Construction of the model mosque and Islamic cultural center in Fulgazi, Feni, remains incomplete even after eight years. Initiated by the Islamic Foundation in 2019, the project was planned on 40 decimals of land opposite the local upazila complex, with an initial budget of Tk 12 crore. The first contractor, Raju Enterprise, halted work soon after the foundation was laid. The Public Works Department later canceled the earlier tender and reissued a new work order in January 2024, raising the cost to Tk 14 crore. The joint contractors, Messrs Lucky Enterprise and Mohsin & Brothers, began work again on January 1, 2025, assisted by Aradhana Enterprise.

Despite the renewed effort, the project remains unfinished two months past the contractual deadline, with about 75 percent of the work completed. The main structure stands, but plastering, tiling, finishing, and road connection tasks are still pending. Site engineer Omar Faruk said finishing work is ongoing and may take four more months. Public Works engineer A.K.M.S. Shafiquur Rahman cited fuel shortages as a cause of delay but assured that efforts continue for timely completion.

Local worshippers have expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, while officials maintain regular supervision to expedite completion.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a national rally of July martyrs’ families and July fighters at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday, demanding full implementation of the referendum verdict. The event began at 10 a.m. with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Qari Enayet Ullah Saifi, followed by its translation by Sharif Bayjeed Mahmud and Islamic songs performed by artist Mashiur Rahman. July fighter Kamrul Hasan inaugurated the rally, calling for the July Charter to be implemented without any alteration and warning that Parliament would be besieged again if the demand was ignored.

The rally was attended by opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, senior leaders of the 11-party alliance, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, assistant secretaries general, central executive and working committee members, Dhaka city leaders, women’s wing officials, MPs from Jamaat and the 11-party alliance, as well as families of July martyrs and injured July fighters from across the country.

Participants emphasized respect for the people’s mandate and warned that political struggle would continue inside and outside Parliament if the referendum result was not honored.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to implementing all election pledges and every clause of the July Charter. He made the remarks on Saturday morning while inaugurating the third building of the BIAM Foundation in New Eskaton, Dhaka.

Rahman said the mass uprising of July–August 2024 had once again demonstrated that the people are the true owners of the state. He emphasized that citizens had long aspired to an accountable, just, and welfare-oriented governance system, and that the current government represents that aspiration. The prime minister also stressed the importance of building a confident, knowledge-based, and creative human resource to achieve national development goals.

He further noted that bureaucracy must become more people-oriented to build a modern and prosperous state. Rahman underscored the need for training to help public servants act as true servants of the people. Before his speech, he laid the foundation stone of the new BIAM Foundation building and visited its activities while exchanging views with officials.

A severe shortage of rabies vaccines has been reported in several hospitals across Bangladesh, leaving patients like Ruby Akter from Munshiganj struggling to buy doses privately after dog bites. Hospital officials confirmed that government supplies of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) have stopped, forcing facilities to ration limited stocks and ask patients who can afford it to purchase vaccines themselves. The shortage is particularly acute outside major cities, though Dhaka’s Infectious Disease Hospital reportedly has full supply.

The crisis extends beyond rabies vaccines. The country’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is also facing depleted reserves of multiple vaccines, including those for measles and rubella. Officials at the EPI office in Dhaka acknowledged that the national “buffer stock” has run out, while the health minister publicly denied any shortage, claiming six months of supply remain. Public health experts warned that the absence of reserve stocks poses serious epidemic risks.

The report links the crisis to the government’s withdrawal from the health sector’s five-year Operational Plan in 2025 without a replacement funding mechanism, disrupting procurement and leaving vaccine transport workers unpaid for months.

At least ten people were injured in a violent clash between two factions of the Jubo Dal in Lalpur upazila of Natore on Friday afternoon. The confrontation, which took place at Godhra Bazar in Kadimchilan Union, stemmed from a dispute over local dominance. Police were deployed to the scene to bring the situation under control after reports of arson and a highway blockade.

According to police and local sources, the conflict involved supporters of Nadim Hossain Doha, a local Jubo Dal leader, and Majnu Patwari, the upazila Jubo Dal joint convener. Tensions escalated after a video about Majnu Patwari circulated on social media, leading to arguments earlier in the week. During the clash, rural physician Rashedul Islam was among those injured, and protesters blocked the Natore–Pabna highway by placing tree trunks and setting a motorcycle on fire.

Police later restored order and reopened the road. One injured person, Mokhles Patwari, was admitted to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex, while others received primary treatment. Authorities confirmed receiving a written complaint and said legal action would follow after investigation.

Residents of Meghna upazila in Cumilla have expressed growing concern as suspects in multiple serious cases, including murder and abduction, remain unarrested. The issue centers on the killing of Shahjalal, also known as Sabbir, in Mugarchar village under Radhanagar Union, where several accused individuals are still evading capture.

According to the report, one accused, Babul Mia, father of named suspect Naim, was arrested but released on bail within 72 hours. The main accused and others are still absconding. In response, locals organized a protest and human chain in front of Meghna Police Station on Wednesday morning, demanding immediate arrests. Speakers warned that if the suspects were not detained within 72 hours, they would initiate a stronger movement.

Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam of Meghna Police Station stated that operations to apprehend the suspects are ongoing but have been delayed because many have fled outside the Meghna area.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the foundation work of the third building of the BIAM Foundation on Saturday morning in New Eskaton, Dhaka. The ceremony took place around 10 a.m., marking a new phase in the foundation’s infrastructure development. Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister visited the foundation’s activities and exchanged views with its officials. Senior government officials, cabinet members, and distinguished guests attended the event.

The BIAM Foundation operates under the Ministry of Public Administration and is primarily responsible for training Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) officers and conducting other administrative programs. The new building is expected to enhance the foundation’s capacity to deliver training and administrative services more effectively.

The event underscores the government’s continued focus on strengthening administrative institutions and improving the professional development of civil servants through expanded facilities and modern infrastructure.

Dr. Mustafa Lutful Aziz, the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) of Banaripara in Barishal, faces serious allegations of operating a private clinic business while holding a government post. Reports claim he owns a 30 percent share in Hamid Memorial Clinic and has been referring patients from the government hospital to his clinic for financial gain. Despite available surgical facilities at the public hospital, patients were allegedly persuaded to seek treatment at the private clinic, incurring higher costs.

Investigations reveal Dr. Mustafa joined the Banaripara Upazila Health Complex in 2008 and became a shareholder in the nearby Hamid Memorial Clinic from its inception. After being transferred once for similar reasons, he returned in January 2026 and resumed operations at his clinic. Local residents accuse him of exploiting his position to benefit his business, depriving poor patients of government healthcare services.

Dr. Mustafa denied owning any clinic, though an audio clip reportedly contradicts his claim. Barishal Civil Surgeon Dr. S.M. Manjur Elahi stated that government doctors cannot engage in private business and promised departmental action if the allegations are proven.

The Sugandha River in Nalchity upazila of Jhalakathi has turned into a massive garbage dump due to unplanned waste disposal by the municipality. Every day, household, market, and other wastes are dumped in open areas near the old steamer ghat, and rain or tidal water carries the waste directly into the river. This has caused severe water and air pollution, turning the once-clear river into a foul-smelling, waste-filled waterway.

Local residents report unbearable stench and say the river water is no longer usable. People living along the river are suffering from skin diseases, stomach problems, and respiratory issues due to contact with the polluted water. Environmental experts warn that unplanned dumping threatens aquatic life and vegetation, potentially destroying the region’s ecological balance and posing serious long-term health risks.

Residents and environmentalists are calling for the immediate construction of a modern dumping station, regular waste collection, and protective measures for the riverbank. Municipal officials acknowledge the urgent need for a dumping site but say no land has yet been allocated for the project.

Residents of Cumilla are enduring severe power outages that have disrupted daily life across the district. According to local reports on April 25, 2026, urban areas experience four to five hours of load-shedding daily, while rural communities face 10 to 12 hours without electricity. The prolonged outages have hit children, the elderly, and students particularly hard, with SSC examinees expressing frustration over their inability to study at night. Agricultural activities have also been affected as irrigation pumps remain idle, raising fears of crop losses.

The situation has strained essential services, including rural clinics and pharmacies, where power shortages threaten the preservation of temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines. Small businesses and hotels report declining sales as customers avoid going out in the heat. Officials from the Cumilla Palli Bidyut Samiti and Power Development Board cited a supply shortfall, noting that while local demand is around 1,800 megawatts, only 1,000 to 1,100 megawatts are available. Nationwide, on April 23, electricity demand reached 15,650 megawatts against production of 13,945 megawatts, forcing authorities to impose load-shedding.

Officials said they are prioritizing power supply for irrigation between 11 p.m. and 11 a.m., but rural residents continue to face long hours without electricity.

A local BNP leader was reportedly injured in an attack by Awami League supporters in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur on Friday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. in Kadmi village under Rupapat Union. The injured were identified as Abdur Rahman, assistant agriculture affairs secretary of the upazila BNP, and Suman Sheikh, 27, joint convener of the Rupapat Union Swechchhasebak Dal. Locals rescued them and took them to the upazila health complex, from where they were referred to Faridpur Hospital.

According to local sources, supporters of Md. Firoz Molla, general secretary of the Union Krishak League, carried out the attack. Firoz Molla, however, stated that he was in Gopalganj at the time and only heard about the assault. Boalmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain said no written complaint had been filed yet and that legal action would be taken upon receiving one.

Police are awaiting a formal complaint to initiate legal proceedings regarding the incident.

Residents of eight northern districts in Bangladesh have intensified their movement demanding the construction of a second Jamuna Bridge connecting Fulchhari in Gaibandha to Bahadurabad Ghat in Jamalpur. Local people, led by the Fulchhari Development Forum, have formed a bridge implementation committee and are organizing rallies and public meetings to press their demand. They believe the bridge would open new economic opportunities and improve connectivity across the region.

The demand stems from decades of hardship faced by residents who rely on unsafe and unreliable boat crossings between Balashi and Bahadurabad. Ferry services that once operated on the route were suspended about 25 years ago, leaving thousands to cross the river daily under risky conditions. The lack of a bridge has severely affected agriculture, trade, education, and healthcare in the area, with farmers unable to transport goods efficiently to markets.

Local leaders and residents argue that a bridge would transform communication and trade between northern and southern Bangladesh, saving time and cost while boosting employment and regional development. The issue gained renewed attention after local MP Abdul Warech raised it in the national parliament.

A prolonged heatwave combined with severe power outages has disrupted daily life across Khulna and the southwestern region of Bangladesh. Since early April, residents have faced extreme heat and frequent load-shedding lasting up to 10 to 12 hours a day. According to the West Zone Power Distribution Company, on Thursday at 1 p.m., electricity demand in 21 districts under Khulna Division was 801 megawatts, while supply reached only 643 megawatts, leaving a deficit of 158 megawatts. In Khulna district alone, 44 megawatts of load-shedding was required.

The outages have severely affected businesses and households. Shopkeepers in Khulna city reported sharp declines in sales as customers avoid hot, unventilated stores. Fish sellers and other refrigeration-dependent traders are suffering losses due to spoilage. Rising fuel prices have also caused transport disruptions, with long queues at petrol stations and increased fares. Students taking the ongoing SSC exams are struggling to study amid the frequent blackouts.

Local civic group Sujan’s Khulna secretary criticized the government for failing to manage the ongoing electricity and fuel crisis, warning that the situation could worsen if not addressed soon.

A trader named Khairul Islam was arrested in Haropara village of Bhangura upazila, Pabna, for producing fake milk. A mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman sentenced him to six months of imprisonment and imposed a fine of one lakh taka. The operation took place late Saturday night.

During the raid, authorities seized fake milk, soybean oil, and two machines used in the production process. According to the report, Khairul had been manufacturing fake milk using harmful jelly, soybean oil, and other ingredients, which he supplied to a local sealing center of a company named Pran.

The mobile court’s action highlights ongoing efforts to curb the production and distribution of adulterated food products in the region.

Sarba Mitra Chakma, an executive member of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), has called on Islami Chhatra Shibir to leave behind its secretive political activities and participate openly in politics. He made the remarks in a Facebook post on Friday, April 24, 2026, stating that it was his personal wish for Shibir to engage in transparent political practices.

In his post, Chakma questioned the need for Shibir’s covert politics, noting that the Awami League was no longer in power. He highlighted that, despite the absence of any state ban on the organization, Shibir activists are often treated as if they are “killable beings,” with society and the state having normalized such attitudes over the past seventeen years. He also referred to a recent statement by a former Islami University Chhatra Dal leader who threatened violence against Shibir members.

Chakma concluded that before Shibir can fully enter open politics, society must first ensure their human rights and end the perception that their lives are expendable.