The United Nations has warned that around 45 million people could face severe hunger and famine if fertilizer shipments through the Hormuz Strait are not restored soon. Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and head of a task force addressing the crisis, told AFP that the world has only a few weeks to prevent a major humanitarian disaster.

According to Silva, about one-third of the world’s fertilizer supply passes through the Hormuz Strait. The ongoing disruption has already affected global fertilizer distribution, threatening food production worldwide. The UN fears that the prolonged blockade of this vital trade route could trigger a collapse in agricultural output, worsening global food insecurity.

The organization cautioned that failure to stabilize the situation could escalate into a massive humanitarian crisis, as millions more people are pushed into hunger and deprivation.

A murder case accused, Abdul Latif Bhuiyan, aged 45, was hacked to death in Titas upazila of Cumilla on Monday night. The attack occurred around 9:30 p.m. at the three-road junction in Manikkandi village under Bhitikandi Union. Latif, son of the late Dhonu Bhuiyan, was severely injured by assailants who used sharp weapons and later died while being taken to a hospital in Dhaka.

Police and local sources said the incident stemmed from a long-running conflict between supporters of former Bhitikandi Union chairman Abul Hossain Molla and former member Saiful Islam over local dominance. The dispute had previously led to the 2022 killing of Abul Hossain Molla’s son, Jubo League leader Zohirul Islam Molla, for which Latif was an accused. He had recently been released on bail and returned to the area three days before the attack.

Titas police confirmed that multiple teams are working to arrest those involved in the killing, which appears to be linked to the earlier political feud.

Farmers across Bangladesh are preparing sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2026, with local livestock departments reporting sufficient supply to meet national demand. In Dinajpur district alone, 426,523 animals have been readied against a demand of 273,262, leaving a surplus of over 153,000. Similar surpluses are reported in Madaripur’s Shibchar, Jamalpur’s Madarganj, and Pirojpur’s Kaukhali upazilas. Farmers are busy fattening cattle using natural feed, while local administrations have instructed law enforcement to remain alert along borders to prevent the entry of Indian cattle.

Officials from livestock departments in multiple districts confirmed that animals are being raised without harmful chemicals, and training and veterinary support are being provided to ensure safe meat production. Farmers, however, expressed concern over rising feed costs and the possibility of foreign cattle entering local markets, which could affect fair prices for domestic producers.

Authorities expect that the surplus livestock will allow districts like Dinajpur to supply animals to other regions, ensuring adequate availability across the country during the upcoming Eid festival.

A surge in organized robberies has been reported along the Sitakunda section of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, with incidents occurring almost nightly. Criminals have been throwing heavy objects at moving vehicles to force them to stop before robbing passengers of cash, phones, and jewelry. On May 8, robbers attempted to attack a police microbus in Bhatiari but one suspect was caught. The following night, a microbus carrying Hindu wedding guests was looted at gunpoint in Nunachhara.

Local residents and travelers allege that insufficient night patrols have emboldened the gangs, turning several highway stretches—including Nunachhara, Kumira, and Faujdarhat—into danger zones. Transport operators warn that continued insecurity could disrupt trade and logistics linked to Chattogram port, posing risks to the national economy.

Police officials said investigations are underway and patrols have been intensified. The Sitakunda Upazila administration pledged to monitor high-risk areas and take strict action against robbery and extortion, especially ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha festival.

Rakib Hasan, a first-year history student at Kotchandpur Government College, has achieved notable success in grape cultivation in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah. In May 2024, he planted Baikunur and Black Magic grape varieties on ten kathas of land. Within a year, he earned BDT 200,000 from grape sales, making a profit of BDT 100,000 after expenses. This year, his vineyard produced grapes worth BDT 350,000, with only BDT 15,000 spent on irrigation, fertilizer, and maintenance.

Rakib began his venture without formal training, relying on online resources and personal effort. He initially invested about BDT 100,000, including BDT 46,000 for 120 saplings and additional costs for trellising and care. The Baikunur variety, originally from Russia, proved highly productive and sweet in taste. He has also started producing and selling grape saplings alongside fruit cultivation.

Kaliganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Mahabub Alam Roni said several farmers in the area are now growing grapes and receiving guidance from the department. He praised Rakib’s initiative, noting that the student continued his agricultural venture despite not owning land.

The body of an eight-year-old girl named Muntaha Taslima was recovered from a septic tank in Eidgaon upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Monday, May 11. The discovery was made in the Pokkhali Union’s East Naikhongdia village, where the child had gone missing earlier that afternoon. She was the daughter of Sirajul Islam and Mostafa Khatun. Family members began searching after she disappeared around noon, eventually finding her body inside an uncovered septic tank at a house under construction belonging to Malaysia expatriate Nurul Alam. She was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Local residents believe the child accidentally fell into the unprotected tank while playing. Police from Eidgaon station arrived at the scene later that night, completed the necessary formalities, and allowed burial without an autopsy at the family’s request. The burial took place around 12:30 a.m. the same night.

Authorities have not reported any further investigation or safety measures following the incident.

Farmers in Sunamganj are facing severe hardship after heavy rains and waterlogging submerged vast areas of Boro paddy fields. The flooding has destroyed crops across about 20,000 hectares of haor land, leaving thousands of small and marginal farmers burdened with debt. Many had borrowed from NGOs, banks, or local lenders to cover costs for seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, and labor. With their harvests lost, they now struggle to repay loans and sustain their families.

Farmers report that even the limited paddy they managed to harvest has been damaged by continuous rain, as the grains could not dry properly and began to sprout. Many households are now left without food reserves, facing acute uncertainty. Livestock feed shortages have also become severe, worsening the crisis. The Department of Agricultural Extension in Sunamganj has begun preparing a list of affected farmers.

Officials said two government ministers have already inaugurated a three-month relief program for the victims, and all affected farmers will gradually be brought under assistance coverage.

Heavy rainfall has submerged ripe Boro paddy fields in low-lying areas, leaving farmers unable to harvest due to a severe shortage of laborers. In Madhupur of Tangail, around 13,000 hectares were cultivated this season, with at least 35 hectares flooded. Farmers are struggling to bring in their crops as labor costs have surged to Tk 1,000–1,200 per day, or Tk 7,000–10,000 per bigha, while paddy prices remain low at Tk 700–850 per maund.

In Naogaon’s Niamatpur, many fields remain unharvested because of the same labor shortage, raising fears of crop loss from storms and rising water levels. The local agriculture office reported that five hectares of paddy still await harvesting. Meanwhile, in Jamalpur’s Madarganj, despite good yields, farmers face mounting losses as labor costs exceed returns, with paddy selling for Tk 700–900 per maund while daily wages reach Tk 1,100–1,200.

Officials in Tangail and Jamalpur acknowledged the challenges, citing ongoing efforts to improve drainage and advising timely harvesting to minimize losses.

A joint operation by the Coast Guard and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, led to the recovery of bulletproof gear and weapons. The operation took place around 11 p.m. on Monday near Leda Lamarpara, based on secret intelligence. Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon confirmed the recovery on Tuesday afternoon.

During the search of a suspected house in the area, authorities found one bulletproof jacket, two bulletproof helmets, one round of live ammunition, and a locally made weapon. The Coast Guard stated that legal procedures regarding the seized items are currently underway.

According to the Coast Guard official, similar operations will continue in the future to maintain stability in the country’s law and order situation.

Former State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak sustained serious neck and lower back injuries in a prison van accident while being taken to the International Crimes Tribunal. According to his lawyer, Tariqul Islam, an MRI was conducted at PG Hospital following a court order, and the report has now been received.

The MRI results revealed complications in the L2, L3, and L4 vertebrae of Palak’s lower back, as well as issues in the C5/6 and C6/7 discs of his neck. His lawyer stated that Palak had already been unwell and was unable to move his neck properly when visited in prison last Saturday.

Although the MRI confirmed significant spinal and neck problems, Palak has not yet received the necessary medical treatment. His lawyer said a petition will be filed in court to ensure proper medical care for him.

Police in Kaliakair, Gazipur arrested seven suspected robbers early Tuesday while they were allegedly preparing for a robbery. The arrests took place around 4:30 a.m. in a forested area east of Chandra raw market. The detainees were identified as residents of Ratanpur area in Kaliakair.

According to the Officer-in-Charge of Kaliakair Police Station, officers recovered one machete, three knives, one saw, two daggers, and one iron rod from the suspects. A case has been filed against them for preparing to commit robbery, and police operations are continuing to apprehend other fugitives linked to the group.

The arrests mark an ongoing effort by local law enforcement to curb organized robbery activities in the region, with further investigations underway to identify additional accomplices.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police have arrested six suspects in connection with the fatal shooting of Nasir Uddin, a returning Jubo Dal leader from Kadolpur in Raozan. Deputy Police Commissioner (North) Amirul Islam confirmed the arrests, identifying the detainees as Syedul Karim, Abdul Mannan, Yunus Mia, Ayatullah Ali Adnan, Abu Bakkar Siddiq alias Khokon, and Azgar Ali. The murder occurred on May 7 near Roufabad Shaheed Minar, where armed assailants shot Nasir, leading his mother Sokina Begum to file a case at Bayezid Bostami Police Station on May 9.

Under the direction of Amirul Islam and leadership of Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Karim, police formed a special team that analyzed CCTV footage and acted on intelligence to identify the suspects. The main accused, Syedul Karim, was arrested on May 11 from Cox’s Bazar’s Sugandha Beach area and reportedly confessed to shooting the victim. Police recovered his weapon, ammunition, and clothing from his residence. Subsequent operations led to the arrests of the other five suspects from various locations in Chattogram.

Police noted that Syedul Karim and Khokon have multiple prior criminal cases registered against them.

A review meeting on the implementation progress of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) projects under the 2025–26 fiscal year Annual Development Programme (ADP) was held on Tuesday at the Secretariat. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended as the chief guest and directed officials to accelerate the pace of project implementation.

The meeting discussed progress, quality of work, expenditure management, and timely completion of projects. Emphasizing the need to meet public expectations, the minister urged officials to act responsibly and ensure accountability in executing development activities. He also called for transparent and efficient use of public funds to deliver sustainable and welfare-oriented projects.

The session was chaired by Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hasan and attended by senior ministry officials and project directors from various ongoing LGED initiatives, both in person and virtually.

A human chain was organized in Rangpur, Bangladesh, to protest recent attacks on Muslims and mosques in India allegedly carried out by extremist groups. The demonstration took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Rangpur Press Club premises, initiated by the Legal Aid Center (ASK). Participants expressed strong condemnation of the incidents and called for an immediate end to the violence.

Speakers at the event stated that assaults on Muslims have been increasing globally, with India being one of the most affected countries. They described the attacks and mosque vandalism as severe violations of human rights and accused extremist groups of receiving protection. The speakers urged the Bangladesh government to engage in dialogue with India to help stop the killings and persecution.

Among those addressing the protest were ASK Rangpur divisional president Amina Begum Ripa, vice presidents Jahangir Hossain Bablu and Jahangir Hossain Tauyeb, general secretary Nahida Parvin Shikha, organizational secretary Suman Sarkar, and journalist Asaduzzaman Afzal of the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association.

Bangladesh has strongly condemned an Israeli attack in Lebanon that killed two Bangladeshi nationals. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of Rafiqul Islam and Nahidul Islam Nahid, both from Satkhira. The government extended condolences to the bereaved families and confirmed that the Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon is coordinating with local authorities to complete formalities for repatriating the bodies.

The statement further expressed Bangladesh’s deep concern over the ongoing violence in the region and the loss of civilian lives. It called for maximum restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law. The embassy is maintaining contact with the victims’ families to provide necessary support.

The government’s response underscores Bangladesh’s consistent position on protecting civilians and upholding international law amid regional conflicts.