The government has officially renamed Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka as 'Kurmitola Multicare Specialized Hospital'. The announcement was made through a circular signed by Kazi Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Deputy Secretary of the Health Services Division’s Government Health Management-1 branch, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The order was issued under the authority of the President and declared effective immediately in the public interest.

According to the circular, copies of the directive have been sent to the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, the Private Secretary to the Health Minister, and other relevant offices for necessary action. The notice marks an administrative change in the hospital’s official identity and operational designation.

The renaming reflects a formal step by the health authorities to update institutional nomenclature, with immediate implementation across relevant departments as instructed in the government order.

Three additional witnesses from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) testified in a case involving former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and 35 other accused over alleged embezzlement and laundering of about Tk 25 crore from United Commercial Bank. The testimonies were recorded on Wednesday at the Chattogram Divisional Special Judge’s Court, presided over by Judge Mizanur Rahman. Defense lawyers cross-examined the witnesses following their statements.

According to ACC public prosecutor Mokarram Hossain, seven witnesses had previously testified on May 5, bringing the total number of witnesses heard so far, including the complainant, to 21. The court has scheduled June 23 for the next hearing. The ACC filed the charge sheet on January 7 against Javed, his wife Rukmila Zaman, and 34 others, accusing them of misappropriating and transferring the funds abroad.

Court sources said the main accused, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, is currently in London with his family and remains absconding. Legal procedures are ongoing to take action against the fugitives.

Bangladesh’s Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that the country aims to start exporting meat within the next three years. He said the meat will be produced from livestock fed with naturally grown, nutrient-rich grass without any genetic modification. The minister made the statement while addressing the “Australia-Bangladesh Research Showcase” seminar held in Dhaka, jointly organized by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) and Australia’s Charles Sturt University, with support from the Australian government.

The minister highlighted that safe and nutritional food has become a global priority and that genetically modified food has not yielded the desired benefits. He noted that researchers have developed a Napier grass variety containing 18 percent protein, which is drought-tolerant and cost-effective. This innovation is expected to reduce meat production costs and make meat more affordable for consumers.

Speakers at the seminar emphasized the importance of research, innovation, and international collaboration to build a sustainable and climate-resilient livestock sector. They also discussed strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmentally friendly livestock management.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit announced that the government is working to reduce reliance on imported energy by achieving self-sufficiency in gas production. Speaking after inaugurating an appraisal-cum-development well at the Kamta gas field in Kaliganj, Gazipur, he said four new wells, including Kamta-2 and three in Titas, are being drilled. The government expects to supply 55 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid by June next year from these wells.

The minister said the additional gas will help restart factories that remain idle due to shortages, creating employment for thousands and easing pressure on foreign currency reserves caused by energy imports. He added that the government aims to ensure affordable and uninterrupted energy and electricity supply while gradually reducing import dependence. The administration, led by Tarique Rahman, seeks to demonstrate progress through short-, medium-, and long-term plans.

Amit also noted that infrastructure limitations restrict additional gas imports and that decisions on fuel price adjustments depend on global conditions. Industrial and power sectors remain the top priority for gas supply, followed by residential consumers.

A Dhaka court has set July 6 for delivering its order on charge framing against former Member of Parliament Abdus Salam Murshedy and ten others in a case over alleged misappropriation of 27 kathas of government land in Gulshan. The hearing was held on May 20 at the court of Dhaka’s Ninth Special Judge Md Abdus Salam. Murshedy was produced from jail, while other accused appeared on bail.

Defense lawyers Masud Ahmed Talukder, Alhaj Borhan Uddin, Shahinur Islam, and Khademul Islam represented the accused and sought their discharge. Following the hearing, the court fixed July 6 for the order. The accused include former RAJUK chairman Humayun Khadem, several former RAJUK officials, a former assistant secretary of the Housing and Public Works Ministry, and two private individuals from Cox’s Bazar.

According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly abused their official positions to falsify records and facilitate the illegal transfer of the government property. The case was filed under sections of the Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. Murshedy has been in jail since his arrest on October 1, 2024.

Bangladesh secured a historic 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan in Sylhet, prompting batting coach Mohammad Ashraful to post an emotional message on social media. He praised the consistent performances of the team’s batters over the past six months, calling their dominance on the pitch remarkable. According to Ashraful, Bangladesh recorded seven centuries and fourteen fifties in the last four Tests against Ireland and Pakistan, highlighting Mominul Haque’s achievement of five consecutive fifties.

Ashraful also expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance in limited-overs formats. He noted that Bangladesh scored two centuries and six fifties in the last six One Day Internationals, while four half-centuries came in five T20 matches. He singled out Towhid Hridoy’s 83-run innings as one of the standout performances. The former captain said he felt fortunate to be part of the team’s transformation and proud to contribute behind the scenes.

Ashraful concluded his message by expressing hope that Bangladesh cricket will continue to progress further in the coming days.

BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the people of Bangladesh will never bring Jamaat-e-Islami back to power. Speaking at a grand reception organized by the Thakurgaon district BNP at the abandoned airport grounds in Shibganj on Wednesday afternoon, he accused Jamaat-e-Islami of opposing the 1971 Liberation War, killing freedom fighters, and committing atrocities against women. He added that politics based on falsehoods and religion would not succeed in the country.

During the event, Mirza Fakhrul, accompanied by Aviation Minister Afroza Khanam Rita and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, inspected the abandoned airport. The crowd welcomed the ministers with traditional dances and flower showers. In his speech, Fakhrul announced that the previously closed airports in Bogura and Thakurgaon had been included in the Planning Division’s green list for reopening.

He stated that feasibility studies and renovation work would begin soon, and if all goes well, flights could resume at the Thakurgaon airport within two years.

Bakerganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Milton Chandra Pal stated that village courts are enabling ordinary people to receive justice more quickly while reducing the pressure on formal courts. He made the remarks on Wednesday, May 20, during a workshop held at the Upazila Parishad conference room, organized by the Upazila administration to develop a coordinated plan for raising public awareness about village courts.

During his address, the official noted that village courts play an important role in resolving family disputes, land-related conflicts, and other social issues efficiently and easily. He emphasized that regular participation and effective roles of local representatives could further speed up dispute resolution at the community level. According to him, village courts have already earned public trust.

The workshop was supported by the Bangladesh Village Court Activation Phase-3 Project and attended by local government officials and representatives from organizations including BRAC, Proshika, Wave Foundation, and SAINT Bangladesh.

Twelve fishermen were abducted along with their trawler by the forest bandit group known as Jahangir Bahini in the Sundarbans. The incident occurred late Tuesday night in the Dublarchar area under the Sharankhola Range of Bagerhat district. The abducted fishermen were identified as residents of Patharghata’s Ruhita area, aged between 20 and 58 years.

A local fish trader from Rajapur in Sharankhola, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said that the armed bandits, numbering around 15 to 16 and wearing distinctive uniforms, attacked the fishermen’s boats and took one trawler with 12 men. He also mentioned that several other fishermen might still be held by the gang.

Forester Md. Mizanur Rahman, in charge of the Kochikhali patrol post under the Sharankhola Range, confirmed that forest guards launched an overnight operation to rescue the abducted fishermen, but no trace of them had been found as of reporting time. Sharankhola Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Md. Shamimul Haque stated that no formal complaint had yet been filed, but legal action would follow upon receiving one.

A member of the Detective Security Branch (DSB), Faridul Islam, was assaulted while gathering information about a fatal road accident in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, near Sonapota Government Primary School on the Asian Highway. Faridul was rescued in an injured state and admitted to Debiganj Upazila Health Complex.

Earlier that evening, a six-year-old girl named Papri Rani Roy was killed after being hit by a truck at the same location. Enraged locals detained the truck, vandalized and set it on fire, and blocked the road for about one and a half hours. During the protest, several vehicles were also damaged. When Faridul Islam tried to document the situation and report it to his duty officer, a group of 10 to 12 men allegedly attacked him, seizing his phone and wallet.

According to the on-duty doctor, Faridul sustained multiple injuries, including to his head, and was hospitalized. The Debiganj police officer-in-charge confirmed the assault and said necessary action would be taken following instructions from higher authorities.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has issued new guidelines for trading and Qualified Investor Offer (QIO) participation on the stock exchange’s SME platform. According to the directive signed by BSEC Chairman Khondkar Rashed Maksud on Tuesday, any institution or individual investor must have a minimum investment of Tk 3 million, based on either market or purchase value, to qualify for SME platform trading. Foreign investors with accounts under a registered securities custodian in Bangladesh will also be eligible to trade on the platform.

The directive further states that non-individual investors must meet the same Tk 3 million minimum investment requirement to apply for QIOs. For individual Bangladeshi investors, both resident and non-resident, the minimum investment threshold for QIO applications is set at Tk 1 million. Foreign investors can apply through accounts maintained with registered securities custodians in Bangladesh.

Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) and depository participants will provide quarterly updates on eligible investors to the stock exchanges, which will maintain separate registers for QIO subscriptions and SME trading. Investors below the Tk 3 million threshold may sell but cannot purchase new SME shares.

Police in Barura upazila of Cumilla arrested eight members of a robbery gang during an operation conducted on Tuesday night at a location known as Haripur cemetery. The arrests were made by Barura Police Station officers, who also seized various locally made weapons, handcuffs, and fake Detective Branch (DB) police uniforms from the suspects.

Following the arrests, police filed a case against the detainees at Barura Police Station on Wednesday. The accused were subsequently sent to court for legal proceedings. The operation was led by local law enforcement as part of ongoing efforts to curb criminal activities in the area.

Authorities stated that the case has been officially registered, and further legal steps are underway to investigate the group’s activities and recover any additional evidence related to the robbery network.

A woman named Nasrin Nahar died at Khulna Medical College Hospital on Wednesday morning after a fire broke out in the emergency operating theater. According to hospital sources, she panicked during the incident and removed her oxygen mask while trying to evacuate, leading to her death from lack of oxygen. Nasrin, daughter of Nesar Ali from Koyra upazila in Khulna, had been admitted to the hospital on Sunday due to congenital diabetes.

Dr. Dilip Kumar Kundu, head of the hospital’s ICU department, said Nasrin was on ventilation along with 14 other patients. All other patients were safely evacuated, but Nasrin’s relatives attempted to move her themselves, and she died while being taken out. The incident caused alarm among patients and staff but was brought under control.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the cause of the fire or any official investigation into the incident.

Two children drowned in a pond in Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. in Kutipara village of Khayerbari Bazar area when a sister jumped into the water to save her younger brother. The victims were identified as Sabia Jannat, aged six, and Md. Siam, aged four, both children of local shopkeeper Shahin Alam.

According to police and family members, Siam went to retrieve a floating bottle from the pond near their house and began to drown. Seeing her brother struggling, Sabia jumped in to rescue him but also drowned. The officer-in-charge of Phulbari Police Station, Abdul Latif Shah, confirmed the incident and said police had been sent to the scene to investigate.

Authorities are looking into the circumstances of the drowning, while the family and local community are mourning the loss of the two siblings.

A Dhaka court has scheduled July 27 for submission of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) investigation report against former Awami League lawmaker and cricketer Shakib Al Hasan along with 14 others. The case involves allegations of share market manipulation, fraud, and money laundering. The new date was set by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Foyez after the report was not submitted on May 20, confirmed court bench assistant Riaz Hossain.

The accused include Deputy Registrar of the Department of Cooperatives Md Abul Khayer alias Hiru, his wife Kazi Sadia Hasan, and several others. The ACC filed the case on June 17 of the previous year, accusing the group of embezzling Tk 256.97 crore. According to the case statement, the accused conspired to manipulate share prices through coordinated trading, misleading general investors, and unlawfully profiting from the market.

The complaint also alleges that Shakib Al Hasan invested in manipulated shares of Paramount Insurance, Crystal Insurance, and Sonali Papers, earning Tk 2.95 crore in illicit gains through these transactions.