Bangladesh has called for a full investigation and justice following the killing of two Bangladeshi PhD students in the United States. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid confirmed the demand on Sunday, adding that the process of repatriating the body of student Jamil Ahmed Limon is underway. Limon and Nahida Sultana Brishti, both doctoral students at the University of South Florida, were reported missing on April 17 after last being seen on campus a day earlier. Limon’s body was later recovered from Tampa’s Howard Frankland Bridge, while Brishti’s body has not yet been found.

Police have arrested 26-year-old Hisham Saleh Abugarbiya, Limon’s roommate, as a suspect, alleging that he killed the two students with a weapon. Abugarbiya, a former student of the same university, has a prior record of assault and burglary charges. Families of the victims in Bangladesh expressed deep grief and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.

University officials and local residents in Bangladesh have also expressed sorrow and called for swift justice. Authorities are working to bring the victims’ remains home for burial.

A Rajshahi University student leader has been accused of threatening the university’s student adviser, Professor Dr. Amirul Islam Konok, through a Facebook comment. The incident surfaced on April 24, 2026, when screenshots of the comment circulated online, sparking criticism across the campus. The accused, Shariful Islam, a vice president of the university’s Chhatra Dal unit and an anthropology student from the 2013–14 session, allegedly wrote, “Teachers should behave like teachers, or they will be slapped.”

Professor Konok stated that he deleted his original post after receiving the comment, explaining that he did not know Shariful personally or his political affiliation. He described the incident as unpleasant and said he was disappointed that a student would use such language. Konok added that he decided not to take legal action, considering the matter trivial.

Shariful Islam later claimed that his comment followed a heated exchange with the professor and acknowledged that his words were inappropriate. He also alleged past mistreatment by the professor and political bias within the university.

Bata Group’s Global CEO Panos Mytaros paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his first visit to Bangladesh. He was accompanied by Bata Bangladesh Managing Director Faria Yasmin. The meeting included constructive discussions on future plans and collaboration between the government and the company.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister praised Bata’s long-standing contribution to Bangladesh’s economy and industrial sector, encouraging the company to expand its export potential. He assured continued government support and close monitoring of the company’s future operations. Mytaros highlighted Bangladesh’s growing economic prospects, the development of the footwear industry, and Bata’s role in it, reaffirming the company’s commitment to local capacity building and industrial growth.

Social initiatives such as the ‘Bata Children’s Program’ were also discussed, emphasizing the company’s responsible and inclusive approach to creating positive social impact. Bata Bangladesh expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his time, cooperation, and encouragement.

Two doctors at the Veramara Upazila Health Complex in Kushtia were issued show-cause notices on Sunday for being absent without explanation. The action followed a surprise inspection conducted on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by Professor Dr. Zahid Raihan, Additional Director General (Administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services. During the visit, he found that two of the three doctors assigned to the outpatient department were absent without valid reason.

The inspection was part of an effort to address mismanagement and resolve recent tensions between hospital authorities and local political figures. Journalists present raised questions about irregularities and corruption, including allegations of unauthorized fees for ECG tests and treatment of poisoning cases, as well as inadequate patient facilities. Dr. Raihan instructed the district civil surgeon and upazila health officer to resolve these issues promptly and warned that repeated violations would lead to permanent action.

Upazila Health Officer Mizanur Rahman confirmed that the two doctors were formally served show-cause letters on Sunday morning but declined to disclose their names.

Monira Sharmin, the nominee of the 11-party alliance for a reserved women's seat in the 13th National Parliament, is set to appeal to the Election Commission after her candidacy was canceled. According to the National Citizen Party’s media cell, she will submit her appeal application at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Election Commission office in Agargaon.

Sources said Monira Sharmin joined Bangladesh Krishi Bank as a general officer in October 2023 and resigned in 2025 after nearly two years of service. Her nomination was suspended because, under the Representation of the People Order, a person must wait three years after leaving government service before becoming eligible for parliament. On April 23, Returning Officer and Joint Secretary of the Election Commission Moin Uddin Khan confirmed that her nomination was canceled for not meeting this requirement.

The appeal will now be reviewed by the Election Commission, which has the authority to uphold or overturn the earlier decision based on the legal provisions cited.

Nurul Amin, Member of Parliament for Chattogram-1 (Mirsharai), alleged that the Awami League had plundered the country for 17 years, leaving widespread damage. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at a rally marking the inauguration of new buildings at Abutorab Government Primary School and Maghadia Anjumernesa Government Primary School, as well as the Abutorab-Hasemnagar-Charsharat road project in Mirsharai.

Amin claimed that during the Awami League’s tenure, little progress was made in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and culverts, while billions of taka were smuggled abroad. He asserted that the BNP’s time in power saw development despite economic challenges. Addressing religious slogans, he said “Naraye Takbir Allahu Akbar” belongs to Muslims, not any political party, and should not be used for violence or wrongdoing.

On fuel prices, Amin stated that domestic prices had been raised less than in the international market, but lower prices compared to India had created smuggling risks, prompting a price adjustment. Several local BNP and allied leaders attended the event.

Bangladesh Labour Party chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran has sent an open letter to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, expressing concern over a reported BNP position to politically eliminate Jamaat-e-Islami. The letter, released to the media on Sunday, followed a newspaper report quoting Mirza Fakhrul as saying that Jamaat should be politically eradicated.

In his letter, Dr. Iran urged Mirza Fakhrul to abandon the politics of elimination in the new Bangladesh that emerged after the July uprising. He recalled that former President Ziaur Rahman had restored the right of all political parties, including the Labour Party, to operate after the BAKSAL era. Dr. Iran also reminded that BNP founder Khaleda Zia had previously formed governments with Jamaat’s support in 1991 and 2001.

The Labour Party chairman cautioned that following a path of political exclusion would mirror the authoritarian tendencies of the Awami League. He called on BNP to uphold democratic unity and work with all anti-fascist forces, including Jamaat, to implement the people’s mandate and avoid division.

Former deputy education minister and ex-MP for Manikganj-4, Golam Sarwar Milon, passed away early Sunday, April 26, 2026, at around 4:45 a.m. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, one son, and numerous well-wishers. His first funeral prayer will be held after Zuhr at Singair High School field in Manikganj, followed by a second prayer after Maghrib at Kabiraj Jame Mosque on Nazimuddin Road in Dhaka.

Milon was the first elected president of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal during 1981–82 and had earlier been involved with the National Student League supported by Bhasani-NAP. In 1986, he joined the Jatiya Party and became a presidium member. He was elected to parliament from Manikganj-4 in the third and fourth national elections and served as deputy minister for education in the cabinet of Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

After the 2007 political change known as One-Eleven, Milon joined the Progressive Democratic Party led by Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi but later returned to the Jatiya Party. Before the 11th national election, he joined AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury’s Bikalpa Dhara and contested from Manikganj-2 with the 'kulā' symbol but was defeated.

The Ministry of Education has dismissed reports circulating on social media and news portals claiming that the 2026 SSC Bangla First Paper (101) exam questions were leaked across all boards. In a statement issued on Sunday morning, the ministry described the allegations as completely false, baseless, and politically motivated. It confirmed that the Bangla First Paper exam was held on April 21 and the Second Paper on April 23 without any untoward incidents.

According to the ministry, the rumor about a question leak surfaced a day after the exams ended, causing unnecessary concern among students and parents. The statement asserted that no officials or employees of the ministry or its subordinate offices were involved in any such activity. The ministry urged the public not to be misled by false reports, to avoid any monetary transactions related to such claims, and to report any similar misinformation directly to the ministry.

The ministry emphasized that the spread of such fabricated news aims to tarnish the government’s image and called for public vigilance against misinformation.

The 82nd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) concluded in Bangkok on Friday, where Bangladesh led the adoption of a landmark resolution on sustainable bio-economy. The resolution, titled “Supporting the Transition Towards a Sustainable Bio-Economy in Asia and the Pacific,” was introduced by Bangladesh and adopted unanimously by member states. According to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, this achievement reinforces Bangladesh’s growing leadership in shaping the regional development agenda.

The resolution aligns with Bangladesh’s national priorities for sustainable, innovation-driven, and inclusive growth. It emphasizes circular economy principles, efficient resource use, and the application of science and technology for economic transformation. It also calls for enhanced regional cooperation to promote knowledge sharing, capacity building, investment, and the development of sustainable bio-economy value chains across the Asia-Pacific region.

The session also adopted the Baku-Bangkok Declaration on strengthening social development for inclusive societies for all ages, reaffirming the region’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable social progress.

Maulana Abdul Qayyum Subhani has been elected as the new central executive Ameer of the Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party. The decision was made unanimously at the party’s Majlis-e-Shura session held on Saturday and was officially announced on Sunday. The meeting was presided over by party Ameer Allama Sarwar Kamal Aziz and conducted by Secretary General Musa bin Izhar, with leaders from various levels of the organization in attendance.

Subhani was born in 1965 in Gobind village of Hanar Char Union, Chandpur district, into a respected religious family. He is the son of noted scholar Maulana Abdus Sobhan. His education began at Jamia Arabia Imdadul Ulum Faridabad in Dhaka and continued at Darul Ulum Hathazari in Chattogram and Darul Ulum Deoband in India, where he completed his Dawra-e-Hadith in 1984–85. He has served in various religious and educational roles, including as a member of the Islamic Foundation’s editorial board.

Currently, Subhani serves as the Khatib of Segunbagicha Mosque in Dhaka and heads the Madrasa-tul-Qur’an wa Sunnah in Khilgaon. He has also held leadership positions in several religious organizations before assuming his new role as executive Ameer.

An opinion piece published on April 26, 2026, in the newspaper 'Amar Desh' warns that the cancellation of a recent referendum has deepened political divisions in Bangladesh. The article criticizes the ruling BNP government for reversing its earlier positions after coming to power, allegedly seeking to entrench authority and avoid reforms. It argues that ignoring the people’s vote and prioritizing party interests over constitutional principles risks reviving authoritarian tendencies and undermining national unity.

The commentary highlights controversies surrounding key government appointments, including the Bangladesh Bank governor, university vice-chancellors, and city administrators. It claims these decisions have raised public concern about favoritism and competence. The writer recalls the 2024 mass uprising that ousted an autocratic regime, saying citizens had hoped for a people-centered government focused on justice, industrialization, and employment.

The article concludes that rejecting the referendum’s outcome sends a dangerous message and could provoke renewed public resistance, potentially more intense than the 2024 movement.

A sharp rise in fuel prices has begun to affect agriculture, transport, and market systems across Bangladesh, particularly in Rajshahi. From farms to wholesale markets, costs are rising and profits shrinking, pushing up consumer prices and creating market instability. Traders report that truck rental rates have surged by several thousand taka per trip, while farmers dependent on diesel-powered irrigation pumps face sharply higher production costs.

At Naohata and Maugachi markets, traders said that increased transport expenses are forcing them to raise prices in urban markets, hurting both sellers and buyers. Transport operators report fuel shortages and long waits at pumps, making it impossible to operate at previous rates. Farmers are reducing irrigation due to higher diesel costs, which could lower crop yields. Small traders and transport workers are also struggling as their operating costs climb.

Analysts warn that if fuel prices and supply issues are not stabilized soon, the combined impact on agriculture, transport, and consumer markets could deepen inflationary pressures and strain the broader economy.

The 82nd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) concluded in Bangkok on Friday, where Bangladesh led the adoption of a landmark resolution on sustainable bio-economy. The resolution, titled “Supporting the Transition Towards a Sustainable Bio-Economy in Asia and the Pacific,” was introduced by Bangladesh and adopted unanimously by member states. According to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, this achievement reinforces Bangladesh’s growing leadership in shaping the regional development agenda.

The resolution aligns with Bangladesh’s national priorities for sustainable, innovation-driven, and inclusive growth. It emphasizes circular economy principles, efficient resource use, and the application of science and technology for economic transformation. It also calls for enhanced regional cooperation to promote knowledge sharing, capacity building, investment, and the development of sustainable bio-economy value chains across the Asia-Pacific region.

The session also adopted the Baku-Bangkok Declaration on strengthening social development for inclusive societies for all ages, reaffirming the region’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable social progress.

The BNP-led government of Bangladesh is facing a dual crisis over its loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Meeting the IMF’s conditions could trigger higher inflation, while failing to do so risks foreign reserve shortages, exchange rate instability, and loss of international confidence. The IMF withheld the sixth tranche of a $5.5 billion loan after Bangladesh failed to meet key reform conditions related to subsidies, banking, and revenue collection.

Economists describe the situation as difficult, noting that the economy remains fragile despite some recovery under the interim government. The IMF’s conditions include eliminating energy subsidies by 2027, reforming the banking sector, and raising the tax-to-GDP ratio. The National Board of Revenue has missed its targets, with a shortfall of about 980 billion taka in the first nine months of the fiscal year. The government recently raised fuel prices by 15–20 taka per liter, citing global oil price increases rather than IMF pressure.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said further discussions with the IMF are planned. Analysts warn that failure to meet IMF conditions could jeopardize future foreign loan access and worsen economic instability.