An internal investigation has revealed that 23 out of 34 officials of the Bangladesh Tea Board received appointments and promotions in violation of regulations during the Awami League government. The inquiry found that some officials used political or personal connections to secure positions, including relatives of ministers and associates of senior police officials. The findings, submitted on March 30 after four months of investigation, identified multiple cases of rule violations in both the Tea Research Institute and the Project Development Unit. The committee recommended canceling several promotion orders and recovering funds improperly received by some employees.

The investigation also uncovered large-scale corruption involving fake and deceased workers in state-owned tea estates, particularly at the New Samanbagh Tea Garden. Out of 1,820 listed workers, only 315 were verified as genuine, while over 1,000 had mismatched or missing identification records. The report estimated that the government loses millions of taka monthly due to salaries and benefits paid to non-existent workers.

Officials involved in the inquiry confirmed the irregularities and submitted their reports to higher authorities, but no further action has yet been reported.

A Feni court has granted bail to a charge-sheeted accused in the Shahid Mahbubul Hasan Masum murder case, which occurred during the July–August student and public uprising in Feni’s Mohipal area. On Sunday, Additional District and Sessions Judge-2 Mashfikul Haque issued the order. The prosecution confirmed that the accused, Jubo League leader Sohel, had been arrested earlier and was in jail for about three months. The charge sheet, filed on 31 July 2025 by SI Alamgir Hossain of Feni Model Police Station, named 221 individuals.

The case also lists several high-profile figures, including Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Nizam Uddin Hazari, and Masud Uddin Chowdhury, as accused. Despite strong opposition from the prosecution, the court approved Sohel’s bail following a petition by his defense lawyers. This marks the first instance of a charge-sheeted accused receiving bail in the Feni court related to the July uprising murder case.

The plaintiff’s lawyer described the decision as unprecedented, while local BNP leader Sheikh Farid Bahar said the bail raised public questions about transparency and justice in such a sensitive case.

A Rajshahi divisional special judge court on Sunday sentenced former Godagari Upazila cooperative officer Nripendranath Das to five years in prison in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The verdict was delivered by Judge Mostafa Pavel Raihan. The conviction includes two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 taka under Section 161 of the Penal Code, and three years of rigorous imprisonment with an 8,000 taka fine under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

According to the case details, on May 14, 2019, Abdul Baten applied to register the Sharamangla Ekata Fish Farmers Cooperative Society in Godagari municipality. During the registration process, the then cooperative officer Nripendranath Das demanded a bribe of 15,000 taka, of which 7,000 taka was initially paid. After the complaint was lodged, an ACC team set a trap and caught him red-handed while receiving the remaining 8,000 taka at his office.

Following his arrest, Das was handed over to Godagari police, and a case was filed against him. The court later delivered its verdict based on the investigation and evidence presented.

A third-gender individual named Enamul Haque Shishir, also known as Mahi, died after being set on fire in Comilla’s Burichang area following a dispute over drug money. The incident occurred on May 13 near the Freedom Fighter Complex in Burichang municipality, where another third-gender person, Zahidul Islam Apon, allegedly poured petrol on Mahi and set him ablaze. Mahi was first taken to Comilla Medical College Hospital and later transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, where he died on Sunday after several days of treatment.

Police and local sources said the conflict stemmed from disagreements among several third-gender individuals involved in drug trading in the area. Mahi had previously been arrested in a drug case. Following the incident, Mahi’s father, Kamrul Haque Farhad, filed a murder case with Burichang Police Station. One suspect has been arrested, while the main accused, Zahidul Islam Apon, remains at large.

Burichang police confirmed that operations are ongoing to apprehend the fugitive suspect.

A new development has emerged in the murder case of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a student of Comilla Victoria Government College. Investigators found traces of blood from a fourth individual on Tonu’s clothing, in addition to sperm from three men. Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Inspector Md. Tarikul Islam confirmed the finding on Sunday night, stating that the DNA test results were received about a month ago. This brings the total number of suspects to four.

The case dates back to March 20, 2016, when Tonu went missing after going to tutor at a house inside the Comilla Cantonment. Her body was later discovered in a nearby jungle. Despite multiple investigations by police, DB, and CID, the case remained unsolved. The investigation has since changed hands six times, with PBI currently leading the probe.

On April 21, 2026, retired army member Hafizur Rahman was arrested as a suspect and placed on a three-day remand. His DNA sample was collected for comparison with the evidence, but results were still pending as of Sunday, according to the investigator.

A clash broke out on Sunday night between students of the Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and Public Administration departments at Islamic University (IU) following an assault by a senior on a junior student inside a campus bus. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. near the university’s main gate when the night-schedule bus entered the campus. Several students from both departments were injured in the confrontation. University officials, including the pro-vice-chancellor, treasurer, and members of the proctorial body, intervened to calm the situation and later confined students of the two departments to separate academic buildings.

According to witnesses and students, the conflict stemmed from an earlier altercation on a Jhenaidah-bound double-decker bus at 4 p.m., when a senior student allegedly assaulted a junior over a minor issue. The dispute escalated after both groups gathered at the main gate, leading to renewed fighting. University authorities later brought the situation under control and held discussions with both sides to resolve misunderstandings.

Senior faculty members expressed hope that the incident would not prolong further, while the pro-vice-chancellor confirmed that the campus was calm and there was no threat to law and order.

A youth has been arrested in Abhaynagar upazila of Jashore after allegedly stabbing an SSC examinee who refused his marriage proposal. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at the Dhulgram-Phultala ferry ghat while the student was returning home after her exam. The injured girl was admitted to a hospital, and the suspect, identified as Ashik Sheikh, 26, from Gopinathpur village, was detained by locals and handed over to police.

According to the victim’s father, Ashik had been harassing his daughter for two years with repeated marriage proposals. When the family refused, he continued to disturb her. After the stabbing, he attempted to flee but was caught by residents. A written complaint has been filed with Phultala Police Station.

Medical officer Dr. Rayhana Ferdousi of Phultala Upazila Health Complex said the patient was advised to be transferred to Khulna Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Police confirmed that legal proceedings are underway.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has identified 116 websites linked to online gambling and submitted their list to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for closure. The announcement was made by Additional IGP Mohsleh Uddin Ahmed at a press conference at the CID headquarters in Malibagh, Dhaka. The CID’s Cyber Intelligence and Risk Management Unit conducted cyber monitoring from May 1 to May 17, uncovering the sites and related illegal financial activities. It also identified 879 mobile financial service accounts and 43 bank accounts connected to the transactions, forwarding the information to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU).

CID reported that eight members of a syndicate involved in operating both local and international gambling platforms were arrested. The group allegedly used mobile banking, bank accounts, and cryptocurrency wallets for illegal transactions, transferring large sums abroad through digital hundi and crypto channels. During two operations, CID seized 13 mobile phones, 20 SIM cards, and courier receipts linked to fake agent SIM distribution.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the network’s international links and recover laundered funds in coordination with BFIU and international law enforcement agencies.

A young man named Al Amin, aged 27, was killed in Muladi upazila of Barishal on Sunday afternoon after being called out over a debt payment. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. in Baliatali village. According to local sources, Al Amin was invited from his home under the pretext of settling a financial matter. A dispute broke out between him and three individuals—Noman, Azizul, and Sahabuddin—who allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured. The same individuals took him to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Following the incident, angry locals reportedly beat the suspects before handing them over to police. The area remains tense, and additional police forces have been deployed to maintain order. Muladi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sohel Rana confirmed the killing and said three people had been arrested in connection with the case.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as investigations continue in the affected village.

Police in Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, conducted an operation that led to the arrest of Shahin Mia, identified as the main suspect behind a motorcycle theft ring. Acting on his information, officers recovered 32 stolen motorcycles from a warehouse on Sunday. The warehouse owner, Abbas Ali, was also questioned during the investigation.

According to Abbas Ali’s initial statement, Shahin and another individual named Faridul were involved in buying and selling stolen motorcycles. Abbas Ali reportedly runs a business dealing in used motorcycles, which was linked to the illegal trade. Jaldhaka Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Alam confirmed the recovery and outlined the next steps.

Police stated that the recovered motorcycles will be presented to the court in a formal report. Those with valid ownership documents will be returned to their rightful owners through court procedures.

A Dhaka court has sentenced drug dealer Md. Nazim Uddin to life imprisonment under the Narcotics Control Act for possessing 28,000 yaba tablets. The verdict was delivered on Sunday afternoon by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md. Sabbir Fayez. Along with the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of 50,000 taka, with an additional two months of imprisonment in default of payment. The convict, who was already in custody, was brought to court for the verdict and later sent back to prison.

According to the case details, on July 3, 2025, a team from the Department of Narcotics Control conducted a raid in the Arambagh area under Motijheel Police Station based on a tip-off. Nazim Uddin was arrested near the AGB Colony on Outer Circular Road, and 28,000 yaba tablets weighing approximately 2.8 kilograms were recovered from his bag and clothing. A mobile phone used in the drug trade was also seized.

Following the arrest, a case was filed at Motijheel Police Station, and after investigation, a charge sheet was submitted on October 30, 2025. The trial began on March 29, 2026, with testimony from six witnesses before the final verdict was announced.

The investigation into the death of actor Zaher Alvi’s wife, Ikra, has been transferred from Mirpur police to the Detective Branch (DB). The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin’s court on Sunday, May 17, 2026, set June 24 as the new deadline for submitting the investigation report. The DB police failed to submit the report on the scheduled date, prompting the court to extend the deadline.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s prosecution division sub-inspector Saiful Islam, the case was handed over to the DB on May 14. Case documents show that on March 1, Ikra was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her Mirpur residence. Family members discovered her and took her to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Police later prepared an inquest report and collected evidence from the scene.

That night, Ikra’s uncle Sheikh Tanvir Ahmed filed a case with Mirpur Model Police Station, alleging that prolonged family disputes and mental abuse forced her to take her own life. Actor Zaher Alvi and his mother were named as accused in the case.

Md. Ramzanul Haque Nihad, owner of Amin Mohammad Foundation and an accused in the Bailey Road Green Cozy Cottage building fire case, surrendered before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court and filed for bail but later withdrew his application. Another accused, Adib Alam, owner of Hakka Dhaka Restaurant, was granted bail by the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasan Shahadat’s court upon a bond of 5,000 taka.

Earlier, on April 19, the court accepted the charge sheet against 22 accused, including several restaurant owners from the building, and issued arrest warrants for 13 absentees. The case stems from the February 29, 2024 fire that killed 46 people and injured 11. The charge sheet, submitted by CID Inspector Shah Jalal Munshi, alleged that the accused illegally operated restaurants without proper government approval and violated safety regulations, leading to the deadly incident.

The next hearing on the arrest status of the absconding accused is scheduled for May 19, as the court continues proceedings against those charged under seven sections of the penal code.

A fire broke out at the business establishment of BNP leader Iqbal Howlader in Ward 1 of Uzirpur Municipality, Barishal, early Sunday morning. The shop was completely destroyed in the blaze, which the owner alleged was a deliberate act of arson linked to a previous land dispute. He demanded that those responsible be identified, arrested, and punished.

Officer-in-Charge of Uzirpur Model Police Station, Md Rafiqul Islam, confirmed that a complaint had been filed and that the incident was under serious investigation. Local BNP leaders, including the municipal unit’s general secretary Md Rokonuzzaman Tulu and legal affairs secretary Md Riaz Mia, visited the site, expressed solidarity with the affected family, and called for a fair investigation. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Ali Suza also visited the scene and assured necessary assistance for the victims.

The incident has caused concern among local residents, who urged the administration to take swift action to uncover the true cause of the fire.

A 40-year-old woman named Protima Rani from Dakshin Joydebpur village in Putimara Union, Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur, reportedly took her own life on Saturday due to debt pressure. According to a written complaint filed by her father, Sushil Chandra Barman, she had borrowed money from various NGOs and individuals but became frustrated when she could not repay the loans. She allegedly consumed poison on Saturday evening and was taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where she died around 11 p.m. while under treatment.

Police Inspector Shamim Al Mamun of Nawabganj Police Station confirmed that an unnatural death case was filed on Sunday in connection with the incident.

The report highlights the growing concern over debt-related distress in rural areas, though no further details on the loans or the NGOs involved were provided in the source.