Former Gana Odhikar Parishad general secretary and current BNP leader Muhammad Rashed Khan made sharp comments about National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Nasiruddin Patwari on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. In a social media post, Rashed Khan criticized Patwari for previously attacking Jamaat-e-Islami and now aligning with the same group while criticizing the BNP.

In his post, Rashed Khan alleged that Patwari had once called Jamaat-e-Islami hypocritical, accused it of exploiting religion, and claimed its political ideology opposed Bangladesh’s independence and national spirit. He questioned how Patwari could now cooperate with Jamaat after such statements. Rashed Khan further mocked Patwari, suggesting that his behavior required a drug test and medical attention.

The post also mentioned that Patwari now identifies as Jamaat-leaning and claims to have been associated with Islami Chhatra Shibir, which Rashed Khan disputed, saying he had seen Patwari involved with leftist politics on campus.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan stated that the government remains fully committed to implementing the July Charter as declared by the Prime Minister. He said a certain group is spreading confusion about the charter despite the government’s clear stance. The minister made these remarks on Tuesday while visiting July uprising fighters receiving treatment in Thailand, accompanied by Bangladesh’s ambassador there.

Khan said the ministry is monitoring the treatment of injured July fighters in Thailand through the Bangladesh Embassy and covering all medical and related expenses. Similar support is being provided to those under treatment in Russia, Singapore, and Turkey. He added that the ministry has established the Directorate of July Uprising to preserve the ideals and history of the movement and ensure the welfare of fighters and martyrs’ families.

According to the minister, 14,369 July fighters and 844 martyrs are registered under the MIS system. Families of martyrs receive savings certificates worth 3 million taka and monthly allowances, while injured fighters receive varying financial support based on injury severity. Rehabilitation efforts include training and employment initiatives for 1,937 applicants through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan stated that the government is fully committed to implementing the July Charter as declared by the Prime Minister. He made the remarks on Tuesday while visiting July uprising fighters undergoing treatment in Thailand. The minister was accompanied by Bangladesh’s ambassador to Thailand and inquired about the progress of the injured fighters’ treatment, wishing them a speedy recovery.

According to the minister, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry is monitoring the treatment of injured July fighters in Thailand through the Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok and covering all related expenses. Similar support is being provided to those receiving treatment in Russia, Singapore, and Turkey. He said the ministry has established the Directorate of July Uprising to preserve the ideals and history of the movement and to ensure the welfare of July fighters and families of martyrs. The directorate is verifying and listing genuine fighters and martyrs, with 14,369 fighters and 844 martyrs currently registered.

The minister added that families of July martyrs receive a one-time savings certificate of 3 million taka and a monthly honorarium of 20,000 taka, while injured fighters receive varying benefits based on injury type. Rehabilitation efforts are ongoing through training and employment programs for eligible applicants.

The West Bengal government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched a demolition drive in Kolkata’s Tiljala area on Wednesday, following a deadly fire at an illegal leather factory in Topsia the previous day. Acting on Adhikari’s directive, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and KMDA jointly began demolishing unauthorized buildings, citing the state’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy against corruption. A large police, RAF, and central force presence was deployed to maintain order during the operation.

The fire at the four-storey building in Topsia had claimed two lives and injured five others. Investigations revealed that the building lacked a valid plan and basic fire safety measures. The chief minister’s office received the report on Wednesday morning and ordered the demolition within 24 hours. Two individuals, including the factory owner, were arrested in connection with the incident.

Adhikari warned that any building without a valid plan would face disconnection of electricity and water supply. The Tiljala operation is being viewed as a strong warning to illegal builders across the city.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited the grave of martyr Osman Hadi after attending the wedding ceremony of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem. The visit took place following the ceremony held at the Dhaka University Central Jame Mosque. Party leaders and activists, including Member of Parliament Nurul Islam Bulbul, accompanied him during the visit. After paying respects, special prayers and supplications were offered for the departed soul.

Earlier, the wedding ceremony of Sadiq Kayem was attended by various political and social figures, marking a gathering of diverse participants at the university mosque. The event and subsequent grave visit reflected the presence of senior Jamaat leaders in social and commemorative activities.

The report did not specify further details about the duration of the visit or any additional remarks made by the participants.

In the U.S. state of Georgia, the mayor of the small town of Cohutta has dismissed the entire police department following social media criticism of his wife. Mayor Ron Shinic reportedly terminated all ten police employees after online posts targeted his wife, Pam Shinic. A notice posted at the mayor’s office announced that the police department had been dissolved and advised residents to rely on the county sheriff’s office for law enforcement matters.

The dispute began last month when Pam Shinic, a former employee of the mayor’s office, was accused by several officials of continuing to work despite being dismissed and of having access to confidential information. She had been fired the previous year for allegedly failing to maintain proper office conduct, which led to local gossip in the town of fewer than one thousand residents. Tensions escalated after police officers criticized her on social media.

Following the dismissals, the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office is set to assume policing duties for Cohutta, as the mayor faces growing criticism for his decision.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday posted a graphic on his Truth Social platform showing Venezuela’s map with an American flag and labeling it as the “51st state.” The post, described as provocative, was made while Trump was en route to China for a high-level summit, according to AFP.

A day earlier, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez said her country had “never” considered becoming the 51st U.S. state, even after former leader Nicolás Maduro was detained by U.S. forces in January. Rodríguez emphasized that Venezuela would not accept U.S. intervention or dominance. Trump had told Fox News on Monday that he was considering turning Venezuela into a new U.S. state and claimed to have established “control” over the oil-rich nation for several months.

Since taking office, Rodríguez has sought to normalize relations with Washington, reopening Venezuela’s mining and oil sectors to foreign investment, particularly from U.S. companies. The country’s opposition has called for elections, but Rodríguez said on May 1 that the timing remains uncertain.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Norway’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik in Tehran to discuss the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel and the latest developments in peace negotiations. During the meeting, Araghchi accused the United States of being the main obstacle to peace, citing threats, provocative rhetoric, and a lack of goodwill and honesty from Washington.

Araghchi also said that tensions in the Strait of Hormuz stem from U.S. and Israeli military aggression against Iran and the continued blockade of Iranian seaports. He added that Iran is formulating regulations for the strategic waterway in accordance with international law. Kravik emphasized the need for lasting peace and stability in the region and stated that Norway is ready to support democratic efforts and provide advice on maritime security and environmental protection.

The meeting reflected Iran’s continued criticism of U.S. policies and Norway’s diplomatic engagement in promoting regional stability.

U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for a three-day official visit, marking the first trip to China by a top American leader in a decade. He landed on Wednesday aboard Air Force One and is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit was originally planned for March but was postponed after U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran late February.

Discussions between Trump and Xi are expected to cover the ongoing Iran conflict, where China has been playing an increasing mediating role, though Trump stated before departure that he did not need Xi’s help on the issue. Trade, technology, and Taiwan are also expected to feature prominently in the talks. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would urge China to further open its markets to major U.S. technology companies, whose top executives are accompanying him.

For Beijing, extending the “trade truce” agreement reached last October is a key priority, as it temporarily eased tariff tensions between the two countries. This is Trump’s first visit to Beijing since 2017, with official events planned at the Great Hall of the People and Zhongnanhai.

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddique has been exempted from personal appearance in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, his lawyer submitted an application before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana’s court seeking permission for representation through counsel. After the hearing, the court granted the request, allowing Siddique to be represented by his lawyer. The court also scheduled July 24 as the next date for submission of the investigation report, as the investigating officer failed to present it on the scheduled day.

According to the case details, the charges stem from an incident on August 28 of the previous year at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, where a program organized by the group “Manch 71” was disrupted by a group of individuals. Police later detained 16 people, including Siddique and journalist Panna, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Siddique and Panna were later granted interim bail by the High Court, which was upheld by the Appellate Division.

Siddique’s lawyer confirmed that although the court accepted the exemption request, his client expressed willingness to continue attending court in person.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States does not require China's assistance to end the ongoing war with Iran. He made the remarks to reporters in Washington, D.C., before departing for Beijing. Trump asserted that the United States would win the war against Iran by any means necessary.

Trump’s three-day visit to China comes at a time when his popularity is under pressure due to the Iran war and rising inflation. During the trip, he gave mixed signals about how prominently Iran would feature in his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said they would have a long discussion on the issue and praised Xi’s approach, but moments later downplayed Iran’s importance, claiming Tehran was already under full U.S. control.

The comments highlight uncertainty about how the Iran conflict will influence U.S.-China discussions during Trump’s visit, as both nations navigate complex diplomatic and economic tensions.

Former minister, freedom fighter, and senior Awami League politician Engineer Mosharraf Hossain passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 10:09 a.m. while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 83 years old. His eldest son, Sabedur Rahman Sumu, confirmed the death and said that arrangements were being made to bring the body to Mirsarai.

According to the report, Mosharraf Hossain had been suffering from various age-related complications and had been receiving treatment at Square Hospital in the capital for several days. He was a long-time member of the Awami League and served as a member of the party’s presidium as well as the Minister for Housing and Public Works.

His death has cast a shadow of mourning over the political arena. The family stated that details regarding his funeral and burial would be announced later.

Suvendu Adhikari took oath on Wednesday as a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Although he won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies, he was sworn in as the MLA from Bhabanipur. This seat had previously been represented by Mamata Banerjee, who won it three times and served as Chief Minister. According to legislative rules, Adhikari must resign from one of the two seats he won.

Adhikari has not yet resigned from the Nandigram seat but stated that he will continue to oversee the constituency while fulfilling his duties as Bhabanipur MLA. Several other newly elected legislators, including ministers Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Khudiram Tudu, Nisith Pramanik, and Ashok Kirtania, also took their oaths on Wednesday. Additional lawmakers are scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday.

On Tuesday, BJP legislator Tapas Roy was sworn in as the pro-tem speaker by Governor R.N. Ravi at Lok Bhavan, the former Raj Bhavan. The ceremony was attended by the new Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, following parliamentary tradition.

A column published on 13 May 2026 in the Bangladeshi outlet 'Amar Desh' argues that recent discussions linking child deaths from measles to political failures are politically motivated. The writer, journalist Kakon Reza, criticizes actor Saju Khadem for a social media post about measles and accuses political opponents of using child illness and mortality to undermine the current government. The article cites a 2023 report from Prothom Alo referencing icddr,b data that 24,000 Bangladeshi children under five died of pneumonia in 2022.

The writer contends that long-ruling governments, particularly the Awami League and the Ershad regime, had decades to improve the health system but failed to establish adequate pediatric and specialized medical facilities. He contrasts this with the current administration, which he says has only recently taken office after a short interim period marked by protests and disruptions to vaccination programs.

The column concludes that blaming the new government for long-standing health sector deficiencies is a deliberate political tactic and urges focusing on solutions rather than partisan accusations.

Bangladesh and India are reassessing their bilateral relationship following political changes in Dhaka and evolving regional realities. The article argues that the two neighbors, long bound by an asymmetrical interdependence shaped by geography, trade, and security, are now navigating a new equation influenced by global power competition. India’s foreign secretary has emphasized mutual respect and people-centered ties, signaling recognition of the need for broader engagement beyond party-based alliances. Analysts describe this as a strategic recalibration after a period of mistrust between 2024 and 2026.

Bangladesh’s new government is pursuing a balanced foreign policy under its “Bangladesh First” approach, engaging simultaneously with the United States, China, and India. A recent trade deal with Washington lowering tariffs on Bangladeshi goods highlights this shift, while India remains vital for energy, connectivity, and regional stability. However, unresolved issues such as the Teesta water-sharing agreement and border incidents continue to test mutual trust.

The commentary concludes that the future of India-Bangladesh relations will depend on realism, mutual confidence, and domestic consensus in Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Sustainable stability requires both nations to prioritize pragmatic cooperation over emotional nationalism.