The World Health Organization has reported that at least 57 children have died from starvation and malnutrition in Gaza since March 2, following the blockade on humanitarian aid. With 2.1 million residents, Gaza is now at “severe risk of famine.” WHO representative Richard Peeperkorn warned that without immediate access to nutritious food, clean water, and medical services, nearly 71,000 children under five could suffer from acute malnutrition within the next 11 months. Around 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are also at high risk. Peeperkorn urged for the immediate lifting of the blockade to prevent irreversible damage to an entire generation.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria, stating, “After discussions with the new Syrian foreign minister and the Crown Prince, and a call with Turkey’s President, I’ve decided to authorize the lifting of sanctions to help Syria move forward.” He noted that while the sanctions played a significant role during Bashar al-Assad’s rule, it is now time for the country to recover. Trump added that he will meet Syria’s new President Ahmed al-Sarar in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Advisor Asif Mahmud has stressed the need for a coordinated inter-ministerial approach to combat dengue and increase public awareness. “Efforts must be intensified across online platforms, mainstream media, and rural areas,” he said. Mahmud also called for the involvement of mosques, temples, and voluntary organizations in awareness campaigns. He urged immediate activation of the national dengue control committee and implementation of prior decisions to strengthen the work of expert panels tackling mosquito-borne diseases.

The Government of Bangladesh has reached a consensus with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), agreeing to partially implement two key conditions. This includes further flexibilization of the exchange rate, which will lead to a weaker taka and a stronger dollar. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will also undergo significant reforms. With this agreement, Bangladesh is set to receive two loan tranches worth $1.3 billion by next month.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing intense pressure both inside and outside parliament. "Modi’s days are numbered. His popularity is waning, and people are speaking out against him,” he said. Asif alleged that Modi has lost control over Indian politics and that the situation is now beyond his grasp. He also accused India of spreading terrorism internationally, citing attacks on Sikh leaders in Canada. He emphasized that future talks with India must include issues of terrorism, Kashmir, and water treaties.

At a consultation meeting on Tuesday involving 17 political parties, BIDA Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq bin Harun acknowledged that Bangladesh is facing various investment challenges. "We are committed to creating a favorable investment climate, but there are numerous crises to overcome," he said. “This discussion aims to outline what we are currently doing and what we plan to achieve in the next 6–8 months.” Stressing that investment and employment are national interests beyond political boundaries, he added, “No decisions will be made that go against the national interest. The Chattogram Port is not a regional facility; it belongs to the entire nation.”

Shahriar Alam Samya, a student of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University, was stabbed to death near the Suhrawardy Udyan open stage around midnight on Tuesday. Provost Mahfuzul Haque Supon confirmed that Samya succumbed to knife injuries. Samya, son of Fakhrul Alam from Sirajganj, was also the literary and publication secretary of the DU unit of Chhatra Dal. The incident occurred when his motorcycle collided with another near the park, leading to an altercation. During the scuffle, he was fatally stabbed by one of the assailants who then fled the scene.

Following a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), a court has issued a travel ban on 14 individuals associated with S. Alam Group in connection with corruption allegations. Those barred from leaving the country include the chairman’s personal secretary Akiz Uddin, former managing director ABM Mozammel Haque, and associates Nazrul Islam, Alnar Ali, Bedarul Islam, Jasim Uddin, Roksana Khatun, Rabiya Khatun, Nasir Uddin, Mohammad Saifu Uddin, Golamur Rahman, SM Jamal Uddin, Hasmat Ara Begum, and another individual named Mohammad Saifu Uddin.

The Anti-Discrimination Workers’ Unity Forum's sit-in protest has effectively paralyzed operations at the Ministry of Public Administration and the APD Division. Senior secretaries were reportedly unable to enter their offices. Protesters claimed that although autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stepped down, her loyalists still control the bureaucracy, aided by opportunist officers. They demanded the dismissal of these “corruption beneficiaries and fascist collaborators” and called for the cancellation of all contractual appointments. The forum has declared secretaries Md. Nazmul Ahsan, Dr. Md. Imdad Ullah Mian, Jayeda Parveen, Md. Mofidul Islam, and Md. Tofazzal Hossain as persona non grata.

Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam, during the finals of the "IGP Cup Cricket Championship 2024–25," stated that police should be discouraged from using deadly weapons like rifles. “At most, police should carry shotguns—this is a reasonable public expectation,” he said. He emphasized the use of non-lethal weapons in maintaining law and order, aligning with global policing standards. “In extreme scenarios with high threats or rebellion, stricter measures might be necessary, but non-lethal enforcement should be our norm,” he added.

Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Adviser on Primary and Mass Education, has stressed the need for a humane and empathetic relationship between teachers and students in primary schools. Speaking at an education seminar, he said that a strong teacher-student bond lays the foundation for transformative learning. He advocated integrating co-curricular activities and moral education into the standard curriculum to foster teamwork and holistic development. “A compassionate teacher-student relationship can leave a lifelong impact on a student,” he noted.

Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan has held former mayors of Chattogram City Corporation and ex-chairmen of Chattogram Development Authority responsible for the city’s chronic waterlogging crisis. Speaking at a public event, he emphasized the need to penalize individuals who dump waste into canals and drains. “This level of waterlogging didn’t exist during my student years,” he remarked. Unauthorized construction on canals, including houses and markets, has exacerbated the problem. Under the city’s waterlogging mitigation project, efforts are ongoing to reclaim these canals. However, he warned that cleaning operations are pointless if waste dumping continues. “We’ve placed about 10,000 dustbins; it’s time people used them,” he added.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Toufiq Alam of Rajshahi University’s Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering has been appointed as the acting Vice Chancellor of Barishal University. According to a circular from the Ministry of Education, Dr. Alam will serve in the interim role until a permanent appointment is made. He will receive salary and benefits equivalent to his current position and will be entitled to all associated privileges as per university regulations.

Prominent political analyst and adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul is scheduled to visit Malaysia on May 13 to hear grievances from Bangladeshi expatriates. On May 14, he will attend a public hearing at the Bangladesh High Commission, where issues like passport application corruption, the cancellation of foreign outsourcing firm 'e-Scale,' ensuring passport services under government management, and removing corrupt officials are expected to surface. On May 15, Dr. Nazrul is set to meet Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources. Allegations have been raised by underprivileged staff at the High Commission that Ambassador Shamim Ahsan, Deputy High Commissioner Khurshid Alam Khastagir, and other officials are exploiting expatriates through corruption.

For the first time in over 18 years, interim government Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is set to return to his ancestral village of Bathua in Hathazari upazila. The village is festively decorated in anticipation, and locals are celebrating his long-awaited homecoming. Extensive security measures have been taken ahead of his arrival. Key roads including the Chattogram-Kaptai and Chattogram-Khagrachhari-Rangamati highways have been beautified. Hathazari upazila and municipal officials have been working tirelessly to enhance the area's cleanliness and appearance for the occasion.