Amid India’s threats to cut water supplies to Pakistan, China is fast-tracking the construction of the Mohmand Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to secure Pakistan’s water future. Since 2019, the state-owned China Energy Engineering Corporation has been working on the Mohmand Hydropower Project. The company has now started concrete filling to expedite completion. This multipurpose project aims to generate 800 MW of electricity, control flooding, irrigate agricultural land, and supply 300 million gallons of water daily to Peshawar.

Under U.S. mediation, India and Pakistan have agreed to withdraw additional troops from the Line of Control and international border zones by May 30. The move is part of the second phase of ceasefire restoration. The agreement follows a deadly exchange in which Indian airstrikes in Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir killed at least 31 civilians. In retaliation, Pakistan reportedly shot down five Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets, and destroyed several drones. A ceasefire was declared afterward.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh has issued a statement urging that any decision regarding the foreign management of the New Mooring Terminal at Chattogram Port must involve consultations with all political parties, citing the absence of an elected government. The party warned that the current government's deviation from its core responsibility—organizing elections after reforms—is contributing to political instability. They also called for the prosecution of those responsible for killings during public uprisings and stressed the urgency of economic and structural reforms, warning that "the blood of July will not forgive" failure in these efforts.

Faiz Ahmad Tayyab has announced that Starlink has officially launched its operations in Bangladesh, offering two packages: "Starlink Residence" and "Residence Lite." The monthly fees are Tk 6,000 and Tk 4,200 respectively, with a one-time equipment cost of Tk 47,000. He added that the service comes with no data caps or speed restrictions, offering speeds up to 300 Mbps. While the cost is high, Tayyab said it provides a premium alternative for uninterrupted high-speed internet, especially benefiting NGOs, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.

To pave the way for negotiations aimed at reducing additional U.S. tariffs, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has approved lowering tariffs on at least 100 import items in the upcoming budget. The decision also includes raising the tax-free income threshold, setting the minimum individual tax at Tk 5,000, and increasing the maximum tax rate to 30%. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) believes this move could help reduce the trade deficit with the U.S., especially on state-only purchases such as oil, gas, weapons, fighter jet parts, and missiles. Notably, the U.S. had previously imposed an additional 37% duty, raising total tariffs on Bangladeshi products to 52%.

Nahid Islam, convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), stated via Facebook that the party is actively pursuing the July Charter, the July Certificate, and elections for local government and a Constituent Assembly. In a previous post, he said the first step to dismantling a fascist regime is fundamental reform and drafting a new constitution. He emphasized that NCP values the ethical and humane aspects of Islam—the majority’s faith—along with the language, culture, and lifestyle of Bengali Muslims.

Two days after the BNP office in Comilla was attacked and set on fire, police have filed a case naming five individuals and accusing 20–30 unidentified persons. The suspects, all affiliated with the BNP’s student wing Chhatra Dal, include Md. Mohsin (32), Salah Uddin Rocky (30), Md. Sohag Hossain (30), Saiful Islam (25), and Maruf Ahmed (24). According to the complaint, the violence occurred Saturday evening and involved disgruntled party members unhappy with the newly formed Chhatra Dal committees of the South District and Metropolitan BNP.

Tumo Poutiainen, ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, stated that while the country's labour conditions have improved, greater effectiveness is still needed. “Everything depends on how effectively employers, workers, and the government address concerns through dialogue,” he said. After 10 years in Bangladesh—seven as Country Director and three in the garment sector—Poutiainen is now moving to ILO’s regional office in Bangkok. He noted significant investment in factory safety after the Rana Plaza disaster but emphasized that other sectors still lag behind in worker safety and compensation frameworks.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin via phone on Monday at 8 PM Bangladesh time. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the call focused on the outcomes of last week’s Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul. “We’ve already clarified our position on the Istanbul talks,” Peskov stated. “Following the call, we will release a full statement.” This was the first known conversation between Putin and Trump since March 18.

The British High Commission confirmed that High Commissioner Sarah Cook met with women leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami. Discussions focused on the roles and policy positions of the party’s female members, which the Commission described as meaningful and significant to the participants. This follows previous meetings between Sarah Cook and other Jamaat leaders and activists.

Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud stated that the involvement of local government and elected representatives is essential for the effective distribution of financial assistance under social safety programs. He noted that currently, about half of the social security allocations are distributed based on political considerations, which undermines efficiency. “Smaller projects under BDT 50 crore will receive immediate approval, but no large-scale projects will be initiated except for the Matarbari project,” he said. He also mentioned that a six-lane highway project connecting Faridpur, Barisal, and Kuakata has been approved under a mid-sized project plan, designed to minimize damage to homes and trees. Speaking about Barisal, he said it could have become the ‘Venice of the East’ if proper attention had been paid to its canals. He added that new gas exploration initiatives are also underway, including work in Bhola.

Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder stated that while there is currently no food shortage in Bangladesh, the country still lacks adequate capacity to ensure food safety. “We are committed to doing everything possible to guarantee safe food for all citizens,” he said. He stressed the need for active involvement from all stakeholders in the food supply chain. Under a 10-year project funded by the Japanese government worth BDT 2,409.7 crore, a Food Safety Reference Laboratory is being set up in Dhaka, with additional facilities in Chattogram and Khulna, along with training centers to strengthen testing and inspection capabilities.

BNP leader Mir Helal emphasized that all religions teach peace and harmony. He said that former President Ziaur Rahman had unified people of all faiths, castes, and professions under the banner of Bangladeshi nationalism, ensuring equal dignity for all citizens. Helal accused both local and foreign conspirators of trying to sabotage upcoming elections and warned against those obstructing the restoration of democratic governance. He made these remarks while visiting the Shri Shri Tulsidham Temple, where he was received by leaders of the Tulsidham management committee and the Advaita Achyuta Mission.

Despite the Awami League being banned, no effective action has been taken against other members of the 14-party alliance. A legal notice has been sent to the Election Commission and the government, urging that the remaining coalition parties be declared terrorist organizations. Hossain Md. Anwar of the NCP, who issued the notice, said, “The Awami League did not act alone in its oppression. These actions were carried out collectively with the alliance’s approval.”

The United States has imposed visa restrictions on individuals associated with certain Indian travel agencies, accusing them of knowingly facilitating illegal immigration. In a statement, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the decision was based on information gathered by U.S. missions in India. The statement did not specify the names or number of individuals involved. Washington alleges that these Indian entities played an active role in supporting unlawful migration.