Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that an independent media is one of the main instruments for ensuring accountability in a democratic system. Speaking as the chief guest at the Jahangirnagar University Journalists’ Association’s new committee handover ceremony on Monday, he emphasized that a government elected by the people must remain accountable to them, and a strong, independent media helps reinforce that responsibility.

The minister stated that journalism is not merely a profession but is deeply connected to patriotism, humanity, and social responsibility. He congratulated young journalists for choosing this challenging field and cautioned that media should never become a propaganda tool for any vested interest group. He added that journalists must speak for the people, not act as public relations agents for individuals or organizations.

Swapan also called for research into how media has sometimes been used against public interest and urged journalists to evaluate their own roles. He stressed that no professional identity should place anyone above the law and expressed hope that young journalists’ creativity and critical thinking would strengthen the media in the future.

A Muslim residential community named Epic City is being planned in Hunt and Collin counties, Texas, covering 402 acres. The project includes over a thousand residential plots, a faith-based K–12 school, commercial and retail centers, and a mosque. It will not be a new city and will remain under Texas state law. The development is envisioned as a central hub for Islam in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office launched an investigation to determine whether the project violated the Fair Housing Act or imposed discriminatory financial conditions requiring owners to subsidize religious facilities. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have opposed the project, citing concerns about potential implementation of Sharia law, and Paxton has filed multiple lawsuits to halt it.

Last week, a Travis County district judge ruled that the Texas Workforce Commission must honor a settlement agreement and withdraw from the fair housing investigation. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) supported the project, calling the opposition politically motivated and rooted in Islamophobia.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam announced that Bangladesh aims to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the national GDP from the current 3 percent to between 6 and 7 percent. She made the announcement on Monday at the District Commissioners’ Conference 2026 held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, where she and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat attended as special guests.

Afroza Khanam stated that there are 1,742 tourist spots across the country, indicating that every district has tourism potential. She said a master plan is being prepared to develop the tourism sector and called for the active involvement of district administrators. The minister also urged the culture minister to focus on developing the Baliati and Teota Zamindar Houses in Manikganj to attract more visitors.

State Minister Millat emphasized that local administrators can be catalysts for change by promoting clean, safe, and creative tourism initiatives that strengthen district economies and enhance Bangladesh’s global tourism image.

In his 2026 State of the Union address, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that American intervention was crucial in stopping the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict from escalating into a nuclear war. New Delhi reacted sharply, maintaining that the dispute was a bilateral matter. The four-day confrontation was among the most intense between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in recent years, involving drones, missiles, and heavy shelling targeting military bases and urban areas.

Following the clash, both nations began reassessing their military strategies. India adopted a “new normal” policy emphasizing precise and forceful strikes while downplaying nuclear threats, whereas Pakistan warned it could strike deep inside India. Analysts caution that both sides now believe conventional wars can remain below the nuclear threshold, but emerging technologies, rapid warfare, and misinformation heighten the risk of miscalculation.

Experts urge immediate steps to prevent future escalation, including secret dialogues, confidence-building measures, and improved communication channels. They also recommend that the United States and its allies develop a coordinated crisis management plan to contain potential conflicts before they spiral out of control.

Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that two missiles struck a US Navy warship near the Strait of Hormuz. Local sources said the attack occurred close to Jask Island after the vessel allegedly ignored warnings from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces. The report claimed the ship had been ordered to stop but did not comply. Al Jazeera noted that the US side has not yet confirmed any details about the incident.

The strike took place as US President Donald Trump announced the launch of “Project Freedom” on Monday, an operation aimed at ensuring the safe passage of ships stranded in the Hormuz Strait. According to the US Central Command, the mission will involve around 15,000 troops, more than 100 land and naval aircraft, as well as warships and drones.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy transit route, and analysts fear that the latest escalation could significantly affect international markets and regional security conditions.

The Bangladesh government has decided to modify the police uniform, retaining the previous shirt design while changing the trouser color to khaki. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced the decision on Monday, May 4, 2026, after the first meeting of the National Committee on Coordination, Management, and Law and Order concerning forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya) at the Secretariat.

The minister explained that the decision followed feedback from across the country and within the police force, where the existing uniform was found to be unsatisfactory and not widely accepted. Responding to a request from the police, the ministry aimed to restore a more traditional and acceptable uniform. The old shirt design used for both metropolitan and national police will remain, while khaki trousers will replace the previous ones.

Ahmed added that the new uniform will take some time to be implemented due to production and preparation requirements. Although not yet officially launched, the government has finalized the decision and announced it publicly.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman will travel to Beijing on Tuesday for an official visit from May 5 to 7, confirmed by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This marks his first visit to China since the BNP government took office following the February elections. The information was reported by China’s state media outlet Global Times.

During the visit, the two countries are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including global affairs, the energy crisis, development projects, trade, investment, water management cooperation, defense assistance, and the Rohingya issue. The Bangladeshi minister will also meet China’s Minister of Development and senior leaders of the Communist Party of China.

China is one of Bangladesh’s largest development partners, giving the visit special significance. Discussions may include progress on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, supported by Chinese technical and financial assistance, as well as a possible future visit by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister to China. The Foreign Minister will be accompanied by the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.

The history of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly began on February 1, 1862, when Bengal’s first Legislative Council met at Belvedere in Alipore under Governor John Peter Grant. Formed under the Indian Councils Act of 1861, the council initially had 12 nominated members. Over the decades, membership expanded, and by 1919 the council had 125 members with a formal presiding officer. The first elected members joined in 1892, marking the start of representative participation.

The assembly’s current building was founded in 1928 and inaugurated in 1931. The Government of India Act of 1935 created a bicameral legislature with a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council. The first assembly election in 1937 produced a hung house, leading A.K. Fazlul Huq to form a coalition government. After India’s independence, 90 members from West Bengal joined the reconstituted provincial legislature in 1947, and the first state assembly session under the Indian Constitution was held in 1952.

In 1969, the Legislative Council was abolished, making the West Bengal legislature unicameral. The assembly now has 294 members, reduced from 295 after the Anglo-Indian reserved seat was removed in 2019.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed officials to simplify the project approval process to attract both domestic and foreign investors. He also assured necessary support for those willing to invest in long-closed state-owned mills and factories. The directive came during a meeting held on Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat, focusing on the current status and future plans for closed textile and jute mills under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

During the meeting, an official noted that lengthy approval times and complex inter-departmental permissions discourage investors. In response, the Prime Minister instructed that unnecessary ministerial or departmental approvals be removed from the process. He emphasized that the government is committed to creating an investment-friendly environment and that reducing bureaucratic hurdles is essential to achieving this goal.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the need to make loan access easier for private investors interested in reviving closed state-owned factories and directed relevant ministers to take prompt and effective measures in this regard.

West Bengal witnessed a dramatic political shift on May 4, 2026, as early vote counts indicated the end of Trinamool Congress’s fifteen-year rule. According to the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led in 192 constituencies, surpassing the majority mark, while the Trinamool Congress trailed with 97. The sweeping results triggered widespread unrest across the state, with reports of violence against ruling party workers. Security was tightened around Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, and the Election Commission ordered deployment of central forces.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari attributed the victory to strategic religious polarization, claiming consolidation of Hindu votes and erosion of Trinamool’s traditional Muslim support base. Analysts cited multiple factors behind Trinamool’s decline, including dissatisfaction among minority voters over OBC certificate cancellations, discontent over Waqf property management, and administrative controversies. The exclusion of about 9.1 million names from voter rolls and corruption scandals in education and ration distribution further weakened the ruling party.

Observers noted that record voter turnout above 92 percent reflected a strong desire for change, marking a decisive end to Mamata Banerjee’s long-standing dominance in West Bengal politics.

Iran is reviewing a new peace proposal from the United States aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. He stated that the proposal was delivered through Pakistan and is currently under examination. Baghaei told reporters that since the review is still underway, no further details can be shared at this stage.

He added that the United States often makes what Iran considers excessive and unreasonable demands, making the evaluation process difficult. Addressing reports about Iran’s nuclear program, Baghaei said most of the information circulating is speculative. He emphasized that Iran’s current priority is to achieve a complete end to the war, and decisions about future steps will be made later.

The comments reflect Iran’s cautious approach to the U.S. initiative and its focus on halting hostilities before considering broader diplomatic or nuclear-related negotiations.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for coordinated action between the United States and Iran to reopen the Hormuz Strait. Speaking at a meeting of European leaders in Armenia on Monday, he said that a joint initiative by Washington and Tehran could be the only effective solution to restore operations in the vital waterway. Macron also clarified that France would not participate in any military operation whose structure remains unclear.

According to the report, U.S. military forces are continuing security operations to safely escort commercial vessels through the Hormuz Strait. Macron added that France, together with the United Kingdom, is working to form an alliance aimed at reopening the strait once peace is restored.

The Hormuz Strait is described as one of the world’s most important maritime routes for energy transport, playing a strategic role in Middle Eastern oil exports.

The Kremlin has significantly increased security measures for Russian President Vladimir Putin amid fears of assassination and coup attempts, according to a European intelligence report obtained by CNN. The report states that heightened protection follows a series of targeted killings of senior military figures and growing concerns about internal plots. Surveillance has been installed in the homes of Putin’s close aides, and staff such as cooks, bodyguards, and photographers are now barred from using public transport. Visitors must undergo double screening, and close associates are restricted to using phones without internet access.

The report links these measures to the December killing of a top general and notes that Putin has reduced his travel, avoiding his Valdai retreat and military site visits in 2026. It also highlights economic strain and public frustration in major Russian cities due to the ongoing war. The document mentions internal Kremlin tensions, including a heated meeting between top officials and expanded powers for the Federal Protection Service.

European intelligence agencies reportedly view these developments as signs of growing mistrust and instability within Russia’s ruling elite.

The government will provide financial assistance to farmers affected by recent heavy rainfall in the haor regions. Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that each affected farmer will receive at least Tk 7,500. He made the statement on Monday after the third session of the second day of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Earlier, sessions were held with the ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, and Food.

The minister said field-level agricultural officers are preparing lists of affected farmers, categorizing them for assistance that will continue from May to July. He added that the amount could increase depending on the extent of damage. The Agriculture and Disaster Management ministries are jointly compiling the lists, and funds will come from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and the Disaster Management Ministry. Rashid noted that while full compensation may not be possible, the aid aims to ease the farmers’ distress.

He also mentioned that there is no shortage of sacrificial animals in the country, border markets have been closed, and imports of cattle have been restricted. Additionally, the issue of low potato prices was discussed, with plans to expand export-oriented potato cultivation for products like French fries and chips.

Iran’s armed forces have ordered all commercial ships and tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate their movements with Iranian military units. A military statement carried by Iranian media warned that vessels failing to comply could come under attack. The statement emphasized that the security of the strait is under the control of Iran’s armed forces and that safe navigation must occur only through coordination with them.

The warning came just hours before U.S. President Donald Trump announced an ‘escort mission’ aimed at assisting stranded ships in the area. Iran’s statement declared that it would use its full strength to maintain security in the strait and cautioned that any foreign armed forces, particularly U.S. troops, attempting to enter or approach the area would be targeted.

The development highlights renewed tension in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with both Iran and the United States signaling readiness to assert control over navigation and security in the region.