At least ten people were injured in a serious road accident on the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway near the No. 2 bridge area of Kutubpur Union in Shibchar upazila, Madaripur. The collision occurred around 11 p.m. on Friday, May 15, when a Dhaka-bound Sakura Paribahan passenger bus from Barishal lost control and crashed into the rear of a truck carrying rice husk. Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

Local residents and highway police quickly launched a rescue operation, sending the injured to Shibchar Upazila Health Complex and other nearby hospitals. Police confirmed that the bus driver and helper were among those seriously hurt. Traffic on the expressway slowed briefly after the crash but was restored soon after the damaged vehicles were removed.

According to Shibchar Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman, the rescue operation was completed promptly, and normal traffic flow was ensured after clearing the accident site.

Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad stated that the BNP-led government has already begun implementing its election manifesto. He said this during a video conference as the chief guest at a seminar on the implementation of the government’s election pledges, held Saturday morning at the Shayestaganj Press Club auditorium in Habiganj. Ahmad noted that initiatives such as the Family Card and Farmer Card programs are being rolled out soon after the election.

The seminar was organized by the Sylhet Regional Information Office with support from the District Information Office. Ahmad emphasized the media’s responsibility in conveying the government’s development activities to the public and ensuring transparency in information dissemination. Deputy Chief Information Officer Hasina Akter served as the main discussant, while District Information Officer Walidur Rahman attended as a special guest.

Journalists from various print and electronic media outlets in Shayestaganj participated in the event, discussing transparency, development communication, and objective reporting. Participants expressed hope that such seminars would continue regularly.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the re-excavation of the Khorda canal in the Waruk Bazar area of Tamta Dakshin Union under Shahrasthi upazila of Chandpur. The event, held on Saturday, marked the official launch of a nationwide initiative to re-excavate rivers, canals, and waterways aimed at strengthening environmental conservation and climate resilience.

According to the announcement shared on the BNP’s Facebook page, the program is part of the party’s election manifesto commitments. During the inauguration, emphasis was placed on long-term planning for water reservoir preservation, maintaining natural water flow, and addressing the adverse impacts of climate change.

Before arriving in Chandpur, Tarique Rahman traveled from Dhaka to Lakshmipur in Barura upazila of Cumilla by special bus, where he delivered a roadside speech before proceeding to Shahrasthi for the inauguration ceremony.

US officials accompanying former President Donald Trump discarded all gifts received from Chinese officials before departing Beijing on May 16, 2026, citing security concerns. According to reports from India Today and The Economic Times, the White House team threw away the items, including burner phones, identification cards, badges, press invitations, and souvenirs, in airport dustbins before boarding Air Force One.

White House correspondent Emily Goodin of the New York Post stated that no Chinese-origin items were allowed on the aircraft due to strict security enforcement by the White House security division and the Secret Service. She confirmed on social media that all items from Chinese officials were collected and disposed of before takeoff.

US media outlets reported that the move aimed to prevent potential surveillance or tracking. The incident reflects ongoing tensions between the United States and China over espionage and cybersecurity issues, which have remained a source of friction between the two nations.

British politician and Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn has sharply criticized the United States’ policy on Palestine and accused the United Kingdom of enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza. In a Facebook post marking the 78th anniversary of Nakba Day, Corbyn stated that 800,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes 78 years ago, a tragedy he said was made possible by Britain. He alleged that the UK continues to assist in what he described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Corbyn’s remarks came as Palestinians commemorated Nakba Day, which traces its origins to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared independence while the region was still under British control as Mandate Palestine. Following the declaration, most Arabs in the area were expelled or fled. Each year, Palestinians mark the day with protests near the Israeli border, often accompanied by heightened tensions.

The statement underscores ongoing criticism of Britain’s historical and current role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly during periods of renewed violence in Gaza.

On May 14, 2026, an attack and violence occurred at the historic Shah Ali shrine area in Mirpur. In response, the Dhaka North unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressed deep concern, anger, and strong condemnation over the incident. The party stated that such violence at a religiously and historically significant site reflects a deterioration of law and order and poses a threat to social harmony and public safety.

The NCP Dhaka North called on the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure a fair and impartial investigation, bring those involved to justice swiftly, and take effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The party emphasized that the shrine should serve as an open center of social, human, and cultural harmony for all, regardless of religious or ideological differences.

It further urged the government to make the shrine area a safe and orderly place for visitors and devotees from across the country, stressing that preventing fear, violence, and disorder around such cultural and religious heritage sites is a shared responsibility of both the state and society.

Students at Jahangirnagar University have intensified protests following an alleged attempted rape of a female student on May 12. After a 48-hour ultimatum expired, female students declared the proctorial body unwelcome, broke the lock of the proctor’s office, and installed a new one. Protesters held a sit-in in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday, reiterating their six-point demand for the arrest of the accused and accountability from the administration.

Students accused the administration of concealing key information and spreading misleading images. They criticized the vice-chancellor for praising the proctor despite previous controversies. Following a heated exchange between the vice-chancellor, Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, and protesters, the students announced that all administrative activities would be halted from the next day until the proctor resigns and the accused is punished.

The vice-chancellor stated that police are making progress and that any action must follow an investigation involving both parties. He urged students to allow time for the inquiry and said the issue of incorrect images would also be reviewed by the investigation committee.

Democratic lawmakers in the United States have accused President Donald Trump of corruption related to large stock transactions, particularly involving Nvidia. Senator Elizabeth Warren alleged on social media that Trump’s actions posed a national security risk, citing his approval for Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips to China and his subsequent purchase of millions of dollars’ worth of the company’s shares. Warren claimed Trump traveled to China with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to persuade President Xi Jinping to buy the chips.

Eric Trump, who manages the Trump family’s business, denied the allegations, stating that all family assets are held in blind trusts managed by major financial institutions and that no family member engages in personal stock trading. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also criticized Trump, calling him the most corrupt president in U.S. history.

Documents released Thursday showed Trump traded over $200 million in shares from major corporations including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Boeing. Forbes estimated Trump’s personal wealth at $6.5 billion as of March 2026, up $1.4 billion from the previous year.

A young man was arrested with 1,890 yaba tablets near the Sunamganj border early Saturday morning. The 28 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) unit conducted a special operation around 6 a.m. in the Birendranagar area, detaining the suspect and seizing yaba tablets worth about six lakh taka along with a motorcycle. The detainee was identified as Sagar, 20, son of Raham Ali from Borochhara village in Tahirpur upazila.

According to BGB, Sagar was caught approximately 1,200 yards inside Bangladesh territory near border pillar 1193/4 S while returning from across the border with the yaba tablets. He was handed over to Tahirpur Police Station for further legal action. The company commander of Birendranagar Border Outpost, Subedar Shafiqul Rahman, stated that patrol activities in the border area have been intensified following the arrest.

Authorities indicated that surveillance and patrol operations will continue to prevent further illegal drug trafficking through the Sunamganj border region.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced another major reduction in gold prices across the country within 24 hours. According to a notice issued on Saturday morning, the price of 22-carat gold has been reduced by up to Tk 4,374 per bhori, bringing it down to Tk 238,121. The new rates took effect from 10 a.m. on May 16, 2026. On the previous day, May 15, the same quality gold was priced at Tk 242,495 per bhori.

BAJUS stated that the price adjustment was made due to a fall in the international market price of pure (tejaabi) gold. Under the revised structure, 21-carat gold now costs Tk 227,331 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 194,847, and traditional gold Tk 158,689. The association also announced a decrease in silver prices, with 22-carat silver now priced at Tk 5,657 per bhori.

The latest price revision reflects BAJUS’s ongoing adjustments to align domestic gold and silver rates with global market trends.

A group of 190 former Canadian diplomats has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to impose strict sanctions against Israel. The appeal, reported by The Canadian Press, was made through a signed letter citing Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon. The diplomats warned that without strong international sanctions, Israel would continue to disregard international law and human rights while expanding settlements.

The letter acknowledged Israel’s legitimate security concerns regarding Hezbollah but condemned the destruction of entire cities and the deaths of large numbers of civilians as serious violations of international law. The appeal comes amid growing domestic pressure on Canada to respond to Israel’s operations in Gaza and the occupied territories.

The diplomats’ collective stance highlights a rising internal debate in Canada over its foreign policy toward the Middle East, particularly in light of ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon.

Mizanur Rahman Sinha, former state minister for health and family welfare and convener of the Munshiganj district BNP, has passed away. He died on Friday night, May 15, 2026, while undergoing treatment in Singapore. He was 83 years old at the time of his death.

Sinha was elected to parliament from Munshiganj-2 constituency (Tongibari-Louhajong) as a BNP candidate in the 1996 and 2001 national elections. He served as state minister for health and family welfare from 2003 to 2006. On January 22, 2020, he resigned from all BNP positions, but was later appointed convener of the Munshiganj district BNP on February 2, 2025. He was nominated again by the BNP for the Munshiganj-2 seat in the 13th national election but fell ill before the polls and was taken to Singapore for treatment.

Local political leaders, businesspeople, and residents expressed grief over his death, reflecting his long-standing influence in Munshiganj politics.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the Islamic State’s global second-in-command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, was killed in a joint operation by American and Nigerian forces in Africa. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said the mission was carried out under his direction and described it as a highly precise and well-planned operation to eliminate one of the world’s most active terrorists.

Trump stated that al-Minuki believed he could hide in Africa but was tracked through intelligence monitoring his every move. The United States had imposed sanctions on al-Minuki in 2023 for his involvement with ISIS. According to Trump, his death would significantly reduce the group’s global operations and prevent further attacks targeting Americans or Africans.

The US president also thanked the Nigerian government for its partnership and praised the bravery of both nations’ armed forces for successfully completing the mission.

Bangladesh is facing a severe measles outbreak that has claimed the lives of nearly five hundred children. Amid this crisis, President Md. Shahabuddin Chuppu traveled to London for a follow-up medical check-up, accompanied by his family, physicians, and staff. His earlier cardiac bypass surgery was performed in Singapore in October 2023, and all medical records remain there. The president’s decision to undergo follow-up treatment in London instead of Singapore has drawn criticism, with observers labeling the trip as unnecessary and extravagant.

The article highlights a broader crisis in Bangladesh’s healthcare system, marked by inequality and lack of trust among the elite. While millions of citizens rely on under-resourced hospitals without insurance, wealthy and powerful individuals routinely seek treatment abroad. The piece argues that this disparity reflects a deeper governance failure, where corruption, poor regulation, and lack of accountability have crippled both public and private healthcare sectors.

The author calls for stronger health policies, increased budget allocation, and legal accountability for medical negligence to restore public confidence and ensure equitable healthcare access for all citizens.

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and warned that Iran will not be allowed to use the strategic waterway as a weapon. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said his administration would ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and that global stability is maintained.

Trump noted that China depends on the Strait of Hormuz for about 40 percent of its oil supply. He accused Tehran of previously closing the strait as a pressure tactic and reiterated that such actions would not be tolerated under his leadership.

According to Trump, Iran had used the strait as a weapon in the past, but he emphasized that Tehran would not be able to do so against him. The remarks highlight ongoing U.S. concerns about Iran’s influence over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.