The Bangladesh Parliament has passed a bill abolishing the provision that allowed Members of Parliament to import vehicles duty-free. The amendment to the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order 1973 was passed on Sunday without any discussion or amendment proposals. Law Minister Md. Anisul Huq introduced the bill, which had been approved earlier by the Cabinet on Thursday.

With the passage of the bill, Section 3C of the existing law has been repealed. That section had entitled MPs to import one car, jeep, or microbus duty-free—excluding value-added tax, development surcharge, and import permit fees—under government-specified conditions during their tenure, and to import another after five years from the last import date.

Both ruling and opposition parties had previously stated that their members would not accept duty-free cars, signaling political consensus behind the reform.

In Debiganj of Panchagarh, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad has forgiven a college student who was arrested after posting criticism of him on Facebook. The minister also assured legal assistance for the student’s bail. The student, identified as Rishat, was sent to jail on Saturday after being presented before the Panchagarh Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-5.

According to police and local sources, Rishat had criticized a parliamentary speech by the minister in his Facebook post. Following the post, a local leader of the Debiganj Sadar Union Jubo Dal filed a case, leading to his arrest. After learning that the accused was a minor, the minister contacted Rishat’s father, Ashraf Ali, and promised necessary legal support. Ashraf Ali confirmed that the minister had spoken to a lawyer regarding his son’s bail.

The minister stated that the student was of his own child’s age and that mistakes can happen, so he decided to forgive him. The family now awaits the court’s decision on the bail application.

Education Minister Dr. Ehsanul Haque Milon said that students are moving toward morally void spaces and are increasingly eager to become viral. He made the remarks on Sunday morning at the University Grants Commission (UGC) during an event marking World Intellectual Property Day.

Milon noted that although universities have large budgets, there is no allocation for research, urging both universities and the ministry to address this issue. He criticized the growing trend of students and young people going live on Facebook and making random or inappropriate comments such as “Hi,” “Go ahead,” or “Do a research,” which often spread without purpose and encourage a culture of seeking viral attention.

He expressed concern that the younger generation, including those still in school uniforms, now feel no hesitation in making indecent remarks against their teachers or ministers, reflecting a worrying decline in respect and moral restraint.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington would not stop him from pursuing victory in the ongoing war with Iran. The attack occurred late Saturday night at the Hilton Hotel, and police have already detained the suspect. Speaking at a press conference afterward, Trump described the attacker as a lone wolf and said investigators shared that view.

When asked whether the incident was linked to the Iran conflict or his personal security, Trump said he did not believe so but could not confirm definitively. He added that U.S. investigators were working on the matter and would soon have more information. Trump reiterated his stance on Iran, saying the U.S. had to act to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and that he had previously canceled the Obama-era nuclear deal.

Trump emphasized that such attacks would not deter him from continuing his efforts against Iran, asserting that the incident appeared to have no direct connection to other events.

A California man arrested on Saturday in connection with a shooting at a White House dinner attended by former President Donald Trump has been identified as Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance. Social media information indicates he is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer. Partial information suggests he is a follower of Christianity. His LinkedIn profile, published in May 2025, shows him in graduation attire after earning a master’s degree in computer science, matching the image shared by Trump following the arrest.

Allen graduated in 2017 from the California Institute of Technology with a degree in mechanical engineering and was involved in a Christian student group and a campus Nerf gun competition club. A professor at California State University-Dominguez Hills described him as a polite and attentive student. Allen previously developed a prototype emergency braking system for wheelchairs and donated $25 to a Democratic political action committee supporting Kamala Harris in 2024.

He worked for six years at C2 Education, where he was named Teacher of the Month in 2024, and was developing a space-themed video game at the time of his arrest.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved 14 development projects worth Tk 13,445.41 crore at a meeting held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman. Of the total cost, Tk 8,089.56 crore will come from government funds, Tk 5,340.26 crore from project loans, and Tk 15.59 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources. The approved projects include five new, five revised, and four time-extension projects.

Among the approved projects are initiatives under the ministries of Health, Finance, Fisheries and Livestock, Local Government, and Road Transport and Bridges. Notable projects include the expansion of urban healthcare access, customs modernization, disease control programs, and several major road and bridge developments. A committee led by the Cabinet Secretary was formed to investigate repeated time extensions for three road projects.

The meeting also reviewed 33 previously approved small-scale projects costing less than Tk 50 crore. Ministers from various portfolios and senior government officials attended the session.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli in Dhaka on Sunday to discuss strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Switzerland. The meeting took place at the minister’s office in the Secretariat and was described as productive.

During the discussion, both sides noted the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries and Bangladesh’s duty-free access to the Swiss market under the GSP scheme. The minister highlighted that Swiss products are well-regarded in Bangladesh for their quality and that competitive pricing could attract more middle-class consumers. He encouraged Swiss investment in service-oriented sectors and potential industries such as pharmaceuticals, leather goods, light engineering, and shipbuilding. Muktadir also mentioned Bangladesh’s request to delay its LDC graduation process by three years and sought Switzerland’s support.

Ambassador Renggli acknowledged the existing trade imbalance and expressed Switzerland’s interest in expanding trade and investment in Bangladesh. The meeting was also attended by the acting Commerce Secretary Md. Abdur Rahim Khan.

A major fire erupted early Sunday at the United Kingdom’s RAF Fairford airbase, which has been used in operations against Iran. According to reports, firefighters from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Video footage shared on social media showed smoke rising from the base’s commissary building, whose roof collapsed due to the intensity of the fire. Authorities advised nearby residents to keep doors and windows closed. No casualties or damage to Royal Air Force aircraft were reported.

The British government had allowed the U.S. Air Force to use the base after the Middle East war began in March. American bombers have been deployed from Fairford for so-called defensive missions against Iran, reducing flight time from the U.S. by nearly half. On Saturday, around 200 protesters gathered outside the base, calling for an end to the war in Iran and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from British bases.

RAF Fairford, built in 1944, is one of only two European bases capable of hosting all three U.S. long-range bombers: the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen met with Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Sunday. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in media, culture, and knowledge-based sectors. The ambassador congratulated the minister on assuming office and handed over a proposal to increase collaboration between Turkish state television and radio and Bangladesh Television and Radio.

During the discussion, the minister recalled his visit to Turkey in March to attend the Strategic Communication Summit and thanked the Turkish government for organizing the event. He described the summit as a timely initiative and emphasized the importance of establishing order and regulation in digital platforms through collective international efforts rather than by individual countries.

The report also noted that during the minister’s earlier visit to Turkey, both sides had agreed in principle to sign a memorandum of understanding on knowledge exchange and information sharing in modern information management between Bangladesh and Turkey.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed all government agencies to ensure cost efficiency and rational spending in project adoption and implementation. He emphasized that every project must align with the government’s electoral commitments and broader development plans. The directive came during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held at the Secretariat on Sunday, which he chaired.

After the meeting, State Minister for Finance and Planning Md. Junaid Abdur Rahim Saki told reporters that 17 projects were presented, of which 15 were discussed in detail and most received conditional approval. Among them, six were new and seven were revised projects, while others remain under review. Some projects required cost increases and time extensions, prompting further scrutiny.

Saki added that the government is reassessing the progress, costs, and timelines of ongoing projects while evaluating the necessity and effectiveness of new proposals. He also noted that delays in implementation are being investigated, with efforts underway to balance project review and development progress.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem has responded to allegations made by student leader Abidul Islam Khan, describing them as part of an organized activism campaign. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Kayem claimed that the allegations were being used to conceal the misdeeds of the BNP-affiliated student organization and to divert attention from national crises and campus unrest.

Kayem’s post cited various incidents of violence, extortion, and campus attacks allegedly committed by BNP and its student wing since August 2024. He accused the group of spreading false information through social media pages and using artificial intelligence to create fake images for propaganda. Kayem also denied that the DU Insiders page, linked to him, was involved in harassment or misinformation, asserting that a separate, fake page was responsible for objectionable content.

He further alleged that student activists had engaged in intimidation, phone checks, and assaults on journalists and student representatives. Kayem concluded that such actions reflected authoritarian tendencies and warned that the public would eventually hold the perpetrators accountable.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid announced that all Bangladesh-flagged ships, including the MV Joyjatra, will be able to pass through the Hormuz Strait despite the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. She made the statement to reporters on Sunday afternoon.

In the same briefing, the minister said Bangladesh has demanded a proper investigation and justice over the killing of two Bangladeshi students in the United States. She added that the process of bringing back the body of student Jamil to Bangladesh is underway.

The announcement comes as regional tensions have raised concerns about maritime safety and the security of international shipping routes, though the minister confirmed that Bangladeshi vessels will continue their passage through the strategic strait.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has arrested a smuggler named Hasan Ali, aged 30, with 500 tapentadol tablets at the Dhamoirhat border in Naogaon. The arrest took place late Saturday night in the Amarapur area, and BGB confirmed the information in a statement on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Hasan Ali is the son of the late Hafizur Rahman from Hothatpara village.

According to the statement, a special patrol team led by Naik Subedar Md. Akkas Ali from the Chakilam Border Outpost (BOP) conducted the operation about 1,500 yards inside Bangladesh from border pillar 268/8-S. In a separate operation the same night, another BGB team led by Havildar Md. Ershad Ali from the Bastabar BOP recovered 50 bottles of Indian Phensedyl syrup from Mahisantush village, about 100 yards inside the border.

The arrested individual was sent to court after a case was filed with the local police station, and the seized drugs were handed over to the police.

The Republican Party in the United States is reorganizing its campaign strategy ahead of the November midterm elections. The move comes as rising fuel prices and a sharp decline in President Donald Trump’s popularity have created new challenges for the party. Economic pressure stemming from the ongoing war with Iran has become a major concern for voters.

Party strategists are now emphasizing economic messaging and policy achievements to regain voter confidence. They are also working to prevent the midterm elections from turning into a direct referendum on Trump’s leadership. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, Trump’s approval rating has dropped to just 36 percent.

The party’s renewed focus on economic issues suggests an effort to stabilize voter sentiment before the elections, though it remains uncertain whether these adjustments will reverse the downward trend in public support.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister Dr. Ehsanul Haque Milon expressed concern that the country’s young generation is becoming increasingly impatient and less capable of deep analysis. Speaking on Sunday morning at a workshop organized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to mark World Intellectual Property Day 2026, he compared today’s youth to “instant coffee,” saying they react and comment instantly without reflection. The minister noted that although 27 percent of the population is young, their declining patience and analytical skills pose challenges for innovation and research.

He further criticized the growing obsession among youth with social media visibility, saying many prioritize going live or viral on Facebook over meaningful engagement. Dr. Milon warned that such behavior erodes moral values and urged young people to be more responsible online. Addressing rumors about exam question leaks, he called on journalists to verify information before spreading it and assured that legal measures are being taken. He also urged everyone to reduce dependence on Facebook and to act responsibly to prevent harm to students.

The minister emphasized that universities must take effective initiatives to protect intellectual property and foster a culture of research and innovation.