Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir faced international condemnation this week after footage showed him gloating over blindfolded and bound activists detained from a flotilla in international waters. The activists, largely foreign nationals, had attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Reports that at least 15 detainees were sexually assaulted during detention intensified the backlash. France banned Ben-Gvir from entering the country, while more than a dozen governments, including Italy, Canada, Spain, Ireland, Germany, and South Korea, summoned Israeli ambassadors or issued formal condemnations. Even the US ambassador criticized Ben-Gvir, calling his actions a betrayal of national dignity. President Isaac Herzog publicly condemned settler violence and prisoner abuse, prompting Ben-Gvir to call for Herzog’s removal. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advanced plans to demolish the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar and expand West Bank settlements, framing the move as retaliation for the International Criminal Court’s warrant request against him. The Knesset Education Committee also pushed a bill extending Israeli civilian authority over archaeological sites in the West Bank and Gaza, drawing legal and military warnings that it could breach international agreements. The developments unfolded amid ongoing demolitions, raids, and settler attacks across the occupied territories, as well as worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government will maintain a zero-tolerance policy against irregularities, terrorism, drugs, and extortion to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law. Speaking to reporters after inspecting the National Operation Monitoring Center at the Police Headquarters in Dhaka on Tuesday, he said law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to restore peace and order after years of mismanagement. The minister observed monitoring activities and gave directives to police officials. He stated that the central monitoring cell has been strengthened for Eid-ul-Azha, operating seven days before and after the festival. All highways, cattle markets, and major bridges are under round-the-clock surveillance, with body-worn cameras used where CCTV is unavailable. Ahmed noted a decline in road accidents compared to previous years and urged citizens to travel responsibly. He also confirmed strict action against illegal cattle markets and measures to prevent counterfeit currency circulation. Regarding recent terrorist attacks in Narayanganj and Chattogram’s Jungle Salimpur, the minister said joint operations dismantled militant networks and arrests were made. Plans are underway to establish a comprehensive security and administrative hub in the area.

Three members of the same family were killed when a speeding bus hit their motorcycle at the Batajor bus stand area of Gournadi upazila in Barishal on Tuesday afternoon. The victims were identified as Firoz Mahmud, his wife Monira Begum, and their daughter Jannat Akter, residents of Uzirpur municipality. The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. when the family stopped their motorcycle due to traffic congestion, and a bus of Taj Ananda Paribahan rammed them from behind, leaving all three dead at the scene. Following the crash, angry locals vandalized the bus, while the driver and helper fled. The incident temporarily halted traffic on the Dhaka-Barishal highway, causing a long tailback. Fire service personnel arrived quickly and confirmed the deaths on-site. Police later seized the bus, and legal procedures are underway. The tragic deaths of the husband, wife, and child have cast a pall of grief over the local community, with relatives mourning the loss.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government will deliver an appropriate response to the recent terrorist attack on a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) camp in Jungle Salimpur, Chattogram. Speaking at a briefing at the Police Headquarters on Tuesday, he said the area had long operated outside the rule of law, effectively becoming a state within a state. He confirmed that joint law enforcement operations had recovered a large cache of weapons and arrested several wanted suspects. The minister outlined plans to establish an integrated training center in the area for police, RAB, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Armed Police Battalion (APBn), along with relocating the Chattogram Central Jail there. He emphasized that no space would be allowed for terrorists and that strict control would be maintained. The attack occurred around 2 a.m. on Sunday night when assailants opened fire on the RAB camp and destroyed parts of its infrastructure with bulldozers. RAB later reported that members of the ‘Yasin group’ were involved in the assault. He added that border activities remain under observation and that BGB has been instructed to stay alert.

Two men, Mojibur Rahman, 48, and Ruhul Amin, 45, died after being attacked by a buffalo at a sacrificial animal market in Dewanganj upazila of Jamalpur. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Sanandabari market when a buffalo brought for sale suddenly became violent, running through the market and attacking people. Locals rescued the injured men and took them to hospital, but Ruhul Amin died on the way. Mojibur Rahman was referred to Jamalpur General Hospital, where he died on Monday night while under treatment. The families confirmed the deaths on Tuesday morning. Dewanganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain said two people had died from the buffalo attack, but no formal complaint had been filed with the police so far. Authorities have not yet indicated whether any further investigation or safety measures will follow the incident.

A 19-year-old housewife named Rakiba Jannat Munni died after being struck by lightning in Tekpara area of Ujantia Union under Pekua upazila, Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Munni, wife of Sadek Hossain of Tekpara village, was working in her kitchen with family members when the lightning struck, leaving her critically injured. She was taken to Pekua Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead. According to local sources, the lightning strike happened suddenly while Munni was engaged in household work. Pekua Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan confirmed that legal procedures related to the incident are ongoing. Authorities have not provided further details about the ongoing legal process or any additional casualties in the incident.

Iran’s armed forces have warned that they will deliver a harsher response to the latest United States attacks. Senior military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi stated that any new aggression against Iran would be met with stronger retaliation. He cautioned that if another phase of conflict begins, Iranian strikes would extend beyond the region and become more intense and violent. The warning came after the United States launched new attacks inside Iran while discussions over a possible peace agreement were ongoing. According to the US military, the strikes targeted Iranian missile bases and naval vessels and were carried out in self-defense. The exchange underscores heightened tensions between the two countries despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. The situation suggests that any further escalation could spread beyond the immediate region, potentially complicating peace negotiations already underway.

Cattle markets across Feni district have become increasingly busy ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, with strong demand for medium-sized cows. Buyers and sellers are active from morning to night, and despite adequate supplies of cows and goats, buyers claim prices are higher than last year. Sellers, however, report better profits so far and hope for good returns by the end of the season. Even after rain on Monday, trading continued at major markets including SIO Office, Madhuai, and Matubhunya. A trader named Md. Monir brought nine cows from Rangpur, selling four at better prices than last year. Buyers such as Mohammad Saidul Haque complained about high prices but continued purchasing for the festival. Some locals expressed dissatisfaction over markets occupying roads and playgrounds. According to the District Livestock Department, demand for sacrificial animals in six upazilas stands at 82,525, while 90,452 animals have been prepared, exceeding demand by 7,927. Authorities have deployed 37 veterinary teams and law enforcement for market supervision. Border patrols have been strengthened to prevent illegal cattle entry and smuggling of hides.

Two young men were detained by locals in Araihazar, Narayanganj, on suspicion of attempting to assault a mentally unstable woman. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Monday near the Central Hospital area. Locals stopped the suspects when they were seen taking the unidentified woman in an autorickshaw and handed them over to the police. The detainees were identified as Jewel, 20, son of Mamun from Baghanagar, and Mati, 30, son of Surman from Shibakanda in Madhabdi, Narsingdi. According to police and local sources, the men’s behavior raised suspicion of immoral intent, prompting residents to intervene and alert authorities. Police from Araihazar station later took the suspects into custody. Investigation Officer Ripon Kumar stated that an inquiry is underway and legal action will follow based on the findings.

Tehran’s municipal authorities announced that 97 percent of buildings damaged in recent US and Israeli attacks have been repaired. A spokesperson for the Tehran Municipality said that structures requiring minor repairs have been mostly restored, and all remaining work is expected to be completed within the next week. Earlier this month, Iran’s Housing Foundation reported repairing around 37,000 residential and commercial buildings affected by the conflict. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, more than 125,000 civilian structures across the country were either destroyed or severely damaged by the attacks. The municipal update highlights the scale of reconstruction efforts underway in Tehran following widespread damage from the strikes.

Ferry and other vessel operations on the Daulatdia-Paturia river route between Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia resumed at noon on Tuesday after being suspended for one hour due to stormy weather and strong winds. Authorities halted all river traffic from around 11:15 a.m. as rough currents and large waves made navigation risky. Operations were restored at 12:00 p.m. when weather conditions improved. According to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) sources, the resumption allowed vehicles that had been waiting to gradually cross the river, bringing relief to passengers. The BIWTC Daulatdia terminal’s assistant manager (commerce), Jesanul Islam Topu, confirmed that ferry services were suspended due to adverse weather and restarted once conditions became favorable. The temporary suspension caused brief congestion at the terminals, but normal ferry movement resumed shortly after the weather stabilized.

Heavy rainfall hit Dhaka and several other parts of Bangladesh on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, causing major disruptions for people returning home during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. Continuous rain led to waterlogging and muddy conditions at cattle markets, severely affecting both buyers and sellers. Despite the difficulties, livestock trading continued amid the downpour. According to the weather forecast issued at noon, Dhaka and nearby areas were expected to experience partly cloudy skies with temporary rain or thunderstorms. Winds from the west or northwest could reach speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour. The city recorded 80 millimeters of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Normal wind flow was reported from the south or southeast at 10 to 15 kilometers per hour, with occasional gusts reaching 30 to 40 kilometers per hour. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department stated that daytime temperatures would remain nearly unchanged, with a minimum of 22 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 32.5 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity stood at 96 percent, and sunset was expected at 6:39 p.m.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that negotiations on a deal with Iran have stalled due to disagreements over specific wording. Speaking to reporters in Jaipur, India, on Tuesday, he said that the issue revolves around a single word or sentence and that resolving it could take several more days. Rubio added that discussions were ongoing in Qatar and that both sides were working through details of the preliminary document. Addressing recent US strikes near Iran’s naval and missile launch sites close to the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio emphasized that the waterway must remain open under any circumstances. Iranian officials have not yet commented on the strikes, but Iranian state media described them as a violation of the current ceasefire agreement. Previous exchanges of fire between US and Iranian forces have also occurred during the ceasefire. The stalled negotiations and renewed tensions highlight the fragility of the ongoing diplomatic process between Washington and Tehran, with both sides seeking to maintain influence in the region.

Pakistan has declined former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated in an interview with Samaa TV that Islamabad should not become part of any agreement that contradicts its fundamental principles. He emphasized that Pakistan’s position on the matter is clear and that normalization with Israel is unacceptable. Trump had earlier urged more countries to join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader peace initiative involving Iran. In a post on Truth Social, he called on all nations to sign the accords immediately, describing it as an opportunity to form a unique global alliance. He listed several countries he had spoken with about ending the war with Iran, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. Trump suggested that Saudi Arabia and Qatar should be the first to sign, encouraging others to follow their lead.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 1,234 bottles of Indian liquor and a covered van from the Chhoto Gajni border area in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur. The operation was conducted on Monday by the Mymensingh Battalion (39 BGB), which valued the seized goods at approximately 3.051 million taka. According to BGB sources, smugglers attempted to bring the liquor into Bangladesh through the Tawakucha area. When BGB personnel approached, the smugglers abandoned the van and fled the scene. No arrests were made during the operation. Lieutenant Colonel Nurul Alam Bayezid, commanding officer of the 39 BGB Battalion, stated that the force is maintaining strict measures to prevent drug trafficking, smuggling, and illegal border crossings along the frontier.