Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has called for intensified cooperation with the United Nations to address the Rohingya crisis and strengthen Bangladesh’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions. The appeal came during a courtesy meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Carole Flore-Smereczniak, held at the minister’s office in Dhaka on Saturday. The discussion also covered sustainable development goals, trade, investment, and other bilateral issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, the minister praised the UN’s support for Bangladesh’s recent national election and acknowledged its visible role in the country’s socio-economic and infrastructural development. He expressed optimism that the partnership between Bangladesh and the UN would deepen further. The UN Resident Coordinator commended Bangladesh’s generosity toward the Rohingya population and noted that the international community must provide stronger and more visible support, as the burden of hosting such a large refugee population cannot be borne by Bangladesh alone.

The minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to global peace and security under the UN framework and sought comprehensive UN assistance to achieve the country’s sustainable development goals on time.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tajul Islam, has demanded the arrest and trial of those involved in the attack on Nasiruddin Patwari, the chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Jhenaidah. In a Facebook post on Friday, he described the assault as unacceptable and a sign of troubling times, urging immediate action against the perpetrators.

According to the report, a case has been filed against eight former and current leaders of the student organization Chhatra Dal in connection with the attack, beating, and robbery involving Nasiruddin Patwari and other central leaders. Additionally, 110 to 115 unidentified individuals have been named as accused in the case.

The incident has drawn attention to rising political tensions in Jhenaidah, with calls for swift justice to prevent further unrest.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita has emphasized that projects implemented with public funds must directly benefit the people. She made the remarks on Saturday during a meeting at the ministry’s conference room to review the progress of the April 2025–26 fiscal year’s Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) implementation.

The minister instructed officials to complete all ongoing projects promptly in line with the Prime Minister’s directives. She stressed the need to assess financial capacity before approving new projects in the aviation and tourism sectors. Afroza Khanom also highlighted the importance of well-planned work strategies before starting any infrastructure or facility construction and called for stricter monitoring of contractors’ progress.

She further directed all concerned to maintain strict oversight at every level to ensure transparency and accountability in project implementation. The meeting was chaired by Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhter and attended by senior officials, including Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq and project directors.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the online political satire movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has accused the Indian government of taking down the group’s official website. Dipke, a student at Boston University, made the claim on X on Saturday, saying the government removed the “iconic” site. The CJP was launched a week ago in response to comments by India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant, who compared unemployed youth to cockroaches. Kant later clarified that his remarks targeted those with fraudulent degrees and reaffirmed his respect for India’s youth.

Dipke said both his personal and the CJP’s Instagram accounts were hacked. The CJP’s Instagram page has gained over 22 million followers in a week, surpassing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s nine million followers. The movement claims one million sign-ups and 600,000 signatures on a petition demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The campaign coincides with nationwide protests over alleged exam paper leaks that led to the cancellation of a medical entrance test.

Dipke told Al Jazeera that the movement reflects frustration with those in power, describing India as a place where “cockroaches breed in rotten places.”

The new BJP government in West Bengal has revised the previously announced public holiday schedule for Eid-ul-Azha. A fresh notification issued on Saturday confirmed that only one day, May 28, will be observed as a public holiday for the festival. The earlier list, published under the Mamata Banerjee administration at the start of 2026, had declared two days of holidays for Eid-ul-Azha.

Since taking office, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has introduced several administrative reforms aimed at improving efficiency and reducing corruption. The government has emphasized minimizing unnecessary leave and ensuring timely public service delivery. Officials have also set fixed office attendance hours for government employees. The reduction of Eid holidays is being viewed as part of this broader effort to strengthen administrative discipline.

According to the new directive issued by Additional Chief Secretary P. K. Mishra, the adjustment aligns the state’s holiday schedule with that of the central government. Some government employees have raised questions about whether similar changes could affect the extended Durga Puja holidays in the future.

The government has formed a seven-member investigation committee, headed by the Director General of the Local Government Division, to examine corruption and irregularities within the division and its affiliated offices and agencies from 2009 to 2026. The committee has been instructed to investigate irregularities during both the Awami League and interim governments and to submit its report within 60 working days.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shah Alam highlighted irregularities in development projects in Pirojpur, alleging that after tenders were issued, Tk 6,000 crore was withdrawn without any work being done. As a result, all development projects in Pirojpur have been halted for the past two years. He said an on-site inspection would soon be conducted to restart the suspended projects.

The state minister further stated that similar irregularities occurred in road and bridge construction projects in several other districts. He also alleged that during the interim government, former adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan approved a project file without the secretary’s signature.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has alleged that certain groups are attempting to create unrest in Bangladesh to obstruct the government’s ongoing development programs. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon in Trishal, Mymensingh, while inaugurating the re-excavation of the historic Dhara Canal on the occasion of the 127th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Rahman said that those spreading confusion do not speak for farmers or rural development but aim to destabilize the country.

During his speech, the prime minister highlighted several government initiatives, including the re-excavation of canals to support agriculture, the introduction of “Family Cards” for women’s empowerment, and “Farmer Cards” to ensure direct government assistance to about 26.5 million farmers. He also mentioned programs to provide new school uniforms and bags for rural children, honorariums for religious leaders, and expanded technical training for youth employment.

Rahman warned that any unrest would hinder these development efforts and harm rural communities. He urged unity and collective effort to continue national progress, emphasizing that Bangladesh’s 200 million people must work together to build the nation.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has announced plans to build a daycare center to ensure the safety of children in the city. The announcement came on Saturday after he visited a child who was injured in an attempted rape incident in Bakalia. Earlier, he met the child’s relatives and doctors at the One Stop Crisis Center of Chattogram Medical College Hospital to learn about her condition.

During the visit, the mayor expressed concern over repeated incidents of child abuse in areas such as Bayezid and Chandgaon, noting that most victims are between three and four years old and come from low-income families where parents work long hours. He said the new daycare center will serve children of working families, particularly garment workers and rickshaw pullers, and that land for the project is being identified.

Dr. Hossain urged garment factory owners to establish safe daycare facilities for their workers’ children and cited hospital data showing that at least 422 children under 12 have received treatment for abuse in the past eight years.

Hasnat Abdullah, Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4 and a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), described the current period as the party’s true spring. On Saturday afternoon, he shared a media photo card on Facebook, congratulating the Jhenaidah NCP unit and announcing that he would visit soon.

The statement followed an incident on Friday in Jhenaidah, where NCP’s chief organizer Nasiruddin Patwari was attacked. Eggs were reportedly thrown at him during the assault. Following the attack, a case was filed against eight former and current leaders of the Chhatra Dal, along with 110 to 115 unidentified individuals, on charges of assault, robbery, and attack on central NCP leaders.

The developments highlight internal tensions and confrontations involving NCP organizers and rival political groups, with legal proceedings now underway following the Jhenaidah attack.

Within three months of taking oath as a Member of Parliament, Saeed Al Noman, president of the Jatiyatabadi Pat Shramik Dal, has introduced notable changes in Chattogram-10 constituency, covering Double Mooring, Pahartali, and Halishahar. His initiatives have focused on education, healthcare, and public welfare, with growing numbers of beneficiaries. Observers say his actions could soon set a national example.

During the SSC examinations, he arranged shaded waiting areas, seating, safe drinking water, and snacks for guardians outside ten schools. He took responsibility for the education of martyr Faruk’s children and donated Tk 8.5 lakh for the higher education of missile victim Abul Mohsin’s daughter. Following a gas cylinder explosion in Halishahar, he visited victims, ensured their medical care, and provided Tk 20,000 in immediate aid. He also supported an ailing female party leader, inspiring local activists.

In parliament, Noman raised issues of waterlogging, water supply, drug abuse, and healthcare mismanagement in Chattogram. He urged the health minister to establish a modern specialized hospital in the city and one hospital in every constituency. On Independence Day, he honored over fifty freedom fighters with a discussion and special diaries to record their reflections.

Voting is taking place in a festive atmosphere for the biennial election of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce, the country’s second-largest business organization. The election, being held at the World Trade Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., features 53 candidates contesting 24 posts. Businesspeople in Chittagong have turned the event into a celebration after a 13-year gap. However, one panel announced a boycott on the eve of the election, alleging irregularities.

According to chamber sources, 12 directors will be elected from the general category, six from the associate category, and six from the town association and trade group categories, forming a 24-member board. The elected directors will later choose a president and two vice presidents. Two main panels—United Business Forum and Sammilito Byabosayee Parishad—are competing, along with 13 independent candidates. The Sammilito Byabosayee Parishad withdrew, calling the process a farce due to alleged lack of transparency.

The last direct election was held in 2013. Since then, committees were appointed by local MP M.A. Latif until his panel resigned following the fall of the Awami League government. Around 6,780 voters are participating under tight security.

A protest was held in Feni on Friday night demanding the withdrawal of Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sonagazi-Daganbhuiyan Circle) Syed Moubid Raihan. Local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders led the demonstration, which began at Sonagazi Zero Point and ended in front of the Sonagazi Model Police Station. Protesters accused the officer of providing shelter to banned Chhatra League cadres and engaging in irregularities.

Speakers at the protest, including local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders, alleged that the officer was involved in misconduct, supported youth gangs, and conducted illegal arbitration for money. They demanded an investigation into the allegations and his immediate removal. Some leaders claimed that local residents had long expressed dissatisfaction over his activities.

Attempts to contact Syed Moubid Raihan for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his office went unanswered. Sonagazi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kamrul Islam confirmed that the protest took place on the road but denied that the police station was surrounded.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, stated that Indian hegemony poses a threat to South Asian security. He urged the people of Bangladesh, along with political parties and the government, to work together to counter this influence. Rahman made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Persecution of Muslims in India: Politics, Identity and Minority Rights Conflict,” organized by Friends of Humanity.

The seminar was held at the National Press Club in Dhaka, chaired by Dr. Khondaker Rashedul Haque, chairman of the organizing body. Prominent journalist and academic Md. Shah Alam presented a paper highlighting recent persecution and human rights violations against Muslims and other minorities in India. Other speakers included Professor Dr. Shajahan Khan, AB Party General Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad, and former army officer Lieutenant Colonel Hasinur Rahman.

The discussion centered on regional security concerns and the implications of minority rights issues in India for neighboring countries, particularly Bangladesh.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the war with Iran is nearing its end, speaking at a rally in Suffern, New York. He declared that Tehran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and asserted that the conflict would soon be over. Trump also mentioned that Americans would soon see unprecedented positive economic figures, including a decline in car prices.

In a separate interview with CBS News, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the president remains committed to giving diplomacy more time as talks with Iran continue. She added that Trump keeps all options open and has made clear what consequences Tehran would face if no agreement is reached.

The statements reflect the administration’s dual approach of maintaining diplomatic engagement while signaling readiness for alternative measures should negotiations fail.

At least ten people were injured in a violent clash between activists of the BNP and its affiliated Krishak Dal in Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred in front of Arbela Fashion Limited at Gararon area of Boromi Union, reportedly over control of a garment factory’s scrap trade and extortion demands related to worker transport buses. Several worker buses were also vandalized during the confrontation.

Witnesses said an argument between the two groups escalated into a fight involving sticks and iron rods, causing panic and briefly disrupting traffic near the factory. The injured, identified as members of both political groups, received treatment at local clinics and hospitals.

Krishak Dal leader Masum Ahmed alleged that BNP’s Boromi Union general secretary Akteruzzaman Shamim demanded Tk 100,000 and a monthly payment of Tk 50,000 from him, which led to the clash. Shamim denied the allegation, claiming that Krishak Dal members attacked them during a meeting about upcoming programs. Police said they received a written complaint and would take legal action after investigation.