State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury stated that the current government does not believe in controlling the media and upholds the principle of media freedom as directed by the Prime Minister. He made the remarks on Monday at the Secretariat during a 'BSRF Dialogue' organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum. The minister emphasized that the government is working to ensure accurate information flow and will take effective measures to prevent online misinformation and character assassination. Yasser Khan said the government’s main goal is to deliver precise news to the public and strengthen the digitalization process. He mentioned ongoing discussions with media-related organizations, including the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh and IPTV representatives, regarding policy updates such as the 2014 IPTV guidelines. He also noted that journalists’ wages and benefits are under government consideration and may see positive decisions in the upcoming budget. The minister added that a policy is being developed to ensure transparency in government advertisement distribution and that the Secretariat’s media facilities will be modernized soon.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has ordered the start of trial proceedings against former Jashore Superintendent of Police Anisur Rahman and seven others in connection with a 2016 incident in Chowgacha, Jashore. The case involves allegations that police staged a gunfight after arresting two Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders and shooting them in the legs. The tribunal, led by Justice Shofiul Alam Mahmood with Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, fixed June 1 for opening statements and the first witness testimony. Three accused—then Sub-Inspector Akikul Islam and constables Sajjadur Rahman and Jahurul Haque—are in custody, while five others, including the former SP, remain absconding. The tribunal rejected the defense’s plea for discharge, which argued that the incident was isolated and not a crime against humanity. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam countered that the case was part of a wider pattern of systematic attacks between 2009 and 2015. According to the case details, the two victims were allegedly tortured for two nights and shot under the direction of the former SP, leading to severe injuries that required amputation.

Israeli forces and Jewish settlers have intensified raids and demolitions across the occupied West Bank, detaining at least fifty Palestinians. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the operations took place in several areas including Hebron, Yatta, and Beit Ummar, where forty people were arrested, some of them former prisoners. In Jenin’s Kafr Qud village, an Israeli shooting left one Palestinian youth seriously injured and hospitalized. In Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli bulldozers demolished Palestinian-owned land and cleared debris from previously destroyed homes. In the Tubas region, Israeli forces destroyed water pipelines in Tammun and continued clearing privately owned Palestinian land to build a 22-kilometer road between Nablus and Tubas. Military checkpoints and roadblocks were also reinforced around Hebron, restricting movement. The report comes as global attention remains focused on U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan, creating a backdrop for Israel’s escalated actions in the West Bank.

The Kremlin has expressed hope that discussions between the United States and Iran will continue to prevent negative impacts on the Gulf region and the global economy. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the remarks on Monday while speaking to reporters, emphasizing that the current situation in the Gulf is highly fragile and uncertain. Peskov stated that Moscow expects the dialogue process to persist in order to avoid escalation toward a military situation or major tensions. He clarified that Russia is not acting as a mediator in the ongoing discussions but remains ready to assist in achieving a peaceful resolution and agreement if needed. The statement reflects Russia’s concern over regional stability and its willingness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Farmers in Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj are unable to harvest ripe Boro paddy due to a severe shortage of laborers. Despite the fields being ready for harvest, many farmers are watching their crops fall and rot as they fail to find workers. The situation has worsened following recent heavy rains that caused ripe paddy to collapse onto the ground, while rising water levels in the haor areas have made it impossible to use harvesters. According to the local agriculture office, Boro paddy was cultivated across 45 haors this season. Farmers report that daily wages for harvest workers have surged to between Tk 1,000 and Tk 1,200, while the market price of paddy remains only Tk 700 to Tk 800 per maund. Many are being forced to share half their yield with workers under the traditional “Adi” system to avoid total loss. Rising fuel prices have also increased the cost of threshing and transporting harvested paddy. Farmers have urged the government to take urgent measures to address the labor crisis and prevent large-scale crop losses.

A new Air Traffic Management Center at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka was inaugurated on Monday by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom. The event was attended by State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, French Ambassador Jean-Marc Serre-Charlet, ministry officials, and senior members of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. In her speech, Minister Afroza Khanom said the state-of-the-art and automated air traffic management system will make Bangladesh’s airspace safer, more efficient, and aligned with international standards. She recalled the contribution of late President Ziaur Rahman, who inaugurated the airport in 1980, laying the foundation for the country’s aviation sector. The minister expressed her vision to transform the airport into a global aviation hub. State Minister Millat added that the new system, covering a 350-nautical-mile range, will enhance regional cooperation through integrated airspace management and information sharing with neighboring countries, supporting Bangladesh’s goal of becoming a regional aviation hub.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has finalized its list of candidates for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament. Among the 36 nominees announced, Selima Rahman, a member of the party’s National Standing Committee, has drawn the most attention. The announcement was made on April 20, 2026, at the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, by Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The nomination process followed interviews held at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan, chaired by Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. According to party sources and political observers cited in the report, Selima Rahman was given special consideration due to her long political experience, organizational skills, and clean image. She previously served as State Minister for Cultural Affairs from 2001 to 2006 and currently holds the position of Vice Chairman in the central BNP. Hailing from Bahechar village in Dehergati Union of Babuganj, Barishal, she is the daughter of late Justice Abdul Jabbar Khan, a former Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly. Political analysts believe her nomination sends a positive signal for BNP and could strengthen the party’s position in the upcoming parliament once the list is submitted to the Election Commission for formal procedures.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that no additional 'grace marks' will be given in this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil, and equivalent examinations, which begin on Tuesday, April 21. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Monday, he said a total of 1,857,344 students will take part in the exams, including 930,305 boys and 927,039 girls. The minister warned that any cybercrime or other offenses related to the exams would lead to legal action. He added that the number of examiners will be increased, and while no special marking instructions have been issued, examiners are expected to evaluate scripts in a 'liberal way.' Responding to questions about coaching centers, he said the ministry neither registers nor maintains lists of such centers. Dr. Milan expressed confidence that there would be no cheating or question leaks this year. He also stated that anyone involved in corruption within the ministry would not be allowed to remain in office for even 24 hours.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that legal measures will be taken against anyone committing offenses, including cybercrimes, during the upcoming SSC, Dakhil, and equivalent examinations starting Tuesday. The exams will involve 1,857,344 students from 30,666 institutions across nine general, madrasa, and technical boards, held in 3,885 centers. The ministry and education boards have completed all necessary preparations to ensure smooth and fair examinations. At a press conference in Dhaka on Monday, ministry adviser Mahdi Amin presented written remarks, emphasizing a student-friendly environment and urging parents not to panic. He noted that this SSC batch missed earlier public exams due to the pandemic, making this their first full-syllabus public test. The ministry instructed institutions to ensure safe, comfortable exam halls with proper facilities and to prevent congestion near centers. The minister also stated that examiners would be increased and should evaluate answer sheets in a liberal manner. He reiterated that any corruption within the ministry would not be tolerated.

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 4:53 p.m. local time. Following the quake, tsunami warnings were issued for Aomori Prefecture, Hokkaido, and nearby coastal regions, with authorities warning that waves up to three meters high could hit the shore. Tremors were also felt in Tokyo, where buildings swayed for several minutes. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to move quickly to safe areas, advising people to avoid rivers and coastal zones and seek higher ground. Japan’s national broadcaster NHK displayed English alerts reading “Tsunami! Evacuate!” and “Don’t turn back” to warn foreign residents and visitors. The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that the quake originated at a depth of 10 kilometers. Authorities continued to monitor the situation as precautionary measures remained in place across affected regions.

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Abdullah Jafar bin Abiyah, paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at the ministry office in Dhaka on Monday. During the meeting, both sides discussed law and order, security issues, the issuance of Bangladeshi passports to 69,000 Rohingya living in Saudi Arabia, and ways to expand Saudi investment in Bangladesh’s tourism and energy sectors. The home minister welcomed the ambassador and described Saudi Arabia as one of Bangladesh’s closest partners. He highlighted opportunities for cooperation beyond manpower export, urging officials to explore new areas of collaboration. The ambassador emphasized expediting the passport process for Rohingya residents, to which the minister responded that 22,000 passports had already been issued based on proper documentation. He warned that any corruption or irregularities in passport issuance would not be tolerated. The ambassador invited the minister to visit Saudi Arabia with a high-level delegation to strengthen bilateral ties. The minister thanked him and indicated that a visit could take place in early July.

Internal communications among US government departments indicate that the Iran war has severely undermined Washington’s global security relationships and reputation. According to documents obtained by Politico, the conflict has weakened the US position in Bahrain, Azerbaijan, and Indonesia. Diplomatic cables describe growing anti-American sentiment and portrayals of the US as isolated in the face of Iranian aggression. Reports from US embassies show that American influence in Azerbaijan has collapsed, Bahrain’s government faces questions about US reliability, and calls are rising in Indonesia to scale back security cooperation. The messages also highlight a loss of public trust in Washington and the spread of anti-US narratives across multiple countries. Embassies have been instructed not to create original content about the Iran war and to post only messages approved by the White House or the State Department. Some diplomats reportedly fear speaking out under the Trump administration, which has sidelined them from foreign policy decisions and dismissed several officials.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the long-awaited Bogura City Corporation at 11:10 a.m. on April 20, 2026. During the ceremony, he called on residents to take responsibility for keeping their city clean. The event marked the fulfillment of a major local demand, with large numbers of people gathering along the streets to greet him. Before the inauguration, Rahman traveled by road from Dhaka at 6:10 a.m. and arrived in Bogura at 10:06 a.m. He unveiled the plaque of the newly constructed Bogura Bar Association building at 11:00 a.m. and addressed a meeting at the district court, emphasizing respect for the rule of law and stating that justice is a constitutional right, not an act of mercy. He then walked to the Bogura municipality, greeting citizens and party supporters along the way. The Prime Minister also mentioned that his government would resume development works in Bogura, including roads and drainage projects, similar to those undertaken between 2001 and 2006.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that the people of Bangladesh want a strong law to replace the existing disappearance ordinance by closing its loopholes and deficiencies. He made the remarks on Monday at a discussion and prayer meeting held at the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, marking the disappearance of former BNP organizing secretary Ilias Ali and his driver. Rizvi stated that the country is moving from a difficult period toward better times, but true progress will come only when the rule of law is ensured and justice is accessible to all citizens. He acknowledged the government’s initiative to repeal the disappearance ordinance but criticized it for leaving many gaps. He urged the government to pass an effective law in parliament to prevent any future administration from using enforced disappearances as a political tool. He further emphasized that missing political activists must be traced and those responsible brought to justice, while also calling for measures to stop market manipulation and abuse of power by any group.

Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, has denied reports that Moscow provided any military or intelligence assistance to Iran during the ongoing war. In an interview with the Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Jalali stated that claims of intelligence support were false and even acknowledged as inaccurate by Western sources. He clarified that all agreements between Iran and Russia were signed before the conflict began and are unrelated to current hostilities. Jalali also discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is now governed under a new legal framework ensuring safe navigation. He noted that ships can continue to operate under security considerations and legal regulations. However, he did not specify whether any fees would be imposed, mentioning that Iran’s parliament is reviewing various options. The ambassador added that high-level contacts between Russia and Iran remain active, with only minor delays in some joint projects such as the Rasht-Astara railway and nuclear cooperation initiatives.