At the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka, Arisha Afroz, mother of slain school student Shahid Ashikul Islam, gave her testimony as the fifth witness in the case concerning the killing of 28 people during the July Revolution in Rampura. The hearing took place before a three-member judicial panel led by Chairman Golam Mortuza Majumdar, with Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members.

In her statement, Arisha Afroz described how her 14-year-old son, a ninth-grade student at Bonoshree Nibrash Madrasa, joined demonstrators after Friday prayers on July 19, 2024. She recounted seeing protesters shot as security forces opened fire, and later identified her son’s body at a hospital, where doctors confirmed he had died from a gunshot wound to the head. She alleged that several officials, including a Border Guard Bangladesh officer, were involved in the shooting and demanded justice for her son’s death.

The tribunal proceedings are part of an ongoing case against four accused officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Redwanul Islam, over the Rampura killings.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited the grave of martyr Osman Hadi after attending the wedding ceremony of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem. The visit took place following the ceremony held at the Dhaka University Central Jame Mosque. Party leaders and activists, including Member of Parliament Nurul Islam Bulbul, accompanied him during the visit. After paying respects, special prayers and supplications were offered for the departed soul.

Earlier, the wedding ceremony of Sadiq Kayem was attended by various political and social figures, marking a gathering of diverse participants at the university mosque. The event and subsequent grave visit reflected the presence of senior Jamaat leaders in social and commemorative activities.

The report did not specify further details about the duration of the visit or any additional remarks made by the participants.

Twelve people were burned in an explosion caused by a gas leak at the canteen of the JERA Meghna Ghat power plant in Sonargaon, Narayanganj, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The injured were taken to the Burn Institute in Dhaka for treatment. The victims include both power plant officials and canteen staff.

According to colleagues, the explosion occurred during lunchtime when employees were eating at the canteen. Flames and heat caused burns to the hands, faces, and legs of at least twelve people. Burn Institute resident surgeon Shawon Bin Rahman confirmed that twelve patients had been admitted and their burn percentages were being assessed.

The plant’s safety officer, Fakhrul Islam, stated that four of the injured were canteen workers while the rest were plant officials. He suggested that the incident might have occurred because a gas stove was left on after cooking, and when someone lit a flame, the explosion took place.

Police in Chattogram recovered the body of a 27-year-old man, Abu Kausar, found hanging from the Sagorika flyover on Tuesday evening. Despite widespread social media rumors suggesting murder, police stated that CCTV footage, forensic examination, and other evidence indicate suicide. The footage reportedly shows Kausar walking alone onto the flyover before taking his own life. Officers said no signs of struggle or external injuries were found on the body.

Kausar, a resident of the Akbar Shah area, was described in several social media posts as a banned Chhatra League leader, and some political pages claimed he was murdered. The incident quickly drew national attention. However, police said they have no verified information about his political affiliation, and his family did not file any murder complaint. Instead, they initially tried to take the body without an autopsy, which was later completed at police request.

Police reiterated that all evidence supports suicide and dismissed online claims as baseless, emphasizing that their findings are based on physical and forensic proof.

The Padma Barrage Project has received final approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chair Tareq Rahman on Wednesday at the Secretariat. The first phase of the project, proposed by the Ministry of Water Resources, will be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board between this year and June 2033 at a cost of Tk 344.97 billion, fully funded by the government. The total estimated cost of the entire project is Tk 504.43 billion.

According to planning commission sources, the project aims to mitigate dry-season water shortages caused by the Farakka Barrage by storing about 2,900 million cubic meters of water in the Padma River. The stored water will help revive five rivers—Hisna-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, Chandana-Barasia, Baral, and Ichamati—by supplying around 800 cubic meters per second during the dry season. The first phase includes constructing a 2.1-kilometer barrage at Pangsha in Rajbari with 78 spillways, 18 under-sluice gates, two fish passes, and a navigation lock.

The project is expected to enhance agriculture and fisheries production and benefit 19 districts across four divisions in its initial phase, with further expansion planned in later stages.

A Chattogram court has ordered the transfer of a case involving violence, vandalism, and the murder of lawyer Advocate Saiful Islam Alif to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). The case was previously under the Chattogram Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB). The order was issued on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, by Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Bakar Siddique. The case was filed by Alif’s brother, Jane Alam, following the unrest that erupted after the bail rejection of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a sedition case.

According to court sources, the DB had been investigating the case since the violent incidents at the Chattogram court premises on November 26, 2024, but made little progress. Dissatisfaction with the investigation led the plaintiff to request a change of investigating agency. During the hearing, the court found the DB’s explanation unsatisfactory and ordered the PBI to take over for a more impartial investigation.

The case names 116 individuals and 400–500 unidentified suspects, including Chinmoy Krishna Das. Despite the large number of accused, no arrests have been made so far, prompting the court’s decision to shift the investigation.

An illegal stone storage and trading operation along the Dhaka–Bogura highway in Ghurka, Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj, is obstructing traffic and raising accident risks. Local residents allege that stolen stones from northern regions are openly bought and sold on both sides of the highway, with piles occupying parts of the road and making vehicle movement hazardous.

A field visit revealed rows of stone heaps narrowing the road and endangering drivers. Local shopkeeper Abdus Salam said most stones are purchased illicitly from truck drivers, and several individuals are involved in the trade year-round without administrative intervention. Residents claim the activity is entirely illegal and expanding due to a lack of monitoring and enforcement.

Hatikhumrul Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Md Ismail Hossain stated that the illegal storage and sale of stones are under investigation and that necessary action will be taken soon.

Police have arrested Kazi Jahanara Parvin, the general secretary of the banned Women’s Awami League unit of Syedpur municipality in Nilphamari, in connection with a farmer murder case. She was detained on Tuesday night from a mediation meeting at Gol Chattar in Syedpur. Parvin previously served as a reserved female councilor of the municipality. The arrest was confirmed on Wednesday by Officer-in-Charge Zillur Rahman of Nilphamari Sadar Police Station.

According to the case details, she was arrested in connection with the killing of a farmer named Siddiq Ali, who was allegedly run over by a vehicle in Ramganj, Nilphamari Sadar. The case was filed on October 22, 2024, by the victim’s son. Former Member of Parliament Asaduzzaman Noor, district Awami League president Dewan Kamal Ahmed, general secretary Advocate Momtazul Haque, and 202 others were named as accused, along with 1,000 to 1,200 unidentified individuals.

The case statement mentions that the complainant could not file the case earlier because the Awami League was in power at that time.

A report by Dr. Sheikh Sadiul Islam, published on May 13, 2026, highlights that prolonged mobile phone use is causing increased pressure on the neck, a condition known as 'text neck syndrome'. The article notes that around 65–70 percent of people experience neck pain at some point in their lives, and 20–30 percent of adults suffer from it annually. The problem is growing rapidly among young people due to extended use of mobile phones and computers.

The report explains that when the head tilts forward, the effective weight on the neck increases significantly—from about 12 kilograms at a 15-degree tilt to as much as 25–27 kilograms at 60 degrees. This added strain can lead to chronic pain, stiffness, headaches, nerve compression, and cervical spine degeneration. Many young patients are now seeking medical help for such conditions.

To prevent these issues, the article advises maintaining proper posture, holding the phone at eye level, taking regular breaks, exercising the neck and shoulders, and avoiding high pillows during sleep.

July Records, an organization founded in late December 2024, is working to preserve the memories and experiences of families of martyrs, injured individuals, and eyewitnesses of the July Revolution. Led by Chairman Kazi Wali Ullah, General Secretary Sulaim Mahmud, and Treasurer Sanjidul Alam Sagar, the group began its journey in Anwara, Chattogram, by interviewing an injured participant. It has since expanded its work nationwide, collecting testimonies that capture both historical facts and emotional narratives.

The team conducts two to three field trips each month, recording interviews primarily with mobile phones and microphones. They focus on the interviewees’ lives before and after the movement, emotional experiences, and detailed accounts of events. So far, July Records has gathered over 200 interviews and published 17 selected ones in a book titled “July Boyan,” which highlights stories of sacrifice and resilience, including those of martyr Nur Mostafa and worker martyr Mohammad Faruk.

Despite limited resources, July Records’ documentation efforts are being recognized as a significant contribution to preserving Bangladesh’s history of mass movements for future generations.

In April 2026, Bangladesh recorded 586 transport-related accidents that left 563 people dead and 1,279 injured, according to a report released on May 13 by the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association. The report detailed that 527 road accidents caused 510 deaths and 1,268 injuries, 54 rail accidents killed 49 people, and five waterway accidents claimed four lives. The highest number of road accidents occurred in Chattogram Division, while Mymensingh Division saw the fewest.

The association’s accident monitoring cell compiled the data from media reports, noting that actual casualty figures could be higher. It identified multiple causes behind the accidents, including unregulated movement of motorcycles and battery-run rickshaws, lack of road signs and lighting, faulty vehicles, reckless driving, and poor enforcement of traffic laws. The report also analyzed accident distribution across highways, regional roads, and urban areas.

To reduce accidents, the association recommended expanding technology use on roads, improving driver training, ensuring vehicle fitness through digital systems, enhancing road lighting, and establishing a road accident research unit under the Ministry of Road Transport.

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddique has been exempted from personal appearance in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, his lawyer submitted an application before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana’s court seeking permission for representation through counsel. After the hearing, the court granted the request, allowing Siddique to be represented by his lawyer. The court also scheduled July 24 as the next date for submission of the investigation report, as the investigating officer failed to present it on the scheduled day.

According to the case details, the charges stem from an incident on August 28 of the previous year at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, where a program organized by the group “Manch 71” was disrupted by a group of individuals. Police later detained 16 people, including Siddique and journalist Panna, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Siddique and Panna were later granted interim bail by the High Court, which was upheld by the Appellate Division.

Siddique’s lawyer confirmed that although the court accepted the exemption request, his client expressed willingness to continue attending court in person.

A young man from Putijana Namapara village in Fulbaria, Mymensingh, was killed in a drone attack on May 2 in a Russia-controlled border area of Ukraine. The victim, identified as A. Rahim, 30, died alongside another Bangladeshi and a Nigerian national. Rahim had traveled to Russia in October of the previous year and secretly joined the Russian army on April 7 of the current year.

The news of Rahim’s death reached his family on Monday evening through his friend Limon Dutta, who also serves in the same Russian military camp. Limon was seriously injured in the same attack, losing a leg and is currently receiving hospital treatment. Rahim’s mother, Romicha Khatun, expressed deep grief, saying her son had gone abroad to support the family financially. His father, Azizul Haque, urged the government to help bring back his son’s body.

Fulbaria police officer-in-charge Md. Rashedul Hasan stated that they have not yet received any official message from the government but assured that the family would receive maximum support.

Former minister, freedom fighter, and senior Awami League politician Engineer Mosharraf Hossain passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 10:09 a.m. while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 83 years old. His eldest son, Sabedur Rahman Sumu, confirmed the death and said that arrangements were being made to bring the body to Mirsarai.

According to the report, Mosharraf Hossain had been suffering from various age-related complications and had been receiving treatment at Square Hospital in the capital for several days. He was a long-time member of the Awami League and served as a member of the party’s presidium as well as the Minister for Housing and Public Works.

His death has cast a shadow of mourning over the political arena. The family stated that details regarding his funeral and burial would be announced later.

A man named Al Amin, aged 26, drowned in the Brahmaputra River after reportedly jumping into the water while fleeing an anti-drug operation in Jamalpur on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred in the Nandina area of Ranagacha Union. Fire Service divers recovered his body about four and a half hours later, around 5 p.m.

According to police, local sources, and the Fire Service, officers from the Department of Narcotics Control conducted the operation in the area. Several young men jumped into the river during the raid; four managed to swim ashore, but Al Amin went missing midstream. He was the son of Mukta Mia from Bashchara Union in Jamalpur Sadar upazila.

The Department of Narcotics Control stated that they were unaware of anyone jumping into the river and confirmed that five people were arrested during the operation. Police later received the recovered body from the Fire Service and sent it to the hospital morgue for autopsy.