Bangladesh’s Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Anisul Haque announced a government plan to utilize unused land in every district for solar power generation. Speaking on April 26, 2026, at a development dialogue titled “What Kind of Southwest Region Do We Want” at Islamic University, he said the initiative aims to make the country self-sufficient in solar energy and trigger an agricultural revolution in the Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, and Jhenaidah regions. The minister explained that one acre of land could generate one megawatt of electricity, and using 20 acres in a district could produce 20 megawatts, reducing diesel use for irrigation and cutting electricity subsidies.

He added that the project is expected to become visible within six months, according to the government’s technical team. The minister also discussed broader national initiatives, including the second Padma Bridge, agricultural development, education, and employment. He emphasized moving beyond blame-based politics and noted the formation of a ten-member parliamentary committee, with equal representation from the ruling and opposition parties, to address the power and Middle East crises.

He further mentioned that work on the Jhenaidah–Islamic University–Kushtia railway line and repairs to the Khulna–Kushtia highway would begin soon.

The United States has deployed three aircraft carriers to the Middle East for the first time in 23 years, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The arrival of the USS George HW Bush joins the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford, bringing a total of 12 accompanying ships, more than 200 aircraft, and 15,000 soldiers to the region. CENTCOM said the last comparable buildup occurred before the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. The deployment comes amid a fragile ceasefire involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran remain stalled, with Iran demanding the lifting of a US naval blockade as a condition for resuming talks. President Donald Trump extended the truce on Wednesday but maintained the blockade, which Iran has called an “act of war.” In response, Iran reblocked the Strait of Hormuz after briefly reopening it. Trump has indicated no urgency to alter the current situation, claiming it weakens Iran’s economy at minimal cost to the US.

CENTCOM confirmed that 34 vessels have been redirected in the region and that the blockade continues. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel is ready to resume military action against Iran if authorized by the US.

Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians in multiple attacks across Gaza on Friday, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The dead included eight people, among them three civilians, in an attack on a police vehicle in Khan Younis, two police officers in Gaza City, and two others in a house bombing in Beit Lahiya. Gaza’s Ministry of Interior urged the international community to stop Israel’s targeting of local police, saying the forces were working to maintain civilian security.

The ministry condemned the attacks as violations of international law, accusing Israel of systematically killing police officers and worsening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. It said the Khan Younis strike occurred after police intervened to break up a local fight. Hamas described the latest escalation as part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “bloody, fascist approach,” blaming mediators and the international community for failing to enforce the ceasefire.

Although a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump took effect last October, Israel has continued attacks that have killed at least 984 people since then. Reconstruction has not begun, and the international security force envisioned under the truce remains unformed.

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal declared that the practice of taking commissions or 'percentages' from contractors in development projects must end. He made the statement on Friday afternoon while addressing a gathering after inspecting the Paglar Canal excavation project in Kalmakanda upazila of Netrokona. Kamal warned that no irregularities or corruption in development work would be tolerated.

He emphasized his firm stance against corruption and mentioned that their leader Tarique Rahman has also announced a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. Addressing contractors, Kamal instructed them to complete their work within the specified time and maintain the promised quality of materials such as bricks and rods.

The event was presided over by Rangchhati Union Parishad Chairman Anisur Rahman Pathan (Babul), with Upazila Nirbahi Officer S M Mikail Islam attending as a special guest.

A college student was detained in Bogura for allegedly taking a proxy exam on behalf of a Mahila Dal leader during an ongoing SSC examination under Bangladesh Open University. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon at Bogura Zilla School examination center, creating widespread local attention. The detained student, identified as 18-year-old Ishita Akter Tisha, is a second-year higher secondary student at Government Azizul Haque College and a resident of Chakshutrapur in Bogura.

According to police and examination officials, the exam for the Bangla second paper of the SSC (second year) program began at 2 p.m. in room 201, where the registered candidate was Nipa Khatun, joint general secretary of the city Mahila Dal. However, Ishita appeared instead. An invigilator noticed a mismatch between the admit card photo and the examinee’s face, leading to questioning and her eventual confession. She was handed over to the police.

Bogura Sadar Police Station’s officer-in-charge Ibrahim Ali confirmed that Ishita is in custody and admitted she took the exam for her aunt, Nipa Khatun. Legal action will follow upon receipt of a written complaint.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that the current government has an adequate supply of measles vaccines and has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign. He made the statement on Friday afternoon while visiting the 250-bed General Hospital in Munshiganj.

The minister said that the previous two governments failed to conduct regular measles vaccination campaigns, which were supposed to be held every four years. As a result, a large number of children became infected with measles. He attributed the current situation to that negligence. The minister added that the present BNP government has started measles vaccination activities in 30 upazilas across 18 districts.

He also stated that Dr. Ahmad Kabir, the hospital superintendent, was temporarily withdrawn for making an irresponsible statement claiming there was no rabies vaccine. The minister said the statement was incorrect and intentional, and departmental action would be taken. During the visit, the Munshiganj civil surgeon also ordered the withdrawal of a stenotypist from the civil surgeon’s office.

Egyptian writer Hossam al-Hamalawy, in his book discussed with Middle East Eye, argues that Egypt’s 2011 revolution against Hosni Mubarak’s rule did not end dictatorship but instead paved the way for a harsher, more centralized, and violence-driven system under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He describes how Egypt’s security apparatus evolved from Mubarak’s fragmented police state into a unified structure designed to prevent any future mass uprising.

The author, drawing from personal experience of arrest and surveillance, explains that Mubarak’s regime relied on police power to suppress dissent, while the 2011 uprising exposed the fragility of that system. The military, he notes, intervened not to support democracy but to preserve the state. Subsequent governments, including the Muslim Brotherhood under Mohamed Morsi, failed to reform the security institutions, ultimately enabling the 2013 coup.

Under Sisi, Egypt’s repressive institutions were consolidated into what Hamalawy calls a “new republic.” Military and intelligence agencies became deeply embedded in civilian administration, media, and urban planning, transforming the state into a tightly controlled security apparatus aimed at preventing collective resistance.

Maulana Ahmad Abdul Kaiyum, assistant secretary general of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and president of the party’s Dhaka South unit, expressed deep concern over reports of armed demonstrations in educational institutions expected after July. Speaking on Friday at the party’s monthly meeting in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, he said universities are meant to produce world-class citizens and researchers, not to become grounds for political confrontation.

He criticized both the government and opposition student organizations for displaying weapons over minor incidents, warning that such actions endanger the nation’s future generation. Kaiyum alleged that the government, despite winning recent elections, has pushed key state sectors, including the financial system, toward collapse. He further claimed that citizens are living in insecurity while the home minister has remained silent and both political camps have failed to control their student wings.

The meeting was attended by several senior leaders of Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Dhaka South unit, including Abdul Awal Majumdar, Altaf Hossain, and others.

An SSC examination at Abul Kashem Nur Jahan Chowdhury High School in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, was conducted with the wrong question paper, leading to the expulsion of four individuals including the center secretary, Lutfor Rahman Manik. The incident occurred on Thursday during the Bangla Second Paper exam. Thirteen irregular candidates were mistakenly given the 2025 question paper instead of the 2026 version, and despite their protests, the exam continued for three hours.

After the exam, students reported the issue to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the Secondary Education Officer. Following an investigation, the UNO permanently expelled the center secretary and three others. Nurul Alam was later appointed as the new center secretary, and Mohammad Harunur Rashid was assigned as the new superintendent.

According to Ukhiya Upazila Secondary Education Officer Mohammad Ullah, the exam could not be retaken since it had already been completed, but communication with the education board was underway to ensure proper consideration of the matter.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam warned that if necessary, parliament and the streets would merge in their movement to implement the referendum verdict. He made the remarks on Friday at a public rally organized by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, demanding the execution of the referendum’s public mandate.

Nahid Islam alleged that Allama Mamunul Haque was prevented from entering parliament through conspiracy but could not be stopped on the streets. He said the NCP was in parliament to speak for the July certificate and referendum implementation, while Mamunul Haque and Nasiruddin Patwari were active on the streets. He criticized the government for repeated breaches of promises, rising commodity prices, fuel and vaccine crises, and attempts to politicize institutions and the judiciary.

He further warned that rejecting the referendum’s verdict would have dire consequences and that the people of Bangladesh would not tolerate fascism or authoritarianism. The NCP leader vowed to continue the struggle until the government accepted the public mandate.

The Indian government has strongly condemned former U.S. President Donald Trump for sharing a social media post that described India as a 'hellhole'. The Ministry of External Affairs called the remark 'inappropriate' and 'distasteful'. Trump had reposted a statement from conservative host Michael Savage on his Truth Social account criticizing birthright citizenship in the U.S. The post falsely claimed that Indian immigrants in the tech sector discriminate against white Americans and mocked their English proficiency.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the comments were baseless and did not reflect the true nature of India-U.S. relations, which are built on mutual respect and shared interests. India’s opposition Congress Party also labeled the post as 'deeply insulting and anti-India'. In the U.S., the Hindu American Foundation called it 'racist and hateful', while Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera described it as offensive and ignorant.

The controversy comes just weeks before U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s planned visit to India, raising concerns about renewed strain in bilateral ties already affected by disputes over oil imports from Russia and trade tariffs.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has announced a three-month program in Dhaka demanding the implementation of a referendum verdict and the resolution of ongoing national crises. The announcement was made by the party’s Amir, Mamunul Haque, during a public gathering held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Suhrawardy Udyan.

According to the declaration, the program will include citizen assemblies in every district during May, June, and July, followed by a mass rally in Dhaka on August 5. The event was presided over by Maulana Mamunul Haque and attended by several political leaders, including Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Col. (Retd.) Oli Ahmed, and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju.

The gathering reflected a coalition of opposition and Islamist political figures emphasizing collective action to address political and social challenges through public mobilization.

Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh has called for a united stand against terrorism to ensure safe and peaceful educational institutions. The organization’s central president, Muntasir Ahmad, made the appeal on Friday after Juma prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, during a pre-rally gathering for an anti-terrorism march. He said that dominance struggles among student groups were polluting the academic environment and urged students and authorities to reject violence.

Ahmad described educational institutions as the conscience-building centers of a nation, lamenting that weapons, fear, and violence were darkening campuses. He accused some groups of turning campuses into centers of terror under the guise of student politics. The organization reaffirmed its uncompromising stance for a terrorism-free academic environment and pledged to continue peaceful protests if necessary.

As part of its anti-terrorism campaign, Islami Chhatra Andolan announced a nationwide human chain program to be held across all campuses on Sunday. Leaders also urged all student organizations to abandon revenge politics and promote tolerance and welfare-oriented student activities.

Myanmar’s government has declared a state of emergency across 60 townships in nine states and regions, according to local media reports on Friday. The measure, announced by the President’s Office on Thursday, aims to suppress armed unrest, restore stability, and reestablish law and order. Under the order, administrative and judicial powers have been transferred to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, who has delegated authority to regional commanders to directly oversee security operations.

Officials stated that commanders may further distribute responsibilities among subordinate officers as needed. The move effectively places the affected townships under military control, significantly expanding the army’s influence over civil administration and the judiciary. Civilian trials may now be conducted in military tribunals, where penalties could range from long-term imprisonment to capital punishment.

Earlier in the week, President Min Aung Hlaing set a 100-day deadline for peace talks with anti-government armed groups, inviting both signatories and non-signatories of the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement to participate.

The 125-megawatt Unit 1 of the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, resumed electricity generation on Friday night after a two-day suspension caused by a mechanical fault. According to plant officials, the unit began supplying power to the national grid at around 10 p.m., following boiler firing activities that started at 4 p.m. earlier that day. The unit had been offline since Wednesday night due to a burst boiler tube.

The Barapukuria plant has three units, with Units 1 and 2 each capable of generating 125 megawatts and Unit 3 producing 275 megawatts. However, Unit 2 has remained non-operational since November 2020 due to mechanical issues. Chief Engineer Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique stated that the shutdown occurred because stones had mixed with the coal supply.

With Unit 1 back in operation, electricity supply in Parbatipur and eight northern districts is expected to improve, easing load-shedding conditions in the region.