Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Aminur Rashid Yasin said that farmers are the main strength of Bangladesh and that the country will become more self-reliant and stronger through agricultural development and the enhancement of farmers’ dignity. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while addressing the prize distribution ceremony of an inter-department debate competition at Comilla Victoria Government College.

The minister stated that he is proud to be both a farmer’s son and a farmer himself, noting that social attitudes toward farming have changed as people now take pride in their agricultural roots. He emphasized that logical reasoning and knowledge are essential tools for progress, urging students to practice healthy debate and intellectual engagement. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring a livable and secure world for future generations.

Discussing farmer welfare, Yasin explained that the introduction of the Farmer Card aims to help producers receive fair prices by aligning production with regional demand. He expressed hope that technology-based, planned agriculture would strengthen Bangladesh’s food security in the future.

Fifty newly elected members of parliament for the reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament will take their oath on Sunday, May 3, at 9 p.m. The Parliament Secretariat announced the schedule in a press release on Saturday, May 2. The ceremony will take place in the designated oath room on Level 1 of the East Block of the National Parliament Building in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

According to the Secretariat, the Speaker will administer the oath to the new members as per parliamentary tradition. Among the 50 members, 36 were nominated by the BNP, 13 by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its alliance, and one by an independent alliance. The nomination of Nusrat Tabassum from the National Citizen Party (NCP), initially canceled, was declared valid on Saturday. Relevant departments have already been instructed to complete necessary preparations for the event.

Earlier, on April 29, a total of 49 candidates, including 36 from BNP, 12 from the Jamaat alliance, and one independent, were elected unopposed to the reserved women’s seats.

A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official, Hossein Noushabadi, has declared that Iran will resist what he described as the 'aggressive' actions of the United States. Speaking to the ISNA news agency, he stated that the comfort, welfare, and progress of the Gulf region depend on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the area.

Noushabadi, who serves as Director General of the Ministry’s Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Department, said that foreign powers have long coveted the Gulf’s strategic maritime resources. He described the Gulf as an integral part of Iran’s identity and civilization, emphasizing the country’s historical role in expelling Portugal, the Netherlands, and England from the region.

According to the official, Iran now intends to confront U.S. military operations in the Gulf, portraying this stance as a continuation of its past defense of regional sovereignty.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the re-excavation of the historic Basiya River in Kandigaon Union of Sylhet Sadar upazila on May 2, 2026. The river flows through four upazilas of Sylhet, originating from the Surma River and merging into the Kushiyara. The Basiya River was first excavated in 1977 under the initiative of then-President Ziaur Rahman. The new project marks the first re-excavation in 49 years.

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Rahman stated that the majority of Bangladesh’s population lives in rural areas, and empowering them remains a central goal of his government. He emphasized that his administration, elected by popular vote, is accountable only to the people and is committed to fulfilling its electoral promises.

According to the Prime Minister, 23 kilometers of the river’s total 40-kilometer length will be re-excavated. Once completed, the project is expected to directly benefit about 80,000 farmers and indirectly assist another 1.5 million farmers across the region.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain questioned the sudden disappearance of long vehicle queues for fuel across Bangladesh following a recent price hike. He raised the issue during a press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, held to discuss a national convention on energy, economy, human rights, reform, and referendum.

Akhtar accused the government of ignoring the people’s clear verdict in a referendum held after the tenth national election, where about 70 percent reportedly supported one side. He said the government failed to form a constitutional reform council as expected and instead dismissed the referendum’s outcome as fraudulent or unconstitutional. He argued that reforming the constitution’s basic structure requires a higher institutional framework, a concept no political party had previously rejected.

Expressing concern over the banking sector, Akhtar alleged that those involved in large-scale financial misappropriation were being allowed to regain ownership by returning only a small portion of the stolen funds, warning that this could encourage further corruption.

The United States Embassy in Bangladesh has issued a new advisory regarding the proper use of B1-B2 visitor visas. The notice, released on Saturday, May 2, 2026, reminds visa holders that while certain business activities such as contract negotiations and conference participation are allowed during their stay in the United States, receiving payment or working for a U.S. employer is strictly prohibited.

The embassy emphasized that it is the traveler’s responsibility to use their visa correctly. It also reiterated that using a visitor visa to travel to the United States solely for the purpose of giving birth so that a child obtains U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers may deny visa applications if they determine that this is the applicant’s primary intent.

The advisory serves as a renewed reminder for Bangladeshi travelers to comply with U.S. visa regulations and avoid misuse that could lead to visa denial or other consequences.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei has called on the American people to challenge their government over what he described as an illegal war and atrocities committed against Iran. He stated that the conflict was an unprovoked act of aggression and that U.S. citizens have the right to demand accountability from the Trump administration.

Baghaei shared a video from a U.S. Senate hearing featuring Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who said there was no evidence that Iran had planned an imminent attack on the United States. Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces have warned of a strong possibility of renewed conflict with the United States and Israel, citing Washington’s alleged failure to adhere to international agreements.

According to Iranian officials, these developments reflect growing distrust toward the U.S. government’s commitments and raise concerns about escalating regional tensions.

Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP arrived in Japan on a seven-day visit. He landed at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport at 3:45 p.m. local time on Saturday, where he was warmly received by leaders of the Islamic Mission Japan, expatriate businesspeople, and professionals. Earlier that morning, he departed Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Tokyo.

Dr. Rahman is accompanied by Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member Saiful Alam Khan Milon MP and his foreign affairs adviser Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman MP. During the visit, he is scheduled to attend receptions organized by the Bangladeshi community, participate in various seminars, and hold courtesy meetings with senior officials of the Japanese government.

According to the schedule, the opposition leader is expected to return to Dhaka on May 9 after completing his engagements in Japan.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across 32 districts in four divisions. The alert, released on Saturday, indicated that from 1 p.m. on May 2 for the next 48 hours, parts of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience rainfall ranging from 44 to 188 millimeters within 24 hours. The department also cautioned that landslides could occur in some hilly areas of the Chattogram division.

According to the weather office, the continued formation of thunderclouds over the country is likely to cause temporary waterlogging in affected areas. The warning emphasized the potential for landslides in hilly regions due to the intensity of the expected rainfall.

The advisory urged residents in vulnerable zones, particularly in Chattogram’s hill tracts, to remain alert as the heavy rainfall may persist for two days.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that hostility between the United States and Iran has ended. In a letter sent to congressional leaders on May 1, he stated that the 60-day approval requirement under the War Powers Act no longer applies, as active military operations have ceased. Trump explained that he launched 'Operation Epic Fury' to protect U.S. interests at home and abroad.

According to the letter, Trump ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, which was later extended. Since that date, there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces. The conflict, which began on February 28, is now considered over. The announcement was reported by The Guardian and marks a formal communication to Congress regarding the cessation of hostilities.

The end of hostilities could signal a shift in U.S. military engagement in the region, though further details on diplomatic or strategic implications were not provided in the letter.

US President Donald Trump described the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as a highly profitable business during an event in Florida on Friday. He said Washington was seizing Iranian goods and oil as part of the blockade, comparing the operation to piracy but emphasizing that it was not a game. Trump defended the blockade by arguing that Iran had long used the strategic waterway as a weapon and had previously threatened to close it. He claimed that after Iran shut the strait, he responded by closing it for them.

Addressing ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, Trump stated that it might be better for the United States not to reach any deal, though he later added that the current situation could not be allowed to continue. The remarks came amid heightened tensions following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, which prompted Tehran to retaliate against US allies in the Gulf and close the strait.

A ceasefire was announced on April 8 through Pakistan’s mediation, and subsequent talks in Islamabad on April 11–12 ended without an agreement.

All ferry and vessel operations on the Daulatdia-Paturia river route have been suspended due to adverse weather conditions. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) announced that the suspension took effect from around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The decision affects all types of water transport, including ferries and launches, operating between Daulatdia in Rajbari and Paturia in Manikganj.

According to BIWTC sources, the suspension will remain in place until further notice. The assistant manager (commercial) of the BIWTC Daulatdia terminal, Jesanul Islam Tipu, stated that ferry services will resume once weather conditions improve and are deemed safe for navigation.

The temporary halt in operations is intended to ensure passenger safety and prevent accidents during the ongoing period of inclement weather.

Several crop-protection embankments in Madhyanagar upazila of Sunamganj have collapsed following continuous rainfall, submerging large areas of farmland. On Saturday morning, an embankment of the Guraduba subproject in Boala Haor broke, after similar incidents earlier in the week at Kailani, Jamgara canal, and Jinarya Haor. Rising water levels in the Someshwari River intensified pressure on local embankments, causing breaches near a madrasa that began to collapse as water rushed in.

Local farmers reported severe crop losses, with many unable to harvest their paddy in time. Some alleged irregularities in embankment construction and demanded investigations against responsible officials. According to the local agriculture office, of 13,470 hectares of farmland in Madhyanagar, about 10,000 hectares have been harvested, while 13 percent was already waterlogged. The latest breaches have damaged around 31 hectares of paddy fields.

Officials from the Water Development Board and the upazila administration said efforts were underway to protect remaining structures and assess the extent of damage.

The 2026–2027 executive committee election of the Dhaka Lawyers Association has been declared unacceptable by Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Lawyers Council, due to alleged irregularities and fake voting. In a statement issued on Saturday, he claimed that inconsistencies in forming the election commission allowed fraudulent votes and booth tampering. Several voters reportedly found their votes already cast when they arrived to vote.

Akand stated that irregularities and bias occurred at every stage of the election process. He explained that traditionally, the election commission is formed with equal representation from two panels, but this time the BNP-backed Blue Panel had 90 members while the Lawyers Unity Council’s Green Panel had only 41. Written and verbal appeals to the Bar Council and the chief election commissioner allegedly went unanswered, giving the Blue Panel a numerical advantage.

Following the vote count, the BNP and Gano Adhikar Parishad-backed Blue Panel won all 23 posts. Akand reiterated that the election was neither fair nor credible and urged vigilance against those undermining democratic processes.

Iran has executed two men convicted of spying for Israel and its intelligence agency, Mossad. The executions of Yakub Karimpour and Naser Bakorzadeh were carried out on Saturday, according to Iranian authorities. Both were found guilty of collaborating with Israel and passing sensitive information to Mossad.

According to the report, Bakorzadeh was accused of collecting details about government and religious figures as well as key locations, including the Natanz area. Karimpour was charged with transferring classified information to a Mossad officer. The executions come amid a broader crackdown in which Iran has recently executed several individuals linked to the January protests.

The report, citing Reuters, did not provide further details about the trial process or the timing of the arrests, leaving aspects of the case undisclosed.