Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday morning at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting took place at 10 a.m. and was described as a formal courtesy visit.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Science and Technology Minister and Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapon, adviser to both ministries Rehan Asif Asad, and Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigorievich Kozhin were present during the meeting. The report did not specify the topics discussed or any outcomes from the meeting.

The visit reflects ongoing diplomatic and institutional engagement between Bangladesh and Russia, particularly in the field of nuclear energy cooperation, though no further details were provided in the source.

In Tangail’s Mirzapur upazila, allegations have surfaced that topsoil from triple-crop farmland is being sold to brick kilns and other sites. For nearly two months, soil has been excavated day and night from cultivable land in three villages of Fatepur Union—Bahonatali, Nishchintapur, and Mushuriaghona—using excavators. The soil is reportedly being transported by trucks to nearby brick kilns. Local residents claim that influential individuals are involved and that soil is being taken even from others’ land without consent.

Officials from the agriculture department have warned that removing the top 15 centimeters of soil will severely reduce fertility, requiring more fertilizer and lowering yields. The Fatepur Union administrator said he had discussed halting the excavation with the assistant commissioner (land). The assistant commissioner, Tarek Aziz, stated that no legal permission had been issued for soil cutting and that investigations and legal action would follow.

The ongoing removal of fertile soil threatens long-term agricultural productivity in the affected villages if not stopped promptly.

At least 21 people were killed and 56 injured in a powerful bombing on a highway in southwestern Colombia, the government confirmed on Monday, April 27, 2026. The explosion occurred on the main road connecting Cali and Popayán, leaving a large crater and causing severe casualties. Authorities described the attack as one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in recent decades, allegedly carried out by a cocaine-trafficking rebel group.

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez called it one of the largest guerrilla attacks in recent times. President Gustavo Petro blamed the armed group led by Iván Mordisco, a dissident faction of the former FARC rebels who rejected the 2016 peace deal and continued violent activities. The bombing underscores the persistence of armed conflict despite past peace efforts.

The attack comes just weeks before Colombia’s presidential election scheduled for May 31. Analysts warned that the surge in guerrilla violence, including at least 31 attacks in the southwest last weekend, could significantly affect the country’s political climate and security outlook.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that helicopter service will be added to the Bangladesh Coast Guard fleet as part of a modernization initiative. The government also plans to recruit 10,000 new personnel to strengthen the force. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning during the 31st founding anniversary ceremony of the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

The minister stated that the current government is firmly committed to the overall development of the Coast Guard and has undertaken several initiatives for its modernization. He praised the force for earning public trust through its roles in combating drug smuggling, protecting fisheries, eliminating piracy, and safeguarding the environment.

He further highlighted the Coast Guard’s vital role in rescue operations during natural disasters in coastal areas and maintaining security and stability in regions such as the Sundarbans.

Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of 69 individuals accused of expressing support, praise, or sympathy for Iran. According to Anadolu Agency, the decision was made in response to recent regional tensions involving Iran. The Bahrain News Agency reported on Monday, April 27, that those who showed sympathy toward Iran’s 'hostile and criminal acts' lost their citizenship, including some of their family members.

Earlier in March, Bahrain’s High Criminal Court held a preliminary hearing in a case accusing several people of promoting and exaggerating Iran’s 'terrorist activities,' though the number of defendants was not disclosed at that time. The move comes amid heightened regional conflict following a joint U.S.-Israel military operation against Iran on February 28, which reportedly resulted in more than 3,300 deaths.

A two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was brokered by Pakistan on April 8 and later extended indefinitely on April 21 at Pakistan’s request, as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

A mobile court in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram fined a brick kiln Tk 200,000 for violating the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act. The operation took place on Monday at Messrs. Chowdhury Bricks, owned by Saiful Islam, located in Minjiritala under Saral Union Parishad. The court, led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Omar Sani Akon, also ordered the destruction of raw bricks found at the site.

Senior Chemist Jannatul Ferdous from the Chattogram District Department of Environment office served as the prosecutor during the mobile court proceedings. The executive magistrate stated that such drives would continue to ensure environmental protection.

The enforcement action highlights ongoing efforts by local authorities to regulate illegal brick kilns and safeguard agricultural land and the environment in the region.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman has disclosed the current diesel reserves in Bangladesh. Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Tuesday while discussing government progress, he said the country currently holds 170,000 tons of diesel in stock. An additional 180,000 tons are expected to arrive by April 30. He assured that there is no fuel shortage and that long queues at fuel stations are not being observed.

Dr. Zahed also commented on the issue of militancy in Bangladesh, acknowledging that militant elements exist but emphasizing that the situation has not reached a level that should cause public fear. He noted that claims of widespread militancy during the Awami League’s tenure were exaggerated, while assertions made during the interim government that no militants existed were also inaccurate.

The adviser’s remarks aimed to clarify both the energy supply situation and the government’s stance on internal security concerns.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall in the haor basin of northeastern Bangladesh could cause flooding in low-lying areas of three districts. The latest forecast, issued on Tuesday, said that water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara and Danu-Baulai rivers have decreased, while the Bhogai-Kangsa river has risen. The rivers are currently flowing below pre-monsoon danger levels.

According to the forecast, heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours in the haor basin and upstream areas has raised the risk of rising water levels. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department and global weather agencies predict continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region over the next three days. As a result, water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara, Manu-Khowai, and other rivers in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj districts are expected to rise.

By the third day, the Surma, Kushiyara, Khowai, and Juri rivers may flow above pre-monsoon danger levels, potentially causing flooding in low-lying areas of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj. Water levels in the Danu-Baulai and Bhogai-Kangsa rivers in Netrakona and Kishoreganj may also increase to warning levels.

The Dhaka-bound Chattala Express train from Chattogram remained stranded at Feni railway station for about six hours on Tuesday due to an engine malfunction. The train arrived at the station at 7:50 a.m., and as of 1:00 p.m., it had not departed. Smoke was seen coming from small chambers of the engine, injuring railway worker ALM Mohammad Kawser’s face and respiratory tract.

Stationmaster Mohammad Harun said announcements were made urging passengers to remain patient. Many passengers scheduled to board from Feni transferred their tickets and left by other means. Despite the train being stuck at the platform, two adjacent lines remained operational, allowing other trains to pass normally. A relief train from Laksam arrived to assist, and officials expected the Chattala Express to resume its journey shortly.

Feni Civil Surgeon Mohammad Rubaiyat Bin Karim confirmed that the injured railway worker received initial treatment at Feni General Hospital before being sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for further care.

Mosharraf Hossain Khan Chowdhury, originally from Dhanyadaul village in Brahmanpara, Comilla, has established six educational institutions in his home area using earnings from his work as a taxi driver in New York. After losing his father before completing secondary school, he went abroad to support his family, first to Qatar and later to the United States. Over three decades, he invested most of his income in building two colleges, a high school, two madrasas, and a kindergarten, along with two libraries and land for a diabetic hospital.

His first school, founded in 1989, now serves around a thousand students and employs 24 staff. Later, he established Mosharraf Hossain Khan Chowdhury University College, Abdul Matin Khasru Women’s College, and other institutions that now educate thousands. He also created a foundation providing scholarships to 200 students and homes for 10 homeless families. Despite his success, Mosharraf continues to live modestly in a shared apartment in New York, sending his earnings home to support education.

At 62, he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree under the Open University system and remains committed to spreading education across his community.

At least 14 people were killed and 84 others injured when two trains collided near Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, on the night of April 27, 2026. According to the country’s rail operator, the crash occurred in Bekasi when a long-distance train struck a stationary commuter train at the station. Rescue teams immediately began operations to free passengers trapped in the wreckage.

Mohammad Saifi, head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, said the rescue process was extremely complex and dangerous, adding that some passengers might still be alive inside the debris. Authorities reported that the women-only coach suffered the most damage in the collision.

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a full investigation into the cause of the crash and directed officials to strengthen railway safety measures. The report also noted that Indonesia has experienced several train accidents in recent years, including one in West Java in 2024 that killed four people and injured many others.

A team of RAB-15 recovered 34,000 yaba pills from a passenger bus during an operation in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar. The raid took place at the Khutakhali bus station area on the Cox’s Bazar–Chattogram highway late Sunday night. Two individuals, including the bus driver and another suspected trafficker, were detained during the operation. The seized drugs were found hidden under the seats of an Imperial Paribahan bus traveling from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka.

RAB Assistant Director and Assistant Superintendent of Police A M Faruk confirmed the seizure at a briefing on Monday afternoon. The detainees were identified as Abul Kalam Azad from Patuakhali’s Kalapara upazila and Robiul Hossain from Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar. Following the recovery, RAB filed a case under the Narcotics Control Act and handed the suspects over to Chakaria police.

According to Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monir Hossain, the two accused were later produced before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Chakaria.

Bangladesh has started receiving approximately 925 megawatts of electricity from India's Adani Power Plant. The second unit of the plant was synchronized with Bangladesh’s national grid on Monday evening, beginning supply at around 7:45 p.m. According to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairman, power supply will gradually increase, helping to boost overall generation and reduce load-shedding across the country.

BPDB officials also stated that from April 28, additional 600 megawatts each are expected to come from SS Power and RNPL. RNPL is a joint venture between Bangladesh’s Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) and China’s state-owned Norinco, which will begin producing 600 megawatts from the same date.

BPDB data show that on Saturday evening, Bangladesh’s peak electricity demand reached 16,900 megawatts, while maximum generation without Adani’s supply was 14,712 megawatts. The new imports are expected to ease the supply gap and improve grid stability.

Authorities in Singair upazila of Manikganj conducted a raid on Monday at Sirajpur Bazar in Chandhar Union, seizing 24 drums of illegally stored fuel including octane, petrol, diesel, and kerosene. The operation, which lasted from 3:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., targeted a business named Messrs Mahmud Enterprise. Following the discovery, the firm was fined one lakh taka under the Consumer Rights Protection Act.

According to an official press release, the company had been collecting and storing fuel illegally and selling it at prices higher than the government’s fixed rate. The confiscated fuel was placed under the custody of the Singair police officer-in-charge. It is being sold at government-set prices in the presence of relevant officials, with proceeds to be deposited into the state treasury.

Singair Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Khairunnahar, who led the operation, stated that such drives will continue in the public interest.

A severe shortage of fuel and electricity has brought life in the Rangpur region to a standstill, according to a report published on April 28, 2026. Worsening load-shedding has disrupted industrial production, halted irrigation, crippled transport, and severely affected students’ studies. Residents report that both fuel and electricity shortages have created a major crisis across the agriculture-dependent northern districts, with irrigation pumps unable to operate and crop yields at risk.

Industrial zones in Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, and Rangpur are facing production losses, leaving factory owners and workers in financial distress. Cold storage operators warn of potential spoilage of stored potatoes and vegetables due to insufficient fuel for generators. Auto-rickshaw drivers, dependent on electricity for charging, are also struggling to earn a living. Long queues and occasional clashes have been reported at fuel stations.

Power officials and experts acknowledge that many power plants have shut down due to the fuel crisis. They urge the government to restore supply quickly and explore alternative energy sources to prevent further deterioration of the situation.