Import, export, and immigration operations at Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh resumed on Saturday morning after a four-day closure caused by elections in West Bengal, India, and a government holiday. Following the reopening, consignments of LC stones were imported from Bhutan and India. By 4:30 p.m., 196 trucks carrying stones, ginger, and sugar had entered the port, with the remaining trucks expected by 6 p.m.

On the export side, 76 trucks carrying soybean meal, cotton rem, jute roll, and Nasir goods departed from Bangladesh. The clearing and forwarding (C&F) association’s general secretary Jahangir Alam said that after the four-day break, the port’s activities restarted smoothly, restoring vibrancy among workers and traders. The port manager, Abul Kalam Azad, confirmed the resumption of operations.

The Banglabandha land port typically handles around 250 trucks daily from India and Bhutan, and the return to normal operations is expected to stabilize cross-border trade flows.

A Cumilla court has ordered former army officer (retired) Hafizur Rahman to be sent to jail after completion of his three-day remand in the widely discussed Sohagi Jahan Tonu murder case. The order was issued on Saturday afternoon by Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdullah Aman following Hafizur’s appearance before the court. According to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), he was interrogated for three days before being presented to the court.

Investigating officer Tarikul Islam said that several important pieces of information were obtained during the remand, which are now being verified. He added that Hafizur’s DNA sample has been collected and sent for testing, and further legal steps will be taken after receiving the report. The court had earlier granted the remand on Wednesday following a request from investigators.

The PBI arrested Hafizur Rahman last Tuesday night in Keraniganj, marking the first arrest in the case in ten years. The 2016 murder case has seen seven investigators from four agencies, with little progress until this recent development.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has strengthened security across the capital following a police headquarters directive warning of possible militant attacks nationwide. However, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has urged the public not to panic. At a press briefing at the DMP Media Center on Mintu Road, CTTC Joint Commissioner Munshi Shahabuddin said law enforcement and cyber intelligence teams are actively working on the issue and are confident about handling any threat.

The police headquarters earlier instructed all units, including range DIGs, metropolitan commissioners, and district police superintendents, to enhance protection at key installations. The directive followed intelligence that a banned extremist group might target national landmarks such as the National Parliament, law enforcement facilities, religious sites, entertainment centers, and areas like Shahbagh. Arrested members of the group were reportedly in contact with two dismissed security personnel. Authorities also warned of potential use of explosives, sharp weapons, or firearms.

The CTTC briefing also revealed that four individuals were arrested for online fraud related to SSC exam question leaks, though the supplied questions did not match the originals.

Bangladesh women’s cricket team lost the three-match ODI series 2–1 to Sri Lanka after suffering a seven-wicket defeat in the final match held in Rajshahi on April 25, 2026. Despite winning the opening match and taking an early series lead, the hosts failed to maintain momentum in the decider. Batting first, Bangladesh posted 213 for 8 in 50 overs, but Sri Lanka comfortably chased the target with 21 balls remaining.

Sri Lanka’s chase began shakily with captain Chamari Athapaththu dismissed for 19, but Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani steadied the innings with a 108-run stand for the second wicket. Dulani scored 56, while Perera fell for 95 after adding another 78 runs with Harshitha Samarawickrama, who remained unbeaten on 44. For Bangladesh, Marufa Akter took two wickets and Sobhana Mostary claimed one.

Earlier, Sobhana Mostary top-scored for Bangladesh with 74 off 80 balls, while captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti made 40 from 90 deliveries. Despite a late cameo from Ritu Moni, Bangladesh could not post a challenging total, allowing Sri Lanka to secure the series win.

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.