Allama Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, stated that there is no division within Hefazat-e-Islam and that the recently formed 11-party alliance is purely a political platform without any doctrinal basis. He made the remarks on Sunday, May 17, after a meeting with Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Amir, Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari, in Fatikchhari, Chattogram.

During a special meeting of Hefazat’s central leaders and subcommittee members at Al Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasa, Babunagari reaffirmed that no internal conflict exists within Hefazat. He accused certain groups of attempting to create rifts but insisted that the organization remains united in ideology and purpose.

Mamunul Haque further explained that the 11-party alliance emerged after 2024 as a political coordination platform involving many Hefazat leaders. He emphasized that the alliance represents electoral unity, not ideological compromise, and expressed full agreement with Babunagari’s statements.

In Gazipur, violent clashes erupted at Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) between protesters opposing the appointment of a new vice chancellor and his supporters. At least 15 people, including five police officers, were injured in the confrontations. Unable to enter the campus due to resistance from demonstrators, newly appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Iqbal formally assumed office from the Gazipur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office. Police have been deployed on the campus to maintain order.

The government appointed Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, a professor from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, as DUET’s new vice chancellor on Thursday, replacing Dr. Joynal Abedin. Following the announcement, a section of students rejected the decision and began protests, demanding that the vice chancellor be selected from DUET’s internal faculty. Demonstrators blocked the campus gates and displayed red cards to prevent the new VC’s entry.

Local administration and police held multiple discussions with both sides to restore calm. Authorities reported that the situation was later brought under control, though tensions remain high on the campus.

The Sylhet district and metropolitan units of Jubo Dal organized a street rally and leaflet distribution program in Sylhet city on Sunday afternoon, calling for the implementation of the July National Charter. The event took place in front of Madhuban Super Market at Bandar Bazar, where party leaders emphasized that the charter is a key foundation for establishing democracy, accountability, and an equitable state system in Bangladesh.

During the rally, Sylhet district Jubo Dal president Advocate Mominul Islam Momin stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) remains committed to the principles of the July National Charter, which was signed by political parties based on consensus at the South Plaza of Parliament. He said the BNP aims to build a non-discriminatory and accountable governance system reflecting public aspirations and is working toward implementing a bicameral parliamentary structure in line with the charter’s spirit.

Following the rally, Jubo Dal activists distributed leaflets across different areas of the city to raise public awareness about the July National Charter.

Iran has appointed its parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as the country’s special envoy for China-related affairs, according to a report by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency published on Sunday. The report stated that Ghalibaf will serve as a coordinator among various national institutions on matters concerning China.

The appointment was proposed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and approved by the country’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Sources cited by Tasnim indicated that the nature of Ghalibaf’s appointment gives him a different level of authority and responsibility compared to previous representatives.

The report did not clarify whether Ghalibaf will continue to serve as the speaker of Iran’s parliament while performing his new duties as special envoy.

National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has called on expatriate Bangladeshis to remain united in realizing the aspirations of the July Charter and referendum. He made the appeal on Sunday at a civic reception for visiting NCP leaders at the Gimpo Foreign Support Center in South Korea, organized by the NCP Diaspora Alliance. The event was attended by NCP members and Bangladeshi expatriates from various professions.

Asif Mahmud thanked the diaspora for their role during the July uprising, noting that expatriates had kept hope alive when the country was under blockade. He expressed gratitude for their contributions and assured that the NCP would continue working to preserve expatriate voting rights in future elections. He also urged expatriates to inform the international community about the July uprising.

During the event, expatriates raised issues including the repatriation of deceased students’ bodies, simplification of migration procedures, prevention of broker exploitation, reduction of airport harassment, and greater inclusion of expatriates in national matters.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaykobad) stated that he would not allow any injustice or oppression against Islamic scholars and clerics. He made the remarks on Sunday at a discussion meeting at the Islamic Foundation auditorium in Dhaka, organized ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to address the preservation of raw hides from sacrificial animals. The minister said the Prime Minister had instructed that madrasas should not face deprivation or injustice, and the ministry was actively supporting that directive.

He urged scholars to ensure that animal hides are properly removed and preserved to maintain quality and prevent waste, recalling past incidents where hides were buried due to low prices. The minister warned against the activities of syndicates and brokers in the leather trade and assured that the government would take an active role in preventing such malpractice. He also mentioned that, for the first time since independence, imams and muezzins are being considered for honorarium benefits.

Speakers at the event requested government measures to ensure fair prices for sacrificial animal hides. Religious leaders, teachers, and clerics from various madrasas and mosques in Dhaka attended the meeting.

The High Court on Sunday, May 17, 2026, issued a rule asking why directives should not be given to formulate necessary regulations, policies, or laws to ensure the protection, rehabilitation, and welfare of street children in Bangladesh. The rule was issued by a bench comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Md Asif Hasan following a writ petition filed by the Equitas Foundation.

The court sought explanations on why the inaction and negligence of the concerned authorities in taking urgent and effective measures to safeguard the fundamental rights of all street children should not be declared illegal and beyond legal authority. It also questioned why the authorities should not be directed to conduct a nationwide investigation and survey on the actual condition of street children, ensure strict monitoring and accountability, and take effective measures to prevent all forms of harassment, abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Lawyers Md Tanvir Ahmed, Biplob Kumar Poddar, Barrister Nishad Mahmud, Nur Mohammad Shahin Shahnewaz, and S M Zakir Hossain represented the Equitas Foundation during the hearing.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with leaders of the Editors' Council on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Public Administration Conference Room of the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, State Minister Yasser Khan Chowdhury, and the Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, along with senior editors from major national newspapers.

Among those present were Editors' Council President and New Age editor Nurul Kabir, General Secretary and Bonik Barta editor Dewan Hanif, The Daily Star editor and publisher Mahfuz Anam, Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, The Financial Express editor Shamsul Haque Zahid, Daily Inqilab editor A.M.M. Bahauddin, Supravat Bangladesh editor Ruso Mahmud, and Dainik Karatoa editor Md. Mozammel Haque.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister hosted a luncheon for the journalists. Press Secretary Saleh Shibli and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman were also present.

Road Transport, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam stated that most road accidents in Bangladesh occur due to unfit vehicles, unskilled and negligent drivers, and public unawareness. He made the remarks on Sunday at a program in Rajbari organized by the BRTA Trustee Board to distribute checks among victims of road accidents and raise public awareness about road safety.

The minister said the event was meant to express solidarity with families of those killed or injured in accidents, calling such incidents a collective national failure. Referring to the March 25 Daulatdia ferry terminal accident, he said the investigation report identified driver error and vehicle defects as the main causes. He also announced a Tk 2,800 crore World Bank–assisted project to train drivers, conduct health and drug tests, and improve safety measures.

State Minister for Roads and Railways Habibur Rashid and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam emphasized collective responsibility and modernization of ferry management. A victims’ representative thanked the government for prompt assistance and urged proper action to prevent future accidents.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned an alleged attack on students of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) who were protesting the appointment of a new vice-chancellor. In a joint statement issued on Sunday, Shibir’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah accused members of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, BNP-backed teachers, officials, and outsiders of carrying out a violent assault during a peaceful demonstration at the university’s main gate on May 17. The group claimed that at least 15 students were injured and that journalists faced obstruction and police fired tear gas and bullets.

The statement said the students had been demonstrating for three days demanding that the vice-chancellor be appointed from among DUET’s own teachers, free from political influence. Shibir leaders alleged that the attack reflected a broader pattern of campus violence by Chhatra Dal across the country, citing previous incidents at several institutions.

They urged the government to bring the attackers to justice, ensure medical care for the injured, and avoid politically motivated appointments that could destabilize educational environments.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju criticized political leaders for visiting shrines before elections but failing to show solidarity when shrines come under attack. Speaking at a protest rally on Sunday morning at the Mirpur Shah Ali Baghdadi shrine premises, he described recent assaults on shrines and devotees as attacks on dissenting opinions. He called on citizens of all political affiliations to unite against oppression and discrimination.

The protest was jointly organized by the Sadhu-Guru-Bhakt O Wali-Auliya Ashekan Parishad and Bhav Boithoki Sabha, presided over by poet and thinker Farhad Mazhar and conducted by Mohammad Romel. A large number of devotees, mystics, Bauls, and visitors attended the gathering. Monju expressed outrage over Thursday night’s attack on the shrine and emphasized that persuasion, not violence, is the Islamic way to correct others. He demanded installation of CCTV cameras at shrines nationwide.

Monju also urged starting anti-drug operations from the Secretariat and Parliament, warning that names of drug users within these institutions could be made public. He reaffirmed AB Party’s commitment to continue its struggle for citizens’ rights.

Freedom fighter Abdul Kader, former Baitul Mal secretary of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Matuail (Demra) Union, passed away early Sunday at his home in Changail village, Kanchpur, Narayanganj. He was 80 years old at the time of his death.

Jamaat-e-Islami leaders expressed deep sorrow over his passing and extended condolences to the bereaved family. In a joint condolence message, central executive council members and Dhaka South leaders Md. Nurul Islam Bulbul MP and Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud MP prayed for the forgiveness of the departed soul. The statement also mentioned that the late Abdul Kader was the father-in-law of Maulana Omar Faruk, secretary of Konapara Police Station (Demra Zone).

Following the funeral prayer after Zuhr, Abdul Kader was laid to rest at the family graveyard in Changail village, Kanchpur. He is survived by two sons, three daughters, and numerous admirers.

ATM Azharul Islam MP, central Naib-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, said that politics in the country rarely serves public welfare and is often driven by personal and party interests. Speaking on Saturday, May 16, at a conference of union presidents and secretaries organized by the Sylhet district branch of Jamaat-e-Islami, he emphasized that only selfless politics can change the nation’s destiny. He called on the government to implement the July Charter and respect the referendum results, warning that ignoring public aspirations could harm the authorities themselves.

The event, held at M Saifur Rahman Auditorium in Sylhet’s Rikabibazar, was presided over by district Ameer Maulana Habibur Rahman. Central Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, as chief discussant, accused the ruling government of resisting reforms and showing reluctance to address issues such as enforced disappearances, killings, and corruption. He alleged that the government was acting against the spirit of the July Revolution.

Several other central and district Jamaat leaders also addressed the conference, expressing concern over the government’s political direction and reaffirming the party’s commitment to welfare-oriented politics.

Tea workers in Moulvibazar staged a protest on Sunday to press a four-point demand and later submitted a memorandum through District Commissioner Touhiduzzaman Pavel. The demonstration took place across various parts of the town, organized by the district committee of the Tea Workers Union. The memorandum was addressed to the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Health, urging immediate action to reopen the Camellia Duncan Foundation Hospital.

According to union leaders, the demands include reopening the hospital to ensure basic healthcare for workers, modernizing the facility with adequate doctors, nurses, and equipment, investigating the death of worker’s child Aishi Robidas and compensating the family, and ensuring safety for all hospital staff and patients, including deployment of Ansar personnel if necessary. The protest rally at Chaumuhana Square was presided over by union vice president Madhu Rajak and conducted by general secretary Harinarayan Hajra, with several local labor leaders addressing the gathering.

The union had previously submitted memorandums on April 13 to local authorities demanding the same hospital reopening, highlighting ongoing concerns about healthcare access for tea workers in the region.

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin stated that a democratically elected and accountable government has taken charge in Bangladesh after a long interval. He said the empowerment of this government represents the empowerment of ordinary citizens, ensuring rights and freedoms for all in an independent and sovereign nation. His remarks were made at a public rally in Chandpur attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, according to a press release issued on Sunday.

Amin described the overwhelming public enthusiasm surrounding the Prime Minister’s visit to Chandpur, calling it a historic awakening of love and hope among residents. He highlighted that people from all walks of life came out to greet the Prime Minister, reflecting their trust in the elected government. Presenting the government’s three-month performance, he said election pledges are being implemented, including the rollout of programs such as farmer cards and family cards.

He added that the family card initiative aims to bring lasting social change through women’s empowerment, expressing optimism that it will help build a self-reliant Bangladesh.