A 22-year-old man named Hasan Shikdar from Shibchar upazila in Madaripur district attempted suicide by climbing a 460-foot electric tower on the night of May 3, 2026, following the breakup of his romantic relationship. He threatened to jump unless his former partner agreed to reconcile and come to the site. Police, fire service personnel, rural electricity staff, and his family members rushed to the scene after being alerted.

Hasan’s friend also arrived and climbed the tower to persuade him to come down. After about four and a half hours of negotiation, Hasan was safely brought down around 11 p.m. under the supervision of the rescue team. Police then took him into custody for protection and later handed him over to his family. The incident drew a large crowd of onlookers near the tower.

According to the Shibchar Fire Service Station Officer, the rescue operation was conducted through continuous communication and persuasion until Hasan agreed to descend safely.

The High Court has temporarily suspended bench officer Zakir Hossain following allegations of bail forgery involving Sahedul Islam, the main accused in the Kuki-Chin apparel manufacturing case. The decision became known on Monday morning. Attorney General brought the matter to the Chief Justice’s attention on April 29, after which the Chief Justice ordered a 48-hour investigation into the incident.

According to investigation sources, about seven months earlier, Sahedul Islam, owner of Ringvo Apparels in Chattogram, applied for bail in the High Court. On September 16, 2025, the case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Abdullah Yusuf Sumon. During the hearing, a different case’s documents were presented, misleading the court into granting bail. The forgery occurred later when the bail order’s first page was altered to include details of the Kuki-Chin apparel seizure case, leading prison authorities to release Sahedul based on the falsified order.

The original case involved the seizure of 20,300 garments allegedly made for the KNF from Ringvo Apparels’ warehouse in Bayezid Bostami, Chattogram, on May 17, 2025. The garments were reportedly ordered for about two crore taka, and a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act was filed against Sahedul and two others.

A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the legality of actions taken during the tenure of the interim government led by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The petition was submitted on Monday by lawyer Mohammad Mohsin Rashid to the relevant branch of the court.

The writ seeks a directive for the government to form a commission to investigate whether there are any corruption allegations against Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus. It also questions the validity of various decisions, laws, reform commissions, and both domestic and international agreements made during the interim government’s tenure. The Cabinet Secretary, Law Secretary, and other relevant officials have been named as respondents in the petition.

According to the petitioner, he plans to present the petition for hearing before the High Court later in the day. The outcome of the hearing will determine whether the court issues any directives regarding the legality of the interim government’s actions.

Two people were killed and two others injured in a collision between a truck and a pickup van on the Dhaka-Tangail Jamuna Bridge Highway early Monday morning. The accident occurred around 5:15 a.m. in the Rabna Bypass area of Tangail district. The identities of the victims were not immediately known.

According to the in-charge of the Elenga Highway Police Outpost, the Jamuna Bridge-bound truck collided with a pickup van while overtaking on the Rabna flyover. Two people died on the spot, and two others sustained injuries. The deceased were taken to the morgue of Tangail General Hospital, while the injured were admitted for treatment.

Police said the bodies would be handed over to the families after completing legal procedures.

A rice trader named Abdul Haque was seriously injured and robbed of about two lakh taka by masked assailants in the Moinpur area of Chhatak upazila, Sunamganj. The incident occurred between 10 and 11 p.m. on Sunday near the old hospital and bridge area of Moinpur. Abdul Haque, son of Azhar Ali from Katashala village under Dolar Bazar Union, was returning home on a motorcycle with business money when the attackers ambushed him.

The assailants used sharp local weapons to attack him, leaving him critically wounded before fleeing with the cash. Locals rescued the injured trader and provided initial treatment before transferring him to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital as his condition worsened. Residents expressed concern over the security situation in the area following the attack.

Police from the Jahidpur outpost visited the scene, and Chhatak Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman stated that operations are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaid Islam, stated that the government is maintaining communication with U.S. authorities to ensure a fair investigation and trial over the killing of two Bangladeshi students in Florida. She made the remarks on Monday morning at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while receiving the remains of Jamil Ahmed Limon, one of the victims. The minister added that the process of bringing back the body of the other victim, Nahida Sultana Brishti, is underway and that the government will stand by the victims’ families.

Limon’s dismembered body arrived in Dhaka at 8:40 a.m. on May 4 after all legal procedures were completed in coordination with the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, the Consulate General in Miami, the victim’s family, university authorities, local Bangladeshi expatriates, and police. His funeral prayer was held earlier at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area mosque. Nahida Sultana Brishti’s body was identified on May 1 by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and her first funeral prayer is scheduled for May 6 in Tampa.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington and the Miami Consulate are jointly coordinating the repatriation of Brishti’s remains to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s foreign policy is described as being at a critical juncture, shaped by growing regional competition between India and China. The article argues that Dhaka’s visible tilt toward India has raised questions about its diplomatic balance and may be limiting opportunities with China. Recent ministerial visits to Beijing are seen as limited but symbolically important signals of engagement.

Bangladesh has long pursued a policy of friendship with all, but the article notes that its practical balance is increasingly debated. India remains a key partner in trade, energy, connectivity, and security, yet unresolved issues such as border casualties, the Teesta water-sharing agreement, and trade imbalance persist. Meanwhile, China remains one of Bangladesh’s largest infrastructure partners under the Belt and Road Initiative, though recent project slowdowns and policy reviews could signal uncertainty to Beijing.

The analysis concludes that Bangladesh’s main challenge is maintaining strategic autonomy while deepening ties with both India and China. Sustainable diplomacy, it argues, requires clear national interests, policy continuity, and multidimensional engagement rather than emotional or reactive decisions.

A commentary published on May 4, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh argues that Bangladesh’s parliament has become a venue for partisan bickering rather than public service. The writer, journalist Maskawath Ahsan, contends that both ruling and opposition parties are repeating the same elitist and exclusionary behaviors that have historically marginalized ordinary citizens. He questions why discussions resembling internal party quarrels are being conducted at public expense inside the legislature.

The article traces the roots of Bangladesh’s political and cultural hierarchy to colonial and postcolonial attitudes that divided society by class and culture. It claims that successive political groups, including Awami League and BNP, have perpetuated this elitism by using the legacy of the Liberation War as a tool of superiority rather than equality. The author argues that both sides have failed to uphold the war’s original commitments to equality, human dignity, and social justice.

The piece concludes that after 55 years of independence, all major political parties share responsibility for Bangladesh’s failure to become a welfare state, urging them to focus on accountability instead of partisan theatrics.

A scenic natural spot known as ‘Mini Switzerland’ near Kuakata, Patuakhali, has become a major attraction for travelers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Located about 13 kilometers east of Kuakata Zero Point, the area features lush forests, grasslands, small hills, and a lake merging with sea waves. Tourists enjoy camping, photography, and the rare experience of watching both sunrise and sunset from one place. The nearby ‘Red Crab Island’ is also gaining popularity for its unique coastal ecosystem.

Local guides say the name ‘Mini Switzerland’ originated from a travel blogger’s viral video showcasing the area’s beauty. Tourism stakeholders believe that with proper planning and eco-friendly management, the site could become one of Bangladesh’s leading eco-tourism destinations. They emphasize the need for environmental protection and sustainable infrastructure development.

Authorities have announced plans to improve road connectivity and develop tourism-friendly facilities around the area. Officials stated that any future projects will prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable growth to strengthen Kuakata’s position as a diverse tourism hub.

The body of Bangladeshi student Jamil Ahmed Limon, who was brutally killed in Florida, has arrived in Dhaka. The remains reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:40 a.m. on Monday, May 4. The repatriation process was supervised by Consul General Seheli Sabrin and Consul Thoing from the Bangladesh Consulate General in Miami. Following the recovery of Limon’s body on April 25, all legal formalities were completed through coordination among the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, the Miami Consulate, the victim’s family, his university, local Bangladeshi expatriates, and law enforcement authorities.

Earlier, a funeral prayer for Limon was held at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area mosque after the noon prayer, attended by students from the University of South Florida, his relatives, consular officials, media representatives, and members of the local Bangladeshi community.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway to send the body of another Bangladeshi student, Nahida Sultana Brishti, who was also killed in the same incident. Her first funeral prayer is scheduled to take place in Tampa on May 6, coordinated by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington and the Miami Consulate.

Bangladesh Bank has adopted a short-, medium-, and long-term financing plan to reopen closed factories and increase employment. The initiative aligns with the BNP government’s election pledge to create ten million jobs within the first 18 months. The central bank discussed the plan with 20 commercial banks’ business and credit risk departments in a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Kabir Ahmed. Banks requested government-backed credit guarantees to mitigate potential lending risks.

According to meeting details, short-term loans will support factories with active utility connections but lacking working capital, while medium-term financing will assist those with disconnected utilities or damaged equipment. Long-term loans will target factories requiring new machinery or utility reconnections. Banks expressed limited capacity for self-financing due to past sectoral losses and sought government or central bank funds. A 19-member committee formed on April 26 was tasked with preparing a full financing report.

The central bank is consulting stakeholders to design low-interest support packages, though the IMF has discouraged new refinancing funds under its ongoing loan program. Priority will go to factories not involved in major financial crimes or money laundering.

Despite spending nearly Tk 10,000 crore on several drainage and infrastructure projects, Chattogram continues to suffer from severe waterlogging after even brief rainfall. Officially, project progress exceeds 90 percent, yet the port city remains inundated. Experts attribute the persistent problem to poor coordination among agencies, weak maintenance, and ineffective waste management. The issue has drawn attention in parliament, where the Prime Minister expressed regret and assured that efforts are underway to resolve it.

Three major agencies—the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Water Development Board, and Chattogram City Corporation—are implementing projects worth Tk 14,257 crore, but delays and inefficiency have extended three-year projects to eight years. Experts say unplanned urbanization, hill cutting, and siltation of canals have worsened the crisis. Around 1.9 million tons of waste are generated annually, much of which ends up in canals, blocking water flow.

Officials acknowledge that the City Corporation lacks the manpower and technology to maintain the expanded drainage network. The local government ministry has also criticized the previous administration for assigning large projects to inexperienced agencies, creating further complications.

The investigation agency of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has found evidence of 32 killings during Hefazat-e-Islam’s rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka’s Motijheel area. The agency is preparing to submit a final report accusing 25 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, and former DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed. The report is expected to be filed in the first week of next month, marking a major step in the ongoing probe into the 2013 incident.

The tribunal’s chief prosecutor Aminul Islam said the investigation is nearing completion, with only some work remaining in Chattogram. The 2013 rally, called by Hefazat-e-Islam to press 13 religious and social demands, ended in a deadly crackdown. Human rights group Odhikar had earlier reported at least 61 deaths, describing the operation as an extrajudicial killing under government orders. Following that report, Odhikar leaders Adilur Rahman Khan and A.S.M. Nasiruddin Elan were later jailed under the ICT Act.

Hefazat leaders have renewed their demand for justice, urging Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible for the 2013 killings.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reduced its revenue collection target for the 2025–26 fiscal year to Tk 4.3 trillion after failing to meet earlier goals. Initially set at Tk 4.99 trillion and later revised upward to Tk 5.54 trillion, the target proved unattainable as collections fell short by about Tk 1 trillion in the first nine months. Although the official target remains unchanged on paper, NBR officials confirmed that the revised internal goal is now Tk 4.3 trillion.

According to NBR sources, Tk 2.88 trillion has been collected so far from income tax, VAT, and customs combined. To meet the new target, the agency must collect Tk 1.42 trillion in the remaining three months—over Tk 47,000 crore per month—far above its previous monthly record of Tk 37,000 crore. Officials acknowledge that achieving even the reduced goal will be challenging.

The report links the revenue shortfall to political upheaval following the August 5 ouster of Sheikh Hasina, economic disruptions from corruption and capital flight, and slow implementation of the Annual Development Programme. Ongoing global instability, rising fuel prices, and declining garment exports have further constrained revenue growth.

Boro paddy collection in Moulvibazar has not yet started due to adverse weather conditions. Although farmers are willing to supply paddy, they are currently unable to do so. The district food department stated that since there are still four months left, they expect to complete the full collection within that period.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, this year’s Boro cultivation target covered 62,400 hectares, including 27,355 hectares in haor areas and 35,045 hectares in non-haor regions. Heavy rainfall and flash floods have submerged 5,042 hectares, completely damaging 2,282 hectares and partially affecting 2,160 hectares. Farmers are struggling to harvest ripe paddy due to bad weather and a shortage of labor, while high water levels have made mechanical harvesting impossible.

The district food controller said the government plans to buy 6,004 tons of paddy directly from registered farmers at Tk 36 per kilogram. However, continuous rainfall and rising river levels have raised concerns about possible flooding in the coming days.