The New Zealand national cricket team has arrived in Dhaka to play a white-ball series against Bangladesh. The 26-member squad landed in the capital late on April 13 and was taken directly to the team hotel under tight security. Most of the players traveled together, while three others joined later after completing duties with the New Zealand ‘A’ team in Sri Lanka. The group includes players, coaching staff, and team management members. The One Day International (ODI) series will begin on April 17 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, with the second ODI scheduled for April 20 at the same venue. The third and final ODI will take place in Chattogram on April 23. The T20 series will follow, starting with two matches on April 27 and 29 in Chattogram, before concluding with the final T20 on May 2 in Mirpur. The arrival marks the start of another high-profile bilateral series on Bangladeshi soil, continuing the cricketing engagements between the two nations.

Ninety-two students from Baligaon High School in Feni Sadar upazila have been granted permission to sit for this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. The confirmation came on Monday, April 13, from the district’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT), following earlier reports in local newspapers about the students’ uncertain exam participation. The issue arose when the school’s office assistant, Mihir Chandra Shil, allegedly embezzled 117,000 taka meant for board fees, preventing the issuance of admit cards. Despite months passing, the head teacher and other officials failed to verify whether the payment had been made. The problem surfaced when other schools received admit cards but Baligaon High School did not. Teachers later collected 125,000 taka from coaching funds and contacted the Comilla Education Board to resolve the matter. With assistance from the district administration, the school’s governing body, and the Feni Sadar Upazila Executive Officer, the board finally issued the admit cards, ensuring that all 92 students could participate in the exams starting April 21.

Barcelona and Liverpool face crucial second-leg matches in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, both seeking dramatic turnarounds. Barcelona will play Atlético Madrid in Spain’s capital after losing the first leg 2–0 while reduced to ten men. Liverpool, meanwhile, host Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield, also trailing 2–0 from the first leg. Both matches are scheduled to start at 1 a.m. Bangladesh time. Barcelona enter the match under pressure but buoyed by recent domestic form. The team, led by Hansi Flick, recently defeated Espanyol 4–1 in La Liga, with Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest player to reach 100 appearances while contributing a goal and two assists. Atlético’s past elimination after winning a first leg offers further encouragement for Barcelona. Liverpool’s challenge is equally steep after goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave PSG a strong advantage. Yet Anfield’s history of famous comebacks, including a 4–0 win over Barcelona in 2019, fuels optimism. A recent 2–0 victory over Fulham ended a three-match losing streak, and four wins in their last five home games have strengthened belief in another memorable night.

Chattogram’s iconic DC Hill, long regarded as a symbol of the city’s cultural and historical identity, is witnessing renewed optimism as new Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia initiates efforts to restore its heritage. On Pahela Baishakh, the hill once again drew attention as a potential hub for cultural revival through rapid renovation, beautification, and reintroduction of public events. The site carries deep historical significance, notably linked to poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s 1926 visit, which inspired the creation of Nazrul Square in 2004. Over time, neglect and restrictions eroded much of its cultural infrastructure. Since 2017, most events except Pahela Baishakh celebrations were banned due to noise and privacy concerns, leading to public disappointment and protests from cultural groups. With the new restoration drive, residents are hopeful that DC Hill will regain its role as an open cultural gathering place, preserving both the city’s heritage and its communal spirit.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has imposed stricter control over the correction process of National Identity Cards (NID), concentrating key decision-making authority in the hands of the NID Wing’s Director General (DG). Under the new regulation, any correction of birth year or other critical data now requires the DG’s approval, ending the previous system that allowed field-level officers to handle certain cases. The revised rules were enacted through amendments to the regulations governing NID data correction, verification, and supply. The EC stated that the new system aims to curb fraudulent corrections and ensure data integrity. Applicants must now provide a valid Secondary School Certificate (SSC) for any data change, and if multiple certificates exist, only one will be retained. The rules also simplify address transfers within parents’ registered addresses and ease procedures for individuals who have converted religions, provided they submit certification from a recognized religious leader. However, officials and analysts warned that centralization could slow processing and increase citizen inconvenience. According to EC officials, the commission may consider restoring some decentralized authority once the new system stabilizes and compliance improves.

The trial of the 2001 Ramna Batamul bomb attack in Dhaka remains incomplete even after 25 years. The attack occurred on April 14, 2001, during the Chhayanaut New Year celebration, killing ten people. While the murder case related to the attack concluded in 2014 with eight death sentences and six life imprisonments, the explosives case is still pending. The case is currently at the stage of defendants’ self-defense hearings under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The next hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2026. Court records show that witness testimony in the explosives case ended in March 2022, but procedural delays and the absence of defendants from court have stalled progress. Prosecutors said 54 of 84 witnesses have testified and expressed hope for a verdict before the next Bengali New Year. Defense lawyers argued that some accused have been in custody for nearly two decades without resolution, calling it a violation of justice. The case involves eleven accused, including several already sentenced in the murder case. Two remain fugitives, and two are on bail, while the rest are in custody across different prisons, complicating court appearances.

The traditional Bangla New Year celebration organized by Chhayanaut began at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The event started just after sunrise with a choral performance of a song welcoming the new dawn. From early morning, people gathered in front of the banyan tree to join the festivities, which symbolize the triumph of good over evil and the hope for a prosperous year ahead. According to Chhayanaut authorities, this year’s morning program features a diverse collection of musical performances. The lineup includes eight choral songs, fourteen solo songs, and two poetry recitations, totaling twenty-two performances. The main event will conclude with the national anthem. The celebration continues a long-standing cultural tradition that marks the beginning of the Bengali calendar year, drawing large crowds to Ramna Batamul each year.

An article by Dr. Ahmad Anisur Rahman, published on April 14, 2026, discusses the cultural and historical roots of Pohela Boishakh, the Bangla New Year. The author emphasizes that like all cultural elements, the celebration’s value depends on its proper use and warns against distortions caused by foreign or colonial influences. He argues that national culture must serve the nation’s life and progress, not degenerate into irrelevant or harmful practices. The essay traces the origin of the Bangla calendar, explaining that it was introduced around 1556 CE as a solar adaptation of the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar, known as the ‘Fasli’ year, to align with Bengal’s agricultural cycles. It contrasts this with the much older Indian Vikrami calendar, clarifying that the Bangla calendar is distinct and rooted in Bengal’s own socio-religious and economic context. The article also outlines the historical background of Bengal’s Muslim governance and its connection to the broader Islamic world through the Caliphate system. The author concludes that preserving the authentic spirit of Pohela Boishakh requires awareness of its historical and cultural foundations to prevent misuse or cultural erosion.

Bangladesh is experiencing a sharp decline in both domestic and foreign investment, with private sector credit growth dropping to 6.03 percent in February 2026—the lowest in two decades, according to Bangladesh Bank. The slowdown follows months of reduced investment activity and growing uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict, rising oil prices, and supply chain disruptions. Despite these challenges, the BNP government aims to create 10 million new jobs within 18 months through investment-driven growth. To revive industrial activity, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed efforts to reopen sick and closed factories, while four key investment agencies—BIDA, BEZA, PPP Authority, and MIDA—have jointly prepared a 180-day action plan focusing on infrastructure, investment support, and development. However, economists and business leaders doubt the feasibility of the government’s employment target amid global economic instability and declining exports. The World Bank warns that ongoing conflicts could push about 1.2 million Bangladeshis below the poverty line, with economic recovery forecasts for 2026 now at risk. Experts emphasize that stabilizing the economy, rather than rapid job creation, remains Bangladesh’s most urgent challenge.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a Baishakhi procession in Dhaka on Tuesday morning under the banner of the 'Deshiya Sangskritik Sangshad'. The procession began in front of the National Press Club and concluded at Ramna Park. Participants included Jamaat leaders, activists, and people from various professions across the capital. They carried traditional rural items such as fishing nets, winnowing trays, and other cultural symbols. Throughout the procession, artists performed patriotic and folk songs including jari, sari, and bhatiali, creating a festive atmosphere. Before the march began, speakers at a brief gathering emphasized that blind imitation of foreign and Western cultures is harmful to the nation. They urged the government to take effective steps to restore the true Bengali spirit and lost traditions. The event reflected Jamaat-e-Islami’s effort to align itself with national cultural celebrations while promoting the preservation of indigenous heritage.

Seven people were killed and six others injured when a rice-laden truck lost control and plunged into a roadside ditch on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Daudkandi, Cumilla, early Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Police confirmed the incident, stating that the truck, traveling from Dinajpur to Chattogram, overturned at Hasanpur on the Chattogram-bound lane, trapping 13 passengers beneath it. According to Daudkandi Highway Police, the deceased were identified as residents of Dinajpur’s Nawabganj and Birampur upazilas. Rescue teams from the Daudkandi Fire Service and Civil Defense recovered the bodies around 2:43 a.m. and sent the injured to a hospital for treatment. The bodies are currently in police custody, and legal procedures are underway. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the loss of control, and the investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.

Former US diplomat Jeffrey Feltman has said that differences between the United States and Israel over Iran’s military capabilities have become increasingly visible. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he noted that Israel and other close US allies are more concerned about Iran’s ballistic missile program than its nuclear activities. Feltman explained that this issue has become a key point of divergence in shaping military strategies toward Iran. He added that Gulf countries share similar concerns, as they had believed the US air defense systems provided a strong security shield. However, recent conflicts have repeatedly breached those defenses, undermining their confidence. Analysts cited in the report suggested that this growing divergence could influence future joint strategies by the US and its allies regarding Iran. The report also mentioned that the differing threat perceptions among allies may complicate coordinated policy responses to Iran’s regional activities.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that recent discussions between Washington and Tehran have achieved significant progress. In an interview with Fox News, he said the talks clarified conditions under which the United States might show flexibility and identified key issues needed for a 'good deal' for the country. Vance described the meeting as a historic milestone, noting it was possibly the first time such high-level talks occurred between the two governments. Addressing regional tensions, Vance accused Iran of engaging in 'economic terrorism' by threatening global trade routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. He defended the US naval blockade against Iranian shipping as a necessary countermeasure, asserting that Washington was prepared to act firmly if Iran disrupted international commerce. While maintaining a tough stance, Vance added that President Donald Trump still wished prosperity for the Iranian people. He cautioned that despite progress, the final outcome of the talks would depend on how far Iran was willing to advance the process.

A fuel shortage has triggered significant price hikes in essential commodities across Dhaka, creating instability in the city’s markets. Prices of vegetables, fish, eggs, and certain types of chicken have surged sharply, while beef and mutton prices remain stable. At Karwan Bazar, most vegetables are selling above Tk 80 per kilogram, with some items like kakrol and drumsticks reaching Tk 140. Hilsa fish prices have soared ahead of Pahela Baishakh, with large sizes selling up to Tk 3,500 per kilogram. Open soybean and palm oil prices have also risen by Tk 10 per liter, and LPG cylinder prices have increased beyond the government’s fixed rate. Traders attribute the price surge to reduced supply and higher transportation costs caused by the ongoing fuel crisis. Sellers report that local and Sonali chicken prices have increased by up to Tk 100 per kilogram compared to pre-Eid levels, while egg prices have risen by Tk 10 per dozen within a week. The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has blamed weak government monitoring and opportunistic traders for worsening the situation. Market participants warn that if the fuel shortage continues, prices of daily essentials could rise further in the coming days.

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the New York Times for its coverage of the ongoing Iran war. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump labeled the newspaper as “corrupt” and accused it of spreading “fake news.” He claimed that despite Iran being completely defeated militarily and otherwise, the Times’ reporting gives the impression that Iran is winning or performing well. Trump further questioned the integrity of the publication, demanding to know when it would apologize for what he described as lies and disgraceful actions against him, his supporters, and the country. He also accused the media outlet of lacking shame and decency. The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and come amid heightened tensions surrounding the Iran conflict and differing narratives in international media coverage.