Dr. Jonaid Shafi, described in the report as a financial sector figure and relative of former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, is reportedly preparing to return to Bangladesh to manage the minister’s business interests. According to the source, Shafi fled the country after a July uprising and has since been living in Dubai. He faces at least 26 cases, including corruption and money laundering charges, with two charge sheets already filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission. A Chattogram court has issued an arrest warrant against him, and his and his wife’s bank accounts have been frozen by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit.

The report states that Shafi is attempting to rebrand himself as sympathetic to the opposition BNP, seeking contact with party leaders and the Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh. He allegedly plans to surrender upon return, seek bail citing health reasons, and then attempt to regain control of his former business network. Allegations against him include embezzlement of hundreds of crores of taka from banks and misuse of corporate loans.

The source notes that efforts to obtain Shafi’s comment were unsuccessful.

Bangladesh’s economy is increasingly pressured by global energy market volatility and internal structural weaknesses, according to experts speaking at a webinar titled “Economy Trapped in Energy Crisis,” organized by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) on Saturday. Participants said rising fuel prices, a prolonged dollar shortage, and import dependence are affecting production, agriculture, transport, and daily life. They questioned whether the situation is a temporary shock or a sign of a deeper energy trap.

Speakers including former energy secretary A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, former Bangladesh Agricultural University vice-chancellor Sattar Mandal, and industry leaders discussed the severity of the crisis and possible solutions. They noted that supply constraints, panic buying, and limited storage capacity have worsened the situation. Khan emphasized the need for uninterrupted supply despite price fluctuations, while Mandal highlighted growing diesel demand in agriculture. Trade Services International chairman Syed Mahmudul Haque warned of rising national financial pressure from global oil price hikes.

Participants suggested expanding renewable energy use and accelerating gas exploration. PPRC executive chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman cautioned that bureaucratic delays could hinder timely policy action.

Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament concluded its first session on April 30, 2026, after 25 working days marked by heated debates and multiple walkouts. The session, which began on March 12 under senior member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain’s chairmanship, saw the passage of 94 bills, including 91 ordinances reissued from the interim government. The most contentious discussions centered on the Liberation War and the use of the so-called “’71 card,” as ruling BNP lawmakers repeatedly invoked the war to challenge opposition Jamaat-e-Islami’s historical role. The opposition staged four walkouts over issues including the July Charter, constitutional reform meetings, and ordinance repeals.

Political analysts described the session as vibrant yet divisive, noting that BNP used the Liberation War narrative much like the former Awami League government once did. They observed that while the parliament displayed greater procedural balance and neutrality from the Speaker, debates often revived old ideological divisions. Analysts also highlighted that the session reflected both cooperation and confrontation between the government and opposition.

Experts suggested that despite its energy, the session exposed weaknesses in legislative effectiveness and warned that unresolved issues around the July Charter and reform ordinances could shape future political tensions.

Nazrul Islam Mallik, a medical assistant at the BDR Hospital during the 2009 Pilkhana massacre, was a direct witness to the killings of 74 people, including 57 army officers. After escaping from the hospital during the uprising, he went into hiding under a false name. Despite living secretly for years, he was abducted and later found dead, his body recovered from the Baleshwar River in Bagerhat.

Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, Nazrul’s wife, Munni Akter, filed a case seeking justice for his murder. The International Crimes Tribunal is currently trying dismissed army officer Major General Ziaul Ahsan for crimes against humanity, including the killing of Nazrul and others. Family accounts describe how Nazrul disappeared in March 2010 after being taken by plainclothes men and was later identified through DNA testing.

Investigators reportedly informed the family that Ziaul Ahsan was responsible for Nazrul’s death. The case remains part of a broader investigation into enforced disappearances and killings linked to the 2009 BDR mutiny.

Bangladesh’s long-awaited administrative reform proposals have stalled, with the report of the Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury Commission remaining unimplemented. The commission, formed by the interim government to build a transparent, accountable, and citizen-friendly administration, had recommended dismantling colonial and feudal bureaucratic structures and ensuring merit-based recruitment and promotion. However, senior officials and experts told Amar Desh that the proposals are now effectively shelved, and initiatives such as asset declarations and dual citizenship disclosures by officials have lost momentum.

Public administration experts say bureaucratic behavior has not changed despite regime shifts, with corruption, bribery, and harassment persisting across government offices. Citizens interviewed across eight divisions reported that bribery has increased in land, transport, and passport offices. Former officials alleged that the interim government failed to reform the politicized bureaucracy inherited from the Awami League era. The government, however, maintains that it is committed to building an efficient and neutral administration, prioritizing merit and integrity in promotions and transfers.

Analysts warn that without implementing the Muyeed Commission’s recommendations, efforts to establish good governance and accountability will remain ineffective.

Former six-time Member of Parliament and ex-Constituent Assembly member Alhaj Md. Moslem Uddin has died at the age of 88. He passed away at around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at a hospital in Dhaka. Moslem Uddin was a former president of the Mymensingh District Bar Association and a leader of the now-banned Awami League activities in Phulbaria upazila.

His first funeral prayer was held the same day after the noon prayer at Taqwa Mosque in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Additional funeral prayers are scheduled for Sunday at the Mymensingh District Lawyers’ Association at 10 a.m., Phulbaria Government High School field at 3 p.m., and Alhaj Md. Moslem Uddin Orphanage field at 5 p.m. He will be buried at his home in Neugi Kushmail.

His eldest son, Imdadul Haque Selim, confirmed the news on Facebook. Moslem Uddin is survived by two sons and two daughters.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has formed a new affiliated body named the National Tribal Alliance to represent Dalit, Harijan, and other marginalized communities. Bhimpalli David Raju has been appointed as convener, while Kailash Chandra Rabidas will serve as member secretary. The 11-member convening committee was announced by NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain at an event held at the CRAB auditorium in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Other key positions include Rajendra Kumar Das as senior joint convener, Manik Barail as joint convener, and Aruna Rani Das as senior joint member secretary.

Community leaders presented a 14-point demand at the event, calling for constitutional recognition of Dalit, Harijan, and scheduled communities, enactment of an anti-discrimination law, proportional representation in state structures, and reforms to land and health policies to ensure inclusivity. They also urged the government to preserve their languages and culture, conduct ethnographic surveys, and establish a dedicated commission for community rights.

NCP leaders expressed full support for the demands, emphasizing equality and inclusion. They stated that the party aims to bring marginalized groups into mainstream politics and ensure equal citizenship rights for all communities in Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman paused his motorcade on Saturday, May 2, 2026, while returning from Sylhet to Dhaka to fulfill a child’s emotional request for a photo. The child, identified as Abdullah Al Mamun, began crying to take a picture with the prime minister. Seeing this, Rahman stopped his convoy, brought the boy into his car, comforted him, and took selfies together. The moment quickly went viral on social media.

According to the report, Abdullah handed the prime minister a paddy sheaf and a note bearing the names of Major Ziaur Rahman, Begum Khaleda Zia, and Tareq Rahman, each marked with a heart symbol. Abdullah is a fifth-grade student at Sylhet Shahjalal Pre-Cadet School and lives with his family in Sylhet City Corporation’s Ward 6 area. His father, Borhan Uddin, is a contractor and involved in BNP politics.

Borhan Uddin expressed gratitude to the prime minister for stopping the motorcade and embracing his son with affection, describing the gesture as heartfelt and beyond protocol.

After an eight-year gap, the Lakshmipur District Chhatra Dal has announced a new convening committee. The 18-member body was approved late Saturday, May 2, 2026, with Abul Barakat Sourav appointed as convener and Hasibur Rahman Abhi as member secretary. The approval came from the central Chhatra Dal president Md. Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

The last district committee was also formed after an eight-year hiatus in 2018, when Hasan Mahmud Ibrahim served as president and Abdullah Al Mamun as general secretary. The newly approved committee has been instructed to form a full convening committee within the next 30 days.

Other members of the committee include senior joint convener Abdullah Al Khaled and several joint conveners such as M A Majid, Delwar Hossain Bhuiyan Babu, Ismail Hossain, Jamal Hossain, Akbar Hossain Munna, Musa Abdullah Russell, Nasiruzzaman Rahat, Shahbaz Mahmud Zidan Chowdhury, and others.

The Mongla Port Authority Officers Association held its annual general meeting and reunion on Saturday at the Port Auditorium in Khalishpur, Khulna, which was established in 1993. The event took place in a festive environment with spontaneous participation from officers of various levels within the authority. The meeting discussed the association’s future plans, strengthening organizational activities, and addressing officers’ demands.

Speakers at the meeting emphasized that unity and mutual cooperation within the association could enhance professional skills and welfare among officers. They called for collective efforts to make the organization stronger and more effective in the future.

Following the formal session, a joyful reunion and cultural program were organized, attended by officers and their family members. Organizers noted that such events play a vital role in improving relationships, fostering harmony, and strengthening fraternity and family bonds among members.

An eleven-party alliance organized a mass procession and rally in Noakhali on Saturday afternoon demanding the immediate implementation of the referendum verdict and the 'July Charter'. The procession began at the district model mosque premises around 5:30 p.m., marched through the main streets of the town, and concluded with a brief rally at the municipal market. The event was presided over by Jamaat-e-Islami central Majlish-e-Shura member and Noakhali district Ameer Ishaq Khondaker, with district secretary Maulana Borhan Uddin conducting the session.

Leaders from several parties, including Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, the Labour Party, and the NCP, addressed the gathering. They accused the government of disregarding the referendum verdict, which they claimed reflected the will of 70 percent of the people. According to the speakers, the government had pledged to form a constitutional reform council and implement reforms within 180 days but failed to take the required oath or act on the commitments.

Speakers warned that the alliance would continue street protests until the referendum verdict and the July Charter were fully implemented.

A severe nor'wester storm struck Bhola Sadar upazila on Saturday afternoon, uprooting several large trees and causing widespread disruption to road and power connections. The storm toppled six to seven trees around the upazila administration campus, cutting off communication and electricity for thousands of residents in the surrounding areas.

Witnesses said continuous rain had softened the soil around large rain trees, which collapsed when the storm hit. The incident blocked major roads linking Bhola town with eastern parts of the district, while fallen electric poles and snapped wires plunged the area into darkness. One house in Bapta union was damaged after a tree fell on it, and the roof of Bapta temple was blown away.

Local authorities managed to partially clear the roads after three to four hours of effort, though vehicle movement remains limited. According to the Bhola Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, losses amount to several lakh taka, and full restoration of normal conditions may take two to three more days as recovery work continues.

A fire broke out late at night at the Primary Education Directorate’s store room in Mirpur-2, Dhaka, where individuals wearing burqas allegedly set the blaze. Police have arrested three employees of the directorate—cleaners Asmaul Islam, Md. Jinnat Ali Biswas, and Humayun Kabir Khan—in connection with the incident. The arrests were announced by Mirpur Division Deputy Police Commissioner Mostak Sarkar at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Center on Saturday evening.

According to police, the fire occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Friday, damaging a large number of laptops stored on the second floor. Of 735 laptops, 450 remained intact, 33 were partially damaged, 29 severely damaged, and 140 completely burned, while 83 were missing. A regular case has been filed at Mirpur Model Police Station. Police said Asmaul Islam admitted to setting the fire during initial questioning, leading to the arrest of the other two suspects.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan and State Minister Bobby Hajjaj visited the site and expressed concern. The minister directed the secretary to form a three-member investigation committee immediately.

An Ansar member named Md. Forhad, aged 26, died from electrocution on Saturday afternoon in Mahalchhari upazila of Khagrachhari district. The incident occurred at his home while he was charging an autorickshaw and a short circuit caused severe injuries. Family members immediately took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to family sources, Forhad had returned home on leave four days earlier. He was the son of Azibur Rahman from the Lemuchhari area and served in the Bangladesh Ansar force. Mahalchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mirza Zahid confirmed the incident, stating that the body remains at the hospital and will be handed over to the family after legal procedures.

The death has cast a shadow of grief over the local community. Residents have called for greater awareness and safety measures regarding electrical hazards in the area.

A 55-year-old farmer named Ahad Mia from Rampur village in Goalanagar Union, Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria, died after witnessing his ripe paddy fields submerged under water. According to family and locals, Ahad had cultivated six bighas of paddy during the Boro season with borrowed money. Heavy rainfall and upstream flooding caused his crops to go underwater. When he went to harvest the paddy with laborers, he collapsed upon seeing the damage and died on the way home.

Local union parishad member Ahmed Ali said the farmer could not bear the shock of losing all his crops. His nephew, Mohammad Faruk Ahmed, confirmed that the funeral and burial took place on Saturday afternoon. Upazila Agriculture Officer Imran Ahmed stated that an assistant agriculture officer was sent to the deceased’s home after receiving news of the incident. Nasirnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahina Nasrin said officials were preparing a list of affected farmers to bring them under government incentive programs.