Two farmers were killed by lightning strikes within a span of ninety minutes in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna district on Wednesday. The second victim, identified as Auwal Farazi Torab, aged 55, from Bongram Paschim Chakpara village under Parshadangha Union, died on the spot when lightning struck him around 4 p.m. while returning home from Dikshibil with harvested paddy. The incident was confirmed by former union chairman Robiul Karim Tarek. Earlier the same day, around 2:30 p.m., another farmer named Robban Ali from Maheshpur village in Mulgram Union died in a separate lightning strike. Both incidents occurred during a nor'wester storm that swept through the area, causing sudden weather changes and fatalities among local farmers. The consecutive lightning deaths highlight the recurring danger faced by rural agricultural workers during seasonal storms in the region.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria district branch organized a protest march and rally on Wednesday in response to reported attacks and persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, India. The demonstration began at the municipal open stage in Brahmanbaria town and proceeded through major streets before concluding at Kautoli Square, where a brief rally was held. Speakers at the rally condemned the alleged violence and religious oppression against Muslims in West Bengal. They urged the Indian government to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safety and security of minority Muslims. The speakers also called on the international community to raise its voice against religious incitement and communal violence and to unite in protest against oppression of the Muslim community. Local Hefazat leaders including Maulana Sajidur Rahman, Mufti Ali Azam, Mufti Kamal Uddin Kasemi, and Mufti Tanvir Siraji addressed the gathering, which was attended by party members from district and upazila levels.

All levels of educational institutions across Bangladesh will go on an extended holiday from May 24, 2026, marking Eid-ul-Azha and the summer vacation. According to the official holiday schedule and academic calendar, government primary schools, government and private secondary schools, colleges, technical institutes, and madrasas will begin their break simultaneously. Students will effectively attend their last classes on May 21, as May 22 and 23 fall on the weekend. The vacation for primary, secondary, and technical institutions will continue until June 4, with classes resuming on June 7 after the weekend of June 5–6. This gives students a total of 16 consecutive days off, including weekends. Madrasa students, however, will enjoy a longer break, from May 24 to June 11, reopening on June 14 after the weekend, totaling 23 days of vacation. Separately, the government has declared a seven-day national holiday for Eid-ul-Azha from May 25 to May 31, with offices remaining open on May 23 and 24 before the official break begins.

Influential American neoconservative thinker and longtime pro-Israel strategist Robert Kagan has warned that the United States is heading toward a 'total defeat' in its ongoing conflict with Iran. Writing in The Atlantic, Kagan argued that the war has inflicted irreparable damage on Washington’s global standing and that no decisive American victory can reverse the losses. He described the conflict as both a military and strategic setback for the US. Kagan, co-founder of the Project for the New American Century and a key advocate of US military interventionism, drew parallels between the current situation and past crises such as Pearl Harbor and the Vietnam War. He said the balance of power over the Strait of Hormuz has shifted, turning Iran from a regional into a global power. According to him, the war has exposed an unreliable America unable to finish what it starts. He further warned that the Trump administration now faces limited options, with diminished leverage to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or maintain pressure on Tehran. Kagan also cautioned that the conflict could prove disastrous for Israel, potentially reducing US and Israeli influence across the Middle East.

The Dhaka district administration has demolished illegal structures built by Haji Selim’s Madina Group on government land in the capital’s Lalbagh area. The eviction drive took place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, under the leadership of Dhaka Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Farida Khanom. According to district sources, the group had occupied land listed under Lalbagh Mouza’s No. 1 khas khatian for over two decades. Following a legal process, the High Court’s previous stay order was lifted by the Chamber Judge Court on May 12, paving the way for the eviction. During the operation, heavy machinery was used to demolish the illegal structures and reclaim the government property. Law enforcement personnel, executive magistrates, and relevant officials were present at the site. Farida Khanom stated that the administration would continue such drives to protect public property and ensure no one occupies government land illegally. Local residents welcomed the initiative, describing it as bold and timely. They expressed relief that the long-occupied government land was finally recovered and hoped continued enforcement would reduce illegal land grabbing.

German coach Bernd Storck has become the frontrunner to take charge of the Bangladesh national football team, surpassing Brazil’s Rosario Mikel and former Wales coach Chris Coleman. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is leaning toward Storck due to his lower salary demand and extensive coaching experience. Storck, 63, has previously coached Hungary to the Euro 2016 knockout stage and managed Kazakhstan’s national team for nearly two years, along with club stints in Belgium and Slovakia. BFF’s National Teams Committee interviewed Storck last Tuesday, discussing salary and benefits. While Mikel and Coleman demanded $30,000 and $26,000 respectively, Storck’s expected pay is closer to that of outgoing coach Javier Cabrera. The federation is expected to announce the new coach by Friday. BFF President Tabith Awal will make the final decision, which may depend on whether government financial support is secured to afford a higher-profile coach. The coaching position became vacant after Cabrera’s contract expired in April. A record 300 local and foreign coaches applied, later narrowed down to six finalists based on experience, salary expectations, and professional licenses.

Bangladesh Bank has imposed new restrictions on its officials and employees regarding participation in training, seminars, and workshops both at home and abroad. According to an office order issued on Wednesday, officials are now prohibited from attending any such events funded by government or private banks, financial institutions, or any organization that receives services from or supplies goods and services to the central bank. The directive takes immediate effect. The order further states that Bangladesh Bank officials cannot act as trainers or examiners in programs financed by banks or financial institutions. Participation as speakers or trainers in domestic seminars is allowed only with prior approval from the Human Resources Department-2, and no honorarium may be accepted from the organizing institution. The central bank said the move aims to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain neutrality in its operations. The decision follows reports that some officials had traveled abroad at the invitation of supplier companies, with allegations that certain departments provided undue advantages to those firms in procurement processes.

U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit, marking the first trip to China by a top U.S. leader in a decade. He landed on Wednesday aboard Air Force One, with formal meetings scheduled for Thursday and Friday between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies. The itinerary includes an official welcome at the Great Hall of the People and a visit to Zhongnanhai, the residence and workplace of China’s top leadership. The visit was originally planned for March but was postponed after U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran at the end of February. Discussions are expected to cover the Iran conflict, where China has been playing a growing mediating role, though Trump stated before departure that he did not need Xi Jinping’s help on the issue. Trade, technology, and Taiwan are also expected to feature prominently in the talks. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would urge China to further open its market to major U.S. technology companies, whose top executives are accompanying him. Beijing’s key priority will be extending the “trade truce” agreement reached last October, which temporarily eased tariff tensions between the two nations.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Parliamentary Party Secretary and Satkania-Lohagara MP Shahjahan Chowdhury declared that the era of embezzlement under the guise of development is over. He made the statement on Wednesday morning while inaugurating the development work of the Mojider Para road in Lohagara upazila, built at a cost of about Tk 12.1 million. He said public tax money will no longer go into corrupt pockets and that genuine development will now take place to improve people's lives. The MP noted that although he was elected only three months ago, extensive development activities have already begun in Satkania and Lohagara. Projects have been initiated to improve neglected roads, education, and communication systems. He emphasized that development should not remain on paper but benefit ordinary citizens, pledging to bring modern facilities to every village in his constituency. Shahjahan Chowdhury further warned that irregularities, substandard work, and commission trading in development projects will no longer be tolerated. Local residents expressed satisfaction with the rapid completion of the new road and welcomed the ongoing development initiatives.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), claimed that Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani’s historic party symbol, the ‘paddy sheaf,’ has been stolen. He made the remark on Wednesday at a seminar held at the NCP’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, titled ‘Farmers’ distress amid government conditions and untimely heavy rain: crisis and solutions,’ organized by the party’s agriculture cell. Patwari said Bhasani had chosen the symbol to represent Bangladesh’s agrarian roots, but now the emblem and its spirit have been lost. Expressing concern over the agricultural situation, Patwari alleged that the rice market is now controlled by business syndicates rather than farmers, with profits shifting from rural producers to urban traders. He also criticized government projects such as smart cards and farmer cards, saying the NCP would respond with its own ‘red card’ if these initiatives fail. Other speakers, including agricultural economist Dr. Jahangir Alam and NCP leaders Golam Mortuza Selim, Dr. Atik Mujahid, and Sarowar Tushar, discussed production losses from floods and irrigation shortages, syndicate control in rice procurement, and the government’s lack of early weather warnings. Speakers warned that disruptions in rice production could threaten food security, economic stability, and national sovereignty if not addressed promptly.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed his First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, as the head of the country’s special cyberspace headquarters. The presidential directive emphasized establishing an integrated governance system in cyberspace, curbing divergent narratives, and preventing overlapping activities among responsible institutions. The appointment comes amid the 75th consecutive day of widespread internet disruptions and restrictions across Iran. On February 28, the Iranian government cut off international internet connections, coinciding with attacks involving Israel and the United States. Telephone communications with foreign countries have also been severely affected. The move signals the administration’s focus on tightening control over digital communications and coordination among state agencies during a period of heightened cyber and connectivity challenges.

India has increased the import duty on gold and silver from 6 percent to 15 percent, effective from Wednesday, according to a government order cited by Reuters. The move aims to reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves and limit imports of the two precious metals. The new structure includes a 10 percent basic customs duty and a 5 percent agriculture infrastructure and development cess. Experts said the higher duty could dampen demand in the world’s second-largest consumer of precious metals but may help narrow India’s trade deficit and support the rupee. However, they warned that the steep tariff could revive smuggling, which had declined after a previous duty cut in 2024. Surendra Mehta of the India Bullion and Jewellers Association noted that the government’s decision was expected as part of efforts to reduce the current account deficit, though it may affect demand amid already high prices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged citizens to avoid buying gold for a year to protect foreign reserves. Bullion traders reported that banks had paused imports for over a month due to a 3 percent integrated goods and services tax, leading to a 30-year low in April imports. Imports may fall again following the latest duty hike.

A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing is expected to center on the ongoing war involving Iran. The United States is increasing pressure on China to use its economic and political influence over Tehran to help end the conflict. China remains Iran’s largest trading partner and has maintained a decades-old alliance with the country. Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and expressed Beijing’s readiness to assist in reducing tensions. Despite China’s desire for peace, its economy is already struggling with slow growth and rising unemployment, challenges that predate Trump’s tariff measures. The Middle East conflict has added new strain, with rising oil prices affecting factory costs and export orders. China has voiced support for Pakistan’s peace plan as part of its measured mediation efforts, while also seeking to avoid direct involvement in the conflict.

The body of expatriate worker Robiul Hasan Robin, who was killed in Malaysia, returned to his home village in Kalai Gobindapur, Titas upazila of Cumilla, eight days after his death. The coffin arrived on Wednesday afternoon, creating a heart-wrenching scene as relatives and neighbors mourned. His body, found disfigured, was buried later that day at the local cemetery after funeral prayers. According to family and local sources, Robin went missing on May 4 while working at a Chinese construction company in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. Police recovered his body the next day from a garbage container inside the construction site. Robin had moved to Malaysia in 2023 and was responsible for managing the payroll of 2,000 workers. His family alleged that two fellow Bangladeshis, jealous of his success, were behind the murder. Robin’s body arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Wednesday morning and was handed over to his family after legal formalities. His relatives expressed deep sorrow and concern for his three young children’s future.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has directed officials to adopt welfare-oriented and sustainable projects. The instruction came on Tuesday during a review meeting at the Secretariat on the implementation progress of Annual Development Programme (ADP) projects for the 2025–26 fiscal year under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). The information was shared through the BNP Media Cell’s Facebook page. The meeting discussed project implementation progress, quality of work, expenditure management, and timely completion. Emphasizing faster execution, the minister said that development projects must be completed within the stipulated time to meet public expectations. He also stressed proper and transparent management of public funds to ensure that projects directly benefit ordinary citizens. The meeting was chaired by Local Government Division Secretary Md. Shahidul Hasan and attended by senior ministry officials, LGED Chief Engineer Belal Hossain, and project directors both in person and virtually.