Fourteen people were injured in separate rabid dog attacks in Gournadi upazila of Barishal on Thursday. The incidents occurred between morning and afternoon across several areas, including Torki, Bilbgram, Shaora, Sundari, Barthi, Kotoksthol, Baurgati, and Magura. Additionally, one person was injured by a cat bite in the Gournadi bus stand area. All the injured received treatment at the Gournadi Upazila Health Complex.

According to the emergency department register of the health complex, the victims include several children and adults from different villages. The on-duty physician, Dr. Samiron Haldar, confirmed that all patients received primary treatment and vaccination before returning home. He also noted a recent increase in the number of patients attacked by rabid dogs in the area.

The incidents have raised concern among local residents about the growing number of stray and rabid animals in Gournadi, though no further official measures were reported in the source.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has reported that nearly two-thirds of the candidates for reserved women’s seats in the 2026 Thirteenth National Parliament are both highly educated and millionaires. The findings, based on candidates’ affidavits, show that 65 percent are millionaires and over 63 percent hold postgraduate or higher degrees. TIB released the data in a press statement on Thursday.

According to the analysis, candidates for reserved seats surpass directly elected MPs in educational qualifications, with 63.3 percent holding postgraduate degrees compared to 50.7 percent among general seat MPs. Among the 49 candidates, 32 are millionaires, with 26 from the BNP and 5 from Jamaat-e-Islami. Lawyers make up the largest professional group at 26.5 percent, followed by businesspersons at 22.5 percent. The average age of candidates is 52.17 years, and most are between 45 and 54 years old.

TIB noted that while the participation of educated and professional women is positive, the dominance of wealth and certain professions in reserved seats mirrors trends seen in general constituencies and may have long-term implications.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has signed a contract with US manufacturer Boeing to purchase 14 new aircraft worth about 3.7 billion US dollars, equivalent to roughly 40,000 crore Bangladeshi taka. The signing ceremony took place on Thursday evening at a hotel in Dhaka, where Biman’s Managing Director and CEO Kaiser Sohail Ahmed and Boeing Vice President Paul Righi signed the agreement. The event was attended by the State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, US Ambassador Brent T Christensen, and other officials.

Under the deal, Biman will acquire eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners, and four 737-8 MAX jets. Officials said the purchase aims to modernize the fleet and expand long-haul operations to meet growing passenger demand. The new aircraft will serve routes across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The agreement follows years of competition between Boeing and Airbus, with the interim government ultimately choosing Boeing after the 2024 political transition.

Payments will be made over 10 to 20 years, with annual installments estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 crore taka. The first delivery is expected by November 2031, meaning short-term fleet shortages will persist.

Bangladesh Bank has withdrawn the requirement for maintaining provisions against funds stuck in five merged Shariah-based banks. The decision, announced on Thursday by the central bank’s relevant department, aims to ease financial pressure on the affected banks and institutions that have been unable to recover large sums for an extended period.

The merged banks are First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, Social Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank. These institutions were consolidated into a unified Islamic banking structure due to severe liquidity crises. According to Bangladesh Bank sources, over Tk 15,000 crore from other banks and financial institutions remain stuck with these five banks, including more than Tk 8,000 crore belonging to one Islamic bank.

Officials explained that the funds are covered under a specific scheme, ensuring eventual recovery either through direct repayment, long-term fixed deposits, or share allocations. Industry observers noted that while the decision offers short-term relief, recovering the trapped funds remains a major long-term challenge.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced full exemption from all existing duties and taxes on the import of electric buses used for transporting students of schools, colleges, universities, and similar educational institutions. The decision was formalized through a statutory regulatory order (SRO) issued on Thursday, according to an official press release. The exemption covers customs duty, regulatory duty, value-added tax, supplementary duty, advance tax, and advance income tax.

The NBR stated that both educational institutions and their authorized representatives importing electric buses for student transport will be eligible for the exemption. The buses must be painted yellow and clearly marked with words such as “school,” “college,” “student bus,” or “transport.” The NBR will process import applications within ten working days. The board also mentioned that the government is considering reducing duties on electric buses for general passengers to encourage energy savings and reduce travel costs.

According to the NBR, the exemption will help institutions provide modern, eco-friendly transport for students, reduce traffic congestion, save fuel, and lower parents’ transportation expenses.

Several days of nor'wester storms, hail, and strong winds have caused extensive damage to the renowned Haribhanga mango orchards in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur. The early-season storms led to premature fruit drop and cracking of mangoes due to hail impact, leaving local farmers uncertain about their expected yield and income this year.

A field visit revealed fallen unripe mangoes scattered under trees, broken branches, and widespread fruit damage. Farmers expressed deep frustration as the Haribhanga mango plays a vital role in the local economy. Growers from Kursha and Soyer unions reported losing large portions of their crops, including mango and lychee, and feared further losses in future harvests due to damaged trees.

According to the upazila agriculture office, Haribhanga mango is a key cash crop for Taraganj, supplying markets across the country. Upazila Agriculture Officer Dhiba Rani Roy said the extent of the damage is being assessed, and a list of affected farmers is being prepared to inform higher authorities for possible assistance.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman began his speech in Thursday’s parliamentary session by paying tribute to the martyrs of Shapla Chattar. He expressed respect for those who were martyred in 1971 and also remembered those who lost their lives on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar.

Earlier in the same session, Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman demanded justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. He called for justice for all forms of injustice committed against them and specifically sought accountability for the murder of Osman Hadi.

The session also highlighted broader national themes, including the Prime Minister’s statement that a significant portion of GDP would be allocated to education and health sectors, and that Police Week would begin on May 10 with 107 officers receiving medals.

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.