Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central assistant secretary general Muazzam Hossain Helal alleged that some individuals were trying to conceal their history of fleeing to London by labeling others with secret tags. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while addressing a protest rally organized by an eleven-party alliance at the Town Hall premises in Barishal city.

Helal claimed that within two months of taking office, the current government’s “fascist character” had become evident to the public. He accused the government of betraying the consensus reached in the Unity Commission regarding the July Charter and of using the judiciary to legitimize oppression. He urged the authorities to implement the July Charter in line with the referendum’s verdict and heed the people’s demands.

Barishal city Jamaat Amir Zahir Uddin Muhammad Babar said the government had disappointed the nation by reinstating old authoritarian laws and resuming campus occupation politics. He warned that attacks on student leaders indicated a deteriorating law and order situation and that student groups would resist if targeted. Speakers from the alliance vowed to continue their united movement and hinted at tougher programs ahead.

Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party has urged the government to swiftly implement the February referendum verdict, warning that any delay or disregard would amount to betrayal of the nation. Party leaders made the remarks on Saturday during the Majlis-e-Shura session held at a hotel in Dhaka, presided over by party chief Allama Sarowar Kamal Azizee and conducted by Secretary General Musa Bin Izhar. They said ignoring the people’s mandate would not only be a political failure but also an insult to the martyrs of the July uprising.

Speakers expressed deep concern over the country’s current political and economic situation, noting that the referendum reflected the aspirations of those who sacrificed their lives for reform and citizens’ rights. Despite the government’s formation after winning the parliamentary majority, the leaders alleged procrastination in implementing the referendum’s outcome, which they described as disappointing and alarming.

The meeting also voiced concern over deteriorating law and order, citing rising instability in educational institutions and recent violent incidents. The party demanded swift arrests and exemplary punishment for those involved and announced new programs to strengthen its nationwide activities.

A hearing on the formation of charges against former mayor Fazle Noor Taposh, former textiles and jute minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and 26 others is scheduled to take place today at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka. The case concerns the killing of nine people in Mohammadpur during the July Revolution. The three-member judicial panel is chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, with Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired district and sessions judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members.

The prosecution is set to present its arguments today. The hearing was previously scheduled for April 15 but was postponed following a prosecution request for more time. Among the accused are former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Additional DIG Proloy Kumar Jowardar, and former Joint Police Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar, along with leaders and activists from the banned Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League.

Four accused are currently in custody and were brought to the tribunal from prison this morning. The tribunal is expected to deliver its order on charge framing on May 7.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is continuing its strategy of integrating expatriate talent into its youth teams. Following the success of winning the SAFF Under-20 Championship with expatriate players Ronan Sullivan and Declan Sullivan, BFF has now confirmed plans to include two more expatriates, Adam Abbas and Zidan Yusuf, in the national U-20 squad. The move comes as part of preparations for the upcoming AFC Under-20 Asian Cup qualifiers.

According to BFF Vice President Fahad Karim, both players, based in England, have expressed interest in representing Bangladesh. Nineteen-year-old right winger Adam Abbas has experience playing in youth teams of top English clubs, and his performance videos have impressed BFF’s technical team. His passport process is expected to be completed by June. Meanwhile, 18-year-old center-back Zidan Yusuf, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, already holds a Bangladeshi passport and currently plays for Walton & Hersham FC’s main team. He is expected to join the U-20 training camp soon.

BFF aims to strengthen its squad with these additions as it targets success on the Asian stage.

In Phulbaria upazila of Mymensingh, the local office of the Bangladesh Awami League has transformed into a betel leaf market. The office, located beside the government pond on Post Office Road, was once a hub of political activity but became inactive after the student and public movement on August 5, which led to a shift in local political dynamics. Following damage during the unrest, the office was abandoned and later repurposed as a trading spot.

Local sources report that every morning, betel farmers from nearby villages bring their produce to the site, where wholesalers and traders gather to negotiate prices and conduct sales for about two hours. Residents say the market has become a regular fixture, attracting over a hundred farmers and buyers daily. The organized trading system benefits local growers and traders.

According to locals, the conversion of the political office into a commercial market has created a new form of economic activity in the area, contributing modestly to the local economy.

A Comilla court has ordered former army officer Hafizur Rahman to be sent to jail after a three-day remand in connection with the murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a Victoria Government College student killed ten years ago. The order was issued on Saturday by Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdullah Aman. Investigation officer Tariqul Islam of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) said Hafizur was interrogated on key issues during remand, and his DNA sample has been collected for testing. Further legal steps will follow after verification of the obtained information.

Tonu’s father, Iyar Hossain, expressed dissatisfaction with the arrest, saying he wanted to see all suspects brought to justice, not just one. The PBI had earlier collected DNA samples from three retired army personnel, including Hafizur, for matching with evidence found in 2017. The case was filed in 2016 after Tonu’s body was discovered inside the Comilla Cantonment area.

The investigation continues as authorities await DNA test results to determine the next course of action.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman emphasized the need for women to play a leading role in building society and to safeguard their personal and organizational integrity. He made the remarks on Saturday during the closing session of a three-day training camp organized by the women’s wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for district and city secretaries and assistant secretaries, held at Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa in Tongi, Gazipur.

The program, which began on Thursday, focused on discipline, moral development, and the cultivation of social leadership. Speakers including central and regional leaders discussed Islamic leadership, accountability, and the importance of moral excellence. Women’s wing secretary Nurunnisa Siddika highlighted the role of leadership in organizational management, while other sessions covered Quranic and Hadith studies and practical workshops on enhancing organizational skills.

The event concluded with a review session, departmental planning, and a closing prayer led by assistant secretary Saeeda Rumman. Participants were urged to strengthen their capabilities and maintain the organization’s positive image.

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon stated that the alleged exam question leak is nothing but a rumor, which has already been proven beyond doubt. He made the remark on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in a Facebook post, rejecting the claims circulating on social media. The minister criticized the National Citizens Party (NCP), a youth-led political group, for issuing statements without fact-checking and called their actions baseless and disappointing.

Earlier, NCP’s Joint Member Secretary and Education and Research Secretary Faisal Mahmud Shanto alleged that question leak accusations had surfaced since April 20, but the Education Ministry and relevant authorities had shown no visible response. The party accused the government of negligence that could endanger the country’s education system.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Education Board urged students, parents, and the public to remain cautious about false and misleading information related to the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall across all eight divisions starting Sunday, April 26, 2026, following a prolonged heatwave. The agency said moderate to heavy rain may continue in parts of the country for the next five days, potentially easing the ongoing heatwave. Rainfall was recorded in several northern and northeastern districts on Saturday, while mild heat persisted in 20 districts, mainly in Khulna Division.

Meteorologists indicated that rainfall activity is expected to increase gradually, with heavy to very heavy showers likely in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions. A low-pressure extension from West Bengal to the North Bay of Bengal is influencing the weather pattern. Day and night temperatures are expected to drop slightly nationwide as rain intensifies.

Experts noted that the intensity and extent of the heatwave have been decreasing since midweek. They added that, unlike in 2023 and 2024, there is no likelihood of a prolonged heatwave this year due to intermittent rainfall expected throughout the period.

The Comilla University Journalists’ Association (CUBSAS) organized a human chain on Saturday evening at the Shaheed Abdul Kaiyum Square of the university, protesting the recent attack on Dhaka University journalists by members of the student wing of a political party. The demonstration demanded justice for the victims and called for ensuring a free and safe environment for independent journalism. Journalists from national and local print and electronic media joined the event.

Speakers at the protest described the assault as a direct threat to press freedom, freedom of expression, and democratic values. They urged authorities to identify and punish those responsible for the attack. Participants also criticized the silence of the university administration and law enforcement agencies, saying it legitimized such violence. They called on the government to stand by journalists who have faced attacks at various institutions.

CUBSAS leaders warned that if effective measures are not taken to stop violence against journalists and ensure their safety, university journalists across the country may launch stronger movements.

In Sukash Union of Singra upazila, Natore, acting Union Parishad chairman Sohrab Hossain has repaid double the market value of rice to 247 poor women after being found guilty of misappropriating rice from the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) program. The repayment, including fines, was made on Saturday at the union council office in the presence of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah Al Rifat. Each beneficiary received 3,425 taka.

According to the investigation, rice allocated for 247 cardholding women in March was withdrawn from the local food warehouse but sold in the open market instead of being distributed to beneficiaries. Following media reports, the upazila administration formed an inquiry committee that confirmed the embezzlement. Under section 9 of the VWB Implementation Guidelines 2011, double the market value must be recovered for misappropriated government goods.

UNO Abdullah Al Rifat stated that the recovery followed government rules and that no irregularities in government allocations would be tolerated. Sohrab Hossain admitted his wrongdoing, citing misunderstanding and external influence, and returned both the double value and the women’s savings. Beneficiaries expressed relief after receiving their due payments.

An eleven-party alliance held a protest march and rally in Rangpur on Saturday, demanding the implementation of a referendum verdict and resolution of the ongoing energy crisis. The procession began in front of Rangpur Public Library, moved through key city roads including Payra Square and Rangpur Press Club, and concluded at Shapla Square with a brief rally.

Speakers at the rally urged the government to act swiftly on the referendum outcome and take effective measures to address fuel shortages and power disruptions. They alleged that the spirit of the July uprising, through which the current government assumed office, was being neglected over time. The speakers warned that ignoring the people’s verdict could lead to political consequences.

They further stated that fuel shortages and power outages have severely affected ordinary citizens, particularly the working class, and that rising commodity prices have worsened the situation. The alliance leaders demanded immediate action to ease public suffering and warned of tougher programs if their three-point demands were not met.

A joint anti-drug operation by the Pirgacha upazila administration and police in Rangpur led to the arrest of a drug dealer with cannabis at Pirgacha railway station on Saturday afternoon. The arrested man, Mohammad Roni, 32, from Guabari village, was caught red-handed while selling cannabis during a mobile court operation led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Debashish Basak.

During the search, authorities seized 14 packets of cannabis and 600 taka in cash from Roni. Locals alleged that he had been openly selling cannabis in the station area for a long time. After admitting his crime, the mobile court sentenced him to one month of imprisonment and fined him 500 taka under the Narcotics Control Act. He was later sent to Rangpur Central Jail.

Officials stated that such anti-drug operations will continue in the public interest and reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics in Pirgacha.

Bangladesh Army clinched the title in the Radiant Pharmaceuticals Limited Independence and National Day Volleyball Championship held on Saturday at the Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium. In the final match, the Army team defeated the Air Force by 3-1 sets to secure the championship. The Water Development Board (PDB) finished third after beating Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) by the same margin.

Sifat Hossain of the Army was named the tournament’s best player and best opposite attacker. PDB’s Mazharul Islam was recognized as the best outside attacker, while Ashikuzzaman of the Army won the best setter award. Parvez Mosharraf from the Air Force was chosen as the best middle blocker, and Abdul Hakim of the Army received the best libero award.

After the final, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain handed over the prizes to the winners. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mahfuzul Alam Khan, Federation Vice-President Mashudul Alam, and Organizing Committee Secretary Sohel Rana Lincoln were also present at the ceremony.

A case has been filed following an attack on police officers in Sarikaith Union of Sandwip, Chattogram, late Saturday night. The case names 11 individuals and includes 35 unidentified suspects, bringing the total number of accused to 46. Police have so far arrested six people in connection with the incident. The case was filed at Sandwip Police Station on Saturday afternoon, with the police as the complainant, confirmed Officer-in-Charge Sujan Halder.

According to the case statement, around 12:30 a.m. police conducted an anti-drug operation at the home of a man named Didar in Ward No. 7 of Sarikaith Union. Upon arrival, they encountered several armed local groups allegedly linked to drug networks. During a clash between these groups, the police came under sudden attack. The attackers reportedly confined and assaulted the officers, obstructing official duties and attempting to cause serious harm. Additional police forces later rescued the injured officers and detained six suspects.

Police reported that the situation in the area is now under control and operations to arrest the remaining fugitives are ongoing.