State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad visited flood- and erosion-affected areas in Manikganj district on Sunday, May 17, 2026. During his visit, he met local residents and observed the damage caused by river erosion, which has threatened homes, farmland, and infrastructure in the region. He announced that emergency measures, including the dumping of geo-bags and concrete blocks, would begin very soon to prevent further erosion. The minister criticized previous administrations for failing to take effective steps to control river erosion in the area. Acting under the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he instructed officials from the Water Resources Ministry to start the geo-bag dumping immediately. He also directed the Bangladesh Water Development Board to conduct feasibility studies during the dry season to design and implement sustainable, long-term projects for erosion control. Members of Parliament S A Jinnah Kabir from Manikganj-1 and Moinul Islam Khan from Manikganj-2 accompanied the minister during the inspection.

Two Bangladeshi expatriates from Cumilla were killed in a road accident in Saudi Arabia on Friday evening. The victims were identified as Nure Alam, 42, from Basudai village in Nangalkot upazila, and Idris Mia, 43, from Chauddagram municipality area. The accident occurred in the Afif area on the Jeddah-Riyadh highway when their vehicle lost control while they were transporting goods from Jeddah to Riyadh. According to family sources, the two men jointly ran a business in Riyadh. Nure Alam’s wife, Sumi Akter, said her family has lost its only breadwinner and appealed to the government for help in bringing her husband’s body home. Nangalkot Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Abu Raihan confirmed awareness of the incident and said assistance would be provided once the family contacts the administration. Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Md. Reza Hasan stated that the administration will extend full cooperation through official procedures to repatriate the bodies once the families reach out.

The Sylhet district and metropolitan units of Jubo Dal organized a street rally and leaflet distribution program in Sylhet city on Sunday afternoon, calling for the implementation of the July National Charter. The event took place in front of Madhuban Super Market at Bandar Bazar, where party leaders emphasized that the charter is a key foundation for establishing democracy, accountability, and an equitable state system in Bangladesh. During the rally, Sylhet district Jubo Dal president Advocate Mominul Islam Momin stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) remains committed to the principles of the July National Charter, which was signed by political parties based on consensus at the South Plaza of Parliament. He said the BNP aims to build a non-discriminatory and accountable governance system reflecting public aspirations and is working toward implementing a bicameral parliamentary structure in line with the charter’s spirit. Following the rally, Jubo Dal activists distributed leaflets across different areas of the city to raise public awareness about the July National Charter.

KY Steel, a subsidiary of KDS Group, has taken multiple social and worker welfare initiatives in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The company prioritizes hiring local residents, supports underprivileged people, and has built a modern foot overbridge on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway to ensure safe crossing for students of the nearby Kumira Residential Girls’ School and College. The bridge, built at a cost of about one crore taka, has reduced road accidents and eased parental concerns. Workers at KY Steel reported that all employees are covered by insurance, receive regular health checkups, safety training, and personal protective equipment. The company also ensures quick medical response in emergencies and provides benefits through welfare and insurance funds. Regular technical training has improved worker skills and productivity, setting a positive example in the Sitakunda industrial area. Company officials said that nearly half of the employees at the Joar-Amtal branch are local residents. They emphasized that local recruitment and social development are part of KY Steel’s core values, aiming to ensure that the benefits of industrial growth reach the surrounding community.

Md. Ramzanul Haque Nihad, owner of Amin Mohammad Foundation and an accused in the Bailey Road Green Cozy Cottage building fire case, surrendered before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court and filed for bail but later withdrew his application. Another accused, Adib Alam, owner of Hakka Dhaka Restaurant, was granted bail by the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasan Shahadat’s court upon a bond of 5,000 taka. Earlier, on April 19, the court accepted the charge sheet against 22 accused, including several restaurant owners from the building, and issued arrest warrants for 13 absentees. The case stems from the February 29, 2024 fire that killed 46 people and injured 11. The charge sheet, submitted by CID Inspector Shah Jalal Munshi, alleged that the accused illegally operated restaurants without proper government approval and violated safety regulations, leading to the deadly incident. The next hearing on the arrest status of the absconding accused is scheduled for May 19, as the court continues proceedings against those charged under seven sections of the penal code.

Iran has appointed its parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as the country’s special envoy for China-related affairs, according to a report by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency published on Sunday. The report stated that Ghalibaf will serve as a coordinator among various national institutions on matters concerning China. The appointment was proposed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and approved by the country’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Sources cited by Tasnim indicated that the nature of Ghalibaf’s appointment gives him a different level of authority and responsibility compared to previous representatives. The report did not clarify whether Ghalibaf will continue to serve as the speaker of Iran’s parliament while performing his new duties as special envoy.

National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has called on expatriate Bangladeshis to remain united in realizing the aspirations of the July Charter and referendum. He made the appeal on Sunday at a civic reception for visiting NCP leaders at the Gimpo Foreign Support Center in South Korea, organized by the NCP Diaspora Alliance. The event was attended by NCP members and Bangladeshi expatriates from various professions. Asif Mahmud thanked the diaspora for their role during the July uprising, noting that expatriates had kept hope alive when the country was under blockade. He expressed gratitude for their contributions and assured that the NCP would continue working to preserve expatriate voting rights in future elections. He also urged expatriates to inform the international community about the July uprising. During the event, expatriates raised issues including the repatriation of deceased students’ bodies, simplification of migration procedures, prevention of broker exploitation, reduction of airport harassment, and greater inclusion of expatriates in national matters.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaykobad) stated that he would not allow any injustice or oppression against Islamic scholars and clerics. He made the remarks on Sunday at a discussion meeting at the Islamic Foundation auditorium in Dhaka, organized ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to address the preservation of raw hides from sacrificial animals. The minister said the Prime Minister had instructed that madrasas should not face deprivation or injustice, and the ministry was actively supporting that directive. He urged scholars to ensure that animal hides are properly removed and preserved to maintain quality and prevent waste, recalling past incidents where hides were buried due to low prices. The minister warned against the activities of syndicates and brokers in the leather trade and assured that the government would take an active role in preventing such malpractice. He also mentioned that, for the first time since independence, imams and muezzins are being considered for honorarium benefits. Speakers at the event requested government measures to ensure fair prices for sacrificial animal hides. Religious leaders, teachers, and clerics from various madrasas and mosques in Dhaka attended the meeting.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly issued secret arrest warrants for five Israeli officials, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The report, published on Sunday, stated that the accused include three politicians and two military officers, though their names have not been disclosed. The ICC has not yet released any official statement on the matter. If confirmed, the total number of Israeli officials facing ICC arrest warrants would rise to seven. In November 2024, the ICC had previously issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Since October 2023, over 72,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, most of them women and children, while more than 172,000 have been injured. Despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli strikes have continued, causing over 870 additional deaths and more than 2,540 injuries.

Farmers in Madhupur, Tangail, one of Bangladesh’s leading pineapple-producing regions, are not receiving fair prices for their produce due to the absence of modern processing centers. Known as the “capital of pineapples,” the area’s favorable soil and climate yield large harvests each year, yet the sector has not reached its full potential. Local farmers and officials say that establishing a processing industry could enable production of juice, jelly, and biscuits for export, boosting foreign exchange earnings and local employment. Farmers such as Suruzzaman and retired sergeant Masud Rana emphasized that a government-backed factory and gas connections could reduce transport costs, prevent waste, and protect growers from market syndicates. Madhupur’s Upazila Executive Officer Md. Jubayer Hossain and Agriculture Officer Rokib Al-Rana both supported the need for a processing center, noting that 6,479 hectares are under pineapple cultivation this season, with potential trade worth about Tk 500 crore. Officials and growers agree that modern marketing systems and processing facilities are essential to fully realize Madhupur’s pineapple industry potential.

A fire broke out at the business establishment of BNP leader Iqbal Howlader in Ward 1 of Uzirpur Municipality, Barishal, early Sunday morning. The shop was completely destroyed in the blaze, which the owner alleged was a deliberate act of arson linked to a previous land dispute. He demanded that those responsible be identified, arrested, and punished. Officer-in-Charge of Uzirpur Model Police Station, Md Rafiqul Islam, confirmed that a complaint had been filed and that the incident was under serious investigation. Local BNP leaders, including the municipal unit’s general secretary Md Rokonuzzaman Tulu and legal affairs secretary Md Riaz Mia, visited the site, expressed solidarity with the affected family, and called for a fair investigation. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Ali Suza also visited the scene and assured necessary assistance for the victims. The incident has caused concern among local residents, who urged the administration to take swift action to uncover the true cause of the fire.

New Zealand has expressed its intention to maintain duty-free and preferential market access for Bangladesh even after the country graduates from least developed country (LDC) status. The commitment was conveyed by New Zealand’s non-resident High Commissioner David Pine during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Textiles Khandaker Abdul Muktadir at the Secretariat on Sunday. Both sides also discussed strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties and explored the possibility of a comprehensive free trade agreement. Minister Muktadir emphasized that accelerating investment and job creation is essential for Bangladesh’s successful transition from LDC status. He noted that the country’s export sector is heavily dependent on ready-made garments, making it crucial to sustain competitiveness and ensure preferential market access. He also highlighted Bangladesh’s efforts to improve business facilitation and invited New Zealand investors to explore promising sectors. David Pine underscored the importance of trade diversification for both exports and imports and reaffirmed New Zealand’s focus on ensuring uninterrupted market benefits for Bangladesh post-graduation. He added that New Zealand seeks a stable, long-term trade framework with Bangladesh.

A daylong cybersecurity workshop was held on Saturday at the Bangladesh Army University of Science and Technology (BAUST) campus in Saidpur. The event, organized by the university’s Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Department in collaboration with the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and Creative IT Institute of Dhaka, was attended by 60 students from the CSE department. The workshop aimed to raise awareness about cybersecurity, provide practical knowledge on network security, and enhance students’ skills to address modern technology-based security challenges. Rafsan Anwar, CEO of the Networking and Cyber Security Department at Creative IT Institute, served as the keynote speaker, while Shihab Hossain Rafat, a senior faculty member and cybersecurity specialist, conducted hands-on training sessions. The program, chaired by Professor Dr. Nakib Hayat Chowdhury, head of the CSE department, featured four sessions covering computer and network security fundamentals, web application security, ethical hacking, social engineering, incident response, and career opportunities in cybersecurity. Certificates were distributed to participants, and organizers reported strong enthusiasm and positive feedback from students.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said the government is prioritizing the enhancement of export capacity and encouraging meat exports to foreign markets. He made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to journalists after visiting the Bengal Meat processing plant in Pabna. The minister stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to make marginal communities and farmers economically self-reliant. The government is emphasizing the export of domestically produced goods and farm-based products to earn foreign currency while meeting local demand. Tuku noted that Bangladesh has abundant resources and that the government aims to strengthen the economy by utilizing them, particularly to benefit farmers and increase employment opportunities. During the visit, Tuku inspected the plant’s production activities, hygienic meat processing, quality control, and storage systems. He also visited the Milk Vita dairy factory at Baghabari Ghat to review milk collection, processing, production, and marketing operations, accompanied by senior officials from the ministry and related agencies.

The government has launched free Wi-Fi service at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, enabling around 37,000 passengers to access high-speed internet simultaneously. The service was inaugurated on Sunday by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita, with other senior officials from the telecommunications and ICT ministries present. According to the ministry, the network covers approximately 94,000 square meters, including Terminals 1, 2, domestic, VIP, VVIP, and parking areas. The ministry stated that the system operates with a maximum bandwidth capacity of 40 Gbps, supported by 250 access points, 48 kilometers of optical fiber and Ethernet cables, and 37 access switches. Each access point can serve up to 150 users at once, ensuring stable and fast connectivity throughout the airport. Since the trial phase began on April 26, about 20,000 passengers have used the service, consuming roughly 2.3 terabytes of data. Officials said the initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to providing fast and reliable internet for all citizens, enhancing digital access and communication for both domestic and international travelers.