Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Suman announced that all educational institutions in Bangladesh will receive duty-free electric buses in the upcoming national budget. He said this initiative fulfills a commitment made by the Prime Minister. The minister made the announcement on Friday while addressing the annual literary and cultural competition award ceremony at Comilla Victoria Government College.

During his speech, Suman stated that a new project is being undertaken for the century-old Victoria College. He mentioned that the college’s Zia Auditorium name had been removed in the past, recalling that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had donated a bus to the college in 1993. He pledged to arrange one or two more buses for the college, either through government support or his family’s AKM Abu Taher Foundation.

The minister also highlighted several development initiatives in Comilla, including the passage of a development authority law and progress toward establishing Comilla WASA. He expressed optimism that the current Prime Minister would continue the region’s development and eventually declare Comilla a division.

Relief and Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu announced that Bangladesh will excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals over the next five years. He stated that a ministry meeting decided to implement 7,000 kilometers of canal re-excavation, with 1,500 kilometers scheduled for this year. Except for one district, the work will be carried out through local administrations across 64 districts.

Speaking in Shahrasthi, Chandpur, on Friday, the minister said the new canal excavation program includes additional components such as tree planting along canal banks and fish cultivation in the canals. He emphasized that the government aims to ensure transparency in all projects and that accountability is being strengthened under the current administration.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve water management and local livelihoods through environmentally sustainable measures, according to the minister’s remarks at the event.

Bangladesh and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance strategic cooperation in the energy sector. The agreement was signed on Thursday at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright representing their respective countries. The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington confirmed the signing in a press release.

According to the embassy, the MoU aims to bolster Bangladesh’s long-term energy security amid global challenges stemming from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. It will support diversification of energy sources based on affordability and supply chain sustainability, opening new areas of collaboration between the two nations.

The agreement will facilitate capacity building, knowledge sharing, and research in oil, gas, geothermal, and bioenergy. It will also help Bangladesh import LNG, LPG, and other energy products from the United States at competitive prices. Both ministers described the MoU as a milestone and a historic advancement in Bangladesh-U.S. relations.

Khelafat Majlis organized a protest rally and gathering in Dhaka on Friday after Jumu'ah prayers, condemning the persecution of Muslims in India and the killing of Bangladeshi citizens by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). The rally, arranged by the party’s Dhaka North unit, started from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque, marched through several streets, and returned to the same spot for a concluding assembly.

At the event, Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader accused the BSF of repeatedly violating international law and human rights by shooting Bangladeshi citizens along the border. He alleged that India seeks to intimidate Bangladesh and destabilize border areas through illegal activities such as drug trafficking and forced push-ins. Kader demanded that India immediately stop border killings, compensate victims’ families, and end persecution of its Muslim minority.

He also criticized Bangladesh’s foreign ministry for not summoning the Indian High Commissioner after recent border deaths and urged the government to take effective action. Additionally, he condemned Israel for drone attacks that killed two Bangladeshi expatriates in Lebanon and called for stronger protection of Bangladeshi workers abroad.

Water Resources Minister and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie stated that his party had suffered 17 years of deprivation but has now proven its ability to overcome neglect through the formation of Chandraganj Upazila. He made the remarks on Friday, May 15, during a meeting with leaders of the newly formed Chandraganj Upazila BNP and its affiliated organizations in Lakshmipur, where he attended as the chief guest.

Annie, who is also the Member of Parliament for Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) and convener of the district BNP, said the region had been deprived of development in roads, drainage, and educational institutions for years. He emphasized the need to move beyond this neglect and announced plans to establish a university, a medical college, and an economic zone in Lakshmipur.

The event was attended by several local leaders, including the Lakshmipur District Council administrator, district BNP joint convener, and representatives from the Nationalist Lawyers Forum.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) arrested 19 leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations on charges of planning sabotage and organizing a public rally. The arrests were made following a special operation led by CMP’s Deputy Commissioner of the South Division, Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan. Police reported seizing a large quantity of locally made weapons during the operation. The arrests took place after a gathering near Jamiatul Falah Jame Mosque following the funeral of former MP and minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain.

According to police, the group began a procession carrying sticks and bricks while chanting slogans against the state and government. When police arrived, the participants dispersed into nearby alleys. Cases have been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Khulshi and Kotwali police stations. Police stated that the detainees admitted to being active members of the banned Awami League and its wings, allegedly spreading misleading information in coordination with fugitives at home and abroad.

Police also said that main suspect Mohammad Mohiuddin faces 15 prior cases under various criminal laws, while several others among the arrested have multiple cases pending.

A protest rally was held in Dhaka on May 15, 2026, following visits to the graves of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and martyr Sharif Osman Hadi. The event took place after Friday prayers at the Dhaka University Central Jame Mosque, led by Nasiruddin Patwary, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP). Patwary shared details of the event through a Facebook post.

According to the post, the protest was organized in response to recurring incidents of Bangladeshi citizens being killed by Indian border forces. After the grave visits, participants gathered in front of the national poet’s grave to demand an end to such killings. The rally called for a strong and effective foreign policy to protect Bangladeshi citizens along the border.

The demonstration was attended by members of the public and NCP supporters, emphasizing national unity and diplomatic action to address cross-border violence.

Selim Reza, a Member of Parliament from Sirajganj-1 constituency elected with the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol, has donated his entire one-month salary to the Paichgachi Madhyapara Mosque in Kazipur upazila. The donation was handed over on Friday after the Jumu’ah prayer by Nazrul Islam, a former member of the Sonamukhi Union BNP and assistant professor, on behalf of the MP.

The mosque committee’s treasurer and BNP leader Abdus Samad Mondal formally received the donation. Several local BNP and affiliated organization leaders, including Dola Sarkar, Abdus Salam Tota, Shahidul Islam Shikdar, and Majnu Mia, were present during the handover ceremony. The donation follows an earlier announcement made by Selim Reza on May 8, when he personally visited the mosque and pledged the contribution.

The event highlighted the MP’s engagement with his constituency’s religious institutions and local party members, emphasizing community support through charitable acts.

A media report about two orphaned children, Raihan and Rohan, struggling to survive after losing both parents, drew the attention of Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman. Upon learning of their situation, he instructed his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman to ensure necessary assistance for the children.

Following the directive, a delegation from the organization 'Amra BNP Poribar' visited the children’s home in Ekdala village of Ratan Kandi Union, Sirajganj Sadar, on Friday. The team, led by the group’s Member Secretary Moksedul Momin Mithun and attended by adviser Abul Kashem, conveyed the Prime Minister’s message of sympathy to the family.

The delegation initiated measures to provide food, education, healthcare, and safe housing for the children. On behalf of the Prime Minister, they also announced a one-time education grant and a monthly stipend to support their studies.

India and the United Arab Emirates have reached several key agreements focused on defense cooperation, energy security, and infrastructure development. The accords were signed in Abu Dhabi during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, part of his five-nation tour, in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi also announced a $5 billion investment in various Indian sectors.

Among the agreements, the strategic defense partnership received the most attention, aiming to expand security and military collaboration. Two additional memorandums of understanding were signed to enhance energy cooperation through strategic oil reserves and liquefied petroleum gas supply, expected to strengthen India’s energy security. Plans were also announced to establish a ship repair hub in Vadinar, Gujarat, to boost maritime infrastructure and industrial cooperation.

During the bilateral meeting, Modi emphasized dialogue and diplomacy to address regional crises and praised the UAE’s leadership for its composure in difficult times. He condemned attacks on the UAE and reaffirmed India’s support, also appreciating the UAE government’s care for Indian residents in the country.

A young leader of the National Chhatra Shakti, Majnu Mia, aged 22, died after being struck by lightning while harvesting paddy in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Friday in the Hatmagura Kamarpra area of Jorkhali Union. Majnu, son of Bachchu Mia, was working in a field near his home with his mother and younger brother when sudden rain and thunder began. A lightning strike hit him, leaving him critically injured, and he died on the spot.

According to local and family sources, his relatives immediately tried to rescue him but found him lifeless in the field. Police from Madarganj Model Station later visited the site and confirmed the death. Majnu was known as a calm and socially active youth in his community, and his sudden death has cast a shadow of grief over the area.

Authorities have confirmed the incident and stated that the body was taken home by family members after the tragedy.

Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh organized a protest rally and march in Dhaka on Friday after Juma prayers, opposing alleged persecution of Muslims in West Bengal and the proposed United States–Bangladesh trade agreement. The gathering took place at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, where speakers condemned ongoing violence and restrictions on religious freedom in West Bengal. They demanded immediate measures to ensure the safety of Muslim communities and to stop human rights violations.

The protest was presided over by the organization’s senior vice president Maulana Abdur Rab Yusuf, with several senior leaders addressing the event. Speakers expressed concern that aspects of the US–Bangladesh trade deal could undermine national interests, economic independence, and citizens’ rights. They urged the government to act cautiously in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and public welfare.

Jamiat leaders also called for unity among citizens against any oppression of the Muslim community and actions contrary to national interests. The subsequent protest march included scholars, students, and activists, who paraded through major streets of the capital.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has declared the disputed Bhojshala complex as a Saraswati temple, ruling in favor of Hindu petitioners. The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi. The court observed that evidence showed the site functioned as a Sanskrit learning center and temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. It also noted that Hindu worship at the site had continued without interruption. The court invited the Muslim community to apply for separate land in the district to build a mosque.

The Bhojshala site has long been contested, with Hindus identifying it as a temple built by King Bhoj and Muslims claiming it as the Kamal Maula Mosque. Under a 2003 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) arrangement, Hindus and Muslims alternated worship on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Hindu side challenged this arrangement, seeking exclusive worship rights.

Following a court order in March 2024, the ASI conducted a 98-day scientific survey and reported that the current structure reused parts of an earlier temple. The Muslim side argued in court that the ASI report was biased and favored Hindu claims.

At the opening ceremony of the World Human Rights Cities Forum 2026 in Gwangju, South Korea, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan attended as part of the party’s delegation. The sessions of the forum officially began on Wednesday, bringing together participants from various parts of the world. Among the distinguished guests was Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Following the event, Türk expressed his delight at seeing the NCP delegation present. His office continues to work globally alongside nations and communities to combat human rights violations. The report also notes that Türk had previously visited Bangladesh during the period of the interim government.

The World Human Rights Cities Forum 2026 is expected to play an important role in improving human rights conditions in cities across the Asia-Pacific region.

Residents of Osmaninagar upazila in Sylhet have presented a six-point development demand to Humayun Kabir, the Prime Minister’s Adviser with the rank of State Minister, seeking comprehensive development, modern civic facilities, and administrative good governance. The demands highlight long-standing neglect, poor infrastructure, limited education and healthcare services, lack of gas and uninterrupted electricity, unemployment, and administrative irregularities.

Local citizens emphasized that despite being part of the Sylhet gas production zone, many areas still lack gas connections. They urged rapid expansion of gas and electricity supply, declaration of Osmaninagar as a municipality, and improvements in drainage, roads, and sanitation. The newly approved upazila health complex requires specialist doctors, modern equipment, and regular staff presence. Education issues include classroom shortages, teacher scarcity, and stalled implementation of a technical training center and technical school and college project.

Community leaders and educators stated that visible, sustainable development is essential to improve living standards. They called for coordinated initiatives to ensure quality education, healthcare, and infrastructure, warning that without real progress, citizens’ long-held expectations will remain unmet.