Newly elected Member of Parliament Advocate Emran Ahmad Chowdhury from Sylhet-6 has announced the construction of a long-demanded bridge over the Korti Canal in Alinagar Union, Beanibazar upazila. The announcement came after 55 years of unfulfilled promises since Bangladesh’s independence. On Saturday afternoon, the MP visited the proposed site between Patan and Fulmalik villages along with the Upazila Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to initiate the project.

Local residents expressed gratitude to the MP, noting that previous representatives had ignored their demand. Around ten villages, including Fulmalik, Ghagwa, Gobindasree, Deulgram, Patan, Chandragram, Kotlipara, and Angura, currently rely on a risky bamboo bridge to cross the canal for daily activities, schooling, and healthcare access. The area hosts six primary and three secondary schools, and students often face accidents while crossing.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to ease travel between Beanibazar and Golapganj upazila centers and significantly improve local living conditions.

Police recovered the body of a brick kiln worker named Mintu Mia, aged 48, from a paddy field in Akartoma area along the Paniyala road in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur district on Saturday afternoon. The discovery was made around 2 p.m. after local police received information and arrived at the scene. Mintu Mia was a resident of Char Motua village in Noakhali Sadar upazila and worked at Fahad Bricks Manufacturer in Ramganj.

According to police and local sources, the landowner found the body while inspecting his paddy field. The victim’s mouth was found tied with a towel. Ramganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Firoz Uddin Chowdhury confirmed the incident and said the body had been sent to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital morgue for examination.

Further details about the cause of death or possible suspects were not mentioned in the report.

A total of 34 bodies of Bangladeshi expatriate workers were brought back to the country on Saturday. According to the Expatriate Welfare Desk at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, 30 of the bodies arrived from Kuwait on a chartered Kuwait Airways flight in the evening. Four more bodies, two each from Malaysia and Libya, arrived on separate flights the same day.

Officials from the Expatriate Welfare Desk said that repeated flight cancellations caused by the ongoing war situation in the Middle East had delayed the repatriation of the deceased workers. The bodies had been scheduled to return earlier but were stranded due to the disruptions. Later, arrangements were made to bring them back on special flights.

An assistant director of the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board confirmed that the flight problems linked to the regional conflict had caused the delay, and the bodies were eventually transported on separate flights to Bangladesh.

BNP activists in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar have accused their own union leadership of attempting to rehabilitate a former chairman allegedly aligned with the Awami League. The allegations were made at a press conference held on April 18 at the Cox’s Bazar Press Club, where local BNP and affiliated organization members demanded the dissolution of the current Rashidnagar Union BNP committee and the formation of a new one.

Speakers at the event claimed that current union BNP president Mosleh Uddin and acting general secretary Ahmad Nabi were creating divisions within the party and damaging its image through unethical activities. They alleged that the two leaders were trying to reinstate former chairman Shah Alam, who was previously removed amid accusations of violence, land grabbing, and drug-related crimes. The activists said Shah Alam’s past actions, including alleged attacks and cases against BNP-Jamaat members, had caused deep resentment among grassroots workers.

The participants urged the party’s central leadership to cancel the current committee and stop any move to reinstate Shah Alam, warning that larger protests would follow if their demands were ignored.

Prime Minister’s Economic and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said Bangladesh’s people are becoming hostage to IMF loans due to past bailout decisions made under tough conditions. Speaking at a seminar at the Economic Reporters Forum office in Dhaka’s Paltan on Saturday, he claimed the previous government concealed the true economic crisis and pursued nepotistic policies. The event focused on economic stability, fiscal capacity, and the government’s 180-day action plan.

Titumir emphasized that the current administration inherited a fragile economy, with remittance inflows sustaining growth rather than structural reforms. He outlined five pillars of the government’s manifesto, including state reform, equitable development, and institutional strengthening. He also called for better coordination between fiscal and monetary policies and expressed confidence in Bangladesh Bank’s independence. Economist Mustafizur Rahman identified three major tests for the government: managing inherited crises, maintaining policy autonomy amid IMF conditions and geopolitical pressures, and ensuring inclusive growth.

Speakers from the garment and export sectors highlighted energy shortages, inconsistent policies, and declining exports as key obstacles to investment and employment recovery.

Battery-run rickshaw and van drivers in Domar upazila of Nilphamari blocked a road on Saturday morning to protest toll collection. The demonstration began around 11:30 a.m. when drivers gathered in the town center, alleging harassment in the name of tolls. During an argument, toll collector Abdur Rashid was beaten by the protesters. The blockade continued for about four hours, disrupting traffic in the area.

Drivers claimed they had long been subjected to harassment by those collecting tolls, including threats and confiscation of vehicle keys if payments were not made. Leaseholder Shariful Islam Pappu stated that the municipality had leased the right to collect tolls from auto-rickshaws and vans operating within its jurisdiction, and that each toll point had designated personnel. Domar Upazila Executive Officer Shayla Saeed Tonni said that extortion would not be tolerated and that only lawful municipal procedures would continue.

Authorities indicated that steps would be taken to ensure proper regulation of toll collection and to prevent further incidents of harassment or violence.

At least eight oil and gas tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz after Iran declared the reopening of the key trade route during a temporary ceasefire in the Middle East conflict. Ship-tracking data confirmed the movement, marking the first significant passage since the strait was closed by Iranian forces.

According to tracking firm Kpler, the vessels included one crude oil tanker, four liquefied petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers, and one classified as an oil product ship. Another platform, Marine Traffic, showed several crude oil tankers still stationed near Iran’s Larak Island, which serves as a checkpoint for ships exiting the Persian Gulf and remains under Iranian blockade.

The closure of the strait had left hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf, sharply increasing transport costs. Many captains had avoided the area due to fears of attacks or mines, but the temporary opening allowed limited passage for some vessels.

United Medical College Hospital, a flagship institution of United Healthcare, has introduced a special health service initiative for Hajj pilgrims to ensure their well-being. A dedicated health service center has been set up at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, offering free primary healthcare and essential medicines directly to pilgrims before their departure.

Located on 100 Feet Madani Avenue, the hospital’s initiative allows travelers to undergo health check-ups before boarding flights, helping to reduce health risks during the long journey. The service center will remain open 24 hours a day from April 18, the date of the first Hajj flight, until the last flight departs.

According to the organizers, the initiative reflects a commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible and ensuring the safety and wellness of pilgrims. They also expressed hope that similar programs will continue in the future to support travelers’ health needs.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested an auto-rickshaw driver named Sagar Sheikh Babu, aged 37, for allegedly killing a security guard in Dhaka’s Pallabi residential area. The arrest was announced at a press conference held on Saturday afternoon at the PBI Dhaka Metro North office in West Agargaon.

According to PBI Additional DIG Enayet Hossain Mannan, the incident occurred on April 13 around 1 p.m. when Sagar Sheikh Babu attempted to enter the residential area without prior permission. Security guard Salahuddin stopped him, leading to an argument. Enraged, the driver physically assaulted the elderly guard, striking him repeatedly on the head and face. Salahuddin lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital, where he died the next day. Following the incident, the victim’s wife, Halima Begum, filed a case with Pallabi Police Station.

Based on witness statements and CCTV footage, investigators identified and arrested the suspect early Friday from Mirpur Section-11. The rickshaw used during the incident was also seized.

District Detective Branch (DB) police in Noakhali Sadar upazila arrested four individuals with 1,400 liters of illegally stored diesel and a red voucher vehicle. The arrests took place late on Friday, April 17, following a raid based on secret information. The detainees were identified as Md. Rashed, Nasir Uddin, Shihab Uddin, and Md. Maksud, all residents of different areas within the upazila.

According to police sources, the operation was conducted under the direction of the district superintendent of police and led by Sub-Inspector Helal Uddin. Acting on intelligence that diesel was being hoarded for sale at inflated prices, the DB team raided Abdul Malek Oil Store in Uday Sadhur Hat South Bazar of Char Motua Union around 11:45 p.m. The team seized the diesel and the vehicle during the operation.

District DB Officer-in-Charge Mohin Uddin confirmed that a case under the Special Powers Act has been filed at Sudharam Model Police Station, and the detainees were sent to court on Saturday afternoon.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced an urgent press conference to address current political and organizational issues. According to the party, the event will take place on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Level 15 of Rupayan Tower in Banglamotor, Dhaka. Senior leaders including the party’s convener, member secretary, and spokesperson are expected to attend and deliver key statements on the prevailing political situation and internal matters.

The NCP has extended a special invitation to media representatives to attend the conference. The party stated that it aims to present a clear message regarding its stance and future course of action in the context of the country’s current circumstances.

The announcement comes amid ongoing political discussions in Bangladesh, with the NCP seeking to clarify its position and organizational direction through this event.

Doctors in Khulna have expressed strong anger over the forced resignation of Dr. Rafiqul Haque Bablu, chairman of the trustee board of BNSB Eye Hospital. The incident occurred after a mob allegedly compelled him to step down. At a human chain event held on Saturday, April 18, in front of the BMA building at Satrasta intersection, the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) demanded his reinstatement by Tuesday, April 21, and action against local BNP leaders involved in the incident. They also called for an end to undue interference in the hospital’s trustee board, warning that doctors would begin a work stoppage, except for emergency services, if their demands were not met.

Speakers at the event said that on April 13, Khulna-5 MP Ali Asgar Lobi visited the hospital with several local BNP leaders, whose followers created chaos that led to Dr. Bablu’s resignation. They claimed that Dr. Bablu had taken administrative steps to curb irregularities at the hospital, which angered those benefiting from corruption and prompted the orchestrated incident.

The protest was chaired by Dr. Bablu himself and conducted by city DAB president Dr. Mostafa Kamal, with several central and local leaders addressing the gathering.

The National Moon Sighting Committee of Bangladesh announced on Saturday that the moon for the Islamic month of Zilkad, 1447 Hijri, was not sighted anywhere in the country. As a result, the month of Shawwal will complete 30 days on Sunday, and the counting of Zilkad will begin on Monday. The decision was made during a meeting held at the Baitul Mukarram office of the Islamic Foundation in Dhaka, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Munshi Alauddin Al Azad.

The committee reached its conclusion after reviewing reports from all district administrations, the Islamic Foundation’s headquarters and regional offices, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and the Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO). Senior officials and religious scholars, including the Director General of the Islamic Foundation, A. Salam Khan, and the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Mufti Abdul Malek, attended the meeting.

The announcement formally sets the beginning of Zilkad in Bangladesh’s Islamic calendar, aligning national observances with the lunar cycle confirmed by the committee.

A BNP leader in Rangpur’s Badarganj allegedly assaulted a mosque muezzin and two others after they assisted a mobile court during an anti-illegal sand extraction drive. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at Nagerhat area by the Jamunashwari River, where the mobile court seized and disabled dredging equipment. When the court sought local assistance, muezzin Nur Amin and Jamaat leader Tarajul Islam responded, prompting anger from BNP leader Ohidul Islam and his associates.

Witnesses said Ohidul Islam, the union BNP vice-president, led the attack along with several men, beating Nur Amin near Kutubia Dakhil Madrasa and dragging him from a mosque where he sought refuge. On the way to the hospital, Tarajul Islam and Imam Rowshan Ali were also beaten. Locals accused the BNP leader of extortion, land grabbing, and illegal sand trading, saying his behavior worsened after August 5.

Badarganj BNP president Professor Paritosh Chakraborty stated that the party would take organizational action if written complaints were filed. Attempts to reach Ohidul Islam by phone were unsuccessful.

The United States has outlined several reasons that could lead to the cancellation of student visas. In a message issued on Saturday, the US Embassy in Dhaka stated that a student visa may be revoked if a student discontinues studies, remains absent from classes, or withdraws from their academic program without informing their educational institution. The embassy warned that such actions could also affect eligibility for future US visas.

The embassy urged all international students to maintain their lawful status by adhering to the conditions of their visas. It emphasized that compliance with visa regulations is essential to avoid complications that might impact their stay or future opportunities in the United States.

The advisory serves as a reminder for students to remain in good academic standing and communicate promptly with their institutions regarding any changes in their study plans.