Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4, Hasnat Abdullah, alleged that the government formed after the July Revolution is formally taking away the independence of the judiciary. Speaking as the chief guest at an NCP roadside rally in Bagmara field, Lalmai upazila, on Wednesday, he said the judiciary has been absorbed into the Ministry of Law and that institutions are being politicized and turned into one-party entities. He also claimed that universities are being occupied and recruitment is being made on partisan grounds rather than merit.

Abdullah, who serves as the chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), expressed confidence that the NCP would form the next government with public support and fulfill the people's aspirations. He urged supporters to spread the party’s message across every household and ward.

He further stated that the NCP aims to build a safe and fair Bangladesh for the young generation, where employment does not require bribery and every citizen is respected regardless of social background.

Jahangirnagar University authorities have announced a reward of Tk 50,000 for anyone providing information leading to the arrest of a man accused of attempting to rape a female student on campus. The announcement was made on Wednesday, with the administration urging anyone who can identify the suspect or knows his whereabouts to contact them directly. Two phone numbers were provided for sharing information with the university.

The incident has sparked widespread anger among students, who have organized protests, human chains, and demonstrations demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the accused. The university administration’s reward announcement follows these student-led movements calling for justice and safety on campus.

The administration’s move aims to accelerate the investigation and reassure the campus community amid ongoing protests and heightened concern over student safety.

Maulana Mohammad Shafiq Qasemi, the imam of Kolkata’s historic Nakhoda Mosque, has urged Muslims in West Bengal to refrain from sacrificing cows during Eid al-Adha and to stop eating beef altogether. In an interview with news agency PTI, he advised Muslims to choose goats as an alternative for sacrifice, emphasizing that avoiding cow slaughter would prevent harm to Hindu families involved in the dairy trade.

Qasemi explained that many Hindu families invest their savings in raising cows and sell them during Eid. If Muslims stop buying cows for sacrifice, those families could face financial losses. His appeal comes amid heightened sensitivity around cow slaughter in the state.

Last week, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal issued a directive prohibiting the slaughter of cows and buffaloes without prior permission, effectively tightening control over beef sales. The issue of cow sacrifice and beef consumption has recently intensified religious, social, and political debates in the state.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, Dhaka Ahsania Mission’s Health Sector Road Safety Project Coordinator Sharmin Rahman has recommended banning unfit vehicles and controlling speed on highways to ensure safe and smooth holiday travel. The recommendations were presented on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during a discussion titled “Measures for Safe Eid Travel to Prevent Road Crashes” held at the organization’s office in Shyamoli, Dhaka.

Sharmin Rahman highlighted that road accidents and fatalities during Eid travel in 2026 have increased alarmingly compared to 2025, exposing weaknesses in the country’s road safety system. The organization emphasized the need for immediate action, including enforcing vehicle fitness checks, ensuring adequate rest for drivers, operating mobile courts at key points, limiting truck movement before and after Eid, using speed guns to monitor excessive speed, introducing digital toll booths, and preventing overcharging through mobile courts.

At the meeting, Muhammad Jahangir Alam of the Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum called for deploying more highway police and ensuring that unfit buses do not leave terminals during the Eid rush.

The 275-megawatt Unit 3 of the Barapukuria coal-fired thermal power plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, resumed electricity production on Wednesday at 5:46 p.m. after remaining closed for nearly seven months. The unit, which had been shut down since October 2025 for general overhauling, began supplying power to the national grid. Chief Engineer Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique confirmed that the unit is currently generating 20 megawatts, with plans to gradually increase output.

The Barapukuria power plant has three units with a total capacity of 525 megawatts. Units 1 and 2 each have a capacity of 125 megawatts, while Unit 3 produces 275 megawatts. At present, Units 1 and 3 are operational, generating a combined 70 megawatts. The chief engineer expressed hope that total production could reach around 300 megawatts by tomorrow.

Unit 2 has remained nonfunctional since November 2020 due to mechanical failure. Officials have cited a lack of effective action by the plant authority, the Power Development Board, and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources as reasons for the prolonged shutdown.

A new online political movement called the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ has gone viral across India’s social media platforms. Emerging mainly among Gen Z users, the movement adopted a cockroach as its symbol and gained rapid traction after its launch on May 15. By Tuesday night, its Instagram following reached one million and surpassed three million within hours, making it one of the most discussed online topics in India.

The movement began after India’s Chief Justice compared some unemployed youths to “parasites” and “cockroaches” during a court hearing on fake degrees and joblessness. In response, founder Abhijit Deepak posted online asking what would happen if all “cockroaches” united, triggering a viral wave of memes, posts, and satirical content. Some opposition politicians and former officials have also expressed interest in joining the online group.

Deepak clarified that the movement has no anti-government or regime-change agenda. He emphasized that India’s youth are aware, mature, and politically conscious, and will express their views peacefully and democratically. The group has unveiled a cockroach as its election symbol and plans to hold its first virtual conference soon.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Education and Primary and Mass Education, Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milan, held a meeting with senior executives of Google in London. The discussion focused on technological transformation in Bangladesh’s education sector and Google’s potential technical and technological support for the government’s ‘One Teacher, One Tab’ initiative. The meeting took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the ongoing Education World Forum 2026 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, according to a press release from the Ministry of Education issued on Wednesday.

The statement said that Colin Marson, Director of Google for Education for the Asia-Pacific region, and Oli Trussell, Head of Solutions Engineering, attended the meeting. During the discussion, Google officials briefed the minister on the company’s global initiatives to modernize education systems and enhance learning quality through technology. In response, Dr. Milan presented the government’s forward-looking plans and roadmaps for expanding the use of technology in Bangladesh’s education system.

The meeting underscored mutual interest in advancing digital education collaboration between Bangladesh and Google, with emphasis on innovation and capacity building in the education sector.

Sohel Rana, arrested for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in Dhaka’s Pallabi area, confessed his guilt before the Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid on Wednesday afternoon. The confession was recorded after the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station, presented Sohel in court and sought permission to record his voluntary statement. Following the confession, the court ordered Sohel to be sent to jail.

Another accused, Sohel’s wife Swapna Akter, was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ashraful Haque’s court and was also sent to jail after a hearing. According to court sources, Ramisa, a second-grade student at Popular Model High School, was lured into Swapna’s flat on the morning of May 19. Later, neighbors discovered her decapitated body inside the apartment after noticing her shoes outside the door.

Police said Sohel fled through a window after the incident but was later arrested near Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj. The investigation into the brutal killing is ongoing.

The death toll from Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 72,773, with another 172,723 people injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry reported that the campaign, which began in October 2023, has caused extensive casualties and destruction across the enclave, affecting large numbers of civilians, including women and children.

Although a ceasefire was announced last October, attacks have continued almost daily. Since that time, at least 881 people have been killed and 2,621 injured in renewed strikes, the ministry said. The continuing violence has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

International concern over the situation has grown, but a lasting ceasefire and adequate humanitarian aid have yet to be secured, leaving the region in prolonged instability and suffering.

Bangladesh will celebrate two decades of high-speed internet and digital transformation on May 21, marking the 20th anniversary of the country’s first submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE 4, inaugurated in 2006 at Cox’s Bazar by then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) reaffirmed its pledge to safeguard national data infrastructure and digital sovereignty on this milestone occasion.

Before 2005, Bangladesh’s international communication relied entirely on satellites, resulting in slow internet speeds and high costs. The launch of SEA-ME-WE 4 connected Bangladesh to a global network stretching from Singapore to France, initially offering 22 Gbps capacity. Through successive upgrades, the cable’s capacity has reached about 4,650 Gbps by 2024. The project spurred rapid growth in freelancing, e-commerce, mobile banking, and digital public services across the country.

Following the success of SEA-ME-WE 4, the second cable SEA-ME-WE 5 was launched in 2017, and the third, SEA-ME-WE 6, is nearing completion. Together, these systems will raise total capacity to about 38 Tbps, exceeding projected national demand for 2027. BSCCPLC has also initiated plans for a fourth cable to further strengthen Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure.

Dr. Atik Mujahid, the Member of Parliament for Kurigram-2 and a representative of the 11-party alliance, has called for all political and social groups in Fulbari upazila to unite in eliminating drugs and advancing local development. He made the appeal on Wednesday afternoon while addressing a meeting of the Fulbari upazila law and order and anti-smuggling committee, chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dilara Akter.

During his speech, Dr. Mujahid urged leaders of all political parties to identify local problems and submit them to him for presentation in the national parliament and relevant government offices. He warned government officials against corruption and emphasized that those who fail to serve the public would not be allowed to remain in their positions. Addressing the police, he stated that drug trafficking could not continue if law enforcement acted decisively.

The meeting was attended by local officials, political leaders from various parties, and representatives from law enforcement, agriculture, education, and health sectors, who also shared their views on the issues discussed.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government will construct a Teesta Barrage similar to the Padma Barrage. He made the declaration on Wednesday at a gathering in Sataish, Gazipur, held on the premises of the National Disaster Management Research and Training Institute. Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of the institute, which will be built on about eight acres of land and include administrative and residential facilities for trainees. The institute will provide specialized training for members and volunteers of disaster management organizations.

Explaining the importance of the Padma Barrage, the Prime Minister said it aims to ensure water availability during dry and rainy seasons and to counter the effects of reduced river flow caused by upstream structures. He linked the project to protecting the environment and preventing saline water intrusion in southern regions, including the Sundarbans. Rahman also emphasized the need for environmental awareness, citing deforestation in Cox’s Bazar due to Rohingya settlements and road construction.

He urged citizens to be conscious of disaster preparedness and resource protection, stating that safeguarding national assets is essential for Bangladesh’s progress toward becoming a developed nation.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has taken a significant step toward early elections after a bill to dissolve the legislature passed a preliminary vote on Wednesday. Out of 120 members, 110 lawmakers supported the measure. The bill will now proceed to committee review and must pass three further readings before becoming law.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to favor holding the general election as scheduled at the end of October, despite the preliminary approval. He is expected to continue talks with ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parties to delay the dissolution process. Haredi factions have recently shown willingness to back opposition-led dissolution bills, though their cooperation remains uncertain.

Several controversial legislative proposals remain under discussion, including plans to divide the attorney general’s powers, place the police internal affairs unit under the justice minister, and reform media oversight. These measures require Haredi support, which has been inconsistent. Additionally, the Knesset’s Foreign and Defense Committee is set to discuss bills on extending mandatory military service and exempting Haredi men from conscription, reportedly at Netanyahu’s direction.

Education Secretary Abdul Khaleque has stated that no negligence or irregularities will be tolerated in the printing and distribution of revised textbooks for the 2027 academic year. He made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting with senior officials at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office, where preparations for timely textbook delivery were reviewed.

The secretary said the new history textbooks will accurately reflect contributions from the Liberation War through the 2024 student and public uprising. The 2027 curriculum will include the historical role of late President Ziaur Rahman, details of the November 7 “Sipahi-Janata Revolution,” and the anti-Ershad movement led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. These additions aim to present an inclusive and factual national history. Khaleque emphasized that around 300 million textbooks will be printed and distributed under a clear roadmap prepared by NCTB.

He further noted that all printing contractors will be thoroughly vetted to prevent low-quality production, and full transparency will be ensured throughout the textbook printing process.

Caritas Bangladesh has called for mandatory birth registration immediately after childbirth at hospitals and community clinics, along with the introduction of a conditional child allowance for street children and those from ultra-poor families. The organization made these demands during a media consultation held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium, where officials and representatives of street children were present. Caritas Development Institute Director Theophil Nokrek read a written statement outlining eight specific demands to strengthen child protection and social inclusion.

According to data cited at the event, only nine percent of children in 2024 were registered within 45 days of birth, despite legal requirements. Caritas emphasized that children without birth certificates face barriers to education, healthcare, and social benefits. The group also highlighted that 58.2 percent of street children lack birth certificates, and most do not know their parents’ national ID numbers, making registration nearly impossible under current rules.

Caritas urged the government to expand social safety nets, simplify registration for parentless children, and ensure coordinated action among state and non-governmental actors to secure the rights and future of disadvantaged children.