Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly criticized recent comments by BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, calling them provocative and irresponsible. In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, Jamaat Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar said Fakhrul’s remarks at a public meeting in Ranisankail, Thakurgaon, were politically motivated and contrary to responsible political conduct.

Porwar stated that Fakhrul accused Jamaat of engaging in deceitful religious politics, which he rejected as false. He asserted that Jamaat is a lawful, ideological, and transparent faith-based political party that does not exploit religion for political gain. Instead, he accused the BNP of hypocrisy, claiming its leaders only display religious devotion during elections to attract voters.

The Jamaat leader further argued that BNP, not Jamaat, manipulates public religious sentiment for political advantage. He described Fakhrul’s remarks as part of a long-standing political vendetta and urged him to withdraw what he termed false and provocative statements against Jamaat.

The United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T. Christensen, hosted a special event in Dhaka on Wednesday evening to mark the 250th US National Day. The celebration took place at the United Convention Center near the airport and was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners, diplomats, political figures, retired military officers, senior government officials, and civil society representatives.

A delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami participated in the event, including Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretaries General Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Dhaka North City Amir Mohammad Selim Uddin, Sylhet City Amir Fakhrul Islam, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Jamaat Amir Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman MP, and Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders Nurul Islam Saddam and Sibgatullah Sibga.

During the event, Mia Golam Porwar handed over a written message of greetings from Jamaat Amir and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP to the US President. The Jamaat delegation expressed hope that bilateral relations between the United States and Bangladesh would continue to strengthen in diplomatic and commercial spheres.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain stated that there will be no exemption for corruption, even for himself. He made the remarks on Wednesday in Savar after inspecting the construction work of a sports complex for persons with special needs. The minister clarified that the project has not yet entered any procurement phase and that only building construction is underway under the Public Works Department. He emphasized that the government maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and urged anyone with information to report it for investigation.

Dr. Hossain explained that the Savar sports complex aims to support the physical and mental development of persons with disabilities and help them achieve social acceptance through participation in sports and training. The project will include modern facilities such as a gymnasium, swimming pool, mosque, and both indoor and outdoor gaming areas. He said the initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to building an inclusive and humane Bangladesh.

The minister added that despite earlier delays, the project continues under the prime minister’s directive to fulfill electoral commitments regarding persons with disabilities.

National Citizen Party (NCP) leader and Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah alleged that the current government has undermined the independence of the judiciary and brought it under the control of the Ministry of Law. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at a rally and march organized by the NCP in Lalmai, Comilla. The event began near Bagmara High School and concluded at Bagmara South Bazar, where Abdullah addressed the gathering as chief guest.

During his speech, Abdullah said the NCP is working to build a just and discrimination-free state and aims to strengthen its organizational presence across all administrative levels in Comilla. He criticized the government for politicizing state institutions and claimed that merit is being ignored in university recruitment in favor of political loyalty, which he described as a threat to the education system.

Abdullah urged young people to engage in political activism and said the NCP would shape its future programs based on public expectations ahead of the next election. Party leaders reaffirmed their commitment to building a Bangladesh based on justice, solidarity, equality, and prosperity.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned recent comments made by BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Thakurgaon’s Ranishankoil, describing them as provocative, false, and politically motivated. In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said Fakhrul’s remarks were irresponsible and aimed at gaining cheap popularity by maligning a disciplined and people-oriented Islamic party.

Porwar rejected Fakhrul’s allegation that Jamaat engages in politics under the guise of religion, asserting that the party operates as a lawful, ideological, and transparent religious political organization. He accused the BNP of exploiting religious sentiments during elections, calling their approach hypocritical. Porwar also dismissed Fakhrul’s claim that Jamaat would never gain power, arguing that the party has long enjoyed popular support and representation in parliament.

He further stated that Jamaat has always defended the country’s sovereignty and independence and urged Fakhrul to withdraw his “false and provocative” remarks, emphasizing that sustainable politics must be based on truth, honesty, and public welfare.

Awami League-backed lawyers, who are barred from court activities, staged a public demonstration and march at the Chattogram court premises on Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses said the lawyers gathered in the courtyard, chanted slogans against Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and conducted a one-hour procession while police remained present but took no action.

Videos from the scene reportedly showed the lawyers promoting the Awami League and shouting various slogans against the Prime Minister. Observers described the event as alarming, recalling that the same political group had allegedly been involved in mass killings two years earlier. Several lawyers present expressed anger over what they saw as the administration’s silence during the demonstration.

Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aftab Uddin stated that he was unaware of the rally and that no prior information had been received. He added that the police would investigate and take necessary measures.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the people of Bangladesh will never bring Jamaat-e-Islami to power. He made the remark on Wednesday at a public reception organized by the Thakurgaon district BNP at the abandoned airport grounds in Shibganj, Thakurgaon. Fakhrul accused Jamaat-e-Islami of opposing the 1971 Liberation War, killing freedom fighters, and committing atrocities against women, asserting that such actions make them unacceptable to the nation.

During his speech, Fakhrul criticized politics conducted in the name of religion and said that truth must be the foundation of politics. When he asked the crowd to name the party that uses religion for politics, attendees responded by shouting “Jamaat-e-Islami.”

Fakhrul also inspected the abandoned Thakurgaon airport and mentioned that plans to reopen it are progressing. He said the project has been included in the planning department’s agenda and that, if feasibility and renovation work begin soon, the airport could reopen within two years.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has strongly criticized the government’s recent decision to withdraw judicial officers assigned to the Supreme Court Secretariat and to effectively nullify its operations. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the party’s law secretary, Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa, the NCP said the move contradicts the principles of judicial independence, separation of powers, and the democratic spirit of the state. The party demanded that the decision be immediately reconsidered and presented four specific demands to safeguard judicial autonomy.

According to the statement, the establishment of a separate Supreme Court Secretariat was intended to ensure constitutional balance by freeing the judiciary from executive influence in matters such as supervision, appointments, promotions, transfers, and discipline. The NCP warned that depriving the judiciary of its administrative structure and decision-making authority would reduce the constitutional promise of an independent judiciary to a mere declaration. It argued that administrative control by the executive undermines justice, the rule of law, and citizens’ rights.

The NCP reaffirmed its commitment to defending judicial independence and announced that it would continue political, legal, and democratic protests against any direct or indirect interference with the judiciary.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that all previous discussions, recommendations, and documents related to the proposed Media Commission will serve as key inputs for future actions. Speaking on Wednesday at a seminar in Dhaka organized by UK International Development and BBC Media Action, he said a consultative committee will be formed to prepare final recommendations for the government based on its findings.

The minister noted that the issue had also been discussed recently in a meeting between the head of government, media owners, and editors. He emphasized that the consultative committee will engage with all relevant stakeholders again to ensure an acceptable and effective framework. Swapan described the media as a vital pillar of modern governance, highlighting its role in ensuring accountability of other state institutions.

He added that the government will act both as a partner and as a coordinator in the process, expressing hope that domestic and international development partners, media organizations, and other stakeholders will support the initiative.

West Bengal’s newly elected Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that 27 kilometers of land will be handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) to advance fencing work along the India-Bangladesh border. He said the initiative aims to strengthen border security and curb illegal infiltration, with land transfer to begin within two weeks.

Adhikari stated that out of the state’s 2,200-kilometer border, fencing currently exists along about 1,600 kilometers, leaving 600 kilometers incomplete. He alleged that the previous state government withheld 555 kilometers of land for political reasons. The chief minister assigned the land and revenue secretary and the chief secretary to complete the handover process within 45 days.

Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Adhikari said those not covered under the law would be treated as illegal infiltrators, to be arrested by state police and handed over to the BSF. His remarks have sparked new political debate in West Bengal, bringing border security, infiltration, and citizenship issues back to the center of state politics.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami parliamentary party secretary and MP Shahjahan Chowdhury called for a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and teenage gangs, warning that the rapid spread of narcotics is destroying the country’s youth. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon while addressing the monthly meeting of the Satkania Upazila Law and Order Committee as the chief guest.

Shahjahan said drug abuse is fueling crimes such as murder, theft, and robbery, and urged collective efforts to curb its spread. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies must act more strictly to eradicate drug traders. Highlighting the growing threat of teenage gangs, he called for coordinated action among families, educational institutions, public representatives, and the administration to prevent young people from falling into crime.

The meeting, chaired by Satkania Upazila Executive Officer Khondaker Mahmudul Hasan and conducted by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shamsuzzaman, was attended by local officials, law enforcement representatives, and community leaders.

Bangladesh National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikrom stated that security without accountability can never bring stability to the world. He made the remarks while addressing the closing session of a two-day international conference organized by the Center for Future Studies at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), held under the theme ‘National Security in South Asia in the Context of the New World Order.’ The event concluded on May 20, 2026.

The conference discussed redefining national security in South Asia, transactional multilateralism, regional cooperation, energy security, migration and refugees, combating misinformation and disinformation, and cooperation in a changing world. Key speakers included experts from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Sweden. Ahmad emphasized that security depends not only on internal strength but also on a nation’s knowledge, wisdom, and the stability of international borders.

He also called for investment in developing new leadership to adapt to technological expansion, which he said would strengthen public trust and demonstrate national responsibility.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad stated that national security depends not only on internal strength but also on a nation's accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and the stability of its international borders. He made these remarks on Wednesday at a conference titled 'National Security in the Context of the New World Order in South Asia' held at the Independence Auditorium of Bangladesh University.

During his address, the Speaker emphasized that unaccountable security cannot bring global stability in a changing world order. He also highlighted the need to invest in developing new leadership amid the rapid expansion of technology, noting that such investment would demonstrate national responsibility and strengthen public trust.

The conference featured keynote speakers from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Sweden, and was attended by the university's vice-chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam, deans, senior officials, teachers, researchers, students, and invited guests.

Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4, Hasnat Abdullah, alleged that the government formed after the July Revolution is formally taking away the independence of the judiciary. Speaking as the chief guest at an NCP roadside rally in Bagmara field, Lalmai upazila, on Wednesday, he said the judiciary has been absorbed into the Ministry of Law and that institutions are being politicized and turned into one-party entities. He also claimed that universities are being occupied and recruitment is being made on partisan grounds rather than merit.

Abdullah, who serves as the chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), expressed confidence that the NCP would form the next government with public support and fulfill the people's aspirations. He urged supporters to spread the party’s message across every household and ward.

He further stated that the NCP aims to build a safe and fair Bangladesh for the young generation, where employment does not require bribery and every citizen is respected regardless of social background.

Maulana Mohammad Shafiq Qasemi, the imam of Kolkata’s historic Nakhoda Mosque, has urged Muslims in West Bengal to refrain from sacrificing cows during Eid al-Adha and to stop eating beef altogether. In an interview with news agency PTI, he advised Muslims to choose goats as an alternative for sacrifice, emphasizing that avoiding cow slaughter would prevent harm to Hindu families involved in the dairy trade.

Qasemi explained that many Hindu families invest their savings in raising cows and sell them during Eid. If Muslims stop buying cows for sacrifice, those families could face financial losses. His appeal comes amid heightened sensitivity around cow slaughter in the state.

Last week, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal issued a directive prohibiting the slaughter of cows and buffaloes without prior permission, effectively tightening control over beef sales. The issue of cow sacrifice and beef consumption has recently intensified religious, social, and political debates in the state.