Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim has called for an impartial investigation into the killings at Shapla Chattar on 5 May 2013 and for exemplary punishment of those responsible. In a statement issued to the media on Monday marking the anniversary of Shapla Day, he described the incident as a brutal and shameful chapter in the history of the modern nation-state, where unarmed citizens were attacked by state forces.

He alleged that the operation was carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government out of hostility toward Islam, madrasa education, and Islamic movements. According to him, the incident deepened authoritarian rule in the country, and many Islami Andolan leaders and activists suffered as a result. He also urged a reassessment of the roles of political organizations, intellectuals, and the media following the 2013 events.

The Charmonai Pir further demanded that those killed and injured at Shapla Chattar be recognized as national heroes, that related cases be withdrawn, and that compensation be provided to victims and their families.

Authorities in Rangamati imposed Section 144 following violent clashes between two rival groups of the district Chhatra Dal. The confrontation erupted on Monday afternoon when leaders excluded from the newly announced district committee staged a sit-in for the second consecutive day in front of the BNP office. They blocked the main road and set fires during their protest. At the same time, supporters of the new committee, led by its president Oli Ahad and general secretary Roni, brought out a celebratory procession, leading to heightened tension.

The excluded faction occupied the district office premises from noon until 3 p.m., while supporters of the new committee gathered in several parts of the town to welcome their leaders. Around 3 p.m., the new committee’s supporters reportedly chased away the protesters and took control of the BNP office. The situation turned tense across nearby areas, prompting the deployment of additional police at sensitive points, including the district BNP office.

Traffic in the Banarupa area came to a halt amid public panic until the army intervened to disperse both groups and restore order. Police officials later confirmed that the situation was under control.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that an independent media is one of the main instruments for ensuring accountability in a democratic system. Speaking as the chief guest at the Jahangirnagar University Journalists’ Association’s new committee handover ceremony on Monday, he emphasized that a government elected by the people must remain accountable to them, and a strong, independent media helps reinforce that responsibility.

The minister stated that journalism is not merely a profession but is deeply connected to patriotism, humanity, and social responsibility. He congratulated young journalists for choosing this challenging field and cautioned that media should never become a propaganda tool for any vested interest group. He added that journalists must speak for the people, not act as public relations agents for individuals or organizations.

Swapan also called for research into how media has sometimes been used against public interest and urged journalists to evaluate their own roles. He stressed that no professional identity should place anyone above the law and expressed hope that young journalists’ creativity and critical thinking would strengthen the media in the future.

A Muslim residential community named Epic City is being planned in Hunt and Collin counties, Texas, covering 402 acres. The project includes over a thousand residential plots, a faith-based K–12 school, commercial and retail centers, and a mosque. It will not be a new city and will remain under Texas state law. The development is envisioned as a central hub for Islam in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office launched an investigation to determine whether the project violated the Fair Housing Act or imposed discriminatory financial conditions requiring owners to subsidize religious facilities. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have opposed the project, citing concerns about potential implementation of Sharia law, and Paxton has filed multiple lawsuits to halt it.

Last week, a Travis County district judge ruled that the Texas Workforce Commission must honor a settlement agreement and withdraw from the fair housing investigation. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) supported the project, calling the opposition politically motivated and rooted in Islamophobia.

The Bangladesh government has decided to modify the police uniform, retaining the previous shirt design while changing the trouser color to khaki. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced the decision on Monday, May 4, 2026, after the first meeting of the National Committee on Coordination, Management, and Law and Order concerning forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya) at the Secretariat.

The minister explained that the decision followed feedback from across the country and within the police force, where the existing uniform was found to be unsatisfactory and not widely accepted. Responding to a request from the police, the ministry aimed to restore a more traditional and acceptable uniform. The old shirt design used for both metropolitan and national police will remain, while khaki trousers will replace the previous ones.

Ahmed added that the new uniform will take some time to be implemented due to production and preparation requirements. Although not yet officially launched, the government has finalized the decision and announced it publicly.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman will travel to Beijing on Tuesday for an official visit from May 5 to 7, confirmed by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This marks his first visit to China since the BNP government took office following the February elections. The information was reported by China’s state media outlet Global Times.

During the visit, the two countries are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including global affairs, the energy crisis, development projects, trade, investment, water management cooperation, defense assistance, and the Rohingya issue. The Bangladeshi minister will also meet China’s Minister of Development and senior leaders of the Communist Party of China.

China is one of Bangladesh’s largest development partners, giving the visit special significance. Discussions may include progress on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, supported by Chinese technical and financial assistance, as well as a possible future visit by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister to China. The Foreign Minister will be accompanied by the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.

The history of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly began on February 1, 1862, when Bengal’s first Legislative Council met at Belvedere in Alipore under Governor John Peter Grant. Formed under the Indian Councils Act of 1861, the council initially had 12 nominated members. Over the decades, membership expanded, and by 1919 the council had 125 members with a formal presiding officer. The first elected members joined in 1892, marking the start of representative participation.

The assembly’s current building was founded in 1928 and inaugurated in 1931. The Government of India Act of 1935 created a bicameral legislature with a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. The first assembly election in 1937 produced a hung house, leading A.K. Fazlul Huq to form a coalition government. After India’s independence, 90 members from West Bengal joined the reconstituted provincial legislature in 1947, and the first state assembly session under the Indian Constitution was held in 1952.

In 1969, the Legislative Council was abolished, making the West Bengal legislature unicameral. The assembly now has 294 members, reduced from 295 after the Anglo-Indian reserved seat was removed in 2019.

West Bengal witnessed a dramatic political shift on May 4, 2026, as early vote counts indicated the end of Trinamool Congress’s fifteen-year rule. According to the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led in 192 constituencies, surpassing the majority mark, while the Trinamool Congress trailed with 97. The sweeping results triggered widespread unrest across the state, with reports of violence against ruling party workers. Security was tightened around Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, and the Election Commission ordered deployment of central forces.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari attributed the victory to strategic religious polarization, claiming consolidation of Hindu votes and erosion of Trinamool’s traditional Muslim support base. Analysts cited multiple factors behind Trinamool’s decline, including dissatisfaction among minority voters over OBC certificate cancellations, discontent over Waqf property management, and administrative controversies. The exclusion of about 9.1 million names from voter rolls and corruption scandals in education and ration distribution further weakened the ruling party.

Observers noted that record voter turnout above 92 percent reflected a strong desire for change, marking a decisive end to Mamata Banerjee’s long-standing dominance in West Bengal politics.

Iran is reviewing a new peace proposal from the United States aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. He stated that the proposal was delivered through Pakistan and is currently under examination. Baghaei told reporters that since the review is still underway, no further details can be shared at this stage.

He added that the United States often makes what Iran considers excessive and unreasonable demands, making the evaluation process difficult. Addressing reports about Iran’s nuclear program, Baghaei said most of the information circulating is speculative. He emphasized that Iran’s current priority is to achieve a complete end to the war, and decisions about future steps will be made later.

The comments reflect Iran’s cautious approach to the U.S. initiative and its focus on halting hostilities before considering broader diplomatic or nuclear-related negotiations.

The Kremlin has significantly increased security measures for Russian President Vladimir Putin amid fears of assassination and coup attempts, according to a European intelligence report obtained by CNN. The report states that heightened protection follows a series of targeted killings of senior military figures and growing concerns about internal plots. Surveillance has been installed in the homes of Putin’s close aides, and staff such as cooks, bodyguards, and photographers are now barred from using public transport. Visitors must undergo double screening, and close associates are restricted to using phones without internet access.

The report links these measures to the December killing of a top general and notes that Putin has reduced his travel, avoiding his Valdai retreat and military site visits in 2026. It also highlights economic strain and public frustration in major Russian cities due to the ongoing war. The document mentions internal Kremlin tensions, including a heated meeting between top officials and expanded powers for the Federal Protection Service.

European intelligence agencies reportedly view these developments as signs of growing mistrust and instability within Russia’s ruling elite.

A scheduled court testimony of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption case was canceled on May 4, 2026. According to Israeli media, the decision followed a message sent by Netanyahu’s defense team to the court the previous night. A statement from the court administration confirmed that the hearing would not take place after receiving an update from attorney Amit Hadad.

The court did not disclose the reason for postponing the hearing. Netanyahu had been expected to appear in court that morning to respond to corruption-related charges. If found guilty, he could face up to ten years in prison. The trial has already been delayed several times due to Israel’s ongoing conflicts with Gaza and Iran.

The latest postponement adds to the prolonged nature of the proceedings, with no new date for the testimony announced yet.

The final list of candidates for the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association Election 2026–27 has been officially released. According to the announcement, three candidates will contest for president, four for vice president, seven for secretary, two for treasurer, five for joint secretary, and nineteen for member positions. The Election Commission has barred any candidates affiliated with the banned Awami League from participating, leaving primarily two panels in the race. The election is scheduled to take place on May 13 and 14.

The nationalist lawyers’ forum-backed Blue Panel has nominated senior lawyer Mahbubuddin Khokon for president, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Lawyers Council has fielded senior lawyer Abdul Baten for the same post. Other key candidates include Mohammad Ali and Barrister Maksud Ullah for secretary, and Advocate Ziaur Rahman for treasurer from the Blue Panel. The Lawyers Council has also announced candidates for all major positions.

Senior lawyer Mohammad Hossain Lipu of the NCP-backed National Lawyers Alliance withdrew his nomination for secretary, citing objections to the election commission’s composition. The Supreme Court Bar election is regarded as one of the most prestigious and politically significant events in Bangladesh’s legal community.

Two factions of the Dinajpur district unit of Chhatra Dal held separate and opposing programs on May 4, 2026, following the announcement of a new convening committee. Supporters of the newly formed committee organized a celebratory procession in front of the district BNP office, while another faction protested, demanding the committee’s cancellation. The protest march started from the Academy School premises and ended at Lili Mor via Modern Mor.

Acting president of the new committee, Rubel Islam, criticized the formation process, alleging that dedicated grassroots leaders who had suffered under the Awami government were excluded. Former general secretary Md. Abuzar Setu expressed frustration at not being informed about the new committee and urged central leaders to coordinate with the previous district committee before finalizing appointments.

According to a circular signed by central Chhatra Dal president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, Md. Abdur Razzak was named convener, Zakaria Habib Jony senior joint convener, and six others joint conveners. The committee was instructed to form a full panel within 30 days.

Diplomatic and government sources say former U.S. President Donald Trump faces mounting pressure before his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the prolonged Iran crisis has weakened Washington’s bargaining position. The summit is scheduled for May 14–15 in Beijing, seen by China as a key opportunity to stabilize long-term relations between the two powers.

Chinese officials reportedly believe the Trump administration initially sought a swift victory in Iran to strengthen leverage over Beijing, but the conflict’s drawn-out and unpopular nature has shifted momentum in China’s favor. Wu Xinbo, a member of China’s Foreign Ministry advisory council, said the U.S. inability to control Iran has left Trump in a weaker position for talks. Analysts add that with U.S. midterm elections approaching, Trump is eager to show success to voters, while Beijing aims to extract concessions on Taiwan, technology exports, and sanctions relief.

Experts note that despite energy supply concerns through the Strait of Hormuz, China’s global standing has improved due to its calls for peace. The upcoming summit will test whether the two nations can ease tensions that have persisted since Trump’s 2017 Beijing visit.

Barrister Muhammad Naushad Zamir, Member of Parliament for Panchagarh-1, stated that the current government is actively working to implement its election manifesto. As part of this effort, he inaugurated the foundation stone for the Tetulia Upazila Parishad Complex building, which is being constructed at a cost of 58.4 million taka. The announcement was made on Sunday evening during a meeting with government officials at the Upazila Parishad hall room.

Presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Afroze Shahin Khasru, the MP outlined several ongoing and planned initiatives. These include establishing computer labs in secondary schools, introducing online foreign language education, launching ICT projects to empower women, developing tourism facilities such as a watchtower and model building, and coordinating with ministries to operationalize the newly built 250-bed modern district hospital, set up a medical college, and establish a public university. He called for cooperation from officials and party members to achieve these goals.

Officials from various departments and local political leaders attended the event, reflecting cross-sectoral engagement in the development agenda.