Five Chittagong University students abducted in Khagrachhari five days ago remain missing, causing distress among their families. Tribal students demand their immediate rescue and return. Supradip Chakma has urged for their safe return and called for an end to extortion. The authorities are continuing their efforts to locate them. The United People's Democratic Front denies involvement in the incident.

Umama Fatema, spokesperson for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, called for justice in Zahidul Islam Parvez’s murder. She accused Chhatra Dal of shifting focus to political dissection and hiding the real culprits. Fatema clarified that those seen attacking in the first CCTV footage have no ties to the Anti-Discrimination movement, while the second footage showed Anti-Discrimination members and Chhatra Dal activists. She condemned media trials and called for an unbiased investigation.

The BGB Swimming Complex in Pilkhana has been named "Shaheed Nurul Islam Swimming Complex" in honor of Martyred Subedar Major Nurul Islam, who sacrificed his life during the 2009 Pilkhana massacre to save army officers. His son, Ashraful Alam Hannan, expressed gratitude to the BGB. On August 20, 2009, Nurul Islam was honored with state recognition and awarded the highest BGB medal.

BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince said that BNP believes in the principle of "Religion is for Individuals, The State Belongs to All." He emphasized that BNP is a religion-friendly party, committed to building an inclusive nation. He also assured that BNP, under Tarique Rahman, will fulfill its 31-point plan to create an egalitarian and discrimination-free state.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam stressed the importance of vigilance, as democracy has not yet progressed. He called for reforms and elections to be resolved through dialogue among political parties. Fakhrul condemned the murder of Zahidul, stating that those responsible were not part of Bangladesh's change movement and expressed disappointment over the lack of focus on reforms for farmers and workers.

To ease the pressure on the Siliguri Corridor, India initiated a rail project worth around ₹5,000 crore, which includes significant projects like Akhaura-Agartala, Khulna-Mongla, and Dhaka-Joydevpur. However, the development train from Delhi to Dhaka has come to a halt. The Indian government has suddenly suspended ongoing and planned rail projects, citing political instability in Bangladesh and concerns over the safety of Indian workers. As a result of this setback, Delhi is now turning its attention to Bhutan and Nepal.

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, has claimed responsibility for attacks on two military bases in northern Benin, reportedly killing 70 soldiers. This marks one of the deadliest assaults in the region in recent years. Jihadist violence in the Sahel began after a Tuareg uprising in Mali in 2012 and has since spread to Burkina Faso, Niger, and more recently, coastal nations like Benin, leading to thousands of deaths and mass displacement.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Moin said the institution must also be held accountable. “If we engage in corruption, you should expose it, and we will work to correct ourselves,” he stated during a public hearing in Nilphamari. He emphasized the need for society to strongly condemn corrupt individuals and highlighted that the focus should shift toward preventing future corruption rather than only addressing past incidents. Of 81 complaints presented at the hearing, two are in court, several were deemed irrelevant, and 57 were resolved.

During a meeting on Sunday with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam called for an increased deployment of Bangladeshi police and armed forces personnel in peacekeeping missions. Lacroix praised Bangladeshi contingents for their talent, professionalism, and significant contributions to global peace. He acknowledged efforts to place more Bangladeshi officers in leadership roles. The Adviser also requested the deployment of Bangladesh’s Formed Police Units in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs has announced that victims of politically motivated cases filed between January 6, 2009, and August 5, 2024, can now apply directly to the Solicitor at the Law and Justice Division for case withdrawal. This new provision is aimed at providing relief to those persecuted for political reasons.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has expressed shock over the Women’s Reform Commission’s report, saying that some recommendations clearly violate the Qur’an and Hadith. He stated that instead of reinforcing moral and religious values to address growing social and familial problems, the recommendations introduce harmful elements that could destabilize society. He warned that these suggestions would destroy the moral fabric of all religions and that the people of Bangladesh would overwhelmingly reject them.

The Appellate Division has stayed a High Court verdict that ordered the promotion of Craft Instructors to Junior Instructor posts. The stay came in response to an appeal filed by the Director General of the Technical Education Directorate. A full hearing is scheduled for May 18. The original High Court ruling had instructed that positions be created or reserved for Craft Instructors in upper-level posts and allowed promotions based on qualifications if no posts were available.

A video has circulated online alleging that Dr. Muhammad Yunus donated Tk 1,000 crore to Israel, based on a statement by preacher Mufti Alauddin Jihadi. The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has categorically denied the claim, calling it false and part of a broader smear campaign against Dr. Yunus and the interim government. Fact-checker Rumor Scanner had earlier debunked the video, and Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that no such donation had been acknowledged.

Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, after a coordination meeting with the Chief Adviser at Jamuna, assured that the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha will see minimal power outages and no traffic congestion. He praised officials for staying on duty during the previous Eid, ensuring smooth celebrations. He also noted that major issues at Sayedabad Bus Terminal had been resolved with the Environment Ministry’s help. The adviser termed the success a result of coordinated efforts.

Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam has claimed that evidence has been found linking deposed leader Sheikh Hasina and former military officer Ziaul Ahsan to nearly 200 cases of enforced disappearance. He said the investigation is in its final stages and includes data suggesting the accused used state power to commit violence against civilians. The probe has gathered victim testimonies, video footage, and drone surveillance as evidence of crimes against humanity.