Bangladesh’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated funds and food grains to 280 parliamentary constituencies, excluding city corporation areas, to support local development and assist communities. However, lawmakers have criticized the allocation as insufficient, warning that the BNP-led government may face pressure in the ongoing parliamentary session. The ministry initially proposed Tk 5.5 million and 200 tons of rice or wheat per constituency, but after the minister’s illness, the amount was reduced to Tk 2.5 million and 20 tons of food grains in the first phase.

Officials said the funds will be used for small-scale infrastructure projects such as mosque repairs, rural road paving, and cemetery maintenance, while food grains will aid disaster-affected and poor families. The allocation marks the first since the government took office in February 2026. Ministry insiders noted that rising global prices have made development costs higher, making the current allocation inadequate.

Sources added that the government plans to reinstate a previous system allowing MPs to receive lump-sum allocations, reversing an interim government policy that had abolished it. Officials fear this could lead to misuse and inequality in constituency-level development funding.

A report by The New York Times, cited by Amader Desh on April 24, 2026, states that a large portion of the United States’ global weapons stockpile has been exhausted due to the ongoing war with Iran. The Pentagon has reportedly been forced to transfer military equipment from its Asia and European commands to the Middle East to sustain operations.

Although White House officials have not disclosed the exact expenditure, two independent organizations estimate the cost of the Iran war to be between 28 and 35 billion dollars, averaging about 1 billion dollars per day. The report highlights that key weapons running low include precision-strike missiles, ATACMS surface-launched missiles, and Patriot interceptor missiles.

The depletion of these critical munitions underscores the strain on US military logistics and could affect readiness in other regions if the conflict continues.

Iran activated its air defense systems in Tehran and several other cities after detecting small drones in its airspace. The incident occurred on Thursday, according to local media reports. Fars News Agency reported that multiple locations across the country detected small drones, prompting the activation of air defense systems. The state news agency IRNA said sounds from the defense systems were heard in both the western and eastern parts of the capital.

No immediate further details were available following the activation. Later, Iranian media clarified that the activation of the air defense systems in Tehran was part of a test. Meanwhile, an Israeli military source denied any involvement in the incident, according to reports.

The reports did not specify the origin of the drones or the nature of the test, leaving the broader context of the activation unclear.

US President Donald Trump stated that he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran, marking a departure from his earlier threats of massive force. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump emphasized that nuclear weapons should never be deployed under any circumstances. He told reporters that no one should be allowed to use such weapons.

Previously, Trump had threatened to completely destroy Iranian civilization. In the same briefing, he announced that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would visit the White House in the coming weeks. Trump added that both leaders would need to consider Hezbollah in their discussions.

He also said the United States would work with Lebanon to help stabilize the country’s situation, according to the report sourced from Middle East Eye.

Bangladesh is experiencing a widening electricity shortfall as rising demand during intense heat coincides with a fuel supply crisis. Despite official estimates of a 2,500-megawatt deficit, actual shortages have at times exceeded 4,000 megawatts. To maintain supply in Dhaka, rural areas are facing up to 10 hours of load-shedding daily. The shutdown of the 525-megawatt Barapukuria coal power plant and reduced imports from India’s Adani Power have further strained the national grid. The government has approved over 2,067 crore taka in payments to private power producers to stabilize supply.

Officials from the Power Division and related agencies said fuel shortages are preventing plants from meeting demand, with gas-based plants producing around 4,500 to 5,000 megawatts and oil-based output halved in one day. The Power Development Board (PDB) owes about 46,000 crore taka to power producers and has requested 20,000 crore urgently to sustain summer and irrigation season supply. Severe load-shedding has hit eight northern districts after Barapukuria’s two main units failed.

State Minister for Power Anindya Islam Amit announced that load-shedding will also occur in cities to reduce rural-urban disparities and ensure electricity for farmers’ irrigation needs.

An Iranian cargo ship successfully reached an Iranian port after evading a US attempt to intercept it in the Gulf of Oman, according to Iranian media reports published on April 24, 2026. The United States reportedly tried to stop the vessel, but it managed to reach port safely despite the obstruction.

Semi-official Fars News Agency stated that the ship, which was carrying cargo, was escorted by members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. The incident occurred after the United States imposed a naval blockade against Iran following the failure of the first round of peace talks held in Islamabad.

The report did not specify the exact location of the port or further details about the cargo, but it highlighted the continued maritime tension between the two countries in the region.

A local BNP leader allegedly assaulted a female teacher with a shoe at Daokandi Government University College in Durgapur upazila of Rajshahi on Thursday afternoon, April 23, 2026. The incident occurred during the second-year degree examination amid Section 144 restrictions. Video clips of the attack spread on social media, sparking nationwide criticism. Witnesses said BNP activists entered the principal’s office, engaged in an argument, and then attacked teachers and vandalized the office. At least five people, including the principal and the assaulted teacher, were injured.

The injured were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, with the principal and the female teacher reported in serious condition. The attack created panic among students and teachers, prompting many to leave the examination center. Police were present at the scene, and questions have been raised about their role during the assault.

The principal claimed he had been facing extortion demands from local groups, while the accused BNP leader denied the allegations, saying the dispute arose over corruption issues. Police stated that legal action would follow upon receiving a written complaint.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a new advisory urging all Indian citizens currently in Iran to leave the country as soon as possible. The directive, released on Thursday, also strongly advises against any travel to Iran by air or land. The embassy cited ongoing regional tensions and uncertainty as the main reasons for the warning.

According to the embassy statement, restrictions and uncertainty in the airspace due to regional instability continue to affect international flight operations to and from Iran. The advisory comes amid a volatile security situation in West Asia, where geopolitical tensions and air travel disruptions have persisted.

The embassy further instructed that Indian citizens in Iran must depart only through officially coordinated land routes. It has also provided helpline numbers and an email address to assist citizens seeking to leave the country safely.

A report published on April 24, 2026, describes an escalating information war surrounding Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, allegedly led by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and armed groups. The article identifies Augustina Chakma, granddaughter of Shanti Bahini chief Santu Larma, as a key figure in international campaigns portraying Bangladesh and its security forces negatively. It claims that these groups are concealing internal conflicts, extortion, and abductions while blaming non-tribal citizens and the military.

The report says the latest phase of this campaign unfolded at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, beginning April 20, 2026, where Augustina and other PCJSS representatives presented allegations of human rights abuses and demographic changes. Bangladeshi security agencies reportedly expressed concern that such one-sided narratives undermine national sovereignty and stability. The article also details violent incidents, extortion worth up to Tk 1,200 crore in 2025, and clashes between PCJSS and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF).

Authorities and analysts cited in the report urge unified national efforts to counter misinformation, promote factual reporting, and resolve land and political disputes within Bangladesh’s constitutional framework.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire for an additional three weeks, according to an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 24, 2026. The decision followed renewed discussions between representatives of both countries in Washington. Trump stated on Truth Social that the meeting was conducted successfully and confirmed that the United States would work with Lebanon to help it defend itself from Hezbollah.

The ceasefire, initially set to expire on Sunday, was introduced after a meeting in Washington last week aimed at ending more than seven weeks of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Trump also said that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would visit the White House in the coming weeks.

According to Trump, the United States intends to cooperate with Lebanon to restore stability in the country and address the challenges posed by Hezbollah.

The US aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is moving toward the Middle East and has entered the area of responsibility of the US Central Command. A post on social media platform X by Central Command shared a photo showing the Nimitz-class supercarrier operating in the Indian Ocean.

It remains unclear whether the carrier will join ships already stationed in the region or replace one of them. Central Command also stated that the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, continues its operations in the Red Sea to support maritime security under the US Fifth Fleet.

The deployment highlights continued US naval presence in the region, though the specific mission or duration of the USS George H.W. Bush’s movement has not been detailed in the available information.

Bangladesh has experienced a sharp increase in fuel prices, rising by 15 to 20 taka per liter, triggering market instability. Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman criticized the move as an additional blow to citizens, while Energy Minister Iqbal Mahmud Tuku defended it as a necessary step due to global oil price surges and wartime conditions. The article notes that the current crisis mirrors the 1973 oil embargo, with Iran’s closure of the Hormuz Strait now disrupting 20 percent of global supply.

The report highlights that Bangladesh has historically maintained fuel subsidies and adjusted prices multiple times since independence, with 40 recorded increases and three reductions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and IMF data show that Bangladesh remains among the leading countries providing direct fuel subsidies. In response to the global shortage, IEA member states have agreed to release 400 million barrels from reserves, though experts deem it insufficient.

The author urges the government to form a unified national energy taskforce with opposition participation, warning that the current crisis is more about eroding public trust than fuel scarcity itself.

A government document has alleged that the then Awami League government orchestrated a 'Reshma rescue drama' to conceal the true facts of the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Savar, which killed 1,138 garment workers and injured thousands. The report claims that 17 days after the collapse, the government presented the rescue of worker Reshma, also known as Fatema, as a miraculous survival story, though evidence suggests she had escaped on the day of the disaster. Officials from the Law, Home, and Labour ministries confirmed the existence of the document.

The document further states that despite clear evidence implicating several officials and political figures, the absence of government approval prevented their inclusion in the charge sheet. It also notes that the case remains unresolved 13 years later, with influential accused persons released on bail and alleged interference by the Awami League government. The interim government that recently left office reportedly initiated efforts to uncover the truth and review the case.

State lawyers involved in the case said the previous government did not prioritize the trial, but the current legal team is treating it as a high-importance case.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House in the coming weeks. The visits aim to advance efforts toward establishing a lasting peace agreement in the region, according to Trump.

Trump stated that the United States is working toward a durable peace deal and noted that the issue of Hezbollah remains a consideration in these efforts. He added that Washington intends to cooperate with Lebanon to help stabilize the country’s situation. Trump also mentioned that aligning this initiative with U.S. actions concerning Iran would be an ideal outcome.

The announcement underscores ongoing U.S. diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, focusing on regional stability and coordination with key partners on security and political issues.

Bangladesh’s export earnings have fallen for eight consecutive months through March 2026, marking the longest and steepest decline in the country’s history. Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data show March exports dropped over 18 percent year-on-year to USD 3.48 billion, down from USD 4.25 billion a year earlier. Overall, exports in the first nine months of fiscal year 2025–26 fell 4.85 percent to USD 35.39 billion. The apparel sector, which contributes more than 80 percent of total exports, saw an 8‑month slump, with March earnings down 19.35 percent.

Analysts attribute the downturn to the Middle East conflict, rising fuel import costs, and global market disruptions. Bangladesh has also lost its position as the world’s second-largest apparel exporter to Vietnam. Exporters cite high raw material import dependence, energy shortages, and delayed shipments due to closed airspace and disrupted sea routes. Industry leaders warn that foreign buyers are shifting orders to India and Vietnam amid concerns over Bangladesh’s power stability.

Economists caution that unless Middle East tensions ease and transport routes normalize, Bangladesh’s export recovery will remain uncertain, threatening foreign currency reserves and overall economic stability.