Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee stated that the government aims to build a self-reliant Bangladesh within the next five years. He made the remarks on Thursday, May 7, during a field inspection of canal re-excavation activities in Ghosherhat area of Chandpur Sadar upazila. The minister said the government has prioritized canal re-excavation as part of its election commitments, emphasizing that the initiative has already created widespread awareness across the country.

According to the minister, the government plans to re-excavate at least 20,000 kilometers of canals nationwide over the next five years. He noted that the program is designed to ensure public benefits by addressing citizens’ needs and interests. The minister also mentioned that various development activities of the government have become visible within two to two and a half months after the national election.

He added that the canal re-excavation initiative will engage local communities to promote national development and public welfare.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for reducing delays in project implementation to ensure faster and higher-quality completion of development work. He made the appeal on Thursday at his office in the Secretariat during a meeting with Shailesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of VA Tech Wabag Ltd, a Chennai-based multinational water technology company.

The meeting discussed water management, purification processes, and ensuring safe water standards in Bangladesh. The minister emphasized that unnecessary delays in development projects hinder the country’s progress and stressed the need to maintain quality alongside speed. He also highlighted the importance of expanding the use of modern water and wastewater treatment technologies for sustainable development.

Special attention was given to the water quality of the Buriganga River, with the minister mentioning plans to restore its vitality by eliminating pollution. Senior officials from the ministry, including Local Government Division Secretary Md. Shahidul Hasan, were present at the meeting.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with French Ambassador Jean-Marc Serre-Charlet at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Thursday. The meeting focused on enhancing a business-friendly environment, expanding investment, improving infrastructure, facilitating trade, and strengthening long-term bilateral partnerships between Bangladesh and France.

During the discussion, Minister Muktadir highlighted that the government is implementing continuous reforms to build a competitive and investment-friendly economic environment. He said initiatives are underway to simplify administrative procedures, digitalize approval processes, and make services faster and more efficient. The minister also emphasized the government’s priority on improving facilities for foreign investors, including easier business registration and service delivery.

Ambassador Serre-Charlet described Bangladesh as an economically promising country in South Asia and expressed interest in expanding French investment. He welcomed the government’s efforts to make the business environment more efficient. The meeting was also attended by Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, acting secretary of the Ministry of Commerce.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Central International Secretary Sadiq Kayem is set to get married on May 13. His bride-to-be, Anika Forayezi, is an MBBS physician. Multiple sources close to Kayem confirmed the news on Thursday.

According to the information available, Anika Forayezi hails from Chauddagram upazila in Cumilla. Her father serves as the vice chairman of Reliance Group and chairman of Probashi Bangla Properties Limited, while also holding key positions in several other organizations.

The marriage ceremony (akd) is scheduled to take place at Dhaka University’s Central Mosque, with DUCSU leaders and university students expected to attend. A formal wedding reception is planned for the same day at a convention center in the capital.

The Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanom Rita, announced that Bogura will be developed into one of Bangladesh’s major aviation hubs by utilizing the potential of the northern region. On Thursday, a delegation visited the site to assess the establishment of an international-standard airport, modern airbase, pilot training center, and cargo facilities. The minister said the initiative follows the Prime Minister’s directive and marks the beginning of a large-scale aviation development plan starting from Bogura.

State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat MP stated that the plan includes constructing a 10,500-foot runway to accommodate both domestic and international aircraft. A cargo facility will also be established to support the export of agricultural and industrial products from the northern region. The government aims to expand Bogura Airport to open new opportunities in communication, trade, and aviation.

The inspection team included Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, Secretary Fahmida Akhter, and senior officials from the ministry and the airport, reflecting high-level coordination in the project’s initial phase.

Voting is underway in the United Kingdom’s local elections on Thursday, with polling stations opening at 7 a.m. The elections cover local councils in England and the semi-autonomous legislatures of Scotland and Wales. Analysts suggest the results could intensify pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party, which may face significant setbacks.

The elections are being viewed as a referendum on Starmer’s turbulent tenure as prime minister. Observers believe that poor results could accelerate his departure and signal a major shift in the country’s political landscape. The vote comes at a time when the Labour Party’s leadership is under scrutiny amid growing political uncertainty.

The outcome of these elections is expected to shape the near-term direction of British politics, potentially influencing both party leadership and policy priorities depending on the scale of Labour’s performance.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon announced that the government plans to invest 5 percent of Bangladesh’s GDP in the education sector. He made the statement on Thursday morning at a UNICEF-organized seminar in Dhaka focused on strengthening innovation in classrooms. The minister said previous governments never invested more than 1.5 percent of GDP in education, and the current administration aims to build skilled human capital through increased investment.

Milon emphasized the need to enhance both education and skills from the primary level and criticized the previous government for failing to implement digital classrooms due to lack of accountability and transparency. He said the current government is moving toward establishing interactive digital classrooms in line with the Prime Minister’s commitment.

Prime Minister’s adviser Mahdi Amin added that initiatives have been taken to ensure education and skill development from the primary level, with long-term plans for digital and active classrooms. He also highlighted the need to reduce the gap between urban and rural education systems and mentioned plans to include a third international-standard language in the curriculum.

In Meherpur, police have returned 82 mobile phones and 49,000 taka to their rightful owners after recovering them through investigations into theft and fraud cases. The handover took place on Thursday morning at the office premises of the Superintendent of Police, where Superintendent Ujjal Kumar Roy personally distributed the recovered items. Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Zaminur Rahman Khan was also present at the event.

According to the district police, the recovered phones were linked to complaints filed at three police stations: 37 in Meherpur Sadar, 29 in Gangni, and 16 in Mujibnagar. The Cyber Crime Investigation Cell also recovered 18 Facebook IDs, 9 WhatsApp IDs, and located two missing persons. Police urged citizens to seek help from law enforcement for any law and order issues and warned against using brokers for overseas travel or engaging with deceptive online applications.

The initiative reflects ongoing efforts by Meherpur police to strengthen public trust and enhance digital crime response capabilities within the district.

Serious allegations have been raised against Barishal Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khairul Alam Suman for embezzling large sums of government funds allocated for the 13th parliamentary election. Reports claim that he inflated the number of polling booths and remote centers in Hizla, Muladi, and Mehendiganj upazilas, creating fake bills and vouchers to misappropriate about Tk 6.25 million. The total allocation for election operations in Barishal was Tk 131.1 million, but discrepancies were found between official records and upazila-level documents.

Sources allege that the DC also withheld payments meant for executive magistrates and other election officials, diverting funds through falsified vouchers. Several officers who questioned the irregularities were reportedly transferred or restricted from administrative access. Additional allegations include misuse of funds for mobile courts, hospitality, fuel, and even renovation of the DC’s bungalow using relief allocations.

Attempts to contact the DC for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to repeated calls or messages. The matter has caused significant unrest within the local administration, though most officials remain silent out of fear of reprisal.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Almojaddedee Alfechani of the Department of Botany has been appointed as the new Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Dhaka. The appointment was announced in a Ministry of Education circular issued on Thursday, approved by the President and Chancellor under Article 13(1) of the Dhaka University Order, 1973. He will serve a four-year term from the date of joining, receiving the same salary and benefits as his current position, and must reside on campus.

Dr. Alfechani has been engaged in teaching and research for over two decades and currently serves as a professor in the Department of Botany. He earned his BSc (Honours) and MSc (Thesis) degrees with first-class first positions from the same department and later obtained a PhD. He is an Associate Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and a Capstone Fellow of the National Defence College.

He has published over a hundred research papers and six international books, supervised multiple PhD and MSc students, and discovered several new plant and algae species. His research contributions include innovations in algae-based water purification nanofilters, supercapacitors, and biosensors.

Import and export activities at the Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh resumed in full swing from 10 a.m. on Thursday. The operations had been suspended for two days due to the announcement of results from the Indian state assembly elections. According to Md. Jahangir Alam, general secretary of the Banglabandha Land Port Importers and Exporters C&F Association, several previously halted goods-laden trucks have now entered the port after receiving clearance from India’s Fulbari customs station.

Alam added that the formation of a new committee at the Fulbari customs station in India may take about a week, which could delay the full restoration of regular trade activities. The resumption marks a return to cross-border trade flow between Bangladesh and India through this key northern land port.

The gradual normalization of operations is expected to ease the backlog of goods and support regional trade once the administrative processes at the Indian customs station are fully completed.

Pakistan’s military has declared that it will counter any anti-state conspiracy with maximum strength. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday night. The statement said that such efforts would be met with even greater power, precision, and resolve than those used against India in 2025.

According to the ISPR, Pakistan is a peace-loving nation, and all efforts of its armed forces are dedicated to maintaining regional peace, stability, and security. The statement emphasized that peace for Pakistan is inseparable from respect, dignity, and sovereign equality. It also noted that the armed forces remain fully aware of evolving geopolitical and regional security dynamics, as well as the adversaries’ attempts to enhance their aggressive capabilities.

The statement further affirmed that Pakistan’s military remains steadfast in its commitment, vigilance, and determination to defend the country. It continues to invest in critical capabilities, advanced technologies, and professional excellence to meet future challenges.

In Kishoreganj’s Austagram upazila, relentless rainfall, upstream floods, and adverse weather have destroyed vast stretches of boro paddy fields, leaving local farmers in despair. Many, including smallholder farmers from Habelipara and Daspara, have seen their crops submerged or spoiled, turning their hopes of a good harvest into financial ruin. Farmer Md. Malek, who cultivated 20 acres on high-interest loans, managed to harvest only a fraction of his crop, with the rest lost under water. The poor quality of the salvaged paddy has further reduced its market value.

Another farmer, Md. Rezaul Islam Rezu, reported similar losses, while on May 2, 2026, farmer Md. Akhtar Hossain of Alinagar village reportedly died of cardiac arrest amid mounting debt and crop failure. Thousands of farmers across Austagram now face the dual burden of natural calamity and loan repayment pressure from moneylenders and NGOs.

The report warns that without urgent government or private assistance, recovering from these losses will be nearly impossible for affected farmers.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Andarabi, said Islamabad is hopeful about a possible agreement between the United States and Iran to end the ongoing war. Speaking at a weekly briefing, he stated that Pakistan would welcome any resolution reached between the two nations and added that if such a deal were signed in Pakistan, it would be a matter of honor. He noted that he was unsure about the length of the draft agreement but remained optimistic that it would be finalized soon.

US President Donald Trump reportedly expects a deal with Iran within a week, according to Fox News journalist Bret Baier, who said the president expressed optimism about the memorandum of understanding during a phone conversation. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told French President Emmanuel Macron that Iran is ready to pursue diplomacy to end the war with the United States and Israel, while prioritizing the protection of Iranian national rights.

The statements from all sides indicate cautious optimism about a diplomatic breakthrough, though the exact terms and timing of any agreement remain uncertain.

A faction of Chhatra Dal activists in Kishoreganj blocked a major road on Thursday morning demanding the cancellation of the newly announced district committee. The protest took place around 11:30 a.m. at Gouranga Bazar intersection in the district town, halting traffic and causing severe congestion. The blockade lasted about half an hour before normal traffic resumed.

Former and current leaders of the district, municipal, and college units of Chhatra Dal participated in the demonstration. Municipal Chhatra Dal joint convener Mohammad Pavel Hasan alleged that the new committee was formed through a syndicate and called on the BNP chairperson to review the decision. He warned that they would not accept any committee formed in this manner and might launch tougher programs in the future.

The central Chhatra Dal had announced a five-member partial committee for the Kishoreganj district branch on May 2, sparking discontent among some activists. The previous committee, announced in May last year, was suspended after 20 days. The exclusion of former general secretary Redwanur Rahman Wakiur from the new lineup has reportedly fueled renewed controversy.