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.

A four-year-old girl named Fahima Akter was sexually assaulted and murdered in Sylhet after going out to buy biscuits. Police arrested her uncle, Zakir Hossain, from Sonatola village in Sylhet Sadar upazila on Monday night. Zakir, son of the late Tota Mia, reportedly confessed during initial questioning that he lured the child into his home, assaulted her, and then killed her. He allegedly wrapped the body in a scarf, placed it in a bag, and dumped it near a pond, claiming he was under the influence of drugs at the time.

Following news of the arrest, residents of the area erupted in anger. Late at night, locals surrounded the Jalalabad police station and staged protests, with some attacking and vandalizing the accused’s house. The incident has cast a shadow of grief and fear over the community. Police said the suspect is being held in custody and will be presented before court.

Fahima had gone missing on May 6 after leaving home to buy biscuits. Her body was recovered two days later near a pond close to her house.

Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam has announced a nationwide protest march on Friday, May 15, after the Juma prayers, opposing the US-Bangladesh trade agreement and alleged persecution of Muslims in West Bengal. The party will hold its main demonstration at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka. The announcement came from the party’s secretary general, Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi, during a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Tuesday.

Afendi criticized the trade agreement, claiming it imposes 131 conditions on Bangladesh but only six on the United States, calling it a “slave deal.” He alleged the deal was secretly signed just 72 hours before the national election and would negatively affect Bangladesh’s economy and policy independence. The party also demanded the cancellation of the UN Human Rights Commission’s country office agreement and presented a 10-point demand list, including price control, energy supply, anti-corruption measures, and ensuring fair prices for sacrificial animal hides.

Afendi condemned reported attacks on Muslims, mosques, and madrasas in West Bengal and urged maintaining communal harmony in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Primary and Mass Education is implementing multiple initiatives to modernize and improve the quality of primary education. Secretary Md. Sakhawat Hossain said the government is focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy, teacher training, and technology-based learning. He noted that while the student-teacher ratio is satisfactory, disparities remain between rural and urban schools, partly because many teachers prefer city postings.

To address this, the ministry is considering mandatory rural service for teachers during their careers and exploring the recruitment of para-teachers in remote areas. The government is also emphasizing moral and lifelong education, publishing research-based materials for teachers, and introducing digital tools such as projectors in over 65,000 schools to enhance classroom learning.

Hossain added that Bangladesh has raised its foundational literacy and numeracy rate from 32 to nearly 50 percent in 18 months, aiming for 70 percent this year and over 90 percent next year to align with global standards. These measures are intended to create skilled, ethical, and globally aware citizens through a more equitable and technology-driven education system.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested Md. Zahidul Islam, also known as Major Jahangir, the leader of the 'Major Jahangir Bahini', during an operation in the Sundarbans. The arrest took place early Tuesday night near Kalir Khal, adjacent to the Adachai Forest Office in Dakop upazila, as part of 'Operation Mangrove Shield'. Two single-barrel guns and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the raid.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the Coast Guard’s media officer, confirmed the arrest and stated that the operation was carried out under the direct instruction of the Home Minister. The Coast Guard has been maintaining a strict stance against all active forest bandits in the Sundarbans through ongoing operations titled 'Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans' and 'Operation Mangrove Shield'.

The arrest marks a continuation of the government’s intensified efforts to eliminate piracy and restore security in the Sundarbans region.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury announced that the government is taking steps to strengthen Bangladesh’s stock market, investment environment, and overall financial sector. He made the remarks on Tuesday, May 12, at a hotel in Dhaka during the announcement of the inaugural fund of Bangladesh Start-up Investment Company. The minister noted that foreign investors have shown interest in entering the Bangladeshi market.

He emphasized that the government will not interfere in the financial sector and that there will be no political influence in the allocation of investments. The statement reflects the government’s intention to promote transparency and investor confidence in the country’s financial system.

The announcement comes amid broader efforts to attract foreign investment and ensure a stable financial environment, as highlighted by the minister during the event.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized that without a time-appropriate education curriculum, it will be difficult for Bangladesh to remain competitive globally. Speaking at the University Grants Commission’s national workshop at Dhaka University’s Senate Building on Tuesday morning, he said students must focus on innovation rather than rote learning. The workshop was inaugurated to discuss the development and sustainable transformation of the country’s higher education system.

Rahman stated that the government aims to nurture talent instead of allowing brain drain, preparing students to face future challenges. He noted that unemployment remains high due to a lack of skill development alongside academic learning, and that efforts are underway to modernize the academic syllabus. The government plans to introduce innovation grants from college to university levels and make technical education mandatory from the school level.

He also called on educators to engage alumni established at home and abroad in advancing education and research, warning that reliance solely on traditional learning would make survival in a competitive world increasingly difficult.

The Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar, Touhiduzzaman Pavel, visited the Kawadighi Haor area in Rajnagar upazila to assess the damage to Boro paddy crops and monitor government assistance activities for affected farmers. During the visit, he spoke directly with farmers to understand their current conditions, the extent of losses, and the type of support they require.

He also gathered farmers’ opinions on the causes of rising water levels, possible protective measures for crops, and strategies to reduce future losses. The Deputy Commissioner inquired whether all affected farmers were included in the official assistance list and advised those not listed to contact the respective Upazila Nirbahi Officer. Later, he inspected the Kashempur Pump House, which is responsible for maintaining water drainage in the haor, and instructed officials to strengthen the ongoing drainage operations.

Officials from the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Agricultural Extension, along with the Rajnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, were present during the inspection.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) will be transformed into an effective, modern, and sustainable institution. Speaking at the 62nd board meeting of BFTI held at the Ministry of Commerce conference room on Tuesday, he said the institute would be developed to achieve financial independence and become a self-reliant knowledge center supporting the country’s international trade capacity.

The minister emphasized that Bangladesh must enhance its preparedness to face the complexities of global trade. To support this, a permanent expert panel will be formed under BFTI to assist in WTO dispute resolution, trade policy analysis, and bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations. The panel will include experienced trade experts, legal professionals, and researchers from both public and private sectors.

The meeting also recommended appointing a qualified Chief Executive Officer for BFTI and launching a postgraduate diploma program with University Grants Commission approval to develop skilled human resources in international trade, trade law, and policy research. Expanding research activities, strengthening training capacity, and building national and international research networks were also prioritized.

Mymensingh District Police has been recognized as the top performer in Bangladesh for its success in anti-drug operations and drug recovery activities. The award was presented during Police Week 2026 at a ceremony held at Rajarbagh Police Lines in Dhaka, where Inspector General of Police Md. Ali Hossain Fakir handed over the crest and certificate to Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan.

According to the report, Mymensingh police conducted continuous anti-drug drives across various upazilas over the past year, seizing large quantities of yaba, cannabis, heroin, and phensedyl. The district also intensified intelligence surveillance, filed multiple cases, and carried out arrests to dismantle drug networks. The national evaluation by the Police Headquarters ranked districts based on drug recovery, case resolution, arrests, and operational effectiveness, with Mymensingh securing first place in Group ‘A’.

Superintendent Kamrul Hasan stated that the district police follow a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and will continue strict operations with public cooperation to build a drug-free Mymensingh.

Masood Ghaus Aijazi, Assistant Director for International Affairs of Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami, paid a courtesy visit to Nurul Islam, the Central President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, at the organization’s central office. The meeting was reported on Tuesday through the group’s official Facebook page.

During the meeting, Aijazi inquired about various organizational activities of Chhatra Shibir and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. At the end of the visit, Nurul Islam presented a special honorary crest to the guest on behalf of the organization.

The meeting was attended by Shibir Secretary General Sibgatullah, Central Office Secretary Azizur Rahman Azad, and other leaders, according to the post.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and opposition chief whip, questioned the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) role in Hefazat-e-Islam’s May 5 movement. Speaking on Tuesday at the Institute of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka, he said the BNP should have participated in the movement. The remarks came during a discussion and documentary screening organized by the NCP-backed National Olama Alliance titled “Shapla Massacre; A Decade of Impunity.”

Nahid Islam stated that the mass killing had been portrayed as Hefazat’s rampage and that the group was labeled as terrorists and extremists. He argued that the lack of accountability for the Shapla massacre led to another mass killing in 2024, adding that many contributed to the circumstances behind both incidents.

He further commented that friendship cannot be built by erecting barbed-wire fences and killing people along the border, warning that the people of the country would one day remove those fences.

Bangladesh Railway has announced that all advance and return tickets for Eid-ul-Azha travel will be sold exclusively online. According to a notice issued on May 12, advance tickets for Eid journeys will be available from May 13 to May 17, while return tickets will be sold from May 21 to May 25. The tickets can only be purchased through the official Bangladesh Railway website and the 'Rail Sheba' mobile app.

The railway authority has urged passengers not to buy or sell tickets through any other individuals, organizations, or social media pages. It also warned travelers against making financial transactions outside the designated platforms, emphasizing that attempts to purchase tickets through unauthorized channels could lead to fraud.

This move aims to ensure transparency and prevent ticket-related scams during the busy Eid travel period, as the railway expects a high demand for tickets across the country.

Ambassadors and high commissioners from member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Tuesday. The courtesy meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. During the meeting, the OIC envoys congratulated Rahman on assuming office as Prime Minister and expressed their commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh across sectors including investment, trade, education, health, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.

Prime Minister Rahman thanked the OIC member states for their support on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh. He recalled the fraternal relations established during the tenure of late President Ziaur Rahman and expressed optimism about further deepening those ties. The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of people-to-people connections and sought continued OIC support in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

Envoys from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Palestine, Algeria, Brunei, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, and Libya attended the meeting, along with senior Bangladeshi officials.

Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Member of Parliament for Chapainawabganj-2 and Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami in Chapainawabganj district, made an unannounced visit to the Bholahat Upazila Health Complex during a meeting on healthcare quality improvement. The visit took place around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, where health officials, doctors, and staff were discussing service standards. The MP joined the meeting, reviewed hospital operations, patient care, and staff attendance, and gave directives to enhance healthcare services.

After the meeting, Dr. Rahman received dental treatment at the hospital’s dental department, interacted with patients, and gathered feedback on hospital conditions. He urged medical staff to work sincerely and responsibly to gain public trust and ensure accessible government healthcare for all.

Local residents and hospital visitors responded positively to the MP’s direct participation and treatment at the facility. Former Bholahat Upazila Vice Chairman Md. Lokman Ali said the visit would strengthen staff accountability and help identify and solve hospital issues more effectively.