National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain questioned the sudden disappearance of long vehicle queues for fuel across Bangladesh following a recent price hike. He raised the issue during a press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, held to discuss a national convention on energy, economy, human rights, reform, and referendum. Akhtar accused the government of ignoring the people’s clear verdict in a referendum held after the tenth national election, where about 70 percent reportedly supported one side. He said the government failed to form a constitutional reform council as expected and instead dismissed the referendum’s outcome as fraudulent or unconstitutional. He argued that reforming the constitution’s basic structure requires a higher institutional framework, a concept no political party had previously rejected. Expressing concern over the banking sector, Akhtar alleged that those involved in large-scale financial misappropriation were being allowed to regain ownership by returning only a small portion of the stolen funds, warning that this could encourage further corruption.

The United States Embassy in Bangladesh has issued a new advisory regarding the proper use of B1-B2 visitor visas. The notice, released on Saturday, May 2, 2026, reminds visa holders that while certain business activities such as contract negotiations and conference participation are allowed during their stay in the United States, receiving payment or working for a U.S. employer is strictly prohibited. The embassy emphasized that it is the traveler’s responsibility to use their visa correctly. It also reiterated that using a visitor visa to travel to the United States solely for the purpose of giving birth so that a child obtains U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers may deny visa applications if they determine that this is the applicant’s primary intent. The advisory serves as a renewed reminder for Bangladeshi travelers to comply with U.S. visa regulations and avoid misuse that could lead to visa denial or other consequences.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei has called on the American people to challenge their government over what he described as an illegal war and atrocities committed against Iran. He stated that the conflict was an unprovoked act of aggression and that U.S. citizens have the right to demand accountability from the Trump administration. Baghaei shared a video from a U.S. Senate hearing featuring Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who said there was no evidence that Iran had planned an imminent attack on the United States. Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces have warned of a strong possibility of renewed conflict with the United States and Israel, citing Washington’s alleged failure to adhere to international agreements. According to Iranian officials, these developments reflect growing distrust toward the U.S. government’s commitments and raise concerns about escalating regional tensions.

Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP arrived in Japan on a seven-day visit. He landed at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport at 3:45 p.m. local time on Saturday, where he was warmly received by leaders of the Islamic Mission Japan, expatriate businesspeople, and professionals. Earlier that morning, he departed Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Tokyo. Dr. Rahman is accompanied by Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member Saiful Alam Khan Milon MP and his foreign affairs adviser Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman MP. During the visit, he is scheduled to attend receptions organized by the Bangladeshi community, participate in various seminars, and hold courtesy meetings with senior officials of the Japanese government. According to the schedule, the opposition leader is expected to return to Dhaka on May 9 after completing his engagements in Japan.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across 32 districts in four divisions. The alert, released on Saturday, indicated that from 1 p.m. on May 2 for the next 48 hours, parts of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience rainfall ranging from 44 to 188 millimeters within 24 hours. The department also cautioned that landslides could occur in some hilly areas of the Chattogram division. According to the weather office, the continued formation of thunderclouds over the country is likely to cause temporary waterlogging in affected areas. The warning emphasized the potential for landslides in hilly regions due to the intensity of the expected rainfall. The advisory urged residents in vulnerable zones, particularly in Chattogram’s hill tracts, to remain alert as the heavy rainfall may persist for two days.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that hostility between the United States and Iran has ended. In a letter sent to congressional leaders on May 1, he stated that the 60-day approval requirement under the War Powers Act no longer applies, as active military operations have ceased. Trump explained that he launched 'Operation Epic Fury' to protect U.S. interests at home and abroad. According to the letter, Trump ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, which was later extended. Since that date, there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces. The conflict, which began on February 28, is now considered over. The announcement was reported by The Guardian and marks a formal communication to Congress regarding the cessation of hostilities. The end of hostilities could signal a shift in U.S. military engagement in the region, though further details on diplomatic or strategic implications were not provided in the letter.

US President Donald Trump described the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as a highly profitable business during an event in Florida on Friday. He said Washington was seizing Iranian goods and oil as part of the blockade, comparing the operation to piracy but emphasizing that it was not a game. Trump defended the blockade by arguing that Iran had long used the strategic waterway as a weapon and had previously threatened to close it. He claimed that after Iran shut the strait, he responded by closing it for them. Addressing ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, Trump stated that it might be better for the United States not to reach any deal, though he later added that the current situation could not be allowed to continue. The remarks came amid heightened tensions following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, which prompted Tehran to retaliate against US allies in the Gulf and close the strait. A ceasefire was announced on April 8 through Pakistan’s mediation, and subsequent talks in Islamabad on April 11–12 ended without an agreement.

All ferry and vessel operations on the Daulatdia-Paturia river route have been suspended due to adverse weather conditions. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) announced that the suspension took effect from around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The decision affects all types of water transport, including ferries and launches, operating between Daulatdia in Rajbari and Paturia in Manikganj. According to BIWTC sources, the suspension will remain in place until further notice. The assistant manager (commercial) of the BIWTC Daulatdia terminal, Jesanul Islam Tipu, stated that ferry services will resume once weather conditions improve and are deemed safe for navigation. The temporary halt in operations is intended to ensure passenger safety and prevent accidents during the ongoing period of inclement weather.

Several crop-protection embankments in Madhyanagar upazila of Sunamganj have collapsed following continuous rainfall, submerging large areas of farmland. On Saturday morning, an embankment of the Guraduba subproject in Boala Haor broke, after similar incidents earlier in the week at Kailani, Jamgara canal, and Jinarya Haor. Rising water levels in the Someshwari River intensified pressure on local embankments, causing breaches near a madrasa that began to collapse as water rushed in. Local farmers reported severe crop losses, with many unable to harvest their paddy in time. Some alleged irregularities in embankment construction and demanded investigations against responsible officials. According to the local agriculture office, of 13,470 hectares of farmland in Madhyanagar, about 10,000 hectares have been harvested, while 13 percent was already waterlogged. The latest breaches have damaged around 31 hectares of paddy fields. Officials from the Water Development Board and the upazila administration said efforts were underway to protect remaining structures and assess the extent of damage.

The 2026–2027 executive committee election of the Dhaka Lawyers Association has been declared unacceptable by Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Lawyers Council, due to alleged irregularities and fake voting. In a statement issued on Saturday, he claimed that inconsistencies in forming the election commission allowed fraudulent votes and booth tampering. Several voters reportedly found their votes already cast when they arrived to vote. Akand stated that irregularities and bias occurred at every stage of the election process. He explained that traditionally, the election commission is formed with equal representation from two panels, but this time the BNP-backed Blue Panel had 90 members while the Lawyers Unity Council’s Green Panel had only 41. Written and verbal appeals to the Bar Council and the chief election commissioner allegedly went unanswered, giving the Blue Panel a numerical advantage. Following the vote count, the BNP and Gano Adhikar Parishad-backed Blue Panel won all 23 posts. Akand reiterated that the election was neither fair nor credible and urged vigilance against those undermining democratic processes.

Iran has executed two men convicted of spying for Israel and its intelligence agency, Mossad. The executions of Yakub Karimpour and Naser Bakorzadeh were carried out on Saturday, according to Iranian authorities. Both were found guilty of collaborating with Israel and passing sensitive information to Mossad. According to the report, Bakorzadeh was accused of collecting details about government and religious figures as well as key locations, including the Natanz area. Karimpour was charged with transferring classified information to a Mossad officer. The executions come amid a broader crackdown in which Iran has recently executed several individuals linked to the January protests. The report, citing Reuters, did not provide further details about the trial process or the timing of the arrests, leaving aspects of the case undisclosed.

Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on party supporters not to open shops or organizations using the name of Zia Parishad. Speaking at a discussion at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka on Saturday, May 2, he said the BNP already has many affiliated and associate bodies and does not need another. He expressed disappointment that some people were using the Zia Parishad name for personal benefit. Fakhrul emphasized the need for a research institution dedicated to the works of Ziaur Rahman, noting that the Zia Parishad had already published several books under his encouragement. He urged the group to focus on research activities instead of commercial ventures. He also criticized the culture of lobbying in Bangladesh, saying that merit and intelligence should be the basis for advancement. The BNP secretary general further commented on ongoing debates over the July Charter and the constitution, stating that while discussions are healthy, they should not be used for political interests. He reiterated that his party had expressed dissent on several points and did not agree on all constitutional reform issues.

U.S. low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has announced the closure of its operations after a White House rescue proposal failed. The company said in a statement early Saturday that rising oil prices and other pressures had significantly affected its future prospects. All flights have been canceled, and passengers were advised not to go to airports. The airline cited the global oil price surge and fuel shortages following the outbreak of the Iran war as key reasons for its financial collapse. The sharp increase in jet fuel costs led Spirit to bankruptcy for the second time in less than two years. The company stated that with no additional funding available, winding down operations was its only option. The Trump administration had proposed a $500 million rescue plan that would have given the government a major ownership stake in the airline, but the plan faced criticism and ultimately failed.

Online registration for students studying in the eighth grade has officially begun, according to an emergency notice from the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board. The process, including fee submission and online data entry, will continue from Saturday until May 25. Registration must be completed through the eSIF system, and only students who passed the seventh-grade annual exam in 2025 and were registered in the sixth grade in 2024 are eligible. The age limit is set between 11 and 17 years as of January 1 of the exam year, with a relaxation up to 22 years for students with special needs. Only students enrolled in board-approved institutions can register through their schools. Unapproved institutions must complete registration through nearby recognized schools. Institutions must log in to the board’s website using their EIIN and password, pay the fixed fee through Sonali Seba, and fill out student information online after payment clearance. Each institution must form a three-member registration committee to verify and submit student data. The registration fee is set at 206 taka per student, rising to 256 taka with a late fee. Schools are prohibited from charging any additional amount beyond the fixed fee.

Iran’s armed forces have warned of a strong possibility of renewed conflict with the United States and Israel, according to a statement reported by the semi-official Fars News Agency on May 2, 2026. The military cited evidence that Washington is not committed to honoring agreements or international treaties as the basis for its concern. Deputy Chief of Staff Mohammad Jafar Asadi said that current US actions and statements are largely media-driven, aimed at keeping oil prices from falling and escaping the turmoil they have created. He added that Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any new acts of aggression or miscalculation by the United States. The warning, issued during a ceasefire period, has heightened tensions across the Middle East, raising fears of renewed instability in the region.