US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that if Iran proceeds with its plan to impose a toll in the Strait of Hormuz, any potential agreement between Washington and Tehran would become virtually impossible. He said that introducing a new toll system in such a vital international waterway could raise concerns for both regional and global trade. Rubio also suggested that such a move would negatively affect the ongoing diplomatic atmosphere between the two nations. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical routes for energy supply, with a large number of oil and gas tankers passing through daily. Analysts believe that any new restrictions or additional costs in this area could impact international markets. However, Iran has not yet issued any detailed official comment regarding the possible toll plan. Following Rubio’s remarks, discussions have intensified over the future of US-Iran relations, though no immediate diplomatic responses were reported.

The Calcutta High Court has upheld West Bengal’s existing ban on the slaughter of bulls, oxen, cows, calves, and buffaloes ahead of Eid al-Adha. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Joy Pal and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen declined to interfere with a state government notification issued on 13 May 2026, stating that it merely implemented a 2018 court directive. The court reiterated that cow sacrifice is not a mandatory religious practice in Islam and directed the state to amend the notification to include this observation. The state’s notification declared certain animals “unfit” for slaughter without certification and restricted slaughtering to authorized abattoirs. The court also empowered authorities to inspect facilities to prevent illegal slaughter and tasked the state with ensuring adequate infrastructure and officials for certification. Trinamool Congress legislator Akhruzzaman argued that the lack of exemption under Section 12 of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act would prevent Muslims from performing religious sacrifices, but the bench maintained its position based on prior Supreme Court rulings. The court instructed the state government to review the matter and decide within 24 hours whether to grant exemptions under Section 12, considering the upcoming Eid al-Adha.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has temporarily suspended office assistant Md. Abul Kalam for misconduct and unauthorized absence from duty. The suspension order was issued by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan under Rule 12 of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. The order, issued on Thursday, stated that it was made in the public interest and took immediate effect. During the suspension period, Kalam will receive subsistence allowance as per regulations. According to the order, Abul Kalam joined the VAT Monitoring, Statistics and Coordination branch, with additional duties in the VAT Training and Reward section, on February 14, 2023. About a month after joining, he began remaining absent without permission. He was frequently absent between September and December 2025 and has been continuously absent since January 15, 2026, without approval from his superiors. The order also noted that a show-cause notice was issued to him on May 10, asking for a response within three working days, but he failed to reply. Consequently, departmental action was taken against him for misconduct and desertion under the relevant disciplinary rules.

The Calcutta High Court has upheld the West Bengal government’s notification restricting animal slaughter ahead of Eid. On Thursday, a division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen ruled that no animal may be slaughtered without an official certificate confirming its suitability, and that public slaughter will remain completely prohibited. The court declined to stay the state’s May 13 notification, which imposed several restrictions on the slaughter of cows and buffaloes. The bench directed the state government to review the certification process and related infrastructure while continuing hearings on the constitutional validity of the law. It also instructed that any applications for exemption be resolved within 24 hours. The court referred to the Supreme Court’s earlier observation in the “State of Bihar vs. Mohammad Hanif Qureshi” case, which stated that cow slaughter is not an essential religious practice in Islam. The state notification contains eight specific directives requiring prior certification for the slaughter of bulls, oxen, cows, calves, male and female buffaloes, and castrated buffaloes. Violations of these provisions will be punishable under law.

Two vice presidents of the Barishal University unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have been expelled from their organizational posts over allegations of involvement in extortion. The expelled leaders are Mia Babul and Md Mithu. The decision was announced in a press release signed by JCD Central Office Secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Thursday, May 21, 2026. According to the statement, the expulsion followed a decision by the JCD central committee based on specific allegations of violating organizational discipline. The decision was approved by JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. The organization also instructed all members not to maintain any organizational contact with the expelled individuals. Earlier, on May 19, allegations surfaced that a group of leaders had stopped a fish-laden vehicle and demanded a large sum of money. When the demand was refused, another vehicle was reportedly vandalized and its driver assaulted. Some criticism has emerged that only two leaders were expelled despite reports of involvement by several others.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and several international issues. According to the report, the discussion focused on the Middle East situation, the ceasefire with Iran, stability in Syria, and the future activities of the NATO alliance. Turkey’s communications directorate stated that Erdogan viewed the extension of the ceasefire with Iran as a positive step and emphasized that ongoing disputes could be resolved through dialogue. He added that Turkey would continue to play a constructive role in reducing regional conflicts and highlighted the importance of long-term stability in Syria for the security and peace of the entire Middle East. Erdogan also mentioned Ankara’s continued support for Syria and called for swift action to prevent further deterioration in Lebanon. The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara was also discussed, with Erdogan noting Turkey’s full preparations for its success. After the call, Trump praised Erdogan’s leadership, describing him as a strong leader and an important ally for the United States.

A 34-year-old Bangladeshi woman who escaped from a scam center in Cambodia is set to return home within a week, following efforts by Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury. The Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok confirmed that her repatriation is being arranged through a travel pass with the cooperation of Cambodian authorities. According to the report, the woman traveled to Cambodia in August 2025 through a travel agency that promised her a computer-related job with a high salary. Upon arrival, her passport was confiscated, and she was forced to work in a scam center engaged in online financial fraud. After several failed attempts, she managed to escape on May 20, 2026, and contacted the minister via WhatsApp for help. The embassy verified her location through a video call and, with assistance from the Bangladeshi community in Phnom Penh, rescued her. The embassy stated that the process of issuing her travel pass is underway, and she will be repatriated soon under the supervision of the ministry and Cambodian authorities.

The West Bengal government has issued a directive prohibiting state government employees from speaking to the media or attending media-organized events without prior permission. The order, published on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, applies to members of the Indian Civil Service, the West Bengal Police Service, and employees of government-aided institutions. It also instructs that government employees must not make negative comments about government policies in the media. The directive has sparked widespread criticism on social media. Many users argued that several corruption allegations against the previous government had surfaced through disclosures by government employees, and therefore, the new rule could restrict freedom of expression. However, individuals close to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that such a rule has existed since 1976 but was not strictly enforced by the previous administration. The renewed enforcement of this rule may tighten communication controls within the state bureaucracy, though its long-term impact on transparency and governance remains uncertain.

Tension erupted in Baklia, Chattogram, on Thursday after a three-year-old girl was allegedly raped in a residential building on Abu Zafar Road. The incident occurred while the child’s mother was at work and her father was out driving a rickshaw. Locals accused a 32-year-old shop employee of committing the assault. When the crime became known, residents captured the suspect and locked him inside a nearby madrasa gate. Police arrived to rescue the accused, but the situation quickly escalated as the crowd demanded that he be handed over to them. Eyewitnesses said police faced resistance while trying to take the suspect to the station, leading to clashes involving chasing, scuffling, and physical confrontation. Police fired bullets, sound grenades, and tear gas to disperse the crowd, injuring several people, though the exact number of casualties was not immediately confirmed. The area remained under public control for over an hour before additional forces were deployed. The injured child was admitted to the One Stop Crisis Centre at Chattogram Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Authorities have increased police presence in the area and pledged a proper investigation.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Mymensingh district on Saturday, according to information from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing released on Thursday. The official itinerary, signed by Protocol Officer-1 Ujjal Sarkar, states that the Prime Minister will depart for Trishal, Mymensingh by road at 9 a.m. and attend the re-excavation inauguration of Dhara Canal at Bailor Union at noon. Following a break at Trishal Nazrul Dak Bungalow at 2 p.m., he will attend a program at Nazrul Mancha at 3 p.m. marking the 127th birth anniversary of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and inaugurate a three-day celebration. Later, at 5 p.m., he will join an organizational meeting of Mymensingh North, South, and Metropolitan BNP units at Trishal Nazrul Auditorium before returning to Dhaka by road at 6:30 p.m. The visit combines administrative and cultural engagements, highlighting both development initiatives and political activities in the Mymensingh region.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s executive committee member Shishir Monir has announced that he will serve as the lawyer for the family of Ramisa, the child victim in a rape and murder case. He made the announcement in a Facebook post on Thursday night, confirming his decision to represent the family in court. Law Minister Md. Anisul Haque has directed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner to submit the investigation report within seven days regarding the rape and murder of Ramisa. Ministry sources said that the main accused, Sohel Rana, confessed in court to raping and killing Ramisa. The ministry also indicated that steps would be taken to ensure a speedy trial. Following his confession under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junayed, the court ordered Sohel Rana to be sent to jail. The case, filed by Ramisa’s father Abdul Hannan Mollah, names Sohel Rana, his wife Swapna Akter, and another unidentified person as accused, all of whom have been arrested and sent to prison by court order.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Gazipur, was honored with a floral reception on May 21, 2026. The event took place at his office, where deans, department heads, institute directors, and representatives from teachers’, officers’, and employees’ associations greeted him sequentially. During an exchange with teachers, students, and staff, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead one of the country’s premier engineering universities and pledged to advance DUET globally through education, research, innovation, and industry-academia collaboration. According to the Education Ministry’s notification signed by the Deputy Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Dr. Iqbal officially assumed office on May 14, 2026, with the approval of the President and Chancellor. Before joining DUET, he served as Vice-Chancellor of North East University Bangladesh, Sylhet, and held multiple administrative roles at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Sylhet Engineering College. He has over 34 years of professional experience, numerous international publications, and several awards recognizing his academic and research leadership.

A farmer named Chalim Uddin, aged 40, died after being struck by lightning in Joydharkandi village of Pakshimul Union, Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Thursday when he went to the field to bring his cattle. During sudden rain and lightning, he was severely injured by a lightning strike. Locals rescued him and brought him home, where he was confirmed dead on the spot. The death of Chalim Uddin, son of Nuru Mia, has cast a shadow of grief over the area. Local representatives and residents have expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family. The report highlights the tragic impact of lightning incidents on rural communities, emphasizing the vulnerability of farmers working in open fields during sudden storms.

Brazilian forward Neymar Jr. has sustained a minor calf injury just days after being named in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad. According to Santos club doctor Rodrigo Zogaib, Neymar has swelling in his right leg and will need to rest and remain under observation for several days. The injury, though not serious, has kept him out of regular training and the recent Copa Libertadores match against San Lorenzo, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Santos is prioritizing Neymar’s full recovery before he joins the national team camp, which begins on May 27 at Granja Comary. The club aims to ensure he regains full fitness before leaving for international duty. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti reportedly reviewed Neymar’s medical reports and spoke directly with the player before confirming his inclusion in the 26-man squad. While there is no major alarm in the Brazil camp, Neymar faces a race against time to be fully fit before Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered that the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium must not be sent abroad under any circumstances. The directive directly contradicts a key demand from the United States, which had made the removal of enriched uranium a central condition in ongoing peace discussions. Two senior Iranian sources confirmed the order to Reuters. According to the report, the decision could anger U.S. President Donald Trump and place the process of ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel in serious doubt. Israeli officials told Reuters that Trump had previously assured Israel that Iran’s uranium stockpile would be removed and that this would be a mandatory clause in any peace agreement. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also stated that the war would not be considered over until Iran removes its enriched uranium, halts support for proxy militias, and dismantles its ballistic missile capabilities. Iranian officials believe that sending the material abroad would leave the country more vulnerable to potential attacks from the United States and Israel. No immediate comment was available from the White House or Iran’s Foreign Ministry.