After a long period of price stability, the Indian government has increased fuel prices nationwide. On Friday, authorities announced a hike of three rupees per liter for petrol and diesel, and two rupees per kilogram for CNG. The decision follows growing pressure on foreign exchange reserves, rising global crude oil prices, and a weakening rupee. In Delhi, petrol now costs 97.77 rupees per liter and diesel 90.67 rupees, while prices in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai have also risen accordingly. India had avoided fuel price hikes since April 2022, even cutting prices by two rupees per liter before the March 2024 general elections. However, surging crude oil import costs—rising from about 69 dollars per barrel in February to over 113 dollars in recent months—have strained the economy. As the world’s third-largest oil importer, India spent about 174 billion dollars on crude oil imports in the 2025–26 fiscal year. Economists warn that India’s current foreign exchange reserve of around 690 billion dollars may be insufficient to handle global uncertainty. Former RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra suggested reserves should reach at least one trillion dollars to ensure economic stability.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md. Abdus Salam said the corporation is working tirelessly to transform Dhaka into a livable, modern, clean, and green city. He emphasized that achieving this goal requires active participation and collective effort from the government, administration, political organizations, and city residents. Salam made these remarks on Friday afternoon while inaugurating a tree-planting program organized by Shahbagh Thana BNP near the Government Employees Hospital in the capital. Highlighting cleanliness and mosquito control, the administrator stressed the importance of preventing dengue and chikungunya during the upcoming monsoon. He said DSCC is conducting special activities under a weekly cleaning day program across the city, but residents must also remain vigilant by keeping their homes and surroundings clean and ensuring no stagnant water accumulates. Salam praised the BNP’s tree-planting initiative as a commendable effort that will contribute to greening Dhaka and making it more livable. The event began with the administrator planting a sapling at the site, attended by leaders of Shahbagh Thana BNP and affiliated organizations.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman stated that if the referendum verdict is implemented, no one will be able to become an autocrat again. Speaking as the chief guest at a Dhaka Metropolitan South Jamaat educational camp on Friday, he said those aspiring to authoritarian rule cannot accept the verdict. He warned the government that no administration opposing the people’s will has ever survived and urged respect for the referendum outcome. Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, the main discussant at the event, said Jamaat has endured severe repression but earned a place in the people’s hearts. He claimed that before the February 12 election, citizens voted hoping to bring Jamaat to power, but election engineering and vote rigging deprived them of that outcome. He cautioned that such manipulation could recur and called on supporters to remain vigilant. The event, held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers auditorium in Dhaka, was chaired by MP Nurul Islam Bulbul and attended by several central and city-level Jamaat leaders.

A protest rally and gathering were held in Singair, Manikganj, on Friday afternoon to denounce reported attacks, intimidation, and persecution of Muslims in West Bengal, India. The event took place at the Sahrail Central Eidgah field under the banner of the Sayesta Union Ulama Parishad and Tawhidi Janata. It was presided over by Mufti Sulaiman, with several local religious and political leaders addressing the crowd. Speakers at the gathering described the incidents in West Bengal as clear violations of human rights and urged effective measures to stop communal violence and provocation. They emphasized that Bangladesh remains a country of communal harmony where people of all faiths coexist peacefully, and warned against any attempts to create religious division. Participants also called on the international community to take effective action regarding the reported persecution of Muslims. The program concluded with a special prayer for peace, safety, and the freedom of the oppressed.

A protest rally and gathering were held in Khulna on Friday, May 15, 2026, condemning alleged persecution of Muslims in India’s West Bengal and the reported anti-Bangladesh remarks by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The event took place at Dakbangla Square under the initiative of the Khulna District Imam Parishad and later turned into a procession through several city streets. Speakers at the rally demanded that Adhikari publicly apologize to Muslims, warning that failure to do so would not make Muslims responsible for any resulting tensions. The gathering, presided over by Maulana Golam Kibria, general secretary of the Khulna District Imam Parishad, featured several religious leaders including Maulana Abu Bakar Siddiq, Maulana Nur Said Jalali, Maulana Hekmat Ali, Sheikh Md Nasir Uddin, and Maulana Abdullah Al Mamun. They urged Bangladesh’s parliament to adopt a motion condemning Adhikari’s remarks and cautioned that government silence could be interpreted as support for anti-Muslim sentiment. The protest procession ended near the Baitun Nur Mosque Complex adjacent to New Market after starting from Dakbangla intersection.

Five leaders and activists of the BNP’s student wing and Jamaat-e-Islami were injured in an attack following a banned Awami League flash procession in Brahmanbaria. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday night in the Suhilpur Bazar area of Sadar upazila. The injured include district Chhatra Dal joint convener Rahim Uddin, district Nabin Dal joint convener Javed, activists Jasim and Shahinul Islam Shahin, and district Jamaat publicity secretary and former Shibir president Md. Rokon Uddin. According to local sources and party activists, Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League members organized a motorcycle flash procession in Suhilpur Union, allegedly attempting to create panic in the area. BNP and Jamaat activists followed them on motorcycles. When they reached Malihata Shantinagar in the neighboring Budhal Union, several attackers ambushed them, injuring five people who were later treated at Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital. District Council Administrator and BNP General Secretary Sirajul Islam visited the injured at the hospital on Friday morning and claimed the attack was premeditated, demanding that those responsible be identified and brought to justice.

Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran has alleged that Muslims in West Bengal are facing systematic persecution under the guise of secularism in India. Speaking on Friday at the party’s Nayapaltan office in Dhaka, he claimed that after the recent elections, armed groups linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have carried out violent attacks, looting, and arson against Muslim communities with the support of the new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He also said that cow and buffalo slaughter had been banned in the state, targeting the Muslim community. Dr. Iran stated that Muslims in various Indian states are facing threats to their civil rights, religious freedom, and security. He urged international human rights organizations to investigate incidents of minority persecution in West Bengal and other parts of India and to take effective action. The event was organized to mark the 30th death anniversary of Maulana Abdul Matin, the party’s founder. During the event, Dr. Iran also recalled Maulana Matin’s political legacy, describing him as a strong voice against oppression and a key figure in Bangladesh’s nationalist movements.

Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Suman announced that all educational institutions in Bangladesh will receive duty-free electric buses in the upcoming national budget. He said this initiative fulfills a commitment made by the Prime Minister. The minister made the announcement on Friday while addressing the annual literary and cultural competition award ceremony at Comilla Victoria Government College. During his speech, Suman stated that a new project is being undertaken for the century-old Victoria College. He mentioned that the college’s Zia Auditorium name had been removed in the past, recalling that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had donated a bus to the college in 1993. He pledged to arrange one or two more buses for the college, either through government support or his family’s AKM Abu Taher Foundation. The minister also highlighted several development initiatives in Comilla, including the passage of a development authority law and progress toward establishing Comilla WASA. He expressed optimism that the current Prime Minister would continue the region’s development and eventually declare Comilla a division.

Relief and Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu announced that Bangladesh will excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals over the next five years. He stated that a ministry meeting decided to implement 7,000 kilometers of canal re-excavation, with 1,500 kilometers scheduled for this year. Except for one district, the work will be carried out through local administrations across 64 districts. Speaking in Shahrasthi, Chandpur, on Friday, the minister said the new canal excavation program includes additional components such as tree planting along canal banks and fish cultivation in the canals. He emphasized that the government aims to ensure transparency in all projects and that accountability is being strengthened under the current administration. The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve water management and local livelihoods through environmentally sustainable measures, according to the minister’s remarks at the event.

Bangladesh and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance strategic cooperation in the energy sector. The agreement was signed on Thursday at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright representing their respective countries. The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington confirmed the signing in a press release. According to the embassy, the MoU aims to bolster Bangladesh’s long-term energy security amid global challenges stemming from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. It will support diversification of energy sources based on affordability and supply chain sustainability, opening new areas of collaboration between the two nations. The agreement will facilitate capacity building, knowledge sharing, and research in oil, gas, geothermal, and bioenergy. It will also help Bangladesh import LNG, LPG, and other energy products from the United States at competitive prices. Both ministers described the MoU as a milestone and a historic advancement in Bangladesh-U.S. relations.

Khelafat Majlis organized a protest rally and gathering in Dhaka on Friday after Jumu'ah prayers, condemning the persecution of Muslims in India and the killing of Bangladeshi citizens by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). The rally, arranged by the party’s Dhaka North unit, started from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque, marched through several streets, and returned to the same spot for a concluding assembly. At the event, Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader accused the BSF of repeatedly violating international law and human rights by shooting Bangladeshi citizens along the border. He alleged that India seeks to intimidate Bangladesh and destabilize border areas through illegal activities such as drug trafficking and forced push-ins. Kader demanded that India immediately stop border killings, compensate victims’ families, and end persecution of its Muslim minority. He also criticized Bangladesh’s foreign ministry for not summoning the Indian High Commissioner after recent border deaths and urged the government to take effective action. Additionally, he condemned Israel for drone attacks that killed two Bangladeshi expatriates in Lebanon and called for stronger protection of Bangladeshi workers abroad.

Water Resources Minister and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie stated that his party had suffered 17 years of deprivation but has now proven its ability to overcome neglect through the formation of Chandraganj Upazila. He made the remarks on Friday, May 15, during a meeting with leaders of the newly formed Chandraganj Upazila BNP and its affiliated organizations in Lakshmipur, where he attended as the chief guest. Annie, who is also the Member of Parliament for Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) and convener of the district BNP, said the region had been deprived of development in roads, drainage, and educational institutions for years. He emphasized the need to move beyond this neglect and announced plans to establish a university, a medical college, and an economic zone in Lakshmipur. The event was attended by several local leaders, including the Lakshmipur District Council administrator, district BNP joint convener, and representatives from the Nationalist Lawyers Forum.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) arrested 19 leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations on charges of planning sabotage and organizing a public rally. The arrests were made following a special operation led by CMP’s Deputy Commissioner of the South Division, Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan. Police reported seizing a large quantity of locally made weapons during the operation. The arrests took place after a gathering near Jamiatul Falah Jame Mosque following the funeral of former MP and minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain. According to police, the group began a procession carrying sticks and bricks while chanting slogans against the state and government. When police arrived, the participants dispersed into nearby alleys. Cases have been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Khulshi and Kotwali police stations. Police stated that the detainees admitted to being active members of the banned Awami League and its wings, allegedly spreading misleading information in coordination with fugitives at home and abroad. Police also said that main suspect Mohammad Mohiuddin faces 15 prior cases under various criminal laws, while several others among the arrested have multiple cases pending.

A protest rally was held in Dhaka on May 15, 2026, following visits to the graves of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and martyr Sharif Osman Hadi. The event took place after Friday prayers at the Dhaka University Central Jame Mosque, led by Nasiruddin Patwary, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP). Patwary shared details of the event through a Facebook post. According to the post, the protest was organized in response to recurring incidents of Bangladeshi citizens being killed by Indian border forces. After the grave visits, participants gathered in front of the national poet’s grave to demand an end to such killings. The rally called for a strong and effective foreign policy to protect Bangladeshi citizens along the border. The demonstration was attended by members of the public and NCP supporters, emphasizing national unity and diplomatic action to address cross-border violence.

Selim Reza, a Member of Parliament from Sirajganj-1 constituency elected with the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol, has donated his entire one-month salary to the Paichgachi Madhyapara Mosque in Kazipur upazila. The donation was handed over on Friday after the Jumu’ah prayer by Nazrul Islam, a former member of the Sonamukhi Union BNP and assistant professor, on behalf of the MP. The mosque committee’s treasurer and BNP leader Abdus Samad Mondal formally received the donation. Several local BNP and affiliated organization leaders, including Dola Sarkar, Abdus Salam Tota, Shahidul Islam Shikdar, and Majnu Mia, were present during the handover ceremony. The donation follows an earlier announcement made by Selim Reza on May 8, when he personally visited the mosque and pledged the contribution. The event highlighted the MP’s engagement with his constituency’s religious institutions and local party members, emphasizing community support through charitable acts.