A deadly clash broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Alinagar village of Dirai upazila, Sunamganj, between supporters of BNP leader Shahdeep Member and Jubo League leader Abdul Muhit. The confrontation, reportedly triggered by longstanding political rivalry and dominance disputes, left one person dead and at least 35 others injured. The deceased, identified as 27-year-old Ratan Mia, was a supporter of Shahdeep. Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

According to local sources, Shahdeep, who serves as the general secretary of the Bhattipara Union BNP and a union parishad member, had been in conflict with Abdul Muhit, the general secretary of the Alinagar Ward No. 2 Jubo League, over political influence. The tension escalated after an earlier incident a week ago. The clash erupted when Muhit and his associates allegedly assaulted Shahdeep on his way from Bhattipara Bazar to Alinagar, prompting retaliation from Shahdeep’s supporters.

Several of the injured were taken to Dirai Upazila Health Complex, while six critically wounded individuals were transferred to Sylhet Osmani Hospital. Police reported that the area is now calm and said action will be taken upon receiving complaints.

Former Gana Odhikar Parishad general secretary and current BNP leader Muhammad Rashed Khan made sharp comments about National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Nasiruddin Patwari on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. In a social media post, Rashed Khan criticized Patwari for previously attacking Jamaat-e-Islami and now aligning with the same group while criticizing the BNP.

In his post, Rashed Khan alleged that Patwari had once called Jamaat-e-Islami hypocritical, accused it of exploiting religion, and claimed its political ideology opposed Bangladesh’s independence and national spirit. He questioned how Patwari could now cooperate with Jamaat after such statements. Rashed Khan further mocked Patwari, suggesting that his behavior required a drug test and medical attention.

The post also mentioned that Patwari now identifies as Jamaat-leaning and claims to have been associated with Islami Chhatra Shibir, which Rashed Khan disputed, saying he had seen Patwari involved with leftist politics on campus.

A three-year-old child drowned in a water-filled pit in Nagergram village under Bongram Union of Katiadi upazila in Kishoreganj on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. when the child, identified as Md. Chand Mia, son of Md. Asad Mia, accidentally fell into the pit near their home. Family members later found him in the water and rushed him to the Katiadi Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

According to the residential medical officer of the health complex, Md. Isha Khan, the child had already died before being brought to the hospital. The tragic incident has caused deep sorrow in the local community.

No further details about the circumstances of the accident or any official investigation were mentioned in the report.

Authorities in Uzirpur upazila of Barishal have decided to prohibit the sale of harmful steroids without a doctor’s prescription ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha and the seasonal livestock markets. The decision was taken during a monthly development and law and order meeting held at the upazila parishad conference room on Wednesday morning, chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ali Suja.

The meeting stated that the restriction aims to prevent misuse of steroids and other drugs used for fattening sacrificial animals, which pose health risks to humans. Officials warned that legal action would be taken against anyone violating the directive. The administration also announced strict measures to ensure that only genuine farmers can supply paddy under the government’s Boro rice procurement program, warning against political or illegal interference.

Officials from various departments, law enforcement, and local representatives attended the meeting, where participants also called for collective efforts to make Uzirpur free from drugs, terrorism, and extortion.

A Dhaka court has ordered the arrest of former Home Secretary Jahangir Alam in connection with the murder of van driver Ripon during the July uprising-related anti-discrimination movement. The order was issued on Wednesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmin Akter, confirmed by Sub-Inspector Anup Kumar Das of the prosecution division.

According to the case details, Ripon participated in the 'Long March to Dhaka' program on August 5, 2024, under the Kotwali police station area as part of the anti-discrimination movement. He was shot that day and died two days later, on August 7, while undergoing treatment at a hospital. His wife, Shamima Akter Ruma, filed a murder case at Kotwali police station on August 28 of the same year.

The court’s decision marks a new development in the ongoing investigation into the violent incidents surrounding the 2024 anti-discrimination protests in Dhaka.

A businessman in Madhupur, Tangail, was assaulted and his left hand broken after refusing to pay extortion money. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at Jatabari (Mahishmara Mor) market in Ward 2 of Madhupur municipality. The victim, Rafiqul Islam, said a group led by Habib, Manik, Muktar, Nijhum, and Abdullah demanded Tk 90,000 from him. When he refused, they attacked him, took a bag containing Tk 700,000, and vandalized his shop, including CCTV cameras and furniture. Three other nearby shops were also damaged.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the attackers demanded money and beat Rafiqul when he refused. They also warned that no one could run a business in the market without paying extortion. However, accused individuals Manik and Habib denied the allegations, claiming Rafiqul’s injury resulted from a motorcycle accident and that the vandalism occurred after Rafiqul insulted Manik.

Madhupur Police Station Officer-in-Charge A.K.M. Fazlul Haque stated that a complaint had been received and police were sent to the scene. He said legal action would follow after investigation.

The government of Bangladesh has announced new prices for sacrificial animal hides ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir informed reporters at the Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon that the price of salted cowhide in Dhaka has been set between Tk 62 and Tk 67 per square foot. Outside Dhaka, the rate will range from Tk 57 to Tk 62 per square foot.

According to the minister, the price of salted goat hide has been fixed at Tk 25 to Tk 30 per square foot, while the price for she-goat hide has been set between Tk 22 and Tk 25. The announcement comes as part of the government’s annual price determination process for raw hides during the Eid-ul-Azha season, when large numbers of animals are sacrificed across the country.

The new rates are expected to guide traders and tanners in the upcoming hide collection and processing period during the festival.

A gunfight broke out on Wednesday morning between forest guards and the Karim-Sharif bandit group in the Singartek area of the Sharankhola Range in the East Sundarbans. During the operation, forest officials rescued four fishermen who had been held hostage by the bandits. The Forest Department recovered a single-barrel gun, one cartridge, and two walkie-talkies from the scene. The incident was confirmed by Md. Shariful Islam, Assistant Forest Conservator of the Sharankhola Range.

According to the Forest Department, members of the Shelarchar patrol outpost and the Smart Team were conducting a joint patrol when they detected the presence of the bandits. The bandits opened fire on the forest guards, prompting a retaliatory response. During the exchange, the bandits fled, leaving behind their trawler and the four hostages. The rescued fishermen were later taken to the Shelarchar patrol outpost.

The Forest Department is preparing to take further legal action following the recovery of weapons and communication devices from the site.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan stated that the government remains fully committed to implementing the July Charter as declared by the Prime Minister. He said a certain group is spreading confusion about the charter despite the government’s clear stance. The minister made these remarks on Tuesday while visiting July uprising fighters receiving treatment in Thailand, accompanied by Bangladesh’s ambassador there.

Khan said the ministry is monitoring the treatment of injured July fighters in Thailand through the Bangladesh Embassy and covering all medical and related expenses. Similar support is being provided to those under treatment in Russia, Singapore, and Turkey. He added that the ministry has established the Directorate of July Uprising to preserve the ideals and history of the movement and ensure the welfare of fighters and martyrs’ families.

According to the minister, 14,369 July fighters and 844 martyrs are registered under the MIS system. Families of martyrs receive savings certificates worth 3 million taka and monthly allowances, while injured fighters receive varying financial support based on injury severity. Rehabilitation efforts include training and employment initiatives for 1,937 applicants through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan stated that the government is fully committed to implementing the July Charter as declared by the Prime Minister. He made the remarks on Tuesday while visiting July uprising fighters undergoing treatment in Thailand. The minister was accompanied by Bangladesh’s ambassador to Thailand and inquired about the progress of the injured fighters’ treatment, wishing them a speedy recovery.

According to the minister, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry is monitoring the treatment of injured July fighters in Thailand through the Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok and covering all related expenses. Similar support is being provided to those receiving treatment in Russia, Singapore, and Turkey. He said the ministry has established the Directorate of July Uprising to preserve the ideals and history of the movement and to ensure the welfare of July fighters and families of martyrs. The directorate is verifying and listing genuine fighters and martyrs, with 14,369 fighters and 844 martyrs currently registered.

The minister added that families of July martyrs receive a one-time savings certificate of 3 million taka and a monthly honorarium of 20,000 taka, while injured fighters receive varying benefits based on injury type. Rehabilitation efforts are ongoing through training and employment programs for eligible applicants.

Local residents in Manikkandi village of Titas upazila, Comilla, detained a man named Md. Rajib, 20, for alleged involvement in the murder of Abdul Latif Bhuiya, 45, and handed him over to Titas police on Wednesday morning. The arrest was confirmed by Titas Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Momirul Haque. According to local sources, Rajib was directly involved in the killing, and the victim’s relatives believe further questioning could reveal the names of other suspects. No formal case has been filed yet.

Police have deployed additional forces in Manikkandi to maintain law and order following the incident. Abdul Latif Bhuiya, son of the late Dhonu Bhuiya, was attacked with sharp weapons by rivals on Monday night and later died at Dhaka Orthopedic Hospital. He was previously an accused in the murder case of Jubo League leader Zahir Molla, son of former chairman Abul Hossain Molla of Vitikandi Union.

Authorities are continuing investigations while the area remains under heightened security.

A Khulna court has ordered the imprisonment of Dr. Sheikh Baharul Alam, president of the Bangladesh Medical Association’s Khulna unit and former joint general secretary of the district Awami League, in a case involving embezzlement and fraud. The order was issued on Wednesday afternoon by Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Fariduzzaman of the Sonadanga Amli Court after a hearing in which Dr. Bahar was present.

According to court sources, the case was filed in 2025 under sections 406 and 420 of the Penal Code by Messrs. Lubna Jahan. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Advocate Jalal Uddin, stated that Dr. Bahar had been granted bail on April 9 on the condition of a settlement, but he failed to follow through. When the issue was raised again during the hearing, the court deemed his inaction as contempt and ordered his detention.

The complaint alleges that a large sum of money was misappropriated through financial transactions, and the victim was subjected to threats. Lubna Jahan’s husband, retired Lieutenant Colonel Md. Jahangir, claimed that several other cases involving fraud, financial irregularities, and family disputes are also pending against Dr. Bahar.

A national workshop titled “Transformation of Higher Education in Bangladesh: Roadmap for Sustainable Excellence,” organized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), concluded in Dhaka with a set of key recommendations to strengthen research, innovation, and skills development in universities. The event, held at Dhaka University’s Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building, brought together academics, researchers, industry representatives, policymakers, and civil society members. The recommendations include establishing career support centers, innovation hubs, and startup incubators, increasing budget allocations for education and research infrastructure, and making soft skills and ethics education mandatory.

Speakers emphasized the need to enhance research funding, expand PhD and postdoctoral opportunities, and create industry-financed research funds. They also called for improved teacher training, outcome-based education, and stronger university-industry collaboration. The workshop further proposed setting up technology transfer offices, international joint degree programs, and alumni-supported research funds to boost innovation.

The UGC chairman stated that the recommendations would serve as an effective roadmap for improving the quality, governance, and global competitiveness of Bangladesh’s higher education system.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on May 13, 2026, approved nine development projects with a total estimated cost of Tk 36,695.72 crore. Of this amount, Tk 36,490.93 crore will come from government funds and Tk 204.79 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources. The meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, was chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman.

The approved projects include three new, five revised, and one extended project. Among them are initiatives under the ministries of culture, health, ICT, social welfare, defense, housing and public works, water resources, and power, energy and mineral resources. Notable projects include the Padma Barrage (Phase 1), Chattogram City Outer Ring Road (5th revision), and infrastructure for Hi-Tech City-2. Senior ministers and government officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was also informed about two additional projects costing less than Tk 50 crore that had already been approved by the planning minister, including infrastructure development at Mymensingh Zilla School and construction of an airmen barrack complex at Kurmitola Air Base.

A joint convener of the Gafargaon upazila unit of Jubo Dal, Saleh Akram Khan Taslim, has been accused of forcibly taking over a commercial fish farm, attacking workers, looting fish, and issuing death threats in Mymensingh. The allegations were made at a press conference at the Mymensingh Press Club by freedom fighter Moin Khan and Tushar Khan, joint general secretary of the Gafargaon Government College unit of Chhatra Dal. The victims said they had leased land in Sholposhapila village under Pagla police station in January 2025 to establish the farm.

According to Moin Khan, Taslim had previously leased the same land but failed to pay rent from 2020 to 2023, including dues to a local mosque’s waqf property. After landowners canceled his lease, they signed a new agreement with Moin Khan. He alleged that Taslim later attacked the farm in September 2025, injuring Moin’s brother, and repeatedly looted fish worth about Tk 750,000 from February 2026 onward.

A case has been filed with Pagla police station and is under court trial. Moin Khan demanded recovery of the farm, compensation for losses, family security, and legal action against the accused. Taslim acknowledged a dispute over 22 kathas of land, saying the matter is before the court.