National Parliament Whip Miah Nuruddin Ahmed Apu has issued a strict directive prohibiting the setup of temporary cattle markets on the grounds or campuses of educational institutions in Shariatpur district ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. He made the announcement on May 17 during a meeting with officials in Damudya upazila, emphasizing that schools and colleges are centers for education and moral development, not for commercial activities.

The Whip stated that in previous years, cattle markets were often established on school, college, and madrasa grounds, causing damage to grass fields and infrastructure, environmental pollution, and disruption of academic activities. To preserve the normal environment for students’ learning and sports, he declared that no such markets would be allowed this year.

He further instructed local administration, municipalities, and upazila authorities to strictly monitor compliance. Apu warned that any individual or group attempting to use educational premises for cattle markets would face legal action, stressing that these grounds are public assets that must be protected.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar held a meeting with Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia on Sunday at Al Daud Arabic Restaurant. During the discussion, expatriates shared their concerns about excessive fees charged by the Dhaka-based Expert Service Kuala Lumpur (ESKL) for passport services, high costs of overseas employment, election irregularities, banking complications, legalization of undocumented Bangladeshis, and harassment at Bangladeshi airports.

In response, Mia Golam Porwar condemned the reported irregularities, corruption, and harassment, assuring that these issues would be raised strongly in parliament by the opposition. He said pressure would be applied on the government to take effective measures to ease expatriates’ hardships and ensure their rights. Porwar emphasized that expatriates play a vital role in Bangladesh’s economy and that the state has a duty to guarantee their dignity, safety, and access to services.

Community leader Abu Abdullah urged expatriates to prioritize lawful earnings and avoid any form of irregular or illegal activities, reaffirming continued community support for them.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government is drafting a new law to formally establish an elite force for public security, under which the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will continue to operate. Speaking at RAB headquarters on Monday, May 18, during the force’s 22nd founding anniversary, he said the current ad hoc arrangement for RAB is not appropriate and that the new law will ensure human rights, transparency, and accountability.

Ahmed explained that the government is considering whether to rename RAB or raise a new elite force, but the decision is still under review. He emphasized that the forthcoming law will guarantee both authority and responsibility within the force, ensuring transparency and accountability in all operations. The minister said the initiative aims to uphold the rule of law and meet public expectations for safety.

Addressing questions about U.S. sanctions on RAB, Ahmed stated that some officers’ past actions had harmed the institution, but individual misconduct should not implicate the entire organization. He expressed hope that if the force is restructured or renamed, the sanctions might be reconsidered.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has announced the creation of a new body to supervise operations in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the council, the organization will be called the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” and will provide real-time updates on activities and current conditions in the area. The announcement was shared through the council’s social media post on May 18, 2026.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global trade and energy transport, and the region has long been marked by geopolitical tensions. The establishment of this new authority signals Iran’s intention to strengthen surveillance and information management in the area. The move is seen as part of Tehran’s broader effort to enhance control and situational awareness in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

The report did not specify further operational details or international responses to the announcement.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face extreme consequences if it does not agree to a deal soon. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that time is running out for Iran and that if it fails to act quickly, nothing will remain of the country. His remarks came shortly after a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

The warning follows earlier threats from Trump, who had said that if Iran refused to agree to a deal to end the war, its entire civilization would be destroyed. A few days earlier, Trump also described the current ceasefire as being in a “critical condition.” The statements were reported by BBC and other media outlets.

The renewed warning highlights escalating tensions surrounding Iran’s position on negotiations and the fragile state of the ceasefire, though no details of the proposed deal were disclosed in the reports.

The Qawmi Madrasa Teachers Council announced an 18-point demand at a press conference held on Monday at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka. The demands include abolishing secularism and socialism from the Constitution to establish the Islamic Republic of Bangladesh, making Islamic education compulsory at all levels of general education, and preserving the independence and distinct character of Qawmi education. The announcement was made by the council’s president, Muhammad Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, who said the 1972 Constitution did not reflect the religious values of the Muslim-majority population.

Speakers at the event argued that Islamic education has been marginalized in the current system, leading the younger generation away from religious knowledge. They urged the government to stop any move to integrate Qawmi education into the mainstream system and to consult top Islamic scholars before making decisions. The council also highlighted the financial and social contributions of Qawmi madrasas, noting their support for poor and orphaned students without government funding.

Key demands include constitutional amendments to protect Islamic culture, enactment of a blasphemy law, establishment of a Shariah court, tax exemptions for madrasa donations, and inclusion of Qawmi scholars in national education bodies.

Popular Bangladeshi singer Asif Akbar described the fall of Sheikh Hasina as the end of an era of authoritarian rule, calling it a difficult but historic moment. On Sunday night, he posted on his verified Facebook page that the 'July Revolution' was not a single event but a guiding movement, led by the country's Generation Z students. His post quickly went viral across social media.

In his message, Akbar said the revolution succeeded through the sacrifices of young people and honored those who were killed or injured. He argued that despite domestic and foreign conspiracies, the spirit of July remains alive in the minds of the youth. He warned that traditional politics based on fear, corruption, and patronage would no longer survive against the intelligence and activism of new generations.

Akbar urged political parties to understand the mindset of nearly 80 million young people, saying that failure to adapt would lead to rapid decline. He predicted that future political movements would be driven by voluntary youth participation rather than coercion or manipulation.

Sadia Farzana Dina has been appointed as the acting member secretary of the Dhaka North convening committee of the National Citizen Party (NCP). The position became vacant after Sardar Amirul Islam Sagar was expelled from the role for violating party discipline. The announcement was made through a notice signed by NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain and spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, which was sent to the media on Monday afternoon.

Before this appointment, Sadia Farzana Dina served as the senior joint member secretary of NCP Dhaka North and was also a member of the party’s central office cell. The notice formally confirmed her new responsibility within the party’s Dhaka North organizational structure.

The appointment reflects an internal restructuring within NCP Dhaka North following disciplinary action against a former officeholder.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin Ahmed has expressed his desire to see the upcoming local government elections conducted without any bloodshed. He made the remarks on Monday, May 18, during a ceremony organized by the journalists’ association RFED at the ITI Building conference hall in Agargaon, where he attended as the chief guest.

The CEC emphasized that achieving a peaceful and violence-free election requires cooperation from all political parties. However, he noted that the exact date for the local government election has not yet been determined.

The statement reflects the Election Commission’s focus on ensuring a calm and orderly electoral process, though specific plans or measures to achieve this goal were not detailed in the remarks.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stated that political opponents have failed to undermine public confidence in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday at the BNP central office in Naya Paltan, he said Rahman is fulfilling his electoral promises and that the people’s trust in him remains strong. The BNP also announced an eight-day program from May 25 to June 1 to mark the death anniversary of party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.

Rizvi said Tarique Rahman is implementing initiatives such as family cards, farmer cards, and plans for health cards, along with efforts to make Bangladesh self-sufficient in food. He noted that Rahman has relaunched a nationwide canal-digging program that has gained wide response. Rizvi contrasted Rahman’s approach with previous governments that, according to him, failed to deliver on promises like cheap rice and free fertilizer.

He further recalled Ziaur Rahman’s leadership during a critical period in Bangladesh’s history, describing his governance as a time of stability, rule of law, and national progress that remains remembered by people across political lines.

Multiple public universities in Bangladesh have become tense amid student protests over administrative decisions, campus safety, and political issues. At Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) in Gazipur, students rejected the newly appointed vice-chancellor and enforced a campus blockade, halting academic and administrative activities. Clashes between opposing groups left at least 15 injured, prompting police deployment. In Patuakhali, students and staff at Patuakhali Science and Technology University staged a shutdown demanding the vice-chancellor’s resignation after alleged attacks on campus members.

At Jahangirnagar University in Savar, students protested late Sunday following three incidents of harassment against female students, which occurred shortly after an attempted rape case earlier in May. Police detained three suspects, and the university formed a seven-member committee to investigate the earlier assault. Meanwhile, in Chattogram, tensions rose after the city corporation allegedly ordered the removal of graffiti commemorating the July uprising, leading to restrictions on public gatherings.

Analysts cited long-standing administrative opacity, political influence, and safety concerns as underlying causes of the growing unrest across campuses, warning that vice-chancellor appointments have become flashpoints for division and confrontation.

A new Israeli death penalty law has been criticized for being designed solely to target Palestinians. According to the report, the law does not apply to Israelis, even those convicted of terrorist acts or labeled as terrorists by Israel itself. The measure is seen as formalizing what are described as extrajudicial killings already carried out by Israeli forces across occupied territories.

The report states that injured Palestinians at attack sites are often denied medical treatment, and evidence has emerged of medical neglect toward Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Several human rights organizations have documented cases of torture and deaths occurring inside prisons. The law is viewed as a political tool that helps members of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, maintain power by appealing to public support for harsh measures against Palestinians.

The legislation has reportedly intensified fear among Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, underscoring the extent to which Israel is prepared to punish Palestinians, according to the report.

A scheduled court hearing in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption case was again canceled, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12. The hearing was postponed following an emergency defense request citing confidential security and political reasons. Netanyahu’s lawyer informed the court that he could not attend the session, and details of the reasons were submitted in a sealed envelope to the court and prosecution.

The corruption case, launched in 2020, involves allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu first testified in December 2024, but his cross-examination has been repeatedly delayed. Throughout 2025 and into the current period, his legal team has successfully sought postponements, citing wartime conditions, diplomatic obligations, and security concerns.

Critics have accused Netanyahu of exploiting regional geopolitical tensions to delay the judicial process, though the court has not commented on these claims.

Chattogram City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has accused a controversial leader of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) of attempting to create unrest over the removal of July movement graffiti from flyover pillars. Speaking at a press conference at the city corporation office on Monday, he claimed the graffiti had already been covered by posters and that he himself had funded much of the artwork after the fall of the Awami League government.

Tensions erupted on Sunday night when city authorities repainted the pillars of the Shaheed Wasim Akhtar Flyover from Lalkhan Bazar to Dewanhat for advertising purposes. NCP activists protested, alleging that the city corporation erased the July movement graffiti to rent the space commercially. They began painting new graffiti and blocked roads in front of the city corporation building.

The situation escalated as BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal activists joined the scene, leading to heated exchanges with NCP members. Police were deployed to prevent further clashes. Around midnight, Mayor Shahadat arrived and dispersed the BNP activists, later addressing supporters at Lalkhan Bazar.

Bangladeshi expatriates in South Korea organized a civic reception for National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan during his visit to the country. The event took place on Sunday at noon at the Khimpu Foreign Support Center in Khimpu city, arranged by the NCP Diaspora Alliance, South Korea. NCP leaders, activists, and expatriates from various professions attended the ceremony.

In his speech, Asif Mahmud expressed gratitude to the diaspora for their hospitality and recalled their support during the July uprising, when the country was under blockade. He urged expatriates to remain united in realizing the goals of the July Charter and referendum, and to inform the international community about the uprising. He also assured that the NCP would continue working to ensure expatriate voting rights in future elections.

NCP Joint Member Secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat highlighted the role of expatriates in the July uprising and expressed hope for their involvement in future national policymaking. Expatriates raised issues such as simplifying migration processes, curbing exploitation by brokers, and improving repatriation and airport services.