BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has described the killing of his close aide and personal assistant Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, as a 'cold-blooded murder'. The incident occurred on Wednesday night, May 6, when assailants on motorcycles stopped Rath’s car in the Daulatala area and opened fire before fleeing. The attack took place within 48 hours of the West Bengal Assembly election results, sparking tension in the area. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, May 7, Adhikari said the attack appeared preplanned, claiming the assailants had conducted reconnaissance before striking. He stated that the state’s Director General of Police, Siddhanath Gupta, assured him of a full investigation. Adhikari urged party workers to remain calm, emphasizing that the BJP would not take the law into its own hands and called for an impartial probe to identify the real culprits. Adhikari also alleged that BJP workers across the state had been targeted since the election results were announced, citing incidents of shootings and stabbings in Basirhat and Baranagar. He said he had briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national leader Nitin Navin about the situation.

Hezbollah announced that it carried out 17 targeted attacks on Israeli forces that entered southern Lebanon on Wednesday. In a statement, the group said it used drones and rockets to strike Israeli troops and military vehicles in several areas, including Qantara, Biyada, Taybeh, Naqoura, Rishaf, and Aita al-Shaab. Hezbollah also claimed to have targeted specific military equipment, including a drone strike on a troop transport vehicle in Kawzah and an attack on a newly established command center in Qantara. According to the report, these ongoing exchanges of fire have further intensified the situation in southern Lebanon. The escalation comes amid continuing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, raising concerns about worsening regional instability. The report cited Al Jazeera as the source of information but did not provide details on casualties or official responses from either side.

The United Nations has warned that Lebanon’s overall situation remains highly unstable despite the enforcement of a ceasefire. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the conflict has not fully stopped, and ongoing attacks continue to affect civilians across the country. OCHA reported that more than 2,700 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2, with the number rising daily due to continued assaults. On Wednesday, Israel carried out an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburb for the first time since the ceasefire took effect on April 17, reportedly killing at least 13 people nationwide. Analysts cited in the report warned that the situation could deteriorate further, posing a major threat to regional security if violence escalates.

Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of two Gaza flotilla activists, Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila, who were detained by Israeli forces after the Global Sumud Flotilla ship was intercepted in international waters last week. The organization warned that the detainees face a serious risk of human rights violations, including possible torture and other mistreatment while in custody. Amnesty expressed particular concern for Saif Abu Keshek, a Palestinian-Spanish-Swedish citizen, alleging that he was detained on suspicion of links to a terrorist organization under what the group described as Israel’s discriminatory laws and ongoing repression of Palestinians. The organization urged Israel to ensure the safety and humane treatment of both detainees. Separately, Israeli human rights group Adalah reported that the Beersheba District Court rejected a petition for the activists’ release and extended their detention until Sunday morning.

A five-year-old girl named Jannat was killed in a tragic road accident in Kamrangirchar, Dhaka, on Wednesday, May 6. The incident occurred in the Sylheti Bazar area when a speeding battery-powered rickshaw struck her while she was playing in front of her home. Locals rushed to rescue the injured child, but she was declared dead upon arrival at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police confirmed that the body was kept in the hospital morgue and legal procedures were underway before handing it over to the family. Jannat was the elder daughter of day laborer Mostafa from Lumbabak village in Jamalganj, Sunamganj. Her family had moved to Kamrangirchar seeking a better life. The accident has sparked anger among residents of the densely populated neighborhood, who expressed frustration over the reckless movement of battery rickshaws in narrow lanes. Social media users also voiced concern and demanded stricter control over such unregulated vehicles. The incident has renewed local calls for enforcement of traffic rules and regulation of battery-powered rickshaws in residential areas.

Police in Mongla, Bagerhat have arrested two men, including a hotel manager, for allegedly recording an objectionable video of a female field research assistant while she was bathing. The incident occurred on the night of May 5, 2026, at Singapore Hotel, where the woman was staying with colleagues for a BRAC Education Development Institute project. She reportedly saw a man filming her through the bathroom ventilator and raised an alarm, prompting the suspect to flee. Following her complaint, police detained hotel manager Md. Mohsin, 40, and guest Boni Amin, 23, on suspicion of involvement. A case has been filed under sections 8(1) and 8(7) of the Pornography Control Act 2012, and both suspects have been sent to court. Locals alleged that the hotel had long been associated with irregularities and suspicious activities, including previous unproven misconduct claims against the manager. Mongla police stated that initial evidence supports the complaint and that a thorough investigation is underway. Residents have demanded strict punishment for those found guilty and increased monitoring of local hotels.

Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead on Wednesday night in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the Madhyamgram area when Rath was returning by car from Doharia. Eyewitnesses said a group of assailants on motorcycles stopped his vehicle and fired multiple shots at close range, hitting him in the chest. Rath was rushed to a nearby private hospital where doctors declared him dead. The car’s driver was also shot and later transferred to another private hospital in Madhyamgram due to his critical condition. According to available information, Rath had previously served in the Indian Air Force and, after retirement, became a close aide to Suvendu Adhikari. He had recently been active in election campaigning. Authorities have not released further details about the attackers or the motive behind the shooting.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced a special operation to remove economically expired, risky, and unapproved vehicles from the capital’s roads. The initiative, declared on May 6 through a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam, aims to reduce public suffering and road accident risks caused by unfit vehicles that often break down on roads, highways, and bridges, creating severe traffic congestion. According to the DMP, the operation will target all vehicles that have exceeded their economic life, lack registration numbers, or operate without proper authorization. Government policy sets the economic life of buses and minibuses at 20 years, and trucks, covered vans, and other freight vehicles at 25 years. Vehicles exceeding these limits are prohibited from operating on the roads. The DMP stated that owners and drivers of such vehicles will face legal action, including fines, vehicle dumping, and other penalties. The drive will be conducted jointly by metropolitan magistrates and traffic police, with authorities seeking cooperation from vehicle owners, transport workers, drivers, and the general public.

A Washington Post analysis has reported that Iranian airstrikes across the Middle East caused far greater damage to US military bases than officially acknowledged by Washington. Satellite imagery revealed that at least 228 facilities and military assets were damaged across 15 US bases, including 217 buildings and 11 military resources. The White House has not yet issued any response to the report. According to the analysis, more than half of the damage occurred at the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and three bases in Kuwait. The strikes destroyed Patriot missile defense systems in Bahrain and Kuwait, satellite dishes at Bahrain’s naval support base, and THAAD radar systems in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. In Saudi Arabia, an E-3 Sentry command and control aircraft and a fuel transport plane were also damaged. The report added that the destruction in Bahrain was so extensive that the Fifth Fleet headquarters was relocated to MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Some officials fear that US forces may not return to regional bases on a large scale in the near future.

At least four people were injured, including one by gunfire, during a clash between two groups over territorial dominance in the Dhaka Match New Colony rail line market area under Kadamtali Police Station in Dhaka. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Witnesses and relatives of the injured said that wood trader Md. Roni, 28, was hit by a bullet in his left leg while passing by. He was first taken to a local hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for further treatment. In the same incident, pedestrian and mill worker Mahadi Hasan, 16, was stabbed in the waist, while Md. Billal, 30, sustained an eye injury from a stick blow, and fish trader Rabbi Ahmed, 32, suffered a head injury. According to Inspector Md. Faruk, in charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital police camp, all the injured are currently receiving treatment at the hospital’s emergency department. Following the clash, additional police forces were deployed in the area, and law enforcement officials reported that the situation is now under control.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud held a courtesy meeting with James Stewart, Political Officer at the US Embassy in Dhaka. The meeting took place on Wednesday at the NCP’s temporary central office in Banglamotor. Discussions focused on the current overall situation in Bangladesh and emphasized strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States. James Stewart was accompanied by Md. Iqbal Mahmud, Assistant Political Specialist at the embassy, while NCP central committee member Ayman Rahat joined Asif Mahmud. After the meeting, the NCP spokesperson showed the embassy delegation around the party office. The meeting reflected ongoing diplomatic engagement between the US mission and political representatives in Bangladesh, highlighting mutual interest in maintaining dialogue on national and bilateral matters.

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the UAE’s state news agency. Both leaders condemned recent Iranian attacks and expressed solidarity with each other. Netanyahu affirmed Israel’s support for the UAE’s efforts to ensure national security, stability, and the safety of its citizens. Israel’s Arabic-language X account stated that Netanyahu described the attacks as a clear violation of sovereignty and a threat to regional stability. The statement also noted that Israel, in coordination with the United States, had carried out strikes against Iran on February 28, reaffirming its unwavering solidarity with the UAE and full support for all measures to protect its security. The UAE normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under a U.S.-brokered agreement, becoming the first Gulf nation to do so. Since then, economic and defense cooperation between the two countries has steadily expanded.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reaffirmed on Wednesday, May 6, that she will not resign from her post. Speaking at a meeting with her party’s legislators, she declared that she would rather be dismissed and called for such a day to be marked as a black day. According to NDTV, Banerjee also announced plans to approach the court seeking justice over incidents of post-election violence. She had earlier alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won through manipulation following the May 4 election results. Her refusal to resign has created a constitutional complication, as it is customary for a chief minister to step down after elections so the majority party can form a new government. The situation has led to discussions about the possibility of her dismissal or the imposition of presidential rule in the state. Meanwhile, reports of violence have emerged across West Bengal, with allegations that BJP supporters attacked and set fire to homes and offices of Trinamool Congress members. At least four people have reportedly died. The BJP has denied involvement, claiming that Trinamool workers disguised as BJP supporters carried out the attacks to create unrest.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that China believes Iran’s international position has strengthened following the recent war. He made the remarks after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, according to Iranian state media. Araghchi said both sides discussed key issues including the war, ways to end it, Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, sanctions, the Strait of Hormuz, and ongoing negotiations. He added that a “new era” is emerging in Iran’s relations with other countries. The meeting highlighted continued diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Beijing amid regional and international tensions. Araghchi’s comments suggest that Iran sees growing diplomatic opportunities in the aftermath of the conflict, with China recognizing its enhanced role on the global stage.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the greatest asset of a state is the trust of its people. He emphasized that transparency and accountability in government and administration are essential to building this trust. Rahman made these remarks in a written speech delivered on Wednesday night at the annual gathering of the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association, held at the 'Trimoitree' conference in Agargaon, Dhaka. He said the government seeks a people-oriented administration where citizens receive services quickly, transparently, and without harassment. While law is important, he noted that humanity carries even greater significance. Rahman urged officials to treat elderly and sick citizens with compassion, as such behavior fosters a positive perception of the state and government. The Prime Minister added that the manifesto his party had developed for the welfare of the nation has now become the people’s manifesto, as it received public support. He called for its full implementation as the government’s responsibility.