The shoes of Comilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman were stolen from the Comilla Police Lines Jame Mosque during Friday prayers. After the prayer, he discovered his shoes missing from the rack, prompting commotion among attendees. Detectives reviewed CCTV footage and identified a man wearing a T-shirt labeled 'Khandani' taking the shoes. The suspect was detained, and the shoes were recovered within four hours of the incident.

An unnamed police source confirmed that officers examined the CCTV footage showing the suspect walking away wearing the stolen shoes. The Detective Branch declined to comment on the matter, and attempts to reach senior officers for further details were unsuccessful. The theft drew attention on social media, where users discussed the unusual nature of the event.

The report noted that theft and mugging incidents have recently increased in Comilla, with a separate daylight mugging in Thakurpara going viral earlier in the week. Locals viewed the mosque theft involving the police superintendent as a significant reflection of the city’s growing security concerns.

The United Nations conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended without consensus, partly due to Washington’s attempt to use the forum to address Iran’s nuclear program, according to a US-based nonprofit observer group. The Arms Control Association (ACA) stated that the failure to reach an agreement means there is now no mutually accepted limit on the size of Russian and American nuclear arsenals for the first time since 1972.

ACA Executive Director Daryl Kimball said that NPT member states missed a crucial opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the treaty’s principles and goals at a time of rising nuclear risks. He noted that the ongoing dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities, complicated by the US withdrawal from the 2018 nuclear deal, could not be resolved within the NPT review framework.

Kimball added that the future of Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran insists is for civilian purposes, must be addressed through more sustainable diplomacy outside the United Nations process.

After four weeks of negotiations focused on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, United Nations member states failed to reach an agreement. The conference, held in New York, concluded without consensus, according to the presiding diplomat, Do Hung Viet of Vietnam. He told reporters that despite maximum efforts, the conference was not in a position to finalize its core mandate and that he would not present the draft document for approval.

A draft text seen by AFP stated that countries without nuclear weapons should never develop them. Delegates had been reviewing the decades-old Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which 191 nations agreed that only five countries—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—could possess nuclear weapons as of January 1, 1967. Currently, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea also hold nuclear arsenals.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as of January 2025, about 90 percent of the world’s 12,241 nuclear warheads were held by the United States and Russia.

International efforts to reach an agreement between the United States and Iran have intensified, with the presence of a Qatari delegation in Tehran underscoring the sensitivity of the current diplomatic moment. Abdullah Bandar Al-Etaibi, an assistant professor at Qatar University, shared this assessment, noting the significance of Qatar’s involvement alongside Pakistan, which has been acting as a key mediator.

In a post on social media platform X, Al-Etaibi stated that several central issues remain unresolved, including the future of the Strait of Hormuz, limits on uranium enrichment, and the mechanisms for linking de-escalation to enforceable guarantees. He emphasized that Qatar’s role does not replace Pakistan’s mediation but rather expands trust and helps prevent communication channels from collapsing.

Al-Etaibi warned that the situation stands at a critical juncture, where either a preliminary agreement could open a political path while preserving the image of all parties, or a failure could escalate tensions further.

A marriage between the daughter of a local Awami League leader and a Chhatra Dal leader in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, has drawn widespread discussion and criticism. The event took place on Thursday in Bogergachi village, attended by political figures from various parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Maulana Abu Talib from Jhenaidah-4. Photos and videos showing Awami League leader Mohidul Islam Montu serving food to the Jamaat MP circulated on social media, intensifying public reaction.

According to the report, Mohidul Islam Montu, former chairman and general secretary of the Rakhalgachi Union Awami League, arranged the wedding of his daughter Mehejabin Islam Tuli with Maruf Billah, convener of the Upazila Chhatra Dal. The presence of Maulana Abu Talib, who stated he attended due to social ties, added to the controversy. He also mentioned that efforts would be made to ensure justice for a family involved in a past case.

The incident has become a focal point of political discussion in the area, highlighting the complex social interactions among rival political groups.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that revenue from Venezuelan oil has generated 25 times more money than the cost of the war against Iran. He made the remark while discussing U.S. actions involving Iran and Venezuela, saying the United States had taken so much oil from Venezuela that it covered the war expenses many times over.

Trump’s statement comes amid ongoing international debate about the U.S. military campaign against Iran. According to Pentagon data, by early this month the cost of the war had reached about 29 billion dollars, though analysts and observers suggest the actual figure could be higher. Trump also described Venezuela as a key part of the U.S. energy strategy, indicating that oil production and exports from the country had brought significant economic benefits to the United States.

The remarks highlight the administration’s emphasis on energy-linked economic gains while global scrutiny continues over the financial and humanitarian impacts of the Iran conflict.

A young man named Bijoy Mia has been arrested in Durlavpur area of Habiganj Sadar upazila for allegedly attempting to rape a four-year-old girl. The incident occurred on Thursday evening when the child was playing near her home. She fell ill after the assault attempt and was admitted to the hospital. Police arrested the suspect from the suburban area of Durlavpur on Friday afternoon.

According to local sources, the victim’s father works abroad. After the incident became known, anger spread among local residents. Allegations have surfaced that an influential group tried to suppress the case through a settlement and pressured the victim’s family. The child’s mother has filed a case with Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station.

Police officials confirmed that they recorded the child’s statement at the hospital and sent the accused to jail through the court. Hospital authorities said the child remains under treatment and will undergo further medical tests on Saturday.

At least twelve people were injured, some seriously, in a clash between two groups over control of the Baluchar cattle market in Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. at Baluchar Bazar, where several victims suffered stab wounds. Some of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while others received local treatment. Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, deploying additional forces to prevent further unrest.

Local sources said the clash erupted during a meeting about managing the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha cattle market, which is scheduled to operate on May 23 and 26. The market’s leaseholder, Mohammad Zahidur Rahman, a central vice president of Gana Adhikar Parishad, had assigned security duties to two individuals. During the meeting, an argument escalated into violence between the Sarkar and Baul groups.

Officials and witnesses stated that the conflict stemmed from a power struggle over market dominance. Police confirmed that the situation is now stable and that legal action is being taken against those involved.

A state-of-the-art plant tissue culture laboratory is under construction in Balaghata, Bandarban, along the Sangu River. Designed in the shape of a biological cell nucleus, the circular building combines modern architecture with eco-friendly concepts. The facility will include advanced rooms for media preparation, inoculation, culture growth, acclimatization, and research, aiming to support international-standard agricultural innovation in the hilly region.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension said the lab will enable rapid production of disease-free and genetically uniform seedlings, reducing costs and risks for farmers. Local farmers expressed optimism that the lab will provide improved seedlings for high-value crops such as bananas, pineapples, strawberries, dragon fruit, and orchids, encouraging youth participation in agriculture. Women farmers also hope to benefit from better access to quality planting materials and new entrepreneurial opportunities.

According to project leaders and agricultural scientists, the facility will serve as a hub for research on hill-adapted crops, mother plant improvement, and climate-resilient farming technologies. With construction nearly 80 percent complete, experts view the lab as a symbol of agricultural modernization and sustainable development in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Yusuf Ashraf has condemned the Home Minister’s comment describing public execution of rapists as medieval, saying it insults religious sentiments and undermines public expectations for justice. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon while presiding over a meeting of the party’s Dhaka members of the central executive council at its Purana Paltan office.

Ashraf said the minister’s statement reflects a failure to understand reality, suggesting that his long stay abroad may have distanced him from the people’s frustration with injustice and state failures. He argued that public demand for strict punishment has grown due to the justice system’s inability to curb crime effectively. Referring to the Ramisa murder case, he said the victim family’s despair mirrors widespread public distrust in the judiciary.

He urged the Home Minister to withdraw his statement immediately. The meeting also strongly criticized the recent decision to abolish the Judicial Secretariat, with central executive council members attending under the direction of party Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain stated that those involved in the murder of child Ramisa Akter have been arrested and will face exemplary punishment. He made the remarks on Thursday while addressing a seminar at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club. The ministry’s public relations officer confirmed the statement through a press release on Friday.

The minister described the incident as deeply painful for society and expressed prayers for Ramisa’s soul along with condolences to her family, assuring that the government stands by them. He emphasized that no one is allowed to take the law into their own hands and that the government is determined to ensure swift justice for the offenders.

He reiterated that the current government maintains a zero-tolerance policy against violence towards women and children, underscoring its firm stance on preventing such heinous crimes in the future.

Students of Khulna University organized a protest rally on Friday evening in front of the 'Adommo Bangla' sculpture, denouncing rape, murder, and the prevailing culture of impunity. The demonstrators demanded prompt trials and exemplary punishment for perpetrators of such crimes.

Participants voiced frustration over the lack of effective justice, claiming that repeated incidents of rape and murder continue due to delayed or absent legal action. They criticized the state and administration for failing to ensure women’s safety. Several students expressed fear about moving alone even during the day, citing insecurity both inside and outside the campus.

Speakers emphasized that the government and responsible authorities must act decisively to prevent future atrocities. They urged immediate and effective measures to ensure justice and women’s safety, warning that the public no longer tolerates prolonged judicial delays.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central secretary general, Professor Mia Golam Porwar, issued a statement on Friday condemning an attack on former Khanmarich Union Jamaat secretary and teacher Zillur Rahman in Pabna’s Bhangura upazila. According to the statement, the incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Thursday, when Rahman was allegedly attacked with sharp weapons in a premeditated attempt to kill him.

Porwar described the assault as part of a pattern of violent attacks, terrorism, and assassination attempts targeting dissenting voices and leaders of Islamic movements across the country. He said the attack on Rahman, a respected teacher and social worker, was not an isolated event but a reflection of organized political violence.

He urged authorities to arrest those responsible and ensure exemplary punishment, while also wishing Zillur Rahman a speedy recovery. Porwar said such incidents demonstrate a deterioration of law and order and are contrary to humanity and civilization.

Two people, including a woman, were killed and two others injured in separate lightning strikes in Chapainawabganj Sadar and Shibganj upazilas on Friday evening. The incidents occurred during rainfall accompanied by thunder. One victim was struck while collecting mangoes in a garden, and the other while harvesting paddy. The injured were taken to the district hospital for treatment.

The deceased were identified as Manowara Begum, wife of Mainul Islam Bishu of Gidhnipara in Sadar upazila, and Abdul Malek, son of the late Mohbul Islam of Chhalokipara village in Shibganj upazila. According to local administrative officer Tanzimul Islam, Manowara Begum was injured by lightning while collecting mangoes during the storm and died on the way to the hospital. Abdul Malek died in a separate incident while working in a paddy field during the rain.

Authorities confirmed both deaths and said the injured victims are receiving medical care at the district hospital.

Armed assailants attacked the house of former central Jubo Dal member Haji Billal Hossain in Tongi, Gazipur, on Friday night, reportedly over a land inheritance dispute. The attackers, numbering between 150 and 200, vandalized the property and fired several blank shots. At least four people, including Billal’s son Abir Hossain Alok, were injured. Police from Tongi East Station visited the scene after receiving reports of gunfire.

According to Billal Hossain, the conflict stemmed from a long-standing dispute over inherited land. A settlement and registration were scheduled for Thursday, but the opposing party did not appear. Later, a group led by local men identified as Adnan Khan, Khokon Patowary, and Kawsar allegedly carried out the attack using local weapons and explosive-like devices. The injured were taken to Tongi Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital, while one victim was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Tongi East Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mehedi Hasan confirmed that police were dispatched to the scene and that legal procedures are underway.