A sudden hour-long downpour on Tuesday morning caused severe waterlogging across Comilla city, flooding roads, school grounds, and classrooms. At the historic Ishwar Pathsala School exam center, located opposite the Comilla Education Board, SSC examinees were forced to sit for their tests in knee-deep dirty water. Many students’ clothes became wet, and they expressed fear that their answer sheets might get soaked. Teachers also had to stand in water while supervising the exam, as no postponement order was issued.

Parents waiting outside the center voiced anger over the recurring problem, saying the school floods every year after minor rainfall due to poor drainage. The head teacher said the situation was caused by natural factors and that necessary measures were being taken in consultation with the center secretary. Comilla City Corporation’s administrator stated that workers were deployed to clear drains and remove debris to restore water flow. The local weather office recorded 102 millimeters of rainfall and warned of more rain ahead.

Despite the flooding, the district education officer confirmed that the examination was completed on schedule without disruption.

Lebanon’s political landscape has been shaken by the government’s decision to engage in direct talks with Israel. The move has drawn fierce criticism from Hezbollah, which dismissed the discussions as ineffective and accused the government of lacking the leverage needed to pressure Israel. Hezbollah described the situation as bordering on treason, with its parliament member Ali Ammar vowing that the bloodshed in southern Lebanon would be avenged.

In response, Lebanon’s president sharply rebuked Hezbollah, alleging that the group was acting in the interests of a foreign power, specifically Iran, and pushing the country toward war. The exchange of accusations has deepened divisions between the government and Hezbollah, raising concerns about Lebanon’s internal stability.

The escalating rhetoric highlights the fragile balance of power in Lebanon, where efforts to resolve disputes through dialogue are clashing with militant resistance, potentially complicating future peace initiatives.

Law Minister Md. Anisul Haque has called for making the country’s legal aid program more effective to reduce the existing backlog of cases. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking National Legal Aid Day 2026 at the Supreme Court Auditorium on Tuesday, he said that justice is a fundamental right and that legal aid services must reach every citizen. The event was organized by the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee.

The minister noted that the concept of legal aid in Bangladesh was first introduced in 1994 when then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia established a fund to support poor and helpless people. He said the government is now working to expand and strengthen that initiative. Referring to the judiciary’s budget, he stated that the current allocation of about Tk 2,200 crore is insufficient and that additional funding is needed to make legal aid activities more dynamic. Discussions are ongoing to increase the allocation in the future.

The event was chaired by Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and attended by judges, lawyers, legal aid officials, and representatives of foreign development partners.

A farm laborer was killed by lightning in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail district on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. in Nagarpra village under Uarshi Union. The deceased was identified as Mizan Mia, 50, originally from Rangpur district, who had been working as an agricultural laborer while residing in Torer Bari of the same village. The death was confirmed by Shafiqul Islam Khan, a member of Uarshi Union Parishad.

According to local residents, Mizan Mia was working in a field when a sudden lightning strike hit him, causing his death on the spot. Mirzapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun stated that police were dispatched to the scene after receiving the report. Following legal procedures, the body will be handed over to the family.

Authorities have not reported any further casualties or damage related to the lightning strike in the area.

At the Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Bangladesh National Conference 2026, participants warned that recently passed digital laws in Bangladesh continue to pose risks to freedom of expression and personal privacy. Speakers at a press conference held Tuesday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center said the laws were passed hastily without stakeholder consultation and retained provisions enabling extensive digital surveillance.

Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that the new laws contain inconsistencies and contradict both the spirit of July’s ideals and the ruling party’s election pledges. UNESCO’s Head of Representative in Bangladesh, Susan Vize, urged the government to review the laws to strengthen human rights protections. Additional Secretary Muhammad Anwar Uddin from the ICT Ministry defended the laws as necessary and said improvements are underway.

Representatives from Meta, Telenor Asia, and BTRC discussed implications for data management, telecommunications oversight, and trust in policymaking. The conference also featured a panel on artificial intelligence governance, emphasizing the need for meaningful dialogue in developing AI policies.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran has requested the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He made the claim on Tuesday through a post on his social media platform, saying Iran informed him that it is in a state of near collapse and wants the strait reopened as soon as possible. Trump added that Iran is trying to stabilize its leadership situation and expressed belief that the country could overcome its leadership crisis.

According to the report, the Strait of Hormuz remains in a state of paralysis due to the ongoing war involving Iran. While Iran seeks to assert control over the strategic waterway, the United States has imposed a strict naval blockade in the area. As of the report’s publication, Tehran has not issued any official response to Trump’s statement.

The situation underscores the continuing tension between Iran and the United States over control of the vital maritime route, with no immediate sign of diplomatic resolution mentioned in the source.

Authorities in Barishal fined eight diagnostic centers and hospitals a total of Tk 282,000 for using expired testing kits and operating without required certificates. The operation took place on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Bandar Road area near Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. The drive was led by Apurba Adhikari, Deputy Director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.

According to the agency, the National Security Intelligence (NSI) had been monitoring several diagnostic centers in the city and reported various irregularities to the consumer rights authority. Following this, a joint operation was conducted at multiple facilities. Al-Aqsa Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Health Aid Medical Services, Nova Medical Services, Islamiya Digital Diagnostic Center, Barishal City General Hospital, Gain Diagnostic and Physiotherapy Center, New Babylon Medical Services, and Rongdhonu Diagnostic Center were fined varying amounts.

The fines were imposed for confirmed violations, including the use of expired medical kits and lack of proper certification, as part of efforts to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told Parliament that everyone ‘lovingly blames’ him for various issues, prompting laughter in the chamber. He made the comment on Tuesday during a discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, responding to remarks by Bangladesh National Party (BJP) MP Andaleeve Rahman Partha. The exchange began when Partha referred to statements about freeing people from the Zia family, which Rahman denied making.

Dr. Rahman challenged Partha to clarify when, where, and how he allegedly made such comments, insisting he never speaks recklessly about anyone, including the family of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Partha replied that his reference came from another leader’s statement, not Rahman’s, calling the situation a misunderstanding. The Deputy Speaker, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, intervened to restore order as tensions rose.

Dr. Rahman later emphasized that any parliamentary references or documents must be clear and accurate to avoid confusion. He urged members to present evidence precisely when citing sources during debates.

Police in Pabna have arrested a 41-year-old man named Mojaharul Islam on charges of raping a three-year-old girl in the Radhanagar area of the city. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday evening at a mess in the Radhanagar Degree Bottola area. After the assault, the accused fled but was later apprehended that night from Dashpara in Khanmarich Union under Bhangura upazila. The child’s mother filed a case at Pabna Sadar Police Station on Tuesday, and the station’s officer-in-charge, Tarikul Islam, confirmed the arrest.

According to police and local sources, the victim’s mother worked as a cook at the mess where the incident took place. While she was busy in the kitchen, Mojaharul allegedly lured the child into his room under the pretext of collecting mosquito coils and then assaulted her. The child’s screams drew her mother to the scene, prompting the accused to flee. The injured child was taken to Pabna General Hospital’s One-Stop Crisis Centre for treatment.

Police said Mojaharul confessed to the crime during preliminary questioning. He has been charged and will be sent to jail through the court process.

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has expelled five students for two years for adopting unfair means during examinations. The decision was made on Tuesday at a meeting of the university’s Board of Discipline, which reviewed the allegations and confirmed the violations.

According to the board, the students were found carrying and using unauthorized materials in the exam hall, including handwritten notes, small slips, and papers containing subject-related formulas and information. The expelled students include two from Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) of the 2021–22 session, one from Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) of the same session, one from Civil Engineering of the 2023–24 session, and one from Mechanical Engineering of the 2024–25 session.

Board member-secretary and Director of Student Welfare, Robiul Islam Sarkar, emphasized that maintaining academic integrity is vital and that the university follows a zero-tolerance policy toward unethical behavior. The administration stated that such actions will continue to preserve a fair academic environment and uphold moral standards.

A witness has testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka regarding the Rampura shooting during the July Revolution, where 28 people were killed and many others injured. The testimony came in a case filed against Lieutenant Colonel Redwanul Islam and three others. The statement was recorded by a two-member judicial panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar, with Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud as the other member.

Witness Maruf Hossain, a colleague of slain protester Rakib Hossain, described how security forces opened fire on students demanding quota reform on July 18, 2024. He recounted that Rakib was shot in the abdomen while filming the protest near Rampura Bridge and later died after being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Maruf said he later identified the alleged shooters through social media and CCTV footage.

The accused in the case include Major Rafat Bin Alam, former DMP ADC Rashedul Islam, and former Rampura Police Station OC Mashiur Rahman. The witness demanded justice for Rakib’s death and accountability for those involved.

Feni recorded 126 millimeters of rainfall between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, marking the heaviest hourly rainfall of the year. Over the past 24 hours, the district experienced a total of 150 millimeters of rain, leading to widespread waterlogging and public suffering across the city.

Field reports showed that continuous rainfall submerged low-lying roads in several neighborhoods, including Doctorpara, Shahid Shahidullah Kaiser Road, Old Registry Office, Shaheen Academy area, Pathanbari, Nazir Road, Mizan Road, Sadar Hospital intersection, and Petrobangla. Feni Municipality’s executive engineer Zakir Uddin said that slow drainage through canals and drains caused the flooding, and twelve municipal teams were deployed to address the situation.

According to the acting officer of the Feni Meteorological Office, Md. Mojibur Rahman, this was the highest rainfall of the current season, and thunderstorms with rain are likely to continue across the district for the next two to three days.

Fuel loading has begun at the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, officially positioning Bangladesh as the 33rd country to use nuclear energy. The plant, located in Pabna and built with Russian technical assistance, is the country’s most expensive infrastructure project. Construction began in 2017 during the previous Awami League government, following the issuance of a siting license in 2016 by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority. The total project cost is about 12.65 billion US dollars, with Russia financing 90 percent of the amount.

According to Professor Md. Shafiqul Islam of Dhaka University’s Nuclear Engineering Department, electricity generation will start during the pilot operation phase, though full commercial production may take another six months to a year. The Grid Company of Bangladesh’s Managing Director, Abdur Rashid Khan, confirmed that grid capacity and transmission line work for the first unit were completed by May 2025, ensuring readiness to handle 1,100 megawatts of power.

The completion of fuel loading and grid preparation brings Bangladesh closer to producing nuclear-generated electricity for the first time.

European allies are reportedly losing patience with the ongoing war involving Iran, as both the United States and Iran continue to believe time favors them. The observation came from Mohammad Elmasry, an analyst at the Doha Institute of Graduate Studies, who noted that the prolonged conflict has strained transatlantic unity.

Elmasry referenced a recent statement by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who remarked that Iranians are negotiating with great skill. According to Elmasry, this indicates that former U.S. President Donald Trump is under increasing pressure from European partners who believe he led them into a major crisis and has failed to resolve it. The analyst added that such remarks are unlikely to please Trump and highlight growing discomfort among allies.

Elmasry further suggested that the situation reflects a broader trend of the United States and Israel becoming increasingly isolated, even from their traditional allies, as the conflict drags on without resolution.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to former Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director Shafiqul Rahman in a case over the alleged abuse of a child domestic worker named Mohona. The bail was approved on Tuesday by the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Moin Uddin Chowdhury, requiring a bond of 5,000 taka. Rahman’s lawyer, Advocate Khorshed Alam, argued for bail citing his client’s illness and long detention since February 2, after which the court granted bail until the police report is submitted.

According to the case statement, the complainant, a hotel employee, arranged through a security guard for his 11-year-old daughter to work as a domestic helper at Rahman’s home in June of the previous year. The family alleged that the child was last seen healthy on November 2 and later found with severe injuries when returned on January 31. The girl reportedly said she had been beaten and burned with a hot spatula. She was admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur.

Following the incident, the child’s father filed a case at Uttara West Police Station, leading to the arrest of Rahman, his wife, and two others on February 2.