Motorcyclists in Saidpur, Nilphamari, blocked the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway on Thursday afternoon to protest a severe fuel shortage. The demonstration took place in front of the Iku Filling Station after riders were unable to buy fuel without official fuel cards. Many said they had not yet received their cards despite applying long ago, leaving them unable to work and facing daily hardship.

Participants emphasized that the protest was not politically motivated but driven by frustration over the fuel supply disruption. They warned of tougher actions if the situation did not improve soon. The blockade caused heavy traffic congestion on both sides of the highway, stranding long-distance buses, trucks, and other vehicles, and leaving passengers delayed and distressed.

According to the filling station owner, fuel sales had been restricted under written instructions from the local administration. Officials later arrived at the scene and temporarily allowed sales without cards to ease the situation, after which the motorcyclists lifted the blockade.

Two rival teenage gangs clashed violently in Tongi’s East Arichpur Bou Bazar area of Gazipur early Wednesday, engaging in several rounds of blank gunfire and detonating around 20 to 25 crude bombs. The confrontation, which took place between 3:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., stemmed from disputes over territorial dominance, drug trade control, and gang leadership.

Residents reported that the conflict involved groups led by Ariful Islam Rappi, also known as Pistol Bappi, and Sabuj, known as Vadaimma Sabuj. Both sides, comprising about 40 to 50 teenage members armed with firearms, machetes, samurai swords, hockey sticks, and iron rods, chased and attacked each other, spreading panic across several nearby neighborhoods including Rupbaner Tek, Tongi Rail Bridge, and Mirashpara.

According to Tongi East Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mehedi Hasan, police were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of the violence. He said the incident is under investigation and that appropriate action will be taken following the inquiry.

The administration of Chittagong Government City College has formed a three-member investigation committee following repeated clashes between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir over a dispute involving the word 'Gupta'. The committee was established on Thursday, confirmed by Principal Abu Saleh Mohammad Naeem Uddin around 3 p.m. He declined to disclose the names of the committee members citing security reasons. The principal stated that the situation during the incident was serious and that the committee will determine who was involved and recommend disciplinary action as per regulations.

The clashes began on Wednesday morning, April 21, when tensions between the two student groups escalated on the college campus. By noon, the situation turned violent, leading to an hour-long chase, brick-throwing, and widespread panic. Police and college authorities intervened to restore order, but violence resumed later in the afternoon during a protest by Chhatra Shibir. Both groups claimed that at least 20 people were injured in the confrontations.

The investigation committee is expected to review the events and identify those responsible for the unrest within the college premises.

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) technical cooperation expert mission began operations in Bangladesh on 19 April 2026 to assist in implementing the IAEA Water Availability Enhancement Approach (I-WAVE). The two-member team, comprising Dr. Melanie Vital of the IAEA and Professor Frederic Huneau of the University of Corsica Pascal Paoli, aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s national capacity for sustainable water resource management through isotope hydrology techniques. The mission is scheduled to conclude on 23 April 2026.

During the visit, the experts inspected the Isotope Hydrology Division (IHD) laboratory at the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology in Savar and noted shortages in analytical facilities and manpower. They emphasized the need to enhance isotopic analysis capabilities through IAEA technical cooperation and government-funded projects. On 20 April, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) hosted a national stakeholder workshop to promote understanding of isotope-based nuclear technology for water resource assessment and to identify priority areas for future collaboration.

Government and BAEC officials reaffirmed their commitment to integrating isotope hydrology with conventional methods to improve national water planning and to support the Sustainable Development Goals.

A local BNP leader in Comilla’s Brahmanpara upazila has been expelled from the party after being arrested with 600 yaba tablets. The expulsion was confirmed on Thursday through a press release by Hedayetullah Sardar, office secretary of the Brahmanpara upazila BNP. The arrested leader, identified as Sona Mia alias Ismail, served as the publicity secretary of the Brahmanpara Sadar Union BNP.

Police said the arrest took place on Wednesday afternoon following a tip-off. A team led by Officer-in-Charge Md Faruk Hossain raided Sona Mia’s residence in Dhanyadaul village and recovered the yaba tablets. He was subsequently detained and charged under the Narcotics Control Act before being sent to court.

Brahmanpara upazila BNP joint general secretary Nazrul Islam stated that the party had no prior knowledge of Sona Mia’s involvement in drug trade and reaffirmed that drug dealers have no place in the BNP. Police said special drives against narcotics will continue in the area.

A man allegedly killed his seven-month-old son by drowning him in a pond in the Manikdi Purbo Kanda area of Gajaria Union under Bhairab upazila in Kishoreganj. The accused, identified as 24-year-old Meraj Mia, reportedly threw his son Tanvir, also known as Mojahid, into the water. Police recovered the child’s partially decomposed body on Thursday afternoon after being informed by locals. Meraj and his mother, Rabeya Begum, have been missing since the incident, according to Bhairab Police Station Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam.

Local and police sources said Meraj, son of the late Felu Mia, married Taslima Begum three years ago. The couple had a son seven months ago. Meraj was known to be drug-addicted and often quarreled with his family over money for drugs. After being expelled from his home, he lived with his in-laws. About a week ago, the child’s grandmother took the baby away, claiming she would take him to a doctor. Three days later, Meraj told relatives he had sold the child. Police later pressured him to return the baby, and he admitted to throwing the child into a pond.

Police are continuing efforts to locate and arrest Meraj and his mother.

In Gaza, displaced families living in makeshift tents near piles of rubble are facing a new fear—an invasion of large rats. Samah al-Dabla, who lives with her two young children in a temporary tent, said the rodents have become increasingly aggressive despite her efforts to keep the area clean. She believes the rats have grown more violent after feeding on bodies trapped under the debris.

According to the report, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza. The presence of decomposing bodies beneath the ruins has intensified the rat infestation and heightened the risk of disease outbreaks in Gaza City. Thousands of displaced families like Samah’s are now struggling with this additional health hazard alongside the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The growing infestation underscores the severe public health challenges emerging from the prolonged destruction and lack of sanitation in Gaza’s war-torn areas.

A severe fuel shortage has disrupted livelihoods in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira, where residents queued for hours under the sun to collect petrol. On Thursday morning, at the Munshiganj Demla filling station, a woman named Bithika Rani Baidya was seen waiting in line to collect fuel for her son’s motorcycle. Her son, Sagar Baidya, a motorcycle driver, has been unable to work due to the shortage and has temporarily taken up agricultural labor. After five days of closure, the station resumed limited fuel distribution under the supervision of the upazila administration.

The shortage followed unrest in Burigoalini union, where a dispute over fuel distribution led to clashes between political figures and station staff. Local sources said over two thousand motorcycles in Munshiganj union have been affected, leaving many drivers jobless and families under financial strain. Allegations have surfaced that influential individuals are receiving fuel outside official rules, sparking public frustration.

Union officials stated that coordinated efforts between local leaders and the council have restarted distribution, and fair allocation could help stabilize the situation soon.

The government has cancelled all fertilizer dealers who were appointed during the previous Awami regime, described as a fascist period by officials. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced the decision at a press conference in the Parliament lobby on Thursday, stating that new dealers will be appointed very soon to replace those removed.

In the same briefing, Moni said a ten-member committee has been formed to address the country’s ongoing energy crisis. The committee will include five members from the ruling party and five from the opposition, and will be led by Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. The proposal for the committee was supported by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following a suggestion from the opposition leader.

The proposal was unanimously passed in Parliament, signaling a rare moment of cross-party consensus on tackling the energy issue.

Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) has issued a recruitment notice to fill vacant positions across 16 categories, offering a total of 71 posts on both permanent and contractual bases. The announcement was published on April 23, 2026. Interested and qualified candidates can apply online through the designated website. The application process begins on April 27, 2026, at 9 a.m. and will close on May 18, 2026, at 5 p.m.

The permanent positions include roles such as auditor, accounts assistant, receptionist, medical assistant (male and female), surveyor, plant operator, senior technician, electrician, transport supervisor, PC operator (courier), mechanic, junior transport supervisor, and junior technician. Contractual positions include imam and muezzin posts. Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years of age as of May 27, 2026, with a relaxation up to 32 years for children of freedom fighters and persons with disabilities.

Application fees ranging from 223 to 335 taka, depending on the position, must be paid via SMS through Teletalk prepaid SIM. Candidates are required to upload a scanned photo and signature during the online application process.

Newly appointed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Minhajur Rahman stated that there is no fuel crisis in Sunamganj district. He made the remarks on Thursday morning during a meeting with local journalists. The DC emphasized that the administration is giving top priority to maintaining agricultural activities and urged everyone to work together to protect farmers’ interests. He confirmed that no information indicating a fuel shortage has reached his office and that no such situation has arisen in the district.

Regarding crop protection embankments, the DC said he had been aware of the issue before taking office and has been maintaining regular communication with all concerned parties since his appointment. He recently visited Shantiganj upazila to inspect embankments, reviewed progress with officials and locals, and oversaw repair work on a damaged section. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to standing by farmers at all times.

Several additional deputy commissioners were present during the meeting, including those responsible for revenue, education and ICT, overall administration, and local government.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued new instructions for secondary school heads to assist in the 'Notun Kuri Sports' April 2026 program. A notice signed by Professor Md. Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director (Physical Education), was published on the DSHE website on Thursday. According to the notice, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the program on May 2 at 3 p.m. at the Sylhet District Stadium, marking the nationwide start of the initiative.

The notice outlines six specific steps for school heads to implement. These include encouraging students aged 12 to 14 to register online or on-site, informing students and teachers during class time, posting notices on school boards, displaying approved banners at school gates, promoting the event on social media, and publicizing it on school websites.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to promote sports development across Bangladesh, aiming to engage young students in organized athletic activities.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Road Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam for prioritizing public interest over bus owners’ demands in setting new fares. The association’s secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, issued a statement on Thursday following the government’s decision to raise bus fares by 11 paisa per kilometer in response to a one-taka increase in diesel prices.

According to the statement, bus owners had pressured the government for a 64 percent fare hike using inflated cost analyses, despite the minimal fuel price adjustment. The association recalled that in August 2022, when diesel prices rose sharply, fares were increased by 22 percent, but subsequent fare reductions were never implemented for passengers. The new adjustment raises fares by 4.45 to 5.19 percent across different routes.

The association warned that bus owners might exploit loopholes in fare-setting committees to overcharge passengers and urged the government to prevent fraudulent fare practices and stop CNG-run buses from charging diesel-rate fares.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have sharply escalated despite U.S. President Donald Trump extending the ceasefire period. Tehran has blamed Washington’s naval blockade for halting peace negotiations, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained two foreign ships and fired on a third in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s parliament speaker declared that the strait cannot be reopened as long as the blockade remains, calling it a clear violation of the ceasefire.

The White House stated that President Trump has not set a deadline for Iran to submit a peace proposal. Meanwhile, discussions in Washington over the fragile truce between Lebanon and Israel have faced difficulties due to Hezbollah’s absence. Within the U.S., Defense Secretary John Phelan was dismissed and replaced temporarily by Hong Kao, while a Senate motion to limit Trump’s war powers against Iran failed by a 55–46 vote.

The U.S. Central Command reported turning back at least 31 ships as part of the blockade, which Washington says aims to pressure Iran economically into negotiations. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and northern Gaza have also resulted in multiple civilian deaths, including journalists and children.

A court in Ullapara, Sirajganj, has sentenced a man named Faridul Islam to 10 years in prison for involvement in the buying and selling of counterfeit currency. The Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-3, presided over by Judge Nazrul Islam, delivered the verdict on Thursday afternoon. The court also imposed a fine of 20,000 taka, with an additional one-year imprisonment in default of payment. According to the Additional Public Prosecutor Hamidul Islam Dulal, the convict was absconding when the verdict was announced.

The case originated from an incident on May 10, 2023, when Sirajganj Detective Branch police arrested Faridul Islam with 80 counterfeit 1,000-taka notes during a transaction. Sub-Inspector Ishanur Rahman of the Detective Branch filed the case following the arrest. Faridul Islam is the son of Kalachan from Matikura Matpara village in Ullapara upazila.

The ruling concludes a case that began nearly three years earlier, highlighting continued law enforcement efforts against counterfeit currency operations in the region.