The Bangladesh government has ordered the compulsory retirement of 17 senior police officials, including 16 Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) and one Additional DIG. The decision was announced on Sunday, May 3, 2026, through a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The circular was signed by Senior Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury and stated that the officers would receive retirement benefits as per existing regulations. The order takes immediate effect in the public interest.

According to the ministry’s announcement, the retirement decision applies to officers at the DIG level, a senior rank within the Bangladesh Police. The circular did not specify the reasons behind the move beyond citing public interest. The decision marks a significant administrative action within the country’s law enforcement structure.

The order’s immediate enforcement indicates the government’s intent to implement the change without delay, though no further details were provided regarding replacements or future postings.

BNP National Executive Committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan has said that the opposition must be allowed freedom of expression in parliament. He emphasized that members of parliament should be able to speak freely and engage in debates, noting that not everyone in the world will speak the same language or share the same opinions. He contrasted democratic practices with one-party systems, saying emotional speech may not always be properly reflected in parliamentary language.

He made these remarks on Sunday afternoon while addressing the 27th batch orientation ceremony at Gushulia International Medical College in Tongi, Gazipur, where he was the chief guest. The event was inaugurated by M A Mubin Khan, managing director of International Medicare Limited and chairman of the college’s governing body. The college principal, Professor A. M. Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, presided over the ceremony, which was also attended by BNP central executive member Shamim Ahmed and others.

During the event, 130 new students were welcomed with flowers and aprons, and Dr. Abdul Moin Khan planted a neem sapling on the campus.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has suspended its virtual court proceedings that were being held on Wednesdays and Thursdays each week. The administrative announcement was issued on Sunday, May 3, 2026, halting the system that had been in place for two weeks. The virtual sessions had been introduced on April 20, 2026, in response to the global energy situation, allowing both divisions of the Supreme Court to conduct hearings online.

According to earlier notices, the initiative was implemented under the Information Technology Use Act 2020 and the Supreme Court’s practice directives. The arrangement allowed virtual hearings twice a week while maintaining in-person sessions on other working days. Daily cause lists and virtual meeting IDs were published on the Supreme Court’s website for relevant cases.

The suspension marks a pause in the court’s recent experiment with remote judicial operations, which had been intended to balance energy considerations with judicial efficiency. No further details were provided on when or whether the virtual sessions might resume.

Kazi Imdadul Haque, a recently retired tax commissioner from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), has been appointed as the new Director General of the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) on a contractual basis with the rank of secretary. He officially joined the position on Sunday, according to the announcement.

Haque is widely recognized in Bangladesh’s revenue administration and literary circles for his contributions over a career spanning more than three decades. A member of the 7th batch of the BCS (Tax) cadre, he previously served as President of the Taxes Appellate Tribunal and as a tax commissioner at the NBR, where he played a key role in strengthening the country’s economic and administrative framework. He also represented Bangladesh internationally on tax policy and double taxation agreements and served as private secretary to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications from 2001 to 2004.

An alumnus of the University of Dhaka, Haque earned first place in his MSc in Soil, Water and Environment. Alongside his administrative career, he is known for his literary work, including the research-based book “Kalo Taka,” and for promoting tax awareness through television programs.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned what he described as the “irresponsible” approach of several European countries toward Iran’s nuclear issue. He stated that instead of repeating false claims, those countries should denounce the military aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Araghchi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Saturday night. The two diplomats discussed regional developments and the security, legal, and economic consequences of the U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran. Araghchi also briefed Tajani on the latest diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire and ending the imposed conflict, emphasizing the need for European nations to play a responsible role in this process.

Reiterating that Tehran’s nuclear program is entirely peaceful, Araghchi urged European countries to adopt a more balanced and constructive position on the matter.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) stated on Saturday that no external power can weaken the determination of the Iranian people. In an official statement, the IRGC emphasized that the Iranian nation will never bow to its enemies and expressed gratitude to citizens for their steadfastness in defending the country against hostile attacks.

The statement highlighted nationwide solidarity gatherings held in support of the government, describing them as a reflection of the Iranian people's insight in recognizing enemies, assessing the current sensitive situation, and understanding their national duties. It further noted that public unity serves as a source of strength for the armed forces, comparing it to the fuel that powers missiles.

The IRGC’s remarks, reported by Press TV, underscore the organization’s focus on internal cohesion and resilience during what it described as a critical and challenging period for the nation.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said the government is working to establish an institutional framework for an independent media. He made the remarks on Sunday at a discussion titled “Independent and Responsible Media as the Main Partner in Establishing a Culture of Accountability,” organized by the ministry at the Information Bhaban auditorium in Dhaka to mark World Press Freedom Day.

The minister stated that regulation does not mean control, but rather ensuring a healthy environment where the government acts as a facilitator. He announced plans to form an independent and strong Media Commission based on recommendations from a committee of media experts. Swapan also criticized irregularities in newspaper circulation and television rating systems, calling for accurate data-driven transparency. He emphasized that the government views the media as a partner in nation-building, not an adversary, and pledged legal and professional support for journalists.

The event featured participation from media leaders, academics, and press council representatives, with a rally held earlier in the day as part of the observance.

The central executive committee of Jubo Dal has suspended the Feni municipal committee and dissolved all its ward committees. The decision was announced on Sunday through a press release signed by assistant office secretary Minhajul Islam Bhuiyan. The release stated that Enamul Haque Sujon, general secretary of Ward No. 4, was expelled from the party for concealing information while taking a party position. All activities of the current municipal committee have been halted until further notice.

The move follows controversy over the partial committee of Ward No. 4, announced on April 30, which included Sujon, an accused in a case related to an attack on Khaleda Zia’s motorcade. In protest, six of the eight committee members resigned simultaneously. Following the dispute, municipal Jubo Dal president Zahid Hossain Bablu and general secretary Haidar Ali Rasel Patwari were issued show-cause notices for approving the controversial committee.

The central leadership, including Jubo Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna and general secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Noyon, have already implemented the decision, directing the local leaders to appear before them within 24 hours to explain their actions.

Pakistan’s plans to expand its mineral extraction industry have come under threat from renewed separatist violence in Balochistan. Following a $1.3 billion U.S. investment announcement in the province’s gold and copper reserves, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched coordinated attacks on January 31, killing at least 58 people across 12 areas. The violence has raised concerns over the safety of foreign investments, including the lucrative Reko Diq mining project, which holds vast untapped copper and gold deposits.

Analysts and officials cited in the report describe the BLA as a growing force with local support, capable of mounting large-scale operations. The insurgency, rooted in decades of resentment over resource control and political marginalization, has intensified alongside government crackdowns. Human rights groups say these measures have deepened local anger. The conflict has also been complicated by instability in neighboring Iran, which officials fear could allow insurgents greater mobility and access to weapons.

Experts warn that sustained unrest could jeopardize U.S.-Pakistan mining ventures and stall foreign projects indefinitely if violence continues to escalate.

A controversy erupted in Feni after Enamul Haque Sujon, the prime accused in the case over the 2017 attack on former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s motorcade, was appointed general secretary of the Ward 4 Jubo Dal committee. Following the announcement of the eight-member partial committee on April 30, six of its members resigned in protest, leaving only the president Mostafa Kamal Badol and Sujon in their positions.

The resigning members include senior vice president Gazi Abdul Kader Nayon, vice president Md Sabuj, joint general secretary Md Millat Hossain, organizational secretary Md Zahid, publicity secretary Saddam Hossain Rubel, and office secretary Dalim Majumdar. Party sources confirmed that the committee was approved by Feni municipal Jubo Dal president Zahid Hossain Bablu and general secretary Haydar Ali Rasel Patowary.

Sujon claimed he was falsely implicated in the case for political reasons, while local Jubo Dal leaders defended him as a dedicated activist. The municipal Jubo Dal leadership stated they were unaware of his legal status and would review the matter before taking further organizational action.

The organization 'National Disabled Citizens Power' was launched on Saturday at the Jatiya Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall in Dhaka, with the support of the National Citizens Party (NCP). The group aims to establish the constitutional, social, economic, and political rights of persons with disabilities and to build a discrimination-free, inclusive, and dignified Bangladesh. Representatives from political, social, and civic organizations, along with persons with disabilities, attended the event.

Speakers at the discussion emphasized ensuring active participation of persons with disabilities in building a new Bangladesh inspired by the spirit of the July uprising. The proposed committee was announced, led by Ifthekhar Mahmud as convener and Md. Saiful Haque as joint convener. The organization outlined objectives including political empowerment, representation in policymaking, awareness building, and advocacy for accessible infrastructure and services.

An eleven-point demand was presented for inclusion in the upcoming national budget, calling for increased disability allowances, low-interest loans for entrepreneurs, tax exemptions, employment quotas, and reserved parliamentary seats for disabled citizens. The event concluded with a call for unity among all persons with disabilities to join rights-based political and social movements.

The central committee of the Chhatra Dal has announced the full committee for its Cumilla City unit after a year. The announcement was made on Saturday evening through a notice signed by President Md Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. The new committee includes 193 members, with 28 vice presidents, 59 joint general secretaries, 45 assistant general secretaries, and 54 assistant organizational secretaries.

Previously, on May 15 of the previous year, a partial committee for the Cumilla City Chhatra Dal had been declared. That committee was led by President Nahid Rana, Senior Vice President Abdul Kalam, General Secretary Fayaz Rashid Primu, Senior Joint General Secretary Armanur Rahman, and Organizational Secretary Ismail Hossain.

Current President Nahid Rana stated that the newly announced full committee will work to strengthen the leadership of Tarique Rahman and develop new leadership within the student organization.

At the inauguration of Notun Kurir Sports-2026 in Comilla on May 2, Comilla-7 Member of Parliament Atikul Alam Shawon did not find a reserved seat and sat in the last chair of the front row. The event took place at the gymnasium of Shaheed Bhasha Sainik Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium, where Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Aminur Rashid Yasin attended as chief guest. The national inauguration was held in Sylhet by Prime Minister Tarek Rahman.

According to the Comilla district administration, all 11 MPs from the district were invited and reserved seats were arranged for them. Some MPs reportedly viewed the lack of available reserved seats as inappropriate. Nezarat Deputy Collector Abdullah Al Nur Ashek said he was busy and did not notice when the MP arrived. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Saiful Islam explained that due to rain, the event was moved indoors and had already started before the MP’s arrival, which caused the oversight.

Repeated attempts to contact MP Shawon for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not answer phone calls.

The Jhalakathi district unit of the Chhatra Dal has announced a new convening committee after a seven-year gap. The announcement was made on Saturday through a letter signed by central president Md Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasim Uddin Nasir. Syed Ali Hasan has been appointed as the convener, while Saidul Islam Roni will serve as the member secretary. The seven-member convening committee has been instructed to form a full committee within one month.

The committee includes senior joint convener Ahmed Salahuddin and joint conveners Zubair Talukdar Mishkat, Keshab Suman Sarkar, Tawhid Hossain, and Md Mobinul Islam Saddam. The last district committee of the Chhatra Dal was announced in June 2018, marking nearly seven years since the previous formation.

The announcement follows a series of organizational changes within the party’s local units, signaling renewed efforts to strengthen student political activities in the region.

US President Donald Trump said he would review Iran’s newly submitted peace plan but expressed doubts about its acceptability. According to Iranian media, Tehran has presented a 14-point proposal to Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator. Trump made his remarks on his social media platform Truth Social, stating that he would soon examine the plan but could hardly imagine it being acceptable, citing Iran’s past actions over the last 47 years.

The Iranian proposal reportedly includes assurances of non-aggression, withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran, lifting of naval blockades, release of seized assets, removal of sanctions, and an end to conflicts across all fronts including Lebanon. The plan was reported by Gulf News and reflects Tehran’s attempt to open a new diplomatic channel amid ongoing tensions.

Trump’s skepticism signals continued strain in US-Iran relations, with no immediate indication of Washington’s willingness to engage with the proposal.