Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the army will be withdrawn as discipline has been restored within the police force. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday, May 7, he said that with an elected and political government now in power, the police have become more active, reducing the need for the army to continue its field duties. The withdrawal will be carried out gradually, with the process and method to be decided through further discussions.

The minister also addressed the issue of stone extraction in Sylhet and Sunamganj, stating that a committee led by the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner and composed of experts has been formed. The committee will determine how, from which areas, and to what depth stones can be extracted, as well as how to preserve them while protecting the environment.

The announcement signals a shift toward normalizing internal security operations under civilian law enforcement, while also emphasizing environmental oversight in resource extraction.

Police recovered the body of an unidentified man from Kamalla village in Munshirhat Union of Fulgazi upazila, Feni, near the India border on Thursday morning. Locals discovered the body lying near a poultry farm west of former UP member Janu Member’s house and informed police, who retrieved it around 6:45 a.m.

According to police, the deceased appeared to be between 45 and 50 years old, but no one in the area could identify him. Officers prepared an inquest report at the scene and began efforts to determine his identity. Assistant Superintendent of Police Nishad Tabassum said the location was about 150 yards from the Indian border. The Border Security Force (BSF) of India has been notified and sent a photograph of the body.

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) is visiting the site for further inquiry. Authorities stated that necessary legal steps will be taken after the investigation is completed.

In Feni’s Chhagalnaiya upazila, two drug-addicted sons allegedly framed their father, Obaidul Haque Majumder, by planting a weapon to implicate him in a criminal case. The incident occurred in Paschim Debpur village under Mohamaya Union. Following the father’s arrest after a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raid on April 28, the mother, Sajeda Begum, and other family members fled their home fearing for their lives. Sajeda Begum claimed her sons Rubel and Shiblu, both involved in criminal activities, placed the weapon out of revenge and greed for property.

Family members said Rubel and Shiblu had previously assaulted their parents and vandalized their home over property disputes. After being released on bail under their father’s custody, Rubel allegedly pressured him to withdraw a case and later threatened him. Following Obaidul’s detention, the two sons reportedly looted his business, renaming it “Rubel Traders.”

RAB inspector Md Fakhruddin Azad Molla confirmed the weapon recovery based on intelligence but said he was unaware of the alleged framing. Police stated that a regular case has been filed and legal action will follow after investigation.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that discussions were held with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on restructuring the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to overcome its current stagnation. The meeting took place at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat, where Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani was also present. The Prime Minister agreed in principle to host the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Bangladesh in 2028.

According to Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, the discussion focused on two main issues: implementing the government’s election manifesto and commitments on good governance and anti-corruption, and TIB’s recommendations for achieving these goals. He stated that the Prime Minister listened positively to TIB’s proposals and expressed agreement with most of them.

The biennial International Anti-Corruption Conference is scheduled this year in the Dominican Republic. If held in Bangladesh in 2028, it would mark the fourth time the event takes place in Asia, following Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea.

The government of Bangladesh has announced a plan to upgrade Bogura Airfield into an international-standard airport to strengthen air connectivity between the northern and northwestern regions and the capital. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam revealed the plan during a visit to the airfield and surrounding areas on Thursday, accompanied by State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for LGRD Mir Shahe Alam, and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan.

Minister Khanam said the northern region holds significant potential in agriculture, industry, and tourism, and that modern infrastructure is essential for sustainable development. She noted that establishing an international airport would accelerate economic activity, attract investment, expand tourism, and create new employment opportunities.

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan expressed optimism that the project would enhance both national economic growth and the region’s military and strategic capacity. He added that the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh will take necessary steps to begin commercial flights soon, with full cooperation from the Air Force.

Mohammad Shahjahan, Member of Parliament for Noakhali-4 (Sadar-Subarnachar), announced efforts to protect local residents from river erosion and natural disasters. Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of protective work along the Meghna River in Char Clark Union and Katakhali Ghat, he said temporary measures using geo-bags are being implemented in high-risk areas to prevent major losses during the upcoming monsoon. He added that permanent solutions, including block systems, will be introduced later to control the river and safeguard nearby communities.

The event was chaired by district Water Development Board executive engineer S M Refat Jamil and attended by several local political leaders. Due to intensified erosion in recent months, most of Katakhali Ghat has already been washed away. In response to local demands, emergency protection work covering about 350 feet of riverbank has been launched using geo-bags and geo-tubes.

Shahjahan stated that larger projects will be undertaken in the future to strengthen riverbank protection in surrounding areas.

The body of Bangladeshi student Nahida Sultana Brishti, who was killed in Florida, will arrive in Dhaka on Saturday, May 9. Her funeral prayer was held on Wednesday, May 6, at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay, attended by a large number of people including representatives from the Bangladesh Consulate. The service was led by Imam Arjan Ahmesula. A mourning atmosphere prevailed as her body reached the mosque, and a community meeting later demanded exemplary punishment for those accused in the double murder case.

According to the report, Brishti’s body will depart from Orlando International Airport on Thursday morning, May 7, aboard an Emirates Airlines flight to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Consulate in Miami is overseeing the repatriation process under the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coordination of the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, D.C. The government of Bangladesh is covering all expenses for returning the bodies of both victims.

The University of South Florida has decided to award posthumous doctoral degrees to both Brishti and fellow victim Jamil Limon during its spring convocation on Friday, with a consulate representative receiving the honors on behalf of their families.

The Noakhali district unit of Chhatra Dal organized a celebratory rally on Wednesday afternoon to congratulate central general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir and mark the formation of its new committee. The rally began in front of the Shaheed Bhulu Stadium in Maijdee and concluded on the road in front of Zilla School.

During a brief gathering, district Chhatra Dal president N.B.S. Russell and general secretary Ziaur Rahman Rahan, among others, addressed the participants. Speakers expressed optimism that the organization would become more dynamic under the new leadership and that activities at the grassroots level would be strengthened.

They also emphasized the need to overcome internal divisions and work in unity to prepare Chhatra Dal for future challenges.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, announced that the government will provide policy support to accelerate the country’s solar energy sector. Speaking at the inauguration of the Power, Energy and Infrastructure Expo at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center on Thursday, he said Bangladesh remains behind regional peers like India and Pakistan in renewable energy use. Under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, a committee has been formed to finalize a policy framework aimed at driving rapid growth in solar and wind power.

The minister explained that the policy will simplify imports of solar equipment such as inverters, frames, and photovoltaic panels, while emphasizing battery storage systems to meet evening peak demand. He added that the government plans to reduce tax burdens on entrepreneurs and finalize the policy within the month, with cabinet approval expected by June. Bangladesh aims to generate 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy within five years.

Tuku also outlined plans to use rooftops in Dhaka and other cities for solar power generation through private investment, using net metering to benefit both entrepreneurs and building owners.

A Dhaka court has postponed the submission of the investigation report in the Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi murder case for the 126th time. On Thursday, May 7, 2026, Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman set June 18 as the new date for the report. The investigating officer, Additional Superintendent of Police Md Azizul Haque of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), was unable to submit the report on the scheduled date.

The accused in the case are Rafiqul Islam, Bokul Mia, Masum Mintu, Kamrul Islam alias Arun, Abu Sayeed, security guards Palash Rudra Pal and Enayet Ahmed, and their friend Tanvir Rahman Khan. Among them, Tanvir and Palash are on bail, while the others remain in custody. The journalist couple was murdered on February 11, 2012, after which Runi’s brother filed a murder case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

The investigation has changed hands multiple times, moving from the local police to the Detective Branch, then to the Rapid Action Battalion, and later to the PBI. In September 2025, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-powered task force to complete the investigation within six months.

Jahangirnagar University’s branch of the student organization Chhatra Dal has launched a live bus tracking system to make student transportation easier, safer, and more efficient. The system was inaugurated on Thursday near the Murad Chattar area by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan. Initially introduced as a pilot project on two university buses, the technology will later be expanded to all buses. Through the app, students can view the real-time location of buses on their mobile phones.

The system also provides notifications about bus arrival times at specific stops and alerts in case of delays. Student leaders said the initiative fulfills a long-standing demand from students for live bus tracking. They emphasized that the project aims to improve time management and ensure a more comfortable and secure commuting experience for students.

Vice-Chancellor Ahsan praised the initiative as a timely, technology-driven effort to reduce transportation difficulties and commended the student group for taking a student-oriented approach.

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader was hacked to death in Bagerhat’s Chitalmari upazila on Thursday morning following a dispute over buying juice. The victim, Mujahid Molla, was the president of Jamaat’s Ward No. 3 and a resident of Hijla village. According to local sources, an argument broke out between Mujahid and a man named Baizid at a shop, which escalated into a violent clash. Baizid allegedly attacked Mujahid with a sharp scissor, leaving him critically injured. Locals took Mujahid to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Chitalmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Nazrul Islam said that after the incident, locals vandalized Baizid’s house and beat him. Police later detained Baizid and visited the scene. The body is being sent for autopsy, and legal proceedings are underway.

Authorities have initiated an investigation into the killing, and police presence has been strengthened in the area to prevent further unrest.

A protest rally demanding justice for the murder of activist Shahid Osman Hadi was held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in front of the main gate of Barishal University. Hadi’s sister, Sharif Masuma Hadi, speaking at the event organized by general students, declared that they came not to mourn but to demand justice, vowing not to return home without it. She alleged that the killers fled to India with assistance and urged the state to reveal who planned and facilitated the escape.

Masuma Hadi described her brother as a voice for justice and equality, beyond political affiliation, and said the movement for justice would spread nationwide from Barishal. Inqilab Moncho member secretary Ifthekhar Sayem criticized the delay in the investigation, noting that the report had been postponed 13 times, calling for an end to the culture of impunity. Other speakers included Hadi’s relatives and student leaders from various organizations.

The rally concluded with a protest march around the campus, where participants chanted slogans demanding justice for Hadi’s killing.

A Dhaka court has ordered the start of trial proceedings against former Industries Minister and Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed and two others in a corruption case involving the alleged embezzlement of Tk 1.25 crore through abuse of power. The order was issued on Thursday by Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Begum Shamima Afroz, who also set June 22 for the recording of witness testimonies.

Earlier, Tofail Ahmed’s lawyer informed the court that his client was seriously ill, suffering from memory loss and unable to participate in the proceedings. Despite this, the Anti-Corruption Commission’s lawyer argued for the formation of charges, which the court accepted. The case had been delayed due to a previous stay order from the High Court, which has now been lifted.

The case was originally filed in 2002 by then-Bureau of Anti-Corruption inspector Kazi Shamsul Islam, alleging that Tofail Ahmed misused his authority to conceal illegally obtained funds by transferring and withdrawing money through associates.

Electricity and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku stated that no final decision has been made regarding an increase in electricity prices. He announced that solar power will be made more accessible to create alternative energy sources. The minister made these remarks on Thursday while inaugurating the 'Power, Energy and Infrastructure Expo' at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

Mahmud noted that Bangladesh remains far behind in renewable energy compared to neighboring countries such as India and Pakistan, which have expanded solar and wind power to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the government to prioritize solar and wind energy development.

Meanwhile, the government is considering raising electricity prices following a recent fuel price hike. The Power Division has given policy approval to the proposal, and the Power Development Board has suggested a 17 to 21 percent increase at the wholesale level. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission has formed a technical committee to review the proposal.