Seventeen officers holding the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) have been transferred under a government order issued on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The officers, who were previously serving as Superintendents of Police in various units after being promoted to supernumerary Additional DIG positions, were reassigned through a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs signed by Deputy Secretary Tawsif Ahmed. The order was issued by the President’s directive.

According to the notification, the transfers include Mohammad Anwar Hossain from the Industrial Police to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Kamrul Hasan Mahmud within the Special Branch (SB), Tofayel Ahmed within Rangpur Metropolitan Police, and several others reassigned within their respective units or to the Police Headquarters. The reshuffle affects officers from units such as the CID, SB, CMP, RMP, and DMP.

The order stated that the transfers were made in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

Professor Dr. Abdus Salam of the Department of Chemistry has been appointed as the new Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka. The appointment was made on April 13, 2026, with the approval of the President and Chancellor under Article 13(1) of the Dhaka University Order, 1973. He formally assumed office on April 15, 2026, during a virtual ceremony attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha, deans, provosts, directors, and faculty members.

Vice-Chancellor Obaidul Islam welcomed the new Pro-Vice Chancellor and emphasized the importance of academic excellence, transparency, and accountability. He praised Professor Salam’s academic experience and expressed confidence that the university’s education system would advance under his leadership. Professor Bidisha described the appointment as timely and said it would bring new momentum to education and research.

In his remarks, Professor Abdus Salam expressed gratitude and pledged to uphold the university’s reputation through dedication and integrity. He requested colleagues to refrain from offering flowers or gifts and sought everyone’s cooperation in fulfilling his responsibilities.

The Government of Bangladesh has cancelled the names of 6,476 individuals found to be falsely listed as freedom fighters. Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan disclosed the information in parliament on April 15, 2026, during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The cancellations were made following investigations by the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA), which identified non-freedom fighters included in the gazette, red Muktibarta, and Indian lists.

The minister stated that identifying false claimants is an ongoing process. Complaints are investigated, and necessary actions are taken against those proven to have submitted fake information. Since August 2024, 842 complaints have been received, and 481 names have been recommended for final cancellation after verification. The process applies uniformly across all regions, including Rangpur-4.

Khan added that JAMUKA subcommittees conduct hearings and investigations before recommending cancellation of certificates and benefits. The ministry aims to make the lists more transparent through continued scrutiny based on specific complaints.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that effective measures have been taken to start the operations of the international payment gateway PayPal in Bangladesh. He made the statement on Wednesday, April 15, during the question-and-answer session in the National Parliament. The Prime Minister said that a committee has already been formed to ensure the effective operation of high-tech parks and ICT centers and to facilitate the launch of PayPal’s services in the country.

According to the source, PayPal had previously expressed interest in operating in Bangladesh, most recently during the tenure of the interim government. In December of the previous year, then Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur stated that PayPal would begin operations in Bangladesh. He explained that the initiative aims to make transactions easier for freelancers, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and the IT sector. During that period, PayPal’s South Asia team, based in Singapore, also held meetings with Bangladeshi freelancers and the ICT Division.

The announcement signals renewed government efforts to expand digital payment infrastructure and support the country’s growing freelance and technology sectors.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that the government will build modern multipurpose examination centers in every upazila across Bangladesh. He made the statement on Wednesday in Sylhet during a meeting with exam center secretaries. The minister said that public examinations often disrupt regular classes, and separate exam centers would help save students’ valuable academic time. He noted that the current exam system causes students to lose nearly two years of their educational life, hindering the country’s demographic dividend.

Discussing broader education reforms, the minister said the government aims to allocate 5 percent of GDP to the education sector, focusing on both infrastructure and quality improvement. He mentioned the installation of CCTV cameras in classrooms and urged lawmakers to monitor local educational institutions. He also said that English-medium schools must operate under government policy, with a regulatory board being developed for accountability.

The minister added that efforts are underway to resolve head teacher recruitment issues in primary schools, with plans to hire about 60,000 teachers soon. Retired teachers will also be engaged part-time through a new pool system.

The Bangladesh government has enforced a 58-day ban on all types of fishing in the country’s maritime boundary of the Bay of Bengal, starting Wednesday, April 15, and continuing until midnight on June 11. The measure aims to conserve marine fish resources and ensure sustainable harvesting. The Department of Fisheries and local administrations, including those in Bhola district, have taken extensive preparations to implement the restriction.

According to the Bhola District Fisheries Office, about 63,954 registered sea-going fishermen across seven upazilas will be affected, with the highest number in Charfassion. To mitigate hardship, each registered fisherman will receive 77 kilograms of VGF rice as government assistance. Fishermen have already begun returning to shore with their nets and trawlers in compliance with the ban.

Local fishermen have urged authorities to strengthen patrols and operations during the ban to prevent foreign fishermen from entering Bangladesh’s waters. Officials stated that awareness campaigns and food aid distribution have been arranged to support compliance and enforcement.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and former Islami Chhatra Shibir secretary general Mohammad Shishir Monir announced that the Jamaat-e-Islami-supported 'Green Panel' will not participate in the upcoming Dhaka Bar Association election, calling it a rigged process. He made the statement at a press conference held on April 15, 2026, at the Dhaka Bar premises, where he alleged that the election commission had been unfairly formed to favor one panel.

Monir claimed that out of 11 commission members, 10 were selected from a single panel, violating the association’s tradition of equal representation. He demanded a transparent, digital vote-counting process and equal participation in commission formation. He warned that if the current setup continued, the Green Panel would boycott the election, insisting on a fair and inclusive process.

The Dhaka Bar Association election is scheduled for April 29–30, 2026, with around 30,000 lawyers eligible to vote for 23 executive committee positions. The current ad hoc committee, formed by BNP- and Jamaat-aligned lawyers after the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, is overseeing the association’s activities.

Top leaders of the eleven-party alliance have called a meeting to determine the next phase of their ongoing movement. The meeting will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka. Following the meeting, a press briefing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the same venue. The information was confirmed by Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the alliance and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Before this announcement, the alliance carried out a week-long series of programs from April 9 to April 15 across the country. These included leaflet distribution, public outreach, demonstrations in all metropolitan and district areas, and a national seminar in Dhaka. The programs were organized to press for the implementation of a referendum verdict.

The upcoming meeting is expected to finalize new programs following the completion of the previous week-long campaign, marking the next step in the alliance’s political activities.

Bangladesh Bank has resumed purchasing US dollars from the market after a one-and-a-half-month pause. On Wednesday, the central bank bought USD 700 million from a commercial bank at a rate of 122.75 taka per dollar. The last such purchase occurred on March 2, when it acquired USD 250 million from two banks. Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the transaction.

From July to April 15 of the current fiscal year, the central bank has purchased a total of USD 5.56 billion. The increase in remittance inflows has prompted banks to sell dollars to the central bank. During the first 14 days of April, remittances reached USD 1.6 billion, marking a 25 percent rise compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, total remittances have amounted to USD 27.81 billion, up 20.6 percent year-on-year.

The combined effect of higher remittances and dollar purchases has strengthened Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves, which now stand at USD 34.66 billion, or USD 29.97 billion under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam announced that both the government and opposition parties will jointly bring a proposal for constitutional amendment. Speaking to the media at the National Parliament tunnel on Wednesday, he said that while some differences remain between the two sides, consensus will be reached soon to move forward together.

He emphasized that the main goal of the amendment is to strengthen democracy, preserve independence and sovereignty, and promote constructive national development. Nurul Islam also urged the media to highlight positive news alongside negative reports, citing the example of coverage about the temporary closure of the Eastern Refinery PLC and the arrival of two ships carrying 200,000 metric tons of oil.

The Chief Whip further noted that the Prime Minister has been working for the overall welfare of the country, ensuring justice and protecting sovereignty. He added that the government aims to build skilled human resources by promoting multilingual education, including Arabic, Mandarin, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and English as a second language.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Primary and Mass Education, Bobby Hajjaj, indicated that both the number of primary school scholarships and the amount of financial support could be increased. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning after visiting the Primary Scholarship Examination center at Motijheel Government Primary School in Dhaka.

The minister said the government is considering changes to the scholarship policy, including reviewing the amount of money awarded and the number of students eligible. New criteria may also be introduced for both public and private school students to encourage greater participation from students and parents. He added that the government aims to raise the national literacy rate to 96 percent and plans to strengthen non-formal education alongside primary education.

Referring to the resumption of the primary scholarship examination after a 16-year break, the minister noted that students and parents are pleased with the decision. The government plans to expand such initiatives further to motivate children to attend school and continue their education.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stated in parliament that Bangladesh had invited its own misfortune regarding India’s Tipaimukh Dam. He made the remark on Wednesday during the question-and-answer session after a supplementary question from BNP lawmaker Abdul Malik of Sylhet-3. Earlier, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu said he would discuss the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Speaker recalled his experience as a former water resources minister, saying that India initiated the Tipaimukh project at the request of Bangladesh’s then foreign minister Abdus Samad Azad. Abdul Malik had raised concerns about floods and droughts in Sylhet caused by upstream water flow from the Barak River, asking what plans the government had to address the issue.

In response, Minister Mintu said he would consult the foreign ministry to find a long-term solution and take measures to reduce the recurring water crisis. The Speaker’s comment followed this exchange, linking the current challenges to earlier decisions involving the dam project.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman met with European Union Ambassador Michael Miller in Dhaka on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. During the courtesy meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides discussed the long-standing bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the EU, which they described as having evolved into a broad and multidimensional partnership.

The meeting focused on key areas of mutual interest including ongoing reform initiatives, migration management, skills development, rule of law, and good governance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that detailed discussions were also held regarding the foreign minister’s upcoming visit to Brussels, where he will lead a delegation. One of the main objectives of the visit is to complete the initial process for signing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), aimed at institutionalizing and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Miller assured continued EU support for Bangladesh’s reform process, while Minister Rahman expressed appreciation for the EU’s role as one of Bangladesh’s major development and trade partners.

A special eviction drive was conducted around Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) to clear sidewalks occupied by hawkers and illegal structures. The operation, held on Wednesday morning, was inaugurated by Abdus Salam, administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, as part of a broader initiative to free footpaths and enhance the area’s appearance. Ansar members actively participated in the drive, removing makeshift shops and mobile vendors from the hospital vicinity.

Following the inauguration, a team led by Brigadier General Asaduzzaman, director of DMCH, began the operation from the Shaheed Minar Gate (Gate No. 3). Authorities reported that the sidewalks around the hospital were freed from encroachment, improving movement for patients and visitors and restoring overall order.

A similar operation had been launched on April 2 to improve the hospital’s environment and discipline. However, after hawkers reoccupied the cleared spaces, the hospital administration initiated this renewed drive to maintain cleanliness and accessibility in the area.

According to the United Nations refugee and migration agencies, about 250 people, including children, are missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea. The missing include Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals. BBC reports that the trawler, which departed from Bangladesh for Malaysia, sank due to strong winds, rough seas, and overcrowding.

The exact time of the sinking remains unclear. However, the coast guard stated that on April 9, a Bangladesh-flagged vessel rescued nine people who were found clinging to drums and pieces of wood. A coast guard member, speaking anonymously, said the group had left Bangladesh on April 4 seeking a better life and that their boat encountered a storm on April 7 or 8.

The rescued survivors reportedly drifted at sea for about two days before being found. Authorities have not yet confirmed the total number of passengers or the full extent of the casualties.