Rumee Farhana, Member of Parliament from Brahmanbaria-2 and former BNP leader, has dismissed rumors about her joining the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP). Speaking on Friday during a Deutsche Welle (Bangla) talk show, she said the speculation had no basis and was entirely false. She clarified that although several political parties approached her after her expulsion from the BNP, she had not accepted any such offer.

Farhana explained that the NCP had invited her to join, citing her active political role and past experiences, but she did not pursue the matter. She emphasized that she would not join any political alliance merely to gain more speaking opportunities in parliament. According to her, there are many platforms to express opinions without compromising personal political ideals and principles.

Her remarks directly counter recent discussions about her possible alignment with the NCP, reaffirming her independent political stance following her departure from the BNP.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid has directed officials to take immediate action wherever fertilizer is sold at inflated prices. Speaking on Saturday at a public gathering in Harindhara Primary School field after inspecting Gomti River and Jayanta Canal in Burichang upazila, Cumilla, he instructed agricultural officers to collect evidence in plain clothes, record videos, and take written undertakings from violators to ensure accountability.

The minister emphasized that about 70 percent of the population is involved in agriculture and that protecting farmers’ interests is a key government responsibility. He said the government has fixed the purchase price of paddy based on production costs to ensure fair returns for farmers. Under a pre-piloting phase, farmer cards have been distributed in 11 agricultural blocks across 10 districts, providing Tk 2,500 in assistance to marginal and small farmers.

Rashid also announced the construction of a modern vegetable storage facility at Nimsar market to help farmers preserve produce and sell at fair prices. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to act against syndicates inflating prices of fertilizer, seeds, and pesticides.

Many vessels are still avoiding the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s announcement that the key waterway is open to all commercial shipping. Maritime transport expert Jean-Paul Rodrigue of Texas A&M University told Al Jazeera that contradictory information from multiple sides has kept many ships from using the route. He said that although some vessels have attempted to pass through since the announcement, many have turned back due to ongoing uncertainty.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier declared the strait fully open to commercial traffic. However, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if the United States continues to impose blockades on Iranian ports, the strait would not remain open. Rodrigue noted that major shipping companies such as Maersk would only feel comfortable resuming transit once all Iranian restrictions or controls are completely lifted.

The situation underscores the fragile security and trade environment in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with uncertainty still shaping global shipping decisions.

An opinion article published on April 18, 2026, argues that two-shift primary schools are more suitable for Bangladesh than the traditional single-shift model. The author highlights that the country’s limited infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and resource constraints make it difficult to ensure quality education for all children. The two-shift system, where one group attends in the morning and another in the afternoon, allows better use of existing facilities and reduces the need for immediate new construction.

The article outlines several advantages of the two-shift approach, including reduced classroom congestion, expanded enrollment opportunities, cost savings, and flexible schedules for students. It also notes that this system can help marginalized and working children attend school more easily, while enabling more efficient teacher deployment. Additionally, the model can temporarily relieve pressure in densely populated urban areas without major infrastructure expansion.

Although not a permanent solution, the two-shift system is described as an effective interim strategy that allows the government to gradually improve educational infrastructure while ensuring that no child is left behind in the current resource-limited environment.

Within a 24-hour period, both the United States and Iran issued a series of major and often contradictory statements concerning the Hormuz Strait. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on X that the strait would remain fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Minutes later, Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, thanking Iran but confirming that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue until all transactions with Iran were fully completed.

Following a virtual meeting with about 40 countries, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron said they would lead an international mission to safeguard freedom of navigation once conditions allowed. Hours later, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump’s claims as false and warned that the strait would not remain open if the blockade persisted.

By Saturday, maritime tracking data showed some ships passing through the strait, but Iran’s military later announced it was reasserting control, citing US noncompliance. Shortly afterward, several vessels reportedly reversed course, signaling renewed uncertainty over the waterway’s status.

A farmer named Rahmat Ali Uzzal, aged 40, was killed by lightning in Gauripur upazila of Mymensingh on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. in the Valki Beel area between Konapara and Bairaura villages under Gauripur Union. According to local and family sources, Uzzal had gone out after lunch to inspect his paddy field when he was struck by lightning. Locals rescued him and took him to Gauripur Upazila Health Complex, where the attending physician, Dr. Ferdous Al Mamun, declared him dead after examination.

The incident cast a pall of grief over the area, with relatives and villagers mourning at the hospital and in the village. Following the tragedy, local representatives and the administration urged residents to exercise caution during adverse weather. Farmers were specifically advised to avoid open fields or agricultural lands during storms to prevent further casualties.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has commemorated the sacrifice of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) soldiers on the occasion of Borai Bari Day, observed in Borai Bari village of Roumari upazila, Kurigram. According to an NCP press release issued on Saturday, the party paid tribute to the martyrs and prayed for their souls, marking the anniversary of the 2001 incident when India’s Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly crossed the border without provocation and attacked the area.

The statement recalled that the then Bangladesh Rifles and local villagers resisted the incursion and thwarted the attempt to occupy the BDR camp and Borai Bari village. The BSF reportedly fired repeatedly toward Bangladeshi installations, and the Borai Bari camp still stands as a witness to that event. The NCP honored the bravery of the BDR personnel who defended the border and remembered the soldiers who were killed in action—Nayek Subedar Wahiduzzaman, Sipahi Mahfuzur Rahman, and Sipahi Abdul Kader.

The party reiterated its respect for the courage of the fallen soldiers and emphasized their enduring contribution to the defense of the nation.

Rumin Farhana, a member of parliament from Brahmanbaria-2 and former BNP leader, explained why she did not take the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council. Speaking on April 17, 2026, during a talk show on Deutsche Welle (Bangla), she said that since she had already taken an oath under the existing constitution, taking a second oath would be legally contradictory and unjustified.

She argued that the current government continues to operate under the existing constitution, and unless it had declared itself a revolutionary government rejecting that constitution, there was no legal framework for a second oath. Farhana added that taking a second oath would nullify her first one, which she considered unacceptable. She also noted that the interim government’s formation under Article 106 of the constitution has raised questions, as some judges who advised on the process later resigned.

Farhana emphasized that the initial application of Article 106 was not properly executed, and the subsequent resignations of the advising judges have fueled further debate about the legitimacy of the process.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said U.S. President Donald Trump “talks too much” while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. He made the comment in response to Trump’s recent threat that the United States might “start bombing again” if no agreement is reached by next Wednesday.

Khatibzadeh stated that the U.S. president’s remarks were self-contradictory and unclear about what he actually meant. He emphasized that Iran believes war cannot bring any positive outcome but asserted that the country is ready to defend itself if attacked.

He added that Iran would continue fighting “until the last Iranian soldier,” underscoring Tehran’s stance on self-defense amid rising tensions. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera.

A group of masked robbers looted seven shops, including six gold jewelry stores, at Housdi Bazar in Madaripur Sadar upazila early Saturday, April 18, 2026. The robbers tied up and injured the market’s night guard before breaking into the shops in the goldsmith area. They took gold ornaments, cash, and even safes from the stores, causing losses worth several crores of taka. Police visited the scene later in the morning.

Victims said they had closed their shops as usual the previous night. Swadeb Mondal, owner of New Kanika Jewellers, reported that all valuables and cash were taken. Parimal Malo of New Prianka Jewellers said his and six other shops, including a grocery store, were robbed. He blamed the incident on inadequate police patrols and expressed concern over the traders’ safety.

Madaripur Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam Azad stated that the robbery is under investigation and legal action will be taken.

Dr. Mahmuda Alam Mitu, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is set to become a Member of Parliament from a reserved women's seat under the 11-party alliance. The news has become widely discussed in Jhalakathi after Mitu herself confirmed it to the media. According to a senior district Jamaat source, Jamaat has gifted one of its allocated seats to Mitu.

Mitu hails from South Kaikhali village in Shauljalia union of Kathalia upazila, Jhalakathi-1 constituency. Her grandfather, Amzad Hossain, served three terms as union council chairman. She completed her early education in Jhalakathi and Barishal, later earning her MBBS degree from Shahabuddin Medical College in Dhaka. Before receiving the nomination, she worked on youth employment, women’s safety, education, and rural healthcare in her area through her social initiative “Care of Mitu.”

Mitu stated that her lifelong dream of serving people inspired her political journey. She aims to use her medical experience to strengthen maternal and community health services and to build Jhalakathi as a safe, educated, and humane district.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace in the Middle East during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting took place on Friday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, a day after Sharif arrived in the country as part of his three-nation tour following visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

According to a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office, Erdogan warmly welcomed Sharif and thanked him for attending the diplomacy forum. The two leaders discussed recent regional developments, particularly the evolving situation in the Middle East. Sharif expressed gratitude for Erdogan’s strong support and encouragement for Pakistan’s peace initiatives.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of seizing current opportunities to advance a sustainable and lasting regional peace process. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkey, grounded in their shared vision of peace, prosperity, and brotherhood.

Bangladesh’s Minister for Road Transport, Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Sheikh Robiul Alam said diplomatic communication is ongoing regarding the Bangladeshi ship ‘Joyjatra,’ which has been unable to cross the Hormuz Strait. Speaking in Chattogram on April 18 after attending the passing-out parade of the 28th batch of trainees at the National Maritime Institute, he stated that while fuel is being supplied to pumps as per demand, an artificial crisis is being created.

The minister added that large quantities of hoarded diesel have been seized, proving that the shortage is not genuine. He emphasized that the government is prioritizing national interest in all decisions and working to maintain normal fuel supply. On the possible handover of Chattogram Port’s NCT terminal to a foreign operator, he said the government will consider national interest, profitability, and technological advancement before making any decision.

Sheikh Robiul Alam also highlighted the importance of skilled maritime professionals in representing Bangladesh internationally and contributing to the country’s economic growth through technical education and maritime expertise.

A mobile court in Alamdanga upazila of Chuadanga district sentenced Shariful Islam, aged 52, to ten days of simple imprisonment and fined him 10,000 taka for illegally storing diesel. The operation took place on Friday night, April 17, 2026, under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md Abdullah Al Shamim. Acting on a tip-off, a preliminary investigation by a local agriculture officer confirmed the illegal storage before the mobile court raid.

Authorities seized about 645 liters, equivalent to three barrels, of diesel from Shariful Islam’s residence in Asannagar village. As he failed to produce valid documents for the fuel, the court ordered the confiscated diesel’s value to be deposited into the state treasury. The punishment was imposed under Section 16(4) of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Act, 2016.

Following the operation, the executive magistrate stated that the raid confirmed the illegal storage and that similar enforcement actions would continue to curb such offenses in the future.

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald Ford, has re-entered Middle Eastern waters, according to two unnamed US defense officials cited by the Associated Press. The carrier, accompanied by destroyers USS Mahan and USS Winston Churchill, crossed the Suez Canal and is now positioned in the Red Sea. It had previously been stationed in the eastern Mediterranean but returned to port for repairs following a fire in one of its laundry rooms.

The redeployment of the Gerald Ford marks a renewed show of US naval strength in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln is already deployed in the Arabian Sea, while another carrier, the USS George Bush, is reportedly moving toward the area and currently near the coast of South Africa. Officials also noted that the Gerald Ford recently set a record for the longest deployment of a US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.

The carrier last anchored at Croatia’s Split port on March 28, 2026, before resuming operations toward the Middle East.