National Chhatra Shakti organized a human chain and protest at Dhaka University’s Raju Sculpture on Tuesday, April 21, demanding the unconditional release of content creator Hasan Nasim, who was arrested for sharing a cartoon. Leaders and activists of the organization participated, carrying placards with slogans defending freedom of expression.

Speakers at the event alleged that laws are still being used to suppress free speech and described Nasim’s arrest as a violation of fundamental rights. National Chhatra Shakti president Zahid Ahsan compared the incident to previous cases involving writer Mushtaq and cartoonist Ahmed Kishore, criticizing the manner of Nasim’s detention and the lack of information provided to his family. He urged the government to ensure that writers, artists, and cartoonists can work freely.

Senior joint general secretary Khan Talat Rafi said the Digital Security Act of 2018 continues to be misused to curb expression, calling it alarming. The speakers demanded Nasim’s immediate release and protection of citizens’ constitutional right to free expression.

A total of 53 candidates submitted nomination papers for the reserved women's seats in the 13th National Parliament election by 4 p.m. on April 21, 2026. The information was confirmed by Returning Officer and Election Commission Joint Secretary Md. Moin Uddin Khan at the Election Building in Agargaon, Dhaka. According to him, 36 nominations came from the BNP and its alliance, 13 from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, and one from an independent alliance. Additionally, three individuals—Shamma Akter, Mosammat Mehrunnesa, and Mahbuba Rahman—submitted nominations independently, without party affiliation.

As per the previously announced schedule, the Returning Officer will scrutinize the nomination papers on April 22 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on April 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appeals against the scrutiny decisions can be filed on April 26, with the Election Commission resolving them on April 27 and 28. The deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is April 29, symbol allocation will take place on April 30, and voting is scheduled for May 12.

The Returning Officer also stated that nomination scrutiny for the Jamaat alliance and independent alliance will occur on April 22, while the BNP alliance’s scrutiny will be held on April 23.

Laxmipur-1 Member of Parliament Shahadat Hossain Selim has denied the long-circulated claim that residents of Noakhali ate Mahatma Gandhi’s goat. He made the statement on Tuesday while participating in a parliamentary discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. The BNP lawmaker referred to his constituency’s historical background and asserted that the allegation was entirely false.

Selim said that his birthplace, Korpora village in Laxmipur, played a role in the 1946 Pakistan movement and that Gandhi had visited the area to promote peace during communal unrest. Historical accounts mention that Gandhi stayed in Noakhali for four months during the 1946 riots, bringing a goat for milk. A popular story claims that local men stole and cooked the goat, but Selim rejected this version as baseless.

Laxmipur was once part of Noakhali until 1984, when the district was divided to create Feni and Laxmipur. Selim’s remarks aimed to defend the reputation of his region and its people from what he described as a historical misconception.

At a roundtable titled 'Judicial Independence and Reform: Constitutional Obligations, Court Directives, and Public Expectations' organized by Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN) at the National Press Club on Tuesday, speakers criticized the government for rejecting interim government ordinances related to judicial reform. They said the government promised to enact better laws but its actions have failed to reassure citizens.

Acting SUJAN president Justice M A Matin stated that there is a conspiracy to undermine reform under the guise of amendment, warning that the nation will not accept such attempts. He recalled that despite constitutional provisions for judicial independence, no government took steps until 1995, when the Supreme Court issued landmark directives in the Masdar Hossain case. He said the interim government later issued two ordinances to strengthen judicial independence, which were later nullified.

Other speakers, including Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and SUJAN secretary Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, emphasized the need to restore public trust in the judiciary and urged the government to form a constitutional reform council without delay.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has clarified his recent remark referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'terrorist'. Kharge explained that he did not mean Modi is a terrorist but intended to highlight that Modi instills fear among people and political parties. He accused Modi of misusing institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, and Central Bureau of Investigation to intimidate opponents.

The comment was made during a press conference on April 21, ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections, where Kharge criticized the BJP-AIADMK alliance. He questioned how AIADMK leaders could align with Modi, claiming that such an alliance undermines democracy and the ideals of leaders like Annadurai, Kamaraj, and Ambedkar. The ruling BJP strongly condemned Kharge’s statement and labeled the Congress party as an 'urban Naxal party'.

The exchange follows Modi’s earlier criticism of opposition parties over the women’s reservation bill, where he used the term 'foeticide', intensifying the political confrontation between the two major parties.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon MP stated that Bangladesh inherited a crippled economy. He made the remark on Monday night during a discussion meeting organized by the Gournadi Upazila and Municipality BNP and its affiliated organizations in Barishal. The minister said the government had to borrow money from banks within three months due to a severe budget deficit, as revenue from VAT covers less than half of the national budget.

Swapon added that the country’s social structure has broken down, with administrative institutions, especially the police and bureaucracy, suffering from a toxic environment. He described the current period after the election as a temporary “honeymoon,” warning that public scrutiny would soon intensify. He emphasized that in the modern era, mistakes spread quickly and trigger immediate public reaction.

The minister further noted that state power now depends on public approval, citing that no government can survive without people’s consent. He stressed that the power of the vote and public accountability must remain active to ensure responsible governance.

Jagannath University Chhatra Dal held a human chain on Tuesday in front of the Language Martyr Rafiq Building, demanding an investigation into alleged secret political activities by Islami Chhatra Shibir and accusations of fraud and sexual harassment against a student. The organization’s leaders claimed that Shibir members were conducting organizational and electoral activities on campus while concealing their identities and seeking votes from students under false pretenses.

Speakers at the event alleged that the accused student had engaged in deceptive relationships with multiple students, with at least three victims submitting written complaints. They also mentioned incidents of ‘honey trap’ tactics being used to influence students. Chhatra Dal leaders called for exemplary punishment for those involved, publication of a list of all Shibir members on campus, and expulsion of the accused student. They further stated that any organization must take responsibility if its members are involved in wrongdoing.

The protest leaders urged the university administration to take immediate action to prevent recurrence of such incidents and to ensure transparency in campus politics.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting with members of the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The meeting took place at the Cabinet Division’s Public Administration Conference Room in the Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka. Details of the discussion have not yet been released.

According to the report, the meeting was part of the Prime Minister’s ongoing engagements with key national stakeholders. NOAB represents newspaper owners across Bangladesh and often discusses issues related to the media industry, policy, and press freedom with government officials. However, the source did not specify the agenda or outcomes of this particular meeting.

Further information about the meeting’s content or any decisions taken is expected to be provided later, as the report indicated that more details are forthcoming.

State Minister for Land Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin has directed field-level officials to be more active in ensuring efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly land services. He emphasized that the true owners of land are the people and that officials must remain dedicated to serving them. The minister made these remarks on Tuesday, April 21, during his visit to the Land Building at Satrasta in Dhaka.

During the inspection, he was accompanied by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land A S M Saleh Ahmed, Director General of the Land Record and Survey Department Dr. Md. Mahmud Hasan, Additional Secretary (Development Division) Md. Emdadul Haque Chowdhury, and his Private Secretary Md. Ashraful Islam. The minister visited several facilities, including the Land Museum, Child Daycare Center, Social Media Monitoring Cell, Land Service Center, and Land Service Call Center.

He instructed officials to maintain efficiency and cleanliness in their offices, ensure timely attendance, and avoid delays in public service delivery. The minister stressed that all tasks should be completed promptly to uphold a dynamic and responsive land administration.

Thirteen women nominated by the 11-party electoral alliance submitted their nomination papers for reserved seats in the Bangladesh National Parliament on Tuesday at the Election Commission office. Alliance coordinator and Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad said the women members would work to fulfill national expectations and advance women’s interests. He added that they would cooperate with the government on just and welfare-oriented initiatives but take a firm stand against any anti-people decisions.

Azad reiterated Jamaat’s policy that no two members from the same family should serve in parliament, explaining why the party leader’s wife was not nominated this time. He emphasized that Jamaat has many capable female leaders ready to contribute to national development. Female nominees, including Nurunnisa Siddika and Rokeya Begum, expressed commitments to represent women’s aspirations, uphold justice for July uprising victims, and balance family, parliamentary, and street-level responsibilities.

Nominees also included representatives from the National Citizen Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, and Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish, reflecting the alliance’s multi-party composition. The Election Commission is scheduled to scrutinize the nomination papers tomorrow.

A clash erupted between two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the Mouchak area of Kaliakoir, Gazipur, on Tuesday morning over control of a jhoot (garment waste) business linked to Hope Loan Intimate Limited. Several people were injured during the confrontation, and a crude bomb, locally known as a cocktail, exploded at the scene. Witnesses said the altercation involved groups led by Harun and Farhad, during which attackers vandalized BNP leader Harun’s car. Police arrived after the groups had dispersed and recovered an unexploded cocktail from the site.

According to Mouchak police outpost in-charge Shamim Akter, no formal complaint had been filed as of the report’s publication. Authorities stated that further action would be taken if a complaint was lodged and an investigation deemed necessary.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions within local BNP factions over control of business interests in the area, though no immediate arrests or charges were reported.

Four members of the Bangladesh Christian Association have joined the youth wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), known as Jatiyo Juboshokti. The joining ceremony took place on Monday, April 20, at the organization’s central office in Rupayan Tower, Banglamotor, Dhaka. The new members are Jackson Gomez, Russell Roman Rosario, Himel Gomez, and Jibon Slan.

The event was attended by Jatiyo Juboshokti Convener Advocate Tarikul Islam, who is also the NCP’s mayoral candidate for the Cumilla City Corporation election, along with Member Secretary Dr. Zahidul Islam and Chief Organizer Forhad Sohel. The leaders welcomed the new entrants with flowers during the ceremony.

Chief Organizer Forhad Sohel stated that the specific responsibilities of the newly joined leaders will be announced later. No further details about their future roles or political plans were disclosed in the report.

Shammi Akter from Goshapara village in Chunarughat, Habiganj, has been nominated for a second term as a Member of Parliament under the BNP’s reserved women’s seat list announced on Monday. Her name appears among 36 candidates selected by the party. Shammi currently serves as a member of the BNP’s media cell, assistant secretary for local government affairs in the central committee, and joint convener of the Habiganj district BNP.

Family sources said Shammi’s political journey began during her student life at Dhaka University, inspired by the ideals of former president Ziaur Rahman and the leadership of Khaleda Zia. Known for her active role in street movements, she earned the nickname “Agnikonna” for her courage. In 2008, at age 33, she first entered Parliament through a reserved seat, gaining attention for her strong and logical speeches.

Local BNP leaders described her new nomination as recognition of her dedication and a matter of pride for Chunarughat and Habiganj residents. Shammi said the nomination is both an honor and a responsibility, pledging lifelong commitment to her party’s ideals.

Member of Parliament Principal Selim Bhuiyan from Cumilla-2 entered an SSC examination center in Homna upazila and broadcasted a Facebook Live during the ongoing exam on Tuesday morning. The incident took place at a government high school, drawing widespread criticism for breaching examination rules. Despite strict security and restrictions, the MP entered the center and streamed the environment and activities inside, asking students about the exam’s difficulty and their performance.

Parents and students reported feeling disturbed, claiming the live broadcast distracted examinees and wasted valuable time. One guardian said the MP streamed for about ten minutes, which disrupted students’ concentration. Education officials noted that such actions violated ministry guidelines prohibiting unauthorized entry and the use of digital devices inside exam centers.

Local administrators confirmed that only designated teachers and the center secretary are allowed inside, and even they must use analog devices. MP Bhuiyan later said he visited to check on students’ well-being and was unaware that livestreaming was not permitted.

US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized several American media outlets for their coverage of a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. In multiple posts on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump singled out CNN and other networks, accusing them of failing to credit US pilots for what he described as a successful operation called “Operation Midnight Hammer,” which he claimed destroyed Iran’s nuclear sites.

Trump alleged that the media were downplaying US achievements and spreading misleading narratives. He asserted that the United States was “winning by a large margin” in its conflict with Iran, but said reports from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post portrayed the situation as if the US were losing. He further accused these outlets of helping Iran by confusing its leadership through biased reporting.

The statements, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and major US media organizations over coverage of foreign policy and military actions.