A government document has alleged that the then Awami League government orchestrated a 'Reshma rescue drama' to conceal the true facts of the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Savar, which killed 1,138 garment workers and injured thousands. The report claims that 17 days after the collapse, the government presented the rescue of worker Reshma, also known as Fatema, as a miraculous survival story, though evidence suggests she had escaped on the day of the disaster. Officials from the Law, Home, and Labour ministries confirmed the existence of the document.

The document further states that despite clear evidence implicating several officials and political figures, the absence of government approval prevented their inclusion in the charge sheet. It also notes that the case remains unresolved 13 years later, with influential accused persons released on bail and alleged interference by the Awami League government. The interim government that recently left office reportedly initiated efforts to uncover the truth and review the case.

State lawyers involved in the case said the previous government did not prioritize the trial, but the current legal team is treating it as a high-importance case.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House in the coming weeks. The visits aim to advance efforts toward establishing a lasting peace agreement in the region, according to Trump.

Trump stated that the United States is working toward a durable peace deal and noted that the issue of Hezbollah remains a consideration in these efforts. He added that Washington intends to cooperate with Lebanon to help stabilize the country’s situation. Trump also mentioned that aligning this initiative with U.S. actions concerning Iran would be an ideal outcome.

The announcement underscores ongoing U.S. diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, focusing on regional stability and coordination with key partners on security and political issues.

Bangladesh’s export earnings have fallen for eight consecutive months through March 2026, marking the longest and steepest decline in the country’s history. Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data show March exports dropped over 18 percent year-on-year to USD 3.48 billion, down from USD 4.25 billion a year earlier. Overall, exports in the first nine months of fiscal year 2025–26 fell 4.85 percent to USD 35.39 billion. The apparel sector, which contributes more than 80 percent of total exports, saw an 8‑month slump, with March earnings down 19.35 percent.

Analysts attribute the downturn to the Middle East conflict, rising fuel import costs, and global market disruptions. Bangladesh has also lost its position as the world’s second-largest apparel exporter to Vietnam. Exporters cite high raw material import dependence, energy shortages, and delayed shipments due to closed airspace and disrupted sea routes. Industry leaders warn that foreign buyers are shifting orders to India and Vietnam amid concerns over Bangladesh’s power stability.

Economists caution that unless Middle East tensions ease and transport routes normalize, Bangladesh’s export recovery will remain uncertain, threatening foreign currency reserves and overall economic stability.

US President Donald Trump announced that he has dismissed Navy Secretary John Phelan following disagreements over shipbuilding issues. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said Phelan was hardworking but had differences with others regarding new ship construction and procurement. The decision came amid ongoing tensions within the Navy’s leadership over the pace of implementing reforms to accelerate shipbuilding.

According to sources cited in the report, Phelan was removed due to slow progress in carrying out reforms aimed at speeding up ship production. The Pentagon has not provided any official reason for his dismissal. Reports also indicate that Phelan’s relationship with Undersecretary Hung Cao was strained.

Hung Cao has been appointed as acting Navy Secretary following Phelan’s removal. The White House and Pentagon have not yet commented further on the leadership transition or future plans for the shipbuilding program.

The ongoing war centered on Iran is severely disrupting global energy and fertilizer supplies, potentially pushing more than 30 million people into poverty in the coming months, according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) chief Alexander De Croo. In an interview with Reuters, he said that even if the conflict ended immediately, its economic and humanitarian impacts had already begun, warning that food insecurity would soon reach critical levels.

De Croo noted that the crisis has already caused a loss of about 0.5 to 0.8 percent of global GDP, erasing development progress that took decades to achieve. He emphasized that the war’s economic shock is spreading rapidly across vulnerable economies, threatening to reverse hard-won gains in poverty reduction.

Meanwhile, reports from France 24 and PassBlue said UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s proposal to secure fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has yet to be implemented. Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated that Iran would allow ship passage if formally requested by the UN, while the US mission to the UN has not yet responded.

New peace talks have begun amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran over control of the Hormuz Strait, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments. As part of a ten-point peace proposal, Iran has introduced a plan to charge up to two million dollars per vessel passing through the strait, claiming the funds will be used for reconstruction. Some ships have already been charged at least one dollar per barrel, resulting in about two million dollars per transit.

The initiative directly conflicts with international maritime law under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which prohibits imposing fees or restrictions on major waterways. Although neither Iran nor the United States has signed the convention, Washington has rejected Tehran’s claim of control. Analysts estimate that a one-dollar increase per barrel could add twenty million dollars in daily costs, raising expenses for shipping, insurance, and crew wages.

Experts warn that the plan could disrupt global energy supply and market stability. The International Energy Agency has described the situation as one of the largest energy crises in history, with potential long-term economic impacts if tensions persist.

Expelled BNP leader and former Jubo Dal organizing secretary Ishaq Sarkar, along with Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq’s granddaughter Fersamin Huq Iqbal Flora, are set to join the National Citizens Party (NCP) on Friday afternoon at the Institution of Diploma Engineers auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka. Content creator Nuruzzaman Kafi, activist Mohiuddin Rony, and several leaders from the July uprising movement will also announce their entry into the party. NCP convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossain are expected to attend the event.

An NCP joint convener said Ishaq Sarkar would join with thousands of supporters and might be appointed convener of NCP’s Dhaka South unit, replacing joint member secretary Alauddin Mohammad, who is stepping down. Alauddin stated that party interests come first and that expanding NCP’s organization is vital for the country.

Ishaq Sarkar said he was denied opportunities to serve people within BNP and faced harassment, but he intends to move forward without resentment. Flora’s formal joining had been discussed for some time, and she is expected to receive a key central committee role.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately depriving the country’s Palestinian Arab citizens of security. In a post on X, Golan claimed that more than 700 killings in three years demonstrate Netanyahu’s appointed minister’s intentional neglect of Arab citizens’ lives. He further alleged that Netanyahu handed internal security to a person previously convicted of arson, enabling criminal groups to take control of certain areas.

According to an Al Jazeera report cited in the article, Palestinian citizens in Israel have long faced discriminatory laws and violence. In 2025, about 300 people were killed in the country, including 252 Palestinian citizens. Official census data from 2019 recorded around 1.9 million Palestinian citizens in Israel, most of them descendants of Palestinians who remained during the 1948 establishment of the state.

Historical accounts note that around 750,000 Palestinians were displaced or forced to leave during Israel’s founding, with thousands killed at that time.

The White House has asserted that the situation surrounding the ongoing ceasefire and peace negotiations with Iran remains entirely under United States control. Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt briefed reporters on President Donald Trump’s position, stating that Iran’s leadership has become weakened and divided by war. As a result, the ceasefire has been extended to allow time for a peace proposal to be developed.

Levitt confirmed that U.S. sanctions blocking ships entering and leaving Iranian ports will continue, aiming to maintain economic pressure on Tehran. Iran, however, views the blockade as equivalent to a declaration of war. Levitt claimed the strategy is already effective, citing heavy economic losses for Iran and disruptions to its oil trade.

According to a BBC report referenced in the briefing, no specific end date has been announced for the extended ceasefire. Iran has also stated it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, creating a stalemate. The White House maintains that President Trump is satisfied with the current situation and confident in U.S. control.

The Bangladesh Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman, held its fifth meeting on Thursday evening at the National Parliament complex and approved five major proposals. The most notable decision was to include the Purbachal New Town Project area under Dhaka North City Corporation, as well as bring it under the jurisdiction of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Dhaka WASA. To remove administrative complications, relevant parts of Rupganj in Narayanganj and Kaliganj in Gazipur will be incorporated into Dhaka district. The government stated that this move will enhance civic services, security, and urban management in Purbachal.

The Cabinet also decided to observe National Tea Day on May 21 each year, aligning it with the FAO-declared International Tea Day. Additionally, amendments were approved to remove the maximum age limit for appointing chairmen and members of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority, aiming to attract more skilled professionals.

In a significant change, the Cabinet gave final approval to a draft law abolishing the duty-free car import privilege for Members of Parliament. The government expects these measures to improve administrative efficiency, public services, and fiscal discipline.

Tensions have escalated in the Strait of Hormuz after the United States Navy seized an Iranian-flagged ship named “Towska.” Within days of the seizure, Iran launched attacks on three vessels and detained two of them, according to reports. US President Donald Trump said the Iranian ship was captured after ignoring warnings from the US Navy.

In response, Iran condemned the seizure as a violation of the ceasefire and an act of “armed piracy,” warning of swift retaliation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy later announced that it was closely monitoring maritime traffic in the strait and would take strict action against any violators.

Subsequently, the IRGC claimed to have detained two ships, “MSC Francesca” and “Epaminondas,” alleging that they were operating without authorization, attempting to leave the strait secretly, and tampering with navigation systems. The BBC reported that these claims could not be independently verified.

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have destroyed or damaged more than 50,000 homes during the latest conflict with Hezbollah, according to official data released Wednesday. The National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) reported that 17,756 homes were completely destroyed and 32,668 were damaged over a 45-day period. More than 2,400 people have been killed and over one million displaced since March 2, when Iran-backed Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war.

CNRS head Shadi Abdallah said that in the first three days of the ceasefire, 428 homes were destroyed and 50 damaged. A Lebanese official told AFP that Lebanon will request an extension of the ceasefire during its next meeting with Israel on Thursday. The country previously endured over a year of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, which escalated into a two-month war in late 2024 before a November ceasefire attempt.

Environment Minister Tamara Zein stated that Israeli attacks since 2023 have caused widespread destruction across residential areas, infrastructure, and farmland, leaving more than 220,000 homes damaged or destroyed.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits increased last week, according to data released Thursday by the US Department of Labor. Initial jobless claims rose by 6,000 to reach 214,000, exceeding market expectations of 211,000. The previous week’s revised figure stood at 208,000. The four-week moving average also climbed slightly to 210,750 from the prior week’s revised 210,000.

Despite the uptick in claims, the broader labor market showed signs of resilience. In March, the United States added 178,000 new jobs, significantly higher than the expected 65,000. The unemployment rate also edged down from 4.4 percent in February to 4.3 percent in March, indicating continued strength in employment conditions.

The data suggest a mixed picture for the US labor market, with short-term fluctuations in jobless claims but sustained job creation and a modest decline in unemployment.

Several journalists were attacked by activists of the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Dal in front of Shahbagh Police Station on Thursday evening, April 23, 2026. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when reporters were filming at the scene. Among the injured were journalists from Kaler Kantho, Agamir Somoy, Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka Mail, Naya Diganta, Manabzamin, and The Daily Observer. One journalist, Mohammad Iftekhar Hossain Sifat of Dhaka Mail, sustained serious injuries to his eyes and face and was taken to Dhaka University Medical Center for treatment.

Victims and eyewitnesses alleged that Dhaka University Chhatra Dal leaders and activists carried out the attack in a coordinated manner. The president of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association, Manzur Hossain Mahi, said the assault began after journalists were obstructed from recording video footage. He identified several Chhatra Dal leaders from various halls as being involved, including Abu Zafar Gifari Ifat, Mansur Rafi, Junayed Abrar, Sakib Biswas, Sajjad Khan, and others.

The Dhaka University Journalists’ Association reported that at least ten of its members were injured and demanded the immediate arrest and academic expulsion of those responsible. Police have not yet issued an official statement on the incident.

At least ten journalists were injured when activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra Dal allegedly attacked them near Shahbagh police station in Dhaka on Thursday evening, April 23, 2026. Witnesses and victims said the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when university-based reporters were covering events in the area. The attackers reportedly shouted at the journalists, asking 'what kind of journalists' they were, before launching the assault.

According to the victims, the attackers were members of the Dhaka University unit of the Chhatra Dal, including leaders from several residential halls. Injured journalists included reporters from Kaler Kantho, Agamir Somoy, Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka Mail, Naya Diganta, Manabzamin, and The Daily Observer. One journalist, Mohammad Iftekhar Hossain Sifat of Dhaka Mail, sustained serious injuries to his eye and face and was taken to Dhaka University Medical Center for treatment.

The Dhaka University Journalists’ Association condemned the attack and demanded the immediate arrest and academic expulsion of those involved. As of the report’s publication, law enforcement authorities had not issued any official statement regarding the incident.