The recently concluded West Bengal assembly election brought a historic shift as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 207 of 294 seats, ending nearly fifteen years of Trinamool Congress rule under Mamata Banerjee. BJP’s rise, led by new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, marks its first government in the state and signals a deep ideological transformation in eastern India’s political landscape. The election outcome, influenced by long-term organizational planning, voter list revisions, and strategic use of citizenship and security narratives, has raised concerns about the future of West Bengal’s Muslim population and cross-border relations.

The article highlights that BJP’s governance could alter border management, citizenship verification, and communal dynamics, directly affecting Bangladesh’s 2,216-kilometer shared frontier. Analysts warn that administrative policies invoking terms like “illegal infiltrators” may heighten risks of pushback incidents and humanitarian crises. Bangladesh faces potential diplomatic and security pressures, requiring coordinated national strategies, stronger intelligence along border sectors, and clear diplomatic communication with both Delhi and Kolkata.

The commentary concludes that Bangladesh must maintain vigilance, strengthen its strategic coordination council, and safeguard sovereignty amid evolving regional power equations shaped by West Bengal’s political transformation.

Leaders of the Editors’ Council held a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, where they submitted a list of 282 journalists allegedly accused in false cases. The article criticizes the council for not presenting such a list to previous governments despite widespread repression of journalists between 2009 and 2024. It names several journalists who were reportedly victims of harassment, imprisonment, or disappearance during that period.

Information Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon responded that many of those listed were political figures posing as journalists and accused the council of supporting individuals involved in incitement and violence. Former press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan also condemned the council, accusing it of hypocrisy for remaining silent during earlier crackdowns on journalists.

The article further alleges that the Editors’ Council, formed around 2013, historically acted to protect the government rather than press freedom. It describes the council’s media network as politically biased and claims that its members previously engaged in propaganda against opposition leaders, including Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.

Mufti Muhammad Muhibbullahil Baqi, the chief imam of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, has been appointed as the new Director General (Grade-1) of the Islamic Foundation. The appointment was announced on Thursday through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. For the first time in Bangladesh, a professional Islamic scholar and mosque imam has been appointed to such a high administrative position. Under the Islamic Foundation Act of 1975, he will serve on a one-year contractual basis, effective from the date of joining, subject to leaving all other professional or institutional affiliations.

Mufti Baqi is known as a moderate scholar and Islamic researcher, educated in Qawmi, Alia, and general education systems. He studied at Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari, Darul Ulum Nadwatul Ulama in India, and the Department of Arabic at the University of Dhaka, where he earned first-class results in all degrees, including topping his master’s program.

He has taught at the International Islamic University Chittagong and other institutions, served as imam and khatib at major mosques, and held key roles in Shariah supervisory boards of several banks. He is fluent in Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Persian, English, and Bengali.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described Cuba as a 'national security threat' to the United States, saying the likelihood of reaching a peaceful agreement with Havana is low. His remarks came a day after Washington formally charged former Cuban President Raul Castro over the 1996 downing of two planes that killed US citizens. Rubio said the US prefers a diplomatic solution but warned that President Donald Trump has both the right and duty to defend the country against any threat.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected Rubio’s comments as false, asserting that Cuba has never posed a threat to the US. He accused Washington of orchestrating attacks and provoking military aggression against Cuba. The island nation is currently facing severe fuel shortages, prolonged blackouts, and food scarcity, worsened by US oil sanctions. Despite tensions, Cuba has accepted $100 million in US humanitarian aid, according to Rubio.

Rubio declined to reveal how Raul Castro would be brought before a US court, while Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said they expect Castro to appear voluntarily or by other means. President Trump described Cuba as a 'failed state' and said his administration is trying to help on humanitarian grounds.

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader named Zillur Rahman was seriously injured in an attack allegedly carried out by activists of the banned Awami League in Bhangura upazila of Pabna on Thursday night, May 21. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on the Kalinjira Bridge in Khanmarich Union. Rahman, a member of the upazila Jamaat working committee and a teacher at Dasmarich Government Primary School, was first taken to the upazila health complex and later referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital due to his critical condition. The attackers’ identities were not immediately known.

Earlier that morning, Rahman had an argument with several Awami League activists, during which he reportedly slapped one of them. The evening assault is believed to have followed that altercation. Following the attack, local Member of Parliament Maulana Ali Asgar led a protest at the Bhangura police station around 10 p.m., demanding the arrest of the attackers within 24 hours and warning of tougher action if the demand was not met.

Bhangura Police Officer-in-Charge Sakiul Azam confirmed the incident and said a case was being filed. He declined to disclose the suspects’ names for investigation purposes.

The United States has temporarily lifted sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian territories, following a recent court ruling. The State Department said the Trump administration removed her name from the sanctions list after a federal judge ordered a suspension of enforcement. However, the department emphasized that Washington’s policy position regarding Albanese remains unchanged and that it has appealed the court’s decision.

The sanctions were originally imposed in July 2025 after Albanese recommended that the International Criminal Court issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. The Italian human rights expert has long criticized Israel’s policies toward Palestinians and described the situation in Gaza as genocide. Her family filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., arguing that the sanctions violated her constitutional rights, including freedom of expression.

Judge Richard Leon ruled in Albanese’s favor on May 13, stating that the government acted against her because of her opinions. The State Department indicated that if the court’s order is overturned, Albanese’s name will be reinstated on the Specially Designated Nationals list.

Leaders and activists of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Dhaka North unit organized a torch procession on Thursday night demanding justice for all rape and murder victims, including the child Ramisa. The procession began around 9 p.m. in front of the party’s Banglamotor office and moved toward Shahbagh after a brief rally. Participants chanted slogans calling for justice for victims such as Tanu, Ramisa, and Achiya.

At the rally, NCP central senior joint convener and Dhaka North convener Ariful Islam Adib criticized incidents of sexual violence and murder across different areas, including Mirpur, Cantonment, and Bashundhara. He urged the Prime Minister to ensure party-level investigations and arrests of those involved, and called for the formation of anti-sexual harassment cells in all political parties. He also demanded swift implementation of justice in rape and murder cases.

Dhaka North NCP acting member secretary Sadia Farzana Dina emphasized the need to change societal attitudes toward women and treat them with respect. Several other party leaders and members were present at the event.

The Bangladesh Cabinet has approved the proposal to ratify the 'Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology' agreement signed between the governments of Bangladesh and Japan. The proposal was presented by the Ministry of Defense and approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. The meeting also reported that the implementation rate of Cabinet decisions currently stands at 70.73 percent.

In the same session, the Cabinet approved Bangladesh’s participation in the 'Framework Agreement on the Establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)' and endorsed the draft Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration National Action Plan (GCM-NAP) for 2026–2030. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change presented the IBCA proposal, which aims to protect habitats, prevent illegal hunting and trade, and promote technical cooperation among member countries.

Bangladesh’s decision to join the IBCA reflects its role as the home country of the Royal Bengal Tiger and its commitment to conserving the Sundarbans ecosystem.

A new Fox News poll shows growing opposition among Americans to the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. According to the survey, 60 percent of respondents now oppose the war, up from 55 percent last month. The poll also found that 91 percent believe the conflict has worsened the country’s economic situation, adding political pressure on President Donald Trump.

Public dissatisfaction with the economy has also intensified. Seventy-seven percent of respondents described the current economic condition as poor, compared with 73 percent last month and 71 percent a year earlier. Criticism of Trump’s handling of the economy has risen sharply, with 71 percent now disapproving of his economic policies, up from 56 percent a year ago.

Overall, Trump’s popularity continues to decline, as 61 percent of Americans expressed disapproval of his performance in the latest poll.

Serious allegations have emerged in Bogarchar Union of Bokshiganj upazila, Jamalpur, over irregularities in the distribution of government VGF rice cards allocated for poor families ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Out of 8,048 cards designated for the union, 4,024 were reportedly handed directly to BNP leaders and activists, prompting widespread discussion and anger among residents.

According to local sources, acting Union Parishad chairman Sohel Rana Palash formally handed over the cards to upazila BNP leaders at his office on Thursday afternoon. Officials confirmed that 80,480 kilograms of rice were allocated for 4,024 poor and distressed families, with each card entitling a beneficiary to 10 kilograms. However, the cards were distributed without the presence of administrative officers, raising questions about transparency.

The acting chairman said the cards were given to BNP leaders following party instructions, while the upazila project implementation officer and the UNO stated that such political distribution violates government rules. They assured that the matter is under investigation and necessary action will follow if irregularities are proven.

US President Donald Trump has expressed deep dissatisfaction with NATO members’ response to the ongoing military activities surrounding Iran, according to senior US diplomat Marco Rubio. Speaking to reporters, Rubio said frustration within the Trump administration over NATO’s stance is growing, particularly after Spain refused to allow the US to use its military bases. He noted that such cooperation is central to NATO’s purpose, enabling rapid military deployment in crisis regions like the Middle East.

Rubio questioned the logic of NATO membership for countries that restrict such cooperation, emphasizing that the alliance’s strength lies in shared military access and readiness. He added that NATO members’ support for US efforts related to the Iran conflict has been far below expectations, which has intensified Trump’s disappointment with the alliance.

The remarks highlight ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and NATO, continuing a pattern of US criticism over European allies’ defense spending and military collaboration.

The Calcutta High Court has upheld West Bengal’s existing ban on the slaughter of bulls, oxen, cows, calves, and buffaloes ahead of Eid al-Adha. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Joy Pal and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen declined to interfere with a state government notification issued on 13 May 2026, stating that it merely implemented a 2018 court directive. The court reiterated that cow sacrifice is not a mandatory religious practice in Islam and directed the state to amend the notification to include this observation.

The state’s notification declared certain animals “unfit” for slaughter without certification and restricted slaughtering to authorized abattoirs. The court also empowered authorities to inspect facilities to prevent illegal slaughter and tasked the state with ensuring adequate infrastructure and officials for certification. Trinamool Congress legislator Akhruzzaman argued that the lack of exemption under Section 12 of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act would prevent Muslims from performing religious sacrifices, but the bench maintained its position based on prior Supreme Court rulings.

The court instructed the state government to review the matter and decide within 24 hours whether to grant exemptions under Section 12, considering the upcoming Eid al-Adha.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has temporarily suspended office assistant Md. Abul Kalam for misconduct and unauthorized absence from duty. The suspension order was issued by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan under Rule 12 of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. The order, issued on Thursday, stated that it was made in the public interest and took immediate effect. During the suspension period, Kalam will receive subsistence allowance as per regulations.

According to the order, Abul Kalam joined the VAT Monitoring, Statistics and Coordination branch, with additional duties in the VAT Training and Reward section, on February 14, 2023. About a month after joining, he began remaining absent without permission. He was frequently absent between September and December 2025 and has been continuously absent since January 15, 2026, without approval from his superiors.

The order also noted that a show-cause notice was issued to him on May 10, asking for a response within three working days, but he failed to reply. Consequently, departmental action was taken against him for misconduct and desertion under the relevant disciplinary rules.

The Calcutta High Court has upheld the West Bengal government’s notification restricting animal slaughter ahead of Eid. On Thursday, a division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen ruled that no animal may be slaughtered without an official certificate confirming its suitability, and that public slaughter will remain completely prohibited. The court declined to stay the state’s May 13 notification, which imposed several restrictions on the slaughter of cows and buffaloes.

The bench directed the state government to review the certification process and related infrastructure while continuing hearings on the constitutional validity of the law. It also instructed that any applications for exemption be resolved within 24 hours. The court referred to the Supreme Court’s earlier observation in the “State of Bihar vs. Mohammad Hanif Qureshi” case, which stated that cow slaughter is not an essential religious practice in Islam.

The state notification contains eight specific directives requiring prior certification for the slaughter of bulls, oxen, cows, calves, male and female buffaloes, and castrated buffaloes. Violations of these provisions will be punishable under law.

Two vice presidents of the Barishal University unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have been expelled from their organizational posts over allegations of involvement in extortion. The expelled leaders are Mia Babul and Md Mithu. The decision was announced in a press release signed by JCD Central Office Secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

According to the statement, the expulsion followed a decision by the JCD central committee based on specific allegations of violating organizational discipline. The decision was approved by JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. The organization also instructed all members not to maintain any organizational contact with the expelled individuals.

Earlier, on May 19, allegations surfaced that a group of leaders had stopped a fish-laden vehicle and demanded a large sum of money. When the demand was refused, another vehicle was reportedly vandalized and its driver assaulted. Some criticism has emerged that only two leaders were expelled despite reports of involvement by several others.