The United Arab Emirates has approached the United States for financial assistance as the Iran war continues to strain its economy. According to the Wall Street Journal, UAE Central Bank chief Khaled Mohammed Balama proposed a currency swap with the U.S. Federal Reserve to offset losses from missile strikes on oil and gas infrastructure and revenue disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Informal talks have begun, though no official announcement has been made.

The UAE’s request follows heavy regional damage, including attacks on Dubai’s Fairmont The Palm Hotel, Fujairah’s oil terminal, and Amazon data centers. The U.S. has spent nearly $1 billion daily since February 28, while Israel’s war costs have exceeded $11 billion. Washington recently signaled it might seek war funding from Gulf states, but the UAE’s compensation demand could reverse that dynamic, forcing the U.S. to bear costs instead. Iran has separately demanded $270 billion in reparations from Gulf neighbors it accuses of aiding the conflict.

Analysts warn that adding a U.S. backstop to soaring war expenses could weaken the dollar’s dominance in energy trade, especially as the UAE explores yuan-based transactions with China.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon stated that anyone involved in corruption within the Education Ministry will not be allowed to remain in their position for even 24 hours. He made the remark on Monday during a press conference at the Secretariat regarding the ongoing SSC and equivalent examinations. The minister added that he had already dismissed one individual earlier that day for such misconduct.

During the same briefing, Minister Milon mentioned that authorities are considering whether the next SSC examinations could be held in December. However, he clarified that no final decision has been made on the matter yet.

The statements reflect the ministry’s stance on maintaining strict accountability and transparency in its operations, while also signaling possible adjustments to the national examination schedule pending further review.

Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Masud expressed deep concern over his personal safety during a special privileges discussion in the National Parliament on Monday. He told the House that he narrowly escaped an attack while returning from Hatiya two days earlier. Masud said he represents a remote island area dominated by land grabbers and pirates and has survived at least five direct attacks before and after the election. He alleged that despite having video evidence, the attackers enjoy political protection and continue to threaten him on social media.

Earlier, the Deputy Speaker rejected Masud’s notice on the matter due to procedural limitations but urged the Home Minister to take necessary action. The Deputy Speaker later read the notice aloud and condemned the attacks, instructing the Home Minister to ensure prompt legal measures. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed responded that the issue was being taken seriously and advised the MP to file a general diary or case if not already done.

Masud urged the government to guarantee his and his supporters’ safety and called for a parliamentary investigation into the repeated attacks.

National award-winning singer Rumana Morshed Konokchapa did not secure a nomination from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for a reserved women's seat in parliament. The announcement was made on Monday, April 20, at the BNP’s Nayapaltan office by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Konokchapa’s name was absent from the final list of nominees.

Following the announcement, Konokchapa shared her reaction on social media, expressing acceptance of the outcome and gratitude to God. She recalled that she had also sought BNP nominations in previous elections, including the 13th national election and earlier contests, but was not selected. Despite repeated disappointments, she stated that she remains committed to serving her country and its people in other ways.

Konokchapa, who serves as joint convener of the BNP-affiliated cultural organization JASAS and a district BNP member, had previously contested the Sirajganj-1 seat in the 2018 national election, where she received 1,072 votes against Awami League candidate Mohammad Nasim’s 324,436 votes.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir told Parliament that ongoing instability in the Middle East has already put pressure on Bangladesh’s exports and could affect remittance inflows if the situation continues. Responding to a question from ruling party MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul, he described the current Iran–Israel–US conflict as a military tension centered on Iran. The minister said the unrest has contributed to rising fuel prices, higher import, shipping, and insurance costs, and potential challenges for exports and remittances.

He noted that the Middle East is one of Bangladesh’s key trade partners, importing garments, pharmaceuticals, frozen foods, and leather goods from the country. The government is monitoring the situation and has initiated measures under the Prime Minister’s direction, including efforts to reduce logistics costs and expand markets beyond conflict-affected regions. The minister also presented recent export and trade deficit data, showing Bangladesh’s largest deficit with India.

Muktadir added that fuel price increases in Bangladesh have been moderate compared to global trends and are unlikely to significantly raise inflation, citing the limited impact of diesel price adjustments on production and transport costs.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led eleven-party electoral alliance will submit nomination papers for candidates contesting the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament on Tuesday. According to the election schedule, the submission will take place at 10 a.m. at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka. Following the submission, the alliance will hold a press briefing to share details of the nominations.

Alliance coordinator and Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad confirmed the plan on Monday. Sources indicated that the alliance has nominated thirteen candidates for the reserved women’s seats, proportionate to its parliamentary representation.

The submission marks the final day for nominations under the current election timetable, signaling the alliance’s formal entry into the next phase of the parliamentary selection process.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a recruitment notice for 23 vacant posts under the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy. The positions span 11 categories, ranging from grade 11 to grade 20, with the application deadline set for May 10, 2026. The recruitment notice was published on April 20, 2026, and applications opened on April 19, 2026.

The available posts include Subedar, Office Assistant cum Computer Typist, Driver, Havildar, Nurse, Lineman Electrician, Pump Operator, Armorer, Projector Operator, Office Assistant, and Cook. Salary scales vary between 8,250 and 30,230 taka depending on the grade. Applicants must be between 18 and 32 years old as of May 10, 2026, though the maximum age limit is 40 years for certain positions.

Interested candidates must complete their applications and submit the examination fee through the designated website within the specified timeframe.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has issued show-cause notices to five of its leaders in Khulna following allegations of harassment against Dr. Rafiqul Haque Babul, president of the Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB) Khulna district unit. The incident occurred at the BNSB Eye Hospital in Khulna, where a group reportedly disrupted the hospital’s trustee board. The notices were delivered on Sunday by the Khulna Metropolitan BNP, instructing the accused leaders to provide written explanations before the party’s monitoring cell by April 22.

The accused include Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Mir Kaysed Ali, Abu Sayeed Hawlader Abbas, Molla Sohag Hossain, and Sheikh Iqbal Hossain. The dispute began on April 13 when Khulna-5 MP and former city BNP convener Ali Asgar Lobi visited the hospital. During the visit, accompanying BNP leaders allegedly verbally abused and attempted to assault Dr. Babul, pressuring him to resign. Lobi then dissolved the trustee board and declared himself chairman.

In protest, Khulna physicians held a human chain on April 18 demanding disciplinary action against those involved, reinstatement of Dr. Babul as trustee board chairman, and an end to political interference in hospital affairs.

A total of 143 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) candidates from Kanchipara M A U Academy High School in Phulchhari upazila, Gaibandha, are facing uncertainty about sitting for their exams scheduled for Monday due to mistakes in their admit cards. Students discovered errors such as incorrect parental names, mismatched photos, and wrong subject groups, while some have not yet received their admit cards. The issue has caused anxiety among students and parents.

Parents alleged that the head teacher, Raihan Sarkar, outsourced the admit card preparation to an external computer shop without involving school teachers, leading to the errors. The head teacher attributed the problem to a server issue and assured that students would still be able to take the exam. Phulchhari Upazila Secondary Education Officer Syed Monirul Hasan also said the problem might have originated from the examination board’s server and that participation would not be affected.

Upazila Executive Officer Md. Mostafizur Rahman stated that many of the errors had already been resolved and the remaining affected students would face no difficulty in taking their exams.

Four women leaders who began their political careers in student politics have been included in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) final nomination list for reserved women’s seats in the national parliament. The nominees are Selina Sultana, Arifa Sultana, Nadia Pathan Papon, and Mansura Akter. Their selection is being viewed as a significant example of leadership development among a new generation of politicians.

According to party sources, all four leaders started their political journeys through various organizational activities within the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP. Their long experience in campus-based politics, grassroots movements, and organizational responsibilities has played a key role in their rise to national-level politics.

Observers within the party consider their nominations not only as personal achievements but also as a structured example of how student politics continues to serve as a foundation for national leadership within the BNP.

Bangladesh women’s cricket team achieved a historic milestone by defeating Sri Lanka for the first time in any format. The match took place at Rajshahi’s Kamruzzaman Stadium, where Nigar Sultana Joty’s side secured a three-wicket win in the opening game of the three-match ODI series. Chasing 206 runs, Bangladesh reached the target with nine balls to spare, despite a late collapse that briefly put pressure on the hosts.

Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 205 for nine in 50 overs, led by fifties from Imesha Dulani (52) and Hansima Karunaratne (54). Ritu Moni claimed three wickets, while Nahida Akter took two. In reply, Sharmin Akter anchored Bangladesh’s innings with a commanding 86 off 127 balls, supported by Sobhana Mostary’s 41 and Swarna Akter’s 35. Bangladesh finished on 206 for seven in 48.3 overs to take a 1–0 lead in the series.

The victory marked Bangladesh’s first-ever win over Sri Lanka’s women’s team, both at home and overall, giving them early momentum in the three-match ODI series.

Nepal has undergone a dramatic political transformation following a youth-led uprising that toppled the government last September. The movement, spearheaded by 28-year-old Bablu Gupta and other Gen Z activists, culminated in a March election where the youth-driven Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) achieved a sweeping victory. Nearly 10 percent of the newly elected lawmakers are aged 30 or younger, a sharp rise from less than 2 percent in the previous parliament. The new Prime Minister, 35-year-old rapper and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, took office on March 27, symbolizing a generational shift in leadership.

The uprising was fueled by frustration over corruption, nepotism, unemployment, and restrictions on social media. Nepal’s transformation stands out amid fading youth movements elsewhere, such as in Bangladesh and Madagascar. The new government has pledged to create 1.2 million jobs, ensure universal health insurance, and build a digital governance system. However, questions remain about the durability of these reforms and the risk of populism.

Nepal’s political renewal has inspired optimism among young people worldwide, though challenges of accountability, inclusion, and economic opportunity continue to test the new leadership’s promises.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has released its final list of 36 candidates for reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made on Monday, April 20, 2026, at a press conference in Nayapaltan, Dhaka, by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Despite competition among several prominent contenders, the party selected two candidates from Sylhet, reflecting a balance between experience and new leadership.

The final list includes Shammi Akter, Assistant Secretary for Local Government Affairs of the BNP Central Executive Committee and former MP from Habiganj, and Barrister Jhorat Adib Chowdhury, daughter of late Advocate Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury, a three-time MP and former State Minister for Food and Disaster Management. Adib, who was appointed Deputy CEO of Banglalink in 2025, received her first political nomination as her father’s successor from Barlekha.

Shammi Akter had previously sought nomination for the Habiganj-4 constituency but was not selected. However, in recognition of her contributions during the party’s difficult times, BNP nominated her again for a reserved women’s seat.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that 22,000 Rohingya residing in Saudi Arabia have been issued Bangladeshi passports. He made the statement on Monday, April 20, during a courtesy meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Abdullah Jafar bin Abiyah, at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The minister emphasized that Saudi Arabia is one of Bangladesh’s closest partners, with cooperation spanning manpower export, energy, and tourism sectors.

During the meeting, the Saudi ambassador highlighted the ongoing process of issuing Bangladeshi passports to 69,000 Rohingya in Saudi Arabia and urged for its acceleration. In response, the minister said that a special team from Bangladesh has been sent to expedite the process and warned that no corruption or irregularities would be tolerated in passport issuance. He also instructed officials to verify lists from Saudi Arabia and ensure that Myanmar nationals meeting the required conditions receive passports promptly.

The discussion underscored both countries’ interest in expanding cooperation and ensuring transparency in handling the Rohingya documentation process.

Fresh allegations have surfaced of harassment against first-year students at the Dr. Kudrat-e-Khuda Hostel of Dhaka University’s Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology. According to victims, senior students forced them to attend late-night guestroom sessions under the pretext of teaching manners, where they were subjected to intimidation, insulting remarks, and coercive behavior. The incidents reportedly took place between 11:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. over four consecutive nights, involving members of the 43rd batch, with some seniors denying the accusations.

Victims described the sessions as psychological abuse akin to ragging, including pressure to follow arbitrary rules and endure offensive comments about female classmates. The activities were said to occur mainly in rooms 1003 and 1004, but the latest session was held openly in the dining room with participation from older batches. Some students claimed that individuals linked to a political student group were present.

The hostel’s vice president of the hall council confirmed awareness of the issue and said it would be discussed with university authorities. The hostel warden stated that no formal complaint had yet been received but promised strict action if the allegations were proven.