A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax documents belonging to A.B.M. Shahriar, brother of former Detective Branch (DB) chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, in connection with a corruption case. The order was issued on Tuesday, May 19, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz. Court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed the decision. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Muhammad Zainal Abedin had earlier filed a petition seeking the seizure of Shahriar’s tax records.

According to the petition, Shahriar, managing director of President Resort and Agro Limited, allegedly possessed assets worth Tk 12.96 crore beyond known sources of income. It also alleged that Harun-or-Rashid abused his official position to assist his brother in the offense. The court granted the petition after a hearing, citing the necessity of reviewing all tax returns and related documents for proper investigation.

The ACC had filed the case on December 17, 2024, accusing Harun-or-Rashid of possessing Tk 17.51 crore in illegal assets, his wife Shirin Akter of Tk 10.76 crore, and Shahriar of Tk 12.96 crore.

A three-day land fair has been inaugurated in Goaland upazila of Rajbari under the theme 'Citizen-friendly automated land management, secured land, prosperous future'. The event began on Tuesday, May 19, at 10:30 a.m. at the upazila land office premises, organized by the upazila administration and land office with support from the Ministry of Land. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sathi Das attended as the chief guest and formally opened the fair.

Before the inauguration, a colorful rally was held from the upazila premises, ending at the upazila parishad conference room, where a discussion meeting and awareness seminar on Land Service Week took place. The sessions were presided over by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Muntasir Hasan Khan and attended by officials from various departments, political leaders, and local dignitaries.

According to the organizers, the fair aims to inform the public about different land-related services and raise awareness about easy access to land services through various activities over the three days.

A one-and-a-half-year-old boy named Yamin died after falling into a water-filled pit in the yard of his home in Betaga area of Jorkhali Union, Madarganj upazila, Jamalpur. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning when the child was playing outside while his mother was working in the kitchen. The pit had formed due to soil excavation for household work and had accumulated rainwater.

Family and local sources said that after Yamin fell into the pit, he was quickly rescued and taken to the Madarganj Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. Dr. Nahidul Islam from the emergency department confirmed that the child had died before reaching the hospital.

Officer-in-Charge of Madarganj Model Police Station, Snehashish Roy, stated that police were dispatched to the scene after receiving the report.

Former army member Shahin Alam, the third suspect in the murder case of Comilla Victoria Government College student Sohagi Jahan Tonu, has fled to Kuwait. According to the report, he left the country after the current government brought renewed momentum to the long-stalled investigation. Tonu’s mother, Anwara Begum, expressed anger over his escape, questioning how he managed to leave despite a travel ban on all suspects and demanding his immediate repatriation for trial.

Shahin Alam previously served in the 2 Signal Battalion at Comilla Cantonment and retired early, citing physical unfitness. He later established a cattle farm and a feed shop named “Messrs Sumaiya Agro” in his home village of Gobindapur, which has since closed after his departure. The investigation officer, Tariqul Islam, had submitted his name as one of three former army personnel suspected in the case and sought a court order for his DNA collection and arrest warrant.

Investigators traced Shahin’s last known mobile location to Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. His phones are now switched off, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

In Manikganj, 26 candidates have been finally selected for the post of police constable through a transparent and merit-based recruitment process, each paying only 120 taka as the application fee. The recruitment examination took place at the Manikganj District Police Lines, where 1,329 applicants initially applied for 26 vacant posts. Among them, 960 candidates participated in the physical test, 265 qualified for the written exam, and 45 passed it. After oral tests and verification, 26 were appointed.

The selected candidates expressed satisfaction, saying that the corruption-free process has encouraged young people from ordinary families to dream of government service. District police officials stated that the Bangladesh Police recruitment system is now fully transparent and technology-driven, leaving no room for bribery or political influence.

Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarwar Alam said that only qualified and meritorious candidates were chosen, and that the transparent process is helping to build an honest and efficient police force. The event has drawn wide attention in Manikganj as a model of integrity in public recruitment.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar visited BNP Standing Committee member and Dhaka-8 lawmaker Mirza Abbas at Prince Court Hospital in Malaysia. The visit took place on Tuesday, where Porwar inquired about Abbas’s current medical condition and prayed for his quick and complete recovery.

Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen accompanied the Jamaat leader during the hospital visit. The report did not specify details about Mirza Abbas’s illness or treatment progress.

The visit highlights a gesture of goodwill between political figures from Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), though no further political context or statements were mentioned in the report.

Premier Bank has failed to repay a Tk 5,000 crore special loan taken from Bangladesh Bank due to ongoing liquidity problems. The central bank had provided the loan for three months, but after the repayment deadline passed on May 2, 2026, the term was extended by another three months. The loan, issued on February 2, included Tk 1,000 crore in cash and Tk 4,000 crore in bonds. Although the bank paid Tk 142 crore in interest, it could not return the principal amount.

The loan was granted under sections 16(4)(d) and 17(1)(b) of the Bangladesh Bank Order at an interest rate of 11.5 percent for 90 days, secured by a demand promissory note. Similar assistance had previously been extended to five other banks, including Islamic banks, which also struggled to repay. Premier Bank’s liquidity crisis deepened after several large corporate clients withdrew deposits, leaving it unable to maintain required CRR and SLR reserves.

Following the fall of the Awami League government, Bangladesh Bank restructured Premier Bank’s board, citing earlier mismanagement and alleged fraud under former chairman HBM Iqbal’s tenure. Despite regulatory support and deferral facilities, the bank still reported losses and significant capital shortfalls.

The government has appointed M R Islam Swadhin as the first full-time administrator of Bogura City Corporation. The appointment was formalized through a notification issued on Monday by the Local Government Division under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. On Tuesday, Swadhin officially assumed his duties from Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and State Minister Mir Shah Alam.

According to the government notification, the appointed administrator will perform the responsibilities of the city mayor under Section 25 (Ka), Subsection (3) of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024. He will receive allowances as per the prescribed rules.

The appointment marks the beginning of a new administrative phase for Bogura City Corporation, as it transitions to management under a full-time administrator for the first time.

Police have arrested Mahmud Hasan Sonamoni, a Jubo Dal leader from Ishwardi, along with three associates in Lalpur upazila of Natore. The arrest took place on Tuesday morning, May 19, during a raid in the Palidoha area. Officers recovered a foreign-made pistol, a magazine, and ten rounds of ammunition from Sonamoni’s possession. The operation was confirmed by Lalpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shafiqul Islam Palash.

According to police sources, the raid was conducted based on secret information. Along with Sonamoni, three of his associates, identified as Kajol and Sweet among others, were detained at the scene. Sonamoni is known to be the joint convener of the Ishwardi upazila unit of Jubo Dal, a youth wing of a political organization.

The police stated that legal proceedings regarding the recovered firearm and ammunition are underway, and preparations are being made to file a case at the Lalpur Police Station.

The Border Security Force (BSF) of India reportedly opened fire near the Sonarhat border area in Goainghat upazila of Sylhet on Monday afternoon. In response, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) returned fire immediately. According to a BGB press release issued on Tuesday, no casualties were reported, and the situation along the border has since remained calm and normal.

The BGB stated that its Sylhet Battalion (48 BGB) acted promptly and professionally to bring the situation under control. Following the incident, BGB increased patrols and surveillance across the border area to prevent further escalation. The force emphasized that it remains on high alert to respond to any provocative or unwanted incidents along the frontier.

BGB reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Bangladesh’s sovereignty and border security with professionalism and firmness, ensuring stability in the affected region.

At least ten people, including children and elderly residents, were injured in stray dog attacks over two days in several areas of Saghata upazila in Gaibandha district. Locals reported that packs of aggressive stray dogs have been roaming freely in markets, roads, and neighborhoods, disrupting daily life and spreading fear. Many victims had to travel to Gaibandha or Bogura to receive rabies vaccinations due to the lack of supply at local facilities.

Residents and business owners expressed growing concern over the uncontrolled stray dog population, noting frequent attacks in crowded market areas. The chairman of Bharatkhali Union Parishad confirmed awareness of the incidents and said the matter had been reported to the upazila administration. Health officials acknowledged that the Saghata Upazila Health Complex has had no rabies vaccine supply for a year, leaving patients in distress.

The upazila livestock officer stated that a special team has been formed to control the situation. Plans include deploying a dog-catching team and initiating vaccination drives for stray dogs to prevent further incidents.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government aims to eliminate corruption and harassment in land services. He made the statement on Tuesday morning at the inauguration of the 'Land Service Fair 2026' held at the Land Building in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The fair will run nationwide for three days, from May 19 to May 21.

Rahman highlighted that with the country’s growing population, per capita land availability is decreasing, leading to rising land value and disputes. These conflicts, he said, disrupt family peace and hinder national development. To address this, the government is prioritizing planned land use, accurate record-keeping, and efficient management.

He added that the Land Ministry is using advanced technology to conduct surveys and prepare precise land records. The government considers the fair part of fulfilling its election pledges, aiming to modernize land management and make services more accessible through digital platforms.

The article discusses how Bangladesh’s border security and bilateral relations with India are increasingly influenced by political developments in West Bengal. It notes that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) recent victory in the state has introduced new uncertainties for Bangladesh, given the state’s long shared border and the BJP’s stance on citizenship and identity politics. The piece highlights that earlier political eras under the Congress, Left Front, and Trinamool Congress did not treat citizenship and religious identity as major electoral issues.

The analysis traces the evolution of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), explaining how these policies have intensified religious polarization and raised fears among Muslim communities. It argues that the NRC and CAA, while presented as measures for national security, have largely become tools of political division, particularly affecting Bengali Muslims in border regions.

The author concludes that Bangladesh must adopt strategic policies to reduce dependency on India, diversify trade and energy partnerships, and strengthen its diplomatic position in regional negotiations, especially regarding border management and water-sharing agreements.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha 2026, the Highway Police have implemented special security measures on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, particularly in the Iliotganj police station area of Cumilla. Under the direction of Cumilla Region Highway Police Superintendent Mohammad Shahinur Alam Khan, an additional range reserve force has been deployed to prevent traffic congestion, theft, robbery, and snatching incidents. The additional police personnel, brought from Chattogram, will remain on duty from Tuesday until the end of the Eid period.

According to Highway Police sources, continuous patrols, traffic control, and increased monitoring of suspicious vehicles have been arranged to ensure a smooth and safe journey for homebound travelers within the Cumilla region. Iliotganj Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Zakir Shikder confirmed that the force is on high alert to minimize public suffering and maintain order on the highway.

The measures are part of a broader effort to ensure that the large number of people traveling home for Eid can do so safely and without major disruptions.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is set to make the VAT Identification Number (BIN) mandatory for registering land and vehicles under business entities, as well as for obtaining essential services such as electricity, gas, and water. According to NBR sources, this proposal will be included in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget to expand VAT coverage and increase the number of registered businesses.

An NBR official said the next budget will prioritize bringing unregistered businesses under VAT registration. The registration process will be simplified by removing certain documentation requirements, such as bank account details, and enabling online registration. Currently, businesses with annual turnover above 3 million taka must register for VAT, but many remain outside the system. The new plan aims to include them while offering special exemptions for smaller enterprises.

Officials added that small businesses may be allowed to submit VAT returns annually or semiannually instead of monthly. The NBR’s initiative follows a recent meeting with the Prime Minister, emphasizing broader participation in national development through fair tax compliance.