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.

An internal UK military investigation has revealed that British soldiers stationed in Kenya have engaged in transactional sex, rape, and abuse of local women, violating Kenyan laws against sexual exploitation. Allegations span years, including the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru. Despite a 2022 ban on paying for sex abroad, abuses persist. The UK Ministry of Defence is investigating recent cases, including a rape charge. Army Chief General Roly Walker vowed action, saying such conduct is incompatible with British military values.

Bangladesh will launch its first pipeline-based fuel supply from Chattogram to Dhaka on Saturday, aiming to cut costs, prevent theft, and modernize distribution. Energy ministry officials will inaugurate the 250 km pipeline at Padma Oil’s Chattogram terminal. The system, equipped with SCADA control, optical fiber monitoring, and automated depots, will serve Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, and nearby regions. With no manual handling, operations will be fully computerized, marking a major leap in the country’s energy infrastructure and efficiency.

Extending warm greetings to the Hindu community on the occasion of Janmashtami, the Chief Adviser emphasized Sri Krishna’s lifelong message of justice, love for humanity, and peace.

The adviser urged citizens to remain vigilant so that no one disrupts the nation’s harmony, unity, and communal brotherhood. He affirmed the interim government’s commitment to preserving this spirit of togetherness.

Highlighting Sri Krishna’s legacy, the adviser said, “Whenever injustice and tyranny emerged, Sri Krishna appeared to protect righteousness.” He noted that Bangladesh has long upheld communal harmony, with people practicing their faiths side by side.

He expressed hope that Sri Krishna’s ideals would further strengthen mutual respect and fraternity, calling for united efforts to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh rooted in peace and inclusivity.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus clarified, “I am not someone with any prospect of joining politics. My primary focus is on implementing the reform agenda.”

Yunus noted that the youth-led mass uprising brought down Sheikh Hasina, ending her 15-year authoritarian rule. “We have made significant progress within a year,” he said, highlighting the formation of a Consensus Commission tasked with implementing the recommendations of 11 reform commissions.

The commission’s final report is expected by the end of this month, marking a major step toward a more inclusive, participatory, and credible electoral system. Its mandate also includes building consensus on the constitution and political framework.

“The country has been steered back on the right path, and the upcoming February elections will be the first credible elections in decades,” Yunus asserted, pointing out that all previous elections under Sheikh Hasina were marred by allegations of rigging, controversy, and voter suppression. Currently, Bangladesh has around 126.1 million registered voters, including approximately 4.5 million new voters.