US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen marked his first 100 days in Dhaka, claiming significant progress in advancing Bangladesh–US relations. In a video message released on Wednesday, he described a historic trade agreement between the two nations and highlighted new partnerships in trade, health, and cultural exchange. He said these initiatives have brought the people of both countries closer as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Christensen noted that he and his wife received a warm welcome in Bangladesh and have engaged in local cultural experiences, including visiting historical sites, celebrating Pahela Baishakh, and attending a cricket match. He said he arrived at a crucial time before the national election and is working to implement President Trump’s roadmap for elevating bilateral relations.

The ambassador also mentioned cooperation on combating illegal immigration and visa fraud, strengthening security ties for a free Indo-Pacific, and launching a new health partnership to fight diseases such as tuberculosis and measles. He reaffirmed the US commitment as the largest donor supporting Rohingya refugees and expressed optimism about the future of Bangladesh–US relations.

The Bangladesh Army, deployed for over 20 months as a striking force to maintain law and order, is now awaiting formal government instructions to return to barracks. Around 15,000 soldiers remain stationed across the country, with 50 active camps in 64 districts, including 25 in the Dhaka division. The army took charge of national security after the July 2024 mass uprising that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and the collapse of police operations. Since then, it has conducted anti-terror operations, ensured public safety, and supported civil administration in various capacities.

Following the uprising, the interim government led by Dr. Yunus granted army officers limited executive magistrate powers under 17 sections of the Criminal Procedure Code. During the 2025 national election, about 100,000 army personnel, along with naval and air force members, were deployed nationwide to ensure peaceful polling. The army seized over 10,000 weapons and detained more than 22,000 suspects. Although most troops have since returned to bases, 15,000 remain active pending government approval to withdraw.

ISPR Director Lt. Col. Sami-ud-Daula Chowdhury confirmed that the army will return to barracks once the government issues official orders.

The United States Senate has once again rejected a proposal aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran. In the fifth such attempt, 46 senators voted in favor of the measure while 51 opposed it, leaving the proposal short of the majority needed for passage.

Before the vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized Republican senators, accusing them of failing to act to end what he described as an unnecessary conflict. Schumer argued that President Trump had been offering only empty promises about ending wars in recent weeks and said this vote represented the fifth missed opportunity for the Senate to stop the war.

The vote leaves President Trump retaining his wartime powers regarding Iran, as efforts to restrict them have repeatedly failed in the Senate.

As the summer heat intensifies across Bangladesh, power outages are becoming more frequent and severe. While urban areas are experiencing relatively fewer disruptions, rural regions are facing widespread and prolonged load shedding, causing significant hardship for residents. In response to the worsening situation, National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan posted on social media late Wednesday night, asking whether electricity is occasionally going out or only occasionally coming on.

According to reports, one unit of Adani’s power plant in India has been shut down due to technical issues, cutting electricity imports from India by half. This reduction has further aggravated Bangladesh’s power supply crisis, leading to increased load shedding across the country.

The situation highlights the growing strain on Bangladesh’s electricity infrastructure during peak summer demand, with rural communities bearing the brunt of the shortages.

The White House stated that U.S. President Donald Trump has not set any specific timeline for the ceasefire with Iran. The clarification came on Wednesday, when White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said reports suggesting a three-to-five-day deadline were incorrect. She emphasized that the duration of the ceasefire would be determined solely by President Trump.

According to the White House, the U.S. administration is awaiting a collective response from Iranian leaders regarding the conditions proposed by Washington for a peace agreement. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera and aimed to counter claims circulating in some media outlets about a fixed ceasefire period.

The remarks highlight the uncertainty surrounding the next steps in U.S.-Iran negotiations, as the final decision on the ceasefire’s duration remains with the U.S. president.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would only be possible if a full ceasefire is observed and Israeli military actions across all fronts are halted. He made the remarks on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X, emphasizing that a ceasefire would only be meaningful if naval blockades and aggressive actions cease.

Ghalibaf added that amid what he described as severe violations of the ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not feasible. He also rejected the idea that Iran could be pressured into concessions, saying that neither military aggression nor external pressure would achieve such goals. According to him, the only viable path is for others to recognize the rights of the Iranian nation.

The comments come after Ghalibaf led the Iranian delegation in recent discussions with the United States, underscoring Tehran’s firm stance on sovereignty and resistance to coercion.

The government has cancelled the appointments of two ambassadors who were appointed during the interim administration. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the appointments of former Inspector General of Police Md. Moinul Islam and former secretary Dr. M. Mahfuzul Haque have been revoked.

Moinul Islam had been appointed as ambassador to Poland on April 10, 2025, under a contractual arrangement, while Mahfuzul Haque was appointed as ambassador to Portugal on September 19, 2024. Both were among four ambassadors appointed on contract during the interim government period. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier withdrawn all four on March 8, and the government has now officially cancelled the remaining tenure of their appointments.

The decision marks a continuation of the government’s review of diplomatic appointments made under the interim administration, though no further details were provided in the announcement.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a national rally in Dhaka titled the July Martyrs’ Families and July Fighters National Assembly. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 25, at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital. The announcement was made through a press release issued on Wednesday, April 22.

According to the statement, families of July martyrs, July fighters, and senior leaders from various political parties will attend the gathering. The Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, will be present as the chief guest. The release also confirmed that top leaders from eleven political parties are expected to join the event.

The announcement highlights Jamaat-e-Islami’s effort to organize a large-scale political assembly involving multiple parties and groups in Dhaka.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined three major obstacles hindering dialogue with the United States over the ongoing conflict between the two countries. In a social media post on Wednesday, he stated that Iran welcomes and continues to pursue dialogue and compromise. Pezeshkian identified broken promises, sanctions, and threats as the main barriers to genuine negotiations.

Referring to the United States, Pezeshkian wrote that the world can see the contradictions between its words and actions. His remarks came as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high. Earlier, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on social media that a meaningful ceasefire would only be possible if naval blockades and aggressive actions by Zionist forces ceased.

Ghalibaf also stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would not be possible amid such severe ceasefire violations. The statements reflect Iran’s position that external pressures and hostilities must end before any substantial peace process can move forward.

Jagannath University (Jabi) Chhatra Dal organized a 'Chikamara' wall-writing program on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, protesting an attack on Chhatra Dal activists and students at Chittagong City College. The attack reportedly occurred after they wrote slogans opposing 'secret politics' on campus walls. During the protest, Jabi Chhatra Dal members wrote slogans such as 'Those who harbor secret politics belong in Pakistan' and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the Chittagong incident.

Leaders present at the event stated that there should be no place for 'secret politics' or underground political activities in educational institutions. They said the wall-writing campaign was part of a central program demanding justice and student safety. Branch convener Mehedi Hasan Himel explained that the initiative aimed to resist hidden political conspiracies and promote transparent political practices.

The protest followed recent clashes at Chittagong City College over wall writings, which sparked similar demonstrations by Chhatra Dal across educational institutions nationwide.

Bangladesh’s National Parliament has renamed several of its galleries after the seven Bir Sreshtho heroes of the Liberation War, following the advice of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The decision replaces the previous floral and river-themed names with those directly linked to the nation’s independence history, embedding the spirit of the 1971 war within the heart of the country’s democracy.

According to the new naming, Gallery-3 is now named after Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf, Gallery-4 after Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, Gallery-5 after Engine Room Artificer Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Gallery-6 after Lance Naik Noor Mohammad Sheikh, and Gallery-7 after Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal. Additionally, VIP Gallery-1 and VIP Gallery-2 have been named after Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir and Sepoy Hamidur Rahman respectively. Galleries 1 and 2 remain reserved for journalists.

The initiative aims to institutionalize the memory of the Liberation War within the Parliament and make the stories of heroism and sacrifice more visible to the public.

Md. Mashiur Rahman has been appointed as the new Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet. The appointment was announced in a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday, stating that the posting takes immediate effect. Before this appointment, Rahman served as the Director General of the Directorate of July Uprising.

According to ministry sources, the reshuffle aims to make administrative activities more dynamic and effective. Officials expect that Rahman’s administrative experience will contribute positively to the overall development of the Sylhet division.

Prior to Rahman’s appointment, Khan Mohammad Reza-un-Nabi served as the Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet but was recently made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and attached to the Ministry of Public Administration. In the interim, Joint Secretary Ashraful Rahman had been serving as Acting Divisional Commissioner.

Leaders and activists of the Kabi Nazrul Government College unit of Chhatra Dal held a protest rally in Dhaka on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, condemning an alleged attack by Islami Chhatra Shibir members on their activists in Chattogram City College. The clash reportedly stemmed from wall writings opposing secret political activities on the Chattogram campus. The rally began at the main gate of Kabi Nazrul College, moved through Bahadur Shah Park and Ray Shaheb Bazar, and concluded at the college’s open stage, where a brief assembly took place.

During the gathering, participants chanted slogans against Jamaat-Shibir and secret political practices. College unit convener Irfan Ahmed Fahim accused certain groups of conducting covert politics under the guise of campus restrictions on student politics. He warned that any attempt to continue such activities or attacks on Chhatra Dal members and general students would face strong resistance.

The protest reflected growing tensions over alleged underground political activities in educational institutions following restrictions on formal student politics.

The High Court has ordered the preservation of all election documents, including ballot papers and result sheets, for the Cox’s Bazar-2 (Maheshkhali-Kutubdia) constituency following allegations of vote rigging. The directive came after a petition was filed by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate in connection with the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The hearing took place on Wednesday, and the order was issued the same day.

According to the report, Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, the central assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, contested the election from this constituency. Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s national executive committee member, Almgir Muhammad Mahfuz Ullah Farid, was declared elected as the Member of Parliament. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Mohammad Monir represented the petitioner during the hearing.

The High Court’s order ensures that all relevant election materials remain secured while the allegations are under judicial consideration.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education have decided to review the final results of the government primary school assistant teacher recruitment exam held under the interim government. After more than two months of silence, the ministries have initiated the formation of a committee to examine the process, which has been marred by allegations of irregularities, question leaks, and rushed procedures. Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan confirmed that the recruitment of 14,000 teachers is under review and that a committee will oversee the process.

The controversy stems from the recruitment exam conducted on January 9 across 61 districts, excluding the three hill districts, with final results published on February 8. Despite completing medical and verification procedures by early March, the appointment process has stalled without explanation. Over 14,000 selected candidates have expressed frustration and uncertainty, holding press conferences and submitting memorandums to the Prime Minister through district commissioners, demanding immediate appointment dates.

The prolonged delay has caused anxiety among the recommended candidates, some warning of possible protests if no progress is seen within ten days.