The Planning Commission has given preliminary approval to a Tk 3 trillion Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The draft development budget prioritizes education, health, transport, power, and local government sectors. The approval came at an extended meeting chaired by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for May 16 to finalize sectoral allocations before submission to the National Economic Council (NEC), which is expected to meet on May 18 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. According to documents prepared by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), Tk 1.9 trillion will come from government funds, representing about 63 percent of the total, while Tk 1.1 trillion will be sourced from foreign loans and grants. Autonomous bodies and state-owned corporations will invest an additional Tk 8,924 crore from their own funds, bringing the total development budget to approximately Tk 3.08 trillion. Transport and communication will receive the highest allocation, followed by education and health. Officials said the focus on education and health aims to build skilled human resources and strengthen social protection, while major investments in infrastructure and energy seek to ensure long-term growth and energy security.

A young man from Majhirkona village in Jafrabad Union of Karimganj upazila, Kishoreganj, has reportedly been killed in a Ukrainian drone attack amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The deceased, identified as 28-year-old Riad Rashid, was the son of former teacher Abdur Rashid. His family learned of his death on Friday evening through a Facebook Messenger message from his friend Limon Dutta, who is currently hospitalized after losing a leg in the same attack. According to the message, the drone strike occurred on May 2 in a Russian border area, killing Riad, another Bangladeshi, and a Nigerian national, while injuring three others. Family members said Riad and Limon had joined the Russian army on April 7, though the family was unaware of his enlistment. Riad had gone to Russia in October of the previous year for a company job. Local police confirmed the death after visiting Riad’s home but said no official information had yet been received. The family has requested government assistance to bring his body back to Bangladesh.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh is working to transform the country’s universities into attractive destinations for international students, according to UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed. He made the remarks on Saturday at the ‘China-Bangladesh Education Cooperation Forum 2026’ held at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka. The event was chaired by the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh and attended by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan and other senior education officials. Professor Ahmed emphasized the importance of internationalizing higher education and creating a system where both local and foreign students can study together. He said Bangladesh must ensure “circulation of talent” rather than “brain drain,” enabling skilled expatriates to contribute to national development. The UGC is actively fostering sustainable partnerships between Bangladeshi and Chinese universities to enhance academic quality and research collaboration. He added that Bangladesh seeks to learn from China’s progress in higher education, focusing on modern laboratory infrastructure, joint research funds, and faculty development programs. The UGC aims to move beyond formal agreements toward joint degree programs, dual PhD supervision, and co-authored research publications in high-quality journals.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair has stated that there is no ideology called 'Mawdudibad' in the world. In a statement sent to the media, he said the term was a narrative created by certain groups to oppose Jamaat. Zubair made the remarks while condemning a national daily’s editorial titled 'Education sector must be freed from Jamaat', calling it baseless and politically motivated. He argued that Jamaat-e-Islami follows the true teachings and spirit of Islam and encourages its members to adhere to Islamic principles. Zubair criticized the newspaper for acting as a vanguard for specific interests instead of maintaining editorial neutrality. He said Jamaat believes in a welfare-oriented education system and has always worked to support and advise the education sector. Zubair further stated that Jamaat respects followers of all Islamic schools of thought and rejects any attempt to create division or hostility among them. He emphasized that educational institutions operate under official administrative and ministerial guidance, leaving no room for imposing any particular ideology.

A resurfaced video allegedly showing West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari accepting money has triggered fresh political controversy across the state. The video, originally from 2016, went viral again on social media, reigniting tensions between ruling and opposition camps. The footage was linked to the Narada sting operation, during which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused several Trinamool Congress leaders, including Adhikari and Mukul Roy, of involvement in financial transactions. After Adhikari and Roy later joined the BJP, reports emerged that the video had been removed from the party’s official YouTube channel. Critics now claim that the BJP selectively raises corruption issues and shields leaders who switch to its side. Opposition voices argue that this reflects a double standard in the party’s anti-corruption stance. Political analysts suggest the episode underscores how strategic interests and party loyalty have overtaken ideological consistency in West Bengal’s political landscape.

A new analysis has emerged on the future of U.S.-Iran relations amid ongoing regional tensions and conflict. According to Muhannad Selum, assistant professor of international politics at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Tehran is not interested in returning unconditionally to the pre-war status quo. Instead, Iran aims to extract additional political or strategic concessions from Washington. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Selum explained that U.S. policy has recently shifted from diplomacy to war and then back to negotiations. He noted that Washington claims to have achieved certain military successes and now seeks to translate them into diplomatic gains, while Iran is resisting this approach. Selum added that although the United States retains military and diplomatic leverage, Iran’s effective pressure options are limited, with control over the Strait of Hormuz remaining its key strategic strength. Selum further observed that since the war began in February, Iran’s position has weakened, yet Tehran continues to prioritize a diplomatic solution while seeking more than a simple restoration of previous conditions.

The Federation of Indian Airlines has warned the government that operations may halt due to soaring fuel prices caused by the Iran war. The conflict has sharply increased global jet fuel costs, forcing Air India Group to revise fuel surcharges on domestic and international routes. Restrictions on Middle Eastern airspace have lengthened flight paths, raising expenses. The war has disrupted energy flows, driving inflation, weakening the rupee, and straining India’s energy security and foreign policy. India’s pharmaceutical industry, a major global supplier of generic drugs, is also under pressure from rising energy costs and disrupted logistics. Delays in raw material shipments from China and higher transport and insurance costs have doubled production expenses. The country’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil and gas has deepened the crisis, with LPG and LNG supplies severely affected. Domestic protests over living costs have erupted, and remittances from expatriates in the region are at risk as many return home. A UNDP report warns that over 2.5 million Indians could fall into poverty due to the ongoing crisis. Political opposition has blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, though recent state elections show the ruling party remains resilient.

More than one hundred students at Dhaka University’s Kuwait Maitree Hall have fallen ill over the past three days with symptoms of waterborne diseases, reportedly after consuming contaminated water. The affected students have experienced diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, prompting the university administration to set up a medical camp to manage the situation. According to the chief medical officer of the university’s Shaheed Dr. Murtaza Medical Center, at least 60 students sought treatment on Thursday and Friday, and over a hundred have been affected in total. Students reported a strong smell of bleaching powder in the hall’s water after the cleaning of water tanks, which caused nausea and discomfort. Some also blamed both the canteen food and water, though many who avoided canteen meals still fell ill, suggesting water contamination as the main cause. Dissatisfaction was expressed over the quality of medical care, with claims that doctors issued group prescriptions instead of individual diagnoses. Hall provost Professor Dr. Mahbuba Sultana denied allegations of negligence, stating that the water reservoirs were professionally cleaned and filters rechecked, with preliminary tests showing no contamination. She said the situation is now under control, while students continue to demand full publication of water test results and permanent solutions.

Prime Bank PLC and Rancon Cars Limited have signed a strategic partnership agreement offering special discounts to Prime Bank customers on the purchase of Proton brand cars. The signing ceremony took place at Rancon Cars Limited’s office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, where senior officials from both organizations were present. Under the agreement, Prime Bank customers will enjoy attractive price reductions and exclusive benefits when buying Proton vehicles from Rancon Cars Limited. The event was attended by senior executives including Mamur Ahmed, SEVP and Head of Distribution Network at Prime Bank, and Mohammad Mostafizur Rashid Bhuiyan, Director of Rancon Cars Limited. Speakers at the event said the collaboration aims to enhance customer experience by providing lifestyle-oriented services and convenient financial solutions. Prime Bank also announced plans to continue introducing innovative services and attractive offers aligned with customer needs and lifestyles in the future.

Bangladesh Railway authorities conducted a daylong eviction drive on Saturday to remove illegal structures built on railway land in Ghorashal, Narsingdi. The operation covered areas from the Ghorashal Post Office Road to Chamrabo, where around two hundred unauthorized establishments were demolished. The drive was led by Shimul Kumar Saha, Dhaka Divisional Estate Officer and Executive Magistrate of Bangladesh Railway, along with Rakin Masrur Khan, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Palash Upazila. According to railway officials, approximately 20 acres of land near the Ghorashal railway station had been occupied illegally. A large number of law enforcement personnel were present during the operation to maintain order. The eviction marks a continued effort by Bangladesh Railway to reclaim its land from illegal encroachment and restore control over key railway properties in the region.

Police in Rangpur’s Badraganj have arrested Jihad Sarkar Rana, a former vice president of the municipal unit of Chhatra Dal, on charges of extortion. He was detained on Saturday from the Upazila Health Complex following a complaint that he and several others demanded money from Fatema Begum, an outsourced employee at the complex, and vandalized her quarters when the demand was refused. According to police, a case was filed at Badraganj Police Station over the extortion and vandalism incident. The following day, Rana allegedly led an obstruction at the office of the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, demanding withdrawal of the case. Police later arrested him from the health complex. The officer-in-charge of Badraganj Police Station confirmed that Rana was sent to jail through the court and that he faces several other cases involving similar allegations.

Former US National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent has alleged that the United States launched its military operation against Iran under pressure from Israel and its influential lobby. According to a Fox News report, Kent wrote on social media that before the conflict began, US intelligence agencies had assessed that Tehran was not developing nuclear weapons and had warned that an attack could provoke Iranian retaliation against American bases and disrupt the Strait of Hormuz. Kent said professional intelligence assessments were ignored in favor of Israel’s political agenda, arguing that strikes on Iranian leadership would strengthen, not weaken, the regime. He resigned in March citing ethical reasons, reiterating that Iran posed no immediate threat to the US. The White House, through spokesperson Davis Ingle, dismissed Kent’s claims as baseless and misleading, asserting that President Donald Trump acted on strong intelligence and prioritized American safety. Trump also denied that Israel pressured him into war, saying his decision followed regional tensions after October 7, 2023, and concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Kent’s remarks have reignited debate in Washington over the true motivations behind the Iran conflict and the role of intelligence assessments.

Railways State Minister Habibur Rashid announced that a survey is underway to implement a dual gauge railway line on the Sylhet-Dhaka-Chattogram route. He made the statement during a visit to Sylhet on Saturday to assess the feasibility of the project announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. After inspecting the Sylhet railway station, the minister confirmed that the government is addressing the shortage of train engines on the Sylhet-Dhaka route. The minister stated that the government aims to make Bangladesh Railway profitable by improving both passenger and freight services. He acknowledged existing limitations in railway services and emphasized the need for maximum effort and accountability among officials. He reiterated instructions for responsible officers to resolve negligence at the field level. Habibur Rashid added that the government has directed the recovery of encroached railway land and will take strict measures against illegal occupation. He noted that additional engines and coaches are required to improve service quality and prevent schedule disruptions caused by accidents on single-line tracks.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has declared the restoration of public trust in the police and improvement of law and order as top national priorities. In a statement issued on Saturday, ahead of Police Week 2026 to be observed on Sunday, he said that after more than fifteen years, a democratic government has been established through a free and fair election, bringing peace and relief to the public. Citizens now expect a society free from fear, abduction, and injustice, where safety and security are guaranteed. The Prime Minister emphasized that law enforcement, particularly the police, play a vital role in maintaining stability and ensuring public safety. He noted that a professional and responsible police force is essential for upholding state stability and public confidence. He extended greetings to all current, former, and retired police personnel on the occasion of Police Week 2026. Rahman also highlighted the police’s contributions in national elections and international peacekeeping missions, calling for modernization and capacity building to meet global challenges. He urged stronger police action against mob violence, youth gangs, and drug proliferation to sustain democratic progress.

China has refrained from providing direct military assistance to Iran during its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, according to Muhannad Selum, assistant professor of international politics at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Selum stated that Beijing avoided such involvement due to the high risks and potential costs of being drawn into the war. However, he noted that China has not completely abandoned Iran. Selum explained that China seeks to prevent a global order dominated solely by the United States. He added that Beijing has used its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to block proposals targeting Iran, particularly those related to the management of the Strait of Hormuz. While China is unlikely to offer direct military support soon, Selum suggested that some Chinese companies under US sanctions may have provided technical assistance to Iran. The analysis highlights Beijing’s cautious approach to balancing its strategic interests while maintaining influence in Middle Eastern affairs.