An emergency vaccination campaign against measles and rubella began in Mymensingh on Sunday morning to protect children from the two infectious diseases. The program was inaugurated at Churkhai Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa center by Member of Parliament Abu Wahab Akand Wahid. Health officials, local administrators, and community representatives attended the event. On the first day, vaccination centers saw large crowds of parents eager to immunize their children.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the campaign aims to vaccinate 164,500 children aged six to 59 months across Sadar, Trishal, and Phulpur upazilas. Parents expressed relief after receiving the vaccines, saying they were worried by recent reports of measles-related hospitalizations and deaths in different parts of the country. The campaign is being conducted in phases to ensure full coverage.

Mymensingh Medical College Hospital reported that 19 new children showing measles symptoms were admitted in the past 24 hours, with 63 currently under treatment and six deaths recorded so far. Authorities said the government is prioritizing rapid implementation to curb the outbreak and strengthen child health protection.

A clash reportedly broke out between US and Iranian forces during a search and rescue mission in Iran to recover the second crew member of a US F-15 fighter jet that had been shot down. The injured crew member was rescued, according to Donald Trump, who said the injuries occurred when the aircraft was downed, not during the gunfire. The incident took place as multiple US warplanes participated in the operation.

Trump stated that no US personnel were killed or injured in the clashes. However, Iranian sources claimed that a US drone was shot down during the search effort. Video footage from the previous Friday appeared to show several individuals firing at a US Black Hawk helicopter.

The confrontation adds to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, which have recently been marked by mutual accusations and military incidents, according to the report.

NASA’s Artemis-2 mission, launched from Florida, will send four astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor J. Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—on a 10-day journey around the Moon without landing. The mission, originally planned for November 2024, was delayed due to technical issues. It aims to test flight strategies and prepare for Artemis-3, scheduled for next year. The next human landing on the lunar surface is expected with Artemis-4, planned for 2028.

The Artemis program, launched in 2017 after several canceled projects, involves thousands of people and an estimated cost of $93 billion. It seeks to establish a sustainable lunar presence through a lunar orbit station and a surface base, paving the way for future Mars missions. NASA has partnered with private companies, selecting SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s lander designs for future lunar landings.

NASA’s renewed lunar focus also reflects growing geopolitical interest, as both the United States and China aim to explore resource-rich regions of the Moon. Artemis-2 will mark the first time in over 50 years that humans view the Moon’s far side directly, capturing images for future scientific analysis.

The government of Bangladesh is implementing a large-scale food assistance program to ensure food security for ultra-poor families. Under the Food-Friendly Program, 5.5 million families across 495 upazilas are receiving 30 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 15 per kilogram. Food Minister Md. Abdul Bari shared the information in parliament on April 5, 2026, during the 13th session. The 2025–26 fiscal year budget allocates 1 million tons of rice for this program, distributed over six months annually.

The minister said that fortified rice enriched with vitamins A, B-1, B-12, B-9, iron, and zinc is being distributed to improve nutrition. A total of 370,000 tons of fortified rice is being supplied across 248 upazilas for five months. To stabilize market prices, the Open Market Sale (OMS) program operates through 1,091 centers in 12 city corporations, 14 industrial districts, and 52 district towns, selling rice at Tk 30 per kg and flour at Tk 24 per kg.

The Food Directorate is also supplying rice to 6.77 million Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) family cardholders. The minister affirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining food security and price stability for low-income citizens.

Opposition members of parliament held a meeting at the National Parliament building ahead of the scheduled session on Sunday afternoon. The meeting took place at 2:30 p.m. in the opposition conference room on the ninth floor of the west block of the Parliament complex. It was chaired by the Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.

During the meeting, participants discussed various issues, including the opposition’s role in the ongoing parliamentary session. The opposition leader provided guidance to the attending members of parliament on related matters. Following the meeting, the MPs joined the parliamentary session, which began at 3:30 p.m.

The meeting was part of the opposition’s preparations to coordinate their activities and positions during the current session of the National Parliament.

Bangladesh is bracing for up to three hours of daily load-shedding as fuel shortages, worsened by the ongoing war in the Middle East, disrupt electricity generation. Despite having double the production capacity needed to meet demand, the country cannot produce enough power due to limited fuel supply. The government has ordered shopping malls and shops to close after 6 p.m. and shortened office hours by one hour to manage the crisis.

An internal analysis by the Power Development Board (PDB) indicates that if gas supply falls below 800 million cubic feet, power generation could drop below 4,500 megawatts. During April and May, electricity demand may reach 18,500 megawatts, while production could remain around 16,200 megawatts. On a recent public holiday, demand peaked at 14,350 megawatts, with load-shedding reaching up to 1,000 megawatts at night.

The situation may worsen if rainfall remains low and temperatures rise. The Meteorological Department forecasts multiple heatwaves in April, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius, potentially increasing electricity demand further.

A clash broke out between two groups of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) during a footpath eviction drive in the Shimrail area of Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, on Sunday noon. The operation, led by the district administration and the Roads and Highways Department, aimed to remove illegal structures along both sides of the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. Assistant Commissioner (Executive Magistrate) Shamit Raja and several law enforcement agencies, including police and Ansar members, were present during the drive.

Witnesses reported that tension arose before the operation began, as rival BNP factions gathered in the area. Supporters of former district BNP acting convener Monirul Islam Robi’s son, youth leader Riazul Islam Rinaz, and former city Chhatra Dal vice president Abdul Kadir’s group engaged in verbal disputes that escalated into chasing and counter-chasing. Police intervened with baton charges to disperse both sides and restore order.

Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Barik stated that the clash was not directly related to the eviction drive but stemmed from a dispute over control of a microbus stand. Additional police have been deployed, and the situation is now under control.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for united cooperation from people of all religions to build a happy and prosperous 'Better Bangladesh'. He made the appeal on Sunday at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Secretariat during a greeting and exchange meeting with Christian community representatives marking Easter Sunday. According to the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, a 13-member delegation led by Philip P. Adhikari, President of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Bangladesh, met the Prime Minister and exchanged greetings.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized equal respect and love for all religions, stating that religion belongs to individuals but the country belongs to everyone. He noted that national progress requires unity beyond religious and ethnic lines. Referring to the recent national election, he said that voters from all faiths supported the BNP, disproving earlier assumptions. He also described the fragile state of the economy and infrastructure when his government took office and mentioned preparations to address energy challenges arising from the Israel-Iran conflict.

Christian leaders praised government welfare initiatives and requested reserved parliamentary seats for Christian women and a public holiday on Easter Sunday. The Prime Minister assured that their demands would be considered.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka on Sunday, April 5, 2026. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman. During the meeting, both sides discussed a range of issues of mutual interest.

As part of the meeting, Ambassador Christensen presented the Prime Minister with two historical photographs and a replica of the White House. One photograph featured the late President Ziaur Rahman with former US President Jimmy Carter, while the other showed former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with former US President George H. W. Bush. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir were also present at the meeting.

The meeting underscored the continuation of diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and the United States, reflecting ongoing interest in strengthening bilateral relations.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with French Ambassador Jean-Marc Serre-Charles at his office in Dhaka to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and France. The meeting focused on expanding existing collaboration and reviewing progress on ongoing development projects.

During the discussion, Minister Alamgir described France as an important development partner for Bangladesh and emphasized the need to broaden cooperation, particularly in rural development, infrastructure, and rural connectivity. He highlighted the potential for French support in improving inter-district communication in underdeveloped regions and presented related challenges and development needs to the ambassador.

Ambassador Serre-Charles praised the existing partnership and expressed France’s interest in deepening engagement with Bangladesh’s development journey. He noted particular optimism about enhancing cooperation in rural communication systems and safe water supply. Senior officials from the ministry and relevant departments were also present at the meeting.

Eight platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency to maintain law and order ahead of the upcoming by-election. The deployment began on April 2 and will continue until April 11. From April 3, BGB members started active patrols and security operations from three base camps in Bogura Sadar upazila.

Returning Officer Fazlul Karim stated that the BGB was deployed to ensure overall election security and will act as a striking force if necessary. The force will remain active before, during, and after the voting day as per the Election Commission’s decision. Additional measures, including the appointment of executive magistrates, have also been taken to strengthen security.

The by-election was called after the seat became vacant when Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman resigned following his election on February 12. Voting will take place on April 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with three candidates contesting and a total of 454,043 registered voters across 150 polling centers.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman stated that there is no secret agreement between Bangladesh and the United States. He made the remarks on Sunday at the Secretariat after a meeting with the Prime Minister, responding to questions from journalists. The minister said that the U.S. ambassador had paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, during which both sides discussed continued cooperation on development and support for Rohingya refugees.

Dr. Rahman added that the United States would assist Bangladesh in ensuring energy security. He reiterated that no secret deal exists between the two countries. Addressing questions about oil imports, he mentioned that many countries face restrictions on purchasing oil from Russia, and Bangladesh would seek to buy oil from affordable sources.

The statements came amid ongoing discussions about Bangladesh’s international partnerships and energy strategies, with the government emphasizing transparency in its foreign engagements.

Israel is reportedly preparing to strike Iran’s energy installations but is waiting for a green light from the United States before taking action. According to a Reuters report citing a senior Israeli defense official, the attack could occur within a week, raising fears of escalating regional tensions.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran that it has 48 hours to reach an agreement to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz or face severe consequences. On his Truth Social account, Trump reminded that he had earlier given Iran a ten-day ultimatum to reach a deal or reopen the strait. He said time was running out and that strong measures could follow within 48 hours.

Trump had previously threatened to order strikes on Iran’s power plants, particularly its largest facility, if the strait was not reopened. Although he later said constructive talks were underway and temporarily suspended possible attacks, the extended deadline is set to expire on Monday night. Iran’s military command has dismissed Trump’s warnings as desperate and unbalanced.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has emphasized that strengthening debt management and expanding the tax base are the most urgent needs in Bangladesh’s current economic reality. Speaking on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the closing session of the National Multistakeholder Consultation on Bangladesh Graduation Readiness Assessment at the Planning Commission’s NEC conference room, he said the government is determined to meet public expectations and take effective measures to overcome ongoing challenges.

The minister acknowledged that Bangladesh is facing a difficult economic situation requiring well-planned initiatives to maintain order and stability. He noted that some large projects in the past were undertaken without adequate planning, increasing debt pressure and raising questions about costs and implementation. He urged careful management of existing loans and more prudent selection of future projects to ensure sustainable development.

On taxation, Muktadir said the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains unsatisfactory and should be improved by expanding the tax net rather than raising rates. He added that enhancing domestic resource mobilization would strengthen debt repayment capacity and support sustainable development efforts.

Prime Minister’s Health Adviser Ziauddin Haider announced that the government has launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign to curb the rapid rise of infections among children. Speaking on Sunday morning at the Dudhlemou vaccination center in Bakerganj, Barishal, he said the government aims to bring every child under the vaccination program within the scheduled timeframe.

Haider emphasized that ensuring full vaccination coverage will keep the nation’s children healthy and safe. He assured that there will be no shortage of vaccines and noted that several international health organizations are assisting in the campaign. The event was attended by Barishal City Corporation Administrator Advocate Bilkis Jahan Shirin, Divisional Health Director Shyamal Chandra Mondal, District Commissioner Khairul Alam Suman, Upazila Executive Officer Rumana Afroze, and Upazila Health Officer Dr. Sumi Akter.

Local political and community representatives were also present at the inauguration, reflecting broad support for the nationwide immunization initiative.