Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said his party is waiting for the Prime Minister to fulfill her commitment to implement the July Charter and the referendum verdict. Speaking to journalists at the party’s central office in Purana Paltan on Monday, he noted that the Prime Minister had promised to implement the charter fully, and the party trusts her assurance.

He added that the referendum resulted in a ‘yes’ victory, which is part of the July Charter, and therefore his party expects the government to act accordingly. Addressing concerns about political appointments in the administration, he reminded the government of the Prime Minister’s earlier call for inclusive governance and urged an end to partisan recruitment, emphasizing merit-based appointments instead.

Rezaul Karim also discussed the breakdown of electoral alliances with Jamaat and other parties before the February 12 election, citing unilateral decisions and foreign meetings by Jamaat as reasons. He criticized the US trade deal as a “slavery agreement” and condemned the BJP’s actions in West Bengal, calling them uncivilized.

Former Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam has called on the revolutionaries of the July uprising to stay vocal. In a Facebook post on Monday afternoon, he warned that fascist forces are preparing to return and are attempting to discredit all activities of Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s government. He urged the revolutionaries to remain active in response.

The report states that the banned Awami League is trying to reorganize through various strategies, forming new committees at different levels of the main party and its affiliated organizations. The group is reportedly seeking to regain political influence by focusing on issues that resonate with the public and by taking legal steps to undermine Dr. Yunus and his former interim government.

Political analysts cited in the report believe that the ongoing campaign against Dr. Yunus may expand further and that issue-based programs could gradually evolve into a broader anti-government movement against the current BNP administration.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to former State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak and his wife Arifa Jesmin Konika. The order was issued on Monday afternoon by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz, following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC’s Assistant Director Minhaj Bin Islam sought the seizure, citing allegations that Palak abused his power and amassed illegal wealth through irregularities and corruption.

According to the petition, preliminary investigations found assets worth about Tk 9.98 crore inconsistent with their known income sources. The couple allegedly maintained 31 bank accounts showing deposits of Tk 22.94 crore and withdrawals of Tk 17.58 crore, which the ACC suspects fall under money laundering activities. The commission argued that collecting original tax documents from the 2008–2009 to 2024–2025 fiscal years was essential to prevent concealment or transfer of assets.

The ACC stated that the investigation is being conducted under sections of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. The court approved the seizure to ensure a fair investigation.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and a member of parliament, urged that every wall in Chattogram display July-themed graffiti by the end of the day. He made the statement in a Facebook post on Monday afternoon.

Following his call, tensions reportedly rose between activists of the BNP and NCP over the July graffiti issue in Chattogram. In response, the local administration issued a public notice on Monday morning prohibiting all types of gatherings and rallies from GEC Mor to Dewanhat. The restriction aims to prevent potential unrest linked to the dispute.

The situation underscores growing political friction in the city, with authorities moving quickly to maintain order in key areas.

A student-led graffiti painting campaign linked to the July Movement was disrupted by police in Chattogram on May 18, 2026. Around 15 to 20 students gathered at Tigerpass intersection after 1 p.m. to paint graffiti but were stopped by police. The students expressed frustration, claiming that the city corporation’s removal of July Movement graffiti was an attempt to erase the movement from public memory.

Tensions had been rising in Chattogram since Sunday evening after earlier graffiti was removed, leading to confrontations between BNP and NCP activists. Both groups had announced separate graffiti programs from Lalkhan Bazar to Tigerpass. To prevent unrest, authorities imposed Section 144 from GEC intersection to Dewanhat and deployed additional police. BNP and NCP leaders later suspended their programs in compliance with the order.

Deputy Police Commissioner (South) Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan stated that no gatherings were allowed under Section 144 and that no untoward incidents occurred, though some verbal exchanges took place when students resisted police inquiries.

Iran will not engage in any discussion or compromise over its right to enrich uranium, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on May 18, 2026. He stated that the right to uranium enrichment is recognized under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which allows countries to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes but not for weapons development.

Responding to a question about conditions exchanged between the United States and Iran, Baghaei said Iran’s demands are clear. He noted that while the U.S. considers lifting sanctions on Iran’s frozen assets as a condition, Tehran views it as a legitimate demand. He also remarked that the United States is no longer credible in the international arena.

Baghaei further urged regional countries, including the United Arab Emirates, to learn from recent events, adding that U.S. presence in the region has made the situation more unstable rather than bringing peace.

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.