Biometric attendance machines installed in government primary schools of Matlab North upazila in Chandpur have become non-functional, despite being introduced to ensure regular attendance. The devices, installed in 180 schools during the 2018–19 fiscal year at a cost of Tk 26,000–35,000 each, were found to be mostly missing, disconnected, or broken. Teachers and residents allege that the machines, purchased at inflated prices, failed to improve education quality and now lie unused.

Local teachers and residents claim that a syndicate, allegedly backed by influential Awami League leaders, supplied substandard machines at high prices for personal gain. Several head teachers said the devices stopped working soon after installation due to poor quality and lack of maintenance. They also reported that no effective monitoring or repair initiatives were taken even after repeated complaints. The acting head teachers of Gazra and Otarchar Government Primary Schools described the project as wasteful and poorly planned.

Upazila Primary Education Officer Harunur Rashid Molla confirmed that none of the schools currently have operational biometric attendance systems, noting that the project was implemented before his tenure.

An auto-rickshaw driver named Sakib from Borhanuddin upazila in Bhola set an example of honesty by returning a lost bag containing three lakh taka and important documents to its rightful owner. The incident occurred on April 21, 2026, when Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Ward 6 of the municipality, accidentally left his bag in an auto-rickshaw after dropping his son at an exam center. Despite extensive searching, he could not find it and later posted on Facebook offering a reward for its return.

Sakib, who is also a student retaking his SSC exams, found the bag in his vehicle and, after failing to locate the owner, handed it to his parents for safekeeping. Upon seeing the Facebook post, he contacted Rafiqul Islam and returned the money and documents at Borhan Ganj Bazar. Rafiqul Islam offered him a 10,000 taka reward, which Sakib declined. Local teachers, journalists, and residents praised Sakib’s integrity, calling his act a shining example of honesty in society.

The incident has sparked widespread admiration in the community, reinforcing the value of ethical conduct among youth in Borhanuddin.

Two people, including a woman and a child, were killed in a road accident in Mymensingh on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the Raghurampur area of Sadar upazila on the Mymensingh-Netrokona highway, in front of a BRAC office. Police reported that a Mymensingh-bound Mahindra collided head-on with a tractor coming from the opposite direction.

The collision left the Mahindra severely damaged, killing passenger Rabeya Khatun, 65, from Bowla village, and 17-month-old Taufiq from Hironpur village on the spot. The child’s mother, Khadija, 32, and the Mahindra driver, Mahbub, were seriously injured. Locals helped police rescue the injured and send them to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for treatment.

According to Kotwali Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Md Shibirul Islam, the tractor driver fled the scene immediately after the accident.

A Cumilla court has granted a three-day remand for Hafizur Rahman, a senior warrant officer of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and the first accused in the murder case of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of Cumilla Victoria Government College. The order was issued on Wednesday afternoon by Senior Judicial Magistrate Mominul Haque after Rahman was presented before Cumilla Sadar Court-1. He had been arrested earlier from his residence by PBI’s investigating officer Tarikul Islam.

According to court officials, the case has seen 80 hearing dates and has been handled by seven investigating officers from four different agencies over the past decade. On April 6, the seventh investigating officer sought permission to cross-match DNA samples of three suspects, including Sergeant Zahid, Warrant Officer Hafizur Rahman, and soldier Shahinul Alam.

Tonu’s parents and younger brother Rubel Hossain were present at the Cumilla court during the proceedings on Wednesday afternoon.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has released the schedule for the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations along with 11 special instructions for candidates. The routine was published on the board’s website on April 22, 2026. The guidelines specify that students must enter the exam hall 30 minutes before the start, with multiple-choice questions (MCQ) held first followed by creative or theoretical sections. The timing for each section varies depending on the subject type, and there will be no breaks between sections.

The instructions also require students to collect their admit cards at least seven days before the exam, correctly fill in their roll and registration numbers on the answer sheets, and pass each part of the exam separately. Only non-programmable watches and calculators are allowed, and mobile phones are strictly prohibited for all except the center’s officer-in-charge.

The board emphasized that students may only sit for subjects listed on their registration and admit cards, and exams must be conducted strictly according to the schedule printed on the question papers.

A severe heatwave has gripped Lalpur in Natore, where the temperature reached 38.0 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, according to the Ishwardi Meteorological Office. The intense heat, combined with 51 percent humidity, has severely disrupted daily life, forcing residents to stay indoors and reducing activity in markets and public areas. Day laborers, farmers, and outdoor workers are among the worst affected.

Local residents reported increasing discomfort as temperatures have continued to rise over recent days, creating health risks especially for children, the elderly, and the sick. The weather office forecast warns that the heatwave may persist for several more days, with temperatures likely to rise further.

Dr. Suruzzaman Shamim, the residential medical officer at Lalpur Upazila Health Complex, advised people to stay in shaded areas, avoid going out unnecessarily, drink plenty of water, and maintain a cool environment for children and the elderly to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the country will take necessary and appropriate measures to safeguard its national interests and security. His comments were reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA, which cited a post on Telegram quoting Baghaei’s remarks.

The statement followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of an extension to a ceasefire at Pakistan’s request, during which he commented that Iran’s government was “badly divided.” Addressing the possibility of future talks with Washington, Baghaei said that diplomacy is one way to ensure national interests and security, and that Iran would act when it deems the diplomatic environment suitable.

The exchange highlights continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran emphasizing its readiness to respond as needed to protect its sovereignty and interests.

Habibur Rahman Mallik, uncle of slain BDR member Nazrul Islam Mallik, testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 as the fourth witness against dismissed army officer Major General Ziaul Ahsan. In his statement on Wednesday, he said Nazrul was taken by plainclothes men on March 3, 2010, and never returned. Later, Nazrul’s brother identified his body from a newspaper photo showing his hands tied behind his back and his abdomen cut open.

According to the testimony, Nazrul had worked as a medical assistant at the BDR Hospital during the 2009 BDR mutiny and later took a job at Madhumati Clinic in Kotalipara under a different name. After his disappearance, his body was found in the Baleshwar River in May 2010 and buried by authorities in Bagerhat when no heir was found. DNA testing later confirmed his identity, and the family reburied him in their ancestral graveyard.

Habibur Rahman added that intelligence officers frequently visited their home afterward and that they learned through various sources that members of RAB’s intelligence wing were involved in Nazrul’s killing.

Algerian Ambassador Dr. Abdelouahab Saidani paid a courtesy call on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir at the Police Headquarters on Wednesday morning. The meeting took place in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, where the ambassador congratulated the newly appointed IGP and discussed areas of mutual interest.

During the discussion, both sides exchanged views on strengthening Bangladesh Police’s capacity in addressing irregular migration, human trafficking, and security-related matters. The IGP welcomed Algeria’s interest in supporting the enhancement of police capabilities and emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation between the police forces of the two countries.

Senior officials of Bangladesh Police were present at the meeting. Both parties expressed optimism about building stronger and more productive collaboration in the future.

Two Bangladeshi teenagers were detained by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday morning, April 22, 2026, for allegedly crossing the border illegally through the Panchagarh frontier. The incident occurred near the Mistripara Patshiri border in Garinabari Union, where members of the BSF’s 132 Battalion from the Moricha Camp apprehended the boys.

The detained teenagers were identified as Indra, son of Shibu Chandra Roy, and Uday, son of Somaru Chandra Roy, both aged 14 and residents of Atwari upazila in Panchagarh. According to local sources, the boys had gone to view an Indian tea garden and inadvertently crossed the main border pillar into Indian territory at Mirganj, about 150 yards inside. Local Union Chairman Monowar Hossain Dipu said he was trying to contact the local Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp commander regarding the matter. He noted that the proximity of the tea garden to the border often causes confusion among visitors.

Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Mohammad Kayes of the Panchagarh-18 BGB Battalion stated that they were gathering information about the incident through local sources.

Twenty students became ill after eating food provided under the school feeding program at Shankarbati Government Primary School No. 1 in Chapainawabganj municipality on Wednesday afternoon. According to school sources, bread, milk, bananas, and eggs were distributed to students around 11 a.m. as part of the regular program. Shortly after eating, at least 20 students from grades two to four experienced vomiting, severe stomach pain, dizziness, and eye irritation, causing panic across the school.

Teachers provided initial care and separated the sick students, while parents rushed to the school and later took their children to local clinics for treatment. Acting headteacher Shamsunnahar stated that the supplying organization, GAK, had previously been accused of providing low-quality food and that the issue had been reported multiple times without improvement. Attempts to contact the company’s district field officer, Liton Mia, were unsuccessful.

District Primary Education Officer Saiful Islam said a committee has been formed to investigate the incident and that strict action will be taken if negligence is proven.

Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam told Parliament that there is no plan to hand over Chattogram Port to any foreign operator. He made the clarification while responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Shahadat Hossain during the parliamentary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The minister explained that operators are appointed only for terminal management under government or Public Private Partnership Authority approval, and both domestic and foreign operators are eligible for consideration.

He added that several terminals are currently operated by both local and foreign entities to enhance port capacity in line with modernization and trade growth. For example, the Patenga Container Terminal is managed by a foreign operator, and a PPP agreement has been signed with Denmark-based Maersk Group subsidiary APM Terminals BV for the Laldia Container Terminal. The minister emphasized that Chattogram Port is an autonomous body governed by a board under a chairman, implementing government policy decisions as required.

The statement aimed to clarify the government’s stance amid questions about foreign involvement in port operations and to highlight ongoing modernization efforts at the country’s main seaport.

Islami Chhatra Shibir has demanded justice for an alleged attack by Chhatra Dal members on its activists and general students at Government City College in Chattogram on Tuesday. The demand was made by Shibir president Nurul Islam Saddam during an emergency press conference held at the organization’s central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka. He claimed that the attack was carried out by hired thugs and street youths to destabilize the campus, leaving several Shibir activists injured.

According to Saddam, the incident began after disputes over poster campaigns and graffiti between the two student groups. He alleged that Chhatra Dal members tore down Shibir banners and used offensive language in their writings. When Shibir representatives informed the college administration, a confrontation occurred, followed by a violent assault later in the day. Saddam also accused the police of inaction during the attack and compared Chhatra Dal’s behavior to that of ruling party student groups.

He further alleged that such incidents reflect broader political failures and rising campus unrest. Shibir called on the government to ensure coexistence and take immediate action against those responsible for the violence.

A meeting on Boeing aircraft procurement was held at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism conference room on Wednesday. The discussion focused on a detailed outline to expand Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ fleet to 47 aircraft by the 2034–35 fiscal year. The meeting also reviewed the inclusion of Boeing aircraft and assessed initiatives taken under the previous government.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam emphasized the need for a coordinated work plan based on route-specific revenue analysis before adding each aircraft. She stated that timely and realistic measures could make Biman more profitable and passenger-friendly. State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat urged continued progress on necessary processes for Boeing aircraft inclusion and stressed ensuring timely delivery.

Millat also directed preparations to resume flights on the Dhaka–Narita route. The meeting was attended by the ministry’s secretary Fahmida Akhter, the managing director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and senior officials from related agencies.

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman announced in parliament that the government has formulated and begun implementing a five-year action plan to fulfill its electoral pledges. Speaking during a question-and-answer session on Wednesday, he said the plan covers the first 180 days of the administration, the 2026–27 fiscal year, and the next five years. The initiative aims to build a developed, prosperous, and dignified Bangladesh through coordinated efforts in democracy, good governance, economic growth, and human values.

The Prime Minister outlined priorities including free and fair elections, administrative transparency, rule of law, human rights, and freedom of expression. The plan also targets anti-corruption measures, industrialization, job creation, and human resource development. Additional focus areas include education, health, agriculture, and social protection to create an inclusive and equitable society.

Key initiatives already underway include dredging 20,000 kilometers of canals and rivers, issuing family and farmer cards, providing stipends to religious workers and athletes, planting 250 million trees, forgiving small agricultural loans, and expanding healthcare and education support nationwide.