Leaders and activists of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Dhaka North unit organized a torch procession on Thursday night demanding justice for all rape and murder victims, including the child Ramisa. The procession began around 9 p.m. in front of the party’s Banglamotor office and moved toward Shahbagh after a brief rally. Participants chanted slogans calling for justice for victims such as Tanu, Ramisa, and Achiya.

At the rally, NCP central senior joint convener and Dhaka North convener Ariful Islam Adib criticized incidents of sexual violence and murder across different areas, including Mirpur, Cantonment, and Bashundhara. He urged the Prime Minister to ensure party-level investigations and arrests of those involved, and called for the formation of anti-sexual harassment cells in all political parties. He also demanded swift implementation of justice in rape and murder cases.

Dhaka North NCP acting member secretary Sadia Farzana Dina emphasized the need to change societal attitudes toward women and treat them with respect. Several other party leaders and members were present at the event.

The Bangladesh Cabinet has approved the proposal to ratify the 'Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology' agreement signed between the governments of Bangladesh and Japan. The proposal was presented by the Ministry of Defense and approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. The meeting also reported that the implementation rate of Cabinet decisions currently stands at 70.73 percent.

In the same session, the Cabinet approved Bangladesh’s participation in the 'Framework Agreement on the Establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)' and endorsed the draft Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration National Action Plan (GCM-NAP) for 2026–2030. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change presented the IBCA proposal, which aims to protect habitats, prevent illegal hunting and trade, and promote technical cooperation among member countries.

Bangladesh’s decision to join the IBCA reflects its role as the home country of the Royal Bengal Tiger and its commitment to conserving the Sundarbans ecosystem.

A new Fox News poll shows growing opposition among Americans to the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. According to the survey, 60 percent of respondents now oppose the war, up from 55 percent last month. The poll also found that 91 percent believe the conflict has worsened the country’s economic situation, adding political pressure on President Donald Trump.

Public dissatisfaction with the economy has also intensified. Seventy-seven percent of respondents described the current economic condition as poor, compared with 73 percent last month and 71 percent a year earlier. Criticism of Trump’s handling of the economy has risen sharply, with 71 percent now disapproving of his economic policies, up from 56 percent a year ago.

Overall, Trump’s popularity continues to decline, as 61 percent of Americans expressed disapproval of his performance in the latest poll.

Serious allegations have emerged in Bogarchar Union of Bokshiganj upazila, Jamalpur, over irregularities in the distribution of government VGF rice cards allocated for poor families ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Out of 8,048 cards designated for the union, 4,024 were reportedly handed directly to BNP leaders and activists, prompting widespread discussion and anger among residents.

According to local sources, acting Union Parishad chairman Sohel Rana Palash formally handed over the cards to upazila BNP leaders at his office on Thursday afternoon. Officials confirmed that 80,480 kilograms of rice were allocated for 4,024 poor and distressed families, with each card entitling a beneficiary to 10 kilograms. However, the cards were distributed without the presence of administrative officers, raising questions about transparency.

The acting chairman said the cards were given to BNP leaders following party instructions, while the upazila project implementation officer and the UNO stated that such political distribution violates government rules. They assured that the matter is under investigation and necessary action will follow if irregularities are proven.

US President Donald Trump has expressed deep dissatisfaction with NATO members’ response to the ongoing military activities surrounding Iran, according to senior US diplomat Marco Rubio. Speaking to reporters, Rubio said frustration within the Trump administration over NATO’s stance is growing, particularly after Spain refused to allow the US to use its military bases. He noted that such cooperation is central to NATO’s purpose, enabling rapid military deployment in crisis regions like the Middle East.

Rubio questioned the logic of NATO membership for countries that restrict such cooperation, emphasizing that the alliance’s strength lies in shared military access and readiness. He added that NATO members’ support for US efforts related to the Iran conflict has been far below expectations, which has intensified Trump’s disappointment with the alliance.

The remarks highlight ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and NATO, continuing a pattern of US criticism over European allies’ defense spending and military collaboration.

The Calcutta High Court has upheld West Bengal’s existing ban on the slaughter of bulls, oxen, cows, calves, and buffaloes ahead of Eid al-Adha. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Joy Pal and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen declined to interfere with a state government notification issued on 13 May 2026, stating that it merely implemented a 2018 court directive. The court reiterated that cow sacrifice is not a mandatory religious practice in Islam and directed the state to amend the notification to include this observation.

The state’s notification declared certain animals “unfit” for slaughter without certification and restricted slaughtering to authorized abattoirs. The court also empowered authorities to inspect facilities to prevent illegal slaughter and tasked the state with ensuring adequate infrastructure and officials for certification. Trinamool Congress legislator Akhruzzaman argued that the lack of exemption under Section 12 of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act would prevent Muslims from performing religious sacrifices, but the bench maintained its position based on prior Supreme Court rulings.

The court instructed the state government to review the matter and decide within 24 hours whether to grant exemptions under Section 12, considering the upcoming Eid al-Adha.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has temporarily suspended office assistant Md. Abul Kalam for misconduct and unauthorized absence from duty. The suspension order was issued by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan under Rule 12 of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. The order, issued on Thursday, stated that it was made in the public interest and took immediate effect. During the suspension period, Kalam will receive subsistence allowance as per regulations.

According to the order, Abul Kalam joined the VAT Monitoring, Statistics and Coordination branch, with additional duties in the VAT Training and Reward section, on February 14, 2023. About a month after joining, he began remaining absent without permission. He was frequently absent between September and December 2025 and has been continuously absent since January 15, 2026, without approval from his superiors.

The order also noted that a show-cause notice was issued to him on May 10, asking for a response within three working days, but he failed to reply. Consequently, departmental action was taken against him for misconduct and desertion under the relevant disciplinary rules.

The Calcutta High Court has upheld the West Bengal government’s notification restricting animal slaughter ahead of Eid. On Thursday, a division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen ruled that no animal may be slaughtered without an official certificate confirming its suitability, and that public slaughter will remain completely prohibited. The court declined to stay the state’s May 13 notification, which imposed several restrictions on the slaughter of cows and buffaloes.

The bench directed the state government to review the certification process and related infrastructure while continuing hearings on the constitutional validity of the law. It also instructed that any applications for exemption be resolved within 24 hours. The court referred to the Supreme Court’s earlier observation in the “State of Bihar vs. Mohammad Hanif Qureshi” case, which stated that cow slaughter is not an essential religious practice in Islam.

The state notification contains eight specific directives requiring prior certification for the slaughter of bulls, oxen, cows, calves, male and female buffaloes, and castrated buffaloes. Violations of these provisions will be punishable under law.

Two vice presidents of the Barishal University unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have been expelled from their organizational posts over allegations of involvement in extortion. The expelled leaders are Mia Babul and Md Mithu. The decision was announced in a press release signed by JCD Central Office Secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

According to the statement, the expulsion followed a decision by the JCD central committee based on specific allegations of violating organizational discipline. The decision was approved by JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. The organization also instructed all members not to maintain any organizational contact with the expelled individuals.

Earlier, on May 19, allegations surfaced that a group of leaders had stopped a fish-laden vehicle and demanded a large sum of money. When the demand was refused, another vehicle was reportedly vandalized and its driver assaulted. Some criticism has emerged that only two leaders were expelled despite reports of involvement by several others.

The West Bengal government has issued a directive prohibiting state government employees from speaking to the media or attending media-organized events without prior permission. The order, published on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, applies to members of the Indian Civil Service, the West Bengal Police Service, and employees of government-aided institutions. It also instructs that government employees must not make negative comments about government policies in the media.

The directive has sparked widespread criticism on social media. Many users argued that several corruption allegations against the previous government had surfaced through disclosures by government employees, and therefore, the new rule could restrict freedom of expression. However, individuals close to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that such a rule has existed since 1976 but was not strictly enforced by the previous administration.

The renewed enforcement of this rule may tighten communication controls within the state bureaucracy, though its long-term impact on transparency and governance remains uncertain.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Mymensingh district on Saturday, according to information from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing released on Thursday. The official itinerary, signed by Protocol Officer-1 Ujjal Sarkar, states that the Prime Minister will depart for Trishal, Mymensingh by road at 9 a.m. and attend the re-excavation inauguration of Dhara Canal at Bailor Union at noon.

Following a break at Trishal Nazrul Dak Bungalow at 2 p.m., he will attend a program at Nazrul Mancha at 3 p.m. marking the 127th birth anniversary of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and inaugurate a three-day celebration. Later, at 5 p.m., he will join an organizational meeting of Mymensingh North, South, and Metropolitan BNP units at Trishal Nazrul Auditorium before returning to Dhaka by road at 6:30 p.m.

The visit combines administrative and cultural engagements, highlighting both development initiatives and political activities in the Mymensingh region.

At a roundtable discussion held Thursday at the National Press Club in Dhaka, organized by human rights group Odhikar to mark International Week of the Disappeared 2026, prominent citizens, rights activists, politicians, lawyers, and members of parliament called for strong and transparent laws to address enforced disappearances and protect judicial independence. Speakers emphasized that delayed justice amounts to denial of justice and urged the government to bring all perpetrators of disappearances to trial.

NCP Member Secretary and MP Akhtar Hossain said only a small fraction of security personnel are directly involved in disappearances and demanded their prosecution. MP Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kasem criticized the current laws as ineffective and warned that public patience is running out. Former prosecutor Tazul Islam and retired Brigadier General Abdullahil Aman Azmi described the existing laws as inadequate and urged reforms to ensure accountability.

Odhikar’s Advocacy Director Taskin Fahmina added that strong legal frameworks would prevent impunity and help security forces operate responsibly, ensuring that human rights violations and disappearances do not recur.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and Jamaat-e-Islami central executive member Shishir Monir has said that abolishing the judicial secretariat was a blow to the judiciary and destroyed public trust in justice. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, he called for the immediate reinstatement of a separate judicial secretariat to guarantee judicial independence and fair justice for citizens.

Monir explained that after a 2025 High Court ruling mandated the creation of a separate judicial secretariat within 90 days, the government issued an ordinance on November 30, 2025, and inaugurated the secretariat on December 11 under then Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed. However, the government later revoked the ordinance on April 10, 2026, following the publication of the detailed verdict. He said this reversal undermined judicial autonomy and placed judges under the control of the Law Ministry.

He argued that judges’ transfers, promotions, leave, and discipline should remain under the Supreme Court, not the Law Ministry, to preserve judicial independence. Monir warned that without such autonomy, lower court judges cannot work freely, and the justice system risks political interference.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman stated that the army had served in the field during the critical period of 2024 to meet national needs. As the situation has now stabilized, soldiers are gradually returning to their barracks. He said the nation would remember the army’s role during that difficult time with gratitude. The statement came on Thursday morning at the closing and award ceremony of the Bangladesh Army Firing Competition held at the Cumilla Cantonment.

Congratulating the winning and runner-up teams, the army chief praised the soldiers’ skill and dedication, noting their impressive performance in the competition despite serving in field duties for 18 consecutive months. The event, organized under the supervision of Headquarters 33 Infantry Division, began on May 16. A total of 17 teams from various formations, logistics areas, five independent brigades, and the Para Commando Brigade participated. The 17 Infantry Division won the championship, while the Para Commando Brigade became runner-up.

Senior army officials, including the Master General of the Ordnance, Commandant of Bangladesh Ordnance Factory, and area commanders from Cumilla and Sylhet, attended the ceremony.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is preparing to reorganize its major affiliate and associate bodies, including the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Swechchasebak Dal, within a short time. Party sources said the move aims to energize grassroots units, implement central directives for upcoming local government elections, and strengthen field-level programs. The BNP high command is focusing on leadership renewal to create enthusiasm among members, with possible changes in top committee positions expected soon.

Several BNP leaders confirmed that the current central committees of the three key organizations have long exceeded their tenure, and many local units remain inactive. Some top leaders of Jubo Dal and Swechchasebak Dal, who also serve as MPs or a state minister, have expressed willingness to hand over responsibilities to new leadership. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman recently held a major meeting with central and district leaders on May 9 in Dhaka, instructing them to resolve internal disputes and complete organizational work before the party’s national council.

Party vice chairmen and advisers indicated that committee reshuffles are likely before the council, with discussions ongoing to finalize the process. The reorganization is expected to restore leadership flow and strengthen coordination between the party and its affiliates.