A Dhaka court has granted a 7-day remand for three individuals accused in the murder case of Prime Asia University student Zahidul Islam Parvez. The accused—Al Kamal Sheikh alias Kamal (19), Alvi Hossain Junayed (19), and Al Amin Sani (19)—are all former students of Banani Bidyaniketan School. The plaintiff’s lawyer had initially sought a 10-day remand.

Special Assistant Faiz Ahmad Tayyeb confirmed that Fiber@Home has committed to reducing internet prices across three levels: 10% at the International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) level, 10% at the International Internet Gateway (IIG) level, and 15% at the National Transmission level. ISPs have already begun offering 10 Mbps for Tk 500. Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company also reduced IIG rates by 20% for wholesale clients. The only remaining adjustment is expected from the three private mobile operators.

During a meeting with Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, reform advocate Ali Riaz stated that the primary goal of political reforms is to prevent the resurgence of fascism. He emphasized the need for a society where everyone has the freedom to speak, enforced rule of law, and an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. He thanked the Khilafat Majlis delegation for their contributions to the reform commission.

The Health and Rail Ministries have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly manage 10 railway hospitals. The agreement aims to modernize the facilities and improve patient care. A central management committee, led by the secretaries of both ministries, will oversee operations. Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum announced plans to recruit 2,000 doctors through a special BCS exam by September.

Just two days before their scheduled visit to Israel and Palestinian territories, Israel has revoked the visas of 27 left-wing French MPs and local officials. This comes after Israel previously barred two members of the Israeli Labor Party from entry. Citing national law, Israeli authorities say they reserve the right to deny entry to individuals perceived as hostile to the Israeli state. The affected MPs, aligned with environmentalist and communist parties, condemned the move as “collective punishment” and called for intervention from French President Emmanuel Macron.

Three suspects have been detained in connection with the murder of Parvez, a student of Primeasia University. The arrests were made early Monday, but names have not been disclosed. The incident reportedly stemmed from an argument involving students from the University of Scholars. While the dispute was believed to be resolved, tensions escalated. Parvez’s alleged romantic involvement with one of the girls remains unlisted in the case documents.

Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmadullah criticized the Women’s Reform Commission for promoting proposals that, he argued, contradict the faith, culture, and values of the majority. He alleged the commission was formed by a group of Western-influenced women bent on dismantling family structures and religious beliefs. He called for the current body to be dissolved and restructured with individuals who respect national values and religious sentiments.

Tongi police have arrested Aleya Begum on charges of hacking her two children—Maliha Akter (6) and Md. Abdullah Ibn Omar (4)—to death. She confessed to the killings in her statement before the court. Earlier, on Friday evening, police recovered the blood-soaked bodies of the two children from a flat. A blood-stained machete was also found in the room. Following court proceedings, Aleya Begum has been sent to jail.

Five Chittagong University students abducted in Khagrachhari five days ago remain missing, causing distress among their families. Tribal students demand their immediate rescue and return. Supradip Chakma has urged for their safe return and called for an end to extortion. The authorities are continuing their efforts to locate them. The United People's Democratic Front denies involvement in the incident.

The BGB Swimming Complex in Pilkhana has been named "Shaheed Nurul Islam Swimming Complex" in honor of Martyred Subedar Major Nurul Islam, who sacrificed his life during the 2009 Pilkhana massacre to save army officers. His son, Ashraful Alam Hannan, expressed gratitude to the BGB. On August 20, 2009, Nurul Islam was honored with state recognition and awarded the highest BGB medal.

To ease the pressure on the Siliguri Corridor, India initiated a rail project worth around ₹5,000 crore, which includes significant projects like Akhaura-Agartala, Khulna-Mongla, and Dhaka-Joydevpur. However, the development train from Delhi to Dhaka has come to a halt. The Indian government has suddenly suspended ongoing and planned rail projects, citing political instability in Bangladesh and concerns over the safety of Indian workers. As a result of this setback, Delhi is now turning its attention to Bhutan and Nepal.

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, has claimed responsibility for attacks on two military bases in northern Benin, reportedly killing 70 soldiers. This marks one of the deadliest assaults in the region in recent years. Jihadist violence in the Sahel began after a Tuareg uprising in Mali in 2012 and has since spread to Burkina Faso, Niger, and more recently, coastal nations like Benin, leading to thousands of deaths and mass displacement.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Moin said the institution must also be held accountable. “If we engage in corruption, you should expose it, and we will work to correct ourselves,” he stated during a public hearing in Nilphamari. He emphasized the need for society to strongly condemn corrupt individuals and highlighted that the focus should shift toward preventing future corruption rather than only addressing past incidents. Of 81 complaints presented at the hearing, two are in court, several were deemed irrelevant, and 57 were resolved.

The Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs has announced that victims of politically motivated cases filed between January 6, 2009, and August 5, 2024, can now apply directly to the Solicitor at the Law and Justice Division for case withdrawal. This new provision is aimed at providing relief to those persecuted for political reasons.

The Appellate Division has stayed a High Court verdict that ordered the promotion of Craft Instructors to Junior Instructor posts. The stay came in response to an appeal filed by the Director General of the Technical Education Directorate. A full hearing is scheduled for May 18. The original High Court ruling had instructed that positions be created or reserved for Craft Instructors in upper-level posts and allowed promotions based on qualifications if no posts were available.