Seven suspected drug dealers were arrested in Tongi, Gazipur, after attacking police officers during an anti-drug operation on Wednesday night. The Gazipur Metropolitan Police team conducted the raid at Himarydighi Amtali Keranirtek slum, where the suspects surrounded the officers and attempted to assault them. Several officers, including constables Ariful Islam, Rakibul Islam, Jahanara Islam, and SI (unarmed) Nure Alam, were injured in the attack. Police later detained Shahin Ahmed Rizvi, Sohel, Raihan, Rowshan Ara, Sumi Akter, Nurjahan, and Beauty Akter, while alleged top drug dealer Runa Akter escaped.

According to Gazipur Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Md. Belayet Hossain, a case has been filed with Tongi East Police Station over the incident. Officer-in-Charge Md. Mehedi Hasan stated that the arrested individuals are being processed for transfer to the Gazipur District and Sessions Judge Court.

The arrested Shahin Ahmed Rizvi is identified as a candidate for the Tongi East Thana Jubo Dal president post and a contestant for the Gazipur City Corporation’s Ward 46 councilor position.

The 39th National Snooker Championship began today in Dhaka, organized by the Bangladesh Billiard and Snooker Federation with support from Dhaka Boat Club. The tournament was inaugurated at the Dhaka Boat Club, where organizers shared details at a press conference attended by club and federation officials. A total of 183 players from 32 clubs across the country are competing, with attractive prizes for winners. The champion will receive 100,000 taka, the runner-up 50,000 taka, and semifinalists 20,000 taka each. Players achieving a break of 50 or more will also receive a special prize of 20,000 taka.

The event is sponsored by Amber Group, with co-sponsorship from Eminence Sourcing and Rashid Group. RC Cola and MUM are beverage partners, and Impact PR is the media partner. Dhaka Boat Club President Rubel Aziz said regular tournaments like this can help popularize cue sports in Bangladesh, though high import VAT on snooker tables remains a challenge. Federation President Brigadier General (Retd.) Sarker Md. Shamsuddin emphasized preparing talented players for international competition. The tournament will conclude with the final on May 14.

Organizers noted that the large participation reflects the growing popularity of snooker in Bangladesh and provides a platform for emerging talent.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday expressed his determination to fulfill the expectations of the people through united efforts. Speaking during a parliamentary session, he pledged to work with full strength to meet national aspirations. At the beginning of his address, he paid tribute to those who were killed in the anti-fascist movement and also remembered the martyrs of the Shapla Chattar incident.

Rahman honored the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in 1971 and on May 5, 2013. Reflecting on the challenges of leadership, he remarked that while the prime minister’s chair may appear comfortable, it feels like sitting on burning fire due to the responsibilities it carries. During the same session, he again remembered the Shapla martyrs.

Earlier in the session, opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman demanded justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, calling for accountability for all injustices committed against them.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told Parliament on Thursday that the prime minister’s chair may appear comfortable, but sitting on it feels like enduring burning fire. He made the remark during a parliamentary session while reflecting on the responsibilities and challenges of leadership.

At the beginning of his speech, the prime minister paid tribute to the martyrs of 1971 and those who died on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar. Earlier in the session, opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman demanded justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, calling for accountability for all injustices committed against them.

The session also highlighted the government’s commitment to allocate a large portion of GDP to education and health sectors, as well as upcoming national events such as Police Week starting on May 10, during which 107 officers will receive medals.

The Bangladesh Parliament has passed the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Amendment) Act, aimed at enhancing oversight of the capital market, protecting investors’ interests, and promoting the development of the securities sector. The bill, recommended by a special committee, was approved on Thursday at 11:25 a.m.

Opposition leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman had called for the bill’s postponement, but the motion was rejected through a voice vote. Alongside this, two additional amendment bills were passed to remove the age limit for appointments to top positions at the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA).

The legislative changes are expected to provide greater flexibility in leadership appointments and reinforce regulatory capacity in Bangladesh’s financial and insurance markets.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has accepted a proposal from the Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman to provide additional allowances to parliament officials and employees. The announcement came during a parliamentary session on Thursday, where the prime minister expressed full support for the opposition leader’s demand.

During his speech, Prime Minister Rahman reflected on the challenges of leadership, noting that the prime minister’s chair may appear comfortable but feels like sitting on fire. He began his address by paying tribute to the martyrs of 1971 and those who died on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar. Earlier in the session, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman had called for justice in the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi and demanded accountability for all injustices committed against them.

The parliamentary exchange highlighted a rare moment of agreement between the government and opposition benches, focusing on welfare measures for parliamentary staff and remembrance of national sacrifices.

A bridge over the GK irrigation canal in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila collapsed in June 2025 due to heavy rainfall, halting all vehicle movement. For the past nine months, around 50,000 residents from 37 villages have been forced to cross the canal using a bamboo walkway built by locals. The bridge, constructed about 45 years ago, had been unstable for several years, and locals allege that heavy trucks from nearby brick kilns contributed to its collapse.

The damaged bridge lies on the Bhabanipur–Defolbari section of the Bishoykhali–Jisingar Bathan GC via Defolbari road, a key route connecting Kumrabaria and Maharajpur unions. The bamboo structure now used for crossing has also become shaky, leaving school students and farmers particularly affected. Auto-rickshaws, vans, and motorcycles remain unable to pass, severely disrupting transport between Jhenaidah, Kaliganj, Kotchandpur, and Chuadanga.

Local LGED executive engineer Abul Kalam Azad said two separate project proposals for rebuilding the collapsed bridge have been submitted for approval, and construction will begin once approval is granted.

Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman called for firm action against extortion during a discussion in the National Parliament on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Speaking on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, he stated that he does not want to hear who the extortionists are, and if he himself is one, he should be handcuffed. The session was presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that extortionists cannot belong to any political party and that the people of the country must be freed from their oppression. He also noted that about 80 percent of the parliamentary discussions since the 12th have been focused on historical topics, which he said is important for understanding the nation’s path forward.

His remarks highlighted a call for accountability and transparency in political and social conduct, urging collective responsibility to eliminate extortion from all sectors.

The Dhaka Bar Association election for the 2026–27 term concluded peacefully and in a festive atmosphere on Thursday. Voting began at 9 a.m. and continued until 5 p.m. Over two days, a total of 7,069 votes were cast out of 20,727 registered voters, marking a 34 percent turnout. The Chief Election Commissioner, Alhaj Mohammad Borhan Uddin, confirmed that vote counting will take place on Friday.

The election schedule was announced on March 29, and 54 candidates contested for 23 posts, including 13 editorial and 10 executive positions. The main competition was between the BNP-backed Blue Panel, led by Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan and Md. Abul Kalam Khan, and the Jamaat-backed Green Panel, led by S.M. Kamal Uddin and Abu Bakar Siddique. Six independent candidates also contested for various posts. No Awami League candidates participated due to a state restriction.

According to the election commission, adverse weather and voter hesitation contributed to the lower turnout, though the overall process remained peaceful and orderly.

Opposition Deputy Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Nayebe Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has alleged that the current ruling party is speaking against Jamaat in the same tone once used by the Awami League. Speaking in parliament on Thursday, he said that the government benches now sound like the Awami League, while the opposition side seems to represent Jamaat-BNP members. He expressed concern that the parliamentary atmosphere has become heated and divisive.

Dr. Taher recalled the joint movements of BNP, Jamaat, and other parties against the Awami League in the past, emphasizing that they had once agreed to work together for good governance after the fall of the Awami League. However, he said the post-election scenario has disappointed many, as the expected unity and reform have not materialized. He also warned that a two-thirds majority has historically led to negative outcomes in the subcontinent and urged the government to avoid repeating such mistakes.

He further defended Jamaat’s political stance, rejected allegations linking the party to anti-liberation forces, and called for mutual respect and constructive politics in parliament.

Law enforcement officials in Banshkhali, Chattogram, seized 100,000 yaba tablets valued at approximately Tk 30 million during an operation on Wednesday evening. The raid was conducted by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) near Banshkhali Girls College, where officers set up a checkpoint and searched a CNG-run auto-rickshaw used for drug transport. Three suspected drug traffickers were detained, and the vehicle was confiscated.

According to RAB-7 Assistant Director and Assistant Superintendent of Police A.R.M. Mozzafar Hossain, the operation was based on secret intelligence. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the detainees had allegedly been involved in collecting drugs from border areas and distributing them across different parts of the country. Legal proceedings against the suspects are currently underway.

The arrested individuals were identified as Salim Ullah from Sonapara in Cox’s Bazar, Hasan Murad from Kutubjum in Maheshkhali, and Majid Alam alias Morjan from the same area.

In a parliamentary session held on Thursday, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Leader of the Opposition and Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, called for justice over the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi. Speaking before lawmakers, he demanded accountability for all forms of injustice and specifically urged that those responsible for Hadi’s death be brought to trial.

The statement came during a regular sitting of the national parliament, where Dr. Rahman reiterated his party’s stance on addressing past injustices. His remarks centered on the need for fair trials and justice for victims of political violence, including the case of Hadi, whom he referred to as a martyr.

Further details about the case or government response were not provided in the session, and the report indicated that more information would follow.

At a meeting of the 11-party alliance liaison committee held on Wednesday, April 30, 2026, at the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan declared that their movement to implement the referendum verdict would continue both through their representatives’ voices in parliament and through public mobilization on the streets.

The meeting was attended by senior leaders from several allied parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, AB Party, LDP, and Bangladesh Development Party. Following the meeting, the 11-party alliance announced a series of nationwide programs, including divisional rallies in Rajshahi on May 16, Chattogram on June 13, Khulna on June 20, Mymensingh on June 27, Rangpur on July 11, Barishal on July 18, and Sylhet on July 25.

The alliance also plans to hold a grand rally in Dhaka in October as part of its ongoing campaign to press for the implementation of the referendum verdict.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued the official gazette for 49 reserved women members of the 13th National Parliament of Bangladesh. The gazette was published on Thursday evening and signed by Additional Secretary K M Ali Newaz, who is performing the routine duties of the EC Secretary. The commission will soon send the gazette to the Parliament Secretariat, after which the newly elected women MPs will take their oath administered by the Speaker of the National Parliament.

According to the final list, 36 of the 49 reserved seats have been filled by candidates nominated by the BNP-led alliance. Twelve members were nominated by the Jamaat-NCP and the 11-party alliance, while one candidate was elected as an independent. The EC’s announcement completes the formal process of filling the reserved seats for women in the 13th Parliament.

The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place soon, marking the full formation of the new Parliament’s representation under the reserved quota for women.

More than 78,000 teaching positions remain vacant in government primary schools across Bangladesh, causing severe disruption to education and administration. The vacancies include over 34,000 head teacher posts and 24,000 assistant teacher posts, with additional newly created positions still unfilled. Recruitment has stalled due to prolonged procedures, court cases, and administrative complications, leaving many schools—especially in rural areas—without adequate staff.

Although the results for 14,384 teacher appointments were finalized during the previous interim government, the process has been on hold for two and a half months. Only 1,122 posts have been advertised for direct recruitment through the Public Service Commission, attracting nearly 700,000 applicants, but no exam date has been set. Promotion of qualified assistant teachers to head teacher roles has also been blocked by a court injunction.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has announced plans to recruit about 60,000 teachers soon and to resolve the legal issues surrounding 32,500 head teacher posts. Officials say the government is prioritizing the removal of these obstacles to restore stability in the primary education system.