The investigation into the death of actor Zaher Alvi’s wife, Ikra, has been transferred from Mirpur police to the Detective Branch (DB). The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin’s court on Sunday, May 17, 2026, set June 24 as the new deadline for submitting the investigation report. The DB police failed to submit the report on the scheduled date, prompting the court to extend the deadline.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s prosecution division sub-inspector Saiful Islam, the case was handed over to the DB on May 14. Case documents show that on March 1, Ikra was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her Mirpur residence. Family members discovered her and took her to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Police later prepared an inquest report and collected evidence from the scene.

That night, Ikra’s uncle Sheikh Tanvir Ahmed filed a case with Mirpur Model Police Station, alleging that prolonged family disputes and mental abuse forced her to take her own life. Actor Zaher Alvi and his mother were named as accused in the case.

Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Muhammad Shuhada bin Osman met with leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the party’s central office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar on Sunday afternoon. The meeting focused on creating opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education and research in Malaysia. Zulkifli bin Ibrahim, Director of Corporate Communication at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, was also present during the discussion.

According to a press release from Jamaat’s central publicity department, the meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. Both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and Malaysia, with particular emphasis on potential Malaysian cooperation in Bangladesh’s higher education and research sectors. The discussion also highlighted the need for more scholarships and expanded academic opportunities for Bangladeshi students in Malaysian universities.

The Jamaat delegation was led by Assistant Secretary General and Secretary of the Central Publicity and Media Department Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair. The team included Manarat International University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdur Rab, Islami Chhatra Shibir Secretary General Sibgatullah Sibgat, and five other members.

Traffic movement through the Karnaphuli Tunnel in Chattogram will be regulated at night from May 17 to May 20 due to scheduled maintenance work. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority announced the measure in a notice signed by Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Masud Rana Shikder.

According to the notice, traffic will be diverted as needed between the 'Patenga-Anwara' or 'Anwara-Patenga' tubes from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night. Depending on vehicle pressure, passengers may have to wait between five and ten minutes at either end of the tunnel. The authority requested cooperation from all concerned to ensure safe and efficient maintenance operations.

The temporary control aims to facilitate routine upkeep of the tunnel while minimizing disruption to nighttime traffic flow.

Authorities in Babuganj upazila of Barishal demolished the chimney of an illegal brick kiln during an operation on Sunday afternoon. The mobile court, led by the local administration, dismantled two drum chimneys of the Care Brick Kiln and imposed a fine of Tk 150,000 on the owner, Md. Mehedi Hasan. Additionally, raw bricks were soaked in water and destroyed during the raid.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Kamrun Nahar Tamanna confirmed the incident and stated that illegal brick kilns using drum chimneys cause severe environmental damage. She emphasized that such operations against unauthorized and environmentally harmful brick kilns will continue in the area.

The action reflects the administration’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal industrial activities that violate environmental regulations in Barishal district.

Allama Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, stated that there is no division within Hefazat-e-Islam and that the recently formed 11-party alliance is purely a political platform without any doctrinal basis. He made the remarks on Sunday, May 17, after a meeting with Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Amir, Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari, in Fatikchhari, Chattogram.

During a special meeting of Hefazat’s central leaders and subcommittee members at Al Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasa, Babunagari reaffirmed that no internal conflict exists within Hefazat. He accused certain groups of attempting to create rifts but insisted that the organization remains united in ideology and purpose.

Mamunul Haque further explained that the 11-party alliance emerged after 2024 as a political coordination platform involving many Hefazat leaders. He emphasized that the alliance represents electoral unity, not ideological compromise, and expressed full agreement with Babunagari’s statements.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam announced that visible improvements in Dhaka’s lake and canal management will be achieved within six months. Speaking at a meeting held at the Secretariat on Sunday, he said that cleanliness drives and awareness campaigns have been intensified ahead of the upcoming dengue season. The meeting focused on resolving waterlogging, ensuring water flow, and enhancing the city’s aesthetics, with participation from senior officials of RAJUK, WASA, city corporations, and residential societies.

The minister said a high-level committee has been formed under his leadership to keep the lakes in areas such as Gulshan and Banani clean and flowing, following the Prime Minister’s directive. Short-, medium-, and long-term plans have been adopted for lake beautification and maintenance. He also highlighted government initiatives to make infrastructure accessible for persons with disabilities, including mandatory ramps and separate toilets in restaurants and hotels.

The meeting also discussed implementing septic tanks and sewage treatment plants in buildings, introducing water bus services, and constructing walkways to improve connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka.

The Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) organized a daylong free medical camp on the university campus on Sunday, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event offered 11 types of health services, including 10 free medical tests, and saw a heavy turnout of students throughout the day. The initiative was supported by the National Doctors Forum (NDF) Dhaka City South branch, aiming to provide quality healthcare and medical advice to students at no cost.

According to JAKSU General Secretary Abdul Alim Arif, this was the first large-scale free medical camp in the university’s history, designed to bring quality healthcare directly to students. Health and Environment Secretary Nur Mohammad said more than 30 experienced doctors provided free consultations and tests, making it one of the largest medical camps among public universities. Students expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting its importance for those facing financial constraints.

The camp included tests such as Hb%, RBS, HbA1c, TSH, Vitamin D, CRP, Troponin-I, Urine Strip Test, ECG, and USG, along with physiotherapy services. Organizers said the program effectively ensured access to essential healthcare for students.

In Gazipur, violent clashes erupted at Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) between protesters opposing the appointment of a new vice chancellor and his supporters. At least 15 people, including five police officers, were injured in the confrontations. Unable to enter the campus due to resistance from demonstrators, newly appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Iqbal formally assumed office from the Gazipur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office. Police have been deployed on the campus to maintain order.

The government appointed Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, a professor from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, as DUET’s new vice chancellor on Thursday, replacing Dr. Joynal Abedin. Following the announcement, a section of students rejected the decision and began protests, demanding that the vice chancellor be selected from DUET’s internal faculty. Demonstrators blocked the campus gates and displayed red cards to prevent the new VC’s entry.

Local administration and police held multiple discussions with both sides to restore calm. Authorities reported that the situation was later brought under control, though tensions remain high on the campus.

State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad visited flood- and erosion-affected areas in Manikganj district on Sunday, May 17, 2026. During his visit, he met local residents and observed the damage caused by river erosion, which has threatened homes, farmland, and infrastructure in the region. He announced that emergency measures, including the dumping of geo-bags and concrete blocks, would begin very soon to prevent further erosion.

The minister criticized previous administrations for failing to take effective steps to control river erosion in the area. Acting under the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he instructed officials from the Water Resources Ministry to start the geo-bag dumping immediately. He also directed the Bangladesh Water Development Board to conduct feasibility studies during the dry season to design and implement sustainable, long-term projects for erosion control.

Members of Parliament S A Jinnah Kabir from Manikganj-1 and Moinul Islam Khan from Manikganj-2 accompanied the minister during the inspection.

The Sylhet district and metropolitan units of Jubo Dal organized a street rally and leaflet distribution program in Sylhet city on Sunday afternoon, calling for the implementation of the July National Charter. The event took place in front of Madhuban Super Market at Bandar Bazar, where party leaders emphasized that the charter is a key foundation for establishing democracy, accountability, and an equitable state system in Bangladesh.

During the rally, Sylhet district Jubo Dal president Advocate Mominul Islam Momin stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) remains committed to the principles of the July National Charter, which was signed by political parties based on consensus at the South Plaza of Parliament. He said the BNP aims to build a non-discriminatory and accountable governance system reflecting public aspirations and is working toward implementing a bicameral parliamentary structure in line with the charter’s spirit.

Following the rally, Jubo Dal activists distributed leaflets across different areas of the city to raise public awareness about the July National Charter.

KY Steel, a subsidiary of KDS Group, has taken multiple social and worker welfare initiatives in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The company prioritizes hiring local residents, supports underprivileged people, and has built a modern foot overbridge on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway to ensure safe crossing for students of the nearby Kumira Residential Girls’ School and College. The bridge, built at a cost of about one crore taka, has reduced road accidents and eased parental concerns.

Workers at KY Steel reported that all employees are covered by insurance, receive regular health checkups, safety training, and personal protective equipment. The company also ensures quick medical response in emergencies and provides benefits through welfare and insurance funds. Regular technical training has improved worker skills and productivity, setting a positive example in the Sitakunda industrial area.

Company officials said that nearly half of the employees at the Joar-Amtal branch are local residents. They emphasized that local recruitment and social development are part of KY Steel’s core values, aiming to ensure that the benefits of industrial growth reach the surrounding community.

Md. Ramzanul Haque Nihad, owner of Amin Mohammad Foundation and an accused in the Bailey Road Green Cozy Cottage building fire case, surrendered before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court and filed for bail but later withdrew his application. Another accused, Adib Alam, owner of Hakka Dhaka Restaurant, was granted bail by the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasan Shahadat’s court upon a bond of 5,000 taka.

Earlier, on April 19, the court accepted the charge sheet against 22 accused, including several restaurant owners from the building, and issued arrest warrants for 13 absentees. The case stems from the February 29, 2024 fire that killed 46 people and injured 11. The charge sheet, submitted by CID Inspector Shah Jalal Munshi, alleged that the accused illegally operated restaurants without proper government approval and violated safety regulations, leading to the deadly incident.

The next hearing on the arrest status of the absconding accused is scheduled for May 19, as the court continues proceedings against those charged under seven sections of the penal code.

National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has called on expatriate Bangladeshis to remain united in realizing the aspirations of the July Charter and referendum. He made the appeal on Sunday at a civic reception for visiting NCP leaders at the Gimpo Foreign Support Center in South Korea, organized by the NCP Diaspora Alliance. The event was attended by NCP members and Bangladeshi expatriates from various professions.

Asif Mahmud thanked the diaspora for their role during the July uprising, noting that expatriates had kept hope alive when the country was under blockade. He expressed gratitude for their contributions and assured that the NCP would continue working to preserve expatriate voting rights in future elections. He also urged expatriates to inform the international community about the July uprising.

During the event, expatriates raised issues including the repatriation of deceased students’ bodies, simplification of migration procedures, prevention of broker exploitation, reduction of airport harassment, and greater inclusion of expatriates in national matters.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaykobad) stated that he would not allow any injustice or oppression against Islamic scholars and clerics. He made the remarks on Sunday at a discussion meeting at the Islamic Foundation auditorium in Dhaka, organized ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to address the preservation of raw hides from sacrificial animals. The minister said the Prime Minister had instructed that madrasas should not face deprivation or injustice, and the ministry was actively supporting that directive.

He urged scholars to ensure that animal hides are properly removed and preserved to maintain quality and prevent waste, recalling past incidents where hides were buried due to low prices. The minister warned against the activities of syndicates and brokers in the leather trade and assured that the government would take an active role in preventing such malpractice. He also mentioned that, for the first time since independence, imams and muezzins are being considered for honorarium benefits.

Speakers at the event requested government measures to ensure fair prices for sacrificial animal hides. Religious leaders, teachers, and clerics from various madrasas and mosques in Dhaka attended the meeting.

Farmers in Madhupur, Tangail, one of Bangladesh’s leading pineapple-producing regions, are not receiving fair prices for their produce due to the absence of modern processing centers. Known as the “capital of pineapples,” the area’s favorable soil and climate yield large harvests each year, yet the sector has not reached its full potential. Local farmers and officials say that establishing a processing industry could enable production of juice, jelly, and biscuits for export, boosting foreign exchange earnings and local employment.

Farmers such as Suruzzaman and retired sergeant Masud Rana emphasized that a government-backed factory and gas connections could reduce transport costs, prevent waste, and protect growers from market syndicates. Madhupur’s Upazila Executive Officer Md. Jubayer Hossain and Agriculture Officer Rokib Al-Rana both supported the need for a processing center, noting that 6,479 hectares are under pineapple cultivation this season, with potential trade worth about Tk 500 crore.

Officials and growers agree that modern marketing systems and processing facilities are essential to fully realize Madhupur’s pineapple industry potential.