The Rangamati district administration has imposed a complete ban on all types of fishing in Kaptai Lake to ensure proper breeding, growth, and natural expansion of released fish fry. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, who also heads the Kaptai Lake Management and Operations Committee. According to a press release from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the ban will take effect from midnight on April 24 and remain in place until further notice.

During the ban, fishing, transportation, and marketing of fish from the lake will be prohibited. However, fish already caught may be landed at the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) jetty until 4 p.m. on April 25. The release of new fish fry into the lake will begin on May 2. To enforce the restrictions, joint patrols by the naval police and BFDC will be conducted, with temporary checkpoints and mobile courts operating to prevent illegal fishing.

The ministry has also launched a humanitarian program to support 26,845 affected fishing families in Rangamati and Khagrachhari, providing 40 kilograms of rice per family over two months and transport allowances to ensure food security during the ban.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan attended the wedding of Sreemati Preeti Rani Bashfor, a motherless bride from the Harijan community, as an invited guest. The event took place in Gazipur, where the DC’s presence deeply moved members of the marginalized Harijan group, who expressed joy and gratitude at his unexpected attendance.

Preeti Rani Bashfor is the daughter of Ratan Bashfor, a worker of the Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad’s Gazipur metropolitan unit and a long-serving sanitation worker at Gazipur City Corporation. Her late mother, Seema Rani Bashfor, also worked as a cleaner at DUET in Gazipur. The family educated their daughter, who is now a second-year university student. The Harijan community, traditionally engaged in sanitation work, is often referred to as Dalit or marginalized in South Asia.

During the event, DC Bhuiyan emphasized constitutional equality for all citizens regardless of religion, caste, gender, or origin, and called for unity and respect across professions to build Gazipur as a district of equality and harmony.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced Principal Muhammad Shamsuzzaman Helali as its mayoral candidate for the upcoming Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) election. Helali, a former councillor of the Soloshahar ward, was nominated following a meeting of the party’s city-level Shura council held on Monday night. The decision was confirmed by Morshedul Islam Chowdhury, the assistant secretary of the city Jamaat, who said the nomination was based on the opinions of city members and the central committee’s approval.

Helali previously contested the 13th parliamentary election from the Chattogram-10 constituency as a Jamaat candidate but lost to BNP’s Saeed Al Noman by a margin of 46,000 votes. A postgraduate by education, Helali was formerly a teacher and is now engaged in business. Before his nomination, former DUCSU vice president Sadiq Kayem and several other Jamaat leaders had also been considered for the mayoral race.

The party has also finalized candidates for councillor positions in 41 wards, though the list has not yet been made public.

A 17-year-old student named Ashfaq Kabir Sajid was killed on April 12 in Chattogram after being beaten and thrown into a lift shaft from an under-construction eight-story building. Sajid, a first-year student at BAF Shaheen College, had returned from his home in Badarkhali, Cox’s Bazar, earlier that day. Police said he was attacked by a group of youths in the Baklia area and tried to escape into a residential building, but was chased, beaten, and fatally pushed into the shaft.

Sajid had moved to Chattogram eight months earlier to pursue higher studies, living in a small rented room in the DC Road area. Coming from a lower-middle-class family, his parents had supported his education despite financial hardship. His death has left the family devastated.

Police arrested three suspects—Mishkatul Kayes, Enayetullah, and Enamul Haque—two days after the incident. Investigators described them as known local criminals linked to youth gangs, with multiple prior cases. The motive behind the killing remains unclear, according to police.

Five police officers, including the officer-in-charge of Laxmikunda River Outpost, were shot and injured when unidentified assailants attacked a police patrol on the Padma River in Haripur area of Kushtia district. The incident occurred between 1:10 a.m. and 1:50 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, while the team was conducting a routine patrol.

According to reports, the attackers opened fire suddenly, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the two sides. The injured officers were immediately rescued and taken to Pabna General Hospital, and one critically wounded officer was later referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. All five injured officers are currently under treatment.

Pabna Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Moshior Rahman stated that additional forces have been deployed in the area and operations are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved.

A commentary published on April 22, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh argues that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, faces internal and structural challenges that could undermine its stability. The writer, Minar Rashid, warns that the party’s leadership must act quickly to restore public trust and avoid repeating the political turmoil of past crises such as the 1/11 episode. He stresses that the government must demonstrate transparency, uphold human rights, and ensure that enforced disappearances never return.

The article criticizes opportunistic intellectuals and bureaucrats who align themselves with whichever party is in power, claiming they have historically misled governments. It also highlights the persistence of bureaucratic and cultural inertia inherited from colonial and post-independence administrations. The writer urges the BNP to distinguish itself through genuine reform, political tolerance, and accountability, rather than replicating the behavior of previous regimes.

The piece concludes that legal reforms alone cannot prevent abuses of power unless accompanied by political commitment and public awareness, emphasizing that sustainable democracy requires mutual respect between government and opposition.

A white paper released under the interim government has revealed serious irregularities and policy violations in the process of granting private submarine cable licenses during the Awami League administration. The report warns that the state-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) could lose up to Tk 616 crore in revenue and Tk 69 crore in dividends over the next four years. The government has ordered an investigation into the activities and consortium legitimacy of three private firms—Summit, Metacore, and Cdnet—accused of breaching licensing rules and endangering national digital security.

According to the white paper, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued three private licenses in 2022, but the companies formed a single consortium named BPCS instead of building separate cables. This consolidation undermined network reliability and concentrated strategic control, posing national security risks. The report also warns that the move could create artificial market capacity, waste public funds, and cause a steep fall in bandwidth prices, leading to significant financial losses for BSCCPLC.

Sector experts suggest suspending private submarine cable operations for three to five years after the launch of the SMW6 cable and granting BSCCPLC special protection as critical national infrastructure.

Rajshahi University Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi has called for a nationwide ban on Jamaat-Shibir politics, alleging that the group has been operating secretly across Bangladesh. He made the remarks on April 21, 2026, during a protest rally held at the university’s transport yard following a reported clash between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir at Chittagong City College. Rahi urged his party’s activists to organize movements to stop Jamaat-Shibir’s political activities in residential halls, libraries, and tea stalls.

Other Chhatra Dal leaders, including General Secretary Sardar Zahurul Haque, Organizational Secretary Mahmudul Mithu, and Senior Joint Secretary Shafiqul Islam Shafik, echoed similar sentiments during the post-rally gathering. They argued that Jamaat-Shibir had misused power in educational institutions and should be expelled from campuses. The leaders also linked their demand to past political movements, including the 2024 anti-fascist protests and the 1990 mass uprising, asserting that no authoritarian force could sustain itself in Bangladesh.

The rally featured slogans calling for resistance against Jamaat-Shibir and unity among Chhatra Dal members to protect campuses from what they described as secret political activities.

Bangladesh is experiencing an acute shortage of diesel and fertilizer, leaving farmers struggling with high prices and disrupted irrigation during the peak cultivation season. Reports from multiple districts show that diesel scarcity and frequent power outages have severely affected irrigation, while fertilizer prices have surged far above official rates. Farmers are paying up to 2,000 taka for a 50-kg bag of urea that should cost 1,350 taka. Gas shortages have forced 99 percent of fertilizer factories to shut down, limiting domestic production and deepening the crisis.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension claim that national fertilizer reserves are sufficient and that reports of shortages are exaggerated. However, field data from regions such as Jhenaidah and Nilphamari reveal inconsistent supply and price manipulation by dealers. The government has initiated the import of 500,000 metric tons of fertilizer to stabilize supply, with tenders already issued for part of the quantity.

The diesel price hike of 10–15 percent has further increased irrigation and transport costs, raising concerns about reduced crop yields and rising food prices. Economists warn that without swift action, the crisis could threaten food security and rural livelihoods.

The Iranian Embassy in Dhaka has assured continued efforts to facilitate the safe passage of Bangladeshi ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The assurance came in a statement issued by the embassy on Tuesday, which also expressed condolences over the deaths of Bangladeshi nationals resulting from what it described as illegal aggression against Iran by external forces.

The embassy emphasized the long-standing, friendly, and brotherly relations between Iran and Bangladesh, founded on mutual respect and shared values. It reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and praised Bangladesh’s balanced and constructive stance on peace and stability in the Middle East. The embassy also welcomed the recent meeting between Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh in Turkey.

Additionally, the embassy expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s condolence message following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and commended the decision to send emergency medical aid to Iran through the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has instructed all transport owners and workers not to increase bus fares until the government issues an official decision. The directive was announced on Tuesday by the association’s secretary general, Saiful Alam, through a press release. It emphasized that operators must follow the existing fare chart and cannot charge passengers more than the current rates without a government notification.

According to the association, the transport sector is under growing financial pressure due to recent increases in diesel prices by 15 taka per liter and a rise in the dollar exchange rate, which has raised the cost of imported spare parts and overall vehicle maintenance. Transport leaders have urged the government to promptly and rationally revise fares in line with fuel and maintenance costs to maintain sector stability.

The association’s statement reflects ongoing tension between operational costs and regulated fares, highlighting the need for a balanced government response to sustain the transport industry.

An international exhibition on healthcare, medical equipment, surgery, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics titled Meditex Health Tourism 2026 will begin in Dhaka on May 7. Organized by Conference and Exhibition Management Services (SEMS-Global USA), the event will run until May 9 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The announcement was made by SEMS-Global USA and Asia Pacific President and Group Managing Director Meherun N. Islam at a press conference.

According to the organizers, the expo will serve as an integrated platform for buyers and sellers in the healthcare sector, promoting international knowledge and technology exchange. It aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global market and positively impact the country’s healthcare, medical equipment, and health tourism industries. The event will also emphasize access to quality and affordable medical services through reliable doctors and hospitals.

The exhibition will feature the 17th Meditex Bangladesh International Expo, 10th Bangladesh Clinical Lab Expo, 12th Pharma Bangladesh International Expo, and 9th International Health Tourism and Services Expo. Over 90 companies from more than 15 countries will participate, with international seminars planned alongside the exhibitions.

An eight-year-old madrasa student named Faizul Karim Musha was allegedly subjected to severe physical abuse by his teacher, Md. Sowaib Hossain, at Al Karim Hifzul Quran Nurani Madrasa in Durgapur village of Bakerganj upazila, Barishal. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Monday, and the accused teacher went into hiding immediately afterward.

The victim’s mother, Mukta Begum, said she found her son with blood clots on various parts of his body when she visited the madrasa the next morning. She took him to the upazila health complex for treatment and filed a written complaint with Bakerganj police against the teacher and the madrasa’s director, Md. Anwar Hossain. The accused teacher could not be reached for comment, and he disconnected a call upon learning it was from a journalist.

Madrasa director Anwar Hossain expressed regret over the incident but denied allegations of regular abuse at the institution. The Bakerganj upazila education officer stated that corporal punishment is not permitted and that action would be taken following an investigation if a written complaint is received.

Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh has called for strict measures to stop violence in educational institutions following a recent clash between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir at Chittagong City College. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday evening, the organization’s central president Muntasir Ahmad and secretary general Sultan Mahmud said that educational institutions, meant for knowledge and learning, are increasingly turning into arenas of violence and power struggles, posing a threat to the nation’s future.

The leaders noted that student politics should serve the welfare of students, but violent activities by certain groups are alienating ordinary students from political engagement. They urged authorities to arrest those responsible for the violence and ensure exemplary punishment. The statement also called on the administration and law enforcement agencies to take effective steps to restore a peaceful environment in educational institutions.

The appeal reflects growing concern over recurring campus violence and its impact on the academic atmosphere across the country.

A businessman named Zahidul Islam, aged 50, was allegedly beaten to death in Debidwar municipality of Cumilla on Tuesday night over a dispute involving unpaid dues. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. near the Viral Bus Station area. Zahidul, originally from Dhamghar village in Muradnagar upazila, had been living in the Mohona residential area of Debidwar and was engaged in land trading.

According to the victim’s family, a group of young men, including individuals named Mobarak and Shahin from Bolibari village, called Zahidul out of his home under the pretext of settling a land-related payment. He was later taken to the Viral Bus Station area, where he was severely beaten. Locals rescued him and took him to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman stated that the body would be sent to Cumilla Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.