Three law enforcement officers were killed and five others injured in a shootout while executing a warrant at a home in North Carolina. Officers were met with gunfire, leading to an exchange that left one suspect dead. After a standoff, a 17-year-old and a woman were taken into custody. The incident was described as an “absolutely tragic day” for the city and law enforcement by officials, with the US Attorney General expressing heartbreak over the deaths. Representational image
After the longest heatwave in Bangladesh’s recorded history, relief is expected in May with rainfall and shorter heatwave spells, though slightly humid conditions may persist. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasts rain and thundershowers from May 2 to 8, followed by milder heatwaves. The neutralization of El Niño and the potential return of La Niña could contribute to cooler temperatures and increased rainfall in the coming months. PHOTO: PALASH KHAN
Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature of 43 degrees Celsius in Bangladesh this afternoon, according to the local weather office. This year’s previous highest of 43.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Chuadanga on May 21, 2014. The meteorological department warned that the severe heatwave conditions may prevail for the next two days in parts of the country, including Jashore, Rajshahi, and Khulna divisions. However, rain or thundershowers are expected in Dhaka and other areas, which may provide some relief from the scorching heat. Representational image.
During Elon Musk’s visit to China, Tesla received a key security clearance for its locally produced models, meeting the country’s data security requirements for smart cars. This clears a regulatory hurdle for Tesla to offer its “Full Self Driving” (FSD) features in China. Musk also reportedly partnered with Baidu for maps and navigation, inching closer to FSD approval. However, analysts suggest that the additional cost of FSD on top of Tesla’s retail prices may prove challenging for Chinese consumers.
The High Court ordered the government to keep primary and secondary schools, and madrasas closed till Thursday due to the ongoing heatwave. However, this closure order is not applicable for O/A level exams, colleges, universities, air-conditioned schools, and where exams are ongoing. The HC bench gave this suo motu order to the Education Ministry. The reopening of educational institutions was marred by two teachers’ deaths and numerous students falling ill across the country yesterday due to the intense heat. PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN
Jake Fraser-McGurk has strengthened his case for inclusion in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad after another blistering innings in the IPL for Delhi Capitals. The 22-year-old smashed 84 runs off just 27 balls, equalling the fastest IPL fifty this season. Former captain Michael Clarke believes the selectors must consider Fraser-McGurk for the World Cup, praising his explosive batting and highlighting his suitability for Caribbean conditions. With 247 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.50, the big-hitting batsman has made a compelling case for his T20I debut.
An Indian government delegation from the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) is visiting Bangladesh from April 28-30 for bilateral talks on renewing the MoU between the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) of India and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Public Administration (MOPA). The MoU, set to expire in 2025, facilitates training programs for Bangladeshi civil servants in India. Since 2014, 71 capacity-building programs have been held under this collaboration, training 2,600 Bangladeshi civil servants. Photo: Collected
The rampant drug smuggling and trading inside prisons across Bangladesh is alarming. Data shows disciplinary actions were taken against at least 25 jail guards for drug trafficking in the past year. With inflated drug prices in prisons and widespread inmate involvement, prisons are turning into drug dens. Authorities need to take a holistic approach, including stronger surveillance, increased random searches, and strict monitoring of officials, to curb this issue and ensure proper rehabilitation of prisoners.
A 50-year-old meat seller, Selim Mia, tragically passed away after falling ill while traveling on a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area amidst scorching heat. He was declared dead upon arrival at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Doctors suspect he might have succumbed to heatstroke, a condition that can prove fatal during extreme heat waves. The ongoing heatwave in Dhaka has already claimed several lives in recent days.
In a tragic incident, a 27-year-old man named Anjan Kumar Shah from Jamtola village in Ishwardi municipality area of Pabna district lost his life after being hit by the Simanta Express train around 3:00 AM. The police recovered his body from the rail tracks and sent it for autopsy. The Ishwardi GRP Police Station is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
Primary, secondary schools and colleges in Bangladesh reopened today after a long break, including Eid and heatwave holidays. Parents expressed concerns about the scorching heat’s impact on children’s health. The Met office extended the heat alert by 72 hours. Primary schools operating in one shift will be open from 8:00am to 11:30am, while double-shift schools will have shorter hours. Assemblies are suspended until temperatures become tolerable, and pre-primary classes remain closed. Photo: Anisur Rahman
A 48-hour transport strike in Chattogram, enforced by owners and workers, has left commuters stranded at various locations. The strike demands include compensation for buses torched by CUET students after two were killed in a road accident. Hundreds of students and parents suffered as schools reopened amidst the strike. Transport leaders warned of a tougher nationwide movement from May 1 if demands are unmet. The Met office extended the heat alert by 72 hours. Photo: Rajib Raihan
Two Bangladeshi nationals, Babul Uddin from Cumilla and Yusuf Miah from Sylhet, were shot dead around 12:30 pm on Saturday at Babul’s home in Jenner Street, Buffalo, New York. Police and a SWAT team arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, and the area was cordoned off for six hours. While the victims’ identities were not disclosed, the police confirmed two male casualties in the incident. Photo: Collected
A 22-year-old man named Tuhin Ali has been arrested and sent to jail in Jashore for allegedly raping a 17-year-old hearing-impaired girl in the area. The victim’s mother filed a case accusing Tuhin of luring the girl to his house and raping her. The mother stated that Tuhin, being a neighbor, would often make illicit proposals and threaten the disabled girl when she refused. Representational image
West Ham’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Saturday effectively ended the Reds’ slim Premier League title hopes. Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio scored for West Ham, while Andy Robertson and an Alphonse Areola own goal were Liverpool’s goals. The result leaves Liverpool third with 75 points, one behind Manchester City who have two games in hand. Arsenal lead the table, two points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand. PHOTO: REUTERS
A man was stabbed to death and at least five others were injured in Brahmanbaria during a clash between two groups over bursting firecrackers after a local football tournament. The deceased, Yakub Miah, 30, was stabbed by Tarek Islam, an MBBS doctor, after an argument broke out while celebrating the winning team’s victory with fireworks. Police have filed a case against six people, including Tarek, who is currently on the run.
Transport owners and workers in Chattogram have called a 48-hour strike from tomorrow morning, demanding compensation for buses burnt by students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), among other demands. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Greater Chattogram Public Transports’ Owners and Workers Unity, chaired by its convener Manjur Alam Chowdhury. The strike will begin at 6:00 am on Sunday. Photo: Star
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, shared his viewpoint that women can carry burdens that men cannot, debunking the perception of their physical limitations. Recounting experiences from the 1974 famine, he observed how women persevered and took responsibility when men abandoned families, struggling to feed their malnourished children. Abed bhai learned that given opportunities, women can turn the impossible into possible. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
A fire broke out in a bus in front of the Army Stadium in Dhaka today. Upon receiving information, two fire engines rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control around 4:15 pm, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room duty officer Khaleda Yasmin. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the bus fire incident. Photo: Tanjia Rahman
Bangladesh Football Federation President Kazi Salahuddin has instructed to reschedule the UCB Women’s Football League matches in the evening following criticism over the initial scheduling during daytime heat. Earlier, concerns over floodlight costs led to plans for morning and afternoon matches. However, Salahuddin acknowledged the difficulty of playing in such heat and promised to arrange the required budget for evening matches under floodlights. Photo: BFF
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sustained minor injuries after falling while boarding a helicopter in Durgapur today. Videos show her slipping while trying to sit on the seat after climbing the stairs. Security personnel rushed to help her, but she continued her onward travel to Asansol. This is the latest in a series of incidents where Mamata has suffered injuries, including a car accident and hospitalizations. photo: Collected
India has permitted the export of 99,150 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh and five other countries – the UAE, Mauritius, Bhutan, Bahrain, and Sri Lanka. The National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), a state-owned entity, will facilitate the onion exports to these nations.
The premature baby girl, Sabreen al-Ruh, who was delivered by emergency C-section after her mother was fatally wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza, has died. Her uncle said she passed away on Thursday at an Emirati hospital in Rafah despite efforts to save her. He buried her in her father’s grave, as the airstrike had killed her entire immediate family. Sabreen’s survival after the strike was initially called a “miracle,” but she could not be saved amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that has claimed many civilian lives. Photo: AFP
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader criticized BNP for failing to acknowledge Bangladesh’s development, stating they “see darkness in daylight.” He urged BNP to learn from Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks praising Bangladesh’s economic progress, which Sharif said Pakistan feels “shame” about, contrasting with when Bangladesh was considered a “burden” for Pakistan. Quader also highlighted Sheikh Hasina’s stance against the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts, calling on world leaders to oppose aggression and wars amid the tense global situation. Photo taken from his Facebook page
Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature of 42.7°C today as a severe heatwave swept the district along with parts of Khulna division and other areas. People, especially the low-income group, are struggling with the intense heat, taking shelter under trees and shady places. Over 250 heat-related patients are admitted to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital. Authorities advised staying indoors, maintaining hydration, and consuming fruits to avoid heatstroke as the heatwave conditions may persist for a few more days across several districts. Photo: Prabir Das
The Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet), closed due to student protests over the deaths of two students in a road accident, will reopen on May 12 as per the syndicate’s decision. However, some protesting students haven’t accepted the decision yet. Earlier, students suspended their demonstration after assurances from authorities that their demands would be met. The university had closed indefinitely and ordered students to vacate halls after failing to pacify protests that followed the accident deaths of two civil engineering students. Photo: Collected
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Bangladesh has recommended reducing government subsidies on power, gas, and fertilizer, and utilizing the savings for social safety net programs. It proposed including more poor people in the programs and increasing their monthly allowances. The IMF also advised reducing state-owned banks’ classified loans, taking action against willful defaulters, and implementing market-based interest and exchange rates. The mission’s visit aims to review the $4.7 billion loan program before releasing the third tranche.
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Poultry farmers across Bangladesh are facing severe losses as the ongoing heatwave has led to the deaths of hundreds of chickens daily. Marginal farmers have incurred losses of around Tk 200 crore in the past 10 days. Egg production has declined by 4-10% due to the extreme heat. Farmers are struggling with high feed costs, power outages, and the need for medication. Many are contemplating closing their businesses as the heatwave persists until Saturday, with temperatures soaring above 40°C in some areas.
In the first phase of upazila parishad elections scheduled for May 8, a total of 25 candidates, including 6 chairmen, have been elected unopposed across several upazilas. These uncontested winners include chairmen, vice-chairmen, and female vice-chairmen from upazilas like Bagerhat Sadar, Munshiganj Sadar, Shibchar in Madaripur, and others. The early uncontested victories have raised questions about the electoral process, even though voting is still over two weeks away.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has protested the government’s hasty steps for merging banks, calling it a “new mask of indemnity” in the banking sector. TIB claimed the merger process lacks transparency, burdens healthy banks with defaulted loans, shields those responsible for irregularities, and provides impunity instead of accountability. The anti-corruption watchdog demanded postponing the merger initiatives and reforming policies based on expert opinions and global standards to address the core problems in the banking sector effectively. (photo/prothomalo)
The High Court has directed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit an affidavit detailing the progress of its investigation into allegations of illegal wealth accumulation by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed within two months. The court emphasized its desire for the country to be free from corruption, money laundering, and ensuring no one escapes justice or is wrongfully prosecuted. The order came after hearing a writ petition seeking an ACC probe into news reports about Benazir’s alleged illegal assets. (photo/fb)
A 10-member IMF delegation is visiting Dhaka from Tuesday until May 8 to review Bangladesh’s progress in meeting the conditions for the $4.7 billion loan. They will hold meetings with government agencies like the Finance Division, Bangladesh Bank, and NBR. The visit comes amid challenges like low forex reserves, high inflation, and missed revenue targets. The third loan tranche is expected within two months, but conditions like adopting a flexible exchange rate remain unmet. (photo/reuters)
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued guidelines to prevent heatstroke amid the intense heatwave gripping the country. The key recommendations include staying in shade, drinking plenty of safe water, avoiding street food, wearing light-colored loose clothes, and seeking medical help if experiencing symptoms like cessation of sweating, nausea, severe headache, increased body temperature, decreased appetite, burning sensation, convulsions or fainting. (photo/collected)
Israeli PM Netanyahu vowed to fight against any potential U.S. sanctions on Israeli military units over alleged human rights violations in the occupied West Bank. Media reports suggested Washington was planning sanctions on the Netzah Yehuda battalion. The U.S. recently imposed sanctions linked to Israeli settlers, drawing Israeli criticism. Netanyahu said he would resist sanctioning Israeli forces “with all my strength,” while Defense Minister Gantz urged the U.S. to reconsider, arguing Israel’s military upholds international law. The reports highlight tensions between the allies over Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territories. Photo: Reuters
Fake AI-generated videos of Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh criticizing PM Modi and endorsing the opposition Congress party have gone viral on social media, viewed over half a million times. Khan has filed a police complaint, while the actors and fact-checkers have confirmed the videos are manipulated. The spread of such deepfakes highlights the potential impact of AI-generated content in India’s ongoing general election. Authorities and social media platforms are taking action to remove the misleading videos. Photo: Collected
The country is reeling under a severe heatwave, with hospitals in badly affected regions like Jashore, Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Pabna, and Barishal inundated with patients, especially children and the elderly suffering from diarrhea, dehydration, and heat-related illnesses. Dhaka is also experiencing a surge in outdoor patients with fever, cold, and diarrhea. Health experts attribute the outbreak to the scorching heat and drought, advising precautions like staying hydrated and wearing cotton clothing. Photo: Collected