Former minister Dr. Dipu Moni, journalist Mozammel Babu, and journalist Farzana Rupa were presented before a tribunal in Dhaka on Thursday morning in connection with a case alleging crimes against humanity. The case relates to killings during Hefazat-e-Islam’s mass rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on May 5, 2013. Prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim stated that Dipu Moni, then foreign minister, had internationally described the incident as a law enforcement operation against unruly groups, while Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa allegedly broadcast provocative statements through Ekattor Television.

At the time of the incident, Mozammel Babu was the managing director of Ekattor TV and Farzana Rupa was its chief reporter. Six other accused, including former state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku and several former senior police officials, are currently in jail in connection with the same case. The complaint was originally filed by Hefazat-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque on behalf of leaders Junaid Al Habib and Maulana Mamunul Haque, accusing 21 individuals in total.

The tribunal proceedings mark a continuation of legal actions surrounding the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident, which remains a politically sensitive issue in Bangladesh.

US President Donald Trump’s visit to China included his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who had previously been sanctioned twice by Beijing. The trip, reported on May 14, 2026, was described as unprecedented because Rubio’s participation came despite those sanctions. To bypass the restrictions, official travel documents reportedly used an alternate spelling of Rubio’s name, allowing him to enter China.

The sanctions were originally imposed when Rubio served as a US senator and spoke strongly in favor of human rights in China. In response, the Chinese government had targeted him with two rounds of sanctions. Before he assumed office as Secretary of State in January 2025, Chinese state media had already begun using a different spelling of his name.

On Tuesday, Chinese authorities stated that Rubio would not be barred from entering the country, clarifying that the sanctions were related to his past actions as a senator rather than his current diplomatic role.

Former law adviser and Dhaka University law professor Dr. Asif Nazrul has claimed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was a student of the university’s law department. In a recent Facebook post, he stated that Rahman enrolled in the 1985–86 academic session and attended classes for about two months. Nazrul said he personally knew of this as he was a senior student in the department at that time.

According to Nazrul, several of Rahman’s classmates later became prominent figures, including former Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, environmental activist and former adviser Rizwana Hasan, and Supreme Court Justice Farah Mahbub. He added that Rahman’s studies were discontinued, possibly due to security concerns during the strict rule of then-President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, amid allegations linking Ershad to the assassination of former President Ziaur Rahman.

Nazrul’s post comes amid ongoing public debate over whether Tarique Rahman was ever a student of Dhaka University’s law department.

Ariful Islam Adib, senior joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), said the government has failed to ensure the safety and livelihood security of citizens as killings, robberies, extortion, and terrorist activities have sharply increased across the country. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at a citizens’ human chain organized by NCP’s Tejgaon zone in front of Ananda Cinema Hall in Farmgate, Dhaka, protesting the rising child mortality rate, weak vaccination system, and deteriorating law and order.

Ariful described the current child mortality rate as alarming and called for immediate and effective measures to control it. He urged accountability from the interim government, the Ministry of Health, and related authorities through departmental investigations. Expressing concern over recent killings in Gazipur and rising crimes in Dhaka and other regions, he appealed to the Home Minister to prioritize law and order improvements. He also demanded diplomatic action to stop border killings of Bangladeshi citizens.

Representatives from social organizations, including the Disappearance Prevention Commission, expressed solidarity with the protest, urging the government to strengthen healthcare, vaccination, and citizen security measures.

Police in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, arrested Nazem Uddin, the recently expelled joint secretary of Kakara Union BNP and former general secretary of Ward No. 2 BNP. The arrest took place around noon on Wednesday in the Pulerchhara area of Kakara Union. Law enforcement officials stated that the arrest was made based on a court-issued warrant and carried out following a tip-off.

According to Chakaria Police Station sources, a team led by Sub-Inspector Sujon Barua conducted the operation that resulted in Nazem Uddin’s detention. The officer-in-charge confirmed that the arrest was executed strictly under the court’s directive, and the accused has since been sent to court after completing necessary legal procedures.

Although Nazem Uddin had already been expelled from the BNP, his arrest has sparked discussions and criticism within the local political sphere. However, no immediate reaction from local BNP leaders was available at the time of reporting.

National Citizens Party (NCP) chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari sharply criticized the government’s policies and services, warning that if all government 'cards' or promises fail, citizens will show a 'red card'. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at the NCP central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, during a seminar organized by the party’s Agriculture Cell titled 'Farmers’ distress during paddy procurement season: crisis and solutions'. Patwari questioned whether farmers are truly benefiting from the government’s various card-based schemes and urged authorities to ensure service quality and effectiveness for marginalized communities.

Expressing concern over border and regional politics, Patwari alleged that the new government in West Bengal, India, is attempting to incite communal unrest along the Bangladesh border. He urged the Bangladeshi government to remain vigilant and take timely action to prevent any provocations, emphasizing that border security and communal harmony have become major challenges.

At the same event, agricultural economist Professor Dr. Jahangir Alam highlighted that 5–7 percent of Boro paddy was damaged this season due to natural disasters, warning of possible food shortages and inflation. He recommended allocating at least 10 percent of the national budget to agriculture and forming an independent price commission to ensure fair prices for farmers.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Rangpur on Friday. According to a press release issued Wednesday by Jamaat’s central publicity department, he will attend several local events as the chief guest during his visit.

The statement said Dr. Rahman will address the Upazila and Thana Ameer Conference at Rangpur Model College auditorium in the morning, organized by the Rangpur-Dinajpur regional unit. He will then hold discussions with regional team members, district and city leaders, and later meet with leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Rangpur Metropolitan, Begum Rokeya University, and district branches. In the second part of the visit, a special gathering organized by Rangpur Metropolitan Jamaat will take place at the local Shilpakala Academy auditorium at 4:30 p.m., where he will also speak as chief guest.

He will be accompanied by party Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam MP, Assistant Secretary General and Rangpur-Dinajpur regional director Maulana Abdul Halim, and invited local Members of Parliament.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria district branch organized a protest march and rally on Wednesday in response to reported attacks and persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, India. The demonstration began at the municipal open stage in Brahmanbaria town and proceeded through major streets before concluding at Kautoli Square, where a brief rally was held.

Speakers at the rally condemned the alleged violence and religious oppression against Muslims in West Bengal. They urged the Indian government to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safety and security of minority Muslims. The speakers also called on the international community to raise its voice against religious incitement and communal violence and to unite in protest against oppression of the Muslim community.

Local Hefazat leaders including Maulana Sajidur Rahman, Mufti Ali Azam, Mufti Kamal Uddin Kasemi, and Mufti Tanvir Siraji addressed the gathering, which was attended by party members from district and upazila levels.

The Dhaka district administration has demolished illegal structures built by Haji Selim’s Madina Group on government land in the capital’s Lalbagh area. The eviction drive took place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, under the leadership of Dhaka Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Farida Khanom. According to district sources, the group had occupied land listed under Lalbagh Mouza’s No. 1 khas khatian for over two decades. Following a legal process, the High Court’s previous stay order was lifted by the Chamber Judge Court on May 12, paving the way for the eviction.

During the operation, heavy machinery was used to demolish the illegal structures and reclaim the government property. Law enforcement personnel, executive magistrates, and relevant officials were present at the site. Farida Khanom stated that the administration would continue such drives to protect public property and ensure no one occupies government land illegally.

Local residents welcomed the initiative, describing it as bold and timely. They expressed relief that the long-occupied government land was finally recovered and hoped continued enforcement would reduce illegal land grabbing.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Parliamentary Party Secretary and Satkania-Lohagara MP Shahjahan Chowdhury declared that the era of embezzlement under the guise of development is over. He made the statement on Wednesday morning while inaugurating the development work of the Mojider Para road in Lohagara upazila, built at a cost of about Tk 12.1 million. He said public tax money will no longer go into corrupt pockets and that genuine development will now take place to improve people's lives.

The MP noted that although he was elected only three months ago, extensive development activities have already begun in Satkania and Lohagara. Projects have been initiated to improve neglected roads, education, and communication systems. He emphasized that development should not remain on paper but benefit ordinary citizens, pledging to bring modern facilities to every village in his constituency.

Shahjahan Chowdhury further warned that irregularities, substandard work, and commission trading in development projects will no longer be tolerated. Local residents expressed satisfaction with the rapid completion of the new road and welcomed the ongoing development initiatives.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), claimed that Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani’s historic party symbol, the ‘paddy sheaf,’ has been stolen. He made the remark on Wednesday at a seminar held at the NCP’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, titled ‘Farmers’ distress amid government conditions and untimely heavy rain: crisis and solutions,’ organized by the party’s agriculture cell. Patwari said Bhasani had chosen the symbol to represent Bangladesh’s agrarian roots, but now the emblem and its spirit have been lost.

Expressing concern over the agricultural situation, Patwari alleged that the rice market is now controlled by business syndicates rather than farmers, with profits shifting from rural producers to urban traders. He also criticized government projects such as smart cards and farmer cards, saying the NCP would respond with its own ‘red card’ if these initiatives fail. Other speakers, including agricultural economist Dr. Jahangir Alam and NCP leaders Golam Mortuza Selim, Dr. Atik Mujahid, and Sarowar Tushar, discussed production losses from floods and irrigation shortages, syndicate control in rice procurement, and the government’s lack of early weather warnings.

Speakers warned that disruptions in rice production could threaten food security, economic stability, and national sovereignty if not addressed promptly.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has directed officials to adopt welfare-oriented and sustainable projects. The instruction came on Tuesday during a review meeting at the Secretariat on the implementation progress of Annual Development Programme (ADP) projects for the 2025–26 fiscal year under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). The information was shared through the BNP Media Cell’s Facebook page.

The meeting discussed project implementation progress, quality of work, expenditure management, and timely completion. Emphasizing faster execution, the minister said that development projects must be completed within the stipulated time to meet public expectations. He also stressed proper and transparent management of public funds to ensure that projects directly benefit ordinary citizens.

The meeting was chaired by Local Government Division Secretary Md. Shahidul Hasan and attended by senior ministry officials, LGED Chief Engineer Belal Hossain, and project directors both in person and virtually.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has directed officials to take effective measures to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and ensure essential services for them. He emphasized the importance of inclusive infrastructure, education, and healthcare facilities to build an inclusive society. The directives were issued during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday, which focused on identifying actions to safeguard disability rights and improve services.

During the meeting, ministers highlighted challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including limited access and inadequate facilities. The Prime Minister instructed that all public and private buildings, including hospitals and restaurants, must ensure accessibility features such as suitable toilets and doorways for wheelchair users. He also ordered that planned electric buses for women include facilities for persons with disabilities and called on the Information Ministry to promote awareness programs and inclusive media content.

The meeting decided to launch the “Shishu Swarg” project in 10 upazilas across 10 districts to provide health and rehabilitation services for children with special needs. The Prime Minister also directed authorities to review the operations of disability schools and include special-needs children in the “Notun Kuri Sports” competition.

Bashir Ahmed, a teacher at Khulna Agricultural University’s Fish Health Management Department, is being promoted from lecturer to assistant professor. He previously gained attention for calling Tarique Rahman the godfather of terrorism and demanding his trial and execution. Bashir received a letter on Thursday, May 14, inviting him to participate in an evaluation organized by the university’s selection committee.

Campus sources reported anger among teachers, students, and staff following news of the promotion. Critics claim Bashir was initially appointed under the Chhatra League quota and that his recruitment and departmental transfer violated university policy. They allege he joined a non-technical department despite holding a master’s degree in a technical subject, later transferring to his current department with administrative help to legitimize the appointment.

Acting registrar Rezaul Islam said his role was limited to administrative duties and that the selection committee is responsible for assessing candidate qualifications. Attempts to contact Bashir Ahmed for comment were unsuccessful.

A deadly clash broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Alinagar village of Dirai upazila, Sunamganj, between supporters of BNP leader Shahdeep Member and Jubo League leader Abdul Muhit. The confrontation, reportedly triggered by longstanding political rivalry and dominance disputes, left one person dead and at least 35 others injured. The deceased, identified as 27-year-old Ratan Mia, was a supporter of Shahdeep. Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

According to local sources, Shahdeep, who serves as the general secretary of the Bhattipara Union BNP and a union parishad member, had been in conflict with Abdul Muhit, the general secretary of the Alinagar Ward No. 2 Jubo League, over political influence. The tension escalated after an earlier incident a week ago. The clash erupted when Muhit and his associates allegedly assaulted Shahdeep on his way from Bhattipara Bazar to Alinagar, prompting retaliation from Shahdeep’s supporters.

Several of the injured were taken to Dirai Upazila Health Complex, while six critically wounded individuals were transferred to Sylhet Osmani Hospital. Police reported that the area is now calm and said action will be taken upon receiving complaints.