In Agailjhara of Barishal, serious allegations have surfaced against local union parishad member Sohel Molla for using bamboo sticks instead of iron rods in the concrete casting of a government-funded iron bridge. Locals also accused him of collecting money from residents in addition to the official allocation. Photos showing bamboo used in the bridge’s structure spread on social media, sparking widespread criticism across the district. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has not yet taken any action.

Residents said the bridge, built over the Dushmi-Karim Bazar canal in Ratnapur Union’s Barpaika village, was funded by the union council. The bridge measures 45 feet in length and 5.5 feet in width, though locals claim it should have been 55 feet long. They alleged that the concrete thickness and cement use were below standard, prompting them to buy extra cement themselves.

Union Parishad Chairman Golam Mostafa Sardar confirmed the project’s funding stages, while the Upazila Engineer and Executive Officer said the LGED had not been informed and that an on-site inspection would be conducted soon.

The government of Bangladesh has imposed a 58-day ban on all fishing activities in the Bay of Bengal starting from midnight on April 15 until June 11. The measure aims to protect marine biodiversity and ensure the free breeding and growth of 475 fish species. The restriction applies to all types of fishing vessels, including industrial trawlers and coastal engine-powered boats.

Since 2015, the government had enforced a 65-day annual fishing ban from May 20 to July 23 under the Marine Fisheries Ordinance. However, due to dissatisfaction among local fishermen, who claimed foreign fishermen exploited the closure, the duration was reduced to 58 days last year to align with India’s fishing ban period. The same schedule continues this year.

During the ban, 311,062 registered sea-going fishermen across 14 coastal districts and Chattogram city will receive 40 kilograms of rice per month under the VGF program. In 2025, authorities conducted 3,585 operations during the ban, seizing illegal nets and vessels, and imposing fines and jail terms for violations.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad stated that many conspiracies are ongoing against the government and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He made the remarks on Wednesday, April 15, during a training session for Hajj team members at the Hajj Office conference room in Ashkona, Dhaka. The minister urged the members to remain vigilant so that the government’s image is not tarnished.

Addressing the Hajj team members, Kaikobad emphasized that they are going as servants of the pilgrims and that serving the pilgrims well is a way to earn divine satisfaction. He warned that negligence in serving the pilgrims would not be tolerated and that those who fail to perform their duties properly would be sent back from Makkah. Those who perform well would be given the opportunity to serve again in the following year.

The training session was presided over by Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad and attended by several members of parliament and senior officials from the Hajj division.

On April 15, 2026, Cumilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah told the national parliament that he could no longer face his constituents due to the dire condition of the Cumilla-Sylhet highway. Addressing the Speaker, he pleaded for immediate government action to widen the road, describing it as a lifeline for one million people. He said administrative weakness had stalled work on the highway for the past 10 to 12 years.

Abdullah highlighted that the road, only 18 feet wide, connects Cumilla and Sylhet through Burichang, Brahmanpara, and Debidwar, linking to Brahmanbaria. He described it as the only route between Sylhet and Chattogram and said it had turned into a “procession of death,” with more than 30 fatalities in April alone. He urged the Speaker to draw the minister’s attention to stop the recurring accidents.

On the same day, Cumilla-5 MP Jasim Uddin also called for the immediate start of a four-lane expansion project on the Cumilla-Sylhet highway.

Continuous power outages over the past three days have brought Chattogram city to a near standstill. Many neighborhoods, including Khulshi, Bakalia, Chandgaon, Bayezid, Panchlaish, Patenga, and Colonelhat, are receiving less than five hours of uninterrupted electricity in 24 hours. Residents report frequent blackouts without prior notice, disrupting hospitals, banks, clinics, shops, and schools. In Lal Khan Bazar, electricity reportedly fluctuates up to 15 times a day, while in Bayezid, power returns for only short intervals between long outages.

Hospitals and clinics are struggling to maintain operations as generator fuel costs soar. A doctor at Chittagong Medical College Hospital said diagnostic services and surgeries are delayed due to power instability. Private clinics report running generators up to 16 hours daily, doubling diesel expenses. Smaller clinics are unable to sustain generator use, forcing patients to leave. Banks have faced repeated server shutdowns, and schools report unbearable heat in classrooms.

Bangladesh Power Development Board spokesperson Shamim Hasan acknowledged that the fuel crisis is worsening and warned that even more severe load-shedding could occur soon.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser Dr. Ziauddin Haider has warned that 80 percent of Bangladesh’s waste currently ends up in rivers and canals, posing a severe environmental threat. Speaking to journalists after inspecting the Faridpur Municipality Waste Processing Center on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, he emphasized the need to transform waste into organic fertilizer and fuel through modern recycling instead of treating it as a problem.

Dr. Haider said that under the slogan “Bangladesh First,” the BNP identified eight priority sectors, with the environment being one of them. He stressed that proper waste management is essential to protect public health, as indiscriminate dumping has spread from rural to urban areas. He called for swift waste removal, initiatives to produce fertilizer or electricity from waste, and public awareness to dispose of garbage in designated places.

During the visit, he also instructed officials to ensure the safety and health of workers. The inspection was attended by Barishal City Corporation Administrator Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin, Practical Action Bangladesh Country Director Ishrat Shabnam, and local BNP leaders.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with Turkish Ambassador Ramiz Sen at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Wednesday. The meeting focused on expanding bilateral trade, increasing investment, and strengthening economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey.

During the discussion, the commerce minister highlighted the potential for further trade and investment growth by leveraging the existing friendly relations between the two countries. He emphasized joint ventures in sectors such as ready-made garments, textiles, agro-based industries, and light engineering. Muktadir also noted that Turkish investors could benefit from Bangladesh’s lower production costs, particularly in leather and jute products.

Ambassador Ramiz Sen praised Bangladesh’s growing economy and skilled workforce, describing the country as an attractive destination for Turkish investors. He also commended Bangladesh’s eco-friendly jute products, noting their popularity in Turkey, and congratulated the minister on his appointment following the national election.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been listed among Time magazine’s “The 100 Most Influential People of 2026,” published on Wednesday. The list includes global leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The profile on Rahman was written by Charlie Campbell, editor of Time’s Singapore bureau, highlighting his political rise after years in exile.

According to the magazine, Rahman had been living in exile in southwest London until former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in 2024. Following a landslide election victory in February, he returned to Bangladesh after 17 years abroad. His mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, passed away five days after his return. In a January interview with Time, Rahman expressed his determination to unite the nation and revive its struggling economy amid high inflation, youth unemployment, and strained relations with India.

Time also noted that although corruption allegations against Rahman were later dismissed by the court, they could shorten his political honeymoon period. The 2026 list also features Google CEO Sundar Pichai, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Three ships carrying diesel and jet fuel arrived at Chattogram port this week, according to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). The MT Great Princess from Singapore began unloading around 11,000 tons of jet fuel at Dolphin Jetty-6 on Tuesday morning. Two other vessels, MT Lucia Solis and MT Torm Damini, transported diesel from Malaysia, with unloading operations completed between Tuesday night and Wednesday.

The Indonesia-flagged MT Lucia Solis arrived at the port late Tuesday with about 34,000 tons of diesel and later docked at Dolphin Jetty-5 after partial offloading through lighterage. The Denmark-flagged MT Torm Damini, carrying around 32,000 tons of diesel, began unloading at the outer anchorage before reaching Dolphin Jetty-6 on Wednesday. Both ships departed Malaysia on April 9.

BPC officials explained that due to depth limitations at Chattogram port, large vessels must first discharge part of their cargo at the outer anchorage before docking at the jetty to complete unloading.

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.