A severe fuel shortage has caused widespread disruption across Dhaka, with motorists waiting for hours at petrol pumps without getting fuel. Many ride-share drivers have been unable to work, while others have switched to using the metro to avoid the long queues. On Thursday, long lines of motorcycles and private cars stretched up to two kilometers at several filling stations, with many returning empty-handed as supplies ran out. Some stations have closed entirely due to lack of fuel. Petrol pump owners reported receiving significantly less fuel than usual, forcing them to turn away customers. At some stations, tensions flared as drivers argued and fought over access to fuel, prompting police deployment at multiple locations including Motijheel and Arambagh. The congestion around operating pumps has also caused severe traffic jams in surrounding areas. The shortage has led to a surge in metro ridership as commuters seek alternatives to private vehicles. Many residents said they preferred public transport to avoid the frustration and time loss of waiting in long lines under the hot weather.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has accused the government of avoiding discussions on the ongoing energy crisis. Speaking on Friday morning at the district Ameer conference of Jamaat-e-Islami at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, he urged the government to work together with openness both inside and outside parliament to overcome the national crisis. He said that whenever they try to discuss issues such as the energy and electricity crisis, rising commodity prices, and fertilizer shortages, the government hides from dialogue. He acknowledged that these problems stem from global factors, not solely from the current administration, and called for collective solutions. Dr. Rahman also urged the government to accept the results of a public referendum and take steps to eliminate fascism from governance by turning related ordinances into laws. Supporting a recent statement by the Speaker, he said that if all 300 members of parliament act responsibly for the people, Bangladesh will change for the better. Senior Jamaat leaders, including A.T.M. Azharul Islam, Professor Mujibur Rahman, and Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, were present at the event.

Once a clear and vibrant natural reservoir, Foy’s Lake in Chattogram has become heavily polluted and toxic due to years of environmental mismanagement, encroachment, and industrial activity. The century-old lake, formerly home to at least 50 species of wildlife and a key water source for thousands, now shows signs of severe ecological collapse. Following a 2005 lease agreement between Bangladesh Railway and Concord Group for tourism development, unregulated construction, hill cutting, and motorized boat operations have destroyed the lake’s natural balance. Field inspections and laboratory tests by Chattogram WASA and Railway labs found alarming levels of chemical contamination, with biological oxygen demand dropping and chemical oxygen demand rising sharply. Experts report that most aquatic plants and animals have vanished, and the lake’s water has turned green-gray with oil layers blocking oxygen flow. Despite a 2017 lease cancellation, Concord continues operations under legal protection, while illegal settlements and waste dumping persist around the lake. Environmentalists and legal experts warn that the situation poses serious public health risks and call for immediate enforcement of environmental and lease conditions to restore the lake’s ecosystem.

The US Department of State announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals who assist or support adversaries acting against American interests. In a statement issued on Thursday, the department said that visas for 26 people have already been revoked under this policy. The move comes as President Donald Trump seeks to expand US influence across the Western Hemisphere during his second term. According to the State Department, the expanded visa restrictions aim to penalize those who knowingly help opposing powers by enabling control over strategic assets, undermining regional security, harming US economic interests, or engaging in influence operations. The statement did not mention any specific countries or groups, including China or drug trafficking networks. The announcement reflects Washington’s broader efforts to counter external threats and reinforce its geopolitical position in the Americas, aligning with the administration’s tougher stance on security and foreign influence.

Russia carried out one of its deadliest attacks of the year on Ukraine early Thursday, striking multiple cities including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. Officials reported at least 17 deaths, including a 12-year-old child, and dozens of injuries. In Kyiv, four people were killed when a drone hit an 18-story residential building, while fires and heavy smoke spread across the city. In Odesa, eight people were killed and 26 injured as a residential building and key infrastructure were damaged. Dnipro faced repeated strikes from Wednesday evening into the night, leaving four dead and about 30 injured, with another fatality reported in a separate attack. Two people were injured in Kharkiv following drone strikes. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said rescue operations were ongoing and the death toll could rise. Moscow claimed its attacks targeted Ukrainian power facilities, cruise missile sites, and drone production centers. Ukraine said it retaliated by striking Russian-occupied Crimea and infrastructure in Tuapse, where Russian media reported two deaths and seven injuries in a drone attack that caused a major fire.

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he may visit Pakistan if a potential agreement with Iran is finalized. Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for Las Vegas on Thursday, Trump said the likelihood of a deal between the United States and Iran has grown stronger. When asked whether the signing could take place in Islamabad, he stated that he would be ready to go there if necessary. To accelerate progress on the proposed agreement, U.S. Vice President JD Vance led a delegation to Islamabad last week for talks with Iranian officials. However, the discussions did not yield significant progress. The White House has confirmed that talks are underway to organize a second round of meetings, which could again be held in Pakistan. The developments highlight Washington’s continued diplomatic engagement in the region as efforts persist to reach a workable understanding with Tehran.

Australia will visit Bangladesh in June 2026 for a bilateral cricket series, marking their first tour of the country in over fifteen years. Cricket Australia confirmed the schedule in a statement on Friday. The tour will feature three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 (T20) matches. The ODI series will begin on June 9, with the remaining matches on June 11 and 14, all to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Following the ODIs, the T20 series will take place in Chattogram at the Birshreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium. The T20 matches are scheduled for June 17, 19, and 21. Australia last played an ODI series in Bangladesh in 2011 and a T20 series in 2021. The upcoming tour marks a significant return of high-profile international cricket to Bangladesh, renewing a long-standing cricketing rivalry between the two nations.

Bangladesh’s domestic debt has reached Tk 10.94 trillion by the end of January 2026, according to a Bangladesh Bank report released on Thursday. The figure stood at Tk 9.42 trillion a year earlier, marking an increase of Tk 1.51 trillion within twelve months. During the first seven months of the current fiscal year, the government borrowed Tk 72,647 crore from domestic sources, up from Tk 40,144 crore in the same period of the previous year. The report shows that Tk 64,923 crore was borrowed from the banking sector and Tk 7,723 crore from non-bank sources. Sector insiders attributed the rise to borrowing during the interim government period to cover election expenses, new bank investments, and operational costs amid lower-than-expected revenue collection. The interim government’s Tk 7.9 trillion budget projected a deficit of Tk 2.21 trillion, or 3.5 percent of GDP, with plans to borrow Tk 1.25 trillion domestically. By March 30, 2026, total bank borrowing had already exceeded the annual target, reaching Tk 6.56 trillion. The government’s foreign debt stood at Tk 9.49 trillion as of June 2025.

The article by the Director General of Iran’s Information Council analyzes why the recent Iran–US conflict failed to unfold as Washington had planned. Following a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, the United States entered what it expected to be a short, controlled engagement aimed at forcing Iran into retreat. Instead, the confrontation expanded into a 40-day war of attrition that imposed significant military, economic, and political costs on the US. According to the analysis, Washington misjudged Iran’s strategic behavior, underestimating its missile and air defense capabilities and the potential impact of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran shifted its focus from Israel to US bases across the region, while its technological advances challenged US air superiority. The conflict also revealed the resilience of Iranian society, which rallied around national resistance rather than collapsing under pressure. Regional allies aligned with Iran increased battlefield complexity, and NATO’s limited support exposed fractures in US alliances. The war’s continuation triggered domestic opposition in the US, rising oil prices, and international political setbacks. Ultimately, the US accepted Iran’s terms to begin negotiations after 40 days, marking a strategic deadlock that will likely shape future policy debates in Washington.

Four large diesel-laden ships are arriving at Chattogram Port between Friday, April 17, and the following Sunday, carrying around 141,000 tons of diesel. The consignment aims to stabilize Bangladesh’s fuel supply amid recent disruptions. Officials expect that once distribution begins, uncertainty in the transport, agriculture, and industrial sectors will ease significantly. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) estimates the new supply will meet national demand for about 12 days. According to the Chattogram Port Authority, three ships—MT Oaktree, MT Cape Bonny, and MT Lian Song Hu—are scheduled to anchor on Friday, while the fourth, MT Golden Horizon, will arrive on Sunday. Pride Shipping Lines’ managing director confirmed that the vessels are arriving on schedule and that quick unloading will accelerate fuel distribution. BPC officials reported that the country’s diesel stock has risen from 155,000 tons to about 296,000 tons, extending reserve capacity from 13 to 25 days. Diesel accounts for roughly 63 percent of Bangladesh’s total fuel demand, projected at 4.35 million tons for fiscal year 2024–25.

Turkiye’s leading missile manufacturer Roketsan is aiming to become one of the world’s top 10 defence exporters amid rising global demand for air defence and missile systems. The company, which currently exports to around 50 countries and ranks 71st among global defence firms, plans to expand mass production following the inauguration of new facilities by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Roketsan’s General Manager Murat Ikinci said the firm’s growth strategy is driven by lessons from recent conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Iran, which have underscored the importance of drone and hypersonic technologies. Turkiye’s defence industry expansion accelerated after Western sanctions and embargoes restricted access to foreign systems, prompting the country to develop a domestic ecosystem of nearly 4,000 local suppliers. With a local production rate exceeding 90 percent, the sector reported $10 billion in exports in 2025. Roketsan employs 3,200 engineers and is the third-largest R&D institution in Turkiye, focusing on systems such as the ALKA and BURC air defences and the Tayfun hypersonic missile. As global stockpiles of advanced weapon systems decline, Roketsan is positioning itself to fill supply gaps, offering joint production partnerships to allies in the Middle East, Far East, and Europe.

Syria announced on Thursday that it has taken full control of all military sites previously used by US forces, marking the completion of a coordinated handover following the departure of the final US convoy from Qasrak air base in Hasakah. The move ends a US military presence that began in 2014 during the campaign against ISIL. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with senior Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) leaders Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmad in Damascus to mark the transition, alongside senior government officials overseeing the integration of Kurdish-led fighters into national structures. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the handover reflected efforts to restore unified state authority across the country, including areas long outside Damascus’s control. It added that the process was conducted in full coordination with the United States, citing a constructive relationship that has developed since al-Sharaa’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in November. US Central Command confirmed that all major bases had been turned over as part of a deliberate, conditions-based transition. The transfer follows a January deal between Damascus and the SDF that brought Kurdish fighters into the Syrian national army and restored government control over key cities and border areas.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran as part of Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to help turn the current ceasefire between Iran and the United States into lasting peace. The meeting took place during Munir’s official visit to Iran, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other senior officials. The delegation arrived in Tehran on Wednesday and was received by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. During the visit, Munir also held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Araghchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing mutual interests, with particular emphasis on regional security and cooperation. Ahead of the Pakistani delegation’s arrival, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that Tehran would convey a message from the United States, indicating diplomatic engagement around the ceasefire and regional stability.

The United States House of Representatives narrowly rejected a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran. The measure failed by a single vote, 214 to 213, following a similar defeat in the Senate the previous day. The vote reflected growing unity among Democrats, with three members switching to support the resolution, while only one Republican, co-sponsor Thomas Massie, voted in favor. The outcome underscored continued Republican resistance to restricting Trump’s military powers as the conflict with Iran entered its sixth week. Democrats accused Republicans of granting Trump unchecked power after he and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. They argued that the president was exceeding constitutional limits, while Trump’s administration maintained that Iran’s actions since 1979 justified self-defensive measures. Ceasefire negotiations remain ongoing, with the US and Iran considering renewed talks in Pakistan after earlier efforts failed. Trump also announced a 10-day pause in Lebanon fighting, though Hezbollah’s participation was unclear. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US was prepared to resume attacks on Iran’s energy facilities if diplomacy failed. The antiwar group Demand Progress criticized both parties for neglecting Congress’s constitutional duty and urged renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Anindya Islam Amit, announced that the country currently has full fuel reserves for April and May. He made the statement on Friday while speaking to journalists after inspecting Eastern Refinery Limited in Chattogram. The minister added that efforts are underway to secure adequate reserves for June to maintain uninterrupted energy supply. He claimed that Bangladesh now holds the highest fuel reserves in its history. The government is working to import both refined and crude fuel from alternative sources to strengthen supply security. According to the minister, refined fuel supply is being expanded, and initiatives have been taken to import crude oil for Eastern Refinery from countries including Malaysia. The announcement reflects the government’s ongoing strategy to ensure energy stability and diversify import sources amid rising demand across the country.