Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the nationwide measles vaccination campaign on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Little Angel Seminary in Zinda Park, Rupganj, Narayanganj. The program aims to vaccinate about 18 million children across 18 districts, 30 upazilas, and 4 city corporations.

According to the schedule, the first phase of the campaign began on April 5 and will continue until April 25, while the second phase, which started on April 12, will run until May 12. The newly launched nationwide special campaign will continue in city corporation areas until May 20 and in other parts of the country until May 12.

Earlier, on April 5, the measles-rubella vaccination program started in 30 upazilas of 18 districts, followed by a second phase on April 12 in four major city corporations—Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Barishal, and Mymensingh.

A severe fuel shortage has disrupted lighter vessel operations at Chattogram Port, leaving foreign mother vessels stranded at the outer anchorage. Normally, about 1,200 lighter vessels transport goods from these large ships to various destinations across Bangladesh, but the number has dropped by half due to the diesel crisis. Only a few vessels are operating short routes, while most remain idle, severely slowing cargo unloading and creating artificial shortages of essential goods. Importers are also paying daily demurrage charges of thousands of dollars for delayed unloading.

Port officials said that 100 mother vessels were in port waters last Saturday, nearly double the usual number, with 27 waiting for unloading. The shortage of lighter vessels has particularly affected coal shipments for power plants, leaving three coal-laden mother vessels idle. Bangladesh-China Power Company Limited reported that its 1,320 MW plant in Patuakhali needs 935,000 liters of diesel monthly to maintain operations and has urged authorities to ensure supply.

Industry representatives warned that without immediate crisis management and fuel allocation, the situation could damage Bangladesh’s trade reputation and further strain the national economy.

Pakistan is intensifying preparations for a possible second round of talks, with strict security measures in place across key areas of Islamabad, including the Red Zone. Several roads have been closed, creating a partial lockdown atmosphere in the capital. Over the past 24 hours, multiple U.S. military transport aircraft, including C-17 Globemasters, have reportedly landed in Islamabad, carrying advance teams, security personnel, and armored vehicles. More aircraft are expected to arrive.

Iran’s participation in the upcoming discussions remains uncertain, though Pakistan continues active diplomatic engagement. The country’s Chief of Defense Forces recently completed a three-day visit to Tehran, viewed as part of efforts to manage the evolving situation.

The arrival of U.S. representatives suggests a strong likelihood that the talks will proceed, but recent tensions and firm rhetoric from both sides have cast uncertainty over the outcome. The direction of developments now depends on the diplomatic positions and decisions of the involved parties.

Supporters of controversial businessman S Alam staged a large demonstration in front of Islami Bank’s head office in Motijheel, Dhaka, on Sunday morning, demanding that the bank’s ownership be returned to the fugitive businessman and that dismissed employees be reinstated. Participants, many from Patiya in Chattogram, included former staff of Islami Bank and five other Shariah-based banks once under S Alam’s control. Police were deployed to maintain order, and nearby roads were closed during the protest.

The demonstration followed a recent parliamentary amendment allowing former owners to regain control of banks previously taken over under an interim government ordinance. After S Alam’s followers left, depositors under the Islami Bank Customer Coordination Council held a counter rally at the same site, opposing any move to reinstate S Alam. They demanded his arrest and the recovery of allegedly embezzled funds, warning of resistance if he attempted to return.

Bank officials stated that reinstatement of dismissed employees depends on court rulings and Bangladesh Bank audits. They described the protest as an attempt to create unrest, noting that many participants were brought from outside Dhaka.

Israel’s military reported that since February 28, at least 16 of its soldiers have been killed and 690 injured amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran and Lebanon. The figures were released on Sunday, according to Anadolu. Among the injured, 96 are in serious condition and 42 are in critical condition, while 149 soldiers remain hospitalized.

In the past 24 hours alone, 37 new injuries were recorded, most resulting from explosive attacks, though the specific locations were not disclosed. Israeli media outlet Maariv reported that two soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded in two separate explosions in the so-called “Yellow Line” area of southern Lebanon, an informal boundary extending 4 to 10 kilometers inside Lebanon.

The report highlights the continuing intensity of the conflict along Israel’s northern front, with the military facing sustained casualties as clashes persist in the border region.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the security of the Hormuz Strait will not come free, according to a report by Al Jazeera. In a post on social media platform X, Aref said that limiting Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others is unrealistic. He emphasized that the choice is clear: ensure a free oil market for all or face significant costs.

Aref further noted that global energy price stability depends on the permanent end of economic and military pressure on Iran and its allies. His comments come at a time of heightened tension surrounding the Hormuz Strait and worsening relations between the United States and Iran.

The statement underscores Iran’s position linking its oil export freedom to regional and global energy security, suggesting potential implications for international energy markets if tensions persist.

An Iranian academic has warned that tensions could escalate rapidly following a reported US attack on an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Oman. Hassan Ahmadian, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera that the situation had changed overnight after the incident. He said Iranian officials had previously made clear they would not accept any blockade on Iranian cargo ships and would continue operating under their existing policies.

Ahmadian described the US blockade as equivalent to an act of war under international law and warned that further seizures or attacks on Iranian vessels would provoke reciprocal action from Iran. He added that while Iran had sought to avoid being drawn into conflict, the current US administration appeared intent on forcing Tehran into submission.

The comments come amid rising regional tensions, with related reports of drone attacks on US warships and continued unrest in the West Bank, suggesting a broader climate of instability.

Iran has acknowledged that a United States military force attacked and seized an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman, according to a statement cited by semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The statement from Iran’s Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters confirmed that US forces fired on the ship, disabling it before boarding and taking control. Tehran described the incident as an act of maritime piracy and a violation of international law.

The Iranian statement warned that the country’s armed forces would soon respond to what it called armed piracy by the United States. The announcement marks the first time Iran has directly confirmed the seizure, following earlier conflicting accounts from both sides. The report was carried by Al Jazeera and local media.

The confirmation and warning signal a potential escalation in tensions between Iran and the United States over maritime security in the region, though no timeline or details of Iran’s planned response were provided.

Former Human Rights Watch chief Kenneth Roth has said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iran’s power plants and bridges would amount to a war crime if carried out. In an interview with the BBC, Roth stated that Trump was effectively threatening large-scale war crimes by targeting civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilian objects such as power stations and bridges.

Roth explained that even if such facilities have dual-use purposes, meaning they can serve both civilian and military functions, the law still forbids attacks that would cause disproportionate harm to civilians. He added that ignoring these principles would violate international norms that the U.S. government and the global community are expected to uphold.

In response, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz rejected Roth’s characterization, calling it false, baseless, and absurd. Waltz argued that such infrastructure could be considered legitimate military targets. Trump’s warning of possible strikes on Iran’s key infrastructure has sparked international debate.

Iran has accused the United States of breaking promises and betraying diplomacy, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made the remarks during a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying that the U.S. repeatedly violated commitments during talks and ceasefire periods and acted in an oppressive and unreasonable manner.

Pezeshkian stated that the so-called naval blockade against Iran constitutes a provocative and illegal act, violating the ceasefire agreement and contradicting the United Nations Charter. He emphasized that U.S. officials’ threatening statements and such actions have deepened distrust about Washington’s sincerity and revealed that the U.S. intends to repeat its previous patterns of behavior and betray diplomacy once again.

The Iranian president further asserted that Iran would defend its territorial integrity against any new adventurism by the United States and the Zionist regime.

Iran’s state-affiliated media reported that the country’s forces thwarted an alleged US attempt to seize an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman. According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, US forces stationed near the area fired at the ship to force it back into Iranian waters. The report stated that the vessel was supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, whose rapid response compelled the American forces to withdraw from the area.

The report added that Iran’s account of the incident differs from earlier statements made by US President Donald Trump. However, the name of the vessel involved was not disclosed in the report. The incident was covered by Al Jazeera, citing Iranian sources.

No further details were provided about the timing of the event or any potential damage or casualties resulting from the exchange.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has voiced concern over the growing military cooperation among Israel, Greece, and Cyprus. Speaking on Sunday at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkey, Fidan said that Muslim countries in the region are worried about the emerging alliance. His remarks were reported by Middle East Eye.

Fidan noted that Greece, despite being a NATO member, has joined this trilateral partnership. He stated that no assurances have been given that the alliance is not directed against Turkey. He also referred to comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tripartite summit in Israel last year, attended by the Greek prime minister and the Cypriot president, which he said heightened regional concerns.

Netanyahu had declared in December that those seeking to reestablish empires or dominate Israeli lands should abandon such ambitions, a statement widely interpreted as aimed at Turkey.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has decided to increase the supply of fuel across the country starting Monday, April 20, following a recent rise in fuel prices. According to a BPC notice issued on Sunday night, diesel and petrol supplies will rise by 10 percent, while octane supply will increase by 20 percent based on current monthly sales. BPC Director (Marketing) Md. Sabet Ali confirmed the decision, citing the current situation as the reason for the adjustment.

BPC data show that from April 1 to 18, a total of 307,188 tons of fuel were sold, including 208,822 tons of diesel, 2,379 tons of kerosene, 22,555 tons of petrol, 20,412 tons of octane, 30,965 tons of furnace oil, and 30,055 tons of jet fuel. On April 18 alone, 12,131 tons of diesel and smaller quantities of other fuels were sold. During the same period last year, total sales stood at 270,496 tons.

The supply increase follows the government’s April 18 decision to raise all fuel prices, with diesel now at 115 taka per liter and octane at 140 taka, after months of maintaining subsidies to control market volatility.

Former US President Donald Trump claimed that an Iranian-flagged vessel named 'Tuska' was seized by the US Navy in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the ship in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to break through a US blockade. He stated that the Iranian crew ignored warnings to stop, prompting US forces to strike the ship’s engine room and take control.

According to Trump, the 'Tuska' had been under US Treasury Department sanctions for previous illegal activities. He added that the ship is now fully under US custody and is being inspected to determine its contents. The report cited Al Jazeera as the source of the information.

The article noted that Iran has not yet issued any official response to Trump’s claims regarding the incident.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian held a warm and friendly phone conversation on Sunday, according to a statement from the Pakistani government. During the 45-minute call, Sharif assured Pezeshkian that Pakistan would continue its sincere efforts to promote regional peace and security. He also thanked Iran for sending a high-level delegation to Islamabad last week for discussions with the United States.

However, the statement did not specify when the next round of talks would take place. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that an American delegation was heading to Pakistan for discussions with Iran, but Tehran has not officially confirmed any such meeting. Iranian media reported that participation in a second round of talks remains uncertain, despite earlier reports suggesting an Iranian delegation might arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday.

As a result, uncertainty continues to surround the potential meeting between the two countries and the United States, with no confirmed schedule or official acknowledgment from Iran.