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Questions have been raised about whether Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is adhering to the ‘Automatic Pricing Mechanism’ that is in place in the country to determine fuel prices.

According to the BPC’s method, the domestic price for the following month is to be determined based on the international average price for each month.

But with the increase in fuel prices from 15 to 20 taka per liter on April 19, analysts are questioning the transparency of that mathematical formula.
They say that when the price of fuel in the international market is below $100 per barrel, it is in no way reasonable for diesel to be priced at Tk 115 in the country.

In the last one month, the price of Brent crude oil in the international market has decreased by about $12-15 per barrel (from $110-115 to $95). According to sources, a decrease of $10 in the international market would result in a decrease of about 7-8 taka per liter in the local market.

As such, even though the price was supposed to decrease, the government has increased it by 15-20 taka.
In this context, CAB advisor and energy expert Dr. Shamsul Alam said that the government’s announcement to increase fuel oil prices is contradictory to the BPC’s auto pricing formula.

When the price of fuel rose in the world market, the government was able to control it, and now I don’t understand why it has become unpopular with the people by increasing prices so drastically. Those who have been holding onto fuel oil for so long and creating an artificial crisis have been given the opportunity to make more profits.

The impact of the fuel price hike on public life has begun to be felt immediately after the announcement. Just a day after the fuel price hike, the gas price hike has put a new strain on middle-class and lower-middle-class families.

On the other hand, drivers in the transportation sector say they have no other option but to adjust fares to manage costs.

According to sources from the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the government has adjusted oil prices due to the increase in fuel oil prices in the international market, pressure on import costs, and increased pressure on foreign exchange.

Those concerned say that the decision had to be taken considering the instability in the global market and the impact of the Middle East situation. Moreover, the pressure of state subsidies was increasing due to the increase in the cost of fuel imports.

Price adjustments were necessary to deal with that pressure.
We visited different areas of the capital and talked to people from various professions.

They say that when the price of fuel increases, transportation fares first increase, then the prices of daily necessities gradually increase. But income does not increase in comparison.
Rubel, a local motor parts seller in the capital’s Dolaipar area, said, “As soon as the news of the increase in oil prices comes, the prices of various things, including daily necessities, increase several times. We cannot suddenly increase the prices of our products or the cost of work whenever we want. As a result, it becomes difficult for people like us to earn a living.”

: When Bangladesh received international recognition for the elimination of kala-azar as a ‘public health problem’ on October 31, 2023, it was undoubtedly celebrated as a major achievement in the country’s public health sector. This success was possible as a result of long-term coordinated efforts, research, and field-level activities.

But within two years of that achievement, reality is now sending a different message.

Stagnation in field activities, acute shortages of medicines, and weak surveillance are all warning public health experts that the once-under-control disease could resurface.

Although the infection has decreased, the risk remains.
According to the Department of Health, in 1997, the number of kala-azar patients in the country was 8,846, which increased to a peak of 9,379 in 2006. Later, the number of patients began to decline rapidly as a result of the National Kala-azar Eradication Programme (NKEP), single-dose Ambisome treatment, active case detection (ACD), and vector control activities.

In 2021, the number of patients dropped to 99. Then, it rose to 146 in 2022, 144 in 2023, and 89 in 2024.

However, according to experts, this downward trend has now become a cause for complacency. Currently, about 160 to 167 upazilas in 26 districts of the country are still at risk, where about 38 million people are at risk of kala-azar infection.

A couple and their two children were brutally murdered by miscreants in Niamatpur, Naogaon.

The incident took place at midnight on Monday (April 20) in Bahadurpur village of Bahadurpur Union.

Niamatpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the matter.

The deceased are Habibur Rahman (32), son of Namir Uddin of Bahadurpur village, Habibur’s wife Poppy Sultana (25), son Parvez (9) and daughter Sadia Akhter (3).

Parvez was studying in the fifth grade at Bahadurpur Government Primary School.

Locals said that after the dawn prayers, neighbors saw the door open and went inside to see their bodies.

Later, when the police were informed, they arrived and recovered their bodies.
Moazzem Hossain, father of the deceased Poppy Akhter, said, “I want the death penalty for those who killed my daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.”

Clashes broke out between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir at Government City College in the city’s New Market area . Batons and bricks were thrown during the clash.

In this situation, college classes and scheduled exams were announced to be suspended.
After a one-off clash on Tuesday (April 21) morning, the two sides clashed again in the afternoon.

It is learnt that there is a graffiti on the wall of the college building, with the words ‘Student Politics and Chhatra League Free Campus’ written underneath. On Monday night, a group of leaders and activists of the college branch of Chhatra Dal went there and removed the word ‘Student’ from the graffiti.

Instead, he wrote ‘Gupta’ on it. Leaders and activists from both sides clashed for the first time this morning due to a dispute on the college campus over the issue.
After the morning clash, the two sides clashed again at around 4 pm. At that time, leaders and activists of both sides were seen carrying sticks. In front of the college campus, both sides started throwing bricks at each other. Although the police were present at the spot, they were seen in a very calm state.
Jasim Uddin, vice-principal of Government City College, said that a clash broke out between the two parties over graffiti. Later, the police arrived and brought the situation under control.

A court has granted bail to Jubo Mahila League leader Shilpi Begum, the mother of a one-and-a-half-month-old son, who was arrested in a case under the Explosives Act by Tejgaon Police Station in the capital, four hours after she was sent to jail.

After a hearing on Tuesday (April 21) evening, Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman granted his bail on humanitarian grounds.

Earlier this afternoon, Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Jonaid rejected bail and ordered him to be sent to prison after a hearing.

The news of her being sent to prison with her one and a half month old baby sparked a storm of criticism on social media.

Many demanded his immediate bail.
Later, the artist’s lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi filed an application with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court seeking a review of the order.

In response to that application, the court granted him bail on a bond of five thousand taka.
This afternoon, the investigation officer of the case, Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Sheikh Nazrul Islam, presented the artist in court and requested to be detained in prison.

The application states that sufficient evidence has been found to prove the accused’s involvement in the case. Based on confidential information, he was arrested from his residence on Railway Colony Station Road under Tejgaon Police Station at around 7:15 pm on Monday (April 20). He was initially questioned.

The petition further states that the investigation has revealed that the accused played an active role in suppressing the anti-discrimination student movement. It is particularly necessary to keep him in jail until the investigation of the case is completed.
On the other hand, the accused’s lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi applied for bail. During the hearing, she mentioned that she has a one-month and 16-day-old son. She has undergone a cesarean section. I am seeking his bail on any condition. After the hearing, the court rejected the bail and ordered to send him to prison.

Abu Naser Shamim ( 50 ) , a Bangladeshi expatriate , was shot dead by gunmen in front of his business in South Africa at 5pm ( local time ) on Tuesday ( April 21 ) in the Bara area of ​​Johannesburg .

The deceased, Shamim, was the son of the late Abdur Rashid Mia of the Gonu Sareng house in Badamtoli area of ​​Ward No. 8 of Charkankara Union in Companiganj Upazila of Noakhali. He was the father of four sons .

Abu Rafsan Piyas , the deceased’s eldest son , said that his father first migrated to South Africa in 2007. He returned to the country four years ago and started a business there again .
Currently, he had 4-5 businesses. He complained that a few days ago , a dispute arose between his father and a business partner in Noakhali over the sale of a large shop .

Recently, there was a disagreement between them over the matter . Since the shop was large , it was not possible to find big buyers .
Later, the father installed bulletproof glass in the shop for security and hired a personal security guard . On the afternoon of the incident , he was talking to the security guard in front of the shop . At that time, the terrorists who had been waiting in ambush put a pistol to his head and fired 6-7 rounds in a row . He died on the spot . The incident has cast a shadow of deep grief over the expatriate Bangladeshi community . The family of the deceased has demanded a fair investigation into the murder and the repatriation of the body .

Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam said that evidence has been found of communication between former International Crimes Tribunal prosecutor Saimum Reza Talukder and the lawyer of former parliamentarian (MP) ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, who is accused of crimes against humanity in the July uprising. However, he said that complete information and evidence has not yet been found regarding the allegations of immoral transactions surrounding the case.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said in his office on Tuesday (April 21), “The fact-finding committee is working to investigate the allegations raised against some prosecutors. We have found concrete evidence about the conversation between the then prosecutor Saimum and Fazle Karim Chowdhury’s lawyer.”

However, we have not yet received evidence regarding the allegations that he demanded money in exchange for providing immoral benefits to the accused in the case. The committee’s activities are ongoing.
According to media reports, former Awami League MP from Chittagong-6 ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury is accused in a case of crimes against humanity committed in Chittagong city during the July uprising. Resigned prosecutor Md. Saimum Reza Talukder had asked his family for Tk 1 crore to secure his release on bail in the case.

There have been repeated clashes between BNP and Jubo Dal leaders and activists of Jamaat and NCP over the submission of a tender for the lease of a fishing pier in Sadar Upazila of Narayanganj.

The incident took place on Monday (April 21) afternoon at the Sadar Upazila Parishad premises.

It is reported that at least five/six people from both sides were injured.
According to eyewitnesses and local sources, Monday was the scheduled day to submit tenders for the lease of Baktavali Kheyaghat.

To obtain this lease, followers of Shahidul Islam Titu, president of Fatulla Thana BNP in Sadar Upazila, and leaders and activists of Baktabol Union BNP and Jubo Dal have been controlling the Upazila Parishad area since morning.
Around 1 pm, when Jamaat and NCP workers went to submit the tender, they were obstructed by BNP workers.

At that time, when Baktavali Union NCP leader Tauhid and Union Jamaat Ameer Abu Bakar protested, BNP workers attacked them. After being beaten, the Jamaat followers left the area, but the NCP workers later organized and returned.
Around 2:30 pm, when NCP workers gathered again in the upazila, a second round of clashes broke out between the two sides. During this, BNP and Jubo Dal workers dispersed after NCP workers gave chase. Later, police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has handed over the body of a Bangladeshi youth who died while serving a prison sentence in India for infiltration.

The body was handed over on Tuesday (April 21) afternoon through the Nakugaon border in Nalitabari upazila of Sherpur in the presence of border guards and police from the two countries.

The deceased youth has been identified as Shipon Hawlader (35). He is the son of Sabej Hawlader of Barguna district headquarters.

Police said that Shipon Howlader entered India through the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh about 19 months ago. He was later arrested by the Indian Border Security Force and handed over to the police there.

An Indian court then sentenced him to prison for infiltration and sent him to Tura Prison.
Meanwhile, his prison term was scheduled to end on April 28.

However, Shipon suddenly fell seriously ill last Thursday (April 16) and died while undergoing treatment in India. Later, after the legal process in both countries, Shipon’s body was handed over to his relatives at 1 pm today, Tuesday.
During the handover of the body, members of the border guard forces and police of the two countries, including Inspector Kima Roy, Commander of the Slopes Company of the BSF, Ful Mia Sarkar, Subedar of Hatipaga, and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Nalitabari Police Station, were present on behalf of the Bangladesh BGB.