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.

Bangladesh’s opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has congratulated the national cricket team for their 2-0 Test series victory against Pakistan. In a message to the media on Wednesday, he praised the players, coaches, and Bangladesh Cricket Board officials for their outstanding performance, calling the win a historic achievement for the nation.

Rahman highlighted that after triumphs in Mirpur and Sylhet, the team’s 78-run victory in the second and final Test brought immense pride to the country. He noted that Bangladesh’s four consecutive Test wins over Pakistan reflected the players’ determination and capability. He commended the team’s courage, skill, and unity in overcoming strong opposition and said the victory had filled the nation with joy and pride.

The opposition leader expressed hope that such sporting success would inspire the country’s youth and strengthen Bangladesh’s reputation internationally. He wished the players, coaching staff, and officials continued health and success in the future.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has emphasized the need for complete transparency and accountability in Bangladesh’s financial sector to ensure economic stability and sustainable growth. Speaking on Wednesday at the FAR Summit held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, organized by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) with ICAB and ICMAB, he said that trustworthy financial reporting is essential to regain investor confidence in the capital market.

He noted that the country’s economy had faced instability in recent years due to ineffective regulatory and supervisory bodies, which allowed weak companies to enter the stock market through false reporting. The minister called for institutional reforms and urged professional accountants to uphold integrity and adopt self-regulation. He also highlighted new global investment interest in Bangladesh, mentioning plans to launch dedicated funds in Hong Kong and London and introduce domestic bonds.

Chowdhury appealed to all stakeholders in the capital market, NBR, and financial sector reforms to work together in building a globally compliant financial ecosystem based on transparency and accountability.

Two armed members of the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS-Main) surrendered to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Panchhari, Khagrachhari, late on Tuesday night. According to BGB sources, the surrender took place around 1:30 a.m. at the Trighat Border Outpost under the 3 BGB Battalion. The two men, identified as Hridoy Chakma, 19, from Sajek in Rangamati, and Riel Chakma, 21, from Alikchan Para in Panchhari, handed over their weapons and equipment to the BGB.

The surrendered items included an M4A1 rifle, a shotgun, 252 rounds of ammunition, two magazines, two uniforms, two pouches, two slings, and three mobile phones—one Android and two button phones. Later in the morning, a BGB team transported the two men and the seized items to the Panchhari Battalion headquarters under security arrangements.

Officials described the surrender as a significant development in the ongoing BGB operations aimed at curbing armed activities and maintaining peace and order in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Legal procedures regarding the surrendered individuals and recovered materials are currently underway.

Fire Service and Civil Defense Week was observed in Kishoreganj on May 20, 2026, with a series of events including discussions, awareness activities, and fire extinguishing demonstrations. The program was attended by Deputy Commissioner Sohana Nasrin as the chief guest, Additional Superintendent of Police Tofazzal Hossain as the special guest, and was presided over by Fire Service Deputy Director Mofazzal Hossain.

Speakers at the event emphasized the importance of public awareness and caution in preventing fires and managing disasters. They also praised the bravery and humanitarian role of fire service members. Journalists and people from various professions participated in the program.

The observance aimed to strengthen community engagement and preparedness for emergencies through education and demonstration activities.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj announced that the government is introducing major changes to the national curriculum to develop students into globally competent leaders. Speaking in Dhaka at the National Holde Pakhi Neel Komol Award 2026 ceremony organized by the Bangladesh Girl Guides Association, he said the reforms aim to go beyond textbook learning and focus on leadership, civic responsibility, ethics, and social awareness.

He stated that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, the government has undertaken extensive education reforms to create skilled, confident, and responsible citizens. The ministry is also implementing a nutritious mid-day meal program across more than 65,000 government primary schools. The new curriculum will emphasize practical life skills, good citizenship, cleanliness, and social responsibility, allowing children to learn through stories, creativity, and enjoyment rather than heavy textbooks.

At the event, 57 members of the Holde Pakhi group received the Neel Komol Award. The minister congratulated the awardees, expressing hope that such achievements will continue to inspire students nationwide.

In Rangunia’s Lalanagar village of Chattogram, the bodies of four brothers who died in Oman were brought home early Wednesday morning. The four coffins arrived in separate ambulances, drawing a silent crowd of mourners. The brothers—Shahidul Islam, Sirajul Islam, Shahidul Islam, and Rashedul Islam—died from carbon monoxide poisoning emitted by an air conditioner inside a vehicle in Oman’s Al Muladda area of Al Batinah. Their coffins were placed in the yard of their family home before being taken to Hosanabad Lalanagar High School field for funeral prayers.

Thousands attended the joint funeral, which was led by their youngest brother, Md Enam. The four were later buried side by side in the family graveyard. Two of the deceased were married, while two others were preparing for marriage. Their mother has been informed of only two deaths so far and remains unaware that all four sons have passed away.

The bodies had arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night and were received at Shahjalal International Airport by Chattogram-7 MP Hummam Quader Chowdhury.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed announced that law enforcement will take action against criminals irrespective of their political or social identity. Speaking at a 'Meet the Press' event at the DMP Media Centre on Wednesday morning, he said police will respond immediately wherever mob activity occurs. He emphasized that operations against extortionists, armed criminals, terrorists, drug dealers, online gamblers, and fraudsters are continuing under a zero-tolerance policy.

The commissioner reported that 206 listed extortionists have been arrested so far in special drives. He added that operations against juvenile gangs are ongoing, with gang leaders being brought under the law. Referring to top criminals, he noted that some individuals released on bail are re-engaging in crime and will also face legal action.

Addressing police officers, Ahmed directed that police stations must be citizen- and service-friendly, free from brokers, and that any officer found guilty of misconduct will face disciplinary measures. He also mentioned that controlling battery-powered rickshaws is difficult for police alone due to a syndicate formed during the previous government.

Cattle markets across Bangladesh have become active ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, though buyer turnout remains low. Bargaining between buyers and sellers is ongoing as customers seek affordable sacrificial animals. In Titas upazila of Cumilla, 12,165 animals have been prepared against a demand of 11,290, leaving an estimated surplus of 875. Farmers there are focusing on local breeds while also raising Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, and Friesian cattle for higher yields.

In Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh, 23,133 animals have been readied, exceeding the local demand of 17,220 by nearly 6,000. Local markets such as Bhaulaganj and Tepreeganj have started receiving animals, with expectations of supplying to nearby districts. The upazila administration has instructed banks to install counterfeit currency detectors and strengthened market security. In Lakhai upazila of Habiganj, 5,135 animals are prepared, surpassing demand, though rising feed prices are worrying farmers. The livestock office has launched a coordinated plan to ensure safe supply and animal health.

In Bera upazila of Pabna, despite large cattle inflows, sales remain slow due to fewer buyers. Traders attribute this to the growing trend of digital cattle trading in Dhaka, reducing in-person market competition.

Locals in Sonargaon, Narayanganj blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Wednesday morning to protest the killing of an autorickshaw driver. The protest began around 10 a.m. in the Darikandi area, causing a long traffic jam and significant public suffering due to slow vehicle movement. The demonstration lasted for about half an hour before the road was cleared.

According to reports, on May 17, an altercation over a queue at the Darikandi stand led to Shahin, 40, allegedly beating fellow driver Md. Momin, 45. Momin later died early Wednesday while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhaka. In response, locals demanded justice and took to the highway in protest, blocking traffic from Jangal to Mograpara intersection.

Police officials from Kanchpur Highway and Sonargaon stations said the protesters left the highway following police advice, and traffic has since returned to normal.