Despite a ceasefire being in effect, the United States has maintained a blockade around Iran’s ports and the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between the two countries. Iran has reimposed strict control over the vital waterway, saying the move is a response to the US blockade and accusing Washington of breaking its commitments. At least two commercial ships came under fire while attempting to cross the strait on Saturday.

At the center of Iran’s control strategy are small, fast-attack boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Many of these vessels, hidden in coastal tunnels, have survived US strikes and can quickly mobilize, attack, and retreat. Their swarm tactics make them difficult to track or target effectively. Although a convoy of eight tankers recently passed through the strait, Iran soon reasserted its dominance over the route.

The situation marks a shift from open warfare to controlled confrontation in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints, through which about 20 percent of global oil exports pass.

Two journalists were assaulted on Saturday morning, April 18, in the Kashimpur area of Vedarganj upazila, Shariatpur, while filming alleged illegal fuel sales at Messrs Faria Filling Station. The victims were Zahid Hasan Tipu, correspondent of Daily Inqilab, and Ashiqur Rahman Hridoy, correspondent of Daily Samakal. Tipu filed a written complaint at Sakhipur Police Station the same evening, accusing pump owner Faruk Madbar and his nephew Zaman Madbar of the attack.

According to the victims and local sources, the filling station had long been accused of hoarding fuel in drums and selling it at inflated prices instead of supplying waiting vehicles. When the journalists began recording the scene, the pump owner and his associates allegedly obstructed them and attacked Tipu. Locals rescued the injured journalists and took them to Vedarganj Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

Local journalist leaders condemned the incident, calling it an attack on press freedom and demanding swift legal action. Police confirmed receiving the complaint and said an investigation was underway.

Several leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have joined the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), according to a report published on April 19, 2026. Those joining include President Rifat Rashid, Chief Coordinator Hasib Al Islam, Office Secretary Shahadat Hossain, Legal Cell Secretary Mahfuz, and Kushtia University unit convener S M Sweet, along with other unit leaders.

Rifat Rashid is taking charge as the chief organizer of the National Youth Force, while Hasib Al Islam will serve in the Dhaka University branch of the National Student Force. Shahadat Hossain and S M Sweet are joining the NCP central committee. The information was confirmed to the newspaper by several responsible leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

The report also notes that leaders from other organizations, including AB Party, UP Bangladesh, and the July Movement, have recently joined the NCP, indicating a broader trend of political realignment.

Saudi Arabia has announced new restrictions for the current Hajj season, prohibiting the performance of Hajj using visit visas. The authorities stated that entry to the holy city of Makkah and other sacred sites will only be allowed for those holding official Hajj permits from the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul-Qadah until the 14th of Dhul-Hijjah. Anyone entering or staying in Makkah without authorization during this period will face legal penalties.

Violators attempting to perform Hajj without proper permits may face fines of up to 20,000 Saudi riyals. Expatriates or visit visa holders found performing Hajj illegally will be deported and banned from re-entering Saudi Arabia for ten years. The authorities have also set a deadline for Umrah pilgrims to leave the country, with overstaying considered a legal violation. Service providers failing to report such cases could face fines up to 100,000 riyals.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said these measures are part of an operational plan to ensure safety, order, and smooth movement during one of the world’s largest gatherings. This year’s campaign slogan is “No Hajj without a permit.”

Long queues were seen at filling stations across Dhaka on Sunday morning as motorists waited to buy fuel despite a recent price hike. The government adjusted fuel prices effective from midnight on Saturday, setting diesel at 115 taka per liter, kerosene at 130 taka, petrol at 135 taka, and octane at 140 taka. The adjustment followed rising prices in the global market.

Buyers expressed frustration over the increase, saying it has already affected daily life and raised the cost of goods. At stations in Asad Gate, Tejgaon, and Paribagh, fuel was being rationed, and many drivers complained of not receiving their desired amount even after waiting for hours.

The Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association welcomed the government’s decision, saying it would reduce artificial shortages and hoarding tendencies while improving transparency in fuel distribution. The association added that aligning domestic prices with international markets helps stabilize supply and ensures fair business operations.

Iran is encountering two distinct strategies from the United States, according to Abbas Aslani, a senior fellow at Tehran’s Center for Middle East Strategic Studies. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Aslani said the first strategy involves negotiations, but questioned why Washington continues to impose naval blockades, expand sanctions, and strengthen its military presence in the region if it truly seeks an agreement.

He added that the second US strategy centers on pressure and threats. With the expiration of two ceasefire agreements—between the United States and Iran, and between Israel and Lebanon—Aslani warned that the likelihood of renewed confrontation is increasing. He noted that there are no signs of extending these truces, and no party appears to be discussing their renewal.

Aslani concluded that both sides seem to be using the lapse of ceasefires to exert pressure on each other, a situation that could ultimately lead to the resumption of conflict.

Iran has declared that it will not send its enriched uranium abroad, particularly to the United States, under any proposal. The announcement was made by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh during a diplomatic meeting in Turkey, as reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA and cited by Al Jazeera. Tehran also stated that there is no possibility of reopening discussions on this issue.

Khatibzadeh explained that while messages have been exchanged between Iran and the United States at various levels, Washington has presented conditions and demands that Tehran considers exaggerated and unacceptable. He further indicated that there remains a significant gap between the two sides on nuclear matters, which continues to hinder progress in negotiations.

As a result, prospects for any new progress or agreement in the Iran–United States nuclear talks remain uncertain for the time being.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have threatened to shut down the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime passage linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The warning came from Hussein al-Ezzi, deputy foreign minister of the Houthi government, who said that if U.S. President Donald Trump continues to obstruct peace efforts, the strait could be closed. In a post on social media platform X, al-Ezzi declared that if Sanaa decides to close Bab al-Mandeb, no force could reopen it.

Al-Ezzi urged Trump and his allies to immediately end all actions and policies that hinder peace and to respect the rights of the Yemeni people and nation. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a vital global shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Suez Canal, facilitating the transport of crude oil, energy supplies, and other goods between the Gulf, the Mediterranean, and Asia.

The statement underscores the strategic importance of the strait and signals potential risks to international maritime trade if tensions escalate further.

At least 280 people, including women and children, were aboard a wooden trawler that sank in the Andaman Sea while attempting to reach Malaysia from Bangladesh. Only nine survivors were rescued by a Bangladeshi-flagged ship and later handed over to the Coast Guard. The incident occurred after the vessel departed from the Cox’s Bazar coast on April 4, 2026, and capsized near the Andaman Islands following rough weather. Most passengers were from Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Ukhiya, and Chattogram, with some Rohingya refugees among them.

Local sources said human traffickers lured jobless youths and Rohingya women with false promises of employment and marriage before sending them on the dangerous sea journey. Despite repeated tragedies, the main traffickers remain at large, while six Bangladeshi survivors have been jailed as alleged smugglers. Families of the missing accuse authorities of inaction and claim traffickers continue operating openly. Police and Coast Guard officials confirmed the sinking but could not provide information on the missing passengers.

Local representatives reported that dozens of residents from Teknaf’s coastal villages remain unaccounted for, as families continue searching for their loved ones amid growing frustration over the lack of enforcement against trafficking networks.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social praising Israel as a great ally of the United States. In his message, Trump described Israel as brave, fearless, loyal, and intelligent, asserting that the country knows how to fight hard and win. He stated that whether people like Israel or not, it has proven itself as one of America’s greatest allies.

The post came a day after Trump had reportedly told Israel to stop bombing Lebanon. His latest remarks, however, expressed strong support for Israel’s conduct and resilience during times of conflict and pressure. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and published by the outlet Amar Desh.

The timing of Trump’s statement suggests a shift in tone following his earlier call for restraint, though the source does not elaborate on any official policy implications or reactions from other parties.

The Ministry of Education in Bangladesh has officially abolished the long-standing 'silent expel' rule from public examinations. The decision followed instructions from Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, who directed the immediate removal of the provision. The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education issued a notice on Saturday night confirming that Article 29 of the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination Policy, which contained the silent expel clause, is now void.

Earlier that day, during a virtual meeting on ensuring fair conduct of SSC, HSC, and equivalent exams, the minister ordered the cancellation of the practice. He explained that the rule originated from an outdated 1961 policy and had no basis in the 1980 Public Examination Act. The minister emphasized that no unreasonable regulation should exist in exam procedures and that students should not face measures harming their mental well-being.

The decision marks a significant policy shift aimed at modernizing examination governance and ensuring a more transparent and student-friendly environment in Bangladesh’s public exams.

Reports indicate that the United States may expand its naval blockade against Iran beyond the country's ports. According to the U.S. Central Command, more than 12 warships, over 10,000 troops, and a large number of combat aircraft have already been deployed around Iranian ports. So far, 23 Iranian or Iran-linked ships have been turned away as part of the ongoing blockade operations.

Additional reports suggest that the blockade could extend to Iranian-linked vessels found anywhere in the world, not just those entering or leaving Iranian ports. Analysts note that the U.S. has adopted policies allowing it to stop, inspect, or even seize ships connected to Iran or under sanctions globally. Such operations typically involve specially trained Marine or Navy SEAL teams boarding ships by helicopter and taking control, sometimes redirecting them to other ports.

Experts warn that if the blockade expands globally, it could significantly affect international trade, energy supply, and maritime security.

The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom held a high-level diplomatic meeting to discuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to a statement from the UAE Foreign Ministry, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to review the regional situation and recent developments.

The statement said the talks covered the overall situation in the region, including what the UAE described as “unprovoked and terrorist attacks” by Iran against the Emirates and other Gulf countries. Cooper reaffirmed the UK’s solidarity with the UAE in protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens, residents, and visitors. Sheikh Abdullah praised Cooper’s visit, calling it a reflection of the strong bilateral relationship and the UK’s full support following Iran’s “terrorist aggression.”

The report noted that the UK has not yet issued an official statement regarding the meeting.

Turkey has shown interest in extending its natural gas supply agreement with Iran, which is set to expire in the coming months. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed that no formal discussions have yet begun due to ongoing conflicts but emphasized Ankara’s willingness to maintain gas imports from Iran to ensure supply continuity.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Bayraktar said Turkey remains committed to securing stable energy supplies despite regional instability. He noted that, despite tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, Turkey has not faced any supply disruptions so far.

The minister’s remarks suggest that Ankara may soon initiate talks with Tehran to renew or extend the existing gas deal once conditions allow, aiming to safeguard its energy security.

Farmers in Sunamganj are anxious about bringing in their haor paddy crops as harvesting begins in some areas while others remain waterlogged. Many fields are partially submerged, making it nearly impossible to use harvester machines. Concerns have grown over labor shortages, diesel scarcity, heavy rainfall, and flash floods, with farmers frequently watching the skies in fear of further damage.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, 755 hectares of paddy have been harvested across 12 upazilas, while 3,189 hectares have been affected by waterlogging. Around 200,000 farmers cultivated 223,511 hectares of boro paddy this season, valued at about Tk 5,000 crore. Officials said 900 harvesters and reaper machines are ready for use, though water levels have limited their operation. Farmers have urged authorities to suspend sand and stone extraction for 15 days to ease the labor shortage.

District officials stated that embankments have been built to protect crops and that water will be drained where necessary. They expect full-scale harvesting to begin next week and finish by May 15 if weather conditions remain favorable.