Leaders of various labor organizations have called for the formation of a joint oversight committee to monitor the proceedings of the Rana Plaza case. The demand was made on Thursday at a discussion held at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity. The event, titled 'Thirteen Years of Rana Plaza Collapse: Current State of Occupational Health and Safety in the Garment Industry,' was organized by the Industrial Bangladesh Council (IBC).

At the meeting, Ruhul Amin, chairman of the Workers Resource Center, emphasized that the Rana Plaza tragedy claimed 1,137 lives and left 2,500 people permanently disabled, yet no factory owner died—only workers. He urged the formation of a joint committee to ensure the case is concluded swiftly. IBC senior vice president Abul Kalam Azad also stressed the need for such a committee to prevent further worker deaths in factories.

IBC’s women affairs secretary Chaina Rahman demanded justice for the Rana Plaza owner and others involved, while the session was presided over by IBC president and freedom fighter Kutubuddin, with several other labor leaders in attendance.

A Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activist was killed and at least 20 others were injured in a clash between two rival groups in Madhabpur village of Monoharpur Union, Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah, on Thursday morning. The deceased was identified as Mohon Sheikh, aged 66, a supporter of former district Jubo Dal senior joint convener Zahid Joarder. He was reportedly beaten to death by supporters of upazila BNP president Abul Hossain. Locals took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to local sources, the conflict stemmed from a long-running dispute over establishing dominance between the two BNP factions. Following the news of Mohon Sheikh’s death, both sides engaged in violent clashes using local weapons, leaving around 20 people injured and at least 12 houses vandalized. Police have been deployed in the area to prevent further violence.

Dr. Nahid Emran Tonni of Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex confirmed receiving Mohon Sheikh’s body and said the injured were being treated, with one referred to Faridpur for advanced care. Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla stated that the incident occurred due to a power struggle and that the situation remains tense.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said there is no pressure to extend the ceasefire with Iran, emphasizing that he is not in a hurry to end the war. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that he wants a 'better deal' with Iran rather than a quick resolution.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said on Wednesday that President Trump has clearly presented his final conditions to the Iranian side. She added that Washington is now waiting for Tehran’s response. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the United States has informed Tel Aviv that the current ceasefire with Iran will expire on Sunday.

According to Israel’s state broadcaster Kan, Washington told Israeli officials that the deadline set by President Trump for Tehran is only a few days away, signaling that the next phase of U.S.-Iran negotiations could depend on Iran’s forthcoming reply.

Dhaka Metropolitan West Chhatra Dal General Secretary Akram Ahmed has announced a 'zero tolerance' policy against individuals conducting secret political activities. The declaration came during a protest rally in Mirpur, Dhaka, organized to condemn recent attacks on Chhatra Dal and general students at Chittagong City College and Pabna Ishwardi Government College. The rally began at the Tolarbagh footbridge and concluded near the Directorate of Primary Education in Mirpur-2.

In his address following the rally, Akram Ahmed alleged that for the past 16–17 years, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her followers had established a fascist regime that held ordinary citizens hostage. He further accused members of Shibir of carrying out covert attacks on Chhatra Dal activists and students. Akram stated that his organization would take a firm stand against such secret political operations in every educational institution and neighborhood under its jurisdiction.

He warned that any future attacks on Chhatra Dal members would be resisted. Several senior leaders of Dhaka Metropolitan West Chhatra Dal were present at the event.

Two leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), identified as A.B. Zubair and Mosaddeq Ali Ibn Mohammad, were reportedly attacked by activists of the Chhatra Dal in the Shahbagh area of Dhaka. The incident was reported on April 23, 2026, according to the source.

The report, published by Amar Desh, stated that the attack took place under the jurisdiction of Shahbagh Police Station. No further details about the circumstances of the attack, the condition of the victims, or any police action were provided in the initial report.

Further information is expected as the story develops, as the source indicated that more details are forthcoming.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem, also known as Barrister Arman, told the national parliament on Thursday that many individuals allegedly involved in enforced disappearances still occupy important positions in Bangladesh. Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, he said these individuals are attempting to create instability in the country and must be brought to justice.

Drawing on his own experience as a former victim of enforced disappearance, Kasem became emotional while recounting the suffering of affected families. On their behalf, he presented three demands: ensuring accountability, guaranteeing the economic security of victims’ families, and preventing future occurrences of such crimes. He called for strong laws, political will, and the establishment of independent commissions on disappearances and human rights.

Kasem also mentioned testifying before the International Crimes Tribunal against powerful groups still in authority, saying witnesses face ongoing risks. He urged that justice for disappearances not become a superficial exercise reminiscent of authoritarian times and called for state recognition of victims.

U.S. President Donald Trump continues military operations against Iran without new authorization from Congress, as a key legal deadline approaches under the War Powers Resolution. The law allows a president to deploy troops for only 60 days without congressional approval, and that period is set to expire within a week. Despite this, most Republican lawmakers are still backing Trump, effectively giving him a political free pass.

Public support for the war is declining, and Trump’s approval rating is also falling. Confidence in the Republican-controlled Congress has hit a low point, while the U.S. military has requested an additional 200 billion dollars to cover war expenses. Rising living costs and fuel prices have fueled voter dissatisfaction.

Observers are now watching how Republican members of Congress will respond once the legal time limit expires, as their stance could determine the future of Trump’s wartime authority.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman proposed that load-shedding in Dhaka should begin from the Parliament area. He made the suggestion on Thursday while participating in an unscheduled discussion in Parliament. Earlier, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said that a decision had been taken to implement 110 megawatts of load-shedding in the capital on a trial basis to reduce the disparity between urban and rural areas. The decision was made following the Prime Minister’s advice and discussions with the opposition leader.

During the session, when the Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed noted that power cuts could disrupt parliamentary proceedings, Dr. Rahman clarified that he was not referring to the Parliament session itself but to other facilities within the Parliament complex. He emphasized that the Parliament area should experience load-shedding in the same way as other parts of the capital.

The discussion highlighted the government’s plan to distribute power shortages more evenly across regions and the opposition’s call for fairness in implementing the policy.

West Bengal recorded an exceptionally high voter turnout during the first phase of its assembly elections, following the removal of about 9.1 million names from the electoral roll through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. According to the Election Commission, by 5 p.m. on Thursday, the average turnout across 152 constituencies had reached 89.93 percent, surpassing previous records from 2021 and 2024. South Dinajpur district reported the highest turnout at 93.12 percent, followed by Cooch Behar at 92 percent. Seven of the sixteen districts voting that day saw participation above 90 percent.

Analysts and observers noted that voter enthusiasm was unusually strong from early morning. Political analyst Biswajit Bhattacharya described the steady rise in turnout as unprecedented. Researcher Sabir Ahmed from the Sabar Institute suggested that many migrant workers may have returned home to vote, driven by concern over the SIR process. Asif Farooq of the Migrant Workers’ Unity Forum said voters were eager to ensure their names remained on the rolls, even keeping photocopies of voter slips as proof.

Observers believe the heightened turnout reflects public determination to assert voting rights amid uncertainty caused by the SIR exclusions.

Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam has declared that Lebanon will not sign any agreement that does not include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. He made the statement in an interview ahead of scheduled talks in Washington on Thursday. The remarks followed his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he reiterated Lebanon’s firm stance against any proposal allowing Israeli presence in buffer zones that would prevent displaced Lebanese from returning or rebuilding destroyed areas.

Salam emphasized that Lebanon is entering the discussions with the belief that the United States is the only actor capable of exerting real influence over Israel. He credited Washington’s role in achieving a ceasefire and urged continued U.S. pressure on Israel. Addressing Western demands for Hezbollah’s disarmament, he described it as a long-term process that cannot happen overnight.

The prime minister underscored that Lebanon’s participation in talks should not be interpreted as a sign of flexibility, stating that while the outcomes remain uncertain, Lebanon’s objectives are clear.

Syed Muhammad Reza Ali Mirza, known as 'Chhote Nawab' and a descendant of Mir Jafar, was unable to vote in the recent West Bengal election held on April 23, 2026. According to his family, more than 150 members of Mir Jafar’s lineage, including his son Syed Muhammad Fahim Ali Mirza, were excluded from the official voter list. The first phase of polling took place in Murshidabad, but those whose names were missing could not cast their votes.

The family resides in and around Kella Nizamat in Lalbagh, Murshidabad. They stated that after the preliminary voter list was published, several family members were called for hearings and submitted all required documents. Despite this, their names were reportedly removed from the final list.

The report, citing BBC Bangla, highlights the family’s complaint but does not include any official response or explanation from election authorities regarding the omission.

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections saw an average voter turnout of 78.77 percent by 3 p.m. on Thursday, according to data from the state election commission. The highest turnout was recorded in Shamsherganj constituency of Murshidabad district, where 87.53 percent of voters cast their ballots. Shamsherganj, a Muslim-majority area, had previously seen the highest number of names removed from the voter list.

Lalgola and Bhagabangola constituencies, which also had large numbers of names deleted from the electoral rolls, recorded approximately 85 percent and 84 percent turnout respectively. BBC correspondents visiting these areas observed that many migrant workers had returned home from other states specifically to vote. Residents reportedly feared that failing to vote might lead to their names being removed from the voter list.

In Nandigram, where opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari is contesting, the turnout reached 81.3 percent by 3 p.m., while Purulia recorded the lowest turnout at 72.22 percent.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and a member of parliament, warned that his party and its 11-party alliance would not hesitate to take to the streets if the ruling BNP government fails to initiate reforms. In an interview with Amar Desh published on April 23, 2026, he said that while his party does not seek another mass uprising, public anger could erupt if the government ignores popular demands.

He argued that the current administration has become deeply unpopular within two months of taking office, citing fuel shortages, rising commodity prices, and difficulties in handling international pressure. Nahid Islam questioned whether the government could complete its five-year term under such conditions.

Referring to the post-July uprising political landscape, he described Bangladesh as standing at a crossroads between old political forces trying to retain power and a new generation eager for state reconstruction. He suggested that the direction of future politics will depend on how this tension unfolds.

The government and opposition parties have agreed to form a 10-member committee to develop recommendations for resolving the country's energy problems. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposed the formation of the committee in parliament on Thursday, naming five members from the ruling party. The committee will be chaired by the Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. The opposition leader welcomed the initiative and said that the names of their five representatives would be announced soon.

During the parliamentary session, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of joint efforts between the government and opposition to address issues of national interest. The opposition leader thanked the Prime Minister for taking the matter positively and expressed hope that the parliament would become the center for solving national problems. The Speaker, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, noted the need for a committee chair, after which the Prime Minister confirmed the energy minister as the head.

The formation of this bipartisan committee marks a rare instance of cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties, signaling a potential new phase of collaborative policymaking on critical national issues.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced in parliament that a white paper will be published detailing irregularities and corruption in Bangladesh’s education sector during the Awami League’s tenure. Responding to a question from ruling party MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul, the minister said the government has prioritized investigations covering the fiscal years 2008–09 to 2024–25. The Education Ministry has instructed relevant authorities to verify and compile findings into a comprehensive report.

Milon stated that after the investigation and verification process is complete, the government will take necessary steps to prepare and release the white paper in phases. However, he noted that due to the extensive scope of the inquiry, no specific timeline can yet be set. The minister also addressed issues related to pending retirement benefit applications, financial shortfalls in the welfare trust, and vacant teaching positions in private institutions.

He further mentioned ongoing efforts to modernize madrasa education by including vocational and technical subjects, with vocational courses already introduced in 548 madrasas and plans to expand to 1,000 more.