Police in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, arrested a father and son during a special anti-drug operation late Saturday night in the Nawabeki Bazar area. The detainees were identified as Farukul Islam Bulbul, aged 33, and his father Shahanur Molya, aged 56, both residents of Paschim Biralakhmi in Atulia Union. Officers recovered 250 grams of cannabis and 45 yaba tablets from Farukul, and an additional 150 grams of cannabis were seized from a nearby shop based on his information.

According to police sources, the operation was launched following a tip-off. The suspects attempted to flee when officers arrived at a tea shop near the Nawabeki Bazar management committee office but were captured after a chase. Local sources reported that the pair had been running a drug business under the cover of the tea shop and supplying narcotics to local youths.

Shyamnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khalekuzzaman said a case was filed under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, and the suspects were being processed for court custody. He added that anti-drug operations have been intensified to curb such crimes.

A police constable was hospitalized after being assaulted by suspected drug dealers during a search operation in Tongi Bazar, Gazipur, on Saturday night. The injured officer, Rahat, serves at Tongi East Police Station and is currently receiving treatment at Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. while a police patrol team was conducting body searches of suspicious individuals on the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway.

According to eyewitnesses, several drug dealers suddenly attacked Constable Rahat, beating him with fists and sticks, leaving him seriously injured. Fellow officers rescued him and took him to the hospital for treatment. The attack took place while the police were performing their regular patrol duties in the area.

Tongi East Police Station’s officer-in-charge Mehedi Hasan stated that a case was filed on Sunday afternoon against 10 to 12 unidentified individuals. Police are working to identify and arrest those involved in the assault.

Police in Naogaon’s Porsha upazila arrested an alleged drug dealer named Shamim Chowdhury with 1,000 Tapentadol tablets on Saturday night. The arrest took place around 8 p.m. in the Baliyachanda area along the Saraigachi–Sapahar regional highway. Shamim, son of the late Dulal Chowdhury from Chandura Babupur village in Sapahar upazila, was detained during a special operation led by Porsha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ziaur Rahman under the direction of Naogaon Superintendent of Police Md. Tarikul Islam.

Police said the operation was part of a nationwide anti-narcotics drive. During the search, officers found 1,000 Tapentadol tablets in a shopping bag carried by Shamim, with an estimated market value of about three lakh taka. His Suzuki Gixxer motorcycle was also seized during the operation.

A case has been filed against the detainee under the Narcotics Control Act, and he was sent to jail through the court on Sunday. Police stated that anti-drug operations will continue and that they remain firm in combating such crimes.

On Saturday in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga district, women were seen standing in long queues at local fuel pumps to collect diesel. The move came as families sought to reduce the workload of male members who were spending entire days waiting for fuel, disrupting their agricultural and other daily activities. At the Angan Filling Station in Santoshpur, women waited with diesel cards and bottles alongside men.

Several women explained that their husbands’ time at the pumps prevented them from working in the fields or operating vehicles used for transporting agricultural goods. By taking their place in line, the women aimed to ensure that household and farming activities continued without interruption. One woman said her husband could now focus on fieldwork while she waited for fuel.

According to the station manager, both men and women were being served, with a system that provided fuel to one woman after every five men. Similar scenes of women’s participation were reported at other pumps in the upazila.

A painter named Taiyab Ali, aged 40, died after being electrocuted while painting a building in Jhenaidah town’s Post Office Mor area on Sunday afternoon. According to police, he was working on the second floor of a four-storey building under construction above Akhtar Pharmacy when he came into contact with a main power transmission line running close to the structure. He died instantly at the scene.

The deceased was a resident of Haripur village in Maharajpur Union under Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamsul Arefin confirmed the incident and stated that the body would be handed over to the family after completion of legal procedures.

Authorities have not provided further details about the safety conditions at the site or any investigation into the incident.

Bangladesh’s Central Land Allocation Committee has approved several land acquisition proposals for key national development projects. The approvals were granted during the committee’s 155th meeting held in Dhaka on Sunday, chaired by Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu. Among the approved projects are the establishment of 20 Fire Service and Civil Defence stations, including one acre of land for the Pubail Fire Station in Gazipur. Additional approvals include 12.1471 acres for the Dhaka (Kanchpur)-Sylhet-Tamabil Highway expansion and 13.4448 acres for the fourth phase of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway.

During the meeting, the minister emphasized that while land acquisition is vital for national development, it must be carried out in compliance with existing laws and with minimal public hardship. He also instructed officials to remain vigilant about preserving agricultural land.

The meeting also reviewed district-level recommendations for land acquisitions exceeding 50 bighas, including proposals in Sylhet’s Beanibazar and Jaintapur upazilas under the Sylhet-Charkhai-Sheola Highway project, and in Chandpur’s Matlab North upazila under the Daudkandi-Goalmari-Sreeramchar-Matlab North Highway project.

A man died after being electrocuted while cutting a bamboo that had fallen on an electric wire in Chakdadpur village under Dhubil Union of Raiganj upazila in Sirajganj. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Faridul Islam, 35, son of Md. Gaziur Rahman Gazi of the same village.

According to local sources, Faridul attempted to remove the bamboo from the electric wire using a machete when he accidentally came into contact with electricity and was severely injured. Locals rescued him and took him to Raiganj Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. The news spread quickly, casting a pall of grief over the area as relatives mourned his death.

Officer-in-Charge of Salanga Police Station Md. Aslam said police visited the scene and filed an unnatural death (UD) case regarding the incident.

Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam stated that the government will not undertake any project that undermines national interests. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after inspecting operational activities at Chattogram port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The minister said global terminal operator DP World has submitted a proposal to manage the NCT, which the government is currently reviewing. He emphasized that any decision will prioritize the interests of the country and port workers.

Alam described the NCT as a fully functional terminal that has progressed with time, noting that the government is analyzing whether to expand its capacity independently or through a foreign operator. He said the evaluation focuses on how national and workers’ interests can be safeguarded if foreign operators are involved. Referring to past protests over foreign operator appointments, he added that if national interests outweigh other concerns, the government will coordinate with workers to reach consensus.

The minister also said that all procurement methods, including open tender, G2G, and DPM, are valid, and DP World’s proposal is under review through the G2G process. If national interests are not protected, the government will switch to open tender and announce a decision soon.

Chattogram City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has declared that no new structures, including hospitals, will be allowed in the CRB area of the city. He made the statement on Sunday morning while inaugurating a special canal and drain cleaning program at Jamal Khan Lichutola, responding to journalists’ questions about the issue.

The mayor said he had discussed the matter with a government minister the previous day, emphasizing that cutting trees and building new facilities in CRB would not be acceptable to the people of Chattogram. According to him, the minister agreed with this position. Shahadat added that the existing old hospital in the area could be renovated or rebuilt into a modern facility since it currently receives few patients.

He further mentioned that plans for a dental college and a full-fledged medical hospital and college have been proposed, possibly using the old building. Meanwhile, the ‘CRB Rokkha Moncho’ group held a human chain and protest program on Sunday morning against what they described as a conspiracy to construct a hospital in the CRB area.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has announced an increase in the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The price of a 12-kilogram cylinder has been raised from Tk 1,728 to Tk 1,940. The new rate takes effect from the evening of Sunday, April 19, 2026, according to a message issued by the commission.

This marks the second price adjustment in April 2026. The previous revision took place on April 2, when the 12-kg cylinder price was set at Tk 1,728. The latest change represents a Tk 212 increase per cylinder at the consumer level.

The BERC did not provide further details in the announcement, including reasons for the price hike or its expected duration.

A suspected robber named Dulal was killed in a mob beating in Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur district after attempting a burglary at the home of college teacher Nazmul Hasan on Saturday night. Police said Dulal was from Hizla upazila in Barishal. The incident occurred when an eight-member gang broke into Nazmul’s house in Kalaradoania village, held the family hostage, and attacked Nazmul and his son Mishkat with sharp weapons.

According to local accounts, Nazmul retaliated, and when his wife screamed for help, neighbors surrounded the house. The robbers fired blank shots and fled, but Dulal was caught and beaten to death by locals. Nazirpur police chief Tariqul Islam confirmed that preparations were underway to file a case and efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining gang members.

Nazmul and his son, both seriously injured, were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police said Dulal had 15 previous cases filed against him in different police stations.

The Sylhet Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (48 BGB) conducted coordinated anti-smuggling operations across several border areas in Sylhet, seizing goods valued at approximately 4.87 million taka. Acting on confidential information, the raids took place in locations including Banglabazar, Sonalichela, Sripur, Domdomia, Protapur, Songram, Tamabil, Sonarhat, and Bisnakandi Border Outposts.

According to BGB, the confiscated items included Indian cattle, cumin, sugar, tires, saris, blankets, chocolates, creams, olive oil, facewash, soap, mehendi, biscuits, bidi, and liquor. Additionally, betel nuts and catfish were seized while being smuggled out of Bangladesh. The total estimated market value of the seized goods was reported to be 4,868,640 taka.

The 48 BGB commander stated that regular patrols and intelligence operations are being maintained to strengthen border security and prevent smuggling and drug trafficking in the Sylhet region.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association submitted a memorandum on Sunday, April 19, to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam and Shipping Minister, demanding the reformation of the committees responsible for determining bus and launch fares. The organization argued that previous administrations, in collaboration with private transport owners and labor leaders, had monopolized fare-setting decisions, causing severe hardship for passengers.

The memorandum stated that despite the formation of a new government by the BNP, it continues to follow the policies of the previous regime. The association expressed concern that the recent 15 percent or Tk 15 per liter increase in fuel prices has worsened the situation for commuters. It also noted that the ministries lack expert panels for fare determination, allowing influential transport leaders to impose fares unilaterally.

The association urged the government to prioritize public interest by restructuring the fare committees to include representatives from passenger and consumer groups, following international consumer rights laws, and to ensure fair fare adjustments that protect passenger welfare.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman visited the Alikadam cantonment under the Bandarban region last Saturday and formally inaugurated the newly established Army Hill and Jungle Warfare School. The visit and inauguration were confirmed in a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) on Sunday.

The training institution has been set up to enhance the army’s specialized capabilities for conducting professional operations in both plain and difficult hilly or jungle-covered areas. Through this facility, army personnel will receive specialized training to strengthen their physical fitness, mental resilience, and tactical skills for effective performance in challenging and risky environments.

Senior military officials, including the General Officer Commanding of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, the Engineer-in-Chief, the Adjutant General, and the General Officer Commanding of the 24th Infantry Division and Area Commander of Chattogram Area, were present during the visit.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that more than 150 Hezbollah members were killed within 24 hours before a ceasefire agreement came into effect. In a post on Telegram, the IDF stated that the attacks were carried out across Lebanon targeting various military sites. According to the statement, around 300 military installations, including command centers and weapons depots, were struck during the operation.

The IDF also claimed that several Hezbollah commanders were among those killed in the strikes. Meanwhile, during the ceasefire period, two Israeli soldiers were reported killed in southern Lebanon over the past two days. The IDF confirmed that this brings the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since the conflict began to 15.

The report, citing the BBC, did not provide independent verification of the Israeli claims or details about Hezbollah’s response to the attacks.