A surge in organized robberies has gripped the Sitakunda section of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, one of Bangladesh’s busiest transport routes. According to local sources, gangs are attacking vehicles at night by throwing heavy objects to force them to stop, then robbing passengers at gunpoint. On May 8, robbers attempted to attack a police microbus in Bhatiari Union, but officers managed to capture one suspect. The following night, a microbus carrying wedding guests was looted in Nunachhara, with cash, phones, and jewelry taken within minutes.

Residents and travelers allege that inadequate night patrols have emboldened the gangs, making key areas such as Nunachhara, Kumira, and Faujdarhat increasingly unsafe. Transport operators warn that continued insecurity could disrupt trade and logistics linked to Chattogram port, threatening the national economy. Meanwhile, Sitakunda town is also facing a rise in thefts, drug activity, and youth gang violence, heightening public anxiety.

Police say investigations are underway and patrols have been reinforced, but locals question when visible improvements in safety will occur.

Iran has deployed domestically produced light submarines, known as the 'Persian Gulf Dolphins', in the strategic Strait of Hormuz to counter potential enemy warships. The announcement was made on May 10, 2026, by Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of the Iranian Navy. He stated that the submarines are designed to detect and destroy hostile vessels and can remain submerged for extended periods in the area’s strategic waters.

According to the naval commander, the number of these light submarines is being increased based on existing threats, operational needs, and capabilities. The deployment was carried out as part of a mission honoring the martyrs of the Dena destroyer, during which the submarines surfaced before returning to deeper waters to continue their assigned operations.

The move highlights Iran’s emphasis on strengthening its maritime defense capabilities using indigenous technology, particularly in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has stated that extrajudicial killings can never be justified and called for ensuring public safety. In a Facebook post on Sunday, he referred to recent incidents where several people were killed in Naogaon, Chattogram, and Gazipur, including three individuals beaten to death in Gazipur’s Kaliakoir area on suspicion of cattle theft.

He questioned whether these killings were signs of social disorder or expressions of public frustration caused by the lack of proper law enforcement. Dr. Rahman emphasized that no killing without trial is acceptable and that the rule of law cannot be established unless the Home Ministry, Law Ministry, and Judiciary gain public trust. He said the government’s goodwill and proper initiatives are essential to resolve such social problems effectively.

According to him, no government program can succeed if public safety is ignored, and ensuring citizens’ security must come before pursuing transparent development initiatives.

The Bangladesh Navy is carrying out continuous operations to safeguard the country’s maritime boundaries, marine resources, and national economic interests. Alongside ensuring the security of commercial and fuel-carrying vessels, the Navy has been implementing two major initiatives: the ‘Jatka Elimination Prevention Operation 2026’ since February 15, 2026, and a 58-day fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal starting April 15, 2026.

Under the Jatka prevention campaign, coordinated operations are being conducted across nine coastal districts including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barishal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, and Barguna. In Barishal, the naval ship BNS Titas is leading patrols and special missions. The Navy is seizing and destroying illegal fishing nets such as current nets, mosquito nets, and China duari nets, while encouraging fishermen to follow government directives.

So far, illegal nets worth about Tk 514.68 crore, totaling 34.08 million meters, have been confiscated, along with 861 prohibited nets and one boat carrying 37 kilograms of jatka. The operation will continue until May 15, 2026, with three naval ships deployed to enforce the fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal.

The Teesta Battalion (61 BGB) has intensified security measures along the Patgram border in Lalmonirhat to prevent illegal push-in and smuggling. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members are maintaining maximum alert across the area, conducting regular patrols and enhancing intelligence surveillance to stop unauthorized entry.

According to the battalion’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Syed Fazle Munim, the BGB is operating under a zero-tolerance policy to curb smuggling and illegal infiltration. Special attention is being given to monitoring suspicious individuals and vehicles in the border region. The initiative aims to reduce cross-border crimes such as drug trafficking, cattle smuggling, and human trafficking to the lowest possible level.

The strengthened vigilance reflects BGB’s continued efforts to maintain border security and prevent criminal activities that threaten stability in the frontier areas.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s central military headquarters Khatam al-Anbiya, met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iranian media reports on May 10, 2026. No photos or videos of the meeting were released, but reports said Abdollahi presented a detailed report to Khamenei.

The report covered the readiness of Iran’s armed forces, including the army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), security and border police, the defense ministry, and the Basij forces. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had earlier mentioned a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the Supreme Leader on May 7, though the exact timing was not specified.

Since reported U.S. and Israeli attacks on Khamenei’s residence, no audio or video of the Supreme Leader has been made public, with Iranian media only publishing his written messages.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has initiated its first-ever pre-monsoon Aedes mosquito larvae survey to prevent dengue and chikungunya in the capital. The program was officially inaugurated on Sunday at Buriganga Hall of Nagar Bhaban by DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam. A total of 2,250 houses—30 from each of DSCC’s 75 wards—were selected randomly for the 12-day survey, conducted jointly by DSCC and the Directorate General of Health Services’ Communicable Disease Control unit, involving 36 field workers.

To ensure data accuracy, the modern Kobo Toolbox system is being used. The results will be analyzed using Breteau, House, Container, and Pupa indices to identify potential dengue hotspots. During the launch, Abdus Salam emphasized the importance of scientific and effective measures to protect citizens from dengue, warning field workers against negligence.

Following the inauguration, the administrator inspected the central veterinary hospital at Fulbaria, where larvae and stagnant water were found. He expressed dissatisfaction and ordered immediate legal action and larvicide spraying. DSCC stated that mosquito control operations will continue alongside the survey.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam stated that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had instructed law enforcement agencies to use lethal weapons and 'shoot on sight' during the July-August movement. He made the remarks on Sunday at a press conference in his office. On the same day, a tribunal ordered the formation of formal charges against 28 individuals in a crimes against humanity case related to the killing of nine people in Mohammadpur.

According to Aminul Islam, a conversation between Sheikh Hasina and then Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh revealed such directives. He described the order as inhumane and horrific, claiming it led to indiscriminate shootings across the country that killed thousands. He further said that on July 18 and 19, 2024, drones and helicopters were used to fire on students and civilians in Mohammadpur, resulting in many casualties, including the killing of Faiyaz, which deeply moved the nation.

The prosecutor added that the Mohammadpur case includes allegations of superior command responsibility, individual responsibility, and targeted killing. The tribunal has set June 8 as the date to begin witness testimony.

The Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association has called for the introduction of an integrated one-stop service to simplify the process of obtaining and renewing licenses for restaurants. At a press conference held on Sunday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, the association presented an 11-point demand to address persistent challenges in the sector, including harassment and delays caused by the need to secure certificates from 10 to 12 different agencies.

The demands also include keeping VAT and tax rates at a tolerable level in the upcoming budget, restoring gas connections, stopping harassment under the guise of raids, preventing corporate dominance, implementing the declaration of the sector as an industry, and ensuring training for unskilled workers under government management. Association leaders said the sector is still struggling to recover from the pandemic, while rising fuel and commodity prices have worsened the situation.

They urged the government to take prompt action to implement these demands, warning that continued tax pressure and unregulated competition from unregistered restaurants pose risks to both public health and the sustainability of the industry.

Iranian military officials have indicated that Tehran may abandon its policy of 'strategic patience' following recent attacks and heightened tensions. They stated that the country's coastal areas and oil tankers have been targeted, prompting Iran to strengthen its military preparedness.

Officials warned that any nation planning attacks on Iran’s territory, energy facilities, or oil tankers would face severe consequences, though no specific country was named. A military spokesperson said that if adversaries take military action against Iran, they will encounter 'new weapons, new warfare methods, and new battlefield surprises.' He emphasized that Iran is ready to confront any potential conflict.

The spokesperson also cautioned that countries supporting U.S. sanctions against Iran could face difficulties in navigating ships through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling potential regional disruptions if tensions escalate further.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu announced that around 20,000 kilometers of rivers, canals, and reservoirs will be excavated across Bangladesh over the next five years. He made the statement while inaugurating the re-excavation of a canal from Daser Hat Chhara to the Assistant Commissioner’s connection point in Holokhana Union of Kurigram. The minister said the initiative could bring a revolutionary change in the country’s water management system.

He recalled that former President Ziaur Rahman had launched a canal excavation program in 1977 to boost agricultural production and expand irrigation facilities, which had enabled Bangladesh to export rice for the first time. The current program, revived by the BNP, aims to fulfill that earlier vision. According to the minister, the project will enhance agricultural productivity through modern irrigation, create opportunities for fish farming and duck rearing, and help control floods and waterlogging.

The excavation initiative is being implemented under the Employment Generation Program for the Poorest (EGPP) allocation, with local officials, political leaders, and residents attending the inauguration ceremony.

A Chattogram court has sentenced five former officials of Janata Bank to eight years in prison for embezzling Tk 33.9 million from the bank’s Sheikh Mujib Road corporate branch. Each convict was also fined Tk 4.6 million, with an additional one-year jail term in case of non-payment. The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Md. Mizanur Rahman.

The convicted officials are former branch officers Md. Abu Taiyeb, Babul Chandra Majumder, Ronendra Bikash Saha, Moslem Uddin, and former Senior Principal Officer of the bank’s head office Md. Saeed Hossain. Another accused, Nurul Huda, was acquitted, while proceedings against Abu Bakar Siddique remain suspended pending rule disposal. According to the Anti-Corruption Commission’s prosecutor, the charges were proven through testimony from 12 witnesses.

Case records show that between January 1999 and March 2000, several bank officials and clients illegally transferred funds from various accounts and withdrew the money through current and STD accounts. The case was filed on April 6, 2000, and after a lengthy investigation, the charge sheet was submitted in June 2011, with the trial beginning in March 2013.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will begin its special truck sale program from Monday ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, continuing until May 21. The initiative was confirmed in a press release issued on Sunday. Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir will officially inaugurate the program beside the PSC building in Agargaon. The operation will distribute subsidized essential goods including edible oil, sugar, and lentils to low-income families holding TCB cards.

According to the announcement, 720 mobile trucks will operate across the country, including 50 in Dhaka, 20 in Chattogram, 15 in each of six divisional cities, and 10 in each of 56 other districts. Each truck will serve around 400 people daily, excluding Fridays. Consumers can purchase up to two liters of edible oil at Tk 130 per liter, one kilogram of sugar at Tk 80, and two kilograms of lentils at Tk 70 per kilogram.

The TCB expects to sell about 13,939 metric tons of goods through the trucks and 34,848 metric tons to 7.2 million cardholder families in May under its regular subsidized program.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced its ambition to become a ruling party representing the people by 2036, according to its northern regional chief organizer, Sarjis Alam. He made the statement on Sunday afternoon at the party’s temporary office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, during the announcement of candidates for 100 upazilas and municipalities in the upcoming local government elections.

Sarjis Alam said that in the first phase, candidates have been declared for five of the 13 city corporations, with the remaining names to be announced soon. Out of more than a thousand applications received, 100 candidates were selected after scrutiny. A second phase of 100 more candidate announcements is planned by next May. He added that individuals from other political parties with clean reputations may also apply, but those linked to fascism or criminal offenses will be excluded.

The NCP is preparing independently for elections while strengthening its grassroots organization. The first phase includes candidates from several districts in the Rangpur division, with names announced for both upazila chairman and municipal mayor positions.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced candidates for 100 upazilas and municipalities as part of its initial list for the upcoming local government elections. The announcement was made on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at the party’s temporary office by chief organizer Sarjis Alam, who confirmed that the declared names include 100 NCP-supported candidates for upazila chairman and municipal mayor positions.

According to Sarjis Alam, the party received over a thousand applications for nomination. From these, 100 names were selected for the first phase, with a second list of another 100 candidates expected to be announced on May 20, before the upcoming Eid. He added that the selection process will continue in phases. Alam also stated that individuals from other political parties who are considered acceptable, have no record of oppression, and are not linked to fascist or criminal activities may apply to become NCP candidates.

The announcement marks the beginning of NCP’s phased rollout of candidates for local government positions across the country.