Four people were killed and at least 20 others injured when a dump truck collided with a passenger bus in Shimulia Kuthipara area of Khoksa upazila, Kushtia, on Saturday morning. The crash occurred around 11 a.m. when the bus, traveling from Daulatdia in Rajbari, was struck by a sand-laden dump truck coming from the opposite direction, causing the bus to plunge into a roadside pond. Local residents and fire service personnel jointly carried out rescue operations, pulling passengers from the submerged vehicle.

Two of the deceased were identified as Nabil Hossain, 28, from Kamalapur in Khoksa, and Rafia Khatun, 15, from Philipnagar in Daulatpur. The identities of the other two victims remain unknown. Witnesses said the dump truck was speeding and lost control before hitting the bus. Police have seized both vehicles and are working to identify the remaining victims.

Several of the injured were taken to Khoksa Upazila Health Complex, where two were declared dead, and others in critical condition were transferred to Kushtia General Hospital, where two more succumbed to their injuries.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a Tk 60,000 crore refinancing and support fund to reopen closed factories and generate new employment opportunities. The central bank expects the initiative to create jobs for more than 2.5 million people. The announcement was made by Governor Mostakur Rahman at a press conference held at the bank’s headquarters on Saturday. He said the country’s economic growth had declined over the past three years, with GDP growth falling from 5.8 percent to 4.2 percent and possibly reaching 3.7 percent this year. Key sectors such as garments, textiles, steel, ceramics, information technology, and manufacturing have been severely affected.

According to the central bank, Tk 41,000 crore will be distributed under a refinancing scheme, while Tk 19,000 crore will come from various support programs. The refinancing portion includes allocations for closed industries, CMSME, agriculture, export diversification, and developing northern Bangladesh as an agricultural hub. The support fund covers pre-shipment credit, small entrepreneurs, leather, youth employment, rural activities, frozen fish exports, green investment, overseas employment, startups, and the creative economy.

Bangladesh Bank expects the fund to boost industrial revival, rural economic activities, and export growth, with specific allocations aimed at job creation both domestically and abroad.

Within three months of taking oath as a Member of Parliament, Saeed Al Noman, president of the Jatiyatabadi Pat Shramik Dal, has introduced notable changes in Chattogram-10 constituency, covering Double Mooring, Pahartali, and Halishahar. His initiatives have focused on education, healthcare, and public welfare, with growing numbers of beneficiaries. Observers say his actions could soon set a national example.

During the SSC examinations, he arranged shaded waiting areas, seating, safe drinking water, and snacks for guardians outside ten schools. He took responsibility for the education of martyr Faruk’s children and donated Tk 8.5 lakh for the higher education of missile victim Abul Mohsin’s daughter. Following a gas cylinder explosion in Halishahar, he visited victims, ensured their medical care, and provided Tk 20,000 in immediate aid. He also supported an ailing female party leader, inspiring local activists.

In parliament, Noman raised issues of waterlogging, water supply, drug abuse, and healthcare mismanagement in Chattogram. He urged the health minister to establish a modern specialized hospital in the city and one hospital in every constituency. On Independence Day, he honored over fifty freedom fighters with a discussion and special diaries to record their reflections.

Voting is taking place in a festive atmosphere for the biennial election of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce, the country’s second-largest business organization. The election, being held at the World Trade Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., features 53 candidates contesting 24 posts. Businesspeople in Chittagong have turned the event into a celebration after a 13-year gap. However, one panel announced a boycott on the eve of the election, alleging irregularities.

According to chamber sources, 12 directors will be elected from the general category, six from the associate category, and six from the town association and trade group categories, forming a 24-member board. The elected directors will later choose a president and two vice presidents. Two main panels—United Business Forum and Sammilito Byabosayee Parishad—are competing, along with 13 independent candidates. The Sammilito Byabosayee Parishad withdrew, calling the process a farce due to alleged lack of transparency.

The last direct election was held in 2013. Since then, committees were appointed by local MP M.A. Latif until his panel resigned following the fall of the Awami League government. Around 6,780 voters are participating under tight security.

Bkash, the country’s largest mobile financial service provider, has modernized the library of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in Dhaka as part of its social responsibility initiative. The modernization was carried out in memory of late Bkash official Mahfuz Sadiq, a former student of the school. The upgraded facility now allows around fifty students to read simultaneously and borrow books using membership cards.

The renovation included structural improvements and the addition of several high-configuration desktop computers with internet access, enabling students to read e-books from home and abroad. A commemorative event was held at the school to honor Mahfuz Sadiq, attended by Bkash executives, school authorities, alumni, and his family members.

Bkash has been supporting reading programs since 2014 through partnerships with the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, distributing over 400,000 books to more than 3,000 institutions and benefiting 3.4 million readers. The company continues to modernize libraries across educational institutions nationwide.

The Narayanganj Sadar Upazila administration has distributed modern educational and environmental equipment to several institutions under the 'Climate-Resilient Campus Initiative'. The event was held on Saturday afternoon at the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, with District Commissioner Md. Raihan Kabir as the chief guest and Upazila Nirbahi Officer S.M. Fayez Uddin presiding. Officials from various government departments, teachers, and students attended the ceremony.

According to the district commissioner, the initiative aims to ensure safe, healthy, and eco-friendly campuses. Distributed items included sanitary pad vending machines, color-coded dustbins, sustainable water bottles, Swiss water filters, and interactive digital whiteboards. These tools are expected to promote hygiene, waste segregation, reduced plastic use, and paperless classrooms. The UNO stated that in the first phase, 17 secondary schools and madrasas received the equipment, with plans to expand the program to all institutions in the upazila.

The administration also plans to organize training for teachers on climate change, waste management, and health awareness as part of the broader program.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a young man with 40,000 yaba tablets during a pre-dawn operation in a border area of Cumilla on May 23, 2026. The operation, conducted by a special patrol team from Lakshmipur Border Outpost under the 10 BGB Battalion, took place around 3:30 a.m. in Durlovpur, about four kilometers inside Bangladesh from the zero line. The suspect, identified as Md. Abu Sayeed, 24, from South Suryanagar village in Sadar Dakshin upazila, was apprehended after a search of his bag revealed the narcotics.

According to BGB sources, the seized yaba consignment was likely being smuggled into the country for distribution. The estimated market value of the drugs is several crore taka. The detainee reportedly admitted involvement in drug transport during initial questioning. A case under the Narcotics Control Act is being prepared, and both the suspect and the recovered drugs have been handed over to Sadar Dakshin Police Station.

BGB officials stated that surveillance and anti-smuggling operations along the border have been intensified to curb drug trafficking and protect youth from narcotics.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Friday as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict in the Middle East. Iran confirmed it is considering a new peace proposal from the United States but warned that major differences remain before any agreement can be reached. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the visit should not be viewed as a turning point, citing deep and extensive divisions between Washington and Tehran.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for progress in ending the conflict through dialogue, though the situation became more complicated after US and Israeli attacks on February 28. Pakistan had previously hosted direct talks between the US and Iran in April, but those discussions failed to produce a lasting agreement. President Donald Trump described the current situation as a “borderline stalemate,” balancing between peace prospects and renewed conflict risks.

During the Tehran visit, Asim Munir met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while a Qatari delegation also held talks with Iran’s foreign minister. Iran stated that although multiple countries are engaged in peace diplomacy, Pakistan has not yet assumed an official mediating role.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed disappointment after the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ended without any consensus. He described the outcome as a missed opportunity to strengthen global security. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said Guterres appreciated the participation of member states but regretted that the conference failed to deliver results at a time of serious threats to international security.

Guterres urged all nations to use diplomacy and dialogue to reduce tensions and nuclear risks. He reiterated that achieving a world free of nuclear weapons remains the United Nations’ highest disarmament priority.

According to analysts cited in the report, growing global tensions, regional conflicts, and a lack of trust among nuclear-armed states have made it increasingly difficult to reach consensus at such conferences.

A protest was held in Feni on Friday night demanding the withdrawal of Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sonagazi-Daganbhuiyan Circle) Syed Moubid Raihan. Local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders led the demonstration, which began at Sonagazi Zero Point and ended in front of the Sonagazi Model Police Station. Protesters accused the officer of providing shelter to banned Chhatra League cadres and engaging in irregularities.

Speakers at the protest, including local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders, alleged that the officer was involved in misconduct, supported youth gangs, and conducted illegal arbitration for money. They demanded an investigation into the allegations and his immediate removal. Some leaders claimed that local residents had long expressed dissatisfaction over his activities.

Attempts to contact Syed Moubid Raihan for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his office went unanswered. Sonagazi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kamrul Islam confirmed that the protest took place on the road but denied that the police station was surrounded.

Authorities in Dhaka have begun using artificial intelligence (AI) cameras to automatically detect and prosecute traffic law violations across major roads and the elevated expressway. The pilot project, launched in early May 2026, has already processed cases using footage from over 2,000 cameras. The AI system identifies five types of offenses, including red signal violations, driving against traffic, blocking lanes, and stopping outside designated areas. Notices are sent to registered vehicle owners via SMS and post, with 15 days allowed for settlement or appeal. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) reports a sharp decline in overspeeding incidents since the system’s introduction.

Traffic officials express optimism about the initiative’s potential to improve compliance, while drivers and transport experts remain divided. Drivers argue that licensed and registered vehicles face stricter enforcement, whereas unregistered and illegal vehicles continue to operate freely. Experts emphasize that without controlling unregistered vehicles and informal transport, lasting discipline on Dhaka’s roads will remain elusive.

The DMP plans to expand AI features to detect mobile phone use and seatbelt violations. Officials say the government is also considering broader measures to regulate battery-powered rickshaws and unregistered vehicles to sustain traffic improvements.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, stated that Indian hegemony poses a threat to South Asian security. He urged the people of Bangladesh, along with political parties and the government, to work together to counter this influence. Rahman made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Persecution of Muslims in India: Politics, Identity and Minority Rights Conflict,” organized by Friends of Humanity.

The seminar was held at the National Press Club in Dhaka, chaired by Dr. Khondaker Rashedul Haque, chairman of the organizing body. Prominent journalist and academic Md. Shah Alam presented a paper highlighting recent persecution and human rights violations against Muslims and other minorities in India. Other speakers included Professor Dr. Shajahan Khan, AB Party General Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad, and former army officer Lieutenant Colonel Hasinur Rahman.

The discussion centered on regional security concerns and the implications of minority rights issues in India for neighboring countries, particularly Bangladesh.

The first day of Eid-ul-Azha train travel from Dhaka began on Saturday with relatively low passenger pressure. The Dhaka–Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express departed at 6 a.m., marking the start of the holiday exodus. Trains to other destinations left the capital according to schedule, though passengers reported slight delays of 15 to 30 minutes.

According to travelers, the lighter crowd on the first day made the journey smoother, with no major issues in seating or ticketing. The Director General of Bangladesh Railway, Afzal Hossain, visited several platforms at Kamalapur Station to check on passenger conditions and online ticketing performance. Passengers expressed satisfaction with the manageable crowd but called for improved onboard service quality.

Railway officials assured that service issues would be addressed gradually, and the day’s operations proceeded without major disruptions, easing concerns about schedule breakdowns during the Eid rush.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the war with Iran is nearing its end, speaking at a rally in Suffern, New York. He declared that Tehran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and asserted that the conflict would soon be over. Trump also mentioned that Americans would soon see unprecedented positive economic figures, including a decline in car prices.

In a separate interview with CBS News, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the president remains committed to giving diplomacy more time as talks with Iran continue. She added that Trump keeps all options open and has made clear what consequences Tehran would face if no agreement is reached.

The statements reflect the administration’s dual approach of maintaining diplomatic engagement while signaling readiness for alternative measures should negotiations fail.

At least 24 people have died across Afghanistan following heavy rains and flash floods over the past 48 hours, local and disaster officials confirmed on Friday. The worst-hit area was Baghlan province in the north, where 15 people were killed. Two deaths were reported in Badakhshan in the northeast, and one in Wardak in central Afghanistan.

Farooq Akhpowak, spokesperson for the Baghlan governor, said the floods caused 15 deaths and left many others injured. A local official in Badakhshan reported that two people were missing and more than a hundred houses were destroyed. The flooding followed intense rainfall that began on Wednesday, affecting multiple provinces.

Officials said the heavy downpour triggered landslides and widespread damage to homes and crops, compounding the humanitarian challenges in several regions.