In Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar, 21 out of 26 tea estates have no government primary schools, causing hundreds of children from tea worker families to drop out of basic education. Despite the tea industry’s 172-year history in the region, tea workers remain educationally disadvantaged. Land disputes and the indifference of estate authorities have delayed the establishment of government schools. Existing private schools in the estates are in poor condition, often with only one or two classrooms and very low teaching standards.

According to the Kulaura Primary Education Office, the estates without government schools include Hingajia, Sirajnagar, Bormchal, Rehana, Gazipur, Jhimai, Merina, Jhunkijalai, Rangichhara Fari, Clevedon, Bijoya, Kaliti, Chatlapur, Longla, Tilakpur, Azgarabad, Dildarpur, Borhannagar, Rajanagar, Tarapasha, and Muraichhara. Former and current leaders of the Bangladesh Tea Workers’ Union said that tea worker children have been deprived of their right to education for generations due to land complications and lack of government action.

The acting Upazila Primary Education Officer stated that a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to establish six new government primary schools in the tea garden areas, with plans for gradual expansion.

Russia has called for the withdrawal of a draft resolution submitted by the United States and Bahrain to the United Nations Security Council that urges Iran to end its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov said Moscow cannot support the proposal and advised against rushing any decision on it.

Alimov explained that Russia and China have prepared an alternative draft resolution calling on all parties to cease hostilities, refrain from the use of force, and resolve disputes through dialogue. The US-Bahrain draft has backing from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, though none of these Gulf states are permanent members of the Security Council.

The report noted that Russia holds veto power in the Security Council, giving it the ability to block the resolution if it proceeds to a vote.

An FIR has been filed against TVK leader Vijay Thalapathy in Tamil Nadu following allegations that he submitted a fake letter of support from the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AMMK) sole legislator to claim majority status. The complaint was lodged by AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who accused Vijay of presenting a forged document to the governor to prove his party’s majority. Vijay’s party had earlier claimed to have the backing of 118 legislators but failed to provide written proof.

Vijay’s party, TVK, denied the allegations, asserting that AMMK legislator S. Kamaraj personally signed the support letter and that Dhinakaran had approved it. The controversy comes as Tamil Nadu remains without a clear government five days after election results, with no party securing an outright majority.

While Vijay’s party won the most seats, both the DMK and AIADMK are also maneuvering to form a government, with AIADMK reportedly seeking DMK’s support. The legal dispute adds further uncertainty to the ongoing political deadlock in the state.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman rode a specially designed smart car created by physically disabled college student Wakimul Islam and praised his innovative initiative. The event took place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, where the Prime Minister inspected the vehicle and encouraged the young inventor.

According to Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Roni, several senior officials, including Chief Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Roni, Mostafa Zulfiqar Hasan, and Shahadat Hossain Swadhin, were present during the occasion. The Prime Minister’s engagement highlighted official recognition of Wakimul’s technological creativity and his contribution as a differently abled innovator.

The event underscored the government’s interest in supporting youth-led innovation and inclusive technology development, as reflected in the Prime Minister’s personal encouragement to the student inventor.

Ten Bangladeshi nationals, including a child, were pushed back by Indian authorities through the Muraichhara border in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel from the local Muraichhara camp detained them around 7 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026, after noticing them wandering near the border area. Following identity verification, BGB handed them over to Kulaura Police Station at around 10:30 a.m.

According to police, the group—comprising one child, three women, and six men—had previously entered India illegally at different times. They were later detained by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and subsequently pushed back across the border into Bangladesh. After confirmation of their identities, BGB transferred them to the police, who later released them to their family members around 6 p.m.

Officials from both BGB and Kulaura Police confirmed the incident and the handover of the individuals to their relatives.

China’s aluminum exports increased by 15 percent in April compared with the same month last year, according to customs data released on Saturday and reported by Reuters. The country exported 598,000 tons of unprocessed aluminum and aluminum products in April, bringing total exports for the first four months of the year to 2.05 million tons.

The rise comes as global supply chains face severe disruption due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which has effectively halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts noted that the war has sharply constrained aluminum supply worldwide, placing China in a key position to meet global demand.

As the conflict continues, many international buyers have begun stockpiling aluminum and related components in anticipation of higher production costs and raw material prices. To meet the surge in foreign orders, Chinese factories have accelerated production and delivery, further boosting the country’s export momentum.

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP visited the injured July fighters undergoing treatment at Vejthani International Hospital in Bangkok on Saturday, May 9, 2026. During the visit, he met with the seriously injured individuals, inquired about their medical progress, and urged doctors and officials to ensure the best possible care for them.

Dr. Rahman praised the courage, sacrifice, and contributions of the July fighters and prayed for their full and speedy recovery. The hospitalized fighters, in turn, called on the opposition leader to take effective steps toward implementing the July Charter and the referendum verdict.

He was accompanied on the visit by his foreign affairs adviser, Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman MP.

Across Rajshahi’s Barind region, farmers are busy harvesting Boro paddy under intense heat, with cutting and threshing now in full swing. The Department of Agricultural Extension reports that 68,300 hectares have been cultivated this season, targeting 327,544 tons of rice. Early data show an average yield of 4.70 tons per hectare, and about 10 percent of the crop has been harvested so far.

Despite favorable weather and good yields, farmers are struggling with low market prices and rising labor costs. Fine-grain paddy, once a Rajshahi specialty, is selling for Tk 1,100–1,150 per maund, which barely covers wages. Farmers allege that millers and wholesalers are manipulating prices by stockpiling paddy during the peak season. Labor shortages and higher input costs have worsened the situation, leaving many unable to recover their investments.

Officials say the harvest will continue through May and could strengthen local food security if completed successfully. However, farmers urge direct government procurement from local markets to reduce losses and prevent middlemen from exploiting them.

Authorities in Cumilla have intensified border surveillance to prevent the entry of Indian cattle, bringing relief to local farmers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. According to the district livestock office, around 260,000 animals have been prepared across 17 upazilas, exceeding local demand of about 247,000. Farmers expect fair prices if the strict monitoring continues through the festival period.

Local farmers and farm owners are busy preparing cattle, goats, sheep, and buffaloes using natural fattening methods. Many have started selling animals online, planning to supply surplus livestock to other districts. However, they expressed concern over rising feed costs not matched by meat prices, warning that prolonged imbalance could drive some out of business.

District officials confirmed coordination among the Border Guard Bangladesh, police, and administration to block illegal cattle entry. Over 300 temporary markets will be set up, with enhanced patrols and two daily task forces monitoring markets. Authorities expect that strong vigilance will ensure stable prices and a secure Eid market environment.

US Senator Bernie Sanders has called for an immediate end to the ongoing war with Iran, criticizing President Donald Trump’s military actions. In a social media post on May 9, 2026, Sanders said that since Trump launched the military operation against Iran, fuel prices have surged sharply, putting financial pressure on American families.

Sanders stated that gas prices had risen from $2.98 to $4.55 per gallon since the start of the conflict, making it increasingly difficult for working families to afford basic expenses. He argued that instead of spending billions of dollars on what he described as an unconstitutional war, the United States should invest in meeting the needs of its own citizens.

The senator’s remarks, reported by Middle East Eye, reflect growing concern over the economic and social impact of the Iran conflict and its effect on domestic fuel prices.

A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck the South Salmara Mankachar area of Assam, India, on Saturday afternoon, according to Volcano Discovery. The tremor occurred at 2:40 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 34 kilometers from Dhubri town. The quake’s effects were felt across several northern districts of Bangladesh.

Preliminary reports indicate that the depth of the earthquake has not yet been determined, though it is believed to have been shallow. Shallow earthquakes are typically felt more strongly near their epicenters. Residents in both Assam and northern Bangladesh reported feeling the tremor shortly after it occurred.

No immediate reports of casualties or damage have been received following the earthquake, according to initial information available from the region.

Residents of several areas adjacent to the Shishu Matri Shastho Institute (Matuail Medical) under Ward 65 of Dhaka South City Corporation blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Saturday morning, May 9, 2026, protesting persistent waterlogging. The blockade began around 10 a.m. at the Matuail Medical bus stand, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.

Police officers present at the scene said they had recently arrived and that the officer-in-charge was trying to resolve the issue through discussions with the residents. The protesters demanded that the Member of Parliament for Dhaka-5 and representatives of the South City Corporation visit the area before they would lift the blockade.

Residents complained that areas including Shahidbagh and Nurbagh in Ward 65 remain submerged under water throughout the year and called for a permanent solution to the problem.

A senior Iranian official has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of launching a psychological warfare campaign aimed at creating divisions among Iran’s leadership. Hassan Rasouli, a member of Iran’s Reformist Supreme Council for Policymaking, made the remarks in an interview with the state news agency IRNA, according to a report published on May 9, 2026.

Rasouli said that the United States and Israeli forces sought to achieve victory without firing a single shot by spreading discord and disunity among Iranian officials. However, he asserted that Tehran has presented to the world an image of a coherent, united, and defense-ready nation, preventing aggressors from achieving any of their intended goals.

The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Iran’s official stance that external efforts to destabilize its political leadership have not succeeded.

Police in Moulvibazar conducted a special operation on Friday night, seizing a large quantity of Indian goods brought into Bangladesh illegally. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Moulvibazar Model Police Station intercepted a pickup van around 11:30 p.m. on the Kulaura Road in the Islambur area. The vehicle, reportedly transporting goods from Jaintapur in Sylhet, was carrying Indian-made lozenges and various cosmetic items hidden beneath chicken cages. The total value of the seized items is estimated at around Tk 3 million.

According to the police, the goods were intended to be booked at a courier service in Moulvibazar town. The driver of the pickup van was detained following the seizure. Authorities are preparing a case over allegations of smuggling and customs evasion involving the illegal import of Indian products.

The police operation highlights ongoing efforts to curb cross-border smuggling and enforce customs regulations in the region.

SpaceXAI has introduced Grok Voice mode for Apple CarPlay, enabling users to interact with the Grok chatbot directly from their vehicle dashboards using voice commands. The new feature allows handsfree questions and requests through CarPlay, expanding Grok’s accessibility beyond Tesla vehicles, where it is already built-in. Previously, the Grok iPhone app displayed a placeholder in CarPlay indicating that handsfree support would arrive soon.

Apple began allowing third-party voice-driven conversational apps to integrate with CarPlay in iOS 26.4, but developers must add support and obtain a special entitlement from Apple. The company requires these apps to use its voice control template, which displays a voice interface and allows up to four action buttons. Apple also mandates that chatbot apps avoid showing text or imagery in response to user queries.

Grok Voice mode joins other conversational AI integrations such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, which became available on CarPlay earlier this year, marking a growing trend of voice-based AI assistants in vehicle infotainment systems.