Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized that without a time-appropriate education curriculum, it will be difficult for Bangladesh to remain competitive globally. Speaking at the University Grants Commission’s national workshop at Dhaka University’s Senate Building on Tuesday morning, he said students must focus on innovation rather than rote learning. The workshop was inaugurated to discuss the development and sustainable transformation of the country’s higher education system. Rahman stated that the government aims to nurture talent instead of allowing brain drain, preparing students to face future challenges. He noted that unemployment remains high due to a lack of skill development alongside academic learning, and that efforts are underway to modernize the academic syllabus. The government plans to introduce innovation grants from college to university levels and make technical education mandatory from the school level. He also called on educators to engage alumni established at home and abroad in advancing education and research, warning that reliance solely on traditional learning would make survival in a competitive world increasingly difficult.

An Israeli far-right Knesset member, Zvi Sukkot, reportedly disrupted a Nakba Day memorial event at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University and issued direct threats of violence to participating students. The event, held on Monday, marked the 78th anniversary of the 1948 displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the incident occurred amid growing tensions on Israeli campuses. Student organizers accused authorities and right-wing groups of escalating incitement and persecution against Palestinian students. The organizing group stated that such threats would not deter them from commemorating Nakba Day, emphasizing their commitment to preserving their identity, history, and rights despite increasing pressure. The report noted that the threats came at a time when Israeli universities are facing criticism for imposing stricter measures on Palestinian students, reflecting a broader climate of hostility within academic institutions.

The Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar, Touhiduzzaman Pavel, visited the Kawadighi Haor area in Rajnagar upazila to assess the damage to Boro paddy crops and monitor government assistance activities for affected farmers. During the visit, he spoke directly with farmers to understand their current conditions, the extent of losses, and the type of support they require. He also gathered farmers’ opinions on the causes of rising water levels, possible protective measures for crops, and strategies to reduce future losses. The Deputy Commissioner inquired whether all affected farmers were included in the official assistance list and advised those not listed to contact the respective Upazila Nirbahi Officer. Later, he inspected the Kashempur Pump House, which is responsible for maintaining water drainage in the haor, and instructed officials to strengthen the ongoing drainage operations. Officials from the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Agricultural Extension, along with the Rajnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, were present during the inspection.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) will be transformed into an effective, modern, and sustainable institution. Speaking at the 62nd board meeting of BFTI held at the Ministry of Commerce conference room on Tuesday, he said the institute would be developed to achieve financial independence and become a self-reliant knowledge center supporting the country’s international trade capacity. The minister emphasized that Bangladesh must enhance its preparedness to face the complexities of global trade. To support this, a permanent expert panel will be formed under BFTI to assist in WTO dispute resolution, trade policy analysis, and bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations. The panel will include experienced trade experts, legal professionals, and researchers from both public and private sectors. The meeting also recommended appointing a qualified Chief Executive Officer for BFTI and launching a postgraduate diploma program with University Grants Commission approval to develop skilled human resources in international trade, trade law, and policy research. Expanding research activities, strengthening training capacity, and building national and international research networks were also prioritized.

Mymensingh District Police has been recognized as the top performer in Bangladesh for its success in anti-drug operations and drug recovery activities. The award was presented during Police Week 2026 at a ceremony held at Rajarbagh Police Lines in Dhaka, where Inspector General of Police Md. Ali Hossain Fakir handed over the crest and certificate to Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan. According to the report, Mymensingh police conducted continuous anti-drug drives across various upazilas over the past year, seizing large quantities of yaba, cannabis, heroin, and phensedyl. The district also intensified intelligence surveillance, filed multiple cases, and carried out arrests to dismantle drug networks. The national evaluation by the Police Headquarters ranked districts based on drug recovery, case resolution, arrests, and operational effectiveness, with Mymensingh securing first place in Group ‘A’. Superintendent Kamrul Hasan stated that the district police follow a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and will continue strict operations with public cooperation to build a drug-free Mymensingh.

Masood Ghaus Aijazi, Assistant Director for International Affairs of Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami, paid a courtesy visit to Nurul Islam, the Central President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, at the organization’s central office. The meeting was reported on Tuesday through the group’s official Facebook page. During the meeting, Aijazi inquired about various organizational activities of Chhatra Shibir and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. At the end of the visit, Nurul Islam presented a special honorary crest to the guest on behalf of the organization. The meeting was attended by Shibir Secretary General Sibgatullah, Central Office Secretary Azizur Rahman Azad, and other leaders, according to the post.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and opposition chief whip, questioned the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) role in Hefazat-e-Islam’s May 5 movement. Speaking on Tuesday at the Institute of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka, he said the BNP should have participated in the movement. The remarks came during a discussion and documentary screening organized by the NCP-backed National Olama Alliance titled “Shapla Massacre; A Decade of Impunity.” Nahid Islam stated that the mass killing had been portrayed as Hefazat’s rampage and that the group was labeled as terrorists and extremists. He argued that the lack of accountability for the Shapla massacre led to another mass killing in 2024, adding that many contributed to the circumstances behind both incidents. He further commented that friendship cannot be built by erecting barbed-wire fences and killing people along the border, warning that the people of the country would one day remove those fences.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has rejected media reports suggesting that Iranian military aircraft were stationed at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi to protect them from possible US attacks. In a statement issued from Islamabad, the ministry described such reports as misleading and sensational, asserting that they were part of attempts to undermine regional stability and peace. The reports, originally published by a US media outlet, alleged that Pakistan, while acting as a mediator in the ongoing US-Iran tensions, had secretly allowed Iranian warplanes to use its base as a shield. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry dismissed these claims, clarifying that the Iranian aircraft currently in Pakistan arrived during a ceasefire period and that their presence had no connection to any military emergency or protective arrangement. The statement further emphasized that spreading unverified and speculative information without fact-checking distorts reality. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability.

Bangladesh Railway has announced that all advance and return tickets for Eid-ul-Azha travel will be sold exclusively online. According to a notice issued on May 12, advance tickets for Eid journeys will be available from May 13 to May 17, while return tickets will be sold from May 21 to May 25. The tickets can only be purchased through the official Bangladesh Railway website and the 'Rail Sheba' mobile app. The railway authority has urged passengers not to buy or sell tickets through any other individuals, organizations, or social media pages. It also warned travelers against making financial transactions outside the designated platforms, emphasizing that attempts to purchase tickets through unauthorized channels could lead to fraud. This move aims to ensure transparency and prevent ticket-related scams during the busy Eid travel period, as the railway expects a high demand for tickets across the country.

Ambassadors and high commissioners from member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Tuesday. The courtesy meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. During the meeting, the OIC envoys congratulated Rahman on assuming office as Prime Minister and expressed their commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh across sectors including investment, trade, education, health, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. Prime Minister Rahman thanked the OIC member states for their support on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh. He recalled the fraternal relations established during the tenure of late President Ziaur Rahman and expressed optimism about further deepening those ties. The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of people-to-people connections and sought continued OIC support in resolving the Rohingya crisis. Envoys from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Palestine, Algeria, Brunei, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, and Libya attended the meeting, along with senior Bangladeshi officials.

Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Member of Parliament for Chapainawabganj-2 and Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami in Chapainawabganj district, made an unannounced visit to the Bholahat Upazila Health Complex during a meeting on healthcare quality improvement. The visit took place around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, where health officials, doctors, and staff were discussing service standards. The MP joined the meeting, reviewed hospital operations, patient care, and staff attendance, and gave directives to enhance healthcare services. After the meeting, Dr. Rahman received dental treatment at the hospital’s dental department, interacted with patients, and gathered feedback on hospital conditions. He urged medical staff to work sincerely and responsibly to gain public trust and ensure accessible government healthcare for all. Local residents and hospital visitors responded positively to the MP’s direct participation and treatment at the facility. Former Bholahat Upazila Vice Chairman Md. Lokman Ali said the visit would strengthen staff accountability and help identify and solve hospital issues more effectively.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) has stated that there is no shortage in international bandwidth supply, rejecting recent media reports suggesting risks from geopolitical tensions or cable capacity issues. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the state-owned company under the Posts and Telecommunications Division said it operates two trusted submarine cable systems, SEA-ME-WE-4 and SEA-ME-WE-5, with a combined capacity of about 7,200 Gbps. Of this, 4,100 Gbps is currently supplied domestically, while 3,100 Gbps remains available for future use. According to BSCCPLC, only 1.34 percent of total capacity passes through the Red Sea, and none through the Strait of Hormuz, making claims of potential disruptions from regional conflicts unfounded. The company clarified that SEA-ME-WE-5 still has 712 Gbps unused capacity and a lifespan until 2037, while SEA-ME-WE-4 remains operational with capacity until 2030. A new system, SEA-ME-WE-6, is under implementation and expected to add 30,000 Gbps by early 2027. BSCCPLC assured that it is fully prepared to meet current and future bandwidth demand and urged operators and citizens not to be misled by inaccurate reports.

Bangladesh’s first institutionally managed venture capital platform has been launched jointly by 39 commercial banks. The Bangladesh Startup Investment Company PLC (BSIC) inaugurated its first fund, “Onkur Bangladesh Fund 1,” at an event in Dhaka’s Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel. The platform begins with a committed capital of about Tk 425 crore (US$35 million). Each participating bank will contribute one percent of its annual net profit to the fund, creating a continuous capital structure. The fund will invest in seed, late-seed, and Series A stage startups. The initiative stems from a long-term policy effort by Bangladesh Bank, which allowed banks to invest one percent of their average net profits from the past five years into the fund. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Bangladesh Bank Governor Md. Mostakur Rahman attended the launch, emphasizing innovation, transparency, and financial inclusion. BSIC Chairman Masrur Arefin described the platform as a bridge between local trust and global venture standards. BSIC announced plans to complete its first three investments by the end of 2026 after appointing key executives and forming an investment committee by the third quarter of the year.

RAB-9 has arrested five individuals, including the main accomplice, in connection with an attack on its members in Nabinagar, Brahmanbaria. The arrests were announced on Tuesday afternoon during a press briefing at the RAB-9 office in Brahmanbaria town by its commander, Md. Nurunnabi. The detainees are Abdul Kadir, Abdur Rahim, Abdur Rahman Prakash, Nure Alam, and Sanowara Begum. Several locally made weapons used in the attack were also recovered. RAB stated that two suspects, Shafik Dakat and Abdul Halim, managed to flee and that operations to capture them are ongoing. According to RAB, the incident occurred on May 11 in Khagatoa village under Ratanpur Union when three RAB members went there to collect intelligence. Members of the notorious Shafik gang allegedly detained and assaulted them, injuring one officer with a sharp weapon. Additional RAB personnel later rescued the injured members and admitted them to Nabinagar Upazila Health Complex. The attack has caused widespread concern in the area. Locals claim the Shafik gang has long been involved in robbery and violence, but the recent incident has prompted increased law enforcement activity.

A district leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s women’s wing has been expelled following an attack on teachers at Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU). The expelled leader, Helana Khanom, was removed from her position for engaging in activities that violated party discipline, according to a press release issued by the district committee on Tuesday. The committee also instructed party members to avoid any organizational contact with her. The decision was approved by district president Afroza Begum Sima and general secretary Farzana Yasmin Ruma. The incident occurred on Monday morning in front of the university’s administrative building, where teachers and staff were holding a sit-in demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam. Ten people, including teachers, officers, and employees, were injured in the attack. Protesters alleged that Helana Khanom was among the outsiders seen verbally abusing teachers during the incident. The expulsion underscores the party’s attempt to distance itself from the violence and maintain internal discipline following the campus unrest.