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Foreign Affairs
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The crescent moon of the month of Zilqad of 1447 Hijri was not sighted anywhere in the sky of Bangladesh today. Therefore, the month of Shawwal will complete 30 days tomorrow, Sunday, and the count of the month of Zilqad will begin from April 20.
The mixed-reality space is getting another push forward as Samsung’s Galaxy XR headset receives a new update powered by Google’s Android XR platform, introducing an experimental feature that can convert standard 2D content into immersive 3D-like visuals.
Google has introduced a new desktop app for Windows, bringing its AI model Gemini directly to PC users for a more integrated experience.
Law enforcement agencies have been unable to arrest any suspect in the mob beating and murder of Pir Shamim Reza Jahangir in Daulatpur, Kushtia, as of Saturday evening, April 18. Locals allege that identified suspects are openly moving around the area, increasing public fear and anger. Since the incident, the victim's family has been suffering from insecurity, fearing another mob attack.
The once dry and desert-like Barendra township is now one of the country's grain stores. The modern irrigation system of the Barendra Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), especially canal digging and optimal use of surface water, has brought about revolutionary changes in Chapainawabganj's agriculture and economy.
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Bangladesh will host Pakistan for a two-match Test series next month, with matches scheduled in Mirpur and Sylhet as part of the ICC World Test Championship.
Former Bangladesh pacer Tapash Baisya has sharply criticised the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) newly introduced “Captains Card” initiative, calling it discriminatory and damaging to team unity.
Despite raising hopes of victory in the first one-day international at Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh ultimately suffered a defeat. Due to a lack of batting consistency, the Tigers fell behind 1-0 in the three-match series.
Zaima Rahman, daughter of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was present at the stadium to watch Bangladesh’s match against New Zealand in the opening game of a three-match ODI series.
The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is investigating a match involving Canada at the 2026 T20 World Cup over alleged match-fixing, alongside broader corruption allegations linked to Cricket Canada.
Bangladesh were sent to the field after losing the toss in the first ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand.
Iran's navy is ready to confront the enemy once again with full force, the country's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned. In a speech marking Iran's Armed Forces Day on Saturday, April 18, he issued the warning directed at the United States and Israel.
The United States has deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier, 'USS Gerald R Ford', to the Red Sea to strengthen its military presence amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Pentagon officials confirmed the information to Associated Press.
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, calling the decision a response to the continued blockade of its ports by the United States. The Iranian military on Saturday, April 18, said control of the strategic waterway has returned to its previous state, with reports indicating Iranian gunboats fired at a merchant vessel as it attempted to cross.
A leader has resigned from the National Citizen Party (NCP) after the party's associate organisation, National Women's Power, announced its 53-member full committee.
Popular small-screen actress Rukaiya Jahan Chamak is now venturing into politics. The star, who was active in the July movement, has appeared for an interview as an aspirant for BNP's nomination for the reserved women's seat from Kushtia in the 13th National Parliament.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has started interviewing candidates for reserved women's seats in the 13th National Parliament election, as the party moves forward with its nomination process ahead of the upcoming polls.
Police in Dhaka have taken Jonny Nandi, personal secretary to the Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA) Spokesperson Rashed Prodhan, into custody following tensions during a protest programme in Mohammadpur.
Law enforcement agencies have been unable to arrest any suspect in the mob beating and murder of Pir Shamim Reza Jahangir in Daulatpur, Kushtia, as of Saturday evening, April 18. Locals allege that identified suspects are openly moving around the area, increasing public fear and anger. Since the incident, the victim's family has been suffering from insecurity, fearing another mob attack.
When two-and-a-half-year-old Nusayba from Chatmohar in Pabna passed away on March 12, her father received a call from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital exactly four days later. He was informed that a bed had been allocated for Nusayba. This ‘posthumous call’ regarding a bed for a deceased child is a significant indictment of our governance in the 21st century. The same unfortunate situation has occurred with Nahid from Terokhadia and 10-month-old Jihad from Durgapur, who have been denied access to a mechanical ventilator despite waiting endlessly. The disheartening admission from the medical team indicates that there have been 53 deaths in the past two and a half months; of these, 44 young lives were lost prematurely in the two weeks from March 10 to 24 due to insufficient intensive monitoring. The greatest irony of progress is that just a few kilometers away from where children are dying daily due to inadequate treatment, a modern specialized children's hospital with 200 beds, constructed at a cost of approximately Tk35 crore in the Ghora Chattar (Behrampur) area of the metropolis, has been fully operational since 2023. Despite having state-of-the-art facilities, including 56 intensive monitoring beds and a central oxygen system, the hospital is awaiting approval for its manpower structure (organogram) due to bureaucratic delays. This official inaction has become more significant than the lives of children today. It is particularly astonishing that the 12-bed child intensive monitoring center currently functioning in the main hospital lacks official approval; it is being operated under its own special management. Is a file concerning a manpower structure on the administrative desk of a state capable of executing large-scale projects worth thousands of crores of taka more important than the lives of 44 children?
Bangladesh needs stronger data governance and OTT regulation, but not through disruption or disproportionate compliance burdens. A sequenced, market-aware approach combining digital literacy, smarter enforcement, and competitive local infrastructure can protect citizens while preserving exports, entrepreneurship and economic resilience.
Bangladesh has thanked Pakistan for its role in resolving the Middle East conflict through dialogue.
The US embassy in Dhaka has issued a fresh and strict warning for students going to the United States on student visas. It has cautioned that dropping out of studies midway, being regularly absent from classes, or withdrawing from a course without notifying the institution could lead to visa cancellation and even make future visa approvals uncertain.
The country’s highest civilian honour, the Independence Award 2026, was conferred in recognition of outstanding contributions at the national level. The award was presented to 15 distinguished individuals and five organizations by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
As temperatures rise, makeup routines are also shifting, with many opting for lighter, more comfortable lipstick choices that can withstand heat and humidity while maintaining a polished look.
Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have climbed back above the $35 billion threshold, supported by steady remittance inflows and stable foreign currency market conditions.
