The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh for the 2026 pilgrimage has arrived in Saudi Arabia. Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-3001 landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 4:20 a.m. local time, carrying 419 pilgrims. The flight marks the beginning of this year’s official Hajj operations from Bangladesh.

Upon arrival, the Bangladeshi pilgrims were welcomed by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Md. Delwar Hossain, and Hajj Counselor Md. Kamrul Islam. They were greeted with flowers and provided with refreshment kits. Other officials present included Consul General Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Assistant Seasonal Hajj Officer Md. Ruhul Amin, Jeddah Hajj Terminal Head of Operations Yahya Radi, and Raed Bakshaun, Manager of Saudi firm Nusuk Marhaba.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman inaugurated the 2026 Hajj flight operations the previous night at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, officially launching Bangladesh’s Hajj travel season for the year.

The National Women's Power, an affiliated organization of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has announced the formation of its 53-member central convening committee. The announcement was made on Saturday, April 18, 2026, through an official press release approved by NCP convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossain.

According to the release, Monira Sharmin has been appointed as convener and Mahmuda Alam Mitu as member secretary of the newly formed committee. Among the top positions, Sanzida Bushra Mishma will serve as senior joint convener, and Nusrat Tabassum has been named chief organizer. Other key roles include joint conveners Hafsa Jahan, Nabila Tasnid, Khondoker Khaleda Akter, Ashrefa Khatun, and Muna Hafsa.

The committee also includes senior joint member secretary Manjila Jhuma and several joint member secretaries and organizers, bringing the total number of members to 53. The formation marks a structural expansion of the NCP’s women’s wing, aiming to strengthen its organizational activities nationwide.

The Chatmohar Model Government Primary School in Pabna, originally founded in 1922 as Sreeshchandra and Raghunath Primary School during British rule, remains one of the oldest educational institutions in the region. Established by the Hindu aristocrats of the Barobari family, the school began with tin-roofed classrooms on 15 decimals of land and served as the first formal primary school in Chatmohar. It later expanded to eighth grade and played a key role in spreading education among local children. The school was nationalized in 1973 and renamed to its current title.

Former students recall its contributions to the community, noting that many alumni became doctors, engineers, and government officials. The school also had active participation from students during the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War. Currently, it has 317 students from grades one to five.

Despite its long history, the school faces severe infrastructure shortages. Only six classrooms exist where nine are needed, and the principal lacks a separate office. Local education officials have proposed relocating the adjacent resource center and constructing a new multistoried building to resolve space constraints.

The Dhaka South Metropolitan convening committee of the organization 'Manch 24' has been announced with the aim of upholding the spirit of the 2024 revolution and establishing social justice. The committee was approved by central convener Fahim Faruki and chief adviser Brigadier General Hasinur Rahman. Young organizer Omar Faruk has been appointed as convener, while Merazur Rahman Turjo has been named member secretary.

Other key positions include Raihan Jubair as joint member secretary, Gazi Jihad as senior joint member secretary, Mehedi Hasan Murad as organizational secretary, Tamjid Ahmed as office secretary, and Nusrat Jahan Tisha as publicity secretary. Editorial roles were assigned to Mohammad Bin Akbar (information and research), Ismail Hossain Rifat (publication), Faisal Ahmed Sifat (skill development), and Tafhimur Rahman (political affairs). Several others were included as members.

In a statement, newly appointed convener Omar Faruk pledged to build an equitable society and strengthen the Dhaka South unit to actively defend people's rights. Central leaders expressed hope that the new committee will accelerate organizational activities and earn public trust.

The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has called for an immediate end to the use of abusive language and violent activities in political exchanges. In a statement issued on Saturday, signed by Assistant Publicity Secretary Azadul Islam Azad, the party condemned recent incidents involving offensive remarks by JAGPA spokesperson Rashed Pradhan about BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and the subsequent violent reactions from some BNP supporters.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju described such behavior as regrettable and harmful to political civility. He noted that both ruling and opposition leaders often cross the boundaries of courtesy, leading to verbal and physical conflicts. Monju also criticized the spread of false rumors, offensive cartoons, and AI-generated defamatory content on social media, calling it an unethical and toxic competition that affects even politicians’ families.

Monju further condemned the attack on JAGPA’s Panchagarh district office, labeling it a dangerous sign of intolerance. He demanded exemplary punishment for those involved and urged all political actors to refrain from indecent language and violent retaliation in the future.

The historic Teota Zamindar House in Shibaloy upazila of Manikganj, once a symbol of cultural and architectural grandeur, is now facing severe decay. The mansion, associated with national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and his wife Promila Devi, is deteriorating due to neglect, poor maintenance, and illegal occupation. Locals have urged the government to take immediate steps to preserve the site, which holds deep historical and cultural significance.

Built in the late 18th century by Babu Him Shankar Roy Chowdhury and Kiran Shankar Roy Chowdhury, the estate once served as an administrative and economic hub. The three-story structure, featuring 55 rooms, intricate terracotta and ironwork, and the country’s first Navaratna temple, has lost much of its original splendor. Many valuable parts have been stolen, and parts of the building have collapsed.

District Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana confirmed that the Department of Archaeology has taken over the property but little progress has been made in its restoration. MP S. A. Jinnah Kabir emphasized that government-led renovation could preserve history and boost local tourism and business.

Bangladesh batter Saif Hasan said there was no excuse for the team’s 26-run defeat to New Zealand, acknowledging that the home side failed to adapt to the slow and uneven pitch. Chasing 248, Bangladesh were bowled out for 221 with nine balls remaining. Despite a strong start with the ball, led by Shariful Islam, the hosts could not capitalize on their early advantage.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Saif admitted that the wicket was more challenging and uneven than expected but stressed that excuses would not help. He noted that Bangladesh’s batting collapse came at the wrong times and that better adaptation to the conditions could have changed the outcome. Saif compared the pitch unfavorably to the truer surfaces seen in the Pakistan series.

New Zealand’s Dean Foxcroft said his team succeeded by adjusting quickly to the conditions, describing the wicket as slow but balanced for both spinners and pacers. He credited their victory to understanding and adapting to the pitch behavior effectively.

Traffic congestion in Bogura city has intensified, with long jams persisting from morning until night on major roads. Commuters, students, and businesspeople face hours-long delays even for short distances. The problem has worsened due to unregulated parking, illegal bus stands, and encroachment on roads and footpaths. Key areas such as Satmatha, Zero Point, Sherpur Road, and Malatinagar experience severe gridlock, especially during office and school hours.

Local sources report that buses frequently stop on busy roads to pick up passengers, narrowing the lanes and slowing traffic. Footpaths in major areas are occupied by shops and vendors, forcing pedestrians onto the streets and further reducing vehicle flow. Uncontrolled stands for CNGs and autorickshaws, along with courier trucks operating freely during peak hours, add to the congestion.

Authorities have conducted multiple eviction drives to clear illegal structures, but vendors quickly return. Traffic officials admit that without unified political and social efforts, a lasting solution to Bogura’s traffic crisis remains unlikely.

A mobile court in Bhangura upazila of Pabna sentenced milk trader Faruk Hossain to one year of imprisonment and fined him 100,000 taka for producing fake milk. The verdict was delivered by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman. The operation took place in Singari village between midnight and 3 a.m. on April 18, 2026, during which 200 liters of harmful jelly used in the fake milk production were seized and destroyed.

According to the mobile court, Faruk had been producing adulterated milk for a long time using harmful jelly, soybean oil, and other ingredients under the guise of a dairy business. He supplied the fake milk to several well-known sealing centers across the country. Acting on a tip-off, the mobile court conducted the raid and confirmed the illegal activity before issuing the sentence under the Consumer Rights Protection Act.

The seized harmful materials were destroyed on-site following the court’s order, and authorities emphasized that such offenses would continue to face strict legal action.

The once-celebrated batik industry of Comilla, once as popular as its famous sweets and khadi, is now fighting for survival. Artisans in Kamalpur village of Jagannathpur Union, where the craft began about 50 years ago, face declining demand, capital shortages, and limited government support. Around 25 factories in Kamalpur and nearby villages still produce batik saris, three-piece suits, shirts, lungis, and bed sheets, supplying local shops and exporting to other districts and abroad.

Workers start early each day, dyeing, waxing, and designing fabrics with intricate floral and abstract patterns. Entrepreneurs like Abu Sayed of Comilla New Batik Ghar employ small teams to manage weekly production, while artisans such as Hamid Chowdhury and Mushfiqur Rahman Monna continue the labor-intensive process with dedication. However, the industry remains vulnerable to weather and seasonal fluctuations.

Local entrepreneurs believe that low-interest loans and government incentives could revive the sector, helping Comilla’s batik reclaim its former national and international prominence.

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra was once again unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Friday night. After hearing reports that the strait had reopened, the ship lifted anchor and began its journey, but within hours received a radio message from Iranian forces instructing it to return to the Persian Gulf. The vessel complied and returned to a safe anchorage. BSC sources confirmed the incident late Friday night.

According to BSC officials, the ship entered the Strait of Hormuz at 11:50 p.m. and was expected to complete the crossing by around 3 a.m. However, Iranian authorities ordered it back before midnight. Marine traffic data indicated that hundreds of ships that had set out toward Hormuz around the same time were also forced to return to the Persian Gulf. The Banglar Joyjatra has been operating in the region since February 2, transporting goods between ports.

The vessel had been scheduled to return to Bangladesh since March 11 but was repeatedly denied passage. It is currently carrying about 37,000 tons of fertilizer from Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al Khair port, destined for Cape Town, South Africa.

A report published on April 18, 2026, warns that the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, is facing a severe environmental crisis due to the Rampal coal-fired power plant near the Pashur River. The article describes visible air pollution from the plant’s chimneys and highlights how emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants are contaminating air and water, threatening local ecosystems, aquatic life, and human health. The project, jointly inaugurated in 2022 by Bangladesh’s then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been criticized for its proximity to the ecologically sensitive forest.

The report argues that while many countries are shifting toward renewable energy, Bangladesh’s former government pursued a policy to raise coal-based power generation to 50 percent by 2041. Environmental experts and UNESCO had raised objections, but these were ignored. The article also notes that land acquisition for the project displaced local farmers and that the coastal location increases vulnerability to storms and flooding.

The piece concludes by crediting environmental leaders who facilitated field visits to assess the plant’s impact on the Sundarbans ecosystem.

A press conference marking two months of the BNP government’s tenure will be held today, Saturday, at 3:30 p.m. in the ‘Korobi’ hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The announcement came through a press release from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing on Friday. The event will be attended by the Prime Minister’s Adviser and Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, and other members of the Press Wing.

According to the release, the conference is expected to highlight the government’s activities, progress, and future plans over the past two months, along with remarks on various current issues. Journalists have been instructed to enter through Gate No. 4 of the Prime Minister’s Office to attend the event.

The BNP government, led by Tarique Rahman, assumed office on February 17 after winning more than two-thirds of the seats in the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12. The two-month mark of the government’s tenure was reached on April 16.

Anik Kumar Mondal, a researcher at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), argues that reducing daily office hours by one hour is an ineffective response to the country’s deepening energy crisis. Writing on April 18, 2026, he describes the current measure as symbolic rather than practical, noting that office operations consume significant energy from the moment they open, making a one-hour reduction largely meaningless in real savings.

Mondal contends that the decision has increased administrative inefficiency and public inconvenience without easing the energy burden. He proposes that a full-day office closure each week would yield more tangible results, as it would halt energy use across entire facilities for a full day rather than trimming marginal consumption. He emphasizes that crisis management requires bold, measurable actions rather than partial or symbolic gestures.

The article further highlights Bangladesh’s dependence on imported fuel and warns that half-measures only prolong the crisis. Mondal suggests that with modern digital tools and flexible work arrangements, essential services could continue even if routine administrative offices close one extra day per week.

Bangladesh’s only state-owned oil refinery, Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), is operating at low capacity due to crude oil supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Iran war. The Energy Division said March’s scheduled crude oil shipment from the Middle East was delayed, forcing ERL to run on emergency reserves. Two of its four units remain shut for maintenance. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman Md. Rezanur Rahman confirmed that the last shipment arrived in February and that a new consignment is expected in early May, after which full operations should resume. BPC assured that the country will not face a fuel shortage as additional diesel and octane imports have been arranged.

To address technical limitations and increase capacity, the government approved a Tk 31,000 crore project to modernize and double ERL’s refining capacity from 1.5 million to 4.5 million tons annually. Experts, however, questioned the project’s profitability and transparency, citing cost overruns, fossil fuel dependency, and lack of accountability in project management. Some analysts argued that investing in renewable energy would yield greater long-term benefits.

BPC maintains that the expansion will strengthen national energy security, reduce import costs, and enhance storage capacity, with construction expected to begin in early 2027.