At least 13 members of Lebanon’s security forces were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Nabatieh, according to the state-run National News Agency. The report said Israel carried out extensive air raids in the area, including a strike near a government complex that hit a state security office.

The attack occurred as the Lebanese government prepared for negotiations next week aimed at ending its ongoing war with Israel, which began in early March and has already claimed around 1,900 lives in Lebanon. Lebanese President announced that a meeting would take place in Washington next week between Tel Aviv and Lebanese representatives to discuss a ceasefire and broader peace efforts between the neighboring countries.

The developments come amid regional diplomatic tensions, with discussions also involving the United States and Iran over related issues, including the Lebanon ceasefire and frozen Iranian assets.

A major fire erupted at the Chittagong Shopping Complex near the city’s Number Two Gate area on Saturday morning, April 11, 2026. The incident occurred around 9:45 a.m., filling the entire complex with smoke and causing panic among traders and visitors. Crowds gathered around the market as six units of the Fire Service rushed to the scene to bring the blaze under control.

According to initial reports, the fire is believed to have started on the second floor of the complex, possibly from a warehouse. The flames spread quickly throughout the building, prompting immediate evacuation efforts. The Agrabad Control Room of the Fire Service confirmed that six units were engaged in firefighting operations.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, and no official statement has yet been issued by the Fire Service regarding the extent of the damage or any casualties.

Four astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II mission have safely returned to Earth after completing a record-breaking journey around the Moon. The Orion spacecraft carrying them splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 6:07 a.m. Bangladesh time on April 11, 2026. The mission marked the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, covering 694,481 miles in total. The spacecraft had launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 2.

Following splashdown, Navy divers and helicopters surrounded the capsule to begin recovery operations. NASA confirmed all astronauts were in good health, describing their condition as “green.” The crew was airlifted to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks, including pulse, blood pressure, and neurological assessments. NASA officials reported that the capsule’s recovery followed years of testing and prior Artemis-1 rehearsals.

NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya called the mission “a gift to the world,” while Orion Program Manager Howard Hu described it as the beginning of a new era in human space exploration. NASA said the mission exceeded expectations and demonstrated the success of extensive teamwork.

All primary, secondary, and higher secondary educational institutions across Bangladesh will remain closed for three consecutive days from Sunday, April 12, to Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The closure schedule was confirmed after reviewing the annual holiday list.

According to the list, Sunday, April 12, marks a holiday for the Baisabi festival, followed by a holiday on Monday, April 13, for Chaitra Sankranti, and another on Tuesday, April 14, for the Bengali New Year. These three holidays will combine with the regular weekend holidays on Friday and Saturday, April 10 and 11, resulting in a total of five consecutive days off for all schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical institutions.

The extended break will apply nationwide, covering all levels of education from primary to higher secondary, as outlined in the official holiday schedule.

A joint operation was conducted in the Padma River at Goalanda in Rajbari on Friday, April 10, 2026, as part of the National Hilsa Conservation Week 2026. Members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard and officials from the Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer’s office carried out the daylong drive. During the operation, approximately one lakh meters of illegal current nets were seized from various points of the river and later destroyed publicly by burning.

According to the Upazila Fisheries Office, such operations are being conducted regularly to ensure the success of the hilsa conservation program. The joint initiative by the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department aims to stop illegal fishing practices and protect the country’s fish resources.

Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Md. Anwarul Islam Pilot stated that the authorities are taking strict measures to enforce the government’s ban on catching juvenile hilsa. He emphasized that continued awareness and law enforcement are essential to end illegal fishing activities.

In Lalmohan upazila of Bhola, fishermen staged a protest and human chain on Friday, April 10, demanding distribution of the allocated VGF rice that they have not yet received. The demonstration took place at the embankment near Kobkhali fish landing station in Dhaligournagar Union, where over a hundred fishermen participated. They complained that despite following government fishing restrictions, they were struggling to survive without the promised rice support.

The fishermen accused Dhaligournagar Union Chairman Maksudur Rahman of delaying the rice distribution and alleged that the upazila fisheries office had not taken any initiative to resolve the issue. According to the allocation, each fisherman was supposed to receive 80 kilograms of rice before Eid-ul-Fitr. Chairman Rahman said distribution was delayed because the local BNP unit had not yet submitted the full list of eligible fishermen. The upazila fisheries officer stated that the delivery order had already been issued, while the upazila executive officer explained that the delay was due to the late preparation of the fishermen’s list.

Officials indicated that rice distribution might begin on Sunday once the fishermen’s cards are verified.

Iran and the United States are set to meet in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss a possible ceasefire, but renewed tensions between the two sides have cast doubt on the talks. The US delegation is en route, while the Iranian team has already arrived. The meeting follows a ceasefire agreement announced Tuesday that temporarily halted US and Israeli military actions against Iran, yet disagreements over Iran’s ten-point proposal have since emerged.

Both sides have offered differing interpretations of the ceasefire terms, particularly regarding whether it applies to Israel’s operations in Lebanon. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the talks could collapse before they begin, citing two unmet preconditions: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s frozen assets. Iranian state media later confirmed that negotiations would start only if Washington accepted these terms.

Former US President Donald Trump reiterated threats against Iran, saying his administration was prepared to use advanced weaponry if no deal is reached. Analysts noted deep divisions remain over Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, frozen assets, nuclear program, and Israel’s actions in Lebanon.

Professor Dr. Rois Uddin has officially taken charge as the new vice-chancellor of Jagannath University on February 27. In an interview with Amader Desh, he discussed his plans for academic reform, campus development, and administrative transparency. He said all department heads and deans have shown a strong desire for positive change and pledged full cooperation in building a modern, student-friendly campus.

The vice-chancellor emphasized resolving academic stagnation, session jams, and accommodation shortages as his top priorities. A high-level committee has been formed to address these issues. He announced a four-step teacher recruitment process involving preliminary, written, and demonstration tests before the final interview, aiming to eliminate favoritism and political influence. He also stated that the university would not tolerate corruption or banned political activities, stressing that merit and fairness would guide all decisions.

Regarding infrastructure, he said efforts are underway to recover and complete student halls, with support from local authorities. The naming of a female dormitory after former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will be decided by the academic council and syndicate. Work on the second campus is being closely monitored in coordination with the army to ensure timely progress.

A severe fuel shortage in Rangpur Division has persisted for over six weeks, worsening despite earlier expectations of improvement. Local residents are facing acute difficulties as fuel is distributed only during limited hours set by the government. Many people are reportedly hoarding fuel and selling it at inflated prices, while others have stopped using their motorbikes due to long queues and limited availability. According to the Rangpur Divisional Commissioner’s Office, the region’s daily demand for diesel is 1 million liters, but only 900,000 liters are being supplied. Petrol and octane supplies are also far below demand.

Fuel station managers report receiving insufficient deliveries from depots, forcing many pumps to close for several days between shipments. The Rangpur Petrol Pump Owners Association said that more than half of the 350 pumps in the division have already shut down. The Divisional Commissioner, Shahidul Islam, acknowledged shortages in petrol and octane but said diesel supply remains stable and expressed hope for a quick resolution, urging citizens to use fuel responsibly.

If supply conditions do not improve soon, pump owners fear heavy financial losses and further disruption to local transport and employment.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen very soon, regardless of Iran’s cooperation. He made the remarks on Friday while speaking to reporters before peace talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan. The strategic waterway has been effectively blockaded by Tehran, causing instability in global energy supplies.

Trump said the United States would open the Gulf region and that other countries were ready to assist. However, he acknowledged that the task would not be easy, emphasizing that the reopening would happen soon. He did not provide details on how Washington plans to remove the blockade but made clear he would not accept the tolls imposed by Iran on the strait.

The statement comes amid complex negotiations in Islamabad, where key issues include Iran’s frozen assets and a Lebanon ceasefire, with the United Nations Secretary-General urging both sides to engage constructively.

Ahead of elections in West Bengal, political tensions have risen over the issue of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday sharply criticized the Narendra Modi government, asking why Hasina has been sheltered in Delhi for the past one and a half years and whether any major industrial interest is behind this decision.

Banerjee suggested that Hasina’s stay in India may not be solely for diplomatic reasons but could involve deeper economic considerations. He questioned whether the Modi government’s decision was influenced by the interests of major business groups such as Adani or Ambani. According to him, India’s involvement in Bangladesh’s internal politics and the use of Hasina as a political shield may be linked to corporate motives.

The controversy follows Hasina’s flight to India after a student-led uprising in Bangladesh. Although the Indian government initially described her stay as temporary and humanitarian, the prolonged duration has sparked domestic debate, which Banerjee has used to criticize the government’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.

Two floating oil depots of Jamuna Oil Company Limited and Meghna Petroleum Limited in the Brahmaputra River at Chilmari, Kurigram, have remained without fuel for nine years. The shortage has severely disrupted irrigation and daily activities in the region, raising fears of setbacks in the current Boro rice season. Farmers said they are forced to buy diesel from the Parbatipur depot at higher transport costs, and they have demanded a quick resolution.

Authorities explained that the supply stopped because oil-laden ships cannot reach the depots due to reduced navigability of the Brahmaputra. The depots, established in 1989, previously supplied fuel to districts including Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, and Lalmonirhat through 22 authorized dealers. Since early 2018, no fuel has been supplied, leaving local farmers and businesses struggling to meet daily fuel needs estimated at 70,000–90,000 liters.

Officials said a Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation team inspected the depots two years ago for possible permanent setup, but supply remains halted. Farmers warned that irrigation-dependent crops such as Boro rice, maize, wheat, and peanuts are now at risk.

Survivors of the deadliest Iranian attack on US forces since the start of the Iran war have publicly challenged the Pentagon’s version of events. The soldiers, whose unit was struck by a drone in Kuwait on March 1, said their position was dangerously exposed, contradicting official claims that the site was secure. The attack killed six US troops and injured more than 20 others.

Speaking to CBS News, several wounded soldiers described the attack and its aftermath, saying their unit was not adequately protected. One soldier said the Pentagon’s portrayal of a secure base was false, while another noted that their logistics unit had been moved into an area within range of Iranian drones and missiles. Survivors also reported failures in rescue operations, claiming they had to treat the wounded themselves and use civilian vehicles for evacuation.

Despite these accounts, Pentagon officials, including Assistant Secretary Sean Parnell, insisted that all possible safety measures were in place. The conflicting statements have raised questions about the credibility of Pentagon reports and prompted calls for further verification of US military information on the Iran war.

India has appointed Pranay Verma, currently serving as the country's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, as its next ambassador to Belgium and the European Union. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment in a statement on Friday, confirming that Verma will soon assume his new responsibilities in Brussels. His tenure in Dhaka, which began in September 2022, is now nearing completion.

Reports in Indian media had recently indicated that Verma would be transferred to Brussels, a posting that has gained importance following the signing of a trade agreement between India and the European Union on January 27. The agreement aims to expand bilateral trade in goods, services, and investments, with implementation expected by early 2027.

According to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the free trade agreement is designed to create a future-ready trade framework supporting emerging economic sectors. India has set an export target of 300 billion dollars, particularly focusing on engineering and manufacturing industries.

Rangpur Sugar Mill, the only heavy industrial enterprise in Gaibandha district, has remained closed for nearly five years, leading to severe deterioration of its facilities. The 35-acre factory compound has become overgrown, while sugarcane transport vehicles and costly machinery are rusting and becoming unusable. The mill’s operations were halted in December 2020 to reduce losses and modernize the facility, but no reopening has occurred since.

Established in 1954 to promote sugarcane cultivation in the agricultural region, the mill once supported the livelihoods of about 30,000 people, including farmers, workers, and employees. By June 2021, it had accumulated losses of over Tk 514 crore, prompting the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation to shut it down. Farmers were later brought under the nominal operations of Joypurhat Sugar Mill to sustain limited sugarcane farming.

Local farmers, workers, and residents have renewed their demand for reopening the mill after local MP Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Linkon raised the issue in Parliament. The mill’s acting managing director said any decision to restart operations depends on higher authorities, while minimal staff and maintenance costs continue to burden the government.