The Arab League held a virtual session condemning Iran’s recent attacks on Gulf countries, describing them as illegal and reprehensible. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its participation in the meeting, which took place amid heightened regional tensions following the Iran–United States–Israel conflict that began on February 28. The meeting occurred as a two-week ceasefire neared its expiration on Wednesday.

According to Qatar’s statement, member states of the Arab League characterized Iran’s actions as a grave violation of international law, particularly criticizing strikes on civilian infrastructure and national sovereignty. The participants pledged to work collectively to restore stability and ensure regional security in the Middle East.

The session was seen as adding diplomatic pressure on Iran while peace talks were being prepared in Islamabad during the ongoing ceasefire. Qatar’s delegation emphasized the importance of dialogue to maintain regional peace.

Fifty nomination papers have been submitted for the 50 reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament, meaning the Election Commission (EC) will not need to conduct voting if all candidacies are validated. The announcement came from Joint Secretary and Returning Officer Md. Moin Uddin Khan at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, on April 21, 2026. Candidate scrutiny is scheduled for April 22 and 23, with appeals and withdrawals to follow according to the official timetable.

According to Moin Uddin Khan, 36 nominations came from the BNP-led alliance, 13 from the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, and one from an independent candidate. Three additional independent candidates—Shamma Akter, Mosammad Mehrunnesa, and Mahbuba Rahman—also submitted papers. The final verification will determine their eligibility. The reserved women’s seat election is officially set for May 12, 2026.

The Returning Officer added that candidate qualifications and disqualifications are governed by the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which outlines eligibility criteria and restrictions for those holding profit-based public positions.

Two young motorcyclists, Arif Hossain (17) and Sohan Ahmed (18), were killed in a road accident on Tuesday evening in Jhenaidah. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. at the Panchmail area on the Jhenaidah-Magura highway when their motorcycle was struck by a Mahindra three-wheeler and thrown under a moving truck. Both victims died on the spot after being crushed under the truck’s wheels.

Police confirmed the accident and said the victims were returning to Bijoypur village from Jhenaidah town when the collision took place. The officer-in-charge of Jhenaidah Arappur Highway Police, Mrityunjoy Biswas, stated that efforts are underway to identify and detain the truck using information technology. The bodies have been sent to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to locate the truck and determine the full circumstances of the crash.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday evening granted bail to Youth Mahila League leader Shilpi Begum in an attempted murder case linked to the July movement. The order came just hours after she was sent to jail with her one-and-a-half-month-old baby. The bail was granted by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, and her lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi confirmed the decision, expressing hope that Begum would be released the next day.

Shilpi Begum, affiliated with the 26th ward of Dhaka North Youth Mahila League, had been arrested Monday evening from Tejkunipara Railway Colony. She was accused of directing an attack on the home of Dhaka University student Tahmid Mubin Ratul, who was injured during an anti-discrimination protest on July 16, 2024. The assault allegedly caused property damage worth five lakh taka and theft of goods valued at three lakh taka. The case, filed on January 25 last year, named 103 individuals including former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

The court had initially denied bail despite her lawyer’s plea citing her recent childbirth, but the decision was reversed later in the day, allowing her conditional release.

Bangladesh Bank has removed Emdadul Islam from his position as Managing Director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited. The central bank also advised the company’s chairman to take necessary measures and appoint an experienced official as acting MD. The decision followed findings that Emdadul Islam concealed key information during his appointment process.

According to Bangladesh Bank’s inspection, while serving as MD of GSP Finance Company (Bangladesh) Limited, Emdadul Islam classified a defaulted loan of Keya Cosmetics as regular without central bank approval, reducing the company’s non-performing loan ratio from 16.04 percent to 8.86 percent. He also restructured loans of subsidiary GSP Investment in violation of central bank directives, leading to a fine of 1 million taka. Additionally, he imposed extra interest on Doreen Hotels and Resorts Limited during the COVID-19 period, ignoring regulatory instructions.

Bangladesh Bank stated that Emdadul Islam failed to disclose these issues in his application and affidavit for the International Leasing MD post, prompting his removal.

A violent clash broke out between activists of the BNP and the NCP in Narayanganj Sadar upazila on Tuesday afternoon over the submission of lease tenders for the Rajapur ferry terminal. The confrontation began at the Sadar Upazila Parishad premises when both groups gathered to submit tenders. Witnesses said the dispute escalated into a chase and counter-chase, spreading panic in the area. Police from Fatullah Model Station arrived quickly and brought the situation under control, though tension remained.

Narayanganj district NCP leaders alleged that BNP activists led by local leaders attacked them without provocation, preventing them from submitting their tenders. They claimed they had followed proper procedures but were targeted by politically motivated violence. In response, BNP’s youth wing leaders denied the allegations, saying they had reached a consensus with NCP and Jamaat leaders earlier and were surprised by the sudden unrest.

Police stated that legal action would be taken against those responsible for obstructing government work and creating disorder, pending investigation.

Md. Sakhawat Hossain, previously Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, has been promoted to the position of Secretary of the same ministry. The appointment was confirmed through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Tuesday night. The current Secretary of the Ministry, Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, has been transferred to the Ministry of Food.

In the same set of administrative changes, Md. Firoz Sarkar, Secretary of the Ministry of Food, has been reassigned as Secretary of the Statistics and Information Management Division. The official order stated that these transfers and promotions were made in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

These changes reflect a routine reshuffle within the government’s senior bureaucracy, aimed at ensuring administrative efficiency across key ministries.

Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has become uncertain after its sports and youth minister, Ahmad Donyamali, stated that the team will only compete if full security for Iranian players is guaranteed. He said the final decision will be made by the Iranian government and the Supreme National Security Council. The minister made the remarks to Tasnim News Agency, emphasizing that the safety of the national team in the United States is the key condition for participation.

The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with all of Iran’s group-stage matches scheduled to take place in the US. Following the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States on February 28, concerns over the safety of Iranian players have intensified. Iran had earlier requested FIFA to move its matches from the US to Mexico, but the request was rejected due to logistical reasons.

With tensions between the two countries still high, the global football community is now waiting for Tehran’s final decision on whether Team Melli will take part in the tournament.

An unexploded mortar shell believed to be from Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War was recovered near the gymnasium area of Rajshahi University on Tuesday morning, April 21, 2026. Workers discovered the metallic object during renovation work around 10 a.m. and immediately informed university authorities. The bomb disposal unit of the law enforcement agency later arrived, cordoned off the area, and safely transported the shell to an open field near the university’s mass grave site, where it was neutralized through a controlled explosion.

According to university officials and eyewitnesses, the shell surfaced when workers struck it with a spade while digging. The university’s proctor, Professor Mahbubur Rahman, confirmed the incident and stated that similar old mortar shells had been found in previous excavation or renovation works on campus. Additional Police Commissioner of Rajshahi Motihar Zone, Muhibul Islam, said the operation was conducted with utmost caution to ensure public safety.

Authorities have declared the area safe, and normal activities at the university have resumed following the disposal operation.

The Forest Department recovered 42 deer traps and detained two fishermen during separate operations in the Sundarbans under the Satkhira range. On Tuesday, April 21, patrol members from the Munshiganj outpost conducted a raid in the Belayet’s Bharani and Cherar Khal areas, where they found 42 'mala traps' set to capture deer. Acting on secret information, the team discovered the traps strategically placed to ensnare roaming deer.

A day earlier, on Monday, April 20, a smart patrol team carried out another operation in the Dingi Mari sanctuary area under the Kadamtala Forest Station. Two fishermen were arrested for illegally entering the sanctuary to catch fish and crabs. Authorities seized a boat, about 30 kilograms of crabs, and various fishing tools. The detainees were later sent to court under forest law.

Assistant Conservator of Forests Md. Moshior Rahman stated that operations to prevent illegal hunting and resource extraction in the Sundarbans will continue. Local residents alleged that an organized poaching group remains active, sometimes operating with the support of influential individuals, and urged strict legal action against them.

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Rüdiger Lotz paid a courtesy call on Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at his parliamentary office in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was attended by the embassy’s Political and Press Officer Sharlina Nuzhat Kabir. According to Jamaat sources, the discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere and covered topics including the strengthening of parliamentary democracy, the July Charter, and the referendum.

During the meeting, the German side expressed its interest in seeing good governance and accountability in Bangladesh. Dr. Rahman reiterated Jamaat-e-Islami’s commitment to the July Charter and public mandate, emphasizing the party’s desire for qualitative change and reform to prevent the return of one-party rule. Both sides also discussed the need to reinforce democratic institutions and ensure sustainable democracy in Bangladesh.

The participants expressed optimism about enhancing future bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany in trade, investment, economic collaboration, education, and skills development.

Iran has declared that it will not surrender to U.S. pressure following recent warnings from President Donald Trump. Senior Iranian officials said the country has made 'astonishing' military preparations to face any potential attack. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s correspondent Ali Hashem noted that Iran had already clarified its stance against capitulation under American pressure.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran would not yield or join any talks under blockade conditions, warning that the nation is ready with many 'surprises' if war resumes. The Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, Iran’s top military command, announced full readiness to repel any assault. Multiple government officials, including from the judiciary, have expressed concern over the possibility of a major attack on Iran.

Officials have conveyed to the public that rejecting negotiations or surrender under siege could heighten the risk of war, emphasizing Tehran’s preference for military preparedness over accepting U.S. terms.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will hold joint meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, to ensure uninterrupted telecommunication services and network management amid the ongoing energy crisis. The meetings are being organized in response to concerns raised by stakeholders in the telecom sector.

Earlier, on March 12, BTRC sent a letter to the Posts and Telecommunications Division requesting priority allocation of fuel and electricity. Following that, on March 13, the division forwarded letters to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Power Division, and all district commissioners seeking necessary action. On April 20, BTRC again wrote to the Posts and Telecommunications Division requesting law enforcement support for fuel transport and tower site maintenance.

The April 22 meeting will include Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, mobile operators, NTTN operators, tower companies, and the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh. The April 23 meeting will involve the Power Development Board, Rural Electrification Board, PGCB, power distribution companies, and telecom operators. The meetings aim to adopt measures to resolve energy-related challenges affecting telecom operations.

The Department of Environment has fined three illegal brick kilns in Gopalganj a total of nine lakh taka and halted their production activities. The mobile court operation was conducted on Tuesday in Sadar upazila under the initiative of the Gopalganj district office of the Department of Environment. The fined brick kilns are Sheikh Bricks, Molla Bricks, and Gazi Bricks. Executive Magistrate Md. Sajjad Zahid Ratul led the mobile court, while Inspector Moniruzzaman Sheikh served as prosecutor.

Assistant Director Mahfuzur Rahman of the Gopalganj district office stated that the operation was carried out under the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2013, amended in 2019, for various violations. During the drive, electricity connections were disconnected, and the kilns were dismantled using excavators to stop production. The Gopalganj district police, Ansar force, and Fire Service assisted in the operation.

Officials said such drives will continue in the district to control air pollution and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

A 14-year-old boy named Shah Alam died after falling from the rooftop of a five-story building in the Kajla area of Jatrabari, Dhaka, on Tuesday afternoon. Neighbors, including a man named Kamruzzaman, rescued him and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at 7:10 p.m. The hospital police outpost confirmed that the body has been kept in the morgue and the local police station has been informed.

According to Kamruzzaman, he and others heard a loud noise and initially thought something had fallen from the building. Upon checking, they found Shah Alam lying on the ground and struggling. They immediately took him to the hospital for treatment. The boy’s family lived on the second floor of the same building, and he reportedly worked at a garment factory. However, the exact cause of his fall remains unknown.

Police are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine whether it was accidental or involved other factors.