Several historic estates in Bogura, including the Nawab Palace, Rajabari, and part of the Sattani Bari, have reportedly been sold at nominal prices through questionable transactions. The latest sale occurred on April 14, when 57 decimals of land from the Sattani Zamindar Bari were sold for Tk 43 crore, though registered at Tk 35 crore. The deal was conducted secretly during a public holiday, allegedly to avoid scrutiny. A 224-member business syndicate, including politicians and officials, is said to have purchased the land for a multi-storey project. Investigations reveal that these properties, once owned by prominent families and historical figures, have gradually passed into the hands of politically connected businessmen over the past decade. The Nawab Palace, built in 1884 and once part of a Waqf estate, was sold in 2016 despite being declared a protected heritage site by the Ministry of Culture. Legal experts and local historians argue that such properties are not legally saleable. Observers and civic groups blame administrative negligence for the loss of Bogura’s cultural heritage, as historic landmarks continue to fall under private control through opaque transactions.

Former Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sabbir Bin Shams, has been sent to jail in connection with a murder case filed over the deaths of six people during a fire amid the 2024 mass uprising in Lalmonirhat. He was detained while allegedly attempting to cross the border through Patgram and was produced before the Lalmonirhat Magistrate Court on Sunday. Judge Md. Alauddin rejected his bail plea and ordered his imprisonment, confirmed by defense lawyer Rafiqul Islam. Police said the case stems from an attack, vandalism, and arson at the multistory residence of Suman Khan, Joint Secretary of the Lalmonirhat District Awami League, during the uprising. The incident led to six deaths, and a case was filed on May 27, 2025. Sabbir Bin Shams was shown arrested in that case following investigation. Authorities also noted that he faces a separate Anti-Corruption Commission case. Sabbir Bin Shams told reporters he resigned from the Awami League’s research wing CRI in August 2020 and later served as a contractual DG at the Foreign Ministry and as Minister (Public Diplomacy) at the Bangladesh High Commission in the UK before resigning in 2023.

Professor Dr. Md. Nuruzzaman Khan (Khosru) has been appointed as the new director of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS). The appointment was announced on May 17, 2026. Before this role, he served as Professor and Head of the Department of Neurosurgery and Intern Coordinator at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. Dr. Khan currently holds several professional positions, including Treasurer of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC), Member Secretary of the Bangladesh Society of Neurosurgeons, and Joint Secretary General of the central committee of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB). He completed his SSC and HSC from Comilla Cadet College and earned his MBBS in 1997 and MS in Neurosurgery from Dhaka Medical College. He has received fellowship training in Singapore, South Korea, and India, and is recognized for introducing endoscopic spine surgery in Bangladesh. Dr. Khan also serves as an international trainer in this field and has published numerous scientific papers in international journals.

Police recovered the body of a Bangladeshi man from the Charbagdanga border area in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj, a week after he went missing. The deceased, identified as Shawkat Ali, 35, from Tarapur Thuthapara in Monaksha Union, was found late Saturday night on a sandbar of the Padma River. His family said he had gone to India on May 9 with others to bring cattle but did not return. When relatives attempted to bury the body secretly, police intervened and sent it to the district hospital morgue. Local residents alleged that Shawkat was killed by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) while returning with cattle and that his body was dumped in the river. Shibganj Police Station’s officer-in-charge said the body was decomposed, making it difficult to determine the cause of death, and that a case would be filed for investigation. Godagari River Police reported multiple sharp weapon injuries on the body, suggesting a planned killing. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) commander stated that the cause of death would be confirmed only after autopsy and that an investigation was underway.

A group of students at Jahangirnagar University locked the main gate of the administrative building on Sunday morning, demanding the resignation of the proctorial body and the immediate arrest of a suspect in an attempted rape case involving a female student. The protest followed an earlier program at the proctor’s office, as students expressed frustration that the accused remained at large five days after the incident. Students said the failure to arrest the suspect demonstrated the inaction of both law enforcement and the university administration. Protesters, including students from the Drama and Dramatics and Urban and Regional Planning departments, reiterated their six-point demand, with the first and most urgent being the suspect’s arrest. They stated that the lock on the registrar’s office would remain until authorities confirmed progress in the case. The incident occurred last Tuesday night near the old Fazilatunnesa Hall, where a female student was reportedly dragged into a nearby forest and assaulted. The university authorities filed a case with Ashulia Police Station the following day, and students had given a 48-hour ultimatum for the arrest, which expired without result.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has emphasized the need to build an accountable and institutional framework for managing the media sector, moving beyond a control-oriented approach. He made the remarks on Sunday during a meeting at the Secretariat with leaders of the Television Editors Council, which includes editors and news heads of private television channels. The minister highlighted the importance of forming an independent, efficient, and credible media commission. Swapan noted that Bangladesh’s media management has long suffered from a conceptual gap, with a lack of coordinated thinking among owners, entrepreneurs, journalists, and the government. This has led to the sector being influenced by personal power and investment interests. He said the government is both a stakeholder and a regulator, and must ensure equal opportunity for all parties. The minister further stated that past governments viewed media mainly through a lens of control, resulting in irregularities and misuse. He proposed establishing a quasi-judicial commission to ensure media freedom and accountability, cautioning that it must not become a political instrument of any government.

Three people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack near Moscow, Russia, according to the region’s governor. The incident occurred early Sunday, and Governor Andrei Vorobyov described it as a large-scale assault targeting areas surrounding the capital. He reported that one woman died when a drone struck a house, while another person was trapped under debris. Vorobyov added that two men were also killed during the early-morning attack. The information was shared through his Telegram post and cited by AFP. No further details on the extent of the damage or response measures were provided in the report. The attack marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with drone strikes increasingly reaching deeper into Russian territory, according to the governor’s statement.

A father and son were killed when their motorcycle crashed into the back of a parked truck on the Habiganj-Shaistaganj bypass road on Saturday night. The accident occurred around 11 p.m. in the Poddarbari area. The victims were identified as Abdul Kaiyum, 55, and his son Zakir Hossain, 20, from Sultan Mahmudpur village in Sadar upazila. Police recovered the bodies and sent them to Sadar Modern Hospital. According to police and local sources, Abdul Kaiyum was traveling with his son toward Dhuliakhal by motorcycle when they lost control and hit the stationary truck. Both sustained severe injuries. Locals rescued them and took them to Sadar Modern Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. The report did not mention the cause of the truck being parked on the road or whether any legal action followed the incident.

Mutual trust between the United States and Iran has fallen to zero, according to Alan Eyre, a former US negotiator and analyst at the Middle East Institute. Speaking about the state of relations, Eyre said there is no secret formula for negotiating with Iranians, who are well-informed and skilled in their fields. He emphasized that meaningful agreements require time and sustained dialogue, expressing doubt that the Trump administration was prepared to invest the necessary effort for a comprehensive nuclear deal. Eyre stressed the importance of confidence-building measures to manage tensions, noting that full trust is never a prerequisite for talks but some level of confidence is essential. He described Iran’s current leadership as more hardline and militaristic than previous governments, believing that Washington and Israel ultimately seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic. According to Eyre, Tehran fears that any ceasefire could be used by its adversaries to regroup and prepare for future attacks. He concluded that rebuilding even minimal trust is vital to restoring momentum in negotiations between the two nations.

A three-way clash at Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) in Gazipur left ten people injured, including five police officers, on Sunday. The violence erupted at the university’s Shaheed Minar area during a confrontation among students supporting the newly appointed vice-chancellor, protesting students, and police. The government recently appointed Professor Dr. Mohammad Iqbal from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as DUET’s new vice-chancellor, which triggered protests from a section of students. According to the report, the protesting students rejected the appointment immediately after the government’s announcement and began demonstrations on Thursday night. On Sunday morning, they called for a “red card” protest against the new vice-chancellor, leading to the clash. The protesters argued that the vice-chancellor should be selected from DUET’s own faculty, citing their deeper understanding of the institution’s academic and administrative challenges. Police confirmed that five officers, including the local station’s officer-in-charge, were among the injured and said efforts were underway to restore order on campus.

Former Begum Rokeya University (Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur) vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid, convicted in a war crimes case linked to the killing of Abu Sayeed during the July Revolution, was produced before the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon. Police arrested him the previous night from a residence on Salimullah Road in Mohammadpur, the capital. According to the report, Hasibur Rashid was presented before Tribunal-2, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. Earlier, on April 9, the tribunal sentenced 28 individuals to varying prison terms in the same case. Rashid, identified as the principal accused, received a 10-year sentence. He had been absconding since August 5, 2024, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. The tribunal proceedings mark a continuation of accountability efforts for crimes committed during the July Revolution, with Rashid’s arrest ending nearly two years of fugitive status.

Dr. Afsan Anis, son of Awami League leader Dr. Abul Baki Anis, has been appointed president of the Cumilla Metropolitan Nationalist Social and Cultural Organization (JASAS). The 101-member committee was approved on May 16 through a circular signed by central convenor Helal Khan and member secretary Zakir Hossain Rokon, naming Shahidul Haque Sohel as general secretary. The announcement triggered widespread discussion on social media and within political circles over Dr. Anis’s political background. Former city JASAS convenor Manjurul Alam alleged that individuals with no prior involvement in BNP politics had secured committee positions through financial transactions. Cumilla city BNP general secretary and city corporation administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu stated he did not know the new president and questioned how a member of an Awami family could lead a key BNP-affiliated organization. Central JASAS president Helal Khan defended the appointment, saying the committee was formed following organizational procedures and in coordination with BNP leaders at various levels, citing past examples of similar appointments.

Iran has finalized a plan to collect tolls or fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route in the Persian Gulf. Lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said the initiative includes a professional strategy to manage maritime traffic along a designated route. The plan will primarily benefit commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran, which will receive specialized services in exchange for the fees. First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that Iran will not allow military equipment from enemy countries to pass through the strait. Deputy Speaker Ali Nikzad earlier noted that Iran’s legal framework for the waterway was developed considering Tehran’s own conditions, international law, and the rights of neighboring states. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had previously unveiled a new control zone and a safer navigation route closer to Iran’s coast. The forthcoming toll system marks a significant move in Iran’s management of the Strait of Hormuz, signaling tighter control over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

Russia has claimed to have intercepted a large-scale drone attack launched by Ukraine across several of its regions. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, more than 550 drones were shot down overnight, with a total of 556 fixed-wing drones reportedly destroyed or neutralized by Russian air defense systems. The ministry confirmed the information in a statement released on social media, which was later reported by AFP from Moscow. The statement added that the drones were detected over multiple Russian regions and were destroyed in the air before reaching their targets. The report did not specify the exact locations of the interceptions or any resulting damage. The announcement underscores the continuing intensity of drone warfare between Russia and Ukraine, as both sides rely heavily on unmanned aerial systems in ongoing hostilities. Further details about the scale of the attack or potential casualties were not provided in the ministry’s statement.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the funeral prayer of former state minister for health and Munshiganj BNP convener Mizanur Rahman Sinha on Sunday at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. The prayer took place at 11:30 a.m., after which the prime minister paid his respects by placing a floral tribute on Sinha’s coffin. The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, cabinet members, and several lawmakers were also present at the ceremony. Earlier, the prime minister expressed deep sorrow over Sinha’s death, recalling his contributions to national politics and the health sector. In a condolence message, he prayed for the departed soul and extended sympathy to the bereaved family and well-wishers. Mizanur Rahman Sinha passed away early Saturday at the age of 82 while undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore. His daughter Tasnim Sinha confirmed his death on social media, stating that he breathed his last at 2:47 a.m. Bangladesh time. Sinha had previously served as BNP’s central treasurer and was elected as a member of parliament from Munshiganj-2 in the 1996 and 2001 general elections.