On Thursday night in Fatullah, Narayanganj, armed assailants attempted to assassinate businessman Nantu Mia, owner of Afsar Karim Plaza near Pagla Bazar. Eyewitnesses report that he was shot in the stomach and arm. After receiving initial treatment at Khanpur Hospital, he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College. The attack occurred when he was getting into his private car after shopping. His driver quickly fled the scene with him towards Fatullah, while the attackers escaped towards Dhaka on a motorcycle.

Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Khondokar Azim Ahmed warned business owners that while securing bank loans for investment is acceptable, fleeing the country with the funds—especially to Singapore—will not be tolerated. He called on employers to ensure fair wages for workers and emphasized timely payment before the sweat of their labor dries. He highlighted the plight of agricultural, construction, and transport workers in the region, noting poor safety, extreme heat, and low pay, especially among tea workers, who earn less than Tk 200 daily.

In a defiant protest in Quetta, Hindu lawmaker Sanjay Kumar of the Pakistan People’s Party condemned Indian allegations of Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam attack. Leading a demonstration, he declared, “If India dares to attack, more than 10 million Pakistani Hindus will stand with our army.” Demonstrators held placards denouncing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed solidarity with Pakistan’s military.

Indian authorities claim the four militants responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people, are still hiding in South Kashmir’s dense forests. According to NDTV, these militants are believed to be self-sufficient in supplies, which has helped them avoid detection—suggesting no ongoing support from across the border.

Indian outrage has surged over Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir’s remarks about Kashmir. Speaking on April 17 to expatriates, Munir called Kashmir Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and vowed to support its people’s struggle. Linking this with the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Indian commentators are drawing connections despite no conclusive evidence. Munir previously claimed Pakistan would fight ten wars if necessary over Kashmir.

Despite the significance of May Day, workers took to the streets demanding unpaid wages. Protests led to discussions between workers and factory management at the main gate. Workers said the factory had shut down on November 9, promising payments by December 28, but nothing has been paid yet. Mahmud Jeans Ltd. and Mahmud Washing Plant Ltd. claimed that although they planned to begin payments from April 28, banking complications delayed the process. They now aim to clear all dues by May 15 in coordination with the Labor Ministry.

India’s Supreme Court refused to hear a petition demanding a judicial probe into the recent Pahalgam attack, citing concerns over armed forces’ morale. The bench, led by Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh, advised petitioners to consider the national interest, saying, “Don’t file petitions that demoralize security forces.” Meanwhile, Pakistan has labeled the attack a “false flag operation.”

Writer and activist Farhad Mazhar claimed the 1972 Constitution was imposed under Indian influence, disregarding the true spirit of the Liberation War. “It introduced Bengali nationalism, secularism, and socialism—none of which were part of the 1971 movement,” he said. Mazhar called for its repeal and a new constitution. He also criticized poet Dr. Yunus for allegedly blocking students’ attempts to declare a new national vision in July.

The upcoming May 10 election of the Rajshahi University Alumni Association (RUAA) has been suspended following the resignation of two election commissioners—Professors Nurul Hossain Chowdhury and Habibul Haque. Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Moin Uddin revealed that the commissioners were intimidated and pressured not to carry out their duties. Nurul Hossain cited personal reasons and mental stress, saying he had been unable to sleep for two nights. A new commission or an ad hoc committee may be formed to proceed.

Professor Md. Hazrat Ali of the Civil Engineering Department at CUET has been appointed Interim Vice Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET). He will serve until a full-time VC is appointed. Under the appointment conditions, he will receive the same salary and benefits as his current role and must remain on campus full-time. The President, acting as Chancellor, retains the right to revoke the appointment at any time.

Interim Government Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has distanced the administration from remarks made by retired Major General A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman, who suggested Bangladesh should seize India’s northeastern states (Seven Sisters) if India attacks Pakistan. Rahman’s comments, made in a Facebook post, also proposed a military alliance with China. Shafiqul clarified that the statement does not reflect government policy and reiterated Bangladesh’s respect for all nations’ sovereignty.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, has urged media outlets to stop referring to sympathizers of convicted war criminals and human rights violators as “journalists.” In a social media post, he condemned those who support fugitive killers with UN-documented war crime charges and called them “looters and cronies” undeserving of the journalist title.

Labor Adviser M. Sakhawat Hossain has stated that the interim government’s steps toward protecting workers’ rights are likely to leave a significant mark internationally. Speaking at a labor event, he emphasized that “only when employers and workers stand united will society truly change.” During a recent visit to the ILO, Hossain observed that worker wages and safety conditions have severely deteriorated over the past 20–30 years, nearly leading to sanctions.

Gazipur police suspect a deliberate attempt to incite unrest following the custodial death of a man accused of molestation in Haidarabad. Detainee Raiz Uddin, arrested after local residents handed him over for alleged abuse, died after falling ill in jail. Five victims had testified under the Women and Children Repression Act. Deputy Commissioner N.M. Nasir Uddin warned that false narratives are being spread to manipulate public sentiment and disrupt the legal process.

In response to lawyer Tania Amir’s remarks at the Geneva Press Club about the 2009 BDR mutiny, a government press release accused her of pushing a partisan agenda aligned with the former Awami League government. The statement criticized her for allegedly representing the views of mutineers and questioned her intentions, noting the absence of new evidence and reliance on long-standing opposition narratives.