Actor Siddiqur Rahman faces two cases—one for murder and another for attempted murder—filed at Gulshan Police Station in connection with recent anti-government protests. He is expected to be handed over to Gulshan police for further legal procedures. Earlier, he was assaulted during the protest, and his clothing was reportedly torn before police detained him.

Following the attack in Pahalgam, India has seen a surge in anti-Muslim sentiment online, with a growing number of hate songs appearing on YouTube. One such song, titled “Pehle Dharam Poochha”, accuses Muslims of conspiring against Hindus. Al Jazeera has identified at least 20 similar songs promoting Islamophobia and hate speech. Despite the growing hostility, it was a Muslim horseman who died trying to stop the attackers, and local Muslims were among the first to assist injured tourists.

Two accused individuals escaped from police custody in Chattogram on Tuesday while being transferred to a prison van after a court appearance. The fugitives have been identified as Md. Iqbal Hossain Imon, arrested in connection with a murder over online gambling disputes, and Anowar Hossain, arrested in a narcotics case. The police have launched an investigation into the security lapse.

Testimonies continued for the third consecutive day in the trial for the rape and murder of Achiya. Ten witnesses, including Achiya’s sister Hamida, testified on the third day. One of the accused, Hitu Sheikh, claimed that Hamida knows everything and that a proper investigation would reveal the truth. Prosecutor Monirul Islam Mukul stated that Hitu Sheikh, his wife Zaheda Begum, and their sons Sajib and Ratul were present during the proceedings. So far, 16 witnesses have testified. Five more, including doctors and nurses involved in the child’s treatment, are scheduled to testify on Wednesday.

Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed announced that model markets free from plastic and polythene—created with support from market committees and public offices—will receive awards from the Ministry of Environment. She emphasized the need for personal behavioral change to address pollution and noted that illegal polythene continues to harm the environment and public health. She also shared that government efforts include awareness campaigns and promoting alternatives.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam urged police to win public trust through service, empathy, and professionalism. He instructed officers to remain free from political bias and avoid seeking special favors. He also announced the procurement of 200 pickup vans for police stations, currently under review by the Cabinet Committee on Purchase, and discussed plans to offer loans to officers for motorcycle purchases.

Indian authorities in Ahmedabad’s Chandola Lake area have begun demolishing illegal settlements allegedly housing undocumented Bangladeshis. Over the past three days, police detained around 6,500 people, confirming that about 450 of them are Bangladeshi nationals illegally residing in Gujarat, according to State Police Director General Vikas Sahay.

In response to militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with top defense and security officials. Modi expressed full confidence in the professionalism of the armed forces and granted them complete operational freedom to decide when and how to strike back. He reiterated that terrorism threatens India’s national resolve and must be decisively countered.

Legal scholar and adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul commented on the controversy surrounding the gazette notification of Ishraq Hossain as mayor. He stated that he has no opinion on whether the move legitimizes elections held under the Awami League’s rule, calling it a matter for the Election Commission (EC). “If someone wins by altering court pleadings or filing cases, that question should be directed at them,” he said. According to Nazrul, Ishraq reportedly modified his legal pleadings at a later stage, which raised doubts about whether the EC would issue a gazette or require an appeal. Ultimately, the EC published the gazette without seeking his opinion. “It’s entirely their decision — they are a constitutional body and not obliged to consult us,” he added.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has uncovered evidence of corruption in the ‘Bangladesh Sustainable Recovery Emergency Preparedness and Response Project’ (B-Strong), a Tk 1,909 crore initiative under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). Following an inspection, ACC Assistant Director Papon Kumar Saha revealed that expenses in multiple segments of the project had been inflated. The World Bank is funding this massive recovery effort aimed at mitigating losses caused by the devastating floods of 2024. Notably, each solar streetlight has been priced at Tk 72,000, despite little need for such installations. Although 60 motorcycles were proposed, the Planning Commission approved only 36. Additionally, suspiciously high costs were reported for items like computers, laptops, and educational materials — with four laptops alone budgeted at an astonishing Tk 11 lakh.

The Nationalist Lawyers’ Forum staged a protest and rally at the Supreme Court demanding the immediate arrest of former Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque. Speakers at the demonstration accused him of being a key architect in the destruction of democracy and human rights in Bangladesh. They called for his immediate arrest and trial, insisting that justice must be served to prevent future judges from following a similar path. The protesting lawyers also alleged that political favoritism and authoritarian tendencies still persist within both the higher and lower judiciary, urging the swift removal of such judges.

In a bid to make Dhaka more livable, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz announced plans to cover the area with greenery through mass tree planting in the upcoming monsoon season. He also pledged to ensure transparency and accountability by publishing all project details on the DNCC website. Additionally, he announced a public hearing involving all birth registration authorities to resolve issues faced by citizens. The DNCC is also working on maximum automation of tax payments, allowing residents to pay taxes from home. A 20-day tax fair will commence on May 11.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed that all vehicles without valid stickers be barred from entering the Bangladesh Secretariat. A letter sent to all ministry secretaries stated that expired or stickerless vehicles will no longer be allowed entry. Authorities have urged all relevant officials to replace expired stickers with newly issued ones.

Actor Iresh Zaker has been named in a case filed over the murder of Mahfuz Alam Shrabon during the recent mass uprising in Mirpur. The victim’s brother filed the case on April 20 at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka. Police headquarters confirmed that the case was formally registered only after the court accepted the complaint. The news sparked outrage among fans and members of the entertainment industry, many of whom hailed Zaker as a key figure in the anti-discrimination movement.

Actor Siddiqur Rahman was assaulted in Dhaka’s Kakrail area around 4 p.m. on Tuesday and forcibly taken to the police station. Videos show his clothes being torn as he was beaten and marched with slogans branding him as an associate of the ruling Awami League. He was later handed over to the police, who came outside the station to receive him.