The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it plans to strike an area near the main border crossing between Syria and Lebanon, warning local residents to evacuate immediately. The attack will target the Masnaa crossing, which Israel claims Hezbollah is using for military purposes and weapons smuggling. The warning follows continued Israeli operations across Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah joined the Middle East conflict in support of Iran.

A Lebanese security source told AFP that the crossing is being evacuated in response to the Israeli threat. Meanwhile, Syria’s General Authority for Borders and Customs said the crossing, known as Jdeidet Yabous on the Syrian side, is used only for civilian purposes and not for military activity. Syrian authorities have temporarily suspended traffic through the crossing for safety reasons.

The Masnaa crossing is a key trade route between Lebanon and Syria and serves as a vital land gateway for Lebanon. Israel previously struck the crossing in October 2024 during an earlier conflict with Hezbollah, after which it remained closed until repair work began following a ceasefire.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that a nationwide special measles vaccination campaign will begin on May 3. He stated that the severity of measles is no less than that of COVID-19. The announcement was made at the inauguration of the measles vaccination program in Nawabganj on Sunday morning. According to the minister, all children of eligible age will receive the measles vaccine, and vitamin A capsules will also be administered.

The minister added that the special vaccination campaign will start from next Sunday in Dhaka North and South City Corporations, as well as in Mymensingh and Barishal districts. State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhith said the government has taken swift action to address shortages and ensure smooth implementation of the program. He urged public cooperation to bring all children under vaccination coverage.

Health department sources said the campaign was launched urgently due to a rapid increase in measles infections among children. The government aims to vaccinate all targeted children within the scheduled period.

A fire broke out on Sunday morning, April 5, 2026, in a multi-storey building near Madhumita Railgate in Tongi, Gazipur. The blaze started on the eighth floor of the M A Kuddus building around 8:45 a.m. Three units of the Tongi Fire Service arrived at the scene and brought the fire under control after about half an hour of effort. Furniture and other materials in the affected room were burned, but no casualties were reported.

Local residents said tenants became alarmed after seeing smoke and flames coming from a locked room on the eighth floor. They immediately informed the fire service, which responded promptly. Fire Service official Md. Shahin Alam stated that the fire likely originated from an electrical short circuit. Since no one was inside the apartment at the time, there were no injuries or fatalities.

Authorities have yet to determine the extent of the damage, which will be confirmed following an investigation.

At least five people were killed and 170 others injured in an attack by the United States and Israel on Iran’s Mahshahr Petrochemical Complex in Khuzestan Province. The strike targeted the special petrochemical economic zone near the Persian Gulf, a key industrial hub that supplies a significant portion of Iran’s national petrochemical production.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged responsibility for the attack in a video statement posted on social media platform X. He said the strike followed earlier operations that destroyed 70 percent of Iran’s steel production capacity used for weapons manufacturing. The Mahshahr complex is a central part of Iran’s energy infrastructure.

According to the same report, more than 30 universities have been attacked since the start of the ongoing conflict, underscoring the widening scope of hostilities in the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Istanbul on April 4 to discuss peace efforts aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, along with other key regional and global issues. According to a statement from Turkey’s Communications Directorate, Erdogan reaffirmed his country’s continued support for ongoing talks between Ukraine and Russia, stressing that establishing peace and stability in the region is now critically important.

During the meeting, Erdogan highlighted the importance of ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea and prioritizing energy supply security. He also expressed commitment to expanding bilateral trade between Turkey and Ukraine, pledging to continue necessary measures toward that goal. The statement further noted Erdogan’s satisfaction with Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen ties with Gulf countries.

The Turkish president had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier as part of Ankara’s ongoing diplomatic initiatives to help end the conflict, underscoring Turkey’s active mediation role in regional peace efforts.

Bangladesh’s government is expected to announce today, Sunday, the final decision on whether educational institutions will conduct classes online, offline, or in a hybrid format. The move follows a global energy crisis triggered by the ongoing war in Iran, which has affected fuel supplies in Bangladesh. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani shared the update during a briefing after Thursday night’s cabinet meeting.

Following a 40-day holiday for Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr, schools reopened on March 29. However, due to the energy shortage, partial online teaching has been proposed to reduce pressure on fuel consumption. The education ministry is set to issue separate directives starting Sunday, ensuring that academic activities are not disrupted. The cabinet also approved duty-free import of electric buses for schools, while commercial imports will face a 20 percent duty.

An education ministry official said no final decision has yet been communicated from the cabinet division. A previous plan considered six-day weeks with three days online and three days in-person, with practical classes held physically.

The United States is transferring a large number of its long-range JASSM-ER cruise missiles to the Middle East as a follow-up to its recent military operations against Iran. According to a source cited by NDTV, the missiles are being moved from reserves originally allocated to other regions, including the Pacific. Orders to withdraw the missiles, each valued at about 1.5 million dollars, were issued in late March. The weapons are being relocated to US Central Command bases and the Fairford base in the United Kingdom.

After the redeployment, only about 425 of the pre-war stockpile of 2,300 JASSM-ER missiles will remain available for other regions, with around 75 rendered unusable due to damage or technical faults. The report adds that nearly two-thirds of the US missile reserves, including shorter-range JASSM models with a range of about 250 miles, have been committed to the Iran conflict. Since the joint US-Israel air campaign began on February 28, concerns have grown over missile defense and long-range weapon stockpiles.

The source noted that over a thousand JASSM-ER missiles have already been used within four weeks of fighting, and 47 were deployed in an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The pace of use suggests that replenishing the arsenal could take several years.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that one of its military helicopters accidentally dropped a bomb in an open area of northern Israel. The incident occurred at night, and no casualties or injuries were reported. Following the event, the army dispatched a bomb disposal team to the site, which safely neutralized the explosive device.

According to the IDF, the incident resulted from an operational error. A formal investigation has been launched to determine how the mistake occurred and to prevent similar incidents in the future. The report did not specify the type of helicopter or the nature of the mission during which the error took place.

The IDF’s statement emphasized that safety measures were promptly enacted after the bomb was dropped, ensuring that no damage or loss of life occurred in the affected area.

Ishaq bin Salim Al-Siyabi, former vice president of Oman’s Shura Council, has called for a ban on all US products, accusing the United States of betrayal. In a post on social media platform X, he alleged that the US had acted treacherously during discussions aimed at resolving disputes and achieving lasting peace for all parties.

Al-Siyabi wrote that the United States was carrying out open, hateful, and unjust aggression against innocent people whose only crime was their desire for a dignified and peaceful life. He argued that there were now strong reasons to impose sanctions on all American goods.

Oman previously served as a mediator between the United States and Iran during the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations and has since attempted mediation in other regional matters, though with limited success, according to the report.

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that a missing American military officer was successfully rescued after his fighter jet was shot down over Iranian airspace. In a statement, Trump said the U.S. military carried out one of the most daring search and rescue operations in American history to recover the officer, who is an arms specialist with the rank of colonel. He added that the rescued officer is now completely safe.

According to the report, the officer went missing after an F-15E fighter jet was downed. The U.S. military quickly identified his location and launched a rescue mission. Although detailed information about the operation has not yet been released, it is being described as one of the most notable military rescue missions in recent times.

Further details about the circumstances of the crash and the rescue operation remain undisclosed, and no additional official statements have been issued so far.

The government of Bangladesh has initiated steps to establish a new Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria. Preparations are underway following a letter dated March 29, signed by Tanvir Hossain, Executive Director (Investment Development) of the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), confirming the plan. The letter stated that necessary measures will be taken in accordance with regulations to set up the EPZ. The initiative is part of the new government’s development agenda aimed at expanding industrial capacity.

The proposed site in Tinlakhpir area of Binauti Union was recommended by Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, an executive member of the Brahmanbaria district BNP. The location lies beside the Cumilla–Sylhet highway and has close access to Akhaura land port and railway junction. The region benefits from nearby energy and transport infrastructure, including Ashuganj river port and power plant, and Titas gas field. Officials said the EPZ would create employment and transform the local economy.

Local authorities view the project as a key step toward regional economic growth, with expectations of new investment and long-term energy security through nearby gas field development.

The postponed 13th parliamentary election for Sherpur-3 (Sreebardi-Jhenaigati) constituency is set for April 9, 2026, and candidates are in the final stretch of campaigning. BNP’s Mahmudul Haque Rubel, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Masudur Rahman Masud, and BSD (Marxist)’s Mohammad Mizanur Rahman are contesting. Candidates are holding rallies, small meetings, and door-to-door visits, promising local development and outlining their future plans.

BNP’s Rubel, a three-time former MP, is leading a family-driven campaign to reclaim what was once a BNP stronghold, with his wife, daughter, and son engaging different voter groups. Jamaat’s Masud, a retired army officer and brother of late leader Nuruzzaman Badol, is leveraging his family’s legacy and organized party base. Voters report that the race is highly competitive, with both BNP and Jamaat maintaining strong support networks.

The election was rescheduled after Jamaat’s previous nominee died in February. Observers note that the outcome could reshape local political dynamics in Sherpur’s Sreebardi and Jhenaigati upazilas.

In Mongla upazila of Bagerhat, the historic Mamar Ghat area is gradually disappearing into the Pashur River due to severe erosion. Large portions of the riverbank have already collapsed, submerging significant land areas. The situation has caused serious concern and hardship among local traders, workers of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), and boatmen who rely on the river route for transport and trade.

On-site observations revealed that a major section of the riverbank near Mamar Ghat has broken away, leaving several nearby shops at risk, with some already partially damaged. Although there are no residential houses along the bank, business owners fear losing this vital commercial hub. Delwar Hossain, president of the Mongla Port Engine Boatmen’s Association, said that the erosion is disrupting docking and cargo operations, reducing income for boat operators.

Mongla Upazila Executive Officer and Port Municipality Administrator Sharmin Akter Sumi stated that the issue is being treated with urgency. Relevant departments have been informed, and immediate protective measures are being initiated to safeguard the town and its residents.

Sunamganj-1 Member of Parliament Kamruzzaman Kamrul said he aims to change the neglected haor region’s condition through development in education, health, and communication. Speaking at a meeting with local print and electronic media workers in Sunamganj city on Saturday night, he described the area as underdeveloped and said people elected him to bring change. He added that he had spoken to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who he said is sincere about improving the lives of haor residents.

Kamrul noted that waterlogging often destroys crops in the haor, causing suffering for farmers. He said he has been visiting the area frequently and trying to support farmers. Responding to criticism from some farmers, he said their expectations are high and that constructive criticism helps him stay on the right path. He emphasized that he prefers to remain close to ordinary people and will work to establish industries to create employment in the haor.

The MP also expressed concern over the environmental degradation of Tanguar Haor and pledged to develop it in an eco-friendly manner with advice from local stakeholders.

Bangladesh has introduced a new schedule for government and private offices effective from Sunday, April 5, 2026, as part of efforts to save energy and electricity. According to a circular from the Ministry of Public Administration, offices will now operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday designated as weekly holidays. Emergency services are exempt from this schedule, and the Supreme Court will issue separate guidance for court hours. All markets, office buildings, and commercial establishments, except essential services, must close by 6 p.m.

The Bangladesh Bank announced that all scheduled banks will follow the revised hours until further notice. Banking transactions will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while office hours will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Branches located in port and customs areas will continue operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, under existing directives.

The government decided to shorten office hours by one hour in response to the global energy crisis triggered by the war situation in the Middle East. The decision was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday night.