Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan stated that there is currently no militant activity in the country. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after attending the 31st founding anniversary and medal ceremony of the Bangladesh Coast Guard. The minister said that the term 'militant' is no longer relevant in the present context and was previously used as a political tool during fascist regimes.

Responding to a question about when the army would be withdrawn from the field, the minister said the withdrawal would take place gradually. The event was also attended by Home Ministry Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury and Coast Guard Director General Md. Ziaul Haque.

The statement reflects the government’s position that militant threats have subsided and that security operations are transitioning toward normal administrative control.

Iraq’s President Nizar Amedi has appointed Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister-designate and tasked him with forming a new government, according to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Iraq. Al-Zaidi was selected by the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia parties holding a parliamentary majority, following a meeting in Baghdad. His nomination ends months of political stalemate that had drawn intervention from United States President Donald Trump, who opposed the initial candidate, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Both al-Maliki and outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani withdrew their candidacies to facilitate consensus.

Al-Zaidi, chairman of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank, emerged as a compromise figure supported for his economic expertise and business connections, despite lacking prior political experience. In his first statement, he pledged to make Iraq “a balanced country, regionally and internationally,” emphasizing unity during what he described as a sensitive period. Under Iraq’s constitution, he now has 30 days to present a cabinet to parliament and secure a vote of confidence.

The incoming government faces major challenges, including managing the fallout from the US-Israeli war against Iran, disruptions to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, and persistent issues of corruption, armed groups, and governance reform.

A distorted and obscene cartoon of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee circulated on social media amid the 2026 state assembly election has sparked intense controversy. The Election Commission of India is reviewing the matter after a complaint was filed, though no arrests have been made yet. The cartoon, shared from an account identified as belonging to a self-proclaimed nationalist from Uttar Pradesh, depicted a large female figure resembling Banerjee standing over India’s border in a vulgar manner.

The image suggested that Banerjee supports illegal immigration from Bangladesh, showing people crossing into India. The West Bengal Women’s Commission called the image offensive and degrading to women, alleging that it was intended to exploit gender bias for electoral gain. A case has been registered at the Siliguri Cyber Crime Police Station, which is investigating the accused individual.

The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of resorting to obscenity for political advantage, while BJP leaders continued to criticize the state government over infiltration issues. The Election Commission has sought a detailed report on whether any political party was involved, as digital ethics and women’s safety emerge as key concerns during the election period.

Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday morning at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting took place at 10 a.m. and was described as a formal courtesy visit.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Science and Technology Minister and Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapon, adviser to both ministries Rehan Asif Asad, and Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigorievich Kozhin were present during the meeting. The report did not specify the topics discussed or any outcomes from the meeting.

The visit reflects ongoing diplomatic and institutional engagement between Bangladesh and Russia, particularly in the field of nuclear energy cooperation, though no further details were provided in the source.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that helicopter service will be added to the Bangladesh Coast Guard fleet as part of a modernization initiative. The government also plans to recruit 10,000 new personnel to strengthen the force. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning during the 31st founding anniversary ceremony of the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

The minister stated that the current government is firmly committed to the overall development of the Coast Guard and has undertaken several initiatives for its modernization. He praised the force for earning public trust through its roles in combating drug smuggling, protecting fisheries, eliminating piracy, and safeguarding the environment.

He further highlighted the Coast Guard’s vital role in rescue operations during natural disasters in coastal areas and maintaining security and stability in regions such as the Sundarbans.

Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of 69 individuals accused of expressing support, praise, or sympathy for Iran. According to Anadolu Agency, the decision was made in response to recent regional tensions involving Iran. The Bahrain News Agency reported on Monday, April 27, that those who showed sympathy toward Iran’s 'hostile and criminal acts' lost their citizenship, including some of their family members.

Earlier in March, Bahrain’s High Criminal Court held a preliminary hearing in a case accusing several people of promoting and exaggerating Iran’s 'terrorist activities,' though the number of defendants was not disclosed at that time. The move comes amid heightened regional conflict following a joint U.S.-Israel military operation against Iran on February 28, which reportedly resulted in more than 3,300 deaths.

A two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was brokered by Pakistan on April 8 and later extended indefinitely on April 21 at Pakistan’s request, as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Former ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak was injured in a prison van accident on Tuesday morning while being brought to the Dhaka Fourth Special Judge Court for a hearing in the murder case of truck driver Hossain. The hearing, related to the killing during the anti-discrimination student movement, was postponed to May 21 after the defense requested more time. Palak informed his lawyer, Farzana Yasmin Rakhi, about the accident and asked her to seek medical attention through a court petition.

According to the case details, truck driver Md. Hossain was shot dead on July 19, 2024, in the Chand Udyan area of Mohammadpur while returning home from Gabtoli. His mother, Rina Begum, filed a murder case on August 31, 2024. The investigation officer, SI Akramuzzaman of Mohammadpur Police Station, submitted a charge sheet on November 23, 2025, naming 34 accused, including Sheikh Hasina.

The court proceedings will continue after the rescheduled date, with Palak’s health condition expected to be reviewed following his reported injury.

The Appellate Division has granted bail to former Chief Justice A B M Khairul Haque in five separate cases. The cases include charges related to the killing of a Jubo Dal activist during the July movement and alleged forgery in the caretaker government verdict. The bail order was issued on Tuesday morning, according to the report published on April 28, 2026.

The report from Amar Desh Online stated that the decision came from the Appellate Division but did not provide further details about the proceedings, duration of bail, or next legal steps. The article also mentioned that more details would be released later.

Further information about the implications of the bail decision or reactions from involved parties was not included in the report.

Democrats in the United States Senate have initiated a sixth vote on the War Powers Resolution aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the vote would take place this week, emphasizing the need to reassert congressional authority over war decisions.

Schumer questioned whether Republicans would continue to support Trump after what he described as a reckless and unpopular 60-day conflict. Under the US Constitution, the power to declare war lies with Congress, not the president. Democrats have accused the Trump administration of conducting military operations in Iran without congressional approval.

Previous attempts by Democrats to pass similar resolutions in both the Senate and the House of Representatives have failed. Despite these setbacks, they are pressing ahead with another vote to increase pressure on the administration and reaffirm legislative oversight of military engagements.

Syria has launched its first judicial proceedings against ousted president Bashar al-Assad and senior members of his former government. The public hearing began at 11 a.m. on Sunday in Damascus, marking the start of trials under the interim government. Only one defendant, Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin and a former brigadier general, appeared in court. Najib, who once headed the political security branch in Daraa province, was brought in handcuffed and placed in a cage inside the courtroom.

Najib is accused of leading crackdowns and arrests in Daraa in 2011, when teenagers were detained and tortured for anti-government graffiti, sparking nationwide protests that escalated into a 13-year civil war. The conflict ended with Assad’s downfall on December 8, 2024, leaving over half a million dead and displacing hundreds of thousands. Assad fled to Russia after his ouster, along with many close allies.

The court set May 10 for the next hearing. Other defendants to be tried in person include Assad’s relative Wasim al-Assad, former Grand Mufti Ahmed Badruddin Hassoun, and several military and security officials arrested in recent months.

Field-level administrative officials across Bangladesh have submitted 1,729 proposals to the Cabinet Division ahead of the upcoming Deputy Commissioners (DC) Conference scheduled for May 3–6 in Dhaka. Among the proposals are calls for constructing the Padma Barrage to protect the southwest region from the effects of India’s Farakka Barrage, improving law enforcement to combat drug trafficking, and ensuring stable fuel and electricity supplies. The Cabinet Division has reviewed the submissions and accepted 498 proposals for discussion at the conference.

The event will be the first DC Conference under the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, following the BNP’s electoral victory on April 17. The government expects the conference to strengthen coordination between central policymakers and field administrators. Discussions will cover 56 ministries and agencies across 34 sessions, focusing on public service delivery, infrastructure, disaster management, poverty reduction, and local governance.

State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari said the government prioritizes integrity, competence, and neutrality in administrative appointments, emphasizing that officials must serve citizens rather than political interests.

A brief uproar erupted in Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Monday evening after a BNP lawmaker described the July Charter as 'unnecessary'. The incident occurred before the Maghrib prayer break during discussions on the motion of thanks to the President’s address. BNP MP Manjurul Karim remarked that the opposition had been debating an 'unnecessary July Charter' since the first day of the current parliament.

Following his comment, Jamaat-e-Islami MP Nurul Islam Bulbul raised a point of order, arguing that the current government was formed in continuation of the July uprising and that calling July 'unnecessary' was unacceptable. As members began shouting, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed intervened, reminding MPs that differing opinions were part of democracy and urging them to respect freedom of speech and maintain decorum.

After the prayer break, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said he had spoken with Manjurul Karim, who clarified that he meant 'unnecessary debate', not that the July Charter itself was unnecessary. The Deputy Speaker later stated that the matter would be reviewed and appropriate action taken.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan has declared that there will be no compromise on the quality of ongoing development works. Speaking on April 25 in Mirpur’s Ward 5 and Ward 3 during the inauguration of road and drainage improvement projects, he said all contractors must strictly follow tender conditions and complete work within the stipulated time. DNCC officials will regularly monitor progress, and he himself will inspect if necessary.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque, present as chief guest, assured residents of Bawnia Bandh area that the government is working to resolve land ownership, cremation ground, water, and gas issues. He urged patience as gas supply improvements will take time.

Under the projects, 7.88 kilometers of roads and equivalent drainage lines will be built in Ward 5, and 330 meters of road and drainage lines in Ward 3, using RCC pipelines of specified diameters. The administrator emphasized public cooperation and warned against illegal truck parking on main roads.

At a roundtable held on Monday at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka, prominent citizens warned that conflicting and baseless narratives on social media are fostering division in society. Organized by Citizens Forum Bangladesh (CFB) under the theme “False Narratives, Propaganda and Disunity: Threats to Stability, National Security and Unity,” the event emphasized the need for national unity and moral education to combat misinformation. Participants also called for the establishment of a permanent education commission to ensure a stable education policy.

CFB Chairman and former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Anwar Ullah Chowdhury said that false narratives cannot be defeated by law alone but through truth-based narratives. He stressed the importance of building a knowledge-based society and educating students in ethics to foster patriotism and social responsibility. Other speakers highlighted the role of misinformation in destabilizing university campuses and urged strategic reforms in education to include national security and defense awareness.

Former police chief Md. Ashraful Huda pointed to intelligence lapses behind the spread of false information, while other participants urged transparency from the government regarding the ongoing energy crisis, which they attributed to global conflicts.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to introduce an anti-extortion and anti-corruption card to address what he described as Bangladesh’s most pressing problems. He made the remarks on Monday evening at the NCP’s temporary central office in Banglamotor during a reception for the newly formed partial committee of Dhaka South.

Asif Mahmud stated that the NCP’s doors would remain open to all citizens except those involved in genocide, fascism, terrorism, or extortion. Criticizing the government, he said it had failed to fulfill public expectations and implement the results of the referendum, adding that administrative weaknesses were evident. He also questioned the government’s claim of having the highest fuel reserves while long queues persisted at fuel stations and criticized the printing of twenty thousand crore taka.

Discussing local government elections, he emphasized strengthening the NCP as an organization and ensuring that no vote cast for the party would be wasted, promising strong vigilance at every polling center.