Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami parliamentary party secretary and MP Shahjahan Chowdhury called for a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and teenage gangs, warning that the rapid spread of narcotics is destroying the country’s youth. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon while addressing the monthly meeting of the Satkania Upazila Law and Order Committee as the chief guest.

Shahjahan said drug abuse is fueling crimes such as murder, theft, and robbery, and urged collective efforts to curb its spread. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies must act more strictly to eradicate drug traders. Highlighting the growing threat of teenage gangs, he called for coordinated action among families, educational institutions, public representatives, and the administration to prevent young people from falling into crime.

The meeting, chaired by Satkania Upazila Executive Officer Khondaker Mahmudul Hasan and conducted by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shamsuzzaman, was attended by local officials, law enforcement representatives, and community leaders.

Bangladesh National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikrom stated that security without accountability can never bring stability to the world. He made the remarks while addressing the closing session of a two-day international conference organized by the Center for Future Studies at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), held under the theme ‘National Security in South Asia in the Context of the New World Order.’ The event concluded on May 20, 2026.

The conference discussed redefining national security in South Asia, transactional multilateralism, regional cooperation, energy security, migration and refugees, combating misinformation and disinformation, and cooperation in a changing world. Key speakers included experts from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Sweden. Ahmad emphasized that security depends not only on internal strength but also on a nation’s knowledge, wisdom, and the stability of international borders.

He also called for investment in developing new leadership to adapt to technological expansion, which he said would strengthen public trust and demonstrate national responsibility.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad stated that national security depends not only on internal strength but also on a nation's accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and the stability of its international borders. He made these remarks on Wednesday at a conference titled 'National Security in the Context of the New World Order in South Asia' held at the Independence Auditorium of Bangladesh University.

During his address, the Speaker emphasized that unaccountable security cannot bring global stability in a changing world order. He also highlighted the need to invest in developing new leadership amid the rapid expansion of technology, noting that such investment would demonstrate national responsibility and strengthen public trust.

The conference featured keynote speakers from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Sweden, and was attended by the university's vice-chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam, deans, senior officials, teachers, researchers, students, and invited guests.

Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4, Hasnat Abdullah, alleged that the government formed after the July Revolution is formally taking away the independence of the judiciary. Speaking as the chief guest at an NCP roadside rally in Bagmara field, Lalmai upazila, on Wednesday, he said the judiciary has been absorbed into the Ministry of Law and that institutions are being politicized and turned into one-party entities. He also claimed that universities are being occupied and recruitment is being made on partisan grounds rather than merit.

Abdullah, who serves as the chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), expressed confidence that the NCP would form the next government with public support and fulfill the people's aspirations. He urged supporters to spread the party’s message across every household and ward.

He further stated that the NCP aims to build a safe and fair Bangladesh for the young generation, where employment does not require bribery and every citizen is respected regardless of social background.

Jahangirnagar University authorities have announced a reward of Tk 50,000 for anyone providing information leading to the arrest of a man accused of attempting to rape a female student on campus. The announcement was made on Wednesday, with the administration urging anyone who can identify the suspect or knows his whereabouts to contact them directly. Two phone numbers were provided for sharing information with the university.

The incident has sparked widespread anger among students, who have organized protests, human chains, and demonstrations demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the accused. The university administration’s reward announcement follows these student-led movements calling for justice and safety on campus.

The administration’s move aims to accelerate the investigation and reassure the campus community amid ongoing protests and heightened concern over student safety.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, Dhaka Ahsania Mission’s Health Sector Road Safety Project Coordinator Sharmin Rahman has recommended banning unfit vehicles and controlling speed on highways to ensure safe and smooth holiday travel. The recommendations were presented on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during a discussion titled “Measures for Safe Eid Travel to Prevent Road Crashes” held at the organization’s office in Shyamoli, Dhaka.

Sharmin Rahman highlighted that road accidents and fatalities during Eid travel in 2026 have increased alarmingly compared to 2025, exposing weaknesses in the country’s road safety system. The organization emphasized the need for immediate action, including enforcing vehicle fitness checks, ensuring adequate rest for drivers, operating mobile courts at key points, limiting truck movement before and after Eid, using speed guns to monitor excessive speed, introducing digital toll booths, and preventing overcharging through mobile courts.

At the meeting, Muhammad Jahangir Alam of the Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum called for deploying more highway police and ensuring that unfit buses do not leave terminals during the Eid rush.

The 275-megawatt Unit 3 of the Barapukuria coal-fired thermal power plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, resumed electricity production on Wednesday at 5:46 p.m. after remaining closed for nearly seven months. The unit, which had been shut down since October 2025 for general overhauling, began supplying power to the national grid. Chief Engineer Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique confirmed that the unit is currently generating 20 megawatts, with plans to gradually increase output.

The Barapukuria power plant has three units with a total capacity of 525 megawatts. Units 1 and 2 each have a capacity of 125 megawatts, while Unit 3 produces 275 megawatts. At present, Units 1 and 3 are operational, generating a combined 70 megawatts. The chief engineer expressed hope that total production could reach around 300 megawatts by tomorrow.

Unit 2 has remained nonfunctional since November 2020 due to mechanical failure. Officials have cited a lack of effective action by the plant authority, the Power Development Board, and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources as reasons for the prolonged shutdown.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Education and Primary and Mass Education, Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milan, held a meeting with senior executives of Google in London. The discussion focused on technological transformation in Bangladesh’s education sector and Google’s potential technical and technological support for the government’s ‘One Teacher, One Tab’ initiative. The meeting took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the ongoing Education World Forum 2026 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, according to a press release from the Ministry of Education issued on Wednesday.

The statement said that Colin Marson, Director of Google for Education for the Asia-Pacific region, and Oli Trussell, Head of Solutions Engineering, attended the meeting. During the discussion, Google officials briefed the minister on the company’s global initiatives to modernize education systems and enhance learning quality through technology. In response, Dr. Milan presented the government’s forward-looking plans and roadmaps for expanding the use of technology in Bangladesh’s education system.

The meeting underscored mutual interest in advancing digital education collaboration between Bangladesh and Google, with emphasis on innovation and capacity building in the education sector.

Sohel Rana, arrested for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi area, confessed his guilt before the Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid on Wednesday afternoon. The confession was recorded after the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station, presented Sohel in court and sought permission to record his voluntary statement. Following the confession, the court ordered Sohel to be sent to jail.

Another accused, Sohel’s wife Swapna Akter, was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ashraful Haque’s court and was also sent to jail after a hearing. According to court sources, Ramisa, a second-grade student at Popular Model High School, was lured into Swapna’s flat on the morning of May 19. Later, neighbors discovered her decapitated body inside the apartment after noticing her shoes outside the door.

Police said Sohel fled through a window after the incident but was later arrested near Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj. The investigation into the brutal killing is ongoing.

Bangladesh will celebrate two decades of high-speed internet and digital transformation on May 21, marking the 20th anniversary of the country’s first submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE 4, inaugurated in 2006 at Cox’s Bazar by then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) reaffirmed its pledge to safeguard national data infrastructure and digital sovereignty on this milestone occasion.

Before 2005, Bangladesh’s international communication relied entirely on satellites, resulting in slow internet speeds and high costs. The launch of SEA-ME-WE 4 connected Bangladesh to a global network stretching from Singapore to France, initially offering 22 Gbps capacity. Through successive upgrades, the cable’s capacity has reached about 4,650 Gbps by 2024. The project spurred rapid growth in freelancing, e-commerce, mobile banking, and digital public services across the country.

Following the success of SEA-ME-WE 4, the second cable SEA-ME-WE 5 was launched in 2017, and the third, SEA-ME-WE 6, is nearing completion. Together, these systems will raise total capacity to about 38 Tbps, exceeding projected national demand for 2027. BSCCPLC has also initiated plans for a fourth cable to further strengthen Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure.

Dr. Atik Mujahid, the Member of Parliament for Kurigram-2 and a representative of the 11-party alliance, has called for all political and social groups in Fulbari upazila to unite in eliminating drugs and advancing local development. He made the appeal on Wednesday afternoon while addressing a meeting of the Fulbari upazila law and order and anti-smuggling committee, chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dilara Akter.

During his speech, Dr. Mujahid urged leaders of all political parties to identify local problems and submit them to him for presentation in the national parliament and relevant government offices. He warned government officials against corruption and emphasized that those who fail to serve the public would not be allowed to remain in their positions. Addressing the police, he stated that drug trafficking could not continue if law enforcement acted decisively.

The meeting was attended by local officials, political leaders from various parties, and representatives from law enforcement, agriculture, education, and health sectors, who also shared their views on the issues discussed.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government will construct a Teesta Barrage similar to the Padma Barrage. He made the declaration on Wednesday at a gathering in Sataish, Gazipur, held on the premises of the National Disaster Management Research and Training Institute. Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of the institute, which will be built on about eight acres of land and include administrative and residential facilities for trainees. The institute will provide specialized training for members and volunteers of disaster management organizations.

Explaining the importance of the Padma Barrage, the Prime Minister said it aims to ensure water availability during dry and rainy seasons and to counter the effects of reduced river flow caused by upstream structures. He linked the project to protecting the environment and preventing saline water intrusion in southern regions, including the Sundarbans. Rahman also emphasized the need for environmental awareness, citing deforestation in Cox’s Bazar due to Rohingya settlements and road construction.

He urged citizens to be conscious of disaster preparedness and resource protection, stating that safeguarding national assets is essential for Bangladesh’s progress toward becoming a developed nation.

Education Secretary Abdul Khaleque has stated that no negligence or irregularities will be tolerated in the printing and distribution of revised textbooks for the 2027 academic year. He made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting with senior officials at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office, where preparations for timely textbook delivery were reviewed.

The secretary said the new history textbooks will accurately reflect contributions from the Liberation War through the 2024 student and public uprising. The 2027 curriculum will include the historical role of late President Ziaur Rahman, details of the November 7 “Sipahi-Janata Revolution,” and the anti-Ershad movement led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. These additions aim to present an inclusive and factual national history. Khaleque emphasized that around 300 million textbooks will be printed and distributed under a clear roadmap prepared by NCTB.

He further noted that all printing contractors will be thoroughly vetted to prevent low-quality production, and full transparency will be ensured throughout the textbook printing process.

Caritas Bangladesh has called for mandatory birth registration immediately after childbirth at hospitals and community clinics, along with the introduction of a conditional child allowance for street children and those from ultra-poor families. The organization made these demands during a media consultation held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium, where officials and representatives of street children were present. Caritas Development Institute Director Theophil Nokrek read a written statement outlining eight specific demands to strengthen child protection and social inclusion.

According to data cited at the event, only nine percent of children in 2024 were registered within 45 days of birth, despite legal requirements. Caritas emphasized that children without birth certificates face barriers to education, healthcare, and social benefits. The group also highlighted that 58.2 percent of street children lack birth certificates, and most do not know their parents’ national ID numbers, making registration nearly impossible under current rules.

Caritas urged the government to expand social safety nets, simplify registration for parentless children, and ensure coordinated action among state and non-governmental actors to secure the rights and future of disadvantaged children.

Mohammedan Sporting Club took a 2-1 lead over Bashundhara Kings in the first half of the Federation Cup final, held a day later than scheduled at Kings Arena. The match, filled with intensity and excitement, drew strong attention from football fans. Uzbek midfielder Mozafarov opened the scoring for Mohammedan with a free kick in the fifth minute, but Bashundhara Kings quickly equalized through a penalty converted by Dorielton Gomez.

Kings had a chance to go ahead when Rakib found the net, but the goal was ruled offside. Mohammedan then earned a penalty after midfielder Shafiqul Hossain was fouled by defender Tapu Barman, but Mozafarov’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon. In the 33rd minute, Saurav Dewan restored Mohammedan’s lead, finishing from Jahid Hasan’s pass inside the box. The first half ended with Mohammedan leading 2-1.

The final’s dramatic exchanges and missed opportunities set the stage for a tense second half as both teams chase the Federation Cup title.