RAB-6 has arrested Badsha, the main accused in an attempted murder case and a member of the criminal group known as 'B Company', in Khulna. The arrest took place around 10 p.m. on Thursday in the Rajbandh area under Harintana Police Station. According to a press release issued by RAB-6 headquarters on Saturday morning, Badsha, aged 19, is the son of Naimuddin Sana from Deyara village in Koyra upazila. Acting on a tip-off, RAB conducted a raid at a tin-shed house owned by Ayesha Chowdhury in Rajbandh and detained Badsha. He had been listed as the number one fugitive accused in a case filed over the shooting of a youth named Faim on November 9 of the previous year in the Rayermohol area under Awrangghata Police Station. During preliminary questioning, Badsha reportedly admitted to keeping illegal firearms used in various crimes. After his arrest, he was handed over to Awrangghata Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that the government has taken steps to introduce a pension scheme for senior journalists to ensure their financial security. He made the statement on Saturday while visiting ailing journalist Ismail Hossain Negaban at Bangladesh Medical University. The minister said that although the media is considered the fourth pillar of a modern democratic state, journalists often work without institutional protection, leaving them vulnerable to financial uncertainty. Swapan noted that the financial well-being of senior journalists has long been neglected and that the government’s new initiative aims to address this gap. He emphasized that journalism is a respected profession, yet many veteran journalists face hardship in their later years. The government is working to help them live with dignity. The minister also stated that the government is strengthening the Journalist Welfare Trust and developing policies to ensure media freedom and responsibility. During the visit, he handed over a financial assistance cheque of 100,000 taka to Ismail Hossain Negaban on behalf of the trust.

Authorities in Syedpur, Nilphamari detained seven individuals for illegally smuggling fuel using a covered van and an ambulance disguised as a mobile filling station. The mobile court seized approximately 80,000 liters of stored fuel during a raid conducted on Friday night at Messrs Rokeya Filling Station along the Syedpur bypass road. The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md Sabbir Hossain, assisted by local police. Officials reported that the group had been modifying ambulances and covered vans with hidden tanks to transport fuel illegally. Acting on a tip-off, the mobile court intercepted the vehicles and confiscated the fuel. One detainee was fined 200,000 taka, while the remaining six were fined 10,000 taka each. Two vehicles containing fuel were also seized. The administration stated that the confiscated fuel would be sold through nearby authorized pumps, with proceeds deposited into the state treasury. Authorities further announced that strict and regular operations would continue against those hoarding fuel to create artificial shortages.

A railway police officer in Khulna, Bangladesh, died from a self-inflicted gunshot while on duty early Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on April 18, 2026, at the Khulna Railway District Office in the Sonadanga residential area. The deceased was identified as Samrat Biswas, 27, who was stationed at the Bangladesh Railway Police Line in Khulna. Senior officials from the Khulna Railway District and Sonadanga Police Station arrived at the scene and began an initial investigation. According to police sources, Samrat Biswas was the son of Shailen Biswas from Kalia Upazila in Gopalganj, and his wife, Puja Biswas, serves as a police officer in Satkhira district. Khulna Railway Police Superintendent Ahmad Naimul Hasan stated that Biswas shot himself in the head with his issued Chinese rifle while seated on duty between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. Preliminary findings suggest family issues may have led to the suicide, though authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause. Further details about the motive or findings from the ongoing investigation have not yet been disclosed.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Shipping Sheikh Robiul Alam said that maritime cadets are prepared to lead the country’s progress through sea routes and represent Bangladesh internationally. He made the remarks on Saturday morning while addressing the passing-out parade of the 28th batch at Chattogram Maritime Institute. The minister emphasized that education should ensure both physical and mental development, describing the cadets as national assets who will showcase Bangladesh’s capability and professionalism at ports around the world. He highlighted the importance of technical education, noting that skill-based training creates employment opportunities, unlike purely academic qualifications that can lead to unemployment. Sheikh Robiul Alam stated that since the 1990s, maritime training programs have produced thousands of skilled professionals contributing significantly to the national economy. He also assured that further expansion of the maritime sector is planned to strengthen Bangladesh’s global presence. The minister advised cadets to maintain health awareness, including using sunscreen during long parades. The event was attended by institute teachers, officials, and guardians, who were impressed by the cadets’ disciplined march and performance.

Rumee Farhana, Member of Parliament from Brahmanbaria-2 and former BNP leader, has dismissed rumors about her joining the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP). Speaking on Friday during a Deutsche Welle (Bangla) talk show, she said the speculation had no basis and was entirely false. She clarified that although several political parties approached her after her expulsion from the BNP, she had not accepted any such offer. Farhana explained that the NCP had invited her to join, citing her active political role and past experiences, but she did not pursue the matter. She emphasized that she would not join any political alliance merely to gain more speaking opportunities in parliament. According to her, there are many platforms to express opinions without compromising personal political ideals and principles. Her remarks directly counter recent discussions about her possible alignment with the NCP, reaffirming her independent political stance following her departure from the BNP.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid has directed officials to take immediate action wherever fertilizer is sold at inflated prices. Speaking on Saturday at a public gathering in Harindhara Primary School field after inspecting Gomti River and Jayanta Canal in Burichang upazila, Cumilla, he instructed agricultural officers to collect evidence in plain clothes, record videos, and take written undertakings from violators to ensure accountability. The minister emphasized that about 70 percent of the population is involved in agriculture and that protecting farmers’ interests is a key government responsibility. He said the government has fixed the purchase price of paddy based on production costs to ensure fair returns for farmers. Under a pre-piloting phase, farmer cards have been distributed in 11 agricultural blocks across 10 districts, providing Tk 2,500 in assistance to marginal and small farmers. Rashid also announced the construction of a modern vegetable storage facility at Nimsar market to help farmers preserve produce and sell at fair prices. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to act against syndicates inflating prices of fertilizer, seeds, and pesticides.

Many vessels are still avoiding the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s announcement that the key waterway is open to all commercial shipping. Maritime transport expert Jean-Paul Rodrigue of Texas A&M University told Al Jazeera that contradictory information from multiple sides has kept many ships from using the route. He said that although some vessels have attempted to pass through since the announcement, many have turned back due to ongoing uncertainty. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier declared the strait fully open to commercial traffic. However, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if the United States continues to impose blockades on Iranian ports, the strait would not remain open. Rodrigue noted that major shipping companies such as Maersk would only feel comfortable resuming transit once all Iranian restrictions or controls are completely lifted. The situation underscores the fragile security and trade environment in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with uncertainty still shaping global shipping decisions.

An opinion article published on April 18, 2026, argues that two-shift primary schools are more suitable for Bangladesh than the traditional single-shift model. The author highlights that the country’s limited infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and resource constraints make it difficult to ensure quality education for all children. The two-shift system, where one group attends in the morning and another in the afternoon, allows better use of existing facilities and reduces the need for immediate new construction. The article outlines several advantages of the two-shift approach, including reduced classroom congestion, expanded enrollment opportunities, cost savings, and flexible schedules for students. It also notes that this system can help marginalized and working children attend school more easily, while enabling more efficient teacher deployment. Additionally, the model can temporarily relieve pressure in densely populated urban areas without major infrastructure expansion. Although not a permanent solution, the two-shift system is described as an effective interim strategy that allows the government to gradually improve educational infrastructure while ensuring that no child is left behind in the current resource-limited environment.

Within a 24-hour period, both the United States and Iran issued a series of major and often contradictory statements concerning the Hormuz Strait. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on X that the strait would remain fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Minutes later, Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, thanking Iran but confirming that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue until all transactions with Iran were fully completed. Following a virtual meeting with about 40 countries, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron said they would lead an international mission to safeguard freedom of navigation once conditions allowed. Hours later, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump’s claims as false and warned that the strait would not remain open if the blockade persisted. By Saturday, maritime tracking data showed some ships passing through the strait, but Iran’s military later announced it was reasserting control, citing US noncompliance. Shortly afterward, several vessels reportedly reversed course, signaling renewed uncertainty over the waterway’s status.

A farmer named Rahmat Ali Uzzal, aged 40, was killed by lightning in Gauripur upazila of Mymensingh on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. in the Valki Beel area between Konapara and Bairaura villages under Gauripur Union. According to local and family sources, Uzzal had gone out after lunch to inspect his paddy field when he was struck by lightning. Locals rescued him and took him to Gauripur Upazila Health Complex, where the attending physician, Dr. Ferdous Al Mamun, declared him dead after examination. The incident cast a pall of grief over the area, with relatives and villagers mourning at the hospital and in the village. Following the tragedy, local representatives and the administration urged residents to exercise caution during adverse weather. Farmers were specifically advised to avoid open fields or agricultural lands during storms to prevent further casualties.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has commemorated the sacrifice of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) soldiers on the occasion of Borai Bari Day, observed in Borai Bari village of Roumari upazila, Kurigram. According to an NCP press release issued on Saturday, the party paid tribute to the martyrs and prayed for their souls, marking the anniversary of the 2001 incident when India’s Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly crossed the border without provocation and attacked the area. The statement recalled that the then Bangladesh Rifles and local villagers resisted the incursion and thwarted the attempt to occupy the BDR camp and Borai Bari village. The BSF reportedly fired repeatedly toward Bangladeshi installations, and the Borai Bari camp still stands as a witness to that event. The NCP honored the bravery of the BDR personnel who defended the border and remembered the soldiers who were killed in action—Nayek Subedar Wahiduzzaman, Sipahi Mahfuzur Rahman, and Sipahi Abdul Kader. The party reiterated its respect for the courage of the fallen soldiers and emphasized their enduring contribution to the defense of the nation.

Rumin Farhana, a member of parliament from Brahmanbaria-2 and former BNP leader, explained why she did not take the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council. Speaking on April 17, 2026, during a talk show on Deutsche Welle (Bangla), she said that since she had already taken an oath under the existing constitution, taking a second oath would be legally contradictory and unjustified. She argued that the current government continues to operate under the existing constitution, and unless it had declared itself a revolutionary government rejecting that constitution, there was no legal framework for a second oath. Farhana added that taking a second oath would nullify her first one, which she considered unacceptable. She also noted that the interim government’s formation under Article 106 of the constitution has raised questions, as some judges who advised on the process later resigned. Farhana emphasized that the initial application of Article 106 was not properly executed, and the subsequent resignations of the advising judges have fueled further debate about the legitimacy of the process.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said U.S. President Donald Trump “talks too much” while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. He made the comment in response to Trump’s recent threat that the United States might “start bombing again” if no agreement is reached by next Wednesday. Khatibzadeh stated that the U.S. president’s remarks were self-contradictory and unclear about what he actually meant. He emphasized that Iran believes war cannot bring any positive outcome but asserted that the country is ready to defend itself if attacked. He added that Iran would continue fighting “until the last Iranian soldier,” underscoring Tehran’s stance on self-defense amid rising tensions. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera.

A group of masked robbers looted seven shops, including six gold jewelry stores, at Housdi Bazar in Madaripur Sadar upazila early Saturday, April 18, 2026. The robbers tied up and injured the market’s night guard before breaking into the shops in the goldsmith area. They took gold ornaments, cash, and even safes from the stores, causing losses worth several crores of taka. Police visited the scene later in the morning. Victims said they had closed their shops as usual the previous night. Swadeb Mondal, owner of New Kanika Jewellers, reported that all valuables and cash were taken. Parimal Malo of New Prianka Jewellers said his and six other shops, including a grocery store, were robbed. He blamed the incident on inadequate police patrols and expressed concern over the traders’ safety. Madaripur Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam Azad stated that the robbery is under investigation and legal action will be taken.