Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced that workers in the country will be entitled to up to 15 days of paid leave to perform Hajj. The ministry stated that this leave, which includes the Eid al-Adha holidays, is part of the Saudi labor law and aims to strengthen workers’ rights. Employees must have worked continuously for at least two years in the same organization to qualify for the benefit.

According to the ministry, the special leave can only be taken once during an employee’s entire career and is available only to those who have not previously performed Hajj. Employers will determine how many workers can take the leave each year, based on the nature and operational needs of their organizations, to ensure that business activities are not disrupted.

The ministry emphasized that the initiative will make it easier for Muslim employees in Saudi Arabia to fulfill their religious obligations while reinforcing labor protections across the workforce.

The United States has claimed to have seized nearly $500 million worth of Iranian cryptocurrency assets, intensifying its economic pressure on Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent told Fox News that about $350 million in crypto assets were recently seized, adding to a previously confiscated $100 million, bringing the total close to half a billion dollars. He added that bank accounts in several countries are also being frozen as part of the same effort.

Besent stated that former President Donald Trump had ordered the expansion of economic pressure on Iran in March of the previous year and recently renewed that directive. The US is now urging foreign governments and companies to reduce economic ties with Iran, warning of secondary sanctions on those purchasing Iranian oil. Besent said the ongoing financial campaign and naval blockade at Iranian ports could cause lasting damage to Iran’s economy.

Iran dismissed the move, saying it would only push global oil prices higher. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked Besent’s comments on social media, calling them irrelevant.

Around 20,000 sailors are stranded in the Persian Gulf as hundreds of oil, gas, and cargo ships remain unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz due to a US blockade and ongoing security risks. The standoff has persisted for nearly eight weeks, leaving crews such as that of Indian captain Rahul Dhar confined to their tankers while maintaining operations under growing psychological strain.

The sailors had hoped for relief after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 7, but the conflict has yet to reach a clear resolution. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy route, normally handling about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, only about 80 ships crossed the strait between April 13 and 19, compared with more than 130 per day before the conflict, underscoring the severe slowdown in maritime traffic.

The Palestine Football Association (PFA) has filed an appeal with the international sports court against FIFA’s decision not to take action against Israeli clubs operating in the occupied West Bank. The appeal, submitted on April 20, 2026, follows FIFA’s statement last month that no disciplinary measures could be taken because the legal status of the West Bank remains internationally unresolved. The PFA described FIFA’s position as unfair and said it had exhausted all internal legal options within the organization.

PFA Vice President Susan Shalabi said the association would continue to pursue justice through legal means, emphasizing that discussions on the issue had been ongoing for 15 years without resolution. She also highlighted the dire state of Palestinian football, noting that most infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed or rendered unusable, professional leagues have been suspended, and player safety remains a major concern.

The appeal has drawn renewed international attention to the longstanding dispute over the participation of Israeli clubs based in occupied territories.

At a meeting of the 11-party alliance liaison committee held on Wednesday, April 30, 2026, at the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan declared that their movement to implement the referendum verdict would continue both through their representatives’ voices in parliament and through public mobilization on the streets.

The meeting was attended by senior leaders from several allied parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, AB Party, LDP, and Bangladesh Development Party. Following the meeting, the 11-party alliance announced a series of nationwide programs, including divisional rallies in Rajshahi on May 16, Chattogram on June 13, Khulna on June 20, Mymensingh on June 27, Rangpur on July 11, Barishal on July 18, and Sylhet on July 25.

The alliance also plans to hold a grand rally in Dhaka in October as part of its ongoing campaign to press for the implementation of the referendum verdict.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued the official gazette for 49 reserved women members of the 13th National Parliament of Bangladesh. The gazette was published on Thursday evening and signed by Additional Secretary K M Ali Newaz, who is performing the routine duties of the EC Secretary. The commission will soon send the gazette to the Parliament Secretariat, after which the newly elected women MPs will take their oath administered by the Speaker of the National Parliament.

According to the final list, 36 of the 49 reserved seats have been filled by candidates nominated by the BNP-led alliance. Twelve members were nominated by the Jamaat-NCP and the 11-party alliance, while one candidate was elected as an independent. The EC’s announcement completes the formal process of filling the reserved seats for women in the 13th Parliament.

The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place soon, marking the full formation of the new Parliament’s representation under the reserved quota for women.

More than 78,000 teaching positions remain vacant in government primary schools across Bangladesh, causing severe disruption to education and administration. The vacancies include over 34,000 head teacher posts and 24,000 assistant teacher posts, with additional newly created positions still unfilled. Recruitment has stalled due to prolonged procedures, court cases, and administrative complications, leaving many schools—especially in rural areas—without adequate staff.

Although the results for 14,384 teacher appointments were finalized during the previous interim government, the process has been on hold for two and a half months. Only 1,122 posts have been advertised for direct recruitment through the Public Service Commission, attracting nearly 700,000 applicants, but no exam date has been set. Promotion of qualified assistant teachers to head teacher roles has also been blocked by a court injunction.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has announced plans to recruit about 60,000 teachers soon and to resolve the legal issues surrounding 32,500 head teacher posts. Officials say the government is prioritizing the removal of these obstacles to restore stability in the primary education system.

The government of Bangladesh has approved five loan proposals totaling $1.9 billion from development partners, of which around $1.6 billion are classified as non-concessional loans with strict repayment terms. The approval came from the Standing Committee on Non-Concessional Loans at the Planning Ministry, chaired by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. About $1.3 billion of the total will be used as budget support to address immediate fiscal pressures.

Under the approved package, Bangladesh will receive $450 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), $500 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), $250 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and $100 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development. Officials said these loans carry higher interest rates, shorter grace periods, and tighter repayment schedules. In addition, ADB will provide another $300 million for the SASEC Dhaka–Sylhet Corridor Road Investment Project.

The committee also decided that non-concessional loans will be taken only when concessional financing is unavailable, and repayment capacity must be ensured. It set limits to keep annual repayment costs below 10% of export earnings or 15% of government revenue, and total non-concessional debt under 10% of GDP.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that his administration is reviewing the possibility of reducing the number of American troops stationed in Germany. He announced on his social media platform that a decision on the matter would be made soon.

The statement comes at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Berlin, following remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the Iran conflict. Merz had said that the United States was being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership, a comment that drew sharp criticism from Trump. The US president has also repeatedly accused Germany and other NATO allies of failing to adequately support the US-Israel alliance, particularly criticizing their reluctance to deploy naval forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Germany currently hosts one of the largest US military contingents abroad, with approximately 33,900 American troops stationed there, according to the report.

A controversy erupted in Fatullah of Narayanganj Sadar upazila after newly appointed acting chairman of Boktabali Union Parishad, Pinky Akter, greeted Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) S M Foyez Uddin with flowers. The event, held on Wednesday at the upazila office, included individuals accused in assault and attempted murder cases as well as local Awami League leaders. Photos of the incident spread on social media, sparking public outrage and criticism.

The Boktabali Union chairman post had remained vacant for a long time, causing difficulties in public services. Following media reports, Pinky Akter was recently appointed as acting chairman. However, her participation in this event with controversial figures drew strong reactions. Among those present were charge-sheeted accused Russell Member, Awami League leader Amjad Member, and others.

Local BNP leaders expressed anger, alleging that those involved in past political violence were being rehabilitated. The UNO could not be reached for comment. Grassroots activists urged Narayanganj district and Fatullah BNP leadership to intervene and demanded an investigation and administrative action over the incident.

A court in Kushtia has sentenced Jony Hossain, also known as Rajim, to life imprisonment for raping a college student under the false promise of marriage. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by Judge Zainal Abedin of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Kushtia, in the absence of the accused. Jony, aged 30, from Bahirchar Union in Veramara upazila, was also fined 100,000 taka, with an additional six months of imprisonment if unpaid.

According to the case details, Jony met the victim through social media, falsely claiming to be a member of the armed forces. He first raped her on January 1, 2022, when her parents were away, and continued the assaults under the pretext of marriage, leading to her pregnancy. When the matter became known, he demanded 800,000 taka from the victim’s family, which her expatriate father paid. After receiving the money, Jony cut off contact and tried to defame her.

The victim gave birth to a son on March 2, 2023, and filed a case on June 22, 2023. DNA tests confirmed Jony’s involvement, leading to his conviction. He was arrested in July 2023 but later released on bail and is currently absconding.

A protest and brief road blockade took place on Wednesday night at the Jhinai Filling Station in Sarishabari municipality of Jamalpur district, centering on fuel distribution. Locals alleged that a syndicate’s influence caused suffering for ordinary bikers and emergency service workers. The unrest reportedly forced station employees to remain inside their office for about one and a half hours until police restored order.

According to local sources, long queues formed from morning, and fuel was distributed until 6 p.m. Allegations surfaced that former Sarishabari municipal Chhatra League joint convener Faruk Ahmed stayed near the dispenser under the pretext of assisting distribution, obstructed journalists and service workers, and later incited bikers to protest. The station manager said distribution stopped at 6 p.m. per administrative instruction, after which some people created chaos and blocked the road. The owner stated that fuel supply was adequate but distribution was being done three days a week due to exams and traffic congestion.

Police confirmed that no major untoward incident occurred and that the situation is now normal.

At least 12 people were killed in lightning strikes across seven districts of Bangladesh on Wednesday, according to local police and administrative officials. The incidents occurred in Patuakhali, Jamalpur, Barguna, Mymensingh, Bagerhat, Rangpur, and Rajbari at different times of the day. Several others were injured. Patuakhali reported the highest number of casualties, with four deaths during a nor’wester storm, while Jamalpur and Barguna each recorded two fatalities. One person died in each of the remaining districts.

In Patuakhali, lightning during a storm also killed more than 50 cows over the past two days. Local officials confirmed the deaths and said the victims were engaged in outdoor activities such as farming, fishing, and cattle tending when struck. In Barguna, authorities provided financial assistance to one victim’s family under a government relief program.

The incidents highlight the recurring danger of lightning during the pre-monsoon season in rural Bangladesh, where many people work in open fields and near water bodies, increasing their vulnerability to such natural hazards.

The fourth executive meeting of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) was held on Tuesday evening at the Daksu conference room, chaired by Vice-Chancellor and Daksu President Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam. The meeting adopted several key decisions aimed at improving student welfare, campus infrastructure, security, and administrative transparency. Proposals included launching a Saturday bus service, introducing modern shuttle buses, and ensuring disciplinary action against those involved in recent campus violence.

Discussions covered eviction of unauthorized hall residents, transparent seat allocation policies, and progress on housing scholarships for first-year students. Plans were made to establish computer labs with operators in every hall, introduce teaching and research assistantships, and implement a teacher evaluation system. Infrastructure upgrades such as library security, lift repairs, and water facilities at key buildings were also discussed.

The meeting further emphasized inclusive campus initiatives, including gym facilities for female students, Braille signage, talking lifts, and reactivation of the e-library. It reviewed progress on major development projects worth about Tk 2,841 crore and endorsed annual multicultural holidays in April. Proposals for improved canteen management and separate dining options for students of different faiths were also presented.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Riyadh, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs released on Thursday. The meeting focused on reviewing bilateral relations and exploring ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Both ministers also discussed recent regional and international developments and their implications for security and stability. Prince Yazid bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister’s adviser on Lebanese affairs, was also present.

The French minister’s visit took place amid a deadlock in efforts to resolve tensions between the United States and Iran, which have affected Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and France have been jointly pursuing diplomatic initiatives to address Lebanon’s instability. The meeting comes as cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel continue despite a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The discussions in Riyadh are expected to contribute to ongoing diplomatic coordination between Saudi Arabia and France on regional security matters, particularly concerning Lebanon and broader Middle Eastern stability.