Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced a 25 percent fare discount on single journey tickets for senior citizens and persons with disabilities or special needs. The discount will take effect from Monday, according to a press release issued on Sunday by Md. Mashiur Rahman, Executive Director (Additional Charge) of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).

The announcement states that citizens aged 65 years or above will receive the discount upon verification of age through their national identity card. Additionally, individuals with disabilities or special needs who hold a ‘Suborno’ identity card issued under the Ministry of Social Welfare will also be eligible for the same 25 percent discount on single journey tickets.

An official inauguration ceremony for the new fare benefit will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Monday at Farmgate Metro Station, to be inaugurated by Sheikh Robiul Alam.

A young man named Suman, aged 28, was allegedly beaten to death in Fatullah, Narayanganj, after protesting against drug use. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Panchabati Methorkhola municipal truck terminal, where a drug user named Hatem, aged 30, attacked him. Suman succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital in Dhaka around 1 a.m. while under treatment. He was originally from Gokarna village in Brahmanbaria district.

According to terminal workers, both Suman and Hatem lived in adjacent rented rooms at Nuri Mia’s house near the terminal. Hatem frequently consumed drugs at home, and Suman had complained about it to the landlord. Witnesses said Hatem struck Suman repeatedly on the head and neck with a wooden piece near the terminal, causing him to collapse. Colleagues took him first to Narayanganj Victoria General Hospital and later to a private clinic in Dhaka.

Local drivers and workers detained Hatem and handed him over to police. Fatullah Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Mahabub Alam confirmed the arrest and said police were investigating the murder.

Iran’s military has claimed that it shot down an Israeli reconnaissance drone in Hormozgan province, according to a report by the state-run Mehr News Agency. The incident was reported on May 24, 2026, with Iranian forces stating that the drone was brought down with assistance from the country’s navy.

The report said debris from the downed aircraft was recovered and identified as belonging to an ‘Orbiter’ model surveillance drone. Iranian authorities alleged that the drone had been conducting intelligence-gathering operations within Iranian territory. However, no further details were released about the circumstances under which the drone was intercepted.

As of the report’s publication, Israel had not issued any official comment regarding the incident, and no additional information about the drone’s mission or flight path was made public.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday afternoon. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was also present during the meeting.

The farewell meeting marked the conclusion of Pranay Verma’s diplomatic tenure in Bangladesh. The discussion was held in a formal setting, reflecting the continuation of diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and India. No further details about the content of the meeting were disclosed in the report.

The event underscores the routine diplomatic process of ambassadorial transitions between the two neighboring countries, maintaining continuity in bilateral relations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran is not pursuing the development or acquisition of nuclear weapons. His remarks came as discussions between Iran and the United States over Iran’s ongoing nuclear program continue. According to local media reports, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran is ready to assure the world it is not seeking nuclear arms.

At the same time, the president made clear that the Iranian delegation participating in the negotiations will not compromise on matters related to the nation’s honor and dignity. His comments were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Iran’s official stance amid international scrutiny of its nuclear activities.

The statement underscores Tehran’s effort to project a cooperative image in global diplomacy while maintaining a firm position on national sovereignty during the ongoing nuclear discussions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks shortly after hosting US President Donald Trump, signaling closer coordination between Beijing and Moscow. The meeting follows Trump’s second-term policies, which, despite his pledge to “un-unite” Russia and China, have instead reinforced their partnership. The ongoing Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have made China increasingly dependent on Russian oil and gas, boosting bilateral trade by nearly 20 percent in the first four months of the year.

Energy cooperation is expanding, with new agreements between Chinese firms and Gazprom to increase gas imports and revive the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project. Beyond economics, both nations share a perception of the US-led West as a destabilizing force, driving them to align more closely. The article traces how past US administrations, from Clinton to Biden, contributed to this alignment through NATO expansion, conflicts in Ukraine, and tensions over Taiwan.

Xi’s invitation to Putin, coming immediately after Trump’s visit, is portrayed as a deliberate signal that the Russo-Chinese alliance remains firm and resistant to US efforts to divide them.

Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) has expanded export cargo screening capacity at the country’s airports. The authority confirmed that Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport regained approval to use the Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) method for screening cargo bound for the United Kingdom. This reinstatement, achieved through coordinated diplomatic and technical efforts, aligns Bangladesh’s cargo security system more closely with international standards.

CAAB spokesperson Kawsar Mahmud said the renewed EDD approval will strengthen and streamline security verification for UK-bound goods, reducing delays and costs for exporters. He added that the launch of a second Explosive Detection System (EDS) at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport has significantly increased screening capacity, enabling faster and more efficient cargo processing.

According to CAAB, these developments will enhance direct cargo transport capabilities to the UK and European Union. The improvements are expected to boost exporter confidence, attract new airlines seeking validation, and support Bangladesh’s broader international trade expansion.

Former interim government cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki shared a message from Safat Siddiqui, the mother of July uprising martyr Shafik Uddin Ahmed Ahnaf, expressing deep sorrow and anger. She said no mother should again lose her child for the country. Farooki posted her words on Facebook, saying he is moved each time he reads them and condemning those who trivialize the July killings in media discussions.

Farooki compared denial of the July massacre to Holocaust denial, noting that in many European countries such denial is punishable by law. He urged Bangladesh to consider similar legislation to prevent social disorder and to include provisions against denying genocide during the Liberation War. He warned that normalizing fascist narratives would erase the memory of July and dishonor the martyrs.

He emphasized that Bangladesh is not a traitorous nation and honors its martyrs, but mocking their sacrifice deeply wounds bereaved families. He called on society to take such pain seriously.

The Ministry of Commerce has launched a control room to ensure proper preservation and management of raw hides from sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2026. The initiative aims to streamline collection, storage, and care of hides across the country. A special awareness campaign will also be broadcast on government and private television channels to educate the public on proper handling methods.

According to a ministry press release issued on Sunday, an inter-ministerial meeting was held on April 12 to review preparations for raw hide management during the festival. The meeting emphasized correct skinning techniques, adequate use of salt, and timely preservation after collection. It also decided to run awareness programs through various media outlets to inform the public about best practices.

The ministry stated that the control room will supervise hide management activities and provide related services. Citizens can contact the control room at 01617-338067 for information or assistance. Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated in Bangladesh on May 28, and the government has taken early measures to prevent the recurring problem of hide spoilage due to poor preservation.

Russia carried out large-scale missile and drone attacks across Ukraine from Saturday night to early Sunday, causing widespread explosions in Kyiv and other regions. Ukrainian authorities reported at least four deaths and 83 injuries. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the main target was the capital, though other areas were also hit. Residential buildings, educational institutions, and other facilities were damaged, according to local officials.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it used the hypersonic ‘Oreshnik’ missile in the assault, describing it as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged that a Ukrainian strike on a dormitory in the Russian-controlled city of Starobilsk killed 21 people. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed a military operation near Starobilsk but said the target was a Russian special military unit.

Zelensky had previously warned that Russia was preparing a major new offensive and might deploy the ‘Oreshnik’ missile, which reportedly travels at ten times the speed of sound, making it extremely difficult to intercept.

A young man was beaten to death on suspicion of theft at a factory in Boalkhali upazila of Chattogram on Sunday. Police said the incident occurred at Bismillah Fabrics factory in the Sakpura Bridge area, where the man allegedly entered by cutting the shutter early in the morning. Workers tied him with a rope and beat him until he became unconscious. He was later taken to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared him dead at noon. The victim’s identity has not yet been confirmed.

Following the incident, police detained three factory officials, including the human resources manager, for questioning. Boalkhali police recovered the body and sent it to Chattogram Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. The officer-in-charge of Boalkhali Police Station confirmed that the man was beaten inside the factory on suspicion of theft.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the death and the role of those involved, while efforts continue to identify the deceased.

Officials from the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday afternoon at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony.

During the meeting, discussions focused on the rehabilitation programs for people with paralysis. CRP representatives presented details of their ongoing activities, including medical and rehabilitation services. The delegation included CRP founder trustee Dr. Valerie A. Taylor, executive director Dr. Mohammad Sohrab Hossain, trustee chairman Muhammad Saidur Rahman, trustee Mushtaq Ahmed, and other senior officials.

The meeting highlighted CRP’s continuing efforts to support individuals with disabilities and strengthen rehabilitation initiatives across Bangladesh.

A nine-story building under construction collapsed in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila, early Sunday following a severe thunderstorm, leaving at least 21 people missing, according to local authorities. Police, fire service, and disaster response teams launched a large-scale rescue operation, reporting that voices were heard from beneath the debris, raising hopes of survivors. Police Brigadier General Jess Mendez said 24 workers either escaped or were rescued, with some sustaining injuries, but no deaths had been confirmed.

Francis Pangilinan, head of the Angeles City disaster management office, stated that most of the missing individuals were believed to be construction workers. Debris from the collapse also damaged a nearby residential structure, injuring two people, including a Malaysian tourist. Rescue teams, aided by trained dogs, continued searching under highly unstable conditions.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said signs of life were detected under the rubble, but the area remained extremely dangerous, requiring careful rescue efforts. The site lies within the Clark Freeport Zone, a major commercial and entertainment hub about 80 kilometers north of Metro Manila.

An Iranian semi-official news agency reported that two to three clauses in a potential peace agreement between Tehran and Washington remain unresolved. According to an Iranian source familiar with the discussions, if the United States continues to create obstacles, there will be no possibility of finalizing the memorandum of understanding. The source added that despite some progress in the talks, differences persist on several important issues.

Analysts cited in the report identified Iran’s nuclear program, uranium enrichment, and the lifting of sanctions as the main points of contention in the negotiations. These issues have long complicated diplomatic efforts between the two countries and continue to hinder the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement.

The report suggests that while negotiations are ongoing, the outcome remains uncertain as both sides struggle to bridge their remaining differences.

During his recent visit to Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “great leader” and “friend,” signaling a desire for closer ties with China. Trump returned home without visiting other Asian nations and offered no reassurance to regional allies, while suggesting he might reconsider arms sales to Taiwan. His remarks have raised concerns across Asia, particularly in India, about U.S. security commitments.

In response, Indian leaders arranged a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and invited him to the White House. The two discussed deepening trade and defense cooperation. Rubio’s mission was seen as an effort to repair strained relations after Trump’s tariffs and his praise of Pakistani leaders. Analysts noted that Trump’s current approach contrasts sharply with previous U.S. policies that sought to strengthen India as a counterbalance to China.

Indian officials are now reassessing their strategic autonomy as Washington’s stance shifts. Some observers say both India and China are cautiously seeking stability in their relationship amid regional uncertainty.