Energy experts and civil society representatives have welcomed Bangladesh’s government plan to generate 10,000 megawatts of solar power by 2030, calling it a timely and strategic move amid global energy market volatility. Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, they emphasized the need for an enabling investment climate, low-interest financing, and tax exemptions to achieve the target sustainably.

Presentations by analysts from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis and Change Initiative highlighted Bangladesh’s heavy import dependence in the power sector and the growing strain from fuel subsidies. They proposed redirecting fossil fuel subsidies toward renewables, introducing carbon pricing, and launching a $4.5 billion expatriate bond to attract investment. Policy suggestions included full tariff waivers on solar equipment and a revolving fund of Tk 5,000 crore.

However, experts expressed doubts about implementation capacity, citing past shortfalls in renewable targets and high import duties on solar materials. They urged institutional strengthening of SREDA, simplification of PPP models, and faster policy reforms to ensure a sustainable and inclusive energy transition.

A South Korean bulk carrier experienced an explosion and fire while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the shipping company HMM. The company said the fire started in the ship’s engine room, and an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the explosion and fire, noting that 24 crew members were on board, including 18 foreign nationals and six South Koreans.

Authorities have not yet released details on casualties or the extent of the damage. Officials stated that monitoring efforts are in place and necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the crew. The incident has raised concern within the international shipping industry, given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz as one of the world’s key maritime trade routes.

Investigations continue to identify the exact cause of the explosion and fire, as global shipping stakeholders watch developments closely.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed stated that the outcome of the West Bengal state assembly election in India will not affect relations between Bangladesh and India. She made the remarks on Monday, May 4, during a discussion with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

The minister emphasized that Bangladesh will continue to act in its own national interest regardless of which party comes to power in West Bengal. She also said that discussions with India on issues such as cross-border movement and the Ganges water treaty are ongoing, expressing optimism about progress on the Ganges agreement. Additionally, she hoped that the visa process between the two countries would return to normal soon.

Her comments reflect Bangladesh’s position of maintaining stable diplomatic engagement with India while addressing bilateral matters through continued dialogue.

A report from Amader Desh describes growing fears among residents of West Bengal’s Murshidabad and Malda districts following India’s Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Many Muslim families, including government officials and professionals, have found their names missing from the voter list despite submitting valid documents. The exclusions have caused distress, with some individuals unable to access basic rights such as obtaining passports or medical care.

Data from the Shabar Institute and Alt News indicate that around 9.2 million people have been removed or placed under adjudication, 60 percent of whom are Muslims. The report alleges that the process disproportionately affects Muslim-majority areas and high-profile constituencies, suggesting a pattern of systematic disenfranchisement. It also links the exclusions to political motives, citing leaked footage of alleged deals to divide Muslim votes in favor of the ruling party.

Human rights groups warn that the situation could escalate into a regional crisis, with reports of forced pushbacks at the Bangladesh border and fears of a refugee influx, raising concerns about cross-border instability in South Asia.

Awami League leader Shamim Al Mamun has been sent to jail after surrendering before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court in Mirzapur, Tangail. On Monday morning, he appeared in court and applied for bail, which was denied by Judge Sagar Talukder, who ordered his imprisonment. Shamim, aged 46, is the son of deceased freedom fighter Abul Hossain from Postkamuri village and serves as the organizational secretary of Mirzapur Upazila Awami League and convener of the Upazila Jubo League.

According to police and court sources, Shamim is accused in multiple cases, including murder, linked to the July uprising in Mirzapur. The cases stem from an incident on August 4, 2024, when a college student named Imon was killed by police gunfire and another student, Himel, lost his eyesight. Separate cases were filed by Imon’s brother Suman and Himel’s mother Nasima Begum in the Tangail Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, naming Shamim as an accused.

After remaining in hiding for a long period, Shamim surrendered to the court, and the prosecution confirmed that his bail was rejected and he was sent to jail.

Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mufti Shafiqul Islam gave a statement before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday, describing his alleged abduction and torture by members of the Rapid Action Battalion’s Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell during the Awami League government. He said he was detained, blindfolded, and threatened with death if he did not confess to being involved in militancy. Shafiqul claimed he was told he would be killed and his body dumped at sea or left mentally unstable in Dhaka.

In his deposition, Shafiqul detailed his background as a religious scholar and principal of a madrasa in Purbachal, as well as his role as assistant secretary of Hefazat’s Dhaka Metropolitan Paltan zone. He recounted being taken from Mohammadpur on January 13, 2022, and held in small, dark rooms where he was interrogated and beaten. He said interrogators demanded he admit links to militant groups and cited previous detainees allegedly tortured in similar ways.

The testimony was presented as part of proceedings against 17 accused, including Sheikh Hasina and several current and former army officers, who face death sentences in the tribunal case.

Several cleaners of the Narayanganj City Corporation were assaulted by street vendors on Monday afternoon in the Chashara area of Narayanganj city. The incident occurred in front of the Chashara Press Club when the cleaners arrived to clear the sidewalks as part of an eviction drive. Witnesses said a group of vendors attacked the cleaners, forcing them to flee the scene.

Earlier in the day, the vendors had staged protests in Chashara, marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, and submitted a memorandum before returning to the area. The clash erupted when cleaners tried to stop vendors from setting up stalls on the sidewalks, leading to a heated argument and subsequent assault.

Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan condemned the attack, calling it a disgraceful incident witnessed by city residents. He stated that legal action would be taken and reaffirmed that clearing the sidewalks was a public demand that would not be compromised.

Iran has claimed responsibility for firing warning shots at US Navy destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz, a key Middle Eastern maritime route. According to Iran’s army public relations office, the incident occurred after US destroyers in the Gulf of Oman allegedly turned off their radar systems and attempted to move toward the strait. Iranian naval forces reportedly issued radio warnings about potential ceasefire violations before escalating their response.

State media reported that Iran used cruise missiles, rockets, and combat drones to deliver the warning shots. Tehran warned that such risky maneuvers would have consequences for what it called the American-Zionist enemy. The confrontation has drawn international concern due to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.

Analysts cited in the report noted that any escalation in this region could affect global energy markets, given the strait’s critical role in oil transportation.

The Central Chhatra Dal has expelled Md. Sohel Rana, joint convener of the Sirajganj municipal unit, after he was accused in a case involving the abduction and torture of a businessman and demanding Tk 70,000 in extortion. The decision was confirmed on Monday evening by district Chhatra Dal president Junayed Hossain Sabuj.

According to a press release, the central committee also expelled Arafat Rahman Abhi, assistant school affairs secretary of the Barguna district unit, from his organizational position. The decision was approved by Chhatra Dal president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

The expulsions follow allegations of serious misconduct by the two leaders, and the central body stated that the action was taken in accordance with organizational rules.

Controversial businessman Ron Haque Sikder, accused in money laundering and corruption cases, died on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 2:20 p.m. local time while undergoing treatment in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He had been staying in Thailand and the UAE for an extended period to avoid arrest. The information was shared by Al Jazeera investigative journalist Julkar Nain Sayer Khan through a verified Facebook post.

According to the post, Sikder passed away at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai after suffering from liver complications. Family sources cited in the post said he had been admitted to the hospital about a week earlier due to liver-related illness.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had earlier filed two separate charge sheets against Ron Haque Sikder, his brother Rick Haque Sikder, and 13 others in connection with money laundering and corruption allegations dating back to 2024.

Awami League-backed lawyers and leaders of the banned Awami League faction allegedly stormed the Chattogram District Bar Association office on Monday afternoon, chanting 'Joy Bangla' slogans and confining BNP- and Jamaat-backed lawyers inside the library for about an hour. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. as nomination submissions for the upcoming May 21 bar association election were closing. One lawyer, Mohammad Momen, was reportedly injured during the attack.

According to court sources, the Awami-aligned group, operating under the banner of the General Lawyers Council, attempted to seize nomination papers and lock the bar office. The attack was allegedly led by several local Awami League figures, including former and current party leaders. The Awami Lawyers Coordination Council, which is legally barred from participating in the election, was said to be behind the unrest. Bar leaders confirmed filing a police complaint following the violence.

Police stated that tension arose between two groups of lawyers over nomination submissions, leading to a brief procession by one faction after the incident.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has announced a plan to gradually bring Bangladesh’s national highways under CCTV surveillance. Speaking to reporters after the fifth session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Monday, he said the initiative aims to enhance road safety and reduce accidents through the use of modern technology. The program will first cover national highways, followed by regional and district roads.

The minister noted that thousands of people die in road accidents every year, making increased monitoring essential. He said CCTV installation will improve traffic management and help identify law violations more efficiently. Despite high demand for road expansion, budget constraints require prioritizing projects. He also directed district administrators to address road encroachment, illegal billboards, and overloaded vehicles damaging roads.

Alam added that steps are being taken to control three-wheeler movement on highways and to ease traffic congestion ahead of the upcoming Eid. He emphasized coordination between central and field administrations to accelerate development projects and highlighted progress in land acquisition for major infrastructure works.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election as a historic event, declaring that the 'lotus has bloomed' in the state. In a Facebook post on Monday evening, Modi expressed gratitude to the people of West Bengal for giving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) what he called an unprecedented mandate. He said the victory represented the triumph of people's power and the politics of good governance.

Modi assured that the incoming BJP government would work to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the state's citizens. He emphasized that the new administration would strive to ensure equal opportunity and dignity for all sections of society. His reference to the 'lotus' symbolized the BJP’s electoral symbol and the party’s success in the state.

According to the report, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress suffered a major defeat after three consecutive terms, paving the way for the BJP to form the next government in West Bengal.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to former minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and two others in connection with a corruption case. The order was issued on Monday, May 4, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez. The other two individuals are former Assistant Commissioner of Customs and VAT Bhuiya Mofizur Rahman and Khandaker Shamima Hasan, wife of former Dohar Police Station officer-in-charge Mostafa Kamal. The court’s bench assistant Riaz Hossain confirmed the order.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) applications, Maya is accused of acquiring and possessing assets worth over Tk 18.2 million beyond known income sources and conducting suspicious transactions totaling Tk 5.1 billion between 2009–10 and 2023–24. The ACC also alleged that Mofizur Rahman and Shamima Hasan accumulated assets inconsistent with their declared income through bribery, corruption, and misuse of power. The ACC argued that seizing their tax records was essential for proper investigation.

Following hearings on the ACC’s petitions, the judge approved the seizure of all relevant tax documents for further investigation.

Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government is implementing an integrated and timely action plan to revive the country’s industrial sector, stabilize markets, and ensure the safe supply of essential goods. Speaking to reporters after the fourth session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference in Dhaka, he said reopening sick and closed factories to boost production and employment is a top government priority.

The minister stated that around 50 closed or ailing textile and jute mills are being gradually transferred to the private sector to attract new investment and create jobs within a year. He highlighted that district administrators proposed measures for industrial revival, new industrial zones, reopening sugar mills, and establishing distilleries to expand exports. The government will consider these proposals seriously.

Muktadir also revealed plans for an AI-based supply chain monitoring system to reduce price gaps from producers to retailers, a strategic reserve for import-dependent goods to counter global volatility, and a strengthened advisory council for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh. Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, he announced a special plan to preserve raw hides through training, salt supply, and transport control.