Police in Maheshpur, Jhenaidah, arrested an Awami League leader who had previously been barred from political activities in connection with a rape case. The arrest took place on Saturday afternoon at Khalishpur Bazar, according to local police officials.

Maheshpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan confirmed that the detainee, Sajjadul Islam Sajjad, serves as the president of the Maheshpur Upazila unit of the Awami League. He was taken into custody following a case filed against him under allegations of violence against a woman.

No further details about the case or subsequent legal proceedings were provided in the report.

Brazil has begun preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the five-time champions set to submit a 55-man preliminary squad to FIFA by May 11. According to Brazilian outlet Globo Sports, the list will feature experienced forward Neymar Jr. alongside emerging talent Estevao Willian. Under FIFA rules, teams must submit a preliminary list of 35 to 55 players before finalizing a 23 to 26-man squad by June 1.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to finalize Brazil’s World Cup squad on May 18. He has indicated that Neymar will be included if he regains full fitness after a long injury layoff. Estevao Willian, who is recovering from a hamstring injury ahead of his move to Chelsea, is also under consideration, with Endrick or Rayan as potential alternatives if he fails to recover in time.

Brazil’s preparations have been hit by injuries to Real Madrid players Eder Militao and Rodrygo, both ruled out of the World Cup. Their absence is seen as a significant setback to Ancelotti’s plans.

Rakib Hossain Baizid, a former leader of the banned Chhatra League, has been promoted to the Cumilla Metropolitan Chhatra Dal committee as joint organizing secretary. The appointment was part of a 193-member committee approved on May 1 by central Chhatra Dal president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin. Allegations have surfaced that several other banned Chhatra League activists were also included in the new committee.

Rakib previously served as joint general secretary of the Baukshar Union Chhatra League in Barura upazila in 2021. He told Amader Desh that he left the Chhatra League after that period and joined the Chhatra Dal. The new committee also includes Irfan Kaif Kasfi and Sohel Rana Shuvo, both identified as former banned Chhatra League leaders.

When contacted, newly appointed Cumilla Metropolitan Chhatra Dal general secretary Faiyaz Rashid Prim did not respond to phone calls. Committee president Nahiduzzaman Rana dismissed the allegations, calling them false and conspiratorial, and said he was looking into the matter.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid stated that the BNP government has deep faith in farmers and is committed to their economic prosperity. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while visiting Medi Haor in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria. The minister noted that 75 percent of the country's population is involved in agriculture and that losing crops after hard labor is a painful experience. Later in the day, he was scheduled to inaugurate a relief program distributing 30 kilograms of rice to affected farmers.

He added that paddy procurement quotas have been set at the district level and that in the future, paddy will be purchased directly from farmers at the union level through public announcements to ensure fair prices. Regarding the Kishoreganj all-weather road, he said a high-level committee is investigating whether it obstructs water flow and will take necessary measures if problems are found.

According to the agriculture department, 11,000 hectares of Boro paddy were cultivated in Nasirnagar this season, of which 305 hectares worth about Tk 13 crore were submerged by floodwaters.

Police in Kamalnagar upazila of Lakshmipur arrested Md. Milon, 25, a local youth leader, on Friday night from Koraitala Bazar in connection with an extortion case filed by a BNP leader. Milon, son of the late Abul Kashem of Char Lawrence Union, claims to be the general secretary of the union’s Jubo Dal. The case was filed on April 20 by Md. Morshed, general secretary of Char Lawrence Union BNP, naming Milon and four others as accused, along with 15 to 20 unidentified individuals.

According to the case and local sources, Milon allegedly engaged in extortion, illegal occupation of government land, and gambling activities in the Koraitala area after the fall of the Hasina government. Morshed stated that he filed the case under instructions from Whip and MP ABM Ashraf Uddin. However, Upazila Jubo Dal convener Yusuf Patwari denied Milon’s affiliation with the organization, calling his claim of being general secretary false.

Kamalnagar Police Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Faridul Alam confirmed Milon’s arrest and said he had been sent to jail, while efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects continue.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry announced the arrest of 41 individuals accused of having ties with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The state-run Bahrain News Agency confirmed the report on May 9, 2026. The arrests come amid a broader crackdown by Bahraini authorities on people allegedly connected to Iran.

According to the ministry, several dozen individuals have also had their citizenship revoked for allegedly supporting attacks on Bahrain by Iran. The arrested persons are accused of showing sympathy toward Iran and conspiring with foreign powers. The ministry stated that these individuals collaborated with foreign entities and expressed support for Iran.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that the arrests are part of Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to counter perceived Iranian influence within the country.

Commerce, Industry and Textile Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said that every industrial plant is deeply connected to the emotions and livelihoods of local people. He made the remarks on Saturday after visiting Panchagarh Sugar Mills Limited and holding discussions with sugarcane farmers.

The minister stated that when a mill operates, it generates employment, increases government revenue, and keeps the local economy active while enabling repayment of existing debts. He emphasized that the government aims to reopen all closed industrial plants across the country. Out of 15 sugar mills, six are currently closed, and initiatives have been taken to revive several state-owned enterprises.

Muktadir added that Panchagarh Sugar Mill requires extensive renovation of its infrastructure and machinery due to long-term closure. Experts are reviewing all possible aspects before decisions are made. Local officials, including the area’s Member of Parliament, the Industry Secretary, and representatives of workers and farmers, were present during the visit.

Russia and Ukraine confirmed on Friday a three-day ceasefire and large-scale prisoner exchange from May 9 to 11, mediated by the United States. The announcement coincides with Moscow’s celebration of its World War II victory. US President Donald Trump first declared the ceasefire, expressing hope that it could pave the way for a long-term peace agreement. According to Trump, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners during the truce.

Earlier, Russia had unilaterally announced a two-day ceasefire for its Victory Day, while Ukraine had also proposed a truce that Moscow initially ignored. Trump stated that he personally requested the ceasefire and thanked Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky for agreeing. He described it as a potential beginning of the end to a prolonged and deadly conflict.

Ukrainian President Zelensky emphasized that a ceasefire must be established and instructed his forces not to attack Moscow’s Red Square on May 9, when Russia’s annual Victory Parade—this year held without military hardware—was scheduled to take place.

A group of activists from the banned Chhatra League staged a flash procession on the Ramganj-Dhaka highway in Lakshmipur’s Ramganj on Friday night. The participants demanded the unconditional release of Awami League leaders and activists. Police later arrested one participant, identified as Nazmul Islam Mohon, from Udaypur village in Bholakot Union the same night.

Ramganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Firoz Uddin Chowdhury confirmed the arrest on Saturday afternoon. The report did not mention any further details about the procession’s duration, the number of participants, or whether additional arrests were made.

Authorities have not disclosed what actions will follow the arrest or whether further investigations are underway.

According to a CNN report citing multiple intelligence sources, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is playing a key role in shaping the country’s war strategy alongside senior officials. The report, based on U.S. intelligence assessments, indicates that Khamenei may also be guiding how Iran conducts discussions with the United States to end the conflict. The exact distribution of power within Iran’s divided administration remains unclear.

The report notes that Khamenei was seriously injured in an early attack that killed his father and several top military leaders, sparking speculation about his health and leadership role. He was declared Iran’s new Supreme Leader shortly after the attack, but U.S. intelligence agencies have not confirmed his current status. Sources suggest Khamenei avoids electronic communication, relying instead on direct meetings or messengers.

Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol in the Supreme Leader’s office, stated on Friday that Khamenei is recovering from his injuries and is in good health, urging the public to remain patient amid circulating rumors.

Iran’s Central Insurance Authority reported that nearly 30,000 vehicles were damaged across the country during the recent conflict involving the United States and Israel. The assessment was confirmed by both the authority’s officials and Iran Insurance, which conducted parallel evaluations.

According to the report, compensation procedures for most of the affected vehicles have already begun. Officials stated that vehicles with damage valued below 30 million tomans, approximately 387 US dollars, have received compensation in recent weeks. For cases involving higher losses, the relevant authorities said that claims are being reviewed and payments will be made soon.

The information was cited from Al Jazeera, and the report indicates that the compensation process is ongoing as Iran continues to address the financial impact of the conflict on its citizens.

In Tangail’s Basail upazila, cracks have developed on the approach road of a bridge costing Tk 4.55 crore before its inauguration. The bridge, located at Saidampur Bazar in Kanchanpur Union, was built under the supervision of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). On-site observation showed that the cracks are worsening with rainfall, raising fears that the road could collapse if heavy rain continues.

According to LGED sources, contractor firm Bashed Engineering was assigned to construct the 70-meter RCC girder bridge on the Saidampur Bazar–Kuratali via Primary School road. Construction began on April 13, 2021, and was initially scheduled for completion by April 12, 2022, but the deadline was extended. Local residents blamed poor soil compaction and weak carpeting for the damage, while the contractor’s manager attributed the cracks to heavy rainfall and traffic load. The upazila engineer confirmed that some blocks were not installed and that the contractor has been asked to repair the damaged sections.

Officials stated that payment for the approach road work has not yet been made and that the contractor will fix the affected areas before final handover.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that one battle has ended and another has begun, referring to the effort to fulfill promises made to the people. He made the remarks on Saturday, May 9, at a meeting with grassroots leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations at the Krishibid Institute auditorium in Dhaka.

Rahman emphasized that the government cannot succeed without the support and coordination of the party. He called on party members to engage in a “new struggle” to implement all commitments made before the election. Referring to the February 12 election, he said that 52 percent of voters supported the BNP’s manifesto, which has now become the manifesto of the government and the people of Bangladesh.

He reiterated the government’s pledge to ensure good governance, quality education, and public safety. The meeting was attended by senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other members of the party’s standing committee.

A court in Chapainawabganj has ordered BNP leader Abdullah Al Raihan to be sent to jail in connection with a case over assaulting a police officer. He was produced before the court on Saturday afternoon, where the judge denied his bail and issued the jail order. Raihan had been arrested the previous night from Dhaka’s Uttara area based on a tip-off while he was in hiding.

According to Gomostapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nure Alam, the incident occurred on April 26 at Raihan Filling Station in Khairabad area of Gomostapur upazila. Constable Shawkat Hossain from Nachol Police Station had gone there to collect engine oil for a vehicle under repair when Raihan, the station owner, allegedly assaulted him. Following the incident, Shawkat filed a case with Gomostapur Police Station, after which Raihan went into hiding.

Raihan is the former president of Gomostapur Union BNP and the son of former Gomostapur Upazila Parishad chairman Ashraf Hossain.

The Trump administration has completed the removal of 13.5 kilograms of highly enriched uranium from Venezuela, according to a report by The Guardian citing the U.S. Department of Energy. The material was extracted from an old research reactor located about 15 kilometers from Caracas and transported to a secure facility in South Carolina. The operation was conducted jointly by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela, with the International Atomic Energy Agency describing it as a highly sensitive and complex mission.

Venezuelan authorities stated that the uranium was removed due to increased security risks following a U.S. military operation in January. Brandon Williams, head of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, said the action sent an important message about global security and nuclear risk control. The report also noted that the Trump administration has been seeking to rebuild relations with Venezuela, reopening diplomatic channels, trade flights, and embassy operations.

Analysts cited in the report said the administration’s broader strategy remains focused on pressuring Iran to relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium, though no lasting agreement has yet been reached.