United Healthcare Services Limited has reached a major milestone in health research by officially launching its first Institutional Ethical Review Board (IERB) on May 5, 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen research activities among physicians, clinicians, and healthcare professionals at United Medical College Hospital, the company’s flagship facility. The inauguration ceremony was attended by United Group Chairman and Managing Director Moinuddin Hasan Rashid as chief guest, along with other senior officials and medical leaders.

Dr. Azharul Islam Khan, Director of Medical Services at United Healthcare, was appointed as the chief advisor to the IERB, with Professor Dr. Khondker Abu Talha serving as chairman and Professor Dr. Mahbubur Rahman as member-secretary. The board includes both local and international experts from diverse medical and academic backgrounds. During the event, three research proposals were submitted for ethical review and approval.

Through the establishment of the IERB, United Healthcare reaffirmed its commitment to promoting innovative clinical research, enhancing academic collaboration, and contributing to improved healthcare standards in Bangladesh.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) handed over the bodies of two Bangladeshi nationals 18 hours after they were shot dead along the Kshirnal border in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria. The handover took place on Saturday afternoon through a flag meeting between the two border forces. The deceased were identified as Md. Mursalin, 20, son of Hebju Mia of Dhajanagar village, and Nabi Hossain, son of Mokrom Ali of Madhupur village. Several others were reportedly injured during the incident that occurred late Friday night.

According to a press release from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), around 15 Bangladeshis had entered Indian territory with the help of Indian smugglers when BSF members opened fire. The flag meeting was led by BGB Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel S M Shariful Islam and Kasba Police Station Officer-in-Charge Naznin Sultana on the Bangladeshi side, while BSF’s 49 Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ajit Kumar Singh and officers from Vishalghar Police Station represented India.

BGB stated that a protest note was issued to BSF regarding the incident and that the border situation is currently normal.

A daylong consultative workshop on the potential of genome editing technology for developing climate-resilient rice varieties was held in Gazipur. The event took place on Saturday at the BRAC Agricultural Research and Development Centre as part of a special research project funded by the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. It was chaired by Professor Dr. Md. Tofazzal Islam, with Gazipur Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. GKM Mostafizur Rahman as chief guest and biotechnologist Professor Hasina Khan as special guest.

Speakers emphasized that modern genome editing could provide timely and effective solutions for sustainable agriculture and food security amid growing climate challenges. Researchers from several universities and institutions presented progress on developing rice varieties tolerant to salinity, drought, heavy rainfall, and diseases. Technical sessions covered guide-RNA design, genome editing applications, and biosafety issues related to rice variety release.

The workshop concluded with a strategic plan to develop and commercialize genome-edited, climate-resilient rice within three years, highlighting collaboration between academic and industrial partners to advance Bangladesh’s agricultural innovation.

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Saturday officially observed its first citywide 'Cleaning Day' across ten administrative regions, marked by spontaneous public participation. The initiative follows the DSCC administrator’s declaration of the first Saturday of every month as 'Cleaning Day' to promote a cleaner and healthier city. The program aligns with the Prime Minister’s weekly cleanliness campaign aimed at preventing dengue and chikungunya and maintaining urban hygiene.

Regional executive officers led the cleaning drives in their respective areas, joined by DSCC staff, residents, government and private offices, educational institutions, and property owners. DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md. Abdus Salam inaugurated a modern waste transfer station and beautification work in Malibagh Ward 12, emphasizing that collective effort could transform Dhaka within six months.

The administrator announced that special cleaning operations will be held citywide on the first Saturday of each month, urging political, social, and volunteer organizations to participate. He also called for regular cleaning of rooftops and yards to prevent mosquito breeding, expressing hope that the combined initiatives would help build a cleaner, dengue-free Dhaka.

Allegations have been raised against three individuals, including a union-level Jubo Dal leader, for cutting several old rain trees along a government road between Titpalla Bus Stand and Kamalkhan Bazar in Jamalpur Sadar upazila. Locals reported that Mizanur Rahman (Mizu), Sohel, and Shahin felled the leaning trees and took parts of them to their homes, while the remaining wood was stored at Emdad’s sawmill in Biyara Bazar. Residents claimed the trees were cut without any official permission, prompting demands for a formal investigation and legal action.

Sawmill owner Emdad reportedly admitted the incident, and land office officials later recovered branches from six of the eleven tree sections, with five still missing. Mizanur Rahman acknowledged spending money on the cutting but did not clarify whether permission was obtained. Land officials said recovery efforts were ongoing. The district Jubo Dal leadership stated that wrongdoing would not be tolerated and promised internal action after investigation. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer directed a full inquiry and recovery of the felled trees.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion and criticism in the local area.

The Planning Commission has given preliminary approval to a Tk 3 trillion Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The draft development budget prioritizes education, health, transport, power, and local government sectors. The approval came at an extended meeting chaired by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for May 16 to finalize sectoral allocations before submission to the National Economic Council (NEC), which is expected to meet on May 18 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

According to documents prepared by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), Tk 1.9 trillion will come from government funds, representing about 63 percent of the total, while Tk 1.1 trillion will be sourced from foreign loans and grants. Autonomous bodies and state-owned corporations will invest an additional Tk 8,924 crore from their own funds, bringing the total development budget to approximately Tk 3.08 trillion.

Transport and communication will receive the highest allocation, followed by education and health. Officials said the focus on education and health aims to build skilled human resources and strengthen social protection, while major investments in infrastructure and energy seek to ensure long-term growth and energy security.

A young man from Majhirkona village in Jafrabad Union of Karimganj upazila, Kishoreganj, has reportedly been killed in a Ukrainian drone attack amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The deceased, identified as 28-year-old Riad Rashid, was the son of former teacher Abdur Rashid. His family learned of his death on Friday evening through a Facebook Messenger message from his friend Limon Dutta, who is currently hospitalized after losing a leg in the same attack.

According to the message, the drone strike occurred on May 2 in a Russian border area, killing Riad, another Bangladeshi, and a Nigerian national, while injuring three others. Family members said Riad and Limon had joined the Russian army on April 7, though the family was unaware of his enlistment. Riad had gone to Russia in October of the previous year for a company job.

Local police confirmed the death after visiting Riad’s home but said no official information had yet been received. The family has requested government assistance to bring his body back to Bangladesh.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh is working to transform the country’s universities into attractive destinations for international students, according to UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed. He made the remarks on Saturday at the ‘China-Bangladesh Education Cooperation Forum 2026’ held at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka. The event was chaired by the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh and attended by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan and other senior education officials.

Professor Ahmed emphasized the importance of internationalizing higher education and creating a system where both local and foreign students can study together. He said Bangladesh must ensure “circulation of talent” rather than “brain drain,” enabling skilled expatriates to contribute to national development. The UGC is actively fostering sustainable partnerships between Bangladeshi and Chinese universities to enhance academic quality and research collaboration.

He added that Bangladesh seeks to learn from China’s progress in higher education, focusing on modern laboratory infrastructure, joint research funds, and faculty development programs. The UGC aims to move beyond formal agreements toward joint degree programs, dual PhD supervision, and co-authored research publications in high-quality journals.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair has stated that there is no ideology called 'Mawdudibad' in the world. In a statement sent to the media, he said the term was a narrative created by certain groups to oppose Jamaat. Zubair made the remarks while condemning a national daily’s editorial titled 'Education sector must be freed from Jamaat', calling it baseless and politically motivated.

He argued that Jamaat-e-Islami follows the true teachings and spirit of Islam and encourages its members to adhere to Islamic principles. Zubair criticized the newspaper for acting as a vanguard for specific interests instead of maintaining editorial neutrality. He said Jamaat believes in a welfare-oriented education system and has always worked to support and advise the education sector.

Zubair further stated that Jamaat respects followers of all Islamic schools of thought and rejects any attempt to create division or hostility among them. He emphasized that educational institutions operate under official administrative and ministerial guidance, leaving no room for imposing any particular ideology.

More than one hundred students at Dhaka University’s Kuwait Maitree Hall have fallen ill over the past three days with symptoms of waterborne diseases, reportedly after consuming contaminated water. The affected students have experienced diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, prompting the university administration to set up a medical camp to manage the situation. According to the chief medical officer of the university’s Shaheed Dr. Murtaza Medical Center, at least 60 students sought treatment on Thursday and Friday, and over a hundred have been affected in total.

Students reported a strong smell of bleaching powder in the hall’s water after the cleaning of water tanks, which caused nausea and discomfort. Some also blamed both the canteen food and water, though many who avoided canteen meals still fell ill, suggesting water contamination as the main cause. Dissatisfaction was expressed over the quality of medical care, with claims that doctors issued group prescriptions instead of individual diagnoses.

Hall provost Professor Dr. Mahbuba Sultana denied allegations of negligence, stating that the water reservoirs were professionally cleaned and filters rechecked, with preliminary tests showing no contamination. She said the situation is now under control, while students continue to demand full publication of water test results and permanent solutions.

Prime Bank PLC and Rancon Cars Limited have signed a strategic partnership agreement offering special discounts to Prime Bank customers on the purchase of Proton brand cars. The signing ceremony took place at Rancon Cars Limited’s office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, where senior officials from both organizations were present.

Under the agreement, Prime Bank customers will enjoy attractive price reductions and exclusive benefits when buying Proton vehicles from Rancon Cars Limited. The event was attended by senior executives including Mamur Ahmed, SEVP and Head of Distribution Network at Prime Bank, and Mohammad Mostafizur Rashid Bhuiyan, Director of Rancon Cars Limited.

Speakers at the event said the collaboration aims to enhance customer experience by providing lifestyle-oriented services and convenient financial solutions. Prime Bank also announced plans to continue introducing innovative services and attractive offers aligned with customer needs and lifestyles in the future.

Bangladesh Railway authorities conducted a daylong eviction drive on Saturday to remove illegal structures built on railway land in Ghorashal, Narsingdi. The operation covered areas from the Ghorashal Post Office Road to Chamrabo, where around two hundred unauthorized establishments were demolished.

The drive was led by Shimul Kumar Saha, Dhaka Divisional Estate Officer and Executive Magistrate of Bangladesh Railway, along with Rakin Masrur Khan, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Palash Upazila. According to railway officials, approximately 20 acres of land near the Ghorashal railway station had been occupied illegally. A large number of law enforcement personnel were present during the operation to maintain order.

The eviction marks a continued effort by Bangladesh Railway to reclaim its land from illegal encroachment and restore control over key railway properties in the region.

Police in Rangpur’s Badraganj have arrested Jihad Sarkar Rana, a former vice president of the municipal unit of Chhatra Dal, on charges of extortion. He was detained on Saturday from the Upazila Health Complex following a complaint that he and several others demanded money from Fatema Begum, an outsourced employee at the complex, and vandalized her quarters when the demand was refused.

According to police, a case was filed at Badraganj Police Station over the extortion and vandalism incident. The following day, Rana allegedly led an obstruction at the office of the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, demanding withdrawal of the case. Police later arrested him from the health complex.

The officer-in-charge of Badraganj Police Station confirmed that Rana was sent to jail through the court and that he faces several other cases involving similar allegations.

Railways State Minister Habibur Rashid announced that a survey is underway to implement a dual gauge railway line on the Sylhet-Dhaka-Chattogram route. He made the statement during a visit to Sylhet on Saturday to assess the feasibility of the project announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. After inspecting the Sylhet railway station, the minister confirmed that the government is addressing the shortage of train engines on the Sylhet-Dhaka route.

The minister stated that the government aims to make Bangladesh Railway profitable by improving both passenger and freight services. He acknowledged existing limitations in railway services and emphasized the need for maximum effort and accountability among officials. He reiterated instructions for responsible officers to resolve negligence at the field level.

Habibur Rashid added that the government has directed the recovery of encroached railway land and will take strict measures against illegal occupation. He noted that additional engines and coaches are required to improve service quality and prevent schedule disruptions caused by accidents on single-line tracks.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has declared the restoration of public trust in the police and improvement of law and order as top national priorities. In a statement issued on Saturday, ahead of Police Week 2026 to be observed on Sunday, he said that after more than fifteen years, a democratic government has been established through a free and fair election, bringing peace and relief to the public. Citizens now expect a society free from fear, abduction, and injustice, where safety and security are guaranteed.

The Prime Minister emphasized that law enforcement, particularly the police, play a vital role in maintaining stability and ensuring public safety. He noted that a professional and responsible police force is essential for upholding state stability and public confidence. He extended greetings to all current, former, and retired police personnel on the occasion of Police Week 2026.

Rahman also highlighted the police’s contributions in national elections and international peacekeeping missions, calling for modernization and capacity building to meet global challenges. He urged stronger police action against mob violence, youth gangs, and drug proliferation to sustain democratic progress.