Seven members of the forest robber group known as 'Chhoto Suman Bahini', including its leader, surrendered to the Coast Guard in the Nandabala canal area of the Sundarbans under Mongla upazila of Bagerhat. The surrender took place on the night of May 17, 2026, and was confirmed by Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan during a press briefing on May 21. The surrendered individuals were identified as Suman Hawlader, Robiul Mallik, Rafik Sheikh, Siddiq Hawlader, Golam Mallik, Ismail Khan, and Mahfuz Mallik.

According to the Coast Guard, three single-barrel guns, two pipe guns, 25 rounds of live cartridges, and three blank cartridges were seized from the group. The operation was part of ongoing security drives titled 'Operation Restore Peace in Sundarban' and 'Operation Mangrove Shield', aimed at ensuring safety in the forest region. Since February 12, 2026, these operations have recovered 26 firearms, various ammunition, and communication devices, while arresting 21 bandits and rescuing 20 fishermen and forest workers.

Coast Guard officials stated that intelligence and operational activities will continue until the Sundarbans are completely free of bandit groups.

A Dhaka University non-residential student transport bus named ‘Kinchit’ was involved in another accident in the Moghbazar area of the capital on Wednesday, May 20, around 3:30 p.m. Several students were injured when the bus hit the Moghbazar flyover, damaging the upper front portion. Witnesses reported that one or two injured students received primary treatment at a nearby pharmacy.

Eyewitness Helal Uddin Rafid shared details of the incident on social media, confirming that the accident occurred during the 3:20 p.m. trip. Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) transport secretary Asif Abdullah said the accident occurred despite having an experienced driver on the route, suggesting negligence. He added that the bus committee and the driver had been contacted, and a request was made to the BRTC authorities to instruct all drivers to be more cautious.

Earlier in mid-April, another Dhaka University student bus met with an accident near the BFDC area of Tejgaon, injuring five to six students. Following consecutive incidents, students have expressed concern and demanded stronger safety measures for the university’s transport system.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained eleven Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, while they were attempting to cross into India illegally through the Baghdanga border in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah district. The arrests took place on Wednesday night, May 20, 2026, according to a press release issued by BGB later that evening.

The statement said that a patrol team from Baghdanga Border Outpost under the 58th Battalion of BGB conducted the operation around 8:30 p.m. Among those detained were five women, two men, and four children, all residents of different districts in Bangladesh. In a separate anti-narcotics operation in the Nimtala and Madhabkhali border areas, BGB recovered 81 bottles of Indian-made cough syrup without any suspects.

BGB confirmed that the detained individuals were later handed over to Maheshpur Police Station for further legal action.

Bangladeshi human rights organization Odhikar released its quarterly report on May 20, 2026, covering the period from January to March. The report depicts widespread state repression, political violence, and growing Indian interference following the fall of the Hasina government. It notes that at least 13 people were killed and 1,368 injured in election-related clashes during the February 12 parliamentary polls, with allegations of result manipulation and 36 legal challenges filed in the High Court.

The report documents four extrajudicial killings, 21 journalists allegedly detained by the army, and 21 prisoner deaths due to corruption and poor medical care. It also highlights continued restrictions on press freedom under the Cyber Security Act 2026, with 64 journalists facing attacks or legal action. Odhikar accuses India’s Border Security Force of killing one Bangladeshi, injuring two, and pushing back 17 others, alongside anti-Bangladesh misinformation from Indian media.

Odhikar warns of institutional backsliding as 20 key ordinances lapsed without parliamentary approval and urges strong measures against political violence, extrajudicial killings, and Indian dominance.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly criticized recent comments by BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, calling them provocative and irresponsible. In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, Jamaat Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar said Fakhrul’s remarks at a public meeting in Ranisankail, Thakurgaon, were politically motivated and contrary to responsible political conduct.

Porwar stated that Fakhrul accused Jamaat of engaging in deceitful religious politics, which he rejected as false. He asserted that Jamaat is a lawful, ideological, and transparent faith-based political party that does not exploit religion for political gain. Instead, he accused the BNP of hypocrisy, claiming its leaders only display religious devotion during elections to attract voters.

The Jamaat leader further argued that BNP, not Jamaat, manipulates public religious sentiment for political advantage. He described Fakhrul’s remarks as part of a long-standing political vendetta and urged him to withdraw what he termed false and provocative statements against Jamaat.

A meeting chaired by the governor of Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday revealed differing opinions among senior officials regarding whether to lower interest rates in the upcoming monetary policy. The discussion took place as business groups continued to urge the central bank to reduce lending rates, which have remained high due to previous policy rate hikes.

Some officials argued that reducing interest rates could boost investment and employment, warning that Bangladesh risks losing competitiveness compared to neighboring countries with lower borrowing costs. Others disagreed, citing the 2021–2024 period when low rates failed to attract expected investment. Deputy Governor Zakir Hossain Chowdhury noted that inflation and investment in Bangladesh are not strongly tied to interest rate changes, while Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmad urged caution in decision-making.

The meeting also discussed the widening interest rate spread as stronger banks attract deposits from weaker ones. No final decision was made. The next monetary policy, expected by June, will set targets for inflation, GDP growth, and private sector credit expansion.

The United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T. Christensen, hosted a special event in Dhaka on Wednesday evening to mark the 250th US National Day. The celebration took place at the United Convention Center near the airport and was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners, diplomats, political figures, retired military officers, senior government officials, and civil society representatives.

A delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami participated in the event, including Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretaries General Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Dhaka North City Amir Mohammad Selim Uddin, Sylhet City Amir Fakhrul Islam, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Jamaat Amir Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman MP, and Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders Nurul Islam Saddam and Sibgatullah Sibga.

During the event, Mia Golam Porwar handed over a written message of greetings from Jamaat Amir and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP to the US President. The Jamaat delegation expressed hope that bilateral relations between the United States and Bangladesh would continue to strengthen in diplomatic and commercial spheres.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain stated that there will be no exemption for corruption, even for himself. He made the remarks on Wednesday in Savar after inspecting the construction work of a sports complex for persons with special needs. The minister clarified that the project has not yet entered any procurement phase and that only building construction is underway under the Public Works Department. He emphasized that the government maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and urged anyone with information to report it for investigation.

Dr. Hossain explained that the Savar sports complex aims to support the physical and mental development of persons with disabilities and help them achieve social acceptance through participation in sports and training. The project will include modern facilities such as a gymnasium, swimming pool, mosque, and both indoor and outdoor gaming areas. He said the initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to building an inclusive and humane Bangladesh.

The minister added that despite earlier delays, the project continues under the prime minister’s directive to fulfill electoral commitments regarding persons with disabilities.

The provost of Nawab Abdul Latif Hall at Rajshahi University has accused a university Chhatra Dal leader, Murad Hossain, of threatening him over the phone. The alleged threat occurred on Tuesday after the provost locked a room that had been occupied by two non-residential students without permission. Professor Md. Ataullah said the caller identified himself as Murad Hossain and demanded the room be reopened within half an hour, warning that the lock would be broken and adding a personal threat.

According to hall sources, the two students had moved into room 158 without authorization. When summoned by the provost, they left the hall and locked the room from outside. The hall authorities then added another lock, which was later removed to avoid tension. The issue has been raised in the provost council meeting and will be discussed further after the vice-chancellor returns from abroad.

Murad Hossain denied issuing any threats or placing students in the hall. The university’s Chhatra Dal president said a written complaint would prompt an internal investigation. A former pro-vice-chancellor noted that such incidents could disrupt the hall’s restored discipline.

Bangladesh Bank has announced that the country's total foreign currency reserves have increased to 34,376.53 million, or 34.37 billion US dollars, as of May 20, 2026. The information was confirmed by Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of the central bank. According to the latest data, the gross reserve stood at 34,376.53 million dollars, while under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method, the reserve amounted to 29,719.44 million dollars.

The previous day, on May 19, the gross reserve was recorded at 34,324.12 million dollars, and the BPM6-based reserve was 29,665.46 million dollars. The central bank clarified that the net reserve is calculated following the IMF’s BPM6 standard, which deducts short-term liabilities from the total reserve to determine the actual amount.

The increase in reserves reflects a modest day-to-day improvement in Bangladesh’s foreign currency position, as reported by the central bank’s official data.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Jamalpur has uncovered the motive behind the murder of a young man named Alamin in Sherpur Sadar’s Natun Bagalgor area. The investigation revealed that Alamin was killed on May 13 in a premeditated attack driven by a romantic conflict, family dispute, and personal humiliation. Two suspects, Shuvo (19) and Samrat (20), both from Pathalia village in Jamalpur, have been arrested in connection with the case.

According to PBI officials, Alamin was lured to a secluded area by Shuvo, where Samrat was already waiting. They strangled him with a nylon rope and slit his throat before dumping the body in a Napier grass field. The headless, decomposed body was discovered on May 18 and later identified by Alamin’s father. PBI seized the motorcycle and rope used in the crime, and Shuvo has given a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

PBI Superintendent Pankaj Dutta stated that technology-assisted investigation enabled the case to be solved swiftly. The brutal killing has caused fear in the area and renewed concern over relationship-driven violence and social decay.

National Citizen Party (NCP) leader and Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah alleged that the current government has undermined the independence of the judiciary and brought it under the control of the Ministry of Law. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at a rally and march organized by the NCP in Lalmai, Comilla. The event began near Bagmara High School and concluded at Bagmara South Bazar, where Abdullah addressed the gathering as chief guest.

During his speech, Abdullah said the NCP is working to build a just and discrimination-free state and aims to strengthen its organizational presence across all administrative levels in Comilla. He criticized the government for politicizing state institutions and claimed that merit is being ignored in university recruitment in favor of political loyalty, which he described as a threat to the education system.

Abdullah urged young people to engage in political activism and said the NCP would shape its future programs based on public expectations ahead of the next election. Party leaders reaffirmed their commitment to building a Bangladesh based on justice, solidarity, equality, and prosperity.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned recent comments made by BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Thakurgaon’s Ranishankoil, describing them as provocative, false, and politically motivated. In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said Fakhrul’s remarks were irresponsible and aimed at gaining cheap popularity by maligning a disciplined and people-oriented Islamic party.

Porwar rejected Fakhrul’s allegation that Jamaat engages in politics under the guise of religion, asserting that the party operates as a lawful, ideological, and transparent religious political organization. He accused the BNP of exploiting religious sentiments during elections, calling their approach hypocritical. Porwar also dismissed Fakhrul’s claim that Jamaat would never gain power, arguing that the party has long enjoyed popular support and representation in parliament.

He further stated that Jamaat has always defended the country’s sovereignty and independence and urged Fakhrul to withdraw his “false and provocative” remarks, emphasizing that sustainable politics must be based on truth, honesty, and public welfare.

Awami League-backed lawyers, who are barred from court activities, staged a public demonstration and march at the Chattogram court premises on Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses said the lawyers gathered in the courtyard, chanted slogans against Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and conducted a one-hour procession while police remained present but took no action.

Videos from the scene reportedly showed the lawyers promoting the Awami League and shouting various slogans against the Prime Minister. Observers described the event as alarming, recalling that the same political group had allegedly been involved in mass killings two years earlier. Several lawyers present expressed anger over what they saw as the administration’s silence during the demonstration.

Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aftab Uddin stated that he was unaware of the rally and that no prior information had been received. He added that the police would investigate and take necessary measures.

A Cox’s Bazar court has sentenced four people to death and nine others to life imprisonment for the 2024 murder of army officer Lieutenant Tanzim Sarwar Nirjon in Chakaria. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday by Mohammad Abul Monsur Siddique, Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fifth Court) of Cox’s Bazar. In a separate arms case linked to the same incident, 13 defendants were each sentenced to 17 years in prison. Five others were acquitted for lack of involvement.

According to the case details, Lieutenant Tanzim was fatally stabbed by an armed robbery gang on September 23, 2024, during a joint operation in Dulahazara union to prevent a robbery. Following the incident, two separate cases were filed—one for murder and robbery preparation, and another under the Arms Act. The charge sheet was submitted on January 19, 2025. Among the four sentenced to death, one convict, Morshed Alam, remains absconding.

Prosecution lawyers said the verdict followed extensive hearings and evidence review. The plaintiff’s counsel noted that the ruling marked a significant step toward justice.