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.

South Korea announced it will reassess its position on joining a United States-led operation in the Strait of Hormuz following an explosion aboard a South Korean cargo ship. The incident occurred Monday on the vessel HMM Namu, causing a fire that has since been brought under control. All 24 crew members, including six South Korean nationals, were reported safe. US President Donald Trump urged Seoul to join the American initiative aimed at securing stranded ships in the vital waterway.

The South Korean Ministry of Defense stated that any decision will be made cautiously, taking into account international law, global maritime security, the alliance with the United States, and the overall security situation on the Korean Peninsula. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that Seoul is actively participating in international discussions to ensure safe navigation through the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for South Korea’s energy imports, and maritime traffic there has been severely disrupted since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East on February 28.

Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a human chain in Motijheel, Dhaka, on Tuesday afternoon demanding justice for the killings that took place at Shapla Chattar in 2013. The organization accused the then Awami League-led government of committing mass killings against Islamic scholars and called for immediate legal action.

According to the source, the demonstration followed an earlier announcement made on Monday by Islami Chhatra Shibir, which declared a series of programs seeking justice for what it described as a massacre carried out by the government on May 5, 2013. Speakers at the event termed the incident a dark chapter in the nation's history and alleged it was part of a plan to eliminate Islamic leaders.

The group reiterated its demand for swift judicial proceedings, framing the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident as a key moment in the country’s anti-fascist movement.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Zahid-ur Rahman stated that the outcome of the West Bengal state assembly election will not disrupt India-Bangladesh relations. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a press conference held at the Department of Information auditorium in Dhaka, where various government activities were presented.

Responding to a question about Bangladesh’s observation on the neighboring Indian state’s election, the adviser said there was no official observation or statement. He emphasized that India as a state maintains cordial and mutually beneficial relations with Bangladesh, and those ties will continue regardless of political changes in West Bengal. He added that while West Bengal shares the longest border with Bangladesh, bilateral cooperation is conducted between the two sovereign states.

The adviser also noted that although Bangladesh was mentioned in political rhetoric during the West Bengal election, he believes such remarks are part of campaign politics and that cooperation between the two sides will remain positive after the new government is formed.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that there is currently no load shedding anywhere in the country. Speaking at a press briefing following a session with district commissioners at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he explained that the recent power disruptions were temporary and caused by mechanical problems. He said two machines had broken down but were repaired within a week, restoring full power supply.

The minister clarified that any local power outages now are due to line faults, not generation shortages. He emphasized that the country’s current generation capacity is sufficient to maintain an uninterrupted power supply. Addressing questions from journalists, he added that rural areas might experience delays in power restoration because of long distribution lines, but these are promptly fixed once faults are located.

Tuku also dismissed concerns about fuel shortages, asserting that load shedding has never occurred due to a lack of fuel. He said Bangladesh has sufficient fuel stock and continues to make regular purchases. On the issue of capacity charges, he noted that discussions are ongoing to find a solution.

A maritime trade organization has expressed concern over the United States’ plans to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement came after a Maersk vessel successfully crossed the strait under heavy escort, which the organization described as only a minor development in resolving broader disruptions to maritime traffic.

Tim Wilkins, managing director of Intertanko, which represents independent tanker owners and operators, told BBC Radio 4 that the passage of one ship under strict security did not signal a major change for other vessels still stranded. He said there was no organized security team or coordination mechanism in place for safe transit, prompting members to ask who would initiate and manage such operations.

Wilkins added that shipowners were discussing these critical questions with their crews, particularly regarding communication with authorities and contingency plans if Iranian forces obstructed movement. The organization’s comments highlight ongoing uncertainty about maritime safety in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on social media platform X that discussions mediated by Pakistan are progressing, emphasizing that recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz demonstrate there is no military solution to the ongoing political crisis. He cautioned Washington to remain alert so that hostile actors do not draw the United States into another conflict, and offered similar advice to the United Arab Emirates.

Araghchi described the U.S.-led ‘Project Freedom’ as a deadlock initiative. The operation, launched under the direction of President Donald Trump, deployed over a hundred aircraft and several destroyers to ensure free commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The move has further heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with both sides exchanging claims of targeting each other’s vessels.

Commercial shipping in the strait remains limited, though shipping company Maersk reported one of its vessels crossed under U.S. protection. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied reports that its boats were destroyed, while Trump warned that any Iranian attack on U.S. ships would provoke severe retaliation.

The University of Canberra has expressed interest in setting up a branch campus in Bangladesh under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army. The announcement came after an eight-member delegation from the Australian university met with University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed on Monday evening. The UGC confirmed the discussion in a press release issued on Tuesday. The delegation was led by Major General Md Hasan Uz Zaman, chairman of the Jolsiri Housing Project, and included senior university officials such as Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Bill Shorten and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Lincoln.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the potential for establishing the campus to enhance higher education and international collaboration. The delegation noted that the initiative would allow Bangladeshi students to access world-class education and improve professional skills without leaving the country. UGC Chairman welcomed the proposal, emphasizing that it could expand employment opportunities and support the development of a knowledge-based economy.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of incorporating subjects like artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning into curricula to align with global demands and improve students’ competitiveness in the international job market.

At least nine miners were killed and six others injured in a coal mine explosion in central Colombia on Monday, according to authorities. The incident occurred in a legal mine located in the Sutatausa municipality, about 72 kilometers north of Bogotá. Preliminary findings suggest that gas accumulation inside the mine triggered the blast. Rescuers managed to save six workers alive, while nine fatalities were confirmed by the National Mining Agency.

Cundinamarca Governor Jorge Emilio Rey stated that trapped gas was the likely cause of the explosion. He added that twelve miners had been trapped underground, three of whom managed to escape on their own. Rescue teams reached the site quickly and began operations after checking gas levels inside the mine.

Mining accidents are frequent in Colombia, often linked to poor ventilation and weak safety measures. The region also hosts many illegal mines where safety regulations are not properly enforced, increasing the risk of deadly incidents.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, inaugurated a new 50-bed intensive care unit (ICU) at Kurmitola General Hospital on Tuesday morning. The event marked the formal opening of the expanded ICU facilities aimed at strengthening critical care capacity in the hospital.

Alongside the ICU unit, the hospital has also established a pathology pavilion and a gastro-liver center. According to the source, the initiative seeks to ensure equitable access to healthcare and deliver modern medical services to the general public. It is part of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s election pledge for the Dhaka-17 constituency.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sakhawat Hossain, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, as well as the hospital’s director, doctors, and staff members.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) announced that the country experienced no load-shedding for a full week from April 27 to May 3, 2026, as electricity generation matched demand nationwide. Analysis of data from Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) confirmed that during this period, daily peak-hour demand ranging between 10,462 and 12,793 megawatts was fully met. The improvement was attributed to sufficient rainfall reducing irrigation needs and stable power plant operations.

BPDB Chairman Md. Rezaul Karim stated that earlier production shortfalls caused by small plant issues had been resolved, allowing supply to meet demand. He emphasized ensuring coal supply as a key priority to sustain uninterrupted generation, noting that one unit of the RNPL coal-based power plant in Patuakhali had begun commercial production and another would join soon. Government measures to conserve electricity, such as limiting decorative lighting and regulating air conditioner use, also contributed to the improvement.

Officials added that continued imports from Adani Power in Jharkhand, India, and increased LNG, HFO, and coal imports helped maintain generation stability. Consumers in Dhaka reported no outages during the week, though brief local interruptions may still occur for maintenance or technical reasons.

Several leaders of the Comilla University (CoU) unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal have been accused of threatening Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Haydar Ali on April 29, 2026, to stop the upcoming syndicate and promotion meetings. The alleged incident occurred in the VC’s office when the student leaders reportedly demanded that the syndicate and upgrade sessions remain suspended and warned against holding meetings in Dhaka. The VC responded that university law requires a syndicate meeting every three months, and the delay had already exceeded the legal timeframe.

According to university sources, the last syndicate meeting was held on December 28, 2025, and subsequent sessions were postponed due to pressure and threats from student and teacher groups aligned with the BNP. As a result, promotion processes for 25 faculty members and officers have been stalled. The next syndicate meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2026, with an agenda including faculty promotions, disciplinary actions, and administrative issues.

The accused student leaders denied issuing any threats, claiming their discussion with the VC focused on student transport and safety concerns rather than syndicate matters.

A Dakhil examination candidate named Brishti Akter was expelled after being caught cheating on CCTV at the Hasina Gazi Girls High School venue center in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur. The incident occurred on Tuesday, May 5, during the English First Paper exam under the Khayer Uddin Fazil Madrasa center. The center secretary, Rafiqul Islam, confirmed the expulsion.

According to the report, the cheating was detected through CCTV monitoring, after which the Upazila ICT Officer, Khairul Bashar, informed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Murad Hossain. The UNO immediately instructed the center secretary to expel the student, and the order was executed. The expelled student was a candidate from Airmari Dakhil Madrasa.

UNO Murad Hossain stated that no student will be able to get away with cheating in any examination center, emphasizing strict monitoring through CCTV surveillance.