A new youth-led political movement in India, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has announced its first protest rally in New Delhi this Saturday. The group, which uses a cockroach as its symbol, was launched on May 16 by political strategist and Boston University student Abhijit Dipke. It emerged after India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant referred to unemployed youth as ‘parasites’ and ‘cockroaches’. Within weeks, the CJP gained over 22 million Instagram followers and claims more than one million members, describing itself as the ‘voice of the idle and unemployed’. Experts, however, say there is little evidence of real-world support.

The protest will target alleged irregularities in recent high school and entrance exams that reportedly affected millions of students. The CJP has demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and policy experts have also criticized the exam failures, calling them a major challenge for the government. Analysts note that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity remains strong, the scale of Saturday’s protest could signal growing discontent.

Regional analysts warn that similar youth-driven online movements in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Indonesia have disrupted economies and political stability, raising investor concerns about South Asia’s employment crisis.

In Narayanganj, Islamist political parties are preparing to contest the upcoming local government elections separately, signaling a shift from their earlier unity during the 13th national election. While they had previously campaigned together under the slogan “Islamic vote in one box,” the parties are now fielding their own candidates for union parishad, upazila, and city corporation polls. This move raises concerns that the Islamist vote could become divided among multiple contenders.

The Narayanganj unit of Jamaat-e-Islami has already published a list of potential councilor candidates and is finalizing names for other local positions. Maulana Jabbar, the city Jamaat chief, is being discussed as a possible mayoral candidate. Meanwhile, the Khelafat Majlis has announced two rounds of potential candidates, with joint secretary general Sirajul Mamun emerging as a likely mayoral contender. Islami Andolan Bangladesh is also preparing to test its organizational strength independently.

Party leaders argue that local elections emphasize personal credibility and community engagement rather than national alliances. Observers note that if multiple Islamist candidates run, the vote could fragment, reshaping the political balance in Narayanganj’s local contests.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) held a protest rally and assembly in Dhaka on Thursday night demanding an immediate reduction in electricity and fuel prices. The demonstration, organized by NCP Dhaka North, began at Banglamotor and ended at the Intercontinental intersection. Party leaders criticized the government for raising prices despite earlier assurances that rates would not increase for two years.

Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary accused the government of inconsistency and said international lenders’ pressure might be driving the price hikes. He warned that further economic strain on citizens could trigger a broader movement. Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib said the government’s actions contradict its pre-election promises and alleged that controversial appointments in key institutions show disregard for public interest.

Speakers, including youth leaders, said rising energy costs are worsening living expenses for ordinary people. They urged the government to ensure good governance and accountability instead of imposing additional financial burdens on citizens.

Inquilab Mancha organized a torch procession at Dhaka University on Thursday evening, demanding justice for the killing of Sharif Osman bin Hadi. The march began at the base of the Raju Sculpture around 7:30 p.m. and concluded at the same location after passing through Shahbagh. Participants chanted slogans calling for justice, the return of the killers to Bangladesh, and the exposure of alleged domestic and foreign conspiracies behind the murder.

At a press conference held the previous day at Madhu’s Canteen, the organization’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber accused authorities of repeatedly delaying the investigation and failing to take effective action to bring the perpetrators to justice. He alleged that attempts were made to shield those involved and that the killing might have deeper domestic and international links beyond political rivalry. Jaber also raised questions about border security and the role of intelligence agencies, noting that the suspects fled the country soon after the incident.

Inquilab Mancha demanded a specific deadline for repatriating the accused and called for a United Nations–supervised international investigation into the murder.

Opposition Whip and Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan said that the people of Bangladesh would not allow 'looters' to take control of Islami Bank. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at a protest rally held at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka. The rally was organized to protest what participants called the irrational and abnormal increase in electricity prices, demanding its withdrawal and control of rising commodity costs.

The demonstration was part of a nationwide program organized by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka North and South city units. After the rally, a procession marched through several streets. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar stated that the government had sought and received public support for a referendum but was now ignoring that mandate. He urged the authorities to stop corruption instead of raising electricity prices.

The event reflected Jamaat’s continued criticism of government economic policies and its call for immediate reduction in power and fuel prices.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has called on the government to politically resist the Awami League, which he described as a fascist force likely to fall in the July uprising. He made the remarks on Thursday at a seminar organized by the National Youth Power at its central office in Banglamotor.

Patwari criticized the Election Commission for alleged election engineering and warned that any repeat of such actions would be met with street protests. He also accused the government of neglecting youth development, claiming it avoids investing in young people to prevent the rise of skilled manpower that could challenge its authority. According to him, the government’s failure to create employment opportunities risks turning the youth into a burden on society.

He further cautioned that the reasons for the Awami League’s rejection by the public could also apply to the BNP if it follows the same system. Patwari emphasized the need to engage the new generation properly to safeguard national sovereignty.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman returned to Bangladesh after winning the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he described his victory as the result of collective effort and sincere support from all involved.

When asked whether he would continue as foreign minister while serving as UNGA president, Rahman recalled that former foreign minister Humayun Rashid Choudhury had successfully held both positions four decades ago, even without modern communication tools. He noted that technological advancements now make managing such responsibilities smoother.

Rahman further stated that he had already clarified his position on holding both roles. He mentioned that the current UNGA president before him had been Germany’s foreign minister but could not continue in that role after his party lost the election.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Cumilla Metropolitan unit organized a protest rally and gathering on Thursday afternoon at the Cumilla Town Hall field, opposing the government’s repeated increases in fuel and electricity prices. The event demanded immediate withdrawal of the new rates and called for control over rising commodity prices. The rally was led by city unit Ameer and central executive member Kazi Din Mohammad, who addressed the gathering before the procession.

Speakers at the event accused the government of worsening public hardship by raising energy prices, which they said would increase transport costs, agricultural expenses, and prices of essential goods, disproportionately affecting low-income citizens. They urged the authorities to take effective measures to protect people’s purchasing power and warned of a nationwide movement if the decisions were not reversed.

The protest march, attended by a large number of party leaders, activists, and citizens, concluded at the central Eidgah ground after parading through key city streets.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has urged the government to immediately withdraw the increased electricity prices and halt what he described as anti-people measures. He issued the call during a protest rally held on Thursday afternoon at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, organized to oppose the recent electricity price hike and rising commodity costs. The demonstration, part of a nationwide program by the party’s Dhaka North and South units, later turned into a procession through several city streets.

Porwar criticized the government for ignoring public suffering and failing to fulfill its promise not to raise electricity prices within two years, noting that the increase came only three months after the pledge. He also accused the authorities of corruption, mismanagement, and neglecting renewable energy initiatives. Other party leaders, including Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and Dhaka South Amir Md Nurul Islam Bulbul, condemned recent fuel price hikes, alleged law enforcement abuses, and the appointment of a new chairman at Islami Bank, calling it illegal.

The protests were simultaneously held across major cities as part of Jamaat’s central program demanding price reductions and better governance.

Five Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of police have been promoted to the rank of Additional Inspector General of Police (Grade-2). The promotion was announced on Thursday through a notification signed by Toufique Ahmed, Deputy Secretary of the Police-1 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the notification, the promoted officers are DIG of Sylhet Range Md. Mushfequr Rahman, NSI Director (DIG) Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, DIG of Chattogram Range Md. Moniruzzaman, Additional Director General (Admin) of RAB Faruq Ahmed, and DIG of Dhaka Range Rezaul Karim Mallik. The order instructed the newly promoted officials to submit their joining letters to the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs through the proper authority.

The announcement formalizes the elevation of these senior police officials to higher administrative responsibilities within Bangladesh’s law enforcement structure.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday accused the United States and Israel of trying to create division among Iranians following what he described as their “final blow” in the Middle East war. In a written message from Tehran, Khamenei said the “evil enemies” were attempting to plant seeds of doubt, despair, fear, distrust, and division among the people. He urged Iranians to counter these efforts with determination, foresight, unity, and solidarity.

The message was read aloud during a ceremony marking the 37th anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death, the founder of Iran’s Islamic Revolution. The 1979 revolution had overthrown US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. After Khomeini’s death in 1989, Ali Khamenei became Supreme Leader until his death on February 28 this year in a US-Israeli attack that triggered a regional war.

Although a ceasefire was reached on April 8, direct and indirect talks have yet to produce a lasting peace. Mojtaba Khamenei, who took office in March, has rarely appeared in public, addressing the nation mainly through written statements.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has protested in Dhaka against the government’s decision to increase electricity prices only three months after pledging not to raise them for two years. The announcement came on Thursday, prompting a demonstration near the north gate of Baitul Mukarram, where Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar criticized the move.

Porwar stated that the power minister had previously assured citizens that electricity prices would remain unchanged for two years, but the government broke that promise. He accused the authorities of disregarding the people’s mandate from a recent referendum and urged them to curb corruption instead of raising prices.

Jamaat-e-Islami described the government’s decision to raise fuel and electricity prices as anti-people and vowed to continue protests against the policy.

The National Democratic Party–JAGPA has announced the formation of its Malaysia branch committee. The approval was given on Wednesday by JAGPA vice president and party spokesperson Rashed Pradhan. The committee was jointly coordinated and announced by JAGPA’s organizational secretary Md. Akram Hossain and Youth JAGPA’s organizational secretary Oliul Anwar.

In the newly formed committee, Md. Ibrahim Hossain has been elected president and Abu Musa general secretary. Vice presidents Tofayel Ahmed and Zobayer Hossain, and joint general secretaries Md. Iqbal Hossain Jihad and Zainal Abedin were also named. Other positions include Saiful Islam Sagor as organizational secretary, Mahfuz Islam Sagor as office secretary, Abdullah Habib as publicity secretary, Nazrul Islam as finance secretary, and Mehedi Hasan as member.

During the approval, spokesperson Rashed Pradhan congratulated the new leaders and called for unity among patriotic forces at home and abroad to continue the struggle for justice.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified vigilance along the Ranisankail, Haripur, and Pirganj border areas of Thakurgaon following concerns over a possible pushback by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). Although local sources have circulated information suggesting such a move, no official confirmation has been issued so far.

According to local accounts, groups of men, women, and children have reportedly gathered in the border region of Uttar Dinajpur district in West Bengal, raising fears they might be forced into Bangladesh. The information could not be independently verified. The Haripur and Pirganj areas are geographically marked by the flow of the Nagar River, which could pose humanitarian and security risks if any forced crossings occur.

BGB has increased patrols and surveillance across the border to prevent any illegal entry or pushback attempts. The commander of the 50 BGB Battalion in Thakurgaon stated that the force remains fully prepared to respond to any such situation.

At least 62 people were injured on Thursday morning when two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clashed in Bishnupur village under Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah district. The confrontation began around 8 a.m. and involved supporters of local BNP leaders Matiar Rahman and Kofil Uddin Member. Among the injured, 35 received treatment at Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex, while 27 were admitted to hospitals in Jhenaidah, Kushtia, and Faridpur.

Local resident Arshad Ali said the conflict stemmed from a long-running rivalry between the two groups over forming a social organization that included Awami League activists. The tension reportedly intensified after August 5, when competition arose over recruiting Awami League workers into their respective groups. During the clash, 15 houses were attacked, vandalized, and looted.

According to Shailkupa police, officers remain deployed at the scene, but no case has yet been filed. Medical officials reported that 17 of the injured are in serious condition.