US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces attacked and sank seven Iranian fast boats in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the action was part of Washington’s effort to secure safe passage for ships stranded in the Gulf region. The US military confirmed using helicopters in the operation, while Iranian state media denied Trump’s account. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported instead that two Iranian cargo vessels were hit, killing five civilians.

The United Arab Emirates and South Korea also reported attacks on their vessels in the same area, with the UAE confirming a major fire at Fujairah port following Iranian strikes. The UAE said its air defenses intercepted multiple missiles and drones, and three people were injured. French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attacks, calling them unacceptable and pledging support for Gulf partners.

Following the Fujairah incident, global oil prices rose by five percent to $115 per barrel. The situation remains tense as both Iran and the US maintain blockades in the region, and thousands of sailors remain stranded since the February conflict began.

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iran to make what he called a wise decision, warning that the country’s economy is heading toward failure. Speaking on May 5, 2026, he said U.S. sanctions have played a major role in Iran’s economic decline and described them as the toughest ever imposed. Trump praised Treasury Secretary Scott Besent for effectively implementing the sanctions.

Trump claimed that Iran’s currency has become nearly worthless and that inflation may have reached 150 percent. Despite his harsh economic assessment, he expressed reluctance to pursue military action, saying he does not want to kill people in Iran and calling the issue very difficult.

Expressing sympathy for the Iranian people, Trump said he knows many Iranians in New York and elsewhere and described them as wonderful people. He concluded by emphasizing that Iran should act wisely to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

Tensions have escalated in the Gulf region following accusations from Mohammad Eslami, a researcher at Tehran University, that the United Arab Emirates has decided to act as a proxy for Israel. Eslami stated that Iran will not tolerate such a stance and warned that the UAE is becoming increasingly isolated, not only from Iran but also from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. He argued that this growing estrangement threatens regional stability.

Eslami further commented that the global economy is under pressure and urged the United States to reconsider its military and diplomatic strategies. He criticized Washington’s lack of a clear approach, saying it is worsening the conflict-ridden situation. Despite the rising tension, Eslami emphasized that Iran prefers a diplomatic solution, clarifying that this does not mean surrender but rather a search for political compromise.

Analysts cited in the report warned that the ongoing strain in the Gulf could evolve into a larger geopolitical crisis if the involved parties fail to pursue dialogue and reconciliation soon.

Iran has called on Gulf countries to stop depending on external powers for their regional security. In an interview, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Gulf states should build their own regional security framework instead of 'borrowing security' from others. He argued that the United States’ military presence in the Gulf has become a liability, creating instability rather than ensuring safety. Baghaei accused Washington of using its bases and logistical support in the region to advance aggressive actions against Iran.

He added that Iran harbors no hostility toward neighboring countries but has taken defensive measures in response to aggression from the United States and Israel. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported that at least 15 missiles and several drones launched from Iran struck its territory, damaging an oil facility in the Fujairah region.

The statements and reported attacks highlight escalating tensions in the Gulf, with Iran emphasizing regional self-reliance in security matters while neighboring states report direct impacts from Iranian actions.

Bangladesh Labor Party Chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran has described the killings that took place on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka’s Motijheel area as a disgraceful chapter in the country’s political history. In a statement signed by the party’s office secretary Md. Miraj Khan, he said that the state-sponsored operation by law enforcement agencies against unarmed religious scholars, devout citizens, and ordinary people was a severe violation of human rights and democratic values.

Dr. Iran emphasized that the state’s duty is to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, but the midnight operation at Shapla Chattar created deep concern and anger among the public. He stated that justice cannot be established in national life without a proper investigation into the incident.

He prayed for the souls of those killed and expressed sympathy for the injured and affected families. Dr. Iran also urged the government to guarantee human rights, freedom of expression, and democratic rights to prevent such incidents in the future.

Post-election violence has spread across several districts of West Bengal, including South 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Nadia, Howrah, and Bankura. Reports indicate incidents of murder, assault, vandalism, and party office takeovers, leading to rising tension in multiple areas. In a particularly brutal case in Nanur, Birbhum, a Muslim Trinamool Congress worker named Abir Sheikh was killed. His family alleged that BJP supporters attacked him with sharp weapons when he was alone. Police have been deployed to control the situation.

In another incident, tension flared in Champahati under the Baruipur East constituency of South 24 Parganas. Allegations surfaced that BJP workers blocked the entrance of a panchayat office with bamboo poles after hoisting their party flag. The BJP has completely denied these accusations.

Authorities are maintaining a heightened presence in affected areas to prevent further escalation, as political unrest continues following the election results.

Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth has warned that the closure of the Hormuz Strait, caused by the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance, is triggering a real shortage in global oil supply. Speaking at a Milken Institute discussion on Monday, Wirth said that with 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments halted, demand will have to decline to match tightening supply, leading to an economic slowdown that will first hit Asia.

Wirth explained that Asia’s heavy dependence on Gulf oil production and refining makes it the most vulnerable region, followed by Europe. He noted that commercial surpluses, shadow fleet tankers, and strategic reserves are nearly exhausted. The United States, as a net exporter of crude oil, will be less affected initially but will eventually feel the impact as well. The last Gulf shipment is currently being unloaded at Long Beach port in California.

The Chevron chief compared the potential scale of the disruption to the oil crises of the 1970s. The report also noted that U.S.-based Spirit Airlines has ceased operations due to soaring jet fuel prices linked to the supply disruption.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) conducted an eviction drive in Anwara upazila of Chattogram to remove illegal structures along the Karnaphuli Tunnel six-lane connecting road. The operation began at 10 a.m. on Tuesday under the supervision of Executive Magistrate Razia Akter Chowdhury. According to RHD, the drive is part of a seven-kilometer road development project stretching from Chatri Chaumuhani Bazar to the Marine Academy.

The project, implemented at a cost of Tk 78 crore, includes the construction of a 1,200-foot-long and six-foot-wide RCC drain to address waterlogging in the market area. During the operation, RHD officials stated that the eviction was necessary to accelerate the ongoing road improvement work. Several senior engineers and officials from the Chattogram South District Road Division were present during the drive.

The initiative aims to ensure smoother progress of the infrastructure project and improve drainage and traffic conditions along the key connecting route.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to urgently repair the roads in Pirojpur district to make them suitable for traffic. The instruction came during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday. The meeting reviewed the progress, challenges, and next steps of various development projects under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Pirojpur.

During the discussion, the Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining a smooth and functional road communication system across the country. He particularly stressed the need to bring long-neglected and severely damaged roads under immediate repair programs to reduce the suffering of local residents. Relevant departments were instructed to take prompt and effective measures.

Officials present at the meeting reported on the previous progress of LGED projects in Pirojpur and noted that irregularities and corruption had occurred during the previous Awami League government’s tenure. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in implementing development activities going forward.

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro met with Brigadier General Dr. A K M Shamsul Islam, the Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser, on Tuesday afternoon in Dhaka. The meeting took place at the office of the Defense Adviser in the Armed Forces Division within Dhaka Cantonment, with a four-member Italian delegation present.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged greetings in a cordial atmosphere and held productive discussions on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the area of defense cooperation. They emphasized deepening the existing friendship between Bangladesh and Italy and making it more multidimensional.

The discussions also covered expanding collaboration in defense training, capacity building, and experience sharing, as well as enhancing cooperation in the context of regional and global security. Both parties stressed the importance of elevating mutual trust, cooperation, and strategic partnership to a new level.

Islami Chhatra Shibir Central President Nurul Islam has alleged that the Awami government carried out the Shapla Chattar killings as part of a plan to eliminate Islam and its leaders. Speaking at a human chain organized by the Dhaka South unit of Chhatra Shibir at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar, he demanded the immediate publication of a white paper on the incident and the trial of those responsible in an international crimes tribunal.

Nurul Islam claimed that after the 2013 incident, many Islamic scholars were unjustly arrested, tortured, and imprisoned for years. He also alleged that several television channels were shut down to conceal the events of May 5. He urged the government to reveal the actual death toll, compensate affected families, and punish those who planned and executed the killings. He further called for a blasphemy law to prevent anti-Islamic activities.

Special guest Maulana Abdul Halim of Jamaat-e-Islami also demanded justice, claiming that some former RAB and military officials were directly involved. He reminded that the opposition alliance led by Begum Khaleda Zia had protested the killings the following day.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on district administrators to engage closely with citizens and lead alongside them. Speaking as chief guest at the sixth session of the 2026 Deputy Commissioners’ Conference held Tuesday at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he emphasized the administrators’ vital role in nation-building and urged them to focus on genuine public welfare. He also announced that the government would organize local government elections soon and stressed decentralization as key to strengthening democracy.

State Minister Mir Shah Alam, attending as special guest, highlighted the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, noting that among 64 district commissioners, 18 are women, and one of eight divisional commissioners is female. He instructed authorities to ensure coordinated waste removal within 12 hours during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The session, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, included presentations and discussions among divisional commissioners and district administrators on local challenges and development priorities.

The event underscored the government’s focus on administrative innovation and effective local governance to advance national development goals.

Hefazat-e-Islam organized a rally in Narsingdi on Tuesday afternoon demanding justice for the killings at Shapla Chattar. The gathering took place at Darul Ulum Dattapara Madrasa and was attended by leaders of the organization’s Narsingdi district branch, including President Hafiz Maulana Shawkat Hossain Sarkar, Organizing Secretary Maulana Sadekul Islam, and several other clerics and activists.

Speakers at the rally alleged that people devoted to Islam were brutally killed during the incident and compared the violence to extreme acts of brutality. They accused the government of supporting anti-Islamic activities through the Shahbagh Gonojagoron Mancha movement. The speakers also announced the formation of the Shapla Foundation and demanded that the events of Shapla Chattar be included in school textbooks.

The rally reflected Hefazat-e-Islam’s continuing demand for official recognition and judicial action regarding the Shapla Chattar incident, which the group describes as a massacre.

An illegal network known as the 'Body Contract Syndicate' has reportedly become active again at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The group allegedly facilitates illegal immigration by helping individuals with incomplete travel documents pass through immigration in exchange for 30,000 to 50,000 taka per person. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has identified one of the key figures behind the operation as Abdul Bari Molla, an aerodrome operator at the airport.

According to CAAB, Molla secretly built a large human trafficking network involving immigration police and airline employees. A formal investigation has been launched against him, but sources claim he has attempted to influence the inquiry by pressuring administrative officials and using external contacts to obstruct the process. The syndicate reportedly sends people to Italy via countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Qatar, Egypt, or Syria using Umrah visas and sea routes.

Following recent reports of over 20 Bangladeshi deaths in the Mediterranean Sea en route to Italy, the Prime Minister’s Office instructed relevant agencies to investigate. CAAB’s Additional Secretary S M Lablur Rahman stated that strict action will be taken based on the investigation findings and reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.

Army Chief General Walker-Uz-Zaman has described the recent national election as the most remarkable in the country’s history. Speaking on Tuesday at the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he said the election demonstrated that both military and civilian forces can successfully complete even the most challenging tasks when working together. Before his remarks, the chiefs of the navy and air force, along with the prime minister’s defense adviser, also addressed the event.

The army chief thanked the deputy commissioners for their role in organizing the election, noting that while the army provided support, the responsibility for conducting the polls rested entirely with the civil administration. He added that despite earlier doubts about whether the election would take place, the process had restored the nation to a democratic path. He assured the officials that the army would remain ready to assist them promptly in any emergency, disaster, or other critical situation.

His comments underscored the military’s commitment to supporting civil authorities and maintaining stability following the election.