Two people were killed and five others injured in separate lightning strikes in Jhenaidah district on Monday evening. The incidents occurred in Sadar and Shailkupa upazilas. The deceased were identified as Asadul Islam, 48, a farm laborer from Kushtia who had been working in Jhenaidah, and Anna Khatun, 42, wife of Anichur Rahman from Damukdia village in Shailkupa. Asadul was struck while working in Mayadharpur village, while Anna was hit near her home while collecting mangoes.

Local sources reported that another woman was injured in the same incident in Shailkupa. At the same time, three more women were injured in separate lightning strikes in Dhopaghata Gobindapur and Dogachi villages of Sadar upazila. The injured were taken to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital, where one person was declared dead before arrival. Hospital officials said the remaining victims were in stable condition.

Police confirmed the death of one farmer and sent a team to the hospital to investigate the incidents.

A mobile court in Bhangura upazila of Pabna sentenced a milk trader named Abdur Rashid, aged 23, to one year of imprisonment and fined him 50,000 taka for adulterating milk by mixing quality oil to increase its fat content. The sentencing took place on Monday night at Bhabanipur Paschimpara village, where 100 liters of oil were seized and destroyed publicly. The verdict was delivered by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman.

According to the mobile court, Abdur Rashid had been operating a sealing center at his home for a long time, producing adulterated milk and supplying it to various companies, including Pran and BRAC. During the operation, veterinary surgeon Dr. Sharmin Akter, sanitary inspector Nurul Islam, and sub-inspector Ershad Ali were present.

The court’s action reflects ongoing efforts to curb food adulteration in the region, with local authorities emphasizing public accountability through on-site destruction of seized materials.

A 24-year-old man named Md. Rakib has been accused of killing his mother, Jannat Begum, in Baliya village of Chandpur Sadar after she refused to give him money for drugs. The incident occurred late Sunday night at the Sadeq Khan house. On Monday morning, locals informed police after noticing injuries on the victim’s head. Police later detained Rakib and his 11-year-old brother Rifat from the scene and recovered the body.

According to family members, Rakib was addicted to drugs and often assaulted his mother for money. On the night of the incident, he allegedly beat her with a wooden stick after she refused his demand. Rakib then pretended that his mother had fallen ill and died, but neighbors became suspicious and alerted authorities.

Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Fayez Ahmed confirmed that the body was handed over to the family and legal procedures were underway. The victim’s brother and local residents demanded exemplary punishment for the accused.

The United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Bangladesh, Abdullah Ali Al Hamoudi, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) A K M Shamsul Islam on Monday at the Defense Adviser’s Office in Dhaka Cantonment. The meeting focused on enhancing existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the UAE, particularly in the field of defense cooperation.

During the discussion, both sides exchanged views on expanding defense and security collaboration, training, capacity building, professional skill development, and mutual communication. They emphasized the importance of deepening the long-standing friendly ties between the two nations and identified opportunities to broaden cooperation based on mutual trust and shared interests.

The meeting also addressed regional and global security contexts, with both parties stressing the need for constructive engagement to maintain peace, stability, and security. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) confirmed the meeting in a press release issued on Monday.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced new banknotes of 10, 500, and 1000 taka under the theme 'Historical and Archaeological Architecture of Bangladesh'. The central bank began issuing the notes from its Motijheel office on Monday, May 18, 2026, and will gradually distribute them through other offices across the country. The announcement was made through an official press release issued by Bangladesh Bank on the same day.

According to the release, the new notes bear the signature of the current governor, Md. Mostakur Rahman. The bank also stated that notes of 20, 50, and 100 taka from the same series will later be issued with the governor’s signature. The color, size, design, and security features of the new notes remain unchanged from the previous versions.

Bangladesh Bank confirmed that all existing paper notes and metal coins will continue to be legal tender and remain in circulation alongside the newly issued notes.

Four Bangladeshi fishermen were reportedly abducted at gunpoint by Myanmar’s armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, from the Naf River near Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred while the fishermen were catching fish in the river on Monday afternoon. Boat owners Absar and Nurul Hakim confirmed the abduction, stating that the armed group chased the fishermen and took them away along with two engine-powered fishing boats.

The abducted fishermen were identified as Md. Monir Ahmed, Md. Yasin, Abdul Malek alias Shafa, and Md. Jamal Hossain, all residents of South Jaliapara in Teknaf municipality. Local fishermen reported that the Arakan Army members arrived by speedboat, held the fishermen at gunpoint, and took them toward Myanmar’s Kaichyang canal. Former municipal councilor Moniruzzaman confirmed receiving news of the abduction.

The incident has caused panic among local fishing communities. Attempts to contact the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) commander for comment were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered.

Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque stated that the people of Bangladesh have been freed from a severe form of fascism through the sacrifices made during the July uprising. He made the remarks while addressing families of martyrs and the injured at a cash distribution event organized by the Taghlibe Deen Foundation in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, on Monday.

As the chief guest and main patron of the foundation, Mamunul Haque expressed gratitude to the victims’ families, acknowledging their sacrifices. He said that as a nation, Bangladesh has failed to provide the respect, dignity, and assistance that the families of martyrs and the injured deserve, and that the state has also not fulfilled its responsibilities. The foundation arranged the event as a modest effort to fill that gap.

During the program, which was chaired by Maulana Abul Hasanat Jalali, the foundation distributed over seven lakh taka among twelve families of martyrs and injured individuals from the July uprising who were deprived of government grants and recognition.

The World Bank has approved a $350 million loan to Bangladesh under the Energy Sector Security Enhancement Project. The announcement was made in a press release on Monday, stating that the financing aims to support the country’s energy security and ensure stable power generation.

According to the release, disruptions in global LNG supply and rising prices caused by conflicts in the Middle East have put pressure on Bangladesh’s economy and foreign exchange reserves, as the country relies heavily on imported LNG. The World Bank said the funding will enable Petrobangla to import LNG at affordable prices through long-term contracts, reducing exposure to volatile spot markets.

The project is expected to help maintain steady electricity production, which in turn will support industrialization and job creation by ensuring a reliable energy supply.

Heavy gunfire was reported along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border near Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar on Monday morning. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. near the Leda area of Hnila Union, where residents heard intermittent bursts of gunfire from across the border. Local fishermen working in the Naf River said they saw a red speedboat on the Myanmar side shortly before the shooting began, prompting them to retreat to safety.

According to local representative Md Alam, the gunfire appeared to come from inside Myanmar, and residents suspect it may have involved clashes between the Arakan Army and Rohingya insurgent groups. The incident caused widespread fear among fishermen and nearby residents.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman Bhuiya, commander of the Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), confirmed that the Border Guard Bangladesh has been placed on alert following the gunfire across the eastern side of the Naf River inside Myanmar.

Nakib Hossain, father of six-year-old Jabir Ibrahim, testified on Monday before International Crimes Tribunal-1 as the sixth witness in a case against Sheikh Hasina’s son and ICT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy and former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak. He described how his son was shot in the thigh during a rally near Uttara Scholastica School on August 5, 2024, and later died after being taken to several hospitals.

According to Nakib’s statement, a group of 15–20 helmeted men opened fire and threw sound grenades toward the crowd. He said he carried his injured son to multiple hospitals, but Jabir was declared dead at Dhaka Specialized Hospital. Nakib buried his son in Uttara Sector 4 cemetery.

Nakib held then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Joy, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and ICT Minister Palak responsible for the shooting, claiming the attack was carried out under their orders. He demanded maximum punishment for those involved.

Nasiruddin Patwari, the chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), is set to visit the Lalmonirhat border area in protest against the killing of a Bangladeshi national. According to the NCP, Patwari will lead a party delegation to Hatibandha on Tuesday to meet affected families and review the current border situation.

The delegation will include party organizers Miyaz Mehrab Talukdar, M M Shoaib, Mostak Ahmed Shishir, and Russell Ahmed, along with other central and local leaders. Their schedule includes arriving in Hatibandha at 10 a.m., visiting the home of the deceased, identified as border martyr Md Khadimul Islam, meeting injured and bereaved family members at 11:30 a.m., offering prayers at the victim’s grave at noon, and holding a press conference at the Hatibandha Press Club at 1 p.m.

The NCP stated that the visit aims to express solidarity with the victims’ families and to assess the situation following the reported shooting by India’s Border Security Force (BSF).

A major collapse occurred in the river protection embankment along the Dhanu River in Singpur Union of Nikli upazila, Kishoreganj, before the completion of construction work. The incident caused about 70 to 80 feet of the embankment, including blocks and geo-bags, to sink into the river, washing away a nearby road and putting the Singpur market at risk.

According to the Water Development Board, around Tk 30 crore was allocated for a 1,200-meter riverbank protection and wave protection project, which has already received two deadline extensions due to delays. Local residents reported that the embankment blocks were gradually sinking and the soil beneath the geo-bags was eroding into the river. One resident alleged that poor-quality work contributed to the collapse.

Executive Engineer Md. Sajjad Hossain of the Kishoreganj Water Development Board stated that the embankment protection work is ongoing and that a team has inspected the collapsed area. He assured that all necessary support will be provided to stabilize the damaged section.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has described Bangladesh as a highly promising and fertile ground for investment. He highlighted vast opportunities for foreign investors in infrastructure, public-private partnerships, transport, and technology sectors. The minister made these remarks on Monday during a courtesy meeting with Singapore’s non-resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Derek Loh, at the Secretariat.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Singapore. Discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in investment, healthcare, technology exchange, waste management, and rural development. The minister invited Singapore to invest in Bangladesh’s potential sectors, noting that Singapore’s experience and technological capacity could further accelerate Bangladesh’s development initiatives.

Senior officials from the ministry, including the Secretary of the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division and the Director General of the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Inspection Wing, were present at the meeting.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said his party is waiting for the Prime Minister to fulfill her commitment to implement the July Charter and the referendum verdict. Speaking to journalists at the party’s central office in Purana Paltan on Monday, he noted that the Prime Minister had promised to implement the charter fully, and the party trusts her assurance.

He added that the referendum resulted in a ‘yes’ victory, which is part of the July Charter, and therefore his party expects the government to act accordingly. Addressing concerns about political appointments in the administration, he reminded the government of the Prime Minister’s earlier call for inclusive governance and urged an end to partisan recruitment, emphasizing merit-based appointments instead.

Rezaul Karim also discussed the breakdown of electoral alliances with Jamaat and other parties before the February 12 election, citing unilateral decisions and foreign meetings by Jamaat as reasons. He criticized the US trade deal as a “slavery agreement” and condemned the BJP’s actions in West Bengal, calling them uncivilized.

Police in Rajair upazila of Madaripur recovered stolen vehicles from a garage near Pachchar Bridge in the Tekerhat Bandar area. Two members of a car theft and recovery ring were arrested during the operation. The detainees were identified as Faruk Molla from Shibchar upazila and Antor Biswas from Kalia upazila in Narail district. They have been sent to district jail through the court.

At a press briefing on Monday afternoon, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md. Salauddin of the Rajair-Shibchar circle said that along with a stolen pickup truck, two other stolen vehicles were recovered. The garage owner, Faruk Molla, was also detained during the operation.

According to the ASP, initial interrogation revealed information about an organized car theft ring. Police expect to obtain more significant details after further questioning of the arrested suspects.