Bangladesh has started drilling its first deep exploration well at the Titas gas field in Brahmanbaria’s Budhal area. The drilling was inaugurated by Petrobangla’s Director (Finance) Mizanur Rahman on Sunday. Officials expect the well to add about 15 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid upon completion. The Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL) currently supplies around 325 million cubic feet of gas daily from 22 existing wells at Titas, with production declining due to reduced pressure and reserves. To address the decline, BGFCL launched a 3D seismic survey and initiated two deep exploration wells at Titas and Bakhrabad fields, with a total cost of Tk 594 crore. The new Titas-31 well will reach a depth of 5,600 meters and take about seven months to complete, with Chinese contractor CCDC handling the drilling. According to project officials, seismic data suggest reserves of 1–1.5 trillion cubic feet of gas. If successful, the project could lead to seven additional wells and mark a milestone for Bangladesh’s energy sector, contributing to national energy security amid global supply uncertainties.

Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the security of the Hormuz Strait cannot be guaranteed for free. In a post on social media platform X, he said that those obstructing Iran’s oil exports should not expect to receive security benefits without cost. Aref emphasized that the choice is clear: either the global oil market remains open to all, or everyone faces the risk of significant losses. He further noted that the stability of global energy prices depends on a definite and lasting end to economic and military pressures against Iran and its allies. His remarks highlight Tehran’s stance linking regional security and global energy stability to the lifting of restrictions on its oil trade. The statement underscores Iran’s warning that continued economic and military pressure could have broader consequences for international energy markets and maritime security in the region.

After a long wait, the 150-year-old Bogura Municipality is being upgraded to a city corporation today, Monday, April 20, 2026. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally inaugurate the new Bogura City Corporation during his visit to the district. All preparations have been completed for the event, which will make Bogura the country’s 13th city corporation and recognize it as a metropolitan area, according to municipal officials. Bogura’s municipal history dates back to 1869, when the Bogura Town Committee was formed under British rule. Over time, the municipality expanded in size and population, reaching 69.56 square kilometers with 21 wards and about 700,000 residents. Despite fulfilling all criteria for city corporation status, Bogura remained a municipality for decades, which locals attributed to political neglect. The interim government approved the upgrade following recommendations from local authorities and the Ministry of Local Government. Local BNP leaders said the city’s transformation fulfills a long-cherished dream of residents and expressed hope that Bogura will now develop as a model city corporation under the new administration.

Former US ambassador Donald Heflin has said that while there is optimism about a possible second round of talks between the United States and Iran, the process will not be easy. Speaking about the prospects of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, Heflin explained that the discussions would not simply result in an immediate ceasefire or a comprehensive written agreement to end hostilities. He described the process as one that would move forward in stages, with partial agreements and occasional setbacks. Heflin noted that misunderstandings and accusations of bad faith could arise during the talks, yet both sides have incentives to reach a lasting ceasefire. He expressed confidence that such an outcome is achievable despite ongoing tensions. Heflin also mentioned that US Vice President JD Vance is en route to Islamabad and suggested that Iran is likely to send representatives to participate in the discussions.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the nationwide measles vaccination campaign on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Little Angel Seminary in Zinda Park, Rupganj, Narayanganj. The program aims to vaccinate about 18 million children across 18 districts, 30 upazilas, and 4 city corporations. According to the schedule, the first phase of the campaign began on April 5 and will continue until April 25, while the second phase, which started on April 12, will run until May 12. The newly launched nationwide special campaign will continue in city corporation areas until May 20 and in other parts of the country until May 12. Earlier, on April 5, the measles-rubella vaccination program started in 30 upazilas of 18 districts, followed by a second phase on April 12 in four major city corporations—Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Barishal, and Mymensingh.

A severe fuel shortage has disrupted lighter vessel operations at Chattogram Port, leaving foreign mother vessels stranded at the outer anchorage. Normally, about 1,200 lighter vessels transport goods from these large ships to various destinations across Bangladesh, but the number has dropped by half due to the diesel crisis. Only a few vessels are operating short routes, while most remain idle, severely slowing cargo unloading and creating artificial shortages of essential goods. Importers are also paying daily demurrage charges of thousands of dollars for delayed unloading. Port officials said that 100 mother vessels were in port waters last Saturday, nearly double the usual number, with 27 waiting for unloading. The shortage of lighter vessels has particularly affected coal shipments for power plants, leaving three coal-laden mother vessels idle. Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited reported that its 1,320 MW plant in Patuakhali needs 935,000 liters of diesel monthly to maintain operations and has urged authorities to ensure supply. Industry representatives warned that without immediate crisis management and fuel allocation, the situation could damage Bangladesh’s trade reputation and further strain the national economy.

Pakistan is intensifying preparations for a possible second round of talks, with strict security measures in place across key areas of Islamabad, including the Red Zone. Several roads have been closed, creating a partial lockdown atmosphere in the capital. Over the past 24 hours, multiple U.S. military transport aircraft, including C-17 Globemasters, have reportedly landed in Islamabad, carrying advance teams, security personnel, and armored vehicles. More aircraft are expected to arrive. Iran’s participation in the upcoming discussions remains uncertain, though Pakistan continues active diplomatic engagement. The country’s Chief of Defense Forces recently completed a three-day visit to Tehran, viewed as part of efforts to manage the evolving situation. The arrival of U.S. representatives suggests a strong likelihood that the talks will proceed, but recent tensions and firm rhetoric from both sides have cast uncertainty over the outcome. The direction of developments now depends on the diplomatic positions and decisions of the involved parties.

Supporters of controversial businessman S Alam staged a large demonstration in front of Islami Bank’s head office in Motijheel, Dhaka, on Sunday morning, demanding that the bank’s ownership be returned to the fugitive businessman and that dismissed employees be reinstated. Participants, many from Patiya in Chattogram, included former staff of Islami Bank and five other Shariah-based banks once under S Alam’s control. Police were deployed to maintain order, and nearby roads were closed during the protest. The demonstration followed a recent parliamentary amendment allowing former owners to regain control of banks previously taken over under an interim government ordinance. After S Alam’s followers left, depositors under the Islami Bank Customer Coordination Council held a counter rally at the same site, opposing any move to reinstate S Alam. They demanded his arrest and the recovery of allegedly embezzled funds, warning of resistance if he attempted to return. Bank officials stated that reinstatement of dismissed employees depends on court rulings and Bangladesh Bank audits. They described the protest as an attempt to create unrest, noting that many participants were brought from outside Dhaka.

Israel’s military reported that since February 28, at least 16 of its soldiers have been killed and 690 injured amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran and Lebanon. The figures were released on Sunday, according to Anadolu. Among the injured, 96 are in serious condition and 42 are in critical condition, while 149 soldiers remain hospitalized. In the past 24 hours alone, 37 new injuries were recorded, most resulting from explosive attacks, though the specific locations were not disclosed. Israeli media outlet Maariv reported that two soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded in two separate explosions in the so-called “Yellow Line” area of southern Lebanon, an informal boundary extending 4 to 10 kilometers inside Lebanon. The report highlights the continuing intensity of the conflict along Israel’s northern front, with the military facing sustained casualties as clashes persist in the border region.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the security of the Hormuz Strait will not come free, according to a report by Al Jazeera. In a post on social media platform X, Aref said that limiting Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others is unrealistic. He emphasized that the choice is clear: ensure a free oil market for all or face significant costs. Aref further noted that global energy price stability depends on the permanent end of economic and military pressure on Iran and its allies. His comments come at a time of heightened tension surrounding the Hormuz Strait and worsening relations between the United States and Iran. The statement underscores Iran’s position linking its oil export freedom to regional and global energy security, suggesting potential implications for international energy markets if tensions persist.

An Iranian academic has warned that tensions could escalate rapidly following a reported US attack on an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Oman. Hassan Ahmadian, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera that the situation had changed overnight after the incident. He said Iranian officials had previously made clear they would not accept any blockade on Iranian cargo ships and would continue operating under their existing policies. Ahmadian described the US blockade as equivalent to an act of war under international law and warned that further seizures or attacks on Iranian vessels would provoke reciprocal action from Iran. He added that while Iran had sought to avoid being drawn into conflict, the current US administration appeared intent on forcing Tehran into submission. The comments come amid rising regional tensions, with related reports of drone attacks on US warships and continued unrest in the West Bank, suggesting a broader climate of instability.

Iran has acknowledged that a United States military force attacked and seized an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman, according to a statement cited by semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The statement from Iran’s Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters confirmed that US forces fired on the ship, disabling it before boarding and taking control. Tehran described the incident as an act of maritime piracy and a violation of international law. The Iranian statement warned that the country’s armed forces would soon respond to what it called armed piracy by the United States. The announcement marks the first time Iran has directly confirmed the seizure, following earlier conflicting accounts from both sides. The report was carried by Al Jazeera and local media. The confirmation and warning signal a potential escalation in tensions between Iran and the United States over maritime security in the region, though no timeline or details of Iran’s planned response were provided.

Former Human Rights Watch chief Kenneth Roth has said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iran’s power plants and bridges would amount to a war crime if carried out. In an interview with the BBC, Roth stated that Trump was effectively threatening large-scale war crimes by targeting civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilian objects such as power stations and bridges. Roth explained that even if such facilities have dual-use purposes, meaning they can serve both civilian and military functions, the law still forbids attacks that would cause disproportionate harm to civilians. He added that ignoring these principles would violate international norms that the U.S. government and the global community are expected to uphold. In response, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz rejected Roth’s characterization, calling it false, baseless, and absurd. Waltz argued that such infrastructure could be considered legitimate military targets. Trump’s warning of possible strikes on Iran’s key infrastructure has sparked international debate.

Iran has accused the United States of breaking promises and betraying diplomacy, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made the remarks during a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying that the U.S. repeatedly violated commitments during talks and ceasefire periods and acted in an oppressive and unreasonable manner. Pezeshkian stated that the so-called naval blockade against Iran constitutes a provocative and illegal act, violating the ceasefire agreement and contradicting the United Nations Charter. He emphasized that U.S. officials’ threatening statements and such actions have deepened distrust about Washington’s sincerity and revealed that the U.S. intends to repeat its previous patterns of behavior and betray diplomacy once again. The Iranian president further asserted that Iran would defend its territorial integrity against any new adventurism by the United States and the Zionist regime.

Iran’s state-affiliated media reported that the country’s forces thwarted an alleged US attempt to seize an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman. According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, US forces stationed near the area fired at the ship to force it back into Iranian waters. The report stated that the vessel was supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, whose rapid response compelled the American forces to withdraw from the area. The report added that Iran’s account of the incident differs from earlier statements made by US President Donald Trump. However, the name of the vessel involved was not disclosed in the report. The incident was covered by Al Jazeera, citing Iranian sources. No further details were provided about the timing of the event or any potential damage or casualties resulting from the exchange.