Iran has declined to participate in talks scheduled in Pakistan regarding a ceasefire and agreement with the United States, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The agency cited one of its representatives, saying the decision was made because Washington had not withdrawn what Tehran described as its 'unreasonable demands.' Tasnim reported that Iran announced it would not attend the meeting, calling participation a waste of time under current conditions.

The report added that Iran has formally informed Pakistan of its decision and notified mediators that it will not be present at the discussions planned for the following day. The talks were expected to focus on potential steps toward easing tensions between the two countries. However, the authenticity of the report could not be independently verified, according to Al Jazeera.

The development underscores ongoing friction between Iran and the United States, with Pakistan positioned as a potential facilitator in the dialogue process.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran while ordering American naval forces to maintain the blockade against the country. The announcement was made early Tuesday through a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump said the decision followed requests from Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged the U.S. to delay any attack until Tehran presents a coordinated proposal.

According to Trump’s statement, the ceasefire will remain in effect until Iran submits its proposal and negotiations are concluded. Meanwhile, the U.S. military will continue its blockade operations. The situation remains tense in the Persian Gulf, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route where U.S. and Iranian forces are positioned against each other.

Analysts cited in the report noted that the move opens new diplomatic opportunities while maintaining military pressure on Iran. The ongoing blockade continues to exert economic and strategic strain on Tehran despite the extended ceasefire.

Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh has called for strict measures to stop violence in educational institutions following a recent clash between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir at Chittagong City College. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday evening, the organization’s central president Muntasir Ahmad and secretary general Sultan Mahmud said that educational institutions, meant for knowledge and learning, are increasingly turning into arenas of violence and power struggles, posing a threat to the nation’s future.

The leaders noted that student politics should serve the welfare of students, but violent activities by certain groups are alienating ordinary students from political engagement. They urged authorities to arrest those responsible for the violence and ensure exemplary punishment. The statement also called on the administration and law enforcement agencies to take effective steps to restore a peaceful environment in educational institutions.

The appeal reflects growing concern over recurring campus violence and its impact on the academic atmosphere across the country.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has placed India in Category A, marking it as a high-risk nation for doping in athletics. The announcement, made on Monday, elevates India from its previous Category B status. This classification puts India alongside Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ukraine. As a result, Indian athletes will now face stricter doping tests and compliance requirements.

According to AIU, India ranked among the top two countries for doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025. AIU chairman David Howman stated that India’s doping situation has long been high-risk and that the country’s internal anti-doping programs have not improved sufficiently. Despite promises of reform by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), visible progress remains limited.

The AIU said it will continue to work closely with AFI to enhance transparency in Indian athletics. The development comes as India prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a step toward its ambition to host the 2036 Olympics, even as doping concerns intensify.

A businessman named Zahidul Islam, aged 50, was allegedly beaten to death in Debidwar municipality of Cumilla on Tuesday night over a dispute involving unpaid dues. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. near the Viral Bus Station area. Zahidul, originally from Dhamghar village in Muradnagar upazila, had been living in the Mohona residential area of Debidwar and was engaged in land trading.

According to the victim’s family, a group of young men, including individuals named Mobarak and Shahin from Bolibari village, called Zahidul out of his home under the pretext of settling a land-related payment. He was later taken to the Viral Bus Station area, where he was severely beaten. Locals rescued him and took him to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman stated that the body would be sent to Cumilla Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, announced that any person recording and sharing videos of others on social media without consent, under the guise of being a 'content creator', will face investigation and trial within 90 days under the Cyber Security Act 2026. He made the statement in a written reply during the parliamentary question session on Tuesday.

The minister explained that the Cyber Security Act 2026, passed on April 10, 2026, criminalizes intentional online blackmailing, sexual harassment, revenge porn, or extortion through digital content. Offenders may face up to five years in prison or fines up to 5 million taka, depending on the severity and victim’s age. The law empowers the National Cyber Security Agency to remove harmful content, authorize emergency searches, and collaborate internationally to identify cross-border crimes.

Future measures include strengthening the agency’s capacity, establishing a digital forensic lab, and using advanced cybersecurity tools for real-time detection. The law also mandates transparency in content blocking and international cooperation for crimes committed from abroad.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, held a protest march and rally at Dhaka University on Tuesday night, condemning an alleged attack on its activists and students at Chattogram City College. The demonstration began around 10 p.m. from the TSC area and concluded with a gathering at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture.

According to Chhatra Dal, the attack occurred after its members wrote slogans on campus walls opposing “covert politics.” The group accused Islami Chhatra Shibir activists of carrying out the assault, claiming that several students were injured. Central General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir addressed the rally, denouncing the violence and warning that any recurrence would face a strong response. He alleged that Shibir’s organizational strength in Chattogram was contributing to repeated incidents of violence.

A press release from the central Chhatra Dal stated that the attack involved outsiders and called for public awareness against “covert politics and violence” in educational institutions.

The Bangladesh and New Zealand cricket teams arrived in Chattogram on April 21, 2026, to play the final One Day International (ODI) of their three-match series and two Twenty20 (T20) matches. Both teams will begin practice sessions in the port city from tomorrow, with Bangladesh scheduled to train in the morning and New Zealand in the afternoon at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium.

The decisive third ODI of the series will be held on Thursday, which will determine the overall winner of the three-match contest. Following the ODI, the first two T20 matches of the series are also set to take place in Chattogram on April 27 and 29. The teams’ arrival marks the continuation of their bilateral cricket engagements in Bangladesh.

The upcoming matches are expected to conclude the ongoing series between Bangladesh and New Zealand, with the results of the final ODI and T20s determining the overall outcome of the tour.

A cargo trawler carrying school feeding materials sank on Tuesday evening at Choumuhani Ghat in Tazumuddin upazila of Bhola after being hit by strong waves from the Dhaka-bound launch MB Farhan. The trawler was headed to Monpura when the incident occurred. No casualties were reported in the accident.

According to local sources, the trawler was transporting 934 pieces of bread, 150 sacks of poultry feed, 110 sacks of rice, and edible oil, all of which were washed away into the river. The estimated loss from the incident is around two million taka. The trawler operator, Hiron Mia, said that while some food items were saved, most of the cargo sank immediately.

When contacted, the officer-in-charge of Tazumuddin Police Station said he was not aware of the incident but would look into the matter.

Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned and protested a violent attack on Islami Chhatra Shibir activists at Chattogram Government City College. In a statement issued to the media on Tuesday night, the party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, expressed deep concern over the incident, describing it as a barbaric and inhumane assault carried out by individuals identified as terrorists under the banner of the Chhatra Dal.

According to the statement, the attackers, including outsiders, used local weapons and sticks to severely injure several Shibir members. Porwar said the attack, which left one victim’s ankle nearly severed, demonstrated a deliberate attempt to destroy the peaceful environment of educational institutions. He emphasized that campuses should never become grounds for violence and that differences of opinion must not be expressed through weapons.

Jamaat-e-Islami called for an impartial and swift investigation into the incident and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible. The party also urged authorities to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured students.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has sought China’s constructive role and cooperation to ensure the safe, dignified, sustainable, and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees. He made the request during two separate bilateral meetings in Beijing on Tuesday with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the Great Hall of the People and with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

During the discussions, both sides emphasized strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Mirza Fakhrul also sought Chinese partnership in the Teesta River management project, highlighting its importance for livelihoods in northern Bangladesh. The meetings reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for the One-China policy and discussed expanding cooperation in defense training, renewable energy, urban management, and healthcare, including the proposed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital.

Both parties expressed optimism about elevating Bangladesh-China relations to new heights through mutual respect and institutional exchanges. They agreed to work on a memorandum of understanding between the CPC and BNP to enhance party-level cooperation and regular dialogue.

Candidates recommended for appointment as primary assistant teachers held a press conference at Dhaka University on April 21, 2026, demanding immediate recruitment and posting. They expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in the recruitment process, which has left thousands of qualified candidates in uncertainty and mental distress. The event took place in front of the university’s central library, where candidate representative Humayun Ahmed read a written statement urging swift government action.

According to the candidates, the final results of the recruitment were published on February 8, 2026, selecting 14,384 candidates. Despite completing all formalities, including medical checks, more than two months have passed without any visible progress in joining procedures. They said they have already submitted memorandums to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Prime Minister but have not received any effective response.

The candidates warned that if there is no visible progress within ten days, they will announce tougher programs. The written examination for the posts was held on January 9 across 61 districts, excluding the three hill districts, followed by oral tests and district-based final lists.

The European Union has decided to expand its sanctions on Iran, targeting individuals linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the decision after a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, stating that the move aims to hold accountable those responsible for disrupting one of the world’s key energy and trade routes.

Kallas also urged member states to strengthen the EU’s current naval mission in the Middle East, which is protecting commercial vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. She proposed enhancing the mission’s capacity to ensure greater security across regional sea routes.

The EU considers the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which began after renewed tensions between Iran and the United States on February 28, as a major threat to international trade. Discussions among member states continue on whether to extend the mission’s scope directly to the Hormuz area, as the EU maintains diplomatic and economic pressure to counter the global economic instability caused by the blockade.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has assured a proper investigation into the reported attack at Chattogram City College. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, he said any such incident would be thoroughly investigated and urged lawmakers not to blame any political party without inquiry. The minister made the remarks in response to Jamaat-e-Islami MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, who raised the issue during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address.

Shahjahan Chowdhury claimed that the attack took place near Chattogram’s New Market area, alleging that some individuals involved in previous anti-discrimination protests were behind the assault on general students. He also mentioned that one person’s leg was severed in the incident and called for government action. The Deputy Speaker advised him to submit a formal notice for the minister’s response.

Salahuddin Ahmed said intelligence agencies had reported clashes between student groups and that he would need time to verify the facts. He indicated he might later issue a statement under Rule 300 after the investigation concludes, emphasizing the need to avoid mutual blame before facts are established.

A leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir, identified as Ashraful Islam, lost his ankle during a violent clash with Chhatra Dal at Chittagong Government City College on Tuesday afternoon. The incident followed escalating tension between the two student groups over graffiti related to the 'July Movement'. The injured student, who is the president of Shibir’s Agrabad Saraipara ward unit, underwent surgery at a private hospital.

According to local sources and college authorities, the conflict began when members of Chhatra Dal allegedly altered a wall graffiti that read “student politics and Chhatra League-free campus” by replacing the word “student” with “Gupta.” The situation turned violent around noon, leading to an hour-long chase and counter-chase before police and college officials intervened. However, further clashes erupted later during a Shibir protest.

Police said both groups were students, so they avoided taking a hardline approach but would act upon formal complaints. College authorities confirmed that the situation was under control, though several people from both sides were injured.