At a party meeting on Friday chaired by NCP convenor Nahid Islam, it was announced that the party will launch a protest in Dhaka demanding reforms in the judiciary and the holding of National Assembly elections. The party has reorganized 64 districts into 19 zones for better organizational management. It was also decided that district committees will have 31–51 members and sub-district committees 21–41, with convenors required to be at least 40 years old. Allegations of misconduct led to the formation of a new internal disciplinary and investigation committee.

As part of the weeklong celebration of the Sangrai festival, a key event for the Marma community, a three-day “Friendship Water Festival” concluded in Bandarban. The closing ceremony was attended by Hill Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma and diplomats including EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro, and Dutch representative Andre Karstens. The adviser said the event showcased the peaceful coexistence in the hills to foreign guests and stressed that all residents of the hills are equals. The festival committee expressed gratitude for the diplomatic engagement and called on all citizens of Bangladesh to remain united in harmony, like the colorful Sangrai celebrations.

Azizur Rahman Azad, a student leader from Islami Chhatra Shibir, wrote on Facebook that over 11,000 political cases are currently filed against their members. He said that in October, the party’s central leadership met with legal adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, who promised to resolve the cases soon. However, Azad claims there has been no progress in the past eight months, and his passport application was repeatedly denied due to pending cases. Despite four visits to the Agargaon and Uttara passport offices, nothing was resolved until he secured a court order—twice. “Yesterday, I finally received a message: ‘Your passport is ready for delivery.’ If this is how I’m treated, imagine what the general public must go through,” he added. In a warning, he said, “Those sitting in power under the guise of reform are eroding citizens’ fundamental rights. If a mass uprising erupts, the responsibility will lie with these so-called advisers.”

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has arrested three Indian nationals at the Daulatpur border in Kushtia with 69 bottles of Phensedyl. In separate operations, BGB also seized 14 kg of marijuana and 485 yaba tablets abandoned along the border. The detainees—Md. Jewel Mondal (25), Md. Rakibul Mondal (35), and Md. Bapon Mondal (32)—are all residents of Murshidabad, India. Two Bangladeshi citizens, Md. Nizam Mondal (45) and Md. Sharif Mondal (25), managed to escape. The arrested individuals have been handed over to local police.

In a late-night raid in Kuala Lumpur’s Medan Imbi area, Malaysian immigration authorities detained 506 undocumented migrants, including 165 Bangladeshis. Medan Imbi has long been known as a hotspot for illegal immigrants. Authorities reported violations such as overstaying visas, lack of proper documentation, and abuse of work visit passes. Immigration Chief Datuk Zakaria Shaban warned of strict action against violators.

The Armed Forces Division reported that between April 10–17, joint operations across Bangladesh led to the arrest of 390 criminals, including listed terrorists, fugitives, drug dealers, and gang members. Authorities recovered 10 illegal firearms, 46 rounds of ammunition, narcotics, stolen electronics, foreign currency, and large sums of cash.

Citizens in Narayanganj marched under the banner ‘March for Yunus,’ demanding state reforms before any elections. Speakers asserted that Nobel Laureate Dr. Yunus was chosen by the people and therefore has a mandate. “The July uprising remains unaddressed. Blood was shed for reform, not just ballots,” they said. The speakers warned that without structural changes, any new government would also turn authoritarian.

Mohammad Akram Hossain, a 25-year-old from Ashuganj, died while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war after joining the Russian army. His family received the news on Friday through a call from one of his fellow fighters. Akram had learned welding and moved to Russia with hopes of improving his family’s financial condition and securing his future. For eight months, he worked as a welder in a Chinese company in Russia. However, about two and a half months ago, he was lured by a broker into joining the Russian military as a contract soldier and took part in the war in Ukraine, which ultimately led to his death. According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), the government is in contact with the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to bring back his body.

Violent clashes erupted in Chattogram between Chhatra Dal and anti-discrimination student activists. Protesters from both groups held separate rallies, accusing each other of betrayal and violence. Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi of the anti-discrimination group said, “We are now forced to stand against our former allies.” Chhatra Dal’s joint convener Sabir Ahmed countered, claiming that the dispute originated from internal issues at Mostafa Hakim Degree College, which were politicized by their opponents. Two activists were critically injured in the clash.

Fazle Bari Masud, a leader of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, stated that the public demands structural reforms before any election. He warned that prioritizing elections without reform is akin to betraying the martyrs of the 2024 uprising. “Elections without reform will only bring another wave of fascism,” he said. He urged political parties not to ignore the people’s desire for change, criticizing those pushing elections to appease external powers.

A delegation from the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) met with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to discuss the upcoming national election. The discussion covered international election monitoring and the need for a free and fair electoral process. ANFREL is an umbrella organization promoting electoral integrity across Asia, with 27 member groups from 17 countries, including Bangladesh.

Monir Haidar, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, has claimed that political protection has allowed rampant corruption and mismanagement in the health sector. “It’s not just the officials’ fault—the entire system is politically compromised,” he said. He emphasized that democracy must be about transparency and accountability, not just elections. “In the civilized world, elections are merely an entry point to democracy; the real essence lies in good governance,” he said.

BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie has demanded swift and visible trials for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her family, and political patrons. He stressed the urgency of electoral and structural reforms. Annie accused the government of using armed groups and looted weapons to suppress opposition activities, especially before the August 5 movement. He urged party members to stay alert and push forward organizational activities.

Mosharraf Hossain, also known as ‘Minoti Mosharraf,’ alleged to be a ‘cashier’ for former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, has been placed on a three-day remand in connection with the 2015 attack on Begum Khaleda Zia’s motorcade. The attack occurred during BNP’s mayoral campaign for Tabith Awal in the Dhaka North City Corporation election. The case was filed in August 2024.

BNP leader Selima Rahman accused certain factions of trying to delay the upcoming election under the guise of “reform,” warning that such moves resemble the return of one-party BAKSAL rule. She emphasized the need to restore democracy and voting rights, urging all political forces to unite under a nationalist vision. She also called on BNP activists to spread Tarique Rahman’s 31-point plan for structural reform to every household across the country.