Akhtar Hossain, leader of the NCP, has demanded that the Awami League be removed from the list of registered political parties and declared a terrorist organization. He accused the party of committing crimes against humanity and oppressing the people of Bangladesh. Hossain called on the interim government to recognize its role as a government of public uprising and act accordingly.

Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 10 individuals attempting to smuggle a large quantity of urea fertilizer into Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The detainees hail from Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, and the Rohingya refugee camp in Teknaf. The seized fertilizer was handed over to Teknaf Customs, while the suspects and their boat were transferred to Teknaf Model Police Station for further legal action.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on May 4 via a regular Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from London, landing in Sylhet and then Dhaka. Authorities proposed modifying the flight route to London-Dhaka-Sylhet to accommodate her medical needs. However, in a gesture of compassion, Khaleda Zia declined the proposal, citing concern for the inconvenience it might cause other passengers, her press aide Shamsuddin Didar confirmed.

Bangladesh has made notable progress in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, rising 16 places to rank 149th among 180 countries with a score of 33.71, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Last year, Bangladesh was placed at 165th. Among its South Asian neighbors, India ranks 151st, Pakistan 158th, and Bhutan 152nd—all trailing behind Bangladesh. However, Nepal (90th), Sri Lanka (139th), and the Maldives (104th) continue to outperform Bangladesh in the index.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that the decision on establishing a humanitarian corridor will be made only after consultations with all parties involved, including the UN, Myanmar, and local communities in Rakhine. He acknowledged the civil war-like situation in the region that is disrupting supply chains and causing severe hardship. “There’s a genuine humanitarian crisis, and we’re open to coordinated efforts,” he said.

Abu Taher, Chairman of Chiora Union in Cumilla’s Chauddagram, has been temporarily suspended for issuing birth certificates to Rohingya women. The investigation confirmed that he had shared his official ID and password, failed to act responsibly, and issued documents to two Rohingya women posing as local residents. These documents were later used to obtain passports in an attempt to travel to Vietnam.

On Thursday, the Israeli military launched a drone strike on a humanitarian aid ship en route to Gaza, which was carrying food and essential supplies for Palestinians. The mission was organized by the Freedom Flotilla Foundation, which stated that the ship was unarmed and civilian. Representatives from several countries were onboard, and the foundation warned that lives could have been lost in the attack.

On World Press Freedom Day, Tarique Rahman wrote that despite authoritarian rule, journalists remained committed to exposing corruption, human rights abuses, and state failures. He urged unity in defending press freedom and the safety of courageous journalists. “Journalists are pillars of democracy and must be protected from censorship and violence,” he said, adding that media enjoyed true freedom during BNP rule.

NCP Joint Secretary Mahin Sarkar declared that the only way Sheikh Hasina could return to Bangladesh is “with a noose around her neck.” He stated that the uprising began the day Hasina labeled them as traitors. “Erasing Bengali nationalism in the name of the constitution will leave no room for human rights,” he said. He called the 2024 movement “the world’s largest digital revolution,” one that resonates with the oppressed in Kashmir and Palestine as well.

Two Bangladeshi citizens, including an SSC examinee named Rimon, were detained by the BSF while taking photos near the Patgram border in Lalmonirhat. Rimon is the son of Mostak Hossain, and the other detainee, Sazedul Islam, is from Bogura. They had gone to visit the area and were detained by about 25 BSF personnel near a tea garden close to the border.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) returned two Bangladeshi farmers captured from the Dinajpur border, following the handover of two Indian nationals by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The returned farmers were Enamul Islam and his son Masud Rana from the Dharmojain area. Notably, the Indian citizens were initially captured by Bangladeshi villagers in retaliation for the BSF’s earlier action.

Myanmar’s military junta revealed that Jamaat-e-Islami proposed the formation of a separate state for Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine during talks with the Chinese Communist Party. The junta accused Jamaat of undermining Myanmar’s sovereignty and pursuing political gains. It also reiterated its stance of referring to Rohingyas as “Bengali refugees” and stated that repatriation talks with Bangladesh continue regularly in Kunming, China. The junta plans to verify and register refugees before return and aims to build housing for them.

NCP leader Nahid Islam warned that if the government fails to ensure justice, the people will establish their own tribunal to judge the Awami League and fascism. “It’s a collective failure that we must protest to demand the AL ban,” he said. He demanded a legal ban on AL’s political activities until investigations are complete, and called for the immediate release of the 'July Declaration' that formally recognizes the revolution. He also urged for a new constitution and a combined election for Parliament and a Constituent Assembly.

Kamrul Hasan, father of July uprising martyr Khaled Saifullah, declared that there will be no elections in Bangladesh until justice is served for his son’s death. “They shot him 70 times in the chest—how many bullets does it take to kill a man?” he said. NCP leaders echoed his sentiments during a rally, stating that no election can take place until the Awami League is held accountable and reformed. They warned that any attempt to rehabilitate the party will be resisted by “July warriors.”

At a rally, Hefazat leader Maulana Junayed Al Habib condemned the Women’s Reform Commission, calling its report anti-Islamic and against the Qur’an. “This entire commission must be dismantled,” he declared. “You came to power in 2013 at the cost of Hefazat leaders’ blood. Withdraw all cases against our leaders or face another uprising.” Mufti Jaber Kashemi added, “Tomorrow’s gathering is not anti-women. Islam has given women the highest respect and rights. This protest is against those using women’s rights as a pretext to push harmful agendas.”