Press Secretary Shafiqur Alam stated that although 266 murder cases have been filed against journalists since August 5, the government cannot be held responsible for them. He added that any attempt to protest false or misleading news is often misconstrued as an attack on press freedom. “The interim government is committed to institutionalizing press freedom,” he said. He encouraged media outlets to acknowledge past mistakes and regain public trust. The government, he noted, is also working to ensure journalist safety and expedite the accreditation process. “Journalism should be rooted in facts, not personal ideology,” he added.

Teachers and students from Jagannath University (JnU) arrived at Kakrail intersection in 25 buses to join an ongoing protest demanding three key reforms. Thousands of university affiliates—including students, faculty, and staff—have joined the movement. The protest has centered around the road in front of the Chief Justice's residence and the surrounding Kakrail Mosque area, with demonstrators setting up barricades to voice their demands.

A surveillance drone was recovered from a paddy field inside Bangladeshi territory near the Ghasuria border in Hili. According to Officer-in-Charge Jahangir Alam, a local farmer, Prafulla Toppu, discovered the drone approximately 400 yards from the border while working in his field on Wednesday evening. He took it home and informed local authorities. A joint team from the police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) later retrieved the drone. Authorities suspect it belongs to India’s Border Security Force (BSF).

In a fresh diplomatic row, India and Pakistan have expelled each other’s diplomats on charges of engaging in activities inconsistent with their diplomatic status. Pakistan’s foreign office stated that an Indian diplomat posted in Islamabad was asked to leave the country within 24 hours. In response, India declared a Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi persona non grata on similar grounds and also ordered him to leave within 24 hours. Neither side disclosed specific details of the allegations.

During a meeting with Russian Ambassador Alexander Khazin, Food Security Adviser Ali Imam Majumder assured that Bangladesh currently has adequate food grain reserves. He noted that Bangladesh imports a significant portion of its wheat and fertilizer from Russia. While the country requires 7 million tons of wheat annually, local production accounts for only 1 million tons, necessitating the import of the remaining 6 million. He emphasized the need for enhanced bilateral cooperation in economic, educational, scientific, and technological sectors.

Around 1:50 PM on Wednesday, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) detained a Bangladeshi citizen who had crossed near the Dharmagarh BOP area of Thakurgaon’s Ranishankoil to cut grass. According to Lt. Col. Tanzir Ahmed, efforts are underway to secure his safe return. The BSF has reportedly assured through a flag meeting that the detainee will be released.

Police have forcefully removed diploma nursing students from Shahbagh intersection after a six-hour-long blockade that brought traffic to a halt. The demonstrators relocated to the Central Shaheed Minar following the eviction. Around 9 PM, when law enforcement attempted to disperse the crowd, students initially resisted. A baton charge by the police injured at least 10 students, three of whom required hospitalization.

Despite heightened security along the border, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) forcibly pushed 44 individuals into Bangladesh early Wednesday near the Barlekha border in Moulvibazar. The BGB, with help from local residents and a Union Parishad chairman, apprehended the individuals just before they reached Shahbazpur Bazaar. Previously, on May 6 and 7, the BSF had pushed in over 100 people, of whom 59 were detained by the BGB.

Nursing students have blocked the road at Shahbagh demanding that the “Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery” and “Diploma in Midwifery” be recognized as equivalent to a bachelor's degree. The students have been protesting for several days and held a rally earlier today in front of the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council in Dhaka. They issued a one-hour ultimatum for authorities to meet their demands. When no assurance came, they moved to Shahbagh and began a road blockade.

Jagannath University students marching toward Jamuna with a three-point demand were met with police resistance at Kakrail. Tear gas and sound grenades were used to disperse the crowd. A teacher at the scene reported that at least 50 students were injured, alongside several police personnel. The students vow to continue protesting until their demands are met:

Housing stipends for 70% of students starting FY 2025–26.

Full approval of the proposed university budget without cuts.

Immediate approval and implementation of the second campus project under priority development plans.

At its fifth convocation ceremony, Chittagong University awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) degree to Nobel Laureate and Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. A total of 22,560 graduates participated in the ceremony. Additionally, 22 researchers were awarded PhDs and 17 received MPhil degrees. Keynote addresses were delivered by Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar and UGC Chairman Prof. Dr. S. M. A. Faiz.

The White Panel, a group of Dhaka University teachers, has issued a strong statement condemning the murder of student leader Shahriar Alam Samyo. "He was a fearless fighter for people’s rights—killed in his own campus. What kind of country are we creating?" the statement read. They demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. The group alleged that this murder, especially amid growing calls for a national election, could be part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize the country. They urged authorities to identify and bring the killers to justice within 24 hours.

Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, Tommy Pigott, said, “We are aware that the ruling government has banned all political activities of the Awami League until legal proceedings against the party and its leaders conclude.” He emphasized that the US does not support any specific political party in Bangladesh. “We advocate for an independent, democratic, fair, and transparent legal process for everyone,” he said. Pigott also urged all governments, including Bangladesh’s, to uphold freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right of association. He reiterated the US’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the people of Bangladesh and working with the interim government.

Police have detained three individuals in connection with the murder of Shahriar Samyo (25), a Dhaka University student from the 2018–19 session and a leader of the student wing of the BNP, who was fatally stabbed with a sharp weapon near Suhrawardy Udyan. The names of those arrested have not yet been disclosed. On Wednesday morning, Samyo’s elder brother, Shariful Islam, filed a case at Shahbagh Police Station, naming 10 to 12 unidentified individuals. Police say an investigation is currently underway.

Shahriar Alam Samya, a student of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University, was stabbed to death near the Suhrawardy Udyan open stage around midnight on Tuesday. Provost Mahfuzul Haque Supon confirmed that Samya succumbed to knife injuries. Samya, son of Fakhrul Alam from Sirajganj, was also the literary and publication secretary of the DU unit of Chhatra Dal. The incident occurred when his motorcycle collided with another near the park, leading to an altercation. During the scuffle, he was fatally stabbed by one of the assailants who then fled the scene.