Cumilla-10 (Nangalkot and Lalmai) Member of Parliament Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan has expressed his intention to engage in cattle trading ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. He made the announcement through a post on his verified Facebook account on the night of May 13, 2026. In the post, he mentioned that his car and housing businesses were not performing well and sought opinions from his followers on whether his new business idea might affect the reputation of his political associates.

The Facebook post quickly drew widespread attention and mixed reactions. Some supporters welcomed the initiative, calling cattle trading a respected and valuable business, while others criticized the move. Commenters emphasized that business is permissible and honorable, wishing the MP success in his new venture.

According to the report, Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan has previously drawn public attention for various remarks made on social media, indicating his active online presence and engagement with constituents.

A drug dealer was arrested in Rangpur with narcotics and local weapons during a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) operation. The arrest took place late Wednesday night in the Chatra Collegepara area of Pirganj upazila. The detainee, Md. Sujon Sheikh, aged 42, is the son of Mojibur Rahman Sheikh from the same locality. RAB officers recovered 145 pieces of yaba tablets, 5 grams of heroin, a Chinese axe, a dagger, and a sickle from his possession.

According to RAB-13’s Additional Superintendent of Police and Senior Assistant Director (Media) Biplob Kumar Goswami, the operation was conducted based on secret intelligence. After the arrest, Sujon Sheikh was handed over to the concerned police station on Thursday. RAB-13 stated that its intelligence activities and ongoing drives against narcotics continue under a zero-tolerance policy.

The operation reflects RAB’s continued enforcement efforts in Rangpur to curb drug trafficking and illegal arms possession in the region.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan will hold a press conference on Thursday at 3 p.m. in the conference room of the Ministry of Education at the Secretariat to announce the final schedule for the upcoming SSC, HSC, and equivalent examinations. The ministry’s public relations officer, Abdullah Shibli Sadiq, confirmed the event to the media.

Earlier, the minister had indicated a preliminary plan to hold the 2027 SSC and HSC examinations by December of this year, which sparked widespread reactions among stakeholders. In response, the ministry convened a meeting on Wednesday with experts and stakeholders to reach a final decision. Participants in the meeting reportedly opposed holding the public examinations in December and instead suggested conducting the SSC exams in January and the HSC exams in June.

The final decision on the examination schedule is expected to be officially announced during Thursday’s press conference, following the recommendations discussed in the meeting.

Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC has successfully regained customer confidence and operational stability despite a recent financial sector crisis in Bangladesh. The bank avoided liquidity support from Bangladesh Bank, maintained uninterrupted customer services, and saw no cheque dishonor incidents. Deposits rose to Tk 54,593 crore by December 2025, up from Tk 51,609 crore a year earlier, while the number of deposit accounts increased by more than 229,000. In the first four months of 2026, the bank earned Tk 85 crore in operating profit and added 180,000 new accounts.

Following Bangladesh Bank’s governance reforms in 2025, which included replacing the board and disciplining over 600 staff for irregularities, Al-Arafah Islami Bank underwent major restructuring. System upgrades enhanced digital and core banking operations, while agent banking and rural development programs expanded financial inclusion. The bank now operates 226 branches, 89 sub-branches, and 738 agent outlets across 306 upazilas.

The bank’s management credits transparency, accountability, and technology-driven modernization for restoring trust. Its progress in digital and rural banking is viewed as a model for sustainable recovery in Bangladesh’s financial sector.

Member of Parliament Kamruzzaman Kamrul of Sunamganj-1 conducted a surprise inspection of several government primary schools in Madhyanagar upazila on Thursday morning. Between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., he visited five schools and found no teachers present at three of them—Abidnagar, Dugnoi, and Kayetkanda Government Primary Schools. He also inspected Madhyanagar and Mashimpur Government Primary Schools to observe teaching activities, student attendance, and the overall environment.

Madhyanagar Upazila Primary Education Officer Delwar Hossain stated that the teachers absent during the MP’s visit have been issued show-cause notices, and departmental action will follow after reviewing their written explanations. Following the inspection, MP Kamrul emphasized the need for teachers in the haor region to be more responsible and ensure timely attendance to maintain quality education. He also instructed the education officer to ensure regular teacher presence in all schools.

The inspection highlights ongoing concerns about teacher attendance in rural primary schools and the government’s efforts to strengthen accountability in the education sector.

At least 14 out of 15 private diagnostic centers in Jhikargacha upazila of Jashore are operating without valid documentation, according to findings presented at a recent upazila law and order committee meeting. The report revealed that patients have suffered from incorrect and improper treatments at these unlicensed facilities, with allegations that around six mothers died during childbirth over the past year. Local Member of Parliament Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid and other committee members expressed dissatisfaction over the situation.

The expired or unrenewed centers include Janani Pathology and Diagnostic Center, SS Diagnostic Center and Clinic, Fatema Clinic and Diagnostic Center, Jhikargacha Private Clinic and Diagnostic Center, SK Clinic and Diagnostic Center, Majeda Diagnostic Center, and several others. Upazila Sanitary Inspector Abdul Matin said the centers have been instructed to renew their licenses promptly. Upazila Health Officer Dr. Abdul Rashid stated that his office cannot take legal action but has requested the upazila administration to intervene.

Jashore Civil Surgeon Dr. Masud Rana confirmed that all centers were notified to renew their licenses within one month, warning that legal measures will follow if they fail to comply.

Bangladesh Bank’s board has decided to liquidate or close five non-bank financial institutions—FAS Finance, International Leasing, Peoples Leasing, Fareast Finance, and Aviva Finance—starting from July 2026. Each will have a central bank-appointed administrator. The decision, made last Tuesday, has not been formally communicated to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) or the stock exchanges, even though four of the firms are publicly listed.

BSEC spokesperson Md. Abul Kalam confirmed that the regulator had received no official or informal notice from the central bank. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) also stated it had not been informed and that trading in the four listed firms continued on Wednesday. DSE officials said they would decide on trading suspension after receiving formal instructions. Analysts criticized the lack of coordination, noting that investor protection should have been prioritized.

According to Bangladesh Bank sources, the institutions’ default loan ratios range from 93% to nearly 100%, leaving them unable to repay depositors. The government has pledged about Tk 5,000 crore in the upcoming budget to refund individual depositors, enabling the liquidation process to proceed under the Bank Resolution Ordinance 2026.

A recent column by Minar Rashid in *Amar Desh* highlights three major issues in Bangladesh’s political culture. The writer describes a recent incident at Dhaka University where the Prime Minister was surrounded by students during a visit, calling it a dangerous breach of security despite being an expression of affection. He argues that such emotional crowds can endanger national stability and that security advisers must strictly enforce safety protocols.

The column also critiques a new wave of enthusiasm for Rabindranath Tagore among BNP leaders, calling it excessive and inconsistent with the party’s traditionally balanced approach to culture and religion. The writer contrasts Tagore’s romantic but unsuccessful agricultural ideas with former president Ziaur Rahman’s pragmatic agricultural reforms, urging BNP leaders to follow their founder’s model instead of symbolic cultural gestures.

Finally, the piece discusses the current state of student politics, warning against calls for its total ban. It advocates for reform through strict codes of conduct, zero tolerance for violence, and regular student union elections to restore intellectual and democratic values in campus politics.

An elderly man named Mostafa was killed after being struck by an autorickshaw in Lalpur upazila of Natore on Wednesday evening. The accident occurred around 7 p.m. in the Palideha area on the Lalpur-Ishwardi regional highway, in front of Rajan’s CNG garage. Mostafa, son of the late Shoimuddin Pramanik from Armbaria village in Ishwardi upazila, was crossing the road when the autorickshaw heading toward Lalpur hit him.

Local sources said that Mostafa was returning home from his son Rajan’s CNG workshop when the collision took place. He was seriously injured and taken to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

Lalpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam confirmed the incident, stating that the body has been kept at the hospital and will be handed over to the family after legal procedures are completed.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, livestock farms in Cumilla are experiencing a busy season with 259,752 animals prepared for sacrifice, exceeding the district’s demand of 247,586 by about 12,300. Farmers expect fair prices this year as authorities have intensified monitoring to prevent the entry of Indian cattle. The Department of Livestock confirmed that local animals will meet demand in Cumilla and nearby districts, with surplus stock available for supply to other regions.

Farmers are using natural fattening methods and offering local as well as Brahma, Friesian, and Sahiwal breeds. Some have invested from one to over two million taka. However, traders have reported robbery and extortion risks on highways, prompting calls for stronger security. District officials said 430 permanent and temporary cattle markets will operate, with special measures to prevent counterfeit money and ensure safety.

Border Guard Bangladesh, police, and district administration have strengthened surveillance along the 106-kilometer border to block illegal cattle entry. Additional highway patrols have been deployed, especially at night, to protect livestock transport and maintain market stability.

A week after a report by the newspaper Amar Desh alleged large-scale embezzlement of government funds by Barishal Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khairul Alam Suman during the 13th parliamentary election, no investigation committee has yet been formed by the ministry, and the DC remains in his position. The report has sparked widespread discussion across the district and the country. Several officials from the DC’s office have reportedly been transferred on suspicion of leaking information about the alleged corruption.

According to multiple unnamed sources, various agencies have begun collecting documents and information related to the allegations, and senior representatives have been discreetly visiting Barishal to speak with relevant individuals. The Barishal Divisional Commissioner, Khalil Ahmed, confirmed that different agencies and ministries are seeking information on the matter but said any formal action would come from the ministry. Meanwhile, intelligence agencies have reportedly been inquiring about Amar Desh’s Barishal reporter Nikunja Bala Palash, who authored the original story.

The transfers have created unrest within the DC office, with several employees reassigned to other departments or upazilas. Some officials view these moves as retaliatory, though the Divisional Commissioner said he was unaware of the transfers.

Police in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar seized 100,000 yaba pills during a raid at West Bomangkhil village in Gojonia Union. The operation, conducted around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, was led by Anisur Rahman, in-charge of the Gojonia police outpost, with Sub-Inspector Jewel Chowdhury and his team. The drugs were recovered from the house of Sohel, son of local resident Nurul Amin, who allegedly ran drug operations under the guise of motorcycle transport. Sohel managed to flee before police could detain him.

According to police, the seized yaba pills have been taken into custody, and legal proceedings are underway. Local sources said the Gojonia and Kachhapia areas have long been known for yaba trafficking. Residents claimed this is the largest yaba consignment ever recovered by police in the region.

Authorities are continuing efforts to locate the fugitive suspect and pursue further legal action based on the recovered narcotics.

Teachers at Barishal University continued a shutdown for the third consecutive day on Wednesday as part of their ongoing protest demanding promotions. The movement has brought classes, exams, and administrative activities to a standstill. Allegations have surfaced that some pro-Awami League teachers are leading the agitation, with reports linking them to a 2024 meeting supporting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.

The protest, which began on April 21, resumed on May 11 after a brief pause. Due to the shutdown, at least 32 final exams have been postponed, and most have yet to be rescheduled, causing frustration among students. Some departments have also faced restrictions on lab use, and the university football team missed a scheduled match due to administrative offices being locked.

University authorities have called for dialogue to resolve the crisis. The vice-chancellor stated he is ready to meet the teachers and, if necessary, take steps to reopen offices. However, the protesting teachers remain firm in their stance, and uncertainty continues over when academic activities will resume.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has completed hearings in the case against Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) president Hasanul Haq Inu, accused of crimes against humanity over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July uprising. The tribunal announced on Thursday that the verdict is now pending and may be delivered any day.

The prosecution, led by Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam, presented its closing arguments, while Inu’s defense, represented by lawyer Munsurul Haq Chowdhury, concluded its submissions after nine days of hearings. The defense argued that Inu had no involvement in the Kushtia killings and was not present in the area at the time. They also claimed that he was not a member of parliament during the 2024 July uprising.

The tribunal had earlier adjourned the hearing several times, with prosecutors including Faruk Ahmad, Moinul Karim, and Abdus Sobhan Torafdar participating. The case now awaits the tribunal’s judgment.

A fire broke out early Thursday at a shoe manufacturing factory in the Gazibari Bou Bazar area of Tongi, Gazipur. According to local residents, the blaze started around 5 a.m. in a five-room factory. Two units from the Tongi Fire Service arrived at the scene and brought the fire under control after about an hour of effort.

Md. Shahin Alam, Senior Station Officer of Tongi Fire Service, stated that the factory was operating illegally without any official approval or fire safety license. Initial assessment suggests that an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire. The extent of the damage will be determined following an investigation.

Authorities are expected to conduct further inquiries into the factory’s operations and safety compliance, as the incident highlights ongoing concerns about unlicensed industrial facilities in the area.