BNP leader Rezaul Kaiyum, president of Cumilla Adarsha Sadar Upazila BNP, was released from Kotwali Model Police Station after 12 hours in custody upon signing a bond. He was detained around 11 a.m. on Sunday from his residence in the Shasongacha area by members of the Kotwali Model Police and the district Detective Branch. Police said he was questioned based on allegations but not formally arrested, and was released under the custody of the upazila BNP general secretary, Shafiul Alam Raihan.

Following his detention, transport workers at the Shasongacha bus terminal halted bus operations on all routes and staged protests, prompting additional police deployment near the station. Law enforcement sources indicated that Kaiyum and his associates had drawn attention over alleged extortion at the bus terminal after the fall of the Awami League government. Police officials stated that his detention followed instructions from higher authorities.

Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed told reporters he had heard about the matter, noting that Kaiyum had leased a bus stand and may have collected more money than permitted.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has announced a program demanding justice for the killings that occurred on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar. The organization made the announcement through a Facebook post on Monday, stating that a human chain will be held on May 5, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel.

In addition, Bangladesh Khilafat Chhatra Majlis is organizing a documentary and document-based exhibition for the first time focusing on the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident. According to the organization, the exhibition will take place on May 5 and 6 at the Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Exhibition Gallery of the Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka. It will feature photographs, eyewitness accounts, official documents, news reports, and tributes to those killed, along with a documentary screening and a brief discussion session.

Both events aim to highlight the 2013 incident and renew calls for justice related to the events at Shapla Chattar.

A faction of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, staged a protest in Noakhali on Monday by blocking the Dhaka–Sonapur highway. The demonstration began in front of the district central mosque and was followed by a rally where leaders criticized the recently formed district committee, alleging favoritism and exclusion of dedicated activists.

Vice President Mohammad Wasim claimed that loyal grassroots workers were overlooked in favor of personal followers. Sadar Upazila Convener Sahed Chowdhury Babu described the committee as the most controversial in the organization’s history. In response, District President NBS Russell rejected the allegations, stating that the committee was formed based on merit and organizational considerations, and that not everyone could be accommodated.

Following the protest, ten leaders, including Vice Presidents Sahed Chowdhury Babu, Mohammad Wasim, Tarek Nur, Yasin Arafat, and Organizing Secretary Akbar Hossain, resigned from the new committee during a press conference at the Noakhali Press Club.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim has called for an impartial investigation into the killings at Shapla Chattar on 5 May 2013 and for exemplary punishment of those responsible. In a statement issued to the media on Monday marking the anniversary of Shapla Day, he described the incident as a brutal and shameful chapter in the history of the modern nation-state, where unarmed citizens were attacked by state forces.

He alleged that the operation was carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government out of hostility toward Islam, madrasa education, and Islamic movements. According to him, the incident deepened authoritarian rule in the country, and many Islami Andolan leaders and activists suffered as a result. He also urged a reassessment of the roles of political organizations, intellectuals, and the media following the 2013 events.

The Charmonai Pir further demanded that those killed and injured at Shapla Chattar be recognized as national heroes, that related cases be withdrawn, and that compensation be provided to victims and their families.

Authorities in Rangamati imposed Section 144 following violent clashes between two rival groups of the district Chhatra Dal. The confrontation erupted on Monday afternoon when leaders excluded from the newly announced district committee staged a sit-in for the second consecutive day in front of the BNP office. They blocked the main road and set fires during their protest. At the same time, supporters of the new committee, led by its president Oli Ahad and general secretary Roni, brought out a celebratory procession, leading to heightened tension.

The excluded faction occupied the district office premises from noon until 3 p.m., while supporters of the new committee gathered in several parts of the town to welcome their leaders. Around 3 p.m., the new committee’s supporters reportedly chased away the protesters and took control of the BNP office. The situation turned tense across nearby areas, prompting the deployment of additional police at sensitive points, including the district BNP office.

Traffic in the Banarupa area came to a halt amid public panic until the army intervened to disperse both groups and restore order. Police officials later confirmed that the situation was under control.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that an independent media is one of the main instruments for ensuring accountability in a democratic system. Speaking as the chief guest at the Jahangirnagar University Journalists’ Association’s new committee handover ceremony on Monday, he emphasized that a government elected by the people must remain accountable to them, and a strong, independent media helps reinforce that responsibility.

The minister stated that journalism is not merely a profession but is deeply connected to patriotism, humanity, and social responsibility. He congratulated young journalists for choosing this challenging field and cautioned that media should never become a propaganda tool for any vested interest group. He added that journalists must speak for the people, not act as public relations agents for individuals or organizations.

Swapan also called for research into how media has sometimes been used against public interest and urged journalists to evaluate their own roles. He stressed that no professional identity should place anyone above the law and expressed hope that young journalists’ creativity and critical thinking would strengthen the media in the future.

A Muslim residential community named Epic City is being planned in Hunt and Collin counties, Texas, covering 402 acres. The project includes over a thousand residential plots, a faith-based K–12 school, commercial and retail centers, and a mosque. It will not be a new city and will remain under Texas state law. The development is envisioned as a central hub for Islam in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office launched an investigation to determine whether the project violated the Fair Housing Act or imposed discriminatory financial conditions requiring owners to subsidize religious facilities. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have opposed the project, citing concerns about potential implementation of Sharia law, and Paxton has filed multiple lawsuits to halt it.

Last week, a Travis County district judge ruled that the Texas Workforce Commission must honor a settlement agreement and withdraw from the fair housing investigation. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) supported the project, calling the opposition politically motivated and rooted in Islamophobia.

The Bangladesh government has decided to modify the police uniform, retaining the previous shirt design while changing the trouser color to khaki. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced the decision on Monday, May 4, 2026, after the first meeting of the National Committee on Coordination, Management, and Law and Order concerning forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya) at the Secretariat.

The minister explained that the decision followed feedback from across the country and within the police force, where the existing uniform was found to be unsatisfactory and not widely accepted. Responding to a request from the police, the ministry aimed to restore a more traditional and acceptable uniform. The old shirt design used for both metropolitan and national police will remain, while khaki trousers will replace the previous ones.

Ahmed added that the new uniform will take some time to be implemented due to production and preparation requirements. Although not yet officially launched, the government has finalized the decision and announced it publicly.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman will travel to Beijing on Tuesday for an official visit from May 5 to 7, confirmed by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This marks his first visit to China since the BNP government took office following the February elections. The information was reported by China’s state media outlet Global Times.

During the visit, the two countries are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including global affairs, the energy crisis, development projects, trade, investment, water management cooperation, defense assistance, and the Rohingya issue. The Bangladeshi minister will also meet China’s Minister of Development and senior leaders of the Communist Party of China.

China is one of Bangladesh’s largest development partners, giving the visit special significance. Discussions may include progress on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, supported by Chinese technical and financial assistance, as well as a possible future visit by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister to China. The Foreign Minister will be accompanied by the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.

The history of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly began on February 1, 1862, when Bengal’s first Legislative Council met at Belvedere in Alipore under Governor John Peter Grant. Formed under the Indian Councils Act of 1861, the council initially had 12 nominated members. Over the decades, membership expanded, and by 1919 the council had 125 members with a formal presiding officer. The first elected members joined in 1892, marking the start of representative participation.

The assembly’s current building was founded in 1928 and inaugurated in 1931. The Government of India Act of 1935 created a bicameral legislature with a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. The first assembly election in 1937 produced a hung house, leading A.K. Fazlul Huq to form a coalition government. After India’s independence, 90 members from West Bengal joined the reconstituted provincial legislature in 1947, and the first state assembly session under the Indian Constitution was held in 1952.

In 1969, the Legislative Council was abolished, making the West Bengal legislature unicameral. The assembly now has 294 members, reduced from 295 after the Anglo-Indian reserved seat was removed in 2019.

West Bengal witnessed a dramatic political shift on May 4, 2026, as early vote counts indicated the end of Trinamool Congress’s fifteen-year rule. According to the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led in 192 constituencies, surpassing the majority mark, while the Trinamool Congress trailed with 97. The sweeping results triggered widespread unrest across the state, with reports of violence against ruling party workers. Security was tightened around Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, and the Election Commission ordered deployment of central forces.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari attributed the victory to strategic religious polarization, claiming consolidation of Hindu votes and erosion of Trinamool’s traditional Muslim support base. Analysts cited multiple factors behind Trinamool’s decline, including dissatisfaction among minority voters over OBC certificate cancellations, discontent over Waqf property management, and administrative controversies. The exclusion of about 9.1 million names from voter rolls and corruption scandals in education and ration distribution further weakened the ruling party.

Observers noted that record voter turnout above 92 percent reflected a strong desire for change, marking a decisive end to Mamata Banerjee’s long-standing dominance in West Bengal politics.

Iran is reviewing a new peace proposal from the United States aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. He stated that the proposal was delivered through Pakistan and is currently under examination. Baghaei told reporters that since the review is still underway, no further details can be shared at this stage.

He added that the United States often makes what Iran considers excessive and unreasonable demands, making the evaluation process difficult. Addressing reports about Iran’s nuclear program, Baghaei said most of the information circulating is speculative. He emphasized that Iran’s current priority is to achieve a complete end to the war, and decisions about future steps will be made later.

The comments reflect Iran’s cautious approach to the U.S. initiative and its focus on halting hostilities before considering broader diplomatic or nuclear-related negotiations.

The Kremlin has significantly increased security measures for Russian President Vladimir Putin amid fears of assassination and coup attempts, according to a European intelligence report obtained by CNN. The report states that heightened protection follows a series of targeted killings of senior military figures and growing concerns about internal plots. Surveillance has been installed in the homes of Putin’s close aides, and staff such as cooks, bodyguards, and photographers are now barred from using public transport. Visitors must undergo double screening, and close associates are restricted to using phones without internet access.

The report links these measures to the December killing of a top general and notes that Putin has reduced his travel, avoiding his Valdai retreat and military site visits in 2026. It also highlights economic strain and public frustration in major Russian cities due to the ongoing war. The document mentions internal Kremlin tensions, including a heated meeting between top officials and expanded powers for the Federal Protection Service.

European intelligence agencies reportedly view these developments as signs of growing mistrust and instability within Russia’s ruling elite.

A scheduled court testimony of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption case was canceled on May 4, 2026. According to Israeli media, the decision followed a message sent by Netanyahu’s defense team to the court the previous night. A statement from the court administration confirmed that the hearing would not take place after receiving an update from attorney Amit Hadad.

The court did not disclose the reason for postponing the hearing. Netanyahu had been expected to appear in court that morning to respond to corruption-related charges. If found guilty, he could face up to ten years in prison. The trial has already been delayed several times due to Israel’s ongoing conflicts with Gaza and Iran.

The latest postponement adds to the prolonged nature of the proceedings, with no new date for the testimony announced yet.

The final list of candidates for the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association Election 2026–27 has been officially released. According to the announcement, three candidates will contest for president, four for vice president, seven for secretary, two for treasurer, five for joint secretary, and nineteen for member positions. The Election Commission has barred any candidates affiliated with the banned Awami League from participating, leaving primarily two panels in the race. The election is scheduled to take place on May 13 and 14.

The nationalist lawyers’ forum-backed Blue Panel has nominated senior lawyer Mahbubuddin Khokon for president, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Lawyers Council has fielded senior lawyer Abdul Baten for the same post. Other key candidates include Mohammad Ali and Barrister Maksud Ullah for secretary, and Advocate Ziaur Rahman for treasurer from the Blue Panel. The Lawyers Council has also announced candidates for all major positions.

Senior lawyer Mohammad Hossain Lipu of the NCP-backed National Lawyers Alliance withdrew his nomination for secretary, citing objections to the election commission’s composition. The Supreme Court Bar election is regarded as one of the most prestigious and politically significant events in Bangladesh’s legal community.