An attack and vandalism targeted the car of Professor Masum Mostafa, Member of Parliament for Netrokona-5 (Purbadhala) and assistant secretary of the district Jamaat-e-Islami. The incident occurred on Friday when he was returning from a madrasa foundation event. According to a statement issued that night, around a hundred assailants attacked his vehicle near Atkapara Giripath Filling Station while he stopped for evening prayers, surrounding the mosque and detaining those accompanying him for about an hour.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar strongly condemned the assault in a statement to the media, describing it as a deliberate act against a democratically elected representative and a violation of the rule of law. He said the attack reflected attempts to destabilize the country’s political environment and showed that violent political culture persists.

Porwar demanded a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible, urging the authorities to act responsibly to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that he will visit Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow, describing the trip as a timely initiative. In a message posted on social media platform X, Araghchi said the purpose of the visits is to strengthen coordination with partner countries on bilateral issues and to discuss the regional situation. He emphasized that Iran’s neighbors remain its top priority.

Reports indicate that his planned visit to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, is being viewed as a significant step that could help pave the way for renewed direct discussions between Tehran and Washington. The trip underscores Iran’s ongoing diplomatic outreach amid evolving regional dynamics.

The visits are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation and addressing shared regional concerns, though specific agendas or outcomes have not yet been detailed in the available reports.

Police in Chattogram detained four BNP activists on Friday evening at the Laldighi Maidan area during the traditional Jabbar’s Boli Khela fair, following allegations of extortion from traders and stall owners. The detainees were reportedly caught in the act, according to police sources. They include Md. Fahim, joint convener of the Dewan Bazar Ward Volunteer Team, Md. Tuhin, a member of the same unit, Touhid, a former Chhatra League leader now identified as a BNP activist, and Onik, nephew of a former Awami League leader.

Local and police sources said the four are known followers of former Chattogram city BNP joint convener Abdul Mannan. Mannan denied any involvement, stating they were collecting dues for stalls they had set up, and urged legal action if extortion is proven. Police said the suspects had been under surveillance after complaints of forced money collection and were detained red-handed.

The incident caused tension at the fairground, and police later confirmed the arrests around 11 p.m. The detainees are being interrogated, and further legal steps will follow after investigation.

Fakir Mahbub Anam, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Science and Technology, visited the July war-injured individuals undergoing treatment at Vejthani International Hospital in Thailand on Friday. During the visit, he inquired about their physical condition and wished them a speedy recovery.

The minister also spoke with the attending doctors to learn about the ongoing treatment process. On behalf of the Prime Minister, he assured both the injured individuals and the hospital authorities of all necessary support. Additionally, Fakir Mahbub Anam personally donated 100,000 Thai Baht from his own fund to assist the injured.

The visit reflected the government’s continued concern for the welfare of those injured in the July conflict and its commitment to ensuring their proper medical care abroad.

The Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest march and rally on Friday evening at the university campus, condemning what it described as attacks and harassment by members of the Chhatra Dal and local police. The demonstration began at the Vice-Chancellor’s Chattar, moved through TSC and the Faculty of Arts, and concluded in front of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) office.

Speakers at the rally, including Shibir’s central secretary general Sibgatullah Sibga, DUCSU general secretary S M Forhad, and other leaders, accused the Chhatra Dal of assaulting Shibir activists and journalists, spreading false photo cards, and reviving violent campus practices. They also alleged that police at Shahbagh station harassed a student who sought protection after receiving death threats. The leaders urged the university administration and the home minister to take action against those responsible.

The protest reflected growing tension between student organizations at Dhaka University, with Shibir leaders warning against a return to past patterns of campus violence and calling for welfare-oriented politics.

A group of miscreants attacked and vandalized the car of Masum Mostafa, Member of Parliament for Netrakona-5 (Purbadhala), on Friday evening. The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. at the Giripath Filling Station in Atkapara area of the upazila, where the MP was reportedly confined for about one and a half hours before being rescued by police.

According to local residents, the MP had come to the fuel station in violation of rules, which angered locals and led to the vandalism. However, at a press conference later that night, Masum Mostafa claimed that activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations carried out the attack while he was performing prayers nearby. He alleged that the attackers also tried to assault him and his associates, and damaged motorcycles belonging to his party workers.

Police and local administration officials said the situation is now under control, with additional forces and an army team deployed in the area. Authorities confirmed that legal action will be taken if a formal complaint is filed.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Union could consider easing sanctions on Iran if a comprehensive agreement is reached to end the ongoing conflict involving the country. Speaking to reporters after an EU summit held in Cyprus, Merz noted that sanctions relief could form part of a broader diplomatic process aimed at halting hostilities.

He stated that lifting sanctions might be integrated into negotiations and emphasized that European leaders showed a positive attitude toward the idea, with no objections raised. According to Merz, such a move could help advance talks and support the establishment of a lasting ceasefire.

His remarks suggest that the EU may seek to play a significant diplomatic role by using sanctions as a negotiation tool to promote peace and stability in the region.

Tesla has begun production of its highly anticipated autonomous 'Cybercab' robotaxi, company CEO Elon Musk announced on social media platform X. According to AFP from Washington, Musk posted a 38-second promotional video showing the driverless vehicle leaving the factory and moving onto the road. He also shared another clip featuring multiple golden-colored Cybercabs driving together. Tesla stated on Wednesday that it is on track to start volume production of both the Cybercab and the Tesla Semi this year, reporting a first-quarter profit of 477 million dollars.

The Cybercab, first unveiled in the fall of 2024, is designed as a fully autonomous taxi without a steering wheel or pedals. Musk had previously said the vehicle would reach the market by 2027. In June of last year, Tesla launched a limited 'early access' robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. Earlier this year, the company released an image showing workers around the first Cybercab on the production line at its Giga Texas factory.

The start of production marks a significant milestone in Tesla’s push toward commercial autonomous mobility, signaling progress toward its long-term robotaxi ambitions.

More than 130 public figures have written to the UK’s Court of Appeal expressing support for Palestine Action ahead of a key hearing on the government’s ban of the group. The letter, released Friday with 132 signatures, declared: “We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action.” The appeal hearings are scheduled for April 28 and 29, when the court will consider the government’s attempt to uphold its proscription of the organisation.

Signatories include author Sally Rooney, climate activist Greta Thunberg, and scholar Judith Butler, along with musicians Nadine Shah and Brian Eno, and academics from universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, Yale, Columbia, and the London School of Economics. The UK government designated Palestine Action a “terrorist organisation” in July 2025, making membership or support punishable by up to 14 years in prison. In February, the High Court ruled the ban unlawful and disproportionate, but the government appealed the decision.

Activist group Defend Our Juries warned that signatories could face terrorism charges, calling the ban authoritarian. More than 500 protesters were arrested earlier this month after police reversed a previous decision to refrain from arrests while the appeal is pending.

Bangladesh’s Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Anisul Haque announced a government plan to utilize unused land in every district for solar power generation. Speaking on April 26, 2026, at a development dialogue titled “What Kind of Southwest Region Do We Want” at Islamic University, he said the initiative aims to make the country self-sufficient in solar energy and trigger an agricultural revolution in the Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, and Jhenaidah regions. The minister explained that one acre of land could generate one megawatt of electricity, and using 20 acres in a district could produce 20 megawatts, reducing diesel use for irrigation and cutting electricity subsidies.

He added that the project is expected to become visible within six months, according to the government’s technical team. The minister also discussed broader national initiatives, including the second Padma Bridge, agricultural development, education, and employment. He emphasized moving beyond blame-based politics and noted the formation of a ten-member parliamentary committee, with equal representation from the ruling and opposition parties, to address the power and Middle East crises.

He further mentioned that work on the Jhenaidah–Islamic University–Kushtia railway line and repairs to the Khulna–Kushtia highway would begin soon.

The United States has deployed three aircraft carriers to the Middle East for the first time in 23 years, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The arrival of the USS George HW Bush joins the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford, bringing a total of 12 accompanying ships, more than 200 aircraft, and 15,000 soldiers to the region. CENTCOM said the last comparable buildup occurred before the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. The deployment comes amid a fragile ceasefire involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran remain stalled, with Iran demanding the lifting of a US naval blockade as a condition for resuming talks. President Donald Trump extended the truce on Wednesday but maintained the blockade, which Iran has called an “act of war.” In response, Iran reblocked the Strait of Hormuz after briefly reopening it. Trump has indicated no urgency to alter the current situation, claiming it weakens Iran’s economy at minimal cost to the US.

CENTCOM confirmed that 34 vessels have been redirected in the region and that the blockade continues. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel is ready to resume military action against Iran if authorized by the US.

Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians in multiple attacks across Gaza on Friday, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The dead included eight people, among them three civilians, in an attack on a police vehicle in Khan Younis, two police officers in Gaza City, and two others in a house bombing in Beit Lahiya. Gaza’s Ministry of Interior urged the international community to stop Israel’s targeting of local police, saying the forces were working to maintain civilian security.

The ministry condemned the attacks as violations of international law, accusing Israel of systematically killing police officers and worsening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. It said the Khan Younis strike occurred after police intervened to break up a local fight. Hamas described the latest escalation as part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “bloody, fascist approach,” blaming mediators and the international community for failing to enforce the ceasefire.

Although a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump took effect last October, Israel has continued attacks that have killed at least 984 people since then. Reconstruction has not begun, and the international security force envisioned under the truce remains unformed.

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal declared that the practice of taking commissions or 'percentages' from contractors in development projects must end. He made the statement on Friday afternoon while addressing a gathering after inspecting the Paglar Canal excavation project in Kalmakanda upazila of Netrokona. Kamal warned that no irregularities or corruption in development work would be tolerated.

He emphasized his firm stance against corruption and mentioned that their leader Tarique Rahman has also announced a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. Addressing contractors, Kamal instructed them to complete their work within the specified time and maintain the promised quality of materials such as bricks and rods.

The event was presided over by Rangchhati Union Parishad Chairman Anisur Rahman Pathan (Babul), with Upazila Nirbahi Officer S M Mikail Islam attending as a special guest.

A college student was detained in Bogura for allegedly taking a proxy exam on behalf of a Mahila Dal leader during an ongoing SSC examination under Bangladesh Open University. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon at Bogura Zilla School examination center, creating widespread local attention. The detained student, identified as 18-year-old Ishita Akter Tisha, is a second-year higher secondary student at Government Azizul Haque College and a resident of Chakshutrapur in Bogura.

According to police and examination officials, the exam for the Bangla second paper of the SSC (second year) program began at 2 p.m. in room 201, where the registered candidate was Nipa Khatun, joint general secretary of the city Mahila Dal. However, Ishita appeared instead. An invigilator noticed a mismatch between the admit card photo and the examinee’s face, leading to questioning and her eventual confession. She was handed over to the police.

Bogura Sadar Police Station’s officer-in-charge Ibrahim Ali confirmed that Ishita is in custody and admitted she took the exam for her aunt, Nipa Khatun. Legal action will follow upon receipt of a written complaint.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that the current government has an adequate supply of measles vaccines and has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign. He made the statement on Friday afternoon while visiting the 250-bed General Hospital in Munshiganj.

The minister said that the previous two governments failed to conduct regular measles vaccination campaigns, which were supposed to be held every four years. As a result, a large number of children became infected with measles. He attributed the current situation to that negligence. The minister added that the present BNP government has started measles vaccination activities in 30 upazilas across 18 districts.

He also stated that Dr. Ahmad Kabir, the hospital superintendent, was temporarily withdrawn for making an irresponsible statement claiming there was no rabies vaccine. The minister said the statement was incorrect and intentional, and departmental action would be taken. During the visit, the Munshiganj civil surgeon also ordered the withdrawal of a stenotypist from the civil surgeon’s office.