A Dhaka University investigation committee has reported that most of the 12 individuals accused in the April 23 journalist assault case have not responded to official notices. Only one accused has appeared to provide an explanation, while others have avoided responding. The committee, formed immediately after the incident, was initially given three working days to submit its report but later received a seven-day extension, set to expire on Thursday.

Committee convener and Assistant Proctor Professor Mahbub Kayser stated that the investigation will continue regardless of the accused’s cooperation and that the report will be submitted within the university’s deadline. He noted that while there are some limitations, no major obstacles have been encountered so far. Dhaka University Proctor Professor Saifuddin Ahmed confirmed that the committee is working independently and that further action will follow once the report is submitted.

The assault occurred when journalists were attacked while covering unrest near Shahbagh Police Station, leaving around ten university journalists injured. The lack of response from the accused is reportedly complicating the investigation process.

Residents of Kailashganj Union in Dacope upazila, Khulna, organized a broom procession on Tuesday morning demanding the removal of acting union parishad chairman and Awami League vice-president Prabir Mondal. The demonstrators accused him of irregularities, corruption, and misuse of funds, gathering in front of the union council with placards after marching from different wards.

According to protester Uttam Kumar Mondal, after the previous chairman went into hiding in August, an assistant commissioner (land) was appointed as administrator. Six months later, Prabir Mondal was made acting chairman, but the decision was briefly revoked following public protests before he was reappointed on March 4, 2026. Locals alleged that he engaged in financial misconduct and used his associates to intimidate residents. They submitted a petition to the deputy commissioner on March 9 seeking his removal but received no response.

Prabir Mondal denied all allegations, claiming they were baseless. Local MP Amir Ejaz Khan said he was aware of the matter and would ensure proper investigation, urging people not to resort to mob action.

Tensions flared at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall of Dhaka University on Tuesday night, May 5, 2026, when supporters of Chhatra Dal and Shibir clashed over the hanging and removal of a banner. The confrontation occurred around 10:30 p.m. near the main gate, leading to shoving and scuffles that reportedly left one student injured.

According to reports, the hall council had earlier hung a banner accusing Mohsin Hall Chhatra Dal joint convener Robin Hossain of involvement in an attack on the hall’s cultural secretary at Shahbagh. The banner, which included images from the incident, was repeatedly removed by Chhatra Dal activists and reinstalled by hall council members. The third attempt to remove it triggered the physical altercation.

Accounting student Md. Salman Khan claimed he was injured while trying to protect the banner. Hall council leaders accused Chhatra Dal of orchestrating the attack under senior leaders’ direction and warned of stronger protests if justice was not served. Attempts to reach the hall provost and university proctor for comment were unsuccessful.

Hefazat-e-Islam Dhaka District North held a protest rally and procession in Hemayetpur, Savar, on Saturday, demanding the trial of those responsible for the killings at Shapla Chattar. The group also called for the withdrawal of what they described as false cases against Islamic scholars and the implementation of their 13-point demands.

During the rally, Hefazat’s Dhaka District North president, Hafiz Maulana Ali Akbar Kasemi, said it was deeply regrettable that even after a long time, there had been no fair and acceptable trial for the Shapla genocide. He stated that the absence of justice had caused frustration and anger among the public and deprived victims’ families of justice. Kasemi urged the formation of an independent and impartial investigation commission to uncover the truth and the establishment of a special tribunal to ensure exemplary punishment for those involved.

Following the rally, a large procession led by Kasemi marched along the Dhaka-Aricha highway, chanting slogans demanding justice for the Shapla killings.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque stated that the future of national politics will be built upon the spirit of Shapla. Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration of the exhibition titled ‘Shaplar Shahidchitra: Adekha Sattwer Frame’ at the Nalinikanta Auditorium of the Shahbagh Museum in Dhaka, he honored those who lost their lives in 2013, calling them the true sons of the nation. He emphasized the importance of seeking historical truth and passing it on to future generations.

The event was attended by several political and social figures, including reserved seat MP Sanjida Islam Tuli, who described the exhibition as timely and praiseworthy. She said that ongoing discussions and research surrounding the Shapla incident are crucial for uncovering the truth and ensuring justice. Other attendees included writers, researchers, and leaders from various organizations.

Organizers said the exhibition aimed to promote research-based historical discussions and raise awareness among the youth. They expressed hope that similar initiatives would be held on a larger scale in the future.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser and former DUCSU assistant general secretary Nazim Uddin Alam said that all political parties should work together through dialogue to resolve any national crisis. He made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a discussion at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka. The event, organized by Ziaur Rahman Samaj Kalyan Parishad (ZISP) on the occasion of International Workers’ Day, was titled “Democracy, Good Governance and People’s Expectations.”

Nazim Uddin Alam emphasized that both ruling and opposition parties must engage in constructive criticism and cooperation to overcome economic and political challenges. He said BNP, Jamaat, and NCP jointly contributed to ending fascism and pledged to ensure social security, rule of law, and economic freedom under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. He also mentioned initiatives such as family and farmer cards and the revival of Ziaur Rahman’s canal-digging program.

He further stated that Bangladesh now has a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and criticized external comments on the country’s politics, asserting that Bangladesh’s people will remain united and vigilant.

Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Raihs Uddin has called for breaking the 13-year silence surrounding the Shapla Chattar incident and uncovering the truth. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion organized by the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) marking Shapla Genocide Day, held at the Department of Public Administration seminar room. The VC described the long silence as painful and said the event carried both deep sorrow and important lessons for the future. He termed the incident, which occurred amid state security and political suppression, as a deep wound for the nation.

Teacher and writer Ali Hasan Usama, the main discussant, reviewed the events of May 5, 2013, when Hefazat-e-Islam held a rally at Shapla Chattar. He highlighted the 13-point demand, the night operation, and subsequent repression, expressing concern over the lack of accurate casualty data and insufficient attention to affected families. Treasurer Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin noted that the incident drew international attention and emphasized the need for research on the roles of law enforcement, political parties, and the media.

Speakers urged collective efforts to reveal the truth and prevent the resurgence of authoritarian or fascist forces in the future.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that the July Movement emerged from accumulated anger over impunity in Bangladesh. Speaking at a seminar titled “From Shapla Massacre to July” held on Tuesday at Rupayan Trade Center in Banglamotor, Dhaka, he demanded that those who supported or masterminded the Shapla Chattar killings be brought to justice. He emphasized the need to ensure that citizens can speak safely and called for accountability for crimes against humanity.

NCP joint convener Sarowar Tushar claimed that the Awami League government had committed a series of crimes against humanity from the Pilkhana incident to the Shapla Chattar events. He urged the government to officially recognize those killed in the Shapla incident as martyrs. Other NCP leaders, including Ali Ahsan Junayed and Abdul Hannan Masud, also spoke at the seminar.

The speakers collectively argued that Bangladesh cannot escape historical responsibility by denying the Shapla Chattar events and called for state recognition of victims from past movements.

Experts have called for coordinated scientific measures, stronger research, and enhanced national preparedness to address the recent measles outbreak in Bangladesh. The appeal was made on Tuesday morning at a seminar jointly organized by the Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM) and Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Microbiology, held at the university’s Senate Hall.

Speakers at the event noted a concerning rise in measles infections and child mortality, emphasizing the need for improved laboratory surveillance, treatment management, public awareness, and vaccination coverage. They highlighted the importance of molecular surveillance, rapid diagnosis, and community-level risk communication. The seminar featured Dr. Firdausi Qadri, Dr. Khondkar Mahbuba Jamil, and Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Dey, who stressed collaboration among physicians, microbiologists, public health experts, epidemiologists, and policymakers.

Participants also underscored the need to strengthen vaccine security and self-reliance, noting that while UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi support immunization programs, Bangladesh must develop its own vaccine research, production, and distribution capacity to ensure long-term resilience.

Bangladesh Labor Party Chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran has described the killings that took place on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka’s Motijheel area as a disgraceful chapter in the country’s political history. In a statement signed by the party’s office secretary Md. Miraj Khan, he said that the state-sponsored operation by law enforcement agencies against unarmed religious scholars, devout citizens, and ordinary people was a severe violation of human rights and democratic values.

Dr. Iran emphasized that the state’s duty is to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, but the midnight operation at Shapla Chattar created deep concern and anger among the public. He stated that justice cannot be established in national life without a proper investigation into the incident.

He prayed for the souls of those killed and expressed sympathy for the injured and affected families. Dr. Iran also urged the government to guarantee human rights, freedom of expression, and democratic rights to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) conducted an eviction drive in Anwara upazila of Chattogram to remove illegal structures along the Karnaphuli Tunnel six-lane connecting road. The operation began at 10 a.m. on Tuesday under the supervision of Executive Magistrate Razia Akter Chowdhury. According to RHD, the drive is part of a seven-kilometer road development project stretching from Chatri Chaumuhani Bazar to the Marine Academy.

The project, implemented at a cost of Tk 78 crore, includes the construction of a 1,200-foot-long and six-foot-wide RCC drain to address waterlogging in the market area. During the operation, RHD officials stated that the eviction was necessary to accelerate the ongoing road improvement work. Several senior engineers and officials from the Chattogram South District Road Division were present during the drive.

The initiative aims to ensure smoother progress of the infrastructure project and improve drainage and traffic conditions along the key connecting route.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to urgently repair the roads in Pirojpur district to make them suitable for traffic. The instruction came during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday. The meeting reviewed the progress, challenges, and next steps of various development projects under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Pirojpur.

During the discussion, the Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining a smooth and functional road communication system across the country. He particularly stressed the need to bring long-neglected and severely damaged roads under immediate repair programs to reduce the suffering of local residents. Relevant departments were instructed to take prompt and effective measures.

Officials present at the meeting reported on the previous progress of LGED projects in Pirojpur and noted that irregularities and corruption had occurred during the previous Awami League government’s tenure. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in implementing development activities going forward.

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro met with Brigadier General Dr. A K M Shamsul Islam, the Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser, on Tuesday afternoon in Dhaka. The meeting took place at the office of the Defense Adviser in the Armed Forces Division within Dhaka Cantonment, with a four-member Italian delegation present.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged greetings in a cordial atmosphere and held productive discussions on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the area of defense cooperation. They emphasized deepening the existing friendship between Bangladesh and Italy and making it more multidimensional.

The discussions also covered expanding collaboration in defense training, capacity building, and experience sharing, as well as enhancing cooperation in the context of regional and global security. Both parties stressed the importance of elevating mutual trust, cooperation, and strategic partnership to a new level.

Islami Chhatra Shibir Central President Nurul Islam has alleged that the Awami government carried out the Shapla Chattar killings as part of a plan to eliminate Islam and its leaders. Speaking at a human chain organized by the Dhaka South unit of Chhatra Shibir at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar, he demanded the immediate publication of a white paper on the incident and the trial of those responsible in an international crimes tribunal.

Nurul Islam claimed that after the 2013 incident, many Islamic scholars were unjustly arrested, tortured, and imprisoned for years. He also alleged that several television channels were shut down to conceal the events of May 5. He urged the government to reveal the actual death toll, compensate affected families, and punish those who planned and executed the killings. He further called for a blasphemy law to prevent anti-Islamic activities.

Special guest Maulana Abdul Halim of Jamaat-e-Islami also demanded justice, claiming that some former RAB and military officials were directly involved. He reminded that the opposition alliance led by Begum Khaleda Zia had protested the killings the following day.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on district administrators to engage closely with citizens and lead alongside them. Speaking as chief guest at the sixth session of the 2026 Deputy Commissioners’ Conference held Tuesday at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he emphasized the administrators’ vital role in nation-building and urged them to focus on genuine public welfare. He also announced that the government would organize local government elections soon and stressed decentralization as key to strengthening democracy.

State Minister Mir Shah Alam, attending as special guest, highlighted the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, noting that among 64 district commissioners, 18 are women, and one of eight divisional commissioners is female. He instructed authorities to ensure coordinated waste removal within 12 hours during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The session, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, included presentations and discussions among divisional commissioners and district administrators on local challenges and development priorities.

The event underscored the government’s focus on administrative innovation and effective local governance to advance national development goals.