Bangladesh to organise Women's T20 in MayDHAKA, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken aninitiative to organise a women's T20 tournament in May. The tournament, titled the BCB Women's Cup T20, is scheduled to be held fromMay 5 to May 14, featuring a total of 112 cricketers from the first division. Each team will consist of 14 players. All participating cricketers willreceive an honorarium of Taka 25,000, along with a daily allowance of Taka800 throughout the tournament. The teams were finalized through a players' draft held on Tuesday, ensuring abalanced distribution of players across all sides.

Farmers are also expecting a good yield of soybean this year. This year, soybean is being cultivated on 14 hectares of land in Khulna and 3.5 hectares in Bagerhat. Sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the Khulna region said the initiative has been taken for the first time under the leadership of its Additional Director Rafiqul Islam. However, farmers expressed concern that some traders might form syndicates to control the soybean market, depriving them of fair prices. Farmers are showing growing interest in soybean cultivation as it is used for various purposes,” he added.

PARIS, France, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - In the security crackdown ordered byIranian authorities since the start of the war, an unsettling new sight onthe streets of Tehran has put residents on edge: teenagers armed with machineguns. Iranian authorities have confirmed they are recruiting children as young as12 for paramilitary group patrols, traffic checks and other duties. "Around 9 pm, I was feeling suffocated and nostalgic, so I got in the car todrive around town," a 28-year-old woman told AFP on Monday on condition thather identity be protected. Another Tehran resident told AFP last week he had been through a checkpointof military vehicles, then "just 100 metres (330 feet) ahead, there areseveral private cars with teenagers stopping vehicles". "They take cars fitted with speakerphones and they give them flags and theymarch with lots of noise and shout slogans in the streets," another residentin a Tehran suburb told AFP recently.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman replied to questions during the question-and-answer session today. Photo: PMOSANGSAD BHABAN, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today told the Jaitya Sangsad (JS) that the government will take all sorts of steps to bring the laundered money back to country. So, it's major responsibility of this government to bring the laundered money back and spend this for the welfare of the country and its people," he said. Criticizing the arbitrariness of the previous government, Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, said, "The current government is an elected government. The Prime Minister said the law will follow its own course and the government will take measures according to the existing laws.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman replied to questions during the question-and-answer session today. Photo: PMOSANGSAD BHABAN, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today informed the Jatiya Sangsad (JA) that an estimated US$234 billion was siphoned off from Bangladesh during the tenure of the previous fascist government. Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, said that initially 10 countries have been identified as destinations of the laundered money. He said legal proceedings are ongoing to recover laundered money in 11 identified and priority cases. Besides, assets worth Taka 13,278 crore 13 thousand 13 lakh have been attached and frozen abroad following the court orders, he added.

DHAKA, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has requested the United States to grant Bangladesh a special waiver to import refined diesel and other petroleum products from Russian sources to ease energy pressures. Rahman explained that Bangladesh could not take advantage of the earlier limited world-wide waiver by US on Russian oil at sea since none of the tankers were bound for Bangladesh at that time. US Energy Secretary Wright acknowledged the energy challenges Bangladesh is facing and expressed his country's commitment to support Bangladesh during these difficult times to help ensure its energy security. From Bangladesh side, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Deputy Chief of Mission DM Salahuddin Mahmud and Economic Minister Dr. Md. Fazle Rabbi attended the meeting with the Foreign Minister.

DUBAI, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - United Arab Emirates petrol prices rose more than 30 percent on Wednesday, with diesel soaring 72 percent, one month into the Middle East war. Monthly rates set by the UAE's fuel price committee put petrol up 31-33 percent for April, with the highest grade at 3.39 AED ($0.92). Iran, the UAE's near neighbour across the Strait of Hormuz, has targeted the major oil producer with daily drone and missile attacks since February 28. Petrol, up sharply around the world, also rose in other Gulf countries. In Kuwait, another OPEC oil producer, high-grade petrol is up 12.5 percent for April, while Qatar's standard gasoline lifted 7.9 percent.

Photo: BSSNARSINGDI, April 1, 2026 (BSS) – Groundnut cultivation is gaining significant popularity among farmers in the char areas of Narsingdi, driven by low production costs, minimal labor requirements, high yields, and attractive market prices. Large-scale groundnut cultivation is particularly expanding in the char areas along the Meghna River in Raipura upazila. Areas such as Chanpur, Majher Char, Mauhinipur, Sadagar, Kandir Char, Chardighaldi, Alokbali in Sadar upazila, and Char Belabo have seen a notable increase in groundnut farming this season. Additionally, the land used for groundnut cultivation can later be utilized for other crops, increasing its overall productivity. With rising demand and continued institutional support, groundnut cultivation in Narsingdi’s char areas is expected to grow further in the coming years.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host the discussions, Starmer told reporters during a Downing Street press conference, without specifying the day of the talks. The discussions will include countries who recently signed a statement saying they were ready "to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz", Starmer said. Iran has virtually closed the vital strait since the US-Israeli strikes that started the war on February 28, causing global oil and gas prices to soar. The UK leader also backed NATO following renewed criticism of the eight-decade-old alliance by US President Donald Trump. "NATO is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen, and it has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to NATO," Starmer said.

Trump says war could end in two, three weeks as Israel strikes TehranTEHRAN, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Tehran was rocked by a fresh wave of explosions Wednesday, as US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could be over in two or three weeks. Tehran has insisted there are no ongoing negotiations, and that it has not responded to a reported 15-point proposal from Washington to end the war. But Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Islamic republic had the "necessary will" to end the war, provided its enemies guaranteed it would not flare up again. Strikes also hit steel complexes in central and southwest Iran, according to Iranian media, causing "significant damage and destruction". "Nobody knows what's happening," resident Hassan Jalwan told AFP, adding that "displaced people have been sleeping in the open" in the area.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. Photo: ESPNDHAKA, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain was namedHobart Hurricanes Big Bash League (BBL) player of the year today after astandout debut season in the tournament. Rishad played an important role to help Hobart Hurricanes' a strong finish inBBL 15 in what was his maiden season in the tournament. He was drafted to play for Hobart Hurricanes in BBL 14 too but was unable toplay due to his BPL commitment at home. The Bangladesh leg-spinner edged out strong competition from teammates NikhilChaudhary, Nathan Ellis and Chris Jordan to lift the title.

Photo: PMOSANGSAD BHABAN, April 1, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has informed the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) about the ongoing progress in establishing a “Bhutanese Special Economic Zone” in Kurigram district. Tarique Rahman, also Leader of the House, said that at a function held in London in 2023, the King of Bhutan expressed interest in establishing a special economic zone in Kurigram district. He further stated that the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) took the initiative to establish ‘Kurigram Economic Zone-1’ at Madhabram Mouza under Sadar Upazila of Kurigram. Later, considering the interest of the Bhutanese monarch, BEZA proposed setting up a “Bhutanese Special Economic Zone” at the same location under a government-to-government (G2G) joint venture between Bangladesh and Bhutan, he said. Following the visit, he informed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two governments to establish the economic zone under the G2G framework.

Corsicana, TX (75110)TodayPartly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%..TonightPartly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

LONDON, April 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Bank of England on Wednesday said the Middle East war had caused "a substantial negative supply shock to the global economy", increasing risks to the financial system. In its previous Financial Policy Committee report in December, the BoE identified risks posed by an overvalued AI sector and elevated government debt. "The conflict has made the global environment materially more unpredictable and followed a period in which global risks were already elevated," it said Wednesday. The BoE warned that the fallout could impact "the provision of vital financial services to UK households and businesses". Ahead of the BoE update, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to reassure the UK public over the financial fallout.

Rabbi (20), Md. Rakib Hossain (30), Md. Rifat Molla (20), Sabbir Hossain (20), Md. Shahin Hossain (30), Md. Rabbi (19), Md.