The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has issued an urgent directive to ensure cleanliness across all government primary schools in Bangladesh. On Monday, May 11, district primary education officers were instructed to take necessary measures to maintain hygiene and order in school premises.

According to the directive, recent inspections by higher authorities revealed various irregularities and mismanagement in cleanliness at several government primary schools. These shortcomings were said to have created negative public perceptions and disrupted the proper learning environment. To address this, the ministry emphasized the need for regular cleaning and maintenance of school grounds and facilities.

The directive also called for routine cleaning of school rooftops and removal of weeds growing on building cornices to maintain the overall condition of school infrastructure.

A Jamaat-e-Islami activist was shot in front of his home in Begumganj upazila of Noakhali on Sunday night. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. in Ayubpur village under Amanullahpur Union. The victim, 24-year-old Mainul Islam alias Mahin, was talking with friends when four to five masked assailants arrived in two CNG-run autorickshaws and opened fire, hitting him in the right knee. Locals rescued him and took him to Noakhali General Hospital, and he was later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Local Jamaat leaders alleged that the attack might have been politically motivated and demanded immediate arrest of those responsible. They also claimed that there were attempts to destabilize the western part of Begumganj. Police, however, said preliminary information suggested the injured man was not actively involved in any political organization. Officers recovered an empty cartridge from the scene and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the attackers.

The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the motive and apprehend the suspects.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain, declared that he would not tolerate any persecution of minorities in the country and would resign from his post if necessary. He made the statement on Monday during a dialogue organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF), responding to questions about the government’s stance on recent incidents of violence against Muslims in West Bengal, India.

The minister said India is a democratic nation and a large country, expressing hope that its government would ensure safety and inclusion for minorities. He emphasized that events in India should not influence Bangladesh and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting all religious communities. He added that the Prime Minister is aware of the issue. Hossain also alleged that a deep conspiracy is being carried out against the BNP government and urged vigilance against those seeking instability.

He further highlighted the media’s role in promoting democracy, combating misinformation, and supporting government initiatives, including welfare programs and Hajj management improvements.

Police in Sunamganj arrested three individuals during an attempted robbery at Lalpur Bridge in Gaurarang Union on Monday morning. The arrests took place around 10 a.m., and officers recovered bullets, a sharp knife, and 200 grams of chili powder from the suspects. The detainees were identified as Enamul Haque Badsha, Shamimur Islam Shimul, and Niktara Begum.

According to police, Enamul Haque Badsha, son of Abdul Mosabbir from Arfin Nagar, is a key accused in a Dhaka Uttara Bank robbery case and faces 18 separate cases. The attempted robbery occurred when Shahid Mia of Miar Char village was returning home after withdrawing money from a bank. Locals and traffic sergeant Monirul Islam intervened to protect him, after which police led by Sub-Inspectors Ashraf and Zahir arrested the suspects and took them to the station. They were later sent to court.

The police operation prevented the robbery and led to the capture of a suspect with a long criminal record, according to the report.

An elderly man was killed in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj late Sunday night, reportedly due to previous enmity. According to police and local residents, assailants broke into the house of Sobahan Pramanik in Dattapara Elongjani village under Lahiri Mohanpur Union and hacked him to death before fleeing. His wife, Shefali Khatun, was also attacked and injured and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. Locals detained one suspect and handed him over to police.

Officer-in-Charge Moktaruzzaman of Ullapara Model Police Station said the body was recovered and sent for autopsy. He stated that the exact motive behind the killing remains unclear. Police have launched an investigation to identify those involved and determine the cause of the murder.

Authorities are continuing inquiries to uncover the circumstances surrounding the attack and confirm whether the killing was directly linked to prior disputes.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, stated on Monday, May 11, that he would resign from his post if the safety of religious minorities in the country cannot be guaranteed. Speaking at a meeting with the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) in Dhaka, he emphasized that no opportunity would be given for minority persecution and that communal harmony must be protected.

Kaikobad also said that the government would request India to stop attacks on minority Muslims in West Bengal, adding that Bangladesh respects India for upholding democracy. He noted that such incidents in India should not be allowed to occur in Bangladesh and reiterated his commitment to prevent any injustice or oppression against minorities.

Addressing political issues, the minister remarked that a good opposition party is a blessing but criticized the opposition for attempting to embarrass the government instead of offering constructive criticism.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam said the current government is operating under the pressure of massive foreign debt, money laundering, and incomplete mega projects. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon after inaugurating a tree plantation program and laying the foundation stone for the Padma Bridge Museum at the Jajira end in Shariatpur.

The minister stated that around Tk 30 lakh crore had been laundered abroad and more than Tk 20 lakh crore in foreign debt had been left behind. He added that despite huge spending on 16 mega projects, many remain unfinished, with some contractors abandoning work and some projects halted, creating complications in implementing development activities.

Sheikh Robiul Alam also mentioned that long-standing corruption and irregularities have caused a trust deficit among international donor agencies. Organizations that previously supported large projects are now showing reluctance to cooperate, he said.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan said Bangladesh aims to remain competitive globally through academic exchange. He emphasized that just as Bangladeshi students study abroad, the country should also attract foreign students and teachers. The minister made these remarks on Monday morning at the inauguration of the 'Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor and Education Fair' held at Hotel Radisson in Dhaka.

He noted that Pakistan has made significant progress in its education system and welcomed their achievements. After visiting the fair stalls, he remarked that it felt like touring all of Pakistan. Milan highlighted that Pakistani universities offer scholarships to Bangladeshi students, enabling them to pursue higher studies effectively. He urged Bangladeshi institutions to take similar initiatives to attract foreign students through scholarships.

Responding to a question about the low number of foreign students in Bangladesh’s higher education institutions, the minister said the government is prioritizing education and expressed optimism about future progress. The event was attended by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, embassy officials, and representatives from educational institutions.

Police in Feni recovered the body of a child from a pond in Amanullahpur area of Daganbhuiyan municipality on Monday morning, two days after the child went missing and a ransom was demanded. The deceased, Hasan, was the son of Md. Tarek and Tarjina Akter Nipu from Kamalnagar in Lakshmipur district.

According to Hasan’s father, the child disappeared from in front of their house on Saturday morning. Later that evening, a call came from the number 01927035603 demanding Tk 12,000 initially and later Tk 120,000 as ransom, with threats to kill the child if the demand was not met. A written complaint was filed at Daganbhuiyan Police Station the following day.

Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Faizul Azim said police recovered the body after receiving information on Monday morning. He added that the ransom call appeared to be the work of a fraud group and that the threatening phone number was traced to Naogaon. Investigation is ongoing.

A fire broke out on the sixth floor of SQ Group’s garment factory building at Masterbari in Habirbari area of Valuka upazila, Mymensingh, on Sunday night. Two units of the Fire Service responded to the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control after about one and a half hours of effort.

According to workers, the fire originated around 8 p.m. from an air cooler. Factory personnel initially attempted to extinguish the flames using their own firefighting system, but the fire quickly spread throughout the building. Fire Service Station Officer Atikur Rahman stated that the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage would be determined after an investigation.

Authorities have not yet released details on casualties or property loss, and an official inquiry is underway to assess the incident’s impact.

Commerce Minister Khondaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government is taking major steps to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective oversight in the market system. Speaking at the launch of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh’s (TCB) truck sale program in Agargaon, Dhaka, ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2026, he said the initiative includes strategic reserves, AI-based supply and monitoring systems, and enhanced TCB capacity to prevent market manipulation.

The minister stated that the government’s main goal is to deliver subsidized essential goods to low-income and marginal groups. During Ramadan, about 22.8 million beneficiaries received subsidized food, which will increase to 28.8 million this time. Food supply for Eid-ul-Azha has also been raised by 40 percent to around 14,000 tons. He added that TCB’s beneficiary list has been revised to ensure transparency, now including 8 million verified families, with plans to add 2 million more.

Muktadir emphasized that new policies are being introduced to ensure transparency in TCB dealer recruitment and that the agency will be transformed into a fully accountable, technology-driven institution.

At Barishal University, employees locked the administrative office on Monday morning after declaring Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Toufiq Alam unwanted. The action took place around 11 a.m. as part of an ongoing protest by teachers demanding promotions that began on April 21. Teachers under the banner of 'Shikkhok Samaj' staged a sit-in from 9 a.m. and urged administrative non-cooperation with the vice-chancellor. Under pressure, the registrar left his office, and employees subsequently locked several departments.

Geology and Mining Department Chair Dr. Dhiman Kumar Roy stated that teachers have withdrawn administrative cooperation and some have resigned from their posts, citing the vice-chancellor’s delay in convening the promotion board for over six months. Vice-Chancellor Alam responded that all issues can be resolved through discussion and warned that obstructing others’ work is illegal. He added that legal action would be taken if such activities continue.

The standoff has disrupted university operations, with both teachers and administration remaining at odds over the unresolved promotion issue.

The four-day District Commissioners’ (DC) Conference in Bangladesh concluded with a focus on strengthening coordination, accountability, and citizen-oriented governance across the country’s field administration. Held after the national election under the new government, the conference brought together representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, two commissions, and 56 ministries and divisions. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed DCs to build public trust, curb corruption, and ensure impartial law enforcement while accelerating development project implementation.

Discussions centered on administrative capacity shortages, political pressure, law and order, digital transformation, and disaster management. DCs demanded more staff, technological support, and infrastructure to meet growing responsibilities. They also called for digital land records, online mutation systems, integrated data centers, and citizen complaint software. Concerns were raised about political interference and the need for stronger legal and security backing, particularly in border districts facing smuggling and trafficking.

The conference emphasized creating a more people-friendly administration and proposed a rapid-response fund for climate and disaster emergencies. Analysts noted that while the event reaffirmed the field administration’s central role in governance, its success will depend on how quickly the proposed reforms are implemented.

A coordination meeting chaired by Naogaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam announced that mango harvesting in the district will start on May 22. The meeting, held on Sunday afternoon, decided that all types of early local mango varieties can be collected from that date. Among the improved varieties, Gopalbhog will be harvested from May 30, Khirsapat or Himsagar from June 2, Nak Fazli from June 5, Langra and Haribhanga from June 10, Fazli, Amrapali, and Banana Mango from June 25, and Ashwina, Bari-4, Gaurmoti, and Katina from July 5.

According to the meeting, mango orchards in Naogaon cover 30,310 hectares this year, with a production target of 387,235 metric tons. The district expects mango sales worth around Tk 4,000 crore this season. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that no immature or chemically treated mangoes may be harvested or marketed before the designated dates, and awareness campaigns will be conducted across the district to ensure compliance.

Dhaka University Assistant Proctor Sheherin Amin Bhuiya Monami has resigned from her position, confirming the decision through a Facebook post on Monday, May 11, 2026. Her resignation follows the earlier departure of the university’s Proctor, Professor Saifuddin Ahmed. In her post, Monami stated that she has formally stepped down from her administrative duties.

Sheherin Amin Bhuiya Monami explained that during her seven years in teaching, she had never considered taking on administrative responsibilities. She previously taught at Bangladesh University of Professionals, Jagannath University, and Dhaka University. She accepted the assistant proctor role after receiving a call from then-Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed on August 28, 2024, describing the opportunity as an unexpected responsibility usually given to senior teachers.

In her statement, Monami praised former Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed for his patience, composure, and empathy toward students. She described her experience working with a capable team as remarkable and said she would not judge her own success during her tenure.