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.

Despite being known for their tireless work ethic, Bangladeshi laborers in Malaysia are facing serious wage disparities. While workers from countries like Nepal, China, and Vietnam earn a minimum of 3,000 Malaysian Ringgit for 8-hour shifts, Bangladeshis reportedly earn only 1,500–2,000 Ringgit for 12-hour days. The workers blame this discrimination on unskilled and irregular migration practices.

Following a two-month fishing ban aimed at conserving juvenile hilsa (jatka), thousands of fishermen have resumed work in the Padma-Meghna rivers. The ban, effective from March 1 to April 30, covered a 70 km stretch from Shatnol to Char Bhairabi in Chandpur. Over 1,000 enforcement drives were conducted, resulting in the arrest of 129 fishermen—five were jailed and 124 fined. During the ban, each affected fisherman received 160 kg of rice as aid.

Bangladesh is close to finalizing a mutual visa exemption agreement with Algeria for diplomatic and official passport holders. This was confirmed during a meeting between Algerian Ambassador Dr. Abdulwahab Saidani and Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam. The agreement has already been approved by the cabinet and is expected to be signed soon. The adviser also expressed gratitude to Algeria for being the first country to recognize Bangladesh in 1971.

India has officially banned all Pakistani aircraft from entering its airspace, a retaliatory measure announced Wednesday night. This follows Pakistan’s earlier move banning Indian aircraft from its skies. The reciprocal decision marks a sharp escalation in airspace restrictions between the two neighbors.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and Indian FM S. Jaishankar regarding the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Rubio urged both nations to cooperate in de-escalating tensions. While reiterating the US’s support for India in combating terrorism, he called on Pakistan to assist in the investigation and publicly condemn the attack. US official Tammy Bruce stated that India was advised to exercise restraint in responding to the incident.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus emphasized that workers and employers are not adversaries but partners in building a strong and self-reliant Bangladesh. Speaking on May Day, he paid tribute to the workers of the 1886 Haymarket movement and reaffirmed his commitment to fair wages, an 8-hour workday, and safe working conditions. “Improving labor standards is not only a right for workers but also a prerequisite for national economic growth,” he added.

After a decades-long hiatus, Jahangirnagar University will hold elections for its Central Student Union (JAKSU) and Hall Unions on July 31. A new Election Commission led by Prof. Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman has been formed, with Prof. Dr. A.K.M. Rashidul Alam as the member-secretary. The roadmap for the election was announced at 1 AM Thursday. Notably, the last JAKSU election took place in 1992.

The United States and Ukraine have signed a mineral resource agreement granting the US priority access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and future reconstruction investment opportunities in Kyiv. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko signed the deal. According to the Treasury, the agreement reflects the Trump administration’s strong commitment to a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. Trump recently emphasized that the US should receive benefits in exchange for aiding Kyiv—this deal aligns with that stance.

Residents of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) who maintain gardens on their rooftops or in their yards will receive a 5% tax rebate, said Administrator Mohammad Ejaz. Starting May 11, 2025, DNCC will host a Tax Fair where citizens can easily pay taxes and avail special incentives. At the 6th DNCC Corporation meeting, several structures named during the previous authoritarian government were renamed. These include: “Shaheed Zayan Chowdhury Playground” in Banani renamed to “Banani Chairman Bari Field,” “Bir Muktijoddha Asaduzzaman Khan Complex” in Madhubagh renamed to “Madhubagh Community Center,” and “Harun Mollah Flyover” in Kalshi renamed to “Kalshi Flyover.”

Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Chair of Bhashani Janashakti, urged the government not to establish a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine without consulting political parties. He warned that a one-sided decision, like the earlier Rohingya influx, could deepen Bangladesh’s security and social challenges. Bablu highlighted the need for democratic transparency, citing the symbolic “new Bangladesh” initiated on August 5.

A 150-200 kg military ordnance believed to be from World War II was safely defused in Munshiganj’s Aralia village. Discovered during excavation on April 28, the device was covered by the landowner before police and the army confirmed it was a bomb. The CTTC bomb disposal unit later neutralized it. Authorities say it’s the largest bomb ever recovered in Bangladesh.