A local BNP leader in Comilla’s Brahmanpara upazila has been expelled from the party after being arrested with 600 yaba tablets. The expulsion was confirmed on Thursday through a press release by Hedayetullah Sardar, office secretary of the Brahmanpara upazila BNP. The arrested leader, identified as Sona Mia alias Ismail, served as the publicity secretary of the Brahmanpara Sadar Union BNP.

Police said the arrest took place on Wednesday afternoon following a tip-off. A team led by Officer-in-Charge Md Faruk Hossain raided Sona Mia’s residence in Dhanyadaul village and recovered the yaba tablets. He was subsequently detained and charged under the Narcotics Control Act before being sent to court.

Brahmanpara upazila BNP joint general secretary Nazrul Islam stated that the party had no prior knowledge of Sona Mia’s involvement in drug trade and reaffirmed that drug dealers have no place in the BNP. Police said special drives against narcotics will continue in the area.

A man allegedly killed his seven-month-old son by drowning him in a pond in the Manikdi Purbo Kanda area of Gajaria Union under Bhairab upazila in Kishoreganj. The accused, identified as 24-year-old Meraj Mia, reportedly threw his son Tanvir, also known as Mojahid, into the water. Police recovered the child’s partially decomposed body on Thursday afternoon after being informed by locals. Meraj and his mother, Rabeya Begum, have been missing since the incident, according to Bhairab Police Station Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam.

Local and police sources said Meraj, son of the late Felu Mia, married Taslima Begum three years ago. The couple had a son seven months ago. Meraj was known to be drug-addicted and often quarreled with his family over money for drugs. After being expelled from his home, he lived with his in-laws. About a week ago, the child’s grandmother took the baby away, claiming she would take him to a doctor. Three days later, Meraj told relatives he had sold the child. Police later pressured him to return the baby, and he admitted to throwing the child into a pond.

Police are continuing efforts to locate and arrest Meraj and his mother.

In Gaza, displaced families living in makeshift tents near piles of rubble are facing a new fear—an invasion of large rats. Samah al-Dabla, who lives with her two young children in a temporary tent, said the rodents have become increasingly aggressive despite her efforts to keep the area clean. She believes the rats have grown more violent after feeding on bodies trapped under the debris.

According to the report, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza. The presence of decomposing bodies beneath the ruins has intensified the rat infestation and heightened the risk of disease outbreaks in Gaza City. Thousands of displaced families like Samah’s are now struggling with this additional health hazard alongside the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The growing infestation underscores the severe public health challenges emerging from the prolonged destruction and lack of sanitation in Gaza’s war-torn areas.

A severe fuel shortage has disrupted livelihoods in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira, where residents queued for hours under the sun to collect petrol. On Thursday morning, at the Munshiganj Demla filling station, a woman named Bithika Rani Baidya was seen waiting in line to collect fuel for her son’s motorcycle. Her son, Sagar Baidya, a motorcycle driver, has been unable to work due to the shortage and has temporarily taken up agricultural labor. After five days of closure, the station resumed limited fuel distribution under the supervision of the upazila administration.

The shortage followed unrest in Burigoalini union, where a dispute over fuel distribution led to clashes between political figures and station staff. Local sources said over two thousand motorcycles in Munshiganj union have been affected, leaving many drivers jobless and families under financial strain. Allegations have surfaced that influential individuals are receiving fuel outside official rules, sparking public frustration.

Union officials stated that coordinated efforts between local leaders and the council have restarted distribution, and fair allocation could help stabilize the situation soon.

The government has cancelled all fertilizer dealers who were appointed during the previous Awami regime, described as a fascist period by officials. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced the decision at a press conference in the Parliament lobby on Thursday, stating that new dealers will be appointed very soon to replace those removed.

In the same briefing, Moni said a ten-member committee has been formed to address the country’s ongoing energy crisis. The committee will include five members from the ruling party and five from the opposition, and will be led by Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. The proposal for the committee was supported by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following a suggestion from the opposition leader.

The proposal was unanimously passed in Parliament, signaling a rare moment of cross-party consensus on tackling the energy issue.

Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) has issued a recruitment notice to fill vacant positions across 16 categories, offering a total of 71 posts on both permanent and contractual bases. The announcement was published on April 23, 2026. Interested and qualified candidates can apply online through the designated website. The application process begins on April 27, 2026, at 9 a.m. and will close on May 18, 2026, at 5 p.m.

The permanent positions include roles such as auditor, accounts assistant, receptionist, medical assistant (male and female), surveyor, plant operator, senior technician, electrician, transport supervisor, PC operator (courier), mechanic, junior transport supervisor, and junior technician. Contractual positions include imam and muezzin posts. Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years of age as of May 27, 2026, with a relaxation up to 32 years for children of freedom fighters and persons with disabilities.

Application fees ranging from 223 to 335 taka, depending on the position, must be paid via SMS through Teletalk prepaid SIM. Candidates are required to upload a scanned photo and signature during the online application process.

Newly appointed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Minhajur Rahman stated that there is no fuel crisis in Sunamganj district. He made the remarks on Thursday morning during a meeting with local journalists. The DC emphasized that the administration is giving top priority to maintaining agricultural activities and urged everyone to work together to protect farmers’ interests. He confirmed that no information indicating a fuel shortage has reached his office and that no such situation has arisen in the district.

Regarding crop protection embankments, the DC said he had been aware of the issue before taking office and has been maintaining regular communication with all concerned parties since his appointment. He recently visited Shantiganj upazila to inspect embankments, reviewed progress with officials and locals, and oversaw repair work on a damaged section. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to standing by farmers at all times.

Several additional deputy commissioners were present during the meeting, including those responsible for revenue, education and ICT, overall administration, and local government.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued new instructions for secondary school heads to assist in the 'Notun Kuri Sports' April 2026 program. A notice signed by Professor Md. Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director (Physical Education), was published on the DSHE website on Thursday. According to the notice, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the program on May 2 at 3 p.m. at the Sylhet District Stadium, marking the nationwide start of the initiative.

The notice outlines six specific steps for school heads to implement. These include encouraging students aged 12 to 14 to register online or on-site, informing students and teachers during class time, posting notices on school boards, displaying approved banners at school gates, promoting the event on social media, and publicizing it on school websites.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to promote sports development across Bangladesh, aiming to engage young students in organized athletic activities.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Road Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam for prioritizing public interest over bus owners’ demands in setting new fares. The association’s secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, issued a statement on Thursday following the government’s decision to raise bus fares by 11 paisa per kilometer in response to a one-taka increase in diesel prices.

According to the statement, bus owners had pressured the government for a 64 percent fare hike using inflated cost analyses, despite the minimal fuel price adjustment. The association recalled that in August 2022, when diesel prices rose sharply, fares were increased by 22 percent, but subsequent fare reductions were never implemented for passengers. The new adjustment raises fares by 4.45 to 5.19 percent across different routes.

The association warned that bus owners might exploit loopholes in fare-setting committees to overcharge passengers and urged the government to prevent fraudulent fare practices and stop CNG-run buses from charging diesel-rate fares.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have sharply escalated despite U.S. President Donald Trump extending the ceasefire period. Tehran has blamed Washington’s naval blockade for halting peace negotiations, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained two foreign ships and fired on a third in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s parliament speaker declared that the strait cannot be reopened as long as the blockade remains, calling it a clear violation of the ceasefire.

The White House stated that President Trump has not set a deadline for Iran to submit a peace proposal. Meanwhile, discussions in Washington over the fragile truce between Lebanon and Israel have faced difficulties due to Hezbollah’s absence. Within the U.S., Defense Secretary John Phelan was dismissed and replaced temporarily by Hong Kao, while a Senate motion to limit Trump’s war powers against Iran failed by a 55–46 vote.

The U.S. Central Command reported turning back at least 31 ships as part of the blockade, which Washington says aims to pressure Iran economically into negotiations. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and northern Gaza have also resulted in multiple civilian deaths, including journalists and children.

A court in Ullapara, Sirajganj, has sentenced a man named Faridul Islam to 10 years in prison for involvement in the buying and selling of counterfeit currency. The Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-3, presided over by Judge Nazrul Islam, delivered the verdict on Thursday afternoon. The court also imposed a fine of 20,000 taka, with an additional one-year imprisonment in default of payment. According to the Additional Public Prosecutor Hamidul Islam Dulal, the convict was absconding when the verdict was announced.

The case originated from an incident on May 10, 2023, when Sirajganj Detective Branch police arrested Faridul Islam with 80 counterfeit 1,000-taka notes during a transaction. Sub-Inspector Ishanur Rahman of the Detective Branch filed the case following the arrest. Faridul Islam is the son of Kalachan from Matikura Matpara village in Ullapara upazila.

The ruling concludes a case that began nearly three years earlier, highlighting continued law enforcement efforts against counterfeit currency operations in the region.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of the World Literature Center, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, State Ministers Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khaiyum and Bobby Hajjaj, and Prime Minister’s advisers Mahdi Amin and Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman.

Discussions focused on developing reading habits among students at primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. It was decided that the government and the World Literature Center would work together to encourage reading among students. Senior officials from the World Literature Center and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs were also present at the meeting.

The collaboration aims to strengthen national efforts to promote a culture of reading and intellectual development among young learners across Bangladesh.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol has warned that the ongoing Iran war and continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are severely disrupting global energy flows. In an interview with Reuters, Birol said the world is facing the biggest energy security threat in history as a result of these developments.

Birol explained that the conflict has already removed 13 million barrels of oil per day from the market and caused major disruptions in the supply of key commodities. Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily. He described the current situation as a “dual blockade,” with neither Iran nor the United States allowing ships to enter or leave the strait.

He also warned of growing risks to Europe’s jet fuel supply, noting that the region previously relied on Middle Eastern refineries for about 75 percent of its jet fuel, which has now dropped to almost zero. Europe is seeking alternative supplies from the United States and Nigeria.

Leaders of various labor organizations have called for the formation of a joint oversight committee to monitor the proceedings of the Rana Plaza case. The demand was made on Thursday at a discussion held at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity. The event, titled 'Thirteen Years of Rana Plaza Collapse: Current State of Occupational Health and Safety in the Garment Industry,' was organized by the Industrial Bangladesh Council (IBC).

At the meeting, Ruhul Amin, chairman of the Workers Resource Center, emphasized that the Rana Plaza tragedy claimed 1,137 lives and left 2,500 people permanently disabled, yet no factory owner died—only workers. He urged the formation of a joint committee to ensure the case is concluded swiftly. IBC senior vice president Abul Kalam Azad also stressed the need for such a committee to prevent further worker deaths in factories.

IBC’s women affairs secretary Chaina Rahman demanded justice for the Rana Plaza owner and others involved, while the session was presided over by IBC president and freedom fighter Kutubuddin, with several other labor leaders in attendance.

An allegation has been raised against Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shamima Akter Jahan for slapping a motorcycle garage worker at a fuel station in Lalmonirhat. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at Lubana Filling Station in Chandrapur Union’s Chaparhat Bazar when the UNO reportedly checked a fuel card and found the photo did not match the person presenting it. A video of the incident later spread on social media, drawing widespread criticism across the district.

According to locals, the worker, identified as Nodi, had gone to collect fuel on behalf of a sick college teacher using his card. Nodi claimed the UNO slapped her several times without asking any questions, despite her innocence, and she demanded justice. In response, UNO Shamima Akter Jahan denied the allegation, saying she only took the vehicle key because the card appeared irregular and instructed the worker to contact her office. She added that the key was later returned when the worker’s guardians arrived.

The incident has sparked local outrage and debate over the conduct of administrative officials during public service supervision.