Two leaders of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have been temporarily suspended following allegations of involvement in an attack on journalists at Kabi Nazrul Government College in Dhaka. The organizational action was taken under a central decision of the JCD, as confirmed in a notice signed by central office secretary Md. Jahangir Alam on Thursday night, April 17, 2026.

According to the notice, Meherab Hossain Nahid, a member of the college unit’s convening committee, and Jibon Ahmed, a primary member, have had their positions suspended for one month on charges of violating organizational discipline. The decision was approved by JCD central president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

The disciplinary action follows a clash between two JCD groups on April 15 in front of the college’s main gate, during which two journalists were assaulted while covering the incident. The victims, representatives of Daily Campus and Sonali News, were reportedly attacked and had their phones taken while photographing the altercation.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the Ashkona Hajj Camp in Dhaka on Friday night. He arrived at 10:50 p.m., toured various sections of the camp, and exchanged greetings with pilgrims preparing for Hajj. During the visit, he inquired about their overall well-being and instructed officials to ensure a smooth journey for all pilgrims. He also joined a prayer session with those staying at the camp and stated that the government is working to make Hajj management more efficient and traveler-friendly.

Later, at 11:15 p.m., the Prime Minister went to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where he met passengers of the year’s first Hajj flight, BG-3001. He exchanged greetings with them and handed over gifts as a gesture of goodwill. Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad and Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain accompanied him during the visit.

The visit highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to improve Hajj services and ensure better facilities for Bangladeshi pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia.

Member of Parliament Advocate Zainul Abedin for Barishal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi) stated that the government is taking various initiatives, including infrastructural development, to ensure modern and relevant education for the current generation of girls. He made the remarks on Friday while inaugurating a newly constructed academic building and attending the annual sports and cultural competition at Rahmatpur Secondary Girls’ School in Babuganj.

The event was presided over by Babuganj Upazila Executive Officer Asma Ul Husna. During his speech, Abedin also acknowledged former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s contributions to promoting women’s education. He announced that the road in front of the school would be carpeted soon and that a boundary wall would be built around the institution in response to students’ requests.

Following the inauguration, day-long sports and cultural competitions were held, and prizes were distributed among the winners.

Bangladesh Labor Party Chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran has accused the government of hiding the severity of the country’s ongoing fuel crisis. Speaking on Friday evening at a workers’ meeting in Demra, Dhaka, he said the government is deceiving the public while fuel shortages at pumps are causing severe hardship. He alleged that despite the crisis, authorities have taken no effective measures to address the situation.

Dr. Iran stated that members of parliament and ministers are refusing to acknowledge the crisis in the National Parliament, even though fuel is unavailable at pumps. He added that the shutdown of the country’s only refinery, Eastern Refinery Limited, due to a shortage of crude oil, has worsened the situation and disrupted fuel supply nationwide. He urged the government to take immediate and visible steps to resolve the crisis and present the real situation to the public.

The meeting, chaired by Dhaka-5 constituency candidate Md. Golam Azam, also discussed preparations for the upcoming Dhaka South Labor Party council scheduled for May 15, calling for unity among grassroots leaders and activists.

Jamaat-e-Islami central Majlis-e-Shura member and Barishal regional team member Maulana Mustafa Kamal, who was also a candidate for the Bhola-4 constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, has been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka for the past 12 days due to serious illness. On Friday evening, the party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Parwar, visited him at the hospital.

During the visit, Golam Parwar spent some time beside the ailing leader, inquired about his health condition, and spoke with the attending doctors to learn about the progress of his treatment. He prayed for Mustafa Kamal’s quick recovery and expressed sympathy to his family members and relatives present at the hospital, advising them to remain patient and trust in divine mercy.

The visit highlighted Jamaat-e-Islami’s concern for its senior member’s health, though no further details about his medical condition or treatment outcome were disclosed in the report.

Chattogram-4 Member of Parliament Professor Aslam Chowdhury has called on people from all walks of life to unite against drug abuse and strengthen social awareness. He made the appeal on Friday after attending Jumu’ah prayers at Gafur Shah Mosque in Sitakunda upazila. Chowdhury described drugs as a major cause of social destruction, emphasizing that addiction harms individuals, families, and society as a whole.

He stated that families can play the most effective role in preventing drug abuse and urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to work together. He highlighted the importance of social, family, and moral education to protect the younger generation. Chowdhury also stressed the need to build public awareness and social resistance to create a drug-free society. A special prayer was held afterward for the welfare of the nation.

Later the same day, he inaugurated the Jinnat Ali Chowdhury Nurani Madrasa in Mahalonga village of Baraiahdala Union, noting that such institutions play a vital role in providing moral and religious education for children and contribute to building a healthy and ideal society.

After years of suspension, beef sales have officially resumed at Daknirpat market in Ward 2 of Bhitorbond Union, Nageshwari upazila, Kurigram. The sale began on Friday, April 17, 2026, after Jumma prayers in front of the market’s Jame Mosque, with beef priced at 600 taka per kilogram. The move followed a report published on April 11 in the daily Amar Desh titled “Beef sales banned under invisible pressure,” which went viral on social media and drew administrative attention.

In response, a meeting was held on April 12 at the Kurigram Deputy Commissioner’s office, where local Member of Parliament Professor Anwarul Islam took responsibility for resolving the issue. A follow-up negotiation took place on April 13 in the presence of the acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer Badruzzaman Risad and Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Hil Zaman, involving leaders from all parties and representatives of both Muslim and Hindu communities. Although an initial decision postponed the matter until April 21, local dissatisfaction led to renewed administrative intervention.

On April 17 morning, officials designated a slaughtering site, allowing beef sales to begin. Residents expressed joy, calling it the restoration of their constitutional rights.

Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Speaker of the National Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bhola-3, stated that the Speaker’s position holds honor but no real power. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing a public reception in Tazumuddin as the chief guest. Hafiz thanked voters for their trust and said he remains their representative regardless of his official role.

He criticized what he called a 'mafia government' for fostering abductions and killings in politics and claimed that the people had rejected such governance. Hafiz also mentioned his previous work as Water Resources Minister, highlighting the Tazumuddin town protection embankment project. He emphasized that he had not engaged in corruption or personal enrichment, noting that he lives in his father’s flat in Dhaka.

During the visit, Hafiz met with local administration officials and assured them he would address staffing shortages in the health and other departments. The event was attended by local leaders, activists, and journalists, who greeted him with flowers.

The Political Council of Bangladesh’s Revolutionary Workers Party has adopted a resolution stating that the country has been governed contrary to the spirit of its independence declaration for the past 55 years. The resolution was passed on Friday at the party’s office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, during a council meeting chaired by General Secretary Saiful Haque.

According to the resolution, Bangladesh has failed to follow the ideals set out in its founding declaration, instead moving toward inequality, human rights crises, and oppressive social and state systems. The council noted that the February 12 election and the formation of a new government have created an opportunity to reverse this situation. It also expressed respect for the wartime government formed in 1971 at Meherpur’s Amrakanon, describing it as a milestone in the nation’s independence struggle.

The resolution further observed that while public expectations were initially high for the BNP-led government, disappointment has begun to emerge within two months of its tenure.

The Pre-NICAR secretary committee has approved the formation of Mokamtola as a new upazila in Bogura district, according to a notice signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Imtiaz Morshed. The decision was made during the committee’s meeting on April 12, 2026, where eight proposals, including the declaration of Bogura City Corporation and Mokamtola upazila, were presented. Once established, Bogura will have a total of 13 upazilas.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam confirmed that the process of forming Mokamtola upazila, previously part of Shibganj upazila, is in its final stage. The proposal includes five unions—Mokamtola, Deuli, Syedpur, Moydanhatta, and Shibganj Sadar—covering an area of 128.74 square kilometers with an estimated population of 150,000. The location of the upazila complex building has not yet been decided.

According to officials, remaining steps include gazette publication, full administrative setup, and formal inauguration before the new upazila becomes operational.

Cumilla-5 Member of Parliament Md. Jasim Uddin has come under criticism for holding a reception ceremony where students were made to stand under the scorching sun on a holiday. The events took place on Friday afternoon at Shidlai Naznin School and Shidlai Ashraf Uddin High School in Brahmanpara upazila. The ceremonies were held despite an earlier directive from the education minister prohibiting students from being made to stand on roads to greet officials or guests.

Several students, speaking anonymously, said teachers forced them to attend on their day off and made them wait for hours in the heat holding flowers. Parents and students expressed anger over the incident, which also drew widespread criticism online. The district secondary education officer stated that such practices are not allowed on any day and that action would be taken against those responsible.

The MP and one of the school principals did not respond to repeated phone calls seeking comment on the matter, according to the report.

Leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League staged a sudden protest march in broad daylight on Sadar Road, the central area of Barishal city, on Friday after the Juma prayers. The demonstration called for lifting the ban on Awami League activities and demanded justice for the killing of a police officer. The unexpected rally created tension in the city, as it took place within 200 yards of a police station.

Eyewitnesses said the march began around 2:30 p.m. from the Bibir Pukur area and advanced toward the Kakli intersection near the traffic police box. About 30 participants were seen chanting slogans and carrying banners with similar demands before dispersing quickly into nearby alleys. Most participants were unidentified, with several wearing masks and sunglasses, making recognition difficult.

Following the incident, police increased patrols across the city. Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Al Mamun-ul Islam stated that the group had chosen the prayer time to gather unexpectedly and that police would identify the participants from video footage and take legal action.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed his commitment to work collectively to eradicate poverty and improve the living standards of the people of Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Friday while addressing the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Carnival 2026 as the chief guest at Madani Avenue in Dhaka.

The minister praised JCI Bangladesh for its role in fostering leadership among youth and promoting social service activities. He urged the organization to expand its initiatives further to contribute to national development. Highlighting the country's progress over the past 56 years since independence, he noted achievements in food security and agricultural development as key milestones.

Addressing the youth, the minister emphasized the importance of their active participation in building the nation with new dreams and enthusiasm. He stated that sustainable development and poverty alleviation depend on the engagement of young people. JCI Bangladesh is described as a nonprofit global platform for youth leadership, social responsibility, and positive change.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie announced that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Sylhet on May 2 to inaugurate the dredging of the Bashia River and the nationwide launch of 'Natun Kuri Sports'. The minister made the statement while inspecting the Bashia River at Mashukganj Bazar in Sylhet Sadar upazila on Friday. Local officials and party leaders were present during the visit.

According to the minister, the Bashia River dredging project spans three upazilas and is one of the largest excavation projects in the Sylhet region. The initiative aims to address long-standing waterlogging and enhance agricultural productivity. The riverbed had become silted over time, disrupting water flow and causing seasonal flooding and water shortages.

Officials expect the project to bring about significant benefits, including irrigation coverage for around 30,000 acres of farmland, an increase of about 10,000 metric tons in fish production, and protection of nearby communities from flooding and waterlogging.

Justice and Democracy Party (JDP) convener Naeem Ahmad has alleged that the aspirations of the 2024 uprising were undermined by what he called 'many shadow Mujibs'. Speaking at a discussion titled “From People’s War to Mass Uprising: Expectations, Achievements and New Politics” at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen on Mujibnagar Day, he said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the mastermind behind the lost aspirations of 1971, while the current political failures stem from those following his shadow.

Ahmad stated that although the 1971 Mujibnagar government took oath while Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was imprisoned in Pakistan, he became the president of the provisional government and later led the country after independence. He argued that the hopes for ending fascism and building a corruption-free, egalitarian Bangladesh after the July 2024 uprising were not realized, as vested groups restored old political practices.

He further claimed that some individuals, despite not participating in the uprising, gained power through collusion with the interim government and misuse of corrupt funds. Ahmad urged that power be returned to the people to free the nation from these privileged groups.