Tensions between Iran and the United States have sharply escalated despite U.S. President Donald Trump extending the ceasefire period. Tehran has blamed Washington’s naval blockade for halting peace negotiations, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained two foreign ships and fired on a third in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s parliament speaker declared that the strait cannot be reopened as long as the blockade remains, calling it a clear violation of the ceasefire.

The White House stated that President Trump has not set a deadline for Iran to submit a peace proposal. Meanwhile, discussions in Washington over the fragile truce between Lebanon and Israel have faced difficulties due to Hezbollah’s absence. Within the U.S., Defense Secretary John Phelan was dismissed and replaced temporarily by Hong Kao, while a Senate motion to limit Trump’s war powers against Iran failed by a 55–46 vote.

The U.S. Central Command reported turning back at least 31 ships as part of the blockade, which Washington says aims to pressure Iran economically into negotiations. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and northern Gaza have also resulted in multiple civilian deaths, including journalists and children.

A court in Ullapara, Sirajganj, has sentenced a man named Faridul Islam to 10 years in prison for involvement in the buying and selling of counterfeit currency. The Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-3, presided over by Judge Nazrul Islam, delivered the verdict on Thursday afternoon. The court also imposed a fine of 20,000 taka, with an additional one-year imprisonment in default of payment. According to the Additional Public Prosecutor Hamidul Islam Dulal, the convict was absconding when the verdict was announced.

The case originated from an incident on May 10, 2023, when Sirajganj Detective Branch police arrested Faridul Islam with 80 counterfeit 1,000-taka notes during a transaction. Sub-Inspector Ishanur Rahman of the Detective Branch filed the case following the arrest. Faridul Islam is the son of Kalachan from Matikura Matpara village in Ullapara upazila.

The ruling concludes a case that began nearly three years earlier, highlighting continued law enforcement efforts against counterfeit currency operations in the region.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of the World Literature Center, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, State Ministers Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khaiyum and Bobby Hajjaj, and Prime Minister’s advisers Mahdi Amin and Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman.

Discussions focused on developing reading habits among students at primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. It was decided that the government and the World Literature Center would work together to encourage reading among students. Senior officials from the World Literature Center and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs were also present at the meeting.

The collaboration aims to strengthen national efforts to promote a culture of reading and intellectual development among young learners across Bangladesh.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol has warned that the ongoing Iran war and continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are severely disrupting global energy flows. In an interview with Reuters, Birol said the world is facing the biggest energy security threat in history as a result of these developments.

Birol explained that the conflict has already removed 13 million barrels of oil per day from the market and caused major disruptions in the supply of key commodities. Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily. He described the current situation as a “dual blockade,” with neither Iran nor the United States allowing ships to enter or leave the strait.

He also warned of growing risks to Europe’s jet fuel supply, noting that the region previously relied on Middle Eastern refineries for about 75 percent of its jet fuel, which has now dropped to almost zero. Europe is seeking alternative supplies from the United States and Nigeria.

Leaders of various labor organizations have called for the formation of a joint oversight committee to monitor the proceedings of the Rana Plaza case. The demand was made on Thursday at a discussion held at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity. The event, titled 'Thirteen Years of Rana Plaza Collapse: Current State of Occupational Health and Safety in the Garment Industry,' was organized by the Industrial Bangladesh Council (IBC).

At the meeting, Ruhul Amin, chairman of the Workers Resource Center, emphasized that the Rana Plaza tragedy claimed 1,137 lives and left 2,500 people permanently disabled, yet no factory owner died—only workers. He urged the formation of a joint committee to ensure the case is concluded swiftly. IBC senior vice president Abul Kalam Azad also stressed the need for such a committee to prevent further worker deaths in factories.

IBC’s women affairs secretary Chaina Rahman demanded justice for the Rana Plaza owner and others involved, while the session was presided over by IBC president and freedom fighter Kutubuddin, with several other labor leaders in attendance.

An allegation has been raised against Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shamima Akter Jahan for slapping a motorcycle garage worker at a fuel station in Lalmonirhat. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at Lubana Filling Station in Chandrapur Union’s Chaparhat Bazar when the UNO reportedly checked a fuel card and found the photo did not match the person presenting it. A video of the incident later spread on social media, drawing widespread criticism across the district.

According to locals, the worker, identified as Nodi, had gone to collect fuel on behalf of a sick college teacher using his card. Nodi claimed the UNO slapped her several times without asking any questions, despite her innocence, and she demanded justice. In response, UNO Shamima Akter Jahan denied the allegation, saying she only took the vehicle key because the card appeared irregular and instructed the worker to contact her office. She added that the key was later returned when the worker’s guardians arrived.

The incident has sparked local outrage and debate over the conduct of administrative officials during public service supervision.

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.