Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned on Saturday that deliberate efforts are underway to redraw the map of the Middle East. He made the remarks during a televised address marking the 44th anniversary of the liberation of the Sinai Peninsula from Israeli occupation. Sisi said the region is passing through a critical phase due to these planned attempts to reshape its boundaries.

In his speech, the president called for the full implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement signed last October. This phase includes ensuring unrestricted humanitarian aid access and the immediate start of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. Sisi also reaffirmed Egypt’s firm rejection of any attempt to displace Palestinians from their land.

The source noted that Gaza was devastated by Israel’s two-year-long assault, and despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have continued. The first phase of the truce had involved the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages.

A man named Nazrul Islam, aged 50, died after setting himself on fire in Shahjahanpur upazila of Bogura on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred in front of the Machhir Bazar mosque in Baraanjul village after his wife divorced him. Locals rescued him and took him to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura, but as his condition worsened, he was transferred to Dhaka, where he died around 11:15 p.m. on the way.

Local union parishad member Jharna Begum said Nazrul Islam had married the daughter of Bacchu Mia from the same village, and the couple had two sons. Their marital relationship had been troubled due to financial hardship, leading to previous separations before the final divorce. In distress, Nazrul poured petrol on himself and set himself ablaze.

According to Shahjahanpur Police Sub-Inspector Golam Mostafa, locals reported that Nazrul had been under mental pressure from debt and frequent quarrels with his wife.

Iran has executed a man accused of working for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The man, identified as Irfan Kayani, was charged with carrying out sabotage activities as an Israeli agent during nationwide protests in January. The execution followed a ruling by Iran’s Supreme Court.

Tasnim reported that Kayani faced accusations of destruction, arson, and creating terror during the unrest. The protests had erupted in late December over the falling value of Iran’s currency and rising living costs, intensifying in January. Israel has not issued any immediate comment on the execution.

The report did not specify where or how the execution was carried out, and no further details were provided about the judicial process or evidence presented against the accused.

Member of Parliament for Gopalganj-2, Dr. K.M. Babor, announced that the education system is undergoing changes after 17 years. He emphasized that improving education quality requires development beyond academics, including sports, mental growth, and knowledge acquisition. He stated that comprehensive development of students’ knowledge will enhance education standards, and all necessary steps will be taken to achieve this goal.

Dr. Babor made these remarks on Saturday morning at the inauguration of a new building for Binapani Government Primary School in Gopalganj town, implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department. He added that all necessary initiatives will be taken for Gopalganj’s development, following the Prime Minister’s directive that the district will receive equal attention as others.

Local officials, including the executive engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, and several political and educational representatives, attended the event.

Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament, Kaiser Kamal, announced a special initiative to preserve the Hajong community’s language during a meeting with community members at the Durga Temple premises in Uttar Lengura Beltali Hajongpara, Kalmakanda, on Friday, April 24. Initially, teachers will be appointed at three major temples in Rangchhati, Lengura, and Kharnai unions of Kalmakanda upazila to teach the Hajong language to children.

Kamal emphasized that many languages are disappearing over time and that immediate action is necessary to prevent the Hajong language from facing extinction. He also visited erosion-prone areas along the Ganeshwari River and announced plans to install CC blocks to prevent riverbank erosion. Repair work in vulnerable areas will begin soon under the supervision of engineers, with local Hajong residents directly involved in implementation to ensure accountability and sincerity.

He reaffirmed his commitment to communal harmony, stating that his work serves all communities equally—Garo, Hajong, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian—without discrimination.

Residents of eight villages in Sirajganj’s Raiganj upazila depend on a fragile bamboo bridge over the Karatoa River at Kamarbari in Chandikona Union, as no permanent bridge has been built there. Every day, students, farmers, traders, and patients cross the unstable structure at great personal risk to reach schools, markets, and healthcare facilities.

Locals said the lack of a bridge near the Dhaka–Bogura highway severely disrupts communication between the river’s two banks. Farmers face major difficulties transporting rice, vegetables, and other produce to markets, often losing fair prices due to the bridge’s narrow and unsafe condition. The situation worsens during the monsoon when the current strengthens and the bridge becomes slippery, increasing the risk of accidents.

Local residents have long demanded a permanent bridge to ease their hardship. The Raiganj Upazila LGED engineer stated that the need for a bridge is under assessment and a proposal will be sent to higher authorities after verification.

Gazipur Agricultural University (GAKRUBI) has once again secured a prestigious position in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2026. The university ranked within the 401–500 band across Asia, reaffirming its status as the top agricultural university in Bangladesh. The ranking, released last Thursday, listed a total of 28 Bangladeshi universities, including 19 directly ranked and 9 reporter institutions.

Among all public universities in Bangladesh, GAKRUBI achieved a joint third position nationally, highlighting its strong academic and research standing. Recognized as a “Center of Excellence” in research, the university scored 67 in research quality, reflecting the depth and impact of its scholarly work. In total, it earned 174.9 points across five evaluation indicators: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.

The 2026 ranking assessed 929 leading universities from 36 Asian countries and regions. GAKRUBI stated its commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and supporting national goals for agricultural excellence and food security through continued research and development.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir stated that the recent increase in fuel prices does not justify any dramatic rise in bus fares or daily commodity prices. He made the remarks on Saturday, April 25, 2026, while speaking to journalists after visiting the knit industrial zone established on the site of the former Chittaranjan Cotton Mill in Godnail, Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. The minister also suggested that future investors should focus on developing less fuel-intensive factories instead of fuel-heavy ones.

During the visit, Muktadir explained that electricity produced in the country is distributed to private industrial factories after generation, so production and export have not been disrupted by fuel price changes. He attributed any decline in exports to a mild global slowdown rather than domestic energy issues. Responding to another question, he said two industrial plots under BTMC have already been developed, two more are being taken by the same company, and remaining plots face local occupation problems that will be resolved soon to facilitate investment.

State Minister Md. Shariful Alam, BTMC Chairman Brigadier General S.M. Zahid Hasan, and local officials accompanied him during the visit.

Member of Parliament S M Jilani from Gopalganj-3 (Kotalipara-Tungipara) stated that saving canals is essential for saving farmers. He said that active canals help farmers irrigate their lands easily and reduce waterlogging. Due to long-term blockage by water hyacinths, local farmers had been facing difficulties in irrigation and drainage. Considering their needs, he initiated a canal cleaning program.

On Saturday, April 25, Jilani joined the cleaning of the Konervita-Ramnagar canal in Sadullapur Union of Kotalipara upazila. The event aimed to restore water flow and support agricultural activities in the area.

Upazila BNP President S M Mohiuddin welcomed the initiative, calling it timely for solving farmers’ problems. He expressed the intention to continue such public-benefit activities under Jilani’s leadership. Several BNP and affiliated organization leaders and activists also participated in the cleanup drive.

Bangladesh has led the adoption of a landmark resolution on sustainable bioeconomy at the 82nd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The resolution, titled “Supporting the Transition Towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy in Asia and the Pacific,” was introduced by Bangladesh under the leadership of Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam and adopted unanimously by member states. This achievement is seen as recognition of Bangladesh’s growing diplomatic leadership in shaping the regional development agenda.

The resolution aligns with Bangladesh’s national priorities of achieving sustainable, innovation-driven, and inclusive growth. It emphasizes circular economy principles, efficient resource use, and the application of science and technology for economic transformation. It also calls for enhanced regional cooperation to promote knowledge sharing, capacity building, investment, and the development of sustainable bioeconomy value chains across Asia and the Pacific.

Countries including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan co-sponsored the initiative, reflecting a broad regional consensus on sustainable development goals.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman called on political leaders to respect the people's verdict, claiming that 70 percent of citizens have expressed their will through a referendum. Speaking at a party rally held at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday, April 25, 2026, he warned that if the referendum’s outcome is not implemented, their movement would continue both inside and outside parliament.

During his address, Rahman criticized the BNP for following what he described as a fascist path and argued that the party could not become like the Awami League. He also accused the ruling party of betraying national promises and opposing discussions on key legislative reforms necessary to end authoritarian governance.

Rahman emphasized his vision for a changed Bangladesh where citizens, including children and women, can move safely and where educational institutions promote learning rather than violence. He said the party seeks a secure and just society based on respect for democratic rights.

Iranian authorities have safely neutralized an unexploded bunker-buster bomb found buried about 13 meters underground in a residential area of Yazd Province. The powerful bomb, dropped during wartime, had struck its target but failed to detonate. The operation was carried out jointly by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and local bomb disposal units, who completed the task without any accidents.

According to officials, the unexploded ordnance had remained embedded in the ground since the conflict period, posing a potential threat to nearby residents. The coordinated effort between military and local teams ensured the safe removal and neutralization of the device.

The successful disposal of the bomb has eliminated a long-standing safety risk in the area, though details about the exact origin and timing of the wartime strike were not disclosed in the report.

India’s opposition Congress party has sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for remaining silent on Israel’s continued killings in Gaza and large-scale attacks in Lebanon. The party accused Modi of showing unprecedented solidarity with what it called the “murderous Israeli government” and described his stance as cowardly. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Modi administration had betrayed India’s traditional policies and humanitarian values.

Ramesh wrote on social media platform X that the prime minister’s silence over Israel’s actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and the occupied West Bank revealed his “moral cowardice.” He alleged that Modi had ignored the seizure of Palestinian property and the displacement of millions. Congress reiterated that no other Indian government had shown such support for Israel.

In March, Congress had claimed that Israel was pursuing its “Greater Israel” ambition under the cover of war in the Middle East, undermining hopes for a Palestinian state. The party had also previously criticized Modi for not speaking out against Israeli actions in the West Bank.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has detained around 240 people in security operations across Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency. The IRGC reported that 11 individuals were arrested in Kurdistan, where one member of a Kurdish armed group was killed and a large cache of weapons and ammunition was seized. In a separate operation, about 70 more people were detained.

In Kermanshah province, the IRGC detained 155 people, claiming they were members of anti-revolutionary groups. Among those arrested, four are suspected of being spies linked to Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. Separately, police in Tehran arrested one person accused of collecting information on missile targets and supplying it to a hostile network.

Authorities stated that these operations were part of broader efforts to strengthen national security across various regions of Iran.

A newly constructed 120-meter RCC road from Sripur Chourasta to Baromi in Gazipur has developed cracks even before its official inauguration. The project, costing about 7 million taka, was implemented by contractor Arian Enterprise under the Annual Development Program (ADP). The road’s foundation stone was laid on March 4 by local MP Professor Dr. S.M. Rafiqul Islam.

Local residents and transport workers expressed concern over the premature cracks, questioning the quality of construction and warning of potential accidents. Some alleged that irregularities occurred during the project and accused a municipal engineer of collusion with the contractor. Assistant Engineer Harunur Rashid denied the allegations, attributing the cracks to intense sunlight and stating that repairs were underway. Chief Engineer Shahed Akhtar described the damage as minor hairline cracks caused by heat, assuring that proper treatment would follow.

Sripur’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer and municipal administrator Md. Nahid Bhuiyan said an on-site inspection would be conducted and action taken if faults were found. MP Rafiqul Islam emphasized that corruption in development work would not be tolerated.