Shammi Akter from Goshapara village in Chunarughat, Habiganj, has been nominated for a second term as a Member of Parliament under the BNP’s reserved women’s seat list announced on Monday. Her name appears among 36 candidates selected by the party. Shammi currently serves as a member of the BNP’s media cell, assistant secretary for local government affairs in the central committee, and joint convener of the Habiganj district BNP.

Family sources said Shammi’s political journey began during her student life at Dhaka University, inspired by the ideals of former president Ziaur Rahman and the leadership of Khaleda Zia. Known for her active role in street movements, she earned the nickname “Agnikonna” for her courage. In 2008, at age 33, she first entered Parliament through a reserved seat, gaining attention for her strong and logical speeches.

Local BNP leaders described her new nomination as recognition of her dedication and a matter of pride for Chunarughat and Habiganj residents. Shammi said the nomination is both an honor and a responsibility, pledging lifelong commitment to her party’s ideals.

A local BNP leader and his associates have been accused of publicly assaulting four people, including two women, in Gabua village of Kakrabunia Union under Mirzaganj upazila, Patuakhali. The incident reportedly occurred on Friday afternoon during a dispute over cutting tree branches. The victims—Samir Chandra Halder, his wife Sabita Rani, their daughter Jhilik Rani, and Jhilik’s four-year-old son Piyas—were seriously injured and later admitted to the upazila health complex. A written complaint naming five individuals was filed at Mirzaganj Police Station by Sabita Rani on Monday.

According to police, the accused is Mojibur Rahman, vice president of the upazila BNP and former member of the 9th ward of Kakrabunia Union Parishad. The dispute stemmed from a long-standing land conflict between Samir Chandra Halder and his brother Shankar Halder. Witnesses said Mojibur Rahman allegedly sided with Shankar’s group and attacked Samir’s family with tree branches.

Mojibur Rahman denied the allegations, claiming he was called to mediate the dispute and that both sides were injured in the clash. Police confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation is underway.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Australia. Both sides discussed opportunities to expand collaboration in renewable energy, industrial development, and employment generation.

Minister Muktadir said the government is working to create an investment-friendly environment and is prioritizing foreign investment in renewable energy. He highlighted the government’s goal to activate industrial assets worth around 7 billion dollars and attract private investment to make them more productive. He also invited Australian investors to increase participation in Bangladesh’s solar power sector.

High Commissioner Ryle noted that bilateral trade currently stands at about 5.14 billion US dollars and continues to grow. She said there is significant potential for investment in renewable energy, and an Australian delegation is reviewing opportunities in green energy, innovation, and technology cooperation. Both sides expressed interest in expanding collaboration in trade, education, scholarships, and infrastructure development.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam said the government is working to reopen all closed jute mills across Bangladesh in line with its election pledges. He stated that efforts are underway to restart the mills under both public and private management. The minister made these remarks on April 21, 2026, after inspecting the closed Cooperative Jute Mill in Palash, Narsingdi.

He added that the government aims to gradually reopen all closed factories, including two in Narsingdi, and attract both domestic and foreign investors to create employment opportunities. The minister also mentioned that corruption and mismanagement in the jute sector during previous administrations are being investigated. The visit was attended by BJMC Chairman Brigadier Kabir Uddin Sikder, Chief Operating Officer Mamunur Rashid, and local officials.

During his visit, the minister also inspected Bangladesh Jute Mill and Pran Industrial Park in Ghorashal, Palash upazila, as part of the government’s broader plan to revive the jute industry.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman announced that 2,650,039 children received measles vaccinations across Bangladesh between April 5 and April 20, 2026. He shared the update during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday, noting that the government aims to vaccinate a total of 18 million children under the program.

During the same briefing, Dr. Rahman also reported progress on the government’s canal excavation program, stating that 561 kilometers out of a planned 1,260 kilometers have been completed, marking a 44.55 percent completion rate. He further mentioned that the government is considering organizing a regional New Year celebration next year with neighboring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and parts of India.

Dr. Rahman added that the Prime Minister emphasized more organized cultural events in the future. The government plans to extend Baishakhi festivities throughout the month, aiming to strengthen national identity and cultural diplomacy through regional cooperation.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 111 bottles of Indian Eskaf syrup and a motorcycle during a special operation in the Sabri Khana Bridge area under the Kulaghat Special Camp in Lalmonirhat district. The operation, conducted by the 15 BGB Battalion on Monday night, followed intelligence information about smuggling activities. The seized items have a total estimated value of 224,400 taka, including 44,400 taka for the syrup and 180,000 taka for the motorcycle.

According to the Lalmonirhat Battalion, smugglers fled the scene after being signaled to stop, leaving behind the motorcycle and the contraband. Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam (PSC), commanding officer of the 15 BGB Battalion, stated that the force remains uncompromising in protecting the border, preventing smuggling, and combating human trafficking. He added that surveillance and patrols have been intensified in sensitive border areas.

The BGB confirmed that similar anti-smuggling operations will continue in the future to ensure a smuggling-free Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) has increased service charges by 8.5 percent, effective from one minute past midnight on Sunday, citing a rise in fuel prices. A letter announcing the new rate was sent to stakeholders on Monday morning. Business leaders, including those from the BGMEA and import-export sectors, expressed anger, saying the decision was made unilaterally without approval from the tariff committee or consultation with stakeholders.

BICDA argued that the adjustment was not a fee hike but a necessary fuel surcharge due to increased diesel costs. The association stated that all depot machinery and transport vehicles depend on fuel, and the recent government price increase of about 20 taka per liter has sharply raised operating expenses. The 19 private container depots handle a significant portion of Chattogram Port’s import and export containers, and their charges are normally set through a tariff committee under the port authority.

Business representatives warned that such unilateral action could destabilize the national economy and urged that the surcharge be suspended until proper discussions are held.

Member of Parliament Principal Selim Bhuiyan from Cumilla-2 entered an SSC examination center in Homna upazila and broadcasted a Facebook Live during the ongoing exam on Tuesday morning. The incident took place at a government high school, drawing widespread criticism for breaching examination rules. Despite strict security and restrictions, the MP entered the center and streamed the environment and activities inside, asking students about the exam’s difficulty and their performance.

Parents and students reported feeling disturbed, claiming the live broadcast distracted examinees and wasted valuable time. One guardian said the MP streamed for about ten minutes, which disrupted students’ concentration. Education officials noted that such actions violated ministry guidelines prohibiting unauthorized entry and the use of digital devices inside exam centers.

Local administrators confirmed that only designated teachers and the center secretary are allowed inside, and even they must use analog devices. MP Bhuiyan later said he visited to check on students’ well-being and was unaware that livestreaming was not permitted.

Ten individuals were sentenced to three months of imprisonment without labor for illegally extracting sand during a late-night operation in the Kolabagan area near Daulatdia ferry terminal in Goaland upazila of Rajbari district. The operation, conducted from midnight to early morning on April 21, 2026, was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Muntasir Hasan Khan with support from the Coast Guard, Daulatdia River Police, and other law enforcement agencies. Authorities seized one cutter and two bulkheads used in the illegal activity.

Following their arrest, a mobile court sentenced the offenders under Section 15 of the Sand Quarry and Soil Management Act, 2010, for violating Section 4 of the same law. The seized vessels were placed under the custody of the Daulatdia River Police outpost, and the convicted individuals were sent to jail.

According to the upazila administration, similar operations will continue to prevent illegal sand extraction, and strict legal measures will be taken against violators.

Police recovered the bloodied bodies of three young men from a remote forest in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday morning. The discovery was made around 9 a.m. in the North Shilkhali area of Baharchhara Union. Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam confirmed the incident. The deceased were identified as Aminul Islam Robi, 19, Mujibur Rahman, 38, and Nur Bashar, 20, all residents of the same locality.

According to police and local sources, laborers working on the eastern side of the hill spotted the bodies and alerted nearby residents, who then informed the police. Robi’s father, Ruhul Amin, identified his son’s body at the scene and demanded justice for what he described as a brutal killing.

OC Saiful Islam said police immediately reached the site, recovered the bodies, and began preparing an initial report. The bodies will be sent for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, and legal procedures are underway.

Serious allegations of mental and physical abuse have emerged at Dhaka University’s Dr. Kudrat-e-Khuda Hall, where first-year students of the Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology were reportedly subjected to late-night ‘guestroom’ sessions under the pretext of teaching manners. Victims said they were forced to sit for hours, verbally abused, and intimidated by senior students. The incidents allegedly took place over four consecutive nights, involving members of the 43rd batch and some linked to the student group Chhatra Dal.

According to the victims, the sessions were held mainly in rooms 1003 and 1004, and on one occasion in the hostel dining room. They described the activities as psychological torture and ragging, including offensive remarks about female classmates and forced displays of respect. One accused student denied any knowledge of the events, while another admitted to a “familiarization meeting” but rejected the torture claims.

The hall’s vice president said the matter would be discussed with university authorities, and the hostel warden stated that no formal complaint had yet been received but promised strict action if the allegations were proven.

Farmers in Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj are struggling to harvest ripe Boro paddy due to an acute shortage of laborers. Despite the crops being fully mature, harvesting has been delayed, raising fears of damage from further storms or rainfall. According to the local agriculture office, Boro paddy was cultivated across 45 haors this season, but heavy rains on March 14, 15, and 27 submerged about 410 hectares of land in 16 haors, completely destroying crops in 13 of them. Another storm on April 16 flattened ripe paddy, and rising water levels have made it impossible to use harvesters.

Farmers report that daily wages for harvest workers have surged to Tk 1,000–1,200, while the market price of paddy remains only Tk 27–28 per maund. Many are resorting to traditional sharecropping methods where workers take half the yield. Rising fuel prices have further increased costs for threshing and transporting paddy from the haor areas. Farmers are urging the government to ensure labor supply and fair pricing to prevent large-scale losses this season.

Local residents in Cumilla’s Burichong upazila have accused two brothers, Arif and Sharif, of closing a one-kilometer stretch of the Cumilla–Sylhet Highway by building a wall across it. The complaint, signed by over a hundred residents from Rampal, Paschim Farizpur, and Purba Shah Daulatpur, was submitted to the Burichong Upazila Nirbahi Officer on Tuesday. The road, used for more than 20 years, connects several villages and serves around 1,500 to 2,000 people daily, including students and commuters.

According to the complaint, the brothers, along with Shah Alam, allegedly used force on April 8 to block the road and erect structures on land belonging to the Roads and Highways Department. Locals said they were threatened when they tried to intervene. A previous meeting on April 15, mediated by a representative of a Member of Parliament, failed to resolve the issue, and construction resumed on April 20.

The Upazila Engineer stated that road paving work was ongoing and that he would inspect the site. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer confirmed receiving the complaint and said necessary action would be taken.

Students of Rajshahi Nursing College declared a complete shutdown on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, locking the college gates to demand the appointment of a permanent principal. The protest began around 11:30 a.m., with students stating that the absence of a principal for nearly three months has severely disrupted academic activities.

According to the students, the lack of leadership has caused administrative difficulties and uncertainty, raising fears of a potential session jam. They announced that all academic and administrative operations would remain suspended until their demand for a permanent principal is fulfilled.

The demonstration reflects growing frustration among students over prolonged administrative vacancies that they say are hindering their education and institutional stability.

Riverbank erosion has appeared at two points of the Jamuna River protection area in Kazipur, Sirajganj, during the dry season. Several sections have collapsed into the river, with locals blaming illegal sand extraction for intensifying water currents that struck the western bank. The Water Development Board (WDB) said there is no cause for panic, as sand-filled geo bags are being placed to prevent further damage.

Residents alleged that influential groups have been illegally extracting sand from the Jamuna using dredgers in areas such as Kazipur Eco Park, Palashpur Ghat, Meghai Ghat, and Dhekuriya. The WDB completed riverbank protection work in 2014, but recent collapses have raised fears for Meghai embankment, farmland, and nearby structures. Locals said the erosion has already consumed large portions of their land.

Officials stated that legal sand extraction must occur at least one kilometer away from public and private structures, embankments, and pipelines. The administration has conducted drives and imposed fines against illegal operators, vowing to prevent further unauthorized sand lifting.