A court in Kushtia has sentenced Jony Hossain, also known as Rajim, to life imprisonment for raping a college student under the false promise of marriage. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by Judge Zainal Abedin of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Kushtia, in the absence of the accused. Jony, aged 30, from Bahirchar Union in Veramara upazila, was also fined 100,000 taka, with an additional six months of imprisonment if unpaid.

According to the case details, Jony met the victim through social media, falsely claiming to be a member of the armed forces. He first raped her on January 1, 2022, when her parents were away, and continued the assaults under the pretext of marriage, leading to her pregnancy. When the matter became known, he demanded 800,000 taka from the victim’s family, which her expatriate father paid. After receiving the money, Jony cut off contact and tried to defame her.

The victim gave birth to a son on March 2, 2023, and filed a case on June 22, 2023. DNA tests confirmed Jony’s involvement, leading to his conviction. He was arrested in July 2023 but later released on bail and is currently absconding.

A protest and brief road blockade took place on Wednesday night at the Jhinai Filling Station in Sarishabari municipality of Jamalpur district, centering on fuel distribution. Locals alleged that a syndicate’s influence caused suffering for ordinary bikers and emergency service workers. The unrest reportedly forced station employees to remain inside their office for about one and a half hours until police restored order.

According to local sources, long queues formed from morning, and fuel was distributed until 6 p.m. Allegations surfaced that former Sarishabari municipal Chhatra League joint convener Faruk Ahmed stayed near the dispenser under the pretext of assisting distribution, obstructed journalists and service workers, and later incited bikers to protest. The station manager said distribution stopped at 6 p.m. per administrative instruction, after which some people created chaos and blocked the road. The owner stated that fuel supply was adequate but distribution was being done three days a week due to exams and traffic congestion.

Police confirmed that no major untoward incident occurred and that the situation is now normal.

At least 12 people were killed in lightning strikes across seven districts of Bangladesh on Wednesday, according to local police and administrative officials. The incidents occurred in Patuakhali, Jamalpur, Barguna, Mymensingh, Bagerhat, Rangpur, and Rajbari at different times of the day. Several others were injured. Patuakhali reported the highest number of casualties, with four deaths during a nor’wester storm, while Jamalpur and Barguna each recorded two fatalities. One person died in each of the remaining districts.

In Patuakhali, lightning during a storm also killed more than 50 cows over the past two days. Local officials confirmed the deaths and said the victims were engaged in outdoor activities such as farming, fishing, and cattle tending when struck. In Barguna, authorities provided financial assistance to one victim’s family under a government relief program.

The incidents highlight the recurring danger of lightning during the pre-monsoon season in rural Bangladesh, where many people work in open fields and near water bodies, increasing their vulnerability to such natural hazards.

The fourth executive meeting of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) was held on Tuesday evening at the Daksu conference room, chaired by Vice-Chancellor and Daksu President Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam. The meeting adopted several key decisions aimed at improving student welfare, campus infrastructure, security, and administrative transparency. Proposals included launching a Saturday bus service, introducing modern shuttle buses, and ensuring disciplinary action against those involved in recent campus violence.

Discussions covered eviction of unauthorized hall residents, transparent seat allocation policies, and progress on housing scholarships for first-year students. Plans were made to establish computer labs with operators in every hall, introduce teaching and research assistantships, and implement a teacher evaluation system. Infrastructure upgrades such as library security, lift repairs, and water facilities at key buildings were also discussed.

The meeting further emphasized inclusive campus initiatives, including gym facilities for female students, Braille signage, talking lifts, and reactivation of the e-library. It reviewed progress on major development projects worth about Tk 2,841 crore and endorsed annual multicultural holidays in April. Proposals for improved canteen management and separate dining options for students of different faiths were also presented.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Riyadh, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs released on Thursday. The meeting focused on reviewing bilateral relations and exploring ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Both ministers also discussed recent regional and international developments and their implications for security and stability. Prince Yazid bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister’s adviser on Lebanese affairs, was also present.

The French minister’s visit took place amid a deadlock in efforts to resolve tensions between the United States and Iran, which have affected Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and France have been jointly pursuing diplomatic initiatives to address Lebanon’s instability. The meeting comes as cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel continue despite a ceasefire in Lebanon.

The discussions in Riyadh are expected to contribute to ongoing diplomatic coordination between Saudi Arabia and France on regional security matters, particularly concerning Lebanon and broader Middle Eastern stability.

The Bangladesh National Museum has dismissed recent media reports about alleged irregularities in the construction costs and recruitment process of the July Uprising Memorial Museum, calling them baseless and misleading. In a press release issued on April 30, 2026, the museum clarified that no recruitment has yet taken place for the new museum. It explained that a CCTV video circulating online showed an informal meeting with families of martyrs and injured persons, not a job interview. The museum said all future hiring will follow official government procedures under a high-level recruitment committee.

The statement also denied claims of excessive spending, stating that from April 2025 to February 2026, total hospitality expenses amounted to 3.74 million taka, not over 10 million as reported. It further clarified that the 6.4 million taka boundary wall cost was part of a larger 984.5 million taka allocation managed by the Public Works Department, not the museum itself. The museum emphasized that the project to convert the former Ganabhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar into a museum was a major undertaking and that the facility is now ready for inauguration by the Prime Minister.

The museum urged media outlets to verify information before publication to avoid spreading misinformation.

After a two-month government ban, fishermen from Ramgati and Komolnagar upazilas in Lakshmipur are preparing to return to the Meghna River from midnight on Thursday. The restriction, which prohibited all fishing, transport, and marketing of fish from March 1 to April 30, will officially end at 12:00 a.m. Fishermen were seen repairing nets, cleaning boats, and making final preparations to resume work.

According to the fisheries department, the ban covered about 100 kilometers of the river area from Ramgati to Shatnol in Chandpur. Around 21,500 registered fishermen in Ramgati and 11,500 in Komolnagar were affected by the restriction. Officials said the measure aimed to protect juvenile hilsa and increase fish production. Some fishermen reported receiving government assistance during the ban, while others said they did not and faced hardship.

Local fisheries officers confirmed that the restriction was effectively enforced and that fishermen would be allowed to resume fishing activities from midnight as the conservation period concludes.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has stated that the United States lacks a coherent or effective strategy in its ongoing conflict with Iran. Speaking to Swedish Radio News, Kristersson said it remains unclear how Washington intends to achieve its declared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He expressed frustration, saying he sees no consistent plan behind U.S. actions at this stage.

Kristersson’s remarks add to a growing wave of European criticism directed at Washington’s handling of the Iran issue. Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused the U.S. of having no exit strategy for the war and claimed Washington had been humiliated at the negotiating table with Tehran. French President Emmanuel Macron had also urged the U.S. to maintain a more serious and consistent approach toward Iran.

The continued criticism from key Western allies is expected to increase pressure on the Biden administration over its Middle East policy, particularly regarding Iran.

Pakistan has opened six land transit routes for Iran to facilitate the movement of thousands of stranded containers following a US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative, formalized through the “Transit of Goods Through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026” issued on April 25, allows goods produced in third countries to be transported by road across Pakistan into Iran. The move creates an official road corridor linking Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar ports with Iran’s Gabd and Taftan border crossings.

The announcement coincided with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad, where he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir. Pakistan is currently attempting to mediate an end to the two-month conflict between Washington and Tehran. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan described the decision as a significant step toward promoting regional trade and strengthening Pakistan’s role as a trade corridor. However, Indian goods remain excluded due to a post-2025 air war ban.

Analysts said the corridor could reduce Pakistan’s reliance on Afghanistan for westward trade and position it as a key gateway for China-backed routes into West Asia, though security risks along the border remain a concern.

The National University inaugurated its new regional center in Mymensingh on Thursday morning at Madhya Barera Adur Bari Bailane. The inauguration was followed by a discussion meeting at the Tarek Smriti Auditorium in the Town Hall area, where Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ASM Amanullah delivered the keynote speech. He highlighted ongoing reforms to curb exam malpractice and modernize the curriculum, noting that two rounds of revisions have been completed and a third is being prepared.

The Vice-Chancellor said that around one million students graduate annually from the National University, but only 300,000 to 350,000 find employment. He warned that if this trend continues, about three million graduates could remain unemployed within the next decade, posing a major challenge for the state and society. He also mentioned initiatives to introduce trade courses and address shortages of teachers and ICT labs in colleges.

Officials including the regional center’s director Md. Aminul Akhtar, acting principal of Ananda Mohan College Professor Md. Shakir Hossain, and local representatives attended the event.

Four teachers in Kalkini upazila of Madaripur have been relieved of their duties for alleged negligence during the ongoing SSC (Vocational) examinations. The decision was confirmed on Thursday by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Saif Ul Arefin. Those removed include acting head teacher and center secretary Shyama Prasad Pal Mintu of Kalkini Government Pilot High School, acting head teacher and hall superintendent Md Nasir Uddin of Gopalpur High School, assistant teacher Dilip Bairagi of Kalinagar Fasiatala High School, and assistant teacher Ijazul Haque of Krokrichar High School.

According to administrative sources, the action followed allegations of irregularities in distributing question papers during the “Bangladesh and Global Studies” exam held on Tuesday. After an investigation confirmed the irregularities, the four teachers were dismissed from their examination responsibilities. UNO Md Saif Ul Arefin stated that evidence of misconduct in question paper distribution led to their removal.

The incident highlights the administration’s effort to ensure fairness and discipline in public examinations within the upazila.

BNP Standing Committee member and Dhaka-2 MP Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said many ruling party lawmakers would feel uncomfortable if the events of 1/11 were discussed. Speaking in parliament on Thursday during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, he recalled that during the 1/11 period, many senior BNP leaders abandoned Khaleda Zia out of fear and did not respond to her calls. Roy claimed he was among the first to oppose the 1/11 political situation.

He also noted that during that time, Jamaat-e-Islami did not issue any statement in support of Tarique Rahman, saying it would not take responsibility for the alleged misdeeds of Khaleda Zia and her son. Roy added that when Jamaat leaders were later arrested in war crimes cases, Khaleda Zia issued statements and even sought their release. He urged Jamaat to acknowledge its mistakes from 1971.

Referring to Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam’s comments on relations with India, Roy said Bangladesh should maintain economic friendship with all but avoid subservience, emphasizing equality and sovereignty in foreign relations.

In a parliamentary discussion on the president’s address, opposition chief whip and NCP lawmaker Nahid Islam criticized the current president, calling him corrupt, deceitful, and complicit in past atrocities. He said the government’s inability to replace such a figure reflected its bankruptcy and claimed that the BNP had qualified and trustworthy individuals who could assume the presidency if the party chose to do so.

Nahid Islam, also the NCP convener, questioned why the BNP continued to accept the current president, alleging his involvement in financial irregularities and controversial decisions, including handing over Islami Bank to private interests. He also criticized the 1972 Constitution as undemocratic and rooted in authoritarianism, arguing that it was not written by elected representatives of independent Bangladesh. He accused the BNP of shifting its stance on constitutional issues and urged a return to earlier positions favoring constitutional rewriting.

He further raised concerns about the financial sector, governance, and law and order, citing recent killings and assaults allegedly under BNP rule. Nahid called for national unity against extremism and demanded a balanced foreign policy with India based on equality and dignity.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has blamed the presence of US military forces in the Middle East for the region’s ongoing instability. He made the remarks amid escalating tensions and reciprocal attacks between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Khamenei stated that the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf is the main cause of insecurity in the region.

He described US military installations as “puppet bases” lacking the strength to ensure their own safety, let alone protect pro-American allies in the area. According to Khamenei, foreign intervention continues to fuel regional unrest and dependency. His comments were seen as a call for Middle Eastern nations to reduce reliance on the United States.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera, comes as regional powers engage in diplomatic and military maneuvers, including discussions on security in Riyadh and ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Gaza.

A Dhaka court has granted a three-day remand for former Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) officer and dismissed Major Manzil Haider Chowdhury in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Ramna Police Station. The order was issued on Thursday by Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Jamshed Alam after a hearing. The prosecution was represented by state lawyer Shamsuddoha Suman, while the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Amjad Hossain Talukder, sought a four-day remand for interrogation.

According to the case documents, investigators alleged that Manzil Haider had used his influence as a close associate of former military adviser Tarique Siddiqi to suppress a student movement and later financed and advised banned organizations, including the Awami League and its affiliates, after a change of government. The investigation also claimed his involvement in secret meetings and conspiratorial activities in Dhaka.

The defense lawyers sought bail and cancellation of the remand petition, which the prosecution opposed. After hearing both sides, the court approved the three-day remand. The case originated from a September 12 incident in Ramna, where members of a banned group held an anti-government rally, leading to arrests and the filing of the case.