The Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar has become a major national security concern as local and Rohingya armed groups form hybrid criminal networks operating from remote hill areas such as Baharchhara, Hnila, and Whykong. These groups use the terrain as cover to conduct kidnappings and human trafficking, turning the region into a hub of violence. Equipped with laptops, routers, and solar power, they monitor law enforcement and victims’ families in real time, escalating torture when police or journalists are contacted. Despite joint operations rescuing many victims between September 2025 and April 2026, fear persists among farmers and laborers.

Reports describe brutal ransom tactics, including cutting victims’ fingers or hands to pressure families. The violence has created widespread psychological trauma and economic paralysis in rural communities. Law enforcement faces challenges due to the criminals’ use of jammers and vantage points. The article calls for large-scale military intervention, advanced surveillance technologies, and stronger intelligence networks inside and around Rohingya camps.

The author argues that securing Teknaf’s border is vital for national stability. Without decisive state action, the area risks becoming a base for larger transnational criminal operations.

India has increased petrol and diesel prices again, marking the fourth hike in two weeks. On Monday, petrol prices rose by 2.61 rupees per litre and diesel by 2.71 rupees per litre. Consumers began paying the new rates the same day. The latest adjustment follows a previous increase on Saturday, when petrol went up by 87 paise and diesel by 97 paise.

The repeated fuel price hikes come amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, which have raised concerns about rising costs of essential goods in India. In Delhi, the new prices stand at 102.12 rupees per litre for petrol and 95.20 rupees for diesel. Kolkata recorded the highest rates, with petrol priced at 113.51 rupees and diesel at 99.82 rupees per litre.

The continued upward trend in fuel prices has sparked fears of inflationary pressure on daily commodities, though no official response or policy statement was mentioned in the report.

An Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, has confessed in a Manhattan federal court to conspiring to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen and leader of the Khalistan separatist movement. Gupta admitted that he acted under the direction of an officer from India’s foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), which operates under the Prime Minister’s Office. The confession has caused diplomatic concern and renewed pressure on India. The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on May 29, with Gupta facing 19 to 23 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.

The US Department of Justice alleged that the plot was not a rogue operation but a targeted assassination attempt involving an Indian government employee, Vikas Yadav, who allegedly recruited Gupta in 2023. India has not issued an official statement, though a high-level committee was formed to investigate the matter. Media reports suggested involvement of “rogue elements,” but the findings were not made public. The case has strained India’s relations with the US and other Western nations, reviving scrutiny of India’s intelligence operations abroad.

Following Gupta’s plea, the US Justice Department may now seek Yadav’s extradition under the bilateral treaty, though no formal request has yet been made.

A young farmer named Alamin from Monohardi in Narsingdi repaid his unpaid train fares after ten years by purchasing 127 tickets worth Tk 10,160 from the Narsingdi railway station on May 24, 2026. He had frequently traveled between Narsingdi and Dhaka without tickets over the past decade while attending political events. The payment was made to station master Abdul Mannan in the presence of railway officials and Alamin’s associates.

Alamin, the youngest of five siblings from Charmandalya village, said financial hardship and fear of police had often prevented him from buying tickets during his student years. A devoted supporter of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), he regularly joined party programs in Dhaka. Recently, remorse over his past actions led him to repay the government by buying the equivalent number of tickets. He even took a bank loan to make the payment.

Station master Abdul Mannan praised Alamin’s honesty, calling his action a rare example of integrity and civic responsibility.

The Prime Minister’s Press Wing has announced a press conference to mark the completion of 100 days of the BNP government led by Tarique Rahman. The event is scheduled to take place on Monday at 3 p.m. in the ‘Korobi’ Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon.

According to the announcement, the press conference will be attended by the Prime Minister’s Adviser and Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mahdi Amin, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, and other members of the Press Wing. The event is being organized as part of the government’s communication activities to highlight its first 100 days in office.

The announcement did not specify the topics to be discussed or whether the Prime Minister herself will attend the briefing.

National Citizen Party (NCP) central joint secretary Tariq Reza was released on bail on Monday morning after being detained by police. He had been arrested on Sunday evening from in front of a community center on Kobi Sukanta Road in Jhenaidah town.

According to the report, Tariq Reza and National Youth Power organizer Ayon were both accused in the same case. However, Ayon did not receive bail. The bail hearing for both was conducted by NCP’s legal team, including Law Secretary Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa, Assistant Law Secretary Advocate Humayra Noor, and several other lawyers.

The article did not specify the nature of the case or the charges against the two political figures, leaving details of the legal proceedings unclear.

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Sunday, killing at least four people and injuring more than a hundred, according to local authorities. The assault, described as one of the biggest since the war began over four years ago, caused widespread damage to homes, schools, museums, theaters, and other buildings. Residents took shelter in underground metro stations as explosions echoed across the city, while rescue teams worked to extinguish fires and clear debris.

The Russian military said it used nuclear-capable hypersonic 'Oreshnik' missiles, though without nuclear warheads. The attack followed President Vladimir Putin’s warning of retaliation for a recent Ukrainian strike that killed 21 people in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 549 of about 600 drones and 55 of 90 missiles. European leaders condemned the assault, with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen calling it an act of desperation, and French and German leaders criticizing Russia’s escalation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western allies for stronger air defense support, while Albania summoned the Russian ambassador after its envoy’s residence in Kyiv was damaged. Other Ukrainian regions, including Kharkiv and Kherson, also came under attack.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal to end the conflict with Iran could be reached as early as today. Speaking in New Delhi, Rubio noted that progress might have been made overnight or earlier in the day but cautioned against drawing conclusions too soon. He expressed confidence that Iran would enter into a serious and meaningful discussion on its nuclear issue.

Rubio reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense, stating that the country has the full right to respond or prevent attacks if Hezbollah launches or attempts to launch missiles against it. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington would not rush into any new agreement with Iran. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said that the US naval blockade on Iran would remain fully in place until any deal is finalized, certified, and signed.

The statements highlight both cautious optimism and continued pressure as diplomatic efforts toward an Iran deal appear to intensify.

Two liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers have crossed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz en route to Pakistan and China, according to a Reuters report citing maritime tracking data. The Bahamas-flagged LNG tanker 'Fuwairit' is currently passing through the strait and is scheduled to unload its cargo in Pakistan by Tuesday. The vessel had loaded LNG at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal in March.

Reuters further reported that another LNG tanker, 'Al Rayyan', also successfully crossed the same maritime route. After loading LNG from Ras Laffan, the ship was last seen in the Persian Gulf on May 22 and is now located beyond the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran. It is expected to reach China by June 27.

The report, based on data from Kepler and LSEG, highlights the continued flow of Qatari LNG shipments through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.

A commentary published on 25 May 2026 in the newspaper Amar Desh argues that the political changes following the so-called July revolution have allowed greater public accountability in Bangladesh. The writer claims that citizens can now openly criticize the government and demand justice, citing the prime minister’s visit to the family of a murdered child as an example of a new, more responsive leadership. The article contrasts this with previous regimes, which the author describes as repressive and unaccountable.

The piece discusses the rise of mob justice and mob violence, linking them to long-standing failures in the judicial system. It references incidents in Chattogram and at a school where public anger erupted due to perceived impunity for crimes such as rape and child abuse. The author distinguishes between spontaneous public outrage and politically motivated violence, suggesting that some groups exploit unrest to discredit the current administration.

The commentary concludes that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government, described as born of the July revolution, must identify instigators of violence and maintain stability despite internal and external challenges.

Gunfire broke out early Monday morning in the Debarpar area of Khulshi, Chattogram, following days of tension over a disputed piece of land. According to local accounts, the shooting began around 4 a.m. after an overnight standoff between two rival groups. The confrontation escalated into clashes involving sticks, homemade weapons, and brick throwing, continuing into the morning hours.

Residents reported hearing multiple rounds of gunfire in the quiet neighborhood, causing widespread panic. Many stayed indoors but recorded videos of the incident from their homes, showing groups chasing each other near an open field beside a road. Locals said both sides had been claiming ownership of the land for several days, and the early morning violence intensified the dispute. They also alleged that police were absent for a long time, allowing the situation to spiral out of control.

Police entered the area around 7 a.m. to restore order, according to residents. No confirmed casualties were reported, though several people were believed to be injured. Shops remained partly closed, and residents avoided the area out of fear.

A fatal road accident occurred early Monday on the Dhaka-Tangail highway near Sartail in Kalihati upazila, Tangail. A rod-laden truck traveling from Dhaka toward northern Bangladesh lost control and fell into a roadside ditch, killing 15 people on the spot and injuring 10 others. According to police, 13 of the deceased were residents of Rajendrabati to Chikla Bolakkhet area in Ward 3 of Varsha Union under Manda upazila, Naogaon, while two others were from Tanore upazila in Rajshahi.

Fire service officials reported that the truck was carrying both construction rods and passengers, all of whom were laborers. The injured were rescued and taken to Tangail General Hospital for treatment. The Elenga Fire Service and local police jointly conducted the rescue operation following the accident.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the cause of the accident or the condition of the injured, but initial reports suggest loss of control led to the crash.

Iran has executed Abbas Akbari, an armed leader accused of involvement in an alleged coup attempt last January. According to Tasnim News Agency, the execution was carried out by hanging after the country's Supreme Court upheld the final verdict.

Reports said Akbari fired a pistol at security forces in the Nain area of Isfahan province during widespread unrest and protests in January. He was charged with 'moharebeh' (enmity against God), destruction of government property, and attacks on security personnel. The court found him guilty on all counts.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide further details about the broader context of the alleged coup attempt or the reactions to the execution.

The United States has not found any mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report citing an American official. The Associated Press said that US forces neither detected nor destroyed any mines, and no ship damage incidents were recorded in the area. The report also mentioned British sailors preparing for a mine-clearing operation in the strategic waterway.

Separately, Reuters reported that Iran has agreed in principle to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A senior US administrative official said Washington learned that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei approved the general framework of a proposed agreement. The information was attributed to Middle East Eye.

The developments suggest a potential easing of tensions in one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, though no timeline or detailed terms of the reopening were disclosed in the reports.

Authorities in Kuliarchar upazila of Kishoreganj recovered more than one hundred sacks of government-allocated rice from a sawmill in the Khorkomara area on Sunday afternoon. The rice was found at the sawmill owned by Jillu Mia, located west of the railway line. Upon receiving the report, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Yasin Khondaker visited the site and ordered the mill sealed. The acting officer of the Kuliarchar LSD godown, Nasir Uddin, locked the facility following the directive.

After learning of the incident, State Minister for Jute and Textiles Md. Shariful Alam instructed local administration and law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and take legal action against those responsible. The discovery has sparked anger and concern among residents, who questioned how government food aid ended up in a privately owned mill.

A three-member committee headed by the Upazila Agriculture Officer has been formed to investigate the source and purpose of the stored rice. The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days. Officials confirmed that efforts are underway to identify and prosecute those involved.