Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Abdullah Jafar bin Abiyah, paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at the ministry office in Dhaka on Monday. During the meeting, both sides discussed law and order, security issues, the issuance of Bangladeshi passports to 69,000 Rohingya living in Saudi Arabia, and ways to expand Saudi investment in Bangladesh’s tourism and energy sectors.

The home minister welcomed the ambassador and described Saudi Arabia as one of Bangladesh’s closest partners. He highlighted opportunities for cooperation beyond manpower export, urging officials to explore new areas of collaboration. The ambassador emphasized expediting the passport process for Rohingya residents, to which the minister responded that 22,000 passports had already been issued based on proper documentation. He warned that any corruption or irregularities in passport issuance would not be tolerated.

The ambassador invited the minister to visit Saudi Arabia with a high-level delegation to strengthen bilateral ties. The minister thanked him and indicated that a visit could take place in early July.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the long-awaited Bogura City Corporation at 11:10 a.m. on April 20, 2026. During the ceremony, he called on residents to take responsibility for keeping their city clean. The event marked the fulfillment of a major local demand, with large numbers of people gathering along the streets to greet him.

Before the inauguration, Rahman traveled by road from Dhaka at 6:10 a.m. and arrived in Bogura at 10:06 a.m. He unveiled the plaque of the newly constructed Bogura Bar Association building at 11:00 a.m. and addressed a meeting at the district court, emphasizing respect for the rule of law and stating that justice is a constitutional right, not an act of mercy. He then walked to the Bogura municipality, greeting citizens and party supporters along the way.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that his government would resume development works in Bogura, including roads and drainage projects, similar to those undertaken between 2001 and 2006.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that the people of Bangladesh want a strong law to replace the existing disappearance ordinance by closing its loopholes and deficiencies. He made the remarks on Monday at a discussion and prayer meeting held at the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, marking the disappearance of former BNP organizing secretary Ilias Ali and his driver.

Rizvi stated that the country is moving from a difficult period toward better times, but true progress will come only when the rule of law is ensured and justice is accessible to all citizens. He acknowledged the government’s initiative to repeal the disappearance ordinance but criticized it for leaving many gaps. He urged the government to pass an effective law in parliament to prevent any future administration from using enforced disappearances as a political tool.

He further emphasized that missing political activists must be traced and those responsible brought to justice, while also calling for measures to stop market manipulation and abuse of power by any group.

Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury of Cumilla-6 attended a class with seventh-grade students at Didar Model High School in Cumilla Sadar on Monday morning. He joined the session to better understand classroom challenges and encourage students to take greater interest in their studies. During the class, assistant teacher Shamima Nasrin was teaching Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poem 'Kuli Majur'. The MP listened to the lesson, interacted with students, and assured them of addressing their concerns.

Following requests from students, Monirul Haque Chowdhury pledged to construct a new building for the school. Teacher Shamima Nasrin expressed her delight at having an elected representative in her classroom, saying it motivated both her and the students. She noted that the students confidently explained the poem’s meaning before the MP.

Chowdhury emphasized that to increase children’s interest in education, schools must nurture joy in learning and be run by qualified, dedicated teachers. He also discussed the poem’s meaning with the students to deepen their engagement with the lesson.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for 2026 are set to begin across Bangladesh on Tuesday, April 21. A total of 1,857,344 students will take part in the exams, which start with the Bangla First Paper. Written tests will continue until May 20, held daily from 10 a.m., followed by practical exams from June 7 to June 14. Examinations will take place at 3,885 centers nationwide.

According to official data, more than 1.4 million students are registered under nine general education boards, over 300,000 under the Madrasa board, and more than 134,000 under the Technical Education Board. Among the total candidates, 930,305 are male and 927,039 are female, marking a decrease of about 71,626 from the previous year.

Each subject will include multiple-choice and creative sections, except for Information and Communication Technology. Students must arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam, carry their admit cards, and are prohibited from bringing mobile phones. Passing separately in multiple-choice, creative, and practical parts is mandatory.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for this year will begin on Tuesday and continue until May 20. Education boards and exam centers have completed all necessary preparations. A total of 1,857,344 students are set to take part across the country, including 1,418,398 under nine general education boards, 304,286 under the Madrasa Education Board, and 134,660 under the Technical Education Board.

Compared to last year, the total number of SSC and equivalent examinees has decreased by 70,837, continuing a downward trend seen in previous years. However, the number of Dakhil examinees under the Madrasa Board has increased from 286,572 last year to 304,286 this year. The Madrasa Board will conduct exams across 742 centers from 9,125 institutions. Among the general boards, Dhaka has the highest number of candidates at 366,650, while Barishal has the lowest at 81,831.

This year’s exams will be held at 3,885 centers nationwide, involving 30,666 institutions. Authorities have finalized all arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the examinations.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has published its list of 36 candidates for the reserved women’s seats in the national parliament. The announcement was made on Monday afternoon by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General and Adviser to the Prime Minister. The list includes prominent BNP leaders such as Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, Rasheda Begum Hira, Rehana Akter Ranu, and several others.

According to the announcement, the full list comprises 36 names, representing women from different parts of the country and various levels of the party’s leadership. The publication of the list marks a key step in BNP’s internal nomination process for the reserved seats, which are allocated to ensure women’s representation in parliament.

The release of the list signals BNP’s readiness to participate in the parliamentary process concerning the reserved women’s seats, though further procedural steps were not detailed in the announcement.

Significant mismanagement has been reported on the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry route, one of Bangladesh’s most vital river crossings. As of April 20, only two of the seven ferry terminals at the Daulatdia end remain operational, while the No. 7 terminal has been closed for over a week due to pontoon repairs. New pontoons purchased for the route are lying unused and rusting, while old pontoons are being patched up to keep services running. The slow pace of repair work has raised uncertainty about when the closed terminal will reopen.

Local residents have expressed concern that the unused pontoons, worth millions of taka, are deteriorating due to neglect. Earlier, a bus accident at the No. 3 terminal on March 25 caused temporary closure and severe traffic congestion, but users say no visible improvements have followed. With only two terminals functioning, vehicles including trucks and buses are facing long waits, increasing both costs and travel time.

Officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation said repair work began on April 12 and promised that the closed terminal would reopen soon. Observers warn that without faster project implementation and better management, the route’s operational crisis could worsen.

Bangladesh has started drilling its first deep exploration well at the Titas gas field in Brahmanbaria’s Budhal area. The drilling was inaugurated by Petrobangla’s Director (Finance) Mizanur Rahman on Sunday. Officials expect the well to add about 15 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid upon completion. The Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL) currently supplies around 325 million cubic feet of gas daily from 22 existing wells at Titas, with production declining due to reduced pressure and reserves.

To address the decline, BGFCL launched a 3D seismic survey and initiated two deep exploration wells at Titas and Bakhrabad fields, with a total cost of Tk 594 crore. The new Titas-31 well will reach a depth of 5,600 meters and take about seven months to complete, with Chinese contractor CCDC handling the drilling. According to project officials, seismic data suggest reserves of 1–1.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.

If successful, the project could lead to seven additional wells and mark a milestone for Bangladesh’s energy sector, contributing to national energy security amid global supply uncertainties.

After a long wait, the 150-year-old Bogura Municipality is being upgraded to a city corporation today, Monday, April 20, 2026. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally inaugurate the new Bogura City Corporation during his visit to the district. All preparations have been completed for the event, which will make Bogura the country’s 13th city corporation and recognize it as a metropolitan area, according to municipal officials.

Bogura’s municipal history dates back to 1869, when the Bogura Town Committee was formed under British rule. Over time, the municipality expanded in size and population, reaching 69.56 square kilometers with 21 wards and about 700,000 residents. Despite fulfilling all criteria for city corporation status, Bogura remained a municipality for decades, which locals attributed to political neglect. The interim government approved the upgrade following recommendations from local authorities and the Ministry of Local Government.

Local BNP leaders said the city’s transformation fulfills a long-cherished dream of residents and expressed hope that Bogura will now develop as a model city corporation under the new administration.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the nationwide measles vaccination campaign on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Little Angel Seminary in Zinda Park, Rupganj, Narayanganj. The program aims to vaccinate about 18 million children across 18 districts, 30 upazilas, and 4 city corporations.

According to the schedule, the first phase of the campaign began on April 5 and will continue until April 25, while the second phase, which started on April 12, will run until May 12. The newly launched nationwide special campaign will continue in city corporation areas until May 20 and in other parts of the country until May 12.

Earlier, on April 5, the measles-rubella vaccination program started in 30 upazilas of 18 districts, followed by a second phase on April 12 in four major city corporations—Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Barishal, and Mymensingh.

A severe fuel shortage has disrupted lighter vessel operations at Chattogram Port, leaving foreign mother vessels stranded at the outer anchorage. Normally, about 1,200 lighter vessels transport goods from these large ships to various destinations across Bangladesh, but the number has dropped by half due to the diesel crisis. Only a few vessels are operating short routes, while most remain idle, severely slowing cargo unloading and creating artificial shortages of essential goods. Importers are also paying daily demurrage charges of thousands of dollars for delayed unloading.

Port officials said that 100 mother vessels were in port waters last Saturday, nearly double the usual number, with 27 waiting for unloading. The shortage of lighter vessels has particularly affected coal shipments for power plants, leaving three coal-laden mother vessels idle. Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited reported that its 1,320 MW plant in Patuakhali needs 935,000 liters of diesel monthly to maintain operations and has urged authorities to ensure supply.

Industry representatives warned that without immediate crisis management and fuel allocation, the situation could damage Bangladesh’s trade reputation and further strain the national economy.

Supporters of controversial businessman S Alam staged a large demonstration in front of Islami Bank’s head office in Motijheel, Dhaka, on Sunday morning, demanding that the bank’s ownership be returned to the fugitive businessman and that dismissed employees be reinstated. Participants, many from Patiya in Chattogram, included former staff of Islami Bank and five other Shariah-based banks once under S Alam’s control. Police were deployed to maintain order, and nearby roads were closed during the protest.

The demonstration followed a recent parliamentary amendment allowing former owners to regain control of banks previously taken over under an interim government ordinance. After S Alam’s followers left, depositors under the Islami Bank Customer Coordination Council held a counter rally at the same site, opposing any move to reinstate S Alam. They demanded his arrest and the recovery of allegedly embezzled funds, warning of resistance if he attempted to return.

Bank officials stated that reinstatement of dismissed employees depends on court rulings and Bangladesh Bank audits. They described the protest as an attempt to create unrest, noting that many participants were brought from outside Dhaka.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has decided to increase the supply of fuel across the country starting Monday, April 20, following a recent rise in fuel prices. According to a BPC notice issued on Sunday night, diesel and petrol supplies will rise by 10 percent, while octane supply will increase by 20 percent based on current monthly sales. BPC Director (Marketing) Md. Sabet Ali confirmed the decision, citing the current situation as the reason for the adjustment.

BPC data show that from April 1 to 18, a total of 307,188 tons of fuel were sold, including 208,822 tons of diesel, 2,379 tons of kerosene, 22,555 tons of petrol, 20,412 tons of octane, 30,965 tons of furnace oil, and 30,055 tons of jet fuel. On April 18 alone, 12,131 tons of diesel and smaller quantities of other fuels were sold. During the same period last year, total sales stood at 270,496 tons.

The supply increase follows the government’s April 18 decision to raise all fuel prices, with diesel now at 115 taka per liter and octane at 140 taka, after months of maintaining subsidies to control market volatility.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir left Dhaka for China on Sunday night at 10:10 p.m. on a China Air flight. His visit comes at the invitation of the Chinese government, according to BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan. Before his departure from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh met Fakhrul for a courtesy call and saw him off. Fakhrul is accompanied by his assistant private secretary Yunus Ali.

Earlier, on April 15, another BNP delegation traveled to China at the invitation of the Chinese government. That delegation was led by Ismail Jabiuallah, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council and the Prime Minister’s Adviser, along with several other senior BNP leaders. The visits reflect ongoing exchanges between the BNP and Chinese officials.

The source does not specify the duration or agenda of Fakhrul’s visit, leaving the purpose and expected outcomes of the trip unclear.