Residents of Meghna upazila in Cumilla have expressed growing concern as suspects in multiple serious cases, including murder and abduction, remain unarrested. The issue centers on the killing of Shahjalal, also known as Sabbir, in Mugarchar village under Radhanagar Union, where several accused individuals are still evading capture.

According to the report, one accused, Babul Mia, father of named suspect Naim, was arrested but released on bail within 72 hours. The main accused and others are still absconding. In response, locals organized a protest and human chain in front of Meghna Police Station on Wednesday morning, demanding immediate arrests. Speakers warned that if the suspects were not detained within 72 hours, they would initiate a stronger movement.

Officer-in-Charge Shahidul Islam of Meghna Police Station stated that operations to apprehend the suspects are ongoing but have been delayed because many have fled outside the Meghna area.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the foundation work of the third building of the BIAM Foundation on Saturday morning in New Eskaton, Dhaka. The ceremony took place around 10 a.m., marking a new phase in the foundation’s infrastructure development. Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister visited the foundation’s activities and exchanged views with its officials. Senior government officials, cabinet members, and distinguished guests attended the event.

The BIAM Foundation operates under the Ministry of Public Administration and is primarily responsible for training Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) officers and conducting other administrative programs. The new building is expected to enhance the foundation’s capacity to deliver training and administrative services more effectively.

The event underscores the government’s continued focus on strengthening administrative institutions and improving the professional development of civil servants through expanded facilities and modern infrastructure.

Dr. Mustafa Lutful Aziz, the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) of Banaripara in Barishal, faces serious allegations of operating a private clinic business while holding a government post. Reports claim he owns a 30 percent share in Hamid Memorial Clinic and has been referring patients from the government hospital to his clinic for financial gain. Despite available surgical facilities at the public hospital, patients were allegedly persuaded to seek treatment at the private clinic, incurring higher costs.

Investigations reveal Dr. Mustafa joined the Banaripara Upazila Health Complex in 2008 and became a shareholder in the nearby Hamid Memorial Clinic from its inception. After being transferred once for similar reasons, he returned in January 2026 and resumed operations at his clinic. Local residents accuse him of exploiting his position to benefit his business, depriving poor patients of government healthcare services.

Dr. Mustafa denied owning any clinic, though an audio clip reportedly contradicts his claim. Barishal Civil Surgeon Dr. S.M. Manjur Elahi stated that government doctors cannot engage in private business and promised departmental action if the allegations are proven.

The Sugandha River in Nalchity upazila of Jhalakathi has turned into a massive garbage dump due to unplanned waste disposal by the municipality. Every day, household, market, and other wastes are dumped in open areas near the old steamer ghat, and rain or tidal water carries the waste directly into the river. This has caused severe water and air pollution, turning the once-clear river into a foul-smelling, waste-filled waterway.

Local residents report unbearable stench and say the river water is no longer usable. People living along the river are suffering from skin diseases, stomach problems, and respiratory issues due to contact with the polluted water. Environmental experts warn that unplanned dumping threatens aquatic life and vegetation, potentially destroying the region’s ecological balance and posing serious long-term health risks.

Residents and environmentalists are calling for the immediate construction of a modern dumping station, regular waste collection, and protective measures for the riverbank. Municipal officials acknowledge the urgent need for a dumping site but say no land has yet been allocated for the project.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to authorize alternative methods for carrying out federal executions, including firing squads, electric shock, and gas-induced suffocation. The announcement was made on Friday, outlining the new procedures for those convicted of the most serious federal crimes.

According to the administration, the move comes in response to difficulties in obtaining the drugs required for lethal injections. A report from the Department of Justice recommended these methods as part of efforts to fulfill Trump’s campaign pledge to reinstate federal executions during his second term. The Justice Department is leading the initiative.

Trump had previously reinstated federal executions in 2021, just days before the end of his first term, ending a 20-year hiatus. The new plan continues that policy direction, expanding the range of approved execution methods at the federal level.

Residents of Cumilla are enduring severe power outages that have disrupted daily life across the district. According to local reports on April 25, 2026, urban areas experience four to five hours of load-shedding daily, while rural communities face 10 to 12 hours without electricity. The prolonged outages have hit children, the elderly, and students particularly hard, with SSC examinees expressing frustration over their inability to study at night. Agricultural activities have also been affected as irrigation pumps remain idle, raising fears of crop losses.

The situation has strained essential services, including rural clinics and pharmacies, where power shortages threaten the preservation of temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines. Small businesses and hotels report declining sales as customers avoid going out in the heat. Officials from the Cumilla Palli Bidyut Samiti and Power Development Board cited a supply shortfall, noting that while local demand is around 1,800 megawatts, only 1,000 to 1,100 megawatts are available. Nationwide, on April 23, electricity demand reached 15,650 megawatts against production of 13,945 megawatts, forcing authorities to impose load-shedding.

Officials said they are prioritizing power supply for irrigation between 11 p.m. and 11 a.m., but rural residents continue to face long hours without electricity.

A local BNP leader was reportedly injured in an attack by Awami League supporters in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur on Friday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. in Kadmi village under Rupapat Union. The injured were identified as Abdur Rahman, assistant agriculture affairs secretary of the upazila BNP, and Suman Sheikh, 27, joint convener of the Rupapat Union Swechchhasebak Dal. Locals rescued them and took them to the upazila health complex, from where they were referred to Faridpur Hospital.

According to local sources, supporters of Md. Firoz Molla, general secretary of the Union Krishak League, carried out the attack. Firoz Molla, however, stated that he was in Gopalganj at the time and only heard about the assault. Boalmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain said no written complaint had been filed yet and that legal action would be taken upon receiving one.

Police are awaiting a formal complaint to initiate legal proceedings regarding the incident.

Residents of eight northern districts in Bangladesh have intensified their movement demanding the construction of a second Jamuna Bridge connecting Fulchhari in Gaibandha to Bahadurabad Ghat in Jamalpur. Local people, led by the Fulchhari Development Forum, have formed a bridge implementation committee and are organizing rallies and public meetings to press their demand. They believe the bridge would open new economic opportunities and improve connectivity across the region.

The demand stems from decades of hardship faced by residents who rely on unsafe and unreliable boat crossings between Balashi and Bahadurabad. Ferry services that once operated on the route were suspended about 25 years ago, leaving thousands to cross the river daily under risky conditions. The lack of a bridge has severely affected agriculture, trade, education, and healthcare in the area, with farmers unable to transport goods efficiently to markets.

Local leaders and residents argue that a bridge would transform communication and trade between northern and southern Bangladesh, saving time and cost while boosting employment and regional development. The issue gained renewed attention after local MP Abdul Warech raised it in the national parliament.

Shipping companies are now paying up to four million dollars to secure priority passage through the Panama Canal, according to the Associated Press. The sharp rise in fees follows the effective shutdown of vessel traffic through the Hormuz Strait, which has disrupted global shipping routes and forced many ships to seek alternative passages.

Normally, the Panama Canal charges fixed rates, but auction prices for priority slots have surged as demand increased. Ships rerouting to avoid the Hormuz Strait are competing for faster transit options to prevent multi-day delays, significantly raising costs.

The situation highlights the broader impact of the Hormuz crisis on global trade and shipping expenses, underscoring how regional disruptions can ripple through international supply chains.

A prolonged heatwave combined with severe power outages has disrupted daily life across Khulna and the southwestern region of Bangladesh. Since early April, residents have faced extreme heat and frequent load-shedding lasting up to 10 to 12 hours a day. According to the West Zone Power Distribution Company, on Thursday at 1 p.m., electricity demand in 21 districts under Khulna Division was 801 megawatts, while supply reached only 643 megawatts, leaving a deficit of 158 megawatts. In Khulna district alone, 44 megawatts of load-shedding was required.

The outages have severely affected businesses and households. Shopkeepers in Khulna city reported sharp declines in sales as customers avoid hot, unventilated stores. Fish sellers and other refrigeration-dependent traders are suffering losses due to spoilage. Rising fuel prices have also caused transport disruptions, with long queues at petrol stations and increased fares. Students taking the ongoing SSC exams are struggling to study amid the frequent blackouts.

Local civic group Sujan’s Khulna secretary criticized the government for failing to manage the ongoing electricity and fuel crisis, warning that the situation could worsen if not addressed soon.

A trader named Khairul Islam was arrested in Haropara village of Bhangura upazila, Pabna, for producing fake milk. A mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman sentenced him to six months of imprisonment and imposed a fine of one lakh taka. The operation took place late Saturday night.

During the raid, authorities seized fake milk, soybean oil, and two machines used in the production process. According to the report, Khairul had been manufacturing fake milk using harmful jelly, soybean oil, and other ingredients, which he supplied to a local sealing center of a company named Pran.

The mobile court’s action highlights ongoing efforts to curb the production and distribution of adulterated food products in the region.

At least 12 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Friday, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The attacks, which violated an existing ceasefire, included a strike on a police vehicle in Khan Younis that killed eight people, among them three civilians. Two police officers were killed in a separate attack in Gaza City, while two others died in a bombing on a house in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza.

The Gaza Interior Ministry urged the international community to intervene to stop the attacks, stating that the Khan Younis strike occurred after security forces attempted to halt a local clash. In its statement, the ministry criticized what it described as the silence of international organizations over attacks targeting civilian police, calling such inaction indirect cooperation with Israeli occupation forces.

The ministry warned that continued silence could encourage further violence, emphasizing the need for immediate international response to prevent escalation.

The United States Army has officially increased the maximum enlistment age from 35 to 42 years, effective April 20, 2026, under a revised version of Army Regulation 601-210. The change applies to the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. The new directive also removes the waiver requirement for individuals previously convicted once for possession of marijuana or other controlled substances. The adjustment aims to expand the pool of eligible recruits as the Army faces one of its most severe manpower shortages since 1973.

According to official data, the Army met its recruitment goals in 2024 and 2025 but failed to do so in 2022 and 2023, and has consistently missed targets for the Army Reserve. Analysts attribute the shortfall to factors such as public opposition to wars, particularly against Iran, and declining interest among younger Americans. The Army Recruiting Command cited labor market shifts, limited awareness of military service, obesity, drug use, and mental health issues as key barriers to youth enlistment.

Military analysts note that the policy aligns the Army’s age limit more closely with other service branches and may help offset declining youth participation in the armed forces.

Sarba Mitra Chakma, an executive member of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), has called on Islami Chhatra Shibir to leave behind its secretive political activities and participate openly in politics. He made the remarks in a Facebook post on Friday, April 24, 2026, stating that it was his personal wish for Shibir to engage in transparent political practices.

In his post, Chakma questioned the need for Shibir’s covert politics, noting that the Awami League was no longer in power. He highlighted that, despite the absence of any state ban on the organization, Shibir activists are often treated as if they are “killable beings,” with society and the state having normalized such attitudes over the past seventeen years. He also referred to a recent statement by a former Islami University Chhatra Dal leader who threatened violence against Shibir members.

Chakma concluded that before Shibir can fully enter open politics, society must first ensure their human rights and end the perception that their lives are expendable.

An Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, according to Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi. The visit coincides with the White House announcement that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will also travel to Pakistan for discussions involving Iran. However, Iran has stated that it will not hold any meetings with the United States.

Andrabi said on social media that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Chief and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and other senior officials welcomed Araghchi. During the visit, the Iranian foreign minister is expected to discuss recent regional developments and ongoing efforts for peace and stability with Pakistan’s top leadership.

The trip is being viewed as a significant step toward potential second-round talks between Iran and the United States, though Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei reiterated that no meeting with US officials is planned. The White House noted that if discussions progress, US Vice President JD Vance is prepared to visit Pakistan.