Jahangirnagar University witnessed widespread protests after an alleged attempted rape of a student from the 51st batch by an outsider on campus. On Wednesday night, more than two thousand students gathered in front of the proctor’s office demanding the resignation of Professor A K M Rashidul Alam. The protest began around 10:10 p.m. near the female dormitory area under the banner of general female students and later drew participation from students across all departments. The torch procession moved through key campus roads before ending with a large rally at the proctor’s office.

During the demonstration, students chanted slogans condemning sexual violence and accusing the current proctorial administration of failing to ensure safety for female students. Protesters claimed that several serious incidents had occurred during the current administration’s tenure without effective action. They declared that they no longer wanted the proctor to remain in office.

After a brief rally in front of the old registrar building, students surrounded the facility and issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the university administration to ensure visible justice for the accused, vowing to continue their movement until their demands are met.

Ariful Islam Adib, senior joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), said the government has failed to ensure the safety and livelihood security of citizens as killings, robberies, extortion, and terrorist activities have sharply increased across the country. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at a citizens’ human chain organized by NCP’s Tejgaon zone in front of Ananda Cinema Hall in Farmgate, Dhaka, protesting the rising child mortality rate, weak vaccination system, and deteriorating law and order.

Ariful described the current child mortality rate as alarming and called for immediate and effective measures to control it. He urged accountability from the interim government, the Ministry of Health, and related authorities through departmental investigations. Expressing concern over recent killings in Gazipur and rising crimes in Dhaka and other regions, he appealed to the Home Minister to prioritize law and order improvements. He also demanded diplomatic action to stop border killings of Bangladeshi citizens.

Representatives from social organizations, including the Disappearance Prevention Commission, expressed solidarity with the protest, urging the government to strengthen healthcare, vaccination, and citizen security measures.

Dr. Atiq Mujahid, joint convener of the NCP and Member of Parliament for Kurigram-2, stated that the entire government rice procurement system is controlled by syndicates. Speaking at a seminar titled “Farmers’ Outcry During Rice Procurement Season: Crisis and Way Forward” held at the NCP’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, he said middlemen benefit while farmers suffer under current policies. He warned that the issue has become one of sovereignty rather than just food security.

Other speakers at the event, including NCP joint convener Sarowar Tushar, criticized the government for failing to support farmers affected by untimely rains and poor procurement policies. They urged the introduction of agricultural insurance, direct rice purchases from millers, and early price announcements to help farmers negotiate better. National Labour Force convener Mazharul Islam Fakir blamed government officials for delays in seed distribution, while National Health Alliance convener Dr. Shadrul Alam emphasized ensuring transparent and accessible agricultural loans.

Speakers collectively accused the government of negligence and called for accountability and policy reform to protect farmers’ livelihoods.

Police in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, arrested Nazem Uddin, the recently expelled joint secretary of Kakara Union BNP and former general secretary of Ward No. 2 BNP. The arrest took place around noon on Wednesday in the Pulerchhara area of Kakara Union. Law enforcement officials stated that the arrest was made based on a court-issued warrant and carried out following a tip-off.

According to Chakaria Police Station sources, a team led by Sub-Inspector Sujon Barua conducted the operation that resulted in Nazem Uddin’s detention. The officer-in-charge confirmed that the arrest was executed strictly under the court’s directive, and the accused has since been sent to court after completing necessary legal procedures.

Although Nazem Uddin had already been expelled from the BNP, his arrest has sparked discussions and criticism within the local political sphere. However, no immediate reaction from local BNP leaders was available at the time of reporting.

Stakeholders have recommended holding the next Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination in January and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination in June instead of December. The opinion was shared during a meeting at the Ministry of Education in Dhaka on Wednesday, attended by Education Minister Ehchanul Haque Milan. The ministry is expected to announce a final decision soon.

Earlier, the minister had proposed conducting both public exams by December 2026, which drew widespread reactions. To address the concerns, the ministry held the meeting with education experts, parents, and school heads from various districts who joined virtually. Many participants warned that advancing the exams by four months could cause severe mental pressure on students and suggested a gradual adjustment of the academic calendar.

The education minister later told reporters that most stakeholders wanted the SSC exams to begin at the end of January and the HSC exams around June. He emphasized that the ministry aims to align the academic year to end in December while avoiding disruption to students’ progress and reducing session backlogs.

The Bangladesh women's football team is conducting a 15-day training camp in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of their preparation for the upcoming SAFF Women's Championship. The tournament will begin on May 25 in Goa, India, where Bangladesh aims to win the title for the third consecutive time. On May 11, Bangladesh played their first preparatory match against Kasem Bundit, a club from the Thailand Women's Football League, and secured a 2–0 victory.

The team is scheduled to play their second warm-up match on May 17 against Bangkok Sports School Club, a second-division Thai side. Under coach Butler, the players are undergoing intensive training sessions before the match. Following the conditioning camp, the squad will depart for India on May 21 to participate in the championship.

Bangladesh has been placed in Group B alongside host India and the Maldives. The defending champions will start their campaign on May 29 against the Maldives and face India on May 31 in the group stage.

A joint operation by RAB-7, the district administration, and the Food Department in Sitakunda’s Kadamrasul area of Chattogram has uncovered a large-scale misappropriation of government food grains. During the raid at a warehouse of Saleh Carpet Factory, authorities seized about 578 tons of rice bearing official monograms and supply codes from government food programs. Officials said the warehouse had no valid documents or food grain license, and the rice was allegedly being repackaged and sold commercially.

Investigators suspect the seized rice was originally allocated under government programs such as Food-Friendly, Kabikha, TR, and VGF, meant for low-income families. Preliminary findings indicate that an organized syndicate had been collecting and marketing the rice illegally for a long time. Several individuals have already been questioned, and documents from the warehouse have been confiscated.

Authorities are preparing to file cases under the Special Powers Act and Food Control Act. Local residents expressed concern over how such large-scale diversion of food aid went unnoticed, while civic groups urged that all members of the syndicate, including dealers and influential backers, be brought to justice.

National Citizens Party (NCP) chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari sharply criticized the government’s policies and services, warning that if all government 'cards' or promises fail, citizens will show a 'red card'. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at the NCP central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, during a seminar organized by the party’s Agriculture Cell titled 'Farmers’ distress during paddy procurement season: crisis and solutions'. Patwari questioned whether farmers are truly benefiting from the government’s various card-based schemes and urged authorities to ensure service quality and effectiveness for marginalized communities.

Expressing concern over border and regional politics, Patwari alleged that the new government in West Bengal, India, is attempting to incite communal unrest along the Bangladesh border. He urged the Bangladeshi government to remain vigilant and take timely action to prevent any provocations, emphasizing that border security and communal harmony have become major challenges.

At the same event, agricultural economist Professor Dr. Jahangir Alam highlighted that 5–7 percent of Boro paddy was damaged this season due to natural disasters, warning of possible food shortages and inflation. He recommended allocating at least 10 percent of the national budget to agriculture and forming an independent price commission to ensure fair prices for farmers.

Police in Araihazar, Narayanganj arrested two men during an attempted robbery on the Dhaka–Araihazar highway on Wednesday afternoon. The suspects allegedly tried to stop a moving private car and hold its passengers hostage near the Palla area of Duptara Union. When the passengers shouted for help, local residents rushed to the scene, prompting the robbers to flee. Police and locals jointly captured two suspects, identified as Badsha Dewan, 40, and Faruk, 50, both from Haimchar in Chandpur.

According to police, Badsha Dewan is known as the leader of a robbery gang, while Faruk is his associate. Other accomplices managed to escape during the incident. Police said the two detainees are being interrogated, and operations are underway to identify and arrest the remaining suspects.

Araihazar Police Station’s investigation officer Ripon Kumar stated that legal action is being taken against the arrested individuals following the attempted robbery.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Rangpur on Friday. According to a press release issued Wednesday by Jamaat’s central publicity department, he will attend several local events as the chief guest during his visit.

The statement said Dr. Rahman will address the Upazila and Thana Ameer Conference at Rangpur Model College auditorium in the morning, organized by the Rangpur-Dinajpur regional unit. He will then hold discussions with regional team members, district and city leaders, and later meet with leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Rangpur Metropolitan, Begum Rokeya University, and district branches. In the second part of the visit, a special gathering organized by Rangpur Metropolitan Jamaat will take place at the local Shilpakala Academy auditorium at 4:30 p.m., where he will also speak as chief guest.

He will be accompanied by party Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam MP, Assistant Secretary General and Rangpur-Dinajpur regional director Maulana Abdul Halim, and invited local Members of Parliament.

A Bangladeshi man named Vaishnavbihari Mondal, aged 30, was injured by rubber bullets fired by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) near the Maheshpur border in Jhenaidah early Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 2 a.m., and the injured man is currently receiving treatment at Jessore General Hospital.

According to the report, Vaishnavbihari Mondal is the son of Gopalchandra Mondal from Gobindapur village in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira. He had traveled to India 23 days earlier for medical treatment and was returning to Bangladesh when BSF personnel allegedly opened fire, causing multiple injuries. His companions rescued him and took him to the hospital.

Dr. Shafiqul Rahman from the hospital’s surgery ward confirmed that the patient sustained several wounds and is receiving necessary medical care. Maheshpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan said police are investigating the matter.

Bangladesh Railway has advised passengers to purchase advance train tickets for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha exclusively through its official 'Rail Sheba' mobile application to avoid fraud and harassment. The advisory, issued by the Ministry of Railways’ public relations officer Rezaul Karim Siddiqui, warned that fraudulent individuals are deceiving passengers on social media by promising to collect tickets on their behalf and then disappearing after receiving payments through mobile banking services.

According to the railway authority, tickets can only be purchased online using a registered ID through the designated app, with a maximum of four tickets per journey. Passengers must carry the registered mobile phone and photo ID during travel. The authority emphasized that buying tickets from any other source is illegal and may lead to punishment. Complaints about fraudulent activities can be reported to railway officials, law enforcement, or the hotline number 131.

Advance ticket sales for westbound trains began online at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, drawing around six million hits within half an hour. A total of 43 trains with 31,240 seats are operating for Eid travel, and additional special trains will run to accommodate passengers.

Bangladesh’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall could worsen flood conditions in the country’s northeastern haor region, despite recent improvements. The alert, issued on Wednesday evening, noted that rising water levels in rivers across Netrokona, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Sunamganj districts could lead to renewed flooding, particularly in the Meghna basin.

According to the center’s latest bulletin, water levels in the Brahmaputra River have risen while the Jamuna’s have fallen, both remaining below danger levels and expected to continue for the next five days. The Ganges-Padma rivers are also stable and below danger levels. However, heavy rainfall has been recorded in Rangpur, Sylhet, and Mymensingh divisions, as well as in India’s Meghalaya and Sikkim regions, with forecasts of continued heavy rain over the next three days.

The center added that water levels in several rivers, including the Surma-Kushiyara, Dhanua-Baulai, and Bhugai-Kangsa, may rise in the coming days, potentially worsening conditions in low-lying haor areas.

Two farmers were killed by lightning strikes within a span of ninety minutes in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna district on Wednesday. The second victim, identified as Auwal Farazi Torab, aged 55, from Bongram Paschim Chakpara village under Parshadangha Union, died on the spot when lightning struck him around 4 p.m. while returning home from Dikshibil with harvested paddy. The incident was confirmed by former union chairman Robiul Karim Tarek.

Earlier the same day, around 2:30 p.m., another farmer named Robban Ali from Maheshpur village in Mulgram Union died in a separate lightning strike. Both incidents occurred during a nor'wester storm that swept through the area, causing sudden weather changes and fatalities among local farmers.

The consecutive lightning deaths highlight the recurring danger faced by rural agricultural workers during seasonal storms in the region.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria district branch organized a protest march and rally on Wednesday in response to reported attacks and persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, India. The demonstration began at the municipal open stage in Brahmanbaria town and proceeded through major streets before concluding at Kautoli Square, where a brief rally was held.

Speakers at the rally condemned the alleged violence and religious oppression against Muslims in West Bengal. They urged the Indian government to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safety and security of minority Muslims. The speakers also called on the international community to raise its voice against religious incitement and communal violence and to unite in protest against oppression of the Muslim community.

Local Hefazat leaders including Maulana Sajidur Rahman, Mufti Ali Azam, Mufti Kamal Uddin Kasemi, and Mufti Tanvir Siraji addressed the gathering, which was attended by party members from district and upazila levels.