A Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activist was killed and at least 20 others were injured in a clash between two rival groups in Madhabpur village of Monoharpur Union, Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah, on Thursday morning. The deceased was identified as Mohon Sheikh, aged 66, a supporter of former district Jubo Dal senior joint convener Zahid Joarder. He was reportedly beaten to death by supporters of upazila BNP president Abul Hossain. Locals took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to local sources, the conflict stemmed from a long-running dispute over establishing dominance between the two BNP factions. Following the news of Mohon Sheikh’s death, both sides engaged in violent clashes using local weapons, leaving around 20 people injured and at least 12 houses vandalized. Police have been deployed in the area to prevent further violence.

Dr. Nahid Emran Tonni of Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex confirmed receiving Mohon Sheikh’s body and said the injured were being treated, with one referred to Faridpur for advanced care. Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla stated that the incident occurred due to a power struggle and that the situation remains tense.

Bangladesh has dispatched emergency medicines and medical supplies to war-torn Iran following a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The assistance materials have already been handed over in Dhaka to Iranian Ambassador Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 23, 2026. The aid is being sent through the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

The ministry’s statement added that the Prime Minister had earlier donated 10 million taka to the Red Crescent Society on April 6 to purchase emergency medicines and medical equipment for the treatment of injured civilians in Iran. The initiative reflects Bangladesh’s humanitarian support amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The aid delivery marks a continuation of Bangladesh’s engagement in international humanitarian efforts, with the Red Crescent Society serving as the implementing agency for the relief operation.

In Laxmipur, members of the Chhatra Dal distributed pure drinking water to SSC examinees on Thursday morning to help them cope with the extreme heat. The initiative took place before and after exams in front of several examination halls, where students were handed bottles of water. The municipal unit of the Chhatra Dal also arranged temporary rest areas for parents accompanying the students. The effort was organized under the leadership of municipal convener Abul Barakat Sourav.

Earlier, Chhatra Dal activists assisted students in finding their seats through a help desk at the start of the exams. Parents expressed satisfaction with the initiative, describing it as student-friendly and urging the group to continue supporting learners. Abul Barakat Sourav stated that the Chhatra Dal remains committed to helping students take their exams smoothly. Acting under the guidance of Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny, the group distributed water, provided educational materials, and set up rest facilities for guardians.

Sourav added that such supportive activities for students will continue in the future.

Police in Tongi, Gazipur arrested two men early Thursday in connection with a recent gunfight incident. The arrests took place in the Pagar Pathanpara area, where officers recovered a foreign-made pistol and an empty magazine from one of the suspects’ rented rooms. The detainees were identified as Jasim, 40, from Pagar Pathanpara, and Shariful Alam Arif, 32, from Lalmonirhat Sadar.

According to Tongi East Police, the arrests are linked to a case filed over a recent clash and exchange of gunfire in the Pagar Jhinu Market area, reportedly stemming from a dispute over local dominance. Acting on a tip-off, police detained the two named suspects and later recovered the weapon based on their information.

Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan confirmed the operation and stated that the accused were sent to the Gazipur court after a case was filed under relevant laws.

At least ten people were killed in an armed attack on a copper and gold mining project in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Officials said on Thursday that around forty gunmen on motorcycles and other vehicles attacked the National Resources Private Limited (NRL) project in the Darigwan area of Chagai district on Wednesday. According to a local administrative officer, the dead included seven workers and three security personnel.

The officer added that there were reports of some workers being taken hostage, though this information could not be confirmed. Another local police official, speaking anonymously, confirmed details of the attack. In a statement issued Wednesday night, NRL acknowledged the incident and said security forces responded quickly and secured the area.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault. However, in recent years, local ethnic separatist groups have increased attacks in the region, often targeting mining projects.

The South Korean Air Force has issued an apology for a 2021 midair collision between two F-15K fighter jets near Daegu. According to a report released Wednesday by the national audit and inspection board, the crash occurred after a pilot attempted to take selfies and record videos during flight. The Air Force spokesperson expressed regret for the incident and confirmed that one of the involved pilots was temporarily suspended from flight duties, faced disciplinary action, and later left the military.

Investigators found that the wingman pilot tried to commemorate his final flight with the unit by taking photos. To improve the camera angle, he tilted and raised the aircraft without authorization, while another pilot filmed from the lead jet. As the planes drew too close, both pilots attempted to avoid collision, but the wingman’s tail struck the lead jet’s wing. No injuries were reported.

The Air Force stated it is tightening flight safety regulations and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Two Bangladeshi students studying at the University of South Florida have gone missing, raising concern among their families and the local community. The missing students are identified as Jamil Limon, a 27-year-old PhD researcher, and Nahida S. Brishti, a 27-year-old chemical engineering student. According to university police, Limon was last seen at his Tampa residence around 9 a.m., while Brishti was last seen at the Natural and Environmental Sciences building around 10 a.m. on the same day. Separate missing person reports have been filed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the university police.

Authorities said the two were friends and might have been staying together, though their families expressed doubts about that assumption. Limon’s younger brother described him as responsible and unlikely to disappear without notice, while Brishti’s family said she maintained regular contact and spoke normally on the day she went missing.

Reports indicate the two previously had a romantic relationship and future plans together, though they were not formally involved recently. Brishti left her laptop and belongings in the lab, while Limon’s passport was found at his home.

Recent archaeological excavations in Dhaka’s old jail compound on Nazimuddin Road, led by Professor Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, have uncovered colored pottery and artifacts dating back nearly two thousand years. These discoveries suggest that Dhaka was connected to international trade networks, including the Silk Route, long before the Mughal period. The findings also indicate that the city’s history extends far beyond the commonly held view that it began during the Mughal era.

Historical records and inscriptions reveal that during the Bengal Sultanate, Dhaka was part of a region known as Iqlim Mubarakabad, named after Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah. Two key inscriptions from the 15th century—one from the Bibi Bakht Binot Mosque in Narinda and another from Naswalagali Mosque near the present central jail—confirm the presence of a growing Muslim community. The first mosque was built privately by a merchant named Arkan Ali, while the second was a state-sponsored construction under Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah.

These inscriptions and mosque constructions demonstrate the gradual expansion of Muslim society in Dhaka during the Sultanate period, reflecting both religious and commercial development along the Buriganga River.

In Digholkandi village of Puthia upazila, Rajshahi, farmers are facing severe crop damage caused by the heat and black smoke from a brick kiln named ‘Messrs SBXU Tata’. The smoke and intense heat have reportedly harmed large areas of farmland, particularly mango and banana orchards. Local farmers said their crops have been destroyed, with some forced to cut down trees after repeated losses. The kiln owner, Shahabuddin, denied the allegations, claiming no farmer had directly complained to him.

According to agricultural officer Mosha. Shaheda Khatun of the Baneshwar block, several mango orchards have already been cut down due to the kiln’s impact. Out of about 50 bighas of banana plantations, 15 to 16 bighas have suffered extensive damage. She stated that affected farmers deserve fair compensation for their losses.

The situation has fueled growing anger among local residents, who say the kiln’s operations continue to threaten their livelihoods and the region’s agricultural sustainability.

Police have arrested three suspects five days after a college student was killed in a clash over government land in Begumpur village of Nabiganj upazila, Habiganj. Acting on a tip-off, officers detained the suspects from Taherpur in Sunamganj late Wednesday night. The arrested individuals were identified as Helal Mia, Nasir Mia, and Masum Mia, all residents of Begumpur village.

According to the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Jayanta Talukdar, the three detainees include the prime accused in the murder case. He stated that operations are continuing to apprehend the remaining suspects. The incident occurred on Sunday, April 19, when a dispute over government land between groups led by Helal Mia and Khalilur Rahman escalated into violence, resulting in the death of Khalilur Rahman’s son, college student Manjur Mia.

Police have so far arrested five individuals in connection with the case, and further investigations are ongoing to locate others involved.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said there is no pressure to extend the ceasefire with Iran, emphasizing that he is not in a hurry to end the war. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that he wants a 'better deal' with Iran rather than a quick resolution.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said on Wednesday that President Trump has clearly presented his final conditions to the Iranian side. She added that Washington is now waiting for Tehran’s response. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the United States has informed Tel Aviv that the current ceasefire with Iran will expire on Sunday.

According to Israel’s state broadcaster Kan, Washington told Israeli officials that the deadline set by President Trump for Tehran is only a few days away, signaling that the next phase of U.S.-Iran negotiations could depend on Iran’s forthcoming reply.

Microsoft announced that Copilot’s agentic capabilities are now generally available across Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The company stated that these AI-powered tools can be accessed on both desktop and mobile devices, expanding their usability for a wide range of users.

According to Microsoft, the release marks an extension of Copilot’s integration within its core Office applications. The announcement emphasizes the availability of these features across platforms, highlighting the goal of providing consistent AI assistance wherever users work.

The update reflects Microsoft’s continued effort to embed AI functionality into everyday productivity tools, aiming to enhance user experience and efficiency across devices.

OpenAI has introduced workspace agents in ChatGPT, enabling teams to create shared AI agents that manage complex and long-running workflows within organizational permissions. These agents, powered by Codex, can perform tasks such as report generation, coding, and message responses. They operate in the cloud, allowing continuous work even when users are offline, and can be accessed through ChatGPT or Slack. The feature is available in research preview for ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Teachers plans.

Workspace agents are designed to handle collaborative workflows that require shared context and approvals across teams. They can gather information from various systems, follow internal processes, and maintain progress across tools. OpenAI teams have built examples such as software review, product feedback routing, weekly metrics reporting, lead outreach, and third-party risk management agents. Admins retain control over permissions, data access, and agent actions, with analytics and compliance tools ensuring governance and visibility.

Workspace agents are free until May 6, 2026, after which credit-based pricing will apply. OpenAI plans to expand functionality with new triggers, dashboards, and integrations to further streamline team productivity.

The Miyabari Mosque in Korapur, Barishal, remains one of the few surviving monuments representing the region’s ancient heritage. Built by Hayat Mahmud, a Bengali Muslim military commander under the Chandradwip ruler and later a zamindar of Buzurg-Umadpur, the mosque stands as both an architectural and archaeological landmark. Mahmud, who resisted British East India Company rule, was declared an outlaw, exiled to Prince of Wales Island, and later returned to settle in Korapur, where he constructed the mosque.

Believed to have been built in the late 18th century, the two-storied mosque follows the Shaista Khani architectural style, similar to many 17th-century Mughal structures. It measures about 70 feet long and 40 feet wide, with thick brick-and-lime walls and a roof built without iron or rods. The mosque features three domes, eight large minarets, and twelve smaller ones, and can accommodate around 60 worshippers. Two unidentified graves lie beneath its staircase. Recently, local efforts have restored the mosque’s beauty, and its ground floor now houses a madrasa.

The Miyabari Mosque continues to symbolize Barishal’s Muslim heritage and its historical defiance of colonial dominance.

Dhaka Metropolitan West Chhatra Dal General Secretary Akram Ahmed has announced a 'zero tolerance' policy against individuals conducting secret political activities. The declaration came during a protest rally in Mirpur, Dhaka, organized to condemn recent attacks on Chhatra Dal and general students at Chittagong City College and Pabna Ishwardi Government College. The rally began at the Tolarbagh footbridge and concluded near the Directorate of Primary Education in Mirpur-2.

In his address following the rally, Akram Ahmed alleged that for the past 16–17 years, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her followers had established a fascist regime that held ordinary citizens hostage. He further accused members of Shibir of carrying out covert attacks on Chhatra Dal activists and students. Akram stated that his organization would take a firm stand against such secret political operations in every educational institution and neighborhood under its jurisdiction.

He warned that any future attacks on Chhatra Dal members would be resisted. Several senior leaders of Dhaka Metropolitan West Chhatra Dal were present at the event.