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.

The Ministry of Education has formed a three-member investigation committee following an assault on teachers during an examination at Daokandi Government College in Durgapur upazila of Rajshahi. The incident occurred on April 23, when teachers were reportedly attacked, and a female demonstrator was allegedly harassed. The ministry issued a notification signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Manjurul Alam confirming the formation of the committee.

According to the notification, the committee is headed by the Joint Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division (College-2 Branch), with the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (College-1, Government College Branch) and the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi (Education and ICT) serving as members. The committee has been instructed to submit its investigation report within 15 working days.

The formation of the committee underscores the ministry’s response to the reported assault and aims to ensure accountability and transparency in addressing the incident within the educational institution.

Bangladesh has called for a full investigation and justice following the killing of two Bangladeshi PhD students in the United States. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid confirmed the demand on Sunday, adding that the process of repatriating the body of student Jamil Ahmed Limon is underway. Limon and Nahida Sultana Brishti, both doctoral students at the University of South Florida, were reported missing on April 17 after last being seen on campus a day earlier. Limon’s body was later recovered from Tampa’s Howard Frankland Bridge, while Brishti’s body has not yet been found.

Police have arrested 26-year-old Hisham Saleh Abugarbiya, Limon’s roommate, as a suspect, alleging that he killed the two students with a weapon. Abugarbiya, a former student of the same university, has a prior record of assault and burglary charges. Families of the victims in Bangladesh expressed deep grief and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.

University officials and local residents in Bangladesh have also expressed sorrow and called for swift justice. Authorities are working to bring the victims’ remains home for burial.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged Beijing’s firm support for Myanmar’s national sovereignty and security during a meeting with President Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw. The meeting took place as part of Wang’s tour of Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar this week, aimed at strengthening regional ties and presenting China as a stable alternative to the United States amid existing regional risks.

According to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry released on Saturday night, Wang said Beijing would help Myanmar develop a path suited to its own conditions and supported by its people. He emphasized that both sides should use the first year of Myanmar’s new government to advance traditional friendship and open new opportunities in bilateral relations.

Wang also stated that China is ready to assist Myanmar in eradicating online gambling and telecommunications fraud, which have become major issues in recent years. Analysts cited in the report noted that China was the main supporter of the junta-backed election that brought Min Aung Hlaing to the presidency.

Iran has submitted documentation of attacks on civilians to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and several international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. Pir-Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, confirmed the submission and said the ICC prosecutor has accepted the materials as formal evidence. The cases are now being reviewed under international humanitarian law.

Kolivand added that following ongoing discussions, the Red Cross has also been involved in the process. The submission comes amid reports of heavy casualties in Iran from US-Israel attacks. According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, more than 2,000 people have been killed, including 216 children, while over 26,000 others have been injured, among them 1,767 children.

The documentation and ICC review mark a significant step in Iran’s effort to pursue international legal action regarding the civilian toll of the attacks.

A Rajshahi University student leader has been accused of threatening the university’s student adviser, Professor Dr. Amirul Islam Konok, through a Facebook comment. The incident surfaced on April 24, 2026, when screenshots of the comment circulated online, sparking criticism across the campus. The accused, Shariful Islam, a vice president of the university’s Chhatra Dal unit and an anthropology student from the 2013–14 session, allegedly wrote, “Teachers should behave like teachers, or they will be slapped.”

Professor Konok stated that he deleted his original post after receiving the comment, explaining that he did not know Shariful personally or his political affiliation. He described the incident as unpleasant and said he was disappointed that a student would use such language. Konok added that he decided not to take legal action, considering the matter trivial.

Shariful Islam later claimed that his comment followed a heated exchange with the professor and acknowledged that his words were inappropriate. He also alleged past mistreatment by the professor and political bias within the university.

Bata Group’s Global CEO Panos Mytaros paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his first visit to Bangladesh. He was accompanied by Bata Bangladesh Managing Director Faria Yasmin. The meeting included constructive discussions on future plans and collaboration between the government and the company.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister praised Bata’s long-standing contribution to Bangladesh’s economy and industrial sector, encouraging the company to expand its export potential. He assured continued government support and close monitoring of the company’s future operations. Mytaros highlighted Bangladesh’s growing economic prospects, the development of the footwear industry, and Bata’s role in it, reaffirming the company’s commitment to local capacity building and industrial growth.

Social initiatives such as the ‘Bata Children’s Program’ were also discussed, emphasizing the company’s responsible and inclusive approach to creating positive social impact. Bata Bangladesh expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his time, cooperation, and encouragement.

Two doctors at the Veramara Upazila Health Complex in Kushtia were issued show-cause notices on Sunday for being absent without explanation. The action followed a surprise inspection conducted on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. by Professor Dr. Zahid Raihan, Additional Director General (Administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services. During the visit, he found that two of the three doctors assigned to the outpatient department were absent without valid reason.

The inspection was part of an effort to address mismanagement and resolve recent tensions between hospital authorities and local political figures. Journalists present raised questions about irregularities and corruption, including allegations of unauthorized fees for ECG tests and treatment of poisoning cases, as well as inadequate patient facilities. Dr. Raihan instructed the district civil surgeon and upazila health officer to resolve these issues promptly and warned that repeated violations would lead to permanent action.

Upazila Health Officer Mizanur Rahman confirmed that the two doctors were formally served show-cause letters on Sunday morning but declined to disclose their names.

Monira Sharmin, the nominee of the 11-party alliance for a reserved women's seat in the 13th National Parliament, is set to appeal to the Election Commission after her candidacy was canceled. According to the National Citizen Party’s media cell, she will submit her appeal application at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Election Commission office in Agargaon.

Sources said Monira Sharmin joined Bangladesh Krishi Bank as a general officer in October 2023 and resigned in 2025 after nearly two years of service. Her nomination was suspended because, under the Representation of the People Order, a person must wait three years after leaving government service before becoming eligible for parliament. On April 23, Returning Officer and Joint Secretary of the Election Commission Moin Uddin Khan confirmed that her nomination was canceled for not meeting this requirement.

The appeal will now be reviewed by the Election Commission, which has the authority to uphold or overturn the earlier decision based on the legal provisions cited.