The National University of Bangladesh has released new instructions for the 2025–26 academic year’s first-year undergraduate (honours) admission test, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The test will be held simultaneously across the country at designated college centers by division and district. The directive, issued on April 12, outlines responsibilities for center secretaries, including downloading candidate lists using official credentials and arranging seating by group while maintaining proper distance.

Each examination room must seat students from humanities, business studies, and science groups in multiples of ten. If a college lacks sufficient space, nearby institutions may be used as venues, with seating plans published at least three days before the exam. To ensure transparency, invigilators must verify candidates’ faces with attendance photos, and proxy participation is strictly prohibited. Two question sets per group will be used, and OMR sheets must be correctly filled.

Electronic devices are banned, and late entry beyond 30 minutes will not be allowed. Answer sheets and attendance lists must be sealed and submitted to regional centers by 8 p.m. the same day. The center fee is set at 125 taka per candidate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially appointed Major General Roman Gofman as the new head of Mossad, the country’s powerful intelligence agency. The Israeli cabinet approved the appointment on Sunday, and Gofman will assume office on June 2 after current director David Barnea completes his five-year term. Notably, Gofman has no prior experience in intelligence work, marking a break from the agency’s long-standing tradition of appointing seasoned intelligence officers.

Born in Belarus in 1976, Gofman immigrated to Israel at age 14 and joined the armored corps in 1995. He has served in various senior military roles and currently works as the military secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. During the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, he was commander of the infantry training center and was seriously injured in fighting near Sderot. Gofman is known for his alignment with Netanyahu’s nationalist ideology and studied at the Eli Yeshiva in the occupied West Bank.

Mossad, which operates mainly outside Israel, avoided direct blame for the October 7 intelligence failure. Under Gofman’s leadership, observers are watching how the agency will shape its next strategies against Iran and Hezbollah.

New York Mayor Zohraan Mamdani marked his first 100 days in office on Sunday with a rally in Queens, highlighting his early achievements and reaffirming his commitment to a clear socialist agenda. The 34-year-old mayor cited the repair of over 100,000 potholes since January 1 as evidence of his administration’s focus on improving everyday life for residents. Veteran leftist leader Bernie Sanders attended the event in support.

Mamdani outlined progress on his campaign promises, including plans to open city-run grocery stores offering free childcare services, and restructuring city committees to potentially freeze rent increases in the coming months. He noted that discussions with state authorities on implementing free bus rides are still ongoing.

Recent polls show mixed public sentiment: his approval stands at 48 percent among New Yorkers and 43 percent among voters. While many support his childcare and housing initiatives, significant portions of Hispanic and Black voters believe the city is moving in the wrong direction. Despite past criticism of Donald Trump, Mamdani has developed a cordial relationship with the Republican president, visiting the White House twice.

The Bangladesh government has issued a circular reducing operational expenditures across nine sectors to address the energy crisis triggered by the ongoing war situation in the Middle East. The Cabinet Division released the directive following decisions made at the fourth cabinet meeting on April 2, 2026, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

According to the circular, fuel allocations for government vehicles will be reduced by 30 percent, and interest-free loans for vehicle purchases and all foreign training funded by the government will be suspended. Domestic training expenses, meeting and seminar costs, and travel expenditures will also face significant cuts. Additionally, the purchase of vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and computers in the public sector will be halted entirely, while energy use in government offices will be reduced by 30 percent. Expenditures on building decoration and land acquisition will also be curtailed.

The measures are intended to manage the fiscal impact of the energy shortage and ensure efficient use of public resources until further notice.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir stated that the government will follow legal procedures to bring Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Monday, April 13, after meeting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat.

Kabir emphasized that the BNP government will not make any agreements that compromise national interests. He said discussions with India covered several mutual issues, and the government thanked India for supplying fuel through a pipeline. He added that India has agreed to simplify medical and business visa procedures starting next week. Regarding the killers of Hadi, Kabir said the process of bringing them back to the country is ongoing.

On the Prime Minister’s first foreign trip, Kabir mentioned that no final decision has been made yet. The visit could be to a SAARC member country, but the matter remains under consideration.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran came 'very close' to reaching a potential agreement with the United States during talks held in Islamabad. He said Iran entered the discussions with goodwill, but the negotiations collapsed due to Washington’s refusal to make concessions, repeated changes in stance, and multiple forms of pressure.

In a social media post, Araghchi described the meeting as the highest-level dialogue between the two countries in 47 years, aimed at ending the ongoing war. He said Iran was only 'inches away' from signing the 'Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding' before encountering obstacles. Araghchi added that goodwill should be met with goodwill, while hostility only breeds hostility.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed Araghchi’s remarks, saying diplomatic progress with Washington remains possible if the United States abandons what he called an 'authoritarian' attitude and respects Iran’s rights.

The United Kingdom has announced it will not participate in any United States-led initiative to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, according to a BBC report published on April 13, 2026. A spokesperson for the UK government stated that the country opposes imposing any tolls on the vital maritime route and is instead working to form an international coalition to safeguard freedom of navigation.

The spokesperson emphasized that maintaining open access to the Strait of Hormuz is essential for the global economy and for controlling living costs. The UK is collaborating with France and other partners to establish a broad alliance aimed at ensuring maritime security in the region. The statement comes amid heightened tensions surrounding one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes.

The UK’s position underscores its commitment to maritime freedom and multilateral cooperation rather than unilateral actions in the strategically significant waterway.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that NATO has agreed to assist in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz. He made the statement in an interview with Fox News following warnings about a possible blockade of the vital maritime route. Trump said the United States had previously been frustrated with NATO but now welcomed its support in ensuring the waterway remains open.

According to Trump, the mine-clearing operation will not take long, and the strait will soon reopen for shipping. He confirmed that the United States is deploying mine-removal vessels and that the United Kingdom and several other NATO member countries are also sending minesweepers to participate in the operation.

The report also noted that Russia strongly criticized Trump’s earlier blockade announcement, while Pope Leo maintained a firm anti-war stance despite Trump’s criticism. The issue has drawn global reactions, reflecting heightened international concern over stability in the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iraq’s ambassador on Sunday to deliver a formal protest following allegations that attacks were launched from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia. According to state media reports, the ministry condemned and protested what it described as assaults originating from Iraq targeting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The Saudi Press Agency released a statement and a photo of the meeting between the ambassador and Saudi officials.

The statement marks one of the first formal complaints in the region suggesting that recent attacks on Gulf states may have been carried out from Iraq amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The diplomatic move came just days after similar accusations were made by the United States.

The report also noted that Iraq has been drawn into the broader conflict, with repeated attacks targeting U.S. interests and Iran-aligned groups within its borders. Iran-backed armed factions in Iraq had claimed daily strikes on “enemy bases” but announced a suspension of operations following a temporary truce between Iran and the United States.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced that two stations on the MRT Line-6 will remain closed on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in observance of Pahela Baishakh. According to a notice issued by the sub-project director for public relations, Md. Ahsan Ullah Sharifi, Shahbagh Metro Station will remain closed until noon, while Dhaka University Metro Station will be closed for the entire day.

The temporary closure aims to accommodate the celebrations of the Bengali New Year, which draw large crowds to central Dhaka. DMTCL has requested passengers to make alternative travel arrangements during the closure period and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.

The company stated that normal metro operations will resume after the temporary shutdown, ensuring minimal disruption to commuters once the festivities conclude.

The United States military announced that it will begin blocking all Iranian ports starting Monday. According to the US Central Command, the blockade will start at 10 a.m. local time in Iran, equivalent to 2 p.m. GMT and 8 p.m. Bangladesh time. The military clarified that ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz to other countries will not be obstructed. US President Donald Trump said he ordered the move in response to what he called Iran’s deliberate failure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran will not bow to threats. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any military vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the current ceasefire. The situation follows the collapse of peace talks in Pakistan, which Trump said failed because Iran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Following the announcement, global oil prices surged above 100 dollars per barrel, reflecting market fears of supply disruptions linked to the new blockade.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a notification announcing the transfer of Dr. Nurunnahar Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, to the Planning Commission as a member (secretary). The order was released on Sunday, April 12, 2026. In a separate notification, Zakaria, who had been serving as a member (secretary) of the Planning Commission, was appointed as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping.

Dr. Nurunnahar Chowdhury was promoted to Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping on November 2 of the previous year, after serving as Additional Secretary in the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. She belongs to the 17th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre. Zakaria was promoted to the rank of secretary on March 25 while serving as Chairman (Additional Secretary) of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and was later posted to the Financial Institutions Division before being assigned to the Planning Commission.

The reshuffle reflects an administrative rotation among senior officials, aligning with the government’s ongoing personnel management practices.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly developing an AI clone of himself to attend meetings and provide feedback to employees, according to the Financial Times. The AI version is being trained on Zuckerberg’s image, voice, mannerisms, tone, and public statements so that employees can feel more connected to him through digital interactions. Zuckerberg is personally involved in training the avatar and spends several hours each week coding and reviewing Meta’s AI projects.

The Financial Times report adds that if the experiment with Zuckerberg’s AI avatar proves successful, Meta may allow creators to build their own AI avatars. In 2024, Meta demonstrated a live example of an AI persona for creators and began letting them create AI versions of themselves to respond to Instagram comments. The company also offers custom AI chatbots, though it recently restricted teen access to the feature.

A separate project, reported by The Wall Street Journal in March, involves Zuckerberg creating an AI agent to help him complete tasks, distinct from the avatar being developed for Meta’s internal use.

Iran’s armed forces have condemned the United States’ announced blockade of ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, describing it as illegal and an act of piracy. The statement, reported Monday by Iran’s state media IRIB, asserted that these ports must remain open to all or closed to all, emphasizing Iran’s right to defend its legal and territorial sovereignty.

The Iranian military declared that hostile vessels would not be allowed to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while other ships could transit if they complied with Tehran’s regulations. The statement also said that a permanent system would be established to maintain control over this vital waterway amid ongoing threats against the nation.

Iran further warned that if the security of any of its ports was compromised, no other port in the region would remain safe. The statement concluded that US-imposed restrictions on international maritime movement were unlawful and amounted to piracy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming daily life in Bangladesh, offering new opportunities in education, health, business, and communication. However, recent incidents highlight growing misuse of the technology. On April 10, 2026, a student at Pabna University of Science and Technology was expelled for using ChatGPT during an admission test, while on April 5, 2026, a man in Chattogram was arrested for creating a fake image of the home minister using AI. These cases reflect a broader trend of fraud, misinformation, and unethical use of AI tools.

The report warns that excessive reliance on AI is weakening critical thinking and creativity, especially among students. Deepfake technology and AI-generated content are blurring the line between truth and falsehood, making it difficult for people to verify information. This poses risks not only to individuals but also to national security and social stability.

The article calls for stronger digital awareness, tighter cybersecurity, and a clear national policy to regulate AI use. Without proper guidance and ethics, the country’s technological progress may come at the cost of social and moral decline.