Bangladesh women’s cricket team lost the three-match ODI series 2–1 to Sri Lanka after suffering a seven-wicket defeat in the final match held in Rajshahi on April 25, 2026. Despite winning the opening match and taking an early series lead, the hosts failed to maintain momentum in the decider. Batting first, Bangladesh posted 213 for 8 in 50 overs, but Sri Lanka comfortably chased the target with 21 balls remaining.

Sri Lanka’s chase began shakily with captain Chamari Athapaththu dismissed for 19, but Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani steadied the innings with a 108-run stand for the second wicket. Dulani scored 56, while Perera fell for 95 after adding another 78 runs with Harshitha Samarawickrama, who remained unbeaten on 44. For Bangladesh, Marufa Akter took two wickets and Sobhana Mostary claimed one.

Earlier, Sobhana Mostary top-scored for Bangladesh with 74 off 80 balls, while captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti made 40 from 90 deliveries. Despite a late cameo from Ritu Moni, Bangladesh could not post a challenging total, allowing Sri Lanka to secure the series win.

Police in Cumilla recovered the body of Assistant Revenue Officer Bullet Bairagi about 12 hours after he went missing while returning home from training in Chattogram. The body was found on Saturday afternoon in the Kotbari Bishwaroad area of Cumilla Sadar Dakshin upazila. Bairagi, aged 35, served in the Customs, Excise and VAT department and was the son of Sushil Bairagi from the Panpotti area of Cumilla city.

According to police and local sources, residents discovered a body lying by the roadside and informed the authorities. Police later identified the body as that of Bullet Bairagi. Family members said he had last spoken to them around 2:25 a.m. on Friday night, informing them he had reached the Tomchom Bridge area of Cumilla. His phone was later found switched off, prompting the family to file a general diary with Kotwali Model Police Station.

Police have sent the body for autopsy and begun an investigation to determine the cause of death.

At a national rally organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, opposition leaders demanded the implementation of the July Charter in line with the results of a recent referendum. The event brought together families of those killed in the July uprising and thousands of injured participants from across the country. National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam addressed the gathering as a special guest.

Nahid Islam stated that Bangladesh had envisioned change through the July uprising, but the ruling BNP was obstructing reforms and rejecting the referendum that it had initially supported. He accused the government of politicizing institutions, denying economic and law-and-order problems, and closing doors to cooperation. He warned that following the path of past authoritarianism would provoke public resistance.

He further remarked that no government in Bangladesh’s history had become so unpopular in such a short time. The opposition vowed to continue its movement both in parliament and on the streets to ensure the implementation of the July Charter and to honor the sacrifices of the July uprising.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the national women’s team for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka. The matches will be held at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on April 28, April 30, and May 2, each starting at 1:30 p.m. The squad combines experienced players and emerging talents, aiming for a balanced lineup for the home series.

Regular captain Nigar Sultana Joty will lead the team, with spin all-rounder Nahida Akter serving as vice-captain. The squad includes Dilara Akter, Shobnom Mostary, Fahima Khatun, Sharmin Akter Supta, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sharmin Sultana, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akter Maghla, and Jueria Ferdous. Standby players are Fargana Hoque, Sharifa Khatun, Fargana Yasmin, and Taj Nehar.

Playing at home is expected to boost Bangladesh’s confidence, with local conditions in Sylhet likely to favor spinners such as Nahida Akter and others in the bowling lineup.

Police in India's northeastern state of Manipur reported that three people were killed in gunfire between rival ethnic groups in Mullam village of Ukhrul district late Friday night. Authorities said security forces have been reinforced in the area to prevent further escalation, and operations remain ongoing.

Manipur has faced nearly three years of conflict between the majority Hindu Meitei community and the predominantly Christian Kuki community. The violence, rooted in disputes over land and government jobs, has claimed more than 250 lives so far. Human rights activists have accused local political leaders of aggravating the divisions for political gain.

Although the situation had calmed somewhat, renewed clashes earlier this month left four people dead, including two children, after a Kuki group attack triggered a retaliatory assault by Meitei members on a paramilitary camp.

Education Minister Dr. Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for 2027 will be held in December 2026. The decision aims to resolve the ongoing session backlog in the country's education system. The minister made the announcement on Saturday after a meeting at the Secretariat regarding the transfer policy for MPO-listed teachers and staff.

He explained that the government is determined to eliminate session delays affecting students’ academic progress. The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and political circumstances had previously disorganized examination schedules. By advancing the SSC exams by about four months, the ministry seeks to restore the academic calendar to its regular rhythm.

The minister also mentioned that the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations would similarly be brought forward, though he did not specify when those exams would begin.

Nahida Brishti, a former student of Noakhali Science and Technology University (Nobiprobi) and a PhD researcher at the University of South Florida, has died in the United States. The university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail, expressed deep sorrow and condolences in a statement issued on Saturday, describing her as a talented and promising student from the 13th batch of the Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department.

In his message, the vice-chancellor said Brishti’s untimely death was an irreparable loss to the university community. He called for strict punishment under U.S. law for those involved in her death and demanded compensation for her family. He also prayed for the eternal peace of her soul and strength for her bereaved family to endure the loss.

According to the report, Brishti and another Bangladeshi student, Jamil Limon, had been missing since April 16, 2026, from the University of South Florida. Later, both were confirmed dead. Brishti’s family home is in Faridpur district, and her death was confirmed by her brother Zahid Hasan Pranto and department chairman Professor Dr. Fateh Nur Robel.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran is in the process of sending a proposal to the United States amid ongoing discussions between the two countries. In a phone interview with Reuters on Friday, Trump said he was not yet certain about the details of the proposal but confirmed that talks were continuing with Iranian officials currently in charge.

According to Trump, Iran appears interested in reaching an agreement through negotiations. He added that Tehran’s proposal is being prepared with the aim of addressing U.S. demands. The president did not disclose further details about the nature or timeline of the discussions.

The development signals a potential step toward renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran, though the specifics of Iran’s proposal remain unclear.

Iran’s Ministry of Defense has stated that a significant portion of the country’s missile capability remains unused. The ministry also reported that more than one thousand types of weapons are currently being produced domestically using Iranian technology.

According to ministry spokesperson Reza Talaei-Nik, despite recent conflicts involving the United States and Israel, Iran continues to maintain a high level of defensive and counterattack readiness. He added that thousands of institutions across the country are contributing to weapons production, and that manufacturing will not stop even if some facilities are damaged.

Talaei-Nik further described the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic tool under Iran’s control, underscoring its importance in the country’s defense posture.

Iran’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Reza Talaei-Nik stated that the United States is looking for an 'honorable' way to exit the ongoing war. His remarks came as U.S. representatives prepared to visit Pakistan for peace discussions, while an Iranian delegation was also in the country. However, Iran clarified that there is no possibility of direct talks between the two sides.

According to Talaei-Nik, Iran’s military has become a powerful force, and the opposing side is now trapped in the quicksand of war, seeking a respectable way to withdraw. The statement coincides with the planned arrival of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Islamabad for the peace mission.

The timing of these parallel visits underscores the complex diplomatic environment surrounding the conflict, though the source did not specify whether any formal engagement between the U.S. and Iranian delegations is expected.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has been named La Liga’s Player of the Month for April 2026, marking a historic achievement for the 18-year-old. The announcement came on Friday, shortly after confirmation that Yamal’s season had ended due to an injury sustained in Wednesday’s match against Celta Vigo. Despite the setback, his performances throughout April earned him the top individual honor.

Yamal outperformed Vedat Muriqi, Carlos Soler, Lucas Boyé, and Fede Viñas to claim the award. This is his third Player of the Month title of the season, having previously won in November and December. He is now the first player in La Liga history to win the monthly award three times in a single season.

In April, Barcelona won all three of their league matches, with Yamal playing a decisive role. He scored against Espanyol and Celta Vigo, and contributed one goal and two assists against Espanyol, further solidifying his impact before the injury ended his campaign.

The Barapukuria thermal power plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, has been shut down again after operating for only 15 hours. The plant had resumed production at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 24, following a 48-hour closure caused by a boiler pipe burst and a broken cooling fan that halted its 125-megawatt first unit on Wednesday night. However, production stopped again around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday when another boiler tube burst.

The complete shutdown of the plant has caused power outages across Parbatipur and eight northern districts. Chief engineer Abu Bakkar Siddique stated that production was halted due to the tube burst and that the boiler steam needs time to cool down. He estimated that full repair work could take five to six days to complete.

The repeated technical failures have disrupted electricity supply in the region, and restoration is expected only after the repair process is finished.

A man named Kawsar Uz Zaman Babul, aged 36, was shot dead early Friday while returning home after attending a family feast in Raozan, Chattogram. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. in the Purbalikhil Khamar Tila area under Ward 9 of Raozan Municipality. Babul, father of two daughters, was the son of Abul Kalam Saudagar of Dhalar Mukh area.

Local residents said the killing may have stemmed from a dispute over soil trading in the Khamar Tila area, where Babul and his cousin Polin had been cutting and selling soil. Babul’s wife, Liza Moni, stated that her husband had been receiving phone threats and had a recent conflict over a video recorded at Chowdhury Market. His father said Babul was attacked on his way back from his maternal grandfather’s house and that he supported the BNP though he was not politically active.

Raozan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sajedul Islam said the group responsible for the killing has been identified, and police have launched an operation to arrest them.

Police in Debiganj, Panchagarh, detained a 16-year-old college student named Nishat Islam for posting a Facebook comment critical of State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad. The arrest took place at midnight on Friday in the Hajipara area of Debiganj Sadar Union. Nishat, an eleventh-grade student at Sonahar BM College, had shared a parliamentary speech by the minister with a caption mocking him.

According to police sources, the post spread widely on social media before Nishat deleted it. The content reportedly caused reactions in local political circles and created tension in the area. Later that night, Abdus Salam, joint convener of the Debiganj Sadar Union unit of Jubo Dal, filed a complaint against the student.

Debiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Selim Malik confirmed that a case was filed under the Cyber Security Act following the complaint. The incident has drawn attention locally due to the involvement of a government minister and the use of social media in the alleged offense.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that if the verdict of the referendum is not respected, the struggle will continue both inside and outside parliament. He made the remarks on Saturday, April 25, at a Jamaat-e-Islami rally held at Suhrawardy Udyan. Rahman criticized the BNP for allegedly forgetting its 31-point agenda after coming to power and accused the party of following a path of fascism.

He stated that while the BNP accepts the verdict of 51 percent of voters, it refuses to accept the decision of 70 percent, calling this attitude regrettable. Rahman also said that Jamaat had raised demands in parliament from the first day, but others had failed to take their oaths, thereby betraying the nation. He emphasized that unless certain laws are amended and ordinances implemented, the fascist system will not change.

Rahman concluded by expressing his vision for a safer and more just Bangladesh, where citizens, including children and women, can move freely without fear and where educational institutions remain peaceful and focused on learning.