At a Hefazat-e-Islam rally in Suhrawardy Udyan, Hasnat Abdullah declared, “We will continue our movement with our last drop of blood until Sheikh Hasina is executed.” He claimed the Awami League has politically died in Bangladesh and is now buried in India. Calling the party undemocratic, he accused Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of stifling democracy by establishing BAKSAL and killing 30,000 JASAD members. He warned against rehabilitating those responsible for violence against Hefazat supporters and claimed the decision for Awami League to participate in the next election rests with the opposition. “Dr. Yunus, don’t forget—it was us who brought you to power,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has claimed that 26 trillion BDT was laundered during the Awami League regime. “A white paper should be published on how the wealth was stolen and by whom since independence,” he said. Rahman proposed two ideal timeframes for the next election: before Ramadan in February or by April. He cautioned against delaying reforms and judicial transparency beyond April due to the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha and potential weather disruptions.

During a mass rally demanding the abolition of the Women's Reform Commission, Hefazat-e-Islam announced a nationwide protest for May 23. Joint Secretary General Azizul Haque Islamabadi warned that delayed case withdrawals could be exploited by future governments. The group issued four demands: 1) dissolve the Women’s Reform Commission and its report, 2) restore full trust in Allah in the Constitution by removing pluralism, 3) withdraw all cases against Hefazat members and ensure justice for alleged mass killings including Shapla Chattar, and 4) urge government action to stop Muslim persecution in Palestine and India.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the US is not dismissing the possibility of a second phase of sanctions against Russia. “We are not lifting any existing sanctions. The President supports a diplomatic approach to each step,” she stated. However, she acknowledged that global attention must also focus on other regions. President Trump had earlier said that he would provide a detailed response about tougher sanctions a week after his April 24 announcement.

Allama Sultan Zawq Nadvi, Chief Adviser to Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and founding director of Jamiya Darul Ma’arif Al-Islamia in Chattogram, has passed away. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. He died at Chattogram’s Evercare Hospital at midnight on Friday. His funeral prayer will be held at 4 PM on Saturday at the institution’s premises.

The United States has dropped two more spots in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, now ranking 57th—below conflict-torn Sierra Leone. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), global press freedom is at its lowest point in history, with half the world’s countries deemed “bad environments” for journalism. Fewer than one-quarter of countries are considered to have a “satisfactory” environment. Despite online ad revenue reaching $247 billion in 2024, a significant portion went to tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Amazon.

Adviser Mahfuz Alam stated that all media in Bangladesh, including state outlets like Bangladesh Betar and BTV, now operate free from government interference. “No government official is calling media houses to influence reporting,” he said. He credited government initiatives for the country’s 16-place jump in the World Press Freedom Index. Alam noted that additional reforms, based on the Media Reform Commission's recommendations, will be introduced soon. He expressed optimism that Bangladesh will continue to improve in next year’s rankings while safeguarding media and journalist rights.

Nurul Haque Nur has called for the immediate announcement of a roadmap for national elections, claiming that 2,000 people were killed and 30,000 injured in a mass uprising. “There has been no visible justice. We demand the Awami League be banned as a terrorist organization,” he said. Nur criticized ongoing extortion and land grabbing, noting that despite past protests, the public has not joined due to a lack of trust in political parties. He warned certain parties not to assume absolute control, citing the downfall of the Awami League as a cautionary tale. He also criticized the military’s reported acceptance of free treatment offers from India, calling it an insult to the national healthcare system.

Faiz Ahmed Tayeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, urged government officials and employees to serve the public with integrity instead of appeasing political leaders. “Topsoil from arable land is being sold, and land grabbers must be dealt with firmly,” he said, adding that political pressure should be resisted, not accommodated. The government will support tough and decisive actions. Tayeb also issued instructions to resolve traffic congestion caused by market mismanagement on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Cumilla-Noakhali highways. Badiul Alam Majumdar emphasized the urgent need for electoral reforms to ensure free, fair, and neutral elections.

US Vice President J.D. Vance has stated that the Ukraine war is not expected to end anytime soon. He emphasized that the key question now is how the US can facilitate a resolution between Russia and Ukraine. “Ultimately, it is up to Russia and Ukraine to reach a decision to end this brutal war,” he said. “Yes, Ukrainians are understandably angry—their country has been invaded. But should we lose thousands of soldiers over a few miles of land?” Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that unless there is significant progress on the battlefield soon, President Trump may reduce his engagement with the crisis.

India has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reassess its loan support to Pakistan. Last year, Pakistan received a critical $7 billion bailout to stabilize its economy. In March, the IMF approved an additional $1.3 billion for climate resilience projects. India has expressed concerns regarding the effective utilization and transparency of these funds.

Azad Kashmir's Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq has instructed residents in 13 border constituencies to stockpile two months’ worth of food, anticipating possible emergencies. A 1 billion PKR fund has been established to ensure food, medicine, and essentials in those areas. Additionally, private machinery has been deployed along with government resources to maintain infrastructure near the border. Religious schools have already been closed as a precautionary measure.

More than 14,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims are still awaiting visas for the upcoming Hajj, leaving many in uncertainty. So far, 15,154 pilgrims have departed for Saudi Arabia, with one death reported. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged citizens not to assist unauthorized individuals holding visit visas in entering restricted Hajj areas or offering them accommodation, as it violates Hajj regulations.

The Discrimination Resistance Employees’ Unity Forum has condemned what it calls a “black law” in public administration, claiming that most top officials are corrupt and politically biased. The forum has submitted a list of such officials to the government. However, no action has been taken due to interference from certain government advisors. They also criticized the appointment of dual nationals, controversial figures, and unqualified individuals to key administrative and commission posts.

The Bangladesh College-University Teachers Association has called for the full nationalization of the education system, opposing the piecemeal government takeover of institutions. Among their 11 demands are allocating 6% of GDP for education (as per UNESCO guidelines), 100% festival, housing, and medical allowances for MPO-listed staff, forming an Education Reform Commission, and raising the retirement age to 65 for all educators, matching university standards.