Human development organization Impact Initiative distributed food items, sports equipment and seasonal fruits among orphaned children in Khulna. The event took place on Tuesday at the Rahuma Samajkalyan Society auditorium on Syed Ali Hossain Road under the organization’s Orphan Care Program. A total of 26 orphaned children and their guardians received the distributed items.

The distributed packages included rice, soybean oil, lentils, sugar, milk powder, noodles, food packs, Horlicks jars, nuts, biscuits, fruits and chocolates. Educational materials such as books, art supplies, stationery, school bags, umbrellas and art frames were also provided. Boys received a cricket set while girls received a badminton set. Each child was also given 3,500 taka to cover annual study and school fees.

The event was attended by Khulna’s Additional Superintendent of Police Sheikh Md. Imran as chief guest, with Dr. G. M. Shafiqul Islam and Dr. Jinnat Ali as special guests. Journalists Muhammad Nuruzzaman and Masum Billah Imran also spoke, and area representative S. A. Mukul supervised the program.

European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller paid a courtesy call on Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the Secretariat on Tuesday. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and the EU, with both sides describing the discussions as productive.

The minister emphasized expanding and strengthening mutual partnership, particularly by utilizing EU expertise in water management. He expressed interest in launching joint experience-sharing programs in this sector, noting their potential benefits for Bangladesh. Ambassador Miller described Bangladesh as a reliable and proven development partner and reaffirmed the EU’s interest in deepening and broadening existing cooperation.

Discussions also covered decentralization of governance, e-governance improvement, infrastructure progress, and sustainable development. Both parties expressed optimism that joint initiatives and partnerships would make future Bangladesh–EU development cooperation more dynamic. Senior officials from the ministry and its subordinate offices were present at the meeting.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected in its latest World Economic Outlook report that Bangladesh’s per capita gross domestic product (GDP) could exceed India’s in 2026. According to the report, Bangladesh’s per capita GDP is expected to reach 2,911 US dollars, compared to India’s 2,812 dollars. The IMF attributes this potential shift to Bangladesh’s sustained economic growth, steady export earnings, and slower population growth. However, the report also notes that India may regain the lead in 2027.

Economists have cautioned against overinterpreting the forecast, emphasizing that a temporary lead in per capita GDP does not necessarily reflect stronger overall economic performance. Former World Bank economist Zahid Hossain explained that exchange rate fluctuations can significantly affect GDP comparisons in dollar terms. Selim Raihan, executive director of SANEM, added that Bangladesh’s economy remains under pressure from inflation, investment stagnation, and global instability, including the Middle East conflict.

The IMF publishes the World Economic Outlook twice a year, offering short- and medium-term forecasts of global economic trends. Economists noted that such projections are subject to change due to external factors and methodological limitations.

The government has appointed Md. Alamgir Hossain, an additional secretary attached to the Ministry of Public Administration, as the new Director General of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA). The appointment was made on deputation, and his service has been placed under the Health Services Division. The Ministry of Public Administration issued the official notification on Tuesday.

Alamgir Hossain replaces Major General Md. Shamim Hayder, who had been serving as the DG of the DGDA since October 22, 2024. The DGDA is the sole authority responsible for licensing and regulating the pharmaceutical sector in Bangladesh.

The appointment marks a leadership transition in the key regulatory body overseeing the country’s medicine production and distribution, ensuring continued oversight of the pharmaceutical industry.

Teachers at Barishal University have declared a total non-cooperation movement against Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Toufiq Alam amid an ongoing complete shutdown program demanding promotions. The announcement was made at a press conference held on Tuesday noon at the administrative building of the university. Since the work stoppage and shutdown began on April 22, all academic and administrative activities, including classes and examinations, have been halted.

According to the protesting teachers, many faculty members became eligible for promotion under the university’s existing upgradation policy as early as mid-2024, but no action was taken by the previous vice-chancellor. They allege that the current vice-chancellor has continued to delay the process despite repeated requests. Teachers claim that mandatory upgradation board meetings were not held within the required timeframe and that even after partial progress in late 2025, the final approval process was stalled.

The teachers further accuse the vice-chancellor of using comments from University Grants Commission officials as a pretext to suspend promotions and of undermining the university’s autonomy. They have called for government intervention to resolve the crisis, while the vice-chancellor has urged teachers to resume classes and warned of legal action if disruptions continue.

An SSC examinee named Jisan Rahman was expelled in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, after being caught using a mobile phone to solve exam questions inside a toilet. The incident occurred on Tuesday at the Bakshiganj Ulfatunnesa Government Girls’ High School examination center. Jisan was a student of Bakshiganj Nur Mohammad High School. The expulsion was confirmed by the center secretary, Biplob Kishore Chakraborty.

According to the report, the student wrote answers from the phone during the exam, which raised suspicion among the authorities. CCTV footage later revealed that he had a mobile phone with him inside the toilet. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Murad Hossain stated that there is no scope for irregularities in the examination hall.

The incident highlights the strict enforcement of examination rules in the region and the use of surveillance technology to prevent malpractice during national exams.

A mobile court in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj seized six drums of illegally transported diesel and fined one person. The operation took place on Monday under the direction of Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Mohammad Raihanul Islam. Shahjalal Sabuj, 42, was fined 10,000 taka after failing to produce valid documents for the diesel found in a pickup truck.

According to court sources, Ullapara Model Police conducted the raid based on a tip-off near the old bus stand area of Shyamlipara along the Dhaka–Pabna highway. The seized diesel was later sold at government-fixed prices through the Ullapara filling station, and the proceeds will be deposited into the government treasury, officials said.

Authorities stated that the action was part of efforts to curb illegal fuel transportation and ensure compliance with fuel distribution regulations in the region.

Iranian snooker player Hossein Vafaei advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Snooker Championship after a dramatic 13–12 victory over top seed Judd Trump at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Monday. The win marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and secured Vafaei’s first-ever appearance in the last eight of the championship.

Vafaei, ranked 32nd in the world, described the triumph as one of the best of his career. He dedicated the victory to the people of Iran, saying he wanted to bring them some happiness amid months of war and hardship. The player, known as the “Prince of Persia,” admitted he had been mentally distressed by the ongoing conflict and had even considered withdrawing from the tournament.

Having come through the qualifying rounds, Vafaei pledged to continue giving his best to bring more joy to his war-affected compatriots as the championship progresses.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Titas upazila branch has launched a humanitarian initiative to assist SSC and Dakhil examinees in Cumilla’s Titas upazila. The help desk began operating on Tuesday morning in front of Batakandi Government Saheb Ali Abul Hossain Memorial High School examination center. Members of the organization remained on duty throughout the day to support students arriving for their exams.

Through the help desk, students received free pens, purified water, chocolates, tissues, and Islamic knowledge-based books. The initiative reportedly brought comfort and satisfaction among examinees. Before entering the exam hall, Shibir members also offered encouraging words to boost students’ confidence.

Organizers stated that the goal was to ensure a smooth and supportive environment for SSC, Dakhil, and equivalent examinees. They pledged to continue similar welfare activities in the future and expressed good wishes for all students’ success.

A 22-year-old man named Jannatul Ferdous entered the runway of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka early Tuesday morning without facing any security barriers. The incident occurred at 6:21 a.m. when he accessed the runway through a gate of the domestic terminal. Airport security personnel later detained him and handed him over to the authorities. According to initial questioning, the man said he came to receive his uncle and approached the aircraft area after the flight was delayed.

Airport Executive Director Group Captain Ragib Samad confirmed that the man reached the apron area through a domestic gate before being detained and sent to a magistrate court. The breach took place a day after a nationwide security alert was issued for all airports.

Officials noted that the incident happened despite heightened surveillance and reinforced security measures at key points of the airport following warnings from police headquarters about possible militant threats to vital installations. The breach has raised questions about the effectiveness of current airport security protocols.

Thakurani Canal, once a vital waterway flowing through wards 3, 4, and 5 of Mongla Port Municipality in Bagerhat, is now facing an existential crisis due to encroachment, landfilling, and pollution. The canal, officially 2.10 kilometers long and 30 to 40 feet wide, has been severely narrowed, with parts buried under multi-story buildings, shops, and permanent structures. Although government records list 31 encroachers, locals claim the actual number is higher, alleging that influential individuals have built illegal structures beyond the official list.

Mongla Citizens’ Society president Nur Alam Sheikh described the canal as the lifeline of Mongla town and warned that the city’s survival is at risk if the canal is not freed from illegal occupation. Upazila Executive Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi stated that verification of documents and boundary demarcation has begun, and visible action against illegal occupiers will follow soon. State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward encroachment on canals, rivers, and water bodies.

Authorities indicated that enforcement measures are imminent to restore the canal’s natural flow and protect Mongla’s urban environment.

Kishoreganj-4 Member of Parliament Fazlur Rahman made strong remarks during a parliamentary session on Tuesday afternoon, saying that although the descendants of collaborators still exist, freedom fighters like him are also alive. He criticized opposition members, noting that some call him 'Faza Pagla' while claiming to be civilized.

Rahman further stated that an opposition leader identified himself as belonging to a freedom fighter and martyr family while being associated with Jamaat-e-Islami, which he described as a 'double crime.' He argued that members of freedom fighter or martyr families should not be involved with Jamaat.

Referring to events after August 5 under the Yunus government, Rahman said that cultural activities such as songs, plays, and Lalon music could not take place in front of the Shilpakala Academy, claiming that dark forces had destroyed everything.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the Bangladesh government is determined to make the Coast Guard a modern, strong, and time-befitting force to ensure security in the country’s maritime and coastal areas. He made the remarks on Tuesday at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, during the celebration of the 31st founding anniversary and Coast Guard Day 2026.

The minister recalled that the force was established in 1995 under the leadership of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with the motto “Guardian at Sea.” He praised the Coast Guard’s recent successes in curbing drug trafficking, human smuggling, and piracy, as well as protecting forest and fishery resources in the Sundarbans, including 29 successful operations in the past year. He also highlighted the addition of three surveillance drones and ongoing construction of one multirole response vessel and two offshore patrol vessels funded by JICA.

Ahmed announced plans to procure bulletproof high-speed boats through Khulna Shipyard and to add helicopters and a maritime surveillance system in the future. The government is also working to increase the force’s manpower to 10,000 members.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has filed trademark applications in the United States to protect her voice and image from artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfakes. The filings, submitted on Friday to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, include two audio clips of Swift’s voice and a stage photograph showing her in a sequined outfit holding a pink guitar. The applications list her company, TAS Rights Management, as the owner, though neither Swift’s representatives nor her lawyers have commented publicly.

Trademark attorney Josh Gerben explained that while existing publicity rights laws offer some protection, trademarks could provide additional security. He noted that registering a voice as a trademark is a relatively new concept and remains largely untested in court. Previously, artists relied on copyright law to protect their work, but AI’s ability to mimic voices without using original recordings has created new legal gaps.

Experts cited in the report said Swift’s move follows a surge in AI-generated fake videos, ads, and misleading content using her likeness, and could set a precedent for digital identity protection among celebrities.

Students of Jagannath University (JnU) formed a human chain on Tuesday at the university’s sculpture square demanding the arrest and trial of those responsible for the murder of Bullet Bairagi, a fifth-batch finance student and customs officer. The event was organized by the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and joined by general students and leaders from various student organizations.

During the demonstration, JnUCSU Vice President Md. Riazul Islam said that ordinary citizens have no security in the country and blamed the administration for failing to protect lives. He warned of a tougher street movement if the killers were not identified and brought to justice. JnU Debating Society President Main Al Mubashshir criticized the government for failing to ensure public safety despite holding a large parliamentary majority, while Islamic Studies student Ashiqur Rahman Akash questioned the moral right of the Home Minister to remain in office if security cannot be guaranteed.

Speakers called on both the government and opposition to end political theatrics and urged citizens to raise their voices for justice and safety.