Five police officers, including the officer-in-charge of Laxmikunda River Outpost, were shot and injured when unidentified assailants attacked a police patrol on the Padma River in Haripur area of Kushtia district. The incident occurred between 1:10 a.m. and 1:50 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, while the team was conducting a routine patrol.

According to reports, the attackers opened fire suddenly, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the two sides. The injured officers were immediately rescued and taken to Pabna General Hospital, and one critically wounded officer was later referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. All five injured officers are currently under treatment.

Pabna Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Moshior Rahman stated that additional forces have been deployed in the area and operations are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved.

A commentary published on April 22, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh argues that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, faces internal and structural challenges that could undermine its stability. The writer, Minar Rashid, warns that the party’s leadership must act quickly to restore public trust and avoid repeating the political turmoil of past crises such as the 1/11 episode. He stresses that the government must demonstrate transparency, uphold human rights, and ensure that enforced disappearances never return.

The article criticizes opportunistic intellectuals and bureaucrats who align themselves with whichever party is in power, claiming they have historically misled governments. It also highlights the persistence of bureaucratic and cultural inertia inherited from colonial and post-independence administrations. The writer urges the BNP to distinguish itself through genuine reform, political tolerance, and accountability, rather than replicating the behavior of previous regimes.

The piece concludes that legal reforms alone cannot prevent abuses of power unless accompanied by political commitment and public awareness, emphasizing that sustainable democracy requires mutual respect between government and opposition.

A white paper released under the interim government has revealed serious irregularities and policy violations in the process of granting private submarine cable licenses during the Awami League administration. The report warns that the state-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) could lose up to Tk 616 crore in revenue and Tk 69 crore in dividends over the next four years. The government has ordered an investigation into the activities and consortium legitimacy of three private firms—Summit, Metacore, and Cdnet—accused of breaching licensing rules and endangering national digital security.

According to the white paper, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued three private licenses in 2022, but the companies formed a single consortium named BPCS instead of building separate cables. This consolidation undermined network reliability and concentrated strategic control, posing national security risks. The report also warns that the move could create artificial market capacity, waste public funds, and cause a steep fall in bandwidth prices, leading to significant financial losses for BSCCPLC.

Sector experts suggest suspending private submarine cable operations for three to five years after the launch of the SMW6 cable and granting BSCCPLC special protection as critical national infrastructure.

Rajshahi University Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi has called for a nationwide ban on Jamaat-Shibir politics, alleging that the group has been operating secretly across Bangladesh. He made the remarks on April 21, 2026, during a protest rally held at the university’s transport yard following a reported clash between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir at Chittagong City College. Rahi urged his party’s activists to organize movements to stop Jamaat-Shibir’s political activities in residential halls, libraries, and tea stalls.

Other Chhatra Dal leaders, including General Secretary Sardar Zahurul Haque, Organizational Secretary Mahmudul Mithu, and Senior Joint Secretary Shafiqul Islam Shafik, echoed similar sentiments during the post-rally gathering. They argued that Jamaat-Shibir had misused power in educational institutions and should be expelled from campuses. The leaders also linked their demand to past political movements, including the 2024 anti-fascist protests and the 1990 mass uprising, asserting that no authoritarian force could sustain itself in Bangladesh.

The rally featured slogans calling for resistance against Jamaat-Shibir and unity among Chhatra Dal members to protect campuses from what they described as secret political activities.

Iran’s Education Minister Alireza Khazemi announced that around 1,300 schools across the country were damaged in recent US-Israeli attacks, with repair work on 775 of them already completed. The information was reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA on April 22, 2026.

According to the minister, the attacks, which began on February 28, left at least 20 schools completely destroyed. The most severe damage occurred in the provinces of Tehran, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Hormozgan. Khazemi expressed optimism that reconstruction of the remaining damaged schools would be finished by October.

The report highlights the scale of infrastructure damage to Iran’s education sector following the attacks and outlines the government’s ongoing efforts to restore normal schooling conditions across affected regions.

Bangladesh is experiencing an acute shortage of diesel and fertilizer, leaving farmers struggling with high prices and disrupted irrigation during the peak cultivation season. Reports from multiple districts show that diesel scarcity and frequent power outages have severely affected irrigation, while fertilizer prices have surged far above official rates. Farmers are paying up to 2,000 taka for a 50-kg bag of urea that should cost 1,350 taka. Gas shortages have forced 99 percent of fertilizer factories to shut down, limiting domestic production and deepening the crisis.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension claim that national fertilizer reserves are sufficient and that reports of shortages are exaggerated. However, field data from regions such as Jhenaidah and Nilphamari reveal inconsistent supply and price manipulation by dealers. The government has initiated the import of 500,000 metric tons of fertilizer to stabilize supply, with tenders already issued for part of the quantity.

The diesel price hike of 10–15 percent has further increased irrigation and transport costs, raising concerns about reduced crop yields and rising food prices. Economists warn that without swift action, the crisis could threaten food security and rural livelihoods.

Iran’s drone development, first noticed in Hezbollah operations near the Israel-Lebanon border, gained global attention when Iranian-made drones appeared in the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Despite decades of sanctions since 1979, Iran built a domestic drone industry that evolved from simple reconnaissance devices to long-range strike systems capable of reaching Israel by 2026.

The program began during the Iran-Iraq war when sanctions and the departure of U.S. engineers left Iran’s air force crippled. Facing technological isolation, Iranian engineers and students at Isfahan University developed early drones for surveillance, later adapted for combat under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. By the late 1980s, Iran became one of the first nations to deploy armed unmanned aerial vehicles in warfare.

Iran’s strategy emphasized low-cost mass deployment over precision, allowing swarms of inexpensive drones to overwhelm expensive missile defenses. This cost asymmetry was demonstrated in the 2019 Aramco oil facility attack, which caused billions in damage at minimal expense. The evolution of Iran’s drone program has altered modern warfare economics and challenged traditional military power hierarchies.

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to extend the temporary relaxation of the Jones Act, a maritime law that restricts domestic shipping to American-flagged vessels, according to Axios. The decision aims to address the ongoing energy crisis caused by rising fuel prices linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Trump had initially eased the law’s requirements for 60 days starting March 18 to facilitate internal oil transport.

The 1920 Jones Act has long been criticized for increasing transportation costs due to the limited supply of U.S.-flagged ships. Supporters of the temporary waiver argue that it helps reduce logistical bottlenecks and stabilize energy prices. The Axios report noted that the earlier relaxation produced positive results, prompting Trump to consider extending the measure further.

If extended, the waiver could continue to ease domestic fuel transportation pressures and mitigate short-term energy cost spikes, though the report did not specify how long the new extension might last.

A range of live cricket and European football matches are scheduled for broadcast on April 22, 2026, across multiple platforms. The day’s cricket lineup includes the second One Day International of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka women’s series at 9:30 a.m. on Fancode and YouTube. The Pakistan Super League features Karachi Kings versus Peshawar Zalmi at 3:30 p.m. and Hyderabad Kingsmen versus Multan Sultans at 8 p.m., both on T Sports and Tapmad. The third T20 match between South Africa and India women’s teams will air at 10 p.m. on Star Sports.

Football fans can follow several major European leagues. The English Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester City begins at 1 a.m. on Toffee Live. La Liga offers three fixtures: Elche versus Atlético Madrid at 11 p.m., Real Sociedad versus Getafe at midnight, and Barcelona versus Celta Vigo at 1:30 a.m. on Fancode and Bet365. PSG faces Nantes in Ligue 1 at 11 p.m., while Bayer Leverkusen meets Bayern Munich in the German Cup at 12:45 a.m. on Fancode and Tapmad. The Coppa Italia semifinal second leg between Atalanta and Lazio airs at 1 a.m., and the AFC Champions League 2 match between Al Nassr and Al Ahli starts at 10 p.m.

The schedule highlights a packed day for sports viewers, combining international cricket with top-tier European football competitions.

The Iranian Embassy in Dhaka has assured continued efforts to facilitate the safe passage of Bangladeshi ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The assurance came in a statement issued by the embassy on Tuesday, which also expressed condolences over the deaths of Bangladeshi nationals resulting from what it described as illegal aggression against Iran by external forces.

The embassy emphasized the long-standing, friendly, and brotherly relations between Iran and Bangladesh, founded on mutual respect and shared values. It reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and praised Bangladesh’s balanced and constructive stance on peace and stability in the Middle East. The embassy also welcomed the recent meeting between Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh in Turkey.

Additionally, the embassy expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s condolence message following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and commended the decision to send emergency medical aid to Iran through the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has instructed all transport owners and workers not to increase bus fares until the government issues an official decision. The directive was announced on Tuesday by the association’s secretary general, Saiful Alam, through a press release. It emphasized that operators must follow the existing fare chart and cannot charge passengers more than the current rates without a government notification.

According to the association, the transport sector is under growing financial pressure due to recent increases in diesel prices by 15 taka per liter and a rise in the dollar exchange rate, which has raised the cost of imported spare parts and overall vehicle maintenance. Transport leaders have urged the government to promptly and rationally revise fares in line with fuel and maintenance costs to maintain sector stability.

The association’s statement reflects ongoing tension between operational costs and regulated fares, highlighting the need for a balanced government response to sustain the transport industry.

An international exhibition on healthcare, medical equipment, surgery, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics titled Meditex Health Tourism 2026 will begin in Dhaka on May 7. Organized by Conference and Exhibition Management Services (SEMS-Global USA), the event will run until May 9 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The announcement was made by SEMS-Global USA and Asia Pacific President and Group Managing Director Meherun N. Islam at a press conference.

According to the organizers, the expo will serve as an integrated platform for buyers and sellers in the healthcare sector, promoting international knowledge and technology exchange. It aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global market and positively impact the country’s healthcare, medical equipment, and health tourism industries. The event will also emphasize access to quality and affordable medical services through reliable doctors and hospitals.

The exhibition will feature the 17th Meditex Bangladesh International Expo, 10th Bangladesh Clinical Lab Expo, 12th Pharma Bangladesh International Expo, and 9th International Health Tourism and Services Expo. Over 90 companies from more than 15 countries will participate, with international seminars planned alongside the exhibitions.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump after the announcement of an extension to the ceasefire with Iran. In a social media post made late Tuesday night, Sharif thanked Trump for accepting Pakistan’s request to prolong the truce, which he said would allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to continue.

Sharif stated that both he and Field Marshal Asim Munir appreciated the opportunity to advance peace initiatives. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing a negotiated settlement and voiced hope that both sides would maintain the ceasefire. According to Sharif, Islamabad is preparing for a second round of talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace agreement.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, comes amid heightened regional tensions and follows recent developments involving Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.

An eight-year-old madrasa student named Faizul Karim Musha was allegedly subjected to severe physical abuse by his teacher, Md. Sowaib Hossain, at Al Karim Hifzul Quran Nurani Madrasa in Durgapur village of Bakerganj upazila, Barishal. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Monday, and the accused teacher went into hiding immediately afterward.

The victim’s mother, Mukta Begum, said she found her son with blood clots on various parts of his body when she visited the madrasa the next morning. She took him to the upazila health complex for treatment and filed a written complaint with Bakerganj police against the teacher and the madrasa’s director, Md. Anwar Hossain. The accused teacher could not be reached for comment, and he disconnected a call upon learning it was from a journalist.

Madrasa director Anwar Hossain expressed regret over the incident but denied allegations of regular abuse at the institution. The Bakerganj upazila education officer stated that corporal punishment is not permitted and that action would be taken following an investigation if a written complaint is received.

Mahdi Mohammadi, adviser to the Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, has criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to extend a ceasefire, calling it a meaningless move intended to buy time for a sudden attack. His remarks were made in a social media post late Tuesday night, where he accused Trump of using the ceasefire extension as a deceptive strategy.

Mohammadi stated that a defeated side cannot impose conditions and argued that maintaining blockades is no different from bombings, which must be met with a military response. He further claimed that Iran should now take countermeasures, suggesting that the ceasefire extension signals preparation for an imminent strike.

The comments come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with reports of ship seizures in the Strait of Hormuz and growing regional instability. The statement underscores Iran’s suspicion of U.S. intentions and signals potential escalation if diplomatic efforts fail.