Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has called for intensified cooperation with the United Nations to address the Rohingya crisis and strengthen Bangladesh’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions. The appeal came during a courtesy meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Carole Flore-Smereczniak, held at the minister’s office in Dhaka on Saturday. The discussion also covered sustainable development goals, trade, investment, and other bilateral issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, the minister praised the UN’s support for Bangladesh’s recent national election and acknowledged its visible role in the country’s socio-economic and infrastructural development. He expressed optimism that the partnership between Bangladesh and the UN would deepen further. The UN Resident Coordinator commended Bangladesh’s generosity toward the Rohingya population and noted that the international community must provide stronger and more visible support, as the burden of hosting such a large refugee population cannot be borne by Bangladesh alone.

The minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to global peace and security under the UN framework and sought comprehensive UN assistance to achieve the country’s sustainable development goals on time.

A farmer was killed by lightning while working in a paddy yard in Austagram upazila of Kishoreganj on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Mohabbat Kha, 36, son of Jamrut Kha from Bahadurpur village under Kastul union. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. when he was stacking paddy to protect it from rain. Two women, including his wife Ruma Begum, 34, and another woman named Marjina, 50, sustained burn injuries.

According to local and family sources, the sky suddenly became cloudy before the lightning struck directly on Mohabbat Kha, killing him instantly. Neighbors rushed to rescue him but found him dead at the scene. The injured were later given assistance by locals.

Upazila Disaster Management Officer Md. Majnu Mia said he visited the spot after receiving the news and reported the death to the district office. The government will provide Tk 25,000 in immediate financial aid to the victim’s family.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tajul Islam, has demanded the arrest and trial of those involved in the attack on Nasiruddin Patwari, the chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Jhenaidah. In a Facebook post on Friday, he described the assault as unacceptable and a sign of troubling times, urging immediate action against the perpetrators.

According to the report, a case has been filed against eight former and current leaders of the student organization Chhatra Dal in connection with the attack, beating, and robbery involving Nasiruddin Patwari and other central leaders. Additionally, 110 to 115 unidentified individuals have been named as accused in the case.

The incident has drawn attention to rising political tensions in Jhenaidah, with calls for swift justice to prevent further unrest.

Bangladeshi singer Asif Akbar has made a series of explosive remarks targeting the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), sports journalists, and political figures. On Friday, May 22, he posted a lengthy statement on his verified Facebook page accusing journalists of unethical practices and claiming to have evidence to support his allegations. Although he did not mention any individual by name, his comments were directed broadly at those involved in cricket administration and media.

In his post, Asif alleged that the current BCB leadership is driven by political ambition and greed, describing the state of cricket journalism as morally bankrupt. He urged media owners to reassign certain reporters away from the BCB beat to allow patriotic journalists to work freely. He also accused some journalists of spreading misinformation and focusing on trivial stories rather than national sports coverage.

Asif further claimed that remnants of a previous government still control the cricket board and called on the current administration to investigate specific individuals he described as politically connected. He asserted that he could provide proof to support his claims.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has released a draft regulation governing mergers, divisions, amalgamations, and acquisitions of listed companies. The draft, published on the BSEC website on Saturday, invites stakeholder feedback within two weeks. The regulator stated that the new framework aims to prevent past abuses in corporate restructuring that often benefited directors at the expense of general shareholders.

The draft rules prohibit backdoor listings or reverse takeovers and require at least 75 percent approval from general shareholders for any restructuring scheme. Independent valuers from BSEC’s approved panel must assess such schemes using at least two absolute and two relative valuation methods. The rules also set limits on growth projections and discount rates, require submission of audit reports, tax returns, and financial justification reports, and mandate disclosure of employee benefits and tax liabilities.

After BSEC and stock exchange review, shareholder consent and court approval will be required before final implementation. The regulation seeks to ensure transparency, accountability, and protection of investor interests in corporate restructuring.

Railway police in Kushtia recovered the bloodied body of a young man from the roof of the Dhaka-bound Sundarban Express train on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Nurul Islam, aged 30, son of Bajal Ahmed from Sadhanpur area of Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram. The body was found around 12:30 p.m. near the Kushtia Court Station area, and police confirmed his identity through a photocopy of his national identity card found in his pocket.

According to local sources, workers constructing a gate for an Eid festival near the Millline rail crossing noticed the man lying injured on the train roof as it passed. Police from the Poradah Railway Station arrived at the scene and retrieved the body. The remains were later sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for legal procedures.

Railway police stated that an investigation is underway to determine the actual cause of the incident.

At least five people were killed in an Israeli drone strike on a security checkpoint in northern Gaza on Saturday, according to local sources. Several others were seriously injured and taken to nearby hospitals. The attack reportedly involved two Israeli drones targeting the post, causing immediate casualties at the scene.

Field sources indicated that the death toll could rise as some of the injured remain in critical condition. Israeli authorities have not issued any immediate comment regarding the incident.

The strike comes amid intensified drone and air attacks across Gaza in recent weeks, which have led to an increase in civilian casualties, according to the report.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita has emphasized that projects implemented with public funds must directly benefit the people. She made the remarks on Saturday during a meeting at the ministry’s conference room to review the progress of the April 2025–26 fiscal year’s Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) implementation.

The minister instructed officials to complete all ongoing projects promptly in line with the Prime Minister’s directives. She stressed the need to assess financial capacity before approving new projects in the aviation and tourism sectors. Afroza Khanom also highlighted the importance of well-planned work strategies before starting any infrastructure or facility construction and called for stricter monitoring of contractors’ progress.

She further directed all concerned to maintain strict oversight at every level to ensure transparency and accountability in project implementation. The meeting was chaired by Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhter and attended by senior officials, including Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq and project directors.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the online political satire movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has accused the Indian government of taking down the group’s official website. Dipke, a student at Boston University, made the claim on X on Saturday, saying the government removed the “iconic” site. The CJP was launched a week ago in response to comments by India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant, who compared unemployed youth to cockroaches. Kant later clarified that his remarks targeted those with fraudulent degrees and reaffirmed his respect for India’s youth.

Dipke said both his personal and the CJP’s Instagram accounts were hacked. The CJP’s Instagram page has gained over 22 million followers in a week, surpassing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s nine million followers. The movement claims one million sign-ups and 600,000 signatures on a petition demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The campaign coincides with nationwide protests over alleged exam paper leaks that led to the cancellation of a medical entrance test.

Dipke told Al Jazeera that the movement reflects frustration with those in power, describing India as a place where “cockroaches breed in rotten places.”

The new BJP government in West Bengal has revised the previously announced public holiday schedule for Eid-ul-Azha. A fresh notification issued on Saturday confirmed that only one day, May 28, will be observed as a public holiday for the festival. The earlier list, published under the Mamata Banerjee administration at the start of 2026, had declared two days of holidays for Eid-ul-Azha.

Since taking office, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has introduced several administrative reforms aimed at improving efficiency and reducing corruption. The government has emphasized minimizing unnecessary leave and ensuring timely public service delivery. Officials have also set fixed office attendance hours for government employees. The reduction of Eid holidays is being viewed as part of this broader effort to strengthen administrative discipline.

According to the new directive issued by Additional Chief Secretary P. K. Mishra, the adjustment aligns the state’s holiday schedule with that of the central government. Some government employees have raised questions about whether similar changes could affect the extended Durga Puja holidays in the future.

The United States has temporarily suspended a planned $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan due to the ongoing military situation in Iran. Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed the decision during a Senate hearing, explaining that the pause aims to ensure sufficient ammunition and weapons reserves for the joint US-Israel military operation in Iran, codenamed 'Epic Fury'. He added that the sale could resume once the administration deems it appropriate.

A spokesperson for Taiwan’s presidential office said they had not received any official notification from Washington regarding a suspension or change in the arms deal. The package reportedly includes Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 air defense missiles and surface-to-air systems, awaiting final approval from President Donald Trump for several months.

China has long opposed US arms sales to Taiwan, claiming the island as its own territory. Following a recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump described the Taiwan arms issue as a key bargaining point in US-China discussions and hinted at a forthcoming decision. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te continues to view US defense support as vital for regional stability amid growing Chinese military pressure.

A farmer was killed by lightning while tending ducks in a haor area of Dowarabazar upazila in Sunamganj on Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. in Lakhipur Union. The deceased was identified as Shafik Mia, 32, son of Biraj Mia from Surigaon village in the same union.

According to local sources, Shafik Mia had gone to the nearby haor as usual to release his flock of ducks when the weather suddenly turned stormy. A severe lightning strike hit the area, leaving him fatally injured on the spot. Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md Lutfor Rahman said the administration is monitoring the situation and that financial assistance for the victim’s family is being processed according to government regulations. Dowarabazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tarikul Islam Talukder confirmed the incident.

Authorities have assured that the victim’s family will receive support as per official guidelines.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that at least 25 ships passed safely through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the vessels included oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial ships, all moving under IRGC coordination and security with necessary permissions.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes and holds significant international importance due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Analysts noted that continued shipping through the strait amid regional conflicts has brought some relief to the global energy market.

The report underscores the IRGC’s role in maintaining maritime security in the area, which remains a focal point for global trade and energy stability.

Dhaka has been enduring an intense spell of heat and humidity for eight consecutive days, with temperatures reaching 36°C on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Despite brief rainfall of 8 millimeters in parts of the city, the heat has intensified due to high moisture in the air. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported mild heatwaves sweeping across 16 districts, including Dhaka, Khulna, and Rajshahi, and warned that the oppressive weather could continue until early June.

Meteorologist A.K.M. Nazmul Haque explained that limited rainfall has increased atmospheric moisture, preventing sweat from evaporating and making the heat feel 5–7°C higher than recorded. The extreme conditions have disrupted daily life, with laborers, rickshaw pullers, and street vendors struggling to work under the scorching sun. Public transport users were seen fanning themselves to cope with the suffocating heat.

Hospitals in Dhaka, including ICDDR,B and Dhaka Medical College, have reported a surge in heat-related illnesses such as diarrhea, dehydration, and heatstroke, particularly among children and the elderly. Doctors advised avoiding direct sunlight, staying hydrated, and refraining from consuming unsafe street food. Meteorologists said relief is unlikely until widespread rainfall occurs.

A journalist was attacked in Bogura’s Shakharia Union of Sadar upazila after publishing reports critical of Awami League leaders. The victim, Shafayat Sajal, a correspondent for the daily Amar Desh and staff reporter for Dainik Duronto Sangbad, was assaulted while on duty and is now receiving treatment at Mohammad Ali Hospital. Police have arrested one suspect, Abu Sayeed, while a local Jubo League leader named Mahal, accused in multiple drug cases, remains at large.

According to the case statement, the attack was premeditated and carried out by Mahal and his associates, including Abu Sayeed, who allegedly used knives and iron rods to injure Sajal. Another journalist, Rasul Khondokar, was also beaten when he tried to intervene. Locals captured Abu Sayeed and handed him over to police, while the others fled. Police have sent the arrested suspect to court and continue operations to apprehend the remaining attackers.

Journalists in the area have demanded the immediate arrest of the fugitive Jubo League leader and his accomplices to ensure justice for the assaulted reporter.