Police in Cumilla recovered the body of Assistant Revenue Officer Bullet Bairagi about 12 hours after he went missing while returning home from training in Chattogram. The body was found on Saturday afternoon in the Kotbari Bishwaroad area of Cumilla Sadar Dakshin upazila. Bairagi, aged 35, served in the Customs, Excise and VAT department and was the son of Sushil Bairagi from the Panpotti area of Cumilla city.

According to police and local sources, residents discovered a body lying by the roadside and informed the authorities. Police later identified the body as that of Bullet Bairagi. Family members said he had last spoken to them around 2:25 a.m. on Friday night, informing them he had reached the Tomchom Bridge area of Cumilla. His phone was later found switched off, prompting the family to file a general diary with Kotwali Model Police Station.

Police have sent the body for autopsy and begun an investigation to determine the cause of death.

At a national rally organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, opposition leaders demanded the implementation of the July Charter in line with the results of a recent referendum. The event brought together families of those killed in the July uprising and thousands of injured participants from across the country. National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam addressed the gathering as a special guest.

Nahid Islam stated that Bangladesh had envisioned change through the July uprising, but the ruling BNP was obstructing reforms and rejecting the referendum that it had initially supported. He accused the government of politicizing institutions, denying economic and law-and-order problems, and closing doors to cooperation. He warned that following the path of past authoritarianism would provoke public resistance.

He further remarked that no government in Bangladesh’s history had become so unpopular in such a short time. The opposition vowed to continue its movement both in parliament and on the streets to ensure the implementation of the July Charter and to honor the sacrifices of the July uprising.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the national women’s team for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka. The matches will be held at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on April 28, April 30, and May 2, each starting at 1:30 p.m. The squad combines experienced players and emerging talents, aiming for a balanced lineup for the home series.

Regular captain Nigar Sultana Joty will lead the team, with spin all-rounder Nahida Akter serving as vice-captain. The squad includes Dilara Akter, Shobnom Mostary, Fahima Khatun, Sharmin Akter Supta, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sharmin Sultana, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akter Maghla, and Jueria Ferdous. Standby players are Fargana Hoque, Sharifa Khatun, Fargana Yasmin, and Taj Nehar.

Playing at home is expected to boost Bangladesh’s confidence, with local conditions in Sylhet likely to favor spinners such as Nahida Akter and others in the bowling lineup.

Education Minister Dr. Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for 2027 will be held in December 2026. The decision aims to resolve the ongoing session backlog in the country's education system. The minister made the announcement on Saturday after a meeting at the Secretariat regarding the transfer policy for MPO-listed teachers and staff.

He explained that the government is determined to eliminate session delays affecting students’ academic progress. The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and political circumstances had previously disorganized examination schedules. By advancing the SSC exams by about four months, the ministry seeks to restore the academic calendar to its regular rhythm.

The minister also mentioned that the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations would similarly be brought forward, though he did not specify when those exams would begin.

Nahida Brishti, a former student of Noakhali Science and Technology University (Nobiprobi) and a PhD researcher at the University of South Florida, has died in the United States. The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail, expressed deep sorrow and condolences in a statement issued on Saturday, describing her as a talented and promising student from the 13th batch of the Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department.

In his message, the vice-chancellor said Brishti’s untimely death was an irreparable loss to the university community. He called for strict punishment under U.S. law for those involved in her death and demanded compensation for her family. He also prayed for the eternal peace of her soul and strength for her bereaved family to endure the loss.

According to the report, Brishti and another Bangladeshi student, Jamil Limon, had been missing since April 16, 2026, from the University of South Florida. Later, both were confirmed dead. Brishti’s family home is in Faridpur district, and her death was confirmed by her brother Zahid Hasan Pranto and department chairman Professor Dr. Fateh Nur Robel.

The Barapukuria thermal power plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, has been shut down again after operating for only 15 hours. The plant had resumed production at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 24, following a 48-hour closure caused by a boiler pipe burst and a broken cooling fan that halted its 125-megawatt first unit on Wednesday night. However, production stopped again around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday when another boiler tube burst.

The complete shutdown of the plant has caused power outages across Parbatipur and eight northern districts. Chief engineer Abu Bakkar Siddique stated that production was halted due to the tube burst and that the boiler steam needs time to cool down. He estimated that full repair work could take five to six days to complete.

The repeated technical failures have disrupted electricity supply in the region, and restoration is expected only after the repair process is finished.

A man named Kawsar Uz Zaman Babul, aged 36, was shot dead early Friday while returning home after attending a family feast in Raozan, Chattogram. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. in the Purbalikhil Khamar Tila area under Ward 9 of Raozan Municipality. Babul, father of two daughters, was the son of Abul Kalam Saudagar of Dhalar Mukh area.

Local residents said the killing may have stemmed from a dispute over soil trading in the Khamar Tila area, where Babul and his cousin Polin had been cutting and selling soil. Babul’s wife, Liza Moni, stated that her husband had been receiving phone threats and had a recent conflict over a video recorded at Chowdhury Market. His father said Babul was attacked on his way back from his maternal grandfather’s house and that he supported the BNP though he was not politically active.

Raozan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sajedul Islam said the group responsible for the killing has been identified, and police have launched an operation to arrest them.

Police in Debiganj, Panchagarh, detained a 16-year-old college student named Nishat Islam for posting a Facebook comment critical of State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad. The arrest took place at midnight on Friday in the Hajipara area of Debiganj Sadar Union. Nishat, an eleventh-grade student at Sonahar BM College, had shared a parliamentary speech by the minister with a caption mocking him.

According to police sources, the post spread widely on social media before Nishat deleted it. The content reportedly caused reactions in local political circles and created tension in the area. Later that night, Abdus Salam, joint convener of the Debiganj Sadar Union unit of Jubo Dal, filed a complaint against the student.

Debiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Selim Malik confirmed that a case was filed under the Cyber Security Act following the complaint. The incident has drawn attention locally due to the involvement of a government minister and the use of social media in the alleged offense.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that if the verdict of the referendum is not respected, the struggle will continue both inside and outside parliament. He made the remarks on Saturday, April 25, at a Jamaat-e-Islami rally held at Suhrawardy Udyan. Rahman criticized the BNP for allegedly forgetting its 31-point agenda after coming to power and accused the party of following a path of fascism.

He stated that while the BNP accepts the verdict of 51 percent of voters, it refuses to accept the decision of 70 percent, calling this attitude regrettable. Rahman also said that Jamaat had raised demands in parliament from the first day, but others had failed to take their oaths, thereby betraying the nation. He emphasized that unless certain laws are amended and ordinances implemented, the fascist system will not change.

Rahman concluded by expressing his vision for a safer and more just Bangladesh, where citizens, including children and women, can move freely without fear and where educational institutions remain peaceful and focused on learning.

Students from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) visited Purbadhala upazila in Netrokona on Saturday morning to collect field-level data. Around 10 a.m., they met with the acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Tasnim Jahan, who emphasized the importance of such activities for gaining real-world experience. The visit involved 103 third-year students from the Department of Agricultural Finance and Banking, accompanied by three teachers and four staff members.

According to the accompanying teachers, the field data collection aims to help students integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience. As part of their educational tour, the students are engaging with local farmers and representatives of various financial institutions to gather information.

The collected data will later be used in research and academic activities, contributing to the students’ professional development and understanding of agricultural finance in real contexts.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, has presented a four-point reform proposal aimed at ending the long-standing culture of custodial torture and impunity in Bangladesh. Speaking on April 25, 2026, at a national consultation held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, he alleged that despite existing laws against torture, enforcement has been weak and often misused. Rahman also stated that he himself had been subjected to torture by state agencies and imprisoned for nearly five years for running a newspaper and publishing the truth.

He outlined four key reforms: political will from the highest level of government, judicial independence and oversight of police remand, modern training for law enforcement to replace physical coercion, and compensation and rehabilitation for victims of state or police torture. Rahman emphasized that structural reforms and a change in mindset are essential for real progress beyond signing international conventions or passing laws.

The event was part of a two-day national consultation organized by human rights group Odhikar with support from the international organization OMCT, focusing on implementing the UN Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol in Bangladesh.

A coordination meeting between Member of Parliament Md. Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu and district and upazila-level officials was held in Gafargaon, Mymensingh. The event took place on Friday afternoon at the auditorium of Abdur Rahman Degree College. The meeting focused on local development issues and was attended by officials from various government departments and public representatives.

The session was presided over by Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman and conducted by Gafargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer N M Abdullah-Al Mamun. Police Superintendent Md. Kamrul Hasan and other officials also spoke at the event. MP Bachchu delivered the main address, emphasizing development matters concerning the Gafargaon area.

The meeting reflected ongoing coordination between administrative authorities and elected representatives to advance local development agendas in Mymensingh district.

Farmers in Bogura have completed onion harvesting with strong yields, but they are not receiving fair prices. While storage-grade onions from Pabna and Kushtia are selling at Tk 35–40 per kilogram, regular onions are priced between Tk 25–30. Traders and growers report that market supply has dropped, pushing prices up by about Tk 5 per kilogram in the past two days. They expect prices to double before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha if the trend continues.

Light rain before harvest caused minor damage in several onion-producing districts, including Pabna, Faridpur, Rangpur, and Natore, leading to lower prices for blemished onions. In contrast, the dry, long-lasting “murikata” variety is being stored by farmers and traders, reducing immediate market supply. Nationally, onion production targets have been met, with major output from Pabna, Kushtia, Rajshahi, and Rangpur regions.

Wholesalers in Bogura’s markets say farmers are storing onions due to dryness and quality, while large traders are stockpiling murikata onions. This storage trend is tightening supply and driving prices upward, with expectations of further increases in the coming days.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the July-August 2024 mass uprising once again proved that the true owners of the state are its people. He said this on Saturday morning while inaugurating the third building of the BIAM Foundation in New Eskaton, Dhaka. Rahman described the current government as a reflection of the people's long-standing desire for an accountable, just, and welfare-oriented administration.

He emphasized that the government is committed to developing a confident, creative, and merit-based human resource system. According to him, building a citizen-friendly administration is essential for achieving the nation’s aspirations. The prime minister also urged the bureaucracy to become more people-oriented and highlighted the importance of training to help officials serve citizens better.

Before his speech, Rahman laid the foundation stone of the BIAM Foundation’s third building, toured its activities, and exchanged views with officials.

Rokeya Khanam, mother of Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Raksu) General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar, posted an emotional message on Facebook on Friday night, April 24, 2026. In her post, she described herself as the mother of a proud revolutionary and recounted her son’s political struggles and the persecution faced by their family. She reflected on years of political repression, including incidents involving her husband and brother, and expressed her continued support for her son’s activism despite threats and confinement.

The post detailed how the family was allegedly confined between July 16 and August 4, 2024, and how her husband was denied access to medicine. Rokeya wrote that she no longer asks her son to stop his political activities and prays for his safety. She also mentioned that she might file a general diary not for protection but as a historical record of their experiences. Her message concluded with a call for positive politics beyond party divisions and a vision of a prosperous Bangladesh built on the sacrifices of martyrs.