According to a circular signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Golam Kabir, the position of ‘Assistant Teacher’ has officially been included in the gazetted category as per the 1970 memorandum of the Education Department. This means teachers at government secondary schools will now receive benefits associated with gazetted status, including higher pay scales. The new rules also stipulate that second-class master’s or M.Ed. degree holders will receive one additional increment, while first-class postgraduates will receive two. The order has been made retroactively effective from July 1, 2015.

BNP leader Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas stated that the people see Begum Khaleda Zia as a symbol of trust and security. Calling her an undisputed leader, he said she has instructed party members not to act out of vengeance. He emphasized that many workers lost their lives during the July uprising and described them as the primary architects of the new Bangladesh. Highlighting the role of laborers in every political movement, he recalled how President Ziaur Rahman once introduced himself as a worker in 1978 and how Khaleda Zia proudly called herself the wife of a laborer in 1991. He added that workers have played a critical role over the last two years and affirmed that basic rights for all will be ensured in the future.

Gazi Salauddin Tanvir, recently served with a show-cause notice and temporarily relieved of his duties at the National Citizens’ Platform (NCP) over alleged commission-based dealings in textbook printing, has announced he will voluntarily go to jail if not reinstated.

“Not being reinstated would imply I’m guilty. As of now, I firmly state that I am not. I will surrender myself to the law to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted,” Tanvir told reporters.

He further demanded a full-scale investigation from the government and added, “If I don’t get my position back, I’ll willingly go to prison to prove my innocence.”

Tanvir defended his visits to the Secretariat, saying, “In total, I’ve been there just five times, always to report on progress in textbook printing. We were simply informing the government, nothing more.”

He emphasized that visiting the Secretariat should not be viewed as suspicious: “I believe every citizen should have access to the Secretariat. Phone numbers of officials, from advisers to secretaries, are publicly listed on government websites. If going there were a crime, those numbers wouldn’t be published online.”

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, has stated that the next seven months are critical for the nation’s economic future. “This period could either build Bangladesh or break it,” he wrote. The interim government has adopted an ambitious plan to increase the capacity of Chattogram Port sixfold. Alam stressed that such progress is only possible through partnerships with top global port operators. “If successful, this will send a strong message to international investors that Bangladesh is open for business.” He also noted that the global economic order born out of the Bretton Woods system is fading, suggesting that now might finally be Bangladesh’s time — if politics allows it.

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.