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.

ATM Azharul Islam, Naib-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, warned that the outcome would not be good if people take to the streets to demand their rights. Speaking on Friday afternoon at a Jamaat-organized assembly in Badarganj High School auditorium, Rangpur, he urged the government to quickly implement the July Charter as approved by the people, saying constitutional excuses would not suffice.

He stated that citizens had overwhelmingly voted in favor of the July Charter through a referendum, but the government had forgotten its promises after coming to power. He accused the authorities of dismissing opposing views under the pretext of constitutional justification. Azharul Islam also criticized rising commodity prices, severe load-shedding lasting up to 16 hours in some areas, and the spread of extortion, claiming the government was indifferent to these issues.

He reiterated that every provision of the July Charter should be implemented as endorsed by the people, warning that ignoring public sentiment could lead to unrest.

The ongoing war between Iran and the Israel-United States alliance has severely disrupted the global energy market. Within just 50 days of conflict, the world has lost oil production worth about 50 billion dollars. Analysts estimate that the financial loss equals the entire economy of countries like Estonia or Latvia.

Following the outbreak of the crisis, fuel prices in the United States have risen above four dollars per gallon, while Europe faces energy rationing in its industries. Emerging economies are also suffering from acute supply shortages. According to energy analysts and Reuters data, since the war began at the end of February, around 500 million barrels of crude oil and condensate have been removed from the market, marking one of the largest supply shocks in modern history.

Energy expert Johannes Robl noted that with oil prices hovering near 100 dollars per barrel, the conflict has triggered massive revenue losses and intensified global inflation and transport costs. Experts warn that even if the war ends soon, the energy market may take months or even years to recover.

Rezaul Hossain and Iarul Islam have been re-elected as chairman and secretary general of Bangladesh Congress. The announcement was made on Friday during the party’s 4th National Council held at Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club. Shafiqul Islam and Abdullah Al Mamun were elected as vice-chairmen, while Mizanur Rahman, Ziaur Rashid, and M Taher Uddin were chosen as joint secretaries. The oath for the newly elected leaders was administered by Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party.

In his remarks, chairman Kazi Rezaul Hossain warned that the government’s rising debt and fuel price increases would negatively affect public life by driving up commodity prices and reducing purchasing power. He also criticized the government’s consensus commission, claiming that despite spending about 15 million taka, Bangladesh Congress was excluded from participation. Additionally, he alleged that funds from canal excavation projects were being misused by local leaders.

The newly elected leaders pledged to strengthen and organize the party further. Representatives from various political parties, including JAGPA, Bangladesh Muslim League, and Bangladesh Labour Party, attended the council.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited West Bengal and took a boat trip on the Ganges River during his tour. After he shared photos of the visit on social media, political criticism followed. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mocked the prime minister, suggesting he should also take a dip in the Yamuna River.

According to Indian media reports, Banerjee made the remarks at a public rally in Howrah, saying Modi chose the Ganges because it is clean, unlike the polluted Yamuna in Delhi. She contrasted the two rivers, arguing that while the Ganges in Bengal is suitable for travel, the Yamuna remains heavily polluted under Modi’s government.

The Yamuna’s pollution has been a long-standing issue in Delhi, with little visible progress in controlling it despite repeated political discussions. Analysts view Modi’s Ganga trip as politically significant ahead of the West Bengal elections, especially after the recent budget announcement of a corridor to improve connectivity between Varanasi and Kolkata.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Mamunul Haque has said that the ruling BNP cannot survive if it betrays the legacy of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia. Speaking at a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Friday, he called on BNP leaders not to turn away from the political foundation that emerged from the February 12 election. He also linked the proposed July Revolution to the historical movements of 1905, 1921, 1947, 1971, 2013, and 2024, describing it as a continuation of Bangladesh’s national and Islamic heritage.

Haque warned that if BNP goes against the referendum that led to its formation, it would be seen as the only party in the world to betray such a process. He further criticized the government for growing unrest and the presence of weapons in educational institutions, saying the authorities would bear full responsibility if the situation worsens.

The rally also featured speeches from leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and other allied political groups.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing) has formed a four-member investigation committee following an incident involving journalists near Dhaka University. The decision was announced on Friday, April 24, 2026, through a press release signed by the organization’s office secretary, Md. Jahangir Alam. The statement described the attack on journalists as an undesirable event.

According to the release, the incident occurred a day earlier near Shahbagh Police Station, reportedly linked to a controversial Facebook post. Some leaders and activists of the Chhatra Dal were accused of involvement in the altercation with media workers. The committee includes central and Dhaka University unit leaders, led by Vice President Zahid Raihan Ahmed, with instructions to submit a written report within five days.

The directive for the investigation was issued by Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. The committee’s findings are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine any organizational action.

A NATO official stated that the alliance’s founding Washington Treaty contains no provision for suspending or expelling member states. The clarification came after reports suggested that the United States had considered measures targeting Spain. According to those reports, an internal Pentagon email mentioned possible actions against allies that did not support U.S. military operations, including Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the reports, saying Madrid bases its policies on official communications rather than internal correspondence. Speaking to journalists before an informal European Union meeting in Cyprus, he emphasized that Spain cooperates fully with allies but always within the framework of international law.

The reports followed Spain’s refusal to allow the United States to use its bases or airspace for a potential military operation against Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously criticized Spain and other NATO allies over such decisions and hinted at reducing the U.S. role within the alliance.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that Lebanon’s goal is to end Israeli occupation and bring back security and prosperity across the country. He made the remarks in an interview with Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba, which was later published by Lebanon’s state news agency on April 24, 2026.

Salam emphasized that his government is working to secure both internal strength and international support, particularly from Arab nations, to overcome the country’s current difficulties. He described a sense of emerging hope in Lebanon despite the sensitivity and challenges of the situation, urging the nation to seize this opportunity to move toward solutions.

According to the prime minister, the Lebanese government remains active in seeking Arab backing to navigate ongoing crises and restore stability nationwide.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi may visit Pakistan for talks, according to state media reports, though Tehran’s Foreign Ministry has not yet confirmed the trip. The visit could be part of a broader tour including Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow, scheduled to begin Friday evening.

The development comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently declared that the country is “locked and loaded,” signaling readiness for military action. In response, Iran warned that its “finger is on the trigger.” Both nations have reportedly adopted a policy of seizing each other’s ships, described by analysts as a “blockade-for-blockade” strategy. The US military has claimed to disrupt Iranian-linked vessels, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it seized at least two ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Conflicting claims of battlefield success have further deepened the standoff. Observers now await whether diplomacy through Araghchi’s potential visit can ease tensions or if the conflict will escalate further.

Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on Friday, releasing a total of 386 soldiers, with each side freeing 193 individuals. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the United Arab Emirates and the United States acted as humanitarian mediators in facilitating the exchange. The freed Russian soldiers are receiving medical and psychological assistance in Belarus before being repatriated to Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 193 Ukrainian fighters returned home as part of the exchange. In a post on social media platform X, he said the released personnel include members of the armed forces, National Guard, border guards, national police, and the State Special Transport Service. Some of those freed had been facing criminal charges in Russia, and several were wounded soldiers.

The exchange follows a previous swap on April 11, when Moscow and Kyiv exchanged 175 prisoners each, marking another step in ongoing humanitarian negotiations between the two countries.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that power politics is re-emerging in Bangladesh’s universities and that institutions are being increasingly politicized. Speaking on Friday afternoon at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, he said that after the July uprising, tendencies of inequality and partisanship have grown again across the country. He warned that if attempts are made to sustain fascism or authoritarianism, people will once again unite under the NCP’s banner.

Nahid Islam described the NCP as a political party born out of the historical struggle of the July uprising. He said the party aims to harness youth energy to bring reform and transformation to Bangladesh. According to him, the NCP has received overwhelming support nationwide and seeks to build an organized political force that reflects the aspirations of the young generation, ensures employment, eliminates inequality, and establishes democracy.

He also alleged that the government has turned the recent election into a mere power transition, separating it from the legacy of the July uprising, and that key constitutional reform proposals are being gradually dismissed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly confirmed that he was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer and has completed treatment. In a statement on Friday, April 24, 2026, he said the cancer was detected following prostate surgery he underwent in late 2024. The 76-year-old leader revealed that the tumor was identified after his prostate gland had enlarged, and he has since finished medical treatment.

Netanyahu kept the diagnosis secret during a period of heightened conflict with Iran, only disclosing it now through his annual health report. He explained that after a successful operation for a non-harmful prostate issue about a year and a half ago, doctors later found a small, less than one-centimeter mark that turned out to be an early-stage cancerous tumor. He emphasized that the cancer had not spread elsewhere in his body.

Following treatment, Netanyahu stated that he has fully recovered and is currently in very good health. He said he chose active treatment over observation, citing his preference to confront risks quickly both in state affairs and personal life.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan alleged that the ruling Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League, has reintroduced a reign of terror on campuses similar to past incidents. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon at a joining ceremony of leaders from various political parties at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka.

Mahmud said the struggle to establish merit- and qualification-based politics is ongoing and must continue nationwide. He urged NCP members to strengthen organizational capacity and invite respected individuals not associated with fascism or atrocities to join the party. He also emphasized the importance of converting public support into votes in the upcoming local government elections to build what he called a “new Bangladesh.”

Mahmud further criticized the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), claiming it now follows the political culture of the Awami League and the ideology of the 1972 Constitution, making it indistinguishable from the ruling party.

A new UN-backed Global Report on Food Crises has identified Bangladesh among the ten countries where two-thirds of the world’s food-insecure population are concentrated. The report, released on Friday, shows that in 2025, the majority of people suffering from acute food insecurity lived in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Together, Sudan, Nigeria, and Congo accounted for one-third of the total affected population.

According to the report, around 266 million people worldwide experienced severe food insecurity in 2025, nearly double the number recorded in 2016. Experts cited conflict and extreme climate conditions as the main drivers of the crisis. The report warned that little improvement is expected in 2026, with ongoing wars and instability continuing to disrupt food production and supply chains.

While Bangladesh and Syria showed slight improvements, conditions worsened in Afghanistan, Congo, and Myanmar. The report also expressed concern over declining international aid and noted that rising fuel and fertilizer prices could further strain food production, urging investment in local fertilizer production and climate-resilient crops.