A Tk 20 crore bridge built over the Ichamati River in Harirampur, Manikganj, has remained unused for two years because no connecting roads were constructed. The bridge, completed in December 2024 by contractor Dhrubo Construction under a Roads and Highways Department (RHD) project, was meant to link the Jhikta Bazar area. However, land acquisition and occupation disputes have stalled the construction of approach roads, forcing locals to continue using an old, damaged bridge at great risk.

Residents report severe difficulties transporting agricultural goods and commuting safely. Local traders near Jhikta Bazar have reportedly obstructed road construction, demanding compensation for their shops. RHD officials confirmed that the process of land acquisition and eviction is ongoing and expressed hope that the issue will soon be resolved so that work can resume.

Until the link roads are built, the new bridge remains inaccessible, prolonging public suffering and traffic congestion in the area.

Severe navigability crisis during summer and destructive erosion in the monsoon are displacing residents of Gangachara’s char areas in Rangpur along the Teesta River. Vast tracts of land have become uninhabitable, leaving thousands in distress. During the dry season, the river turns into a sandy desert, while in the rainy season it causes devastating floods and erosion, destroying homes, schools, roads, and farmland. Many families have lost their homesteads and livelihoods, forcing some to migrate elsewhere.

Villagers from areas such as Anandabazar, Bagdohra, Motukpur, Binbina, Ichli, Shankardah, and Kashiyabari report worsening conditions. Fishermen lose work as the river dries up, and farmers face irrigation shortages. Locals say repeated promises have failed to bring lasting protection. They demand a permanent embankment from Minar Bazar to Mahipur to prevent further destruction.

Gangachara’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jasmin Akter said the administration is closely monitoring the situation. Rangpur-1 MP Raihan Siraji called the Teesta crisis central to the region’s economy and urged swift implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman formally inaugurated Hajj Flight 2026 on the night of April 17, 2026. The ceremony took place in the presence of Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam and State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat. Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister exchanged greetings with the departing pilgrims and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet them before their journey. He sought prayers for the nation’s welfare and for the government’s ongoing initiatives to be successfully completed.

According to the Saudi government’s Hajj management roadmap, the 2026 Hajj flight operations began on the same day. This year, a total of 207 flights operated by Biman Bangladesh, Saudia, and Flynas Airlines will transport approximately 78,500 pilgrims without any chartered flights. Ticket costs have been reduced by 12,000 taka compared to the previous year.

The inaugural flight departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:20 a.m. carrying 419 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. A total of 14 flights operated on the first day, including six by Biman Bangladesh, four by Saudia, and four by Flynas.

A sudden drop in paddy and rice prices across several districts of the Rajshahi region has left farmers and traders in severe distress. Over the past month, paddy prices have fallen by Tk 200–400 per maund, while rice prices have dropped by Tk 2–6 per kilogram. Farmers are struggling to recover production costs, and mill owners and traders are facing losses. The situation has created instability in the agricultural and food sectors, raising fears of a prolonged crisis.

Local traders attribute the price fall to rising transport costs, reduced buyer turnout from other districts, and increased supply ahead of the new harvest. Farmers report selling paddy below production cost, while rice mill owners cite higher imports reducing demand for domestic rice. Agricultural economists point to an imbalance between supply and demand, driven by stockpiling and import pressure.

Experts warn that if the downturn continues, farmers may lose interest in rice cultivation, threatening future food production. The Rajshahi Rice Mill Owners’ Association has urged the government to set a minimum support price and strengthen market monitoring to stabilize prices.

The dredging of the Ichamati River, which flows through the heart of Pabna, has come to a standstill due to a severe fuel shortage. Excavators have remained idle for eight days as contractors failed to obtain sufficient diesel, creating uncertainty about completing the project on schedule. Field visits revealed that machinery and workers are inactive, and local residents have expressed growing frustration over the prolonged delay.

Contractors, including Ahad Builders, stated that the ongoing energy crisis has made it impossible to secure the required fuel. They reported daily financial losses from halted operations, rising labor costs, and equipment rentals. Residents warned that if the work remains stalled before the monsoon, public funds could be wasted and newly dredged sections might refill with silt.

Project Director Sudhanshu Kumar Sarkar described the disruption as temporary, saying efforts are underway through the district administration to restore fuel supply. Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam confirmed that the issue has been reported to the Ministry of Energy and expressed hope for a quick resolution.

The Bangladesh Land Ministry has fallen short of its land development tax collection target, with only 41.77 percent of the combined goal achieved by February 2026. Government institutions have shown the least compliance, contributing just 9 percent of their target, while the general service sector, including private landowners and residential properties, reached 32.77 percent. The ministry now faces the challenge of collecting nearly one thousand crore taka by June 29.

According to ministry sources, a total of 656.97 crore taka is owed by government agencies such as Bangladesh Railway, the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, and the Shipping Ministry. To accelerate revenue collection, the ministry is organizing a five-day “Land Development Tax Fair” from May 10 to 14 across 516 AC Land Offices nationwide. The event aims to encourage tax payment and raise awareness about digital land services, record management, and name registration.

Officials believe the fair could significantly improve tax collection, as a similar three-day event last year generated 3.25 crore taka. The ministry has formed multiple committees led by additional secretaries to ensure the fair’s success.

The Ministry of Railways has renewed its initiative to construct a 500-bed hospital and a 100-seat medical college in Chattogram’s CRB area, a site known for its dense greenery and biodiversity. The project, previously halted for nearly four years amid environmental protests, is now being reconsidered under Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam of the BNP government. The minister is scheduled to visit the proposed site in the Goalpahar area on April 19 to inspect it before granting policy approval.

Researchers and environmentalists have warned that the hospital project could destroy the area’s natural ecosystem. A four-month study led by Chittagong University’s Associate Professor Omar Faruk Russell identified 183 species of medicinal plants in CRB, many used to treat serious diseases such as cancer and heart ailments. The study also found 223 plant species overall, including several endangered and century-old trees.

Local residents and cultural groups regard CRB as the “lungs” of Chattogram—a rare urban refuge combining nature, history, and community life. The renewed construction plan has reignited public debate over balancing development with environmental preservation.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has started forming a shadow cabinet for the 13th National Parliament, according to party sources. The initiative, led by a team of experts, will include party-elected MPs, senior leaders, and specialists assigned to ministry-based roles. Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair said the process may take another one to two months to finalize. He also dismissed a list circulating on social media naming party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman as prime minister of the shadow cabinet, calling it entirely false.

The idea of a shadow cabinet was first mentioned publicly by Supreme Court lawyer and Jamaat MP Mohammad Shishir Monir in February, who urged for creative political engagement through parallel ministerial structures. The National Citizen Party (NCP) later expressed similar intentions to form a shadow cabinet to ensure transparency and accountability. Party insiders said the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, now recognized as the parliamentary opposition with 77 MPs, aims to monitor government activities and propose alternative policies through this structure.

The shadow cabinet concept, common in parliamentary democracies like the UK and Canada, is designed to hold the ruling government accountable and offer policy alternatives.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suspended the next tranche of its loan to Bangladesh, citing insufficient progress in revenue and banking sector reforms. The disbursement, scheduled for June under a $5.5 billion program, has been delayed as key conditions remain unmet. The decision was confirmed by members of Bangladesh’s delegation attending the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, led by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

According to the IMF, Bangladesh failed to advance in areas such as revenue mobilization, banking discipline, subsidy reduction in the energy sector, and implementation of a market-based exchange rate. The organization has proposed initiating discussions on a new loan framework with revised conditions. IMF officials indicated that a review mission will not proceed until significant progress is achieved, making a June disbursement unlikely.

Economists warn that the delay could strain Bangladesh’s foreign reserves and budget support, potentially affecting financing from other development partners who view IMF assessments as key indicators. The IMF’s Asia-Pacific director emphasized that strong political will is needed to implement overdue reforms in fiscal and financial sectors.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, formed after its sweeping victory in the 13th parliamentary election, is preparing to hold local government elections by the end of 2026. Reliable sources indicate that polls for upazila and municipal councils are planned in phases from November to December. The government has decided not to appoint administrators to these bodies and instead proceed with elections to ensure representation through public voting. A recently passed amendment to the Local Government (Municipality) Act 2026 removes party symbols from local elections, allowing party members to contest as independents.

Officials cited extreme heat in June–July, monsoon rains in August–September, and overlapping national examinations as reasons for scheduling the elections in winter. BNP leaders have begun organizational preparations, focusing on candidate selection, local campaigning, and maintaining unity to avoid internal conflicts. The party aims to sustain its national momentum through strong local representation.

The Election Commission has confirmed readiness to conduct the polls once the government finalizes its decision. The first phase will cover upazila and municipal elections, followed by city corporation and union council polls.

Widespread frustration and anger have erupted following the cancellation of Bangladesh’s much-anticipated Human Rights Commission Ordinance. Analysts and stakeholders warned that the government’s decision not to retain key provisions from the interim administration’s ordinance would render the commission ineffective. The ordinance, issued in November 2025, had expanded the commission’s powers and restructured its leadership, including appointing former Justice Moinul Hossain as chairman. However, as the ordinance was not presented to parliament within 30 days of its first session, it automatically lapsed under constitutional provisions.

Officials and victims expressed deep dissatisfaction, alleging that the move aims to shield law enforcement officers implicated in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman defended the decision, citing the need to avoid legal conflicts between the ordinance and existing laws. In contrast, commission members and victims’ families accused the government of undermining accountability for serious human rights violations.

The commission’s chairman, Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, called the government’s move unprecedented and regrettable, warning it would damage Bangladesh’s international image. Several international organizations, including Washington-based Right to Freedom and TIP, also voiced concern over the government’s decision.

Leaders of the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Chaksu) staged a protest early Friday night after four students, including Jahin Sarkar Abir, the university correspondent of Somoy TV, were injured in an attack by locals near the university’s rail crossing around 9:30 p.m. The demonstration took place at the university’s Zero Point around 12:30 a.m., demanding the immediate arrest of those involved and stronger security for students.

Speakers at the protest alleged that students have long faced assaults and violence from local residents, yet the university administration has failed to take effective action. Chaksu leaders criticized the lack of active police presence on campus despite the existence of a police outpost, contrasting it with earlier times when large numbers of police were deployed to control internal political conflicts. They cited previous incidents, including a recent assault on a student during Pahela Baishakh and a large-scale attack last August that injured hundreds.

Protesters reiterated their demand for a safe campus environment, emphasizing that recurring violence has forced students to take to the streets for their own protection.

A woman named Pinky Khatun, aged 32, died in a tragic accident on Friday night, April 17, when her scarf became entangled in the wheel of a moving autorickshaw in the Shyampur area of Dhaka, near the Postogola Bridge. She was returning home to Fatullah, Narayanganj, when the incident occurred. The scarf tightened around her neck, causing severe injury.

Bystanders rescued her and took her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead around 10:30 p.m. Her cousin Zahid said the family rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news but found she had already passed away. Inspector Md. Faruk, in charge of the hospital police outpost, confirmed the incident and said the body was kept in the hospital morgue. The local police station has been informed.

The deceased lived with her family in the Ramarbagh area of Fatullah, Narayanganj. Her husband’s name is Md. Rajib.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government will take new initiatives to further reduce Hajj expenses from next year. He made the statement on Friday night at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while inaugurating the first Hajj flight of the year. Rahman said that despite forming the government on February 18, when most Hajj arrangements were already completed, the administration still managed to lower costs by about 12,000 taka this year.

The Prime Minister expressed optimism that expenses for next year’s pilgrims could be reduced further and that the government is working to improve management to ease pilgrims’ difficulties. He urged the departing pilgrims to pray for the peace and well-being of the nation and wished them a safe return.

The event was attended by Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita, State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, and Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Zafar H. Bin Abiyah. The first Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying 418 pilgrims departed for Saudi Arabia at 12:20 a.m.

At least two students were injured in a clash between two factions of the Chhatra Dal at the Mymensingh Medical College hostel in the city’s Baghmara area on Friday evening, April 16. Police arrested one student, identified as Nafiu Islam of the BDS-14 batch, in connection with the incident. The injured include Mir Hamidur, a supporter of the group led by senior joint convener Nure Jawad Rutap, who was later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition, and Aman Ullah Muaj from the group of convener Tanvir Abdullah.

Witnesses said the altercation began over refueling a motorcycle and escalated into a physical fight. Hamidur was first attacked by Muaj with a steel pipe, leading to a chase and further clashes between the two groups. Several others were also injured during the confrontation. Police have deployed additional forces to maintain order.

College authorities and police confirmed that the situation is now under control, though the atmosphere at the hostel remains tense. Officials said the conflict may have stemmed from personal disputes among the student leaders.