Israeli forces carried out a raid on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla, which was transporting humanitarian aid. According to the organizers, the flotilla was stopped in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel reportedly used drones, communication-disrupting technology, and armed boarding teams to seize control of the vessels. The flotilla’s mission said Israeli military speedboats approached with laser and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering crew members to kneel.

The flotilla’s social media post claimed that Israeli naval boats surrounded them illegally in international waters and issued threats of abduction and violence. Communication was lost with 11 vessels, while Israeli media reported that seven of the 58 ships had been seized near the Greek island of Crete. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, stated that the flotilla was stopped before reaching Israeli territory.

A spokesperson for the Global Sumud flotilla described the raid as a direct attack on unarmed civilian ships in international waters. The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has called on citizens to remain united against what he described as enemy conspiracies aimed at weakening the country from within. Speaking on April 30, 2026, Ghalibaf accused US President Donald Trump of trying to force Tehran into submission through economic pressure and by dividing the Iranian people. He characterized these efforts as part of a broader strategy of blockade and media manipulation.

Ghalibaf, identified as a key negotiator in ceasefire talks with the United States, emphasized that maintaining unity among Iranians is the main way to resist such conspiracies. He stated that every act of division serves the enemy’s plans and reaffirmed that all Iranian officials follow the directives of the Supreme Leader. However, he did not provide further details about the divisions he mentioned.

The remarks reflect Tehran’s continued framing of external pressure as part of a coordinated campaign to destabilize the country, underscoring the leadership’s focus on internal cohesion in the face of foreign challenges.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is facing one of its biggest crises in 65 years, with officials holding an emergency meeting at its Vienna headquarters. The group is grappling with multiple challenges, including a global energy crisis and the United Arab Emirates’ announcement to leave the organization after years of membership, raising questions about OPEC’s future stability.

The main focus of Wednesday’s meeting was OPEC’s 61st annual report, which detailed global oil import, export, and reserve data. According to the report, global oil demand, reserves, and exports all increased in 2025 compared to 2024, with Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East receiving the largest shares of exports. However, the data reflects conditions before the UAE’s withdrawal decision, which is expected to significantly affect next year’s report.

OPEC officials declined to comment on the UAE’s move or the internal situation, further highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the organization’s cohesion and direction.

Eight women leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami have been nominated as members of parliament for reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The nominations were finalized following recommendations from the party’s women’s wing, emphasizing political experience and organizational dedication. Among the eight nominees, six previously held central leadership positions in the Bangladesh Islami Chhatri Sangstha, the party’s student wing for women. They are currently active in various professional and social roles and are preparing to work on national and women’s issues in parliament.

According to the report, Jamaat, as part of an 11-party alliance, received 13 reserved seats proportionally, of which eight were allocated to Jamaat nominees. The remaining seats went to allied parties, including the National Citizen Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party. The Election Commission has validated 12 of the alliance’s nominations, with official gazette publication expected soon, after which the MPs will take oath.

The nominated MPs include senior Jamaat women leaders such as Nurunnisa Siddika, Marzia Begum, Advocate Sabikun Nahar Munni, Nazmun Nahar Nilu, Mahfuza Hannan, Sajeda Samad, Shamsunnahar Begum, and Engineer Mardia Momtaz.

Following the Pentagon’s announcement that the ongoing war in Iran has cost $25 billion, Democratic leaders in the United States voiced strong criticism. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier argued that the vast expenditure could have been used to reduce healthcare costs for millions of Americans. He noted that instead, the country has lost 14 soldiers, seen fuel prices rise, and become less secure.

Another Democratic congressman, Ro Khanna, criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying he was unaware of the war’s true economic impact. Khanna said he had asked Hegseth about the combined costs of replacement spending, gas, and food prices resulting from the Iran war, but the secretary had no answer. He described the situation as “unbelievable.”

The criticism underscores growing Democratic frustration over the financial and social toll of the conflict, as questions mount about its broader economic consequences.

The upcoming 2026–27 Supreme Court Bar Association election in Bangladesh has taken a decisive turn as the BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Forum announced its blue panel, nominating Barrister A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon for president, Mohammad Ali for secretary, and Advocate Ziaur Rahman for treasurer. The election, one of the judiciary’s most influential contests, will proceed without participation from Awami League-aligned lawyers after the party’s activities were banned under anti-terrorism laws. A special general meeting on April 26 confirmed that Awami League supporters are ineligible to contest.

Opposition-aligned groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party (NCP), failed to form a unified panel despite earlier efforts. Jamaat’s Lawyers Council and the NCP-backed National Lawyers Alliance each announced separate slates of candidates. Meanwhile, Awami League-affiliated lawyers protested their exclusion, staging demonstrations and denouncing the decision as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

The election reflects deepening political polarization within the legal community, with the BNP consolidating its position while the opposition remains fragmented and Awami League lawyers sidelined by legal restrictions.

U.S. President Donald Trump has directed allies to prepare for a long-term naval blockade targeting Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Tuesday. The directive followed a Monday meeting with officials involved in operations in Iran, where Trump said he preferred economic pressure over renewed warfare or withdrawal. He described the blockade strategy as less risky than resuming conflict.

The move comes after the U.S.-Israel coalition launched an invasion of Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite the offensive, the coalition failed to achieve its objectives, and Iran retaliated with strikes on Israeli and U.S.-linked targets in the Middle East while closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire was declared on April 7, followed by unsuccessful peace talks in Islamabad on April 11–12.

Trump rejected a new Iranian ceasefire proposal conveyed through Pakistan, citing its omission of Iran’s nuclear program. He later stated at a state dinner honoring Britain’s King Charles that U.S. forces were performing well in the Middle East and vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

After years of relative calm, Dhaka’s underworld has again become active, with renewed incidents of extortion, territorial disputes and killings. Police sources report that the resurgence began after a series of violent events since 2023, including the recent killing of listed top criminal Khondkar Naim Ahmed Titon in New Market. The use of illegal firearms has raised serious concern among law enforcement agencies.

According to police, many of these criminals had been in hiding or imprisoned but reemerged following a 2023 shooting targeting gangster Tarek Saeed Mamun that injured a lawyer. Subsequent murders, including that of businessman Sadhan in 2024, have been linked to overseas crime bosses. Groups such as those led by Robin, Dalim, and Subrata Bain are reportedly operating from abroad, while older networks like the Seven Star and Five Star groups have resurfaced.

Police say they are working to curb the flow of illegal weapons and bring fugitive criminals under the law. However, the failure to recover weapons lost during the July 2024 unrest continues to worry authorities, who fear these arms may have reached criminal hands.

Sudden heavy rainfall and flash floods from India have submerged vast areas of Boro rice fields across northeastern Bangladesh, leaving farmers in despair. The worst-hit districts include Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Mymensingh, Netrokona, and Moulvibazar, where ripe and half-ripe paddy fields are underwater. Farmers are struggling to harvest submerged crops, facing labor shortages and machinery inoperability due to flooding. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has intensified field monitoring and provided mechanical support, including dryer machines, to minimize losses.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed concern in parliament and announced three months of government assistance for affected farmers, directing local administrations to expedite relief and rehabilitation. Meteorological officials warned that rainfall may continue until May 4, increasing the risk of crop rot and further damage. Agricultural economists fear a significant production shortfall this year, potentially up to 10 percent, as Boro rice accounts for over half of the nation’s rice output.

Experts urged coordinated action among government agencies to mitigate the crisis, emphasizing urgent harvesting and price support to prevent long-term agricultural setbacks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to assist the United States in resolving its ongoing dispute with Iran over enriched uranium stockpiles. The proposal came during a one-and-a-half-hour phone conversation between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, according to Trump.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said Putin expressed willingness to help but was told to first end Russia’s own conflict in Ukraine. Trump added that Putin wanted to be involved in the uranium enrichment process and believed Moscow could assist Washington in this matter.

Trump described the phone call as highly productive and suggested that a resolution to the Ukraine conflict could come soon, according to his remarks cited in the report.

Heavy and continuous rainfall combined with upstream hill torrents has severely disrupted life in Habiganj’s haor region. Over the past few days, vast areas have gone underwater, destroying the district’s only boro crop. On Wednesday, April 29, water from the Khoai River entered the haor after an embankment broke at Dattagaon in Sujatpur under Baniachong upazila, flooding hundreds of acres of farmland within moments.

According to the district agriculture officer, around 5,000 hectares of paddy fields are now submerged, with about 30 percent of the crop still unharvested. If the weather does not improve within 24 hours, the remaining paddy may also be lost. The Water Development Board reported 110 millimeters of rainfall in the last 24 hours and said vulnerable embankments are being monitored.

Farmers in Baniachong, Ajmiriganj, and Lakhai upazilas are harvesting paddy in waist- to chest-deep water using small boats. Many are suffering from skin diseases due to prolonged exposure to water, and they complain that the agricultural warning came too late to prepare.

The government has decided not to include 1,719 private educational institutions in the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme, despite their inclusion in a previously finalized list by the interim administration. Under the new decision, the earlier list will undergo a full re-evaluation, and fresh applications will be accepted. Both old and new applications will then be assessed together to prepare a final list.

According to officials from the Ministry of Education and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, the earlier verification process covered 3,615 applications in just eight working days, averaging 452 institutions per day, which was deemed impractical. The ministry sources said the decision followed controversy and allegations of major financial transactions surrounding the earlier list. The Education Ministry had earlier sought 670 crore taka from the Finance Ministry on February 5 to fund the MPO inclusion.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan stated that the previous list has not been canceled but will be re-evaluated alongside new applications, with final action depending on budget approval.

The newly built Bangladesh Navy Medical College in Chattogram’s Bandar Tila area, adjacent to BNS Issa Khan, was officially inaugurated on Wednesday by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan. The institution, established under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy, aims to provide modern medical education supported by advanced infrastructure and training facilities.

According to the source, the college has already completed its admission process following the guidelines of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) and the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). With the inauguration, a five-year medical education program has begun for 50 civilian students in the current academic year. The Navy Chief stated that the college will enhance the armed forces’ medical capacity and contribute to improved healthcare for the general population.

The college features modern laboratories, a well-equipped library, advanced classrooms, and experienced faculty. Academic activities are set to be conducted by qualified teachers and trained staff, integrating naval discipline and professionalism to strengthen the national healthcare sector.

A 60-year-old fish farmer named Shahidullah Mia died while undergoing treatment after being severely injured in an attack by drug dealers in Rupganj, Narayanganj. The incident occurred on April 11 in the Gangannagar Namapara area of Murapara Union, following a dispute with local drug traders. Shahidullah was attacked with hammers, knives, steel pipes, and sharp weapons when he tried to stop drug sales and use near his fish farm. The attackers also allegedly snatched 20,000 taka from him before fleeing. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Bangladesh Multicare Hospital in West Rampura, where he died on Wednesday afternoon.

Following his death, Shahidullah’s son-in-law Mozammel Haque Bhuiyan filed a case with Rupganj Police Station, naming four individuals and several unidentified others. The officer-in-charge of Rupganj Police Station, AHM Salauddin, stated that the case will now be treated as a murder case. Police have inspected the scene and are actively working to arrest the suspects.

The incident has sparked anger and tension in the local community, according to residents and police sources.

After voting concluded in the West Bengal Assembly election, six exit polls released on April 29, 2026, presented mixed outcomes. Four surveys suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could form the state government for the first time, while two others projected a strong victory for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee. The state assembly has 294 seats, requiring 148 for a majority. According to Praja Poll, BJP might secure 178–208 seats and TMC 85–110. P-Mark estimated BJP at 150–175 and TMC at 118–138, while Matrix and Poll Diary also showed BJP ahead.

In contrast, Janamat Polls predicted TMC would win 195–205 seats, and Peoples Pulse gave it 177–187, indicating a possible third consecutive term for Banerjee’s party. All surveys agreed that the Left and Congress are likely to perform poorly again. Analysts noted BJP’s rapid rise in the past decade, citing its 2019 parliamentary gains and the party’s strong booth-level organization this year. The final results will be announced on May 4, clarifying who controls the Writers’ Buildings.

Exit polls are not always accurate, and the official outcome will determine the actual power balance in the state.