Leaders of the Editors’ Council held a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, where they submitted a list of 282 journalists allegedly accused in false cases. The article criticizes the council for not presenting such a list to previous governments despite widespread repression of journalists between 2009 and 2024. It names several journalists who were reportedly victims of harassment, imprisonment, or disappearance during that period.

Information Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon responded that many of those listed were political figures posing as journalists and accused the council of supporting individuals involved in incitement and violence. Former press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan also condemned the council, accusing it of hypocrisy for remaining silent during earlier crackdowns on journalists.

The article further alleges that the Editors’ Council, formed around 2013, historically acted to protect the government rather than press freedom. It describes the council’s media network as politically biased and claims that its members previously engaged in propaganda against opposition leaders, including Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, millions of people are expected to travel home, but concerns are rising over possible traffic chaos due to poor road conditions and ongoing development works across Bangladesh. A highway police report has identified 94 congestion-prone spots, with Gazipur, Abdullahpur, Baipail, and Chandra marked as the most vulnerable. The Dhaka–Tangail–Rangpur and Dhaka–Chattogram highways each have 25 high-risk points, followed by Dhaka–Sylhet with 21. Temporary cattle markets, potholes, and unfit vehicles are cited as major causes of congestion.

Authorities have pledged to halt construction during the holiday and repair potholes, while deploying additional police forces and surveillance cameras. Over 220 roadside cattle markets have been marked for monitoring to prevent traffic disruption. The government will operate 69 mobile courts to curb overcharging, passenger harassment, and unfit vehicles. However, planners warn that short-term fixes will not suffice without long-term infrastructure improvements and better transport management.

Experts recommend completing repairs before the holiday, restricting roadside markets, and expanding rail and river transport to ease pressure on highways.

Bangladesh’s National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has announced a comprehensive revision of primary and secondary education curricula in line with the government’s election manifesto. The plan includes refining 601 textbooks and introducing several new subjects to make learning more engaging and relevant. NCTB Chairman Mahbubul Haque Patwary said the revision work is underway, with printing expected to begin by July so that students can receive updated books at the start of 2027. A total of 320 experts from universities and research institutes are participating in the process.

From the 2027 academic year, three new subjects—‘Sports and Culture’ for grade four, ‘Learning with Happiness’ for grade six, and ‘Life and Work-Oriented Education’ for grade seven—will be added. The ICT curriculum for grades six to nine will include artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and modern technology topics. The revised history books will feature more balanced accounts of Bangladesh’s liberation war, political movements, and key national figures. The government aims to introduce a fully new, experience-based curriculum gradually from 2028.

Officials said the changes are designed to promote students’ mental development, reduce digital addiction, and align education with future job market demands.

Mufti Muhammad Muhibbullahil Baqi, the chief imam of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, has been appointed as the new Director General (Grade-1) of the Islamic Foundation. The appointment was announced on Thursday through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. For the first time in Bangladesh, a professional Islamic scholar and mosque imam has been appointed to such a high administrative position. Under the Islamic Foundation Act of 1975, he will serve on a one-year contractual basis, effective from the date of joining, subject to leaving all other professional or institutional affiliations.

Mufti Baqi is known as a moderate scholar and Islamic researcher, educated in Qawmi, Alia, and general education systems. He studied at Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari, Darul Ulum Nadwatul Ulama in India, and the Department of Arabic at the University of Dhaka, where he earned first-class results in all degrees, including topping his master’s program.

He has taught at the International Islamic University Chittagong and other institutions, served as imam and khatib at major mosques, and held key roles in Shariah supervisory boards of several banks. He is fluent in Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Persian, English, and Bengali.

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader named Zillur Rahman was seriously injured in an attack allegedly carried out by activists of the banned Awami League in Bhangura upazila of Pabna on Thursday night, May 21. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on the Kalinjira Bridge in Khanmarich Union. Rahman, a member of the upazila Jamaat working committee and a teacher at Dasmarich Government Primary School, was first taken to the upazila health complex and later referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital due to his critical condition. The attackers’ identities were not immediately known.

Earlier that morning, Rahman had an argument with several Awami League activists, during which he reportedly slapped one of them. The evening assault is believed to have followed that altercation. Following the attack, local Member of Parliament Maulana Ali Asgar led a protest at the Bhangura police station around 10 p.m., demanding the arrest of the attackers within 24 hours and warning of tougher action if the demand was not met.

Bhangura Police Officer-in-Charge Sakiul Azam confirmed the incident and said a case was being filed. He declined to disclose the suspects’ names for investigation purposes.

A violent confrontation broke out in Chattogram’s Baklia area on Thursday following allegations that a 32-year-old shop worker raped a three-year-old girl inside a residential building. The incident triggered six hours of unrest involving clashes between residents and police, gunfire, and the use of sound grenades. Several people, including journalists, were injured, and an angry mob set fire to a police vehicle. The accused, identified as Md. Monir, was later taken into custody late at night after security forces regained control of the area.

According to local sources, the child’s mother works in a garment factory and her father is a rickshaw puller. Neighbors reportedly detained Monir inside a nearby madrasa after discovering the unconscious child. When police arrived to take the suspect, residents refused to hand him over, demanding immediate vigilante justice and expressing frustration over delays in rape case verdicts. The situation escalated into repeated confrontations between police and residents.

Police later confirmed that the child was sent to the hospital and that legal proceedings were being prepared. Additional police and Rapid Action Battalion units were deployed overnight to stabilize the area.

An identified motorcycle thief named Joy, aged 26, was killed in a road accident on Thursday, May 21, 2026, while fleeing on a stolen motorcycle in Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar. The incident occurred on the Kulaura–Sylhet highway near Kuchimora, where Joy lost control of the motorcycle and hit a bridge railing. Police and fire service personnel took him to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to police, Joy was a resident of Dakshin Giasnagar village in Kulaura upazila and had multiple theft cases filed against him at Kulaura Police Station. The motorcycle involved in the crash had reportedly been stolen two days earlier from the Sagornal area of Juri upazila. Rajnagar Police confirmed the death and sent the body for autopsy at Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital morgue.

Kulaura Police stated that Joy was a known member of a local snatching and motorcycle theft ring with several cases pending against him.

Leaders and activists of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Dhaka North unit organized a torch procession on Thursday night demanding justice for all rape and murder victims, including the child Ramisa. The procession began around 9 p.m. in front of the party’s Banglamotor office and moved toward Shahbagh after a brief rally. Participants chanted slogans calling for justice for victims such as Tanu, Ramisa, and Achiya.

At the rally, NCP central senior joint convener and Dhaka North convener Ariful Islam Adib criticized incidents of sexual violence and murder across different areas, including Mirpur, Cantonment, and Bashundhara. He urged the Prime Minister to ensure party-level investigations and arrests of those involved, and called for the formation of anti-sexual harassment cells in all political parties. He also demanded swift implementation of justice in rape and murder cases.

Dhaka North NCP acting member secretary Sadia Farzana Dina emphasized the need to change societal attitudes toward women and treat them with respect. Several other party leaders and members were present at the event.

The Bangladesh Cabinet has approved the proposal to ratify the 'Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology' agreement signed between the governments of Bangladesh and Japan. The proposal was presented by the Ministry of Defense and approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. The meeting also reported that the implementation rate of Cabinet decisions currently stands at 70.73 percent.

In the same session, the Cabinet approved Bangladesh’s participation in the 'Framework Agreement on the Establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)' and endorsed the draft Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration National Action Plan (GCM-NAP) for 2026–2030. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change presented the IBCA proposal, which aims to protect habitats, prevent illegal hunting and trade, and promote technical cooperation among member countries.

Bangladesh’s decision to join the IBCA reflects its role as the home country of the Royal Bengal Tiger and its commitment to conserving the Sundarbans ecosystem.

Serious allegations have emerged in Bogarchar Union of Bokshiganj upazila, Jamalpur, over irregularities in the distribution of government VGF rice cards allocated for poor families ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Out of 8,048 cards designated for the union, 4,024 were reportedly handed directly to BNP leaders and activists, prompting widespread discussion and anger among residents.

According to local sources, acting Union Parishad chairman Sohel Rana Palash formally handed over the cards to upazila BNP leaders at his office on Thursday afternoon. Officials confirmed that 80,480 kilograms of rice were allocated for 4,024 poor and distressed families, with each card entitling a beneficiary to 10 kilograms. However, the cards were distributed without the presence of administrative officers, raising questions about transparency.

The acting chairman said the cards were given to BNP leaders following party instructions, while the upazila project implementation officer and the UNO stated that such political distribution violates government rules. They assured that the matter is under investigation and necessary action will follow if irregularities are proven.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has temporarily suspended office assistant Md. Abul Kalam for misconduct and unauthorized absence from duty. The suspension order was issued by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan under Rule 12 of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. The order, issued on Thursday, stated that it was made in the public interest and took immediate effect. During the suspension period, Kalam will receive subsistence allowance as per regulations.

According to the order, Abul Kalam joined the VAT Monitoring, Statistics and Coordination branch, with additional duties in the VAT Training and Reward section, on February 14, 2023. About a month after joining, he began remaining absent without permission. He was frequently absent between September and December 2025 and has been continuously absent since January 15, 2026, without approval from his superiors.

The order also noted that a show-cause notice was issued to him on May 10, asking for a response within three working days, but he failed to reply. Consequently, departmental action was taken against him for misconduct and desertion under the relevant disciplinary rules.

Two vice presidents of the Barishal University unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have been expelled from their organizational posts over allegations of involvement in extortion. The expelled leaders are Mia Babul and Md Mithu. The decision was announced in a press release signed by JCD Central Office Secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

According to the statement, the expulsion followed a decision by the JCD central committee based on specific allegations of violating organizational discipline. The decision was approved by JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. The organization also instructed all members not to maintain any organizational contact with the expelled individuals.

Earlier, on May 19, allegations surfaced that a group of leaders had stopped a fish-laden vehicle and demanded a large sum of money. When the demand was refused, another vehicle was reportedly vandalized and its driver assaulted. Some criticism has emerged that only two leaders were expelled despite reports of involvement by several others.

A 34-year-old Bangladeshi woman who escaped from a scam center in Cambodia is set to return home within a week, following efforts by Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury. The Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok confirmed that her repatriation is being arranged through a travel pass with the cooperation of Cambodian authorities.

According to the report, the woman traveled to Cambodia in August 2025 through a travel agency that promised her a computer-related job with a high salary. Upon arrival, her passport was confiscated, and she was forced to work in a scam center engaged in online financial fraud. After several failed attempts, she managed to escape on May 20, 2026, and contacted the minister via WhatsApp for help. The embassy verified her location through a video call and, with assistance from the Bangladeshi community in Phnom Penh, rescued her.

The embassy stated that the process of issuing her travel pass is underway, and she will be repatriated soon under the supervision of the ministry and Cambodian authorities.

Tension erupted in Baklia, Chattogram, on Thursday after a three-year-old girl was allegedly raped in a residential building on Abu Zafar Road. The incident occurred while the child’s mother was at work and her father was out driving a rickshaw. Locals accused a 32-year-old shop employee of committing the assault. When the crime became known, residents captured the suspect and locked him inside a nearby madrasa gate. Police arrived to rescue the accused, but the situation quickly escalated as the crowd demanded that he be handed over to them.

Eyewitnesses said police faced resistance while trying to take the suspect to the station, leading to clashes involving chasing, scuffling, and physical confrontation. Police fired bullets, sound grenades, and tear gas to disperse the crowd, injuring several people, though the exact number of casualties was not immediately confirmed. The area remained under public control for over an hour before additional forces were deployed.

The injured child was admitted to the One Stop Crisis Centre at Chattogram Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Authorities have increased police presence in the area and pledged a proper investigation.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Mymensingh district on Saturday, according to information from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing released on Thursday. The official itinerary, signed by Protocol Officer-1 Ujjal Sarkar, states that the Prime Minister will depart for Trishal, Mymensingh by road at 9 a.m. and attend the re-excavation inauguration of Dhara Canal at Bailor Union at noon.

Following a break at Trishal Nazrul Dak Bungalow at 2 p.m., he will attend a program at Nazrul Mancha at 3 p.m. marking the 127th birth anniversary of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and inaugurate a three-day celebration. Later, at 5 p.m., he will join an organizational meeting of Mymensingh North, South, and Metropolitan BNP units at Trishal Nazrul Auditorium before returning to Dhaka by road at 6:30 p.m.

The visit combines administrative and cultural engagements, highlighting both development initiatives and political activities in the Mymensingh region.