The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is preparing to reorganize its major affiliate and associate bodies, including the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Swechchasebak Dal, within a short time. Party sources said the move aims to energize grassroots units, implement central directives for upcoming local government elections, and strengthen field-level programs. The BNP high command is focusing on leadership renewal to create enthusiasm among members, with possible changes in top committee positions expected soon.

Several BNP leaders confirmed that the current central committees of the three key organizations have long exceeded their tenure, and many local units remain inactive. Some top leaders of Jubo Dal and Swechchasebak Dal, who also serve as MPs or a state minister, have expressed willingness to hand over responsibilities to new leadership. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman recently held a major meeting with central and district leaders on May 9 in Dhaka, instructing them to resolve internal disputes and complete organizational work before the party’s national council.

Party vice chairmen and advisers indicated that committee reshuffles are likely before the council, with discussions ongoing to finalize the process. The reorganization is expected to restore leadership flow and strengthen coordination between the party and its affiliates.

A six-hour clash erupted in Chattogram’s Baklia area on Thursday evening after locals accused a 32-year-old shop employee, Md Monir, of raping a three-year-old girl. The unrest began when residents refused to hand over the suspect to police, demanding immediate vigilante justice. As tensions escalated, police fired sound grenades, tear shells, and live rounds to disperse the crowd. Two journalists from 'Chattogram Protidin' were shot while broadcasting live, and one police officer was seriously injured. Enraged protesters later set fire to a police pickup truck.

The incident took place at Bismillah Mansion on Abu Zafar Road, where the child was allegedly assaulted while her parents were away at work. Witnesses said locals detained the suspect inside a nearby madrasa before police arrived. Law enforcement and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) units struggled for hours to regain control. Around 10 p.m., additional forces subdued the crowd and took Monir into custody.

Police stated that the child was sent to hospital and a case is being prepared. Security patrols were reinforced overnight to prevent further unrest.

The National Olama Alliance has demanded exemplary punishment and a speedy trial for Sohel Rana, accused in the brutal rape of a child named Ramisa. In a joint statement issued by convener Maulana Ashraf Uddin Mahdi and member secretary Maulana Sanaullah Khan, the organization expressed deep concern, outrage, and condemnation over the incident. They emphasized that the country's law and order situation has deteriorated sharply, with rising incidents of murder and rape causing widespread public fear.

The statement accused the government and law enforcement agencies of negligence, saying that delays in justice allow criminals to exploit legal loopholes and escape punishment. The alliance urged the authorities to immediately arrest the accused and ensure the highest punishment through a fast-track trial. They warned that failure to ensure justice would increase crime rates and deepen insecurity among citizens.

The organization also expressed sympathy for Ramisa’s family, wishing for their safety and well-being, and called on the government to take effective measures to protect women and children nationwide.

In Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj, allegations have surfaced that fertile triple-crop farmland is being illegally excavated for soil and pond digging without administrative permission. Locals have filed written complaints to the district commissioner, upazila executive officer, and agriculture officer, demanding immediate action to stop the activity. The disputed land lies beside a government road near the MR Dakhil Madrasa in Mozammarpur mouza under Chandikona Union.

Complainants stated that influential individuals are cutting and selling soil, causing waterlogging in nearby fields and endangering the adjacent government road and residential houses. Residents warned that continued excavation could damage the road, threaten homesteads, and reduce agricultural productivity, leading to financial losses for farmers and the state.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Mominul Islam said the matter would be investigated on-site and coordinated with the administration to protect the farmland. Upazila Executive Officer Abdul Khalek Patwari confirmed receiving the complaint and assured that necessary measures would follow after investigation.

An opinion piece published on May 21, 2026, in Bangladesh’s newspaper Amar Desh warns that the country’s sacrificial animal leather sector has long been dominated by a manipulative syndicate. The article states that this group artificially lowers prices, controls the market, and deprives grassroots collectors, pushing the industry toward severe crisis. Once sold for several thousand taka, hides are now often sold for only a few hundred, with many left unsold or discarded, causing major economic and social losses.

The report highlights that Qawmi madrasas and orphanages, which rely heavily on proceeds from collected hides, are among the worst affected. Many institutions have reduced or stopped collection due to persistent losses. The author argues that government-fixed prices have historically favored syndicates, leaving collectors unable to recover even preservation costs. As a result, intermediaries profit while religious and charitable organizations suffer.

The article urges the government to set realistic prices, dismantle syndicates, and provide direct support for madrasas and orphanages to sell hides fairly, calling for urgent and visible action to protect this vital national resource.

A BNP leader named Osman Gani, aged 40, was allegedly hacked to death in a dispute over illegal soil extraction in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj. The incident occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday night in the Kaoundar Chak area near the Bil of Panchgaon Charpara under Duptara Union. Gani, the general secretary of Brahmandi Union BNP, was attacked following a conflict with Duptara Union Swechchhasebak Dal member-secretary Ramzan Ali over the use of an excavator for unauthorized soil cutting.

Following the killing, relatives and BNP activists blocked the Araihazar-Gausia road in the Binairchar area on Thursday morning, vandalizing several vehicles and causing severe traffic congestion. Police detained four individuals for questioning. Local residents alleged that illegal soil extraction had been ongoing in the area for a long time without administrative action.

Araihazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Alauddin said additional police forces were deployed to control the situation and that efforts were underway to identify and arrest those involved in the murder.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the family of eight-year-old Ramisa, who was raped and murdered in Dhaka’s Pallabi area. The visit took place on Thursday night, where the Prime Minister spoke with Ramisa’s parents and relatives, offering condolences. Earlier, the State Minister for Sports had also visited the family to express sympathy. The Law and Home Ministers assured that justice for Ramisa’s killing would be ensured swiftly.

Law Minister Asaduzzaman instructed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner to submit the investigation report within seven days. Ministry sources confirmed that the main accused, Sohel Rana, confessed in court to raping and killing Ramisa. The authorities have pledged to complete the trial quickly. Following his statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate ordered Sohel Rana to be sent to jail.

According to the case filed by Ramisa’s father, Abdul Hannan Mollah, Sohel Rana, his wife Swapna Akter, and another unidentified person were accused. All have been arrested and sent to jail by court order.

Bangladesh’s key Boro rice crop has suffered major losses due to sudden flash floods in the haor regions, submerging thousands of acres of farmland. Farmers report yields less than half of last year’s levels, with poor grain quality adding to their distress. The disaster has sparked concerns over food security and potential pressure on the rice market, as Boro typically supplies more than half of the nation’s rice demand.

Agriculture officials have disputed the scale of the damage, estimating losses at 10–12 percent of total demand, while field data suggest up to 30 percent losses in some areas. The government has set a procurement target of 1.9 million tons of food grains, including 500,000 tons of paddy directly from farmers, but collection remains behind schedule. Economists warn that the shortfall could force rice imports if domestic stocks fall short.

Experts note that climate change is increasing flood risks in haor areas, urging investment in flood-tolerant rice varieties, crop insurance, and faster harvesting systems to prevent recurring crises.

Police in Narsingdi have arrested Sabuj Mia, the prime suspect in the murder of a nine-year-old boy named Ramim in Palash upazila’s Gajaria area. The arrest took place on Wednesday morning at the Arshinnagar railway station area. Sabuj, son of Lokman Hossain from Char Karardi village, had been on the run since the incident. Law enforcement officials said he was captured with the help of information technology while attempting to flee to another location.

According to police, on May 6, Sabuj and three others—Faisal, Shishir, and Babu—allegedly took Ramim to a rickshaw garage in Gajaria Bazar, where they pumped air into his body through his rectum and mouth using a machine. The child was critically injured and later died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Following the incident, Ramim’s father, Ripon Mia, filed a murder case against the four accused at Palash Police Station.

Police have sought a seven-day remand for Sabuj and are continuing efforts to arrest the remaining suspects.

Bangladesh’s private sector investment and credit growth have sharply declined, leading to the slowest GDP expansion in five years. According to Bangladesh Bank data, private sector credit growth fell to 4.72 percent in March 2026, the lowest in the country’s history. Private investment dropped to 22.03 percent of GDP in the 2024–25 fiscal year, the weakest ratio in a decade. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics reported GDP growth at 3.49 percent, down from 4.22 percent the previous year.

The slowdown follows prolonged political unrest, factory shutdowns, and persistent energy shortages. A contractionary monetary policy has kept interest rates high, further discouraging borrowing. Despite a change in government after the 2024 uprising, economic conditions have not improved significantly. Bangladesh Bank officials described the credit contraction as disappointing but noted government efforts to reopen closed factories.

Economists warned that without a supportive investment environment, job creation and GDP growth will remain constrained. They identified high lending rates, energy crises, and global instability as key obstacles to recovery.

National Citizen Party (NCP) South Region chief organizer and Comilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah has called on the government to introduce a 'Justice Card' to ensure fair access to justice for ordinary citizens. He made the demand on Wednesday evening while addressing a street rally in Nangalkot, Comilla, where he served as the chief guest.

Abdullah criticized the government for launching various cards such as family and farmer cards while failing to guarantee justice for the people. He alleged that corruption, bribery in job recruitment, and the influence of middlemen at police stations continue to deprive citizens of fair services. He further stated that the government has failed to meet basic needs and that a culture of impunity, corruption, and repression persists, with freedom of expression shrinking and incidents of enforced disappearances and killings continuing.

The event was attended by NCP central joint member secretary Zainal Abedin Shishir, National Youth Force convener Advocate Tarikul Islam, central leader Rifat Rashid, and Comilla district coordinator Nabid Nawroz Shah, along with local activists.

Colonel GM Rajib Ahmed, known for his loyalty to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and General Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, has been promoted to Brigadier General, according to defense sources. The promotion reportedly triggered strong reactions within the Bangladesh Army, as Rajib was among those who played a key role in ensuring Hasina’s safe escape to Delhi following her ouster during the July uprising. The decision was reportedly influenced by a powerful senior military official currently serving in the government.

Rajib previously served as Assistant Military Secretary to Sheikh Hasina in 2020 and was later appointed Deputy Military Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office. He was also sent to South Sudan as a UN peacekeeping contingent commander before returning to Bangladesh. His promotion has caused resentment among officers who felt sidelined over the past fifteen years, with some arguing that a figure associated with the former regime’s repression should not have remained in service.

The controversy has also spread across virtual platforms, where discussions and criticism of the promotion continue to intensify.

Police in Brahmanpara upazila of Comilla arrested a suspected drug dealer named Kabir Hossain on Wednesday afternoon in connection with an attack on two journalists. He was detained in the Dakshin Shashidal area while allegedly attempting to flee to India. The arrest was confirmed by Brahmanpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Faruk Hossain. Kabir Hossain, 35, from Dakshin Shashidal village, faces ten previous cases related to drugs and smuggling.

The attack occurred on Tuesday night at Shashidal Railway Station when journalists Akkas Al Mahmud Hridoy of Kaler Kantho and Shariful Islam Sumon of Dainik Comilla Protidin were filming footage of stolen goods and drug trafficking on the Chattala Express train. They were assaulted twice and later threatened with death if they published reports about the incident. Following the attack, a case was filed naming 11 individuals and 14 unidentified suspects.

Police said operations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the assault.

The High Court of Bangladesh has expressed astonishment after the government announced the dissolution of the Supreme Court Secretariat before the final settlement of a related writ petition. The issue came to light when a government notification was presented before Justice Ahmed Sohel’s bench, prompting the court to ask how such a decision was possible while the case remained pending.

The move has sparked strong reactions from opposition and legal circles. Jamaat-e-Islami leader and opposition chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman condemned the decision, calling it the end of an independent judicial secretariat and a sign of political dominance over the judiciary. Student and lawyer groups, including the National Lawyers Alliance backed by the National Citizens Party, also protested, criticizing the silence of the law minister and attorney general. Lawyer Shishir Monir, who filed the original writ, said the government’s action constituted contempt of court and announced plans to file a contempt petition.

According to the report, the Ministry of Law issued the notification on Tuesday, transferring 15 judges to the ministry. The High Court had earlier directed that the secretariat remain operational until the case was fully resolved.

A rally was held in Dhaka on Thursday in front of the National Press Club, calling for global humanitarian unity and protesting alleged persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, Assam, and Kashmir. The event, organized by Nagorik Parishad, was titled “Rally demanding global humanitarian unity to stop Delhi’s persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, Assam, and Kashmir.”

Nagorik Parishad convener Mohammad Shamsuddin presided over the gathering, alleging that Muslims in various Indian states face continuous discrimination and violence. He accused Delhi’s communal attitude of poisoning the lives of Indian Muslims and criticized the contradiction between beef-related killings and India’s status as a major beef exporter. Other speakers, including World Muslim Ummah chairman Dr. Farid Ahmed Khan and Urdu-speaking minority leader Afzal Warsi, highlighted historical contributions of Muslims to India and ongoing identity crises since partition.

Speakers also emphasized national unity in Bangladesh to protect sovereignty and communal harmony. The event concluded with calls for impartial investigations into violence in Assam and appeals for international human rights attention to the situation in India.