Several filling stations in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur have turned into temporary paddy drying grounds as customer traffic has sharply declined. Once busy with motorcycles, cars, and trucks, these fuel stations now host farmers spreading freshly harvested Boro paddy across paved forecourts. Farmers said they chose the stations because of the lack of open and paved spaces in villages, and the areas’ exposure to sunlight allows faster drying.

Station owners confirmed that customer numbers have dropped even after the fuel supply crisis eased. They cited higher costs, a slowdown in the transport sector, and the use of alternative fuels as reasons for reduced sales. With large open spaces lying unused, some owners have allowed farmers to dry and thresh paddy temporarily.

Local observers have warned that since petrol pumps store flammable materials, drying and threshing activities must be conducted with extreme caution. They urged both station authorities and local administration to ensure safety and prevent fire or electrical hazards.

Despite multiple meetings between Bangladesh and India pledging to end border killings and the use of lethal weapons, incidents of shootings by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) continue. In Lalmonirhat district, two Bangladeshi nationals were shot dead within five weeks, the latest on May 14 in Hatibandha upazila. Earlier, on April 8, another man was killed in Patgram. These incidents have sparked fear and anger among residents of border areas.

Local communities and observers say the ongoing violence threatens trust and stability in Bangladesh-India relations. They argue that repeated Indian assurances to stop border killings have not been implemented, and that the absence of accountability for BSF actions has allowed such incidents to persist. Reports indicate that BSF sometimes crosses into Bangladeshi territory, detains civilians, and uses force under its controversial “shoot on sight” policy.

Officials from Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB) maintain that they are acting responsibly to preserve peace and mutual confidence along the frontier.

As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, cattle farmers across Bangladesh are working intensively to prepare their livestock for the sacrificial market. In districts such as Netrakona, Jamalpur, and Bogura, farmers have invested heavily—some through bank loans and others from personal savings—to raise cattle using natural and local methods. Many farms are now in their final stages of preparation, with families and workers providing extra care, feeding, and health monitoring to ensure the animals are ready for sale.

Farmers report that the cost of cattle feed, medicine, and maintenance has risen sharply, increasing production expenses. In border areas like Bakshiganj, concerns persist about the illegal entry of Indian cattle, which could depress local prices. Livestock officials have instructed farmers to avoid harmful substances and use natural fattening methods, assuring that animals are being prepared safely. Despite higher costs, farmers remain hopeful for fair prices and potential profits if market conditions remain stable.

Officials in Bogura’s Dhunot upazila confirmed that local supply exceeds demand, indicating no shortage of sacrificial animals this year.

A young man named Md Saiful Islam died after being buried under soil at a brick kiln in Lama upazila of Bandarban district on Friday morning, May 15, 2026. The incident occurred at the SBM Brick Kiln in the remote Ramyakhola area of Faitong Union. Saiful Islam, son of Mahabub Alam from Ramyakhola village, was reportedly loading soil for the kiln when he fell under a vehicle and sustained severe injuries.

Co-workers immediately rescued him and took him to Chakaria Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Lama Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Shahjahan Kamal confirmed the incident and said that a legal investigation will be conducted.

Authorities have not yet provided further details about the cause of the accident or safety measures at the site.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Mymensingh arrested three individuals, including a northern district Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader, for alleged involvement in a motorcycle theft and resale ring. The arrests took place early Friday during a technology-assisted special operation in various areas of Gouripur upazila. Those detained are Ashik Mia, 27, assistant organizational secretary of the district Chhatra Dal, Sohel Mia, 23, of Shahbazpur village, and Manik Chowdhury, 39, known as 'Freedom Manik'.

According to PBI Superintendent Mizanur Rahman, the arrests followed the theft of a Suzuki motorcycle from Hera Market on April 29. During the investigation, 'Freedom Manik', a fugitive in 29 cases, was detained Thursday afternoon, leading to further raids early Friday. Ashik Mia was caught with a blue stolen motorcycle, while Sohel Mia was accused of repainting and trading stolen bikes. The recovered motorcycle bore registration number Netrakona-L 11-1347.

PBI stated that all three suspects were sent to court Friday afternoon. The district Chhatra Dal president said the organization would review the allegations and take disciplinary action if proven true.

Police in Moulvibazar’s Barlekha upazila arrested former Bangladesh Army member Md. Rahed Hossain Mahed, 23, on Thursday, May 14, during a special operation targeting members of the banned extremist group Maktabah Al Himmah Ad-Da’watul Islamiyah. The arrest took place in the remote Bobarthol Saitghari area, where police detained him from a hill after a 12-hour operation. Later that night, Mahed was handed over to the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit.

According to police, Mahed, son of Nur Mia from Dashghar village in Sylhet’s Bishwanath upazila, had been dismissed from the army and is accused in an anti-terrorism case filed at Shahbagh Police Station, which is under CTTC investigation. Intelligence sources reported that he maintained contact with another arrested member of the same banned group, Ishtiaq Ahmed Sami Abu Bakkar Abu Mohammad.

Police said Mahed had been in hiding since a national red alert was issued and was attempting to cross into India illegally. Following his arrest, he provided important information during preliminary interrogation.

A woman named Sayma Begum, aged 32, died on Friday morning while undergoing treatment at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka, following a gas explosion in Fatullah, Narayanganj. Her death brought the total fatalities in the incident to five, as her husband and three children had already died earlier from burn injuries. The explosion occurred on Sunday, May 10, in a ground-floor flat of a six-storey building in the Giridhara area of Fatullah.

According to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, five members of the same family were admitted after the explosion, all of whom later died. The victims were rescued by locals and taken to the hospital, where Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul and Narayanganj-4 MP Abdullah Al Amin visited them. The husband, Md Kalam, aged 35, died the following morning with 95 percent burns, followed by the couple’s three children—Munna, aged 7, Kotha, aged 7, and Munni, aged 10.

The incident has cast a shadow of grief over the entire Fatullah area.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Feni has solved the murder of Rina Akter, 44, wife of expatriate Mohammad Manik, whose body was found buried under sand at a construction site in Chochona village, Shorshodi Union, Feni Sadar. The main accused, mason Saiful Islam, 29, was arrested from Chattogram within two days of the incident. PBI Superintendent Ukya Singh disclosed the details at a press briefing on Thursday night.

According to PBI, Saiful, who worked as a laborer at the victim’s under-construction house, confessed to killing Rina Akter while attempting to steal her gold earrings to repay a loan installment. After strangling her, he buried the body under a sand pile and fled. He later sold the earrings for Tk 15,500 at a local market. Based on his information, PBI recovered the jewelry from a gold shop.

PBI stated that Saiful admitted his involvement during preliminary interrogation and will give a confessional statement in court. He has been handed over to the court on Friday.

Police in Mirsarai, Chattogram, arrested a truck driver with 82 kilograms of cannabis during a late-night operation on May 15, 2026. The seized drugs are valued at approximately Tk 1.64 million, according to a police press release issued the same day. The arrest took place around 9:50 p.m. at a checkpoint on the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway near the Mirsarai police gate.

Officers searched a yellow and blue truck bearing registration number Feni-T-11-0972 and found the cannabis hidden in the truck bed. The driver, identified as 19-year-old Ashraf Uddin Rahat from Feni Sadar’s Balighar Union, was detained. Police said Rahat claimed another driver, Rakibul Islam Sujon, left the vehicle earlier in Baraiahat and instructed him to continue toward Chattogram city.

Mirsarai Police Officer-in-Charge Farida Yasmin stated that anti-drug operations are ongoing. A case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act, and efforts are underway to arrest the absconding suspect.

Shikdar Saidur Rahman Mithu, convener of the Vanga Upazila Volunteer Party and former president of the Chhatra Dal, was seriously injured in an attack by unidentified assailants in Kapuria Sadardi area of Faridpur’s Vanga municipality on Thursday night. Relatives said police rescued him and admitted him to the Upazila Health Complex. He sustained multiple injuries from sharp weapons and hammers, according to hospital sources.

The incident followed a dispute within the local party. A day earlier, police had detained two youths, Soeb and Shihab, for questioning and later released them in the presence of Upazila BNP General Secretary Ayub Molla. Photos and videos of the detention circulated on social media, and Mithu shared them on Facebook, reportedly angering the two men and their associates. Later that night, he was attacked while returning home.

Ayub Molla denied any involvement in the assault, condemning any attempt to falsely implicate him. Police said they responded quickly, rescued Mithu, and would take legal action after investigation if a formal complaint is filed.

The Bangladesh Madrasa General Teachers Association (BMGTA) has demanded that 20 percent of the upcoming national budget be allocated to the education sector. The demand was made at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Friday morning, where the association’s founder president Md. Harun-or-Rashid presented a written statement. The group also called for full festival allowances for MPO-listed teachers and the nationalization of all education systems, including madrasas.

According to the statement, the education sector received Tk 95,644 crore in the 2025–26 fiscal year, representing 12.1 percent of the total national budget, only Tk 934 crore higher than the previous year. The association noted that international standards recommend allocating 15–20 percent of the national budget or 4–6 percent of GDP to education, but Bangladesh’s allocation remains below both benchmarks. The statement added that this shortfall negatively affects marginalized communities.

The association further demanded the implementation of the ninth pay scale, government-standard medical and housing allowances, promotion opportunities for teachers, and the inclusion of independent ibtedayi madrasas under the MPO scheme.

Farmers across Cumilla are struggling to harvest ripe Boro paddy due to an acute shortage of laborers. Despite offering double the usual wages, they are unable to find workers, leaving large areas of golden paddy unharvested and at risk of damage. The crisis has spread across Chandina, Debidwar, Muradnagar, Sadar Dakshin, Brahmanpara, Burichang, Barura, and Laksam upazilas.

Farmers report that daily wages have surged from Tk 700–800 to as high as two maunds of paddy per day, yet labor remains scarce. Many rural workers have shifted to urban jobs in brick kilns, construction, garment factories, or battery-run rickshaw driving, which offer higher income with less effort. The sudden ripening of paddy across the district has further intensified demand. Heavy rainfall last week damaged around 3,000 hectares of paddy, with 36 hectares severely affected, causing losses estimated at Tk 8–9 million.

Officials said the government is purchasing paddy at Tk 36 per kilogram, but small farmers complain of complex procedures at government warehouses, forcing them to sell at lower local market prices. Agricultural experts warn that without fair pricing and mechanization support, many farmers may abandon paddy cultivation in the future.

Police in Shahrashti upazila of Chandpur arrested two individuals, including Khorshed Alam, a fugitive accused in 23 drug-related cases, during a special operation on Thursday. The arrests took place at Chowdhury Manzil in West Uplata village under the municipal area. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Officer-in-Charge Mir Mahbubur Rahman, led by Sub-Inspector Md Arif Hossain and Assistant Sub-Inspector Amir Hossain.

According to police, Khorshed Alam, aged 44, and Borhan Uddin, aged 28, were detained during the raid. Law enforcers recovered 20 yaba tablets from Khorshed Alam and 25 from Borhan Uddin. Khorshed Alam had been sentenced to one year and eight months of imprisonment and fined 2,000 taka but had been absconding. Both detainees now face new charges under the Narcotics Control Act.

Police identified Khorshed Alam as the son of deceased Arab Ali of West Uplata Bepari Bari and Borhan Uddin as the son of Abdul Kadir of Dail Bari.

Former legal adviser to the interim government, Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, has expressed deep concern over the killing of a Bangladeshi citizen by Indian border forces. In a Facebook post on Friday, he stated that genuine friendship between two countries cannot exist when deaths occur along the border. He referred to the May 13 incident in Lalmonirhat’s Amjhol area, where a Bangladeshi youth named Khademul Islam was reportedly shot dead by Indian border guards.

Nazrul noted that similar incidents have continued even after the BNP government came to power. He said he had previously written and spoken against such killings, emphasizing that during his time in government, strong protests and demands for explanations were made to India, along with a firm stance at the border.

He argued that if someone crosses the border illegally, they can be arrested or warned with blank shots, but direct shootings resulting in deaths are unacceptable. Nazrul urged the BNP government to take effective measures to stop the killings, reiterating that true friendship cannot be built over dead bodies at the border.

A severe traffic jam stretching about 13 kilometers formed on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway’s Gazaria section in Munshiganj early Friday. The congestion began after multiple covered vans collided on the Comilla-bound lane near the Meghna-Gomti Bridge slope, blocking the road completely. As a result, hundreds of vehicles remained stuck for hours, leaving passengers and drivers in extreme distress under the scorching heat.

According to highway police and local sources, the accident caused the vehicles to block the entire lane, halting traffic movement. On-site observations showed women, children, and elderly passengers suffering inside buses for hours. Drivers reported being stuck for more than two hours on routes that normally take only minutes to cross.

Gazaria Highway Police outpost in-charge Md. Shah Kamal Akand said the damaged vehicles were quickly removed from the road, but heavy weekend traffic was delaying full recovery. He expressed hope that normal traffic flow would resume soon.