Bangladesh observed World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2026, under the theme “Shaping a Peaceful Future: Freedom of the Press for Human Rights, Development, and Security.” The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organized a rally and discussion session in Dhaka to mark the occasion. The rally began at 9 a.m. from the Officers’ Club premises and concluded at the Information Building Complex. A discussion followed at the Department of Films and Publications conference hall, focusing on the role of a free and responsible press in fostering a culture of accountability.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon attended the event as the chief guest. Professor Dr. S. M. Shamim Reza of Dhaka University presented a paper, while several prominent media figures, including the Bangladesh Press Council chairman and editors from leading newspapers and television channels, participated as discussants.

World Press Freedom Day was first recognized by the United Nations in 1993 following a UNESCO recommendation. The day reaffirms commitments to press freedom, honors journalists’ sacrifices, and pledges to resist interference in media independence.

Allegations of irregularities and mismanagement have surfaced in a Tk 133-crore project of the Water Development Board (Paubo) at Shrimai Canal in Patiya, Chattogram. The project, ongoing for three years, is facing structural issues as concrete blocks placed along the canal embankment have started to shift, causing partial collapses. With only two months left in the project’s timeline, none of its five packages have progressed beyond 70 percent completion, raising concerns about timely completion and effectiveness before the upcoming monsoon season.

The project, launched on January 1, 2023, under Chattogram Paur Division-1, includes riverbank protection, construction of a hydraulic elevator dam, and afforestation. Local residents allege that blocks meant to prevent erosion were not installed in vulnerable areas, while unnecessary sections received attention. They also accuse the Water Development Board and contractors of negligence in land acquisition and quality control, leading to block displacement in several sections.

Officials have denied negligence, stating that the project is still ongoing and defects will be corrected. They also reported informing local authorities about unregulated sand extraction near the dam site.

Heavy and prolonged rainfall across Bangladesh has submerged vast areas of ripe Boro paddy fields, leaving farmers in distress over crop losses and loan repayments. In several districts including Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrakona, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, and others, floodwaters have inundated low-lying lands and haor regions, damaging both ripe and half-ripe crops. Many farmers, who cultivated Boro paddy with borrowed money, are now forced to harvest immature crops to minimize losses. District administrations have formed emergency monitoring cells to address the disaster, while local agricultural offices are preparing lists of affected farmers.

In Sunamganj alone, about 20,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged, with 2,000 hectares completely destroyed, affecting over 20,000 farmers. Similar devastation has been reported from Habiganj, Naogaon, Mymensingh, and Jamalpur, where continuous rain and flash floods have caused widespread crop submersion. Farmers are struggling to dry harvested paddy due to lack of sunlight, and many have lost hope as floodwaters continue to rise.

Officials have begun assessing the extent of damage, but persistent rain and waterlogging continue to threaten remaining crops and delay recovery efforts.

A newly built bridge on the Majhigacha–Nindapur Ronger Bazar connecting road in Kachua, Chandpur, has started collapsing before its official inauguration. The approach to the 12-meter RCC girder bridge, built under the ‘Program for Supporting Rural Bridges’ project funded by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank, has partially caved in. The project, costing about 23.17 million taka, was implemented by contractor firm Messrs Harun & Sons. Field inspection revealed soil erosion under the guardwalls and large cracks and holes on the connecting road.

Local residents, including Abul Kalam Shikdar, Hazrat Ali, and Jilani, accused the contractor of using substandard materials and ignoring proper construction schedules. They claimed to have repeatedly complained to the Upazila Engineer and Assistant Engineer without any response. Residents demanded intervention from higher authorities of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

Upazila Engineer Abdul Alim Liton stated that parts of the structure were damaged by rain and that the issue is under investigation. He added that the contractor has not yet received full payment, and the final bill will be settled after quality verification.

The Tk 232 crore Muhuri Irrigation Project, completed in June 2024 across Feni and Chattogram’s Mirsarai areas, has failed to deliver expected benefits to local farmers. The project, approved in 2014 under the government’s Irrigation Management Improvement Project with Asian Development Bank support, aimed to irrigate 18,000 hectares through 850 underground pipeline schemes. However, only 338 schemes are operational, and just 3,000 hectares have received irrigation so far.

Flooding in 2024 severely damaged pumps, pipelines, prepaid meters, and electrical systems, halting irrigation despite formal handover to farmers. The project also faced disruptions from local extortion groups, theft of equipment, and corruption allegations, including claims of inflated costs and substandard materials. Farmers’ declining interest in irrigation-based crops and theft of electrical components have further hindered operations.

Project Director Md. Rafius Sajjad stated that a group has been deliberately obstructing the project, while flood damage and transformer theft have worsened the situation. Authorities continue to face challenges in restoring full functionality and ensuring the intended agricultural benefits.

A global energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict has severely disrupted Bangladesh’s industrial sector, with gas, electricity, and fuel shortages putting immense pressure on production. Export earnings have fallen for eight consecutive months, marking an unprecedented decline in the country’s history. In March 2026, export income dropped by over 18 percent year-on-year to 3.48 billion dollars, compared to 4.25 billion dollars in March 2025.

Business leaders and economists attribute the downturn to reduced production capacity, rising costs, and shipment delays that have eroded foreign buyers’ confidence. The ready-made garment sector, which accounts for over 80 percent of export earnings, saw a 5.51 percent decline in the first nine months of the fiscal year. Vietnam has overtaken Bangladesh as the world’s second-largest apparel exporter, earning 82 million dollars more in 2025.

Industry associations report that many factories in Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia, and Narayanganj have lost up to 30 percent of production capacity due to power and fuel shortages. Economists warn that unless the energy crisis eases soon, Bangladesh’s export-dependent economy could face deeper challenges.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated several major development projects during his visit to Sylhet on Saturday, May 2, 2026, despite heavy rainfall. He laid the foundation stone for the Surma Riverbank Development Project, worth about Tk 4,635 crore, aimed at improving flood protection and urban beautification. He also inaugurated the ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ initiative at the district stadium and later addressed a civic gathering at the Sylhet City Corporation auditorium.

During the event, the prime minister announced plans to double-track the Dhaka–Sylhet railway line and expedite the expansion of the Dhaka–Sylhet highway after resolving land acquisition issues. He pledged to reopen closed factories, attract foreign investment, and activate the Sylhet IT Park. Rahman also launched the re-excavation of the historic Basiya River after 49 years, a project expected to benefit thousands of farmers.

He further revealed a plan to recruit 100,000 health workers, 80 percent of whom will be women, to raise health awareness nationwide. The prime minister emphasized environmental protection, water management, and the government’s commitment to fulfilling electoral promises through ongoing development efforts.

The four-day Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) Conference began in Dhaka on Sunday morning following the assumption of office by the new BNP-led government. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the event at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium after walking from the Secretariat. The Cabinet Division reported that 498 proposals from divisional commissioners and DCs were included in the working papers, with the highest number—44—related to the health services sector.

According to the Cabinet Division, a total of 1,729 proposals were received, focusing on improving public and health services, reducing public suffering, infrastructure development, tourism, and legal reforms. The conference will feature 34 working sessions and include courtesy meetings with the President, Speaker, Chief Justice, Chief Election Commissioner, and the Anti-Corruption Commission. The event will conclude on May 6.

Key proposals include establishing an economic zone in Gazipur, rebuilding union sub-health centers, launching a 1,000-bed hospital in Rangpur, and creating midwifery positions. Other proposals address education reforms, disability services, climate resilience funds, and price control mechanisms for essential goods.

A man was killed inside a mosque during Fajr prayer in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar on Sunday, May 3, 2026. The incident occurred at the West Loiarkul Jame Mosque when a person entered during prayer and attacked Hafiz Mia, a local resident, with a pen, injuring his eyes, head, and face. He was taken to a hospital but died on the way. Police later arrested Jasim Mia, also from the same area, on suspicion of involvement in the killing.

According to police, the attack may have stemmed from a dispute over unpaid goods taken on credit from Hafiz Ullah’s shop. Officers from Sreemangal Police Station stated that an investigation is underway to determine the exact motive behind the killing. Both the victim and the suspect lived in the same locality.

Authorities said further details will be revealed after the ongoing investigation concludes.

Forty-nine newly elected members for the reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament are scheduled to take their oath on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 9 p.m. The ceremony will be held in the oath room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban’s East Block, Level-1. The Election Commission announced the names of the elected members and published the official gazette on April 30, confirming their unopposed election.

According to the gazette, 36 members were elected from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its alliance, 12 from the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, and one as an independent candidate. The list includes prominent BNP figures such as Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, and Nipun Roy Chowdhury, among others. From the Jamaat alliance, members include Nurunnisa Siddika, Marzia Begum, and others, while Sultana Jesmin was elected independently.

Separately, the Election Commission declared the nomination of Nusrat Tabassum, a Jamaat alliance candidate and National Citizens Party (NCP) leader, as valid on Saturday for the same reserved seat category.

Bangladesh has launched its first-ever Migration Film Fest to showcase real-life stories related to migration. The organizers have invited short films from young filmmakers and students, with submissions open from April 1 to May 25, 2026. Films can be made using any device, including mobile phones, and may be fiction, animation, or documentary, but must focus on migration. The maximum film length is set at 15 minutes.

The festival aims to portray both the success stories of Bangladeshi migrants and the darker sides of migration, such as human trafficking, fraud by brokers, perilous sea journeys, deaths abroad, mental trauma, and family suffering. Winners will receive prizes including a Sony DSLR camera, GoPro kits, and certificates. Selected films will be screened and broadcast on television and other platforms.

Film selection will take place from May 26 to June 4, with the festival scheduled for the second week of June. Organized by BRAC Migration Program under the Australian government-supported campaign against human trafficking, the event also includes online workshops to guide participants in storytelling and technical skills.

Eight people were killed and seven others injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup van in Dakshin Surma, Sylhet, on Sunday morning. The victims, all construction workers, were traveling to Sunamganj for work when the accident occurred around 6:30 a.m. The information was confirmed by Md. Riazul, Deputy Police Commissioner (South) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.

Police sources said the workers were in a DI pickup heading toward Sunamganj when a truck coming from the opposite direction collided with them, killing eight on the spot. Four of the deceased have been identified as Suruj Ali (60), Mosammat Munni (35), Badrul (30), and Faridul (35), while the identities of the remaining four victims are yet to be confirmed.

Among the injured are seven individuals from different areas of Sylhet, Habiganj, and Sunamganj. Police are continuing efforts to identify the remaining victims and provide medical assistance to the injured.

Police have submitted a chargesheet against 40 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, in connection with the attempted murder of student leader Sheikh Mohammad Ashiq in Mohammadpur. The chargesheet was filed on Sunday morning, while 127 people were released from the case.

Among those charged are Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the now-banned Awami League and former bridge minister, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former MP Sadek Khan, former councilor Asif Ahmed, Tarequzzaman Rajib, and Chhatra League leader Naimul Hasan Russell.

The case was filed by Ashiq after he was injured by gunfire on July 19, 2024, during the July uprising at the Mohammadpur bus stand area. The original case named 129 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, and listed about 150 unidentified persons as accused.

A severe measles outbreak has been reported inside the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in Dhaka, where parents allege that children admitted for other illnesses are contracting measles during treatment. As of April 2026, 466 children had been hospitalized with measles symptoms since January, and 17 had died. Hospital data show a 152 percent rise in admissions from March to April, with most patients aged between six and nine months. The hospital’s specialized measles ward and ICU are operating at full capacity, leaving many families struggling to find beds.

Doctors confirm that measles, being highly contagious, is spreading through respiratory contact among patients. They cite delayed vaccination and malnutrition as key factors worsening the situation. Parents describe distressing scenes of infants suffering from fever, rashes, and breathing difficulties, while many express frustration over the shortage of ICU beds and limited care facilities.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 1,096 new measles cases were recorded nationwide in the past 24 hours, including four suspected deaths. Since March 15, a total of 284 child deaths have been reported, 49 of them confirmed measles fatalities.

Thirteen judges have been appointed to monitor subordinate courts across Bangladesh’s eight divisions. Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury reconstituted the committees, forming 13 separate 'Monitoring Committees for Sub-Ordinate Courts' for each division. The Supreme Court announced the restructuring on Saturday, also assigning 13 judicial officers to provide secretarial support to the committees.

According to the Supreme Court administration, the newly formed committees include Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain for Barishal, Justice Md Habibul Gani for Rajshahi-2, Justice JBM Hassan for Dhaka-1, Justice Md Mujibur Rahman Mia for Khulna-1, Justice Md Zafar Ahmed for Khulna-2, Justice Razik Al Jalil for Mymensingh, and Justice Fatema Najib for Dhaka-2. Other divisions are assigned to Justices SM Kuddus Zaman, Shashanka Shekhar Sarkar, Ahmed Sohel, Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir, KM Hafizul Alam, and Md Atabullah.

Earlier, in January 2022, eight judges were assigned to monitor the divisions, followed by 13 in October 2023. The committees were last restructured in April of the previous year.