The Chandamari Mosque, located in Chandamari Mondolpara village of Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram, is a more than 400-year-old architectural and cultural landmark. Built with lime, brick, and surki, the mosque features three large domes, four corner minarets, and intricate designs that reflect a blend of Sultanate and Mughal styles. Despite changes in the surrounding environment, the mosque remains a central part of local religious and social life, drawing worshippers especially during Friday prayers and Ramadan.

Historical accounts suggest the mosque was constructed between 1584 and 1680, though no inscription confirms the exact date. Locals compare its design to the Babri Mosque in India and the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat, noting its unique craftsmanship and durability. Elderly residents recall generations of worshippers attending prayers there, and stories persist about the mosque’s enduring structure built without iron rods.

Local heritage advocates emphasize the need for preservation, as parts of the plaster have begun to deteriorate. They believe proper conservation could secure the mosque’s place as one of Kurigram’s most significant historical monuments for future generations.

Bangladesh observed World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2026, under the theme “Shaping a Peaceful Future: Freedom of the Press for Human Rights, Development, and Security.” The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organized a rally and discussion session in Dhaka to mark the occasion. The rally began at 9 a.m. from the Officers’ Club premises and concluded at the Information Building Complex. A discussion followed at the Department of Films and Publications conference hall, focusing on the role of a free and responsible press in fostering a culture of accountability.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon attended the event as the chief guest. Professor Dr. S. M. Shamim Reza of Dhaka University presented a paper, while several prominent media figures, including the Bangladesh Press Council chairman and editors from leading newspapers and television channels, participated as discussants.

World Press Freedom Day was first recognized by the United Nations in 1993 following a UNESCO recommendation. The day reaffirms commitments to press freedom, honors journalists’ sacrifices, and pledges to resist interference in media independence.

Bangladesh has launched its first-ever Migration Film Fest to showcase real-life stories related to migration. The organizers have invited short films from young filmmakers and students, with submissions open from April 1 to May 25, 2026. Films can be made using any device, including mobile phones, and may be fiction, animation, or documentary, but must focus on migration. The maximum film length is set at 15 minutes.

The festival aims to portray both the success stories of Bangladeshi migrants and the darker sides of migration, such as human trafficking, fraud by brokers, perilous sea journeys, deaths abroad, mental trauma, and family suffering. Winners will receive prizes including a Sony DSLR camera, GoPro kits, and certificates. Selected films will be screened and broadcast on television and other platforms.

Film selection will take place from May 26 to June 4, with the festival scheduled for the second week of June. Organized by BRAC Migration Program under the Australian government-supported campaign against human trafficking, the event also includes online workshops to guide participants in storytelling and technical skills.

A colorful event marking Buddha Purnima, one of the major religious festivals of the Buddhist community, was held in Merul Badda, Dhaka, organized by the Bangladesh Buddhist Federation. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended as chief guest and delivered a message of unity, harmony, and peace. The program began with a reception honoring Independence Award-winning educationist Professor Dr. Sukomal Barua, whose contributions were remembered with respect and gratitude.

In his address, the minister emphasized that all religions promote human welfare, peace, and compassion. He urged people to avoid violence, hatred, and conflict, and to uphold human values. He also called for national unity beyond divisions to build a prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh. State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipen Dewan, speaking as special guest, highlighted the importance of collective efforts by people of all faiths for the country’s progress.

Speakers expressed hope that such events would help spread messages of peace, harmony, and human welfare throughout society.

At Rajshahi University’s Bijoy-24 Hall, student leaders of the hall council organized a unique initiative on Friday afternoon by picking lychees from the hall’s trees and distributing them directly to students’ rooms. The hall’s provost, Professor Md. Jamirul Islam, was present during the activity.

According to the organizers, around five thousand lychees were collected from the hall premises and distributed equally among 135 rooms, including the PhD block, as well as among hall staff members. Each room received about 25 to 30 fresh lychees. Hall council vice president Russell Mia said the initiative continued a tradition started the previous year, aiming to share the seasonal fruit with all residents and create a festive atmosphere reminiscent of childhood memories.

Provost Professor Jamirul Islam noted that one of the hall’s lychee trees had produced an abundant harvest this year, and the distribution allowed everyone to enjoy it together. The event fostered joy and community spirit among students and staff.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury said that photography is not merely a play of light and shadow but a record of time that immortalizes history. He made the remarks on Thursday while inaugurating a photo exhibition at the National Press Club as the chief guest. The event was organized by the National Forum of Photo Journalists, Nepal (NFPJ), with support from the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association.

During his speech, Yasser Khan became emotional, recalling his early career dream of becoming a photojournalist and his fascination with viewing life through a camera lens. He also reminisced about his visit to Nepal in the 1990s, describing the country’s natural beauty and the simplicity of its people. He emphasized that such cultural exchanges strengthen the friendship between Bangladesh and Nepal.

Speakers at the event noted the geographical and cultural similarities between the two countries and expressed hope that collaborations among photographers would deepen bilateral ties and enhance professional exchange.

The Bangladesh National Museum has dismissed recent media reports about alleged irregularities in the construction costs and recruitment process of the July Uprising Memorial Museum, calling them baseless and misleading. In a press release issued on April 30, 2026, the museum clarified that no recruitment has yet taken place for the new museum. It explained that a CCTV video circulating online showed an informal meeting with families of martyrs and injured persons, not a job interview. The museum said all future hiring will follow official government procedures under a high-level recruitment committee.

The statement also denied claims of excessive spending, stating that from April 2025 to February 2026, total hospitality expenses amounted to 3.74 million taka, not over 10 million as reported. It further clarified that the 6.4 million taka boundary wall cost was part of a larger 984.5 million taka allocation managed by the Public Works Department, not the museum itself. The museum emphasized that the project to convert the former Ganabhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar into a museum was a major undertaking and that the facility is now ready for inauguration by the Prime Minister.

The museum urged media outlets to verify information before publication to avoid spreading misinformation.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator and freedom fighter Md. Abdus Salam stated that cultural practice is essential for guiding youth and maintaining a healthy, drug-free society. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy auditorium in Dhaka during a discussion, award ceremony, and cultural program marking International Dance Day 2026.

Abdus Salam stressed that alongside education, cultural engagement is vital for both physical and social well-being. He expressed concern that excessive mobile phone use is distancing the younger generation from their roots and hindering creativity. He lamented the decline of dance, a key element of Bengali culture, and urged parents to encourage children’s participation in creative and cultural activities to prevent drug addiction.

The DSCC administrator highlighted ongoing initiatives to modernize the corporation’s cultural centers and improve training facilities in dance and music. He noted the availability of higher education opportunities in dance and called for collective efforts from government and cultural stakeholders to build a culturally conscious society.

Leaders of the Buddhist community exchanged greetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. The event took place on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Public Administration Conference Room of the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Religious Affairs Minister Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad, Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipen Dewan, State Minister Mir Helal Uddin, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Minority Affairs Bijon Kanti Sarkar, Member of Parliament from Bandarban Saching Prue Jerry, BNP-nominated reserved seat candidate Madhabi Marma, and Dr. Sukomal Barua were present at the event.

During the ceremony, representatives of the Buddhist community presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative crest and a replica of a Buddha statue as a token of goodwill.

An anti-corruption debate competition was held in Bhangura upazila of Pabna, focusing on the theme 'Only an accountable government system can curb and prevent corruption.' The two-day event took place at the Upazila Parishad auditorium, jointly organized by the Pabna District Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee. In the final round on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 24 students from eight educational institutions participated, presenting arguments for and against the motion.

Momota-Mostafa Ideal High School won the championship, while Ashtomonisha Hasina-Momen Girls High School became the runner-up. Sabrina Sultana Simu was named best speaker. The event was presided over by former principal Md. Shahiduzzaman, president of the Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee, with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Arifuzzaman as the chief guest. Several local officials and educators attended as special guests.

According to the organizers, the competition aims to foster ethical values and anti-corruption awareness among students as part of an annual initiative to build a corruption-free society.

A group of young Bangladeshis has created a digital archive called July Memories to preserve the visual and cultural traces of the July uprising. The initiative began as a graffiti archive to document protest writings before they disappeared from public walls. Over time, it expanded into a broader online repository capturing slogans, songs, raps, poems, and personal memories linked to the movement. Co-founders Yasir Arafat and Silmee Sadia, both with backgrounds in journalism, led the effort across 11 districts, photographing around 10,000 graffiti pieces.

The project emerged from a sense of duty to protect the language of protest that was rapidly being erased after the fall of authoritarian rule. Many significant writings, including those demanding justice and political accountability, were removed within months. July Memories now serves as a digital resistance against forgetting, ensuring that the voices of protest remain accessible online.

Beyond archiving, the founders also authored a book on six journalists killed during the July events, published by the Press Institute Bangladesh, extending their mission of preserving collective memory.

A three-day mobile book fair and cultural festival has been inaugurated in Patnitala upazila of Naogaon. The event, organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs with support from the upazila administration, will run from April 28 to 30. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Upazila Parishad auditorium, where Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rifat Ara formally opened the program.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Jewel Mia, Patnitala Press Club President Ikhtiar Uddin Azad, and other local dignitaries attended the opening ceremony. Local residents, book enthusiasts, and students from various educational institutions were also present. According to the organizers, the fair and cultural programs will be held daily from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The initiative aims to promote reading habits and expand cultural practices among the local community through the three-day event.

A mass wedding involving 300 couples took place in central Gaza on Friday, supported by the United Arab Emirates. The event, held under the program titled 'Galant Night 3', aimed to assist couples who were unable to marry due to financial hardship. Around 20,000 people, including families, local leaders, representatives of international organizations, and residents, attended the ceremony.

Organizers said the couples were selected from thousands of applicants, with priority given to unmarried individuals facing economic challenges. Applications had opened in February. Alongside the wedding, newlyweds received gifts and assistance to help them begin their married lives. The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by the marriages, emphasizing Palestinian cultural traditions.

Both the national anthems of the United Arab Emirates and Palestine were performed during the event, symbolizing solidarity and cultural unity amid Gaza’s ongoing recovery from Israeli attacks.

Renowned Indian photographer Raghu Rai has passed away at the age of 83. He died on Sunday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in New Delhi. Rai was widely regarded as a pioneer of Indian photojournalism and earned international recognition for his work documenting major historical events.

During Bangladesh’s Liberation War, Raghu Rai was among the leading foreign photographers to cover the conflict. At that time, he served as the chief photojournalist for India’s prominent newspaper The Statesman. His photographs vividly portrayed the suffering of Bangladeshi refugees in Indian camps and captured key moments of the war, including scenes from the frontlines and the surrender of Pakistani forces.

His death marks the end of an era in South Asian photojournalism, leaving behind a legacy of powerful visual storytelling that chronicled both human struggle and resilience.

The funeral and burial of Alhaj Hazrat Maulana Mofizul Islam, known as the 'Boro Huzur' and director of Saiber Hat Qaumi Madrasa in Daulatkhan, Bhola, were completed on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Thousands of Islamic scholars and local residents attended the prayer at the Daulatkhan central Eidgah ground. He passed away on Saturday, April 25, at his established Saiber Hat Qaumi Madrasa in Ward 9 of Daulatkhan Municipality.

Mofizul Islam was the son of the founder of the historic Izzatul Islam Char Khalifa Qaumi Madrasa and was widely respected for his modest lifestyle and religious leadership. His death cast a shadow of mourning across the area.

Bhola-2 constituency BNP Member of Parliament Alhaj Hafiz Ibrahim, Daulatkhan Upazila BNP leaders Abdul Mannan Mia and Shahjahan Saju, and local religious organizations including the Ulama Dal and Ulama Mashayekh Aimma Oikya Parishad expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family.