NCP leader Sarjis Alam visited Lamia at the hospital and expressed deep sorrow over her death. He said, “The entire nation is grieving. Such a heinous act against the daughter of a martyr who sacrificed for a new Bangladesh is unacceptable. We lost Ashia in a similar manner recently. Those involved must face public execution.” Sarjis recounted how Lamia’s mother repeatedly asked if they could bring her daughter back, a question he found impossible to answer. He asserted that no bail should be granted to those accused of such horrific crimes, criticizing those who defend them in court as having lost their conscience.

Legal notices issued against Dr. Tasnim Jara and Dr. Jahangir Kabir for allegedly spreading obscenity have been withdrawn. Earlier, a Supreme Court lawyer, Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab, had served a notice demanding a ban on all online platforms displaying “obscene and pornographic” content. However, netizens widely viewed the move as politically motivated, and Tasnim Jara’s content has garnered significant public support.

Former Chhatra Shibir president Manjurul Islam said, “Under Sheikh Hasina’s orders, leaders and activists of Awami League and the banned Chhatra League committed unprecedented massacres during the mass uprising.” He asserted that Sheikh Hasina and her accomplices must be brought back and tried to fulfill the aspirations of the July martyrs. He added, “We witnessed how killings were carried out at Pilkhana and Shapla Chattar. In previous years, educational institutions had no proper environment for learning, turned instead into hubs of terror and drugs by Chhatra League and their allies. Through immense sacrifices during the July Revolution, that situation was changed. Now, we must ensure the presence of all political and Islamic student organizations on campuses to maintain a healthy educational environment.”

ShahiduI Fahim, a leader of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, stated that Lamia’s mother, Ruma Begum, wife of martyred Jashim Uddin, has fallen ill and been hospitalized. He said, “Lamia was from my area; I spoke with her many times. She was mentally strong. After the incident of rape, she personally filed a complaint at the police station. What happened so suddenly that led her to take her own life? This must be investigated.” Fahim emphasized that the state cannot shirk responsibility in such cases. He also pointed out that although justice for rape cases is supposed to be delivered within 90 days, it is rarely seen. “We must rise again to demand justice for all victims like Lamia and Ashia.” Notably, Lamia, daughter of a July Movement martyr, was gang-raped on her way back from visiting her father’s grave on March 18, and took her own life on Saturday night.

BNP leader Hasan Uddin Sarkar accused the Awami League government of turning educational institutions into hubs of corruption over the past 16 years. Speaking at a rally, he said teaching is a noble profession and that corruption among educators tarnishes the dignity of the profession. Sarkar praised private schools for their role in employment and education and urged teachers to uphold the integrity of their profession.

NCP leader Abdul Hannan Masud criticized activists for spreading false information without verification. He mentioned that after seeing a misleading thumbnail by Kaler Kantho, many activists posted false claims about him, such as receiving a lifetime gift of a car, when in reality it was a temporary arrangement during his stay in Hatia. Masud called on activists like Elias Hossain, Zulkarnaine Sayar, and Boni Amin to verify facts before spreading misleading narratives.

Santosh Sharma, General Secretary of Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council and Editor of Kalbela, sparked controversy by attending a Jamaat-e-Islami goodwill gathering. Following backlash, Jamaat leader Dr. Muhammad Rezaul Karim issued a Facebook apology but later deleted the post. In his apology, Rezaul mentioned that following Sharma’s appearance, various serious allegations against him surfaced, suggesting that if due action had been taken, Sharma would not have been able to attend the Jamaat event.

The Nationalist Citizen’s Party (NCP) has announced a protest rally in Dhaka on May 2, demanding the trial, deregistration, and political ban of the Awami League. The NCP also decided to form a ‘Political Council’ to oversee decision-making and an ‘Executive Council’ to implement its resolutions. A constitution drafting team was also formed, tasked with submitting a draft within a week.

After meeting with a delegation from the Chinese Communist Party, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said relations between the two parties are deepening. He noted that while the BNP had longstanding ties with the CCP, these relations had stalled for 15 years due to the ruling regime. Fakhrul said the CCP wishes to see a stable, democratic Bangladesh.

Rashed Khan of Gano Adhikar Parishad warned that if the Awami League returns to power, more massacres will follow. He demanded state reforms and the prosecution of the Awami League and its past crimes before any election. Khan emphasized the need for a clean political environment in a new Bangladesh, free from extortionists, land grabbers, and corrupt politicians. He also called for an immediate announcement of the election roadmap.

BNP leader Aminul Haque emphasized that the upcoming election would be more competitive and challenging than ever before, with a significant portion of voters coming from the youth. He stressed the importance of engaging with their mindset. Haque highlighted that the BNP’s 31-point framework focuses on education, healthcare, and economic reforms, including unemployment benefits for educated youth, correcting distorted history, and ensuring universal healthcare. He urged party members to avoid internal conflicts and prioritize the greater good.

Mufti Syed Muhammad Fayzul Karim criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that Muslims in India are facing brutal persecution, with even their burial grounds being seized by the government. Addressing Modi directly, he warned, “You have forgotten the history of India, but Muslims have not. If they awaken, your throne will be shattered.” He further remarked that simply rejecting the Women’s Commission proposal is not enough; those responsible must face legal action, or the public will spit on Modi’s so-called ‘development’ just as they do on fascist regimes. Fayzul also called for reforms before any elections are held.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has opposed the National Consensus Commission’s proposal to reduce the terms of Parliament and the Presidency to four years, insisting that the current five-year terms should remain unchanged. However, the party expressed support for the proposal to introduce a bicameral (two-chamber) Parliament. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated that discussions are ongoing regarding the formation, nature, and process of a bicameral legislature. He added that the talks, focusing on constitutional reforms, have been quite productive and indicated that further discussions are expected.

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi accused the ruling Awami League of plotting acts of violence using embezzled public funds. Urging students to stand up against corruption on campuses, Rizvi also called for the trial of judges he accused of aiding Sheikh Hasina’s alleged authoritarianism. “If Hitler’s collaborators could be tried, so should Hasina’s judicial allies,” he said, demanding the announcement of an immediate election roadmap and accountability for corruption allegations against government officials.

Akhtar Hossain, Member Secretary of the NCP, asserted that the party has no links with remnants of fallen autocratic regimes. “If any of our members are involved in extortion, we will take strict organizational action,” he said. He also pledged full transparency, announcing that the names of donors and financial details will be audited and published through proper channels.