Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that the movement to secure people's rights will continue without pause until the referendum verdict and the July Charter are fully implemented. He warned that those who betray the July cause will not be spared. Rahman made these remarks on Friday at a public gathering organized by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.

He stated that the alliance of eleven parties will not rest until the referendum verdict is realized, emphasizing that their movement will persist both in parliament and on the streets. The event was part of a broader campaign demanding the full implementation of the July Charter and recognition of the referendum outcome.

The gathering also reflected growing calls from allied groups for intensified street mobilization and national unity around the July cause, signaling continued political activism in the coming months.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a national rally on Saturday, April 25, at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, involving families of July martyrs and July fighters. The event aims to press for the implementation of the referendum verdict, constitutional reform, and inclusion of the July Charter in the constitution. Party Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar urged citizens to ensure the rally’s success through spontaneous participation.

In a statement issued Friday, Porwar said thousands of students and people from various professions sacrificed their lives, blood, and health during the July uprising to reform the state and secure citizens’ rights. He criticized the current BNP-led government for failing to implement the February 12 referendum verdict, despite nearly 70 percent voting “yes,” calling it disrespectful to the martyrs and the nation.

Porwar also urged the government to honor the sacrifices of July martyrs by swiftly implementing the referendum outcome, improving law and order, and ensuring justice for recent campus violence incidents.

A mass rally organized by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis began at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Friday, demanding the swift implementation of a referendum verdict. The gathering started at 2 p.m. following the Friday prayers and was presided over by the party’s Amir, Maulana Mamunul Haque.

Senior leaders of the party, along with the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, the Opposition Chief Whip, top figures from the 11-party alliance, and representatives from various political and professional groups, addressed the rally. Supporters and activists from Dhaka and surrounding areas began arriving at the venue from the morning and performed the Friday prayers there.

According to the organizers, the rally was scheduled to continue until the afternoon, focusing on mobilizing public support for the party’s demand regarding the referendum outcome.

Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Raksu) General Secretary Salauddin Ammar has alleged that the new regime has failed to bring any variation to the political dramas seen during the Hasina era. In a Facebook post published on Friday, he said that issues such as rising bus fares, fuel and gas prices, and the worsening electricity situation are being sidelined through the spread of a fake screenshot.

Ammar wrote that people who speak on national issues are being distracted, allowing the public to gradually become accustomed to the situation. He described this as a common strategy of rulers, claiming that the new regime is following the same pattern as before. He further alleged that promises of positions are being used to provoke workers in remote areas, while allied organizations are behaving irrationally in pursuit of posts.

He added that fuel, gas, transport fares, and electricity remain major issues for all citizens, but supporters of the ruling party are refraining from protest and instead attacking those who do. Ammar also claimed that a banned organization named League is fueling instability in the country.

Andrea Dressi, assistant professor of international relations and world politics at the American University of Rome, told Al Jazeera that the Trump administration is not united on its strategy for continuing the war with Iran. He noted that the administration’s goals and tactics appear to be shifting constantly, reflecting internal disagreements.

Dressi said that while the administration tries to project strength on social media, growing divisions and dismissals of senior Pentagon and Defense Department officials reveal deeper discord. He argued that the United States and Israel may have miscalculated the consequences of the conflict or based their actions on flawed strategic assumptions.

According to Dressi, the Trump administration is now seeking a way out of the situation by extending the ceasefire and showing some openness to diplomacy. However, he warned that the risks remain high, with the conflict threatening global economic stability and raising fears of a broader military confrontation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled Akbar Ali, a local leader from Rajshahi’s Durgapur upazila, after he was accused of vandalism and assaulting a female teacher at Daokandi Government University College. The expulsion was announced on April 24, 2026, through a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the statement, Akbar Ali, who served as vice president of the BNP’s Joynagar Union unit in Durgapur, engaged in misconduct by entering the college premises, causing damage, and behaving inappropriately with a teacher. The party said his actions violated BNP’s principles, ideals, and discipline.

The decision removes Akbar Ali from all party positions, including his primary membership, as part of the BNP’s disciplinary measures against activities deemed contrary to party policy.

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.