NRBC Bank and City Bank advanced to the final of the Don RMC Bankers Club Cricket Tournament after two contrasting semifinal matches held in Rajshahi and Meghna. In the first semifinal at Padma Ground, NRBC Bank defeated Prime Bank by two wickets in a tense contest. Chasing 112, NRBC struggled early but recovered through Iqbal’s 44 and Helal’s quick 28 to seal victory at 14.4 overs with eight wickets down. Abir’s controlled bowling earned him the player of the match award.

In the second semifinal at Meghna Ground, City Bank dominated Eastern Bank to secure a five-wicket win. Opting to field first, City Bank restricted Eastern Bank to 111 all out in 15 overs, thanks to Raju’s five-wicket haul. Raju also contributed 29 runs in the chase, supported by calm batting from Alam, who scored 44, and Deep, who remained unbeaten on 35. City Bank reached the target in 12.4 overs.

The final will feature NRBC Bank’s resilience against City Bank’s confident form, promising a competitive title clash.

Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Speaker of the National Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bhola-3, stated that the Speaker’s position holds honor but no real power. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing a public reception in Tazumuddin as the chief guest. Hafiz thanked voters for their trust and said he remains their representative regardless of his official role.

He criticized what he called a 'mafia government' for fostering abductions and killings in politics and claimed that the people had rejected such governance. Hafiz also mentioned his previous work as Water Resources Minister, highlighting the Tazumuddin town protection embankment project. He emphasized that he had not engaged in corruption or personal enrichment, noting that he lives in his father’s flat in Dhaka.

During the visit, Hafiz met with local administration officials and assured them he would address staffing shortages in the health and other departments. The event was attended by local leaders, activists, and journalists, who greeted him with flowers.

The Political Council of Bangladesh’s Revolutionary Workers Party has adopted a resolution stating that the country has been governed contrary to the spirit of its independence declaration for the past 55 years. The resolution was passed on Friday at the party’s office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, during a council meeting chaired by General Secretary Saiful Haque.

According to the resolution, Bangladesh has failed to follow the ideals set out in its founding declaration, instead moving toward inequality, human rights crises, and oppressive social and state systems. The council noted that the February 12 election and the formation of a new government have created an opportunity to reverse this situation. It also expressed respect for the wartime government formed in 1971 at Meherpur’s Amrakanon, describing it as a milestone in the nation’s independence struggle.

The resolution further observed that while public expectations were initially high for the BNP-led government, disappointment has begun to emerge within two months of its tenure.

The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has ordered the demolition of an under-construction bridge in Agailjhara upazila of Barishal after confirming that bamboo sticks were used instead of steel rods in its concrete structure. On Thursday afternoon, LGED engineer Rabindra Chakraborty inspected the bridge built over the Dushumi-Karim Bazar canal in Ratnapur Union and found bamboo attached to the northern end of the bridge during casting. Following the inspection, he directed that the structure be dismantled immediately.

Agailjhara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Likhan Banik said the issue came to light through social media, prompting an on-site investigation. He confirmed that bamboo had been used, making the structure unsafe, and stated that the bridge would be rebuilt following government standards. The bridge’s structure was initially funded from the previous fiscal year’s upazila allocation, but the casting work was completed this year without official approval or funding.

Local residents expressed anger over the irregularity and demanded quick reconstruction. The administration has warned of strict action against anyone involved in such unauthorized and risky construction in the future.

The Pre-NICAR secretary committee has approved the formation of Mokamtola as a new upazila in Bogura district, according to a notice signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Imtiaz Morshed. The decision was made during the committee’s meeting on April 12, 2026, where eight proposals, including the declaration of Bogura City Corporation and Mokamtola upazila, were presented. Once established, Bogura will have a total of 13 upazilas.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam confirmed that the process of forming Mokamtola upazila, previously part of Shibganj upazila, is in its final stage. The proposal includes five unions—Mokamtola, Deuli, Syedpur, Moydanhatta, and Shibganj Sadar—covering an area of 128.74 square kilometers with an estimated population of 150,000. The location of the upazila complex building has not yet been decided.

According to officials, remaining steps include gazette publication, full administrative setup, and formal inauguration before the new upazila becomes operational.

A three-month-old baby was allegedly suffocated to death by his stepfather in the Darussalam area of Mirpur, Dhaka, early Friday, April 17, 2026. The accused, identified as 22-year-old Apurba, reportedly became enraged when the infant’s crying disturbed his sleep. According to police and local sources, Apurba pressed the baby’s mouth and nose until it stopped breathing. The child’s mother, Razia Khatun, filed a murder case against her husband following the incident.

Neighbors rushed to the scene after hearing Razia’s screams and caught Apurba as he tried to flee. They detained him until police arrived and took him into custody. Investigators said the baby’s biological father is currently in jail in a drug case, and Razia had married Apurba only a week earlier. Apurba is alleged to have been involved in drug dealing in the area.

Darussalam Police Station Officer-in-Charge S.M. Zakaria confirmed the arrest, stating that the baby’s body was sent for autopsy and that Apurba confessed during initial questioning before being sent to jail through the court.

Cumilla-5 Member of Parliament Md. Jasim Uddin has come under criticism for holding a reception ceremony where students were made to stand under the scorching sun on a holiday. The events took place on Friday afternoon at Shidlai Naznin School and Shidlai Ashraf Uddin High School in Brahmanpara upazila. The ceremonies were held despite an earlier directive from the education minister prohibiting students from being made to stand on roads to greet officials or guests.

Several students, speaking anonymously, said teachers forced them to attend on their day off and made them wait for hours in the heat holding flowers. Parents and students expressed anger over the incident, which also drew widespread criticism online. The district secondary education officer stated that such practices are not allowed on any day and that action would be taken against those responsible.

The MP and one of the school principals did not respond to repeated phone calls seeking comment on the matter, according to the report.

Leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League staged a sudden protest march in broad daylight on Sadar Road, the central area of Barishal city, on Friday after the Juma prayers. The demonstration called for lifting the ban on Awami League activities and demanded justice for the killing of a police officer. The unexpected rally created tension in the city, as it took place within 200 yards of a police station.

Eyewitnesses said the march began around 2:30 p.m. from the Bibir Pukur area and advanced toward the Kakli intersection near the traffic police box. About 30 participants were seen chanting slogans and carrying banners with similar demands before dispersing quickly into nearby alleys. Most participants were unidentified, with several wearing masks and sunglasses, making recognition difficult.

Following the incident, police increased patrols across the city. Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Al Mamun-ul Islam stated that the group had chosen the prayer time to gather unexpectedly and that police would identify the participants from video footage and take legal action.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed his commitment to work collectively to eradicate poverty and improve the living standards of the people of Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Friday while addressing the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Carnival 2026 as the chief guest at Madani Avenue in Dhaka.

The minister praised JCI Bangladesh for its role in fostering leadership among youth and promoting social service activities. He urged the organization to expand its initiatives further to contribute to national development. Highlighting the country's progress over the past 56 years since independence, he noted achievements in food security and agricultural development as key milestones.

Addressing the youth, the minister emphasized the importance of their active participation in building the nation with new dreams and enthusiasm. He stated that sustainable development and poverty alleviation depend on the engagement of young people. JCI Bangladesh is described as a nonprofit global platform for youth leadership, social responsibility, and positive change.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie announced that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Sylhet on May 2 to inaugurate the dredging of the Bashia River and the nationwide launch of 'Natun Kuri Sports'. The minister made the statement while inspecting the Bashia River at Mashukganj Bazar in Sylhet Sadar upazila on Friday. Local officials and party leaders were present during the visit.

According to the minister, the Bashia River dredging project spans three upazilas and is one of the largest excavation projects in the Sylhet region. The initiative aims to address long-standing waterlogging and enhance agricultural productivity. The riverbed had become silted over time, disrupting water flow and causing seasonal flooding and water shortages.

Officials expect the project to bring about significant benefits, including irrigation coverage for around 30,000 acres of farmland, an increase of about 10,000 metric tons in fish production, and protection of nearby communities from flooding and waterlogging.

Iran has announced plans to impose fees on certain commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian news agency ISNA as reported by Al Jazeera. Mahmoud Nabavian, identified as a member of Iran’s negotiating team, stated that only specific ships will be allowed to cross the strait, and only after paying the required fee.

Nabavian linked this decision to the ceasefire in Lebanon, though U.S. President Donald Trump previously claimed the two issues were unrelated. Conflicting statements have emerged from both Washington and Tehran regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations between the two sides.

No official written document of any potential agreement has yet been released by either party, leaving the details of the plan and its implementation timeline uncertain.

Justice and Democracy Party (JDP) convener Naeem Ahmad has alleged that the aspirations of the 2024 uprising were undermined by what he called 'many shadow Mujibs'. Speaking at a discussion titled “From People’s War to Mass Uprising: Expectations, Achievements and New Politics” at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen on Mujibnagar Day, he said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the mastermind behind the lost aspirations of 1971, while the current political failures stem from those following his shadow.

Ahmad stated that although the 1971 Mujibnagar government took oath while Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was imprisoned in Pakistan, he became the president of the provisional government and later led the country after independence. He argued that the hopes for ending fascism and building a corruption-free, egalitarian Bangladesh after the July 2024 uprising were not realized, as vested groups restored old political practices.

He further claimed that some individuals, despite not participating in the uprising, gained power through collusion with the interim government and misuse of corrupt funds. Ahmad urged that power be returned to the people to free the nation from these privileged groups.

A severe cyclone accompanied by intense hailstorm struck the Char Bagdohra area of Noheli Union in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur on Friday night, destroying more than 100 houses. The storm, which began around 1 a.m., caused extensive damage in wards 7, 8, and 2, leaving hundreds of families homeless and struggling under open skies. Many houses lost their tin roofs or were completely destroyed as large hailstones pierced through the structures.

Local residents described the sudden storm as devastating, with several families including those of Suja Mia, Rafiqul, Suman, Jahanur, and others suffering severe losses. Many said their homes are now uninhabitable due to holes in the roofs and water damage. Residents expressed despair over losing their homes overnight and uncertainty about rebuilding without assistance.

Union Parishad member Rezaul Haque Bullet confirmed that a list of affected families is being prepared, while Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jesmin Akter stated that relief distribution will begin soon and further measures will be taken for those most severely affected.

Displaced Lebanese residents have begun returning to their homes in southern Lebanon after a 10-day truce between Lebanon and Israel took effect. Tens of thousands traveled back to devastated towns such as Nabatieh, despite warnings from the Lebanese army to delay their return and Hezbollah’s caution that it remains ready to respond to any Israeli violations. The ceasefire, which followed more than a month of Israeli air strikes and ground operations, has so far largely held, though Lebanon’s army reported intermittent shelling and other breaches. A boy was killed by unexploded ordnance in Majdal Selem, and rescuers recovered 13 bodies in Tyre from attacks that occurred before the truce.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned that ongoing military activity could undermine the ceasefire and urged protection for civilians on both sides. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the truce did not end Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the ceasefire a gateway to direct negotiations aimed at securing Israel’s withdrawal and prisoner recovery.

The truce could also ease tensions in broader US-Iran talks, with Pakistan and Iran viewing the agreement as a step toward regional stability.

Authorities in Narsingdi seized 9,000 liters of illegally stored diesel during a mobile court operation in Jinardi Union’s Mulpra area of Palash upazila on Thursday night. The operation was led by Executive Magistrate Naeem Hasan Shuvo, accompanied by Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Kalimullah. The confiscated fuel was immediately seized and later sold at the government-fixed price.

According to the district administration, the raid was part of regular monitoring activities. The diesel was recovered from Noor Nabila Sizing Mill in Mulpra. Proceeds from the sale, totaling 847,510 taka, were deposited into the state treasury. Those involved were fined 60,000 taka under Section 40 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, and Section 20(1) of the Petroleum Act, 2016.

The operation reflects the district administration’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal fuel storage and ensure compliance with national petroleum regulations.