A controversy has erupted in Khulna after an Awami League leader was listed as a farmer representative in the district’s rice procurement and monitoring committee for the current Boro season. The Khulna District Food Controller’s office submitted the proposed committee list, which included the name of Mallik Abid Hossain Kabir, vice president of Khulna Metropolitan Awami League. Upon reviewing the file, the Deputy Commissioner expressed dissatisfaction and returned it, questioning the justification for including a politically affiliated person as a farmer representative.

According to district administration and food department sources, the government set procurement prices at Tk 36 per kg for paddy, Tk 49 for parboiled rice, and Tk 48 for non-parboiled rice. The committee was supposed to be formed in early May to ensure smooth operations. The District Food Controller, Md Tanvir Hossain, downplayed the issue, saying similar committees had existed since 2010 and that the delay was due to a DC conference. However, other sources claimed the move was an attempt to rush approval without proper oversight.

The incident has reignited debate over transparency and political influence in administrative committees, with calls for genuine farmers to represent agricultural interests.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury inaugurated two separate development projects in Tarakanda and Haluaghat upazilas of Mymensingh on Tuesday. The projects include canal re-excavation and road improvement works. During his address as chief guest, he highlighted the government’s ongoing progress in infrastructure development and called on local residents to be aware and responsible in maintaining and sustaining these initiatives.

Member of Parliament for Mymensingh-2, Mufti Muhammadullah, attended the event as a special guest, along with other local representatives and officials. The state minister said the government is working consistently to bring the benefits of development to remote areas. He noted that the canal re-excavation project will improve water drainage, reduce waterlogging, and positively impact agricultural production.

He emphasized that the canals are being excavated for public benefit, but if they are filled again, the benefits will be lost. Therefore, he urged local communities to take part in preserving these development gains.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem met with the Speaker of the 13th National Parliament, Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom, and personally handed him an invitation to his wedding. The meeting took place recently, and Kayem shared news of the courtesy visit through a Facebook post on Tuesday night.

During the meeting, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed extended his best wishes and prayers for the new chapter in Kayem’s life. He also expressed satisfaction with DUCSU’s ongoing activities and voiced hope that the organization would continue to develop as a role model for the future of Bangladesh.

Earlier, Sadiq Kayem had also met with former Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to deliver his wedding invitation, continuing his series of courtesy visits to prominent national figures.

Former State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak sustained serious neck and lower back injuries in a prison van accident while being taken to the International Crimes Tribunal. According to his lawyer, Tariqul Islam, an MRI was conducted at PG Hospital following a court order, and the report has now been received.

The MRI results revealed complications in the L2, L3, and L4 vertebrae of Palak’s lower back, as well as issues in the C5/6 and C6/7 discs of his neck. His lawyer stated that Palak had already been unwell and was unable to move his neck properly when visited in prison last Saturday.

Although the MRI confirmed significant spinal and neck problems, Palak has not yet received the necessary medical treatment. His lawyer said a petition will be filed in court to ensure proper medical care for him.

A review meeting on the implementation progress of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) projects under the 2025–26 fiscal year Annual Development Programme (ADP) was held on Tuesday at the Secretariat. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended as the chief guest and directed officials to accelerate the pace of project implementation.

The meeting discussed progress, quality of work, expenditure management, and timely completion of projects. Emphasizing the need to meet public expectations, the minister urged officials to act responsibly and ensure accountability in executing development activities. He also called for transparent and efficient use of public funds to deliver sustainable and welfare-oriented projects.

The session was chaired by Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hasan and attended by senior ministry officials and project directors from various ongoing LGED initiatives, both in person and virtually.

A human chain was organized in Rangpur, Bangladesh, to protest recent attacks on Muslims and mosques in India allegedly carried out by extremist groups. The demonstration took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Rangpur Press Club premises, initiated by the Legal Aid Center (ASK). Participants expressed strong condemnation of the incidents and called for an immediate end to the violence.

Speakers at the event stated that assaults on Muslims have been increasing globally, with India being one of the most affected countries. They described the attacks and mosque vandalism as severe violations of human rights and accused extremist groups of receiving protection. The speakers urged the Bangladesh government to engage in dialogue with India to help stop the killings and persecution.

Among those addressing the protest were ASK Rangpur divisional president Amina Begum Ripa, vice presidents Jahangir Hossain Bablu and Jahangir Hossain Tauyeb, general secretary Nahida Parvin Shikha, organizational secretary Suman Sarkar, and journalist Asaduzzaman Afzal of the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association.

In Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj, a dispute has emerged between Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ruhul Amin and municipal BNP joint convener Nurul Amin over alleged irregularities in the leasing of local water bodies. Nurul Amin accused the UNO of misconduct in the lease process and announced a human chain protest through a Facebook post. In response, the UNO publicly denied the allegations, asserting that the leasing process was transparent and free from favoritism or corruption.

The UNO stated that the administration’s objective is to ensure the rightful access of genuine fishermen to the water bodies, emphasizing that these are public resources not meant for exploitation by influential groups. He added that all decisions of the upazila water body committee were made lawfully and described the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. The UNO urged anyone with concrete evidence to present it and warned against spreading misinformation.

According to the administration, a zero-tolerance policy is being maintained to dismantle local syndicates and ensure transparency and accountability in water body management.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party, said the government has completely failed to ensure the safety of citizens across the country, including in Dhaka and border areas. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria after visiting the graves of two Bangladeshis killed near the border. Patwari urged the government to act as true nationalists by protecting the country’s borders, warning that those who fail to do so are false nationalists.

He criticized the absence of statements from the home and foreign ministers regarding the recent border killings and accused them of inaction. Patwari also condemned a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) press release that labeled the victims as smugglers, calling it an adoption of Indian narratives. He alleged that the BGB’s strength had been weakened after the Pilkhana incident.

Patwari further stated that if his party came to power, it would dig canals along the border to prevent drug inflow from India. He claimed that drug factories operate near the Indian border and that some members of parliament are involved in the trade, demanding accountability from the home minister.

An analysis published on May 12, 2026, highlights extensive functional overlap and coordination problems among Bangladesh’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including the police, DGFI, NSI, and RAB. The report notes duplication in counterterrorism operations, lack of interoperability in technical tools, and rising state expenditure due to parallel structures. It also alleges that DGFI operates media-related units such as the Press and Public Media Bureau and the Public Relation Monitoring Cell without legal mandate, influencing news content and media management.

The article argues that these practices have weakened institutional integrity and accountability, with agencies engaging in activities beyond their legal scope, including social media operations and political interference. It further points to inadequate training and resources in auxiliary forces like Ansar and calls for structural reforms to clarify command relationships between civilian and military administrations.

The author concludes that functional overlap must be removed before empowering the police, urging agencies to return to their legally defined roles to prevent inefficiency, human rights violations, and state-sponsored misconduct.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has reported spending Tk 4 crore 49 lakh 47 thousand 972 for the 13th national parliamentary election held on February 12. The party’s Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair submitted the expenditure statement to Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on May 12. The report, signed by Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, shows that Tk 4 crore was distributed as grants to 225 candidates.

According to the statement, the party spent Tk 20.9 lakh on election campaigning, Tk 8,700 on transport, Tk 14.17 lakh on rallies and tours, Tk 2.85 lakh on staff, and Tk 9.44 lakh on accommodation and administrative costs. An additional Tk 2 lakh was listed as miscellaneous expenses. The report also includes costs for manifesto design and printing, press conferences, hospitality, transport of campaign materials, central leaders’ visits, and advertisements in the ICC.

In the 13th national election, Jamaat won 68 seats, the highest in its history, while its ally NCP secured six seats.

Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid has emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and effective monitoring in implementing the government’s declared 180-day program. He gave this directive to officials during a discussion meeting held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock conference room.

The minister described the 180-day program as a highly welfare-oriented and significant initiative adopted to fulfill the development plan announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the government’s political commitments. He urged officials responsible for implementation across the country to perform their duties sincerely and ensure that the benefits reach the people. Rashid stressed the importance of maintaining proper records and evidence of each activity to present real progress to the public.

He further instructed that information about the program’s progress should be made easily accessible to citizens, not limited to websites but also visible at the grassroots level. The minister expressed hope that through collective efforts, the program’s benefits would effectively reach the people and strengthen public trust in government initiatives.

UK Junior Minister for Housing and Communities Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned from the government on Tuesday, a day after four political aides also stepped down. The resignations have added pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership. In a post on social media platform X, Fahnbulleh urged Starmer to make the “right decision” for the country and the party, and called for a defined timeline for an orderly transfer of power.

Fahnbulleh, who represents the Peckham constituency in South London, shared her resignation letter along with the post. In the letter, she stated that while the government had made progress in some areas, it had failed to deliver the pace, ambition, and effective action expected under the public mandate for change. She further wrote that the public’s message was clear—Prime Minister Keir Starmer had lost trust and confidence.

The series of resignations has intensified scrutiny of Starmer’s leadership and raised questions about the government’s direction and internal unity.

Energy and Power Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku stated that a fascist government had ruled the country for the past 17 years, neglecting domestic resources and increasing dependence on foreign imports. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon after inspecting the Barapukuria coal mine in Dinajpur and holding discussions with officials.

The minister emphasized that the current government, elected by popular vote, is committed to using the nation’s own resources for the welfare of its people. He questioned why the country should import fuel when it has its own energy reserves. According to him, the government is prioritizing the extraction of domestic energy resources with the consent and participation of all relevant stakeholders.

Earlier, the minister held separate meetings with officials of the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant and the Maddhapara Stone Mine, accompanied by several members of parliament and other senior officials. He also visited the sites to review ongoing operations and gather updates from the concerned authorities.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam left Dhaka on Tuesday morning for an official visit to the United States and Morocco. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, her trip is part of scheduled government programs abroad. She will first visit the United States before traveling to Morocco later this month to attend the Second Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping.

The peacekeeping conference will be held in Morocco from May 19 to 21 and will focus on strengthening global peacekeeping cooperation, enhancing operational capacity, and addressing emerging challenges in United Nations peacekeeping operations. The event is expected to bring together ministerial-level representatives to discuss ways to improve international collaboration in peacekeeping efforts.

Following the completion of all her official engagements, the State Minister is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on May 22.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan stated that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been instructed to remain on high alert to prevent any form of push-in across the border. He made the remarks on Tuesday at the Secretariat during a meeting on law and order and overall preparations for Eid-ul-Azha, including security at cattle markets.

Responding to a question about alleged persecution of Muslims in West Bengal after the elections, the minister asked whether there was any specific record of such incidents. He added that the diplomatic mission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could provide information on the matter, but so far no such situation or incident had come to their attention.

The minister further said that BGB and law enforcement agencies have also been instructed to remain vigilant to prevent smuggling of sacrificial animal hides during the Eid period.