Professor Md. Hazrat Ali of the Civil Engineering Department at CUET has been appointed Interim Vice Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET). He will serve until a full-time VC is appointed. Under the appointment conditions, he will receive the same salary and benefits as his current role and must remain on campus full-time. The President, acting as Chancellor, retains the right to revoke the appointment at any time.

Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Abu Hanif has clarified that no discussions or agreements have been made with BNP regarding an electoral alliance or seat-sharing for the upcoming national election. He emphasized that their last meeting with BNP was part of a coordinated movement and denied media reports suggesting a pact between Nurul Haque Nur and BNP in the Patuakhali-3 constituency, warning against misinformation.

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has demanded the declaration of a specific election date to return power to the people. Speaking at a May Day rally, Rizvi accused Sheikh Hasina of continuing a reign of political killings even while in hiding. He claimed forensic evidence confirmed her voice in a threatening speech aimed at 262 people. Rizvi warned that another fascist regime would leave no one safe and urged immediate elections to restore democracy.

Interim Government Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has distanced the administration from remarks made by retired Major General A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman, who suggested Bangladesh should seize India’s northeastern states (Seven Sisters) if India attacks Pakistan. Rahman’s comments, made in a Facebook post, also proposed a military alliance with China. Shafiqul clarified that the statement does not reflect government policy and reiterated Bangladesh’s respect for all nations’ sovereignty.

At a labor rally in Gazipur, Islami Andolon Bangladesh’s Joint Secretary General Ataur Rahman declared that workers’ liberation is impossible without an Islamic labor policy. He noted that despite monetary wage increases, real wages have fallen due to inflation. Party President Khalilur Rahman added that a broader movement is necessary to implement Islamic labor laws, affirming their commitment to this cause.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, has urged media outlets to stop referring to sympathizers of convicted war criminals and human rights violators as “journalists.” In a social media post, he condemned those who support fugitive killers with UN-documented war crime charges and called them “looters and cronies” undeserving of the journalist title.

Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Rashed Khan has questioned whether former top adviser Nahid Islam took any steps during his tenure to ban the Awami League, despite frequently criticizing others for not doing so. Khan also challenged the adviser’s efforts in media reform and asked if colleagues Asif Mahmud and Mahfuz Alam could initiate a national dialogue on banning the party. He warned that unless such steps are taken, the anti-Awami League rhetoric might simply be another form of opportunistic politics.

Labor Adviser M. Sakhawat Hossain has stated that the interim government’s steps toward protecting workers’ rights are likely to leave a significant mark internationally. Speaking at a labor event, he emphasized that “only when employers and workers stand united will society truly change.” During a recent visit to the ILO, Hossain observed that worker wages and safety conditions have severely deteriorated over the past 20–30 years, nearly leading to sanctions.

Fourteen Bangladeshi cultural figures, including actors Riaz, Meher Afroz Shaon, Chanchal Chowdhury, and Mamunur Rashid, have been charged with attempted murder in connection with the July uprising. The case relates to the attempted killing of Saifuddin Mohammad Emdad, a student of Government Alia Madrasa. The lawsuit also names prominent artists like Aruna Biswas, Jyotika Jyoti, Shamima Tusty, Shomi Kaiser, Saju Khadem, Ashna Habib Bhabna, Sohana Saba, Rokeya Prachy, Zayed Khan, and Ferdous. A total of 201 individuals are accused in the case, including journalist Santosh Sharma (Kalbela), Munni Saha (ATN News), and 15 other media professionals. Academics such as Dr. Zafar Iqbal and former Vice Chancellor Dr. Mizanur Rahman are also listed, along with public figures like Imran H. Sarker and Lucky Akter.

India has ramped up surveillance along its borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar amid concerns over potential unrest. Following recent violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and clashes during anti-Waqf law protests, Indian authorities suspect cross-border elements played a role. Intelligence reports submitted to the central government allege that Bangladeshi agitators were involved in inciting the unrest. In response, Indian forces have intensified patrols along the eastern frontiers, amid fears of possible infiltration or destabilization attempts through these porous borders.

Gazipur police suspect a deliberate attempt to incite unrest following the custodial death of a man accused of molestation in Haidarabad. Detainee Raiz Uddin, arrested after local residents handed him over for alleged abuse, died after falling ill in jail. Five victims had testified under the Women and Children Repression Act. Deputy Commissioner N.M. Nasir Uddin warned that false narratives are being spread to manipulate public sentiment and disrupt the legal process.

In response to lawyer Tania Amir’s remarks at the Geneva Press Club about the 2009 BDR mutiny, a government press release accused her of pushing a partisan agenda aligned with the former Awami League government. The statement criticized her for allegedly representing the views of mutineers and questioned her intentions, noting the absence of new evidence and reliance on long-standing opposition narratives.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus emphasized that a new and equitable Bangladesh cannot be built while workers continue to suffer. Speaking on the May Day theme—“Workers and Employers Unite to Rebuild the Nation”—he highlighted the critical role workers played in past uprisings and current development. Bangladesh is working on labor standards reform in line with ILO conventions. Yunus also distributed financial aid to five worker families through the Labor Welfare Foundation.

Marking International Workers’ Day, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) organized a large rally in Dhaka. Party members began gathering early in the morning, with patriotic songs and protest music energizing the crowd. Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman joined virtually, while Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Mirza Abbas, and other senior leaders attended in person.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman promised better workplace safety and dignity for women if his party comes to power. He condemned the inhumane conditions faced by factory workers, especially women, and pledged to eliminate wage disparities. He also criticized the lack of prayer spaces and facilities for women, urging equal treatment to build a just society. Labor leaders echoed demands for pro-worker legislation and health insurance.