Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warned U.S. President Donald Trump against a temporary truce with Iran, but Trump proceeded to announce a 15-day ceasefire. Despite this, Netanyahu declared that Israeli military operations in Lebanon would continue. Analysts see this as part of Israel’s broader ambition to sustain regional dominance and pursue the 'Greater Israel' project, which seeks territorial expansion and military influence across parts of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.

The 'Greater Israel' project, rooted in Zionist political goals, aims to secure control over strategic territories and establish a regional power sphere. Israel has expanded settlements in occupied Palestinian lands and seeks influence over neighboring regions for strategic and economic advantages. The plan also involves leveraging U.S. military and political support to consolidate its dominance.

Iran’s resilience in the recent conflict has disrupted Israel’s expansionist strategy. Despite U.S. backing, Israel failed to subdue Iran, exposing limits to its military reach. Growing anti-Israel sentiment in the U.S. and potential political shifts in Congress could further constrain Washington’s support, narrowing Israel’s path to realizing its regional ambitions.

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance as the ceasefire with Iran nears its end. In an interview with Bloomberg, he said that unless a peace agreement is reached within the set timeframe, the likelihood of extending the truce is very low, and military operations against Iran could resume as early as Wednesday evening. Analysts view this statement as part of a broader diplomatic pressure campaign.

The report notes that the 14-day ceasefire, which began on April 8, is scheduled to end on April 22. Despite a nearly 21-hour meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Islamabad, no agreement was reached, leaving the talks effectively stalled. Trump also stated that the United States remains interested in a “good and effective” deal with Iran but will not rush into a bad one, suggesting more time could be taken if necessary.

Analysts believe that failure to reach an agreement within the deadline could heighten tensions in the Middle East, potentially affecting global energy markets and international politics.

A formal complaint has been submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) alleging that former three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was poisoned while in prison, leading to a severe deterioration of her health. The complaint was filed on Sunday by Mominul Haque Milon, a Canada-based chairman of the 'Mother of Democracy Begum Khaleda Zia Forum'. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam confirmed receiving the complaint on Monday, stating that it concerns a family issue and that the tribunal will contact Khaleda Zia’s family before taking further steps.

The written complaint claims that an international conspiracy during the 1/11 caretaker government period aimed to destroy the Zia family through fabricated cases. It references the 2010 Zia Charitable Trust case and the 2018 verdict that sentenced Khaleda Zia to prison. The document alleges that during her imprisonment, she was denied proper medical care and subjected to slow poisoning, resulting in serious illness. It further accuses the then government, led by Sheikh Hasina, of orchestrating a politically motivated plot to eliminate Khaleda Zia.

The complaint requests identification and prosecution of all individuals allegedly involved in the incident.

Widespread and prolonged power outages have severely disrupted daily life in Rajshahi amid an ongoing heatwave. Residents across both urban and rural areas are facing frequent electricity cuts lasting eight to fifteen hours a day, affecting farmers, small businesses, industrial workers, and students. The situation has become particularly worrying as the SSC examinations begin, with students and parents expressing concern over study interruptions and health impacts due to sleepless nights and extreme heat.

Farmers in Tanore, Paba, Godagari, Durgapur, and Mohanpur upazilas report severe irrigation crises, threatening boro paddy and other crops. Many have resorted to diesel-powered pumps, but fuel shortages and higher costs are adding financial strain. Business owners in Rajshahi city say production and sales have dropped sharply due to power cuts, while households struggle with water shortages and mosquito infestations.

Electricity officials, however, claim the situation is under control. NESCO’s managing director asserts that supply exceeds demand, while rural electricity managers acknowledge limited load shedding but describe it as temporary. Locals remain skeptical, warning that prolonged disruptions could harm agriculture, the local economy, and students’ performance.

Israeli attacks have continued in the Gaza Strip despite a declared ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry reported that more than 780 Palestinians have been killed since Israel agreed to the ceasefire in October. On Monday, five additional Palestinians were reported dead in separate incidents, including three killed by shelling at a police checkpoint in Khan Younis, one in a drone strike in the Bureij refugee camp, and another at a junction in Gaza City’s Zeitoun area.

The Health Ministry stated that the continuation of these attacks after the ceasefire has further complicated the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights that the ongoing violence is undermining the effects of the supposed truce and worsening conditions for civilians.

The ministry’s data underscores the persistent instability in Gaza despite the formal announcement of a ceasefire, raising concerns about the region’s humanitarian crisis.

A severe shortage of bottled soybean oil has hit markets across Bangladesh, with retailers reporting that companies have drastically reduced supply. Many firms are allegedly refusing to sell bottled oil unless retailers also purchase other products. Prices have risen above government-fixed rates, with five-liter bottles selling for 960–970 taka instead of the official 955 taka. Loose soybean and palm oil prices have also increased, reflecting the broader supply strain.

Retailers and consumers say the shortage has persisted for more than six weeks. Companies cite reduced profit margins on bottled oil as the reason for limiting distribution. The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association recently met with the commerce minister to seek a price adjustment, but no decision was made. The ministry and the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission decided against raising prices, opting instead to explore other incentives for producers.

Consumer rights advocates accuse companies of creating an artificial crisis to pressure the government into approving higher prices. They urge stronger monitoring to prevent unfair trade practices and stabilize the edible oil market.

Individuals and companies accused of large-scale corruption in Bangladesh’s power sector continue to evade accountability nearly two years after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Despite the interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus repealing the indemnity law for the energy sector and exposing years of irregularities, no punitive action has been taken. Huge sums of money allegedly laundered abroad remain unrecovered, while the sector still pays high capacity charges to private power producers.

The report details how politically connected business groups, including Summit and Orion, received billions of taka in payments for idle or underperforming plants. The Power Development Board (PDB) admits it cannot easily terminate contracts without risking legal disputes. Current Power Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said the government is reviewing legal options to recover stolen funds and end exploitative capacity charge arrangements.

According to official data cited, over 100,000 crore taka was paid in capacity charges between 2008 and 2024, with most private plants operating far below licensed capacity. The sector remains financially strained, with unpaid loans exceeding 149,000 crore taka and ongoing pressure to raise electricity prices.

A mild earthquake was felt in Dhaka and several parts of Bangladesh early Tuesday morning, April 21, 2026, at 6:29 a.m. local time. The tremor measured 5.1 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located in Myanmar’s Sagaing region near Homalin, close to the Indian state of Manipur. The quake originated about 66 kilometers below the surface, which reduced its intensity at ground level despite its moderate magnitude.

According to India’s National Center for Seismology, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake also struck Manipur’s Kamjong area at 5:59 a.m. Indian time the same day. The depth and proximity of the two seismic events suggest they were part of the same regional tectonic activity affecting the border areas of Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh.

Due to the earthquake’s depth, no major damage or strong shaking was reported in Bangladesh, and the tremor was described as mild across affected regions.

Four members of the same family were found dead with their throats slit in Bahadurpur village of Niamatpur upazila in Naogaon district early Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The victims were identified as Habibur Rahman, his wife Popi Sultana, their son Parvez, and daughter Sadia Rahman. The bodies were discovered by Habibur Rahman’s father, Nomir Hossain, who entered the house after noticing blood near the door.

Local residents suspect that the killings may have been linked to a land dispute. Popi Sultana’s father, Moazzem Hossain, demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible for the murders. Officer-in-Charge of Niamatpur Police Station, Mahbubur Rahman (PPM), confirmed that the four bodies had been recovered and said that an investigation was underway to determine the motive behind the attack.

Police stated that further details would be disclosed after the investigation is completed.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared that the country will not engage in negotiations under any form of threat. In a social media post, he sharply criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy, accusing him of using sanctions and ceasefire violations to turn the negotiation table into a platform for coercion and surrender.

Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran rejects discussions conducted under pressure and hinted that new strategies and capabilities have been prepared on the battlefield over the past two weeks. His remarks came amid heightened tensions surrounding U.S.-Iran peace discussions, with reports also noting China’s support for Pakistan’s role in the dialogue and a drop in global oil prices following related news.

The statements underscore Iran’s firm stance against perceived U.S. pressure tactics and suggest that Tehran may be preparing for both diplomatic and strategic responses in the near term.

Iran has reopened its two main airports in Tehran—Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad—after several weeks of closure due to wartime conditions. The suspension had been imposed to avoid security risks during the conflict involving the United States and Israel. According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, the Civil Aviation Authority decided to resume operations from Saturday.

In addition to Tehran’s airports, permission has been granted to reopen airports in Shiraz, Kerman, Rasht, Yazd, Urmia, Kermanshah, Abadan, Gorgan, Birjand, and Zahedan. The reopening marks a gradual restoration of Iran’s domestic air network following disruptions caused by the conflict.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that the current ceasefire between the United States and Iran would not be extended unless a specific agreement is reached. He stated that without such an agreement, he would consider the war to have resumed, with the ceasefire set to remain in effect until Wednesday evening Washington time.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations begin across Bangladesh on Tuesday at 10 a.m., with more than 1.85 million students participating under 11 education boards. To ensure smooth and disciplined conduct, the boards have issued 14 mandatory directives for students, invigilators, and center officials. These include specific entry times, adherence to exam schedules, and strict compliance with procedural rules.

According to the directives, students must enter centers by 9:30 a.m. and follow all instructions regarding question paper timing, answer sheet completion, and subject registration. The use of board-approved calculators is allowed, but mobile phones are banned for everyone except the center secretary. Practical exams will be held at respective centers, and results re-evaluation applications must be submitted online within seven days of publication.

The education boards emphasized that institutional heads are responsible for distributing admit cards at least seven days before the exam and ensuring compliance with all procedural requirements.

An Iranian-flagged cargo vessel named 'Shuja 2' is reportedly crossing the Strait of Hormuz, disregarding a US blockade, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The ship departed from Shahid Rajaee Port near Bandar Abbas and is currently en route to India’s Kandla Port.

Al Jazeera reported that it could not independently verify Tasnim’s claim. However, maritime tracking service Marine Traffic indicated that the vessel is presently located within the Strait of Hormuz, with its destination listed as India. The report did not mention any response from US authorities or other stakeholders.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions involving maritime routes in the Gulf region. The report did not specify whether the ship faced any direct obstruction or inspection during its passage.

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will maintain its port blockade on Iran until a new agreement is reached. He stated that the blockade is exerting significant pressure on Iran’s economy. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday, Trump claimed that Iran is losing around 500 million dollars daily, creating instability within the country.

The statement came as the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran nears its end, and uncertainty grows over a second round of peace talks scheduled to take place in Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in a phone conversation that the US’s “violation of the ceasefire” has become a major obstacle to diplomatic progress.

Araghchi added that Iran will consider all aspects of the situation before deciding its next steps. The developments come amid regional diplomatic efforts, with Pakistan mediating and China expressing full support for the dialogue process.

Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Peter Magyar has suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could face arrest if he visits Budapest. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Magyar said that any country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) must detain individuals who are subject to ICC arrest warrants if they enter its territory.

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had maintained close ties with Netanyahu’s right-wing government. In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes committed during the Gaza war.

Magyar’s remarks indicate a possible shift in Hungary’s stance toward Israel under the new leadership, contrasting with the previous government’s alignment with Netanyahu’s administration.