Jagannath University student Hussain, who allegedly threw a bottle at advisor Mahfuz Alam, claimed it was not an intentional act of aggression. “I threw the bottle into the air with no intent to harm or insult anyone,” he said. Denying political affiliation, he added, “I was just a regular student attending the protest with my classmates. I’m not part of any organization.” He said that after photos of his participation in the July protests emerged, police targeted him. “Now I’m being falsely labeled as a member of Chhatra League,” he said, also revealing he has received multiple threats warning him of harassment on campus.

Press Secretary Shafiqur Alam stated that although 266 murder cases have been filed against journalists since August 5, the government cannot be held responsible for them. He added that any attempt to protest false or misleading news is often misconstrued as an attack on press freedom. “The interim government is committed to institutionalizing press freedom,” he said. He encouraged media outlets to acknowledge past mistakes and regain public trust. The government, he noted, is also working to ensure journalist safety and expedite the accreditation process. “Journalism should be rooted in facts, not personal ideology,” he added.

Activist Uma Fatema expressed deep concern over student safety during the ongoing protests. Citing eyewitness accounts, she stated that police officers were seen loading bullets into firearms, spreading panic among students. “Five teachers went to negotiate but returned quickly,” she wrote, adding, “We must ensure that no student of Jagannath University is harmed, not even slightly.” She condemned the bottle thrown at Mahfuz Alam and called for those responsible to be held accountable. Stressing the legitimacy of the student movement, she urged the government to heed the demands rather than suppress dissent.

Teachers and students from Jagannath University (JnU) arrived at Kakrail intersection in 25 buses to join an ongoing protest demanding three key reforms. Thousands of university affiliates—including students, faculty, and staff—have joined the movement. The protest has centered around the road in front of the Chief Justice's residence and the surrounding Kakrail Mosque area, with demonstrators setting up barricades to voice their demands.

A surveillance drone was recovered from a paddy field inside Bangladeshi territory near the Ghasuria border in Hili. According to Officer-in-Charge Jahangir Alam, a local farmer, Prafulla Toppu, discovered the drone approximately 400 yards from the border while working in his field on Wednesday evening. He took it home and informed local authorities. A joint team from the police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) later retrieved the drone. Authorities suspect it belongs to India’s Border Security Force (BSF).

The student wing of the BNP, Chhatra Dal, has demanded the resignation of Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan and Proctor Professor Saifuddin Ahmed for their alleged failure to ensure safety on campus following the murder of Shahriar Alam Samyo. In protest, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists gathered in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, wearing black badges. The demonstration included participation from Chhatra Dal units of Dhaka College, Eden College, Titumir College, Government Bangla College, Begum Badrunnesa Women’s College, and Dhaka Metropolitan Chhatra Dal.

Supporters of Ishraque Hossain have blocked the main gates of Dhaka South City Corporation for the second consecutive day, demanding that he be sworn in as mayor. Civil servants and citizens seeking services have been left stranded. Protesters allege deliberate delays in swearing him in despite a court verdict and official gazette. “We will continue our sit-in until the mayoral responsibilities are handed over,” they said.

In a controversial move, authorities in India’s Uttar Pradesh demolished 280 Muslim religious sites across seven districts. The demolished structures include 225 madrasas, 30 mosques, 25 shrines, and six Eidgahs. BJP leaders claim these were illegal structures and alleged that some were being used as “training centers for extremism and terrorism.” The move has sparked outrage among human rights groups and Muslim communities.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will begin citywide tree plantation and green development across canals, lakes, fields, and open spaces starting June 1. Administrator Mohammad Ejaz said that landscape architecture has been finalized. Unlike past projects that cost over 1 billion taka with little visible change, the current 100-kilometer canal cleanup is costing less than 100 million. “We’ve assigned volunteers to maintain 33 canals and are hiring one gardener per kilometer to ensure green upkeep,” Ejaz said. He also emphasized that classifying waste collected from canals under the PLEASE Project could help track polluters more effectively.

Despite being shot during a mass uprising and critically injured, Rakib has yet to receive government recognition as a "July Warrior." Hailing from Kandapara village in Manikganj, Rakib is a student at DN Technical High School and works at a factory in Savar. On August 5, while participating in a student protest, he was allegedly beaten and shot by police near Savar Model Police Station. “Despite submitting all required documents, my name was excluded from the official list,” he said. His family and community continue to demand justice and recognition.

A student who threw a water bottle at Adviser Mahfuz Alam during a protest has been identified as Ishtiaq Hossain, a first-year student from the Department of Economics, Batch 19, at Jagannath University. While the incident was initially anonymous, footage circulated in university groups led to his identification. Proctor Md. Tajammul confirmed his identity but said, “Our focus right now is on realizing the university’s demands. This issue is not a priority at the moment.”

Adviser Asif Mahmud expressed dismay over the treatment of fellow adviser Mahfuz Alam. “Despite being burdened with multiple official responsibilities, we always try to address student concerns and mediate protests,” he wrote. Although the incident at Suhrawardy Udyan wasn’t within his official scope, he took the initiative out of a sense of responsibility. “Mahfuz Bhai could have easily said, ‘This isn’t my ministry’s matter’ and stepped away—but he didn’t,” Asif added. Mahfuz Alam was reportedly harassed by protestors while trying to negotiate with students.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that Bangladesh must fulfill key reform commitments to receive the fourth and fifth tranches of its loan package. The economy remains under pressure, with foreign reserves yet to recover and the tax-to-GDP ratio significantly below target. The IMF also noted that the government has limited capacity to invest in poverty alleviation. Reforms, including a market-based exchange rate for the dollar, are critical to stabilizing the economy. It confirmed that further disbursements would be contingent on the timely and verifiable implementation of these reforms, per an agreement reached with the government.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed that the recent defense against an alleged Indian incursion was “a historic moment that avenged the 1971 war.” Addressing soldiers, he said, “In a matter of hours, our forces repelled India’s unprovoked aggression.” Sharif accused India of training the 1971 Mukti Bahini and now backing separatist groups like Baloch Liberation Army and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. He warned, “If India tries to cut off our water, let it be known—blood and water can’t flow together. We will not compromise.” He directly threatened Indian Prime Minister Modi, saying, “If you show aggression again, the consequences will be beyond your imagination.”

Indian tourists are boycotting trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan over their perceived support for Pakistan. Travel agencies report a sharp decline in bookings following renewed Indo-Pak tensions. MakeMyTrip stated that bookings for both countries dropped by 60%, with cancellations surging 250%. EaseMyTrip CEO Rikant Pitti noted a 22% cancellation rate for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan due to recent geopolitical tensions.