A mobile court in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj has fined four individuals a total of Tk 400,000 and sentenced them to 25 days in jail for illegally cutting and selling soil from triple-crop farmland. The operation took place last Thursday in the Sholapara area of Tarash municipality, led by Executive Magistrate Ehsan Ahmed of the Sirajganj district administration. Four dump trucks used in the illegal activity were also seized during the raid.

According to the magistrate, the offenders were caught transporting fertile agricultural soil without authorization. Each of the four was fined Tk 100,000, and after failing to pay, their jail terms were extended by 10 days, totaling 25 days each. The convicts were sent to the district jail through Tarash police, and the seized trucks remain in police custody.

The action highlights local authorities’ enforcement against illegal soil extraction, which threatens agricultural productivity in the region.

The long-awaited biopic ‘Michael’, based on the life and musical journey of American pop icon Michael Jackson, is set for international release on Friday, April 24. Bangladeshi audiences will be able to watch the film the same day at Star Cineplex. The film stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, alongside Miles Teller, Colman Domingo, Kat Graham, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Kendrick Sampson, and Juliano Krue Valdi.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film traces Michael Jackson’s rise from his early days as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 to becoming one of the most celebrated solo artists in global music history. It promises to reveal lesser-known aspects of his life and include some of his most famous performances. The trailer, released in February, surpassed five million views within a day, signaling strong anticipation among fans.

The film’s simultaneous release in Bangladesh underscores the enduring popularity of Michael Jackson, whose music continues to attract around 65 million monthly listeners on Spotify even more than a decade after his death in 2009.

A mass rally organized by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis began at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Friday, demanding the swift implementation of a referendum verdict. The gathering started at 2 p.m. following the Friday prayers and was presided over by the party’s Amir, Maulana Mamunul Haque.

Senior leaders of the party, along with the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, the Opposition Chief Whip, top figures from the 11-party alliance, and representatives from various political and professional groups, addressed the rally. Supporters and activists from Dhaka and surrounding areas began arriving at the venue from the morning and performed the Friday prayers there.

According to the organizers, the rally was scheduled to continue until the afternoon, focusing on mobilizing public support for the party’s demand regarding the referendum outcome.

The National University of Bangladesh will hold its 2025–26 academic year undergraduate (honours) first-year admission test on Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. across the country. Vice-Chancellor Professor A.S.M. Amanullah announced the schedule at a press conference in Dhaka on Friday. A total of 453,148 candidates will sit for the test against 452,875 available seats.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, 475,432 students initially applied for admission, of whom 453,148 confirmed their applications. As of April 23 evening, admit cards had been issued to 433,519 candidates. The test will be conducted in 880 colleges nationwide, including 375 public and 505 private institutions. There are 270,520 seats in public colleges and 182,355 in private ones.

A total of 138 examination centers have been prepared across the country, including 18 in Dhaka city and others in all divisions. The multiple-choice test will feature separate question sets for humanities (A and B), science (C and D), and business studies (E and F).

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that 22 militants allegedly backed by India were killed in a joint operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The operation was conducted on April 21 after security and law enforcement agencies received information about the presence of militants in the area. According to the ISPR, the militants belonged to the group Fitna-al-Khariji.

The ISPR statement said the militants opened indiscriminate fire out of fear of being captured alive, resulting in the death of a 10-year-old child. Security forces recovered weapons and ammunition from the site. The ISPR added that the group had been actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the region.

The announcement was made public on April 24, with the ISPR emphasizing that the operation aimed to eliminate threats posed by the India-supported group in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran agreed to hand over its enriched uranium stockpile to end the ongoing conflict. Speaking to the Associated Press, he called such a proposal completely unacceptable. The issue has become central to ongoing discussions between the two sides as they explore possible peace negotiations.

According to U.S. officials, Iran currently holds about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, 1,000 kilograms enriched to 20 percent, and 8,500 kilograms enriched to 3.6 percent. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that if further enriched, this material could be sufficient for up to ten nuclear bombs. However, the agency also confirmed it has found no evidence of an active weapons program. Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful.

Experts note that while Iran possesses the technical capacity to reach weapons-grade enrichment, developing a functional nuclear weapon would require additional complex steps such as warhead design and delivery systems, which remain unverified.

Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Raksu) General Secretary Salauddin Ammar has alleged that the new regime has failed to bring any variation to the political dramas seen during the Hasina era. In a Facebook post published on Friday, he said that issues such as rising bus fares, fuel and gas prices, and the worsening electricity situation are being sidelined through the spread of a fake screenshot.

Ammar wrote that people who speak on national issues are being distracted, allowing the public to gradually become accustomed to the situation. He described this as a common strategy of rulers, claiming that the new regime is following the same pattern as before. He further alleged that promises of positions are being used to provoke workers in remote areas, while allied organizations are behaving irrationally in pursuit of posts.

He added that fuel, gas, transport fares, and electricity remain major issues for all citizens, but supporters of the ruling party are refraining from protest and instead attacking those who do. Ammar also claimed that a banned organization named League is fueling instability in the country.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has disrupted the global economy. Speaking on the sidelines of a European Union summit in Cyprus, he emphasized that restoring stability in the Middle East as quickly as possible is essential for the interests of all nations. Macron noted that the summit would also include discussions with Middle Eastern leaders.

According to the report, the United States has imposed blockades on the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports, while Iran remains determined to maintain full control and surveillance over the strategic waterway. These developments have triggered one of the most severe energy crises in decades, affecting global markets and economic confidence.

The situation underscores the growing urgency for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region, as continued instability threatens both energy supplies and broader economic recovery.

A bumper peanut harvest has been reported this season on the sandbars of the Jamuna River in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur. Farmers are pleased with both the high yield and favorable market prices, which have brought economic relief to many poor families in the riverine areas. The Department of Agricultural Extension confirmed that peanuts were cultivated on 30 hectares of land this season, exceeding the initial target of 10 hectares.

In addition to peanuts, farmers have grown onions, maize, black cumin, and chili across hundreds of hectares, along with other crops such as wheat, peas, sweet gourd, sweet potato, and sunflower. The low production cost and good yields have encouraged more farmers to take up cultivation. Agricultural officers are providing technical support and incentives to expand farming in the char areas.

According to the upazila agriculture officer, favorable weather conditions have contributed to the strong harvest, with an estimated 80 to 90 metric tons of peanuts expected to be produced this season.

Experts at a seminar in Dhaka have called for strict implementation of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) to mitigate earthquake risks. The event, titled “Earthquake: Bangladesh Perspective,” was held on April 24, 2026, at the DRU’s Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium. Organized by the Progressive Engineers, Planners and Architects Society, the seminar was chaired by Engineer Mir Mosharraf Hossain Chowdhury and conducted by Engineer Imran Habib Rumon. Participants included academics from BUET, RUET, and Jahangirnagar University.

Speakers noted that recent seismic activity, including a 5.4 magnitude quake on November 21, 2025, has heightened public concern. They reported that nearly a hundred earthquakes were recorded in Bangladesh and nearby areas during the first four months of 2026, with 15–20 felt by residents. The experts warned that limited seismograph coverage and inadequate data collection hinder research, forcing reliance on foreign sources.

They emphasized updating the 2020 building code’s seismic zoning, improving design approval oversight, and enforcing licensing and certification in construction. The speakers also urged stronger professional involvement, anti-corruption measures, and local disaster preparedness through trained rescue teams and public awareness.

Iran has announced the waiver of transit fees for ships from countries it considers 'friendly' when passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The decision was reported by Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti on April 24, 2026. Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali stated that the exemption currently applies to certain nations and highlighted that the future of this policy remains uncertain.

According to Jalali, Iran’s Foreign Ministry is presently ensuring that these exceptional privileges are extended to friendly countries such as Russia. The move reflects Tehran’s effort to strengthen ties with selected partners amid ongoing regional and global tensions.

The report did not specify how long the waiver will remain in effect or which other nations are included in the 'friendly' category.

OpenAI has introduced a new specialized artificial intelligence model named GPT-5.4-Cyber to enhance cybersecurity and protect digital infrastructure. Announced on April 24, 2026, the model is designed to help security experts quickly identify and fix vulnerabilities in systems, making data and user protection more efficient. The initiative underscores OpenAI’s growing focus on cyber defense amid rising digital threats.

Built on the company’s flagship GPT-5.4 model, GPT-5.4-Cyber aims to support real-time detection and prevention of cyberattacks. To prevent misuse, OpenAI has expanded its Trusted Access for Cyber (TAC) program, allowing thousands of authorized security professionals and hundreds of teams to use the advanced AI tool. The company described this as an example of democratizing access to cutting-edge technology.

OpenAI acknowledged that while AI can strengthen defenses, it can also be exploited by hackers. The firm has therefore added strict safeguards to ensure vulnerabilities are patched before criminals can exploit them. The launch follows Anthropic’s release of its Mythos model and builds on OpenAI’s earlier success with its Codex Security tool, which has resolved over 3,000 major security flaws.

Andrea Dressi, assistant professor of international relations and world politics at the American University of Rome, told Al Jazeera that the Trump administration is not united on its strategy for continuing the war with Iran. He noted that the administration’s goals and tactics appear to be shifting constantly, reflecting internal disagreements.

Dressi said that while the administration tries to project strength on social media, growing divisions and dismissals of senior Pentagon and Defense Department officials reveal deeper discord. He argued that the United States and Israel may have miscalculated the consequences of the conflict or based their actions on flawed strategic assumptions.

According to Dressi, the Trump administration is now seeking a way out of the situation by extending the ceasefire and showing some openness to diplomacy. However, he warned that the risks remain high, with the conflict threatening global economic stability and raising fears of a broader military confrontation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled Akbar Ali, a local leader from Rajshahi’s Durgapur upazila, after he was accused of vandalism and assaulting a female teacher at Daokandi Government University College. The expulsion was announced on April 24, 2026, through a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the statement, Akbar Ali, who served as vice president of the BNP’s Joynagar Union unit in Durgapur, engaged in misconduct by entering the college premises, causing damage, and behaving inappropriately with a teacher. The party said his actions violated BNP’s principles, ideals, and discipline.

The decision removes Akbar Ali from all party positions, including his primary membership, as part of the BNP’s disciplinary measures against activities deemed contrary to party policy.

The government of Bangladesh has changed the date of National Tea Day from June 4 to May 21. The decision was approved at a cabinet meeting held on Thursday, presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Following the meeting, the Cabinet Division issued a notification confirming the approval of the proposal, which had been presented by the Ministry of Commerce.

According to the Cabinet Division, the change aligns Bangladesh’s observance with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which has marked May 21 as International Tea Day since 2020. Several major tea-producing countries, including India, Sri Lanka, China, Kenya, and Vietnam, also celebrate International Tea Day on this date.

The amendment to the circular on national and international day observances ensures that Bangladesh will now celebrate National Tea Day in harmony with the global schedule observed by other tea-producing nations.