In Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar, sudden storms and continuous rain have caused waste from nearby Rohingya camps to wash into local farmlands, submerging Boro paddy fields during the harvest season. Local farmers in the Machkariya Beel area reported that around five hectares of paddy have been damaged by the floodwater mixed with plastic, polythene, and bottles. They said the incident has left them in severe financial distress.

Farmers Nurul Haque and Abdus Salam stated that this problem recurs every year during the storm season, yet no permanent solution has been implemented. They alleged that the agricultural office has not visited the affected sites and demanded compensation for their losses. Locals blamed both natural disasters and poor waste management in the Rohingya camps for the recurring damage to farmland.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Kamnashish Sarkar said his office has no record of such damage and claimed that water does not usually stagnate in the affected area, leaving the reported losses unverified.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has issued a directive requiring all air-conditioned buses to ensure visible emergency exits and to equip them with tools for breaking window glass in case of accidents. Non-air-conditioned buses have been instructed to remove stainless steel rods installed parallel to windows, which often obstruct passengers from escaping during emergencies. The authority warned that legal action will be taken against operators who fail to comply with these safety measures.

According to the public notice released on Thursday, the inability of passengers to exit quickly during accidents has been identified as a major cause of fatalities. The new instructions aim to provide safer and faster evacuation routes for passengers when accidents occur on roads, highways, ferry terminals, or rail crossings. The BRTA emphasized that these measures are intended to reduce casualties by eliminating physical barriers inside buses.

The directive follows the appointment of Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, as the new BRTA chairman on Wednesday night.

A Dhaka court has sentenced five individuals to death for the murder of rickshaw driver Mukul, also known as Chocolate, during an autorickshaw hijacking in Keraniganj six years ago. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, April 30, 2026, by Judge ABM Ashfaq-ul Haque of the Dhaka First Additional District and Sessions Judge Court. Each convict was also fined 10,000 taka. Two of the convicts, Shahin Hawlader and Ferdous alias Barek alias Vhatija, were present in court and sent to prison after the verdict, while three others remain fugitives and have been issued arrest warrants.

According to the case, the convicts, led by Sohel alias Juel, were part of a gang that posed as passengers, abducted rickshaw drivers, and stole their vehicles. Mukul was killed with a knife between June 27 and 28, 2020, and his autorickshaw was later sold or hidden. The case was filed by the victim’s brother, Abu Hanif. The Police Bureau of Investigation submitted the charge sheet in May 2022, and the court heard testimony from 15 of 26 witnesses.

Several other accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence, as the charges against them were not proven beyond doubt.

A newly built bridge and connecting road in Haripur area of Kachua upazila, Chandpur, have partially collapsed before their official inauguration. The project, costing over Tk 20 million under the ‘Program for Supporting Rural Bridges’ funded by the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank, included a 12-meter RCC girder bridge and approach roads. The construction was carried out by contractor firm Messrs Harun & Sons.

On-site inspection revealed that soil under the guard walls had shifted, and large cracks and holes appeared on the connecting road. Locals alleged that substandard materials were used from the beginning of construction and that repeated complaints to the upazila engineer brought no action. They claimed poor-quality stones and bricks were used in the approach and that improper slope alignment caused structural weakness.

Kachua Upazila Engineer Abdul Alim Liton said parts of the structure were damaged by rain and that the issue was being investigated. He added that the contractor’s final payment would depend on quality verification.

After a two-month government ban to protect juvenile hilsa, coastal fishermen in Charfassion upazila of Bhola are preparing to resume fishing. The restriction, which covered the Meghna and Tentulia river sanctuaries during March and April, ended at midnight on Thursday. Around fifty thousand fishermen are expected to return to the rivers, with fishing villages now bustling as nets are repaired and boats readied.

Many fishermen reported difficulties obtaining ice and diesel, while some said they struggled to survive during the ban due to delays in receiving government rice allocations. Rising fuel prices have also increased the cost of preparing for the new fishing season. Senior Fisheries Officer Jayanta Kumar Apu stated that regular monitoring was conducted across about 190 kilometers of river areas during the restriction.

He added that the conservation effort is expected to boost hilsa production, and the government has expanded food assistance programs providing 160 kilograms of rice per family over four months. With the ban lifted, fishing families are hopeful for a better catch and improved livelihoods.

Ten Bangladeshi hockey players have departed for Europe to participate in professional leagues, with several joining Germany’s Bundesliga. Among them, young striker Amirul Islam, who scored 15 goals in the last Junior Hockey World Cup, has earned a call-up to play in Germany as recognition for his standout performance. This marks his first experience in a foreign league.

Alongside Amirul, national team players Din Islam Imon, Roman Sarkar, Rakibul Hasan, Mahbub Hossain Joy, Imran Pintu, and Ashraful Islam are also set to compete in the German league. Amirul expressed hope that the upcoming season will help him learn new techniques, while forward Din Islam described the opportunity to play in Europe as a major step for Bangladeshi players. The athletes believe that competing in Germany, known for its high standard of hockey, will sharpen their skills and enhance their international experience.

The move is seen as a milestone for Bangladesh hockey, reflecting growing recognition of the country’s emerging talent on the European stage.

A case has been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act against around 100 leaders and activists of the Awami League in Jessore for allegedly holding a nighttime procession under the banner of the banned organization Jubo League. The case was lodged by Sub-Inspector Ashraf Uddin of Kotwali Police Station on Thursday. It names 40 individuals, including a former state minister and five former members of parliament.

According to the case statement, on the evening of April 28, leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations gathered on Aziz City Road near the Muktijoddha Complex in Jessore and chanted anti-government slogans while holding candles and lanterns. Police claimed that the first 13 accused were financiers and godfathers of the banned group, while the remaining 27 were members involved in alleged subversive activities.

Police conducted raids in various parts of the city on the night of April 29 and arrested nine individuals, who were later sent to jail through the court on Thursday.

The Ministry of Public Administration of Bangladesh issued a notification on Wednesday night announcing new appointments in several key government agencies. Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). He had previously been under transfer order to the National Housing Authority. Mosammat Ferdousi Begum, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the National Housing Authority.

In the same announcement, Md. Shawgatul Alam, Director General of the Novo Theatre, was appointed as the Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). Additionally, Abu Nasar Mohammad Abdullah, Additional Secretary of the Local Government Division, was transferred to serve as the Director General of the National Museum of Science and Technology.

The appointments reflect administrative reshuffles across multiple ministries and agencies, as formalized through the latest government notification.

The Ministry of Local Government has formed a 19-member committee to keep all canals and drainage systems in Chattogram city operational throughout the year and to strengthen coordination of development and service activities. Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has been appointed as the convener of the committee. The official order, signed by Deputy Secretary Ashfikun Nahar of the City Corporation-2 branch, was handed over to the mayor by State Minister Mir Shahe Alam at the CCC office on Thursday.

The committee includes representatives from the army’s 34 Engineer Brigade, Chattogram WASA, the district administration, Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Chattogram Port Authority, Power Development Board, and other relevant agencies. The CCC’s Chief Executive Officer will serve as the member secretary. According to the order, the committee will ensure year-round maintenance of canals and drainage channels, coordinate major development and service projects, and make recommendations to the government on public interest issues.

The formation follows recent heavy rainfall that caused waterlogging in several parts of the city, prompting the state minister’s visit to assess the situation.

Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, was hospitalized on Thursday morning in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area for gallbladder stone removal surgery at Insaf-Barakah Hospital. The operation was performed by Professor Dr. Matiar Rahman, with anesthesiologists Professor Dr. Idris and Dr. Rafiqul Islam, and Associate Professor Dr. Monir Hossain overseeing overall management. Following the surgery at 10 a.m., Rahman regained consciousness and was reported to be in stable condition by noon.

His wife Firoza Mahmud, who is also the managing director of Amar Desh, along with senior editorial staff and family members, were present at the hospital during the procedure. Doctors indicated that Rahman was admitted in the morning and, if recovery continues smoothly, he may be discharged on Friday. His family and colleagues have requested prayers for his quick recovery.

Later in the afternoon, a prayer gathering was held at the Amar Desh office after the Asr prayer, led by Sheikh Maulana Ali Hasan Tayeb, with participation from editorial and departmental heads wishing for Rahman’s full recovery.

Authorities in Debidwar upazila of Cumilla demolished two illegally operated brick kilns named MBS Bricks and Five Star Bricks during a joint drive on Thursday afternoon in the Chandannagar area of Jafarganj Union. The district and upazila administrations led the operation after receiving complaints from locals and monitoring reports indicating the kilns lacked environmental clearance and required permits.

Under the Brick Manufacturing and Kiln Establishment (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2019, MBS Bricks was fined Tk 75,000, and its chimney, kiln, and about 10,000 raw bricks were destroyed. Five Star Bricks was also fined Tk 75,000, and its chimney was demolished. Both kilns were ordered to cease operations immediately.

The drive was led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Faisal Uddin and District Executive Magistrate Sultan Hasan Mahmud, with a team from the Department of Environment present. Officials stated that similar actions would continue to protect public interest and prevent environmental damage.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a reception in Kishoreganj on April 30, 2026, to honor newly certified lawyers. The event was held at a hall room of an upscale restaurant in the city and arranged by the Kishoreganj Lawyers Thana Branch of the organization. Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand, the party’s central publicity and media secretary and secretary general of the Bangladesh Lawyers Council, attended as the chief guest.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Barrister A.S.M. Shahriar Kabir, district Jamaat Amir Professor Md. Ramzan Ali, cardiologist Professor Colonel (Retd.) Dr. Jehad Khan, and several other local and national leaders were present as special guests. In his speech, Akand emphasized strengthening the legal profession through moral integrity and justice, while Kabir advised young lawyers to pursue continuous study and professional ethics. Around fifty new lawyers participated in the event.

The program was presided over by Advocate Md. Musleh Uddin Suman, president of the Kishoreganj Lawyers Thana Branch, and conducted by its secretary, Advocate Hafiz Uddin.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has announced that fuel prices will remain unchanged for May 2026. A government notification issued on Thursday confirmed that the existing retail prices of diesel, kerosene, octane, and petrol will continue. The decision, approved by the competent authority, will take effect from May 1.

According to the notification, diesel will sell at 115 taka per liter, kerosene at 130 taka, octane at 140 taka, and petrol at 135 taka throughout May. The ministry stated that the decision follows the country’s existing policy of adjusting fuel prices monthly in line with international market trends.

The last price adjustment occurred on April 18, when the government raised fuel prices, including a 15 percent increase in diesel. The unchanged rates for May indicate a pause in further adjustments after the recent hike.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman extended greetings and respect to the working people of Bangladesh on the occasion of International Workers’ Day and May Day. In a message delivered on Thursday afternoon, he emphasized ensuring workers’ rights, dignity, and welfare. The Prime Minister noted that the day is being observed across Bangladesh with the theme “Healthy workers, diligent hands, a new dawn will come,” reflecting the spirit of the occasion.

He paid tribute to the workers who sacrificed their lives in the 1886 Haymarket movement in the United States for an eight-hour workday and honored all who have struggled for labor rights worldwide. Rahman described working people as the driving force behind national development, highlighting their contributions to industry, agriculture, infrastructure, and the economy. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving living standards, ensuring fair wages, and creating safe workplaces.

The Prime Minister recalled the contributions of late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to labor welfare, mentioning reforms in labor laws, wage commissions, and welfare initiatives. He also announced initiatives such as the “Expatriate Card” for migrant workers and reiterated the government’s pledge to maintain timely wage payments and gender equality in pay.

Islami Bank has been downgraded from the 'A' to the 'Z' category after failing to declare dividends for two consecutive financial years. The decision followed a board meeting on April 29, 2026, where the bank reviewed its audited financial report for the year ending December 31, 2025, and announced a 'no dividend' policy. The downgrade was made in accordance with Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) regulations.

Following the downgrade, brokerage houses and merchant banks have been requested not to provide margin loan facilities for purchasing Islami Bank shares, as per the BSEC Margin Loan Regulations 2025. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) published these details on its website on Thursday. The bank’s share price fell by more than 4 percent, dropping from Tk 34.70 to Tk 33.30.

According to the 2025 audited report, Islami Bank’s consolidated earnings per share stood at Tk 0.85, and its net asset value per share was Tk 44.52, slightly higher than the previous year’s figures.