A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm named Remal by Sunday evening. The storm will likely impact Bangladesh and the adjoining West Bengal coasts. This will be the first pre-monsoon cyclone in the Bay of Bengal.
Anwarul Azim Anar, a member of Parliament from Bangladesh, has been found murdered in Kolkata, India. Anar, who was receiving medical treatment in India, had been missing since May 13. The motive for the murder is still unknown, but authorities believe it was a planned attack by Bangladeshi nationals.
Anar, a member of Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League, was last seen on May 13 when he went to a home in Bidhannagar near Kolkata for a medical check-up. His family said he had intended to travel to Delhi, but there has been no physical presence or direct contact with him since May 13.
A missing complaint was filed on May 18, and on Wednesday, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan announced that Anar had been found murdered in Kolkata. Khan said that Indian police are cooperating with the investigation and that an SIT has been formed to start an investigation.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made several statements at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) annual general meeting, expressing India’s stance on relations with Pakistan, China, and its neighbors. He highlighted India’s low tolerance for cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and encouraged them to dismantle such activities for normalized relations. Regarding China, Jaishankar questioned the possibility of doing business with a country that had disturbed peace and tranquility in border areas. He also emphasized the promotion of domestic manufacturing and procurement to support Indian businesses. In relation to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, no specific details were provided in the given content.
Asha Sobhana, a leg-spinner from Kerala, has recently made her long-awaited T20I debut for India against Bangladesh, claiming two wickets in a match that India won by 56 runs. This breakthrough came after the highly successful Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, where she played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and emerged as the most impressive Indian leg-spinner. Sobhana’s journey has been marked by determination and focus, overcoming an initial decision to quit cricket in favor of a job with the Railways. The WPL and the subsequent T20I debut have reignited her career and provided an opportunity to showcase her talent on the international stage.
Bangladesh has witnessed an unprecedented April, marked by extreme temperatures and the absence of typical pre-monsoon thunderstorms. The scorching heat, unbroken in its duration and extent, has claimed 11 lives amidst a suffocating heatwave impacting much of the region. While rainfall is anticipated to provide respite from the relentless temperatures, the low precipitation levels recorded this April have exacerbated the situation. Extensive research has established that climate change is intensifying the frequency, duration, and severity of heatwaves, threatening the well-being of millions.
Jonathan Campbell, the son of former Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell, has been called up to the national T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on May 3rd. Campbell, a 26-year-old legspin allrounder, was part of the Zimbabwe emerging team that won the gold medal at the 13th African Games in March 2024.
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan is likely to make his return to T20I cricket next month against Zimbabwe, according to chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain. Shakib has not played a T20I or ODI since November last year due to an eye condition and a finger injury, but he returned to international cricket in the Chattogram Test against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
The 36-year-old is expected to arrive in Dhaka at the end of this month and could play one or two Dhaka Premier League matches before joining up with the Bangladesh T20I squad. He is likely to be included in the squad for the first T20I against Zimbabwe on May 3 in Chattogram, but he will miss the first match of the series as he is currently playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
Bangladesh will play the first three T20Is against Zimbabwe in Chattogram on May 3, 5 and 7, and the last two T20Is in Dhaka on May 10 and 12.
