U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him Beijing is not sending any weapons to Iran. Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the White House, describing Xi’s assurance as a positive commitment and expressing his trust and appreciation for the Chinese leader’s words. The statement follows reports from the previous month claiming that China was planning to send weapons to Iran, allegations that Beijing dismissed as baseless. Trump’s comments suggest that direct communication between the United States and China continues over the Iran issue, despite tensions and speculation in international media. Analysts cited in the report indicated that this exchange could serve as a diplomatic signal aimed at preventing further complications in the Middle East situation, reflecting ongoing engagement between Washington and Beijing on sensitive regional matters.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has warned that no one will be allowed to manipulate the dollar exchange rate. He stated that punitive measures will be taken against anyone buying or selling dollars above the official rate. The directive was issued during a meeting with treasury officials from all commercial banks held on Tuesday morning at the central bank’s Jahangir Alam Conference Room in Dhaka. The meeting, organized by the Foreign Exchange Policy Department, discussed the current and future state of the foreign currency market. According to participants, the governor emphasized that all dollar transactions must remain transparent and within regulatory limits. He also ordered banks to stop selling dollars in the forward market and cautioned against any actions that could destabilize the market. Treasury officials later suggested that a clear list defining what constitutes manipulation would help ensure compliance. The meeting ended without a final decision. Bangladesh Bank had introduced a market-based exchange rate in May of the previous year as part of an IMF loan condition, with the interbank rate now at 122.75 taka per US dollar.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over a high-level meeting on the development and environmental conservation of the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake. The meeting was held on Tuesday, May 19, at the Cabinet Division in the Prime Minister’s Office at the Secretariat. Officials discussed measures to prevent water pollution, maintain ecological balance, enhance the lake’s beauty, and improve civic amenities around the area. During the meeting, relevant officials presented the current condition of the lake and shared their opinions on sustainable development plans and initiatives. The session was attended by Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Suman, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, administrators of Dhaka South and North City Corporations, and senior officials from related ministries and departments. The discussions focused on coordinated efforts among government agencies to ensure long-term environmental protection and urban improvement around the lake area.

A violent incident occurred on Tuesday morning at the 36 No. Madhya Sidya Government Primary School field in Damudya, Shariatpur, during the inauguration of the National Primary Education Medal competition. Sidya Union Parishad Chairman Syed Abdul Hadi Jillu was attacked while the national anthem was being played, leaving him and several others, including the school’s head teacher, injured. The event was temporarily halted due to the unrest. According to the chairman, the attack was led by Md. Jasim Bepari, vice president of Sidya Union BNP, accompanied by several associates. Teachers and witnesses said the assault began suddenly during the flag-raising ceremony, causing panic among students. The head teacher confirmed that over 250 students from five schools had gathered for the competition when the violence erupted. Police from Damudya station arrived quickly to control the situation and later allowed the competition to resume. The accused BNP leader’s statement was not available at the time of reporting.

The Chandpur District unit of the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad has expelled Engineer Jasim Uddin, convener of the Matlab South Upazila branch, from his position. The decision was made at an emergency meeting held on the night of May 18, 2026, following allegations that he joined the political party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. According to the source, the action was taken under Article 29(ঙ) of the organization’s constitution. The meeting was convened under the telephone instruction of Central Command Council convener Md. Naeem Jahangir and with the approval of Chandpur District convener Bir Muktijoddha Shahidul Alam Rob. The session was chaired by joint convener Bir Muktijoddha Sirajul Islam Borkandaz and conducted by member secretary Bir Muktijoddha Mujibur Rahman, with all district members present. A letter regarding the expulsion decision has been sent to the Central Command Council. The move came two days after Jasim Uddin formally joined Jamaat-e-Islami at a local event organized by the party on May 16 in Matlab South.

Over the past 12 months, the Indian rupee has experienced an unprecedented depreciation of about 11.86 percent against the Pakistani rupee. The exchange rate dropped from 3.2913 Pakistani rupees per Indian rupee in May 2025 to 2.9010 by May 2026. This decline began after the 2015 'Operation Sindur' ceasefire mediated by then U.S. President Donald Trump and has continued despite the end of military tensions. The report suggests that the rupee’s weakness reflects deeper structural issues in India’s economy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, rather than solely global factors such as the strong U.S. dollar or Middle East conflicts. The Indian rupee also lost nearly 10 percent against the Bangladeshi taka during the same period. Analysts and international observers, including a Financial Times report, have linked the rupee’s fall to declining confidence in Modi’s administration. A Japanese bank, MUFG, noted that the rupee’s depreciation is likely to persist through the year regardless of developments in West Asia, indicating that India’s internal economic vulnerabilities remain a key concern.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that every village in Bangladesh will become a center of socio-economic development through the Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP). In a Facebook post on Tuesday marking the 46th National Assembly of the force, he congratulated its members and praised their courage and dedication. He highlighted their significant role in ensuring a free and fair 13th National Parliamentary Election held in February. The Prime Minister paid tribute to the 670 martyrs of the force who sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War. He said Bangladesh has embarked on a democratic journey after more than a decade of authoritarian rule, and the current government is working to institutionalize democracy through equality, human dignity, and social justice. He emphasized the Ansar-VDP’s vital role in building a self-reliant, humane, and secure nation. Rahman also noted the force’s contributions to environmental protection, disaster management, and national security, as well as its training programs to turn youth into skilled entrepreneurs, supporting a production-oriented and self-reliant society.

Iran has presented a new peace proposal to the United States, according to Iranian state media reports on Tuesday. The proposal includes halting hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon, withdrawing U.S. troops from areas surrounding Iran, and compensating for damages caused by the recent U.S.-Israel conflict. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Tehran also demands the lifting of sanctions, release of frozen Iranian funds, and an end to the U.S. naval blockade. Iranian officials said the proposal aims to reduce regional tensions and end ongoing conflicts. Analysts noted that the conditions are not significantly different from Iran’s previous positions. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump had rejected an earlier Iranian offer, calling it “garbage.” However, after receiving the new proposal, Trump announced that a planned strike on Iran had been temporarily suspended and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program. A Pakistani source indicated that Islamabad has been mediating between the two sides and helped deliver Tehran’s new proposal to Washington after hosting a round of peace talks last month.

Long-distance bus operations from Naogaon to Bogura, Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet and other routes resumed after an eight-hour suspension following an assault on a bus driver. The disruption began early Tuesday after the driver of an Ekota Paribahan bus was attacked by several youths at the Naogaon bus stand. Services restarted around 5:30 p.m. after several rounds of discussions between workers and authorities. According to transport workers, the incident occurred when the driver was turning the bus after dropping passengers. The attackers also attempted to vandalize the ticket counter. In protest, transport workers halted all long-distance services, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. Abu Bakkar Siddique Nannu, convener of the Naogaon Motor Workers’ Union and district BNP president, said the issue was resolved through discussions and assured that those responsible for the attack would face action. Local administration also pledged to arrest the perpetrators. The resumption of services restored normal transport operations in the district after hours of disruption, easing travel difficulties for passengers.

The historic Chuknagar Genocide Day will be observed on May 20 in Khulna’s Dumuria upazila to commemorate the mass killing that took place during the 1971 Liberation War. On that day, Pakistani forces opened fire on thousands of unarmed civilians gathered in Chuknagar village, killing several thousand people. The massacre is recognized as one of the largest in the history of global liberation wars and genocides. According to the account, thousands of people from different parts of greater Khulna had gathered in Chuknagar on May 19, 1971, intending to cross into India. The next morning, Pakistani troops arrived from Satkhira and began indiscriminate shooting, killing men, women, and children. The area turned into a silent field of death within hours. In 2005, the then BNP government acquired land to build a memorial at the site, with plans to develop it into a tourist center. However, subsequent governments, including the Awami League, did not implement further development, leaving the memorial largely neglected despite repeated official visits and promises.

Helena Begum, arrested in connection with the murder of Saudi expatriate Mokarram Mia, confessed her involvement before a Dhaka court. The victim’s dismembered body was found wrapped in polythene in the capital’s Manda area. As Helena’s daughter Halima Akter is a minor, the court ordered her placement in the Konabari Juvenile Development Center in Gazipur. The confession was recorded by Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin, and Helena was later sent to jail. According to investigators, Mokarram, a 38-year-old from Brahmanbaria’s Ashuganj, returned to Bangladesh on May 13 without informing his family to meet Taslima Akter, with whom he had an extramarital relationship. He visited the rented home of Helena, a friend of Taslima, where a dispute arose over marriage and money. Following a violent altercation, Helena, Taslima, and Halima allegedly killed Mokarram, dismembered his body, and disposed of the parts in garbage piles near the house. Police identified the body through fingerprints and arrested Helena and Halima based on intelligence. The investigation continues under Mugda Police Station.

An armed robbery took place at the house of expatriate Md. Billal Hossain in Chirka Chandpur village of Faridganj upazila, Chandpur, late Monday night. The robbers entered the building by cutting the window grill, assaulted Billal’s wife Khurshida Begum, and held her hostage at gunpoint. They looted around Tk 10 lakh worth of valuables, including three bhori of gold ornaments, Tk 3 lakh in cash, two smartphones, eleven foreign blankets, and cosmetics. Neighbors called the national emergency number 999 after hearing her screams, and she was taken to the upazila health complex for treatment. Faridganj police visited the scene after receiving the complaint. Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Helal Uddin said that initial investigation suggests the robbers assaulted the woman during the incident. Police are continuing the investigation to identify and arrest those involved. Authorities have assured that efforts are underway to bring the perpetrators under the law as the investigation progresses.

A Dhaka court has sentenced Md. Shamsul Haque Jewel to death for murdering his stepmother, Saleha Begum, nearly two decades ago in the capital’s Kafrul area. The verdict was delivered by Judge Md. Zahidul Islam of the 13th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court on Tuesday. Jewel, who remains absconding, was also fined Tk 50,000, and an arrest warrant was issued against him. The court ordered that the death sentence be executed by hanging, subject to approval by the High Court Division. According to the case details, Jewel killed his stepmother on the night of September 18, 2005, after she refused to give him money for traveling abroad. Witnesses, including the victim’s children, testified that they saw Jewel leaving the house with a machete after the attack. Saleha Begum was taken to a local clinic and later to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she was declared dead. Her husband, Md. A. Haque, filed a murder case the following day, and police submitted the charge sheet in March 2006 after investigation. The court heard testimonies from 14 prosecution witnesses before delivering the judgment, concluding a legal process that lasted nearly 20 years.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with European Union Ambassador Michael Miller on Tuesday at the minister’s office in the Secretariat. The meeting focused on bilateral trade relations, investment opportunities, and the removal of existing non-tariff barriers between Bangladesh and the European Union. Both sides emphasized the importance of making the trade environment more transparent, business-friendly, and efficient. The commerce minister described the EU as one of Bangladesh’s key trading partners and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding trade ties. He highlighted ongoing policy and institutional reforms aimed at boosting exports, attracting investment, and simplifying trade procedures. The minister also mentioned that the draft import policy order had been published online for public feedback. Ambassador Miller expressed the EU’s interest in strengthening trade cooperation with Bangladesh and praised the government’s initiatives to improve the business climate. He noted that while some complex issues may take time to resolve, the EU and its business community are ready to share expertise and collaborate toward sustainable solutions.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem announced that new international opportunities will soon open for Bangladeshi youth. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he said that during a bilateral dialogue at Tsinghua University in China, he proposed launching a “Dhaka–Beijing Youth Fellowship.” The meeting involved DUCSU, Tsinghua University administration and student representatives, and Chinese government officials. The dialogue focused on youth participation and campus governance, youth development and artificial intelligence, and youth missions and opportunities. Both sides emphasized bilateral cooperation, cultural exchange, technological and intellectual collaboration, people-to-people connectivity, and youth leadership development. Participants also highlighted the need for joint efforts to address global challenges such as climate change, technological transformation, inequality, and social instability. Tsinghua University’s student union president invited Dhaka University to join the Global Youth Dialogue, while DUCSU invited Tsinghua representatives to visit Bangladesh for the upcoming Second International July Conference. Both universities reached consensus on enhancing academic cooperation and expanding higher education and research opportunities for Bangladeshi students in China.