The government of Bangladesh has changed the date of National Tea Day from June 4 to May 21. The decision was approved at a cabinet meeting held on Thursday, presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Following the meeting, the Cabinet Division issued a notification confirming the approval of the proposal, which had been presented by the Ministry of Commerce.

According to the Cabinet Division, the change aligns Bangladesh’s observance with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which has marked May 21 as International Tea Day since 2020. Several major tea-producing countries, including India, Sri Lanka, China, Kenya, and Vietnam, also celebrate International Tea Day on this date.

The amendment to the circular on national and international day observances ensures that Bangladesh will now celebrate National Tea Day in harmony with the global schedule observed by other tea-producing nations.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah made a strong political statement after the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Speaking at a rally in Balagarh, Hooghly, on April 23, he claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to win at least 110 of the 152 seats contested in the first phase. Shah expressed confidence that after the second phase of voting on April 29, the BJP would secure an absolute majority to form the next state government.

Shah announced that if the BJP comes to power, the party will appoint a Bengali who studied in a Bengali-medium school as the state’s chief minister. He also accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of corruption worth 3,000 crore rupees and promised to release a white paper detailing the alleged irregularities. Shah further warned against voter intimidation and vowed strict action against illegal immigration, claiming it harms local employment and ration systems.

His remarks, including sharp criticism of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and warnings to political opponents, have intensified the state’s already heated election atmosphere ahead of the second phase of polling.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has expressed regret over the injury of journalists during a tense situation involving activists of JCD and Islami Chhatra Shibir near Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. The incident occurred on Thursday following a controversial Facebook post, and Nasir issued his statement of regret on Friday morning through his verified Facebook account.

In his post, Nasir stated that several members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association were injured while covering the unrest between Shibir activists and agitated JCD members. He conveyed the organization’s sincere regret and reaffirmed JCD’s belief in the safety of journalists and the freedom of the press. Nasir also acknowledged the significant role of journalists in movements against fascism.

He further expressed hope that no journalist would face harassment in the future while performing professional duties, emphasizing JCD’s commitment to protecting media freedom and ensuring accountability within student politics.

The Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU) organized a protest march on Thursday night condemning an attack on Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu) leaders and members of the journalists’ association by activists of the Chhatra Dal. The march began at the university’s Zero Point and passed through several campus locations before concluding with speeches at the starting point.

Speakers at the protest accused Chhatra Dal of attempting to destabilize campuses to divert attention from the country’s ongoing energy crisis and the government’s recent failures. They alleged that the group was using the term “Gupta” as a pretext to target specific organizations and incite violence. ChakSU Vice President Ibrahim Hossain Rony criticized Chhatra Dal’s political approach, urging them to abandon divisive tactics and return to constructive politics. General Secretary Saeed Bin Habib claimed that the attack was based on a fabricated screenshot and warned against further attempts to seize student halls.

The protesters demanded accountability for those involved in the attacks and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining campus stability.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance has launched a third phase of protests demanding the implementation of the July National Charter and the referendum verdict, which were formulated during the interim government and approved by a national vote. Despite repeated appeals in parliament and public statements, the alliance claims the government has shown no effective response. The coalition plans to escalate its movement through phased programs, including rallies, leafleting, and seminars across the country until their demands are met.

Partner parties are also organizing separate demonstrations. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis will hold a mass rally at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan, while Jamaat-e-Islami will host a national assembly of July martyrs’ families at the same venue. The alliance has announced citywide and district-level marches through early May. Senior Jamaat leaders, including Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, have vowed to compel the government to act.

Government ministers have acknowledged the referendum’s legality but emphasized that implementation must follow constitutional procedures. Analysts note signs of flexibility from the ruling party, while opposition leaders remain determined to continue their campaign until full enforcement of the referendum outcome.

Tamil Nadu set a new record in India's electoral history with an unprecedented voter turnout of 84.69 percent in the 2026 state assembly election held on April 23. According to preliminary data from the Election Commission, polling took place across 234 constituencies from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with more than 48.5 million voters casting their ballots to form the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar welcomed the remarkable participation, noting that both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal recorded their highest voter turnouts this year. He expressed appreciation to every voter in both states for their engagement in the democratic process.

Analysts cited in the report said the high turnout reflects strong public confidence and enthusiasm for democratic practice in the state. They suggested that such widespread participation could play a significant role in shaping the formation of the next government and Tamil Nadu’s political future.

The Trinamool Congress has expressed strong confidence in its victory following the completion of the first phase of voting in West Bengal. Party leaders said that after polling in 152 constituencies, they are close to forming the government. According to their estimates, the party could win at least 125 seats, possibly rising to 135. Senior leaders Kunal Ghosh and minister Bratya Basu stated that the voting pattern matched their forecasts, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told a rally in Kolkata that public sentiment indicated her party was already ahead.

Trinamool leaders attributed the high voter turnout to public anger over alleged irregularities in the voter list, claiming that many legitimate voters had been excluded. They said this led to a protest vote, particularly among women, which they believe benefited the party. Bratya Basu rejected the notion that high turnout signals anti-incumbency, citing Bihar as an example where the ruling party retained power despite heavy voting.

The party’s top leadership maintained that both its vote share and seat count would rise, with similar confidence voiced by national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated funds and food grains to 280 parliamentary constituencies, excluding city corporation areas, to support local development and assist communities. However, lawmakers have criticized the allocation as insufficient, warning that the BNP-led government may face pressure in the ongoing parliamentary session. The ministry initially proposed Tk 5.5 million and 200 tons of rice or wheat per constituency, but after the minister’s illness, the amount was reduced to Tk 2.5 million and 20 tons of food grains in the first phase.

Officials said the funds will be used for small-scale infrastructure projects such as mosque repairs, rural road paving, and cemetery maintenance, while food grains will aid disaster-affected and poor families. The allocation marks the first since the government took office in February 2026. Ministry insiders noted that rising global prices have made development costs higher, making the current allocation inadequate.

Sources added that the government plans to reinstate a previous system allowing MPs to receive lump-sum allocations, reversing an interim government policy that had abolished it. Officials fear this could lead to misuse and inequality in constituency-level development funding.

US President Donald Trump stated that he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran, marking a departure from his earlier threats of massive force. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump emphasized that nuclear weapons should never be deployed under any circumstances. He told reporters that no one should be allowed to use such weapons.

Previously, Trump had threatened to completely destroy Iranian civilization. In the same briefing, he announced that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would visit the White House in the coming weeks. Trump added that both leaders would need to consider Hezbollah in their discussions.

He also said the United States would work with Lebanon to help stabilize the country’s situation, according to the report sourced from Middle East Eye.

A report published on April 24, 2026, describes an escalating information war surrounding Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, allegedly led by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and armed groups. The article identifies Augustina Chakma, granddaughter of Shanti Bahini chief Santu Larma, as a key figure in international campaigns portraying Bangladesh and its security forces negatively. It claims that these groups are concealing internal conflicts, extortion, and abductions while blaming non-tribal citizens and the military.

The report says the latest phase of this campaign unfolded at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, beginning April 20, 2026, where Augustina and other PCJSS representatives presented allegations of human rights abuses and demographic changes. Bangladeshi security agencies reportedly expressed concern that such one-sided narratives undermine national sovereignty and stability. The article also details violent incidents, extortion worth up to Tk 1,200 crore in 2025, and clashes between PCJSS and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF).

Authorities and analysts cited in the report urge unified national efforts to counter misinformation, promote factual reporting, and resolve land and political disputes within Bangladesh’s constitutional framework.

A government document has alleged that the then Awami League government orchestrated a 'Reshma rescue drama' to conceal the true facts of the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Savar, which killed 1,138 garment workers and injured thousands. The report claims that 17 days after the collapse, the government presented the rescue of worker Reshma, also known as Fatema, as a miraculous survival story, though evidence suggests she had escaped on the day of the disaster. Officials from the Law, Home, and Labour ministries confirmed the existence of the document.

The document further states that despite clear evidence implicating several officials and political figures, the absence of government approval prevented their inclusion in the charge sheet. It also notes that the case remains unresolved 13 years later, with influential accused persons released on bail and alleged interference by the Awami League government. The interim government that recently left office reportedly initiated efforts to uncover the truth and review the case.

State lawyers involved in the case said the previous government did not prioritize the trial, but the current legal team is treating it as a high-importance case.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House in the coming weeks. The visits aim to advance efforts toward establishing a lasting peace agreement in the region, according to Trump.

Trump stated that the United States is working toward a durable peace deal and noted that the issue of Hezbollah remains a consideration in these efforts. He added that Washington intends to cooperate with Lebanon to help stabilize the country’s situation. Trump also mentioned that aligning this initiative with U.S. actions concerning Iran would be an ideal outcome.

The announcement underscores ongoing U.S. diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, focusing on regional stability and coordination with key partners on security and political issues.

US President Donald Trump announced that he has dismissed Navy Secretary John Phelan following disagreements over shipbuilding issues. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said Phelan was hardworking but had differences with others regarding new ship construction and procurement. The decision came amid ongoing tensions within the Navy’s leadership over the pace of implementing reforms to accelerate shipbuilding.

According to sources cited in the report, Phelan was removed due to slow progress in carrying out reforms aimed at speeding up ship production. The Pentagon has not provided any official reason for his dismissal. Reports also indicate that Phelan’s relationship with Undersecretary Hung Cao was strained.

Hung Cao has been appointed as acting Navy Secretary following Phelan’s removal. The White House and Pentagon have not yet commented further on the leadership transition or future plans for the shipbuilding program.

Expelled BNP leader and former Jubo Dal organizing secretary Ishaq Sarkar, along with Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq’s granddaughter Fersamin Huq Iqbal Flora, are set to join the National Citizens Party (NCP) on Friday afternoon at the Institution of Diploma Engineers auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka. Content creator Nuruzzaman Kafi, activist Mohiuddin Rony, and several leaders from the July uprising movement will also announce their entry into the party. NCP convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossain are expected to attend the event.

An NCP joint convener said Ishaq Sarkar would join with thousands of supporters and might be appointed convener of NCP’s Dhaka South unit, replacing joint member secretary Alauddin Mohammad, who is stepping down. Alauddin stated that party interests come first and that expanding NCP’s organization is vital for the country.

Ishaq Sarkar said he was denied opportunities to serve people within BNP and faced harassment, but he intends to move forward without resentment. Flora’s formal joining had been discussed for some time, and she is expected to receive a key central committee role.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately depriving the country’s Palestinian Arab citizens of security. In a post on X, Golan claimed that more than 700 killings in three years demonstrate Netanyahu’s appointed minister’s intentional neglect of Arab citizens’ lives. He further alleged that Netanyahu handed internal security to a person previously convicted of arson, enabling criminal groups to take control of certain areas.

According to an Al Jazeera report cited in the article, Palestinian citizens in Israel have long faced discriminatory laws and violence. In 2025, about 300 people were killed in the country, including 252 Palestinian citizens. Official census data from 2019 recorded around 1.9 million Palestinian citizens in Israel, most of them descendants of Palestinians who remained during the 1948 establishment of the state.

Historical accounts note that around 750,000 Palestinians were displaced or forced to leave during Israel’s founding, with thousands killed at that time.