Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that relations between China and Russia have reached an unprecedented height, describing them as a model for modern international relations. He made the remarks during the opening of a high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Putin emphasized that despite global challenges, the two nations’ strategic partnership and economic cooperation continue to advance strongly.

According to Putin, trade between China and Russia has increased more than thirtyfold over the past twenty-five years, with annual trade volumes exceeding 200 billion dollars for several consecutive years. He identified the energy sector as the main driver of economic cooperation, noting that Russia remains a reliable energy supplier while China acts as a responsible consumer amid ongoing Middle East tensions.

Putin added that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries serves as an exemplary model of state relations in the modern era, built on mutual trust and resilience against global pressures, with the welfare and prosperity of both peoples as its core objective.

Mohammad Rafi Hossain, a 26-year-old online clothing trader, died on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He had been critically injured in a shooting by a teenage gang in the capital’s Lalbagh area on May 14. Police confirmed that the attack was carried out with the intent to kill due to previous enmity. His body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

According to local sources and Rafi’s friend Sajib, a group of seven to eight assailants, including individuals named Imon, Shahabuddin, Mintu, and Rezaul, attacked them in Shahid Nagar on Thursday night. The attackers first questioned Sajib about a youth named Shahin, and when he denied knowing him, they began beating him. Rafi was shot when he came forward to intervene, with a bullet piercing his right side.

Residents alleged that the attackers were known teenage gang members and drug dealers in the area. Police said operations are ongoing to arrest those involved.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen drove a rickshaw on a street in Baridhara, Dhaka, on Wednesday, May 20, as part of a symbolic event marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event featured the inauguration of specially designed rickshaws in red, white, and blue colors, representing the American flag.

According to the US Embassy in Dhaka, Ambassador Christensen inaugurated 50 such rickshaws to celebrate the milestone anniversary. The initiative was intended to highlight both the celebration of US independence and the partnership between Bangladesh and the United States.

The symbolic ride and the launch of the themed rickshaws underscored the cultural connection and friendship between the two nations as part of the broader commemoration of the United States’ founding anniversary.

Four people died while cleaning a septic tank in Kalikachh Union’s Galania village of Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria, on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred at the house of Ali Mia, where the victims entered the tank and were overcome by toxic gas. The deceased were identified as Mamsar, 18, of Galania village; Imam Hossain, 15, and Hridoy Mia, 15, of Uttar Galania Paschimpara; and Arman, 14, of Dharmatirtha village.

According to local sources, the victims suffocated after inhaling poisonous gas inside the tank. Mamsar was a pipe fitter by profession and was reportedly preparing to travel abroad soon. Members of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence arrived at the scene and began rescue operations after receiving the report.

Sarail Police Station Officer-in-Charge Manjur Kader confirmed that police were on their way to the site and said further details would be provided later.

Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher said that integrated spatial planning is essential to ensure planned, inclusive, and sustainable urban development amid rapid urbanization. Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organized by the Urban Development Directorate at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Wednesday, he emphasized the need for science-based planning that balances development and environmental protection to create a safe and livable Bangladesh for future generations.

The minister noted that three ongoing projects prioritize farmland preservation, environmental protection, improved communication systems, expanded civic amenities, waterlogging prevention, disaster risk reduction, and local economic growth. These initiatives aim to build climate-resilient infrastructure, protect biodiversity, and improve citizens’ quality of life.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmad Sohel Monjur added that spatial planning is crucial for developing citizen-friendly and modern cities. He stressed the importance of ensuring effective implementation of the three projects presented at the seminar.

Pakistan has continued its diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi departing for Tehran to attend an important meeting, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency. This marks Naqvi’s second visit to Tehran within a week, underscoring Islamabad’s active role in promoting dialogue between conflicting parties.

Earlier this year, Pakistan facilitated discussions among relevant stakeholders, and diplomatic sources indicate that the country is maintaining contact at various levels to organize a second round of talks. The initiative reflects Islamabad’s ongoing commitment to mediation and conflict resolution in the region.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement could play a significant role in maintaining regional stability, as the country continues to position itself as a mediator in ongoing disputes.

A family in Barishal alleged that medical negligence at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital led to the death of a newborn, followed by assault and detention of two relatives for seven hours. The incident began around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and continued until 1:00 a.m., when the grieving mother reportedly begged for release. Relatives said the baby’s uncle and another man were beaten and confined after accusing doctors of negligence.

Witnesses described that the confrontation started when the family questioned the care provided to the infant, who had been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Hospital students denied the assault, claiming instead that the relatives had harassed female students and nurses. Police and hospital authorities later intervened to defuse tensions, with officials confirming that both sides were spoken to and the situation was resolved.

Authorities stated that further legal action would depend on receiving a formal written complaint, while the hospital director emphasized the need for patience and gradual problem-solving within the institution.

Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of food served to patients during a surprise inspection at Khulna 250-bed General Hospital on Wednesday. While visiting the hospital’s kitchen, he tasted a pumpkin curry prepared for patients, immediately spat it out, and questioned whether anyone would eat such food if it were cooked at home. He instructed the hospital superintendent to ensure better-quality meals for patients.

During the inspection, the minister also visited the hospital’s outpatient department, waste management facilities, and toilets. Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju, Deputy Commissioner Hure Jannat, and Civil Surgeon Mosha. Mahfuza Khatun were present during the visit. Later, the minister visited the fire-damaged Khulna Medical College Hospital.

The visit highlighted concerns about hospital food standards and general service quality, prompting directives for immediate improvement in patient care and facility management.

The 'Teesta Bachao Nodi Bachao Sangram Parishad' has demanded that the government implement the Teesta Master Plan with domestic funding, a one-time allocation, and a time-bound roadmap. The demand was made by the organization’s president, Nazrul Islam Hakkani, at a press conference held on Wednesday morning at a community center in Rangpur city. He emphasized that the Teesta River is vital to the agriculture, economy, environment, and livelihoods of millions in northern Bangladesh, where erosion, drought, and sudden floods have caused severe hardship.

Hakkani noted that despite an earlier announcement in January 2025 by the interim government’s water resources adviser, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, to begin work on the Teesta Master Plan, no visible progress has been made. The organization presented five demands, including a separate national budget allocation for the project, formation of a ‘Teesta Management Authority’ with experts and movement representatives, introduction of a ‘Teesta Bond,’ and adoption of river and agricultural protection plans.

The group announced a series of public outreach programs along the Teesta from May 21 to 26, followed by a special prayer after Eid, a citizens’ rally on June 5, and a month-long awareness campaign.

Islamic scholar and As-Sunnah Foundation chairman Shaykh Ahmadullah has condemned the killing of a seven-year-old girl, describing those responsible as inhuman monsters. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, he said that when even a seven-year-old is not safe, the perpetrators cannot be considered human. He added that implementing Sharia law is the only solution to reduce such brutality.

Meanwhile, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s secretary general, Principal Hafiz Maulana Yunus Ahmad, described the murder of child Ramisa in Dhaka’s Pallabi area as horrifying and beyond imagination. In a statement sent to the media on Wednesday, he said such incidents are not isolated but occur frequently across the country. He expressed concern that offenders often go unpunished, a fact reflected in the victim’s father’s cries for justice.

Both statements highlight growing frustration over recurring child abuse and killings in Bangladesh and the perceived lack of accountability for such crimes.

The Chattogram Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal has rejected for the sixth time a time extension request by the defense lawyer of accused Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in the murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. During the May 20 hearing, defense counsel Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya sought more time to cross-examine the plaintiff, citing illness. The court found the request inconsistent with standard court practice and denied it. The court then concluded the testimony of the first prosecution witness, Alif’s father Jamal Uddin, and ordered summons for the next witness. The next hearing is scheduled for June 24.

According to court sources, since the charge was framed on January 19, 2026, the defense has sought time on six occasions between February 2 and May 20. The plaintiff’s lawyer and assistant public prosecutor Md. Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury said the elderly and ailing Jamal Uddin has attended every hearing from Lohagara but expressed frustration over repeated delays.

During the hearing, Chinmoy Krishna Das appeared virtually from prison and submitted applications for bail, medical treatment, and visitation, all of which were rejected due to his lawyer’s absence.

China and Russia have jointly called for an end to what they describe as unilateral interference in international trade and supply chains. The appeal came through a joint statement issued by both countries, emphasizing that certain states, alliances, and their partners are taking unilateral actions that disrupt global maritime transport and threaten the integrity of supply networks.

Although the statement did not name any specific maritime route, observers believe the remarks may refer to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping passage. The two nations also stressed that cooperation in maritime infrastructure, including ports, should be based on market and commercial principles to avoid politicization and excessive security measures.

The joint declaration reflects a shared position by Beijing and Moscow on maintaining open and stable maritime trade routes, highlighting their opposition to actions that could destabilize global commerce.

A delegation from the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) met with the finance minister to discuss the upcoming national budget and the stability of the country’s banking sector. The meeting focused on fiscal, regulatory, and structural reforms needed to strengthen the sector. BAB leaders highlighted key challenges including rising non-performing loans, capital adequacy pressures, weak private sector credit growth, governance failures, and declining public confidence due to economic uncertainty.

BAB reported that the overall capital adequacy ratio of the banking industry has dropped to around 3 percent, limiting banks’ ability to support growth, SME financing, job creation, and investment. The delegation called for strong recovery mechanisms, swift legal processes, and confiscation of illegally acquired assets to protect depositors’ interests. It also expressed concern over provisions in the proposed banking resolution framework that could allow former sponsors or major defaulters to re-enter the system.

The association proposed several measures including reducing corporate tax to 30 percent, full tax deductibility for loan loss provisions for five years, withdrawal of extra tax on stock dividends, faster approval of rights issues, and formation of a central asset management company. BAB reaffirmed its commitment to cooperate with the government to restore confidence and ensure long-term stability in the banking sector.

Bangladesh Bank and Prime Bank PLC have signed an agreement to participate in two key refinancing schemes aimed at ensuring easier and more affordable financing for cottage, micro, small, and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) across the country. The signing ceremony was held recently at Bangladesh Bank. Under the agreement, financing will be provided through the 'Cluster Financing Scheme' and the 'FSFDM-SME' scheme to strengthen the CMSME sector, enhance entrepreneurial capacity, create employment, and accelerate sustainable industrialization.

The FSFDM-SME scheme, operated under a revolving fund of Tk 1,500 crore from Bangladesh Bank’s own resources, will offer low-interest loans to support business expansion and modernization. Meanwhile, the Tk 3,000 crore Cluster Financing Scheme will assist geographically concentrated business groups by promoting shared resources, production efficiency, and market expansion. Senior officials from both institutions attended the signing event.

Both Bangladesh Bank and Prime Bank reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the schemes effectively in compliance with policy guidelines to generate a positive impact on the CMSME sector.

Students of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) in Gazipur have declared a complete shutdown of the campus, rejecting the appointment of a new vice-chancellor. The protesting students locked the university’s main gate and announced that the shutdown would continue until further notice. Administrative activities have come to a standstill as a result of the ongoing demonstration.

The students are pressing a three-point demand, including the cancellation of the new vice-chancellor’s appointment and the selection of a replacement from within DUET. The protest follows a day of intense demonstrations and clashes that turned the campus into a tense zone. Despite the continued unrest, the university administration has not yet issued any formal statement or solution.

The continued shutdown has created a state of paralysis across the DUET campus, with students remaining firm in their demands and showing no sign of ending their movement until their conditions are met.