President Md. Shahabuddin stated that the simple and selfless life, strong personality, unquestionable honesty, and pragmatic leadership of martyred President Ziaur Rahman will remain forever in the hearts of the people. He made these remarks in a message marking the 45th anniversary of Ziaur Rahman’s martyrdom on May 30, 2026.

The President expressed hope that Ziaur Rahman’s active life, deep patriotism, strict stance against corruption, commitment to justice, and vision for self-reliant development would continue to inspire future generations. He paid deep respect to Zia’s memory, recalling his assassination on May 30, 1981, in Chattogram Circuit House. Shahabuddin highlighted Zia’s roles as a valiant freedom fighter, proclaimer of independence, founder of multi-party democracy, and architect of modern Bangladesh.

He noted Ziaur Rahman’s contributions to establishing political freedom, promoting socio-economic progress, and adopting a balanced foreign policy that expanded Bangladesh’s labor markets abroad. The President said Zia’s 19-point program aimed to build a productive and self-reliant nation, and his leadership remains a shining example of patriotism and foresight.

In Lakshmipur’s Chandraganj upazila, the authorities of Ramnagar Madinatul Ulum Dakhil Madrasa buried around 150 sacrificial animal hides after failing to sell them. The incident occurred following Eid-ul-Azha when the madrasa collected hides from local households but could not find wholesale buyers or fair prices. Due to the lack of preservation facilities and concerns over odor and decay, the madrasa decided to bury the hides to prevent environmental pollution.

Local residents expressed mixed reactions, noting that poor preservation systems and ineffective market management have caused recurring crises in the leather trade. The madrasa’s management committee said they had spent significant funds on labor and transport to collect the hides, but the absence of buyers led to major financial losses.

According to the madrasa’s general secretary, despite waiting two days for buyers, none appeared, forcing them to dispose of the hides for environmental reasons. The institution now faces substantial financial damage as a result of the unsold collection.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has withdrawn his recent remark describing Dhaka University as a 'coaching center'. The comment, made during a podcast, sparked anger among the university’s teachers and students. In response, a group of students announced a protest and human chain to be held Friday evening near the Raju Memorial Sculpture at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC).

Facing widespread criticism, Hajjaj clarified that his statement had been misrepresented and reflected his personal opinion, not the government’s official stance. In a Facebook post at 5:30 p.m. Friday, he emphasized his respect for Dhaka University’s history and contributions, saying his intention was to encourage its transformation into a world-class research institution. He also noted that the podcast discussion was informal and not policy-oriented.

Hajjaj further commented on challenges in higher education over the past 17 years, including insufficient focus on research and questions over politically influenced faculty appointments. He concluded by apologizing for any misunderstanding and fully retracting his earlier comment.

Return flights for Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims are set to begin tonight following the completion of Hajj rituals. The first flight, operated by Saudia Airlines (SV-5806), will depart from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 12:10 a.m. local time. On the first day, a total of 13 flights will carry 5,434 pilgrims back to Bangladesh.

The Hajj flight operations began on April 17 when Prime Minister Tareq Rahman inaugurated the first outbound flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The final flight carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia arrived on May 21. The Ministry of Religious Affairs completed all necessary arrangements, including tent rentals, transportation contracts, housing, and visa processing, within the timeframe set by the Saudi government.

Authorities coordinated with airlines to ensure smooth transportation, allowing all registered pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia without any schedule disruptions. The return flights are scheduled to continue until July 1.

AI technology company Anthropic has reached a valuation of $965 billion following a new funding round, making it the world’s most valuable AI startup. The maker of the Claude chatbot announced on Thursday that it raised $65 billion in its latest investment round, surpassing rival OpenAI. The funding was led by Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks, and Sequoia Capital.

Once considered a smaller player in the global AI race, Anthropic’s rapid rise has drawn major attention in the tech industry. The company’s coding assistance tools, launched late last year, have gained widespread adoption among large corporations. Analysts say the new valuation signals a shift in the balance of power within the AI sector and could influence IPO plans of companies like OpenAI and SpaceX.

Anthropic has also positioned itself as a safety-focused AI firm and is currently in a legal dispute with the U.S. Department of Defense over the use of its technology in autonomous weapons. The company recently delayed the release of its new “Mythos” model due to cybersecurity concerns, prompting international discussion about AI safety and regulation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly under growing pressure as U.S. President Donald Trump advances toward an interim agreement with Iran following their joint military strikes on February 28. While Netanyahu initially celebrated the operation as a symbol of unprecedented U.S.-Israel unity, he now finds himself sidelined in the American-led diplomatic process. Israeli sources told CNN that Netanyahu privately admitted Israel has little influence over the outcome of the U.S.-Iran talks.

Netanyahu has urged Trump to resume full-scale military action, arguing that sustained pressure could topple Iran’s regime. However, Washington appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Israeli officials fear the emerging deal may leave Iran’s uranium stockpile, missile program, and regional proxies largely unresolved while easing economic pressure on Tehran. Netanyahu’s far-right allies have called for a tougher stance, urging him to confront Trump directly.

The situation has exposed deep political and strategic strains for Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s upcoming election. Analysts say the outcome could undermine his long-standing Iran policy and weaken his image as a security leader, with polls showing declining public confidence in his handling of Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that while Israel faces delegitimization in many parts of the world, it continues to enjoy strong support in India. Speaking at a conference in the West Bank on Thursday, he described India as a special friend of Israel and claimed that Indians support Israel blindly. Netanyahu added that Israel has more followers in India than in any other country.

He recalled his 2018 visit to India with his wife Sara, calling it a “love fest” and praising the extraordinary respect Indians have for Israel. In a separate interview with CBS News’ program 60 Minutes, Netanyahu said that India, with its population of over 1.4 billion, remains one of the few places where Israel is still respected. He also mentioned that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed in Israel.

Recent Pew Research Center data cited in the report showed declining support for Israel in the United States, while Netanyahu blamed Pakistan for using social media bots to spread anti-Israel sentiment online.

BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the party will continue to move forward following the ideals of its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman. In a statement issued on Friday, May 29, marking Ziaur Rahman’s 45th death anniversary, he reaffirmed the party’s commitment to democracy and citizens’ rights. Fakhrul emphasized that under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, the BNP believes in transparent and accountable governance and will continue working to uphold freedom of expression and democratic values.

He described Ziaur Rahman as a courageous freedom fighter and statesman who earned a permanent place in the hearts of the people. Fakhrul alleged that Zia’s popularity had caused discomfort among both domestic and foreign conspirators and claimed that his assassination on May 30, 1981, deprived the nation of a patriotic leader. He added that great leaders’ ideals cannot be erased by killing them and noted that Khaleda Zia had advanced multiparty democracy following Zia’s path.

Fakhrul criticized the Awami League government for alleged repression and corruption and said that the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024, resulted from a united movement demanding the restoration of democracy. He called for a free and fair election to fulfill the people’s aspirations.

Israeli forces have indefinitely closed the historic Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, located in the occupied West Bank, according to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa cited by Al Jazeera on Friday, May 29, 2026. The closure prevented Palestinian worshippers from performing Friday prayers. Soldiers reportedly ordered all worshippers, guards, staff, and caretakers to leave the premises before sealing off the entire mosque area and shutting nearby checkpoints and gates.

The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs condemned the move, describing it as part of ongoing efforts to alter the mosque’s religious and administrative status quo and a serious violation of religious freedom. Local residents said that restrictions on Palestinian movement and worship in Hebron’s Old City have intensified over time, strengthening Israeli control.

The report added that on May 27, under heavy Israeli restrictions, only a limited number of Palestinians were able to perform Eid al-Adha prayers at the mosque. The Ibrahimi Mosque area remains under full Israeli military control, with about 1,500 soldiers deployed to protect roughly 400 settlers.

A new satirical movement called the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP) has rapidly gained traction among Indian youth frustrated by unemployment and political discontent. The initiative began after Chief Justice Surya Kant compared jobless youth to cockroaches, prompting Abhijit Deepke, a U.S.-educated Indian graduate, to post a viral response on social media on May 16 asking, “What if all cockroaches unite?” Within hours, he and friends used artificial intelligence to create a website for CJP, which now claims over one million registered members.

Analysts say the movement reflects deep frustration among India’s young population, who face high joblessness despite the country’s fast-growing economy. The 2025 Periodic Labour Force Survey reported a 10 percent unemployment rate among 15–29-year-olds, far higher than the national average. Competition for jobs remains intense, with millions applying for limited government posts. The recent cancellation of India’s medical college entrance exam results, affecting about two million students, has further fueled anger.

Authorities reportedly ordered CJP’s social media account suspended on national security grounds, but Abhijit reopened it under a new name and urged peaceful protest. The group’s first campaign demands the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam irregularities.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified surveillance along the Lalmonirhat frontier to prevent what it describes as illegal and aggressive activities by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). The move follows incidents including attempts to install posts violating international border laws, drone crashes, and the killing of two Bangladeshi nationals in recent weeks. BGB units from Lalmonirhat 15, Rangpur 51, and Rangpur 61 battalions have been deployed to tighten security across the Teesta-Two sector.

According to the report, local residents remain fearful after the recent shootings that killed two Bangladeshis—one on April 8 at Patgram and another on May 14 near Hatibandha. Despite India’s earlier assurances to Bangladesh about reducing border deaths, the use of lethal force has reportedly continued. Experts cited in the report attribute the ongoing killings to a lack of accountability and disregard for international law.

BGB has also increased public awareness efforts, broadcasting warnings through loudspeakers to discourage illegal border crossings as tensions persist along the Bangladesh-India boundary.

The Indian government is offering major subsidies and incentives to foreign technology firms expanding artificial intelligence-based data centers, while local communities express growing concern over water shortages, farmland loss, and environmental strain. In Andhra Pradesh’s coastal city of Visakhapatnam, Google launched a large AI data center project last year, receiving billions of dollars in incentives from the state government.

According to The Wall Street Journal, such AI data centers consume vast amounts of water to cool servers, raising alarm in a country where groundwater levels are rapidly declining. Many farmers in Visakhapatnam have reportedly been forced to give up their land, with families facing displacement despite compensation. The $15 billion project includes a 10-year 25% discount on water use, land concessions, and subsidies for electricity and infrastructure.

Analysts cited in the report warn that weak infrastructure and water scarcity could make the long-term impact of such projects more severe in developing countries. Google stated it aims to replenish more water than it consumes globally by 2030 through restoration and agricultural technology initiatives.

Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that Tehran has no faith in U.S. words or assurances, insisting that only concrete actions can serve as a basis for trust. In a statement posted on social media platform X, he emphasized that Iran will not take any steps until the other side acts first, rejecting verbal guarantees as meaningless.

Ghalibaf further asserted that Iran secures concessions from its rivals through military and missile strength rather than negotiations, adding that discussions only serve to make the opposing side understand Iran’s position. He remarked that the true winner of any agreement is the party most prepared for war the day after the deal.

His comments come amid renewed international debate over relations between Tehran and Washington and the broader regional security situation, according to Al Jazeera.

According to a report by Middle East Eye, the United States and Israel are actively working to remove Jordan from its long-standing supervisory role over the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem. The report states that a new arrangement is being drafted to bring the management of the holy site under Israeli authority, with the aim of transforming it into a multi-faith center. The initiative is reportedly being led by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Unnamed American and Arab officials cited in the report said the proposed plan would end the authority of the Jordan-backed Islamic Waqf and allow Jews equal access and organized prayer rights at the site. Israel would also gain influence over the appointment of religious leaders and the content of Friday sermons. The plan envisions Al-Aqsa as a shared religious and tourism site for Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

The proposal has reportedly been communicated to Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, suggesting a rotational oversight model among Arab states. Saudi Arabia, however, is said to have strongly opposed the idea, while the UAE and Bahrain have not yet clarified their positions.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran has gained concessions from its rivals not through dialogue but through its military capabilities. In a statement shared on social media platform X, he asserted that Iran achieves results through missiles rather than negotiations, emphasizing that the country does not rely on promises or verbal assurances.

Ghalibaf, described as one of Iran’s top negotiators, said that in talks, Iran only seeks to make its position understood, but real outcomes depend on strength and action. He added that Iran will not take any steps until the opposing side acts first, underscoring that deeds, not words, are the true measure of commitment.

He further remarked that the real success of any agreement depends on the party that becomes better prepared for potential conflict immediately after the deal is signed. His comments were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect a firm stance on Iran’s approach to negotiations and defense readiness.