of oil has not reached the market and many ships remain stranded in the Hormuz Strait, making it difficult to restore balance quickly. He estimated that normal conditions could take months to reestablish.

The report recalled that Tehran took full control of the Strait of Hormuz on February 28 after a U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, disrupting global energy supplies across Asia. Although the conflict is currently suspended, efforts continue to achieve a lasting resolution.

Twelve people were killed in lightning strikes across several districts of Bangladesh on Sunday during storms and heavy rain. The highest number of casualties occurred in Gaibandha, where five people, including two teenagers, died and one person was injured. The incidents took place in Sundarganj’s Dakshin Dhopadanga village and Saghata upazila. Witnesses said the lightning struck around 4:30 p.m. while the victims were standing near a road during the storm. The injured person was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

In addition to the deaths in Gaibandha, two people died in Sirajganj, two in Jamalpur, one in Bogura, one in Singra of Natore, and one in Panchagarh. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that by Sunday night, a nor’wester with wind speeds of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour could sweep across 11 regions, including Dhaka, accompanied by rain or thunderstorms. River ports in affected areas were advised to hoist cautionary signal number two.

Authorities warned of further storms and advised caution for residents and river transport operators as unstable weather conditions persisted.

A new federal report shows that electricity service in the United States was disconnected 13.4 million times and gas service 1.7 million times in 2024. The data, collected under a 2023 congressional law, reveal the scale of financial distress among households unable to pay utility bills. Researchers say the figures are far higher than previously estimated, raising concerns about energy insecurity across the country.

The report highlights that southern states recorded the highest disconnection rates, with Oklahoma leading where nearly three in ten customers lost service. Other states with high rates include Texas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Experts attribute the surge to high poverty levels, rising energy prices, long hot seasons, and weak consumer protections. The Trump administration has again proposed eliminating the $4 billion LIHEAP program that helps low-income Americans pay energy bills, though Congress has previously rejected such moves.

Analysts warn that the situation may worsen, as electricity prices rose by more than 11 percent nationwide in 2025. Consumer groups are calling for stricter limits on utility profits and stronger rules to prevent service disconnections.

Bangladesh Bank has appointed its director Hasan Tarek Khan as administrator of Aviva Finance, a financially troubled non-bank institution. He will serve as the company’s managing director and chief executive officer. The central bank issued the appointment order on Sunday and sent it to the chairman of Aviva Finance.

Aviva Finance was among six financial institutions recently targeted by the central bank for closure due to severe irregularities. The company, formerly known as Reliance Finance, was linked to former managing director Prashanta Kumar (P K) Halder, during whose tenure the firm suffered major financial losses and a default rate exceeding 80 percent. After Halder fled the country, the institution was renamed Aviva Finance but failed to recover.

Following the interim government’s move to remove S Alam Group from several banks, its chairman Saiful Alam also left Aviva Finance. Bangladesh Bank subsequently dissolved the company’s board and reconstituted it with four independent directors, led by former central bank executive director Md Golam Mostafa as chairman.

The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has established a 'Rice Garden' in Dinajpur for the 2025–26 Boro season under the initiative of its regional office. The garden, located in the Kaugā area of Sadar upazila, aims to increase rice production, expand modern varieties, and provide farmers with hands-on exposure to new technologies.

The 'Rice Garden' serves as an open learning field where farmers can directly observe different rice varieties, their growth stages, disease resistance, yield, and quality characteristics. This comparative observation helps them identify varieties suitable for local conditions and encourages interest in modern rice cultivation. According to BRRI officials, the initiative enables farmers to make informed decisions for future planting seasons.

The Dinajpur regional office also plans to establish similar gardens for the upcoming Aus and Aman seasons. The current garden, located in the institute’s technology village, remains open to interested farmers, researchers, and related stakeholders.