At a national convention held Sunday at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, speakers warned that citizens who voted for constitutional reforms in a recent referendum would take to the streets if the government fails to implement those changes. The event, organized by the National Citizen Party’s Reform Implementation Committee, focused on issues of energy, economy, human rights, and governance reforms.

Participants included leaders from several political and civic groups, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Nagarik Oikya, and AB Party. They criticized the government for what they described as deception and failure to honor the July Charter and the referendum results. Jamaat’s Secretary General Golam Porwar accused the ruling party of misleading the public, while Khelafat Majlis chief Mamunul Haque demanded full constitutional reform, decentralization of power, and a non-partisan administration. AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju warned of growing authoritarian tendencies and economic risks.

Presiding over the session, opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said the government’s disregard for reform discussions in parliament leaves mass movement as the only option to ensure democratic accountability.

The first meeting of the special committee of the 13th National Parliament was held on Sunday at the National Parliament Building to determine necessary actions and formulate recommendations for addressing Bangladesh’s current energy situation. The meeting was chaired by Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and the committee’s president.

Committee members including the State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit, Whip A. B. M. Ashraf Uddin (Nizan), Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Moinul Islam Khan, Md. Nurul Islam, Md. Abdul Baten, Md. Abul Hasnat, and Mohammad Abul Hasan attended the session. The ministry presented an overview of the national energy situation, outlining existing conditions and related issues. The special committee expressed satisfaction with the ministry’s ongoing measures to manage the situation.

The meeting reviewed various aspects of the energy situation and decided to conduct further sessions for detailed evaluation. A comprehensive report with recommendations will later be submitted to Parliament. Senior officials from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and the Parliament Secretariat were also present.

The newly elected members of parliament for the reserved women’s seats in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament took their oath on Sunday night at the oath room on Level-1 of the East Block of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom administered the oath to the MPs. The Election Commission had earlier published a gazette on April 30 declaring 49 of the 50 reserved women’s seats uncontested.

According to the proportional representation system, the BNP alliance nominated 36 candidates, the Jamaat alliance 13, and one candidate came from an independent alliance. After scrutiny, 36 from BNP, 12 from Jamaat, and one independent were declared elected unopposed. The list of those sworn in includes senior BNP leaders such as Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, and Nipun Roy Chowdhury, among others. From Jamaat-e-Islami, Nurunnisa Siddika, Marzia Begum, and others took oath, along with three allied nominees from NCP, JAGPA, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis.

Although the nomination of Nusrat Tabassum of the National Citizen Party (NCP) was declared valid, she did not take the oath on Sunday.

Bangladesh’s export sector rebounded in April 2026 after eight consecutive months of decline, according to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Sunday. Export earnings rose by 32.92 percent year-on-year to 4.01 billion dollars, up from 3.02 billion dollars in April of the previous year. Compared to March’s 3.48 billion dollars, April’s earnings increased by 15.20 percent. The growth was driven mainly by the ready-made garment industry, rising demand in key markets, and an increase in new orders.

Despite the April surge, total export earnings for the first ten months of the 2025–26 fiscal year stood at 39.40 billion dollars, still 2.02 percent lower than the same period last year. The apparel sector remained the main contributor, earning 31.72 billion dollars during July–April. The United States and the United Kingdom showed the strongest growth, with exports rising 43.01 percent and 23.46 percent respectively. Leather and leather goods exports rose 5.95 percent year-on-year, while agricultural processed products saw a 65 percent jump in April.

Knitwear manufacturers’ association president Mohammad Hatem said the April rise mainly reflected shipments delayed from March due to Eid holidays. He cautioned that export performance might fluctuate again in the coming months.

Iran has issued a 30-day ultimatum to the United States to resolve all disputes and end ongoing tensions. According to semi-official news agency Nour News, Tehran presented a new 14-point proposal to Washington emphasizing a permanent end to conflict rather than prolonging war. The proposal responds to an earlier nine-point U.S. plan and calls for lifting economic sanctions, ending naval blockades, withdrawing U.S. forces from the region, halting all military activities, and stopping Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.

The report notes that U.S. President Donald Trump rejected a previous Iranian proposal last week, though diplomatic communication between the two sides continues. A fragile three-week ceasefire remains in effect. On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi for key discussions. Oman has previously acted as a mediator in U.S.-Iran talks.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that this renewed diplomatic contact could open the door to future agreements, with global attention now focused on whether Iran’s new proposal can ease Middle East tensions.

National Citizen Party (NCP) leader and Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4, Hasnat Abdullah, has said that it is now unclear who makes decisions within the government. Speaking on Sunday at the NCP’s national convention on energy, economy, human rights, reform, and referendum at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, he remarked that during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, decision-making authority was clear, but now multiple power centers appear to exist within the government.

Abdullah criticized the government for moving away from public expectations and accused it of hypocrisy in handling reforms and elections. He said that necessary structural reforms in the judiciary, bureaucracy, and law enforcement have not been implemented, and that the long-term use of police as a political tool has undermined institutional trust. He warned that excessive control by the government could lead to alienation and frustration among citizens.

On energy policy, Abdullah emphasized the need to expand renewable energy to ensure national energy security. He concluded that transparency, accountability, and strong, independent institutions are essential for genuine reform and fulfilling citizens’ aspirations for change.

Iran has submitted a new 14-point proposal to the United States aimed at permanently ending their ongoing conflict and stabilizing the current war situation. According to semi-official outlet Nour News, Tehran’s plan seeks to resolve bilateral disputes within 30 days, emphasizing not only a ceasefire but also a lasting peace framework. The proposal was presented as a counter to Washington’s earlier nine-point plan.

Key elements of Iran’s proposal include lifting U.S. sanctions on Tehran, ending the naval blockade against Iran, withdrawing American military forces from the Middle East, and halting all hostile military actions. The plan also calls for broader regional de-escalation, including a demand to stop Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s rejection of a previous Iranian offer last week, diplomatic engagement continues under a fragile three-week ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi, as Oman continues to play a mediating role between Tehran and Washington.

Bangladesh Bank has reported that the country's total foreign exchange reserves have increased to 35,204.76 million, or 35.20 billion, US dollars as of May 3, 2026. The information was confirmed by Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of the central bank. According to the latest data, the gross reserve stood at 35,204.76 million dollars, while under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method, the reserve amounted to 30,512.29 million dollars.

The previous record on April 23 showed the gross reserve at 35,117.50 million dollars and the BPM6-based reserve at 30,484.01 million dollars. The central bank clarified that net reserves are calculated following the IMF’s BPM6 methodology, which deducts short-term liabilities from total reserves to determine the actual amount.

The increase marks a continuation of reserve growth following earlier declines, reflecting a modest improvement in the country's external financial position according to the central bank’s latest figures.

National Citizens Party convener and Member of Parliament Nahid Islam has termed the first session of the current parliament a failure. Speaking on Sunday, May 3, at the Freedom Fighters Hall of the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, he said the session was supposed to discuss how various reform proposals would be implemented, but the government instead ran the parliament on its own terms. He warned that if this continues, taking to the streets with public support would become their only option.

The remarks came during the final session of the National Convention on Energy, Economy, Human Rights, Reform, and Referendum, organized by the party’s Reform Implementation Committee. Other panelists included leaders from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and AB Party. Nahid Islam emphasized the need for constitutional reforms, including establishing an upper house, ensuring referendums on constitutional changes, depoliticizing institutions, and forming a caretaker government through consensus.

He argued that sustainable democracy requires gradual reform and warned that constitutional amendments driven by partisan interests could undermine stability. He reiterated that democratic aspirations have been pursued for 54 years and must now be realized through inclusive governance.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that May will experience normal rainfall, following April’s 75 percent above-average precipitation. The long-term outlook indicates that rainfall may decrease during June and July due to less active monsoon winds. The department also expects intermittent rain until May 10, with temperatures remaining normal before gradually rising. A heatwave is likely to begin around May 15 and last six to seven days.

Meteorologist Kazi Zebun Nesa explained that early western low pressure and the upward movement of southern winds caused heavy cloud formation over the Sylhet and Chattogram hill regions, leading to higher-than-usual rainfall before the monsoon. The forecast also mentions one to two low-pressure systems in May, with a low chance of cyclone formation, and five to six nor’westers, including two to three severe ones.

April recorded the highest rainfall in Barishal division, 169 percent above normal, while Dhaka saw about 80 percent more rain. The department noted that this year’s heatwaves were shorter and less intense than in 2023 and 2024.

The United States is experiencing a sharp rise in fuel prices as the ongoing war with Iran disrupts global oil supplies. According to data released on Saturday, the average price of gasoline in the country has climbed to $4.45 per gallon, marking an increase of 34 cents in just one week. Since the conflict began on February 28, gasoline prices have risen by $1.47 per gallon. California has recorded the highest average price at $6.10 per gallon.

Diesel prices have also surged significantly, reaching a national average of $5.64 per gallon, up from $3.76 on the day the war began. The steep increase has raised concerns across the transportation sector, which heavily depends on diesel fuel.

Analysts warn that if tensions in the Middle East persist, the energy market could face further instability, leading to higher transportation costs, increased commodity prices, and greater pressure on consumers’ living expenses.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has strongly condemned and protested remarks made by BNP leader and reserved seat MP Nilofar Chowdhury Moni regarding zakat, describing them as disrespectful. In a statement released to the media on Sunday, Hefazat’s Secretary General Allama Sajedur Rahman said zakat is a fundamental act of worship in Islam that promotes equality, compassion, and poverty alleviation. He stated that mocking or ridiculing such a sacred command is unacceptable and has hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.

The Hefazat leader emphasized that freedom of expression does not grant anyone the right to insult religious beliefs or practices. He warned that such comments could create confusion, hostility, and unrest in society. Rahman urged the BNP leader to act responsibly by retracting her statement and publicly apologizing to Muslims.

He further called on all individuals to maintain restraint, respect, and responsibility when discussing religious matters to preserve social harmony and peace. Earlier, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir and Khatme Nabuwat had also issued condemnations.

The United States is reportedly making key decisions regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran without direct coordination with Tel Aviv, leaving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu increasingly sidelined. Initially, Netanyahu believed Israel was conducting a major military campaign against a regional power with U.S. backing, but analysts now say Washington’s influence dominates Israel’s military and diplomatic choices.

Experts cited the Lebanon ceasefire as a major example of this shift, claiming the decision was driven by U.S. President Donald Trump rather than Netanyahu’s preference. The prolonged conflict is raising concerns about escalating military costs, economic strain, and humanitarian damage, all of which are affecting Israel’s domestic politics.

As uncertainty and losses mount, Netanyahu’s political standing appears to be weakening, with opinion polls indicating a decline in his public support.

Environmental and haor-based organizations have warned that the recent crop losses in Bangladesh’s haor region pose a grave threat to national food security. At a press conference held on Sunday at the National Press Club, they stated that around 75,000 hectares of Boro paddy fields were submerged after crop protection embankments collapsed, while hailstorms damaged another 800 hectares. The groups jointly organized the event under the banners of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), the Environment and Haor Development Organization, and Nagorik Udyog.

Speakers including BAPA President Professor Nur Mohammad Talukdar and Environment and Haor Development Organization President Kashmir Reza said farmers in the haor areas are facing severe humanitarian distress. Continuous rainfall from mid-March to late April has prevented harvested paddy from drying, causing rot and loss. ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda warned that the crisis will affect farmers’ livelihoods, debt repayment, education, and health, while livestock feed shortages are forcing distress sales.

The organizations presented a 15-point demand, including year-round food and cash aid for affected families, strict action against corruption in embankment projects, scientific research and long-term planning, and direct government purchase of at least one million tons of paddy from haor farmers.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid announced that Bangladesh has sufficient livestock for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, eliminating the need for imports. Speaking at a press conference at the ministry in Dhaka on Sunday, he said more than 12.4 million cattle, buffaloes, goats, and sheep are ready across the country. The minister assured that animal prices will remain at a reasonable level.

He stated that, as in previous years, no cattle imports will be allowed, and leases for border markets have been suspended in advance. Across the country, over 3,600 cattle markets will operate, including 27 in Dhaka—16 under the North City Corporation and 11 under the South. Markets will be set up only in designated areas to avoid traffic disruption. No import permits will be issued for fattening injections, and online cattle sales will remain free of fees.

Veterinary teams will be deployed at every market under the Department of Livestock Services, and law enforcement agencies have been instructed to prevent extortion during cattle transport by road and river.