The River Police of Bangladesh conducted a weeklong nationwide operation aimed at protecting the country’s fisheries and ensuring river route safety. During the drive, authorities seized a large quantity of illegal fishing nets, fish, shrimp fry, and other materials. A total of 125 individuals were arrested, according to River Police Superintendent (Media) Farzana Islam.

Over the seven days, the operation resulted in the confiscation of 38,044,920 meters of illegal nets, 3,938 kilograms of fish, 7,409,000 shrimp fry, 5,300 bagda shrimp fry, and 160 kilograms of jelly-mixed shrimp. Additionally, 251 river bushes were destroyed, and 41 bulkheads without valid documents were charged in the river court.

The River Police reported filing 43 cases related to fisheries law violations, reckless navigation, sand extraction, river pollution, theft, robbery, and murder. Two bodies were recovered during the operation. The seized illegal nets and jelly-mixed shrimp were destroyed, shrimp fry were released into the water, and confiscated fish were distributed to orphanages.

The High Court has summoned the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Prabhat Chandra Biswas, to appear in person on May 19 to explain allegations of contempt of court. The order was issued by a bench comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Asif Hasan.

According to the case details, the Ministry of Health had published recruitment notices for third and fourth-class employee positions across various districts. Despite passing the written examination, 25 candidates were marked as failed and denied appointment. The affected candidates filed a writ petition, and on March 9, 2022, the High Court directed that they be appointed. However, the directive was not implemented even after multiple communications with the authorities. When the state appealed, the Appellate Division upheld the High Court’s decision. Subsequently, the petitioners filed a contempt petition, prompting the current summons.

The petitioners’ lawyer stated that the authorities had unfairly deprived the candidates and expressed hope that the appointments would be made promptly in compliance with the court’s order.

A Malaysian expatriate named Md. Solaiman, aged 37, was reportedly robbed by members of an unconsciousness gang in Dhaka on Thursday morning, April 30, 2026. The incident occurred while he was traveling to the Malaysian Embassy. Solaiman, a resident of Bhoberchar in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj, boarded a Raida Paribahan bus when the gang targeted him. He lost consciousness during the journey and was later dropped off near Ibn Sina Diagnostic Center in Badda around 1:15 p.m. His cousin Roni rescued him and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

According to Roni, the assailants took Solaiman’s cash and mobile phone while he was unconscious, though the exact amount of money lost remains unknown. Hospital authorities cleaned his stomach in the emergency department before admitting him to the medicine ward. It was learned that Solaiman had returned to Bangladesh from Malaysia about a week earlier.

The report did not mention whether police have launched an investigation or identified any suspects in connection with the incident.

Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years. The organization publishes an annual World Press Freedom Index assessing the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists and media outlets in 180 countries. The five-tier index rates countries from “very serious” to “good” based on press freedom conditions.

According to RSF, for the first time since the index began in 2002, more than half of the world’s countries are in a “difficult” or “very serious” situation. Only seven countries achieved a “good” rating, with Norway, the Netherlands, and Estonia ranking highest. France placed 25th with a “satisfactory” score, while the United States ranked 64th with a “problematic” score, seven places lower than before. In Latin America, Argentina ranked 98th and El Salvador 143rd.

RSF identified Eastern Europe and the Middle East as the most dangerous regions for journalists, citing Israel’s attacks on reporters in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon. The report also noted that over 60 percent of countries criminalize journalists in various ways, highlighting India, Egypt, Georgia, Turkey, and Hong Kong as key examples of state repression.

Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Touhiduzzaman Pavel visited the district jail on Thursday morning to inspect ongoing rehabilitation activities for inmates. During the visit, he reviewed progress in tailoring, carpentry, handicraft production, IT training, agricultural work, and educational programs. After the inspection, he described the overall management of the jail as satisfactory and urged officials to continue performing their duties responsibly.

Following the inspection, a quarterly meeting of the Jail Inspection Board was held at the same venue. The meeting discussed various issues related to inmate welfare, rehabilitation, healthcare, legal assistance, and infrastructural development of the prison. Board members provided necessary guidance for the overall improvement of the jail.

The jail superintendent, members of the district jail inspection board, and other relevant officials were present during the visit and meeting.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury said that photography is not merely a play of light and shadow but a record of time that immortalizes history. He made the remarks on Thursday while inaugurating a photo exhibition at the National Press Club as the chief guest. The event was organized by the National Forum of Photo Journalists, Nepal (NFPJ), with support from the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association.

During his speech, Yasser Khan became emotional, recalling his early career dream of becoming a photojournalist and his fascination with viewing life through a camera lens. He also reminisced about his visit to Nepal in the 1990s, describing the country’s natural beauty and the simplicity of its people. He emphasized that such cultural exchanges strengthen the friendship between Bangladesh and Nepal.

Speakers at the event noted the geographical and cultural similarities between the two countries and expressed hope that collaborations among photographers would deepen bilateral ties and enhance professional exchange.

At least seven people were killed when a boundary wall collapsed at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru, southern India, on Wednesday, April 29. The wall, about eight feet high, suddenly gave way, according to local officials cited by Reuters. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said the dead included a child and four street vendors who were near the wall. Three others were injured and are receiving treatment at the hospital.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “tragic” in a post on social media platform X. Eyewitnesses reported that one injured woman received initial treatment before being admitted for further examination. Local authorities have not yet provided details on the cause of the collapse or whether structural issues were previously identified.

The accident has drawn national attention due to the loss of life and the involvement of a major public hospital in Bengaluru. Officials are expected to review safety measures at similar facilities in the coming days.

A court in Cumilla has sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a second-grade schoolgirl in Burichang upazila. The verdict was delivered on Thursday afternoon by Judge Abdul Hannan of the Cumilla Children’s Tribunal. The convicted, Moynal Hossain, is the son of the late Khorshed Alam from Varella village in Burichang.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred in 2021 when Moynal Hossain raped and murdered his neighbor, a young girl named Umme Habiba Mim. He then wrapped her body in polythene and hid it inside a toilet tank, from where police later recovered it. The victim’s mother filed a murder case with Burichang Police Station following the discovery.

After hearing testimonies from 17 witnesses, the court pronounced the death sentence and ordered that the convicted be taken to prison from the courtroom.

A mobile court in Dhamrai, Dhaka, fined the owner of Karim Filling Station Tk 50,000 for supplying less fuel than the specified amount to customers. The operation took place on Wednesday night at the station located near the Kalampur bus stand. The court, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Ridwan Ahmed Rafi, found that the pump had been cheating customers by giving less fuel for an extended period.

The owner, Monir Hossain, who also serves as the president of the Dhamrai Upazila unit of the Jubo Dal and is a candidate for chairman of the Somvag Union Parishad, was penalized after multiple complaints were verified. During the inspection, it was confirmed that the pump dispensed less fuel than indicated. Several victims stated that such irregularities had been ongoing for a long time.

Monir Hossain later claimed, while concealing his identity as the owner, that the issue was due to a machine malfunction. The executive magistrate said similar drives would continue to protect consumer interests and prevent future fraud.

At least nine people were killed and 22 others injured when a bus overturned in western Bolivia early Wednesday. The accident occurred near the small town of Chalacollo, about 240 kilometers south of La Paz, on a highway close to Oruro. Local police confirmed the casualties, noting that the injured were taken to various hospitals in the area. Among the dead was a newborn who was declared dead after being taken to a medical center.

Authorities said the cause of the crash remains under investigation but suggested that excessive speed and driver inattention may have contributed. The 24-year-old driver was also injured in the incident.

According to official data, Bolivia records at least 1,400 road fatalities each year, with most accidents attributed to driver negligence and mechanical failures.

Seventeen bodies were recovered and seven people rescued from a drifting boat off the coast of Libya, the Libyan Red Crescent reported on Wednesday. The rescue operation was carried out by a patrol vessel that responded to a distress call near the North African country’s shoreline. The incident was confirmed by AFP from Tripoli.

According to the Red Crescent, the operation was one of the most difficult field missions conducted so far. Photos posted on the organization’s Facebook page showed rescuers unloading black body bags from a boat. The nationalities of the deceased and survivors were not disclosed. The Red Crescent said it was working with the UN refugee agency to provide humanitarian assistance to the survivors, suggesting they were migrants attempting to reach Europe.

The rescue involved members of the Red Crescent, the navy, the coast guard, and coastal security units. The operation lasted more than eight hours under challenging conditions, following eight days during which the stranded boat had been in distress.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has urged the British royal family to return the historic Kohinoor diamond to India. He made the statement at a press conference in Lower Manhattan ahead of King Charles’s visit. Mamdani clarified that he had no scheduled meeting with the King, who was attending an event at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. When asked what he would say if he met the monarch, Mamdani replied that he would ask him to return the priceless Kohinoor diamond to India.

The 105.6-carat diamond was taken from an Indian princely ruler during British colonial rule in the 1840s and later presented to Queen Victoria. It is now part of the British Crown Jewels, kept in the Tower of London. According to The New York Times, Mamdani’s Indian heritage and family background align with his anti-colonial stance. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a noted scholar of colonialism, and his mother, Mira Nair, is a filmmaker whose work often explores colonial experiences.

India has long demanded the return of the Kohinoor diamond, a symbol of colonial-era loss and cultural heritage.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that American consumers lost about 2.1 billion dollars to social media–based scams in 2025. The report identified social media as the leading source of financial losses compared to other fraud channels. Around 30 percent of victims said their scams began on social platforms, with Facebook accounting for the highest losses, followed by WhatsApp and Instagram.

The FTC found that online shopping scams were the most common, with over 40 percent of victims saying they ordered products after seeing social media ads. These included clothing, cosmetics, car parts, and even pets, often from fake or unfamiliar websites. Investment scams caused about 1.1 billion dollars in losses, while romance scams also grew, with 60 percent of those victims reporting initial contact through social media.

The FTC advised users to limit who can view their posts and personal information, avoid investments suggested online acquaintances, and research sellers before making purchases. Analysts warned that as social media use expands, targeted advertising and personal data misuse are increasing fraud risks, making stronger platform security and user awareness essential.

A worker was killed in a collision between a motorcycle and a battery-run autorickshaw on Thursday morning in the Muktir Bazar area along the Valuka-Gafargaon road in Mymensingh’s Valuka upazila. The deceased was identified as Md. Shihab Mia, 21, son of Alam Mia from Gowari village in Birunia Union.

According to Valuka Model Police Station’s Second Officer SI Md. Rafiqul Islam, Shihab Mia worked at the Butterfly factory in Mallikbari area of the upazila. He was on his way to the factory when the accident occurred, resulting in his death. Police were dispatched to the scene following the incident.

The report did not mention further details about the cause of the collision or the condition of others involved.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam stated that Chattogram city is functioning normally and is not submerged in water. During an inspection tour of key city areas on Thursday morning with Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, he said no stagnant water was found and dismissed media reports suggesting widespread waterlogging. He noted that sudden rainfall of around 60 millimeters could cause temporary water accumulation but clarified that this does not amount to prolonged waterlogging.

Explaining the situation, the minister said ongoing canal construction has led to temporary water congestion in some areas due to retaining walls and other barriers. The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) has assured that these obstacles will be removed soon. He added that, following the Prime Minister’s directive, a coordination committee has been formed under the mayor’s leadership, including representatives from all relevant agencies, to address the issue.

The minister’s remarks aimed to reassure residents and counter claims of persistent flooding in the city.