Nurul Haque Nur has called for the immediate announcement of a roadmap for national elections, claiming that 2,000 people were killed and 30,000 injured in a mass uprising. “There has been no visible justice. We demand the Awami League be banned as a terrorist organization,” he said. Nur criticized ongoing extortion and land grabbing, noting that despite past protests, the public has not joined due to a lack of trust in political parties. He warned certain parties not to assume absolute control, citing the downfall of the Awami League as a cautionary tale. He also criticized the military’s reported acceptance of free treatment offers from India, calling it an insult to the national healthcare system.

Speaking at a protest on May 2, Hasnat Abdullah declared that banning the Awami League is not a request but a decision of the people. Addressing Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, he said the government owes its authority to the sacrifices of wounded and martyred citizens. Sarjis Alam echoed the sentiment, saying the student-public coalition had delivered its verdict nine months ago and would do so again.

Akhtar Hossain, leader of the NCP, has demanded that the Awami League be removed from the list of registered political parties and declared a terrorist organization. He accused the party of committing crimes against humanity and oppressing the people of Bangladesh. Hossain called on the interim government to recognize its role as a government of public uprising and act accordingly.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on May 4 via a regular Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from London, landing in Sylhet and then Dhaka. Authorities proposed modifying the flight route to London-Dhaka-Sylhet to accommodate her medical needs. However, in a gesture of compassion, Khaleda Zia declined the proposal, citing concern for the inconvenience it might cause other passengers, her press aide Shamsuddin Didar confirmed.

On World Press Freedom Day, Tarique Rahman wrote that despite authoritarian rule, journalists remained committed to exposing corruption, human rights abuses, and state failures. He urged unity in defending press freedom and the safety of courageous journalists. “Journalists are pillars of democracy and must be protected from censorship and violence,” he said, adding that media enjoyed true freedom during BNP rule.

NCP Joint Secretary Mahin Sarkar declared that the only way Sheikh Hasina could return to Bangladesh is “with a noose around her neck.” He stated that the uprising began the day Hasina labeled them as traitors. “Erasing Bengali nationalism in the name of the constitution will leave no room for human rights,” he said. He called the 2024 movement “the world’s largest digital revolution,” one that resonates with the oppressed in Kashmir and Palestine as well.

Myanmar’s military junta revealed that Jamaat-e-Islami proposed the formation of a separate state for Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine during talks with the Chinese Communist Party. The junta accused Jamaat of undermining Myanmar’s sovereignty and pursuing political gains. It also reiterated its stance of referring to Rohingyas as “Bengali refugees” and stated that repatriation talks with Bangladesh continue regularly in Kunming, China. The junta plans to verify and register refugees before return and aims to build housing for them.

NCP leader Nahid Islam warned that if the government fails to ensure justice, the people will establish their own tribunal to judge the Awami League and fascism. “It’s a collective failure that we must protest to demand the AL ban,” he said. He demanded a legal ban on AL’s political activities until investigations are complete, and called for the immediate release of the 'July Declaration' that formally recognizes the revolution. He also urged for a new constitution and a combined election for Parliament and a Constituent Assembly.

Kamrul Hasan, father of July uprising martyr Khaled Saifullah, declared that there will be no elections in Bangladesh until justice is served for his son’s death. “They shot him 70 times in the chest—how many bullets does it take to kill a man?” he said. NCP leaders echoed his sentiments during a rally, stating that no election can take place until the Awami League is held accountable and reformed. They warned that any attempt to rehabilitate the party will be resisted by “July warriors.”

At a rally, Hefazat leader Maulana Junayed Al Habib condemned the Women’s Reform Commission, calling its report anti-Islamic and against the Qur’an. “This entire commission must be dismantled,” he declared. “You came to power in 2013 at the cost of Hefazat leaders’ blood. Withdraw all cases against our leaders or face another uprising.” Mufti Jaber Kashemi added, “Tomorrow’s gathering is not anti-women. Islam has given women the highest respect and rights. This protest is against those using women’s rights as a pretext to push harmful agendas.”

Tasnim Zara, a leader of the National Change Platform (NCP), stated that no elections in Bangladesh will be allowed to include the Awami League unless justice is served for cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by the party and its affiliates. “Our brothers are still suffering in hospitals—some have lost their sight, others may never walk again,” she said. “Despite all this, they still want to contest elections? Isn’t that a mockery of our nation?” She questioned how many more people must be disappeared or killed before the party’s registration is revoked or it is officially banned.

Rashed Khan, leader of Gono Adhikar Parishad, alleged in a post that the Bangladeshi government used the presence of the UN Secretary-General to falsely claim plans to repatriate 180,000 Rohingya refugees. In reality, 113,000 more have reportedly entered the country. He criticized the government’s investment summit as superficial, noting that foreign investors remain hesitant without an elected government in place. He also hinted that some advisors are involved in creating a rebranded or "refined" version of the Awami League.

A formal letter has been submitted to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) requesting enhanced security for Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP leader Tarique Rahman. She is scheduled to return to Bangladesh with her mother-in-law, Khaleda Zia, on May 4 and will be residing at her father’s residence in Dhanmondi. The letter cites potential security risks and requests the following: 1) an armed bodyguard, 2) police protection with vehicle escort, 3) stationed police security at the residence, and 4) installation of an archway scanner at the entrance.

BNP leaders in Bagmara staged a protest demanding the removal of the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). Surprisingly, Mahbubur Rahman Biplob, Joint General Secretary of the local Awami League unit, also joined the protest. Allegations center around seven ponds and nearly three acres of land on the Taherpur College campus. Former MP Abul Kalam Azad reportedly constructed 41 houses on the property with municipal funding, collecting rent from them. After BNP assumed local power, they took control of the houses. Recently, the UNO instructed that rent collection be stopped, sparking outrage. BNP alleges the UNO is trying to reinstate the former MP.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir confirmed that party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to return from London on Monday, May 5. She will be accompanied by her daughters-in-law, Zubaida Rahman (wife of Tarique Rahman) and Syeda Shamila Rahman (widow of Arafat Rahman). “Alhamdulillah, she is definitely better than before,” said Fakhrul. He mentioned that although the Qatari royal ambulance initially arranged for her transport has been delayed for technical reasons, arrangements have now been made for her to travel via Biman Bangladesh Airlines. She is expected to arrive around 11 a.m. Preparations at her residence, Firoza, have already been completed.