The West Bengal government has issued a directive prohibiting state government employees from speaking to the media or attending media-organized events without prior permission. The order, published on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, applies to members of the Indian Civil Service, the West Bengal Police Service, and employees of government-aided institutions. It also instructs that government employees must not make negative comments about government policies in the media.

The directive has sparked widespread criticism on social media. Many users argued that several corruption allegations against the previous government had surfaced through disclosures by government employees, and therefore, the new rule could restrict freedom of expression. However, individuals close to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that such a rule has existed since 1976 but was not strictly enforced by the previous administration.

The renewed enforcement of this rule may tighten communication controls within the state bureaucracy, though its long-term impact on transparency and governance remains uncertain.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Mymensingh district on Saturday, according to information from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing released on Thursday. The official itinerary, signed by Protocol Officer-1 Ujjal Sarkar, states that the Prime Minister will depart for Trishal, Mymensingh by road at 9 a.m. and attend the re-excavation inauguration of Dhara Canal at Bailor Union at noon.

Following a break at Trishal Nazrul Dak Bungalow at 2 p.m., he will attend a program at Nazrul Mancha at 3 p.m. marking the 127th birth anniversary of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and inaugurate a three-day celebration. Later, at 5 p.m., he will join an organizational meeting of Mymensingh North, South, and Metropolitan BNP units at Trishal Nazrul Auditorium before returning to Dhaka by road at 6:30 p.m.

The visit combines administrative and cultural engagements, highlighting both development initiatives and political activities in the Mymensingh region.

At a roundtable discussion held Thursday at the National Press Club in Dhaka, organized by human rights group Odhikar to mark International Week of the Disappeared 2026, prominent citizens, rights activists, politicians, lawyers, and members of parliament called for strong and transparent laws to address enforced disappearances and protect judicial independence. Speakers emphasized that delayed justice amounts to denial of justice and urged the government to bring all perpetrators of disappearances to trial.

NCP Member Secretary and MP Akhtar Hossain said only a small fraction of security personnel are directly involved in disappearances and demanded their prosecution. MP Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kasem criticized the current laws as ineffective and warned that public patience is running out. Former prosecutor Tazul Islam and retired Brigadier General Abdullahil Aman Azmi described the existing laws as inadequate and urged reforms to ensure accountability.

Odhikar’s Advocacy Director Taskin Fahmina added that strong legal frameworks would prevent impunity and help security forces operate responsibly, ensuring that human rights violations and disappearances do not recur.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and Jamaat-e-Islami central executive member Shishir Monir has said that abolishing the judicial secretariat was a blow to the judiciary and destroyed public trust in justice. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, he called for the immediate reinstatement of a separate judicial secretariat to guarantee judicial independence and fair justice for citizens.

Monir explained that after a 2025 High Court ruling mandated the creation of a separate judicial secretariat within 90 days, the government issued an ordinance on November 30, 2025, and inaugurated the secretariat on December 11 under then Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed. However, the government later revoked the ordinance on April 10, 2026, following the publication of the detailed verdict. He said this reversal undermined judicial autonomy and placed judges under the control of the Law Ministry.

He argued that judges’ transfers, promotions, leave, and discipline should remain under the Supreme Court, not the Law Ministry, to preserve judicial independence. Monir warned that without such autonomy, lower court judges cannot work freely, and the justice system risks political interference.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman stated that the army had served in the field during the critical period of 2024 to meet national needs. As the situation has now stabilized, soldiers are gradually returning to their barracks. He said the nation would remember the army’s role during that difficult time with gratitude. The statement came on Thursday morning at the closing and award ceremony of the Bangladesh Army Firing Competition held at the Cumilla Cantonment.

Congratulating the winning and runner-up teams, the army chief praised the soldiers’ skill and dedication, noting their impressive performance in the competition despite serving in field duties for 18 consecutive months. The event, organized under the supervision of Headquarters 33 Infantry Division, began on May 16. A total of 17 teams from various formations, logistics areas, five independent brigades, and the Para Commando Brigade participated. The 17 Infantry Division won the championship, while the Para Commando Brigade became runner-up.

Senior army officials, including the Master General of the Ordnance, Commandant of Bangladesh Ordnance Factory, and area commanders from Cumilla and Sylhet, attended the ceremony.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is preparing to reorganize its major affiliate and associate bodies, including the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Swechchasebak Dal, within a short time. Party sources said the move aims to energize grassroots units, implement central directives for upcoming local government elections, and strengthen field-level programs. The BNP high command is focusing on leadership renewal to create enthusiasm among members, with possible changes in top committee positions expected soon.

Several BNP leaders confirmed that the current central committees of the three key organizations have long exceeded their tenure, and many local units remain inactive. Some top leaders of Jubo Dal and Swechchasebak Dal, who also serve as MPs or a state minister, have expressed willingness to hand over responsibilities to new leadership. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman recently held a major meeting with central and district leaders on May 9 in Dhaka, instructing them to resolve internal disputes and complete organizational work before the party’s national council.

Party vice chairmen and advisers indicated that committee reshuffles are likely before the council, with discussions ongoing to finalize the process. The reorganization is expected to restore leadership flow and strengthen coordination between the party and its affiliates.

Former Indian Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa has argued that elections without real competition cannot be considered victories for democracy. Writing in a commentary published on May 21, 2026, he compared political competition to the essential spirit of sports and business, saying that without credible rivals and a neutral referee, the democratic process loses legitimacy. Lavasa emphasized that true mandates require genuine contests where voters believe the process is fair and transparent.

He criticized provisions in India’s electoral law that allow candidates to win unopposed and highlighted recent events in West Bengal, where over 2.7 million voters were removed from rolls during a rushed verification process. Lavasa questioned the Election Commission’s neutrality and the judiciary’s silence as millions lost their voting rights without a functioning appeal mechanism. He warned that such actions erode public confidence and damage the democratic fabric.

Lavasa concluded that a democracy without competition or impartial oversight risks turning into a hollow exercise, where victories lack meaning and the very essence of people’s rule is compromised.

A commentary by researcher Amir Khasru, published on May 21, 2026, examines why South Asia has not achieved the kind of unity seen in the European Union. The article argues that despite shared geography and history, the region remains divided by mistrust, power imbalances, and dominance-driven policies, particularly from larger neighbors. It contrasts this with Europe’s transformation from centuries of wars into a cooperative union built on equality and shared interests.

The piece highlights Nepal’s recent assertion of independence from Indian influence, including rejecting diplomatic overtures and enforcing border restrictions. It also cites strained India relations with Maldives, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, noting border killings and disputes over water sharing and infrastructure projects. The author references a Chatham House study urging South Asian nations to pursue strategic autonomy and balanced diplomacy.

The analysis concludes that South Asia cannot emulate the EU’s cohesion until bilateral relations are based on justice, equality, and mutual respect rather than dominance or intervention. It recalls former President Ziaur Rahman’s early efforts to form SAARC and its eventual stagnation as evidence of persistent regional discord.

Iran is reviewing the United States’ feedback on the wording of a proposed ceasefire agreement draft, according to a report by Iran’s Nour News Agency. The report stated that Washington and Tehran have exchanged several messages regarding the draft, excluding Pakistan from the direct communication. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that the exchanges were based on Iran’s main 14-point framework and that the U.S. opinions are currently under review.

Baghaei made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was visiting Tehran. The discussions between Washington and Tehran are being facilitated by Islamabad, which is playing a mediating role in the process.

The report did not specify the content of the U.S. feedback or the timeline for Iran’s review, leaving the next steps in the ceasefire negotiations unclear.

European Council President António Costa has expressed strong anger and astonishment over the behavior of Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir toward detained members of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. In a post on social media platform X, Costa said he was shocked by the treatment of the flotilla participants.

Costa described the minister’s actions as completely unacceptable and called for the immediate release of those detained. His remarks came after reports that the flotilla, carrying humanitarian assistance toward Gaza, had been intercepted and its members detained by Israeli authorities.

The statement underscores growing diplomatic concern in Europe regarding Israel’s handling of humanitarian missions to Gaza, as reflected in Costa’s public condemnation and demand for swift action.

National Citizen Party (NCP) South Region chief organizer and Comilla-4 Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah has called on the government to introduce a 'Justice Card' to ensure fair access to justice for ordinary citizens. He made the demand on Wednesday evening while addressing a street rally in Nangalkot, Comilla, where he served as the chief guest.

Abdullah criticized the government for launching various cards such as family and farmer cards while failing to guarantee justice for the people. He alleged that corruption, bribery in job recruitment, and the influence of middlemen at police stations continue to deprive citizens of fair services. He further stated that the government has failed to meet basic needs and that a culture of impunity, corruption, and repression persists, with freedom of expression shrinking and incidents of enforced disappearances and killings continuing.

The event was attended by NCP central joint member secretary Zainal Abedin Shishir, National Youth Force convener Advocate Tarikul Islam, central leader Rifat Rashid, and Comilla district coordinator Nabid Nawroz Shah, along with local activists.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has issued a stern warning to Iran amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Speaking to Fox News, Miller said that Iran’s current leadership now faces a final deadline from the United States after talks failed to make progress. He stated that Tehran must choose between signing an agreement acceptable to Washington or facing a military response unlike anything seen in modern history.

The warning comes as diplomatic discussions between the two nations remain deadlocked, with no breakthrough reported. Miller emphasized that the Iranian administration has only two options left—either comply with the terms favored by the United States or face severe military consequences. His remarks underscore the growing tension surrounding the unresolved negotiations.

The statement signals a hardening U.S. stance toward Iran, suggesting that Washington may be preparing to escalate pressure if Tehran refuses to meet its conditions.

Colonel GM Rajib Ahmed, known for his loyalty to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and General Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, has been promoted to Brigadier General, according to defense sources. The promotion reportedly triggered strong reactions within the Bangladesh Army, as Rajib was among those who played a key role in ensuring Hasina’s safe escape to Delhi following her ouster during the July uprising. The decision was reportedly influenced by a powerful senior military official currently serving in the government.

Rajib previously served as Assistant Military Secretary to Sheikh Hasina in 2020 and was later appointed Deputy Military Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office. He was also sent to South Sudan as a UN peacekeeping contingent commander before returning to Bangladesh. His promotion has caused resentment among officers who felt sidelined over the past fifteen years, with some arguing that a figure associated with the former regime’s repression should not have remained in service.

The controversy has also spread across virtual platforms, where discussions and criticism of the promotion continue to intensify.

The High Court of Bangladesh has expressed astonishment after the government announced the dissolution of the Supreme Court Secretariat before the final settlement of a related writ petition. The issue came to light when a government notification was presented before Justice Ahmed Sohel’s bench, prompting the court to ask how such a decision was possible while the case remained pending.

The move has sparked strong reactions from opposition and legal circles. Jamaat-e-Islami leader and opposition chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman condemned the decision, calling it the end of an independent judicial secretariat and a sign of political dominance over the judiciary. Student and lawyer groups, including the National Lawyers Alliance backed by the National Citizens Party, also protested, criticizing the silence of the law minister and attorney general. Lawyer Shishir Monir, who filed the original writ, said the government’s action constituted contempt of court and announced plans to file a contempt petition.

According to the report, the Ministry of Law issued the notification on Tuesday, transferring 15 judges to the ministry. The High Court had earlier directed that the secretariat remain operational until the case was fully resolved.

US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley have strongly condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for his treatment of activists detained from a Gaza-bound flotilla. In posts on social media platform X, the senators described Ben-Gvir’s behavior toward the detainees as “disgusting and inhumane,” calling it a reflection of Israel’s broader conduct toward Palestinians.

Senator Merkley said that images of Gaza’s destruction and desperate families explain why people are motivated to protest. Van Hollen questioned how Ben-Gvir might treat detainees behind closed doors if he could act this way in front of cameras. He labeled the minister’s actions “outrageous” and argued that the United States should have imposed sanctions on him long ago.

Both Democratic senators have long advocated for Palestinian rights and previously visited the Rafah border to observe conditions under Israel’s blockade of Gaza, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.