Chattogram city experienced severe waterlogging again on Wednesday morning following heavy rain. By 1 p.m., knee-deep water was reported at Probortok Moor, where roads were empty of vehicles and pedestrians. Shops were partially flooded, and some owners stood helplessly by their half-closed shutters. Only a few rickshaws and motorcycles attempted to move through the water, often stalling mid-road.

The flooding extended beyond Probortok Moor to nearby areas including Muradpur, Soloshahar, Bahaddarhat, Chawk Bazar, and Katalganj. Residents reported water entering ground floors and kitchens, disrupting daily life. A business owner said his warehouse goods worth several lakh taka were damaged without insurance or compensation. Locals expressed frustration over recurring inundation and the lack of a permanent solution.

Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain stated that the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) is responsible for the waterlogging mitigation project, though he feels a moral duty to stand by citizens during such crises.

Opposition lawmaker Hafez Rabiul Bashar, representing Satkhira-3 constituency, suddenly fell ill during the ongoing session of the 13th National Parliament on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, around 1:40 p.m. Fellow members of parliament and staff from the Parliament Secretariat quickly assisted him out of the chamber and into the lobby, where doctors provided initial medical treatment.

During the break for the Zuhr prayer, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman personally visited the parliamentary lobby to inquire about the opposition MP’s condition. He also gave instructions to ensure that Bashar received the necessary medical support. The Chief Whip and other whips of the National Parliament were present at the time.

The incident briefly interrupted the session but was handled promptly, with medical attention provided on-site. No further details about the MP’s health condition were disclosed in the report.

India’s long-term strategic and economic plans centered on Iran’s Chabahar port have entered a period of uncertainty following the expiration of the United States’ sanctions waiver. The development has raised new questions about the future of the project, which was considered one of India’s most ambitious regional connectivity initiatives aimed at linking Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Located on Iran’s southeastern coast along the Gulf of Oman, the Chabahar port includes two terminals—Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti—where India has invested about 120 million dollars in infrastructure development. The port’s geographic position offers India a crucial alternative route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. Its strategic importance grew after Pakistan’s Gwadar port, built with Chinese assistance, became operational in 2016, intensifying regional competition.

Recent maritime tensions near Iranian ports and in the Strait of Hormuz have further complicated the situation. Without renewed US sanctions relief, India’s Chabahar project could face major setbacks, potentially affecting its regional trade links and geopolitical balance.

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since early March, according to maritime tracking firm Kpler. The passage marks a significant development after the vital waterway was nearly closed due to the Middle East conflict. Kpler reported that the UAE state oil company ADNOC’s vessel, Mubarak, carrying 132,890 cubic meters of LNG, made the crossing after loading at Das Island on March 2.

The strait had been under effective Iranian control since February 28, when U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered heightened regional tensions. The U.S. later responded by intercepting Iranian vessels and announcing operations against several Asian tankers. Kpler noted that the Mubarak had turned off its tracking signal at the end of March and reactivated it near India about a month later, suggesting the crossing occurred between April 18 and 19, though this remains unconfirmed.

Experts cited in the report said restricted navigation through the strait has severely affected LNG markets, particularly major producers such as Qatar. Other tankers, including Japan-linked Idemitsu Maru, have also recently passed near Iranian checkpoints.

In Ganderbal district of Indian-administered Kashmir, the Mughal family has suffered two tragedies over 26 years. In January 2000, armed militants broke into their home and killed Ishfaq Ahmad Mughal, who allegedly worked with the Indian army. On March 31, 2026, his younger brother Rashid Ahmad Mughal, aged 32, was shot dead by Indian soldiers. The army claimed Rashid died in crossfire with militants, but local residents rejected this, calling it a staged encounter and demanding an investigation.

Rashid, a graduate who helped villagers with official documents, was buried in a cemetery designated for alleged militants in Kupwara. His brother Ejaz Ahmad Mughal disputed the army’s claim, saying Rashid was a civilian and had never been questioned by police. A police officer confirmed there were no prior cases against him. The promised investigation report remains unpublished.

The case highlights the enduring human toll of the Kashmir conflict, where both militants and security forces have been accused of abuses. Civil society data cited in the report show that between 2008 and 2018, 108 alleged rights violations by Indian forces were investigated, but none led to prosecution.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed regret to the residents of Chattogram for the ongoing waterlogging problem in the city. Speaking in the National Parliament on Wednesday, he responded to a point of order raised by Chattogram–10 MP Saeed Al Noman, who described the city’s severe flooding and urged immediate government action. The Prime Minister acknowledged the suffering of residents and said efforts were underway to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Rahman noted that waterlogging was not limited to Chattogram but affected other parts of the country, including Dhaka. He recalled that former President Ziaur Rahman had previously addressed such problems through canal excavation and reservoir creation, and said the current government had resumed similar initiatives. He emphasized that public awareness was crucial, as indiscriminate dumping of plastic and waste continued to block canals and drains despite cleaning efforts.

The Prime Minister also addressed concerns about heavy rainfall in haor regions, assuring that affected farmers in several districts would receive government assistance over the next three months.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmad Azam Khan announced in parliament that the government will prepare a complete list of martyred freedom fighters and genocide victims of the 1971 Liberation War. He said the initiative aims to create an accurate and accepted record that will ensure proper recognition and honor for those who sacrificed their lives. The statement came during a question-and-answer session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.

According to the minister, the ministry’s gazette currently lists 6,480 martyred freedom fighters, including 3,698 civilians, 1,541 members of the armed forces, 817 from the Border Guard Bangladesh, 423 police personnel, and one Ansar member. He also informed that 6,476 names have been canceled from the gazette, red freedom certificates, or Indian lists since 2010 based on recommendations from the Freedom Fighters Council, including 481 cancellations since August 2024.

The initiative is expected to formalize the recognition process for all martyrs and victims, ensuring historical accuracy and administrative transparency in the Liberation War records.

Iran’s economy faces prolonged pressure if disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue, prompting Tehran to look northward toward Russia for economic cooperation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, praising Moscow’s support and discussing the Hormuz situation and sanctions. Bilateral trade reached about 4.8 billion dollars in 2024, a 16 percent increase since 2018, mainly involving grain, metals, machinery, and fertilizers, though economists note the relationship remains limited.

The two countries are connected through the International North–South Transport Corridor, linking Russia to Asia via Iran and the Caspian Sea. Experts say this route offers partial relief but cannot replace the scale and speed of maritime trade through Hormuz. Nearly 90 percent of Iran’s trade depends on sea routes, making a full shift to land transport costly and inefficient.

Analysts believe Russia can provide short-term assistance but is unlikely to become a full economic lifeline for Iran due to its own sanctions and war-related pressures.

Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member and Dhaka North city chief Mohammad Selim Uddin has accused the government of acting against public opinion regarding the July Charter. Speaking on Wednesday at a unit leaders’ gathering organized by Jamaat’s Badda South Thana unit in the Shadi Mahal auditorium on DIT Project Road, he said the government’s stance reflects a fascist and authoritarian mindset. He urged full implementation of the July Charter in line with public expectations and warned that the government would not escape accountability if it failed to do so.

Selim Uddin stated that people across the country are eagerly waiting for change and that Dhaka residents look to Jamaat to secure their rights. He added that Jamaat continues its uncompromising struggle to establish an Islamic welfare state based on justice. Criticizing the BNP-led alliance government, he said it has failed to solve basic public problems and deceived citizens about the energy crisis, as people still face fuel shortages despite official claims of sufficient reserves.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told parliament that the government’s Family Card program is a form of state investment aimed at strengthening local industries and creating employment. Responding to questions from lawmakers, he said the initiative would gradually cover 40 million families, starting with vulnerable groups, and would not cause inflationary pressure. The prime minister emphasized that the program’s spending would circulate within the domestic economy, benefiting rural markets and local manufacturers.

Lawmakers raised concerns about the program’s financial scale, estimating annual costs of up to 1.34 trillion taka including processing expenses, and questioned whether funds would be diverted from existing social safety programs. Rahman replied that the government’s calculations show no major budgetary strain, as overlapping benefits in current welfare schemes would be streamlined.

He added that the Family Card recipients typically purchase essential, locally made goods, ensuring that the funds support domestic production rather than imports. According to him, this approach will help reduce inflation while promoting local industrialization and employment growth.

The Chief Minister of India's northeastern state of Assam has drawn controversy after making remarks opposing closer India-Bangladesh relations. In a recent interview, he stated that he personally prays for the relationship between the two countries not to improve, saying he wishes the situation to remain as it was during the time of 'Yunus'. The interview was broadcast on April 15, 2026, but parts of it have recently gone viral on social media.

During the same interview with an Indian media outlet, the Chief Minister discussed the alleged 'push-back' process along the India-Bangladesh border. He claimed that border security forces sometimes hold individuals for days or weeks before forcibly sending them across the border, often at night when Bangladeshi forces are not present. He also referred to Bangladesh’s border force by its old name, 'BDR', instead of its current name, 'BGB'.

Analysts noted that his comments came at a time when India appeared to be signaling renewed diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh, particularly following the announcement of former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi’s appointment as ambassador to Dhaka.

Leaders of Gulf countries met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday to discuss the regional crisis caused by the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, according to AFP. The meeting, hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marked the first in-person gathering of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members since the conflict began following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. The talks focused on the political and security situation and the need for coordinated action to manage the escalating tensions.

The meeting took place as the White House reviewed Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal and discussions emerged about reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route that previously carried about 20 percent of the world’s crude oil and LNG shipments but has been largely closed since the war began. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said the summit underscored Gulf unity and the need for closer coordination.

A GCC statement strongly condemned Iran’s “blatant attacks” on Gulf states, saying the assaults severely damaged mutual trust and urging Tehran to take concrete steps to rebuild relations.

Brazil’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are entering the final stage, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti set to announce the 26-member final squad on May 18. Before that, a preliminary list of 55 players will be submitted to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The tournament, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, sees Brazil among the favorites, but intense competition for limited spots has made selection highly contested.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains the most reliable choice, while Ederson, Bento, and Hugo Souza are also in contention. In defense, Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães are expected to be confirmed, with Éder Militão ruled out due to injury. The full-back positions appear less settled, and midfielders Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães are nearly certain selections. In attack, Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, and Matheus Cunha lead the line, with several others vying for places.

The biggest uncertainty surrounds Neymar, who continues to struggle with injuries and fitness despite returning to Santos. His inclusion remains doubtful, and his omission would be a major surprise as Brazil finalizes its squad for the expanded 48-team World Cup.

The United States Department of State has announced a special edition of passports featuring President Donald Trump’s image. The initiative, confirmed by the White House, will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the country’s Declaration of Independence in July. According to a Fox News report, the limited-edition passports will be available exclusively through the Washington Passport Agency.

A State Department design preview shows Trump’s portrait surrounded by the text of the Declaration of Independence and the US flag, along with the president’s signature in gold. An administration official told the BBC that any American citizen will be eligible to apply for the commemorative passport once distribution begins.

The release marks an unprecedented decision by the US government to include a sitting president’s image on official passports as part of a national celebration.

In Dirai upazila of Sunamganj, heavy rainfall has submerged 600 hectares of ripe paddy fields during the current harvesting season. According to the Upazila Agriculture Extension Department, the total cultivated area in the region is 30,178 hectares, with 16,738 hectares currently under standing crops. On Tuesday, the area recorded 30 millimeters of rainfall, which led to waterlogging in many fields.

Farmers reported that the excessive rain caused water accumulation in the fields before the paddy had fully matured, preventing harvesting machines from entering the waterlogged areas. Additionally, a shortage of laborers has made it difficult for farmers to harvest the ripe paddy in time. A farmer from Bharam Haor in Sarmangal Union expressed distress, saying most of his land is underwater and that drying harvested paddy has become impossible due to lack of sunlight and drying space.

The situation has raised concerns about potential crop losses and food insecurity among local farmers if the water does not recede soon.