A mobile court in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj seized six drums of illegally transported diesel and fined one person. The operation took place on Monday under the direction of Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Mohammad Raihanul Islam. Shahjalal Sabuj, 42, was fined 10,000 taka after failing to produce valid documents for the diesel found in a pickup truck.

According to court sources, Ullapara Model Police conducted the raid based on a tip-off near the old bus stand area of Shyamlipara along the Dhaka–Pabna highway. The seized diesel was later sold at government-fixed prices through the Ullapara filling station, and the proceeds will be deposited into the government treasury, officials said.

Authorities stated that the action was part of efforts to curb illegal fuel transportation and ensure compliance with fuel distribution regulations in the region.

Iranian snooker player Hossein Vafaei advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Snooker Championship after a dramatic 13–12 victory over top seed Judd Trump at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Monday. The win marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and secured Vafaei’s first-ever appearance in the last eight of the championship.

Vafaei, ranked 32nd in the world, described the triumph as one of the best of his career. He dedicated the victory to the people of Iran, saying he wanted to bring them some happiness amid months of war and hardship. The player, known as the “Prince of Persia,” admitted he had been mentally distressed by the ongoing conflict and had even considered withdrawing from the tournament.

Having come through the qualifying rounds, Vafaei pledged to continue giving his best to bring more joy to his war-affected compatriots as the championship progresses.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Titas upazila branch has launched a humanitarian initiative to assist SSC and Dakhil examinees in Cumilla’s Titas upazila. The help desk began operating on Tuesday morning in front of Batakandi Government Saheb Ali Abul Hossain Memorial High School examination center. Members of the organization remained on duty throughout the day to support students arriving for their exams.

Through the help desk, students received free pens, purified water, chocolates, tissues, and Islamic knowledge-based books. The initiative reportedly brought comfort and satisfaction among examinees. Before entering the exam hall, Shibir members also offered encouraging words to boost students’ confidence.

Organizers stated that the goal was to ensure a smooth and supportive environment for SSC, Dakhil, and equivalent examinees. They pledged to continue similar welfare activities in the future and expressed good wishes for all students’ success.

A 22-year-old man named Jannatul Ferdous entered the runway of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka early Tuesday morning without facing any security barriers. The incident occurred at 6:21 a.m. when he accessed the runway through a gate of the domestic terminal. Airport security personnel later detained him and handed him over to the authorities. According to initial questioning, the man said he came to receive his uncle and approached the aircraft area after the flight was delayed.

Airport Executive Director Group Captain Ragib Samad confirmed that the man reached the apron area through a domestic gate before being detained and sent to a magistrate court. The breach took place a day after a nationwide security alert was issued for all airports.

Officials noted that the incident happened despite heightened surveillance and reinforced security measures at key points of the airport following warnings from police headquarters about possible militant threats to vital installations. The breach has raised questions about the effectiveness of current airport security protocols.

Thakurani Canal, once a vital waterway flowing through wards 3, 4, and 5 of Mongla Port Municipality in Bagerhat, is now facing an existential crisis due to encroachment, landfilling, and pollution. The canal, officially 2.10 kilometers long and 30 to 40 feet wide, has been severely narrowed, with parts buried under multi-story buildings, shops, and permanent structures. Although government records list 31 encroachers, locals claim the actual number is higher, alleging that influential individuals have built illegal structures beyond the official list.

Mongla Citizens’ Society president Nur Alam Sheikh described the canal as the lifeline of Mongla town and warned that the city’s survival is at risk if the canal is not freed from illegal occupation. Upazila Executive Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi stated that verification of documents and boundary demarcation has begun, and visible action against illegal occupiers will follow soon. State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward encroachment on canals, rivers, and water bodies.

Authorities indicated that enforcement measures are imminent to restore the canal’s natural flow and protect Mongla’s urban environment.

Kishoreganj-4 Member of Parliament Fazlur Rahman made strong remarks during a parliamentary session on Tuesday afternoon, saying that although the descendants of collaborators still exist, freedom fighters like him are also alive. He criticized opposition members, noting that some call him 'Faza Pagla' while claiming to be civilized.

Rahman further stated that an opposition leader identified himself as belonging to a freedom fighter and martyr family while being associated with Jamaat-e-Islami, which he described as a 'double crime.' He argued that members of freedom fighter or martyr families should not be involved with Jamaat.

Referring to events after August 5 under the Yunus government, Rahman said that cultural activities such as songs, plays, and Lalon music could not take place in front of the Shilpakala Academy, claiming that dark forces had destroyed everything.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the Bangladesh government is determined to make the Coast Guard a modern, strong, and time-befitting force to ensure security in the country’s maritime and coastal areas. He made the remarks on Tuesday at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, during the celebration of the 31st founding anniversary and Coast Guard Day 2026.

The minister recalled that the force was established in 1995 under the leadership of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with the motto “Guardian at Sea.” He praised the Coast Guard’s recent successes in curbing drug trafficking, human smuggling, and piracy, as well as protecting forest and fishery resources in the Sundarbans, including 29 successful operations in the past year. He also highlighted the addition of three surveillance drones and ongoing construction of one multirole response vessel and two offshore patrol vessels funded by JICA.

Ahmed announced plans to procure bulletproof high-speed boats through Khulna Shipyard and to add helicopters and a maritime surveillance system in the future. The government is also working to increase the force’s manpower to 10,000 members.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has filed trademark applications in the United States to protect her voice and image from artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfakes. The filings, submitted on Friday to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, include two audio clips of Swift’s voice and a stage photograph showing her in a sequined outfit holding a pink guitar. The applications list her company, TAS Rights Management, as the owner, though neither Swift’s representatives nor her lawyers have commented publicly.

Trademark attorney Josh Gerben explained that while existing publicity rights laws offer some protection, trademarks could provide additional security. He noted that registering a voice as a trademark is a relatively new concept and remains largely untested in court. Previously, artists relied on copyright law to protect their work, but AI’s ability to mimic voices without using original recordings has created new legal gaps.

Experts cited in the report said Swift’s move follows a surge in AI-generated fake videos, ads, and misleading content using her likeness, and could set a precedent for digital identity protection among celebrities.

Students of Jagannath University (JnU) formed a human chain on Tuesday at the university’s sculpture square demanding the arrest and trial of those responsible for the murder of Bullet Bairagi, a fifth-batch finance student and customs officer. The event was organized by the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and joined by general students and leaders from various student organizations.

During the demonstration, JnUCSU Vice President Md. Riazul Islam said that ordinary citizens have no security in the country and blamed the administration for failing to protect lives. He warned of a tougher street movement if the killers were not identified and brought to justice. JnU Debating Society President Main Al Mubashshir criticized the government for failing to ensure public safety despite holding a large parliamentary majority, while Islamic Studies student Ashiqur Rahman Akash questioned the moral right of the Home Minister to remain in office if security cannot be guaranteed.

Speakers called on both the government and opposition to end political theatrics and urged citizens to raise their voices for justice and safety.

A 35-year-old man named Roni Chowdhury died from electrocution at a poultry farm in Boalkhali upazila of Chattogram on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. at Nandipara in the 9th ward of Ahlā Karaldenga Union. Roni, son of the late Bulbul Chowdhury of Babul Master Bari, was reportedly electrocuted while trying to turn off an electrical switch at the farm.

According to local residents, Roni was injured around 8:30 a.m. and was immediately taken to the hospital by his family members. At the Patiya Upazila Health Complex, the attending physician, Dr. Muntahina, confirmed that he had already died before reaching the hospital. The doctor declared him dead upon examination.

The report did not mention any further investigation or official statement regarding the incident.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed informed the National Parliament that since the current government assumed office on February 17, a total of 464 murder cases and 666 rape cases have been filed across Bangladesh. He said 604 suspects have been arrested in murder cases and 530 in rape cases, with 11 and 71 of them respectively released on bail. The statement came during a parliamentary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

Responding to various lawmakers, the minister said investigations into serious crimes such as murder and rape are being conducted intensively to ensure strict punishment. He added that the government’s zero-tolerance policy against crimes like land grabbing, extortion, and illegal activities has led to a decline in such offenses. The minister also detailed police staffing levels, noting that 218,554 positions exist, with 14,500 new posts being created, including 500 ASPs, 4,000 SIs, and 10,000 constables.

He further stated that the government remains committed to maintaining law and order and that the report of the Disappearance Commission is preserved with the National Human Rights Commission.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed multiple times that a regime change has already occurred in Iran, asserting that the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top officials brought about this shift. However, reports indicate that Iran’s core institutions of the Islamic Republic remain functional. Following Khamenei’s death, a religious council swiftly appointed his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor.

Iran’s military, security, political, and judicial authorities have reaffirmed their loyalty to the Supreme Leader’s office and the theocratic system. Although the new leader has not yet appeared publicly, several written statements have been released on his behalf. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), established after the 1979 revolution to protect the regime, continues to lead military operations and maintain significant economic influence through control of natural resources.

The IRGC also retains armed control of the streets through the Basij and other paramilitary forces, underscoring the continued strength of Iran’s theocratic governance structure despite leadership changes.

A delegation from Chevron Corporation paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat. The meeting took place on April 28, 2026, and was attended by senior officials from both the government and Chevron.

The Chevron team included Xavier La Rossa, President of the company’s Base Assets and Emerging Countries (BAEC) division, and Eric M. Walker, President of Chevron Bangladesh. On the government side, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, the Prime Minister’s Economic and Planning Affairs Adviser Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit were present.

The source did not provide details about the topics discussed or any outcomes from the meeting.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that establishing the rule of justice is essential to consolidate Bangladesh’s democratic journey. He made the remarks on Tuesday at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Center in Dhaka’s Shahbagh during a discussion marking National Legal Aid Day 2026, organized by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. At the event, lawyers Sayem Khan from Dhaka and Nilima Biswas from Rajshahi received awards from the Prime Minister for their contributions.

Rahman stated that no country can be truly democratic or humane without the rule of law, justice, and human rights. He emphasized that after the end of one and a half decades of authoritarian rule, Bangladesh has resumed its democratic path. The government, he said, is committed to ensuring access to justice for all, particularly for those unable to afford legal assistance, through continued legal aid programs and specific plans.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that justice should not remain confined to legal texts but become a living value reflected in all state policies and institutions. BRAC was recognized for advancing legal aid activities nationwide, with its Executive Director Asif Saleh receiving an award.

A severe shortage of safe drinking water has hit Ramganj upazila in Lakshmipur, with most deep tube wells failing to pump water due to a prolonged drought and a sharp drop in groundwater levels. Residents and business owners are struggling to meet daily needs, as even previously reliable wells have become nearly inoperative. Many are resorting to installing shallow tube wells or fetching water from distant areas.

Local residents report that the municipal water supply is insufficient to meet demand. Shop owners and households are forced to carry water long distances, while some rely on bottled or pond water, raising health concerns. Schools are also affected, with teachers and students facing acute shortages. The municipal engineer said groundwater levels fell significantly after a December 2023 earthquake, reducing water output and increasing costs.

Authorities are working to address the crisis. A new water plant is under construction in Kazirkhil, expected to ease shortages once operational. Officials from the Department of Public Health Engineering and the upazila administration have pledged urgent action and long-term planning to ensure sustainable water supply.