International oil prices declined after Asian markets opened, driven by optimism that the ongoing Middle East conflict could end soon following the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. As of 00:21 GMT on Friday, Brent crude futures dropped by more than one percent to 98.05 dollars per barrel, while U.S. crude prices fell below 94 dollars.

Earlier in March, oil prices had surged nearly 50 percent to record highs amid tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Recently, prices have fallen below 100 dollars, though they have remained around the 90-dollar range throughout the week. The easing of geopolitical risks has contributed to the latest downward trend.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that American officials may meet Iranian representatives in Pakistan this week, a potential diplomatic initiative that has drawn investor attention and added a positive tone to market sentiment.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar stated that there is no alternative to implementing the referendum verdict. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at a press conference following a meeting of top leaders of the 11-party alliance at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar. During the event, he announced new programs demanding the implementation of the referendum verdict.

Parwar said that through the referendum, 50 million people had sought reforms to the existing state system for development and progress, aiming to free the country from corruption, terrorism, and one-person rule. He accused the current government of reversing its stance and suppressing opposition voices in parliament. He also criticized the energy minister for denying the ongoing fuel crisis and expressed concern over the measles outbreak and the deteriorating law and order situation. Parwar alleged that the banking sector had been destroyed and that government offices were being politicized.

The 11-party alliance announced a series of protest programs, including rallies in Dhaka on April 18, in other major cities on April 25, and in all district towns on May 2. Leaflet distribution and seminars will be held nationwide from April 18 to May 2, followed by divisional rallies if demands remain unmet.

National Professor Dr. A K Azad Khan, president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh and former chairman of the Health Reform Commission, has called on the government to provide insulin free of cost to type-1 diabetes patients. Speaking at a press briefing on April 15 at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka, he said that insulin is essential for survival and that diabetic patients have the right to live. He emphasized that type-1 patients are the most vulnerable as they depend entirely on insulin.

Dr. Azad explained that diabetes has become a global epidemic, with developing countries experiencing faster growth rates than developed ones. The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, founded in 1956 by National Professor Mohammad Ibrahim, now operates in 61 districts with 94 affiliated members. The association provides free services worth about Tk 1.19 billion annually, while the government contributes around Tk 300 million. He added that the organization is expanding services through mosque-based initiatives and cross-financing support.

He also noted that nearly 80 percent of diabetes cases can be prevented through lifestyle changes and physical activity, stressing the importance of early prevention and public awareness.

A rubber trader named Omar Faruk, aged 30, was allegedly attacked in Lama upazila of Bandarban after refusing to pay Tk 1 million in extortion money. The allegation was made by his father, Abdus Sabur Babul, during a press conference at the Lama Reporters Unity auditorium on Thursday evening. He claimed that Mahfuz Alam alias Masum, 28, and his associates had long been threatening them for money. Despite paying Tk 15,000 earlier, the group reportedly demanded Tk 1 million more and threatened to destroy their rubber plantation if unpaid.

According to Babul, the attackers, led by Mahfuz Alam, assaulted Omar Faruk on April 14 near Badon’s computer shop in Aziznagar Bazar while he was returning home on a motorcycle with two employees. The assailants allegedly used hockey sticks and iron rods, leaving Faruk seriously injured. He was first taken to Lohagara Health Complex and later transferred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment. The family has sought administrative protection and is preparing to file a case.

Mahfuz Alam has denied all allegations, calling them false.

Md. Jasim Uddin from Shariatpur donated one of his kidneys to save his wife, Minara Begum, who had been suffering from kidney failure. The transplant was successfully performed on March 5 at Shyamoli CKD and Urology Hospital in Dhaka. Following the surgery, Minara has been recovering gradually and is now living in a rented house in Dhaka with her husband and son, under medical supervision.

According to family sources, Minara’s illness began two years ago with high blood pressure and other complications, eventually leading to kidney failure and a tumor. Her mother initially volunteered to donate a kidney but was found unfit due to heart disease. Facing financial hardship and emotional distress, Jasim decided to donate his own kidney. The couple, married since 2007, have one son who studies in Dhaka.

Local residents and officials, including the chairman of Kuchaipatti Union Parishad, praised Jasim’s decision as an extraordinary example of love and selflessness that has deeply moved the community.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham expressed confidence in winning the upcoming series against Bangladesh, even though his team is composed largely of second-string players. Many of New Zealand’s regular cricketers are currently engaged in franchise leagues, while several ‘A’ team members are also unavailable. Speaking at a pre-series press conference in Mirpur on April 16, 2026, Latham said the team’s main goal is to win the series and emphasized the need to learn and improve with each match.

Latham acknowledged that several players in the current squad have limited experience playing in subcontinental conditions. He noted that the more they play in Bangladesh, the better it will be for their development. He added that if the team can learn and adapt, they might create an opportunity to win by the end of the series. Historically, New Zealand has had mixed results in Bangladesh, winning seven and losing eight of their 16 ODIs there.

Latham also highlighted the responsibility of experienced players like himself to guide younger teammates and help them adjust to local conditions during the series.

Maruf Al Hasan, who was shot during the 2024 Rajshahi protest, testified on Tuesday as the 25th witness in the International Crimes Tribunal-2 case against former bridge minister Obaidul Quader and six others. He described joining the anti-discrimination student movement on July 15, 2024, and participating in a demonstration on August 5 that turned violent when groups from the Awami League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, and Chhatra League allegedly attacked protesters. Hasan said he was shot in his right hand and later underwent multiple surgeries in Rajshahi and Dhaka hospitals.

In his testimony, Hasan stated that the attack was carried out jointly by ruling party activists and police, resulting in several injuries and deaths among protesters. He named several political figures, including then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior Awami League leaders, as responsible for the violence and demanded maximum punishment for those involved.

The tribunal continues to hear witness statements in the case concerning alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July Revolution events.

The Bangladesh government has decided to reinstate November 7 as National Revolution and Solidarity Day starting this year. The decision was approved during a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday at the Secretariat. Cabinet Secretary Md. Nasimul Gani announced the decision at a press briefing later that evening, confirming that the day will be classified as a Category ‘A’ holiday, meaning government offices will remain closed. Additionally, July 6 will be observed as National Rural Development Day, though it will not be a public holiday.

According to the report, November 7 holds deep political significance in Bangladesh’s history. On that day in 1975, a historic uprising by soldiers and civilians reshaped the country’s political landscape and freed then Army Chief Major General Ziaur Rahman from detention. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have long commemorated the date as National Revolution and Solidarity Day. The day was previously a public holiday under BNP governments but was later removed by the Awami League administration.

The reinstatement marks a return of official recognition to a politically symbolic date that had been absent from the national calendar for several years.

Bangladesh Chhatra Pokkho has demanded the immediate implementation of the referendum verdict and the reinstatement of key ordinances linked to the aspirations of the July uprising. The demand was made on Thursday afternoon at a discussion titled “Ignoring Public Ordinances and Referendum Verdict: Current Context and Future Actions,” held at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen. The event was presided over by the organization’s central president Mohammad Prince, with participation from leaders and activists of various branches.

Speakers at the event criticized the government and major political parties for allegedly disregarding public opinion and weakening democratic accountability. AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju accused the ruling party of delaying the realization of the July revolution’s goals, while NCP joint convener Sarowar Tushar claimed that BNP had abandoned its 31-point agenda. Other speakers, including Fahim Mashroor and Nasrin Sultana Mili, warned that repealing key ordinances and introducing new regulations could erode transparency and strengthen group-based governance.

Participants emphasized that restoring public trust requires reinstating the ordinances and enforcing the referendum’s outcome to ensure constitutional stability and democratic participation.

A serious error has been reported in the admission results of Rajshahi University’s 2025–26 academic year for the first-year undergraduate ‘C’ unit under the non-science section. Despite achieving the required passing marks, hundreds of students were incorrectly marked as failed, sparking anger and concern among students and parents. The issue arose after the results were published, with many affected candidates claiming they were denied further admission opportunities.

According to the source, the pass mark for both science and non-science sections was set at 40. However, the science section required separate minimum scores in compulsory and optional parts, a condition not applicable to the non-science section. Allegedly, the same rule was mistakenly applied to non-science candidates, causing many to fail. Several quota students, including those under player and freedom fighter categories, were also affected.

University officials acknowledged receiving complaints. The ICT Center director confirmed the issue, while the ‘C’ unit coordinator and the vice-chancellor (academic) stated that a meeting on April 19 would decide on result corrections. Affected students and guardians have demanded immediate revision and republication of the results.

A group identifying itself as the 'ABCD Group' has issued death threats to officials involved in toll collection at Eidgaon Market in Cox’s Bazar. On April 12, leaflets appeared across the market, the Upazila and Union land offices, and nearby areas, warning that anyone collecting tolls would face fatal consequences. The leaflets specifically named several local officials and claimed that only the group would control toll collection at the market.

Following the circulation of the leaflets, local residents and traders expressed concern over the threats and speculated about the identity of those responsible. Attempts to reach the acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Md. Fazle Rabbani Chowdhury, for comment were unsuccessful. However, his assistant Rubel confirmed that the threats began before the Bengali New Year and that the matter had been reported to the administration. He added that tolls were being collected under official supervision as per regulations.

Eidgaon Market, a major commercial hub in southern Chattogram, usually generates significant government revenue through lease auctions. This year, no bids were submitted, forcing the market into direct government collection, which coincided with the emergence of the threats.

A medical student named Abdul Wadud Sayem, aged 18, was found dead in the Matamuhuri River in Lama upazila of Bandarban district. He had gone missing earlier on Thursday while bathing in the river at a location known as Sadapahar. After an extensive seven-hour rescue operation, divers from the Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence recovered his body around 7 p.m. the same day.

According to local sources, Sayem, a first-year student at Sir Salimullah Medical College and son of Md. Sayef Ullah from Sitakunda in Chattogram, had arrived at the White Fig Station Resort in the Yangcha area of Lama with several friends earlier that morning. The group went to the river to bathe, during which Sayem drowned. The Lama Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Muhammad Shahjahan Kamal, confirmed that the body was handed over to the victim’s father.

Authorities have not reported any further investigation details or safety advisories regarding the incident.

A new survey released on Thursday at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics office in Agargaon revealed that internet usage in Bangladesh has grown significantly, with 53.4 percent of the population now online. However, the study found major disparities in both access and digital skills. While most users can perform basic tasks like copy-paste, advanced digital literacy remains limited. The gap between urban and rural internet use stands at 32.1 percent, with 75.7 percent of city residents online compared to only 43.6 percent in villages.

Regionally, Dhaka Division recorded the highest internet penetration, while Panchagarh ranked lowest. In terms of computer use, Dhaka households lead, whereas Thakurgaon lags behind. The survey also found that 88.4 percent of people use mobile phones, but only 11.3 percent use computers. Among internet users, 64.4 percent searched for government job information, 49.8 percent for sports, and 11.6 percent shopped online.

High internet costs remain a major barrier to digital inclusion, with 43.6 percent of respondents citing price as a reason for not using the internet.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested 27 people on April 16, 2026, for their involvement in a series of fraud and criminal activities across the capital. Among them was the mastermind behind a scam that extorted 1 million taka from a woman by playing a fake recording of her imprisoned husband’s cries. The suspects posed as members of the Detective Branch (DB) and demanded money for the man’s supposed release. The woman sent the money through a courier service before realizing she had been deceived.

Police later tracked down the ringleader, Md. Javed Hossain, from Johnson Road using CCTV footage and technology. In a separate case, Sutrapur police arrested Md. Alamin for embezzling 1.15 million taka under the pretext of verifying a bank account. Authorities recovered multiple mobile phones, SIM cards, foreign currency, and checkbooks from him. Another operation in Hazaribagh led to the arrest of 25 people involved in drug trading and other crimes.

Police urged the public to remain cautious about phone calls from unknown numbers claiming to represent law enforcement and confirmed that similar operations will continue to ensure public safety.

A deputy director from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) Spectrum Division testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 that the nationwide internet shutdown on 18 July 2024 was carried out under instructions from then State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak. The witness, whose identity remains confidential under court order, said he was informed by then BTRC Director General Kazi Mostafizur Rahman that Palak had directed the BTRC chairman to suspend upstream connections of international terrestrial cable operators. Following this, a WhatsApp group named “18 July ICT Operation” was created to coordinate the shutdown.

According to the testimony, the internet was completely disconnected from 9 p.m. on 18 July until the afternoon of 23 July 2024. Later, Palak instructed limited restoration of internet access for key institutions such as banks, parliament, and cantonments, while keeping social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok blocked. On 31 July, he reportedly ordered full restoration of internet services through the BTRC chairman.

The testimony was given as the fourth witness statement in a case involving Sajib Wazed Joy and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, both accused in connection with the July killings.