An elderly man was killed in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj late Sunday night, reportedly due to previous enmity. According to police and local residents, assailants broke into the house of Sobahan Pramanik in Dattapara Elongjani village under Lahiri Mohanpur Union and hacked him to death before fleeing. His wife, Shefali Khatun, was also attacked and injured and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. Locals detained one suspect and handed him over to police.

Officer-in-Charge Moktaruzzaman of Ullapara Model Police Station said the body was recovered and sent for autopsy. He stated that the exact motive behind the killing remains unclear. Police have launched an investigation to identify those involved and determine the cause of the murder.

Authorities are continuing inquiries to uncover the circumstances surrounding the attack and confirm whether the killing was directly linked to prior disputes.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, stated on Monday, May 11, that he would resign from his post if the safety of religious minorities in the country cannot be guaranteed. Speaking at a meeting with the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) in Dhaka, he emphasized that no opportunity would be given for minority persecution and that communal harmony must be protected.

Kaikobad also said that the government would request India to stop attacks on minority Muslims in West Bengal, adding that Bangladesh respects India for upholding democracy. He noted that such incidents in India should not be allowed to occur in Bangladesh and reiterated his commitment to prevent any injustice or oppression against minorities.

Addressing political issues, the minister remarked that a good opposition party is a blessing but criticized the opposition for attempting to embarrass the government instead of offering constructive criticism.

An article by Imran Hossain Naim, published on May 11, 2026, examines how Western scholarship has shaped and limited the understanding of Ibn Khaldun, the 14th-century Muslim thinker and author of the 'Muqaddimah'. The writer argues that most readers encounter Ibn Khaldun through European interpretations rather than his original Arabic text, creating a gap between the authentic and the constructed versions of his thought. This gap, the article notes, stems from ignorance of Arabic, Eurocentrism, and the tension between modernity and religion.

The essay traces how Ibn Khaldun’s intellectual legacy was preserved and studied primarily in the West, while his birthplace in the Muslim world neglected institutional study of his works. It highlights how Orientalist scholars explored Ibn Khaldun for their own academic and political purposes, often filtering his ideas through Western theoretical lenses. The author cites scholars who note that Western academia tends to universalize European theories while marginalizing non-Western thinkers.

The piece concludes that Western discomfort with Ibn Khaldun’s religious identity reflects a broader hesitation to reconcile faith and science, revealing the persistent Eurocentric bias in global intellectual traditions.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam said the current government is operating under the pressure of massive foreign debt, money laundering, and incomplete mega projects. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon after inaugurating a tree plantation program and laying the foundation stone for the Padma Bridge Museum at the Jajira end in Shariatpur.

The minister stated that around Tk 30 lakh crore had been laundered abroad and more than Tk 20 lakh crore in foreign debt had been left behind. He added that despite huge spending on 16 mega projects, many remain unfinished, with some contractors abandoning work and some projects halted, creating complications in implementing development activities.

Sheikh Robiul Alam also mentioned that long-standing corruption and irregularities have caused a trust deficit among international donor agencies. Organizations that previously supported large projects are now showing reluctance to cooperate, he said.

The Philippine House of Representatives is advancing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. A vote on the impeachment is scheduled for Monday, marking a new escalation in the ongoing political conflict between the Duterte family and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The move comes as the country faces growing political instability and economic uncertainty linked to the global energy crisis.

The impeachment complaint accuses Sara Duterte of constitutional violations, betrayal of public trust, misuse of confidential funds, concealment of assets, bribery, and issuing threats against President Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. Lawmaker Terry Ridon stated that over 110 million dollars in suspicious bank transactions could not be justified by declared income or assets, framing the issue as one of constitutional accountability rather than politics.

The House has reportedly secured the one-third vote needed to forward the case to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required for conviction. A similar impeachment attempt in 2025 was annulled by the Supreme Court on technical grounds. Duterte, who ran alongside Marcos in 2022, has since hinted at a 2028 presidential bid.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan said Bangladesh aims to remain competitive globally through academic exchange. He emphasized that just as Bangladeshi students study abroad, the country should also attract foreign students and teachers. The minister made these remarks on Monday morning at the inauguration of the 'Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor and Education Fair' held at Hotel Radisson in Dhaka.

He noted that Pakistan has made significant progress in its education system and welcomed their achievements. After visiting the fair stalls, he remarked that it felt like touring all of Pakistan. Milan highlighted that Pakistani universities offer scholarships to Bangladeshi students, enabling them to pursue higher studies effectively. He urged Bangladeshi institutions to take similar initiatives to attract foreign students through scholarships.

Responding to a question about the low number of foreign students in Bangladesh’s higher education institutions, the minister said the government is prioritizing education and expressed optimism about future progress. The event was attended by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, embassy officials, and representatives from educational institutions.

Police in Feni recovered the body of a child from a pond in Amanullahpur area of Daganbhuiyan municipality on Monday morning, two days after the child went missing and a ransom was demanded. The deceased, Hasan, was the son of Md. Tarek and Tarjina Akter Nipu from Kamalnagar in Lakshmipur district.

According to Hasan’s father, the child disappeared from in front of their house on Saturday morning. Later that evening, a call came from the number 01927035603 demanding Tk 12,000 initially and later Tk 120,000 as ransom, with threats to kill the child if the demand was not met. A written complaint was filed at Daganbhuiyan Police Station the following day.

Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Faizul Azim said police recovered the body after receiving information on Monday morning. He added that the ransom call appeared to be the work of a fraud group and that the threatening phone number was traced to Naogaon. Investigation is ongoing.

President Donald Trump has reportedly been musing about who might succeed him within the Republican Party, often asking advisers whether they prefer Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. At times, he has even joked about pairing them on the same 2028 presidential ticket. While aides say Trump is not seriously focused on the next election, the question of succession continues to attract attention.

Rubio has recently gained visibility through his handling of questions on the Iran war and a diplomatic trip to Italy, where he met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and will soon accompany Trump to China. This has fueled speculation that Rubio could challenge Vance, though both men are said to maintain a friendly relationship and may avoid direct competition. Polls show Vance enjoys higher recognition among Republican voters, but Rubio’s growing profile and multilingual communication skills appeal to some supporters.

Analysts note that Vance’s close alignment with Trump’s policies could become a liability if the party performs poorly in upcoming midterms, while Rubio’s expanding diplomatic role may strengthen his standing within the party.

A fire broke out on the sixth floor of SQ Group’s garment factory building at Masterbari in Habirbari area of Valuka upazila, Mymensingh, on Sunday night. Two units of the Fire Service responded to the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control after about one and a half hours of effort.

According to workers, the fire originated around 8 p.m. from an air cooler. Factory personnel initially attempted to extinguish the flames using their own firefighting system, but the fire quickly spread throughout the building. Fire Service Station Officer Atikur Rahman stated that the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage would be determined after an investigation.

Authorities have not yet released details on casualties or property loss, and an official inquiry is underway to assess the incident’s impact.

Commerce Minister Khondaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government is taking major steps to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective oversight in the market system. Speaking at the launch of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh’s (TCB) truck sale program in Agargaon, Dhaka, ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2026, he said the initiative includes strategic reserves, AI-based supply and monitoring systems, and enhanced TCB capacity to prevent market manipulation.

The minister stated that the government’s main goal is to deliver subsidized essential goods to low-income and marginal groups. During Ramadan, about 22.8 million beneficiaries received subsidized food, which will increase to 28.8 million this time. Food supply for Eid-ul-Azha has also been raised by 40 percent to around 14,000 tons. He added that TCB’s beneficiary list has been revised to ensure transparency, now including 8 million verified families, with plans to add 2 million more.

Muktadir emphasized that new policies are being introduced to ensure transparency in TCB dealer recruitment and that the agency will be transformed into a fully accountable, technology-driven institution.

At Barishal University, employees locked the administrative office on Monday morning after declaring Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Toufiq Alam unwanted. The action took place around 11 a.m. as part of an ongoing protest by teachers demanding promotions that began on April 21. Teachers under the banner of 'Shikkhok Samaj' staged a sit-in from 9 a.m. and urged administrative non-cooperation with the vice-chancellor. Under pressure, the registrar left his office, and employees subsequently locked several departments.

Geology and Mining Department Chair Dr. Dhiman Kumar Roy stated that teachers have withdrawn administrative cooperation and some have resigned from their posts, citing the vice-chancellor’s delay in convening the promotion board for over six months. Vice-Chancellor Alam responded that all issues can be resolved through discussion and warned that obstructing others’ work is illegal. He added that legal action would be taken if such activities continue.

The standoff has disrupted university operations, with both teachers and administration remaining at odds over the unresolved promotion issue.

Iran has rejected reports that crude oil tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz with their tracking systems turned off to avoid potential attacks. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the large tanker ‘Aegeos Fanorios One,’ bound for Vietnam and carrying Iraqi crude under a Maltese flag, followed a route designated by Iran while crossing the strategic waterway.

Earlier, Reuters had reported that three tankers switched off their transponders before passing through the strait on Sunday. Tasnim, however, stated that the ‘Aegeos Fanorios One’ ensured a safe journey by adhering to Iran’s instructed route. The vessel, which loaded oil in Iraq’s Basra on April 17, had previously failed twice to cross the strait before succeeding on Sunday. It is now heading toward the Gulf of Oman.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions and conflict in the Middle East, where tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz have become increasingly risky. Conflicting accounts of vessel routes have added to uncertainty in global energy markets, with analysts suggesting Iran aims to demonstrate control and surveillance capability over the passage.

The four-day District Commissioners’ (DC) Conference in Bangladesh concluded with a focus on strengthening coordination, accountability, and citizen-oriented governance across the country’s field administration. Held after the national election under the new government, the conference brought together representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, two commissions, and 56 ministries and divisions. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed DCs to build public trust, curb corruption, and ensure impartial law enforcement while accelerating development project implementation.

Discussions centered on administrative capacity shortages, political pressure, law and order, digital transformation, and disaster management. DCs demanded more staff, technological support, and infrastructure to meet growing responsibilities. They also called for digital land records, online mutation systems, integrated data centers, and citizen complaint software. Concerns were raised about political interference and the need for stronger legal and security backing, particularly in border districts facing smuggling and trafficking.

The conference emphasized creating a more people-friendly administration and proposed a rapid-response fund for climate and disaster emergencies. Analysts noted that while the event reaffirmed the field administration’s central role in governance, its success will depend on how quickly the proposed reforms are implemented.

Beijing has officially confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will visit China from May 13 to 15 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The visit, announced on Monday, will include discussions on the Iran crisis and trade issues, according to AFP. The White House described the trip as highly significant and symbolic, marking Trump’s first visit to China in his second term and the first by any U.S. president since 2017.

The two nations have faced prolonged tensions over trade tariffs, Middle East conflicts, and the Taiwan issue, which China claims as its own territory. Trump had initially planned to visit China in late March or early April but postponed the trip to focus on the escalating Iran war situation. U.S. officials said Trump aims to press Xi on Iran while seeking to ease bilateral trade frictions.

During the visit, Trump is expected to tour Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and attend a state banquet. The White House emphasized that the president’s goal is to secure better deals for the United States.

A coordination meeting chaired by Naogaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam announced that mango harvesting in the district will start on May 22. The meeting, held on Sunday afternoon, decided that all types of early local mango varieties can be collected from that date. Among the improved varieties, Gopalbhog will be harvested from May 30, Khirsapat or Himsagar from June 2, Nak Fazli from June 5, Langra and Haribhanga from June 10, Fazli, Amrapali, and Banana Mango from June 25, and Ashwina, Bari-4, Gaurmoti, and Katina from July 5.

According to the meeting, mango orchards in Naogaon cover 30,310 hectares this year, with a production target of 387,235 metric tons. The district expects mango sales worth around Tk 4,000 crore this season. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that no immature or chemically treated mangoes may be harvested or marketed before the designated dates, and awareness campaigns will be conducted across the district to ensure compliance.