The International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka has issued a production warrant against journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu in a case related to alleged crimes against humanity during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmood with Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, ordered their appearance on May 14, 2026.

The prosecution, represented by Gazi M H Tamim, sought the warrant against former minister Dr Dipu Moni, Farzana Rupa, and Mozammel Babu, citing their alleged roles in spreading provocative or misleading information during and after the May 5, 2013 incident. The tribunal also set June 7, 2026, as the date for submission of the investigation report.

Six other accused, including former state minister Shamsul Hoque Tuku and former police officials, are currently in custody in connection with the same case, which remains under investigation.

Police in Araihazar, Narayanganj, have arrested Judge Mia, a 55-year-old fugitive convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was detained on Tuesday night in the Brahmandi area of the upazila. Judge Mia, son of Nayeb Ali from Bara Monohordi, was convicted under Penal Code sections 302 and 201 in case number 10(4) 1999 filed with Araihazar Police Station.

According to police, the arrest was made based on secret information. After the court sentenced him to life imprisonment, Judge Mia had been absconding for many years. Case records show that in April 1999, he killed his newly married wife, Rehena, and dumped her body in a pond belonging to Zainal Haji in the Uzan Gobindi area of the upazila.

Police confirmed that the arrested convict has been sent to jail through the court following his capture.

A case application has been filed against former Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, former interim government law adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, and 14 others over the deaths of students in a plane crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka. The application was submitted on Thursday, May 7, 2026, to the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam’s court by Ushaimong Marma, father of a deceased student. The court recorded the plaintiff’s statement and kept the order pending, according to the plaintiff’s lawyer A.K.M. Sharif Uddin.

The complaint alleges that the accused failed to perform their official duties properly and allowed a mechanically faulty F-7 fighter jet to conduct training flights over densely populated Dhaka, leading to a deadly crash. It also accuses them of negligence in rescue operations, failure to provide compensation, and permitting unsafe school buildings. The crash on July 21, 2025, killed 36 people, including 28 students, and injured around 200 others.

The plaintiff claims that despite public promises of compensation, no payments have been made to victims’ families. The accused are alleged to be jointly and individually responsible for the tragedy and subsequent failures in accountability and rehabilitation.

A goat trader was killed and three others were injured when a truck hit an auto-van in Singra upazila of Natore on Thursday morning. The accident occurred around 9 a.m. near the Singra bus stand. Police and locals said four traders were returning home by van after buying goats from Chagolhati when a Natore-bound truck collided with their vehicle. Ali Hossain, 35, of Ancholkot village in Hatiandah union, died on the spot.

The injured were identified as Azad, Afsar Ali, and Siraj. Azad was transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, while the other two are receiving treatment at the upazila health complex. The truck driver fled the scene, leaving the vehicle behind.

Singra Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam stated that the truck had been seized and legal action was being taken regarding the incident.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported that water levels in seven rivers across three districts in Bangladesh’s northeastern haor basin were flowing above the pre-monsoon danger level as of Thursday morning, May 7, 2026. The affected rivers include those in Netrokona, Sunamganj, and Habiganj districts, with eight monitoring stations recording elevated levels. Moderate to heavy rainfall was observed in the past 24 hours, including 65 millimeters in Durgapur, 45 millimeters in Jariajhanjail, and 62 millimeters in Brahmanbaria.

According to the agency, the Nalojur River in Sunamganj rose by 2 centimeters to flow 51 centimeters above the danger level, while several rivers in Netrokona, including the Dhalai-Baulai, Someshwari, Bhogai-Kangsha, and Mogra, showed varying changes in water height. In Habiganj, the Kalni and Sutang rivers also rose slightly. However, water levels in Sunamganj’s haor region were reported to be slowly receding at a rate of up to 1 centimeter per hour.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast scattered rainfall over the next five days, with no heavy downpour expected, though rainfall activity may increase afterward.

Bangladesh is expecting record mango production and exports in the 2025–26 season, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). The country currently exports mangoes to 38 destinations, with Malaysia showing new interest after China joined last year. Officials said no harmful chemicals are used in export-quality mangoes, and no shipments have been rejected abroad. The DAE has set a production target of 2.795 million tons from 207,247 hectares and an export goal of 279,000 tons.

Officials noted that commercial mango farming remains profitable due to low pest risks and stable transport conditions. Fourteen districts are engaged in large-scale cultivation of varieties such as Gopalbhog, Himsagar, Langra, and Amrapali. The export season will run from May 12 to August 14, slightly extended due to weather. However, growers face challenges including a shortage of fruit-protective bags and rising air freight costs, which may affect small and medium exporters.

If export volumes decline, local supply could increase, potentially influencing prices. Farmers remain cautiously optimistic that a stable domestic market will offset export-related risks.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with Waqf Administrator Safiz Uddin Ahmed on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office. During the courtesy meeting, the administrator presented an overview of the current activities of the Waqf Administration and the overall management of Waqf properties across the country.

The Prime Minister provided key directives on ensuring proper maintenance of Waqf properties and expanding welfare initiatives funded by their income. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Religious Affairs Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad, Member of Parliament Shamim Kaysal Linkon, and Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad.

The discussion highlighted the government’s focus on improving transparency and efficiency in Waqf property management and enhancing their contribution to public welfare programs.

A mobile court in Bheramara upazila of Kushtia conducted a raid on an unlicensed factory producing counterfeit baby food items including juice, jelly, and liquid yogurt. The operation took place on Wednesday night, May 6, in the Satbaria area of Dharmapur Union. Factory owner Majnu Hossain was fined 100,000 taka, and a large quantity of fake products was destroyed on site.

The raid was led by Bheramara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rafiqul Islam and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Dr. Gazi Ashiq Bahar, with participation from BSTI Kushtia inspector Asif Karim, field officer Khairul Islam, and local police and Ansar members. According to court sources, the factory had been producing baby food using labels of well-known companies collected from Dhaka’s Chawkbazar, without any government approval and under unhygienic conditions, posing serious health risks.

In a separate operation in the same area, Shahadat Hossain was fined 30,000 taka for possessing bottled sexual stimulant medicines without a license. The upazila administration stated that similar drives against illegal and adulterated factories will continue to protect public health.

A major bribery scandal at the Rangpur Secondary and Higher Education (MAUSHI) office has sparked controversy as Deputy Director Roksana Begum is accused of trying to suppress the incident. Two months after the alleged bribery case, no action has been taken by higher authorities, leaving victims and staff frustrated. Reports claim that Roksana, known for her political connections, has been intimidating teachers and employees visiting her office, while her close aide, computer operator Ashraf Ali, has allegedly amassed significant wealth.

According to multiple officials, Roksana has long relied on Ashraf for office dealings, often excluding other staff. The scandal came to light when teacher Maidul Islam Khan was arrested on February 16 with Tk 700,000 in alleged bribe money meant for teacher enlistment. After his release, he publicly accused Roksana and her associates of demanding large sums for MPO approvals. Despite media coverage, no investigation or disciplinary action has followed.

Both Roksana and Ashraf have denied all allegations, while the regional director stated that no formal complaint has been received so far.

Industrialists and business owners in Chattogram are facing escalating extortion threats from fugitive crime bosses operating from abroad. According to police and victims, top underworld figure Sajjad Ali Khan, known as ‘Boro Sajjad,’ has been demanding millions of taka through phone and WhatsApp, with violent attacks following refusals. Even police guards failed to prevent a second armed assault on Smart Group chairman Mostafizur Rahman’s residence in Chandgaon after he declined to pay. The extortion network reportedly spans construction, brick kilns, and transport sectors across multiple city areas.

Law enforcement sources say Sajjad, believed to be hiding in India, controls criminal operations in at least five police jurisdictions through dozens of local informants. His associates, including ‘Chhoto Sajjad,’ Mohammad Raihan, and Habib Khan, are accused of murder, arms trafficking, and widespread extortion. Police have sought Interpol’s help to bring Sajjad back, while the Chattogram Metropolitan Police has launched the ‘Hello CMP’ app for citizens to report extortion.

Business leaders warn that fear of retaliation and lack of effective protection are discouraging investment in the port city, raising concerns about long-term economic stability.

The 2013 Shapla Chattar incident in Dhaka remains one of Bangladesh’s most contested political and human rights events. Occurring on May 5–6, 2013, it involved a violent state operation against demonstrators, with conflicting narratives from the government, opposition, and rights groups. Then–Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the event as deathless, while organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Odhikar reported fatalities and demanded investigation. The article highlights how the absence of verified casualty figures and restricted media coverage reflected a structural crisis of information control and impunity.

Following political changes in 2024, a renewed investigation by the International Crimes Tribunal reportedly found evidence of some deaths. Hefazat-e-Islam leaders have filed a case against 54 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible. Analysts note that political disunity and compromises among opposition groups weakened earlier efforts for justice. The commentary argues that a transparent and credible inquiry could restore institutional trust and help the nation reconcile with its past.

The piece concludes that the Shapla Chattar tragedy continues to question the balance between state power and citizens’ rights, urging national unity for justice and reform.

The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on 35 individuals and entities, including a Bangladeshi travel company, for alleged involvement in trafficking foreign nationals to Russia to fight in the war against Ukraine. The measures, announced on Tuesday under the UK’s Global Irregular Migration and Human Trafficking Sanctions Regulations 2025, target Dream Home Travels, accused of deceiving Bangladeshi citizens with false promises of high-paying jobs in Russia.

According to a statement published on the UK Foreign Ministry’s website, the company recruited Bangladeshis under fraudulent pretenses and exposed them to severe exploitation. Investigations revealed that once in Russia, the workers were coerced into combat roles in the ongoing conflict against Ukraine. The British government also ordered the seizure of all assets belonging to the company’s owner in the UK.

The Foreign Office emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward human trafficking and irregular migration that endangers lives. The sanctions reinforce international concerns about the use of migrant workers in the Russia-Ukraine war, ongoing since February 2022.

Mohammad Mahbub Alam Khan, an accused in multiple abduction and murder cases, has been appointed as the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Feni district. The appointment was made on Tuesday as part of a reshuffle involving SP positions in 12 districts. The decision has sparked public outrage and raised questions about administrative transparency and the current government's stance.

According to the report, Mahbub Alam Khan is named in cases related to the disappearance of two brothers of a former student leader in Chapainawabganj, with allegations of extortion and enforced disappearance. He previously served as Additional SP in Chapainawabganj during the 2024 student and public uprising, where he allegedly took an armed role against protesters. After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, three murder cases were filed against him, two of which still list him as a named accused.

Observers have expressed concern that appointing such a controversial officer to a politically sensitive district like Feni could pose a serious threat to public safety. Neither Mahbub Alam nor the authorities have commented on the matter.

A tall boundary wall is being built inside the reserved forest area of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, reportedly under a UNDP project funded by the World Bank. The wall, estimated to be about 10 feet high and roughly 1,000 feet in circumference, is being constructed near the 26 No. Shalbagan Rohingya camp in the Muchhni Beat area. Officials involved said the project aims to improve waste management for the camp, but local residents and forest officials fear it will severely harm the forest ecosystem and wildlife movement.

According to the Forest Department, the Teknaf range is home to around 286 species of wildlife, including monkeys, foxes, bears, elephants, and reptiles. Researchers and local forest guards warned that the new structure could further endanger biodiversity already under pressure from human settlement and deforestation. The divisional forest officer confirmed he was unaware of the project’s approval and cautioned that such construction could cause serious ecological damage.

Environmental experts stressed that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should have been conducted before any construction in the protected forest to prevent long-term harm to wildlife and natural habitats.

A member of the United People’s Democratic Front (Democratic), Md. Iman Hossain, aged 25, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Khagrachhari’s Panchhari upazila early Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on May 7 in the Islampur area, where Hossain was reportedly standing in front of a sawmill. He was the son of Ruhul Amin from Mohammadpur village in the same upazila.

According to local sources, the attackers opened fire on Hossain, killing him on the spot. Bikash Tripura, assistant director of the UPDF (Democratic) in Panchhari, alleged that members of the rival UPDF (Prasit) group were responsible for the killing. However, the UPDF (Prasit) faction has not issued any official statement regarding the allegation.

Panchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ferdous Wahid confirmed the incident and said police have begun investigating. He added that it is not yet clear whether the victim was politically affiliated or who was behind the attack. Further details will be available after the investigation.