US Senator Chuck Schumer has called on Republican lawmakers to support efforts to pressure President Donald Trump to end the ongoing conflict with Iran. Amid rising fuel prices and economic strain, Schumer said that the continuation of the war is driving up living costs for ordinary Americans. In a post on social media platform X, he criticized Trump for refusing to stop the war, noting that Americans are paying more than $4.50 per gallon of gasoline.

Schumer argued that if Republicans truly care about reducing expenses and protecting US troops, they should support the Democrats’ War Powers Resolution aimed at ending the conflict with Iran. The Democratic Party has launched its seventh attempt to pass the resolution, which seeks to ensure that no president can conduct military operations for more than 60 days without congressional approval.

Previous Democratic efforts have failed due to their minority position in Congress and partisan divisions. However, with rising energy prices, military spending, and concerns over troop safety, the opposition is renewing political pressure on the administration.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Rangpur-2 MP ATM Azharul Islam alleged that former party chief Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami was killed through an imperialist conspiracy. He made the claim on Tuesday afternoon at a discussion and prayer meeting titled “Life and Work” marking Nizami’s 10th martyrdom anniversary at the Santhia District Council auditorium in Pabna. Azharul Islam demanded the arrest of those involved in Nizami’s killing and warned that failure to do so would suggest government collusion.

He stated that killing leaders like Nizami or Mujahid could not end the Islamic movement and asserted that Islam would eventually prevail in the country. Referring to the recent national election, he alleged vote manipulation, claiming the people voted for Jamaat’s symbol but another party took power. He also criticized India, accusing it of border killings and withholding Teesta water, saying such a country could not be a true friend.

Other speakers, including Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and opposition whip Rafiqul Islam Khan, called Nizami’s execution unjust and the trial process illegal, demanding accountability for those involved.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has announced a protest rally and demonstration in Chattogram on Friday to condemn alleged persecution of Muslims in West Bengal and Assam. The group’s Amir, Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, called for formal condemnation and diplomatic action from Bangladesh regarding the incidents. He demanded that the Indian government ensure the safety of minority Muslims.

Speaking at a protest rally organized by Hefazat’s Hathazari unit on Monday afternoon, Babunagari alleged that extremist supporters of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were involved in the violence, citing information from media and local sources. He said attacks based on religious identity are unacceptable in any civilized, democratic, and pluralistic society.

Babunagari also blamed BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s provocative remarks after the election for inciting anti-Muslim sentiment and indirectly encouraging the attackers. Several Hefazat leaders, including central and local officials, also addressed the gathering.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for the northern region and head of its local government election committee, stated that his party is not anti-state toward India or any other country. Speaking at a discussion titled 'Shapla Massacre; A Decade of Impunity' organized by the National Olama Alliance at the Institute of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka on May 12, he emphasized that Bangladesh cannot maintain friendship with any country that approaches it with a mindset of dominance or exploitation.

Alam criticized remarks made by Indian state leaders about Bangladesh’s border issues, calling it shameful that Bangladesh’s home minister dismissed such comments as unofficial. He accused Indian politics, particularly in West Bengal, of promoting communalism and anti-Muslim sentiment, and said Bangladesh should have the courage to express opinions on such human rights violations despite them being internal matters of another country.

He further warned that any foreign government attempting to sustain power in Bangladesh by ignoring the people’s will would fail in the future, urging Bangladesh’s civil administration, police, and army to uphold national dignity and independence.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Secretary General, Principal Hafiz Maulana Yunus Ahmad, stated that the party will not tolerate any killings of Bangladeshi citizens along the border. Speaking at a regular meeting held on Tuesday at the party’s central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, he criticized India’s decision to build barbed-wire fencing in West Bengal following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rise to power, calling it politically motivated rather than a security measure.

Ahmad said that while India has the right to manage its own borders, any form of brutality against Bangladeshis is unacceptable. He noted that both countries’ citizens are involved in various cross-border activities, but Bangladesh suffers more financially. He praised Bangladesh’s border guards for their vigilance and urged the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to act positively to ensure safety. He added that BSF’s past behavior had caused resentment but expressed hope for improvement under the new political situation in West Bengal, warning of consequences if conditions worsen.

Senior party leaders including Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman and Engineer Muhammad Ashraful Alam were also present at the meeting.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) believes in politics centered on public welfare and development. He made the remarks on Tuesday while inaugurating several development projects and canal re-excavation programs in Tarakanda and Haluaghat upazilas of Mymensingh, where he served as the chief guest.

The minister stated that the newly launched road construction and canal re-excavation initiatives reflect the BNP’s commitment to development-oriented work. He added that the government continues to implement various programs for the country’s overall progress, prioritizing public welfare while avoiding unnecessary expenditure. During the visit, he inaugurated multiple projects, including road improvement and canal re-excavation works in different unions.

After the inaugurations, the minister visited local BNP offices and attended a meeting with party members, emphasizing the need for political stability to sustain development. He also listened to local demands for new facilities such as a mini stadium, hospital, and fire service station, assuring that these would be considered.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam stated that friendship cannot be achieved through barbed wire fences and killings along the border. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion and documentary screening titled “Shapla Massacre; A Decade of Impunity,” organized by the National Olama Alliance at the IDEB building in Kakrail, Dhaka.

Nahid Islam urged the government to take effective measures to stop border killings, protect national sovereignty, and secure the country’s fair share of water. He emphasized maintaining communal harmony and ensuring equal rights for all citizens, including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. He also criticized the BNP’s role during the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident, saying it should have acted more courageously as an opposition party.

He alleged that the lack of justice for the Shapla Chattar killings created conditions for later violence and called the shooting of unarmed and sleeping people a crime against humanity under international law. Nahid further said that political parties have often used religious scholars and madrasa students for political purposes and that their contributions deserve recognition in national history.

Poet, essayist, and political commentator Farhad Mazhar stated that the United States has carried out a regime change in Bangladesh and that the current power lies with them, not with local actors. He made these remarks on Tuesday at a discussion and documentary screening titled “Shapla Massacre; A Decade of Impunity,” organized by the National Olama Alliance, supported by the NCP, at the IDEB building in Kakrail, Dhaka. Mazhar also called for justice for the Shapla killings and urged unity in revolutionary spirit against what he described as internal and external dangers.

At the same event, NCP leaders including MP Dr. Atik Mujahid, Sarowar Tushar, and Abdullah Al Amin emphasized the need to recognize the Shapla victims as martyrs and to bring specific perpetrators to justice. They described the Shapla incident as part of a cultural struggle that must continue in the region.

The discussion was presided over by Maulana Ashraf Uddin Mahdi, with participation from leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, Khelafat Majlish, and other allied organizations.

A political controversy erupted in India after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh claimed that Suvendu Adhikari had banned offering prayers on public roads. Singh made the statement in an interview with India Today TV, saying that during a cabinet meeting, the chief minister instructed that prayers should not be performed on roads, though there was no objection to prayers inside mosques. The report was published by BBC Bangla and later discussed widely across national media and social platforms.

The West Bengal government held its first cabinet meeting on May 11, after which several executive orders were reportedly issued to police and district officials. However, a senior police officer, speaking anonymously, said that while such orders were indeed given, they did not specifically mention banning prayers. The issue follows earlier objections by BJP leaders to road prayers, including during Eid gatherings on Kolkata’s Red Road.

Human rights representative Sheikh Abdul Selim supported some of the government’s other directives, such as covering meat during sale and controlling noise levels, calling them reasonable.

A controversy has erupted in Khulna after an Awami League leader was listed as a farmer representative in the district’s rice procurement and monitoring committee for the current Boro season. The Khulna District Food Controller’s office submitted the proposed committee list, which included the name of Mallik Abid Hossain Kabir, vice president of Khulna Metropolitan Awami League. Upon reviewing the file, the Deputy Commissioner expressed dissatisfaction and returned it, questioning the justification for including a politically affiliated person as a farmer representative.

According to district administration and food department sources, the government set procurement prices at Tk 36 per kg for paddy, Tk 49 for parboiled rice, and Tk 48 for non-parboiled rice. The committee was supposed to be formed in early May to ensure smooth operations. The District Food Controller, Md Tanvir Hossain, downplayed the issue, saying similar committees had existed since 2010 and that the delay was due to a DC conference. However, other sources claimed the move was an attempt to rush approval without proper oversight.

The incident has reignited debate over transparency and political influence in administrative committees, with calls for genuine farmers to represent agricultural interests.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Chowdhury inaugurated two separate development projects in Tarakanda and Haluaghat upazilas of Mymensingh on Tuesday. The projects include canal re-excavation and road improvement works. During his address as chief guest, he highlighted the government’s ongoing progress in infrastructure development and called on local residents to be aware and responsible in maintaining and sustaining these initiatives.

Member of Parliament for Mymensingh-2, Mufti Muhammadullah, attended the event as a special guest, along with other local representatives and officials. The state minister said the government is working consistently to bring the benefits of development to remote areas. He noted that the canal re-excavation project will improve water drainage, reduce waterlogging, and positively impact agricultural production.

He emphasized that the canals are being excavated for public benefit, but if they are filled again, the benefits will be lost. Therefore, he urged local communities to take part in preserving these development gains.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem met with the Speaker of the 13th National Parliament, Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom, and personally handed him an invitation to his wedding. The meeting took place recently, and Kayem shared news of the courtesy visit through a Facebook post on Tuesday night.

During the meeting, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed extended his best wishes and prayers for the new chapter in Kayem’s life. He also expressed satisfaction with DUCSU’s ongoing activities and voiced hope that the organization would continue to develop as a role model for the future of Bangladesh.

Earlier, Sadiq Kayem had also met with former Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to deliver his wedding invitation, continuing his series of courtesy visits to prominent national figures.

Former State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak sustained serious neck and lower back injuries in a prison van accident while being taken to the International Crimes Tribunal. According to his lawyer, Tariqul Islam, an MRI was conducted at PG Hospital following a court order, and the report has now been received.

The MRI results revealed complications in the L2, L3, and L4 vertebrae of Palak’s lower back, as well as issues in the C5/6 and C6/7 discs of his neck. His lawyer stated that Palak had already been unwell and was unable to move his neck properly when visited in prison last Saturday.

Although the MRI confirmed significant spinal and neck problems, Palak has not yet received the necessary medical treatment. His lawyer said a petition will be filed in court to ensure proper medical care for him.

A review meeting on the implementation progress of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) projects under the 2025–26 fiscal year Annual Development Programme (ADP) was held on Tuesday at the Secretariat. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended as the chief guest and directed officials to accelerate the pace of project implementation.

The meeting discussed progress, quality of work, expenditure management, and timely completion of projects. Emphasizing the need to meet public expectations, the minister urged officials to act responsibly and ensure accountability in executing development activities. He also called for transparent and efficient use of public funds to deliver sustainable and welfare-oriented projects.

The session was chaired by Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hasan and attended by senior ministry officials and project directors from various ongoing LGED initiatives, both in person and virtually.

A human chain was organized in Rangpur, Bangladesh, to protest recent attacks on Muslims and mosques in India allegedly carried out by extremist groups. The demonstration took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Rangpur Press Club premises, initiated by the Legal Aid Center (ASK). Participants expressed strong condemnation of the incidents and called for an immediate end to the violence.

Speakers at the event stated that assaults on Muslims have been increasing globally, with India being one of the most affected countries. They described the attacks and mosque vandalism as severe violations of human rights and accused extremist groups of receiving protection. The speakers urged the Bangladesh government to engage in dialogue with India to help stop the killings and persecution.

Among those addressing the protest were ASK Rangpur divisional president Amina Begum Ripa, vice presidents Jahangir Hossain Bablu and Jahangir Hossain Tauyeb, general secretary Nahida Parvin Shikha, organizational secretary Suman Sarkar, and journalist Asaduzzaman Afzal of the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association.