Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended a civic gathering in Sylhet on Saturday morning after inaugurating a project under the Sylhet City Corporation. He arrived at the event around 11:15 a.m. following the foundation stone laying ceremony. Earlier, the prime minister visited the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) and inaugurated a project along the Surma River focused on beautification and flood protection infrastructure.

Later in the day, he is scheduled to inaugurate a canal excavation program at Kandigaon Union in Sylhet Sadar upazila and launch the 'Notun Kuri Sports' initiative at Sylhet District Stadium under the Ministry of Youth and Sports to identify young athletic talents. In the evening, he will attend a party meeting before returning to Dhaka.

The city has been decorated with arches, banners, and festoons at key points to mark the prime minister’s visit, reflecting local preparations for the day’s multiple development events.

Police have detained A.K.M. Asifur Rahman Chowdhury, president of the Lohagara Upazila unit of the Chhatra League, in Chattogram. The arrest took place around 7 p.m. on Friday in the Chandgaon residential area of the city. Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Nur Hossain Mamun confirmed the detention of the leader, who belongs to a banned faction of the student organization.

According to police sources, multiple cases are filed against Asifur Rahman Chowdhury at Lohagara Police Station. Details about the nature of the cases or the specific charges were not disclosed in the report.

The report did not mention any official statement from the Chhatra League or other authorities regarding the arrest, and further legal proceedings were not described.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman inaugurated a Tk 4,000 crore mega project aimed at resolving waterlogging in Sylhet city. The inauguration took place at Chandnighat area of Sylhet Metropolitan City Corporation on May 2, 2026, at 11 a.m. Dr. Zubaida Rahman was present during the event. The project is reported to be the largest in the history of Sylhet City Corporation.

Before attending the inauguration, the Prime Minister visited the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) at around 10:30 a.m. Upon completing the visit, he proceeded directly to the Chandnighat area for the ceremony. The project is part of the government’s broader efforts to address urban waterlogging through major infrastructure initiatives.

The report also mentioned that the government is undertaking canal excavation to prevent waterlogging and considering a double rail line on the Dhaka–Sylhet route, reflecting a wider focus on sustainable urban and transport development.

The Election Commission has declared the nomination of Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), as valid for the reserved women’s seat in the 13th National Parliament. The Chief Returning Officer made the announcement on Saturday, May 2, according to NCP office secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat. He stated in a Facebook post that the decision was made officially after completing the necessary administrative procedures, and the party will brief the media shortly at the Election Commission’s media center.

Earlier, Nusrat Tabassum’s nomination had been rejected because it was submitted at 4:19 p.m., 19 minutes after the 4:00 p.m. deadline on April 22. However, on April 27, a High Court bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar directed the Election Commission to accept her nomination. The upcoming election for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament is scheduled for May 12.

The validation of Tabassum’s nomination follows the court’s intervention, clearing her to contest in the forthcoming election under the NCP banner.

Residents living near the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, have expressed growing fears about safety as the facility nears operation. Many locals, including fishermen and families in nearby villages, worry that radiation or heat from the plant could make the area uninhabitable. Rumors about health risks and livestock loss have spread, deepening public unease. Some residents said they have not received clear communication or awareness programs from authorities about safety procedures or emergency plans.

Experts and project officials, however, insist that the Rooppur plant incorporates multiple layers of modern safety systems. Nuclear scientists explained that the VVER-1200 reactor model used at Rooppur includes containment structures and automatic monitoring to prevent radiation leaks even in extreme scenarios. The plant’s management stated that awareness programs have been launched to educate local communities and that international safety standards are being followed under IAEA oversight.

Officials acknowledged that maintaining a strong safety culture and skilled management will be crucial for the plant’s long-term safe operation, emphasizing continuous improvement and transparency in safety practices.

The Barapukuria thermal power plant’s Unit 1 in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, resumed electricity generation early Friday after remaining closed for six days. The 125-megawatt unit returned to production at 4:22 a.m. following repairs, currently generating about 55 to 60 megawatts for the national grid. Officials expect the restart to slightly increase overall power supply.

According to the plant’s chief engineer, the unit had been shut down on April 25 due to a burst boiler pipe. Repairs were completed before the unit was brought back online. Meanwhile, overhauling work continues on Unit 3, which a Chinese contractor expects to complete by May 15. Once operational, the unit is expected to further stabilize electricity supply.

The Barapukuria plant has three units, two of which were already out of operation. The latest shutdown occurred when stones mixed with coal damaged boiler tubes, temporarily halting production across the facility.

Chittagong Port Authority has achieved a new operational milestone as the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) recorded its highest-ever single-day container handling. On April 30, under the management of the port authority and terminal operator Chittagong Drydock Limited, a total of 5,709 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were handled within 24 hours. This surpassed the previous record of 5,484 TEUs set on April 11 at the same terminal, marking a rapid improvement in port performance.

Across all terminals, Chittagong Port handled a total of 10,162 TEUs during the same 24-hour period, which officials described as a significant indicator of the port’s growing capacity and efficiency. Port Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said the achievement would play an important role in expanding maritime trade and enhancing the port’s overall capability.

He credited the success to the tireless efforts of workers who continued operations despite intense heat and adverse weather, and extended congratulations to all officials, employees, and stakeholders involved.

At least two people were killed in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Purbadhala upazila of Netrokona on Saturday morning, May 2, 2026. The accident occurred around 8:30 a.m. at Bara Ilashpur on the Shyamganj–Birishiri road. Police and local sources said the bus was traveling from Durgapur to Mymensingh, while the CNG was heading from Shyamganj to Durgapur.

One of the deceased was identified as Ainul Haque, 50, son of the late Kachom Ali from Dakshin Kaldoa village in Purbadhala. He died on the spot. Three other passengers of the CNG were seriously injured and taken to Purbadhala Upazila Health Complex, where another unidentified passenger, approximately 50 years old, died while receiving treatment.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Purbadhala Police Station said efforts are underway to identify the unknown victim. The bus and CNG involved in the crash have been seized, while the driver fled the scene. Legal proceedings are in process.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that a transfer system for teachers of non-government MPO-listed schools, colleges, and madrasas will soon be introduced. He said all preparations have been completed and committees are being formed to begin the process shortly. The minister made the remarks on Friday afternoon at the prize-giving ceremony of the Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament finals held at Kachua Government Pilot High School field in Chandpur.

Milon added that 14,300 teachers who passed the examination were recruited in a short time despite mixed reactions, and their appointments will follow the existing employment regulations. He emphasized that the government is working to make education enjoyable for students and to develop them as capable citizens through both study and sports. The minister also noted that the government is increasing the education budget to improve quality.

During the event, Kachua Government Primary School and Ashrafpur Government Primary School won the boys’ and girls’ football finals respectively, and the minister handed trophies to the winning and runner-up teams.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament, which concluded on Thursday, has been described as highly significant due to its political context. Convened nearly two years after a mass uprising that ended the Awami League government, the session drew wide public attention both inside and outside the parliament. It featured heated exchanges between government and opposition members over the president’s address, the Liberation War, and the controversial July Charter, while remarks by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker also sparked discussion.

According to the Parliament Secretariat, the 25-day session presented 133 ordinances, passed 91 bills, and approved a total of 94 by its final day, setting a new record for legislative activity. The question-and-answer segment was notably active, with 93 questions submitted to the prime minister, who responded to 35, and 2,509 questions to ministers, of which 1,778 were answered.

Eight topics dominated the session’s discourse, including the president’s speech, the July Charter debate, Liberation War discussions, accountability in question time, opposition walkouts, the Speaker’s role, parliamentary dynamics, and the record number of bills passed.

Police in Lalpur, Natore arrested five active members of a hacking group involved in breaching Facebook, WhatsApp, Imo, and Messenger accounts and conducting online fraud. The arrests took place on Friday evening during a special operation led by Sub-Inspectors Munsup Ali and Al Masum, assisted by ASI Ansar Ali and other officers. The suspects were detained from the bedroom of Rafiz Mondol’s house in Pansipara village under Durduria Union.

According to Lalpur police, the detainees used Android phones and internet access to hack expatriates’ WhatsApp accounts. They then illegally accessed Facebook, Messenger, and Imo IDs, changed passwords, and took control of the accounts to defraud victims of money. The arrested individuals are all residents of Lalpur upazila.

Lalpur Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam stated that a case is being processed against the suspects and that similar operations will continue to curb cybercrime and online fraud in the area.

A fire broke out at the substation of the 350-megawatt Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) power plant in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, on Friday around 5:30 p.m. The incident was confirmed by Miron Mia, station master of the Adamjee Fire Service. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise from inside the substation before thick smoke appeared and flames spread to part of a transformer. Panic spread in the surrounding area as plant staff took safety measures and alerted the fire service.

Two units from the Adamjee EPZ Fire Service arrived promptly and managed to bring the fire under control within a short time, preventing a major accident or explosion. Authorities said security was tightened around the power plant and substation after the incident. The exact cause and extent of damage were not immediately known, though initial assessments suggested a technical fault or overheating in the transformer.

Fire service officials stated that about 100,000 liters of oil were stored in the transformer, and quick action helped save equipment worth around Tk 300 crore. The situation has since returned to normal.

The BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Unity Panel, known as the Blue Panel, won all 23 posts in the Dhaka Bar Association election. The results were announced just after midnight on Friday by Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Md. Borhan Uddin. Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan was elected president and Mohammad Abul Kalam Khan became general secretary, defeating Jamaat and NCP-backed candidates S.M. Kamal Uddin and Abu Bakkar Siddique. No independent candidates or the rival Green Panel secured any positions.

Other winners from the Blue Panel include Rezaul Karim Chowdhury as senior vice president, Abul Kalam Azad as vice president, and Mohammad Anisuzzaman as treasurer. The election took place on April 29 and 30, with 7,169 of 20,785 registered voters casting ballots.

The complete victory of the BNP-supported panel underscores their dominance in the Dhaka Bar Association’s leadership for the upcoming term, following a competitive election process.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Sylhet today, marking his first trip to the region since assuming office. He is expected to arrive at Osmani International Airport at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Upon arrival, he will visit the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal (R.), followed by the foundation laying of a city corporation project to address waterlogging near Chandnighat by the Surma River. At 11:35 a.m., he will lay the foundation stone of the Bangladesh Overseas Center Sylhet.

Later in the day, at 12 p.m., the Prime Minister will inaugurate a canal excavation program at Kandigaon Union in Sylhet Sadar Upazila. In the afternoon, at 3 p.m., he will launch the 'Notun Kuri Sports' initiative at Sylhet District Stadium, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to identify young athletic talent. He is scheduled to attend a party meeting at 5 p.m. before returning to Dhaka.

The visit includes multiple development and youth engagement programs, reflecting the government’s focus on infrastructure and sports promotion in Sylhet.

The Bangladesh Lawyers Council has alleged that the Dhaka Bar Association election was neither fair nor acceptable due to widespread irregularities and fake voting. In a statement sent to the media on Friday, the council’s secretary, Matiur Rahman Akand, claimed that inconsistencies in forming the election commission allowed fake votes to be cast, which the commission failed to prevent. He said some voters found their votes had already been cast, and incidents of vote tampering occurred inside several booths.

According to the statement, irregularities and bias were present at every stage of the election process. Traditionally, the chief election commissioner is selected by mutual consent of both panels, and the commission is formed with equal representation. However, this procedure was reportedly not followed this time. The council alleged that the commission was dominated by the BNP-backed blue panel, making the election questionable.

The statement further claimed that improper voter verification, ballot distribution without voter slips, and pre-cast votes undermined credibility. It concluded that due to overall irregularities and bias, the election lost trust among lawyers.