Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque stated that the future of national politics will be built upon the spirit of Shapla. Speaking on Tuesday at the inauguration of the exhibition titled ‘Shaplar Shahidchitra: Adekha Sattwer Frame’ at the Nalinikanta Auditorium of the Shahbagh Museum in Dhaka, he honored those who lost their lives in 2013, calling them the true sons of the nation. He emphasized the importance of seeking historical truth and passing it on to future generations.

The event was attended by several political and social figures, including reserved seat MP Sanjida Islam Tuli, who described the exhibition as timely and praiseworthy. She said that ongoing discussions and research surrounding the Shapla incident are crucial for uncovering the truth and ensuring justice. Other attendees included writers, researchers, and leaders from various organizations.

Organizers said the exhibition aimed to promote research-based historical discussions and raise awareness among the youth. They expressed hope that similar initiatives would be held on a larger scale in the future.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser and former DUCSU assistant general secretary Nazim Uddin Alam said that all political parties should work together through dialogue to resolve any national crisis. He made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a discussion at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka. The event, organized by Ziaur Rahman Samaj Kalyan Parishad (ZISP) on the occasion of International Workers’ Day, was titled “Democracy, Good Governance and People’s Expectations.”

Nazim Uddin Alam emphasized that both ruling and opposition parties must engage in constructive criticism and cooperation to overcome economic and political challenges. He said BNP, Jamaat, and NCP jointly contributed to ending fascism and pledged to ensure social security, rule of law, and economic freedom under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. He also mentioned initiatives such as family and farmer cards and the revival of Ziaur Rahman’s canal-digging program.

He further stated that Bangladesh now has a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and criticized external comments on the country’s politics, asserting that Bangladesh’s people will remain united and vigilant.

Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Raihs Uddin has called for breaking the 13-year silence surrounding the Shapla Chattar incident and uncovering the truth. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion organized by the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) marking Shapla Genocide Day, held at the Department of Public Administration seminar room. The VC described the long silence as painful and said the event carried both deep sorrow and important lessons for the future. He termed the incident, which occurred amid state security and political suppression, as a deep wound for the nation.

Teacher and writer Ali Hasan Usama, the main discussant, reviewed the events of May 5, 2013, when Hefazat-e-Islam held a rally at Shapla Chattar. He highlighted the 13-point demand, the night operation, and subsequent repression, expressing concern over the lack of accurate casualty data and insufficient attention to affected families. Treasurer Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin noted that the incident drew international attention and emphasized the need for research on the roles of law enforcement, political parties, and the media.

Speakers urged collective efforts to reveal the truth and prevent the resurgence of authoritarian or fascist forces in the future.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that the July Movement emerged from accumulated anger over impunity in Bangladesh. Speaking at a seminar titled “From Shapla Massacre to July” held on Tuesday at Rupayan Trade Center in Banglamotor, Dhaka, he demanded that those who supported or masterminded the Shapla Chattar killings be brought to justice. He emphasized the need to ensure that citizens can speak safely and called for accountability for crimes against humanity.

NCP joint convener Sarowar Tushar claimed that the Awami League government had committed a series of crimes against humanity from the Pilkhana incident to the Shapla Chattar events. He urged the government to officially recognize those killed in the Shapla incident as martyrs. Other NCP leaders, including Ali Ahsan Junayed and Abdul Hannan Masud, also spoke at the seminar.

The speakers collectively argued that Bangladesh cannot escape historical responsibility by denying the Shapla Chattar events and called for state recognition of victims from past movements.

Experts have called for coordinated scientific measures, stronger research, and enhanced national preparedness to address the recent measles outbreak in Bangladesh. The appeal was made on Tuesday morning at a seminar jointly organized by the Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM) and Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Microbiology, held at the university’s Senate Hall.

Speakers at the event noted a concerning rise in measles infections and child mortality, emphasizing the need for improved laboratory surveillance, treatment management, public awareness, and vaccination coverage. They highlighted the importance of molecular surveillance, rapid diagnosis, and community-level risk communication. The seminar featured Dr. Firdausi Qadri, Dr. Khondkar Mahbuba Jamil, and Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Dey, who stressed collaboration among physicians, microbiologists, public health experts, epidemiologists, and policymakers.

Participants also underscored the need to strengthen vaccine security and self-reliance, noting that while UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi support immunization programs, Bangladesh must develop its own vaccine research, production, and distribution capacity to ensure long-term resilience.

Post-election unrest has persisted across West Bengal despite repeated warnings from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. Scattered incidents of violence have been reported in multiple districts, with BJP supporters holding victory processions using bulldozers and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) losing ground in North Bengal. In Jalpaiguri’s Maynaguri block, BJP members were accused of forcing Muslim-owned shops to close. Reports of clashes also came from both North and South 24 Parganas, where several deaths occurred.

In Kolkata’s Beleghata area, the body of TMC worker Biswajit Pattnayak was found under suspicious circumstances, prompting a police investigation. Violence also erupted in New Town after a BJP worker was allegedly beaten to death, while in Bolpur’s Santoshpur village, a TMC member named Abir Sheikh was killed. BJP supporters reportedly took control of several TMC offices in Nandigram and Falta, replacing TMC flags with BJP ones.

State BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya warned party members against seizing offices of other parties and said disciplinary action would follow if such incidents continued.

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.