US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley have strongly condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for his treatment of activists detained from a Gaza-bound flotilla. In posts on social media platform X, the senators described Ben-Gvir’s behavior toward the detainees as “disgusting and inhumane,” calling it a reflection of Israel’s broader conduct toward Palestinians.

Senator Merkley said that images of Gaza’s destruction and desperate families explain why people are motivated to protest. Van Hollen questioned how Ben-Gvir might treat detainees behind closed doors if he could act this way in front of cameras. He labeled the minister’s actions “outrageous” and argued that the United States should have imposed sanctions on him long ago.

Both Democratic senators have long advocated for Palestinian rights and previously visited the Rafah border to observe conditions under Israel’s blockade of Gaza, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on social media mocking activists detained from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla known as the Global Sumud Flotilla. The video showed the detained social workers with their hands tied and kneeling while Israel’s national anthem played over loudspeakers. The caption of the post read, “Welcome to Israel.”

According to the report, the activists were captured by Israeli forces from international waters before being featured in the video. The footage and its publication have drawn attention due to the minister’s far-right political stance and the circumstances of the activists’ detention. The report cited Al Jazeera as its source.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding humanitarian efforts directed toward Gaza and the Israeli government’s handling of such missions, though no official responses or further developments were mentioned in the report.

Australia has summoned the Israeli ambassador following a video posted by Israel’s far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The footage showed detained flotilla workers with their hands tied and forced to kneel while the minister appeared to taunt them. The incident prompted strong condemnation from Australia, joining other countries that have expressed outrage.

In a statement on social media platform X, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called the images posted by Ben-Gvir, who is under Australian sanctions, deeply distressing and unacceptable. She condemned both the minister’s actions and the degrading treatment of detainees by Israeli authorities. Wong reiterated Australia’s call for the release of 11 Australian citizens who were part of the flotilla and urged Israel to ensure humane treatment of all detainees in line with international obligations.

Wong confirmed that she instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to summon the Israeli ambassador to deliver Australia’s message firmly.

A rally was held in Dhaka on Thursday in front of the National Press Club, calling for global humanitarian unity and protesting alleged persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, Assam, and Kashmir. The event, organized by Nagorik Parishad, was titled “Rally demanding global humanitarian unity to stop Delhi’s persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, Assam, and Kashmir.”

Nagorik Parishad convener Mohammad Shamsuddin presided over the gathering, alleging that Muslims in various Indian states face continuous discrimination and violence. He accused Delhi’s communal attitude of poisoning the lives of Indian Muslims and criticized the contradiction between beef-related killings and India’s status as a major beef exporter. Other speakers, including World Muslim Ummah chairman Dr. Farid Ahmed Khan and Urdu-speaking minority leader Afzal Warsi, highlighted historical contributions of Muslims to India and ongoing identity crises since partition.

Speakers also emphasized national unity in Bangladesh to protect sovereignty and communal harmony. The event concluded with calls for impartial investigations into violence in Assam and appeals for international human rights attention to the situation in India.

A satirical Indian group called the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has gained widespread attention after surpassing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Instagram followers. Within hours of this surge, the Modi government shut down the CJP’s Instagram account and banned its X account in India, according to the group. Founder Abhijit Deepak shared a screenshot of the blocked account and urged his more than 10 million followers to protest the move, saying the group had only demanded accountability from the education minister following a student’s suicide.

The CJP has been calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan since the cancellation of India’s national pre-medical entrance exam over alleged question paper leaks. The exam is scheduled to be retaken in June, but the cancellation has triggered frustration among students nationwide, with Indian media reporting at least two student suicides linked to the incident.

India’s legal framework allows the government to order social media platforms to remove content or block accounts on national security or public order grounds, though such directives are rarely made public.

The highest level of the state has directed law enforcement agencies to swiftly arrest the suspect involved in the attempted rape of a Jahangirnagar University student. The university’s proctor, A K M Rashidul Alam, announced the directive during a press conference held at the university senate hall on Thursday. He said that since the May 12 incident, multiple law enforcement units have been jointly working to identify and capture the perpetrator, and that operations have intensified following the latest state-level instruction.

According to university administration sources, a high-level investigation committee was formed on May 16 as part of the ongoing response. The university has also announced a reward of Tk 50,000 for information leading to the suspect’s identification and arrest. Various agencies, including the district police, RAB, DB, PBI, CID, and DMP teams, are conducting both manual and technology-based searches nationwide.

Law enforcement’s cyber and intelligence units continue their technical investigation, expressing optimism about apprehending the suspect soon. The university administration is being regularly updated on the progress of the operation.

The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) has warned that declining vaccination coverage could increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Bangladesh. In a statement released on Thursday, the organization emphasized that vaccines should be viewed not only as tools for preventing infectious diseases but also as a key strategy to reduce antibiotic use, curb drug-resistant infections, and protect public health. The warning came alongside a new policy brief from the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP), led by ICDDR,B and One Health Trust, highlighting the critical role of vaccines in reducing infections and antibiotic consumption.

The policy brief, titled “The Importance of Vaccines in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Bangladesh,” was developed through consultations among government agencies, researchers, academics, development partners, and animal health experts. It noted that while Bangladesh’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has achieved major successes, including eliminating neonatal tetanus and polio, recent measles outbreaks reflect declining immunity due to disruptions in routine vaccination and reduced public trust.

The brief recommended maintaining universal child immunization coverage, expanding access to proven AMR-preventive vaccines, and integrating vaccination more effectively into Bangladesh’s national AMR strategy.

A fish trader named Abu Siddiq, aged 40, died after being struck by lightning in Tatuakanda village under Khagkanda Union of Araihazar upazila in Narayanganj. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday when he was working in the yard of his home. Locals attempted to take him to a nearby hospital, but he died before reaching there.

Abu Siddiq was the son of the late Asmat Ali and had long been involved in the local fish trade. According to local sources, dark clouds gathered suddenly, followed by rain and a lightning strike that fatally injured him. His sudden death has cast a pall of grief over the area, with family members and neighbors mourning deeply.

Local representatives have expressed condolences to the bereaved family, and the community remains in shock following the tragic event.

The article traces the transformation of Bengal from the late seventeenth century through the rise of British colonial control. It begins with Job Charnock’s arrival in Kolkata in 1690 and the subsequent establishment of English trading settlements supported by local Hindu intermediaries. The narrative describes how the East India Company’s commercial expansion and alliances with local elites led to the erosion of Mughal authority, culminating in the battles of Plassey and Buxar and the Company’s acquisition of revenue rights in 1765.

Following the introduction of direct revenue collection, the Company dismantled the Mughal-era land system and imposed heavy cash taxes on peasants. This policy, combined with exploitative trade practices, triggered the catastrophic famine of 1769–1770, known as the Great Bengal Famine. Millions perished as food prices soared and relief was denied. British officials, including Warren Hastings, continued to increase revenue despite mass starvation. The famine marked a turning point, consolidating British colonial authority and transforming Kolkata into the administrative capital of British Bengal.

The account concludes that the famine and Company rule reshaped Bengal’s social and economic landscape, enriching colonial officials and their local collaborators while devastating rural society.

A young man named Fazle Rabbi was beaten to death by a mob in Sherpur upazila of Bogura on May 20, allegedly over an attempt to steal a transformer. The incident occurred in Chandeshwar village under Kusumbi Union. Following the incident, the victim’s mother filed a murder case at Sherpur Police Station against 50 to 60 unidentified individuals on the night of May 20.

According to the case statement, Fazle Rabbi, a 24-year-old electrician from Nata Bari village in Dhunot upazila, left home on the evening of May 19 for work. The next morning, police informed his family that he and another man, Jahangir Hossain, had been caught and beaten by locals while allegedly trying to steal an irrigation pump transformer. Rabbi was declared dead at Sherpur Upazila Health Complex, while Jahangir remained hospitalized with serious injuries.

Police said the injured were rescued and sent to the hospital, and the deceased’s body was sent to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital for autopsy. The investigation to identify those involved is ongoing.

The High Court has dismissed a writ petition seeking an investigation into the 18-month activities of the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar delivered the order on Thursday, May 21, following a hearing. Lawyer M.K. Rahman represented the petitioner, while Attorney General Md. Ruhul Kuddus Kajol appeared for the state.

According to the petitioners, the interim government created disorder across various sectors, including the economy and health, during its tenure. They argued that a commission of inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act was necessary to prevent future unelected takeovers. The court heard the arguments and later dismissed the petition.

The Yunus-led interim government took office three days after the fall of the Awami League government during the 2024 movement and stepped down on February 17, when the BNP formed a new government following its election victory on February 12.

Two journalists from Channel One were injured when BNP-backed lawyers attacked them during the Chattogram District Bar Association election on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. inside the auditorium of the Lawyers’ Annex Building while voting was underway. The victims were bureau chief Shahnewaz Riton and cameraman Amit Das, who were broadcasting live from the polling center.

Eyewitnesses said the journalists were assaulted while covering the ongoing vote. Jamaat-backed candidates had boycotted the election earlier, and Awami League-aligned lawyers were unable to participate due to organizational restrictions, resulting in a one-sided vote. The attackers reportedly suspected that the live broadcast was highlighting the uncontested nature of the election.

Shahnewaz Riton stated that he had permission from the election commission to go live from the center. He alleged that several BNP-affiliated lawyers confronted them, and after an argument, 8–10 individuals physically assaulted him and Amit Das before labeling them as Awami League agents and forcing them out of the polling center.

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has started notifying thousands of employees worldwide about job cuts, sparking renewed discussion in the technology sector. According to reports, around 8,000 employees have been affected, with emails sent early in the morning beginning from Meta’s Singapore office and later reaching Europe and the United States. The layoffs primarily target engineering and product teams, and further reductions may occur later in the year.

At the same time, Meta is reallocating about 7,000 employees to new AI-focused teams. These teams will work on artificial intelligence technologies, automation systems, and AI-based product development. The move is part of Meta’s long-term strategic shift toward AI, emphasizing smaller, faster teams to improve efficiency and accountability.

The company has also announced significant investments in AI infrastructure, data centers, and new technology development, signaling a major reorientation of its business priorities around artificial intelligence.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he might run for Israel’s next prime minister after completing his current duties in the United States. He made the remark on May 20, 2026, while speaking to reporters before the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s commencement ceremony. Trump claimed he was extremely popular in Israel, citing a poll showing his popularity at 99 percent, though he did not specify the source of the survey. USA Today reported that the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on his remarks.

Benjamin Netanyahu is currently serving as Israel’s prime minister, having held the position across multiple terms since 1996. Trump has long been a strong supporter of Netanyahu, particularly amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, where the United States and Israel have acted as allies. When asked about Netanyahu, Trump described him as a “wonderful person” and a “wartime prime minister” who, in his view, is not properly appreciated in Israel.

Trump’s comments followed earlier statements about potential U.S. actions against Iran and the possibility of a diplomatic agreement to end hostilities.

Rail communication between Khulna and northern Bangladesh resumed on Wednesday morning, May 20, 2026, after being suspended for about five hours due to a freight train derailment in Jhenaidah. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. near Sabdalpur Station in Kotchandpur when a wagon of a freight train traveling from Mongla to Ishwardi derailed. Train services between Khulna and Rajshahi, as well as other northern regions, were halted following the accident.

According to Kotchandpur Station Master Nayon Ali, a rescue train from Khulna reached the site at 7 a.m. and completed recovery operations. Rail traffic was restored by 8 a.m., bringing services back to normal. The report did not mention any casualties or damage beyond the derailment itself.

The quick restoration of service minimized disruption to freight and passenger movement between southern and northern Bangladesh, ensuring normal operations resumed within the same morning.