Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that both city corporations are implementing various measures to transform the capital into a clean and green city. He made the statement on Wednesday morning while responding to a question from a member of parliament. According to him, Dhaka North City Corporation plans to plant 500,000 trees over the next five years, and initiatives are underway to achieve zero waste management across the city.

The Prime Minister added that efforts are being made to gradually develop basic facilities across the country to reduce pressure on the capital. He also mentioned that 37,814 women heads of families have received financial support through the Family Card program. The government will not print new money for the Family Card or Farmer Card schemes.

Rahman further stated that the government plans to expand the existing Mother and Child Support Program by increasing financial benefits and the number of beneficiaries, and by including prenatal, postnatal, vaccination, and institutional delivery services.

U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed allies to prepare for a long-term sanctions strategy against Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The plan aims to maintain economic pressure on Iran by restricting ship movements at its ports instead of resuming military attacks.

The report states that Trump is demanding Iran suspend uranium enrichment for at least 20 years and remains firm on this position. He reportedly believes that maintaining sanctions is less risky than pursuing alternative measures. Iranian officials have informed mediators that they need more time for consultations before submitting a revised proposal.

The report, citing Middle East Eye, indicates that the sanctions approach is intended to sustain pressure on Iran’s economy and oil exports while avoiding direct military confrontation.

International oil prices continued to climb following reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump instructed his aides to extend sanctions on Iranian ports. According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials said the move aims to increase pressure on Iran’s economy and restrict its oil exports by limiting ship movements at the country’s ports.

In global trading, Brent crude for June delivery rose by 52 cents, or 0.47 percent, reaching $111.78 per barrel as of 01:54 GMT. The July contract, which saw higher trading volumes, increased to $104.84 per barrel, up 0.4 percent. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for June delivery gained 57 cents, or 0.57 percent, to $100.50 per barrel after a 3.7 percent rise in the previous session. Prices have now risen in seven of the past eight trading days.

Analysts cited continued Middle East tensions and supply uncertainties as factors likely to sustain the upward trend in global energy markets.

Israeli forces have continued their attacks in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s National News Agency (NNA). The report said that early morning airstrikes targeted the town of Hanine, destroying several houses. Overnight explosions were also heard in Naqoura, while air and ground assaults were reported in Khiam.

NNA stated that the ongoing strikes across several southern areas have spread fear among residents. The situation remains tense, and there are concerns that conditions could deteriorate further if the attacks persist.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as a source, did not provide details on casualties or official responses from either side.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC carried out a series of raids on April 27, 2026, targeting illegal gas connections across several areas including Tongi, Gazipur, Keraniganj, Narayanganj, and Munshiganj. The operations were led by officials from the company along with executive magistrates and local administrations. In Tongi, 37 illegal connections were disconnected and about 200 feet of unauthorized pipeline were removed. In Keraniganj, an illegal factory connection was cut off, resulting in a fine of 100,000 taka and prevention of gas theft worth over 1.2 million taka per month.

Further operations in Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Munshiganj led to the removal of hundreds of illegal domestic and industrial connections, confiscation of pipes, burners, and regulators, and additional fines. In Narayanganj, illegal connections at lime and casting factories were dismantled, preventing daily gas theft worth approximately 277,000 taka. In Munshiganj, illegal gas use at a madrasa and nearby residences was stopped, with multiple appliances and fittings seized.

According to the press release, these coordinated drives are part of Titas Gas’s ongoing campaign to curb unauthorized gas use and recover government revenue losses.

The Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has been accused of erasing July-themed graffiti from the walls of the Government Alia Madrasa area in Chowhatta as part of a city beautification drive ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit on May 2. The removal has triggered political and social debate in the city, with student activists expressing anger over what they call an attempt to erase history.

According to local sources, SCC has been repainting and cleaning key city areas, including Chowhatta and Alia Madrasa, where the graffiti was replaced with white paint. In response, members of the National Chhatra Shakti gathered at the site on Tuesday night, protesting and writing new slogans reading “We will give our lives, not July.”

In a joint statement, the organization’s Sylhet leaders accused SCC of deliberately removing murals commemorating historic July events and demanded their restoration within 24 hours, warning of a mass movement if ignored. The city corporation has not issued any official comment on the matter.

Severe riverbank erosion along the Brahmaputra River in Roumari upazila of Kurigram has destroyed about one hundred hectares of farmland over the past 18 days, leaving more than 700 families homeless. The river has also devoured two government primary schools and several other structures, forcing residents to spend sleepless nights in fear. Many displaced families are now living in makeshift shelters along roadsides or on others’ land after losing their homes multiple times.

Local residents expressed deep frustration over the lack of effective government measures despite the erosion continuing for months. Victims described repeated losses of homes and land, with many widows, elderly people, and persons with disabilities struggling to survive. A union council member confirmed that a list of 720 affected families has been submitted to the chairman, but no action has yet been taken.

An official from the Kurigram Water Development Board said the matter has been reported to higher authorities and that work will begin once funds are allocated, though no emergency budget is currently available.

Investigators in Florida have uncovered alarming details in the murder of two Bangladeshi PhD students, Jamil Ahmed Limon and Nahida Sultana Brishti, who were last seen in Tampa about two weeks before Limon’s body was found. Police have arrested Limon’s roommate, Hisham Abughurbeh, charging him with premeditated murder using a weapon. A judge has ordered that he remain in custody without bail during trial proceedings.

Court filings show a detailed timeline of Abughurbeh’s actions before and after the killings, including purchases of duct tape, garbage bags, and lighter fuel, as well as disturbing ChatGPT queries about disposing of a body. Surveillance footage and phone data placed him near the victims’ last known locations. Evidence recovered from a landfill and a bridge linked him to the crime, including blood-stained items and a bag containing Limon’s remains.

Florida’s attorney general has added the case to an ongoing criminal investigation involving OpenAI, after prosecutors cited the suspect’s use of ChatGPT. OpenAI stated it is cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Continuous heavy rainfall in Sunamganj has caused embankments to break, allowing water to enter the haor areas and triggering fears of flooding. Farmers are struggling to harvest ripe boro paddy as waterlogging and labor shortages worsen the situation. In several places, harvesters cannot enter the fields due to standing water, and harvested paddy cannot be dried because of the lack of sunlight.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, boro paddy was cultivated on 223,511 hectares across 137 haors this season, with a production target of about 1.4 million metric tons worth around Tk 5,000 crore. So far, 53,640 hectares have been harvested, but waterlogging and labor shortages persist. The Water Development Board reported that 702 embankment projects covering 602 kilometers were built or repaired this year at a cost of Tk 145 crore, yet the structures have weakened under continuous rain.

Local reports from Madhyanagar indicate that a rural embankment in Banshikunda South Union collapsed early Tuesday, flooding nearby fields. Farmers fear losing half of their standing crops as repair efforts remain stalled, and officials are working with farmers to harvest vulnerable fields quickly.

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the focal point of negotiations to end the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Following attacks on Iran, Tehran closed the vital waterway, allowing only limited passage under its supervision. This move disrupted global energy supplies and threatened the world economy, particularly affecting Gulf nations. Despite repeated warnings, U.S. President Donald Trump failed to compel Iran to reopen the strait, while Tehran insists on maintaining control and collecting tolls even after the war.

Washington responded by imposing counter-sanctions on Iranian vessels, stating these would be lifted only if Iran signed a ceasefire deal. Tehran rejected talks under such conditions but sent a new peace proposal via Pakistan, excluding nuclear issues. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the offer. Meanwhile, a liquefied natural gas tanker crossed the strait for the first time in two months, signaling limited maritime activity. The UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ added further instability to the energy market.

Russia defended Iran’s right to control navigation in the strait, accusing Western nations of hypocrisy and piracy, while Iran’s defense ministry declared that the U.S. can no longer impose its policies on independent states.

FIFA has removed a referee from its 2026 World Cup panel following his arrest in the United Kingdom over allegations of sexually assaulting a minor. According to British media outlet The Sun, the 30-year-old match official was detained by London’s Metropolitan Police while staying at a hotel during a European competition. He was later released on bail, but the investigation remains ongoing.

FIFA responded swiftly, stating that the allegation is being treated with utmost seriousness and that the official will not be assigned to any FIFA competitions until the investigation concludes. UEFA has taken the same stance, suspending him from officiating in its matches as well. The referee’s name has not been disclosed due to the ongoing investigation.

The decision comes shortly after FIFA announced the list of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11.

Bangladesh today observes April 29 as a day of mourning, remembering the catastrophic cyclone that struck the country on this day in 1991. The storm, known as Cyclone Gorky, hit the Chattogram coast with winds reaching 155 miles per hour, destroying vast coastal regions and killing more than 200,000 people. Millions were left homeless, and property losses were estimated at two billion dollars. The cyclone affected 19 districts and 102 upazilas, with the worst damage reported in Sandwip, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Kutubdia, Bhola, and Teknaf.

The storm originated as a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal on April 22, 1991, intensified over the following days, and made landfall on April 29. Many residents failed to reach shelters despite warnings, leading to the high death toll. The tidal surge swept away crops, livestock, and naval and air force infrastructure in coastal and port areas.

Even after 35 years, large parts of Bangladesh’s coastal belt remain vulnerable, with fragile embankments in Kutubdia, Maheshkhali, Pekua, Eidgaon, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, and Teknaf posing ongoing risks to residents.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has selected 72,341 income tax returns for audit for the 2023–24 tax year using an automated system based on risk-based criteria. The announcement was published on the NBR website on Tuesday. This marks the first time income tax audits are being chosen through the same automated process previously used for VAT audits, where 600 returns were reviewed earlier in April. NBR stated that the automated selection ensures transparency and fulfills a long-standing demand from civil society.

For years, taxpayers and company officials had accused NBR officers of selecting the same individuals or firms for audits repeatedly, allegedly for harassment or financial gain. In response, NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan had suspended manual audit selections until an automated system was introduced. The new system allocates between 20 and 200 audits per tax circle, depending on the prevalence of tax evasion. A tax lawyer noted that while automation improves transparency, it may still miss cases where individuals underreport income despite large assets.

The automated audit selection is expected to enhance fairness and strengthen revenue collection by reducing human interference in the process.

Four union parishad chairmen in Chuadanga’s Alamdanga upazila, previously suspended from their duties, have been reinstated following a High Court directive. The district administration canceled earlier decisions to appoint administrators to the four unions and issued a new order restoring the chairmen to their posts. The order, signed by Deputy Commissioner Lutfun Nahar, was issued in compliance with the court’s instruction.

The reinstated chairmen are Hasanuzzaman Saroar of Chitla Union, Mojahidur Rahman Jowardar of Khadimpur Union, Tarikul Islam of Daukhi Union, and Tafsir Ahmed Mallik Lal of Khaskarra Union. The High Court had earlier suspended the administrative appointment order for six months on March 12, 2026, allowing the chairmen to continue their duties. The administrators had been appointed on November 27, 2024, due to the chairmen’s absence.

Following the reinstatement, the chairmen expressed their commitment to serve the public in accordance with the court’s directive. The Alamdanga Upazila Nirbahi Officer stated that the reinstatement was carried out based on the court’s order and the divisional commissioner’s investigation report.

During a state dinner at the White House, Britain’s King Charles III presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a historic submarine bell named ‘HMS Trump’. The bell came from a Royal Navy submarine that served in the Pacific during World War II. The King described the gift as a symbol of the two nations’ ‘bright future’. President Trump, in turn, called the U.K.–U.S. relationship unlike any other friendship in the world.

Earlier, King Charles addressed the U.S. Congress, emphasizing that the partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States is now more important than ever. He recalled that his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, had spoken in the same chamber in 1991. Buckingham Palace later said the bell symbolizes a new chapter of friendship between the two countries and evokes memories of the Liberty Bell gift during Queen Elizabeth’s 1976 U.S. visit.

The King also highlighted the importance of NATO and AUKUS alliances in strengthening technological and military cooperation, while noting the upcoming FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the U.S. and Canada as a shared moment of pride.