Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has provided Eid-ul-Azha gifts to sanitation workers across all city corporations in Bangladesh. On Friday evening in Gulshan, Dhaka, he handed over cheques to the mayors and administrators of the city corporations at the BNP Chairperson’s political office. The event was attended by administrators and mayors from Dhaka North and South, Chattogram, Khulna, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Sylhet, Barishal, and other cities.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Prime Minister walked to the party office after performing Asr prayers at home, according to his additional press secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman. He stated that the Prime Minister attended the event to distribute Eid bonuses to city corporation administrators and mayors across the country.

The report also noted that during Eid-ul-Fitr earlier this year, the Prime Minister had given Tk 5,000 as Eid gifts to sanitation workers of city corporations.

A new world record was set on Mount Everest as 274 climbers successfully reached the summit within 24 hours. Nepalese authorities confirmed the achievement on Thursday, May 21, 2026, citing favorable weather conditions that allowed a large number of climbers to ascend simultaneously via the southern route. Officials from the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal said such a high number of summits in one day had never been seen before.

Everest is typically climbed through two main routes: the southern route from Nepal and the northern route from Tibet, China. In 2019, 223 climbers summited via Nepal and 113 via China in a single day. This year, with China’s route closed, most climbers concentrated on the Nepal side. The season began slowly due to a large ice block hanging dangerously over the main route, but conditions later improved, allowing expeditions to resume.

Authorities said the climbing season will continue through the end of May, with about 494 foreign climbers and an equal number of Sherpa guides aiming to reach the 8,848.86-meter peak.

Speaker of the National Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram, MP, said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia worked with devotion to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh and was deeply committed to establishing the rights of the people. He described her as an enduring example of a successful stateswoman. The remarks came on Friday at the unveiling of a calendar titled 'Deshnetri', published by 'Chobir Golpo' in memory of the late leader, held at the LD Hall of the National Parliament Building.

The event was presided over by Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister and adviser editor of 'Chobir Golpo' Atikur Rahman Rumon. Dr. Ahmed Mostafa Noman delivered the welcome address, while MPs Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas and Habibur Rahman Habib spoke as main discussants. The calendar features twelve aspects of Khaleda Zia’s life through photographs by Prime Minister’s photographer Khaled Hossain Parag and writings by the 'Chobir Golpo' team.

Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam Moni, MP, also highlighted Khaleda Zia’s role in introducing the caretaker government system to stabilize democracy and praised the Zia family’s contribution to Bangladesh’s political history.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform the holy Hajj. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement issued on Friday evening, he left for Saudi Arabia accompanied by his wife. The visit is being made at the invitation of the Saudi government, under which he is participating as a royal guest.

During his stay, General Waker-Uz-Zaman will complete the formalities of Hajj in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The ISPR further stated that he is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on June 1 after completing the pilgrimage.

The announcement highlights the significance of the visit as part of religious observance and official goodwill between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has said that youth represent strength, courage, and potential, and can lead society from destruction toward development. He made the remarks on Friday at the central conference of the party’s Youth and Sports Department 2026, held at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar. Youth representatives from different regions of the country attended the daylong event.

Porwar emphasized that youthfulness is not limited by age but defined by courage, enthusiasm, and sacrifice. He called for moral and spiritual awakening among young people and urged them to build themselves through piety, self-purification, and ethical conduct. He also highlighted the historical role of youth in Islamic movements and encouraged them to seek closeness to God.

Presiding over the event, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer said the department’s activities are expanding nationwide and stressed engaging youth in humanitarian and social initiatives. He called for united resistance against drugs, terrorism, and robbery, saying that an organized and principled youth community can create capable national leadership.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that police stations should not serve as tools of partisan control but must become institutions of public trust and justice. He made this remark in a Facebook post on Friday night, emphasizing the need to abandon the culture of political servitude.

Earlier that day, Patwari was attacked in Jhenaidah after attending Friday prayers at the Old DC Court Jame Mosque. According to his Facebook post, members of the Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal allegedly launched the assault in the presence of police. The attackers reportedly threw eggs and bricks before striking with hockey sticks, injuring several people, including three with head wounds. Patwari said he was also punched and that the attackers snatched mobile phones, cameras, and wallets.

The incident highlights tensions surrounding political activities in Jhenaidah, with Patwari’s comments calling for institutional neutrality and public confidence in law enforcement.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP), was attacked in Jhenaidah on Friday, May 22. According to Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, Patwari had gone there with the intention of organizing a mob. The statement was made in a verified Facebook post, where Nasir alleged that Patwari’s associates attempted to open fire after locals threw eggs at him.

The Chhatra Dal leader also shared photos claiming two armed men present with Patwari were affiliated with the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, identifying them by name and address. He urged local police and administration to arrest the two alleged gunmen immediately.

Eyewitnesses said Patwari had traveled to Jhenaidah to attend a program marking the joining of leaders from various parties to the NCP. After Friday prayers at the District Collectorate Mosque, he was attacked by a group of youths who threw eggs and assaulted him, injuring several local NCP activists. Following the incident, NCP leaders held a protest march in the city.

Pakistan is playing an active role in facilitating a potential understanding between Iran and the United States amid ongoing diplomatic tensions. Iranian officials confirmed that while some progress has been made, several key issues remain unresolved. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has been in Tehran for the third consecutive day, holding high-level meetings with Iran’s president and foreign minister. Sources indicate that Pakistan is working to develop a basic framework that could later be presented to the United States in Islamabad.

Diplomatic circles suggest that if the talks advance further, Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir may visit Tehran, which would signal a major step forward in the Iran-U.S. negotiation process. Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit China tomorrow and may convey important messages from Tehran to Beijing. Analysts believe Pakistan’s current diplomatic efforts reflect a strategy to balance relations among the United States, Iran, regional powers, and China.

Experts note that Pakistan’s active diplomacy under current Middle Eastern geopolitical conditions could reshape regional alignments.

Air conditioner ownership in the United Kingdom has doubled in the past three years, reaching about four million homes, according to recent data. The surge is attributed to increasing heatwaves, higher summer temperatures, and the growing trend of working from home. In July 2022, the country recorded its highest-ever temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, prompting many residents to describe their homes as unlivable during extreme heat.

Cooling company Debonair Cooling reported rising demand from both old and new homeowners, with installation costs averaging £2,500 per room. The UK’s Climate Change Committee warned that climate change could make air conditioning essential in most homes by 2050, as traditional cooling methods like curtains or shade trees will no longer suffice. The committee also recommended installing cooling systems in all care homes and hospitals within the next decade.

However, experts noted that air conditioning increases electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 4% of global emissions. Analysts suggest that combining heat pumps with solar power could offer a more sustainable cooling solution in the future.

Sargis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in northern Bangladesh, warned BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman that attempts to suppress political movements in violent ways would lead to worse consequences. Speaking at a joining ceremony of new members from various professions at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday, he said no political organization or law enforcement agency would be allowed to repress dissent in the future.

He criticized the government for failing to bring back the accused in Osman Hadi’s murder case from India and for delays in the Asiya murder verdict despite earlier promises. Alam also accused the BNP of betraying the public on issues such as the July uprising, referendum, and judicial independence. He alleged that the BNP, despite earlier demands for a separate judicial secretariat, was now politicizing the judiciary by repealing related laws.

Alam further stated that BNP would not be able to avoid responsibility if it failed to ensure justice in various murder cases and the execution of Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence, affirming that the NCP would continue its political struggle.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) held a protest rally in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday afternoon, demanding the arrest and punishment of those involved in an attack on the party’s chief coordinator, Nasiruddin Patwari, in Jhenaidah. The demonstration, led by NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, featured slogans calling for justice and immediate action against the attackers.

NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam shared a video of the incident on Facebook, alleging that BNP-linked assailants carried out the attack in the presence of police. He condemned the assault and urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. Asif Mahmud also criticized what he described as a return of politically motivated violence, warning that failure to arrest the attackers could force the party to take alternative measures.

Several NCP leaders, including MP Hasnat Abdullah and northern regional organizer Sarjis Alam, claimed on social media that BNP and student wing activists were responsible for the assault, which left several people injured and hospitalized.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tajul Islam, stated that the revolution will fail if perpetrators are not identified by the state. He made the remarks on Thursday at a roundtable discussion titled 'Ensuring Justice, Compensation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence,' organized by the human rights group Odhikar at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka, marking International Week of the Disappeared 2026.

Tajul Islam criticized the current law addressing enforced disappearances, calling it extremely flawed and inadequate to prevent such crimes. He argued that the law appears to have been drafted by those previously involved in such acts and said it fails to meet Bangladesh’s needs. He urged the government to amend the legislation to establish a proper legal framework that ensures justice for victims and prevents future disappearances.

He further emphasized that the nation has been repeatedly deceived and that citizens no longer wish to accept such betrayal, calling for genuine accountability and justice in cases of enforced disappearance and human rights violations.

U.S. President Donald Trump is willing to give diplomacy more time as talks with Iran continue, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. In an interview with CBS News, Leavitt said Trump is keeping all options open and has made clear what consequences Tehran could face if no agreement is reached.

Her comments followed a Wall Street Journal report stating that Trump told his aides in a Friday meeting he wanted to allow more time for diplomatic engagement. Despite ongoing tensions, the report said Trump remains interested in reaching a solution through dialogue, though he has not ruled out military action if negotiations fail.

According to the same report, Trump has not yet made a final decision but currently leans toward continuing diplomatic efforts while keeping military options available.

Speculation has intensified within Khulna WASA over who will be appointed as project director of the Tk 2,598 crore Khulna Water Supply Project-2. Despite not being on the official shortlist, executive engineer Md. Rezaul Islam reportedly attended an interview at the ministry last Wednesday. His sudden appearance and past controversies have sparked criticism, with concerns that his appointment could lead to irregularities affecting city residents.

According to office sources, the interview was held under the chairmanship of Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hasan. Official invitations were sent to three other engineers, but Rezaul Islam appeared without one. He had previously served briefly as acting project director in December 2025, a move that drew allegations of financial dealings and political favoritism. Later, he was removed following protests and written complaints from student and civic groups.

The final decision on the appointment has not yet been announced. The Local Government Division is expected to issue an official notification soon, while calls for transparency and oversight continue within Khulna WASA and the local engineering community.

A Japanese-managed oil tanker named Idemitsu Maru has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since a blockade, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK. The Panama-flagged vessel is carrying about two million barrels of crude oil from Saudi Arabia and is expected to arrive at a refinery in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture next Monday. NHK reported that three crew members holding Japanese citizenship on board are safe and in good condition.

The successful passage marks a significant development for Japan’s energy transport operations following the disruption caused by the blockade. The tanker’s journey underscores Japan’s continued reliance on Middle Eastern crude oil and the importance of secure maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

The report did not specify details about the blockade’s duration or the conditions that allowed the tanker to resume passage, leaving some uncertainty about the broader regional situation.