A college lecturer has been arrested in Rangpur’s Kaunia upazila on charges of embezzlement and fraud involving a Hajj agency. Police detained Mohammad Ali Babu, a lecturer at Mirbag College and son of Abul Hossain from Gadadhar area, during a special operation on Friday night. Authorities confirmed that five arrest warrants had been issued against him, including two general register (GR) and three complaint register (CR) cases.

According to police sources, two of the cases accuse him of embezzling around 15 million taka, while the amounts in the other three cases remain undisclosed. All five cases involve allegations of fraud and misappropriation of funds through Hajj agency dealings. The operation was led by Kaunia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shihab Uddin with support from the district detective branch.

After his arrest, police completed necessary legal procedures and sent the accused to court for further action.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that the government aims to rebuild the state and society by recognizing creative sectors, including film, as key forces for national development. He made the remarks on Saturday at the inauguration of the National Film Society Conference 2026 held at the Bangladesh Film Archive auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka. The event was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies and the Bangladesh Film Archive.

The minister emphasized that film and creative industries are vital soft powers of civilization and that artists, filmmakers, and creative professionals share responsibility for enriching them. He said the government intends to make policy decisions for the film industry based on stakeholder opinions and national consensus. Swapan noted that the newly formed Film Certification and Jury Boards have been welcomed across the sector, marking a positive shift from past controversies.

He added that a proposal has been sent to the Finance Ministry to increase film grants in the upcoming budget and that stricter measures will ensure timely completion of funded projects. The government also plans special initiatives to preserve and modernize single-screen cinemas.

In Feni, an accused named Saiful Islam confessed in court to killing Rina Akter, the wife of an expatriate, during a robbery attempt. The confession was recorded on Friday afternoon under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code before Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Morshed Mahmud Khan. Saiful, aged 29, was arrested in Chattogram’s Nasirabad area on Thursday after fleeing the scene and turning off his phone following the murder.

According to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Saiful worked at the under-construction building owned by Rina’s husband, expatriate Mohammad Manik. In his statement, Saiful said he was under financial pressure after failing to repay an NGO loan. On May 12, when Rina visited the site, he tried to snatch her gold earrings, strangling her in the process and burying the body under sand inside the building. He later sold the earrings for Tk 15,500 and used the money to buy drugs.

Police said Saiful was sent to Feni District Jail after his confession. The investigation continues under PBI supervision.

A 70-year-old man named Ahmad Dealer was killed by his drug-addicted son in Mirsharai, Chattogram, on Friday night. Police said the incident occurred around 9 p.m. when a dispute broke out between Ahmad Dealer and his son, Ibrahim Hossain Milon, over drug use at their home. During the altercation, Milon allegedly struck his father with a stick, leaving him critically injured. Ahmad Dealer died at the scene before family members could rescue him.

According to police and local sources, Milon had been addicted to drugs for a long time and was reportedly involved in various antisocial activities. Despite repeated warnings from his family, his behavior had become increasingly reckless. Police later detained Milon on charges of killing his father. The body was sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital morgue, and legal proceedings are underway.

Authorities confirmed that the investigation is ongoing to determine further details surrounding the incident.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that it will take another two years to restore Bangladesh’s fragile economy, which was left in a deteriorated state by previous governments. He made the remarks on Saturday morning while inaugurating a new building of the Mother and Child Hospital in Agrabad, Chattogram.

The minister explained that the current government faced a major global crisis immediately after taking office due to the war in the Middle East. He said the energy sector alone required Tk 40,000 crore in the upcoming fiscal year, while an additional Tk 50,000 crore was spent within two months on the power sector and foreign loan repayments. He acknowledged that the national economy remains in a difficult position.

Amir Khosru also criticized past administrations for misusing health sector allocations and pledged that the current government would ensure proper monitoring of funds. He emphasized that the government would not interfere in medical colleges or other professional institutions to preserve their integrity and educational standards.

A violent attack occurred at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital early Friday night following the death of a patient named Lal Mia Kazi. Relatives of the deceased, alleging negligence by the attending physician, vandalized the emergency observation ward and assaulted duty doctor Nasir Islam with stones and sticks, leaving him critically injured. Several hospital staff, including an office assistant and Ansar members, were also attacked while trying to intervene. The injured doctor is being prepared for transfer to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s ICU.

According to hospital sources, the patient had been admitted with heart complications and was referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment, but his family refused to move him at night. After his death around 12:40 a.m., a group of 70–80 people stormed the ward and attacked the staff. Police have detained two individuals, Al-Amin and Jasim Uddin, and are preparing a case. Civil Surgeon Dr. Rehan Uddin confirmed that a four-member inquiry committee will be formed to investigate the incident.

Authorities condemned the attack, warning that continued violence against medical professionals threatens hospital safety and healthcare delivery.

The Bangladesh government authorized 12 foreign companies to supply diesel, octane, and crude oil under the Direct Purchase Method (DPM) to address a fuel shortage caused by the Iran war. However, none of the companies had delivered oil by mid-May 2026. Only two firms provided performance guarantees, while one pledged to do so. The companies are based in the United States, Dubai, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Japan. The energy minister said the move aimed to prevent panic buying and ensure adequate reserves.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) officials said the DPM initiative was temporary and launched after several cargoes were deferred due to force majeure declarations. BPC Chairman Md. Rezanur Rahman explained that final prices would be determined using the Platts Arab Gulf rate around the loading date. He confirmed that three companies were proceeding properly, while others declined or failed to meet requirements. The government has since returned to open tendering for June–August to maintain a 90-day reserve.

Transparency International Bangladesh acknowledged the government’s authority to bypass tenders in emergencies but emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in supplier selection and contract execution.

In Lalmonirhat’s Dahagram–Angarpota union, residents have expressed concern over increased surveillance and restrictions by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) at the Tin Bigha Corridor, their only route to mainland Bangladesh. Locals allege that since the recent West Bengal elections, BSF has intensified checks, causing delays and harassment during travel. The corridor, leased to Bangladesh in 2011 for access to the enclave, remains under Indian control despite the 1974 Mujib–Indira Agreement stipulating its transfer.

The corridor, originally intended to be 178 meters long and 85 meters wide, now functions as a narrow nine-foot passage. Residents report frequent searches, vehicle restrictions, and fines for accidental damage to Indian installations. Community leaders and residents demand full freedom of movement as per the 1974 agreement, citing economic hardship and loss of dignity. BSF has also built observation towers and checkpoints, contrary to the agreement’s terms.

Bangladeshi authorities have reportedly taken precautionary measures through the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). However, locals remain frustrated, saying the corridor’s limited access continues to disrupt daily life and trade in the isolated enclave.

An article published on May 16, 2026, in 'Amar Desh' by Abdul Kader Jilani discusses the renewed relevance of Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s philosophy in Bangladesh following the July uprising that toppled a fascist government. The author connects the collective awakening for justice and truth during the protests with Iqbal’s concept of 'Khudi'—the self-realization and empowerment of individuals as the foundation of a just society. Protesters reportedly invoked Iqbal’s verses as slogans in their struggle against oppression.

The piece traces Iqbal’s intellectual influences from both Eastern and Western thinkers and his vision of a moral, equitable state guided by divine law. It contrasts Iqbal’s Islamic humanism with Rabindranath Tagore’s secular humanism, arguing that post-1971 nationalist movements in Bangladesh marginalized Iqbal’s thought. The author claims that Iqbal’s ideas of justice, unity, and cultural independence are regaining significance in post-July Bangladesh.

According to the article, this resurgence of Iqbal studies in political, cultural, and intellectual spaces signals a broader cultural revolution emphasizing Islamic values and resistance to authoritarianism.

The article highlights the life and contributions of Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, a legendary Bangladeshi singer, researcher, and writer, who played a pivotal role in preserving the country’s folk and spiritual traditions. Born in 1937 in Balarampur, Cooch Behar, Abbasi inherited a rich musical legacy from his father, Abbasuddin Ahmed, and grew up in a culturally vibrant environment. His education in history at the University of Dhaka deepened his understanding of Bengal’s social and cultural evolution, shaping his later work as a scholar of folk music.

Abbasi’s major achievements include collecting and archiving original Baul and Lalon songs, promoting folk music through Bangladesh Television and Radio, and introducing rural artists to national audiences. He also represented Bangladesh internationally, performing in over 40 countries and serving as president of the Bangladesh National Committee of Music under UNESCO. Beyond music, Abbasi made significant contributions to Islamic music, literature, and Sufi philosophy through his writings and translations.

His extensive literary output of over 60 books, including research on folk traditions and novels addressing environmental and cultural themes, established him as a key figure in documenting Bangladesh’s artistic and spiritual identity.

A bridge built two decades ago in Rupnagar area of Baghasura Union under Madhabpur upazila, Habiganj, remains unused because no connecting road was ever constructed. The bridge, built at a cost of about 1.2 million taka over a canal on the Shahjibazar–Baghasura–Chatiain Bazar road, has gathered moss and developed cracks due to long neglect.

According to local sources, the original plan was to replace an old, risky bridge, but opposition from some influential villagers prevented its demolition. To avoid losing the allocated budget, the contractor built the new bridge beside the old one instead. Residents still use the old bridge daily, facing safety risks. The upazila engineer said the bridge was built before his tenure and that the adjacent landowner had refused to provide land for the approach road. The landowner stated he would sell the land only at current market value, while a local union official noted that just two decimals of land worth around 200,000 taka are needed to make the bridge usable.

Local authorities said they will discuss the issue with higher officials to find a solution.

A father and son were killed early Saturday when a speeding bus ran them over while they were repairing a truck tire on the Bhanga-Mawa highway near the Bagail toll plaza in Faridpur’s Bhanga upazila. The victims were identified as Yusuf Ali and his son Yakub Ali, residents of Rupdia in Jashore Sadar. According to police and local sources, their freight truck had stopped after a tire puncture, and both were working to fix it when the accident occurred.

Police from the Shibchar Highway Station recovered the bodies after the incident. Bhanga Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Md Helal Uddin said the truck had been seized and brought to the station. Efforts were underway to identify the bus and arrest its driver. Legal procedures were reported to be in progress.

Authorities have not yet confirmed further details about the bus or its driver, and the investigation continues.

Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan stated that meaningful change requires repairing both the state and society through national consensus. He made the remarks on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the opening ceremony of the National Film Society Conference 2026 organized by the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies.

The minister emphasized that some work stems from humanitarian motives, while the pursuit of wealth is a separate matter. He urged those involved in art, literature, and film to clearly understand this distinction in their work. Addressing social transformation, he said that the roadmap should not only focus on the film movement but also on broader social change, avoiding any group-based ideology.

Swapan cautioned that ideology-driven change can often turn into propaganda serving group interests, noting that those bound by group loyalty cannot possess true intellectual freedom.

Tensions have escalated at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) following an attack linked to ongoing protests demanding the removal of the Vice Chancellor. The unrest stems from a six-month-long conflict between Vice Chancellor Professor Kazi Rafiqul Islam and Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor S.M. Hemayet Jahan. A case has been filed against 26 individuals after the attack on a group of BNP-affiliated teachers, officers, and employees, with one arrest already made.

The dispute began after the 57th Regent Board meeting in December, where disagreements over promotions and administrative decisions divided the faculty. Subsequent incidents, including the removal of a dean and allegations of forced signatures on official documents, deepened the rift. Both sides have accused each other of corruption, irregularities, and political bias, leading to a prolonged deadlock in university governance.

Teachers and officials continue sit-in protests demanding punishment for those involved in the attack. The Vice Chancellor claims a vested group is destabilizing the campus to conceal past irregularities, while the Pro-Vice Chancellor’s faction blames the administration for mismanagement and authoritarian practices.

At least ten people were injured in a serious road accident on the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway near the No. 2 bridge area of Kutubpur Union in Shibchar upazila, Madaripur. The collision occurred around 11 p.m. on Friday, May 15, when a Dhaka-bound Sakura Paribahan passenger bus from Barishal lost control and crashed into the rear of a truck carrying rice husk. Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

Local residents and highway police quickly launched a rescue operation, sending the injured to Shibchar Upazila Health Complex and other nearby hospitals. Police confirmed that the bus driver and helper were among those seriously hurt. Traffic on the expressway slowed briefly after the crash but was restored soon after the damaged vehicles were removed.

According to Shibchar Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman, the rescue operation was completed promptly, and normal traffic flow was ensured after clearing the accident site.