The upcoming May 10 election of the Rajshahi University Alumni Association (RUAA) has been suspended following the resignation of two election commissioners—Professors Nurul Hossain Chowdhury and Habibul Haque. Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Moin Uddin revealed that the commissioners were intimidated and pressured not to carry out their duties. Nurul Hossain cited personal reasons and mental stress, saying he had been unable to sleep for two nights. A new commission or an ad hoc committee may be formed to proceed.

BNP leader Goyeshwar Chandra Roy stated that restoring democracy required the expulsion of fascism, yet democracy still remains trapped. “BNP and democracy are inseparable. A conspiracy against one is a conspiracy against the other,” he said. He criticized the interim government’s secretive seven-point deal with the Arakan Army and compared it to undisclosed agreements made by Sheikh Hasina, warning that such deals may become a “cancer” for the nation.

BNP’s Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury declared that the people of Bangladesh will not accept any government formed without an election. “The message from the people is clear—those who try to suppress elections will neither be forgiven nor see their ambitions fulfilled in Bangladesh,” he said. He also emphasized BNP’s 31-point roadmap, which includes commitments to workers’ rights, social security, and long-term welfare. He criticized the current government for neglecting labor interests and bypassing public opinion on critical national issues like corridor agreements.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan has urged workers to unite, stating that disunity is the reason for their continued exploitation. “You must fight for your rights,” he said, promising that the BNP will work to fulfill the aspirations of workers. He also called for the immediate enactment of proposed labor reforms ahead of May Day.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is expected to return to Bangladesh from London around May 4 or 5, according to her personal secretary ABM Abdus Sattar. “She must be brought back by air ambulance, and arrangements for that are still being finalized,” he said. “Her health condition is also a major factor. While the exact date is uncertain, we are preparing for her return around the 4th or 5th of this month.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has assured India of full American support for its right to self-defense during a phone call with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. The conversation followed the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which India blamed on Pakistan. Singh accused Pakistan of training and financing terror groups and destabilizing the region. Hegseth expressed solidarity with India and stressed that the world can no longer ignore state-sponsored terrorism.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the interim government to avoid entering agreements that harm Bangladesh’s national interests without consulting political parties or the public. He stressed the importance of timely reforms and elections, reminding the public that media freedom was first introduced by Ziaur Rahman. He credited BNP with originating many of the reform demands now under discussion and pointed to Tarique Rahman’s 31-point reform proposal as a roadmap.

Hasnat Abdullah has advocated for the voting rights of overseas workers, criticizing the system that neglects their contribution once they return home. He stated that excluding expatriates from the democratic process amounts to systemic discrimination and emphasized that worker rights are still not fully recognized. “Whichever party comes to power must ensure labor rights,” he added.

Tarique Rahman has warned the interim government to prioritize Bangladesh’s national interest over foreign agendas. Referring to the proposed humanitarian corridor through Bangladesh to Myanmar’s Rakhine State, he criticized the government for allegedly making the decision without public or political consultation. Tarique emphasized that only grassroots empowerment of working-class people can bring lasting change, as advocated by the BNP.

Professor Md. Hazrat Ali of the Civil Engineering Department at CUET has been appointed Interim Vice Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET). He will serve until a full-time VC is appointed. Under the appointment conditions, he will receive the same salary and benefits as his current role and must remain on campus full-time. The President, acting as Chancellor, retains the right to revoke the appointment at any time.

Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Abu Hanif has clarified that no discussions or agreements have been made with BNP regarding an electoral alliance or seat-sharing for the upcoming national election. He emphasized that their last meeting with BNP was part of a coordinated movement and denied media reports suggesting a pact between Nurul Haque Nur and BNP in the Patuakhali-3 constituency, warning against misinformation.

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has demanded the declaration of a specific election date to return power to the people. Speaking at a May Day rally, Rizvi accused Sheikh Hasina of continuing a reign of political killings even while in hiding. He claimed forensic evidence confirmed her voice in a threatening speech aimed at 262 people. Rizvi warned that another fascist regime would leave no one safe and urged immediate elections to restore democracy.

Interim Government Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has distanced the administration from remarks made by retired Major General A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman, who suggested Bangladesh should seize India’s northeastern states (Seven Sisters) if India attacks Pakistan. Rahman’s comments, made in a Facebook post, also proposed a military alliance with China. Shafiqul clarified that the statement does not reflect government policy and reiterated Bangladesh’s respect for all nations’ sovereignty.

At a labor rally in Gazipur, Islami Andolon Bangladesh’s Joint Secretary General Ataur Rahman declared that workers’ liberation is impossible without an Islamic labor policy. He noted that despite monetary wage increases, real wages have fallen due to inflation. Party President Khalilur Rahman added that a broader movement is necessary to implement Islamic labor laws, affirming their commitment to this cause.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, has urged media outlets to stop referring to sympathizers of convicted war criminals and human rights violators as “journalists.” In a social media post, he condemned those who support fugitive killers with UN-documented war crime charges and called them “looters and cronies” undeserving of the journalist title.