US Vice President J.D. Vance has stated that the Ukraine war is not expected to end anytime soon. He emphasized that the key question now is how the US can facilitate a resolution between Russia and Ukraine. “Ultimately, it is up to Russia and Ukraine to reach a decision to end this brutal war,” he said. “Yes, Ukrainians are understandably angry—their country has been invaded. But should we lose thousands of soldiers over a few miles of land?” Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that unless there is significant progress on the battlefield soon, President Trump may reduce his engagement with the crisis.

India has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reassess its loan support to Pakistan. Last year, Pakistan received a critical $7 billion bailout to stabilize its economy. In March, the IMF approved an additional $1.3 billion for climate resilience projects. India has expressed concerns regarding the effective utilization and transparency of these funds.

Azad Kashmir's Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq has instructed residents in 13 border constituencies to stockpile two months’ worth of food, anticipating possible emergencies. A 1 billion PKR fund has been established to ensure food, medicine, and essentials in those areas. Additionally, private machinery has been deployed along with government resources to maintain infrastructure near the border. Religious schools have already been closed as a precautionary measure.

More than 14,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims are still awaiting visas for the upcoming Hajj, leaving many in uncertainty. So far, 15,154 pilgrims have departed for Saudi Arabia, with one death reported. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged citizens not to assist unauthorized individuals holding visit visas in entering restricted Hajj areas or offering them accommodation, as it violates Hajj regulations.

The Discrimination Resistance Employees’ Unity Forum has condemned what it calls a “black law” in public administration, claiming that most top officials are corrupt and politically biased. The forum has submitted a list of such officials to the government. However, no action has been taken due to interference from certain government advisors. They also criticized the appointment of dual nationals, controversial figures, and unqualified individuals to key administrative and commission posts.

The Bangladesh College-University Teachers Association has called for the full nationalization of the education system, opposing the piecemeal government takeover of institutions. Among their 11 demands are allocating 6% of GDP for education (as per UNESCO guidelines), 100% festival, housing, and medical allowances for MPO-listed staff, forming an Education Reform Commission, and raising the retirement age to 65 for all educators, matching university standards.

The Arakan Army has released four Rohingya individuals who were taken hostage after crossing the Naf River into Myanmar. The freed men—Arafat Ullah (21), Anis Ullah (22), Md. Jaber (14), and Anwar Sadek (27)—have returned to the Jadimura refugee camp in Teknaf. Allegedly, they had crossed the border to transport narcotics when they were abducted.

Ahead of student union elections, Jahangirnagar University has barred the entry of outsiders on campus starting May 3 until further notice. The university administration issued the restriction to maintain security during the elections for the central and hall student unions. All university personnel have been instructed to carry their ID cards at all times.

Khulna University students staged protests late Friday night after Assistant Student Affairs Director Hasan Mahmud Sakir was assaulted by a former student. The injured staff member is being treated at Khulna Medical College Hospital. Protesters condemned the attack, declared the assailant, Noman, persona non grata on campus, and demanded the harshest punishment under university regulations.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested four individuals involved in a robbery at a Gazipur business disguised as detectives. The incident occurred on April 14 at Multi Point BD. A portion of the looted funds, amounting to BDT 2.255 million, was recovered. The arrested individuals include Md. Abdur Rahman Rajon (28), Md. Robiul Islam (30), Md. Uzzal (36), and Md. Miraj (25).

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that the decision on establishing a humanitarian corridor will be made only after consultations with all parties involved, including the UN, Myanmar, and local communities in Rakhine. He acknowledged the civil war-like situation in the region that is disrupting supply chains and causing severe hardship. “There’s a genuine humanitarian crisis, and we’re open to coordinated efforts,” he said.

Abu Taher, Chairman of Chiora Union in Cumilla’s Chauddagram, has been temporarily suspended for issuing birth certificates to Rohingya women. The investigation confirmed that he had shared his official ID and password, failed to act responsibly, and issued documents to two Rohingya women posing as local residents. These documents were later used to obtain passports in an attempt to travel to Vietnam.

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, has alleged that Indian media outlets are actively spreading dangerous misinformation to destabilize Bangladesh—with direct support from the Awami League. He announced that evidence of 15 years of false and unethical journalism will be submitted to the United Nations, and the government will demand an official investigation. When asked about the dismissal of three journalists, Alam clarified that the government played no role in their termination. He criticized the Digital Security Act introduced by the Awami League, saying it has suffocated journalistic freedom. However, he added that, in reality, the media currently operates freely. “No media outlet has been shut down after the July revolution,” he noted, “which stands in contrast to what happens in many other countries.”

All madrasas in Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir have been closed for 10 days amid fears of possible Indian military attacks following rising tensions with New Delhi. Although the Pakistani government officially cited high temperatures as the reason, Hafiz Nazir Ahmad, Director of Religious Affairs in Kashmir, acknowledged that the shutdown is largely due to security concerns. He warned that India's military might target religious institutions at any time.

To ensure orderly Hajj operations and uphold Saudi-Bangladesh relations, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested pilgrims not to perform Hajj without valid permits. Pilgrims traveling on visit visas are barred from entering holy sites. Bangladeshis have been advised not to assist unauthorized pilgrims with lodging, transport, or access to restricted areas. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior warned that unauthorized pilgrims could face fines up to 20,000 riyals, with facilitators being fined as much as 100,000 riyals.