Water Resources Minister Md. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee stated that resolving waterlogging in Dhaka and across Bangladesh cannot be achieved in a short time. He made the remark on Sunday afternoon after a meeting with the Prime Minister at the Secretariat, emphasizing that the government remains committed to addressing the issue.

The minister explained that the government has undertaken a canal excavation program aimed at reducing waterlogging and ensuring irrigation for agriculture. As part of this initiative, canal excavation programs will be inaugurated in Jashore district on April 27 and in Sylhet on May 2.

These measures are part of ongoing government efforts to improve water management and mitigate flooding problems in both urban and rural areas.

The High Court of Bangladesh will hold a hearing on Monday regarding a petition demanding the closure of all educational institutions until the nationwide measles outbreak is brought under control. The date was set on Sunday, April 19, 2026, by a bench led by Justice Rajik Al Jalil. Barrister Purnima Jahan represented the petition in court.

The petition, filed on April 2, seeks a directive to keep schools closed until the measles situation improves and requests the formation of a high-level investigation committee into the deaths of 47 children reportedly caused by the disease. In addition, a legal notice was sent to the health minister, health secretary, and the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, urging immediate action to ensure measles vaccination for all children within 24 hours.

The notice stated that vaccine shortages have led to infections, hospitalizations, and deaths among children, while authorities have yet to take effective measures. Media reports on child deaths and hundreds of infections were attached to the notice as supporting evidence.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing expelled two leaders following a violent clash between rival groups at Mymensingh Medical College dormitory. The decision, announced in a press release signed by central office secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Saturday night, removed senior joint convener Nure Jawad Rutap from his post and suspended Nafiu Islam’s primary membership. The expulsion was approved by the organization’s president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. A separate one-member inquiry committee led by vice president Hafizur Rahman Sohan was formed to submit a report within 12 hours.

Police and college sources said the clash began Friday night over a minor dispute involving motorcycle fuel. The altercation escalated into physical violence, leaving two third-year students, Mo. Muaz and Mir Hamidur, injured. Police intervened to restore order and detained Nafiu Islam. Muaz was later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Following the incident, the college academic council suspended all classes and exams for seven days and ordered students to vacate dormitories. The college also formed a separate three-member investigation committee to report within a week.

Farmers in Sarishabari municipality of Jamalpur staged a road blockade on April 18, 2026, protesting a severe shortage of petrol and diesel at local filling stations. The unrest erupted after allegations surfaced that Messrs Jhinai Filling Station and Messrs Chan Filling Station were supplying fuel irregularly and favoring certain individuals through a syndicate. Farmers said they had been unable to obtain diesel for three to four days, halting irrigation for maize and paddy cultivation. The protest disrupted traffic on the Sarishabari-Dikpait highway until local authorities intervened to restore order.

Farmers accused the stations of prioritizing commercial vehicles over agricultural ones and claimed that only 130 out of 300–400 farmers received diesel. They alleged that some people were allowed to buy fuel multiple times while others waited in vain. Station owners denied the allegations, asserting that fuel distribution followed government rules. Acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer Liza Richel stated that the complaints would be investigated and that legal action would be taken against anyone found creating an artificial crisis.

The incident highlights growing tension over fuel distribution fairness in rural agricultural areas, with farmers demanding transparent and equitable supply management.

Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon stated that investments and contributions from expatriate Bangladeshis are making the national economy stronger. He described expatriates as the country’s invaluable assets and urged them to continue contributing to future development. The minister made these remarks on Sunday at his office during a courtesy meeting with Councillor Shibli Alam, the Civic Mayor of Tameside Council in Manchester, England.

During the meeting, the minister highlighted that England is the cradle of democracy and noted that Bangladeshis living there have been playing a positive role not only in economic activities but also in the democratic progress of Bangladesh. Councillor Shibli Alam praised Bangladesh’s achievements in women’s empowerment and expressed hope that Bangladeshi women would advance further in economic and social sectors. He also showed interest in working for women’s health protection and rights.

Both sides expressed optimism about further strengthening relations between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.

Rail Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has assured that a new shuttle train and additional coaches will soon be introduced for Chittagong University (CU). The assurance came on Saturday night, April 18, during a meeting at the Chittagong Circuit House with CU unit Chhatra Dal leaders, confirmed by the organization’s general secretary Abdullah Al Noman.

During the meeting, Noman presented the minister with details of the difficulties faced by students using the shuttle train, including overcrowding and safety concerns. He requested a new pair of shuttle trains, more coaches for the existing service, and improved security measures. The minister listened attentively and promised to address the issues soon.

According to Noman, more than half of CU’s 28,000 students depend on the shuttle train for daily commuting. He described the train as an emotional symbol for students that has now become a source of hardship due to limited seating and safety problems.

In Rangpur’s Gangachhara upazila, work has begun on the Teesta irrigation canal renovation and expansion project in Alambiditar Union, leaving more than a hundred families fearing the loss of their homes. The project, costing Tk 1,452 crore, is being implemented based on a survey conducted about 35 years ago, causing widespread concern and anger among residents.

According to the report, the project’s second phase began in 2022, but its original feasibility study dates back decades. Over time, the Teesta irrigation project’s effectiveness has declined sharply, with irrigation coverage falling far short of targets. Residents in Brahmottorpur village said they have received eviction notices as canal expansion work proceeds on both sides of their settlement. Local representatives and activists argue that the project is outdated and risks creating a humanitarian crisis if evictions occur without rehabilitation.

Officials from the Water Development Board maintain that the land was legally acquired in the 1980s–90s and compensation was paid, though local authorities acknowledge complaints that some residents were unaware or uncompensated. The project remains controversial as locals question whether it will truly benefit the region under current water conditions.

Dismissed employees from six banks staged a sit-in in Dhaka’s Motijheel area on Sunday morning, demanding that control of Islami Bank and five other banks be returned to S Alam Group and that they be reinstated in their jobs. The protest took place in front of Islami Bank’s head office in Dilkusha, with participants from Islami Bank Bangladesh, First Security Islami Bank, Union Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, and Social Islami Bank. Their three-point demand included reinstatement, restoration of S Alam’s control, and dissolution of the current boards.

Many of the protesters were residents of Patiya in Chattogram, the home area of S Alam Group chairman Saiful Alam Masud. Sources said the protest followed a new law allowing former owners to return to their banks. Thousands reportedly arrived in Dhaka from Patiya over the previous two days and stayed in hotels before joining the demonstration.

Bank sources stated that only employees with forged certificates or who skipped evaluation tests were dismissed, and that reinstatement was not possible. They added that Bangladesh Bank had restructured the boards after finding evidence of large-scale fund withdrawals linked to S Alam.

A volunteer wing leader of the BNP was hospitalized following an alleged attack by party members in Kazipur upazila of Sirajganj on Saturday night. The incident occurred at Dhekuriya Bazar, where Abdullah Al Mamun, member secretary of the Maijbari Union Volunteer Team, was reportedly assaulted with sharp weapons and sticks. Locals rescued him and took him to the hospital. Preparations are underway to file a case over the incident.

Kazipur Police Station’s investigation officer Abu Sayeed said no formal complaint had been received yet, but action would be taken once a report is filed. Former general secretary of Kazipur BNP, Abdus Salam, described the attack as unfortunate and said the individuals involved had previously maintained good relations. He added that the assault appeared to stem from internal disputes.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions within local BNP and affiliated organizations in the Sirajganj district, with law enforcement awaiting an official complaint to proceed with legal measures.

Two journalists were assaulted on Saturday morning, April 18, in the Kashimpur area of Vedarganj upazila, Shariatpur, while filming alleged illegal fuel sales at Messrs Faria Filling Station. The victims were Zahid Hasan Tipu, correspondent of Daily Inqilab, and Ashiqur Rahman Hridoy, correspondent of Daily Samakal. Tipu filed a written complaint at Sakhipur Police Station the same evening, accusing pump owner Faruk Madbar and his nephew Zaman Madbar of the attack.

According to the victims and local sources, the filling station had long been accused of hoarding fuel in drums and selling it at inflated prices instead of supplying waiting vehicles. When the journalists began recording the scene, the pump owner and his associates allegedly obstructed them and attacked Tipu. Locals rescued the injured journalists and took them to Vedarganj Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

Local journalist leaders condemned the incident, calling it an attack on press freedom and demanding swift legal action. Police confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation was underway.

Several leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), according to a report published on April 19, 2026. Those joining include President Rifat Rashid, Chief Coordinator Hasib Al Islam, Office Secretary Shahadat Hossain, Legal Cell Secretary Mahfuz, and Kushtia University unit convener S M Sweet, along with other unit leaders.

Rifat Rashid is taking charge as the chief organizer of the National Youth Force, while Hasib Al Islam will serve in the Dhaka University branch of the National Student Force. Shahadat Hossain and S M Sweet are joining the NCP central committee. The information was confirmed to the newspaper by several responsible leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

The report also notes that leaders from other organizations, including AB Party, UP Bangladesh, and the July Movement, have recently joined the NCP, indicating a broader trend of political realignment.

Long queues were seen at filling stations across Dhaka on Sunday morning as motorists waited to buy fuel despite a recent price hike. The government adjusted fuel prices effective from midnight on Saturday, setting diesel at 115 taka per liter, kerosene at 130 taka, petrol at 135 taka, and octane at 140 taka. The adjustment followed rising prices in the global market.

Buyers expressed frustration over the increase, saying it has already affected daily life and raised the cost of goods. At stations in Asad Gate, Tejgaon, and Paribagh, fuel was being rationed, and many drivers complained of not receiving their desired amount even after waiting for hours.

The Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association welcomed the government’s decision, saying it would reduce artificial shortages and hoarding tendencies while improving transparency in fuel distribution. The association added that aligning domestic prices with international markets helps stabilize supply and ensures fair business operations.

At least 280 people, including women and children, were aboard a wooden trawler that sank in the Andaman Sea while attempting to reach Malaysia from Bangladesh. Only nine survivors were rescued by a Bangladeshi-flagged ship and later handed over to the Coast Guard. The incident occurred after the vessel departed from the Cox’s Bazar coast on April 4, 2026, and capsized near the Andaman Islands following rough weather. Most passengers were from Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Ukhiya, and Chattogram, with some Rohingya refugees among them.

Local sources said human traffickers lured jobless youths and Rohingya women with false promises of employment and marriage before sending them on the dangerous sea journey. Despite repeated tragedies, the main traffickers remain at large, while six Bangladeshi survivors have been jailed as alleged smugglers. Families of the missing accuse authorities of inaction and claim traffickers continue operating openly. Police and Coast Guard officials confirmed the sinking but could not provide information on the missing passengers.

Local representatives reported that dozens of residents from Teknaf’s coastal villages remain unaccounted for, as families continue searching for their loved ones amid growing frustration over the lack of enforcement against trafficking networks.

The Ministry of Education in Bangladesh has officially abolished the long-standing 'silent expel' rule from public examinations. The decision followed instructions from Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, who directed the immediate removal of the provision. The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education issued a notice on Saturday night confirming that Article 29 of the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination Policy, which contained the silent expel clause, is now void.

Earlier that day, during a virtual meeting on ensuring fair conduct of SSC, HSC, and equivalent exams, the minister ordered the cancellation of the practice. He explained that the rule originated from an outdated 1961 policy and had no basis in the 1980 Public Examination Act. The minister emphasized that no unreasonable regulation should exist in exam procedures and that students should not face measures harming their mental well-being.

The decision marks a significant policy shift aimed at modernizing examination governance and ensuring a more transparent and student-friendly environment in Bangladesh’s public exams.

Farmers in Sunamganj are anxious about bringing in their haor paddy crops as harvesting begins in some areas while others remain waterlogged. Many fields are partially submerged, making it nearly impossible to use harvester machines. Concerns have grown over labor shortages, diesel scarcity, heavy rainfall, and flash floods, with farmers frequently watching the skies in fear of further damage.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, 755 hectares of paddy have been harvested across 12 upazilas, while 3,189 hectares have been affected by waterlogging. Around 200,000 farmers cultivated 223,511 hectares of boro paddy this season, valued at about Tk 5,000 crore. Officials said 900 harvesters and reaper machines are ready for use, though water levels have limited their operation. Farmers have urged authorities to suspend sand and stone extraction for 15 days to ease the labor shortage.

District officials stated that embankments have been built to protect crops and that water will be drained where necessary. They expect full-scale harvesting to begin next week and finish by May 15 if weather conditions remain favorable.