A protest meeting organized by Bangladesh Political Thinker (BPT) was held on Wednesday at the National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding an end to the harassment of citizens under the controversial Digital Security Act. The event was chaired by BPT coordinator Engineer Md. Nur Nabi and attended by several speakers including Jamal Uddin, Rayhan Chowdhury, and Zafar Ahmed.

In his address, Nur Nabi stated that six citizens had been arrested in the past month for posting or sharing content critical of the government on social media, describing the arrests as a sign of attempts to suppress free expression. He accused the authorities of using law enforcement to detain critics under Section 54 and of fostering a culture of fear by allowing attacks on dissenters’ homes and offices. The speakers urged the government to immediately stop such actions and protect citizens’ freedom of speech.

The meeting was also attended by July Movement activist Arif Billah and former student leader Morshed Alam, among others.

Turkey’s Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University will host ten visiting scholars from Comilla University under a visiting scholar program announced on April 22, 2026. The opportunity is open to faculty members and PhD-level students, with applications managed through Comilla University’s International Relations Office and IQAC. The announcement was made during a seminar attended by senior university officials and representatives from the Turkish university.

According to the International Relations Office, the application deadline is April 25, though it may be extended. The program duration ranges from seven days to two months, during which participants will receive accommodation and meals from the host university while engaging in academic activities. The initiative marks the first tangible outcome of Comilla University’s recent efforts to establish international academic collaborations.

University authorities described the program as a milestone that could open new opportunities for global engagement. Efforts are also underway to expand academic cooperation with other countries, including China, to strengthen Comilla University’s national and international standing.

Israeli military warnings in Lebanon have sparked widespread panic among civilians after sudden mobile alerts began on September 27, 2024. The alerts displayed maps marked in red, identifying buildings, roads, and entire areas as danger zones. As the maps spread rapidly through WhatsApp groups, residents rushed to check their neighborhoods, leading to traffic jams as families fled their homes carrying children and elderly members.

Some alerts reached schools during class hours, prompting immediate evacuations. Many parents were unable to reach their children due to gridlocked roads, leaving some students stranded and crying on the streets. The Israeli army instructed residents to leave their homes and move at least 300 meters away for safety.

According to the report, such warnings have preceded multiple airstrikes, forcing locals to relocate within minutes. The ongoing alerts have filled daily life in many parts of Lebanon with fear and uncertainty, disrupting normal routines and heightening anxiety among civilians.

Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest march and rally in Sylhet on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, condemning an alleged attack by Chhatra Dal in Chattogram, nationwide acts of violence, and recent increases in fuel and gas prices. The march began at Court Point and concluded with a rally in front of the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar.

During the rally, Shibir’s central executive member and Sylhet city president Shahidul Islam Saju accused the ruling party of misusing power and ignoring the contributions of students in the July uprising. He claimed that within 50 days of assuming power, the government had failed to control killings, terrorism, and price hikes. Saju also criticized restrictions on freedom of speech and alleged manipulation of commodity prices through illegal syndicates.

The event was conducted by Sylhet city secretary Abu Taher Md. Fahim, with additional speeches from Shibir leaders representing Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Sylhet district units.

Chelsea’s struggles deepened after a 3-0 loss to Brighton in the English Premier League on April 22, 2026. The defeat marked Chelsea’s fifth consecutive league match without scoring, a drought not seen since 1912. Brighton’s goals came from Kadioglu in the third minute, Hinshelwood around the hour mark, and Welbeck in injury time. Chelsea managed only six shots in the entire match, none on target, underscoring their poor performance.

Following the loss, Chelsea dropped to seventh place in the league table with 48 points from 34 matches, falling further behind in the race for a Champions League spot with only four games remaining. Brighton’s victory lifted them to sixth place, strengthening their position for European competition.

Head coach Liam Rosenior expressed deep frustration after the match, calling the performance unacceptable in every aspect and demanding immediate changes in mentality and intensity within the team.

China has denied claims that a ship seized by US forces in the Gulf of Oman was carrying a 'gift' from Beijing to Iran. The denial came after US President Trump made an allegation earlier in the week. Former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley had also written on social media that the vessel was traveling from China to Iran and was linked to a shipment of chemicals used in missile production.

Responding to these allegations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing that the seized vessel was a 'foreign container ship.' He added that China opposes what it called 'malicious associations and assumptions.' Guo emphasized that as a responsible major power, China has always set an example in fulfilling its international obligations.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with regional developments drawing close international attention.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, stated that if the government can reduce theft, corruption, mismanagement, and system loss in the energy sector by ten percent, there would be no need to increase fuel prices. He made the remarks in a statement sent to the media on Wednesday, urging the government to withdraw its decision to raise fuel prices.

Haque expressed concern over severe load-shedding in rural areas, warning that it could seriously harm agricultural production, particularly boro rice cultivation. He said the ongoing crisis in the energy sector is responsible for the situation and called for coordinated government action to address it. He also noted that despite the fuel price hike, farmers and ordinary citizens are still struggling to access adequate fuel supplies.

Highlighting a severe diesel shortage, Haque said irrigation work has been disrupted in most districts, with thousands of hectares of boro crops drying out. He urged the government to immediately increase diesel supply for irrigation and take more active steps to import diesel.

BNP-affiliated Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir announced that secret political activities will no longer be tolerated on any campus in Bangladesh. Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at a protest rally near New Market in Chattogram City College, he said politics must be conducted openly. The event was organized to protest an alleged attack on JCD members by Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Nasir claimed that armed individuals wearing helmets and masks involved in the Chattogram clash were Shibir activists, accusing them of spreading misinformation by labeling them as JCD members. He warned that any attempt to blame JCD for violence through covert politics would be resisted by students. Nasir also alleged that Shibir had infiltrated the NCP and that recent NCP nominations for reserved women’s seats included members of the secret Shibir network.

The protest was chaired by Chattogram Metropolitan JCD Convener Saiful Alam and attended by other city and district JCD leaders. Nasir reiterated that JCD activists, alongside general students, would prevent any future secret political operations on campuses.

Police in Savar seized a truck carrying 361 sacks of rice marked with the Food Department’s name and detained three individuals, including the driver and his assistant. The seizure took place on Wednesday at Pakija Mor along the Dhaka–Aricha highway during a routine inspection. Authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of those detained.

According to police, the truck was stopped on the Paturia-bound lane as part of regular checks. Officers found that the vehicle lacked the required documentation for transporting the rice, prompting them to take the truck and its occupants to the local police station. Sub-Inspector Md. Niamat of Savar Police Station stated that the rice belonged to the Food Department but was being moved without proper papers.

An investigation is currently underway to determine the source and intended destination of the seized rice and to verify whether any irregularities or misuse of government resources occurred.

The Bangladesh government has compulsorily retired 13 police officers holding the ranks of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Additional DIG, citing provisions under the Government Service Act, 2018. The decision was confirmed through a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday, signed by Senior Secretary Md. Mahbubur Rashid. The order stated that the officers would receive retirement benefits as per regulations.

According to the circular, the officers were known for their close association with the ruling Awami League government and were previously accused of involvement in suppressing opposition political parties. Following the July 2024 mass uprising, they had been transferred to various posts across the country. The list includes officers from units such as the Anti-Terrorism Unit, Tourist Police, Industrial Police, and Police Telecom.

The government’s move marks a significant administrative reshuffle within the police force, reflecting continued post-uprising adjustments in key law enforcement positions.

Exit polls for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election will be released 30 minutes after the final phase of voting on April 29, covering 142 constituencies, following the first phase on April 23 for 152 seats. Alongside Bengal, exit poll results for Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry will also be published. The contest in West Bengal remains primarily between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Suvendu Adhikari, with the Left Front and Congress as other participants.

According to the report, past exit polls in West Bengal have shown mixed accuracy. In 2016, they broadly predicted a TMC victory but underestimated its margin. In 2019, they captured the BJP’s rise but not the exact seat distribution. In 2021, most polls suggested a close race, yet the TMC won a landslide with 213 seats. The general pattern indicates that while exit polls often identify the winning party correctly, they frequently misjudge the scale of victory.

This historical inconsistency raises questions about the reliability of upcoming 2026 exit polls, especially given the high-stakes TMC–BJP rivalry and administrative concerns noted in the report.

Iran has announced that it will continue discussions in Islamabad only if the United States lifts its blockade. The report, based on information from Tehran and published by Al Jazeera, said the extension of the ceasefire was seen as a positive signal, but Iran’s response remained mixed.

According to the report, the current situation is defined by uncertainty, fragility, and complexity. Despite the ceasefire extension, the possibility of renewed conflict persists. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, yet several contentious issues remain unresolved between the two sides, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, frozen assets, ballistic missiles, war reparations, and regional relations.

Sources cited in the report indicated that deep mistrust and suspicion now dominate Iran’s approach to any potential agreement with the United States, reflecting the strained nature of their bilateral relations.

Bangladesh experienced its hottest day of the season on Wednesday, with Rajshahi recording 40 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature so far this year. The capital Dhaka also saw its seasonal peak at 36.5 degrees Celsius. Except for light rain in Patuakhali’s Khepupara, the rest of the country remained dry. The ongoing heatwave, coupled with widespread power outages, has severely disrupted daily life across urban and rural areas.

According to the Meteorological Department, the heatwave has expanded from 14 districts on Tuesday to 24 districts on Wednesday, covering all of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions as well as parts of Dhaka, Tangail, Madaripur, Dinajpur, Rangamati, and Bandarban. Meteorologists warned that temperatures could exceed 42 degrees Celsius in the next two days before easing with possible rainfall from Saturday or Sunday. Experts attributed the rising heat to increased humidity and lack of rain.

The department’s long-term forecast suggests that while this year’s heatwave is intense, it is unlikely to persist as long as in 2023 and 2024, when continuous heat lasted 22 and 26 days respectively.

A delegation from Premier University, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor S. M. Nasrul Kadir, met with University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed at the UGC office on Tuesday. The delegation included Treasurer Professor Dr. Zahed Hossain Sikder and Registrar Mohammad Iftekhar Monir. During the meeting, they handed over copies of accreditation certificates received from the Bangladesh Accreditation Council for five undergraduate programs: Bachelor of Business Administration, BA (Honours) in English, LLB (Honours), BSS (Honours) in Economics, and BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. They also presented a copy of the confidence certificate for the BSc in Computer Science and Engineering program.

The UGC chairman expressed satisfaction upon receiving the certificates and praised Premier University for its achievement. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the achieved quality standards and advised the university to take necessary steps for accreditation of its remaining programs. The vice-chancellor also briefed the chairman on the university’s overall academic progress and future plans.

The meeting highlighted the institution’s ongoing efforts to strengthen academic quality and compliance with national accreditation standards.

Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest march in Lakshmipur on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, condemning recent attacks by Chhatra Dal and the rising cost of essential goods. The procession began in the Uttar Temuhani area and moved through several city streets before concluding with a brief rally at Dakshin Temuhani.

During the rally, speakers alleged that incidents of violence and disorder had increased across the country, disrupting the normal environment in educational institutions. They strongly condemned these acts and demanded that those responsible be brought under the law. The speakers also urged the authorities to ensure a peaceful and secure academic atmosphere.

Leaders and activists of the Lakshmipur city unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir participated in the demonstration, including city president Abdul Awal Hamdu, secretary Ismail Hossain Fayzal, office secretary Junaid Hossain Khan, and college affairs and law secretary Sarwar Hossain.