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.

NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah criticized the treatment of Adviser Mahfuz Alam, stating, “As a government representative, Mahfuz went to resolve the issue and was physically assaulted—this is unacceptable.” He warned that such aggressive actions undermine the legitimacy of democratic movements. Hasnat added, “I don’t know if Mahfuz Alam will pursue legal action, but the student leadership should issue a public apology and ensure such behavior doesn’t repeat.” He also questioned the government’s approach, saying, “It’s suspicious that ministries are pushing student advisers forward while avoiding responsibility. Despite repeated assurances to Jagannath University students, no concrete steps have been taken.”

Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam declared, “From today, we will no longer allow this 'Let’s go to Jamuna' brand of politics.” He stated that the government has always kept the door open for discussions if demands are legitimate. Addressing recent incidents, he said, “Those who harassed students today made a grave mistake. Those who came to sabotage must be rejected by the student community and brought under disciplinary action.” He accused certain elements within the protest of sabotage and called on the media and administration to unmask their political affiliations. “There’s a group behind this chaos. It's time to identify them,” he said, while confirming that the government is treating the students’ three demands with seriousness.

At least seven people were injured during a cultural event organized by Udichi Shilpigoshthi in Bogura, where they were singing the national anthem in unison. The event was disrupted by members of the “Anti-Fascist Forum,” who allegedly vandalized the office and clashed with participants. Additional Superintendent of Police Ataur Rahman said tensions flared between the two groups over competing programs. Police intervention helped contain the violence and prevent further damage or casualties.

In a fresh diplomatic row, India and Pakistan have expelled each other’s diplomats on charges of engaging in activities inconsistent with their diplomatic status. Pakistan’s foreign office stated that an Indian diplomat posted in Islamabad was asked to leave the country within 24 hours. In response, India declared a Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi persona non grata on similar grounds and also ordered him to leave within 24 hours. Neither side disclosed specific details of the allegations.

At the second board meeting of the Public Procurement Authority (BPPPA), Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud said the government is firmly committed to achieving 100% coverage of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system in public procurement. BPPPA CEO Mirza Ashfaqul Rahman noted that currently, 65% of public procurement by value is conducted via e-GP. The adviser instructed the CEO to strategically plan resources and activities to achieve full implementation.

Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defense Muhammad Zahid Kamal announced the formation of a 60-member special force for rapid earthquake rescue operations. Additionally, 20-member special teams will be deployed in each divisional city. He said the force’s command structure will be independent to ensure resilience, even if headquarters are impacted by a disaster. In case of a major earthquake in Chattogram, for instance, the local special team and the central team from Dhaka would be deployed immediately. Currently, Dhaka has 18–20 fire stations, of which 8–10 could be damaged in a major quake, making these special teams essential.