Two road workers were killed on Thursday afternoon when a Bhuiyan Paribahan bus heading toward the airport lost control and mounted a road divider in front of Setu Bhaban in Banani, Dhaka. The victims, identified as Sagar Mia, 35, and Moslem Uddin, 47, were working on the road at the time of the accident. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on April 23, 2026.

Banani Police Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam confirmed the deaths and said the bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsy. The bus involved in the accident was seized, but the driver fled the scene. Authorities identified the victims through their national identity cards.

According to police information, Sagar was from Mahishbandi village in Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha district, while Moslem Uddin lived in the Isha Khan Road area of Mirpur Section 1 in Dhaka.

U.S. President Donald Trump continues military operations against Iran without new authorization from Congress, as a key legal deadline approaches under the War Powers Resolution. The law allows a president to deploy troops for only 60 days without congressional approval, and that period is set to expire within a week. Despite this, most Republican lawmakers are still backing Trump, effectively giving him a political free pass.

Public support for the war is declining, and Trump’s approval rating is also falling. Confidence in the Republican-controlled Congress has hit a low point, while the U.S. military has requested an additional 200 billion dollars to cover war expenses. Rising living costs and fuel prices have fueled voter dissatisfaction.

Observers are now watching how Republican members of Congress will respond once the legal time limit expires, as their stance could determine the future of Trump’s wartime authority.

A violent clash broke out in Rajshahi on Thursday afternoon over control of the district motor workers’ union office, leading to explosions, vandalism, and panic in the Shirail bus terminal area. The confrontation, which lasted about an hour, involved supporters of Rafiqul Islam Pakhi, the acting general secretary of the union and convener of the city workers’ party. Witnesses reported that Pakhi’s followers detonated several crude bombs to disperse rivals and seize control of the office.

The conflict followed growing internal disputes after Pakhi assumed his position following the fall of the Awami League government. Tensions escalated when some workers were allegedly assaulted by his supporters, prompting protests and demands for new elections. On Thursday, opposing groups armed with rods and pipes gathered in different parts of the city before the clash erupted.

Local residents alleged that police were present but failed to intervene effectively. Authorities later deployed additional forces to stabilize the area, which remained tense amid fears of renewed violence.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman proposed that load-shedding in Dhaka should begin from the Parliament area. He made the suggestion on Thursday while participating in an unscheduled discussion in Parliament. Earlier, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said that a decision had been taken to implement 110 megawatts of load-shedding in the capital on a trial basis to reduce the disparity between urban and rural areas. The decision was made following the Prime Minister’s advice and discussions with the opposition leader.

During the session, when the Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed noted that power cuts could disrupt parliamentary proceedings, Dr. Rahman clarified that he was not referring to the Parliament session itself but to other facilities within the Parliament complex. He emphasized that the Parliament area should experience load-shedding in the same way as other parts of the capital.

The discussion highlighted the government’s plan to distribute power shortages more evenly across regions and the opposition’s call for fairness in implementing the policy.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States now has full control over the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement on April 23, 2026, he said the vital waterway would remain tightly sealed until Iran agrees to a deal. Trump emphasized that the blockade would not be lifted until Tehran reaches an understanding or agreement with Washington.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important routes for oil transportation. The US Navy’s firm stance in the area has raised concerns about potential disruptions to global trade. However, the Trump administration stated that the move aims to ensure the security of this strategic maritime passage. Earlier, Trump had also warned of strong action against those attempting to plant mines in the strait.

The situation underscores rising tensions in the region, with possible implications for international energy markets and diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran.

UK Defence Minister John Healey and French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin have expressed optimism about significant progress toward reopening the Hormuz Strait. The two ministers made the remarks on Thursday after a meeting with their countries’ military planners. In a joint statement released by the UK Ministry of Defence, they emphasized the need for concrete planning, open dialogue, and firm commitment among allies and partners to turn diplomatic efforts into reality.

The statement also expressed gratitude to countries that have already shown willingness to contribute to the process and voiced confidence that real progress could be achieved in reopening the strait. The Hormuz Strait, one of the world’s most vital maritime routes, has been paralyzed due to U.S. blockades and rising tensions. Against this backdrop, the joint initiative by the UK and France has drawn notable international attention.

The report adds that while former U.S. President Donald Trump previously claimed full American control over the strait, the two European nations are pursuing diplomatic and military discussions to resolve the current deadlock.

Iran has collected its first transit fee from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, marking the beginning of a new toll system. The announcement was confirmed by Hamidreza Haji Babayi, deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, who said the first installment of the collected toll has already been deposited into the Central Bank of Iran’s account. Another parliament member, Alireza Salimi, also confirmed the toll collection based on reliable sources.

According to the report, the toll amount is determined by factors such as the type of vessel, cargo volume, and level of risk. Iran’s parliament had planned this ‘security tax’ to help cover the costs of ensuring safety in the strategic waterway. The measure comes as ship movements through the Strait have been disrupted since February 28 due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Iran has recently tightened control over commercial vessels transiting the area, allowing passage only under specific conditions.

With this step, Iran has formally begun a regular toll collection process for ships using the Strait of Hormuz.

Bangladesh secured a 55-run victory over New Zealand to win the three-match ODI series 2–1 on April 23, 2026. The hosts dominated most of the match, maintaining pressure through both batting and bowling. Despite a late surge from New Zealand’s pacer Will O’Rourke, who took three wickets, Bangladesh built a solid total with a century from Najmul Hossain Shanto and a half-century from Liton Das.

In reply, New Zealand’s innings collapsed after Nick Kelly’s dismissal, with Dean Foxcroft’s 75 off 72 balls proving insufficient to turn the tide. Mustafizur Rahman, returning to the side, delivered a match-winning performance by taking five wickets for 43 runs, while Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed two wickets each. Bangladesh bowled out New Zealand for 210 in 44.5 overs.

Najmul Hossain Shanto was named Player of the Match for his 105-run innings, and Nahid Rana earned Player of the Series honors with eight wickets across the series.

On Thursday, the second day of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil, and equivalent examinations across Bangladesh, absenteeism and expulsions increased compared to the first day. According to the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, 26,865 students were absent out of 1,492,806 registered candidates under 11 education boards, while 19 students were expelled for cheating. On the first day, 25,408 students were absent and only six were expelled.

The committee’s statement, signed by Professor Dr. Khondoker Ehsanul Kabir, chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, detailed that 12,316 absentees were from nine general boards, 12,150 from the Madrasa Board, and 2,399 from the Technical Board. The day’s exams included Bangla Paper II for SSC, Arabic Paper I for Dakhil, and English-2 for vocational students. The written exams began on April 21 and will continue until May 20, followed by practical tests from June 7 to 14.

The data showed varying absentee rates across boards, with the general boards averaging 1.10 percent absenteeism and the Madrasa Board recording 4.79 percent. The Technical Board reported 2,399 absentees out of 120,160 registered candidates.

West Bengal recorded an exceptionally high voter turnout during the first phase of its assembly elections, following the removal of about 9.1 million names from the electoral roll through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. According to the Election Commission, by 5 p.m. on Thursday, the average turnout across 152 constituencies had reached 89.93 percent, surpassing previous records from 2021 and 2024. South Dinajpur district reported the highest turnout at 93.12 percent, followed by Cooch Behar at 92 percent. Seven of the sixteen districts voting that day saw participation above 90 percent.

Analysts and observers noted that voter enthusiasm was unusually strong from early morning. Political analyst Biswajit Bhattacharya described the steady rise in turnout as unprecedented. Researcher Sabir Ahmed from the Sabar Institute suggested that many migrant workers may have returned home to vote, driven by concern over the SIR process. Asif Farooq of the Migrant Workers’ Unity Forum said voters were eager to ensure their names remained on the rolls, even keeping photocopies of voter slips as proof.

Observers believe the heightened turnout reflects public determination to assert voting rights amid uncertainty caused by the SIR exclusions.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to destroy any boats or small vessels found laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The directive was issued on Thursday through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where Trump instructed naval forces to act without hesitation. He also stated that US mine-sweeping operations in the area would be tripled to ensure maritime safety.

Following Trump’s announcement, tensions in the region have sharply escalated. The US Department of Defense said it remains committed to maintaining safe navigation in international waters and preventing illegal activities by Iran. A recent Pentagon assessment indicated that fully clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz could take about six months.

Experts cited in the report warned that the situation could drive global oil prices higher as uncertainty grows over maritime security in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam has declared that Lebanon will not sign any agreement that does not include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. He made the statement in an interview ahead of scheduled talks in Washington on Thursday. The remarks followed his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he reiterated Lebanon’s firm stance against any proposal allowing Israeli presence in buffer zones that would prevent displaced Lebanese from returning or rebuilding destroyed areas.

Salam emphasized that Lebanon is entering the discussions with the belief that the United States is the only actor capable of exerting real influence over Israel. He credited Washington’s role in achieving a ceasefire and urged continued U.S. pressure on Israel. Addressing Western demands for Hezbollah’s disarmament, he described it as a long-term process that cannot happen overnight.

The prime minister underscored that Lebanon’s participation in talks should not be interpreted as a sign of flexibility, stating that while the outcomes remain uncertain, Lebanon’s objectives are clear.

Electricity generation at the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant in Dinajpur has come to a complete stop after its last operational unit ceased production at midnight on April 22. The 125-megawatt Unit 1 stopped functioning when stones mixed with coal caused a boiler pipe to burst, according to the plant’s chief engineer Abu Bakkar Siddique. The shutdown has disrupted power supply to the national grid.

Repair work is underway, and it may take four to five days to resume production. The plant’s other two units—one of 125 megawatts and another of 275 megawatts—had already been out of operation due to mechanical faults. The Barapukuria plant, built in 2006 beside the Barapukuria coal mine, was designed to produce 525 megawatts through three units but has never reached full capacity because of recurring technical issues.

The complete halt in production marks another setback for the coal-based facility, which has faced repeated operational interruptions over the years.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit announced in parliament that the government has decided to implement a 110-megawatt load shedding in Dhaka on a trial basis. The decision aims to ensure that farmers are not affected by electricity shortages during the irrigation season and to reduce inequality between rural and urban areas. The announcement was made on Thursday under Rule 300 in the National Parliament.

The minister expressed regret for the public suffering caused by ongoing power cuts, noting that current nationwide load shedding stands at around 2,000 megawatts but is expected to decline within seven days. He explained that despite high theoretical generation capacity, actual production remains lower due to gas shortages and maintenance at some power plants. Bangladesh currently faces a daily gas shortfall of about 1,164 million cubic feet.

Amit said the government, guided by the Prime Minister and in consultation with the opposition leader, is prioritizing uninterrupted electricity for agriculture. He added that visible progress in expanding gas infrastructure is expected within 180 days under the government’s priority plan.

A Dhaka court has granted a four-day remand for former DGFI officer Md. Afzal Naser in connection with a murder case filed over the killing of a man during the July Movement in Uttara. The order was issued on Thursday, April 23, 2026, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah. The prosecution was represented by state lawyer Shamsuddoha Suman. Earlier, the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ashraful Alam of Uttara East Police Station, had sought a seven-day remand for interrogation.

According to the remand petition, preliminary investigation indicated Naser’s involvement in the incident. Investigators claimed that under his direction, violent activities were carried out to suppress the anti-discrimination student movement. The petition stated that sufficient evidence had been found and that police custody was necessary for further investigation. Naser was previously arrested on March 30 from his residence in Mirpur DOHS and had been remanded multiple times in other cases before being sent to jail.

The case alleges that on August 5, 2024, victim Mahmudul Hasan was shot dead during a student rally against discrimination in Uttara, leading his family to file the murder case at Uttara East Police Station.