State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam has called for eliminating coordination gaps in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector and establishing an integrated agricultural engineering framework. Speaking as chief guest at a seminar at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) headquarters on Thursday, he emphasized the need to recruit skilled personnel in technical positions to ensure scientific, technology-driven, and efficient agricultural development.

The seminar, organized by IEB’s Agricultural Engineering Division, highlighted challenges such as lack of coordination among ministries, the need for a specialized agricultural engineering department, and the importance of mechanization and renewable energy in farming. Other speakers, including officials from the Agriculture Ministry and engineering associations, discussed modern irrigation, flood management, and digital agricultural systems as key to sustainable growth.

Participants expressed optimism that implementing the seminar’s recommendations could make Bangladesh’s agriculture sector more modern, efficient, and globally competitive.

Prime Minister’s Economic and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir stated that Bangladesh is poised to become one of the leading global investment destinations in the future. He made the remarks on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the three-day international exhibition “11th Safe HVACR and Cold Chain 2026” held at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka. The exhibition, organized by Saver International Limited, will remain open to visitors from May 14 to 16.

Titumir emphasized that the government will simplify tax policies and investment-related regulations to ensure a business-friendly environment. He added that eliminating irregularities and artificial barriers in the market will help guarantee equal opportunities for both domestic and foreign investors. With the right policies, transparency, and a supportive business climate, Bangladesh could emerge as a regional investment hub.

The exhibition aims to showcase technology, products, and innovations in the HVACR and cold chain industries while fostering collaboration among investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to create new business and investment opportunities.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that rainfall caused by a western low-pressure system is continuing across the country and is expected to persist for the next five days. The agency warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur in parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions until Saturday, with possible temporary waterlogging in some areas of Sylhet. The latest forecast issued at 6 p.m. on Thursday indicated that heavy rain could continue until Monday.

According to the department, rainfall between 44 and 88 millimeters is considered heavy, while more than 88 millimeters is classified as very heavy. In the past 24 hours until Thursday evening, Dinajpur recorded 87 millimeters of rain, Feni 69 millimeters, and Dhaka only one millimeter. The low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal has intensified and remains active, extending into West Bengal and nearby regions.

Meteorologist A.K.M. Nazmul Haque stated that while rainfall will continue nationwide until Monday, heavier downpours are expected in the three northern and northeastern divisions, after which conditions may improve.

FIFA has announced that pop icons Madonna and Shakira, along with K-pop group BTS, will perform during the halftime show of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. This will be the first time in World Cup history that a closing ceremony is held during the final’s halftime. The event will feature a Super Bowl–style concert, marking a new entertainment milestone for the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Shakira, who previously performed at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups, has recorded a new song titled “Dai Dai” with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, filmed at Brazil’s Maracanã Stadium. The halftime show will be curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the event as a historic moment for the sport.

Proceeds from the halftime show will go to FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to support children worldwide. FIFA also plans a special festival at New York’s Times Square during the tournament’s final week.

Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ashiq Saeed announced that any police member found involved in drugs or gambling will face strict disciplinary action. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon during a special welfare meeting at the police lines drill shed in Rupatali, Barishal. The commissioner emphasized maintaining law and order in the city ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha and urged all members to perform their duties with professionalism and adherence to the chain of command.

He assured officers that issues related to leave, salary, rations, travel bills, mess facilities, canteens, and medical services would be addressed to ensure their welfare. The commissioner also instructed all personnel to implement proactive policing and remain vigilant about cyber and online crimes. He reminded officers to follow directives from police headquarters when using social media and online platforms.

Senior officers including Deputy Commissioners for Crime Management, Headquarters, Traffic, North, and Detective Branch were present at the meeting.

The High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh disposed of 7,104 old cases in a single day, according to an announcement from the Supreme Court administration on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The court’s Criminal Motion Bench resolved 3,842 old criminal miscellaneous cases, while the Writ Motion Bench disposed of 3,262 old writ cases on the same day.

A Supreme Court notice stated that this large-scale case disposal is part of an ongoing initiative directed by the Chief Justice to reduce the backlog of long-pending cases. The program aims to ensure faster justice for litigants, decrease case congestion, and enhance the overall efficiency of the judicial system.

The initiative continues as part of broader efforts to modernize court operations and improve access to timely justice across the High Court Division.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has placed the private European University of Bangladesh on its red list. The decision was formalized in a letter signed by Dr. Md. Sultan Mahmud Bhuiyan, Director of Private University Management at the UGC, and the directive was published on Thursday. According to the UGC website, the university appears at serial number 52 among private universities, now marked with three red stars.

The UGC cited several reasons for the red listing, including ongoing ownership disputes and legal cases involving the university’s Board of Trustees, admission of students beyond the approved capacity, and operation of academic activities on a campus built on less land than required under the Private University Act, 2010, even after twelve years. The commission also noted that the university had not complied with directives from the Ministry of Education and the UGC.

Among 116 private universities in Bangladesh, three others are similarly marked with three red stars on the UGC website. The commission stated that such markings are intended to alert students to exercise caution when seeking admission.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has reported that although river levels across Bangladesh have risen due to continuous heavy rainfall, there is no risk of major flooding in the coming days. Assistant Engineer Partha Pratim Barua said on Thursday evening that the situation remains under control, particularly as the haor region’s rice harvest has already been completed. The agency has now shifted its focus to monitoring river conditions nationwide.

According to the FFWC’s Thursday review, water levels increased at 72 of 127 monitored stations, decreased at 45, and remained unchanged at 8. Heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded in Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Dhaka divisions, while moderate to heavy rain occurred in India’s Meghalaya and Sikkim regions. The Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Ganges, and Padma rivers are all flowing below danger levels and are expected to remain stable for the next five days.

The forecast also indicates that northeastern rivers such as Someshwari, Jadukata, Manu, Dhalai, and Khowai may see rising water levels over the next three days, but overall conditions are expected to stay manageable.

An eleven-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a divisional rally in Rajshahi on Saturday to press for the implementation of referendum results, reduction of public suffering, and a fair share of Padma River water. The rally will begin at 2 p.m. at the historic Madrasa Maidan, with opposition leader and Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman attending as chief guest. Senior and local leaders of the alliance and opposition lawmakers are also scheduled to speak.

According to Jamaat’s central publicity department, preparations are underway to ensure mass participation from Rajshahi and other northern districts. Assistant Secretary General and Rajshahi regional director Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan MP has urged people from all walks of life in the northern region to join spontaneously. The alliance announced a months-long program on April 30 to push for reform-related referendum implementation and other demands.

The Rajshahi rally will mark the beginning of a series of divisional gatherings, with subsequent events planned in Chattogram, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Barishal, and Sylhet, culminating in a grand rally in Dhaka in October, according to alliance coordinator Hamidur Rahman Azad.

Pakistan has successfully carried out a training launch of its domestically developed ground-launched cruise missile, Fatah-4. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the test on Thursday, May 14, 2026, stating that it was conducted under the supervision of the Army Rocket Force Command. The exercise aimed to enhance operational readiness and verify various technical subsystems of the missile. According to ISPR, the Fatah-4 features improved target accuracy and resilience under adverse conditions.

The statement added that the missile system is equipped with advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigational technology, enabling it to strike long-range targets with high precision. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and top military officials expressed satisfaction over the successful test and praised the scientists, engineers, and personnel involved for their dedication and technical expertise.

Two weeks earlier, the Army Rocket Force Command had successfully tested the Fatah-2 missile system, also developed with indigenous technology, in the presence of senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division and the Pakistan Army.

The West Bengal government has ordered that all government and government-aided schools must sing the national song 'Vande Mataram' during morning assemblies. The directive, issued by the state’s School Education Department, requires schools to record videos of the assemblies as proof of compliance. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the practice will become mandatory from next Monday.

According to the official circular dated May 13, school heads have been instructed to ensure that all students participate in singing the song before classes begin each day. Previously, schools in the state typically sang only the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana', and later included 'Banglar Mati, Banglar Jal', a song from the anti-partition movement. The new directive adds 'Vande Mataram' to the daily routine.

The decision has prompted questions among teachers about how both the national anthem and the national song can be accommodated within the limited time of morning assemblies.

At a pre-budget discussion organized by the Center for Advanced Studies and Thoughts at the National Press Club, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman cautioned the current government against repeating what he described as the 'development fallacy' of the previous Sheikh Hasina administration. He criticized past mega projects such as the Padma Bridge railway line and the Karnaphuli Tunnel as wasteful and urged the government to evaluate the rate of return before any investment.

Rahman emphasized that the government should prioritize quality over the size of the budget, reduce leakages in the Annual Development Programme, and focus on inflation control, employment generation, and agricultural reform. He highlighted that inflation had exceeded nine percent and called for policies ensuring fair prices for farmers and balanced wealth distribution. Other speakers, including economist Abu Ahmed, warned that the economy faced severe challenges, citing rising debt, falling exports, and growing unemployment.

Participants stressed the need for industrialization, diversification of exports beyond garments, and reforms in education to build skilled manpower. They urged the government to ensure equitable resource distribution to improve the livelihoods of low-income groups.

The Ministry of Education has cancelled the appointment of Professor Dr. Anisur Rahman as the new vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, only a few hours after issuing the official notification. The cancellation was announced through a circular signed by Md. Sultan Ahmed, Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, on Thursday. The notice stated that earlier orders related to the university, issued under specific reference numbers, were revoked.

Earlier the same day, Professor Dr. Anisur Rahman, a faculty member of the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, had been appointed as the seventh vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University for a four-year term. His appointment had been approved by the President and Chancellor under Section 10(1) of the Begum Rokeya University Act, 2009. However, the ministry withdrew the order within hours through a new notification.

The source did not specify the reasons behind the abrupt cancellation or any official reactions from the concerned parties.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from his position, confirming the decision through a letter posted on social media platform X on May 14, 2026. In his statement, Streeting said he no longer has confidence in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership, describing it as unethical and dishonorable to remain in government under such circumstances.

Streeting’s sudden resignation has stirred significant political turmoil in the United Kingdom and is being viewed as a major setback for the Starmer administration. The development follows growing dissent within the Labour Party, as four junior ministers recently resigned and called for Starmer to step down. Additionally, at least 86 Labour MPs have urged the Prime Minister to announce a timetable for his resignation or departure from office.

The mounting internal pressure indicates deepening divisions within the ruling party, intensifying the political crisis surrounding Starmer’s leadership.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China soon, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The announcement, reported by Russian media outlet RT on Thursday, stated that while the exact date of the trip has not yet been determined, all necessary preparations for the visit have already been completed.

Russian news outlets suggested that the high-profile visit could take place as early as next week. Putin last visited Beijing in September 2025, when he attended a major military parade and a top-level summit. The upcoming trip is expected to continue the pattern of close diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Beijing, though no specific agenda or meeting details were disclosed.

The Kremlin’s confirmation signals ongoing coordination between Russia and China, but further information on the timing and objectives of the visit remains pending.