In Chattogram’s Khatunganj, one of Bangladesh’s largest wholesale spice markets, prices have remained largely stable over the past two months despite increased demand ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. However, retail markets across the country have seen sudden price hikes. Retailers attribute the rise to higher transportation costs caused by a fuel crisis, which has doubled freight charges and slowed delivery times from production areas to major markets.

Traders report that while wholesale onion prices range between Tk 22 and Tk 28 per kilogram, retail prices are significantly higher, with similar gaps seen for garlic, chili, and coriander. Imported dry chili now sells at Tk 400 per kilogram, up by Tk 8–10 in two weeks, while coriander and nutmeg prices have also risen. In contrast, turmeric prices have declined slightly. Business leaders warn that if fuel and transport costs continue to rise, spice prices could surge further before Eid.

Market associations urge government monitoring to reduce the widening gap between wholesale and retail prices and prevent potential market instability.

In an article published on April 25, 2026, governance and public policy expert Dr. Yusuf Zarif examines the qualities of effective leadership and the challenges facing Bangladesh. He argues that the country’s political leadership has historically lacked strategic vision, institutional discipline, and moral integrity, leading to weak democratic institutions and a culture of personal glorification. Zarif links these shortcomings to the failures of past interim governments and the inability to build a just and accountable state.

The article contrasts Bangladesh’s experience with the leadership models of South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Rwanda. Zarif highlights how visionary leaders such as Park Chung-hee, Mahathir Mohamad, Lee Kuan Yew, and Paul Kagame achieved national transformation through strategic foresight, institutional reform, and policy independence. He notes that these leaders prioritized meritocracy, national unity, and self-reliance over external influence.

Zarif concludes that without strengthening leadership competence and ethical governance, Bangladesh will struggle to overcome its institutional fragility and dependency on foreign policy guidance. The country’s future progress, he suggests, depends on cultivating visionary and morally grounded leadership.

Bangladesh has formally sought an extension of its timeline for graduating from least developed country (LDC) status, citing global financial challenges and the need for a smoother transition. The request was presented by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, during the general debate of the ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum 2026 held at the UN headquarters on Thursday. The country asked to move its graduation date from November 24, 2026, to November 24, 2029.

Bangladesh first qualified for LDC graduation in 2018 and 2021 based on three criteria—per capita income, human assets, and economic and environmental vulnerability. The original graduation date was set for 2024 but was extended to 2026 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government’s letter to the UN Committee for Development Policy highlighted domestic and international challenges, including geopolitical tensions, reduced development aid, climate impacts, trade barriers, and energy uncertainty.

The ambassador emphasized that Bangladesh is prioritizing macroeconomic stability, rebuilding business confidence, strengthening the banking sector, and expanding support for vulnerable populations to ensure a sustainable transition.

A report published on April 25, 2026, accuses the former Awami League government of widespread corruption and mismanagement in Bangladesh’s major infrastructure projects. It claims that several mega projects, including the Karnaphuli Tunnel, Padma Bridge, and Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, were marked by excessive costs, poor planning, and delays. The interim government’s white paper committee and task force found that eight major projects exceeded initial budgets by 7.52 billion dollars, citing weak planning, delays, and corruption as key causes.

The report highlights that projects such as the Karnaphuli Tunnel are operating far below expectations, incurring heavy losses and failing to deliver promised benefits. It also notes that 95 percent of these projects were financed through foreign loans, creating severe repayment pressure. The railway sector, despite massive investment, continues to suffer losses due to inefficiency and inflated costs.

According to the report, inflated construction costs, project delays, and poor design have turned many of these ventures into burdens for citizens. Projects like the Gazipur-Airport BRT and Lal Khan Bazaar-Airport Elevated Expressway remain incomplete, causing public suffering and raising questions about accountability.

The July Uprising Memorial Museum, planned at Dhaka’s former Ganabhaban after the 2024 July Revolution, remains unopened despite repeated government assurances. The interim government had announced the transformation of the royal residence into a museum honoring the student-led uprising, but bureaucratic delays and political inertia have stalled its inauguration. Although the July Uprising Memorial Museum Bill 2026 was passed on April 10, giving the project permanent legal status, the gates remain closed to the public.

Families of martyrs and injured activists have expressed frustration over the delay, blaming administrative inefficiency and lack of political will. Some allege that influential bureaucrats linked to the previous regime are obstructing progress, while others maintain that the current government is sincere and working to open the museum soon. The project, approved in July 2025 with a budget exceeding 400 million taka, was initially scheduled for an August 2025 launch.

The museum features thematic galleries using digital and visual technology to document the revolution, with preserved artifacts, letters, and footage. It will operate as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, with branch museums at former detention sites known as “Ainaghars.”

Violent clashes between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, and Islami Chhatra Shibir have spread across several educational institutions, including Chittagong City College, Ishwardi Government College, Comilla Polytechnic Institute, and Dhaka University. The confrontations, which left numerous activists injured, reportedly began over a graffiti dispute and social media posts targeting the prime minister and her daughter. Authorities and law enforcement have faced criticism for their handling of the escalating unrest.

Educators and administrators have expressed concern that the violence is undermining the academic environment and fueling national political tension. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor A.B.M. Obaidul Islam urged tolerance and announced two investigation committees. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury warned that those destabilizing the country would face consequences. Jamaat-e-Islami condemned the attacks on Shibir activists, while both student groups blamed each other for provoking the violence.

Chhatra Dal’s general secretary expressed regret over injuries to journalists during the Dhaka University incident, while both organizations called for restraint. Observers fear the unrest could further disrupt campuses unless swift administrative and law enforcement measures are taken.

A commentary published on April 25, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh by retired Major Rokon Uddin examines the controversial political legacy of Chittaranjan Sutar, a former Awami League leader and member of Bangladesh’s first parliament in 1973. The article recounts repeated allegations that Sutar maintained links with Indian intelligence and was involved in the separatist ‘Bangabhumi’ movement, which sought to create a Hindu state in parts of southwestern Bangladesh. It also recalls his wartime role as a liaison between India and the Mujibnagar government during the 1971 Liberation War.

The author argues that Sutar’s career reflects deeper weaknesses in Bangladesh’s post-independence state-building process, where political loyalty and vigilance against foreign influence were not always enforced. The piece cites historical reports and official concerns about cross-border separatist activities to illustrate that such threats were taken seriously at the state level.

Concluding, the article frames Sutar as a symbol of internal subversion and warns that national sovereignty depends not only on defending borders but also on maintaining political integrity and awareness of internal collaborators.

Experts in Bangladesh have warned that exposure to light, air, and oxygen significantly reduces the nutritional value of vitamins A and D in fortified edible oils. They emphasized that transparent bottles allow ultraviolet rays to degrade these vitamins, while opaque or laminated packaging can effectively preserve their potency. The Ministry of Health’s Technical Advisory Committee conducted a national survey in 2025 on vitamin D levels among 2,481 people, revealing widespread deficiencies across age groups and pregnant women.

The survey results prompted a proposal for nationwide vitamin D fortification in edible oils, complementing existing vitamin A enrichment. The Ministry of Industry is awaiting formal recommendations from the Ministry of Health to proceed. Experts from organizations such as GAIN, the National Heart Foundation, and Progotir Jonyo Gyan highlighted that consumer preference for transparent packaging and manufacturers’ lack of awareness about light sensitivity remain major challenges.

Stakeholders called for stronger public awareness, inter-ministerial coordination, and mandatory use of opaque, light-resistant packaging to ensure the nutritional integrity of fortified oils and improve public health outcomes.

Islami Bank Bangladesh, once considered the country’s top financial institution, has fallen into deep crisis following years of alleged irregularities and loan fraud linked to S Alam Group. According to the report, the group and its affiliates defaulted on Tk 57,175 crore in loans, representing 62 percent of the bank’s total non-performing loans as of December last year. The group reportedly took about Tk 70,000 crore in loans under various names, including relatives and paper-based entities, after gaining control of the bank in 2017 through an intelligence agency.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) later reported that S Alam Group’s total loans, both direct and indirect, amounted to Tk 105,483 crore. The bank has filed 24 civil and 368 criminal cases against the group, while the Anti-Corruption Commission has also initiated several cases. Islami Bank’s acting managing director said the group has not repaid its loans, and legal recovery efforts are ongoing. The bank has also signed three non-disclosure agreements with foreign entities.

After the interim government removed S Alam’s control, Islami Bank’s board was restructured, reducing total defaulted loans to Tk 92,115 crore by December. However, reports suggest S Alam is now attempting to regain influence through former employees and supporters.

Police officers came under attack during an anti-drug operation in Sarikaite Union of Sandwip upazila, Chattogram, late on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. in Ward No. 9 when police responded to a 999 call reporting the detention of a man named Didar with drugs. Upon arrival, officers found two local BNP factions engaged in a clash. During the chaos, a man named Manna was seriously injured, after which a group of alleged drug dealers and their followers blamed the police and launched a coordinated attack involving about 50 to 60 people. Two sub-inspectors, Apel and Nur Mohammad, were injured in the assault.

Additional police forces later arrived, rescued the injured officers, and brought the situation under control. The injured policemen received primary medical treatment. Police have detained three suspects—Fahim, Tahin, and Niloy—in connection with the attack. Sandwip Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sujon Halder stated that a case is being processed and that the special anti-drug operation continues with additional forces deployed in the area.

Member of Parliament Akteruzzaman Bachchu distributed food and cash assistance to families of those killed by lightning during a nor'wester storm, hail, and thunderstorm in Gafargaon, Mymensingh. The aid was handed over on Friday, April 24, 2026, before evening under the implementation of the Gafargaon Upazila Administration and the Department of Disaster Management.

The distribution event took place at the Kandipara Askar Ali High School field, presided over by Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman and conducted by Upazila Nirbahi Officer N. M. Abdullah-Al-Mamun. Several officials and local leaders attended, including the Mymensingh Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Amir Salman Rony, Upazila Agriculture Officer Shakura Nanni, and others.

The initiative aimed to support affected farming families who suffered losses during the recent storm, reflecting coordinated local government and community efforts in disaster response.

A local BNP leader and his nephew were seriously injured in an alleged 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 are Abdur Rahman, assistant secretary for agricultural affairs of the upazila BNP, and his nephew Suman Sheikh, joint convener of the union’s volunteer wing. They were first taken to the upazila health complex and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

According to local sources, the attack followed suspicion that Abdur Rahman had informed police about a drug-related arrest of a local youth named Sajal, who was later released on bail. Supporters of the union Krishak League general secretary Md. Firoz Molya, including Sajal and several others, allegedly carried out the assault. Abdur Rahman claimed the attack was premeditated and demanded justice. Firoz Molya denied direct involvement, saying he was in Gopalganj at the time and was trying to settle the matter.

Boalmari police said no written complaint had been filed yet but assured that legal action would be taken once a complaint is received. The incident has caused tension in the area.

A coordination meeting on the overall development of Gafargaon Upazila in Mymensingh was held on Friday, April 24, at the auditorium of Abdur Rahman Degree College. The event brought together district and upazila-level officials to exchange views on local development initiatives. Member of Parliament Md. Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu attended as the chief guest and spoke about development in Gafargaon. The meeting was presided over by Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman and conducted by Gafargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer N. M. Abdullah-Al Mamun.

Speakers at the meeting discussed ongoing development projects, local challenges, and future opportunities. They emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to sustain development progress. The discussion also covered improving public service quality, strengthening law and order, and enhancing infrastructure development across the upazila.

The meeting reflected a collaborative approach among government officials and representatives to ensure continued progress in Gafargaon’s development agenda.

Members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association faced severe delays while attempting to file a case at Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka following an assault inside the station premises. The incident occurred on Thursday night, and on Friday evening, at least ten journalists went to the station to lodge a case against twelve identified leaders of the Chhatra Dal. However, they reportedly waited for nearly six hours without being able to locate the officer-in-charge (OC), who was said to be unavailable, and other officers did not disclose his whereabouts.

Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam accepted the complaint but said the case proceedings would begin once the OC arrived. As the night progressed without his appearance, the filing process remained stalled. The journalists expressed frustration, alleging that the police were delaying the case intentionally and possibly awaiting higher approval before proceeding.

The journalists further stated that the delay reflected disregard for press freedom and the rule of law, suggesting that the administration was protecting the attackers. They warned that such behavior undermines justice and raises serious concerns about media safety in Bangladesh.

The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has strongly condemned and expressed deep concern over violent attacks on journalists, members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association, and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) leaders inside and around Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. The condemnation came through a statement signed by HRSS Executive Director Ejazul Islam on Friday. Based on media reports, the organization said at least ten journalists and several students were injured, with some hospitalized for treatment.

In its statement, HRSS said such assaults are not only attacks on individuals but also direct threats to press freedom, the right to information, and freedom of expression. The organization described the attacks on elected student leaders as a serious threat to democratic practice, student politics, and tolerance on campus. HRSS noted that violence inside a police station, despite law enforcement presence, signals a grave concern for public safety and the rule of law.

The group demanded an immediate impartial judicial investigation, identification and prosecution of attackers, proper medical care for the injured, and effective measures to ensure journalists’ safety and prevent political violence.