As of now, 47,420 pilgrims from Bangladesh have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj. Among them, 4,583 traveled under government arrangements, and 42,837 under private management, across 119 flights. A total of 86,678 visas have been issued. Sadly, seven pilgrims—six men and one woman—have passed away during the pilgrimage so far.

ABM Rowshan Kabir reported that shortly after takeoff from Cox’s Bazar Airport, one of the aircraft’s rear wheels fell off. An engineering team was stationed near the runway at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as the flight was declared an emergency. Experts confirmed the aircraft could land safely even with one rear wheel missing. The plane later made an emergency landing in Dhaka without incident. The runway was temporarily closed, with ambulances and fire service vehicles on standby.

Under the leadership of its Amir, Jamaat-e-Islami held a central executive council meeting. Shafiqur Rahman warned of deep-rooted domestic and international conspiracies to destabilize the country. He called for public vigilance and unity formed through the July movement to help build a compassionate Bangladesh. He advised party members to remain cautious, patient, and grounded in justice and faith. “Avoid provocative or inappropriate statements. Do not get involved in instigative or unpleasant incidents,” he warned.

Abdul Awal Sardar, former mayor of Gosairhat Municipality and organizing secretary of the local Awami League, was arrested by immigration police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Officer-in-Charge Maksud Alam said Awal had been on the run since the political upheaval of August 5. He was trying to quietly flee the country on Thursday night when he was detained and is now being transferred to Gosairhat Police Station.

From 10 AM Friday, Jagannath University teachers and students began gathering at the northeast corner of Kakrail Mosque, preparing for a mass hunger strike following Friday prayers. A student said, “We’ve been protesting for three days with valid demands, but the government has yet to respond. Instead, we’ve faced police brutality. We won’t leave the streets until our demands are met.” Professor Dr. M. Belal Uddin stated, “We’re demanding an annual budget of 306 crore taka for our university—is that too much? Supporting education only strengthens the state.” He also noted they requested only 3,000 taka in stipends per student, which would benefit even the most remote villages.

Students surrounded Shahbagh Police Station demanding justice for the murder of Chhatra Dal leader Shahriar Alam Samya. They issued a 48-hour ultimatum to arrest all perpetrators. So far, three individuals—Tamim Hawlader (30), Samrat Mallik (28), and Palash Sardar (30)—have been arrested and sent to jail. Protests and demonstrations have continued for the past three days, led by Chhatra Dal and fellow students.

Farzana Ahmed Nipa recounted how a domestic dispute over loan repayments led her to contact a friend in Kolkata who promised a high-paying parlor job. She decided to cross the border illegally via Comilla but was caught upon arrival in Tripura and sent to Gomati District Jail the next day. “There are at least 10 Bangladeshi women imprisoned there,” she said. “Traffickers often send young girls to states like Maharashtra and Kolkata, sometimes selling them into brothels under the guise of employment.” Nipa added, “I never imagined I’d be rescued from that hell. I had lost hope of ever seeing my husband and daughter again.”

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly attempted to push in a large number of people through the Vijayanagar border in Brahmanbaria during the night. However, strong resistance from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local residents thwarted the effort. Locals claimed around 750 people were involved. In response to the push-in attempt, mosques in several nearby villages broadcast warnings through loudspeakers, prompting hundreds of locals to rush to the border. UNO Sadhana Tripura said, “The situation is under control. The public stood with BGB to prevent the intrusion and remain alert.”

Jagannath University professor Rais Uddin stated that students have been protesting under the open sky for three days, demanding their rights, yet the government has made no effort to resolve the issue. “This could have been resolved on the first day if the authorities had the will,” he said. “Jagannath University is oppressed and deprived. We’ve reached a point of no return. If our demands are not met, Kakrail will become a new center for realizing public demands.” He warned that if the government established through the people’s blood resorts to threats, they will resist. Following earlier announcements, teachers and students are set to begin a mass hunger strike after Friday prayers.

Legal expert Tuhin Malik wrote, “The July Declaration aims to dismantle the fascist state structure, which is why political parties, civil-military bureaucracies, and elite civil society members oppose any change.” He questioned, “Why wasn’t the declaration issued despite the government’s formation post-August 5, under the pretext of constitutional continuity?” Malik asserted that the draft of the July Declaration includes provisions to amend or even annul the 1972 Constitution if necessary — a key reason for elite resistance to change.

Political activist Hasnat Abdullah wrote, “Only 26 working days remain until the July Declaration.” Despite students planning to unveil the declaration on December 31 at the Shaheed Minar, the government promised to release it instead through an emergency press briefing on December 30 — a promise that remains unfulfilled. Recently, the government requested 30 more working days. Hasnat attached a video to his post, which features a speaker criticizing the brutalities committed by the ousted Hasina-led Awami League government.

At least 61 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Khan Yunis in Gaza early Thursday, while another 15 died in an attack on the Al-Tawbah Medical Center in Jabalia. Several others were injured. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the death toll has now exceeded 53,000. Government media sources in Gaza claim the number has surpassed 61,700, including thousands presumed dead under the rubble. At least three hospitals have suspended operations due to the continued bombardment.

The ceasefire between India and Pakistan, brokered by the United States, has been extended until May 18. This decision followed a series of communications between the two countries’ Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) via hotline. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the truce was initially extended until May 12 and then again to May 14. After further talks on May 14, it was extended until May 18. “On May 10 at 10:15 AM, US Secretary of State informed me that India is ready to agree to the ceasefire. We also gave our consent,” Dar confirmed.

Adviser Mahfuz Alam issued a statement saying he has no official link to the JnU movement, but as a stakeholder in the broader uprising, he was interested in resolving the situation. He explained that the “bottle incident” left him frustrated and disheartened. “I vented my frustration in front of the teachers, who were also shocked by the events. Due to consistent online threats from a particular group, I assumed they were behind it,” Mahfuz said. “If my frustration hurt anyone, I sincerely apologize.” He added that he supports the just movement and has advised the DMP to avoid any sabotage.

Following a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), a Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of a 10-story building and land in Uttara registered under the name of Mohammad Solaiman, father-in-law of former DB chief Harun-or-Rashid. Five of Solaiman’s bank accounts have also been frozen. Additionally, two bank accounts belonging to Harun’s brother ABM Shahriar have been blocked. Earlier, on February 19, the court ordered the seizure of 130 bighas of land and the freezing of 21 bank accounts under their names, along with shares in three companies.