A former leader of the Badarganj municipal unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Gopal Banerjee, was arrested late Monday night from a border area in Naogaon in connection with the murder of a van driver in Rangpur’s Badarganj. The arrest was made during a joint operation by the Rapid Action Battalion and police. According to police, Banerjee was brought to Badarganj Police Station and will be sent to court after legal procedures.

The murder occurred on April 5 of the previous year amid clashes between two factions of the BNP over local dominance and the construction of a tin shop. During the violence, a worker named Lavlu Mia was killed, leading to two murder cases. Later that day, a van driver named Ariful Islam was stabbed to death after being mistaken for a rival group member. His father filed a case naming 21 accused and several unidentified persons.

Following the arrest, the Rangpur district Chhatra Dal expelled Gopal Banerjee and another leader, Mujahidul Islam Samrat, citing involvement in violent and disciplinary breaches. Police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

A joint operation was carried out at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) to ensure safe food for students. The drive, conducted on Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., involved the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, and the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority. Five establishments were fined a total of 16,000 taka under the Consumer Rights Act for various irregularities.

The inspection, initiated at the request of RUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. S. M. Abdur Razzak, found violations including poor hygiene, expired food storage, and use of unauthorized food colors. Fatik Jolk was fined 3,000 taka, while Charu Adda, Bytes and Brew Life Bakery, and the RUET Cafeteria were each fined 2,000 taka. Bangla Tiffin Canteen received a 7,000 taka fine for insect contamination, and banned packaging materials were seized from Shahidul’s Tong.

Officials said the campaign aimed to improve food quality on campus and would continue. Some students welcomed the initiative but expressed concern about maintaining consistent monitoring and food standards.

The Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a recruitment notice to appoint 382 foresters. Applications can be submitted until June 10, 2026, either by post or directly to the designated box on the second floor (Level-1) of the Forest Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka. The position offers a salary range of 9,700 to 23,490 taka under grade-15, with an application fee of 100 taka.

Applicants must hold a Diploma in Forestry and meet physical requirements of 163 cm height and 76 cm chest measurement. The eligible age range for candidates is 18 to 32 years. Application forms are available for download from the Forest Department’s official website and must be sent to the Chief Conservator of Forests at the department’s Agargaon office in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

The recruitment aims to strengthen the department’s workforce in forest management and conservation activities across Bangladesh, as outlined in the official notice.

Police in Neserabad, Pirojpur arrested three individuals, including Md. Russel Khan, who is accused in five cases, during a late-night operation on Monday, May 11. The arrests took place near Green Road in East Sohagdal village, where officers recovered 20 yaba tablets from the suspects. The detainees were identified as Md. Russel Khan, Md. Mehrab Hossain, and Shakir Molla, all residents of South Kaurikhara village.

According to police, Russel Khan had an outstanding arrest warrant in one of his five cases. Acting on a tip-off about a yaba transaction in the Inderhat Green Road area, police conducted a raid. When the suspects attempted to flee, officers chased and detained them, recovering the drugs during a search.

Neserabad Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mehedi Hasan stated that anti-narcotics operations are ongoing. The three detainees were charged under the Narcotics Control Act and sent to the Pirojpur court on Tuesday morning.

According to the World Health Organization, there are about 29 million nurses worldwide, yet a global shortage of 4.5 million nurses could emerge by 2030. In Bangladesh, the ratio of doctors to nurses remains far below international standards, with 1.1 nurses per doctor instead of the recommended three. The country currently has 153,613 registered nurses, including midwives, compared to 123,853 doctors, 12,940 dentists, and 30,795 medical technologists.

Bangladesh has 6.6 nurses per 10,000 patients, significantly lower than Nepal’s 40.9 and the Maldives’ 50.2. Within South Asia, only Pakistan and Afghanistan have fewer nurses. Despite growing interest in nursing, the number of professionals remains insufficient to meet national demand. The Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council reports 464 nursing institutes and colleges, up from 87 in 2010, but only 44,858 nurses are employed in government service.

Experts suggest that focusing on specialized training in areas such as ICU and operating theater nursing could help Bangladesh tap into the global market for skilled nurses while strengthening its own healthcare system.

An assistant registrar of Khulna University’s Business Administration Discipline, Yusuf Raihan, has been accused of embezzling around Tk 1.8 million by forging the signatures of the discipline head and course coordinator. The alleged fraud involved funds from the Executive MBA (EMBA) program, including semester and examination fees. The incident came to light on May 11 when students discovered irregularities during semester registration checks. Raihan has reportedly gone into hiding since the allegations surfaced.

Professor Dr. Md. Nur Alam, head of the discipline, confirmed that the assistant registrar withdrew money from the bank using forged signatures. He said two investigation committees were formed to probe the matter, and their reports are expected to be submitted to the university administration soon for legal and administrative action. Course coordinator Professor S. M. Zahidur Rahman also stated that the funds were withdrawn through check forgery.

Students expressed frustration, saying they had regularly paid fees through Raihan and were unaware of the misappropriation until the registration discrepancies appeared.

A father and son were killed when a bus hit their motorcycle on the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in Feni’s Hafizia area on Tuesday. The victims were identified as Nurul Alam, an ambulance driver at Feni Diabetes Hospital, and his son Nur Hasnat Nirab. They were returning home to Rajapur village in Sonagazi upazila after completing duty at the hospital when the accident occurred.

According to police, both victims died on the spot. The bodies were recovered and sent to the morgue of Feni General Hospital. The bus driver fled the scene, and police have launched an operation to arrest him. Legal proceedings are underway, and both vehicles involved in the accident have been taken into police custody.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the collision and the circumstances leading to the driver’s escape.

An ancient Vishnu idol made of black stone was recovered during a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) operation in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur on the night of May 11. Two individuals, Abdur Rouf, 62, and Osman Gani, 54, were arrested from the Gobindapur Natun Bazar area of Shibrampur Union. The idol, measuring about 16.5 inches in length and 7.5 inches in width, was found inside a bag during a search of Abdur Rouf’s fertilizer and pesticide shop. Two mobile phones were also seized from the scene.

According to RAB’s preliminary interrogation, the detainees admitted to collecting the idol with the intention of smuggling it to a neighboring country. Birganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam confirmed that a case has been filed under the Antiquities Preservation Act. The arrested individuals were sent to court on May 12.

The recovery highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to prevent the illegal trade of cultural and historical artifacts in the region.

Police in Dhaka have arrested three top muggers involved in a recent robbery and murder case in Dhanmondi. The arrests took place early Monday morning during a joint operation by Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur police at the Town Hall area of Mohammadpur. According to police, the suspects attacked officers with weapons when they attempted to evade capture, prompting police to fire in self-defense, injuring one of the attackers.

Deputy Commissioner N M Nasiruddin of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division said the operation was based on intelligence linked to a case filed on April 5 at Dhanmondi Police Station. The arrested individuals are Palash Sarkar alias Palash, identified as the ringleader and a murder suspect, Sakib Sarkar, and Biplob Hossain. Police recovered weapons, eight mobile phones, and a motorcycle used in the crimes.

Preliminary investigation confirmed that the detainees are members of a major mugging gang operating in Dhaka. Police said legal proceedings are underway, and the injured officer is receiving medical treatment.

A canal excavation program was inaugurated in Patnitala upazila of Naogaon on Tuesday at 11 a.m. as part of Bangladesh’s nationwide ‘Canal Re-excavation Program’ initiated in March 2026. The program, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, aims to enhance agricultural production, improve irrigation, and reduce waterlogging across 54 districts through the excavation of 63 canals. The Patnitala event was inaugurated by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rifat Ara, with local officials, political representatives, and residents in attendance.

Under this project, a 1.80-kilometer canal stretching from the brickfield near Chakabdal (Kanchipukur) in Patnitala Union to the Abedia sluice gate will be re-excavated at an approved cost of 5.46 million taka, with completion expected by June 30, 2026. The initiative seeks to ensure water flow to farmland, improve monsoon drainage, and support fish cultivation and rural economic growth.

The program is modeled after the 1977 voluntary canal excavation initiative introduced by former President Ziaur Rahman and is expected to have a positive impact on rural livelihoods.

Bus operations in Habiganj have been suspended from Tuesday morning after the Habiganj Motor Owners Group decided to stop services in protest against the obstruction of nonstop Habiganj–Sylhet buses in Moulvibazar. As a result, no buses have departed from Habiganj to any destination, causing severe inconvenience to passengers.

According to the group’s general secretary, Sohel Chowdhury, since Sunday morning around 35 to 40 buses have been detained at Sherpur by people allegedly linked to Moulvibazar district BNP’s member secretary, Abdur Rahim Ripon. About 200 workers are reportedly stranded in unsafe conditions. The decision to suspend services was made on Monday night. When contacted, Ripon declined to comment, saying he was in a meeting.

Habiganj Deputy Commissioner Dr. G.M. Sarfaraz said he had spoken with his Moulvibazar counterpart and requested immediate action. A meeting with transport owners and workers in Moulvibazar was scheduled for 2 p.m. Meanwhile, passengers have resorted to using CNG-run vehicles to reach Shayestaganj, where fares have reportedly increased.

Mosharaf Hossain Rafi, aged 22, confessed in a Feni court to killing his mother with a knife in Daganbhuiyan. He gave his statement under Section 164 before Senior Judicial Magistrate Shahidul Islam on May 11, 2026. According to police, Rafi admitted that he attacked his mother, Lucky Begum, out of anger and frustration over feeling deprived of family affection and normal treatment.

In his confession, Rafi stated that he only smoked cigarettes but was often labeled as a drug addict and delinquent by his family, which caused him mental distress. On the night of the incident, after his mother pushed him away during a conversation, he stabbed her. When his sister Mithila Mostafa Sahara witnessed the attack, he stabbed her as well, and later injured his father, Mostafa Bhuiyan, who tried to intervene.

Rafi also revealed that he had ordered two knives online days earlier to intimidate his family. His aunt, Sharifa Begum, filed a murder case naming him as the sole accused. Police recovered two blood-stained knives as evidence, and Rafi was sent to jail following the court’s order.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman stated that crimes committed during the previous 15-and-a-half-year rule of the Awami League government, including enforced disappearances, killings, embezzlement, money laundering, and human rights violations, will never become time-barred. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon at a weekly press briefing at the Secretariat’s Press Information Department conference room, emphasizing that the current democratic government is committed to ensuring justice through proper legal procedures.

During the briefing, the adviser also addressed other issues. He said an international-standard committee is being formed to investigate why measles vaccines were not procured and to examine child deaths linked to the disease. He added that any punishable offenses found will be dealt with accordingly and that there is no need for a state of emergency over measles. Additionally, he announced plans for a new crude oil refinery capable of processing 300,000 tons annually and said the government will review a recent agreement with the United States to assess its benefits and potential risks to national interests.

The adviser noted that the agreement could be canceled with six months’ notice if necessary, and the government will thoroughly evaluate all aspects before making decisions.

Armed robbers looted valuables worth about Tk 1.8 million after holding a family hostage in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar early Tuesday. The incident occurred at the residence of Professor Abu Taher Sikder in Majherpara area of Laksharchar Union. According to his son Kamrul Ahsan, five to six masked men entered the house around 3:30 a.m., tied him up, and held his mother and wife at gunpoint before taking gold ornaments, cash, and a mobile phone.

Kamrul Ahsan said he reported the incident to the national emergency helpline 999 at around 6 a.m., after which a police team arrived at 8 a.m. to question the family. Later, police asked him to visit the station for further inquiry. Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Monir Hossain confirmed that a team had visited the scene and that an investigation was underway.

Police said legal action would follow based on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

A feature published on May 12, 2026, explores the children’s literature of Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh’s national poet. Known primarily as the ‘Rebel Poet,’ Nazrul wrote extensively for readers of all ages, including numerous poems for children. The article revisits several of his beloved works such as ‘Prabhati,’ ‘Khoka’r Shadh,’ ‘Lichu Chor,’ ‘Khuki o Kathberali,’ and ‘Khoka’r Buddhi,’ illustrating his playful imagination and emotional depth. His poems often depict the innocence of childhood, the bond between mother and child, and the beauty of nature.

The article notes that Nazrul’s childlike spirit and creative versatility made his works enduringly popular among young readers. Some of his poems, including ‘Prabhati’ and ‘Khoka’r Shadh,’ have been included in primary school curricula. Through humor, rhythm, and vivid imagery, Nazrul enriched Bangla literature and inspired generations of children to appreciate poetry.

The feature concludes by reaffirming Nazrul Islam’s place as one of the foremost figures who shaped and elevated Bangla literary heritage.