Three leaders have resigned from the newly formed Jhenidah district unit of the Chhatra Dal. The announcement came on Saturday afternoon at Payra Chattar in the town, following a protest rally organized by leaders and activists who were denied positions in the new committee.

The resigning leaders are former organizational secretary and newly appointed senior vice president Sayedur Rahman Shahed, senior joint secretary Abdus Salam, and joint secretary Bokhtiar Mahmud. Earlier in the day, a protest procession started from Wazir Ali School ground under the banner of deprived leaders and activists, marched through various streets, and ended at Payra Chattar with a brief rally. Speakers at the rally alleged that dedicated activists were excluded from the new committee and that those included were not given appropriate posts. They demanded the dissolution of the newly announced committee and the formation of a new one with dedicated members.

Following the rally, the three leaders formally announced their resignations from the newly formed committee.

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking a travel ban on Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the interim government, and all former advisers. The petition was submitted on Sunday, May 17, 2026, by Supreme Court lawyer Barrister M Ashraful Islam. It accuses the authorities of failing to ensure measles vaccination and requests the formation of an investigation committee to examine the alleged transfer of the vaccination program from state management to the private sector. The Cabinet Secretary, Health Secretary, Home Secretary, Public Administration Secretary, and the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services have been named as respondents.

Earlier, on April 6, Barrister Ashraful Islam had sent a legal notice demanding the creation of an investigation committee and the imposition of a travel ban on Dr. Yunus and the advisers within five days. The notice warned of legal action if no steps were taken. The petitioner stated that a widespread measles outbreak has re-emerged in the country, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred children and hospitalizations of many others.

The High Court is expected to review the petition and determine whether to issue directives regarding the requested travel restrictions and investigation.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on the government to abandon any plan to impose taxes on motorcycle owners, describing such a move as against public interest. He made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his verified Facebook page, responding to reports that the government may introduce new taxes on motorcycle ownership.

In his statement, Dr. Rahman noted that most motorcycle owners and riders are not wealthy individuals but use their vehicles for daily livelihood needs. He acknowledged that expanding the tax base could be necessary for state revenue collection but argued that imposing additional taxes on people already struggling for survival would be inappropriate.

He expressed hope that the government would reconsider any such plan, warning that otherwise it would be viewed as a decision contrary to public welfare.

Over the past eighteen months, a surge in kidnappings, ransom demands, and armed banditry has unsettled the Sundarbans and surrounding coastal regions of Satkhira and Khulna. Local residents report that multiple armed groups have become active again in the western Sundarbans, targeting fishermen, honey collectors, and forest workers. On Thursday morning, eight forest workers were reportedly abducted at gunpoint from areas near the Chunkhuri River in the Satkhira range, with ransom demands ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 taka.

Families of the abducted say the kidnappers identified themselves as members of groups called Nanna Bhai/Don Bahini and Chhoto Jahangir Bahini, demanding payments through mobile banking. Locals claim that fear has returned to the waterways, with many now afraid to enter the forest for work. Some allege that fake journalists are collecting information on forest workers and passing it to the gangs.

The Coast Guard stated that regular joint operations under “Operation Mangrove Shield” have led to the arrest of over 60 bandits and the recovery of weapons. Forest and police officials said patrols and surveillance have been intensified to ensure safety and respond to complaints promptly.

Unauthorized high-rise buildings are being constructed across Cumilla City Corporation in violation of municipal laws, leading to increased land grabbing and illegal structures. Residents have lodged complaints but report no effective action, resulting in mounting public suffering and harassment. Allegations suggest that despite years of operation, the city corporation remains mired in irregularities, with unapproved multi-storey buildings continuing to appear in various parts of the city.

According to the report, the Cumilla City Corporation was formed in July 2011 by merging two municipalities, but urban problems such as waterlogging, traffic congestion, waste accumulation, and encroachment have worsened. The law requires multiple departmental approvals for building permits, including road width and drainage considerations, but some officials allegedly issue permits in exchange for illicit payments, allowing 10- to 14-storey buildings in restricted areas.

Newly appointed administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu stated that the corporation is enforcing the law properly and improving service quality. He announced plans to intensify monitoring and launch strong programs to make Cumilla a more livable city.

Internal conflict within the Jamalpur district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has reached a critical stage, dividing leaders and activists into four distinct factions. The dispute, which has become one of the most discussed political issues in the district, has led to increasing tension and sporadic violence. Local analysts fear that the situation could escalate into a major violent confrontation at any time.

According to reports, the BNP in Jamalpur is now split into groups led by district general secretary and MP Warres Ali Mamun, youth leader Sohel Rana Khan, vice president Shamim Ahmed, and organizing secretary Firoz Mia. The rivalry has intensified ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. The conflict reportedly stems from disputes over control of sand leases, tenders, and financial benefits. Allegations of corruption, extortion, and favoritism have circulated on social media through leaked videos and audio clips.

A recent sand lease tender at the Brahmaputra River’s Char Jatharthapur-Chhonkanda Ghat triggered further controversy, prompting multiple press conferences and public accusations. Party leaders have urged restraint, warning that continued infighting could weaken organizational unity.

Heavy rainfall hit Dhaka early Sunday, May 17, 2026, after dark clouds covered the sky from dawn. The city recorded 24 millimeters of continuous rain by around 7:45 a.m., leading to waterlogging in several neighborhoods. Commuters faced difficulties as streets and alleys became inundated.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, a low-pressure area remains over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal, with an associated trough extending into West Bengal and nearby regions. The agency forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty or squally winds in many parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions through Sunday evening.

The weather office further indicated that this pattern of thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall may continue across all divisions until Thursday, May 21, with northern regions likely to experience sustained precipitation over the following five days.

Bangladesh-based technology company Bitspearhead has entered into a new partnership with Canada’s AIR Media-Tech, announced on May 17, 2026. The collaboration aims to provide South Asian content creators with international technology support and opportunities to increase global revenue. Both companies stated that the initiative will help overcome language and geographic barriers that have limited regional creators’ access to international audiences.

Under the partnership, three main services will be launched for creators: distribution of existing video content through Microsoft platforms, continuous live broadcasting, and multilingual translation with AI-assisted voice integration. The companies claim these tools will allow creators to reach new audiences without producing additional content, while also increasing viewer engagement and watch time.

AIR Media-Tech’s global business development director Vira Slivinska said the initiative will play a key role for creators whose content has been restricted by language limitations. Bitspearhead’s managing director Rady Ahmed Chowdhury added that the partnership will open major opportunities for Bangladeshi creators to showcase their work internationally and gain financial benefits.

Dr. Mahroof Chowdhury’s essay, published on May 17, 2026, examines how political language in Bangladesh functions as a psychological and strategic tool rather than a neutral medium of communication. He introduces the analytical framework of ‘Upto-Supto-Gupto-Lupto’ to explain how political attacks evolve through layered processes of suggestion, suppression, manipulation, and erasure. Each stage reflects how language and symbols are used to shape public perception, delegitimize opponents, and control collective consciousness.

Drawing on thinkers such as Michel Foucault, Antonio Gramsci, and Noam Chomsky, the essay situates these mechanisms within broader theories of power, propaganda, and cultural hegemony. It argues that political narratives often replace facts with emotion, fear, and moral judgment, turning opponents into moral outsiders. Examples from Bangladesh’s political history illustrate how labeling, misinformation, and symbolic exclusion have been used to marginalize dissent.

The essay concludes that sustainable democracy depends on critical civic awareness. Without citizens capable of questioning propaganda and analyzing political language, democracy risks devolving into ritualistic elections. Chowdhury calls for a culture of critical citizenship grounded in reason, ethics, and historical understanding to resist manipulative political communication.

The Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS) has reported that student enrollment in madrasas is increasing while numbers in schools and colleges are falling. According to its data, from 2020 to 2024, school and college enrollment dropped by several hundred thousand, while madrasa enrollment rose by about 250,000. The 2025 education statistics, yet to be published, are expected to show a continuation of this trend. BANBEIS officials confirmed that the detailed report will likely be released in June 2026.

Education experts attribute the shift to declining trust in mainstream education, citing outdated curricula, inconsistent policy decisions, and the high cost of schooling. They note that many parents now prefer madrasas, where students can learn Bangla, English, and Arabic at lower costs. The COVID-19 pandemic also accelerated this shift, as some madrasas remained open when schools were closed.

However, some academics, including a senior professor from Rajshahi University, have questioned the accuracy of BANBEIS data, claiming that madrasa enrollment is actually decreasing in certain areas.

Despite the fall of the Awami League government following the July uprising, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) remains under the influence of the pro-Awami League Bangabandhu Engineers Council and Bangabandhu Parishad. According to a report by *Amar Desh*, key positions are still held by associates of former Water Resources Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, who allegedly continues to influence transfers and postings within the agency. A document sent to the ministry lists 40 officials accused of being linked to the former ruling party, its student wing, or other affiliated groups.

Anti-fascist officials within BWDB allege that a powerful syndicate led by the current Director General Enayet Ullah continues to protect these networks. Some officials have reportedly been sidelined or transferred for opposing the previous regime. The report also mentions allegations of corruption, misuse of power, and connections with foreign entities against several senior engineers, though some of the accused have denied the claims.

BWDB’s collective bargaining agent (CBA) leaders acknowledged that some Awami-linked officials remain but said the government is gradually taking action to remove them.

An investigative report by Amar Desh reveals a multimillion-taka black market in human skeletons used for medical education in Bangladesh. The trade involves organized networks stealing corpses from graves, processing them into skeletons, and selling them to medical students for 30,000–40,000 taka each. Despite global advances in artificial intelligence and 3D simulation for anatomy learning, around 10,000 new Bangladeshi medical students still rely on bones sourced through illegal means. Police have repeatedly recovered human skulls and bones from medical hostels, exposing the scale of the illicit trade.

The report traces the roots of the trade to politically connected student leaders who dominated the business during the Awami League era, with networks controlling collection, processing, and distribution. Even after political changes, the practice persists, now operating through online groups. Students say they are compelled to buy bones to meet academic requirements, while experts argue that modern digital tools could replace real skeletons.

Medical professionals suggest policy reforms, including banning real bones in exams and promoting 3D or plastic models, as the only sustainable way to dismantle the grave-robbing syndicate and align Bangladesh’s medical education with ethical and technological standards.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, a Qawmi madrasa-based non-political organization, remains divided over leadership and direction despite recent efforts to restore unity. The group’s central committee has been largely inactive, and internal rifts deepened before and after the thirteenth national election. A sub-committee has been formed to resolve disputes, while some leaders have been expelled for breaching organizational discipline. Recent meetings in Dhaka and Chattogram discussed reconciliation and future coordination, but the organization has yet to resume full-scale central activities.

Formed in 2010 under Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi to oppose anti-Islamic policies, Hefazat gained prominence through its 13-point movement and the 2013 Shapla Chattar rally. Following years of state repression and leadership changes, including the deaths of key figures, the group fractured into multiple factions. Some leaders aligned with different political alliances during recent elections, further weakening Hefazat’s unified stance.

Current leaders say efforts are underway to restore organizational discipline and revive Hefazat’s religious unity after the Hajj season. They plan to pursue key demands, including withdrawal of old cases and justice for the Shapla Chattar killings.

Teachers at Barishal University have withdrawn their academic shutdown following assurances from newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Mamunur Rashid. The decision was announced in a statement on Saturday, confirming that classes and examinations would continue despite the university entering a 19-day general holiday starting May 17.

The teachers had launched their second phase of shutdown on May 10, demanding resolution of long-standing promotion-related complications. During the protest, they declared former vice-chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Toufiq Alam unwelcome and locked several administrative offices, halting academic and administrative activities and suspending 46 final exams. On May 14, the government replaced vice-chancellors at 11 public universities, including Barishal University, appointing Dr. Rashid, previously the institution’s treasurer.

After discussions with the new vice-chancellor, teachers expressed satisfaction with his commitment to address promotion issues in coordination with the University Grants Commission. Faculty members and students welcomed the move, hoping it would restore normal academic operations and resolve the administrative crisis soon.

Bangladesh is facing a growing health crisis as doctors report that antibiotics are not working in children suffering from both measles and pneumonia. Pediatric specialists say the number of child deaths is increasing alongside a surge in infections. They warn that even after recovering from measles, children’s immune systems remain weak, leaving them vulnerable to pneumonia, seizures, respiratory problems, and other complications. The situation has prompted renewed concern among health experts about long-term risks and the need for parental vigilance.

Professor Dr. Atikul Islam of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute said measles is spreading rapidly among children, and pneumonia recovery is taking longer even with double antibiotic treatment. Public health expert Dr. Mushtaq Hossain linked the worsening condition to malnutrition, delayed treatment, and antimicrobial resistance. He criticized lapses in vaccination and public health policy as key causes of the current outbreak.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 453 children have died from measles or related symptoms since March 15, with over 56,000 showing symptoms and more than 7,500 confirmed cases. Experts called for urgent improvements in vaccination coverage and pediatric intensive care capacity.