Nahida Sultana Brishti, a former student of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), has been confirmed dead in the United States. Her brother, Zahid Hasan Pranto, announced the news on social media on Saturday, April 25, 2026, citing confirmation from U.S. police. Investigators identified her remains through DNA testing of blood samples and a body part recovered from a suspect’s residence. Authorities have not yet clarified whether her full body has been recovered.

Nahida was a student of the 13th batch in the Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering department at NSTU and was pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of South Florida. Her death has cast deep sorrow over her family and the university community.

She was last seen on April 16 at the Tampa residence of another Bangladeshi student, Jamil Limon, whose mutilated body was later found near the Howard Frankland Bridge. Police have arrested an American citizen, Hisham Saleh Abugarbieh, whose home yielded the evidence linking to Nahida’s death.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, has presented a four-point reform proposal aimed at ending the long-standing culture of custodial torture and impunity in Bangladesh. Speaking on April 25, 2026, at a national consultation held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, he alleged that despite existing laws against torture, enforcement has been weak and often misused. Rahman also stated that he himself had been subjected to torture by state agencies and imprisoned for nearly five years for running a newspaper and publishing the truth.

He outlined four key reforms: political will from the highest level of government, judicial independence and oversight of police remand, modern training for law enforcement to replace physical coercion, and compensation and rehabilitation for victims of state or police torture. Rahman emphasized that structural reforms and a change in mindset are essential for real progress beyond signing international conventions or passing laws.

The event was part of a two-day national consultation organized by human rights group Odhikar with support from the international organization OMCT, focusing on implementing the UN Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol in Bangladesh.

A coordination meeting between Member of Parliament Md. Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu and district and upazila-level officials was held in Gafargaon, Mymensingh. The event took place on Friday afternoon at the auditorium of Abdur Rahman Degree College. The meeting focused on local development issues and was attended by officials from various government departments and public representatives.

The session was presided over by Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman and conducted by Gafargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer N M Abdullah-Al Mamun. Police Superintendent Md. Kamrul Hasan and other officials also spoke at the event. MP Bachchu delivered the main address, emphasizing development matters concerning the Gafargaon area.

The meeting reflected ongoing coordination between administrative authorities and elected representatives to advance local development agendas in Mymensingh district.

Farmers in Bogura have completed onion harvesting with strong yields, but they are not receiving fair prices. While storage-grade onions from Pabna and Kushtia are selling at Tk 35–40 per kilogram, regular onions are priced between Tk 25–30. Traders and growers report that market supply has dropped, pushing prices up by about Tk 5 per kilogram in the past two days. They expect prices to double before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha if the trend continues.

Light rain before harvest caused minor damage in several onion-producing districts, including Pabna, Faridpur, Rangpur, and Natore, leading to lower prices for blemished onions. In contrast, the dry, long-lasting “murikata” variety is being stored by farmers and traders, reducing immediate market supply. Nationally, onion production targets have been met, with major output from Pabna, Kushtia, Rajshahi, and Rangpur regions.

Wholesalers in Bogura’s markets say farmers are storing onions due to dryness and quality, while large traders are stockpiling murikata onions. This storage trend is tightening supply and driving prices upward, with expectations of further increases in the coming days.

Palestinians are casting ballots in the first election held since the Gaza war began. Voting is taking place in a central area of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, where municipal elections opened at 7 a.m. local time. According to the Ramallah-based Central Election Commission, about 1.5 million people are registered to vote in the West Bank and 70,000 in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah area.

This marks the first Palestinian election since Israel launched its war in Gaza in October 2023. The conflict has left much of the population struggling to meet basic needs. At least 72,568 people have been killed and more than 172,338 Palestinians injured in the Gaza Strip since the fighting began.

The vote is seen as a significant political event amid the ongoing devastation, though the source does not specify the participating parties or the expected outcomes.

The United States has imposed sanctions on China's Hengli Petrochemical refinery for purchasing crude oil from Iran. The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the decision on Friday, stating that the refinery, located near Dalian in northeastern China, is one of the largest buyers of Iranian crude and petroleum products. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also sanctioned about 40 shipping companies and vessels linked to Iran’s so-called shadow fleet.

China has criticized the sanctions as illegal. The Chinese Embassy in Washington said normal trade should not be harmed and urged the U.S. to stop what it called the misuse of sanctions targeting Chinese companies. The move follows earlier U.S. actions last year against several other Chinese chemical and petrochemical firms, including Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical, and Shandong Shengjing Chemical.

The sanctions reflect continued U.S. efforts to restrict Iran’s oil trade and pressure entities that facilitate its exports, while drawing renewed diplomatic friction between Washington and Beijing.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the July-August 2024 mass uprising once again proved that the true owners of the state are its people. He said this on Saturday morning while inaugurating the third building of the BIAM Foundation in New Eskaton, Dhaka. Rahman described the current government as a reflection of the people's long-standing desire for an accountable, just, and welfare-oriented administration.

He emphasized that the government is committed to developing a confident, creative, and merit-based human resource system. According to him, building a citizen-friendly administration is essential for achieving the nation’s aspirations. The prime minister also urged the bureaucracy to become more people-oriented and highlighted the importance of training to help officials serve citizens better.

Before his speech, Rahman laid the foundation stone of the BIAM Foundation’s third building, toured its activities, and exchanged views with officials.

Israel is reportedly seeking approval from the United States to resume military operations against Iran. According to a report by Israel’s state broadcaster Kan, Tel Aviv has sent a message to Washington expressing its interest in restarting the campaign. The report states that Israel is on high alert and awaiting a decision from US President Donald Trump before proceeding.

In the past 24 hours, the United States has strengthened its presence in the Middle East by deploying an additional squadron of F/A-18 fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and relocating defense systems and interceptor missiles across the region. These moves come as tensions continue to rise between Israel and Iran.

The report, citing sources, indicates that Israel’s next steps depend on the US decision, underscoring Washington’s central role in shaping the regional security situation.

Rokeya Khanam, mother of Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Raksu) General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar, posted an emotional message on Facebook on Friday night, April 24, 2026. In her post, she described herself as the mother of a proud revolutionary and recounted her son’s political struggles and the persecution faced by their family. She reflected on years of political repression, including incidents involving her husband and brother, and expressed her continued support for her son’s activism despite threats and confinement.

The post detailed how the family was allegedly confined between July 16 and August 4, 2024, and how her husband was denied access to medicine. Rokeya wrote that she no longer asks her son to stop his political activities and prays for his safety. She also mentioned that she might file a general diary not for protection but as a historical record of their experiences. Her message concluded with a call for positive politics beyond party divisions and a vision of a prosperous Bangladesh built on the sacrifices of martyrs.

Construction of the model mosque and Islamic cultural center in Fulgazi, Feni, remains incomplete even after eight years. Initiated by the Islamic Foundation in 2019, the project was planned on 40 decimals of land opposite the local upazila complex, with an initial budget of Tk 12 crore. The first contractor, Raju Enterprise, halted work soon after the foundation was laid. The Public Works Department later canceled the earlier tender and reissued a new work order in January 2024, raising the cost to Tk 14 crore. The joint contractors, Messrs Lucky Enterprise and Mohsin & Brothers, began work again on January 1, 2025, assisted by Aradhana Enterprise.

Despite the renewed effort, the project remains unfinished two months past the contractual deadline, with about 75 percent of the work completed. The main structure stands, but plastering, tiling, finishing, and road connection tasks are still pending. Site engineer Omar Faruk said finishing work is ongoing and may take four more months. Public Works engineer A.K.M.S. Shafiquur Rahman cited fuel shortages as a cause of delay but assured that efforts continue for timely completion.

Local worshippers have expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, while officials maintain regular supervision to expedite completion.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a national rally of July martyrs’ families and July fighters at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday, demanding full implementation of the referendum verdict. The event began at 10 a.m. with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Qari Enayet Ullah Saifi, followed by its translation by Sharif Bayjeed Mahmud and Islamic songs performed by artist Mashiur Rahman. July fighter Kamrul Hasan inaugurated the rally, calling for the July Charter to be implemented without any alteration and warning that Parliament would be besieged again if the demand was ignored.

The rally was attended by opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, senior leaders of the 11-party alliance, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, assistant secretaries general, central executive and working committee members, Dhaka city leaders, women’s wing officials, MPs from Jamaat and the 11-party alliance, as well as families of July martyrs and injured July fighters from across the country.

Participants emphasized respect for the people’s mandate and warned that political struggle would continue inside and outside Parliament if the referendum result was not honored.

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling to Pakistan for discussions involving Iran, according to the report. Vice President JD Vance has indicated he is prepared to join them in Islamabad if there is a prospect of reaching an agreement with Tehran. An Iranian delegation has already arrived in Pakistan but has stated it will not meet with the US side.

Al Jazeera’s Washington correspondent Allen Fisher reported that there are indications in Washington suggesting JD Vance has been temporarily sidelined to allow talks in Islamabad to proceed. However, Fisher noted that the situation may not be as it appears. He added that if significant progress is made toward a potential deal, both JD Vance and Senator Marco Rubio would be called to Islamabad to finalize it.

The discussions are expected to address key issues including Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its regional proxies, enriched uranium stockpiles, and unresolved matters concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to implementing all election pledges and every clause of the July Charter. He made the remarks on Saturday morning while inaugurating the third building of the BIAM Foundation in New Eskaton, Dhaka.

Rahman said the mass uprising of July–August 2024 had once again demonstrated that the people are the true owners of the state. He emphasized that citizens had long aspired to an accountable, just, and welfare-oriented governance system, and that the current government represents that aspiration. The prime minister also stressed the importance of building a confident, knowledge-based, and creative human resource to achieve national development goals.

He further noted that bureaucracy must become more people-oriented to build a modern and prosperous state. Rahman underscored the need for training to help public servants act as true servants of the people. Before his speech, he laid the foundation stone of the new BIAM Foundation building and visited its activities while exchanging views with officials.

A severe shortage of rabies vaccines has been reported in several hospitals across Bangladesh, leaving patients like Ruby Akter from Munshiganj struggling to buy doses privately after dog bites. Hospital officials confirmed that government supplies of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) have stopped, forcing facilities to ration limited stocks and ask patients who can afford it to purchase vaccines themselves. The shortage is particularly acute outside major cities, though Dhaka’s Infectious Disease Hospital reportedly has full supply.

The crisis extends beyond rabies vaccines. The country’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is also facing depleted reserves of multiple vaccines, including those for measles and rubella. Officials at the EPI office in Dhaka acknowledged that the national “buffer stock” has run out, while the health minister publicly denied any shortage, claiming six months of supply remain. Public health experts warned that the absence of reserve stocks poses serious epidemic risks.

The report links the crisis to the government’s withdrawal from the health sector’s five-year Operational Plan in 2025 without a replacement funding mechanism, disrupting procurement and leaving vaccine transport workers unpaid for months.

At least ten people were injured in a violent clash between two factions of the Jubo Dal in Lalpur upazila of Natore on Friday afternoon. The confrontation, which took place at Godhra Bazar in Kadimchilan Union, stemmed from a dispute over local dominance. Police were deployed to the scene to bring the situation under control after reports of arson and a highway blockade.

According to police and local sources, the conflict involved supporters of Nadim Hossain Doha, a local Jubo Dal leader, and Majnu Patwari, the upazila Jubo Dal joint convener. Tensions escalated after a video about Majnu Patwari circulated on social media, leading to arguments earlier in the week. During the clash, rural physician Rashedul Islam was among those injured, and protesters blocked the Natore–Pabna highway by placing tree trunks and setting a motorcycle on fire.

Police later restored order and reopened the road. One injured person, Mokhles Patwari, was admitted to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex, while others received primary treatment. Authorities confirmed receiving a written complaint and said legal action would follow after investigation.