Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mufti Shafiqul Islam gave a statement before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday, describing his alleged abduction and torture by members of the Rapid Action Battalion’s Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell during the Awami League government. He said he was detained, blindfolded, and threatened with death if he did not confess to being involved in militancy. Shafiqul claimed he was told he would be killed and his body dumped at sea or left mentally unstable in Dhaka.

In his deposition, Shafiqul detailed his background as a religious scholar and principal of a madrasa in Purbachal, as well as his role as assistant secretary of Hefazat’s Dhaka Metropolitan Paltan zone. He recounted being taken from Mohammadpur on January 13, 2022, and held in small, dark rooms where he was interrogated and beaten. He said interrogators demanded he admit links to militant groups and cited previous detainees allegedly tortured in similar ways.

The testimony was presented as part of proceedings against 17 accused, including Sheikh Hasina and several current and former army officers, who face death sentences in the tribunal case.

Several cleaners of the Narayanganj City Corporation were assaulted by street vendors on Monday afternoon in the Chashara area of Narayanganj city. The incident occurred in front of the Chashara Press Club when the cleaners arrived to clear the sidewalks as part of an eviction drive. Witnesses said a group of vendors attacked the cleaners, forcing them to flee the scene.

Earlier in the day, the vendors had staged protests in Chashara, marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, and submitted a memorandum before returning to the area. The clash erupted when cleaners tried to stop vendors from setting up stalls on the sidewalks, leading to a heated argument and subsequent assault.

Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan condemned the attack, calling it a disgraceful incident witnessed by city residents. He stated that legal action would be taken and reaffirmed that clearing the sidewalks was a public demand that would not be compromised.

The Central Chhatra Dal has expelled Md. Sohel Rana, joint convener of the Sirajganj municipal unit, after he was accused in a case involving the abduction and torture of a businessman and demanding Tk 70,000 in extortion. The decision was confirmed on Monday evening by district Chhatra Dal president Junayed Hossain Sabuj.

According to a press release, the central committee also expelled Arafat Rahman Abhi, assistant school affairs secretary of the Barguna district unit, from his organizational position. The decision was approved by Chhatra Dal president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

The expulsions follow allegations of serious misconduct by the two leaders, and the central body stated that the action was taken in accordance with organizational rules.

Controversial businessman Ron Haque Sikder, accused in money laundering and corruption cases, died on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 2:20 p.m. local time while undergoing treatment in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He had been staying in Thailand and the UAE for an extended period to avoid arrest. The information was shared by Al Jazeera investigative journalist Julkar Nain Sayer Khan through a verified Facebook post.

According to the post, Sikder passed away at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai after suffering from liver complications. Family sources cited in the post said he had been admitted to the hospital about a week earlier due to liver-related illness.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had earlier filed two separate charge sheets against Ron Haque Sikder, his brother Rick Haque Sikder, and 13 others in connection with money laundering and corruption allegations dating back to 2024.

Awami League-backed lawyers and leaders of the banned Awami League faction allegedly stormed the Chattogram District Bar Association office on Monday afternoon, chanting 'Joy Bangla' slogans and confining BNP- and Jamaat-backed lawyers inside the library for about an hour. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. as nomination submissions for the upcoming May 21 bar association election were closing. One lawyer, Mohammad Momen, was reportedly injured during the attack.

According to court sources, the Awami-aligned group, operating under the banner of the General Lawyers Council, attempted to seize nomination papers and lock the bar office. The attack was allegedly led by several local Awami League figures, including former and current party leaders. The Awami Lawyers Coordination Council, which is legally barred from participating in the election, was said to be behind the unrest. Bar leaders confirmed filing a police complaint following the violence.

Police stated that tension arose between two groups of lawyers over nomination submissions, leading to a brief procession by one faction after the incident.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has announced a plan to gradually bring Bangladesh’s national highways under CCTV surveillance. Speaking to reporters after the fifth session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Monday, he said the initiative aims to enhance road safety and reduce accidents through the use of modern technology. The program will first cover national highways, followed by regional and district roads.

The minister noted that thousands of people die in road accidents every year, making increased monitoring essential. He said CCTV installation will improve traffic management and help identify law violations more efficiently. Despite high demand for road expansion, budget constraints require prioritizing projects. He also directed district administrators to address road encroachment, illegal billboards, and overloaded vehicles damaging roads.

Alam added that steps are being taken to control three-wheeler movement on highways and to ease traffic congestion ahead of the upcoming Eid. He emphasized coordination between central and field administrations to accelerate development projects and highlighted progress in land acquisition for major infrastructure works.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to former minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and two others in connection with a corruption case. The order was issued on Monday, May 4, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez. The other two individuals are former Assistant Commissioner of Customs and VAT Bhuiya Mofizur Rahman and Khandaker Shamima Hasan, wife of former Dohar Police Station officer-in-charge Mostafa Kamal. The court’s bench assistant Riaz Hossain confirmed the order.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) applications, Maya is accused of acquiring and possessing assets worth over Tk 18.2 million beyond known income sources and conducting suspicious transactions totaling Tk 5.1 billion between 2009–10 and 2023–24. The ACC also alleged that Mofizur Rahman and Shamima Hasan accumulated assets inconsistent with their declared income through bribery, corruption, and misuse of power. The ACC argued that seizing their tax records was essential for proper investigation.

Following hearings on the ACC’s petitions, the judge approved the seizure of all relevant tax documents for further investigation.

Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government is implementing an integrated and timely action plan to revive the country’s industrial sector, stabilize markets, and ensure the safe supply of essential goods. Speaking to reporters after the fourth session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference in Dhaka, he said reopening sick and closed factories to boost production and employment is a top government priority.

The minister stated that around 50 closed or ailing textile and jute mills are being gradually transferred to the private sector to attract new investment and create jobs within a year. He highlighted that district administrators proposed measures for industrial revival, new industrial zones, reopening sugar mills, and establishing distilleries to expand exports. The government will consider these proposals seriously.

Muktadir also revealed plans for an AI-based supply chain monitoring system to reduce price gaps from producers to retailers, a strategic reserve for import-dependent goods to counter global volatility, and a strengthened advisory council for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh. Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, he announced a special plan to preserve raw hides through training, salt supply, and transport control.

BNP leader Rezaul Kaiyum, president of Cumilla Adarsha Sadar Upazila BNP, was released from Kotwali Model Police Station after 12 hours in custody upon signing a bond. He was detained around 11 a.m. on Sunday from his residence in the Shasongacha area by members of the Kotwali Model Police and the district Detective Branch. Police said he was questioned based on allegations but not formally arrested, and was released under the custody of the upazila BNP general secretary, Shafiul Alam Raihan.

Following his detention, transport workers at the Shasongacha bus terminal halted bus operations on all routes and staged protests, prompting additional police deployment near the station. Law enforcement sources indicated that Kaiyum and his associates had drawn attention over alleged extortion at the bus terminal after the fall of the Awami League government. Police officials stated that his detention followed instructions from higher authorities.

Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed told reporters he had heard about the matter, noting that Kaiyum had leased a bus stand and may have collected more money than permitted.

In Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, police officials, a former officer, and witnesses were questioned on Monday at the office of the Superintendent of Police over allegations of harassment through a false case. Former police member Mosharraf, key witness Sajib, and accused officers including ASI Harun (Harun-2), Constable Mehedi, and ASI Parimal were interrogated as part of the investigation.

Mosharraf alleged that Sitakunda police misused their authority to falsely implicate and arrest him, despite repeated complaints to the officer-in-charge. He later filed a case in court and submitted a written complaint to the Superintendent of Police. Witness Sajib stated that he had been coerced into giving false testimony but later revealed the truth in court, leading to Mosharraf’s bail. Police SI Harun confirmed that a judicial inquiry had been completed but its report was yet to be released.

Superintendent of Police Nazir Ahmed Khan said the allegations were being investigated seriously and that appropriate legal action would be taken if the claims were proven true.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has announced a program demanding justice for the killings that occurred on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar. The organization made the announcement through a Facebook post on Monday, stating that a human chain will be held on May 5, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel.

In addition, Bangladesh Khilafat Chhatra Majlis is organizing a documentary and document-based exhibition for the first time focusing on the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident. According to the organization, the exhibition will take place on May 5 and 6 at the Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Exhibition Gallery of the Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka. It will feature photographs, eyewitness accounts, official documents, news reports, and tributes to those killed, along with a documentary screening and a brief discussion session.

Both events aim to highlight the 2013 incident and renew calls for justice related to the events at Shapla Chattar.

A Dhaka court has ordered a fresh three-day remand for former Member of Parliament and ex-DGFI Director General Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury for interrogation in the murder case of student activist Biplob Sheikh. The order was issued on Monday by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasib Ullah Piyash following a request from the investigation officer of Mirpur Model Police Station. The prosecution confirmed the court’s decision.

The investigation officer had sought a five-day remand, stating that preliminary findings indicated Masud Uddin’s involvement in the incident. Police said further questioning was necessary to uncover the full circumstances of the killing, verify the roles of other suspects, and identify unnamed individuals. The defense opposed the remand, citing the accused’s age, illness, and prior detention, and requested bail instead. After hearing both sides, the court granted a three-day remand.

According to the case file, Biplob Sheikh was shot dead on July 19, 2024, during an anti-discrimination student rally in Mirpur. The victim’s father filed the murder case on July 1 of the following year. Masud Uddin was arrested on March 23 from Baridhara and has been remanded multiple times in related cases.

NCC Bank recently organized a mental health awareness workshop titled “Mind Matters: Workplace Mental Health Talk for Women” for its female employees at the bank’s head office. The session aimed to promote an inclusive and healthy work environment. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Nasim Jahan, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at BIRDEM General Hospital and Ibrahim Medical College.

Dr. Jahan delivered an informative presentation on key aspects of workplace mental health, including stress management, emotional resilience, and work-life balance. Participants were also introduced to internationally recognized assessment tools such as the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), which help individuals identify and manage early signs of stress, anxiety, and depression.

The event was moderated by Nighat Momtaz, Executive Vice President and Head of Sustainable and Women’s Banking at NCC Bank. A total of 142 female officers attended in person, while others from branches across the country joined digitally. Participants described the initiative as timely and necessary in today’s evolving work environment.

A faction of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, staged a protest in Noakhali on Monday by blocking the Dhaka–Sonapur highway. The demonstration began in front of the district central mosque and was followed by a rally where leaders criticized the recently formed district committee, alleging favoritism and exclusion of dedicated activists.

Vice President Mohammad Wasim claimed that loyal grassroots workers were overlooked in favor of personal followers. Sadar Upazila Convener Sahed Chowdhury Babu described the committee as the most controversial in the organization’s history. In response, District President NBS Russell rejected the allegations, stating that the committee was formed based on merit and organizational considerations, and that not everyone could be accommodated.

Following the protest, ten leaders, including Vice Presidents Sahed Chowdhury Babu, Mohammad Wasim, Tarek Nur, Yasin Arafat, and Organizing Secretary Akbar Hossain, resigned from the new committee during a press conference at the Noakhali Press Club.

The Bangladesh Navy conducted a special operation on Monday morning based on confidential intelligence to seize illegal drugs and firearms. The operation took place at a brick kiln in Alikhali area of Hnila Union under Teknaf upazila. During the search, authorities discovered 5 kilograms of crystal meth (ice) and 100,000 yaba tablets buried underground. The seized narcotics have an estimated market value of around Tk 30 crore. Two foreign pistols, two magazines, and four rounds of live ammunition were also recovered.

In the same operation, naval personnel arrested Nurul Kabir, a fugitive accused in multiple drug and weapons cases. The recovered drugs, firearms, and ammunition, along with the detainee, were later handed over to Teknaf police for legal proceedings. The Bangladesh Navy stated that it continues to carry out regular operations to curb drug and arms smuggling in maritime and coastal areas.

The operation underscores the Navy’s ongoing role in national anti-smuggling efforts and coordination with local law enforcement agencies.