Following the announcement of election results, widespread political violence has erupted across several districts of West Bengal. Incidents of killings, assaults, vandalism, and alleged party office takeovers have been reported from South 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Nadia, Howrah, and Bankura. Both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused each other of orchestrating the attacks.

In Birbhum’s Nanur, a Trinamool worker named Abir Sheikh was killed, with his family alleging that BJP supporters attacked him with sharp weapons. In Howrah’s Udayanpur, a BJP supporter named Yadav Bar died after an alleged assault by Trinamool activists. Multiple Trinamool offices in Baruipur, Siliguri, Nadia, and Bankura were reportedly vandalized or taken over, while BJP denied involvement in each case. Police were deployed in several tense areas.

The situation remains volatile across the state, with both parties trading blame and reports of continued unrest in multiple districts.

Rashed Pradhan, vice president and spokesperson of the National Democratic Party (JAGPA), stated that the 20-party alliance, including the BNP, had expressed moral and political support for Hefazat-e-Islam’s rally and demands at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013. Speaking at a representative meeting marking the 46th founding anniversary of Labour JAGPA, he said that despite Begum Khaleda Zia’s backing and the alliance’s readiness, BNP leaders failed to make the right decision. According to him, if BNP had joined Hefazat on the ground that day, the outcome might have been the fall of the Awami League instead of the Shapla massacre.

Pradhan demanded justice for those involved in the Shapla killings and accused certain media outlets and journalists of legitimizing the incident under Indian influence through biased reporting. He said the absence of justice for such crimes encourages new autocrats. He also criticized the BNP for not implementing the “July Charter” as per the referendum mandate and called for preparation for a new movement and uprising.

The meeting was held Tuesday morning at the Shafiul Alam Pradhan Auditorium in Paltan, chaired by Labour JAGPA president Asaduzzaman Babul and attended by other party leaders.

A major political shift is unfolding in West Bengal as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prepares to form the next government following its victory in the recently concluded assembly elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the state to meet newly elected BJP legislators and oversee the selection of the party’s legislative leader, a key step in forming the new government. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will assist Shah as co-observer in the process.

According to party sources, the BJP has secured 207 seats and is moving toward government formation. The central leadership has confirmed that Shah will lead the process to elect the new legislative party leader, who will also become the next Chief Minister of West Bengal. Shah’s direct involvement signals the importance the BJP attaches to this victory, as such high-level participation is rare in similar state-level processes.

The date for the new government’s swearing-in has not yet been finalized, though May 9 is being discussed as a possible date, pending a final decision by the party’s central leadership.

National Citizens Party (NCP) chief organizer Sarjis Alam has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of attempting to consolidate power by delaying local government elections. Speaking at a press conference at the NCP’s temporary central office in Dhaka’s Bangla Motor on Tuesday, he said BNP leaders and the prime minister’s information adviser have indicated that local elections may be postponed until December 2027.

Sarjis claimed that there are currently no elected chairmen at the upazila level and alleged that BNP is planning to dissolve district councils. He warned that any attempt to centralize authority and suppress public rights would backfire. He further alleged that BNP has appointed defeated and unqualified leaders to administrative positions in district councils and city corporations, turning these institutions into centers of corruption and extortion.

Calling for city corporation, upazila, and municipal elections within this year, Sarjis urged the Election Commission and local government authorities to prepare accordingly. He cautioned that any delay could force opposition parties to take to the streets.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman departed for China on May 5, 2026, for a three-day official visit, marking his first trip to Beijing in this role. The visit is taking place at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party of China’s Political Bureau. During the visit, Rahman and Wang Yi are scheduled to hold bilateral talks covering a wide range of issues, including mutual interests, regional and global developments, and particularly the evolving situation in the Middle East.

Discussions are expected to emphasize alignment of development policies and strategic priorities, as well as cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges. The Chinese government has expressed its willingness to work closely with Bangladesh’s new administration to deepen political trust and strengthen cooperation under the framework of their “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.”

Rahman will also meet Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and attend a luncheon hosted by Liu Haixing, minister of the CPC’s International Department. Senior Bangladeshi officials, including the prime minister’s foreign affairs adviser and the BIDA chairman, are accompanying him.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman announced that Bangladesh’s local government elections are expected to begin toward the end of this year. He said the full election process, including all phases such as union councils, could take between ten months and one year to complete. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a weekly press briefing at the Department of Information in Dhaka.

During the briefing, the adviser also discussed progress across various ministries. He clarified that the government has not decided to curtail the powers of upazila parishads, noting that members of parliament serve as advisers to these councils by law. He added that providing offices for MPs within upazila parishads does not diminish the councils’ authority.

Dr. Rahman further highlighted several government initiatives, including the ongoing bus route rationalization project in Dhaka, duty exemptions for importing electric school buses, free Wi-Fi at five airports and four railway stations, and financial aid for flood-affected farmers in the haor region.

Khelafat Majlis leaders have called for exemplary punishment for those involved in the killings during Hefazat-e-Islam’s rally at Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013. In a statement issued to the media on Tuesday, party Amir Maulana Abdul Basit Azad and Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader described the incident as a brutal massacre and urged authorities to ensure justice through the ongoing trial under the International Crimes Tribunal.

The leaders alleged that the peaceful gathering of religious scholars and madrasa students was attacked by ruling party cadres and law enforcement agencies, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. They demanded that the investigation be completed swiftly and the perpetrators brought to justice to prevent similar crimes in the future.

In their statement, the Khelafat Majlis leaders prayed for the victims, sought government compensation for affected families, and urged unity against what they termed anti-Islamic forces in the country.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee firmly rejected speculation about her resignation following the state assembly election results announced on May 5, 2026. Speaking to reporters at Kalighat alongside Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and senior party leaders, she declared that there was no question of stepping down, asserting that her party had not been defeated.

According to the election outcome, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 207 of the 293 assembly seats, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 80. The results triggered widespread political speculation about Mamata Banerjee’s possible resignation. However, she dismissed such rumors, emphasizing her determination to continue fighting against what she described as oppression.

Mamata stated that she had endured much during her tenure but now considered herself a free citizen ready to resist injustice. Her remarks signaled a defiant stance as she pledged to remain active in public life and political struggle.

The mango harvesting season has officially begun in Satkhira following the district administration’s fixed mango calendar. The inauguration took place on Tuesday morning, led by Acting Deputy Commissioner Bishnupad Pal. According to the agriculture department, due to favorable soil, water, and climate, mangoes in Satkhira ripen earlier than in other districts. The first phase includes harvesting of local varieties such as Gobindobhog, Gopalbhog, and Golapkhas.

Despite adverse weather earlier in the season, the agriculture office reported that yields are expected to exceed production targets. Mango cultivation covers 4,140 hectares across 5,350 orchards, with a production target of 70,380 metric tons. However, farmers and traders expressed dissatisfaction over market management, claiming that the absence of designated mango markets forces them to sell at Sultanpur Boro Bazar, where a syndicate allegedly controls prices.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Bishnupad Pal stated that regular monitoring led by executive magistrates will be conducted to break the syndicate and urged growers not to market immature mangoes for higher profit.

The Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has issued a strict directive after many examiners appointed to evaluate SSC exam answer scripts failed to collect them on time. The board expressed concern that this reluctance could delay the evaluation process and create administrative complications, potentially affecting the timely publication of results. The announcement was made in a notice released on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

According to the notice, qualified teachers registered under the ITIF were appointed as examiners for specific subjects. However, many have not appeared at the board office on the scheduled dates to receive the answer scripts. The board warned that failure to collect scripts within the designated time would be considered negligence of duty, and administrative action would be taken against those responsible.

The directive also instructed heads of institutions to ensure that appointed examiners collect their answer scripts as required. The board emphasized that the order must be followed strictly and described the matter as highly urgent.

In Brahmanbaria’s Nasirnagar upazila, floodwaters have submerged 305 hectares of Boro paddy fields, including those in Medi Haor. The incident occurred as water levels rose sharply over the past two days, damaging newly planted crops. Although the weather improved on Tuesday with clear skies and sunshine, farmers are still facing a shortage of laborers for harvesting and drying their crops.

According to the upazila agriculture department, Boro paddy was cultivated on 11,000 hectares in Nasirnagar this season. About 70 percent of the crop was harvested before the early floodwaters arrived, but more than a thousand farmers have suffered losses. Many farmers said they had cultivated their land with borrowed money at high interest rates and now face severe financial hardship after losing their crops.

Officials stated that a list of affected farmers is being prepared. During the ongoing Boro harvest season, priority and relief assistance will be provided to those who have suffered the most damage.

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Md. Nurul Islam has submitted the audit reports for the 2021–22 fiscal year to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The submission took place on Tuesday, May 5, at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat, according to Press Secretary Saleh Shibli. A total of 38 compliance and performance audit reports covering various government offices and agencies were presented to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister’s Office stated that the reports were prepared under Article 128(1) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Section 5 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Additional Functions) Act, 1974. The audits covered 17 ministries and divisions, along with their subordinate departments, offices, institutions, and projects. The CAG briefed the Prime Minister on key observations and recommendations from the reports.

During the presentation, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring transparency and accountability in government spending and project implementation through both compliance and performance audits. Senior officials, including the Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani and Finance Secretary Khairuzzaman Mozumder, were present at the event.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is traveling to Beijing today for an official visit, where he will hold an important meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. According to a brief statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the discussions will cover bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.

The meeting comes at a time when negotiations between Washington and Tehran over ending the war initiated by Israel and the United States on February 28 remain stalled. China, which has long adhered to a policy of non-interference in other nations’ internal affairs, has positioned itself as a diplomatic force in this crisis.

Beijing’s ability to maintain relations with all parties involved in the conflict has strengthened its role in ongoing discussions, highlighting China’s growing influence in regional diplomacy.

Airbus Vice President Edward Delahaye met with Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom in Dhaka on Tuesday, just four days after Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a deal to purchase 14 Boeing aircraft. The meeting was also attended by State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat and Biman’s Managing Director Kaiser Sohel Ahmed. Airbus representatives expressed hope that their aircraft would join Biman’s fleet alongside Boeing models and briefed the ministry on mixed fleet operations.

According to a ministry statement, Airbus reiterated its interest in contributing to a mixed fleet for Biman, while the minister and state minister affirmed their willingness to work closely with the European manufacturer. The discussion follows earlier plans from 2024, when Biman’s board had approved the purchase of four Airbus aircraft at around 180 million dollars each, though that deal was halted after a change in government.

The current government later finalized a Boeing deal due to U.S. tariff adjustments, but Airbus has renewed its engagement with Bangladesh’s aviation authorities.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu announced that short, medium, and long-term plans have been taken to assist farmers affected by flooding in the haor areas of Sunamganj. He said accurate lists of affected farmers will be prepared to ensure proper financial support, with members of parliament serving as advisers in the related committees. The minister made these remarks on Tuesday at a meeting with district officials at the Sunamganj Circuit House.

He noted that Sunamganj’s single-crop boro fields face recurring losses due to flooding, and called for research on sustainable embankment construction. Dulu also mentioned plans to explore methods for harvesting submerged paddy and drying wet rice. Farmers who lost crops entirely will receive three months of financial aid, with priority given to those most affected. The minister added that the current budget runs until June but may be extended.

To reduce lightning-related deaths and livestock losses, he announced that lightning-protected sheds equipped with sirens will be built across the haor region. After the meeting, relief materials were distributed among 400 affected farmers in Bishwambharpur upazila.