Suraiya Jerin Roni from Bogura has been nominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as a Member of Parliament for a reserved women’s seat in the 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made on Monday, April 20, 2026, at the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General, Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The final list includes both senior leaders and young grassroots women leaders, with Roni’s name among them.

Roni currently serves as the Joint General Secretary of the Bogura District Women’s Wing of the BNP and previously held the position of Female Vice Chairman of Gabtali Upazila Parishad. Her nomination has generated enthusiasm among BNP leaders and activists in Bogura. She began her political career in the student wing of the party and played a prominent role in the student and public uprisings of July and August 2024.

Roni stated that her nomination reflects the BNP’s commitment to dedicated grassroots activists and reaffirmed her lifelong dedication to serving the people.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said his government aims to end corruption and improve citizens’ livelihoods using domestic resources. Speaking on Monday afternoon at a family card distribution event at Shahid Zia Degree College field in Bagbari, Bogura, he emphasized his commitment to changing the fate of the nation’s people. His wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, was also present at the event.

Rahman announced that 911 mothers received family cards at the event and that distribution will expand to 23 more upazilas by April 30. Over the next five years, four crore mothers are expected to receive these cards. He also inaugurated the re-excavation of Chowkir Ghat canal, originally dug by his father in 1979, and outlined plans to dig 20,000 kilometers of canals nationwide to aid agriculture, prevent floods, and ensure water availability.

During his Bogura visit, the Prime Minister inaugurated several projects, including an e-bail bond service, the Bogura City Corporation, and a measles-rubella vaccination campaign, signaling a focus on governance, infrastructure, and public health.

The executive council election of the Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University Journalists’ Association (HABIPROBISAS) for 2026 has been completed. Talha Hasan, university representative of Somoyer Konthoshor, was elected president, while Md. Rafiul Huda, university representative of Banglavision, was elected general secretary. Voting took place on Sunday, April 19, at the university’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Vote counting was temporarily halted due to a clash between two halls but resumed the next day. The results were officially announced on Monday, April 20, by Chief Election Commissioner Professor Dr. S.M. Emdadul Hasan.

Assistant election commissioners included Professor Dr. Md. Nowser Wan, the university proctor, and Khademul Islam, director of the public relations and publication office. A total of 23 members cast their votes, with 20 voting in person and 3 by postal ballot. Eleven positions were contested, including vice president, joint general secretary, and other executive roles. The chief election commissioner congratulated the newly elected committee and expressed satisfaction that the election was held in a festive and democratic atmosphere.

He also expressed hope that the new leadership would work together for the welfare of students and uphold democratic practices within the association.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced its final list of nominees for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament on Monday, April 20, 2026. Despite several well-known entertainment personalities collecting nomination forms, including singers Konokchapa, Baby Nazneen, Rizia Parveen, Dilruba Khan, Dithi Anwar, dancer Farhana Chowdhury Baby, and actresses Rina Khan, Rukaiya Jahan Chamak, and Meghna Alam, none were selected. The final list was released by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

The exclusion of Baby Nazneen, known as the “Black Diamond” of Bangla music and a long-time BNP activist close to the late leader Khaleda Zia, drew disappointment within the entertainment community. Party sources said the selection was based on internal evaluation and political activity, prioritizing long-serving and active female leaders over celebrities. Konokchapa and Chamak accepted the decision, expressing their continued commitment to serve the country and its people.

BNP had started selling nomination forms on April 10, and around 1,300 aspirants collected them during the three-day process, reflecting strong interest in the reserved seats.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon stated that anyone involved in corruption within the Education Ministry will not be allowed to remain in their position for even 24 hours. He made the remark on Monday during a press conference at the Secretariat regarding the ongoing SSC and equivalent examinations. The minister added that he had already dismissed one individual earlier that day for such misconduct.

During the same briefing, Minister Milon mentioned that authorities are considering whether the next SSC examinations could be held in December. However, he clarified that no final decision has been made on the matter yet.

The statements reflect the ministry’s stance on maintaining strict accountability and transparency in its operations, while also signaling possible adjustments to the national examination schedule pending further review.

Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Masud expressed deep concern over his personal safety during a special privileges discussion in the National Parliament on Monday. He told the House that he narrowly escaped an attack while returning from Hatiya two days earlier. Masud said he represents a remote island area dominated by land grabbers and pirates and has survived at least five direct attacks before and after the election. He alleged that despite having video evidence, the attackers enjoy political protection and continue to threaten him on social media.

Earlier, the Deputy Speaker rejected Masud’s notice on the matter due to procedural limitations but urged the Home Minister to take necessary action. The Deputy Speaker later read the notice aloud and condemned the attacks, instructing the Home Minister to ensure prompt legal measures. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed responded that the issue was being taken seriously and advised the MP to file a general diary or case if not already done.

Masud urged the government to guarantee his and his supporters’ safety and called for a parliamentary investigation into the repeated attacks.

National award-winning singer Rumana Morshed Konokchapa did not secure a nomination from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for a reserved women's seat in parliament. The announcement was made on Monday, April 20, at the BNP’s Nayapaltan office by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Konokchapa’s name was absent from the final list of nominees.

Following the announcement, Konokchapa shared her reaction on social media, expressing acceptance of the outcome and gratitude to God. She recalled that she had also sought BNP nominations in previous elections, including the 13th national election and earlier contests, but was not selected. Despite repeated disappointments, she stated that she remains committed to serving her country and its people in other ways.

Konokchapa, who serves as joint convener of the BNP-affiliated cultural organization JASAS and a district BNP member, had previously contested the Sirajganj-1 seat in the 2018 national election, where she received 1,072 votes against Awami League candidate Mohammad Nasim’s 324,436 votes.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led eleven-party electoral alliance will submit nomination papers for candidates contesting the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament on Tuesday. According to the election schedule, the submission will take place at 10 a.m. at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka. Following the submission, the alliance will hold a press briefing to share details of the nominations.

Alliance coordinator and Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad confirmed the plan on Monday. Sources indicated that the alliance has nominated thirteen candidates for the reserved women’s seats, proportionate to its parliamentary representation.

The submission marks the final day for nominations under the current election timetable, signaling the alliance’s formal entry into the next phase of the parliamentary selection process.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has issued show-cause notices to five of its leaders in Khulna following allegations of harassment against Dr. Rafiqul Haque Babul, president of the Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB) Khulna district unit. The incident occurred at the BNSB Eye Hospital in Khulna, where a group reportedly disrupted the hospital’s trustee board. The notices were delivered on Sunday by the Khulna Metropolitan BNP, instructing the accused leaders to provide written explanations before the party’s monitoring cell by April 22.

The accused include Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Mir Kaysed Ali, Abu Sayeed Hawlader Abbas, Molla Sohag Hossain, and Sheikh Iqbal Hossain. The dispute began on April 13 when Khulna-5 MP and former city BNP convener Ali Asgar Lobi visited the hospital. During the visit, accompanying BNP leaders allegedly verbally abused and attempted to assault Dr. Babul, pressuring him to resign. Lobi then dissolved the trustee board and declared himself chairman.

In protest, Khulna physicians held a human chain on April 18 demanding disciplinary action against those involved, reinstatement of Dr. Babul as trustee board chairman, and an end to political interference in hospital affairs.

Four women leaders who began their political careers in student politics have been included in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) final nomination list for reserved women’s seats in the national parliament. The nominees are Selina Sultana, Arifa Sultana, Nadia Pathan Papon, and Mansura Akter. Their selection is being viewed as a significant example of leadership development among a new generation of politicians.

According to party sources, all four leaders started their political journeys through various organizational activities within the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP. Their long experience in campus-based politics, grassroots movements, and organizational responsibilities has played a key role in their rise to national-level politics.

Observers within the party consider their nominations not only as personal achievements but also as a structured example of how student politics continues to serve as a foundation for national leadership within the BNP.

Nepal has undergone a dramatic political transformation following a youth-led uprising that toppled the government last September. The movement, spearheaded by 28-year-old Bablu Gupta and other Gen Z activists, culminated in a March election where the youth-driven Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) achieved a sweeping victory. Nearly 10 percent of the newly elected lawmakers are aged 30 or younger, a sharp rise from less than 2 percent in the previous parliament. The new Prime Minister, 35-year-old rapper and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, took office on March 27, symbolizing a generational shift in leadership.

The uprising was fueled by frustration over corruption, nepotism, unemployment, and restrictions on social media. Nepal’s transformation stands out amid fading youth movements elsewhere, such as in Bangladesh and Madagascar. The new government has pledged to create 1.2 million jobs, ensure universal health insurance, and build a digital governance system. However, questions remain about the durability of these reforms and the risk of populism.

Nepal’s political renewal has inspired optimism among young people worldwide, though challenges of accountability, inclusion, and economic opportunity continue to test the new leadership’s promises.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has released its final list of 36 candidates for reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made on Monday, April 20, 2026, at a press conference in Nayapaltan, Dhaka, by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Despite competition among several prominent contenders, the party selected two candidates from Sylhet, reflecting a balance between experience and new leadership.

The final list includes Shammi Akter, Assistant Secretary for Local Government Affairs of the BNP Central Executive Committee and former MP from Habiganj, and Barrister Jhorat Adib Chowdhury, daughter of late Advocate Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury, a three-time MP and former State Minister for Food and Disaster Management. Adib, who was appointed Deputy CEO of Banglalink in 2025, received her first political nomination as her father’s successor from Barlekha.

Shammi Akter had previously sought nomination for the Habiganj-4 constituency but was not selected. However, in recognition of her contributions during the party’s difficult times, BNP nominated her again for a reserved women’s seat.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that 22,000 Rohingya residing in Saudi Arabia have been issued Bangladeshi passports. He made the statement on Monday, April 20, during a courtesy meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Abdullah Jafar bin Abiyah, at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The minister emphasized that Saudi Arabia is one of Bangladesh’s closest partners, with cooperation spanning manpower export, energy, and tourism sectors.

During the meeting, the Saudi ambassador highlighted the ongoing process of issuing Bangladeshi passports to 69,000 Rohingya in Saudi Arabia and urged for its acceleration. In response, the minister said that a special team from Bangladesh has been sent to expedite the process and warned that no corruption or irregularities would be tolerated in passport issuance. He also instructed officials to verify lists from Saudi Arabia and ensure that Myanmar nationals meeting the required conditions receive passports promptly.

The discussion underscored both countries’ interest in expanding cooperation and ensuring transparency in handling the Rohingya documentation process.

A delegation from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) met with Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, at his parliamentary office on Monday afternoon. The meeting took place at the National Parliament and was led by Lina Rikkila Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific at International IDEA. Sumit Bisarya, Head of the Constitutional Governance and Rule of Law Programme, was also part of the visiting team.

According to Jamaat sources, the meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. Discussions covered the effectiveness of Bangladesh’s National Parliament, the “July Charter,” and other matters of mutual interest. The visiting delegation expressed willingness to support efforts to strengthen democracy and institutional integrity in Bangladesh. Dr. Rahman highlighted Jamaat’s historical role in building a stable and democratic Bangladesh and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to implementing the July Charter and referendum verdict.

Dhaka-12 MP Saiful Alam Khan Milon and Ali Ahmad Mabrur, a member of the opposition leader’s foreign affairs advisory team, were also present during the meeting.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury stated that the current government does not believe in controlling the media and upholds the principle of media freedom as directed by the Prime Minister. He made the remarks on Monday at the Secretariat during a 'BSRF Dialogue' organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum. The minister emphasized that the government is working to ensure accurate information flow and will take effective measures to prevent online misinformation and character assassination.

Yasser Khan said the government’s main goal is to deliver precise news to the public and strengthen the digitalization process. He mentioned ongoing discussions with media-related organizations, including the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh and IPTV representatives, regarding policy updates such as the 2014 IPTV guidelines. He also noted that journalists’ wages and benefits are under government consideration and may see positive decisions in the upcoming budget.

The minister added that a policy is being developed to ensure transparency in government advertisement distribution and that the Secretariat’s media facilities will be modernized soon.