Laxmipur-1 Member of Parliament Shahadat Hossain Selim has denied the long-circulated claim that residents of Noakhali ate Mahatma Gandhi’s goat. He made the statement on Tuesday while participating in a parliamentary discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. The BNP lawmaker referred to his constituency’s historical background and asserted that the allegation was entirely false. Selim said that his birthplace, Korpora village in Laxmipur, played a role in the 1946 Pakistan movement and that Gandhi had visited the area to promote peace during communal unrest. Historical accounts mention that Gandhi stayed in Noakhali for four months during the 1946 riots, bringing a goat for milk. A popular story claims that local men stole and cooked the goat, but Selim rejected this version as baseless. Laxmipur was once part of Noakhali until 1984, when the district was divided to create Feni and Laxmipur. Selim’s remarks aimed to defend the reputation of his region and its people from what he described as a historical misconception.

A violent clash broke out on Tuesday at Chittagong Government City College between members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, and Islami Chhatra Shibir over the rewriting of a wall graffiti related to the 'July–August' movement. The confrontation, which began around noon after hours of tension, led to a Shibir activist suffering a severe leg injury, with his ankle reportedly severed. Police and college authorities intervened to control the situation, but further clashes erupted during a Shibir protest later in the day. According to local sources and college officials, the conflict began when a group led by a Chhatra Dal leader allegedly altered a graffiti that originally read “campus free from student politics and Chhatra League.” The incident’s video spread on social media, escalating tensions between the two groups. Both sides accused each other of launching attacks, and several people were reported injured. College authorities temporarily suspended internal classes and some exams for safety reasons, though national university exams continued. Additional police were deployed, and officials said the situation was under control.

On the first day of this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations, a total of 25,408 students were absent across 11 education boards on Tuesday. The highest number of absentees was recorded under the Madrasa Education Board, where 11,211 students missed the Dakhil examination. Only six students were expelled nationwide, including four from the Madrasa Board and one each from the Dhaka and Dinajpur boards. The data was presented in a report signed by Professor Dr. Khondoker Ehsanul Kabir, chairman of the Dhaka Board and head of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee. According to the report, under the nine general education boards, 1,122,963 students took part in the Bangla (compulsory) first paper and Easy Bangla first paper exams out of 1,134,853 registered candidates, leaving 11,890 absent. In the Madrasa Board’s Quran Majid and Tajweed exam, 243,692 students participated out of 254,903, while the Technical Education Board saw 2,307 absentees out of 119,250 registered candidates. This year, a total of 1,857,344 students are participating in the SSC and equivalent exams under 11 boards, including 930,305 boys and 927,039 girls.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard detained 15 individuals and seized four dredgers, two bulkheads, and two trawlers in separate operations in Narayanganj and Rajbari. The operations were conducted on Monday evening and early Tuesday, according to Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon. In Narayanganj’s Dharmaganj area, five suspects were detained while illegally extracting sand, and the seized equipment was placed under legal process. In a separate operation in Rajbari’s Goalanda Ghat area, 13 suspects were detained for illegal sand extraction, along with one dredger and two bulkheads. Three of the detainees were minors and were released after signing undertakings. The remaining suspects and seized items were handed over to the Goalanda River Police for legal action. The Coast Guard stated that such operations will continue to protect agricultural land and residential areas from illegal sand mining activities.

A Mymensingh court has sentenced seven people to death for the murder of college student Shahinur Alam, also known as Iqbal, in Tarakanda upazila. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday afternoon by District and Sessions Judge Md Zakir Hossain. Two female defendants, Khaleda Akter and Rehena Khatun, were each sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment, fined Tk 25,000, and given an additional one-year term in default of payment. According to the case details, Iqbal, a civil engineering student at Rumdo Polytechnic Institute, went missing on May 31, 2021, after leaving his home in Palashkanda Tanpara village. His decomposed body was recovered five days later from an abandoned septic tank in the same village. His brother Selim Mia filed a murder case on June 6, 2021, accusing Asif Rana Naeem and others, citing a land dispute as the motive. Police later submitted a charge sheet following investigation. Public Prosecutor Advocate Anwar Aziz Tutul said the court reached its decision after hearing testimony from 24 witnesses. The victim’s family expressed satisfaction with the verdict and called for its swift execution.

Pakistan has expanded its strategic influence through a mutual defense agreement signed with Saudi Arabia in September 2025. The pact, built on decades of quiet military cooperation, reinforces Pakistan’s central role in Gulf security. Despite India’s major economic interests in the region, including remittances and energy dependence, New Delhi has failed to establish comparable defense or security frameworks, leaving it marginal in regional security architecture. The analysis highlights Pakistan’s ability to convert limitations into strategic assets, contrasting with India’s cautious approach. Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran further demonstrate its growing indispensability in global diplomacy. Historically, Pakistan has leveraged its military ties and nuclear capability to maintain relevance, from facilitating U.S.-China rapprochement in 1971 to serving as a key partner in the Afghan conflict and the post-2001 war on terror. The report concludes that Pakistan’s geographic position and strategic ambiguity, including hints of a potential “nuclear umbrella” for Saudi Arabia, enhance its importance in a volatile regional environment, while India’s strength has paradoxically limited its flexibility.

Bangladeshi short film 'Ali', directed by Adnan Al Rajib, has won the Diversity Award at the prestigious Filmfest Bremen 2026 in Germany. The award was announced on April 19 during the festival’s official ceremony in Bremen, recognizing the film’s creative portrayal of social realities and stories of marginalized communities. The director joined the event virtually to express gratitude, dedicating the achievement to his team and the people of Bangladesh. Filmfest Bremen is one of Europe’s notable international film festivals. The Diversity Award honors films that creatively highlight themes of identity, diversity, and marginalized voices. 'Ali' had previously received a Special Mention in the Short Film category at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, drawing international attention. Competing with films from various languages and cultures, 'Ali’s' success at Bremen reinforces its global appeal and demonstrates how a powerful story can transcend geographical boundaries.

A mobile court in Sunamganj’s Dowarabazar upazila fined a businessman for selling fuel at prices higher than the government-fixed rate. The operation took place on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in the Banglabazar area. The court, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Arup Ratan Singh, imposed a cash fine of 25,000 taka on Abdul Matin, owner of Arif Fuel Supply and joint convener of the local Volunteer Party unit. According to court sources, consumers had recently complained that the shop was charging excessive prices for fuel. A surprise inspection confirmed the allegations, leading to the fine under Section 40 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009. This was the first penalty imposed on the business for such an offense. Executive Magistrate Arup Ratan Singh stated that the administration remains firm on stabilizing prices of essential goods and fuel. He warned that any trader creating artificial shortages or overcharging consumers would face legal action, adding that such drives would continue regularly in the public interest.

An 18-year-old Alim examinee named Jesmin Akter Ritu died in a road accident in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna on Monday morning, April 21, 2026. The incident occurred at the Ruppur Mor area of Pakshi Union when she was traveling by easybike with a friend. Her scarf became entangled in the vehicle’s wheel, causing her to fall onto the road and sustain severe injuries. Local residents rescued her and took her to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead. According to police, Ritu was the daughter of Zahidul Islam from Saraikandi village in Muladuli Union and a student of Dashuria Madinatul Ulum Alim Madrasa. She suffered serious head and ear injuries that made her condition critical at the scene. Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Ashadur Rahman stated that no complaint was filed by the family, and the body was handed over to relatives after completing legal procedures.

At a roundtable titled 'Judicial Independence and Reform: Constitutional Obligations, Court Directives, and Public Expectations' organized by Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN) at the National Press Club on Tuesday, speakers criticized the government for rejecting interim government ordinances related to judicial reform. They said the government promised to enact better laws but its actions have failed to reassure citizens. Acting SUJAN president Justice M A Matin stated that there is a conspiracy to undermine reform under the guise of amendment, warning that the nation will not accept such attempts. He recalled that despite constitutional provisions for judicial independence, no government took steps until 1995, when the Supreme Court issued landmark directives in the Masdar Hossain case. He said the interim government later issued two ordinances to strengthen judicial independence, which were later nullified. Other speakers, including Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and SUJAN secretary Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, emphasized the need to restore public trust in the judiciary and urged the government to form a constitutional reform council without delay.

The British American Resource Center has announced a job circular to recruit two Product Development Managers. Applications will remain open until May 15, 2026. Selected candidates will receive a monthly salary of 35,000 taka along with benefits as per the organization’s policy. The positions are full-time and based in Uttara Sector 11, Dhaka. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree and have at least two years of relevant experience. Both male and female candidates aged 22 or above are eligible to apply. The job offers various benefits including travel allowance, mobile bill, performance bonus, profit share, annual increment, lunch facilities, and two festival bonuses per year. Interested candidates can apply online through the provided link before the deadline. The announcement highlights the organization’s effort to attract qualified professionals for its product development team.

On April 21, 2026, a total of 54 students were absent on the first day of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil, and Vocational examinations held across eight centers in Raozan upazila of Chattogram. According to the Upazila Secondary Education Office, the exams were conducted at four school centers, three madrasa centers, and one vocational center. The office reported that 3,595 students registered for the SSC exams, including 1,397 boys and 2,198 girls, with 23 students absent. In the Dakhil exams, 989 students were registered—519 boys and 470 girls—with 27 absentees. For the vocational exams, 313 students were registered—231 boys and 82 girls—with four absentees. The SSC exams took place at RRAC Model School, Gahira AJYM High School, Noapara High School, and Dewanpur SK Sen High School, while the Dakhil exams were held at three local madrasas. The report did not mention reasons for the absences or any official comments regarding the first day’s attendance.

Bangladeshi online activist Saniur Rahman, also known as Satya Sadhu, was arrested in India under Uttarakhand Police’s Operation Kalnami. The arrest followed years of his living under a false identity as a Hindu monk named Satyanistha Arya in Rishikesh. Authorities reportedly recovered a Bangladeshi passport from him, suggesting he had entered India illegally through the Nepal border in 2016 and evaded detection for years. The report describes Rahman’s ideological transformation from a self-proclaimed atheist and Shahbag movement participant in Bangladesh to a proponent of militant Hindutva in India. It portrays his shift as opportunistic, arguing that his earlier secular activism masked deep-seated hostility toward Islam. His alleged involvement in aggressive acts against minority communities, including an attack on a church in Ghaziabad, is cited as evidence of his continued extremism. The incident raises concerns about cross-border extremism and weaknesses in India’s border and intelligence systems. It also serves as a cautionary example of how ideological extremism can mutate across religious lines, destabilizing social harmony.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has clarified his recent remark referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'terrorist'. Kharge explained that he did not mean Modi is a terrorist but intended to highlight that Modi instills fear among people and political parties. He accused Modi of misusing institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, and Central Bureau of Investigation to intimidate opponents. The comment was made during a press conference on April 21, ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections, where Kharge criticized the BJP-AIADMK alliance. He questioned how AIADMK leaders could align with Modi, claiming that such an alliance undermines democracy and the ideals of leaders like Annadurai, Kamaraj, and Ambedkar. The ruling BJP strongly condemned Kharge’s statement and labeled the Congress party as an 'urban Naxal party'. The exchange follows Modi’s earlier criticism of opposition parties over the women’s reservation bill, where he used the term 'foeticide', intensifying the political confrontation between the two major parties.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon MP stated that Bangladesh inherited a crippled economy. He made the remark on Monday night during a discussion meeting organized by the Gournadi Upazila and Municipality BNP and its affiliated organizations in Barishal. The minister said the government had to borrow money from banks within three months due to a severe budget deficit, as revenue from VAT covers less than half of the national budget. Swapon added that the country’s social structure has broken down, with administrative institutions, especially the police and bureaucracy, suffering from a toxic environment. He described the current period after the election as a temporary “honeymoon,” warning that public scrutiny would soon intensify. He emphasized that in the modern era, mistakes spread quickly and trigger immediate public reaction. The minister further noted that state power now depends on public approval, citing that no government can survive without people’s consent. He stressed that the power of the vote and public accountability must remain active to ensure responsible governance.