The High Court of Bangladesh has ruled that revealing the gender of an unborn child is prohibited. The verdict, delivered on February 25, 2024, by a bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Haque, was officially published on May 11, 2026. The court stated that determining and disclosing the gender of a fetus constitutes discrimination against women and violates constitutional rights.

According to the full judgment, such practices contribute to female infanticide, social imbalance, and undermine women's dignity, equality, and right to life. The court further noted that gender disclosure breaches international human rights obligations. It emphasized that Bangladesh has long lacked effective control, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms in this area.

The court observed that issuing mere guidelines is insufficient to curb unethical practices. It called for proper implementation, digital surveillance, and effective regulatory measures to ensure compliance and protect women's rights.

Bangladesh Bank has announced that it will launch an Islamic interbank money market by June 30, aiming to address liquidity management challenges faced by Islamic banks that cannot participate in conventional interest-based call money markets. The initiative acknowledges a long-standing structural weakness in the country’s Islamic banking system, where banks lack a Shariah-compliant mechanism for short-term borrowing and lending.

However, economist M. Kabir Hassan argues that the proposed model overlooks the sector’s ongoing financial distress and governance failures. Several Islamic banks reportedly have negative equity, high default rates, and allegations of large-scale fund misappropriation. The author warns that introducing an interbank liquidity pipeline among such institutions could spread financial contagion rather than resolve liquidity issues. He notes that Bangladesh lacks essential Shariah-compliant instruments such as central bank sukuk or Islamic treasury bills, which are prerequisites for a functional market.

Hassan recommends that Bangladesh Bank first develop tradable Islamic financial instruments, set eligibility criteria for participating banks, ensure separate clearing systems for Islamic transactions, and strengthen Shariah supervision. He emphasizes that broader reforms, including new legislation and stronger central bank independence, are necessary to restore public trust in Islamic banking.

Arguments in the war crimes case against Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three others are set to begin today, Monday, before International Crimes Tribunal-2. The case concerns the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July Revolution. The three-member tribunal panel is chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with judges Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir. According to sources, the prosecution will present all evidence and arguments related to the killings.

Testimonies in the case concluded on April 23, with 19 witnesses appearing before the tribunal, including the investigation officer Abdullah Al Mamun as the final witness. The four accused face three charges: agreeing with a statement about suppressing movements, holding a meeting on July 29 in Kushtia to instruct killings, and conspiracy leading to six murders.

All four accused, including Hanif, are absconding. The tribunal formally framed charges and ordered the trial to begin on November 2 of the previous year.

Continuous heavy rainfall, cyclone-related adverse weather, and frequent power outages have severely disrupted operations in several tea estates of Bahubal upazila in Habiganj. Both production and processing activities have been significantly affected, leading to large-scale financial losses estimated at several million taka across five major tea gardens.

According to local sources, persistent rain has prevented timely plucking of tea leaves, causing over-maturity and reduced quality. Lack of sunlight and excessive humidity have further damaged leaf development, while strong winds and landslides have broken branches and harmed plantation structures. Frequent load-shedding has also hindered tea processing, resulting in spoilage of fresh leaves and deterioration in product quality.

Representatives from the Bangladesh Tea Estate Staff Association and local plantation managers have urged uninterrupted electricity supply and immediate assistance from authorities to restore normal operations and mitigate ongoing losses.

Farmers in Bangladesh’s haor regions have suffered major losses this season due to inadequate disaster preparedness by local authorities, the agriculture department, and the farmers themselves. Sudden flash floods and continuous rainfall have submerged large areas of Boro paddy fields, leaving farmers unable to harvest their crops. Heavy reliance on machinery has worsened the situation as rising water levels rendered harvesters and reapers unusable. Labor shortages have intensified the crisis, with workers demanding higher wages but unable to meet expected productivity.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, around 455,000 hectares of land were cultivated with Boro paddy this season, of which nearly 49,073 hectares were affected to varying degrees. Between 40 and 50 percent of crops in these areas are feared lost, with an additional 10 percent at risk due to unharvested fields. Farmers in Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, and Netrokona reported that many agricultural workers have shifted to other professions such as driving auto-rickshaws, making it difficult to find laborers.

Officials said lists of affected farmers are being prepared and government assistance is under process. Experts emphasized the need for a dedicated disaster preparedness plan for haor regions and direct procurement systems to ensure fair prices for farmers.

Nineteen banks in Bangladesh received a total of Tk 263,210 crore in deferral facilities from Bangladesh Bank to offset provisioning shortfalls amid rising non-performing loans. According to 2025 financial reports, eleven of these banks reported profits, while eight incurred significant losses. Although the profitable banks showed positive net income, none were able to distribute dividends due to regulatory restrictions. The deferral mechanism allowed banks to present improved financial statements despite underlying capital pressures.

Central bank officials explained that the deferral facility is granted annually to banks with provisioning deficits to help them maintain a stable financial appearance. However, most banks have repeatedly failed to adjust their shortfalls, leading to prolonged dependency on such support. Under new dividend policy rules effective from 2025, banks with non-performing loans exceeding 10 percent are barred from declaring dividends, resulting in 34 banks unable to pay shareholders last year.

Officials noted that without the deferral facility, capital shortfalls would have been more severe, raising costs for international trade financing as foreign banks assess capital adequacy before engaging in transactions.

A 2025 study by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh has revealed that nearly two-thirds of processed packaged foods sold in the country contain salt levels exceeding safe limits. The research, titled “Assessment of Salt Content and Label Compliance of Commonly Consumed Processed Packaged Foods of Bangladesh,” found that about 97 percent of these products pose high health risks. Items such as biscuits, chips, noodles, and instant soups were found to contain excessive sodium, sugar, and harmful chemicals that increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Public health experts attribute the growing dependence on such foods to aggressive marketing, especially targeting children with colorful packaging and promotional gifts. They warn that these products are engineered to trigger temporary pleasure in the brain, leading to addiction and reduced interest in nutritious home-cooked meals. Experts have called for the introduction of Front-of-Pack Labeling (FOPL) to clearly display warnings about high salt, sugar, or fat content.

Officials from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator have supported stronger labeling laws and public awareness campaigns to curb rising non-communicable diseases linked to unhealthy diets.

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Myanmar shortly after midnight on Sunday, May 10, 2026, shaking parts of neighboring Bangladesh. According to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), the quake occurred at 1:36 a.m. Bangladesh time, with a depth of about 10 kilometers. The epicenter was located near 20.46°N latitude and 93.94°E longitude. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the origin to be around 11 kilometers from Sidoktaya, Myanmar. No immediate reports of casualties or major damage were received.

Residents in several areas of Chattogram city reported mild tremors lasting a few seconds, prompting some to rush outdoors in fear. The quake followed another mild tremor that shook northern Bangladesh on the afternoon of May 9. That earlier quake, measuring between 4.4 and 4.5 in magnitude, had its epicenter in Bilasipara, Assam, India, and caused brief panic though no significant damage.

The shallow depth of both quakes contributed to their being felt across border regions, highlighting the region’s seismic sensitivity.

The human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has strongly condemned the killing of two Bangladeshi nationals by gunfire from India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the Kasba border in Brahmanbaria. In a press release issued on Sunday, ASK expressed deep concern over the incident and criticized the use of lethal force at the border.

ASK stated that even if individuals attempt to cross the border or are accused of smuggling or other crimes, they should be dealt with through proper legal procedures, not extrajudicial killings. The organization emphasized that the use of deadly force is not an acceptable or common practice in other countries for border violations and that the right to life must be prioritized under human rights and international law.

According to ASK, at least six Bangladeshi citizens have been killed by BSF gunfire or torture between January and May 9, 2026. The group urged the Bangladesh government to raise the issue in bilateral and diplomatic discussions and called on India to ensure accountability, end the use of lethal weapons, and uphold human rights standards.

Members of the Bangladesh Police have submitted a set of demands to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, including a separate pay scale, a 50 percent overtime allowance for extra duty, and phased honorary promotions until retirement. The demands were presented on Sunday, May 10, during the police welfare parade held at the Rajarbagh Police Auditorium following the Police Week program. The Prime Minister listened attentively and assured gradual implementation of the proposals.

The welfare parade was attended by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, and other senior officials. Police members from across the country joined online. Officers raised issues such as insufficient transport for sub-inspectors, requests for interest-free motorcycle loans, fuel cost reimbursement, and increased investigation expenses. A female constable from Khulna Metropolitan Police demanded honorary promotion, while an additional DIG sought renewed development funding for police infrastructure.

This year, no police medals were awarded amid controversy over previous nominations involving politically connected or disputed officers, marking a departure from the usual Police Week tradition.

The Bangladesh Police Headquarters has refuted media reports claiming that the issuance of the police medal notification was delayed because the President was abroad. In a statement released on Sunday, the headquarters clarified that no responsible police official made such a comment and that the reports quoting an unnamed senior officer were inaccurate and misleading.

According to the statement, the administrative and procedural activities related to the police medal notification are still ongoing. It emphasized that publishing speculative statements before any official decision or notification could cause public confusion. The Police Headquarters urged media outlets to verify information properly before publishing news on this matter.

The clarification aims to dispel misinformation and maintain transparency regarding the ongoing process of issuing the police medal notification.

The Ministry of Land has issued a directive requiring all landowners across Bangladesh to pay their land development tax for the current fiscal year by June 30, the date when the national budget will be passed in parliament. The ministry emphasized the use of digital methods to ensure secure and transparent land management. Citizens can now pay their taxes online through the official portal land.gov.bd without visiting local land offices.

According to the ministry, taxpayers must first register on the portal, provide relevant land record details, and then complete payment via mobile banking or card. The government introduced this digital payment system to make land administration more efficient and transparent. Failure to pay within the deadline may result in interest being added to outstanding dues under existing laws.

Officials expect that the digital transformation will enhance transparency in land tax collection, reduce bureaucratic delays, and eliminate the influence of intermediaries, saving both time and money for citizens.

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam announced that at least 50,000 people will participate in a canal excavation drive and one million trees will be planted in a single day in Sylhet. He said committees will be formed at the upazila level to decide within a week which canals will be excavated and where trees will be planted. The announcement came during a meeting on implementing the Prime Minister’s priority project for nationwide canal excavation and tree plantation, held at the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury, who attended as chief guest, said the initiative is part of the government’s commitment to public welfare and election pledges. He emphasized that public awareness and collective participation are essential for full success and called for turning the program into a social movement. Other speakers included Member of Parliament M.A. Malik and Mufti Abul Hasan.

The nationwide program, launched on March 16, 2026, aims to improve irrigation, control floods, reduce waterlogging, and restore water bodies. Under the plan, about 20,000 kilometers of canals will be excavated or re-excavated over five years with coordination among four government agencies.

Speakers at an eleven-party alliance seminar in Chattogram on Sunday evening warned that a mass movement would be launched if the BNP government failed to honor the referendum verdict. They said the excuses used by the government to disregard the people's decision had already been rejected by the public. The event, titled “The Referendum Verdict as the Expression of the People’s Sovereign Will,” was held at the Engineers Institution in the city.

Speakers alleged that although the BNP had engaged in reform discussions with 33 parties before the election, it changed its stance after coming to power. They cautioned that the country’s situation would deteriorate if the government did not return to the right path. The seminar was attended by leaders including Liberal Democratic Party chairman Dr. Col. Oli Ahmad and Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Prof. Mia Golam Porwar, among others.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir presented the keynote paper, emphasizing that the constitution places the people above all state institutions. He warned that ignoring the referendum, which reportedly saw 70 percent voter turnout, could lead to a national explosion.

The World Literature Center has announced plans to organize 200 mobile book fairs across Bangladesh by 2027, with support from the MetLife Foundation. The initiative aims to promote cultural engagement and reading habits among people throughout the country. The fairs will travel to district towns, offering visitors access to a wide range of books and opportunities to purchase their preferred titles.

In addition to book displays, the fairs will host cultural activities designed to foster interest in literature and education. Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder and president of the World Literature Center, emphasized that a nation’s true progress lies in its love for books, noting that the mobile fairs will make quality reading materials more accessible and encourage curiosity and critical thinking. MetLife Bangladesh CEO Ala Ahmad expressed satisfaction in partnering again with the center to promote culture and reading nationwide.

This marks the second consecutive year of collaboration between the two organizations. In 2025, they jointly organized more than 128 mobile book fairs that attracted over 200,000 visitors.