Police have arrested five suspects in connection with the large-scale looting of valuable white stones from the Volagonj quarry in Sylhet.

Earlier, a case had been filed against 2,000 unidentified individuals over the theft, which officials say has cost the state crores of taka. The case was lodged Friday night by Mohammad Anwarul Habib, Director General of the Bureau of Mineral Development.

According to the case statement, miscreants began illegally extracting and stealing stones from the government-registered Volagonj quarry after August 5 last year. Authorities have urged investigators to identify those involved and ensure legal action is taken.

The Kremlin has described the recent meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska as “extremely positive.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the leaders chose not to take questions from reporters afterward because “both had already made comprehensive statements, so there was no need.” He added that the discussions would allow the two leaders to “move forward with confidence” in seeking alternative paths to peace.

Following nearly three hours of talks, Trump told reporters the meeting had been “very productive,” but acknowledged that some issues remain unresolved. He said he would now consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies, emphasizing that “any deal ultimately depends on their agreement.”

“There has been significant progress, but we have not yet reached the final stage,” Trump said.

Putin echoed Trump’s remarks, stating he too was “genuinely interested” in ending the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that the war in Ukraine would not have broken out had Donald Trump been in office in 2022.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Putin said he had tried to convince President Joe Biden not to push the situation to a stage where “military action could lead to severe consequences.” He noted that Trump has repeatedly insisted he could have prevented the conflict if he had been in power instead of Biden.

“President Trump and I established a very good, businesslike, and trustworthy communication,” Putin said. “I believe that if we proceed along that path, we can bring an end to the Ukraine conflict — and the sooner, the better.”

Acknowledging Trump’s “friendly tone,” Putin also remarked that U.S.-Russia relations have been difficult in the past but stressed that “the situation needs correction.”

A massive stone looting operation worth hundreds of crores of taka has prompted a case in Sylhet’s Bholaganj.

The complaint lists 1,000 to 1,500 unidentified individuals as accused. According to reports, since August 5 last year, organized groups illegally extracted stones from a government-registered quarry. Authorities are still working to identify the culprits.

Malaysian authorities stopped 98 Bangladeshi nationals from entering the country at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The individuals, who arrived on a flight from Dhaka early Friday morning, failed to produce valid entry documents during a sweep conducted between 1 AM and 7:30 AM. They were issued “No to Land” notices.

Officials suspect the group intended to misuse tourist visas to live and work illegally in Malaysia.

Detectives have arrested six individuals, including Mahmudul Hasan Jewel, personal secretary to former Manikganj-2 MP Momtaz Begum.

The detainees—aged between 32 and 70—were picked up as part of ongoing investigations into multiple political cases across the district, confirmed DB Inspector Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain.

The Trump-Putin summit ended without any agreement or major decision on Ukraine.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Trump admitted no deal was reached but said “good possibilities” emerged for ending the war. Putin added that areas of agreement could form the basis for peace in Ukraine and renewed US-Russia ties. Both leaders noted new opportunities in trade and investment.

In a departure from his usual practice of open remarks at the start of meetings with world leaders, Donald Trump opted for silence during his recent summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

The two leaders exchanged smiles and a handshake but declined to answer media questions. Reporters were quickly ushered out of the room. Analysts suggest Trump’s silence may signal a calculated strategy toward Putin, though it gave no clear indication of the meeting’s outcome.

A much-anticipated summit between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine conflict took place at the Elmendorf-Richardson base in Anchorage, Alaska, early Friday (Bangladesh time 1:30 AM).

Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin arrived separately in Anchorage, where they exchanged a formal handshake on a red-carpeted walkway before proceeding to talks. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and John Ratcliffe were also present.

The summit, however, faced protests outside. Anchorage residents rallied against Trump for inviting Putin, whom many accuse of war crimes, and criticized the exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from peace talks.

A newborn tragically died in Shariatpur after an ambulance transporting the infant was stopped by a local driver syndicate demanding extortion fees.

According to police sources, Noor Hossain Sardar’s wife, Ruma Begum, had just given birth to a son at a local clinic. Doctors advised transferring the newborn to a Dhaka hospital for advanced medical care due to cold-related complications. At around 9 PM, when the family set out for Dhaka, local ambulance drivers, businessmen, and the driver of the Shariatpur Civil Surgeon, Abu Taher Dewan, along with his son Subuj Dewan, blocked the vehicle.

The syndicate reportedly refuses to let any outside ambulance operate without paying regular extortion fees. They allegedly seized the ambulance keys and demanded money. As a result, the critically ill newborn passed away before reaching Dhaka.

Shariatpur Civil Surgeon Dr. Rehan Uddin stated that he had no prior knowledge of the incident. The tragic event has sparked outrage over the monopolistic control of patient transport in the region.

A three-day Hajj and Umrah fair is underway to simplify registration and reduce middleman harassment for 2026 pilgrims. Hosted at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center by HAB, the fair runs until Saturday evening and is open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM.

Religious Adviser Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain noted that the event seeks to streamline pilgrim access to government-registered agencies, ensuring a fraud-free Hajj experience.

Police have filed cases against 42 individuals, including Mahiyuddin Roni, for attacking doctors, nurses, and staff participating in a human chain protest at Barisal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

OC Mizanur Rahman said, “The complaints are under verification. Legal action will follow accordingly.” Among the accused, 12 have been named, and 30 remain unidentified.

The case alleges that the attackers wielded knives, iron rods, SS pipes, hockey sticks, and other improvised weapons. Roni allegedly struck cleaning worker Rafiqul Patwari on the head with an iron rod, causing serious injuries. Roni currently leads a health sector reform movement.

A mass food poisoning incident has affected 365 school students in Sragen, Indonesia, following the consumption of free meals under President Prabowo Subianto’s “Free Meal Program.” This marks the largest such incident in the program’s history.

Despite previous improvements to kitchen and distribution standards after earlier incidents, the problem recurred. Sragen Chief Sigit Pamungkas confirmed that food samples are being tested in laboratories and the kitchens involved have been temporarily closed.

Students reported that the meal included turmeric rice, boiled egg slices, fried tempeh, cucumber-lettuce salad, apple slices, and a box of milk. So far, over 15 million people have benefited from the program, which aims to reach 80 million recipients by the end of the year.

India’s rice prices surged nearly 14% in just two days following Bangladesh’s announcement of duty-free rice imports. Major Indian traders quickly exported rice to Bangladesh, creating a temporary supply-demand imbalance in India. Prices of popular varieties like Sarna, Miniket, Ratna, and Sona Masuri saw significant increases. Bangladesh’s duty withdrawal aims to stabilize domestic prices and curb inflation, while Indian exporters benefit from new demand, helping offset global price declines and boosting their profits.

Heavy rains and upstream water inflows have caused rivers like the Teesta, Padma, and Jamuna to rise near or above danger levels, threatening low-lying areas in 12 districts. Croplands, homes, and river islands are already submerged, leaving thousands of families stranded. Cities like Rajshahi face waterlogging in slums, while districts such as Kushtia, Kurigram, and Bhola report worsening flood situations. Authorities have opened control rooms, provided relief, and warned residents to stay alert as water levels continue to rise.