Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has blamed the presence of US military forces in the Middle East for the region’s ongoing instability. He made the remarks amid escalating tensions and reciprocal attacks between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Khamenei stated that the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf is the main cause of insecurity in the region.

He described US military installations as “puppet bases” lacking the strength to ensure their own safety, let alone protect pro-American allies in the area. According to Khamenei, foreign intervention continues to fuel regional unrest and dependency. His comments were seen as a call for Middle Eastern nations to reduce reliance on the United States.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera, comes as regional powers engage in diplomatic and military maneuvers, including discussions on security in Riyadh and ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Gaza.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has called on Jamaat-e-Islami to clarify its current political stance, saying public confusion has arisen about whether the party seeks power under the constitutional framework or aims to establish Sharia law. He made the remarks on Thursday at a memorial event for former minister Sunil Gupta at the National Press Club.

The minister noted that Jamaat representatives recently spoke in parliament about implementing Sharia, while earlier this year the party’s leader assured a Christian delegation that they would not enforce Sharia if in power. Swapan said such contradictions require explanation to the nation. He also observed that Jamaat has evolved since its founding, citing its acceptance of Pakistan’s state structure after initially opposing it.

Swapan described Jamaat’s nomination of two non-Muslim candidates in the latest election as a positive sign but said the party’s mixed messages continue to cause confusion. Other speakers at the event included Dhaka South City Corporation administrator Abdus Salam and BNP chairperson’s adviser Nazmul Haque Nannu.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh will review the nomination paper of Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), on May 2. The decision follows a High Court order directing the EC to accept and scrutinize her nomination for the reserved women’s seat in the 13th National Parliament. The announcement was made through a notice signed by Joint Secretary and Returning Officer Md. Moin Uddin Khan.

According to EC sources, Nusrat Tabassum is being considered as a candidate from the 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The alliance submitted a list of 13 names to the court, including Nusrat’s. The 2004 rules governing reserved women’s seats specify that such members are to be elected through alliances. The scrutiny will take place at 11 a.m. on May 2 at the EC Secretariat in Dhaka.

Earlier, Nusrat’s nomination was rejected because it was submitted 19 minutes past the April 22 deadline. However, on April 27, a High Court bench ordered the EC to accept her nomination, leading to the upcoming review.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has cancelled its earlier order allowing former food minister Advocate Kamrul Islam to receive treatment at Evercare Hospital. Kamrul, who had been under treatment at Bangladesh Medical University, had applied for transfer to Evercare for advanced care. The tribunal had approved the request on April 9, 2026, but later reviewed the decision following allegations from the prosecution that false documents were used to obtain the order.

During a hearing on Thursday, the tribunal revoked the permission and directed Kamrul’s lawyers to submit an explanation within 15 days. Until then, Kamrul will continue treatment at Bangladesh Medical University. Chief Prosecutor Aminul stated that the initial order lacked provisions regarding prison security arrangements or cost responsibilities, which raised procedural concerns. The prosecution also questioned the authenticity of documents submitted by Kamrul’s legal team, including records of treatment in Singapore and Keraniganj.

The tribunal’s decision marks a procedural correction and requires Kamrul’s defense to clarify the disputed medical documentation within the specified timeframe.

The National Freedom Fighters Council has strongly condemned ruling party MP Fazlur Rahman for using offensive and unparliamentary language in his speech during the 13th National Parliament session on Tuesday. In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, the council’s president Engineer Moslem Uddin, secretary general Md. Tajirul Islam, and 70 other members denounced Rahman’s comments about Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the opposition leader, calling them contrary to the spirit of the Liberation War.

The statement noted that debates over the Liberation War and Jamaat-e-Islami’s role have recently intensified, even within Parliament. The council asserted that freedom fighters have historically joined various political parties, including Awami League, Jatiya Party, BNP, and Jamaat-e-Islami, and that every citizen has the right to associate with any political ideology supporting Bangladesh’s sovereignty. The council described Rahman’s claim that freedom fighters or martyrs’ families cannot join Jamaat as unacceptable and divisive.

The council urged all parties to avoid divisive politics and focus on constitutional reform and national unity to prevent the country from sliding toward authoritarian rule.

Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has called for the removal and arrest of President Md. Shahabuddin, asserting that the president has no moral right to remain in Bangabhaban or address Parliament. He made the remarks on Thursday, April 30, during the discussion on the motion of thanks for the president’s speech in the 13th National Parliament’s first session. The session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

Nahid Islam alleged that President Shahabuddin, during his tenure as an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) commissioner, was assigned to ensure convictions against Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, clear the Awami League of corruption charges related to the Padma Bridge project, and dismiss corruption cases against Awami League leaders filed during the Fakhruddin-Moinuddin government. He also accused the president of involvement in financial irregularities linked to Islami Bank and of complicity in the July massacre.

Nahid further criticized the BNP for previously defending the president under the pretext of constitutional continuity after the July uprising, questioning why the current elected government has not yet replaced him.

Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has questioned the police’s failure to register a case over the recent attack on members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association. Speaking in the national parliament on Thursday during the discussion on the President’s address, he demanded an explanation from the Home Minister regarding why the police have not yet accepted the case.

Nahid Islam said several journalists were assaulted by leaders and activists of the student wing of a political party in front of Shahbagh Police Station, yet no case has been filed. He described the incident and the police’s inaction as deeply concerning and questioned whether law enforcement was under any pressure. He also noted that two elected representatives of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union were attacked during the same incident, highlighting weaknesses in campus security.

He urged the government to identify and prosecute those responsible, ensure the victims’ safety, and provide a clear explanation for the delay in accepting the case.

Bangladesh’s opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called for the proper observance of International Workers’ Day, or May Day, on May 1. In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, he recalled the 1886 Chicago labor movement as a historic example of workers’ sacrifice for their rights. He noted that despite decades of struggle, workers worldwide continue to face challenges in securing fair wages and benefits, often risking their lives in the process.

Dr. Rahman criticized both employers and workers for actions that harm industrial harmony, saying that owners sometimes prioritize their own interests over workers’ rights, while workers’ protests can occasionally damage institutions. He emphasized that true welfare for both sides lies in following the Prophet Muhammad’s guidance to pay workers their due before their sweat dries. He argued that Islamic labor principles could ensure justice and protect the interests of both employers and workers.

He urged all segments of Bangladesh’s working population and citizens to observe May Day with due respect and seriousness.

Bangladesh’s opposition parties have demanded the removal of the Bangladesh Bank governor, alleging politically motivated appointments following the passage of two amendment bills in parliament on Thursday. The bills—amending the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act and the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority Act—removed the upper age limits for chairmen and members of the two regulatory bodies. The opposition argued that the changes were designed to benefit specific individuals and criticized the government for making appointments based on political considerations.

During the parliamentary session chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal, independent MP Rumin Farhana’s amendment proposals were rejected before the bills were passed. Opposition MPs Akhtar Hossain and Shafiqul Rahman questioned whether the removal of age limits was guided by policy or personal interest, linking the issue to recent appointments, including that of the central bank governor. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury defended the amendments, citing the need to utilize experienced professionals and noting that many countries have no such age restrictions.

Opposition deputy leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher urged clarification regarding the governor’s alleged political affiliation, suggesting a new appointment if the claim proved true. The finance minister responded that supporting a party does not necessarily make one a political appointee.

The government of Bangladesh has transferred 12 senior police officers, including additional deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and superintendents of police (SPs), in a major reshuffle. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued separate circulars on Thursday, April 30, 2026, announcing the changes, which were stated to take immediate effect in the public interest.

According to the official notifications, Mokbul Hossain, commandant of the in-service training center in Satkhira, has been reassigned to the same position in Kushtia. Additional DIG Md. Iqbal of Dhaka APBn-12 has been moved to lead APBn-5, while Highway Police additional DIG Md. Enamul Kabir will now head APBn-12. Mohammad Sihab Kayser Khan, previously commanding APBn-13, has been appointed additional DIG of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). RAB directors Mohammad Kamruzzaman and Md. Khalidul Haque Hawlader have been made joint police commissioners of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Other transfers include Mohammad Rabiul Hossain Bhuiyan to the River Police, Nusrat Jahan Mukta to the Special Branch, and several SP-level changes involving Dhaka, Bagerhat, and Chattogram ranges.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam claimed that Chattogram did not experience waterlogging but only temporary water congestion caused by sudden rainfall. He made the statement while inspecting the city’s waterlogging mitigation project and excavated canals. His remarks drew widespread criticism on social media since Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s heavy rains had submerged low-lying areas, prompting discussions even in the national parliament. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had earlier expressed regret to Chattogram residents over the situation.

During his visit to the city’s most affected area, Probortok Mor, the minister expressed anger at media reports highlighting the flooding and insisted that no water was visible in the city. When Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain attempted to speak, the minister reportedly stopped him in a stern tone. The incident, captured on video, spread widely online and sparked further criticism.

Senior officials from the City Corporation and Chattogram Development Authority were present during the inspection, which took place after the rain had subsided and water levels had receded.

The Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) has withdrawn its 48-hour ultimatum to shut down unregistered online news portals within just 24 hours of issuing it. The initial directive, signed by SMP Commissioner Abdul Kudduch Chowdhury and released on Wednesday evening, required all unregistered portals to be removed from domestic and foreign domains by 6 p.m. on May 1, 2026, warning of legal action for non-compliance.

The original notice cited the National Online Media Policy 2017 (amended 2020), which mandates government registration for online news operations. It alleged that many unregistered portals were spreading false, baseless, and defamatory content, including anti-government propaganda that could harm Bangladesh’s image internationally. The sudden withdrawal of the order was announced through another notice on Thursday morning, also signed by the SMP commissioner.

The new notice did not specify any reason for the reversal, prompting further discussion and speculation about the decision’s background and implications.

The eleven-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a series of rallies culminating in a grand assembly in Dhaka in October. The program was unveiled at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, by alliance coordinator and Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad. The initiative aims to implement the verdict of a referendum on reforms.

According to the announcement, the divisional rallies will begin on May 16 in Rajshahi, followed by events in Chattogram on June 13, Khulna on June 20, Mymensingh on June 27, Rangpur on July 11, Barishal on July 18, and Sylhet on July 25. The alliance also decided to form liaison committees at the district level and to hold discussions with professionals and civil society across the country.

The press conference was attended by representatives from several member parties, including the National Citizen Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Labour Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, and AB Party.

Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam told Parliament that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has turned the July Charter into a document of endless deception. Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address on Thursday afternoon, he said BNP had corrupted the charter by turning it into a party manifesto and called for the immediate formation of a constitutional reform council. He added that the opposition would not act against the government’s prescribed course.

Nahid Islam also questioned in Parliament why no case had been filed over the assault on members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association, allegedly by activists of the BNP’s student wing. He demanded an explanation from the Home Minister, noting that two elected representatives of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union were attacked inside a police station. He emphasized the association’s role in democratic movements within the university and the country.

He further stated that the Liberation War remains the foundation of the nation and that disputes over it should end so the country can move forward beyond divisive politics.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has formally framed charges against former food minister Kamrul Islam and Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon in connection with killings during the July uprising. The three-member panel, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, issued the order on Thursday and set June 9 for opening statements and the first witness testimony.

Earlier, on March 11, defense counsel Monsurul Haque Chowdhury sought acquittal, arguing that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence linking the accused to any killings. Chief Prosecutor Aminul opposed the plea, asserting that the charges were based on credible evidence and that the prosecution would prove the crimes during trial. The tribunal had reserved its order for April 30 after hearing both sides.

According to the prosecution, Kamrul and Menon allegedly incited violence and authorized the use of lethal force against unarmed protesters to sustain Sheikh Hasina’s government. Both men were arrested in 2024 and have remained in custody since then.