An eleven-party alliance organized a mass procession and rally in Noakhali on Saturday afternoon demanding the immediate implementation of the referendum verdict and the 'July Charter'. The procession began at the district model mosque premises around 5:30 p.m., marched through the main streets of the town, and concluded with a brief rally at the municipal market. The event was presided over by Jamaat-e-Islami central Majlish-e-Shura member and Noakhali district Ameer Ishaq Khondaker, with district secretary Maulana Borhan Uddin conducting the session.

Leaders from several parties, including Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, the Labour Party, and the NCP, addressed the gathering. They accused the government of disregarding the referendum verdict, which they claimed reflected the will of 70 percent of the people. According to the speakers, the government had pledged to form a constitutional reform council and implement reforms within 180 days but failed to take the required oath or act on the commitments.

Speakers warned that the alliance would continue street protests until the referendum verdict and the July Charter were fully implemented.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman successfully completed his visit to Sylhet on Saturday, May 2, 2026, despite continuous rain that had disrupted the city’s festive atmosphere. He arrived at Sylhet Osmani Airport in the morning with his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and inaugurated several development projects, including the Surma Riverbank Development Project worth about Tk 4,635 crore. The project aims to enhance riverbank beauty, prevent flooding, and improve urban mobility and recreation.

During a civic gathering at Sylhet City Corporation, the Prime Minister announced plans to double the Dhaka–Sylhet railway line and expand the highway to ease travel. He emphasized sustainable water management through canal excavation and pledged to address waterlogging in Sylhet permanently. Rahman also revealed plans to recruit 100,000 health workers—80 percent women—to promote health awareness nationwide.

He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to implementing election promises, including reopening closed factories, activating the Sylhet IT Park, and supporting flood-affected farmers. The Prime Minister said these initiatives would create jobs, attract investment, and improve public health and infrastructure resilience.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ensure justice for the killings that occurred on May 5, 2013, at Dhaka’s Motijheel Shapla Chattar. In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, the group’s Amir Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari and Secretary General Allama Sajedur Rahman described the incident as a planned massacre by the then government, claiming that countless religious people were killed and thousands of scholars and devotees were injured. They also urged supporters to organize prayers and discussions nationwide in memory of those killed.

The Hefazat leaders said a case filed by the organization against 54 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is currently pending before the International Crimes Tribunal. They demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible, asserting that justice is essential for upholding fairness in the country. The statement further criticized past political failures and alleged that silence from sections of society had enabled the rise of authoritarianism.

The leaders warned that if the current government fails to protect citizens’ dignity, security, and religious sentiments, it risks losing public support.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar has accused the government of deliberately pushing the country toward a deep political and constitutional crisis by disregarding the people's direct verdict in a recent referendum. Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled 'Government Against Referendum Verdict: Nation Facing Crisis' held at Khulna Press Club, he said the government's stance under the 'July Charter' was not only a political tactic but also a denial of the people's mandate.

The seminar was organized by Jamaat’s Khulna Metropolitan branch, with participation from party leaders, lawyers, journalists, and student representatives. Porwar alleged that the government was intentionally creating public confusion by separating the July Charter from the referendum outcome, while ministers repeatedly promised to implement the charter but remained silent on the referendum verdict. He questioned why no objections were raised before the vote despite months of preparation and official orders.

Porwar warned that if the referendum verdict is not implemented in parliament, the party and its allies would be compelled to launch a movement, asserting that returning to the people would be their only option.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the future of Bangladesh depends on the new generation. He made the remark on Saturday, May 2, 2026, while inaugurating the nationwide ‘Notun Kuri Sports 2026’ event at Sylhet District Stadium. Addressing the youth, he urged them to represent Bangladesh globally through sports and emphasized that they are the country’s future leaders and achievers.

The Prime Minister encouraged young people to engage in sports alongside their studies, assuring them of state and government support. He said that the current generation of leaders would pass the baton to the youth, who would one day become athletes, influential figures, and even prime ministers. The event was joined virtually by young athletes from district stadiums across the country.

‘Notun Kuri’ began in 1976 as a talent search program for children and adolescents, originally popularized through Bangladesh Television in the 1980s. The revived version, ‘Notun Kuri Sports,’ marks a new chapter, shifting the focus from stage performance to athletic fields.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) will organize a national convention on Sunday at the Engineers Institution Hall in Dhaka, focusing on energy, economy, human rights, and referendum issues. The daylong event will include multiple sessions featuring NCP leaders, political scientists, sociologists, economists, educators, lawyers, and representatives from civil society. The announcement was made by NCP Joint Convener and Reform Implementation Committee Deputy Chief Sarowar Tushar at a press conference in the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor on Saturday.

The convention will open with a session chaired by NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, followed by thematic discussions on economic restructuring, energy security, freedom of expression, and democratic reform. Participants include academics, rights activists, and political figures from various parties. In the closing session, opposition leaders and civil society representatives will discuss constitutional reform and referendum outcomes.

At the press conference, Akhtar Hossain criticized the government for failing to implement referendum results and for not forming a constitutional reform council as expected after the last national election.

India and Bangladesh have taken steps to fully resume visa services between the two countries after about one and a half years of strained relations. According to a report by The Indian Express on May 2, Bangladesh has reopened visa issuance for all categories of Indian citizens, while India plans to gradually restart its own visa operations within the next few weeks. The move follows recent diplomatic discussions aimed at normalizing bilateral relations.

The report notes that Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman emphasized restoring normal visa procedures during his recent visit to India. All Bangladeshi visa centers in India are now operational, and Dhaka has urged New Delhi to reciprocate promptly. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah said that although some centers were suspended last December, operations resumed in February. Since then, over 13,000 visas have been issued to Indian nationals across business, tourism, medical, and family visit categories.

The report adds that Bangladesh remains a major source of foreign tourists to India, though visitor numbers declined in 2024 amid political changes in Dhaka. The renewed visa cooperation signals an effort by both governments to stabilize bilateral ties.

Cox’s Bazar-4 Member of Parliament Shahjahan Chowdhury announced that the government is taking necessary steps to send Rohingyas back to Myanmar with dignity by 2027. He emphasized that the construction of permanent structures by Rohingyas in Bangladesh must be stopped. Chowdhury warned that if the Rohingya crisis continues, it could threaten local security, the economy, and social stability. He stressed that a quick and respectful repatriation is the only viable solution.

He made these remarks on Saturday morning at a human chain event organized by the ‘Adhikar Bastobayon Committee’ at Palongkhali Station Square in Ukhiya. Chowdhury also urged law enforcement agencies to take stricter measures to control drugs, weapons, and other crimes in border areas, noting that peace and security in the Ukhiya-Teknaf region depend on border safety.

The event was attended by local political, social, and professional leaders, including BNP representatives and community figures, who participated under the committee’s leadership.

US President Donald Trump compared a recent US Navy ship seizure operation to piracy during a rally in Florida on Friday. He told supporters that American forces boarded a vessel, took control of it, and seized its cargo and oil, describing the action as a highly profitable business. Trump added that the United States was acting much like pirates, though he insisted it was no joke.

The remarks came as legal experts voiced concern over Iran’s blockade of key ports and its reported plan to impose fees on ships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The situation has drawn attention to escalating maritime tensions in the region, where both US and Iranian actions are being closely scrutinized.

The ongoing standoff underscores the fragile security environment in the Gulf, with potential implications for global oil transport and regional stability if the confrontation intensifies further.

The four-day Deputy Commissioners (DC) Conference 2026 will begin on Sunday, May 3, and conclude on Wednesday, May 6, organized by the Cabinet Division. Additional Secretary (District and Field Administration) Md. Humayun Kabir announced that 498 proposals have been included in the working papers from a total of 1,729 submissions by eight divisional commissioners and 64 deputy commissioners. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

The proposals emphasize improving public services, expanding healthcare, reducing public suffering, constructing roads and bridges, promoting tourism, amending laws and regulations, and safeguarding public interests. The health services sector received the highest number of proposals, totaling 44. The conference will feature 34 sessions, including 30 working sessions, courtesy meetings with the President, Speaker, and Chief Justice, and discussions with the Election Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Fifty-six ministries and divisions, along with the Prime Minister’s Office and two commissions, will participate. Key discussion topics include land management, law and order, local governance, disaster management, poverty reduction, ICT and e-governance, education, health, environment, and infrastructure development.

Former interim government law adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul has expressed gratitude to the members of the new parliament for presenting what he described as an accountable legislature. He conveyed his appreciation in a Facebook post on Saturday, noting that the current parliament has demonstrated the government’s accountability through its proceedings.

In his post, Nazrul mentioned that as a constitutional law teacher, he used to tell his students that one of parliament’s main functions is to ensure government accountability, but they were previously surprised because they had not seen such practices in Sheikh Hasina’s parliament. He said that this time, his students could relate to his teaching after hearing speeches by members such as Nahid, Akhtar, Hasnat, Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman, and ruling party member Naushad Jamir.

Nazrul concluded by expressing hope that the dark days of unaccountable governance would not return and that parliament would continue to serve as a forum for good lawmaking and government accountability.

Fifty newly elected members of parliament for the reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament will take their oath on Sunday, May 3, at 9 p.m. The Parliament Secretariat announced the schedule in a press release on Saturday, May 2. The ceremony will take place in the designated oath room on Level 1 of the East Block of the National Parliament Building in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

According to the Secretariat, the Speaker will administer the oath to the new members as per parliamentary tradition. Among the 50 members, 36 were nominated by the BNP, 13 by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its alliance, and one by an independent alliance. The nomination of Nusrat Tabassum from the National Citizen Party (NCP), initially canceled, was declared valid on Saturday. Relevant departments have already been instructed to complete necessary preparations for the event.

Earlier, on April 29, a total of 49 candidates, including 36 from BNP, 12 from the Jamaat alliance, and one independent, were elected unopposed to the reserved women’s seats.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain questioned the sudden disappearance of long vehicle queues for fuel across Bangladesh following a recent price hike. He raised the issue during a press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, held to discuss a national convention on energy, economy, human rights, reform, and referendum.

Akhtar accused the government of ignoring the people’s clear verdict in a referendum held after the tenth national election, where about 70 percent reportedly supported one side. He said the government failed to form a constitutional reform council as expected and instead dismissed the referendum’s outcome as fraudulent or unconstitutional. He argued that reforming the constitution’s basic structure requires a higher institutional framework, a concept no political party had previously rejected.

Expressing concern over the banking sector, Akhtar alleged that those involved in large-scale financial misappropriation were being allowed to regain ownership by returning only a small portion of the stolen funds, warning that this could encourage further corruption.

Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP arrived in Japan on a seven-day visit. He landed at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport at 3:45 p.m. local time on Saturday, where he was warmly received by leaders of the Islamic Mission Japan, expatriate businesspeople, and professionals. Earlier that morning, he departed Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Tokyo.

Dr. Rahman is accompanied by Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member Saiful Alam Khan Milon MP and his foreign affairs adviser Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman MP. During the visit, he is scheduled to attend receptions organized by the Bangladeshi community, participate in various seminars, and hold courtesy meetings with senior officials of the Japanese government.

According to the schedule, the opposition leader is expected to return to Dhaka on May 9 after completing his engagements in Japan.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that hostility between the United States and Iran has ended. In a letter sent to congressional leaders on May 1, he stated that the 60-day approval requirement under the War Powers Act no longer applies, as active military operations have ceased. Trump explained that he launched 'Operation Epic Fury' to protect U.S. interests at home and abroad.

According to the letter, Trump ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, which was later extended. Since that date, there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces. The conflict, which began on February 28, is now considered over. The announcement was reported by The Guardian and marks a formal communication to Congress regarding the cessation of hostilities.

The end of hostilities could signal a shift in U.S. military engagement in the region, though further details on diplomatic or strategic implications were not provided in the letter.