Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during his official visit to China. The meeting took place at a time when diplomatic efforts to formally end the Iran war are being prolonged. Before meeting Xi, Sharif also held discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

During the talks, Sharif emphasized the importance of Islamabad and Beijing working together to restore peace in the Middle East. He stated that the world is passing through a critical moment and expressed gratitude to China for its support in advancing peace negotiations.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who had just concluded a visit to Iran, was also present at the meeting, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

In Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari, 250 impoverished residents received financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Each beneficiary was given 2,000 taka, totaling 500,000 taka in distributed aid. The distribution ceremony took place on Monday afternoon at the upazila parishad conference room.

The financial aid was handed over by Abdul Muntakim, Member of Parliament for Nilphamari-4 constituency. The event was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Arifur Rahman, local Jamaat leader Abdur Rashid Shah, secretary Ferdous Alam, and Press Club president Abu Hasan Sheikh, among others.

The initiative aimed to support underprivileged families during the religious festival, ensuring they could celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with dignity and financial relief.

Tea garden workers in Habiganj have begun an indefinite work stoppage demanding payment of overdue wages, rations, and festival bonuses, along with seven other points. The strike started on Monday morning across four estates—Deundi, Lalchan, Mritinga, and Noapara—located in Chunarughat and Madhabpur upazilas. Around 5,000 workers are reportedly facing severe hardship due to weeks of unpaid weekly wages, leading to growing frustration and uncertainty over salaries and bonuses.

A tripartite meeting was held on May 6 in Srimangal between owners, workers, and the labor department, where it was decided that all arrears would be cleared promptly. The meeting also agreed on repairing dilapidated housing before the monsoon and ensuring medical facilities as per labor law. However, the workers allege that the owners failed to implement these decisions, prompting the strike. Workers have been staging sit-ins at local temples instead of reporting to the gardens and factories.

According to the Deundi Tea Garden Panchayat Committee president, the strike will continue until the seven-point demands are met.

A third-gender person named Yasmin, also known as Suman, was stabbed to death and another, Chandni alias Babu, was injured in a knife attack in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi. The incident occurred around midnight on Sunday at a poultry farm near the railway gate in Pirijkandi village under Mirzapur Union. Both victims lived together near the scene. The accused, 35-year-old worker Russell Mostafa, had been employed at the farm for three years.

According to police citing Chandni, an argument broke out between the two victims and Russell outside the farm, leading to the stabbing. Yasmin died on the spot, while locals called emergency services after hearing Chandni’s screams. Police recovered the body and sent it for autopsy, and Chandni was transferred to a private hospital in Dhaka after initial treatment.

Police and locals suspect the attack may have stemmed from a dispute over drug money, as all three were allegedly involved in local drug trade. Authorities have launched an investigation and a manhunt to arrest the accused.

More than one million taka worth of teak trees have been stolen from Satchari National Park in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj. Witnesses reported that two large teak trees were recently taken from the Dumurtola area, while similar thefts occurred a month earlier in Kapai, Kunimora, and Telmachhra areas. Despite repeated incidents, forest officials have been accused of inaction, with reports suggesting that they only file general diaries instead of taking effective measures.

The report alleges that a coordinated syndicate involving forest officials, police, and timber thieves is behind the illegal logging and smuggling of valuable trees. The smugglers reportedly maintain secret communication with law enforcement through messaging apps. Although there were recent gunfights between forest guards and bandits in the nearby Rema-Kalenga forest, police have not taken significant action, leading to public frustration and fear.

Forest range officer Mehedi Hasan said two trees were stolen in the past four months and that cases have been filed with investigations ongoing. Environmental activists warned that continued tree theft threatens biodiversity and ecological balance in Satchari.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain said that measles infection rates have dropped to nearly zero in 18 upazilas where the first phase of the vaccination campaign was conducted. He stated that the national measles vaccination program has achieved 122 percent of its target, with more than 20 million children vaccinated so far. The minister made these remarks on Monday morning after visiting Cumilla Medical College Hospital and Sadar General Hospital.

In response to a question about whether the government would seek an independent investigation from the World Health Organization into measles-related infections and deaths, the minister emphasized that punishment alone cannot solve the problem. He said the government’s top priority is to protect children from measles and ensure that no mother loses her child to the disease.

When asked about alleged irregularities worth 50 million taka in medicine procurement at Cumilla Medical College last year, the minister said that work has already begun and that existing public health issues must be addressed first.

The Dhanua Kamalpur land port in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, will remain closed for seven consecutive days during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. Starting Monday, all import and export activities through the port will be suspended, according to port authorities. Operations are scheduled to resume on June 1.

The port handles the import of 34 types of goods, including stone from India, and exports various Bangladeshi products such as plastic. It plays a significant role in the economic development of northern Jamalpur, providing daily employment for 6,000 to 8,000 workers when operational.

The temporary closure is part of the national holiday schedule for Eid, after which normal trade and labor activities are expected to resume without disruption.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently visiting China, stated that peace talks aimed at ending the conflict between the United States and Iran are moving in the right direction. He described the world as being at a critical moment and expressed gratitude to China for its support in promoting peace.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal to end the war with Iran could be reached as soon as today, while reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defense. Speaking in New Delhi, Rubio noted that progress might have been expected overnight or today but cautioned against drawing conclusions prematurely.

US President Donald Trump separately announced on his social media platform that the United States would maintain its naval blockade on Iran until any agreement is finalized, certified, and signed. The developments highlight ongoing diplomatic efforts involving multiple nations to de-escalate tensions in the region.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a $5 billion financing package for Bangladesh over the next five years to help the country manage rising economic pressures caused by global conflicts and domestic financial challenges. ADB President Masato Kanda made the announcement in Dhaka on Monday during meetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and senior officials. The funds will be used under the 'Integrated Growth Network Development Initiative' to improve connectivity, boost investment, and ensure balanced regional development.

According to ADB, Bangladesh’s import-dependent economy has come under strain due to higher energy, LNG, fertilizer, and transport costs linked to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, alongside persistent inflation and liquidity shortages in the banking sector. The new package will provide about $1 billion annually as part of ADB’s sovereign financing program. During the visit, loan agreements worth $1.4 billion were also signed for energy, transport, climate resilience, and social development projects.

ADB further announced an additional $250 million to address financing gaps and plans to raise its annual sovereign financing for Bangladesh by 20 percent to $2.4 billion, supporting investment-led growth, economic diversification, and governance reforms.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that while significant progress has been made on a potential memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States, it does not mean the two countries are close to signing an agreement. He clarified that once the MoU is finalized, discussions on nuclear issues and other key matters will take place within the next 60 days.

Baghaei emphasized that the negotiation process remains ongoing, with both sides continuing exchanges on various technical and political issues. His comments indicate that while dialogue is active, major hurdles still exist before any formal agreement can be reached.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera, underscores that the diplomatic process between Tehran and Washington is still in progress, with the timeline for nuclear discussions dependent on the completion of the MoU.

Bangladesh Railway has introduced special train coaches exclusively for women passengers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The service was inaugurated on Monday at Kamalapur Railway Station when the Joyentika Express departed with the new coach. The event was attended by Director General Md. Afzal Hossain, Additional Director General (Operations) Md. Nazmul Hasan, and other senior railway officials, who exchanged greetings with passengers and conveyed Eid wishes.

Women passengers expressed satisfaction with the dedicated coaches and thanked the government for this initiative. The Railway Ministry Secretary Md. Fahimul Islam is scheduled to welcome women passengers arriving in Dhaka on the Sonar Bangla Express from Chattogram later today.

According to the announcement, the special coaches will operate on the Dhaka–Sylhet–Dhaka Joyentika Express and the Dhaka–Chattogram–Dhaka non-stop Sonar Bangla Express routes. The service will continue for three days before Eid, from Monday, May 25, to Wednesday, May 27.

A bus traveling toward Paturia caught fire after colliding with a liquefied gas tanker in the Bhartbaur area of Manikganj Sadar upazila on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m., but no injuries or fatalities were reported. The bus was completely burned in the fire.

Police stated that gas leaked from the tanker following the collision, spreading across the area before the bus ignited. The fire caused panic among locals, and traffic on the Dhaka–Aricha highway was halted for about half an hour. Once the situation was brought under control, normal traffic resumed.

According to the officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, police and fire service personnel quickly arrived at the scene and managed to extinguish the fire. Authorities confirmed that all passengers were unharmed and that highway movement has since returned to normal.

More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for this year’s Hajj despite ongoing war in the Middle East, regional tensions, and severe desert heat. According to Saudi authorities, the number of international pilgrims has already surpassed last year’s total, even as air travel disruptions and higher costs followed the Iran-Israel conflict that began in late February. Hajj rituals officially begin Monday, and the total number of pilgrims is expected to rise further.

Extreme temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius have made conditions difficult, with forecasts warning of highs up to 47 degrees. Many pilgrims are struggling to perform prayers outdoors during the day. Saudi authorities have deployed extensive cooling measures at the Grand Mosque, including advanced air-conditioning, mist sprayers, and chilled flooring, while distributing free cold water. Over 50,000 health workers and 3,000 ambulances are on standby, and 144 heatstroke cases have already been treated.

Pilgrims began gathering in Mina on Monday before proceeding to Arafat on Tuesday for the main Hajj rituals, maintaining a spirit of devotion despite the heat and regional instability.

Police in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district arrested eight individuals during a special operation targeting drug offenders and those with outstanding warrants. The arrests were made under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Rajib Al Rashid, and the detainees were sent to court on Monday. Among those arrested were one drug case suspect, one convicted individual, and six others with active warrants. Police also recovered seven yaba tablets during the operation.

According to Rampal police, cases have been filed under the Narcotics Control Act and related legal provisions. The operation was based on confidential information to capture long-term fugitives. Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Rajib Al Rashid stated that the police are maintaining a zero-tolerance policy against drugs, extortion, and crime, and that such operations will continue to ensure public safety.

Local residents welcomed the police action, saying regular drives are necessary to curb drug abuse and criminal activity. The operation was part of a broader anti-crime initiative recently intensified by Bagerhat district police.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei stated that Tehran currently has no plans for an official visit to Pakistan or for Pakistani mediators to travel to Tehran. He emphasized that Iran does not pay attention to any threats. Baghaei noted that recent developments were influenced by mediation efforts from Pakistan and other countries.

He warned that Israel might attempt to obstruct ongoing negotiations, saying Zionist forces are making maximum efforts to prevent an agreement. Baghaei added that countries advocating war and conflict, including Zionist powers, could influence U.S. officials. He also mentioned that once a memorandum of understanding is finalized, discussions on nuclear issues will follow.

According to Baghaei, while many aspects of a potential memorandum with the United States have been agreed upon, this does not mean that both sides are close to signing a deal. If finalized, talks on nuclear and other matters would take place within 60 days.