The government has withdrawn the additional monthly charge on prepaid electricity meters, according to an announcement shared by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) media cell on Wednesday. The BNP stated on its official Facebook page that the decision was part of the party’s first 100 days in government, aimed at reducing public hardship and ensuring financial relief for ordinary citizens.

Earlier, on March 29, the Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, had announced that the monthly rent or meter charge for prepaid electricity meters would be withdrawn. Previously, consumers were paying a monthly demand charge of 42 taka per kilowatt and a single-phase meter rent of 40 taka, along with an additional 5 percent VAT. These charges had caused widespread dissatisfaction among users.

The withdrawal of the extra charges is expected to provide immediate financial relief to electricity consumers who had long expressed frustration over the additional costs associated with prepaid meters.

Three men accused of attempted robbery in Feni were reportedly freed from police custody by individuals identifying themselves as Jubo Dal members. The incident occurred early Tuesday in Daganbhuiyan upazila after villagers captured the suspects during a robbery attempt at the home of expatriate Hamidul Haque. The suspects were beaten and handed over to police, but later that night, a group led by Jubo Dal affiliates allegedly pressured the victim to withdraw his complaint.

According to local accounts, the attackers had detonated several crude bombs before assaulting the family and snatching a gold chain from Hamidul Haque’s wife. Police confirmed that the three detainees were released after both parties signed a written agreement. The officer-in-charge of Daganbhuiyan police station stated that the incident was not a robbery but an attempt to apprehend a fugitive student leader.

A meeting was reportedly planned at the Silonia market in Jaylaskor to discuss the recovery of the stolen chain, mediated by the same group claiming Jubo Dal affiliation.

A woman named Jahanara Begum died in a road accident on Wednesday while returning home with her husband’s body from Dhaka to Jashore. The collision occurred between a bus and an ambulance at the Badsher Garage area on the Dhaka-Jashore highway in Narail Sadar. The ambulance driver, Akbar Hossain, was also killed, and five other family members traveling in the ambulance were injured.

Police reported that Jahanara was accompanying the body of her husband, Sub-Inspector Ismail Hossain, who had been under treatment at Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital in Dhaka. The injured were first taken to Narail District Hospital for initial treatment and later referred to Jashore Medical College Hospital for advanced care.

According to Narail Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ajay Kumar Kundu, the accident occurred when the bus lost control due to reckless speed. After completing legal procedures, the bodies were handed over to their families.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has called for effective measures to stop border killings and urged for international justice. He made the appeal on Wednesday, June 3, during a visit to the Sadipur border area in Benapole. Patwari also called for national unity beyond political divisions to strengthen border protection amid reports of attempted push-ins.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting the border, Patwari said that residents in frontier areas have long faced security challenges and that ensuring their safety is essential. He emphasized that all political groups must unite to defend the border and that local communities should remain alert and active in preventing any form of intrusion or push-in attempts. He also noted that border residents, alongside the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), must stay vigilant.

A delegation led by Patwari visited the Sadipur border to protest alleged push-in attempts and to observe the situation. Central and local NCP leaders and activists were present during the visit.

Serious allegations have emerged that luggage belonging to about 150 Hajj pilgrims was cut open and valuables stolen at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The incident reportedly occurred around 3 a.m. on Tuesday when a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying 419 pilgrims arrived from Jeddah. The claim was first made on Facebook by Mostafa Kamal Palash, son of one of the returning pilgrims, who urged the Prime Minister to take notice of the matter.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ General Manager for Public Relations, Bosra Islam, said that only four to five pilgrims had verbally raised such complaints but did not file any written reports. He added that the airline’s security and aviation security teams were investigating the issue. Airport Executive Director Group Captain S.M. Ragib Samad stated that CCTV footage was being reviewed and that the matter was being treated seriously, even though no formal complaint had been lodged.

Authorities have confirmed that both airport and airline security units are jointly examining the allegations to determine the extent of the reported thefts.

A land ownership dispute between the authorities of Karamatia Kamil Madrasa and the Charfassion Central Eidgah Mosque in Bhola’s Charfassion has intensified. The madrasa claims that individuals linked to the mosque recently began constructing a boundary fence on its registered land, despite police orders to halt the work. The incident occurred on May 31 when several people started erecting bamboo posts behind the madrasa’s honors building. Later that night, three shops near the madrasa market were reportedly locked, and tenants were told not to pay rent to the madrasa.

According to the madrasa, the land was originally allocated during the British period for the madrasa, mosque, Eidgah, and cemetery. In 1976, 75.33 decimals of land were legally transferred to the madrasa through a waqf deed. The madrasa accuses the opposing group of trying to seize the land by force and has sought administrative intervention. The mosque committee president, however, claims the madrasa occupies more land than recorded and that the disputed portion belongs to the mosque.

Police confirmed responding to the complaint and instructed both parties to stop work and maintain peace.

Police in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj district have arrested a local student leader, Hossain Ahmed, aged 26, on charges of raping a married woman by luring her with a false promise of marriage. The arrest took place after the victim’s mother filed a case at Nabiganj Police Station on Tuesday night. On Wednesday afternoon, police sent the accused to jail through the court.

According to the case statement, Hossain Ahmed, a resident of Dakshin Gaznaipur village and a member of the Gaznaipur Union unit of the student organization, had developed contact with the victim from Dakshin Debpara village through mobile communication. He allegedly harassed her for a long time before entering her home late Monday night, threatening her, and forcibly raping her. The victim’s parents caught him after hearing her screams and handed him over to the police.

Nabiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Monayem Mia confirmed that the accused was shown arrested and sent to court based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family.

A two-day film screening event is set to begin in Cox’s Bazar, organized by the Cox’s Bazar Film Society. The announcement was made at a press conference held at Shaheed Daulat Maidan on Wednesday. The screenings will take place on June 5 and 6 at Shaheed Subhash Hall of Cox’s Bazar Public Library, running from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day, with a total of six films scheduled.

The first day will feature Mezbauer Rahman Suman’s ‘Hawa’, Shahin Dil-Riaz’s ‘Rakib Khan: The Projectionist’, and Mohammad Towkir Islam’s ‘Delupi’. The second day will include Dhrubo Hasan’s ‘Fatima’, Fazle Rabbi’s short film ‘Tadatma Onneshon: The Eternal Journey’, and Tanim Noor’s ‘Bonolota Express’. Tickets are priced at 100 taka per day, with a 50 taka concession for students. Registration will be available both online and at the venue.

According to the organizers, all films will include English subtitles to make them accessible to both local and international audiences. The Film Society hopes the event, titled ‘Cox’s Bazar Talkies’, will foster a culture of regular film screenings and creative engagement in the region.

Lieutenant General Mohammad Asadullah Minhajul Alam met Prime Minister Tareq Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka before departing to assume his new role as Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The meeting took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Cabinet Division, with the Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) A.K.M. Shamsul Islam also present. Minhajul Alam is scheduled to leave for New York on June 5 to complete official formalities before taking charge in Cyprus.

During the meeting, discussions focused on Bangladesh’s contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, the professionalism of its armed forces, and their international reputation. Minhajul Alam will be the eighth Bangladeshi military officer to serve as a UN Force Commander, continuing a legacy of leadership in global peace missions. Currently, Major General Md Fakhrul Ahsan serves as Force Commander in Western Sahara.

Bangladesh remains one of the top contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, and Minhajul Alam’s appointment is seen as a continuation of the country’s distinguished record in international peace operations.

More than one hundred people were injured in a violent clash between two groups during a village arbitration in Kharki, Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj on Tuesday evening. The conflict erupted when one side began recording the arbitration on video and the other objected. The meeting had been called to resolve a dispute over money taken from a furniture shop before Eid. The argument quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, injuring dozens of men, women, and children.

Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control around 10 p.m. However, clashes resumed the following morning, prompting police to fire 11 rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd. By 3 p.m., order was restored, and four individuals were detained. According to Madhabpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sohel Rana, the violence stemmed from a previous financial dispute between the two sides. He stated that the situation is now under control and legal action is being processed.

Authorities reported that around 60 people were injured in the second round of clashes, and investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible.

A man named Md. Shanto, 25, has been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in connection with the alleged rape of a child in Raiganj, Sirajganj. According to a press release issued by RAB-12 headquarters on Wednesday afternoon, Shanto was detained earlier that morning in front of Syed Spring Mill in the Shialkol area of Sirajganj Sadar upazila. He is the son of Md. Bellal Hossain of Purba Lakkhikola village in Raiganj.

The press release stated that on March 26, the accused lured a schoolgirl with money and took her to his home, where he allegedly raped her when no one else was present. Following the incident, the victim’s family filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The accused had been absconding since the case was filed until his arrest today.

RAB confirmed that the suspect will be handed over to the relevant authorities for further legal proceedings.

Authorities have removed the crocodile from the pond of Khan Jahan Ali (R.) Shrine in Bagerhat following a fatal incident. On Wednesday afternoon, the animal was taken to the Khulna Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Earlier in the day, forest department and administrative officials were present at the site, and the crocodile was captured around noon using bait before being transported to Khulna.

The decision to relocate the crocodile came after a child was killed in an attack three days earlier. An emergency meeting held Tuesday night at the district administration office determined that the animal should be removed for public safety. Local residents expressed relief after the removal, saying they had been afraid to approach the pond.

Wildlife expert Azad Kabir confirmed that the female crocodile, weighing about 600 kilograms, was safely rescued and will undergo examination at the rescue center before further decisions are made. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer stated that future steps regarding the crocodile will be decided after discussions.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on citizens to remain alert against any attempts to create unrest in the country. Speaking as the chief guest at a civic reception held on Wednesday afternoon at Ruhia High School field in Thakurgaon, he warned that a certain group seeks to destabilize the nation and urged everyone to stay vigilant. He also encouraged people to contribute to the development of their respective areas.

Fakhrul stated that under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, the government is implementing promises made to the public before the election. These include inaugurating new upazilas, appointing vice-chancellors to public universities, approving new medical colleges, and initiating airport operations. He added that projects such as the Family Card program and canal excavation are progressing due to public support.

He further urged the youth to stay away from drugs and build social movements for a better future. Fakhrul also described Bangladesh’s election as president of the 81st UN General Assembly as a major national achievement and international recognition.

Leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League organized a protest march in Habiganj on Wednesday morning under the banner of the district unit. The procession, led by district Chhatra League vice president Khan Mohammad Sagor, moved through key streets of the town. According to eyewitnesses, several local leaders, including municipal Chhatra League leader Shawon Al Hasan and Shayestaganj upazila organizational secretary Al Rafi, participated in the march.

Participants in the rally chanted slogans demanding the release of Awami League members. Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Hasan stated that they had received reports of the procession and were investigating the matter.

The incident reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the activities of the banned organization in the district, with law enforcement monitoring the situation closely.

A reception organized by an Awami League leader for a BNP Member of Parliament in Shahjahanpur, Bogura, has triggered widespread discussion and criticism in the area. The event honored BNP MP Morshed Milton, representing Gabtali-Shahjahanpur, and was arranged by Ali Atowar Talukdar Fazu, former vice president of Shahjahanpur Upazila Awami League and chairman of Gohail Union Parishad. The ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Gohail Islamia High School and College grounds, which were decorated with banners and posters promoting the Awami League leader’s name.

Local sources said that after the Awami League government lost power following the political shift on August 5, Fazu had announced his withdrawal from active politics through a newspaper notice. However, after the BNP formed a new government following the February 12 election, he was reportedly trying to strengthen his political position under the new circumstances. Despite being the main organizer, Fazu stayed at the Union Parishad office during the event.

The incident has stirred political curiosity and debate in Shahjahanpur and across Bogura, with locals questioning the motives behind a former Awami League leader’s initiative to honor a BNP lawmaker.