Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government has taken extensive and coordinated initiatives to strengthen security at all international airports in Bangladesh. Speaking in Parliament on April 28, 2026, he said overall security has already been ensured, but further improvements are being implemented by the Bangladesh Police through various plans.

The minister detailed that checkpoints have been set up at entry and exit points, police patrols have been increased, and a multi-layered security system has been introduced. Intelligence-based actions are being taken to prevent sabotage, while coordination among police, intelligence agencies, and airport authorities has been enhanced. CCTV cameras and modern technology are being used to prevent theft and ensure comprehensive surveillance.

He added that modern equipment, advanced scanning systems, and technology-driven baggage handling have been introduced. Immigration counters and manpower have been increased, and body-worn cameras are being used. Special training programs are underway to handle terrorism, cyber threats, and emergencies efficiently, while help desks have been set up to assist passengers and prevent harassment.

Faisal Mohammad Selim Chowdhury Babu, a 32-year-old resident of Islampur Union in Eidgaon, Cox’s Bazar, died on Tuesday, April 28, while undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. He had been severely tortured by local Union Parishad member Nur Mohammad and his associates on the night of April 16 after being accused of fish theft. Despite days of medical care, Selim succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of the morning.

Following his death, Selim’s mother, Dildar Begum, suffered a stroke upon hearing the news and is currently hospitalized. Two days before her son’s death, she had filed a case with Eidgaon Police Station naming Nur Mohammad as the main accused along with five others. The Officer-in-Charge stated that the case will now be treated as a murder investigation. Local residents alleged that despite media reports, authorities had not taken effective action earlier.

Selim’s death has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with locals demanding immediate arrest of those responsible. Administrative procedures, including autopsy, were ongoing at the time of reporting.

The Dhaka Bar Association election began on Wednesday morning, marking the start of a two-day voting process to elect representatives for 23 posts, including president and general secretary. Voting will continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, with a total of 21,731 registered lawyers eligible to cast their votes.

Two main panels are contesting the election: the Bangladesh Nationalist Lawyers Unity Panel (Blue Panel), supported by BNP and Gano Adhikar Parishad-backed lawyers, and the Lawyers Unity Council (Green Panel), supported by Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP). In addition, nine independent candidates are competing for various positions. Notably, the Awami League-backed Combined Lawyers Coordination Council is not participating this year following recent political changes.

According to the election commission, voting will continue uninterrupted on April 29 and 30. Ballots for member posts will be invalidated if voters select fewer or more than ten candidates.

During the parliamentary discussion on the motion of thanks over the President’s address, Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Nurul Islam sharply criticized the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He described the cancellation of the July Charter Implementation Order and the referendum verdict as the BNP’s greatest political mistake and a self-destructive decision. According to him, these actions trampled public aspirations and the spirit of mass uprisings, signaling the beginning of a new phase of authoritarianism.

Nurul Islam expressed disappointment that the expected unity for building a new Bangladesh was fading both inside and outside Parliament. He further alleged that a loan defaulter affiliated with the ruling party had been appointed as the governor of Bangladesh Bank, calling it a national disgrace and a warning sign for the country’s fragile economy.

The discussion took place as part of the parliamentary debate on the President’s speech, reflecting ongoing political contention over governance and economic management.

Heavy rainfall began early Wednesday in Dhaka, disrupting daily life across the capital. The downpour, which started before 6:30 a.m., caused traffic slowdowns and waterlogging in several areas. Commuters, students, and day laborers faced difficulties reaching their destinations, with many taking shelter in nearby shops and buildings. Although the rain brought some relief from heat, it also created significant inconvenience for city residents.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, gusty winds and thunderstorms are likely in at least 17 regions, including Dhaka, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Chattogram. Winds from the west or northwest may reach speeds of 45 to 60 kilometers per hour. River ports in these areas have been advised to hoist cautionary signal number one to ensure safe navigation.

The weather office further indicated that conditions may not improve before noon, with thunderstorms and gusty winds expected to persist until at least 1 p.m., particularly in northern, central, and coastal regions.

The government has introduced new regulations governing visitor passes for entry into the Bangladesh Secretariat. According to a recent circular from the Security Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a full minister will now be allowed to issue up to 20 visitor passes, while a joint secretary can issue three. The circular was signed by Md. Tofayel Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the Secretariat Security Branch.

The directive further specifies that a state minister may issue 15 passes, while the cabinet secretary, senior secretaries, and secretaries are each permitted to issue 10 passes. Additional secretaries can issue passes for up to four visitors. The new system aims to standardize and regulate visitor access to the Secretariat premises.

The announcement formalizes the distribution of visitor pass authority among different administrative ranks, indicating a structured approach to managing entry permissions within the Secretariat.

Bangladesh National Party (BJP) lawmaker Andalib Rahman Partha stated in parliament that the Awami League should not be allowed to engage in politics until it faces trial. Speaking on Tuesday during the discussion on the President’s address, he argued that those denying July or labeling it as extremism cannot legitimately participate in Bangladesh’s political process.

Partha accused the Awami League of widespread corruption and theft in the power sector during its rule, alleging that an artificial crisis had been created. He said the party failed to connect with the youth over the past 17 years, which he described as its major weakness. He also claimed that the judiciary had been destroyed, asserting that verdicts, including that of Khaleda Zia, were written from the Prime Minister’s residence.

He further alleged that media owners lived in fear under the previous government and that citizens were afraid to post on social media due to the ICT Act. Partha also criticized the relationship between major business figures and political leaders, suggesting undue personal closeness.

A sudden hour-long downpour on Tuesday morning caused severe waterlogging across Comilla city, flooding roads, school grounds, and classrooms. At the historic Ishwar Pathsala School exam center, located opposite the Comilla Education Board, SSC examinees were forced to sit for their tests in knee-deep dirty water. Many students’ clothes became wet, and they expressed fear that their answer sheets might get soaked. Teachers also had to stand in water while supervising the exam, as no postponement order was issued.

Parents waiting outside the center voiced anger over the recurring problem, saying the school floods every year after minor rainfall due to poor drainage. The head teacher said the situation was caused by natural factors and that necessary measures were being taken in consultation with the center secretary. Comilla City Corporation’s administrator stated that workers were deployed to clear drains and remove debris to restore water flow. The local weather office recorded 102 millimeters of rainfall and warned of more rain ahead.

Despite the flooding, the district education officer confirmed that the examination was completed on schedule without disruption.

Law Minister Md. Anisul Haque has called for making the country’s legal aid program more effective to reduce the existing backlog of cases. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking National Legal Aid Day 2026 at the Supreme Court Auditorium on Tuesday, he said that justice is a fundamental right and that legal aid services must reach every citizen. The event was organized by the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee.

The minister noted that the concept of legal aid in Bangladesh was first introduced in 1994 when then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia established a fund to support poor and helpless people. He said the government is now working to expand and strengthen that initiative. Referring to the judiciary’s budget, he stated that the current allocation of about Tk 2,200 crore is insufficient and that additional funding is needed to make legal aid activities more dynamic. Discussions are ongoing to increase the allocation in the future.

The event was chaired by Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and attended by judges, lawyers, legal aid officials, and representatives of foreign development partners.

A farm laborer was killed by lightning in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail district on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. in Nagarpra village under Uarshi Union. The deceased was identified as Mizan Mia, 50, originally from Rangpur district, who had been working as an agricultural laborer while residing in Torer Bari of the same village. The death was confirmed by Shafiqul Islam Khan, a member of Uarshi Union Parishad.

According to local residents, Mizan Mia was working in a field when a sudden lightning strike hit him, causing his death on the spot. Mirzapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun stated that police were dispatched to the scene after receiving the report. Following legal procedures, the body will be handed over to the family.

Authorities have not reported any further casualties or damage related to the lightning strike in the area.

At the Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Bangladesh National Conference 2026, participants warned that recently passed digital laws in Bangladesh continue to pose risks to freedom of expression and personal privacy. Speakers at a press conference held Tuesday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center said the laws were passed hastily without stakeholder consultation and retained provisions enabling extensive digital surveillance.

Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that the new laws contain inconsistencies and contradict both the spirit of July’s ideals and the ruling party’s election pledges. UNESCO’s Head of Representative in Bangladesh, Susan Vize, urged the government to review the laws to strengthen human rights protections. Additional Secretary Muhammad Anwar Uddin from the ICT Ministry defended the laws as necessary and said improvements are underway.

Representatives from Meta, Telenor Asia, and BTRC discussed implications for data management, telecommunications oversight, and trust in policymaking. The conference also featured a panel on artificial intelligence governance, emphasizing the need for meaningful dialogue in developing AI policies.

Authorities in Barishal fined eight diagnostic centers and hospitals a total of Tk 282,000 for using expired testing kits and operating without required certificates. The operation took place on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Bandar Road area near Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. The drive was led by Apurba Adhikari, Deputy Director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.

According to the agency, the National Security Intelligence (NSI) had been monitoring several diagnostic centers in the city and reported various irregularities to the consumer rights authority. Following this, a joint operation was conducted at multiple facilities. Al-Aqsa Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Health Aid Medical Services, Nova Medical Services, Islamiya Digital Diagnostic Center, Barishal City General Hospital, Gain Diagnostic and Physiotherapy Center, New Babylon Medical Services, and Rongdhonu Diagnostic Center were fined varying amounts.

The fines were imposed for confirmed violations, including the use of expired medical kits and lack of proper certification, as part of efforts to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told Parliament that everyone ‘lovingly blames’ him for various issues, prompting laughter in the chamber. He made the comment on Tuesday during a discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, responding to remarks by Bangladesh National Party (BJP) MP Andaleeve Rahman Partha. The exchange began when Partha referred to statements about freeing people from the Zia family, which Rahman denied making.

Dr. Rahman challenged Partha to clarify when, where, and how he allegedly made such comments, insisting he never speaks recklessly about anyone, including the family of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Partha replied that his reference came from another leader’s statement, not Rahman’s, calling the situation a misunderstanding. The Deputy Speaker, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, intervened to restore order as tensions rose.

Dr. Rahman later emphasized that any parliamentary references or documents must be clear and accurate to avoid confusion. He urged members to present evidence precisely when citing sources during debates.

Police in Pabna have arrested a 41-year-old man named Mojaharul Islam on charges of raping a three-year-old girl in the Radhanagar area of the city. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday evening at a mess in the Radhanagar Degree Bottola area. After the assault, the accused fled but was later apprehended that night from Dashpara in Khanmarich Union under Bhangura upazila. The child’s mother filed a case at Pabna Sadar Police Station on Tuesday, and the station’s officer-in-charge, Tarikul Islam, confirmed the arrest.

According to police and local sources, the victim’s mother worked as a cook at the mess where the incident took place. While she was busy in the kitchen, Mojaharul allegedly lured the child into his room under the pretext of collecting mosquito coils and then assaulted her. The child’s screams drew her mother to the scene, prompting the accused to flee. The injured child was taken to Pabna General Hospital’s One-Stop Crisis Centre for treatment.

Police said Mojaharul confessed to the crime during preliminary questioning. He has been charged and will be sent to jail through the court process.

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has expelled five students for two years for adopting unfair means during examinations. The decision was made on Tuesday at a meeting of the university’s Board of Discipline, which reviewed the allegations and confirmed the violations.

According to the board, the students were found carrying and using unauthorized materials in the exam hall, including handwritten notes, small slips, and papers containing subject-related formulas and information. The expelled students include two from Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) of the 2021–22 session, one from Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) of the same session, one from Civil Engineering of the 2023–24 session, and one from Mechanical Engineering of the 2024–25 session.

Board member-secretary and Director of Student Welfare, Robiul Islam Sarkar, emphasized that maintaining academic integrity is vital and that the university follows a zero-tolerance policy toward unethical behavior. The administration stated that such actions will continue to preserve a fair academic environment and uphold moral standards.