Prime Minister Tareq Rahman inaugurated a Tk 4,000 crore mega project aimed at resolving waterlogging in Sylhet city. The inauguration took place at Chandnighat area of Sylhet Metropolitan City Corporation on May 2, 2026, at 11 a.m. Dr. Zubaida Rahman was present during the event. The project is reported to be the largest in the history of Sylhet City Corporation.

Before attending the inauguration, the Prime Minister visited the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) at around 10:30 a.m. Upon completing the visit, he proceeded directly to the Chandnighat area for the ceremony. The project is part of the government’s broader efforts to address urban waterlogging through major infrastructure initiatives.

The report also mentioned that the government is undertaking canal excavation to prevent waterlogging and considering a double rail line on the Dhaka–Sylhet route, reflecting a wider focus on sustainable urban and transport development.

The Election Commission has declared the nomination of Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), as valid for the reserved women’s seat in the 13th National Parliament. The Chief Returning Officer made the announcement on Saturday, May 2, according to NCP office secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat. He stated in a Facebook post that the decision was made officially after completing the necessary administrative procedures, and the party will brief the media shortly at the Election Commission’s media center.

Earlier, Nusrat Tabassum’s nomination had been rejected because it was submitted at 4:19 p.m., 19 minutes after the 4:00 p.m. deadline on April 22. However, on April 27, a High Court bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar directed the Election Commission to accept her nomination. The upcoming election for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th National Parliament is scheduled for May 12.

The validation of Tabassum’s nomination follows the court’s intervention, clearing her to contest in the forthcoming election under the NCP banner.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a new plan to strengthen control over the country’s southern coastal waters, including the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to a report by Iran’s state-run Press TV, the IRGC Navy Command stated that it will establish control across Iran’s nearly 2,000-kilometer coastline along the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC said the initiative aims to make Iran’s maritime areas a source of pride and strength for its people, as well as a foundation of security and prosperity for the region. The announcement underscores Tehran’s intent to reinforce its maritime presence in one of the world’s most critical waterways.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei earlier remarked that the Persian Gulf region could look forward to a bright future without U.S. involvement, emphasizing Tehran’s commitment to ensuring regional security and eliminating what he described as “enemy misuse” of the waterway.

U.S. President Donald Trump informed Congress that he does not need congressional approval to continue military actions against Iran, arguing that hostilities between the two nations ended following a recent ceasefire. In a letter sent on the 60th day after notifying Congress of the Iran operation, Trump stated that no exchanges of fire had occurred since April 7, 2026, and that the conflict, which began on February 28, was now over.

Under U.S. law, a president must seek congressional authorization within 60 days of initiating military action, or cease operations. Trump contended that the ceasefire exempts him from this requirement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supported this interpretation, saying the legal “clock” had stopped, while Democratic Senator Tim Kaine disagreed, arguing the law does not support such a reading. Legal experts also questioned the administration’s stance, noting that a ceasefire does not legally end a conflict.

The Treasury Department warned that paying Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz could violate U.S. sanctions. The waterway remains largely closed, affecting global trade, while Congress debates whether to formally authorize the conflict.

US President Donald Trump said that the United States and Iran are continuing discussions over the phone. Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., Trump confirmed that the talks have not yet resulted in a final agreement. He described the path to a mutually acceptable deal as still very long.

Responding to questions from journalists, Trump emphasized that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons, calling it the top priority for the United States in the ongoing negotiations. Earlier, before departing for Florida, he told CNN that he was not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal aimed at resolving tensions.

Trump also mentioned that he is weighing his options regarding Iran, questioning whether to launch a severe attack or continue pursuing a diplomatic agreement. The discussions reflect ongoing efforts to manage the conflict between the two countries, though no breakthrough has been achieved so far.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament, which concluded on Thursday, has been described as highly significant due to its political context. Convened nearly two years after a mass uprising that ended the Awami League government, the session drew wide public attention both inside and outside the parliament. It featured heated exchanges between government and opposition members over the president’s address, the Liberation War, and the controversial July Charter, while remarks by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker also sparked discussion.

According to the Parliament Secretariat, the 25-day session presented 133 ordinances, passed 91 bills, and approved a total of 94 by its final day, setting a new record for legislative activity. The question-and-answer segment was notably active, with 93 questions submitted to the prime minister, who responded to 35, and 2,509 questions to ministers, of which 1,778 were answered.

Eight topics dominated the session’s discourse, including the president’s speech, the July Charter debate, Liberation War discussions, accountability in question time, opposition walkouts, the Speaker’s role, parliamentary dynamics, and the record number of bills passed.

Iran has announced that it will engage in talks with the United States only if Washington stops what Tehran describes as provocative actions and threats. The statement came from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi through an official post on the ministry’s Telegram account. He said Iran is ready to continue discussions once the US abandons its expansionist approach and hostile rhetoric.

The post also emphasized that Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any threat, underscoring both military readiness and diplomatic openness. Araghchi made these remarks during his visit to Turkey, where he met with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, and Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Araghchi reiterated that Iran did not initiate the ongoing conflict and warned that if the United States breaks the ceasefire and resumes attacks, Iran is fully prepared to respond. The statement reflects Tehran’s dual stance of deterrence and conditional willingness for dialogue.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that it might be better for the United States not to reach any agreement with Iran after the latest round of discussions between the two countries stalled again. He made the comment on Friday during an event in Florida, emphasizing that the issue had dragged on for too long and could not continue in the same way.

Before leaving for Florida, Trump told CNN that he was not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal aimed at resolving ongoing tensions. Speaking to reporters about his options, he questioned whether to launch a severe attack on Iran or to continue pursuing a possible agreement.

The remarks highlight renewed uncertainty in U.S.-Iran relations as negotiations remain deadlocked, with no clear path forward indicated in Trump’s statements.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the United States might 'take over' Cuba after concluding its military operations in Iran. Speaking at an event in Florida last Friday, Trump made the remark in a joking tone while introducing a friend from Cuba, saying the country could be seized almost immediately. He indicated that action against Cuba could follow soon after the Middle East campaign ends.

Trump added that he prefers to finish one task before starting another, referring to the ongoing conflict with Iran. He further joked that a large U.S. warship, possibly the USS Abraham Lincoln, could approach the Cuban coast, prompting Cuban leaders to surrender. The audience reportedly laughed at his comments.

Just before making these remarks, Trump had signed an executive order expanding U.S. sanctions on the Cuban government and related institutions, according to the report sourced from CNN.

The BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Unity Panel, known as the Blue Panel, won all 23 posts in the Dhaka Bar Association election. The results were announced just after midnight on Friday by Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Md. Borhan Uddin. Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan was elected president and Mohammad Abul Kalam Khan became general secretary, defeating Jamaat and NCP-backed candidates S.M. Kamal Uddin and Abu Bakkar Siddique. No independent candidates or the rival Green Panel secured any positions.

Other winners from the Blue Panel include Rezaul Karim Chowdhury as senior vice president, Abul Kalam Azad as vice president, and Mohammad Anisuzzaman as treasurer. The election took place on April 29 and 30, with 7,169 of 20,785 registered voters casting ballots.

The complete victory of the BNP-supported panel underscores their dominance in the Dhaka Bar Association’s leadership for the upcoming term, following a competitive election process.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Sylhet today, marking his first trip to the region since assuming office. He is expected to arrive at Osmani International Airport at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Upon arrival, he will visit the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal (R.), followed by the foundation laying of a city corporation project to address waterlogging near Chandnighat by the Surma River. At 11:35 a.m., he will lay the foundation stone of the Bangladesh Overseas Center Sylhet.

Later in the day, at 12 p.m., the Prime Minister will inaugurate a canal excavation program at Kandigaon Union in Sylhet Sadar Upazila. In the afternoon, at 3 p.m., he will launch the 'Notun Kuri Sports' initiative at Sylhet District Stadium, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to identify young athletic talent. He is scheduled to attend a party meeting at 5 p.m. before returning to Dhaka.

The visit includes multiple development and youth engagement programs, reflecting the government’s focus on infrastructure and sports promotion in Sylhet.

Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump has made Iran’s nuclear program the central issue in any future discussions with Tehran, according to Al Jazeera’s Washington correspondent Mike Hanna. The report states that Trump has identified several non-negotiable positions, describing them as his ‘red lines,’ though the exact details remain unclear. What is certain, however, is that Trump seeks a firm assurance that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons.

Trump’s position emphasizes that Iran must permanently refrain from pursuing nuclear arms, rejecting any temporary suspension or time-limited agreement. While other expectations from Iran have not yet been publicly disclosed, the nuclear issue stands as the core of his administration’s approach to Tehran.

Observers believe that Trump’s uncompromising stance could reshape the future of U.S.–Iran relations, potentially setting a new tone for diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran.

The Bangladesh Lawyers Council has alleged that the Dhaka Bar Association election was neither fair nor acceptable due to widespread irregularities and fake voting. In a statement sent to the media on Friday, the council’s secretary, Matiur Rahman Akand, claimed that inconsistencies in forming the election commission allowed fake votes to be cast, which the commission failed to prevent. He said some voters found their votes had already been cast, and incidents of vote tampering occurred inside several booths.

According to the statement, irregularities and bias were present at every stage of the election process. Traditionally, the chief election commissioner is selected by mutual consent of both panels, and the commission is formed with equal representation. However, this procedure was reportedly not followed this time. The council alleged that the commission was dominated by the BNP-backed blue panel, making the election questionable.

The statement further claimed that improper voter verification, ballot distribution without voter slips, and pre-cast votes undermined credibility. It concluded that due to overall irregularities and bias, the election lost trust among lawyers.

A new public opinion poll in the United States shows that a majority of Americans believe the country's military attack on Iran was a mistake. According to the Washington Post survey, 61 percent of respondents said launching military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while 36 percent viewed it as the right move. The poll also noted that the joint U.S.-Israel offensive, which began in late February 2025, has led to thousands of deaths across the Middle East and caused instability in global energy markets, affecting living costs in the United States.

The survey further revealed that rising prices have changed consumer behavior. About 44 percent of respondents said they have reduced driving, and 42 percent reported cutting daily expenses. Among lower-income groups earning under $50,000 annually, these rates were even higher, at 56 percent and 59 percent respectively. The poll also indicated a decline in President Donald Trump’s popularity, as many voters viewed the Iran attack as inconsistent with his campaign pledge to avoid unnecessary foreign wars.

Additionally, 46 percent of respondents said the decision to attack Iran did not align with Trump’s previous policy positions.

Thousands of people across the United States joined coordinated May Day demonstrations and economic boycotts under the banner “May Day Strong.” The movement, held on International Workers’ Day, called for “no school, no work, no shopping,” with walkouts, marches, rallies, and block parties organized in multiple cities. In New York, Amazon workers, Teamsters members, and local politicians marched from the public library to Amazon’s corporate office, urging the company to end its contracts with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

In Washington, D.C., activists from “Free DC” blocked intersections carrying banners reading “Workers vs. Billionaires” and “Healthcare, not war.” Six young members of the Sunrise Movement were arrested in Minneapolis for blocking a bridge, while others staged a sit-in at a Portland hotel reportedly housing DHS officials. Labor unions, immigrant rights groups, political organizations, and student activists united around demands for immigration reform, anti-war policies, and higher taxes on the wealthy.

Teachers and students also joined the movement, with several school districts closing and unions declaring strikes. Organizers described the day as preparation for a potential general strike, with the United Auto Workers president calling for a major labor action in 2028.