BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has sought China’s constructive role and cooperation to ensure the safe, dignified, sustainable, and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees. He made the request during two separate bilateral meetings in Beijing on Tuesday with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the Great Hall of the People and with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC). During the discussions, both sides emphasized strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Mirza Fakhrul also sought Chinese partnership in the Teesta River management project, highlighting its importance for livelihoods in northern Bangladesh. The meetings reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for the One-China policy and discussed expanding cooperation in defense training, renewable energy, urban management, and healthcare, including the proposed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital. Both parties expressed optimism about elevating Bangladesh-China relations to new heights through mutual respect and institutional exchanges. They agreed to work on a memorandum of understanding between the CPC and BNP to enhance party-level cooperation and regular dialogue.

Candidates recommended for appointment as primary assistant teachers held a press conference at Dhaka University on April 21, 2026, demanding immediate recruitment and posting. They expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in the recruitment process, which has left thousands of qualified candidates in uncertainty and mental distress. The event took place in front of the university’s central library, where candidate representative Humayun Ahmed read a written statement urging swift government action. According to the candidates, the final results of the recruitment were published on February 8, 2026, selecting 14,384 candidates. Despite completing all formalities, including medical checks, more than two months have passed without any visible progress in joining procedures. They said they have already submitted memorandums to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Prime Minister but have not received any effective response. The candidates warned that if there is no visible progress within ten days, they will announce tougher programs. The written examination for the posts was held on January 9 across 61 districts, excluding the three hill districts, followed by oral tests and district-based final lists.

The European Union has decided to expand its sanctions on Iran, targeting individuals linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the decision after a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, stating that the move aims to hold accountable those responsible for disrupting one of the world’s key energy and trade routes. Kallas also urged member states to strengthen the EU’s current naval mission in the Middle East, which is protecting commercial vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. She proposed enhancing the mission’s capacity to ensure greater security across regional sea routes. The EU considers the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which began after renewed tensions between Iran and the United States on February 28, as a major threat to international trade. Discussions among member states continue on whether to extend the mission’s scope directly to the Hormuz area, as the EU maintains diplomatic and economic pressure to counter the global economic instability caused by the blockade.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has assured a proper investigation into the reported attack at Chattogram City College. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, he said any such incident would be thoroughly investigated and urged lawmakers not to blame any political party without inquiry. The minister made the remarks in response to Jamaat-e-Islami MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, who raised the issue during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. Shahjahan Chowdhury claimed that the attack took place near Chattogram’s New Market area, alleging that some individuals involved in previous anti-discrimination protests were behind the assault on general students. He also mentioned that one person’s leg was severed in the incident and called for government action. The Deputy Speaker advised him to submit a formal notice for the minister’s response. Salahuddin Ahmed said intelligence agencies had reported clashes between student groups and that he would need time to verify the facts. He indicated he might later issue a statement under Rule 300 after the investigation concludes, emphasizing the need to avoid mutual blame before facts are established.

A leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir, identified as Ashraful Islam, lost his ankle during a violent clash with Chhatra Dal at Chittagong Government City College on Tuesday afternoon. The incident followed escalating tension between the two student groups over graffiti related to the 'July Movement'. The injured student, who is the president of Shibir’s Agrabad Saraipara ward unit, underwent surgery at a private hospital. According to local sources and college authorities, the conflict began when members of Chhatra Dal allegedly altered a wall graffiti that read “student politics and Chhatra League-free campus” by replacing the word “student” with “Gupta.” The situation turned violent around noon, leading to an hour-long chase and counter-chase before police and college officials intervened. However, further clashes erupted later during a Shibir protest. Police said both groups were students, so they avoided taking a hardline approach but would act upon formal complaints. College authorities confirmed that the situation was under control, though several people from both sides were injured.

Iran has denied passage through the Strait of Hormuz to the Bangladeshi-flagged vessel 'Banglar Joyjatra', owned by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation and operated by a Singapore-based firm. The ship, carrying 37,000 tons of fertilizer, remains near a UAE port after repeated failed attempts to obtain clearance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman raised the issue with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh in Turkey, seeking safe passage for the vessel. Diplomatic sources in Dhaka suggest that Iran’s decision stems from dissatisfaction with Bangladesh’s response to recent Middle East conflicts. Following U.S. and Israeli attacks in Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials, Bangladesh issued a statement condemning Iran’s retaliatory strikes for violating other nations’ sovereignty but did not denounce the initial attacks. This omission reportedly angered Tehran. Iran’s ambassador in Dhaka publicly expressed disappointment, saying Bangladesh’s position lacked clarity. Bangladesh continues diplomatic efforts to secure clearance for the ship, while analysts note that the episode underscores the sensitivity of Dhaka’s foreign policy balance amid regional conflict.

The NCP Diaspora Alliance has alleged that Bangladeshi expatriates in Spain are facing administrative complications, delays, and harassment in renewing or obtaining new passports and police clearance certificates. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organization presented five demands to address these issues, urging urgent action from relevant authorities. According to the group, Spain’s legalization program has created a historic opportunity for many Bangladeshis, but bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption are preventing them from obtaining essential documents. The alliance emphasized that the problem affects not only individuals but also national interests, as legalization would enhance employment, remittance inflows, and economic strength. The organization called for a one-stop service at the Bangladesh Embassy in Spain, faster passport processing, effective monitoring under the Home Ministry, a special task force for coordination, and strict action against fraud networks. The NCP Diaspora Alliance warned that without swift measures, thousands of expatriates risk losing this opportunity, which could negatively impact individuals, families, and the state.

Armed robbers wearing police uniforms carried out three separate home robberies in Baraitali Union of Chakaria upazila in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday night. According to victims, the gang held family members at gunpoint and looted cash, gold ornaments, mobile phones, and other valuables. The incidents occurred between 3:15 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. in the Chowkidar Kata and Sikdar Para areas. In Sikdar Para, resident Jahanara Begum said a group of armed men in police uniforms entered her house around 3:30 a.m., claiming to search for drugs. They forced her to open a cupboard and took 250,000 taka in cash and about two bhori of gold worth roughly 500,000 taka. The robbers then took her to a neighbor’s house, where they also looted 20,000 taka. Earlier that night, the same group reportedly robbed the home of Mohammad Nurul Absar in Chowkidar Kata, taking cash, mobile phones, and valuables. Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Monir Hossain said he was unaware of the incidents and that no formal complaint had been filed.

Jashore-2 Member of Parliament Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid has strongly demanded the establishment of an agricultural university in Jashore. He made the call on Tuesday during a session of the National Parliament while addressing an urgent public issue. Farid emphasized that despite being a key agricultural region in the southwest, Jashore lacks a specialized institution for higher education and research in agriculture. Highlighting Jashore’s agricultural potential, he described it as the flower capital of Bangladesh, producing about 70 percent of the country’s flowers from the Gadkhali area. The district also contributes significantly to national food security through year-round production of vegetables, rice, and jute. However, he noted that the region still lacks an effective research center to address challenges such as waterlogging, salinity, and cyclones. Farid added that 173 acres of unused land at the research center in Chowgacha could be utilized for the university, saving both time and cost. He mentioned that the education ministry has already sent a proposal to the University Grants Commission for feasibility assessment and urged the education minister to take immediate action.

Ongoing warfare in the Gulf region has triggered a major shift in the long-term defense strategies of its nations. Ahmed Helal, managing director for GCC affairs at Asia Group, described the transformation as a strategic inevitability. He told Al Jazeera that Qatar is no longer acting as a traditional mediator because it has itself come under attack and sought external intervention. The region’s immediate focus is now on reducing hostilities and reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. To strengthen defense capabilities, Gulf countries are actively pursuing new security partnerships. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently visited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, resulting in several agreements on drone defense technology and combat experience sharing. According to Helal, the Gulf defense market is now open to all—from Washington to Seoul—as these nations seek to diversify their military suppliers. The United Arab Emirates is already using South Korean interceptor technology, considered more cost-effective and competitive than the U.S. Patriot system. This diversification marks a decisive move away from reliance on any single power for regional security.

General lawyers staged a protest in front of the Supreme Court Bar Building on Tuesday, demanding the withdrawal of the decision to conduct High Court sessions virtually on Wednesdays and Thursdays each week. The protest was organized under the banner of general lawyers, where speakers including Syed Mamun Mahbub and Barrister Ashraful Islam voiced opposition to the move. The protesting lawyers argued that the government had already stated in parliament that there was no fuel crisis in the country, yet the decision to hold virtual court sessions was made citing energy concerns. They alleged that the decision was part of a conspiracy to undermine the government and urged the Chief Justice to immediately revoke the order. Participants chanted slogans calling for the withdrawal of virtual court operations. Earlier, a notice signed by Supreme Court Registrar General Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui announced that, considering the global energy situation, the Supreme Court’s Appellate and High Court Divisions would operate virtually on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while other days would continue with in-person hearings.

The Directorate of Primary Education has issued a directive making health information mandatory in the unified admission form for all government primary schools across Bangladesh. The instruction, communicated through an official letter on Tuesday, requires that every district primary education officer be informed of the new requirement. According to the directive, all government primary schools must include essential health-related details of students in a standardized admission form. The letter further states that for the current academic year, schools must record student admission data using this unified form and take necessary steps to implement the same process in the next academic year. The move aims to ensure consistency in student data collection and streamline the admission process nationwide, aligning all government primary schools under a single documentation system.

The United States is considering a currency swap arrangement to help ease the dollar liquidity shortage in the oil-dependent economy of the United Arab Emirates. President Donald Trump confirmed the possibility in an interview with CNBC, saying the UAE’s central bank had requested the measure following economic disruptions linked to the Iran-US conflict. Trump expressed surprise at the request from such a wealthy ally but said he viewed it positively, emphasizing the UAE’s longstanding friendship with the United States. The potential support reflects broader instability in Middle Eastern economies caused by ongoing regional conflicts. The move comes as diplomatic friction grows between the UAE and Iran after Emirati authorities arrested several Iranian nationals. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the arrests as baseless, urging the UAE to respect human rights and return to neighborly conduct. The developments underscore the dual economic and diplomatic pressures facing Gulf states as they navigate the fallout from regional tensions and shifting alliances.

In the Bangladesh National Parliament on Tuesday, Deputy Speaker Kaysar Kamal ordered the expunction of a portion of remarks made by ruling party MP Lutfur Rahman Kajol from Cox’s Bazar-3. Kajol had claimed that opposition leaders were declaring they would not let the current government live in peace even for a day. His comments drew protests from opposition MPs, prompting the Deputy Speaker to remove the disputed part from the official record. During the discussion on the president’s address, Kajol alleged that conspiracies against the BNP had persisted over time and compared the current opposition’s stance to that of the former Awami League government. He also referenced past political repression and urged the opposition to learn from history. The session saw brief exchanges between ruling and opposition members, including Jamaat MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, who was asked to sit down by the Deputy Speaker. The Deputy Speaker clarified that the specific statement referring to not allowing peace for even a minute was expunged from the parliamentary proceedings.

More than two months after 14,384 candidates were finalized for assistant teacher posts in government primary schools, their joining process remains stalled, creating uncertainty. The candidates held press conferences demanding immediate announcement of joining dates and submitted memorandums to the Prime Minister through 61 district commissioners. The written exam was held on January 9, 2026, followed by the final results on February 8, and medical and verification processes completed by early March. Despite completion of all administrative steps, the Directorate of Primary Education has not initiated the joining process, reportedly awaiting instructions from the ministry. Attempts to reach the director general and the state minister for primary and mass education for comments were unsuccessful. A reliable source within the directorate confirmed readiness to proceed once ministry approval is received. Rumors of a possible review of the recruitment results have heightened anxiety among the selected candidates. They have urged the government to expedite the appointment process, citing prolonged uncertainty and social embarrassment caused by the delay.