The United States could restart military operations against Iran within the next 24 to 48 hours, according to Mohammad Elmasry, a media studies professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Elmasry said US President Donald Trump is under pressure from multiple sides, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hardliners within his administration.

Elmasry explained that Trump did not receive the concessions he expected from Iran, and negotiations have not progressed as he had hoped. He also noted that Trump had high expectations from his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The analyst described the ongoing conflict as a major political and economic disaster for both the United States and Trump personally.

Despite the setbacks, Elmasry believes Trump is unlikely to end the war because he cannot return to the American public without declaring a credible victory.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar held a meeting with Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia on Sunday at Al Daud Arabic Restaurant. During the discussion, expatriates shared their concerns about excessive fees charged by the Dhaka-based Expert Service Kuala Lumpur (ESKL) for passport services, high costs of overseas employment, election irregularities, banking complications, legalization of undocumented Bangladeshis, and harassment at Bangladeshi airports.

In response, Mia Golam Porwar condemned the reported irregularities, corruption, and harassment, assuring that these issues would be raised strongly in parliament by the opposition. He said pressure would be applied on the government to take effective measures to ease expatriates’ hardships and ensure their rights. Porwar emphasized that expatriates play a vital role in Bangladesh’s economy and that the state has a duty to guarantee their dignity, safety, and access to services.

Community leader Abu Abdullah urged expatriates to prioritize lawful earnings and avoid any form of irregular or illegal activities, reaffirming continued community support for them.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government is drafting a new law to formally establish an elite force for public security, under which the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will continue to operate. Speaking at RAB headquarters on Monday, May 18, during the force’s 22nd founding anniversary, he said the current ad hoc arrangement for RAB is not appropriate and that the new law will ensure human rights, transparency, and accountability.

Ahmed explained that the government is considering whether to rename RAB or raise a new elite force, but the decision is still under review. He emphasized that the forthcoming law will guarantee both authority and responsibility within the force, ensuring transparency and accountability in all operations. The minister said the initiative aims to uphold the rule of law and meet public expectations for safety.

Addressing questions about U.S. sanctions on RAB, Ahmed stated that some officers’ past actions had harmed the institution, but individual misconduct should not implicate the entire organization. He expressed hope that if the force is restructured or renamed, the sanctions might be reconsidered.

Iran’s national football team has departed for Turkey as part of preparations to complete visa procedures for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Iranian media reports. The Tasnim news agency stated that the team traveled to Antalya to play a preparatory friendly match and to finalize their U.S. visa applications. The squad includes 22 players from the domestic league along with coaching staff. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei confirmed that visa applications for travel to the United States would be completed during their stay in Turkey.

U.S. authorities have indicated that Iran faces no restrictions on participating in the tournament. FIFA has also confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will proceed as scheduled and rejected proposals to move some of Iran’s matches to Mexico or Canada. Iran had previously suggested relocating its matches from the United States to co-host nations, but that request was not accepted.

The team’s stay in Turkey is expected to facilitate both match preparation and the completion of necessary travel documentation for the upcoming tournament.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has announced the creation of a new body to supervise operations in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the council, the organization will be called the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” and will provide real-time updates on activities and current conditions in the area. The announcement was shared through the council’s social media post on May 18, 2026.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global trade and energy transport, and the region has long been marked by geopolitical tensions. The establishment of this new authority signals Iran’s intention to strengthen surveillance and information management in the area. The move is seen as part of Tehran’s broader effort to enhance control and situational awareness in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

The report did not specify further operational details or international responses to the announcement.

A large-scale highway robbery took place on the Naogaon-Natore regional road in Atrai, Naogaon, late Sunday night. According to eyewitnesses, from around 12:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., a group of robbers blocked the road at a location known as Vangabridge using boats and tables, then looted 40 to 50 vehicles. The robbers reportedly held drivers and passengers at gunpoint, seizing cash, mobile phones, and other valuables.

Victims described losing money and personal belongings, including a Saudi expatriate’s family who were robbed of phones and cash while returning home. A microbus driver said he was forced to hand over 4,000 taka. One driver claimed police initially said the area was outside their jurisdiction, but Atrai police denied receiving any emergency calls and stated they launched an operation immediately after learning of the incident.

On Monday, senior police officials, including the Naogaon Superintendent of Police, visited the scene. Police said no arrests had been made yet, but preparations were underway to file a case and take legal action.

Bangladesh Bank has announced that all banks will remain closed from May 25 to May 31 for the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. However, to facilitate salary payments for garment sector workers, the central bank has instructed that some branches in industrial areas remain open on May 25 and 26. A circular issued on Sunday was sent to the chief executives of all scheduled banks outlining these directives.

According to the circular, all bank branches and sub-branches will operate normally on May 23 and 24 as per the Ministry of Public Administration’s notification. To ensure smooth payment of wages, bonuses, and allowances for garment workers and to maintain import-export operations, limited banking services will be available in Dhaka, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Valuka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram. These branches will operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with transactions allowed until 1 p.m.

Additionally, bank branches located in sea, land, and airport areas will remain partially open from May 25 to May 31 to support import and export activities. Bangladesh Bank confirmed that employees working during the holidays will receive allowances as per regulations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face extreme consequences if it does not agree to a deal soon. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that time is running out for Iran and that if it fails to act quickly, nothing will remain of the country. His remarks came shortly after a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

The warning follows earlier threats from Trump, who had said that if Iran refused to agree to a deal to end the war, its entire civilization would be destroyed. A few days earlier, Trump also described the current ceasefire as being in a “critical condition.” The statements were reported by BBC and other media outlets.

The renewed warning highlights escalating tensions surrounding Iran’s position on negotiations and the fragile state of the ceasefire, though no details of the proposed deal were disclosed in the reports.

A woman was killed and five others injured when a bus hit an autorickshaw on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in the Nabagram area of Chauddagram, Cumilla. The accident occurred on Monday afternoon when the autorickshaw overturned after being struck by a KK Travels bus traveling in the wrong direction. The deceased was identified as Jesmin Akter, 42, wife of Montu Mia from Balujuri village. The injured included the autorickshaw driver Nizam Uddin and four passengers.

According to local sources, Jesmin Akter and four other women were returning home from Chauddagram Bazar when the collision occurred. Locals rescued the injured and took them to Chauddagram Upazila Health Complex for initial treatment before transferring them to Cumilla for advanced care. A doctor at the health complex confirmed that Jesmin Akter had died before reaching the hospital.

Police from Miyabazar Highway Station recovered the damaged vehicles and took them to the station. The injured victims were admitted to the hospital for further treatment.

A special tribunal in Sirajganj has sentenced Dr. Raihan Sharif, a lecturer at Shaheed M. Monsur Ali Medical College, to 21 years in prison under two sections of the Arms Act. The verdict was delivered on Monday afternoon by Judge Iqbal Hossain of Sirajganj Special Tribunal-1. The court confirmed that the period Dr. Sharif spent in custody during the trial will be deducted from his total sentence.

According to the case documents, on March 4, 2024, Dr. Sharif entered an examination hall at the college’s academic building with firearms and knives, allegedly to intimidate students. During the incident, he fired a pistol that struck student Arafat Amin Tamal, 22, in the right leg, causing serious injury. Enraged students detained Dr. Sharif and alerted police, who recovered two foreign pistols, ammunition, magazines, and knives from the scene.

Following the incident, police arrested Dr. Sharif and filed a case under the Arms Act. After reviewing witness testimony and evidence, the court handed down the 21-year sentence on May 18, 2026.

Finance ministers from the G7 industrialized nations are meeting in Paris on Monday for a two-day session aimed at forming a unified stance amid global economic uncertainty and the ongoing war in the Middle East. France, currently holding the G7 presidency, faces the challenge of maintaining open dialogue as trade tensions rise following U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff measures. Reducing dependence on China’s rare mineral supplies, crucial to the fast-growing artificial intelligence sector, is among the meeting’s top priorities.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said last week that the global economic trajectory of the past decade is unsustainable, citing the U.S. budget deficit, Europe’s innovation gap, and China’s weak consumer demand and industrial overcapacity. He emphasized that while multilateral cooperation remains possible, discussions are difficult, especially with the United States. Trump’s trade-focused diplomacy has raised concerns among G7 leaders as the Middle East conflict heightens risks of stagnation and inflation.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil described the G7 as an appropriate platform to discuss ending the Iran war, stressing the need to stabilize the region and secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A final press conference is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Ukraine has claimed that a Russian drone struck a Chinese-owned cargo ship in the Black Sea on Monday night, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin was preparing for a visit to China. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that during a Russian drone attack in the Odesa region, one unmanned aerial vehicle hit the Chinese vessel.

Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk stated that all crew members were Chinese nationals and none were injured. The ship, identified as the KSL De Yang, continued its voyage despite visible burn marks on its upper structure. Ukraine also reported that Russia launched 524 drones and 22 missiles overnight, including ballistic and cruise types.

China has long called for dialogue to end the war but has not condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion, presenting itself as a neutral mediator. The incident comes after Russia withdrew from a UN- and Turkey-brokered deal that had allowed Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea.

The Qawmi Madrasa Teachers Council announced an 18-point demand at a press conference held on Monday at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka. The demands include abolishing secularism and socialism from the Constitution to establish the Islamic Republic of Bangladesh, making Islamic education compulsory at all levels of general education, and preserving the independence and distinct character of Qawmi education. The announcement was made by the council’s president, Muhammad Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, who said the 1972 Constitution did not reflect the religious values of the Muslim-majority population.

Speakers at the event argued that Islamic education has been marginalized in the current system, leading the younger generation away from religious knowledge. They urged the government to stop any move to integrate Qawmi education into the mainstream system and to consult top Islamic scholars before making decisions. The council also highlighted the financial and social contributions of Qawmi madrasas, noting their support for poor and orphaned students without government funding.

Key demands include constitutional amendments to protect Islamic culture, enactment of a blasphemy law, establishment of a Shariah court, tax exemptions for madrasa donations, and inclusion of Qawmi scholars in national education bodies.

Popular Bangladeshi singer Asif Akbar described the fall of Sheikh Hasina as the end of an era of authoritarian rule, calling it a difficult but historic moment. On Sunday night, he posted on his verified Facebook page that the 'July Revolution' was not a single event but a guiding movement, led by the country's Generation Z students. His post quickly went viral across social media.

In his message, Akbar said the revolution succeeded through the sacrifices of young people and honored those who were killed or injured. He argued that despite domestic and foreign conspiracies, the spirit of July remains alive in the minds of the youth. He warned that traditional politics based on fear, corruption, and patronage would no longer survive against the intelligence and activism of new generations.

Akbar urged political parties to understand the mindset of nearly 80 million young people, saying that failure to adapt would lead to rapid decline. He predicted that future political movements would be driven by voluntary youth participation rather than coercion or manipulation.

Renowned South Asian singer Runa Laila and Bangladeshi musician, composer, and director Bappa Majumder have released their first Bengali ghazal titled 'Anayase'. Written by Galib Hasan and composed by Bappa Majumder, the song was published on May 16 at 9 p.m. on Bappa Majumder’s YouTube channel. The music video was also directed by Bappa. A launch event was held the same evening at a club in Banani, Dhaka, hosted by National Film Award-winning singer Konal.

Originally intended to be a solo performance by Runa Laila, the ghazal became a duet at her own request. Bappa Majumder expressed deep gratitude and emotion for the opportunity to sing alongside Runa Laila, describing it as a dream come true. Runa Laila praised the lyrics, composition, and Bappa’s dedication to perfection, extending her best wishes to him and lyricist Galib Hasan.

The release follows Runa Laila’s recent recognition at the 15th International Film Festival in Delhi, where she received the 'Minar-e-Delhi' award. She is also scheduled to perform on BTV’s 'Ananda Mela' during the upcoming Eid celebrations.