Widespread communal violence broke out across West Bengal just hours before Suvendu Adhikari was to be sworn in as the state’s first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief minister. The epicenter of the unrest was a mosque in Cooch Behar, known locally as the ‘Chhoto Mosque,’ where alleged BJP-backed assailants vandalized the premises and desecrated copies of the Quran. Local worshippers were seen in tears amid the destruction, describing the attack as unimaginable.

Witnesses said that after election results were announced, groups of men wearing saffron powder gathered outside the mosque, shouting provocative slogans before storming inside. Reports of attacks on Muslim-owned shops and homes have also emerged from several districts, including Cooch Behar and Birbhum. Allegations have surfaced that Adhikari’s divisive rhetoric during the campaign emboldened perpetrators.

Meanwhile, incidents of arson at Trinamool Congress offices in Kolkata and threats to close meat and biryani shops have raised concerns about growing intolerance. Observers fear that West Bengal’s communal harmony may face a severe crisis if the violence continues unchecked.

Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member and Dhaka South Ameer Md. Nurul Islam Bulbul MP said the government is misleading the public by promising to fully implement the July Charter while actually avoiding necessary reforms. Speaking on Friday at a Jamaat-e-Islami training camp for non-members and associates in the Motijheel-Shahjahanpur zone, he accused the government of reviving old fascist practices instead of pursuing reform and change.

Bulbul argued that those who sought a ‘yes’ vote in the pre-election referendum but later ignored its outcome cannot bring about state reform or implement the July Charter. He questioned why ruling party lawmakers had not taken the oath of the constitutional reform council if they truly intended to follow the charter. He urged the government to implement the July Charter peacefully and said Jamaat-e-Islami was ready to cooperate if the government accepted the referendum’s verdict.

The event was chaired by Muhammad Shamsur Rahman, assistant secretary of Dhaka South Jamaat, and attended by several local leaders.

A security guard at Dhaka University’s Curzon Hall has been listed as the joint general secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan East unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), prompting internal discussions and criticism within the organization. The appointment appeared in a committee list approved on April 4, 2026, by the JCD central leadership and published on May 2 on the group’s official Facebook page. The listed individual, Julhas Mia, said he was not fully certain whether the name referred to him.

Julhas, currently employed as a fourth-class security guard at the university’s main gate, stated that he had long been involved with the student organization and had submitted his CV about six months earlier seeking an honorary position. However, he expressed uncertainty about how his name appeared in the final committee. The Dhaka Metropolitan East JCD president confirmed Julhas’s identity, saying he had participated in various programs and was believed to be a current student.

Other JCD leaders, including the vice president and general secretary of the same unit, said they were unaware of Julhas’s professional background. The central general secretary of JCD said such inclusion should not have occurred and promised to review the matter.

A protest rally was held in Anwara, Chattogram, after allegations surfaced that Mohammad Ali, an Awami League leader, made derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Facebook. The demonstration took place on Friday at 5 p.m. at Kala Bibi Dighi intersection, organized by Tanzim-e-Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Anwara branch and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Anwara branch. The event was presided over by Maulana Kazi Akhtar Hossain Anwari and attended by several local religious leaders.

According to the report, Mohammad Ali, a former adviser to the Anwara Upazila Awami League and currently residing in the United States, allegedly made the offensive comment under a post by Islamic speaker Rafiqul Islam Madani. The incident sparked anger among local Muslims and widespread criticism on social media. Following the backlash, Ali apologized and expressed regret for his remarks.

Speakers at the rally described the comment as an unpardonable offense and demanded legal action against the accused, stating that mere apology was insufficient. They also called for exemplary punishment to prevent similar incidents in the future.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has emphasized the need to ensure regular attendance of doctors in government hospitals and to improve healthcare services in Sitakunda, Chattogram. Speaking at a social event in Sitakunda on Friday, he said the region remains behind in education, healthcare, and employment despite its industrial and tourism importance. He also met with industrialist and political figure Aslam Chowdhury MP during the event.

Nahid Islam stated that he would discuss with the government and relevant authorities to make healthcare more accessible for people in remote areas. He called for increasing hospital bed capacity if necessary and urged the government to take effective steps to create more employment opportunities for local youth. He also highlighted Sitakunda’s potential in tourism and industry.

According to local sources, the meeting between the two leaders included discussions on national politics, social harmony, and regional development. Attendees viewed the interaction positively, expecting it to contribute to local progress and stability.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has proposed the establishment of four new police stations to strengthen citizen security and improve policing services in the rapidly expanding capital. Acting DMP Commissioner Md. Sarwar stated that the proposal for the new Rayerbazar Police Station is currently under review at the ministry. He shared the information while speaking to journalists during the inauguration of the newly built Khilkhet police outpost building in the 300 Feet area on Friday afternoon.

According to the DMP, the restructuring aims to reduce pressure on existing stations and ensure faster service delivery to residents. Plans include forming a new station covering parts of Mohammadpur, Adabar, and Hazaribagh, another named Bashundhara Police Station combining parts of Vatara, Badda, and Khilkhet, and an additional one in the Khilgaon area. The commissioner added that the expansion of Dhaka’s population, housing projects, and commercial activities has made new administrative structures essential for maintaining law and order.

He further mentioned that as the Purbachal New Town project and nearby areas come under Dhaka North City Corporation, proposals have been made to establish four new police stations and six outposts as part of advance planning.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), called on Muslims to strengthen their faith to confront emerging ideological challenges. Speaking before Friday prayers at Masdair Central Jame Mosque in Fatullah, Narayanganj, on May 8, 2026, he warned that the 'saffron flag' was approaching Bangladesh and urged vigilance. Local NCP leaders, including Zubair Ahmed Sardar, Zubair Hossain Tamjid, and Nirab Raihan, were present during his address.

In his brief speech before the sermon, Patwari emphasized social transformation, political awareness, and skill development among expatriates. He advocated for mosque-centered community building as a means of achieving societal change and criticized the previous 15 years of governance for alleged repression of religious scholars. He also highlighted the importance of Arabic language skills for Bangladeshi migrant workers in the Middle East, suggesting that language proficiency could significantly increase their earnings.

A brief commotion occurred at the mosque during his visit, with witnesses reporting pushing and shouting that led to a broken glass door. The situation was later brought under control.

Information Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon stated that the government will not allow any crime in Bangladesh to lapse, regardless of who committed it. Speaking on Friday at the National Museum auditorium in Dhaka during an event organized by the Shapla Smriti Sangsad, he said this includes crimes from the 1971 Liberation War genocide to the Shapla Chattar killings. He emphasized that the current government, led by Tarique Rahman, has already honored the victims of the Shapla incident in the first parliamentary session.

Swapon noted that the government’s recognition of the Shapla victims was intended to send a message that no crime will go unaddressed. He called for collective cooperation to ensure justice. The event’s speakers demanded justice, truth disclosure, and state recognition for those killed in the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident. Swapon assured that these demands would be conveyed to the Prime Minister and the BNP Chairperson.

Other speakers, including leaders from various Islamic and political organizations, described the Shapla movement as a historic struggle and urged national unity to honor the martyrs and protect the country’s sovereignty and religious values.

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.