The Israeli military has claimed that it captured a fighter from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in southern Lebanon. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the detained fighter had been planning an attack against Israeli forces. The IDF said he surrendered shortly after being identified and was transferred to an Israeli military intelligence unit for questioning. Al Jazeera reported that it could not independently verify Israel’s claim. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said that Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon killed five people, including a journalist. The NNA reported that the first strike hit a car in the village of At-Tiri, killing two people inside a house nearby. The developments highlight ongoing hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border, with both sides reporting casualties and military actions in recent days.

The administration of Kishoreganj upazila in Nilphamari has introduced a mandatory fuel card system to regulate fuel distribution. Starting Thursday, April 23, 2026, no vehicle will receive fuel without a valid fuel card. The upazila executive officer, Arifur Rahman, inaugurated the distribution by handing cards to two recipients at his office. The initiative aims to restore order at filling stations and prevent fuel hoarding. According to the upazila administration, a verification and distribution committee has been formed to process applications and issue cards. On the first day, 280 cards were distributed after verification. Residents can collect cards from their respective union councils, while government employees can obtain them from the rural development office. Each card specifies the fuel allocation based on the applicant’s occupation and needs. The administration stated that fuel supply operations will be conducted under the supervision of law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance. The card distribution process remains ongoing.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s public approval has dropped sharply in 2026, reaching levels comparable to George W. Bush’s lowest ratings nearly two decades ago. According to three new polls released Tuesday, Trump’s support now stands in the mid-30 percent range. The Reuters-Ipsos poll recorded 36 percent approval, Strength in Number Verasight found 35 percent, and AP-NORC reported 33 percent. Earlier, an NBC News survey showed 37 percent support, then the lowest of his presidency. Out of nine major polls conducted over the past month, eight placed Trump’s approval in the 30s, with only Fox News showing 41 percent—still its lowest since 2017. Analysts note that the current decline surpasses previous dips seen early in Trump’s first term and after the Capitol Hill attack. CNN’s “Poll of Polls” indicates that 62 percent of Americans now disapprove of him. Experts cited in the report suggest that more Americans than ever before are opposing Trump, and his second-term approval trend continues to fall steadily.

In Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet, around 400 families in Dayamir Union’s Chakbazar area have been trapped in prolonged waterlogging caused by inadequate drainage during the ongoing Dhaka–Sylhet highway expansion into six lanes. Residents report that even light rainfall floods homes and roads, turning the area into a near-permanent waterlogged zone. Despite repeated appeals, no effective relief has been provided so far. The problem began when the old drainage system in Chakmandal Kapan village was filled in during highway construction without building a replacement. As a result, homes, roads, mosques, markets, and schools are inundated, severely disrupting daily life. Students, patients, and livestock face particular hardship, while crop harvesting has been hampered. Locals also fear waterborne diseases and accidents involving children. Project manager Debashish Roy stated that houses built over the original drainage channels contributed to the issue but assured that the project team would address any suffering caused by the expansion. Residents have urged authorities and local representatives to take immediate action to install a permanent drainage system.

Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that six closed jute mills will be leased to the private sector by December. He made the statement during a press briefing at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday morning. The minister said the initiative is expected to bring investments ranging from 200 to 500 crore taka and create new employment opportunities. The announcement marks a step toward revitalizing the jute industry through private sector participation. The government aims to attract investment and generate jobs by transferring management of the closed mills to private operators. The decision follows ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and productivity in the sector. If implemented as planned, the leasing process could help restore industrial activity in the affected areas and contribute to broader economic growth through renewed jute production and export potential.

Iran has executed a man convicted of collaborating with Israeli intelligence, according to the state-affiliated news outlet Mizan on Thursday. The individual, identified as Sultanali Shirzadi Fakhr, was accused of being a longtime member of the exiled opposition group Mujahedin-e-Khalq and of assisting Israeli intelligence agents. The report stated that Iran’s Supreme Court upheld his death sentence, which was carried out after the completion of legal procedures. The execution came a day after Iran carried out the death sentence of another individual, identified as Mehdi Farid, a senior civilian defense official convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad. Mizan, citing Reuters, reported that the Supreme Court had also confirmed his sentence before the execution took place. Both executions were reported by Iranian media and cited by The Guardian, highlighting Tehran’s continued enforcement of espionage-related convictions involving alleged ties to Israel.

Six workers were reportedly abducted from a rubber plantation in the Hatirdera area of Tongkabati Union, Bandarban, late on Wednesday night, April 22. According to local sources, a group of armed men dressed in black took the workers away around 11:30 p.m. The abducted individuals were identified as Nurul Afsar, Md. Arafat, Ismail, Karim Ullah, Romit, and Sakib. Tongkabati Union Parishad Chairman Mai Mro said he had heard that a group of men in black clothing carried out the abduction but could not confirm who they were. Bandarban Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shahed Parvez told the media that police were aware of the incident and were verifying the details. Authorities have begun preliminary investigations, but no group has yet claimed responsibility for the abduction, and the motive remains unclear.

Lebanon and Israel are set to resume talks in Washington on Thursday aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between the two countries. This marks the second round of discussions following an earlier meeting that resulted in a temporary 10-day ceasefire beginning on April 16. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that the ambassador-level talks will focus on ending Israeli aggression, withdrawing Israeli troops from Lebanese territory, releasing prisoners, deploying forces along the international border, and beginning reconstruction of war-damaged infrastructure. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have reportedly continued. The renewed dialogue in Washington reflects ongoing international efforts to stabilize the region and move toward a more durable peace framework, though continued hostilities pose challenges to achieving lasting results.

Private sector lender Southeast Bank is struggling to recover its defaulted loans, with 71 percent of its total Tk 2,513 crore in defaults concentrated among the top 10 borrowers as of December last year. According to the bank’s internal report, these top defaulters owe Tk 1,779 crore, with KSRM and S Alam Group alone accounting for nearly Tk 1,000 crore. The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a case against KSRM Group’s chairman Abdul Khaleq Pathan and six others for allegedly embezzling funds from the bank’s Gulshan branch using forged documents. S Alam Group ranks second with Tk 474 crore in defaulted loans, followed by FARR Ceramics Limited with Tk 338 crore and Padma Poly Cotton Knit Fabrics Limited with Tk 171 crore. Other defaulters include Tang Hai Knitting and Dyeing, Bishwas Garments, Care Specialized Hospital, ABN Properties, Intramex Group, and NASA Group. Bank officials said recovery efforts are ongoing, though some defaulters have fled or been jailed. Managing Director Khalid Mahmud Khan stated that the bank is maintaining contact with clients and attempting to regularize loans where possible, including through rescheduling and asset sales.

Biometric attendance machines installed in government primary schools of Matlab North upazila, Chandpur, to ensure teacher attendance have become non-functional, turning a multimillion-taka investment into a waste. The devices, installed about eight years ago across 180 schools during the 2018–19 fiscal year, cost each school between Tk 26,000 and Tk 35,000, though similar machines were available in the market for Tk 5,000–6,000. Many of the machines are now missing or disconnected, with no operational database links. Teachers and local officials have alleged that the machines were supplied at inflated prices under political pressure from ruling party members and that the project lacked proper planning and technical support. Several head teachers said the devices never worked due to missing connections and oversight, calling the initiative a misuse of government funds. The Upazila Primary Education Officer confirmed that none of the machines are currently functional. Calls have been made for an investigation and accountability to prevent similar irregularities in future education technology projects.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has described Israel’s attack on journalists as a clear war crime following the death of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil. He strongly condemned the Israeli strikes targeting journalists in southern Lebanon, particularly after Khalil was killed in an airstrike in the village of At-Tiri on Wednesday. Salam stated that deliberately targeting journalists, preventing rescue teams from reaching them, and striking the same site again after rescuers arrive constitute a clear war crime. He added that such attacks on journalists performing their professional duties are no longer isolated incidents in the region but have become a systematic practice that violates international law and norms. The incident occurred when an Israeli airstrike destroyed a building in At-Tiri, trapping Khalil under the rubble. She was later recovered dead, according to reports cited by Middle East Eye.

A day laborer named Abdul Karim from Ulipur upazila in Kurigram has built a bridge over the Burir Teesta canal, fulfilling a long-standing demand of residents from about ten nearby villages. After repeated appeals to government offices failed, Karim took the initiative himself, using his savings and personal assets to complete the project. He sold his motorcycle and two goats, invested his small savings, and borrowed 100,000 taka to finish the construction. The bridge, made of bricks, wood, and iron supported by concrete pillars, was officially opened for public use last Friday. Karim said he was inspired to act after witnessing the daily struggles of students, patients, and elderly people crossing the canal. Local residents praised his effort, noting that the bridge has eased access to hospitals, schools, and markets. Businessman Robiul Islam and teacher Sharmin Jahan highlighted how the bridge has reduced travel time and improved safety. Ulipur’s acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Mehedi Hasan described Karim’s initiative as a rare example of social responsibility, saying it should inspire others to contribute to community welfare.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the consequences of the ongoing Iran war are spreading into Europe and could worsen if peace is not achieved. He made the remarks during a telephone conversation with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, according to a report published on April 23, 2026. Erdogan stated that the conflict in the region is beginning to weaken Europe and emphasized that the damage caused by the war could increase further without peace. He added that Turkey is working to end the Iran conflict through dialogue and to achieve a lasting peace. The discussion between the Turkish and German presidents highlights Ankara’s diplomatic engagement amid regional instability, as Turkey seeks to position itself as a mediator in the Iran conflict.

Former NCP leader Dr. Tasnim Jara has strongly criticized Comilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah’s demand for personal cars for members of parliament. Her reaction came on April 22 through a detailed post on her verified Facebook page, following widespread social media debate over the issue. Jara condemned MPs for prioritizing personal benefits while citizens face economic and professional hardships. In her post, Jara argued that MPs deciding their own salaries and benefits is a conflict of interest, as these funds come from taxpayers. She compared MPs’ privileges with the struggles of teachers, doctors, nurses, and farmers, emphasizing that public representatives should focus on solving citizens’ problems rather than expanding their own perks. Jara proposed forming an independent committee to review MPs’ benefits objectively. The committee, she suggested, should include judges, economists, governance experts, and ordinary citizens to ensure fairness and proportionality between MPs’ entitlements and the general population’s living standards.

Tension broke out in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on Thursday, April 23, 2026, shortly after the start of the first phase of voting. The incident occurred in Shibnagar village under the Naoda assembly constituency, where supporters of the Trinamool Congress clashed with Humayun Kabir, a former party leader and founder of the Amjanata Unnayan Party (AUJP). As Humayun Kabir arrived at a polling station, Trinamool supporters reportedly chanted slogans telling him to leave and surrounded his car, accusing him of being an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The confrontation created severe tension around the polling area, disrupting the atmosphere of the election process. Humayun Kabir, currently a legislator from Bharatpur, was expelled from the Trinamool Congress in December of the previous year after proposing the construction of a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid. Following his expulsion, he formed his own political party and is contesting again in the ongoing election.