Bangladeshi diplomats stationed at the United Nations, particularly in Geneva, are presenting the newly elected government’s agenda and vision through active multilateral diplomacy. According to a press release from Bangladesh’s mission in Geneva, the diplomats are building a strong and dynamic presence across various UN offices and agencies. They are moving beyond traditional diplomacy to influence global policymaking on peace, climate change, and sustainable development.

The release described their ongoing efforts as “active diplomacy,” which is significantly strengthening Bangladesh’s position in the international arena. The statement also paid tribute to the tireless efforts of representatives from all UN member states in advancing multilateral diplomacy toward a shared goal of building a better world for future generations—a vision aligned with the founding purpose of the UN in 1945.

The remarks were made on the occasion of International Delegates Day, which recognizes the vital role of representatives in promoting dialogue, cooperation, and multilateral solutions. The mission noted that delegates embody the spirit of multilateralism and work together to address global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, development constraints, and security threats.

NCP lawmaker Abul Hasnat, representing Cumilla-4, told the Bangladesh Parliament on April 26, 2026, that a renewed atmosphere of fear and intimidation is emerging in the country. Speaking during the discussion on the President’s address, he said citizens should be able to criticize the Prime Minister and express opinions freely on social media without fear. He alleged that opposition voices are being suppressed through legal cases and that individuals have been detained for online criticism.

Hasnat criticized what he described as a return to a “vicious cycle” of blame and repression, warning that campuses are again becoming unstable. He accused the ruling party of using students for political purposes while their own children study abroad. He also said the Human Rights Commission has been weakened and that the cancellation of the Police Reform Commission ordinance contradicts claims of reform.

Calling for an end to divisive politics, Hasnat urged all parties to understand the language of the younger generation and work collectively for structural change and freedom of dissent.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mashum Mostafa, representing Netrakona-5, raised a demand for personal and organizational security in the National Parliament on Sunday. He described an attack that allegedly took place on Friday evening at the Giripath Filling Station in Atkapara area of Purbadhala, along the Shyamganj–Birishiri road. According to him, a group identifying themselves with the BNP vandalized his car, assaulted his associates, and attempted to break into a mosque where he had taken shelter during evening prayers.

Mostafa told Parliament that the attackers tried to kill him and that professional killers had been hired for the purpose. He credited mosque worshippers for preventing the attackers from breaking in. The MP appealed to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for protection for himself, his family, and his party workers. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed responded that nine people had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Mostafa argued that only one of those arrested was a listed suspect and that the others were innocent. Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the incident as very unfortunate and assured that a fair investigation would be conducted to identify and punish the real perpetrators.

Syed Abdal Ahmad, Executive Editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, has been appointed as the Principal Information Officer (PIO) of the Government of Bangladesh. The appointment, equivalent to the rank of Secretary (Grade-1), was announced on Sunday through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration’s Contract and Foreign Branch. According to the notification, the appointment is on a one-year contractual basis, effective from the date of joining, and requires him to sever ties with any other professional or institutional engagements.

The notification further stated that other terms and conditions of the appointment will be determined by the contract agreement. Ahmad is a veteran journalist who previously served as Deputy Press Secretary to Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia from 1992 to 1996. He has received several awards, including the Philips Award in 1989, the ESCAP-FEJEB Award, and the Dhaka Reporters Unity Lifetime Honor in 2025.

Ahmad has held leadership roles in the National Press Club, served on the Media Reform Commission under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and authored over 20 books on politics, literature, and social issues.

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarek Rahman announced in the National Parliament that the fuel rationing restrictions previously imposed on police and other emergency service agencies have been withdrawn. He stated that the decision was made two days earlier and expressed hope that such problems would not recur. The exemption applies to law enforcement, ambulances, and fire service units.

The announcement followed remarks from Comilla-6 Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury, who raised the issue of a customs officer’s killing in Comilla. He said police had cited fuel shortages as a reason for reduced duty hours, which affected their ability to respond. Chowdhury demanded the immediate withdrawal of the fuel rationing system for police, warning that it could otherwise lead to a deterioration in law and order and hinder public movement.

The prime minister’s statement indicates that emergency and law enforcement operations are expected to return to normal following the lifting of fuel restrictions.

The Bangladesh Parliament has passed a bill abolishing the provision that allowed Members of Parliament to import vehicles duty-free. The amendment to the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order 1973 was passed on Sunday without any discussion or amendment proposals. Law Minister Md. Anisul Huq introduced the bill, which had been approved earlier by the Cabinet on Thursday.

With the passage of the bill, Section 3C of the existing law has been repealed. That section had entitled MPs to import one car, jeep, or microbus duty-free—excluding value-added tax, development surcharge, and import permit fees—under government-specified conditions during their tenure, and to import another after five years from the last import date.

Both ruling and opposition parties had previously stated that their members would not accept duty-free cars, signaling political consensus behind the reform.

In Debiganj of Panchagarh, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad has forgiven a college student who was arrested after posting criticism of him on Facebook. The minister also assured legal assistance for the student’s bail. The student, identified as Rishat, was sent to jail on Saturday after being presented before the Panchagarh Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-5.

According to police and local sources, Rishat had criticized a parliamentary speech by the minister in his Facebook post. Following the post, a local leader of the Debiganj Sadar Union Jubo Dal filed a case, leading to his arrest. After learning that the accused was a minor, the minister contacted Rishat’s father, Ashraf Ali, and promised necessary legal support. Ashraf Ali confirmed that the minister had spoken to a lawyer regarding his son’s bail.

The minister stated that the student was of his own child’s age and that mistakes can happen, so he decided to forgive him. The family now awaits the court’s decision on the bail application.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington would not stop him from pursuing victory in the ongoing war with Iran. The attack occurred late Saturday night at the Hilton Hotel, and police have already detained the suspect. Speaking at a press conference afterward, Trump described the attacker as a lone wolf and said investigators shared that view.

When asked whether the incident was linked to the Iran conflict or his personal security, Trump said he did not believe so but could not confirm definitively. He added that U.S. investigators were working on the matter and would soon have more information. Trump reiterated his stance on Iran, saying the U.S. had to act to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and that he had previously canceled the Obama-era nuclear deal.

Trump emphasized that such attacks would not deter him from continuing his efforts against Iran, asserting that the incident appeared to have no direct connection to other events.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen met with Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Sunday. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in media, culture, and knowledge-based sectors. The ambassador congratulated the minister on assuming office and handed over a proposal to increase collaboration between Turkish state television and radio and Bangladesh Television and Radio.

During the discussion, the minister recalled his visit to Turkey in March to attend the Strategic Communication Summit and thanked the Turkish government for organizing the event. He described the summit as a timely initiative and emphasized the importance of establishing order and regulation in digital platforms through collective international efforts rather than by individual countries.

The report also noted that during the minister’s earlier visit to Turkey, both sides had agreed in principle to sign a memorandum of understanding on knowledge exchange and information sharing in modern information management between Bangladesh and Turkey.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem has responded to allegations made by student leader Abidul Islam Khan, describing them as part of an organized activism campaign. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Kayem claimed that the allegations were being used to conceal the misdeeds of the BNP-affiliated student organization and to divert attention from national crises and campus unrest.

Kayem’s post cited various incidents of violence, extortion, and campus attacks allegedly committed by BNP and its student wing since August 2024. He accused the group of spreading false information through social media pages and using artificial intelligence to create fake images for propaganda. Kayem also denied that the DU Insiders page, linked to him, was involved in harassment or misinformation, asserting that a separate, fake page was responsible for objectionable content.

He further alleged that student activists had engaged in intimidation, phone checks, and assaults on journalists and student representatives. Kayem concluded that such actions reflected authoritarian tendencies and warned that the public would eventually hold the perpetrators accountable.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid announced that all Bangladesh-flagged ships, including the MV Joyjatra, will be able to pass through the Hormuz Strait despite the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. She made the statement to reporters on Sunday afternoon.

In the same briefing, the minister said Bangladesh has demanded a proper investigation and justice over the killing of two Bangladeshi students in the United States. She added that the process of bringing back the body of student Jamil to Bangladesh is underway.

The announcement comes as regional tensions have raised concerns about maritime safety and the security of international shipping routes, though the minister confirmed that Bangladeshi vessels will continue their passage through the strategic strait.

The Republican Party in the United States is reorganizing its campaign strategy ahead of the November midterm elections. The move comes as rising fuel prices and a sharp decline in President Donald Trump’s popularity have created new challenges for the party. Economic pressure stemming from the ongoing war with Iran has become a major concern for voters.

Party strategists are now emphasizing economic messaging and policy achievements to regain voter confidence. They are also working to prevent the midterm elections from turning into a direct referendum on Trump’s leadership. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, Trump’s approval rating has dropped to just 36 percent.

The party’s renewed focus on economic issues suggests an effort to stabilize voter sentiment before the elections, though it remains uncertain whether these adjustments will reverse the downward trend in public support.

A Rajshahi University student leader has been accused of threatening the university’s student adviser, Professor Dr. Amirul Islam Konok, through a Facebook comment. The incident surfaced on April 24, 2026, when screenshots of the comment circulated online, sparking criticism across the campus. The accused, Shariful Islam, a vice president of the university’s Chhatra Dal unit and an anthropology student from the 2013–14 session, allegedly wrote, “Teachers should behave like teachers, or they will be slapped.”

Professor Konok stated that he deleted his original post after receiving the comment, explaining that he did not know Shariful personally or his political affiliation. He described the incident as unpleasant and said he was disappointed that a student would use such language. Konok added that he decided not to take legal action, considering the matter trivial.

Shariful Islam later claimed that his comment followed a heated exchange with the professor and acknowledged that his words were inappropriate. He also alleged past mistreatment by the professor and political bias within the university.

Monira Sharmin, the nominee of the 11-party alliance for a reserved women's seat in the 13th National Parliament, is set to appeal to the Election Commission after her candidacy was canceled. According to the National Citizen Party’s media cell, she will submit her appeal application at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Election Commission office in Agargaon.

Sources said Monira Sharmin joined Bangladesh Krishi Bank as a general officer in October 2023 and resigned in 2025 after nearly two years of service. Her nomination was suspended because, under the Representation of the People Order, a person must wait three years after leaving government service before becoming eligible for parliament. On April 23, Returning Officer and Joint Secretary of the Election Commission Moin Uddin Khan confirmed that her nomination was canceled for not meeting this requirement.

The appeal will now be reviewed by the Election Commission, which has the authority to uphold or overturn the earlier decision based on the legal provisions cited.

Nurul Amin, Member of Parliament for Chattogram-1 (Mirsharai), alleged that the Awami League had plundered the country for 17 years, leaving widespread damage. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at a rally marking the inauguration of new buildings at Abutorab Government Primary School and Maghadia Anjumernesa Government Primary School, as well as the Abutorab-Hasemnagar-Charsharat road project in Mirsharai.

Amin claimed that during the Awami League’s tenure, little progress was made in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and culverts, while billions of taka were smuggled abroad. He asserted that the BNP’s time in power saw development despite economic challenges. Addressing religious slogans, he said “Naraye Takbir Allahu Akbar” belongs to Muslims, not any political party, and should not be used for violence or wrongdoing.

On fuel prices, Amin stated that domestic prices had been raised less than in the international market, but lower prices compared to India had created smuggling risks, prompting a price adjustment. Several local BNP and allied leaders attended the event.