The Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh is expanding the farmer card distribution program from 15 to 19 upazilas, with pilot implementation expected to begin in June 2026. A 13-member core committee met at the ministry to discuss potential challenges and future steps. The initiative, one of the government’s 31 election pledges, aims to provide cards to landless, marginal, and small farmers.

The program’s oversight is under discussion within the government. A prime minister’s adviser is working to bring the World Bank under the program’s supervision to ease financial pressure, while the agriculture minister prefers domestic management for equitable distribution. Pre-pilot phases revealed several issues, including land ownership complications and mismatches in beneficiary data during fund transfers.

The farmer card is designed to offer 10 types of benefits, including cash incentives, subsidized inputs, irrigation support, and easy loans. The government plans to distribute cards to 16.5 million farmers over four years at an estimated cost of 6.81 billion taka.

RAB-14 seized 46 sacks of government rice under the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) program in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur, allegedly stored for black market sale. The operation took place on Tuesday, May 12, at Shyamganj Kalibari Bazar in Sidhuli Union. The accused rice trader, Sajel, fled the scene during the raid. Authorities reported that the confiscated rice weighed around 1,380 kilograms and was handed over to Madarganj Model Police Station.

The raid was conducted based on secret information by RAB-14’s Jamalpur camp commander Major Labid Ahmed, with the presence of Madarganj Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rasel Dio. Police confirmed that a case has been filed against the fugitive trader, and efforts are ongoing to arrest him. The seized rice included 40 sacks of 30 kilograms each and six open sacks belonging to the Food Department.

Officials stated that the confiscated rice and empty government sacks were transferred to the police station, and similar operations against such irregularities will continue in the area.

A column published on 13 May 2026 in the Bangladeshi outlet 'Amar Desh' argues that recent discussions linking child deaths from measles to political failures are politically motivated. The writer, journalist Kakon Reza, criticizes actor Saju Khadem for a social media post about measles and accuses political opponents of using child illness and mortality to undermine the current government. The article cites a 2023 report from Prothom Alo referencing icddr,b data that 24,000 Bangladeshi children under five died of pneumonia in 2022.

The writer contends that long-ruling governments, particularly the Awami League and the Ershad regime, had decades to improve the health system but failed to establish adequate pediatric and specialized medical facilities. He contrasts this with the current administration, which he says has only recently taken office after a short interim period marked by protests and disruptions to vaccination programs.

The column concludes that blaming the new government for long-standing health sector deficiencies is a deliberate political tactic and urges focusing on solutions rather than partisan accusations.

Share trading of four listed non-bank financial institutions will continue on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) for now, according to DSE sources. The exchange confirmed that trading will proceed as usual on Wednesday, pending written instructions from Bangladesh Bank regarding the liquidation decision. DSE’s chief operating officer Shafiqul Islam said the exchange has sought clarification from the central bank and will act upon official communication once received.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh Bank’s board approved the closure or liquidation of five non-bank financial institutions—FAS Finance, Fareast Finance, Aviva Finance, Peoples Leasing, and International Leasing—starting in July. Among them, four are listed on the capital market. The decision followed extremely high default loan rates, ranging from 93 to nearly 100 percent, and the institutions’ failure to return depositors’ funds. The central bank plans to appoint administrators and allocate about Tk 5,000 crore in the next budget to repay individual depositors.

The liquidation will proceed under the Bank Resolution Act, which outlines procedures for restructuring or closing distressed institutions and settling creditor claims through asset sales.

Bangladesh and India are reassessing their bilateral relationship following political changes in Dhaka and evolving regional realities. The article argues that the two neighbors, long bound by an asymmetrical interdependence shaped by geography, trade, and security, are now navigating a new equation influenced by global power competition. India’s foreign secretary has emphasized mutual respect and people-centered ties, signaling recognition of the need for broader engagement beyond party-based alliances. Analysts describe this as a strategic recalibration after a period of mistrust between 2024 and 2026.

Bangladesh’s new government is pursuing a balanced foreign policy under its “Bangladesh First” approach, engaging simultaneously with the United States, China, and India. A recent trade deal with Washington lowering tariffs on Bangladeshi goods highlights this shift, while India remains vital for energy, connectivity, and regional stability. However, unresolved issues such as the Teesta water-sharing agreement and border incidents continue to test mutual trust.

The commentary concludes that the future of India-Bangladesh relations will depend on realism, mutual confidence, and domestic consensus in Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Sustainable stability requires both nations to prioritize pragmatic cooperation over emotional nationalism.

At least five people were injured in a violent attack at Haji Kachom Ali Fakir Super Market in Mulayd village of Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. after a dispute over unpaid dues between Faisal, owner of New Jamalpur Glass and Thai Aluminium Fixicate, and Rona Bhandari. According to allegations, Rona and a group of 30 to 40 people armed with local weapons attacked the shop, vandalized property, and looted goods.

Faisal claimed that Rona fired three rounds at him, but the shots missed. The attack caused panic in the area, and locals later recovered bullet shells and handed them over to police. Sreepur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nasir Ahmed confirmed that police visited the scene and said the matter is under investigation, with legal action to follow.

The incident has heightened tension in the local business community as police continue their inquiry into the violent confrontation.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against former Member of Parliament Shamim Osman and 11 others in a case concerning killings committed in Narayanganj during the July uprising. The three-member judicial panel, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, issued the order after formally framing charges of crimes against humanity. The tribunal also set June 10 for opening statements and the recording of the first witness testimony.

The tribunal rejected the defendants’ petitions seeking discharge before reading out the prosecution’s charges. Prosecutor Abdus Sattar Palowan presented three specific charges against the accused, while defense lawyers had earlier argued for dismissal of the case. The tribunal had previously postponed the order scheduled for Tuesday before delivering it on Wednesday.

The accused include Shamim Osman’s son Imtinan Osman Ayon, nephew Azmeri Osman, and several local political figures and associates from Narayanganj. The case marks a significant step in the tribunal’s ongoing proceedings related to crimes against humanity.

Reconditioned car imports through Bangladesh’s Chattogram Port have fallen by 55 percent in March and April 2026 compared to the same period last year. The decline began after a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran in late February, which disrupted global markets and raised fuel prices. In 2025, the port handled an average of 1,200 cars per month, but this year’s March and April saw only 497 and 744 units respectively. The port’s car sheds, which usually remain full, are now largely empty.

Industry figures attribute the slump to multiple factors including the Middle East conflict, rising fuel costs, and a slowdown in domestic economic activity. Former BARVIDA secretary Habibur Rahman said reduced consumer purchasing power and stalled business conditions have sharply cut vehicle sales and imports. Government and corporate car purchases have also declined due to halted loan facilities and project suspensions.

Customs officials reported that revenue from reconditioned car imports dropped from about Tk 800 crore in the first four months of 2025 to Tk 545 crore in the same period this year, reflecting the broader economic strain on the sector.

Residents of Fatullah in Narayanganj have been gripped by fear following a series of gas explosions that injured nine people from two families within days. On May 11, a blast in a rented house at Kutubpur Lakibazar burned four members of one family, while a similar explosion on May 10 in Giridhara injured five others. Witnesses said gas had accumulated inside the houses before the blasts, which occurred when stoves were lit early in the morning.

Local residents blamed the incidents on illegal gas connections, fluctuating pressure in the industrial zone, irregular supply, and negligence. They said gas often returns late at night after daytime shortages, causing leaks when stoves are left open. Workers added that irregular factory operations affect gas pressure in residential lines. Officials from Titas Gas and the Fire Service confirmed that investigations are underway but have not yet determined the exact causes.

Residents demanded the removal of illegal connections, regular monitoring, and awareness campaigns to prevent further accidents, warning that continued negligence could lead to greater loss of life.

A Jamalpur court has ordered four suspended Awami League leaders to be sent to jail after rejecting their bail petitions. The order was issued on Tuesday afternoon by Chief Judicial Magistrate Shariful Haque following a hearing. The accused are Anwar Hossain, Tajul Islam, Mostafa Mintu, and Abu Haman Pintu, who serves as the general secretary of the party’s Ward No. 5 unit.

According to court sources, the four face multiple cases, including charges of sabotage and illegal possession of weapons. They are also accused of carrying out an armed attack on a student rally during the July Revolution’s anti-discrimination movement. After remaining in hiding for an extended period, the leaders surrendered before the court and sought bail.

Jamalpur Lawyers’ Association General Secretary Rishad Rezwan Babu confirmed that the court rejected their bail applications and ordered them to be taken into custody.

Bangladesh Bank has launched a comprehensive review of all bank loans exceeding Tk 20 crore disbursed since July 2025. The initiative, directed by Governor Mostakur Rahman, aims to verify whether these large loans are reaching genuine new entrepreneurs or being diverted to previously controversial or fraudulent entities. The central bank’s relevant department has already begun the scrutiny process, with a report to be submitted to the governor upon completion.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, total bank loans stood at Tk 17.77 trillion at the end of December, of which Tk 8.22 trillion involved loans above Tk 20 crore. The review follows earlier discussions under former governor Ahsan H. Mansur, who could not implement the plan before his contract was terminated. The move comes amid intensified efforts to trace and recover funds allegedly siphoned abroad by six major business groups during the former Awami League government.

Several affected banks have signed non-disclosure agreements with multinational firms to identify and recover overseas assets. The review is part of broader financial accountability measures initiated after the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024.

Bangladesh Bank’s board has given preliminary approval to close or liquidate five non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) starting in July 2026. The decision was taken at a board meeting chaired by Governor Mostakur Rahman. The institutions affected are FAS Finance, Fareast Finance, Aviva Finance, Peoples Leasing, and International Leasing, all of which have default loan ratios between 93 and nearly 100 percent. The central bank cited their failure to recover defaulted loans and repay depositors as the reason for the move.

According to a central bank official, the closures will proceed under the Bank Resolution Act, with administrators and additional officers appointed to oversee the process. The government has pledged to allocate about Tk 5,000 crore in the upcoming budget to repay individual depositors. The law outlines how troubled institutions may be merged, restructured, or closed, and how their assets will be sold to repay creditors.

The decision follows earlier notices to 20 NBFIs with high default rates. After several reviews, the list was narrowed to five institutions now slated for closure.

Khelafat Majlis has strongly condemned Israel and India following the deaths of Bangladeshi nationals in two separate incidents. According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the party’s Amir Maulana Abdul Basit Azad and Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader denounced the killing of two Bangladeshis in a drone attack by the Israeli Defense Forces in Lebanon on May 11, and the shooting of two others by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) at Brahmanbaria on May 8.

The leaders described Israel as a destabilizing force responsible for widespread violence and oppression, accusing it of targeting even migrant Bangladeshi workers abroad. They demanded that the Bangladesh government take effective measures to ensure the safety of expatriate citizens. Regarding India, the statement alleged that the BSF’s actions were unjustified and aimed at intimidating Bangladesh. The party also criticized India for border killings, illegal push-ins, and smuggling activities that allegedly create instability along the frontier.

Khelafat Majlis urged India to immediately stop border killings, compensate the victims’ families, and build a genuinely friendly relationship with Bangladesh based on equality and mutual respect.

National Citizens Party (NCP) Office Secretary (Joint Member Secretary) Saleh Uddin Sifat is set to visit South Korea to participate as a speaker at the Gwangju Democracy Forum 2026. The event will take place in Gwangju city and is organized by the May 18 Foundation. According to NCP’s Central Election Committee Media Secretary Yasir Arafat, Sifat is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the international conference.

The forum will feature six young activists and leaders from Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Mexico, and Bangladesh. Sifat’s presentation topic is titled “From Youth Struggles to Uprising: A Generational Awakening,” focusing on how Bangladeshi youth have developed an independent political stance beyond traditional structures and mobilized for democratic transformation. He will also discuss issues of justice, institutional reform, human rights, and regional visions for South Asia.

During his South Korea visit, Sifat will also attend a meeting with members of the NCP Diaspora Alliance in Seoul, alongside NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud, who is already in Korea on a separate invitation.

The election for the 2026–27 term of the Supreme Court Bar Association began on Wednesday, May 13, and will continue through Thursday, May 14. Voting runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with a one-hour break at noon. This year’s election introduces QR-coded ballots, voter verification, and digital vote counting. Despite the technological upgrades, enthusiasm among general lawyers appears lower than in previous years.

Three main lawyer panels are contesting the election: the BNP-backed Blue Panel, the Jamaat-backed Green Panel, and the NCP-backed Red-Green Panel. Notably, this is the first time in the association’s history that no Awami League-backed panel is participating. Fourteen executive committee positions are being contested, including president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, joint secretaries, and members.

Candidates from each panel expressed optimism about their chances, while some raised concerns about voter apathy and transparency. Independent candidates are also participating for several posts. The election committee, chaired by Justice Miftah Uddin Chowdhury, previously held a candidate introduction meeting, and the final list of valid candidates was announced on April 28.