NCP senior leader Nahid Islam criticized the interim government for failing to take concrete steps toward banning the Awami League or initiating legal action against its leaders. “On August 5, 2024, students and citizens overthrew the fascist ideology of Mujibism through a historic uprising. Yet today, Awami League members still march under that banner,” Nahid said. He called on citizens to attend today’s post-Jumu’ah rally at Baitul Mukarram Mosque to demand justice and a formal ban on the party. “AL has no moral or legal right to participate in Bangladeshi politics,” he added.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the NCP’s southern region, has called for a protest demanding the unconditional banning of the Awami League. “The genocidal Awami League must be banned without ifs, ands, or buts,” he wrote. He urged the public to join the protest rally at 3 PM today at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque to raise their voices against the ruling party.

A Swedish court has sentenced journalist Joakim Medin to 11 months in prison for allegedly insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Medin, a reporter for Dagens ETC, was arrested on March 27 at Istanbul Airport during widespread protests. He is accused of participating in a January 2023 protest in Stockholm, where a puppet of Erdoğan was symbolically hanged. The puppet was also seen later at the Stockholm Pride Parade with a Kurdish group’s float. While Medin has denied the charges, the court has conditionally released him pending trial on another related offense.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that of the 59 hostages held in Gaza, only 24 are believed to be alive — and he fears the number may be even lower. Referring to Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, Trump said, “We don’t know how he’s doing, but we hope for the best.” He also expressed disappointment, saying, “Two months ago, we were fairly confident he’d be released. But now the situation has worsened.” On Iran, Trump added, “Iran is a failed state. The U.S. is imposing more sanctions, and those buying oil from Iran will not be allowed to do business in America.”

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed 31 more Palestinians in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll in the besieged enclave to 52,418. An additional 56 people were injured and taken to hospitals across Gaza. Since the resumption of attacks following a ceasefire, over 2,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 5,000 injured.

India and Pakistan continue to trade blame over the recent Pahalgam attack. Now, a leaked document on Telegram has added fuel to the fire, allegedly linking India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), to the incident. The document outlines a plan to produce forensic evidence using vague video footage 36 hours after the attack, attempting to tie it to Pakistan’s ISI. It also suggests that hundreds of fake social media accounts and pre-arranged media outlets were used to spread disinformation. RAW agents disguised as tourists were reportedly stationed in specific areas to act as ‘eyewitnesses’ for the narrative.

Police from Uttara West Police Station conducted a raid on Hotel Grand Inn in Uttara following allegations of immoral activities. Inspector AB Siddique stated that the operation, based on specific information, was carried out around 10 PM and several individuals were detained. Further details will be shared later, he added.

Ahead of their grand rally scheduled for May 3 at Suhrawardy Udyan, Hefazat-e-Islam organized a motorbike rally and mass procession in Uttara. The procession began from Azampur on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Addressing the rally, Junayed Al Habib demanded that all proposals deemed contrary to the Quran, including the establishment of a women’s commission, be withdrawn before the event. He urged exemplary punishment for those involved in “deceit against the country and Islam,” stating, “In a country with 92% Muslims, any Quran-opposing legislation will have to pass over our dead bodies.”

The Pakistan Army is conducting large-scale military exercises amid recent tensions with India. The drills are taking place across several areas including Sialkot, Narowal, Zafarwal, and Shakargarh. Both light and heavy modern weaponry—such as tanks, artillery, and infantry units—are participating. The exercises include practical demonstrations of modern weapons based on tactical war strategies. Officers and soldiers are actively showcasing their professional skills during the maneuvers.

During a hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Qatar blamed Israel for the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Qatar’s representative accused Israel of weaponizing humanitarian aid to achieve military goals, saying hunger is once again part of Israel’s official policy. The hearing followed a 2023 UN General Assembly resolution seeking an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation and its influence on international institutions.

BNP leader Syed Emran Saleh Prince has demanded an immediate election roadmap for the upcoming December polls. He warned that any delay would provoke public unrest, and the BNP would not hesitate to take to the streets with mass support. Prince criticized a political faction for calling for local government elections before the national vote, accusing them of trying to stall democracy. He also promised that a BNP-led government would implement workers’ rights, including setting the minimum wage at Tk 30,000.

On Thursday night in Fatullah, Narayanganj, armed assailants attempted to assassinate businessman Nantu Mia, owner of Afsar Karim Plaza near Pagla Bazar. Eyewitnesses report that he was shot in the stomach and arm. After receiving initial treatment at Khanpur Hospital, he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College. The attack occurred when he was getting into his private car after shopping. His driver quickly fled the scene with him towards Fatullah, while the attackers escaped towards Dhaka on a motorcycle.

Abdul Basit Azad, Amir of the Khalafat Majlis, demanded that the minimum wage for workers be set at Tk 25,000. He noted that most of the country’s development and revenue stem from the contributions of local and expatriate workers. He called for job security, an end to arbitrary terminations, and implementation of Islamic labor laws, including offering workers a stake in industrial ownership to enhance productivity and national unity.

Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Khondokar Azim Ahmed warned business owners that while securing bank loans for investment is acceptable, fleeing the country with the funds—especially to Singapore—will not be tolerated. He called on employers to ensure fair wages for workers and emphasized timely payment before the sweat of their labor dries. He highlighted the plight of agricultural, construction, and transport workers in the region, noting poor safety, extreme heat, and low pay, especially among tea workers, who earn less than Tk 200 daily.

On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, the Paikgacha Upazila Building Workers’ Union organized a rally, discussion, and prayer session. Government Secretary Md. Touhidur Rahman was the chief guest. Speaking at the event, Ziaur Rahman Foundation Director Md. Amirul Islam Kagji emphasized the need to intensify the movement for workers’ rights and to ensure they receive their fair dues.