As of now, 47,420 pilgrims from Bangladesh have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj. Among them, 4,583 traveled under government arrangements, and 42,837 under private management, across 119 flights. A total of 86,678 visas have been issued. Sadly, seven pilgrims—six men and one woman—have passed away during the pilgrimage so far.

ABM Rowshan Kabir reported that shortly after takeoff from Cox’s Bazar Airport, one of the aircraft’s rear wheels fell off. An engineering team was stationed near the runway at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as the flight was declared an emergency. Experts confirmed the aircraft could land safely even with one rear wheel missing. The plane later made an emergency landing in Dhaka without incident. The runway was temporarily closed, with ambulances and fire service vehicles on standby.

Students surrounded Shahbagh Police Station demanding justice for the murder of Chhatra Dal leader Shahriar Alam Samya. They issued a 48-hour ultimatum to arrest all perpetrators. So far, three individuals—Tamim Hawlader (30), Samrat Mallik (28), and Palash Sardar (30)—have been arrested and sent to jail. Protests and demonstrations have continued for the past three days, led by Chhatra Dal and fellow students.

Farzana Ahmed Nipa recounted how a domestic dispute over loan repayments led her to contact a friend in Kolkata who promised a high-paying parlor job. She decided to cross the border illegally via Comilla but was caught upon arrival in Tripura and sent to Gomati District Jail the next day. “There are at least 10 Bangladeshi women imprisoned there,” she said. “Traffickers often send young girls to states like Maharashtra and Kolkata, sometimes selling them into brothels under the guise of employment.” Nipa added, “I never imagined I’d be rescued from that hell. I had lost hope of ever seeing my husband and daughter again.”

Legal expert Tuhin Malik wrote, “The July Declaration aims to dismantle the fascist state structure, which is why political parties, civil-military bureaucracies, and elite civil society members oppose any change.”

He questioned, “Why wasn’t the declaration issued despite the government’s formation post-August 5, under the pretext of constitutional continuity?” Malik asserted that the draft of the July Declaration includes provisions to amend or even annul the 1972 Constitution if necessary — a key reason for elite resistance to change.

Adviser Mahfuz Alam issued a statement saying he has no official link to the JnU movement, but as a stakeholder in the broader uprising, he was interested in resolving the situation. He explained that the “bottle incident” left him frustrated and disheartened.

“I vented my frustration in front of the teachers, who were also shocked by the events. Due to consistent online threats from a particular group, I assumed they were behind it,” Mahfuz said. “If my frustration hurt anyone, I sincerely apologize.” He added that he supports the just movement and has advised the DMP to avoid any sabotage.

Following a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), a Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of a 10-story building and land in Uttara registered under the name of Mohammad Solaiman, father-in-law of former DB chief Harun-or-Rashid. Five of Solaiman’s bank accounts have also been frozen.

Additionally, two bank accounts belonging to Harun’s brother ABM Shahriar have been blocked. Earlier, on February 19, the court ordered the seizure of 130 bighas of land and the freezing of 21 bank accounts under their names, along with shares in three companies.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has said that there will be no real progress on the Ukraine conflict unless he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face. Trump had expressed interest in traveling to Turkey for direct talks with Putin as part of his initiative to end the war in Ukraine.

However, Putin did not visit Turkey on Thursday, and Trump also canceled his trip. Prior to this, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had publicly invited Putin to meet in Turkey on the same day.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman has highlighted the crucial role of cold storage chains in strengthening the country’s agricultural economy and ensuring food security. Speaking at an event, he noted that cold storage operators are preserving mango pulp, tomatoes, carrots, meat, dates, and other perishable goods, which significantly supports the sector. He also revealed that a Korean company has shown interest in storing onions. Other speakers emphasized the importance of improving cold chain infrastructure to maintain consistent supply and reduce waste of perishable products.

The government has issued a directive banning the planting, extraction, and sale of eucalyptus and acacia (Akashmoni) trees to protect the environment, ecosystem, and biodiversity. According to the notification, all tree plantation initiatives—whether by government agencies, private organizations, or individuals—must now prioritize indigenous fruit-bearing, forest, and medicinal plant species. This move is aimed at fulfilling both national and international environmental commitments by avoiding aggressive, non-native tree species.

In Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area, two alleged muggers were caught by locals while attempting a robbery. One of them, Rakib (28), a resident of Bhola’s Nurabad area, died after a mob beating. The other, Milon (35), was handed over to police. ADC Jewel Rana confirmed that a regular case is being filed over the incident.

India has conducted a full-scale military exercise titled Teesta Prahar in the Teesta Field Firing Range of West Bengal, located near the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor—popularly known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’. The operation was held from May 8 to May 10 as part of the country's wartime preparedness strategy.

According to an Indian Army spokesperson based in Guwahati, the exercise demonstrated the military's "joint combat strategy" and readiness in the challenging riverine terrain of the Teesta basin. Officially released videos and images show the use of artillery tanks, helicopters, surface-to-air missiles, and advanced drones during the operation.

Rayhan Apu, convener of the ‘July Warriors’ group and a gunshot survivor, admitted that putting up their banner on an abandoned building formerly used as an Awami League office was a mistake. The building, cleaned by his group last Wednesday, was assumed to be vacant and abandoned. “We never occupied the property,” he said. “Since it was state-owned land previously leased to the Awami League, placing our banner and claiming it as our office was inappropriate.” The banner has since been removed. Apu said they would now pursue legal avenues to revoke the existing lease and apply for a new one.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali has instructed police officers to remain on maximum alert to prevent any sabotage activities by banned political groups. He emphasized that the police must uphold professionalism and discipline while staying vigilant against destructive plots. The Commissioner also urged police personnel to maintain high standards in conduct, uniform, and service. Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, he directed intensified monitoring to prevent extortion, snatching, and counterfeit currency circulation at sacrificial animal markets, asserting that no criminal activity should be allowed to occur there.

The Chief Adviser-led Council of Advisers has approved the final draft of the “National Freedom Fighters Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.” The meeting also formed a committee to revise and evaluate the draft of the “Welfare and Rehabilitation Ordinance for Families of July Uprising Martyrs and Injured Protesters, 2025.” The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will provide secretarial support to the committee. The council also reviewed the advisory report on the “National Gene Bank Management Policy 2024” and approved the reconstruction plan for urban infrastructure under the “National Urban Policy 2025.” Additionally, it decided to update the 2011 rules under the “Sand and Soil Management Act, 2010.”