A fire broke out early Saturday morning at the rickshaw garage of Messrs Sumona Traders on Osmani Road in Nabiganj town, Habiganj, causing an estimated loss of around half a crore taka. The blaze erupted suddenly, and its exact cause remains unknown. Local residents and fire service personnel managed to bring the fire under control, but the stored goods were completely burned.

According to local sources, Sabuj Mia, son of Adam Ali from Murar Patli village, has been operating the garage for a long time. Each night, 15 to 20 rickshaws are kept there for charging, along with new and old batteries and other valuable materials. Sabuj Mia stated that he had checked everything at around 1 a.m. before leaving for home and later learned about the fire at dawn. He suspects foul play and estimated his losses at nearly half a crore taka.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, and an investigation may be required to identify the source of the incident.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has alleged that certain groups are attempting to create unrest in Bangladesh to obstruct the government’s ongoing development programs. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon in Trishal, Mymensingh, while inaugurating the re-excavation of the historic Dhara Canal on the occasion of the 127th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Rahman said that those spreading confusion do not speak for farmers or rural development but aim to destabilize the country.

During his speech, the prime minister highlighted several government initiatives, including the re-excavation of canals to support agriculture, the introduction of “Family Cards” for women’s empowerment, and “Farmer Cards” to ensure direct government assistance to about 26.5 million farmers. He also mentioned programs to provide new school uniforms and bags for rural children, honorariums for religious leaders, and expanded technical training for youth employment.

Rahman warned that any unrest would hinder these development efforts and harm rural communities. He urged unity and collective effort to continue national progress, emphasizing that Bangladesh’s 200 million people must work together to build the nation.

A free eye treatment and cataract surgery camp was held in Shahrashti, Chandpur, on Saturday. The event took place at a local school from morning to evening, where more than 400 patients received free eye care services. Among them, 25 patients were selected for cataract operations.

According to the foundation’s founder, Engineer Mokbul Hossain, free medicines were distributed to all patients. Those chosen for surgery will be taken to Dhaka for completely free operations, with all travel, accommodation, and food expenses covered by the foundation. The foundation’s general secretary, Jamal Hossain, stated that four specialist doctors provided prescriptions during the camp.

The initiative aimed to extend accessible eye care to underprivileged residents of Shahrashti, reflecting the foundation’s ongoing commitment to community health support.

The Department of Narcotics Control has arrested a local Chhatra League leader with two kilograms of cannabis in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla. The detainee, identified as Arifur Rahman, 37, is the son of the late Saheb Mia from King Chupuya village in Kalikapur Union and serves as the union’s Chhatra League vice-president. The arrest was confirmed on Saturday afternoon by Bazlur Rahman, deputy director of the department’s Cumilla office.

According to local sources, Arifur Rahman had been running a hotel named ‘Bismillah Truck Hotel’ near the Al Amin petrol pump on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway, where drug trading reportedly took place for a long time. Acting on a tip-off, a special team led by Sub-Inspector Tuntu Moni Chakma conducted a raid on Friday evening under the direction of Deputy Director Bazlur Rahman and seized the cannabis from the hotel.

Local residents welcomed the operation and thanked the narcotics officials. A case has been filed against Arifur Rahman under the Narcotics Control Act, and he has been sent to jail following a court order.

Professor Dr. Md. Khairul Islam has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). The appointment was announced on Saturday, May 23, 2026, through a notification issued by the Science and Technology University Branch of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education. The order was signed by Assistant Secretary Md. Shah Alam Siraj and approved by the President and Chancellor under Section 11(1) of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Act, 1987.

Dr. Khairul Islam currently serves as the Head of the Department of Business Administration at SUST and is a former Dean of the School of Management and Business Administration. According to the notification, his tenure as Vice-Chancellor will last for four years from the date of joining or until his retirement, whichever comes first. He will receive the same salary and benefits as his previous position and must remain on campus full-time as the university’s chief executive officer.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan described the rape and murder of a child named Ramisa in Dhaka’s Pallabi area as a national pain and shame. He made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to journalists after a financial aid event for underprivileged children organized by the Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq Foundation.

The minister said incidents like Ramisa’s are tragic and heartbreaking, adding that the entire nation is mourning and outraged. On behalf of the nation, the Prime Minister expressed deep sympathy and condolences to the victim’s family. Swapan stated that the government has taken all necessary measures to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly under existing laws.

He also praised the media’s responsible role in raising public awareness and anger over such crimes, noting that public opinion shaped by journalists would help the government adopt stronger laws and actions to eliminate such heinous offenses from society.

Water Resources Minister Md. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee MP said that Bangladesh’s destiny is tied to its rivers, emphasizing that the country’s survival depends on saving them. He made these remarks on May 23, 2026, while addressing a discussion organized by Nongor Trust at the National Press Club auditorium in Dhaka on the occasion of National River Day 2026.

The minister stated that Bangladesh has around 1,415 rivers, each considered a living entity, and called for greater public participation in river management. He noted that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s election manifesto, development initiatives are being undertaken with a focus on public welfare. Over the next five years, 20,000 kilometers of canals, rivers, and reservoirs will be excavated or re-excavated, alongside measures to prevent illegal occupation and pollution.

He further mentioned that the Padma Barrage Project has been approved, which will help restore navigability and ecological balance in 24 districts of southwestern and northwestern Bangladesh. The minister also assured that the Teesta Master Plan would be approved soon after completion of expert reviews and surveys.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has announced plans to build a daycare center to ensure the safety of children in the city. The announcement came on Saturday after he visited a child who was injured in an attempted rape incident in Bakalia. Earlier, he met the child’s relatives and doctors at the One Stop Crisis Center of Chattogram Medical College Hospital to learn about her condition.

During the visit, the mayor expressed concern over repeated incidents of child abuse in areas such as Bayezid and Chandgaon, noting that most victims are between three and four years old and come from low-income families where parents work long hours. He said the new daycare center will serve children of working families, particularly garment workers and rickshaw pullers, and that land for the project is being identified.

Dr. Hossain urged garment factory owners to establish safe daycare facilities for their workers’ children and cited hospital data showing that at least 422 children under 12 have received treatment for abuse in the past eight years.

Hasnat Abdullah, Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4 and a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), described the current period as the party’s true spring. On Saturday afternoon, he shared a media photo card on Facebook, congratulating the Jhenaidah NCP unit and announcing that he would visit soon.

The statement followed an incident on Friday in Jhenaidah, where NCP’s chief organizer Nasiruddin Patwari was attacked. Eggs were reportedly thrown at him during the assault. Following the attack, a case was filed against eight former and current leaders of the Chhatra Dal, along with 110 to 115 unidentified individuals, on charges of assault, robbery, and attack on central NCP leaders.

The developments highlight internal tensions and confrontations involving NCP organizers and rival political groups, with legal proceedings now underway following the Jhenaidah attack.

A social and cultural organization named 'Cumillar Jomin Poribar' has submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister demanding a fair investigation and exemplary punishment for those involved in the murder of child Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi area. The memorandum was handed over through the Cumilla Deputy Commissioner on Saturday, who received it from the organization’s leaders.

The memorandum described the death of Ramisa, a second-grade student, as a matter of deep concern and sorrow for society. It stated that such brutal incidents involving children have created fear among the public about law and order and social safety. The organization urged authorities to ensure a swift, impartial investigation, bring the real perpetrators to justice, and complete the trial through a speedy tribunal.

The group also called for ensuring the safety and necessary support for the victim’s family and urged the government to take effective, long-term measures to protect children. Ramisa’s body was recovered from a house in Pallabi on May 19, and police later arrested two suspects in connection with the case.

A Dhaka court has ordered the arrest of Khadija Yasmin Bithi, daughter of top criminal Subrata Bain alias Fateh Ali, in a new attempted murder case filed at Vatara Police Station. The case relates to an attack on general students during the anti-discrimination student movement. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam issued the order on Saturday following a petition by Sub-Inspector Aminur Rahman, who stated that preliminary investigation and intelligence reports indicated Bithi’s direct involvement in the assault.

The investigation officer claimed that Bithi was present at the scene and incited armed activists of the Awami League’s affiliated organizations to attack the protesters. The prosecution argued that her arrest was necessary to ensure a fair investigation and prevent her from fleeing if released on bail. Bithi, who appeared without legal counsel, told the court she was being repeatedly harassed because of her father’s identity and denied any political involvement.

The case stems from a 2024 incident during the nationwide quota reform and anti-discrimination movement, when protesters were allegedly attacked in Dhaka’s Badda area, leaving one woman seriously injured and permanently disabled.

Four people were killed and at least 20 others injured when a dump truck collided with a passenger bus in Shimulia Kuthipara area of Khoksa upazila, Kushtia, on Saturday morning. The crash occurred around 11 a.m. when the bus, traveling from Daulatdia in Rajbari, was struck by a sand-laden dump truck coming from the opposite direction, causing the bus to plunge into a roadside pond. Local residents and fire service personnel jointly carried out rescue operations, pulling passengers from the submerged vehicle.

Two of the deceased were identified as Nabil Hossain, 28, from Kamalapur in Khoksa, and Rafia Khatun, 15, from Philipnagar in Daulatpur. The identities of the other two victims remain unknown. Witnesses said the dump truck was speeding and lost control before hitting the bus. Police have seized both vehicles and are working to identify the remaining victims.

Several of the injured were taken to Khoksa Upazila Health Complex, where two were declared dead, and others in critical condition were transferred to Kushtia General Hospital, where two more succumbed to their injuries.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a Tk 60,000 crore refinancing and support fund to reopen closed factories and generate new employment opportunities. The central bank expects the initiative to create jobs for more than 2.5 million people. The announcement was made by Governor Mostakur Rahman at a press conference held at the bank’s headquarters on Saturday. He said the country’s economic growth had declined over the past three years, with GDP growth falling from 5.8 percent to 4.2 percent and possibly reaching 3.7 percent this year. Key sectors such as garments, textiles, steel, ceramics, information technology, and manufacturing have been severely affected.

According to the central bank, Tk 41,000 crore will be distributed under a refinancing scheme, while Tk 19,000 crore will come from various support programs. The refinancing portion includes allocations for closed industries, CMSME, agriculture, export diversification, and developing northern Bangladesh as an agricultural hub. The support fund covers pre-shipment credit, small entrepreneurs, leather, youth employment, rural activities, frozen fish exports, green investment, overseas employment, startups, and the creative economy.

Bangladesh Bank expects the fund to boost industrial revival, rural economic activities, and export growth, with specific allocations aimed at job creation both domestically and abroad.

Within three months of taking oath as a Member of Parliament, Saeed Al Noman, president of the Jatiyatabadi Pat Shramik Dal, has introduced notable changes in Chattogram-10 constituency, covering Double Mooring, Pahartali, and Halishahar. His initiatives have focused on education, healthcare, and public welfare, with growing numbers of beneficiaries. Observers say his actions could soon set a national example.

During the SSC examinations, he arranged shaded waiting areas, seating, safe drinking water, and snacks for guardians outside ten schools. He took responsibility for the education of martyr Faruk’s children and donated Tk 8.5 lakh for the higher education of missile victim Abul Mohsin’s daughter. Following a gas cylinder explosion in Halishahar, he visited victims, ensured their medical care, and provided Tk 20,000 in immediate aid. He also supported an ailing female party leader, inspiring local activists.

In parliament, Noman raised issues of waterlogging, water supply, drug abuse, and healthcare mismanagement in Chattogram. He urged the health minister to establish a modern specialized hospital in the city and one hospital in every constituency. On Independence Day, he honored over fifty freedom fighters with a discussion and special diaries to record their reflections.

Voting is taking place in a festive atmosphere for the biennial election of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce, the country’s second-largest business organization. The election, being held at the World Trade Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., features 53 candidates contesting 24 posts. Businesspeople in Chittagong have turned the event into a celebration after a 13-year gap. However, one panel announced a boycott on the eve of the election, alleging irregularities.

According to chamber sources, 12 directors will be elected from the general category, six from the associate category, and six from the town association and trade group categories, forming a 24-member board. The elected directors will later choose a president and two vice presidents. Two main panels—United Business Forum and Sammilito Byabosayee Parishad—are competing, along with 13 independent candidates. The Sammilito Byabosayee Parishad withdrew, calling the process a farce due to alleged lack of transparency.

The last direct election was held in 2013. Since then, committees were appointed by local MP M.A. Latif until his panel resigned following the fall of the Awami League government. Around 6,780 voters are participating under tight security.