Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi paid tribute at the graves of late President Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. The visit took place on Friday afternoon at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, where Naqvi placed floral wreaths and offered prayers after visiting the graves.

According to the report, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider and several others were present during the tribute. The event marked a gesture of respect from the visiting Pakistani minister during his time in Bangladesh.

No further details about the purpose or outcomes of the visit were mentioned in the source.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Jalal Uddin criticized the BNP for avoiding political risks, saying the party prefers to benefit from others’ struggles. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon at the National Museum’s main auditorium during the launch of the commemorative book ‘Shahidnama,’ organized by the Shapla Smriti Sangsad, which also featured a documentary screening and award ceremony.

Jalal Uddin said that on the day of the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident, then BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia had urged her party members to stand beside Hefazat activists. He argued that if BNP activists had responded, Bangladesh might have been freed from fascism in 2013. He added that the July uprising that removed a fascist regime was built on the sacrifices of scholars and students at Shapla Chattar.

He called for including the Shapla Chattar events in school, college, and madrasa curricula and demanded a speedy trial for what he described as the massacre there. The event was presided over by Shapla Smriti Sangsad Chairman Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju stated that citizens will distinguish between the BNP and Awami League based on corruption, partisanship, terrorism, and rising commodity prices. He made the remarks on Friday at a political workshop organized by the AB Party at its district office on Mizan Road in Feni city.

Monju argued that both major parties share similar family-based leadership and bourgeois characteristics. He said people will evaluate the two parties through their real-life experiences under these four governance issues. Referring to the aftermath of the 2024 mass uprising, he noted that if citizens see no meaningful change, frustration and anger may push them to reconsider their political choices.

He further explained that the AB Party had sought reforms before elections, but the BNP preferred quick polls to avoid restrictions that could have barred loan defaulters and holders of illicit wealth from contesting. Monju emphasized that without systemic reform, the rise of new politics would remain impossible.

Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former MP, stated that no government can gain public confidence by disregarding the outcome of a referendum. He made the remarks on Friday morning while addressing a gathering of Jamaat’s upazila and thana-level leaders from the Sylhet region. The event was chaired by Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair and attended by senior Jamaat leaders from Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj.

Azad said the nation had hoped for change following the student and public uprising of August 5, 2024, but the new government had betrayed that hope by nullifying the referendum and ignoring the July Charter. He accused the authorities of moving toward a new form of fascism and warned that such actions would have consequences. He reaffirmed Jamaat’s commitment to building a humane and discrimination-free Bangladesh in line with the aspirations of those who were martyred or injured during the uprising.

Azad also emphasized that the Islamic movement has always faced oppression and sacrifice, asserting that Jamaat’s leadership remains undeterred despite past conspiracies and injustices.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has formally announced Suvendu Adhikari as the new Chief Minister of West Bengal. The decision came after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) major victory in the state assembly election, with Adhikari unanimously chosen as the parliamentary party leader during a meeting of 207 newly elected legislators at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town.

Adhikari, who left the Trinamool Congress to join the BJP in 2020, has been a prominent and often controversial figure in West Bengal politics. Since 2024, several of his statements about Bangladesh have drawn attention and debate over India-Bangladesh relations. He has accused Bangladesh of minority persecution, threatened to halt border trade, and criticized the country’s military capability. His remarks also included calls for international intervention in Bangladesh’s political situation and comparisons to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

By late 2025, Adhikari’s rhetoric intensified, including threats to block exports and protests targeting the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. His comments have continued to stir political tension between the neighboring countries.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over recent attacks, arson, and intimidation targeting Muslim communities in India’s West Bengal and Assam amid ongoing political tensions. In a joint statement issued on Friday, the group’s Amir Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari and Secretary General Allama Sheikh Sajidur Rahman said the violence against minority Muslims following election results violates human rights, religious freedom, and democratic values.

The statement accused extremist supporters of India’s ruling party of involvement in the violence, citing media and local sources. It also criticized BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s recent remarks about Muslim voters, saying such comments fuel anti-Muslim sentiment and indirectly encourage attackers. The Hefazat leaders urged the Bangladesh government to formally condemn the incidents and take diplomatic steps to ensure the safety of Muslims in India.

They further called on international human rights organizations, the OIC, and the global community to closely monitor the human rights situation of Indian Muslims and take necessary actions to uphold peace and communal harmony in South Asia.

Fifteen individuals, including Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, have been awarded the newly introduced 'Uncompromising National Leader Begum Khaleda Zia Memorial Gold Medal 2026'. The announcement was made in a press release issued on Friday.

Other recipients include Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, Prime Minister’s advisers Ismail Jobiullah and Mahdi Amin, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque, BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Kamal Uddin Sabuj, organizer Sanjida Islam Tuli, BCB President Tamim Iqbal, writer Dr. Mahbub Hasan, poet Abdul Hai Shikdar, journalist Ashraf Kaiser, industrialist Dr. Abul Kashem Haider, businessman Abdul Haque, and Fatema Begum, personal assistant to Begum Zia.

According to the release, the award has been launched by the New York-based Bangladesh Probashi Nagorik Committee, Inc. in memory of the late former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. It will be presented annually to distinguished individuals contributing to the nation’s development.

Bangladesh’s opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman met Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shimada Tomoki on Friday at 5:30 p.m. local time. Senior officials from Japan’s foreign ministry attended the meeting. At the outset, Shimada congratulated Dr. Rahman on being elected as a Member of Parliament and appointed as the Leader of the Opposition following Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election.

The discussion covered the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between Bangladesh and Japan, focusing on expanding trade, investment, infrastructure, human resource development, education, health, and technology cooperation. Both sides emphasized strengthening and diversifying bilateral relations. Dr. Rahman requested Japan’s support in establishing a specialized cancer hospital in Bangladesh.

Japan praised Bangladesh’s economic progress, social development, and role in regional stability, expressing hope to continue supporting the country’s development and democratic journey. Dr. Rahman conveyed gratitude for Japan’s longstanding development assistance and highlighted its contributions to infrastructure, communication, power, and human resource development, expressing optimism for deeper economic and diplomatic ties.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has officially announced Suvendu Adhikari as the new Chief Minister of West Bengal. The announcement came after a meeting of 207 newly elected BJP legislators at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town on Friday. During the meeting, Adhikari was unanimously chosen as the leader of the BJP legislative party, paving the way for him to form the next state government.

Amit Shah served as the chief observer at the meeting, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi acting as assistant observer. Shah stated that eight proposals were submitted for the leadership position, all naming Suvendu Adhikari, and no alternative names were proposed. Adhikari is expected to meet Governor R. N. Ravi to present letters of support and formally claim the right to form the government.

The swearing-in ceremony for the new government is scheduled for Saturday at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground. Adhikari’s selection follows his consecutive electoral victories over former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which strengthened his position within the BJP.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed met Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi on May 8, 2026, at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and focused on issues of mutual interest, particularly regional security and strengthening law enforcement capacities. Both ministers emphasized shared interests in addressing regional security challenges and agreed to enhance coordination and judicial cooperation between their law enforcement agencies.

The discussion covered intelligence sharing to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, protection of trafficking victims, and awareness programs. The importance of a Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (MLAR) agreement was highlighted to facilitate faster exchange of information and evidence in criminal investigations. The ministers also discussed effective extradition mechanisms to prevent criminals from evading justice across borders, as well as expanding training in modern policing and cybercrime investigation.

Bangladesh called for increased international support for the safe and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees, with Pakistan expected to play a constructive role. Both sides expressed optimism about continuing such bilateral cooperation in the future.

BNP’s newly elected Member of Parliament Nilofar Chowdhury Moni has clarified her earlier remark that ‘extortion is better than zakat’. She explained her statement during a recent private television talk show where Jamaat MP Mardia Momtaz was also present. Moni said her earlier comment came in response to a Jamaat leader’s harsh criticism of the BNP, labeling it as corrupt and extortionist.

Moni elaborated that extortion is a punishable crime, but once punishment is served, the matter ends. In contrast, she argued, zakat funds are being misused when wealthy individuals or political groups use them for political purposes instead of helping the poor, as prescribed in Islam. She questioned how zakat money collected from salaries and businesses is being spent on hospitals, banks, and transport ventures benefiting the affluent.

She further emphasized that zakat is a duty for the rich and a right for the poor, not a charitable favor. Her clarification aimed to highlight the misuse of religious funds rather than justify extortion.

Suvendu Adhikari has been announced as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal. The decision was made on Friday after a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 207 winning candidates, presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah declared Adhikari as the leader of the BJP legislative party, confirming him as the state’s new Chief Minister. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground.

The selection process took place at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town under the supervision of Amit Shah, the chief observer, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the assistant observer. Shah stated that eight proposals were received, all naming Adhikari, and no alternative name was submitted. Following the meeting, Adhikari is expected to meet Governor R.N. Ravi to formally request permission to form the government.

Adhikari’s selection was widely anticipated within the party, as he had previously defeated Mamata Banerjee twice in electoral contests, including in Nandigram in 2021 and again in Bhabanipur by a larger margin.

South Indian film star Thalapathy Vijay is on the verge of making political history in Tamil Nadu, as strong indications suggest he will become the state’s next Chief Minister with coalition support. In last month’s assembly election, his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), contested for the first time and won 108 of 234 seats, ending the 62-year dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. However, lacking the 118-seat majority required to form a government, a tense political standoff followed.

Governor R. V. Arlekar insisted that Vijay must prove his majority before being invited to form the government. After several rounds of talks, the Congress broke ties with the DMK and offered support for five seats, on the condition that TVK would not ally with communal parties like the BJP. TVK then secured backing from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), CPI(M), and CPI, bringing the coalition’s total to exactly 118 seats.

According to reports, each coalition partner may receive representation in the new cabinet. Supporters gathered outside Vijay’s Chennai residence on Friday evening, chanting in celebration as the political uncertainty appeared to settle.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan stated that education will serve as the bridge between China and Bangladesh. He said the goal is to further strengthen the connection between the two nations, with education as its core element. The minister made these remarks on Friday at a roundtable titled ‘China-Bangladesh Round Table on Governance Experience Exchange,’ organized by the Center for China Studies (CCS) at a hotel in Dhaka.

He highlighted that Bangladesh and China share a long-standing relationship, which was emphasized by late President Ziaur Rahman. According to the minister, this relationship will play a vital role in shaping the future of Bangladesh, particularly in improving the education sector where China can contribute significantly. He added that Bangladesh, being a densely populated country, must transform its population into a skilled human resource.

The minister stressed the importance of focusing on technical education and enhancing joint cooperation with China in education and technical sectors to develop globally competent human resources.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tazul Islam, stated that Islamic scholars and Muslims are the true bearers and protectors of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. He made this remark on Friday while speaking at a discussion organized by Shapla Smriti Sangsad to commemorate and evaluate the May 5 massacre.

During his speech, Tazul Islam argued that the May 5 killings were not intended to suppress the rise of Islam but were instead an attempt by what he called a fascist government to remove faith from the nation’s culture. He said the goal was to create an environment where people would fear expressing their religious identity, such as wearing caps or keeping beards.

He further warned that if Muslims do not take an active role in protecting their beliefs and values, the country may face repeated confrontations similar to the Shapla Chattar incident.