The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has completed the testimony phase in a war crimes case against Obaidul Quader and six other accused linked to killings during the July uprising. The tribunal scheduled May 17 for the start of closing arguments. The order was issued on Monday, April 27, 2026.

A total of 26 witnesses provided statements in the case. The other accused include Awami League Joint General Secretary A F M Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, and the banned Chhatra League’s President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Wali Asif Enan.

The tribunal’s next session on May 17 will focus on presenting legal arguments before proceeding toward a verdict in the case.

Comilla University in Bangladesh has been without electricity for 18 consecutive hours, severely disrupting academic and administrative activities. The outage began at 6 p.m. on Sunday and continued until at least 1 p.m. on Monday, leaving students unable to study or complete assignments and halting office work. Several departments have postponed scheduled classes, exams, and even semester finals due to the prolonged power failure.

Students reported difficulties charging devices and preparing presentations, while residential halls also faced water shortages. University officials said the outage was caused by trees falling on power poles and damaging equipment in the Shalban area. The Power Development Board (PDB) confirmed repair work was underway and expressed hope to restore supply by evening.

The university’s examination office stated that its digital operations were paralyzed and one department had already postponed a semester final exam. Limited generator backup was available but insufficient to support all activities until full power restoration.

Police in Netrokona’s Purbadhala have arrested three people, including the upazila unit member secretary and a former joint convener of the Chhatra Dal, in connection with an attack and vandalism on a Member of Parliament’s private car. The arrests were made in separate operations by the district detective branch and local police on Sunday night and early Monday.

The detainees are Saju Ahmed, Solaiman Kabir Pappu, and Aiyub Ali. Saju Ahmed is the third accused and serves as the upazila Chhatra Dal member secretary, while Solaiman Kabir Pappu is the tenth accused and a former joint convener. Aiyub Ali, the fortieth accused, is the ward president of the Krishak Dal in Laujana village. Police said the arrested individuals will be produced before court, and operations are continuing to detain others involved.

The case stems from an incident last Friday evening when MP Mashum Mostafa’s car was attacked and vandalized at a filling station in Atkapara area. The MP was briefly confined before being rescued by police and administration. So far, twelve people have been arrested in the case, nine of whom are currently on bail.

A Dhaka court has ordered the imprisonment of Dhaka University professor Sudip Chakraborty in connection with a case alleging his involvement in the suicide of student Munira Mahjabin Mimo. The order was issued on Monday afternoon by Metropolitan Magistrate Ripon Hossain after police presented the arrested teacher before the court. The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Kazi Iqbal Hossain of Badda Police Station, requested that Sudip be kept in custody until the investigation is complete.

Defense lawyer Ful Mohammad sought bail, claiming the accused was innocent and being harassed, but state prosecutors opposed the plea. After the hearing, the court denied bail and sent Sudip to jail. Police reported that Sudip was detained in Uttara Badda on Sunday based on secret information and that preliminary investigation indicated his involvement in the incident.

Earlier, police recovered Mimo’s hanging body from her home in Uttara Badda, along with a note mentioning Sudip and a financial reference. Following this, Mimo’s father filed a case accusing Sudip of abetment to suicide.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman inaugurated the construction of a 500-bed medical college hospital in Jashore on Monday afternoon. The project, located on 75 bighas of land in Harinar Beel, had been approved in 2006 but remained stalled for years. The new initiative marks the formal start of hospital construction under the current government’s renewed efforts.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the project on August 29, 2023, and contractor recruitment began in June 2025. According to the Public Works Department, the project will cost Tk 676 crore and include a ten-storey hospital building, hostels for students and interns, a nursing college, dormitories, residential facilities, a 500-seat auditorium, a mosque, and an electrical substation. Completion is expected by June 2028.

Students said the hospital’s establishment beside the college will improve education quality and provide advanced medical services to about eight million people across Jashore, Jhenaidah, Magura, and Narail districts.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has confirmed that the recruitment process for 14,000 assistant teachers in government primary schools will not be reviewed. He made the statement on Sunday, noting that the recruitment process is still ongoing and that there is an urgent need to fill teacher shortages in primary schools across the country.

Hajjaj explained that a meeting was held last week with the education minister, the secretary of primary and mass education, and the director general of the Directorate of Primary Education, where it was decided to continue the recruitment process as planned. Earlier, Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan had indicated that the recruitment might be reviewed, but the ministry later withdrew that decision.

The recruitment process began in November with two phases of applications, followed by a written exam on January 9 across 61 districts. Although final results were published on February 8, recommended candidates have not yet received appointment letters, prompting protests in Dhaka. The state minister assured the candidates during a meeting at the Secretariat.

A BNP leader was allegedly assaulted in broad daylight by a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader in Sreepur, Gazipur, on Sunday, April 26, 2026. The incident occurred at the Sreepur municipal town’s Chourasta area, where Rajbari Union BNP convening committee member Saidur Rahman was attacked. The assault was reportedly led by Sharif Sheikh, organizational secretary of JCD’s Ward No. 3 unit, along with several associates. A written complaint was filed with Sreepur Model Police Station naming Sharif Sheikh and Salauddin of Lohagachh village.

Saidur Rahman stated that the dispute stemmed from a scuffle during a local game event in Bindubari on April 24, where he was present as a guest. He claimed that the attack was a continuation of that earlier altercation. Upazila BNP convener Abdul Motaleb condemned the assault, saying initial inquiries found no fault on Saidur’s part and that strict organizational and legal action would follow. Police confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation is underway.

The incident has reportedly caused unease in local political circles due to internal party tensions and disciplinary concerns.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has alleged that some political parties are attempting to divert the outcome of the recent referendum for their own interests. Speaking on Monday, April 26, 2026, at the inauguration of the Ulshi canal re-excavation program in Sharsha upazila of Jessore, he urged citizens to remain alert, warning that such attempts could disrupt public programs. He reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling all promises made to the people during his tenure.

During the event, Rahman highlighted the government’s plan to re-excavate about 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country over the next five years, following the legacy of former president Ziaur Rahman. He also praised former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s initiatives for women’s education, noting that she had made education free up to the intermediate level.

Rahman announced that his government would extend free education for girls up to the degree level and introduce stipends for those achieving good results, aiming to promote higher education among women.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said Bangladesh wants to advance its friendship with the United States. He made the remarks after meeting with US Ambassador Brent Christensen at the Secretariat on Monday. The discussion focused on how both countries could cooperate in managing the evolving global media ecosystem.

Swapan explained that both the US Embassy in Dhaka and the Ministry of Information will explore areas for joint work in the media sector. He emphasized that combating misinformation and disinformation has become a major challenge worldwide, particularly on digital platforms, where false information can harm social and civic life.

The minister added that while media freedom remains important, maintaining balanced freedom is now crucial. He noted that misuse of freedom, especially on social media, often causes suffering for ordinary people. The ministry, therefore, faces the dual task of protecting media freedom and shielding citizens from misinformation.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that women will receive LPG cards to ease cooking hardships. He made the statement on April 27, 2026, during the inauguration of the historic Ulashi–Jadunathpur canal re-excavation program in Sharsha, Jessore. He said that once water flows into the Ulashi canal, around 72,000 people will directly benefit from it.

Rahman explained that the canal re-excavation fulfills a promise made by his party, the BNP, to continue the development initiatives started by late President Ziaur Rahman. He added that the government aims to excavate about 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country within the next five years. He also highlighted former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s contributions to women’s education, noting that she made education free up to the intermediate level.

Rahman further announced that the government will extend free education for girls up to the degree level and introduce stipends for those achieving good academic results to encourage higher education among women.

Bangladesh achieved a historic milestone at the ongoing Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, as the national women's kabaddi team officially received the bronze medal. The medal ceremony created an emotional moment when the players, dressed in red and green, stood on the victory podium. India claimed the gold medal in the kabaddi discipline, while Sri Lanka secured silver.

Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation General Secretary S M Nawaz Sohag attended the ceremony and congratulated the players, calling the achievement a major milestone for the sport in the country. The team’s organized and aggressive performance throughout the tournament earned praise from sports analysts, despite losing to a strong Indian side in the semifinals.

Sohag noted that this was Bangladesh’s first kabaddi medal at the Asian Beach Games in 14 years and expressed hope that the success would boost the team’s confidence for future international competitions, including the Asian Games. He described the bronze as the result of long-term preparation and hard work.

Twenty-four government electricity meters were installed across 24 Bihari camps in Syedpur, Nilphamari, but no bills have been paid for the past 11 years. Each month, electricity worth about Tk 5 million is consumed, and by February 2026, the total unpaid amount reached Tk 660 million. Field visits revealed that many residents also use direct connections from power lines without meters, keeping fans running continuously to avoid fire or disconnection risks.

Residents said they pay small amounts monthly but are unsure whether the money reaches the electricity office, as they cannot obtain meters in their own names. The Syedpur Camp Development Committee stated that they do not seek free electricity but want proper rehabilitation and the right to pay bills formally. A human rights activist attributed the problem to poor planning and the camps’ exclusion from formal urban infrastructure, which causes revenue losses and safety hazards.

According to the local NESCO official, the government installed one meter per camp and repeatedly requested the Disaster Management Ministry to clear dues. The ministry agreed to pay bills only up to 2016, citing that residents are now Bangladeshi citizens and responsible for their own payments.

The Election Commission has rejected the appeal of Monira Sharmin, the National Citizens Party (NCP) candidate for a reserved women’s seat, upholding the earlier cancellation of her nomination. The decision came on Monday, April 27, 2026, around 11 a.m., following a lengthy hearing at the commission. Sharmin had filed her appeal the previous day, April 26, after her nomination was initially canceled during scrutiny on April 23.

According to the commission’s earlier decision, Sharmin’s nomination was invalidated because three years had not passed since her resignation from a government job. In her statement to reporters after submitting the appeal, she argued that the law used to cancel her nomination was being interpreted too rigidly and that it undermined the purpose of the reserved women’s seat system. She emphasized that as a junior bank officer with only two years of service, she had held no administrative authority or capacity to influence decisions.

On April 22, the returning officer had declared 12 out of 13 nominations valid from the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, excluding Sharmin’s candidacy.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has shown the arrest of Awami League’s publicity and publication secretary Md. Abdus Sobhan Golap in connection with the killings during the July uprising in Madaripur. He was produced before the tribunal on Monday afternoon, when the court recorded his arrest in the case and set May 4 for the next hearing. Police had earlier detained Golap on August 25, 2024, from a residence in West Nakhalpara.

Abdus Sobhan Golap was elected as a Member of Parliament from Madaripur-3 constituency in December 2018 on the Awami League ticket. In the party’s national council held last December, he was appointed as the central publicity and publication secretary, having previously served as the central office secretary.

The tribunal’s decision marks a new phase in the investigation into the July killings, with further proceedings scheduled for early May.

Former Badarganj municipality mayor Uttam Kumar Saha has been accused of irregularities and forgery for allegedly issuing Bangladeshi birth certificates to two Indian nationals and a death certificate for their mother. The complaint, filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Rangpur, claims that the certificates were issued during Saha’s tenure. Despite multiple complaints since 2023, no effective action has reportedly been taken, leading to public frustration.

According to the complaint, the two brothers, Manoj Kumar Saha and Rajib Kumar Saha, are residents of Barrackpore in West Bengal, India, and hold Indian passports. Their mother, Arati Rani Saha, allegedly died in Kolkata, yet a Bangladeshi death certificate was issued in her name in 2019. Locals allege that the forged documents were used to secure ownership of valuable property in Badarganj with the help of influential figures.

Saha has denied the allegations, claiming the certificates were based on earlier records from 1995, though no such documentation has been found. The ACC has stated that an investigation is ongoing, but the lack of visible progress has caused local disappointment.