Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain emphasized citizen awareness during the ongoing month-long canal and drain cleaning campaign aimed at reducing waterlogging in the city. During an inspection of activities in East Madarbari, West Madarbari, and Pathantuli wards on Sunday, he said that a clean city cannot be achieved by the corporation alone and that residents must act responsibly. The mayor explained that despite cleaning efforts, indiscriminate disposal of plastic, polythene, and waste continues to hinder permanent solutions. He noted that the Water Development Board is constructing a Swiss Gate in the Gulzar Khal area, and temporary embankments have caused short-term water accumulation in nearby areas during recent rainfall. He apologized to residents for the inconvenience and stated that the Bangladesh Army’s 34 Engineering Brigade and the Water Development Board have been instructed to complete the work quickly. According to the mayor, completion of the Swiss Gate will help control tidal water and significantly reduce waterlogging. Ongoing renovation of Hijra Khal and Jamalkhan Khal is also expected to improve drainage and benefit city residents once completed.

The Bangladesh government is currently experiencing relief over the electricity and fuel situation, as the country has gone six consecutive days without any load-shedding. According to officials from the Power Division, electricity demand and supply have remained balanced across all nine zones, with peak-hour demand fully met. The Energy Division also confirmed that fuel reserves are sufficient for the entire month of May, with 355,169 tons of fuel oil in stock as of Sunday. Petrol pumps across the country are operating smoothly, and long queues have disappeared. Officials attribute the stable power supply partly to unseasonal rainfall, which has kept electricity demand lower than usual. Meteorologists expect intermittent rain to continue until at least May 10, helping maintain normal temperatures and easing pressure on the power grid. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has taken measures to increase diesel reserves, with additional shipments being unloaded and more on the way. The improved situation follows months of severe fuel shortages and public unrest earlier this year. Government interventions, including price adjustments and tighter supply management, have restored stability to both the electricity and fuel sectors.

Continuous rainfall over recent days has submerged ripe Boro paddy fields in several areas of Natore’s Singra upazila and Tangail’s Madhupur upazila. Farmers are struggling to harvest waterlogged crops, with seedlings sprouting on wet paddy due to lack of sunlight. In Singra, early flooding and rising water from the Atrai River have threatened hundreds of farmers’ crops across the Chalan Beel region. Only about 15 percent of the 36,610 hectares of cultivated land has been harvested so far. Local residents and farmers in Singra are working together to protect their fields, filling sandbags to block floodwater despite limited resources. Women are also participating in the effort. The local agriculture office and the area’s Member of Parliament have visited affected zones and pledged immediate assistance. In Madhupur, around 500 bighas of paddy in the Haoda Beel area have gone underwater, putting debt-ridden farmers and sharecroppers in distress. Officials warned that if water does not recede quickly, many farmers could face total crop loss, turning a promising harvest season into a financial disaster.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called on district commissioners to help fulfill the government’s pledges and establish a corruption-free, people-friendly administration. Speaking at the opening of the four-day Deputy Commissioners’ Conference 2026 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he emphasized that building a strong, accountable, and lawful state system is the government’s main goal. Senior officials, cabinet members, and advisers attended the event, which showcased a video on development activities. Rahman outlined several directives, including ensuring transparency in project spending, timely implementation, and maintaining quality. He instructed DCs to curb market syndicates, prevent artificial crises, and involve citizens in a 20,000-kilometer canal excavation program to boost agriculture and rural employment. He also stressed the use of artificial intelligence and fourth industrial revolution technologies to make public services faster and more transparent. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that honesty, merit, and efficiency will guide recruitment and promotion in the civil service. He praised officials for their professionalism during the February 12 election and reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing every pledge in the “July Charter.”

A fire broke out in the engine of a moving commuter train on the Lalmonirhat–Burimari route near Hatibandha station in Lalmonirhat on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred about one kilometer from the station, causing panic among passengers. The train, identified as Lalmonirhat–Burimari Commuter No. 71, was stopped immediately after the fire was noticed. According to witnesses and passengers, students from a nearby madrasa first saw the flames and alerted others by shouting. The train authorities halted the train, and local residents along with the students attempted to extinguish the fire. Fire service personnel from Hatibandha later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. Hatibandha Fire Service official Imran Hasan stated that no injuries were reported. He suggested that a mechanical fault might have caused the fire, though the exact reason is yet to be confirmed.

Eighteen rice mills in Chandpur are on the verge of closure due to the growing dominance of corporate businesses, frequent power outages, and a shortage of paddy. According to local mill owners, three mills—Mokka Auto Rice, Topadar Auto Rice, and Baba Auto Rice—have already shut down, while fifteen others are operating intermittently. The Chandpur District Rice Mill Owners’ Association reported that corporate firms have captured the rice market through financial strength and advanced technology. Association president Abdur Rahim Sarkar said that major companies such as City, Meghna, Bashundhara, Fuad, Pran, and Mojumdar now control both domestic and international rice sourcing and packaging, offering a wide range of consumer-friendly pack sizes. Local mills, limited to 25–50 kg sacks, cannot compete with these marketing strategies. Mill owners also cited insufficient local paddy supply, frequent power cuts, and dependence on crushers as key obstacles. Owners warned that without government financial incentives and measures to curb corporate dominance, the remaining mills may soon close, leaving around two thousand workers unemployed.

In Banshkhali, Chattogram, more than 300,000 coastal residents remain vulnerable to cyclones and tidal surges as no permanent or sustainable embankment has been built in the past 35 years. The 37-kilometer embankment, destroyed by the 1991 cyclone, has yet to be properly reconstructed. Although the government recently allocated Tk 4.53 billion for rebuilding, locals have alleged irregularities and poor-quality work, leaving large sections cracked and ineffective during monsoon season. Residents from areas including Khan Khanabad, Kadam Rasul, Chhanua, Boroghona, Gondamara, and Premashia report that seawater regularly floods their homes and farmlands, causing severe crop losses and forcing thousands into waterlogged conditions. Local leaders and residents have urged immediate action for a permanent embankment, citing long-standing political promises that remain unfulfilled. Agricultural officials warn that rising sea levels and salinity are damaging farmland, freshwater sources, and fisheries. Banshkhali’s Member of Parliament Maulana Zahirul Islam has visited the site and warned contractors against corruption, insisting that reconstruction must follow the approved schedule.

More than six months after a ceasefire brokered by the United States, Israeli military attacks continue in the blockaded Gaza Strip, targeting local residents. According to a recent report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, at least 8,000 Palestinian bodies remain trapped under rubble from Israeli strikes. The report, published on April 27, stated that a lack of necessary equipment has hindered recovery efforts. Gaza is currently buried under an estimated 68 million tons of debris, of which less than one percent has been cleared. A joint analysis by the United Nations, World Bank, and European Union estimated that clearing the debris would cost 1.7 billion dollars. Alexander De Croo, head of the UN Development Programme, said that at the current pace, the cleanup could take seven years. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that in the past 24 hours, two people were killed and three injured in Israeli attacks, bringing the total to 830 deaths and 2,345 injuries during the ceasefire period. Overall, more than 72,610 people have been killed and 172,448 injured in Gaza over two years of conflict.

Peshawar Zalmi clinched their second Pakistan Super League (PSL) title after defeating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final held in Lahore. Playing his debut PSL season, Bangladeshi pacer Nahid Rana contributed significantly to the victory, helping his team chase down 130 runs with 28 balls to spare. Aaron Hardy scored an unbeaten 56, while Abdul Samad added 48 runs to secure the win. This marks Zalmi’s first championship since 2017. Nahid Rana initially struggled, conceding 13 runs in his first over, but recovered strongly to finish with figures of two wickets for 22 runs in four overs, including one maiden. He dismissed Glenn Maxwell and Hunain Shah with pace and yorkers. Hyderabad Kingsmen, batting first after winning the toss, were bowled out for 129 runs in 18 overs, with Saiyum top-scoring with 54 off 42 balls. However, the rest of the batting lineup collapsed under pressure. The victory gave Peshawar Zalmi a long-awaited return to the top of the PSL, while Nahid Rana’s performance highlighted his potential as a rising fast bowler in franchise cricket.

Heavy rainfall and nor'wester storms have caused extensive damage across several districts in Bangladesh, submerging boro paddy fields, uprooting trees, and disrupting power and road connections. The incidents occurred over the weekend, leaving thousands without electricity and isolating several areas due to fallen trees and damaged infrastructure. In Bhola and Pirojpur, storms uprooted trees and damaged power lines, cutting electricity in multiple unions. In Natore’s Singra upazila, early floods and continuous rain have threatened ripe boro crops, with only a small portion harvested so far. Habiganj’s Lakhai upazila saw hundreds of hectares of farmland submerged, while in Sylhet’s Beanibazar, most boro fields were inundated. In Chattogram’s Mirsarai, around 20,000 customers lost power after trees and poles collapsed. In Sunamganj and Tangail, breached embankments and heavy rain submerged large areas of farmland. Local officials reported ongoing efforts to restore power and assess agricultural losses. Farmers in several regions are struggling to save their crops, with authorities promising immediate measures to mitigate further damage.

Twenty-seven students from the Faculty of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at Khulna Agricultural University have failed their final examination after collectively skipping one subject’s test on April 8. The results, published on April 30, showed all of them as failed for being absent in the 'Fish Health Management' exam. University officials described the coordinated absence as an unprecedented incident and a violation of disciplinary rules. However, reports suggest the students may still be allowed to sit for a special semester exam as regular candidates, which has caused resentment among students from other departments. According to the source, the boycott began after one student, Tahsina Anwar Shormi, fell ill before the exam, prompting classmates to request a postponement. When the university refused, the group split, with some choosing to boycott and others being prevented from entering the exam hall. Later, Shormi and another student, Tarek, submitted written apologies to the vice-chancellor seeking permission to retake the exam. A faculty member confirmed that the students would be allowed to re-register and sit for the exam soon without affecting their results.

Speakers at a national convention in Dhaka on May 3 emphasized that Bangladesh’s energy crisis cannot be solved without first addressing corruption and policy failures. The session, held at the Diploma Engineers Institute and organized by the National Citizen Party’s Reform Implementation Committee, focused on energy security and future strategies. Participants called for reducing dependence on oil imports by expanding solar power and implementing structural reforms in the energy sector. Economist Dr. Khan Zahirul Islam argued that corruption and flawed policies, not resource shortages, drive the crisis, citing misuse of installed capacity and large-scale financial irregularities. Other speakers, including Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad and energy analyst Shafiqul Alam, highlighted sovereignty concerns, rising import dependence, and the need for solar and waste-to-energy initiatives. They also criticized inefficiencies in power generation and subsidies. Speakers urged the government to waive import duties on solar equipment, review costly power contracts, and prioritize rooftop solar projects to cut costs and reduce load-shedding. They warned that without swift reforms, Bangladesh’s energy dependence and fiscal burden will continue to grow.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence branch has warned the United States that it faces only two options in the current situation: entering a major military conflict or reaching an uncomfortable compromise. According to BBC Persian, the IRGC’s recent statement said Washington’s time for decision-making is running out, directly addressing Donald Trump to choose between a tough military move or an undesirable deal. Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, said he would review Iran’s peace proposal but initially found it unsatisfactory. Meanwhile, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that Tehran responded to a nine-point US proposal with a 14-point counterproposal. Semi-official Tasnim News Agency added that while the US suggested a two-month ceasefire, Iran emphasized that if no resolution is reached within 30 days, ending the conflict entirely would be preferable to a prolonged truce. Overall, the exchange of conditions and counterconditions has further complicated efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.

A tragic accident in Patiya, Chattogram, claimed the life of Shahidul Islam Rafiz, an 18-year-old activist of the student wing Chhatra Dal. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at a construction site beside the Patiya Bypass Road in Bhati Khain Union. Rafiz, who was working as an assistant to a painter, fell from a ladder about nine feet high inside the building and sustained severe injuries. He was taken to Patiya Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. According to the site contractor Md. Shahid, Rafiz fell accidentally while painting. Dr. Rupa Barua of Patiya Hospital confirmed that he had died before reaching the hospital. Rafiz, the only son of expatriate Jasim Uddin from Lalar Khil village in Khornna Union, had stopped studying after the tenth grade. His family was unaware that he was working as a painter’s assistant. Former union council member and BNP leader Abdul Karim said Rafiz was an active Chhatra Dal worker who regularly participated in party programs, and his sudden death has cast a shadow of grief over the area.

Detectives of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) arrested 14 members of the banned Chhatra League from a secret meeting at a restaurant in the Noyabazar World Road area of Halishahar on Sunday night. The operation took place around 8 p.m. at Taif Restaurant, where the group was allegedly holding a planned meeting to coordinate anti-state activities with leaders based abroad. Among those detained was the chief organizer of the Sheikh Hasina Oikya Parishad. According to police intelligence, despite the organization’s ban, Chhatra League members have continued their activities under the direction of fugitive leaders. They were reportedly attempting to reorganize the group at the local level. CMP Deputy Police Commissioner (North) Md. Habibur Rahman confirmed the arrests and said legal action is being taken against the detainees. The Chhatra League was declared a banned organization in 2024 following the flight of the Sheikh Hasina government. Since then, law enforcement agencies have conducted multiple operations across the country targeting its members.