Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly exploring a plan to purchase the Chagos Islands directly from Mauritius, potentially undermining UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initiative to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius. According to a report by The Telegraph, White House officials have drafted alternative proposals to bypass Britain and negotiate directly with Mauritius to ensure continued U.S. control over the strategic Diego Garcia military base.

The report states that among several options under review, the idea of buying the islands has been presented to President Trump by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent, though it is not yet the main policy choice. The renewed focus on Diego Garcia’s strategic importance follows rising tensions involving Iran and China’s expanding naval capabilities. Analysts cited in the report warn that if Mauritius, seen as close to China, gains control, it could heighten maritime intelligence risks.

The British government remains committed to its agreement with Mauritius, under which the islands would be transferred and the U.S. would lease Diego Garcia for 99 years. A British minister recently said there is no realistic prospect of the U.S. purchasing the islands.

Detective Branch (DB) police in Jhalakathi arrested Sumon Chakraborty, the priest of the Kalibari Temple, with 20 yaba tablets from the Shitalakhola area of the town on Sunday evening. The arrest took place around 7 p.m. during a DB operation. Following the incident, the Kalibari Temple authority issued a press release announcing Sumon Chakraborty’s expulsion from his position as priest.

The arrest of a priest from one of the city’s major temples with illegal drugs has become a widely discussed topic in Jhalakathi. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Mahmud Hasan of Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station confirmed that Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Tariful Islam filed a regular case against the accused under Section 36(1) Schedule 10(a) of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018.

The case is now under investigation, and local authorities are proceeding according to the legal framework outlined in the narcotics law.

Iraq’s national football team faced an unexpected controversy upon arriving in the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Star striker Aymen Hussein was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours by US immigration authorities at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. After the lengthy interrogation and a detailed inspection of his mobile phone, Hussein was eventually allowed to enter the country. However, the team’s official photographer, Talal Salah, was denied entry after being held for more than ten hours and having his phone searched.

According to an Iraqi Football Association official, US Customs and Border Protection officers closely monitored the team upon arrival. Hussein, aged 30, was separated from his teammates immediately after disembarking. His decisive goal against Bolivia in the playoffs had secured Iraq’s place in the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

The incident has cast a shadow over Iraq’s historic qualification, raising concerns about the team’s preparation and morale ahead of the tournament.

On Sunday, separate suspected shooting attacks in Israel left one person dead and four others injured, according to the country's emergency service organization and military. The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service reported that a man around 30 years old was found dead near Tzur Natan, close to the West Bank. Another person from the same area was hospitalized in serious condition.

The MDA added that two men, aged 50 and 30, were treated for injuries following another shooting at a petrol station near the city of Kokhav Yair. Additionally, a man around 30 years old received treatment for a gunshot wound to the hand in Tzur Yitzhak. The Israeli army stated that troops were deployed to the areas of Sa’lit and Tzur Yitzhak after reports of multiple shootings.

Police said they identified a suspected vehicle involved in the Kokhav Yair attack and neutralized one suspect. However, Israeli media reported that at least one attacker remains at large, prompting an ongoing security operation to locate the individual.

Over the past decade, India’s political landscape has undergone a profound shift, with accusations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s government has placed religious polarization at the center of its political strategy. A writer from Kerala, reflecting on historical realities, recalls a time when caste-based discrimination was deeply entrenched but religious coexistence remained largely intact.

Kerala’s cultural history offers several examples of pluralism, including shared religious spaces and mutual respect among communities. However, observers note that in recent years, deliberate communal polarization has been used as a political tool, with the Muslim community being singled out and socially segregated to form a targeted vote bank.

Analysts warn that this trend is affecting not only electoral politics but also India’s long-standing social harmony and constitutional values. The tension between pluralist traditions and religion-based polarization raises pressing questions about the future of Indian democracy.

Police in Boalkhali, Chattogram, arrested two members of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) for chanting 'Joy Bangla' during a relative’s wedding ceremony. The arrests took place late Saturday night at a community center on Arakan Road in the Amtal area. The detainees were identified as Md Abdul Aziz, 26, assistant secretary of Haji Nurul Haque Degree College BCL unit, and Md Raihan, 23, a member of the same unit.

According to police, the two men shouted the slogan during the bride’s mehendi ceremony at a house in Paschim Gomdondi on Friday. A video of the incident was later uploaded to Facebook, leading to their arrest the following day. Boalkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahfuzur Rahman stated that both individuals were sent to court as suspects in a case related to the July movement attack.

The report did not include further details about the case or the broader political context surrounding the arrests.

Train operations on the Dhaka-Chattogram route resumed after nearly six hours following a collision between a sand-laden pickup truck and the Paharika Express train in Mirsarai, Chattogram. The accident occurred around 9 a.m. on Sunday at Sonapahar Darbartila in Jorarganj Union when the pickup attempted to cross the railway line. Although the vehicle was severely damaged, the driver and helper escaped unharmed. Rail traffic was restored around 4 p.m. after a relief train removed the wreckage.

According to railway officials, the up-line was reopened first, while the down-line remained closed until the debris was cleared. The Paharika Express later resumed its journey toward Sylhet. Police and railway engineers worked jointly to restore the line, and train movement is now fully normal. The railway authority announced an investigation into the cause of the incident.

Local residents alleged that illegal sand extraction from nearby streams has been ongoing and claimed that stricter administrative action could have prevented such accidents.

Police in Jorarganj, under Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram, arrested six individuals including four activists of the Jubo League and Chhatra League during a special operation targeting suspects in multiple cases. The arrests were announced in a press release issued by Jorarganj Police Station on Sunday. The operation was conducted to maintain law and order and curb criminal activities in the area.

According to police sources, Sakib Uddin, Mehedi Hasan, and Moin Uddin were detained as suspects in one case, while Zahidul Alam Bhuiyan was arrested from the Baraiyarhat Bazar area in connection with another case. Additionally, Nazrul Islam Jibon was apprehended from the Muhuri Project area, and Ainul Islam Limon was arrested in front of Moscow Bakers at Baraiyarhat Bazar.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Halim stated that the special operations would continue to prevent crimes such as theft and robbery and to ensure stability in the law and order situation. Legal action is being taken against those involved.

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Shahidul Islam, aged 40 and a resident of Jamadargram in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram, died in a road accident in Oman’s Berumi area on Saturday night. He was crossing the road when the accident occurred, and his body is currently kept at the Berumi Hospital morgue. Shahidul, locally known as Shahidullah, had been living and working in Oman for about 20 to 25 years as an embroidery worker. He had completed all preparations, including purchasing an air ticket, to return home on Thursday after a long period abroad.

According to relatives, Shahidul was returning home after buying gifts for his wife, children, and relatives when the accident took place. He died on the spot. Local residents and family members expressed deep grief, saying the family’s anticipation of reunion turned into mourning. Expatriate organization leaders in Oman have taken steps to send his body back to Bangladesh, with assurances of full cooperation.

The sudden death has cast a shadow of mourning over his village, where neighbors and relatives have prayed for his departed soul and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

BNP Standing Committee member and parliamentarian Dr. Abdul Moin Khan has questioned why Bangladesh has not yet established a research institution dedicated to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, even after 55 years of independence. He raised the issue on Sunday at a discussion marking the 45th death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman, held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka. The event was organized by the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal.

During his address, Moin Khan reflected on Ziaur Rahman’s role in the 1971 Liberation War and his earlier military service during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, for which he received the Hilal-i-Jurat. He argued that Bangladesh’s journey since independence has been marked by challenges and that the nation cannot continue to excuse its shortcomings as those of a “young state.” He emphasized the need for the new generation to take responsibility for the country’s progress.

The discussion was chaired by Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal president Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat, with participation from Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan and BNP Liberation War Affairs Secretary Joynal Abedin.

A man named Sohag Mia, aged 38, died after consuming alcohol in Gobindaganj of Gaibandha district. Two others, including his brother, were hospitalized in critical condition. The incident occurred on Saturday night in Torofkamal village under Sapmara Union. The three men reportedly fell ill after drinking together and were first admitted to Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex. Sohag and Mojibur were later referred to Bogura for advanced treatment, but Sohag died around 7 a.m. on the way to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.

According to relatives and hospital officials, Saikat is currently receiving treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, while Mojibur’s condition deteriorated further. Due to a shortage of ICU beds, he was transferred first to TMSS Hospital in Bogura and then to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Mojibur remains in critical condition.

Local health authorities confirmed the incident on Sunday evening. The deceased and the two hospitalized men are residents of the same village in Gobindaganj.

A congratulatory letter allegedly sent by Md. Mirajul Islam, general secretary of the Bhola Upazila Awami League and former upazila chairman, to the Prime Minister has gone viral on social media, stirring widespread discussion and criticism in political circles. The letter, reportedly sent on April 20 and received on April 27, was written on the official pad of his contracting firm rather than a political letterhead.

According to the circulated copy, Mirajul Islam congratulated the Prime Minister for forming a government with a two-thirds majority in the February 12 national election and praised the “31-point state structure reform” and “Bangladesh First” slogan. The letter also claimed that after the February 17 oath-taking, public confidence in the government had increased. Allegations suggest that the letter included a request to extend deadlines for some of his company’s projects.

Efforts to contact Mirajul Islam for comment were unsuccessful. Reports indicate that the Anti-Corruption Commission has filed multiple cases against him and his family over alleged embezzlement in LGED projects. The viral letter continues to draw reactions in local political circles.

Two meat sellers in Foyla market of Rampal upazila, Bagerhat, were sentenced to seven days of simple imprisonment and fined a total of 20,000 taka for selling rotten beef. The mobile court, led by Rampal Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Abhijit Chakraborty, delivered the verdict on Sunday morning. Veterinary surgeon Dr. Abhijit Kumar was present during the operation.

The convicted sellers were identified as Harunur Rashid, 45, from Gobindapur village in Rampal, and Yamin Howlader, 30, from Khanpur area of Bagerhat Sadar. The mobile court acted on a complaint and veterinary prosecution under the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009. The seized rotten meat was later buried and destroyed.

Local residents alleged that Harunur Rashid had long been selling meat from dead or spoiled cattle under the guise of a regular beef business. They demanded the cancellation of his trading license and called for regular market monitoring to protect consumer health.

Police in Sitakunda, Chattogram, have filed a case against 72 individuals following a sudden rally, explosions, and gunfire near DC Park in Salimpur. The case names 37 people and lists 35 others as unidentified. Three suspects have been arrested and sent to jail through court orders, while operations continue to apprehend the remaining accused.

According to the case details, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a group of individuals, identified as members of the banned Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League, staged a sudden rally on the port-bound road in front of DC Park. They reportedly chanted slogans against the state and government, detonated crude bombs, and fired several blank shots, causing panic among locals. Police later recovered evidence including exploded bomb remnants, cartridge shells, and wooden sticks.

Police officials stated that the rally participants had gathered with the intent to create unrest. Authorities have vowed to bring all involved under the law and to suppress any attempts to disrupt public safety and order.

A BNP leader in Netrokona’s Kalmakanda upazila has been removed from his party position following allegations against his son. Gedu Mia, president of the Kharnai Union BNP, lost his post a day after a written complaint was filed with the local police accusing his son of threatening and verbally abusing a religious scholar. The incident reportedly involved phone calls made to Maulana Shafiqul Islam after he provided information to police about drug activities.

According to a press release signed by Upazila BNP office secretary Jihad Khan (Mitul), Gedu Mia was relieved of his duties on Saturday night. The statement cited specific allegations, breach of party discipline, social disorder, and moral misconduct as reasons for his removal. Babul Mia, the union BNP’s senior vice-president, has been appointed acting president.

Kalmakanda Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sajal Sarkar confirmed receipt of the written complaint and said the matter is under serious investigation.