The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has begun a two-day public hearing on proposals from electricity generation and distribution companies to raise power tariffs. The hearing started on Wednesday at the Krishibid Institution auditorium in Dhaka, chaired by BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed. Representatives from universities, consumer groups, business associations, and government agencies attended the session.

Consumers voiced strong opposition to the proposed price increase, demanding that the hearing be halted and the proposal withdrawn. They warned that higher electricity prices would severely burden citizens and create a dire situation in the country. Participants also called for an end to corruption and irregularities in the power sector.

According to BERC and distribution company sources, the proposals include raising wholesale prices by 17 to 21 percent and consumer-level prices by 14.21 to 17.76 percent. BERC is reviewing submissions from several major power entities, including PDB, PGCB, Palli Bidyut Board, DESCO, DPDC, WZPDCO, and NESCO.

Senior lawyer Advocate Muhammad Shishir Monir has accused the government of committing serious contempt of court by dissolving the Supreme Court Secretariat and transferring its officials. He made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking to journalists in front of the Supreme Court’s annex building. Monir stated that the Secretariat was established under the directive of the highest court and that the matter remains under judicial consideration. He announced plans to file a contempt petition against those responsible on the following day.

The controversy follows a government order issued on Tuesday that dissolved the Supreme Court Secretariat and reassigned its senior secretary and 15 other officials to the Ministry of Law. The order, issued by the Law and Justice Division under presidential authority, stated that the officials were attached to the ministry until further notice. The Secretariat had been inaugurated on December 11, 2025, by then Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed in the Supreme Court’s Administrative Building-4, in the presence of interim government legal adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul.

A group of students from Jagannath University in Bangladesh has launched an initiative called 'Project Lifeline for Gaza' to support civilians affected by ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip. The project, organized under the Jagannath University Human Rights Society, collected around three lakh taka from students and delivered relief supplies to approximately 200 families in Gaza. The aid packages were distributed mainly in the southwestern region, including families displaced from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

Eight students from different departments participated in the project, led by Naushin Nawar Joya, the International Affairs Secretary of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU). Joya described the initiative as a humanitarian effort to express solidarity with Gaza’s oppressed people and emphasized the importance of compassion and human values in times of crisis.

The organizers expressed plans to expand their humanitarian activities for Gaza in the future. Their efforts have reportedly earned appreciation and support from people in Bangladesh.

Shamima Nasrin, a senior staff nurse at the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital in Mohakhali, shared her 32-year journey in nursing, driven by a desire to serve humanity. She began her career at Bagerhat Sadar Hospital after completing her studies at Bagerhat Nursing Institute, inspired by her brother. Reflecting on her early days, she described the overwhelming number of patients and the pride she felt in helping them.

Nasrin recounted deeply emotional moments from her career, including being unable to see her father’s body after his death in 2016 because she was on night duty. She also recalled the death of a wounded student during the July movement, which left a lasting impact on her. Balancing professional and family responsibilities, she credited her husband’s support for helping her manage both.

She expressed frustration that nurses in Bangladesh are not properly valued, despite their frontline roles during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Nasrin urged policymakers to ensure fair recognition, risk allowances, and improved working conditions for nurses across the country.

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 78 runs in the Sylhet Test, completing a historic series whitewash on home soil. This is the first time Bangladesh have swept Pakistan in a home Test series, and the second consecutive series they have whitewashed the same opponent. Liton Das and Taijul Islam were the key performers, with Liton scoring a century in the first innings and Taijul taking six wickets in the final innings to seal the victory.

Following this win, Bangladesh climbed to fifth place in the ICC World Test Championship standings, overtaking India. Bangladesh now hold a win percentage of 58.33, while India dropped to sixth with 48.15 percent after nine matches. Bangladesh have played four matches in the 2025–27 Test Championship cycle, winning two, losing one, and drawing one.

Australia lead the standings with an 87.50 percent win rate, followed by New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka in second to fourth positions respectively. The Sylhet victory further strengthens Bangladesh’s position in the ongoing Test Championship race.

A Cox’s Bazar court has sentenced four people to death for the murder of Bangladesh Army Lieutenant Tanzim Sarwar, who was killed during a robbery in Chakaria. The verdict was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Abul Monsur Siddique on Wednesday afternoon. Five others were given life imprisonment, and four received ten-year prison terms, while five of the eighteen accused were acquitted. Among those sentenced to death, Morshed Alam remains absconding.

According to court sources, the prosecution presented 52 witnesses in the murder case and 46 in the arms case, while the defense produced seven witnesses. The prosecution stated that the verdict was delivered impartially after reviewing all testimonies and arguments. The two cases were filed following the killing on September 23, 2024, when Lieutenant Sarwar was stabbed to death by robbers during an anti-robbery operation in Chakaria’s Purba Maizpara area.

Case investigations led to charge sheets being filed in January 2025, naming 18 accused. Six of them remained fugitives until the verdict. Arrest warrants and property seizure orders had been issued earlier against the absconding suspects.

Mohammad Abdur Rashid, head teacher of Dakshin Gobaria Government Primary School in Kuliarchar, Kishoreganj, has been selected as the best head teacher at the upazila level. The announcement was made in a notice signed by the Kishoreganj District Primary Education Officer on Tuesday, confirming his selection under the National Primary Education Award 2026 program.

According to the source, the selection process evaluated the regular performance of institutions, teachers, and education officials. A committee was responsible for assessing their contributions and encouraging excellence in primary education. Based on this evaluation, Abdur Rashid was chosen for his notable achievements and contributions in the field.

The recognition highlights the district’s ongoing efforts to promote quality education and motivate educators through structured evaluation and acknowledgment of their work.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has demanded swift punishment for those responsible for the killing of seven-year-old schoolgirl Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi area. In a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, he expressed deep sorrow, saying that humanity stands ashamed before the innocent child. He described Ramisa as a pure and unbloomed flower and called her death a result of a predator’s cruelty.

Dr. Rahman urged that the perpetrators of the brutal murder be brought to justice without delay. He also prayed for Ramisa’s acceptance in paradise and for patience for her grieving family. The post reflected his condemnation of the crime and his call for exemplary punishment for the accused.

According to police, Ramisa’s beheaded body was discovered under a bed in a Pallabi apartment on Tuesday morning, and her severed head was later found in the bathroom. Police have arrested the main suspect, Zakir Hossain alias Sohel Rana, and his wife Swapna in connection with the killing.

Two journalists were attacked on the night of May 19, 2026, at Shashidal Railway Station in Brahmanpara, Cumilla, while recording video footage of alleged Indian contraband goods and drug trafficking being loaded onto a train. The victims, Akkas Al Mahmud Hridoy and Md. Shariful Islam Suman, reported that a group of 12–14 people assaulted them, seized their mobile phones and cash, and threatened them with death if they published the news. A written complaint has been filed with Brahmanpara Police Station, and both journalists received medical treatment.

Local sources said the station, located near the Shashidal BGB camp, has long been used for smuggling Indian goods and drugs. Residents alleged that organized groups operate with the help of corrupt officials, exploiting power outages during train stops to load illegal goods. Despite anti-smuggling drives led by local MP Haji Jasim Uddin, the trade continues.

The station master described the attack as deplorable and urged punishment for the perpetrators. Police confirmed receiving the complaint and promised legal action after investigation.

Two young men were killed in a road accident on Wednesday at Munshirhat area of Thakurgaon municipality. The deceased were identified as Ritwik, 25, son of Liton from Mathurapur village, and Ashik, 25, son of Abdul Mannan from the same upazila. Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Monir Hossain confirmed the incident.

According to the report, the two friends were traveling toward Thakurgaon town on a motorcycle when they lost control while crossing a turn at Munshirhat. The motorcycle hit a road island, killing Ritwik on the spot. Fire service personnel rescued Ashik in critical condition and took him to Thakurgaon 250-bed General Hospital, where he died during treatment.

Police said that legal procedures regarding the accident are underway.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized that maintaining discipline and the chain of command is essential for any orderly force. Speaking on Wednesday morning at the 46th National Assembly of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) in Safipur, Gazipur, he said that even minor negligence in these principles prevents a force from becoming truly disciplined. He warned that a lack of discipline erodes public trust in any force.

The Prime Minister recalled the Ansar force’s historic role in the Liberation War, noting that around 40,000 members participated and 670 were martyred. He highlighted the post-independence deterioration of law and order and said that former President Ziaur Rahman had strengthened the Ansar and VDP to restore stability. He also credited the 1995 Ansar-VDP Act under Khaleda Zia’s government for transforming the force into a structured disciplined organization.

Rahman further noted that the Ansar and VDP played key roles after the August 5, 2024 uprising, providing security and managing traffic. He praised their contributions to social awareness, disaster management, and technology-based services, urging continued efficiency and strategic planning for future operations.

A fatal road accident occurred on Wednesday morning on the Mongla Highway in Bagerhat’s Balighata area, where a motorcycle and a truck collided head-on. The crash left one person dead and two others injured. The deceased motorcyclist was identified as Abdul Kader, a resident of Fakirhat police station area in Bagerhat. The incident took place around 9:30 a.m., according to police.

Police officer-in-charge Md. Zafar Ahmed of Katakhali Highway Police confirmed the accident. Eyewitnesses reported that the motorcycle, carrying three riders, collided with an oncoming truck, causing the motorcycle to be crushed underneath. Abdul Kader died on the spot, while the two injured passengers were rescued by locals and taken to Bagerhat Health Center in critical condition. The truck involved in the accident has been seized by police.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the collision, and the condition of the injured individuals remains under observation.

A detainee named Devashish Chowdhury died at Chattogram Central Jail on Tuesday morning, though the incident became public the following day. He had been imprisoned since August 5, 2024, after being arrested in a vandalism and arson case filed at Sadarghat Police Station. Chowdhury, who worked as an accountant at an ashram in the city’s Kotwali area, reportedly felt chest pain while speaking with other inmates and was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to jail authorities, he was first taken to the prison hospital and then transferred to the medical college hospital as his condition worsened. The initial medical report cited heart disease as the cause of death. However, Chowdhury’s family alleged that he had been subjected to torture in custody since his arrest and was forced to work despite illness. They also claimed to have found injury marks on his body.

Authorities have not commented on the family’s allegations, and further investigation details were not mentioned in the report.

A six-year-old girl named Papri Rani Roy was killed after being hit by a truck in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh on Tuesday evening. The accident occurred in front of Sonapota Government Primary School when the child, who had gone to meet her father after school, accidentally stepped onto the highway. The truck, traveling from Panchagarh to Dhaka, ran over her, killing her on the spot.

Following the incident, angry locals set the truck on fire and blocked the highway, halting traffic for about one and a half hours. Fire service personnel arrived and brought the fire under control. During the protest, a vehicle belonging to a pharmaceutical company was also vandalized. Debiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Selim Malik later reached the scene and managed to restore order after assuring the protesters.

Police have taken the truck and its driver into custody, and legal proceedings are underway. The child’s body was handed over to her family after official procedures.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the 46th National Assembly of the Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) held on Wednesday, May 20, in Safipur, Gazipur. The event took place at the Ansar and VDP Academy in a festive and colorful atmosphere, marking a major national gathering of the force.

Upon his arrival at the venue in the morning, the Prime Minister was warmly received by senior officials of the Ansar and VDP. He inspected a well-organized parade on the decorated parade ground and received the state salute from the saluting dais. Special guard of honor units of the force presented ceremonial honors to the Prime Minister during the proceedings.

The assembly highlighted the discipline and ceremonial traditions of the Ansar and VDP, reflecting the organization’s continued role in national service and community defense activities.