US Senator Bernie Sanders has called for an immediate end to the ongoing war with Iran, criticizing President Donald Trump’s military actions. In a social media post on May 9, 2026, Sanders said that since Trump launched the military operation against Iran, fuel prices have surged sharply, putting financial pressure on American families.

Sanders stated that gas prices had risen from $2.98 to $4.55 per gallon since the start of the conflict, making it increasingly difficult for working families to afford basic expenses. He argued that instead of spending billions of dollars on what he described as an unconstitutional war, the United States should invest in meeting the needs of its own citizens.

The senator’s remarks, reported by Middle East Eye, reflect growing concern over the economic and social impact of the Iran conflict and its effect on domestic fuel prices.

Residents of several areas adjacent to the Shishu Matri Shastho Institute (Matuail Medical) under Ward 65 of Dhaka South City Corporation blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Saturday morning, May 9, 2026, protesting persistent waterlogging. The blockade began around 10 a.m. at the Matuail Medical bus stand, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.

Police officers present at the scene said they had recently arrived and that the officer-in-charge was trying to resolve the issue through discussions with the residents. The protesters demanded that the Member of Parliament for Dhaka-5 and representatives of the South City Corporation visit the area before they would lift the blockade.

Residents complained that areas including Shahidbagh and Nurbagh in Ward 65 remain submerged under water throughout the year and called for a permanent solution to the problem.

A senior Iranian official has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of launching a psychological warfare campaign aimed at creating divisions among Iran’s leadership. Hassan Rasouli, a member of Iran’s Reformist Supreme Council for Policymaking, made the remarks in an interview with the state news agency IRNA, according to a report published on May 9, 2026.

Rasouli said that the United States and Israeli forces sought to achieve victory without firing a single shot by spreading discord and disunity among Iranian officials. However, he asserted that Tehran has presented to the world an image of a coherent, united, and defense-ready nation, preventing aggressors from achieving any of their intended goals.

The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Iran’s official stance that external efforts to destabilize its political leadership have not succeeded.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on the Indian government not to harm any particular religion, caste, or community. He made the appeal on Saturday at a press briefing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning from a week-long visit to Japan that began on May 2. Responding to questions about alleged persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, he said his party was monitoring the situation and would act as appropriate as a neighboring country.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that India’s constitution is secular and guarantees equal religious and civic rights for all citizens. He also urged the Bangladesh government to prioritize public safety over political divisions and to take concrete action against criminals instead of relying on social media campaigns. During his trip, he visited Japan and Thailand, meeting injured “July fighters” receiving treatment abroad and urging the government to ensure their medical care and rehabilitation.

He further discussed strengthening Bangladesh–Japan cooperation in education, skills development, and investment, and proposed establishing a modern cancer institute in Bangladesh with Japanese support.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that military activity in the Strait of Hormuz could increase if negotiations with Iran fail to reach a final agreement. Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump said that unless everything is finalized and signed, the United States may take a different path. He hinted at the possible resumption and expansion of the previously suspended military operation known as 'Project Freedom'.

Trump stated that Pakistan, acting as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, has urged the United States not to restart the military operation. He added that if conditions do not become favorable, the U.S. could return to 'Project Freedom' under a new phase called 'Project Freedom Plus', which would include additional measures. However, he did not specify what those additional steps might be.

The remarks signal renewed tension between the U.S. and Iran, with uncertainty surrounding the future of the negotiations and the potential scope of any expanded military initiative.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has accused the government of delaying action on the July Charter and constitutional reform issues. He made the remarks on Saturday, May 9, during a discussion titled “What to Do to Resolve the Reform Deadlock” held at a hotel in the capital.

Nahid Islam stated that the ruling party is avoiding the July Charter and constitutional reform topics, while emphasizing that reforms must be based on public participation, transparency, and sovereign authority. He also alleged that although top leaders, including the prime minister, had previously supported a referendum before the election, they are now opposing it after coming to power, which he said rejects the people’s aspirations.

He added that peaceful programs and discussions inside and outside parliament will continue to implement the referendum’s verdict, but warned that if the government does not respond positively, a tougher movement will be launched to press their demands.

Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at a ceremony held at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. The event marked the formation of the state’s first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The oath was administered by Governor R. N. Ravi, and the ceremony began shortly after 11 a.m. local time under tight security arrangements.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah attended the ceremony, along with several senior BJP leaders and chief ministers from other states. Modi arrived at the venue in an open car with Adhikari. Among the attendees were Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, and leaders from Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura, Delhi, Bihar, and Maharashtra. Large crowds of BJP supporters gathered at the Brigade Ground from early morning to witness the historic event.

Adhikari became the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal and the first from the BJP since India’s independence, marking a significant political shift in the state’s leadership.

The Bangladesh Law Commission, formed in 1996 under the Awami League government, has produced numerous reform proposals over three decades, but only a small fraction have been implemented. According to official sources, out of 169 recommendations aimed at modernizing outdated laws, only eight have been adopted. Despite months or years of research and millions of taka in expenses, most reports remain shelved. The commission continues to review colonial-era laws even as global legal systems advance with the aid of artificial intelligence.

Former commission members and legal experts told the newspaper that political appointments and lack of institutional independence have undermined the body’s effectiveness. They noted that the commission’s work on issues such as witness protection, judicial appointments, and the abolition of corporal punishment has rarely influenced policy. Law Minister Md. Anisul Huq acknowledged that over 1.5 billion taka had been spent in two decades with limited results.

Experts argue that bureaucratic inertia, absence of legal obligation, and weak political will are the main barriers. They suggest amending the Law Commission Act to require parliamentary consideration or implementation of recommendations within a fixed timeframe.

Suvendu Adhikari will take oath on Saturday at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground as West Bengal’s first chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the ceremony. His appointment was confirmed on Friday after BJP legislators unanimously selected him in a meeting attended by Home Minister Amit Shah. Adhikari formally submitted his letter to Governor R.N. Ravi seeking to form the government.

The BJP won 207 of the state’s 294 assembly seats, ending the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC). Once a close ally of Banerjee, Adhikari became her main rival, defeating her twice — first in Nandigram in 2021 and again this year in Bhabanipur. His political journey began in the Congress, later joining TMC and playing a key role in the Nandigram movement before switching to the BJP in 2020.

Adhikari’s rise marks a major political shift in West Bengal, fulfilling the BJP’s long-standing goal of forming a government in the state where its ideological predecessor, the Jana Sangh, was founded.

India has appointed Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the next Chief of Naval Staff. The announcement was made on May 9, 2026. Subramani will succeed General Anil Chauhan, whose term ends on May 30, while Swaminathan will replace Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, whose tenure concludes on May 31.

Upon assuming office, Subramani will also serve as Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and oversee the Army, Navy, and Air Force as the head of all three services. A graduate of India’s National Defence Academy, he joined the Garhwal Rifles in 1985 and has held several key operational and diplomatic roles, including service at the Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan and as Commander-in-Chief of the Central Command in 2023.

The appointments mark a significant leadership transition in India’s defense establishment, ensuring continuity in strategic and operational command across the armed forces.

The National Citizens Party (NCP), formed by young leaders of the July uprising, has rapidly emerged as a key political force in Bangladesh. Within a year of its founding, the party has joined the opposition alliance and attracted leaders from various political and social sectors. On Friday, about 300 activists from different parties and organizations joined the NCP’s Dhaka North branch at a press conference in Banglamotor, where senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib welcomed them. The event followed a series of mass joinings in Dhaka and Chattogram earlier in the month.

Party sources said the NCP is strengthening its structure from the central to grassroots levels, forming committees and preparing to establish an advisory council of 25–30 senior figures, including academics, businesspeople, and former military officers. The party is also expanding its affiliated bodies such as youth, student, women, and labor wings, and has launched new groups for marginalized communities and expatriates.

NCP leaders stated that the party aims to become a centrist alternative political force by uniting the July movement’s supporters and building a strong organizational foundation ahead of upcoming local elections.

The article discusses the return of divisive and accusatory politics in Bangladesh’s new parliament, only two months after the post-uprising government took office. Expectations of a tolerant and constructive political culture have faded as parliamentary debates have again turned into partisan disputes, wasting valuable legislative time. The author observes that the old political culture remains unchanged, with only new faces and seating arrangements in parliament.

The piece traces the roots of this division to the post-independence period, when political groups used the rhetoric of pro- and anti-liberation forces to discredit opponents. It highlights how successive governments have manipulated the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War for political gain, including controversies over lists of collaborators and freedom fighters. The author argues that such tactics have deepened national disunity and hindered social progress.

The commentary concludes by urging all political sides to abandon the self-destructive politics of labeling and division, and instead foster tolerance and mutual respect to achieve sustainable national unity and development.

Recent state assembly election results in India have highlighted a growing religious polarization in the country’s politics. Analysts cited by Reuters say that while a large portion of Muslim voters is increasingly aligning with the opposition Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to strengthen its position among Hindu voters. The analysis covered elections in four states and one union territory, revealing a clearer pattern of religion-based voting behavior.

Observers note that since coming to power in 2014, Modi and the BJP have made Hindutva a central political strategy, helping the party consolidate its national influence. In Assam, 18 of 19 newly elected Muslim legislators are from Congress, while the BJP won 82 seats to form the government. The Muslim-backed AIUDF saw its seats drop from 16 to two. In West Bengal, the BJP won 207 of 294 seats, emerging as a major force without fielding any Muslim candidates.

Analysts warn that this trend could deepen India’s social and political divisions, as both Hindu and Muslim voters increasingly align along religious lines.

Hasnat Abdullah, Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) and a senior leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has donated most of his first month’s salary to support the education of children from the marginalized Bede community. In a video message posted on Facebook early Friday, he announced that the donation was made under a special initiative titled “Let’s Meet Gypsy Genius.” Through this program, 34 Bede students received cash scholarships from his first month’s salary.

The initiative also includes a monthly scholarship of 2,500 taka for Bede students pursuing higher education after completing higher secondary school. Bede community president Alaudin Ojha welcomed the move, saying it would help their children move beyond a nomadic lifestyle and build a better future through education. Abdullah stated that his goal is to ensure that financial hardship does not hinder any child’s education.

Local observers believe the MP’s personal initiative will positively influence education among disadvantaged groups and inspire others to take similar social responsibility.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has congratulated Suvendu Adhikari, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who won the West Bengal assembly election. The message was conveyed on Friday through a statement issued on behalf of the Awami League.

According to the statement, Hasina, who is also the president of the Awami League, extended her greetings to all victorious BJP representatives in the West Bengal assembly election. Although the statement mentioned only Suvendu Adhikari by name, it noted that Hasina wished success to all who achieved victory in the polls.

The announcement reflects a gesture of goodwill from the former Bangladeshi leader toward the newly elected leadership in the neighboring Indian state, emphasizing political courtesy and regional diplomatic civility.