National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam has said Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is contemplating stepping down from his role, according to a report by BBC Bangla. Nahid met with Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday evening, amid growing speculation about the interim government head’s future. Later that night, BBC Bangla quoted Nahid as saying Yunus had expressed serious doubts about his ability to continue in office. The political parties—you’ve all failed to reach common ground’,” Nahid told the BBC. Nahid’s meeting with Yunus took place against the backdrop of these escalating intra-governmental disputes and mounting political uncertainty.

BGB rescues family of five on Khagrachhari border after ‘India push-in’Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have rescued a family of five individuals near the Ramgarh border in Khagrachhari, who were allegedly forced into Bangladesh across the Feni River by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). Members of the Mahamuni Border Outpost under Ramgarh BGB Battalion-43 detained them on charges of illegal entry after they were pulled out of the river around 6am on Thursday. Ramgarh Upazila’s acting Executive Officer, Ismat Jahan Tuhin, said BSF reportedly forced them across the border into Bangladesh near the Ramgarh-Sabroom border around midnight on Wednesday. Ismat said the family was being held at Ramgarh High School under BGB and police supervision on humanitarian grounds. This incident comes shortly after another reported push-in incident by the BSF on May 6, when 81 people were forced across the border into Bangladesh through the Matiranga and Panchhari borders in Khagrachhari.

Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has emphasised the urgency of holding elections to help the nation transition from the political crisis that has gripped it since the mass uprising nine months ago, according to multiple media reports. Speaking at an event at the Dhaka Cantonment on Wednesday, he reportedly highlighted issues including the proposed aid corridor into Rakhine, port access, and constitutional reforms. According to the Prothom the army chief issued a stern warning against mob violence, instructing the military to adopt a firmer stance on maintaining law and order. According to Saer, Waker is against the notion of allowing foreign nationals access to confidential national information. Waker reportedly warned that the current interim administration may be unknowingly steering Bangladesh toward becoming a battlefield for foreign powers, dubbing it a “proxy war”.

IMF says it stands ready to provide Syria with technical assistanceThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday it was ready to provide Syria with technical support after the United States and the European Union announced a lifting of sanctions on the country. "Syria will need significant assistance to rebuild its economic institutions," said Kozack. "We stand ready to provide advice and targeted and well prioritized technical assistance in our areas of expertise." Kozack added the Fund expects the lifting of sanctions to support the country's efforts to overcome economic challenges and advance reconstruction. The IMF undertook its last Article IV assessment of economic policies of Syria in 2009.

Bangladesh’s interim government has repealed the controversial Cyber Security Act, replacing it with a new Cyber Safety Ordinance that introduces offences related to artificial intelligence while eliminating many provisions previously criticised as suppressing free speech. Other sections removed from the new ordinance include Sections 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, and 34. Human rights groups had long described the Cyber Security Act as a “black law” used to stifle dissent. The ordinance repeals sections related to identity theft, defamation, religious sentiment, and cyberterrorism, among others. It also annuls all ongoing trials and past sentences issued under those repealed sections, providing a blanket amnesty for those prosecuted under the former law.

The Ministry of Education has cancelled the quota for women in the recruitment of teachers in private schools and colleges under the MPO system. However, the notification states that the qualifications and conditions for appointment as assistant teachers of physical education in private schools and physical education teachers in private colleges will remain unchanged in the MPO policy. The SHED also said that the order to abolish the women’s quota in the appointment of private teachers will be effective from the date of the notice’s signing. In this case, 40 percent of the total teacher posts in private educational institutions in city corporation or municipality areas and 20 percent of the total teacher posts in educational institutions in rural areas were set for female candidates. “However, there was no quota for female candidates in the recruitment of teachers in private educational institutions in places other than the Haor region, remote areas, and the municipal areas in the three hill districts.”

No more Liberation War, Bangabandhu in pledges at schools, collegesThe government has removed references to the 1971 Liberation War and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the daily oath recited at morning assemblies at secondary and higher secondary schools and colleges, reverting to the format used before 2021. Wednesday’s move follows a similar update to the pledge at primary schools, brought into effect shortly after the interim government took charge. The directive, signed by Deputy Secretary Rahima Akhter, instructs institutions to introduce the revised pledge promoting “an equal Bangladesh”. On Dec 28, 2021, the Awami League government revised the pledge across all educational levels to include a tribute to the Liberation War and Bangabandhu’s leadership. That version read:“Bangladesh achieved independence through a bloody struggle under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman against the oppression and deprivation of Pakistani rulers.

The BNP Standing Committee has called an emergency press conference as supporters of party leader Ishraque Hossain continue protests even after a High Court decision cleared the way for him to be sworn in as the mayor of Dhaka South. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who is currently undergoing treatment at a Bangkok hospital, is expected to join the briefing virtually. The court’s decision comes as Ishraque’s supporters held a week of protests to push for him to take on the responsibility of DSCC mayor. Ishraque lost the DSCC election on Feb 1, 2020, to Awami League’s Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh by nearly 200,000 votes. But on Mar 27 this year, Judge Md Nurul Islam of the Dhaka Election Tribunal overturned the result and declared Ishraque mayor.

But the conflict with India has turned that around, said Ayesha Siddiqa, author of Military Inc, a book on the Pakistan military. Pakistan claimed to have downed at least 5-6 Indian fighter jets and carried out air strikes on Indian military bases. The Indian army "with all their wherewithal" cannot "intimidate" Pakistan, he said, peppering his comments with verses from the Quran. He remains army chief until November 2027 and could be appointed for another five-year term at that point. "The recent show of strength and standing up to India has helped General Munir solidify his position within the country."

Robbers have swooped in on a long-haul passenger bus on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge Highway, whisking away valuables and allegedly harassing female passengers sexually during the act. One of the passengers started a case over the incident with the Tangail Sadar Police Station. Along the way, several robbers boarded the bus, posing as passengers from several locations along the highway and later took control of the vehicle. One of the passengers, 52-year-old Afaz Uddin from Bogura’s Adamdighi Upazila, alleged that the robbers had “molested” the female passengers under the pretence of searches for money and valuables. Earlier, on Feb 17, a similar robbery and harassment of female passengers occurred on a Unique Royals passenger bus on the highway.

India must take back verified citizens, says Advisor Touhid on push-inForeign Advisor Touhid Hossain has said Bangladesh has written to India over the recent push-in incidents along the border, urging Delhi to honour existing arrangements and not act beyond agreed norms. We are currently verifying those through the home ministry.”In response to a question, the advisor said: “We are in contact with Delhi. “But if anyone is proven to be an Indian national, they must be taken back.”The interim government had earlier said it would review existing agreements with India. On the review or cancellation of those agreements, Touhid said several small agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been made at different times. When asked if India was violating existing rules, Touhid said: “Rules can be interpreted in different ways.

The government has removed references to the 1971 Liberation War and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the daily oath recited at morning assemblies at secondary and higher secondary schools and colleges, reverting to the format used before 2021. Wednesday’s move follows a similar update to the pledge at primary schools, brought into effect shortly after the interim government took charge. The revised version also omits the commitment to building a nation rooted in “secular ideals”, according to a notification issued by the education ministry’s Secondary and Higher Education Division, which also delivered a new text for the oath. The directive, signed by Deputy Secretary Rahima Akhter, instructs institutions to introduce the revised pledge promoting “an equal Bangladesh”. On Dec 28, 2021, the Awami League government revised the pledge across all educational levels to include a tribute to the Liberation War and Bangabandhu’s leadership.

The interim government is preparing to replace Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin, only eight months after he took office, with a new appointment expected to be announced within the next few days. Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain shared the development on Wednesday, as signs of discomfort within the foreign ministry over the decision emerged. “The foreign secretary may wish to step down for several reasons, and we are allowing him to do so.”“By stepping aside, I mean leaving this responsibility. Amid sweeping changes in the foreign ministry, Jashim took office as foreign secretary barely a month after a student-led mass movement toppled the Awami League government on Aug 5. A member of the 13th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Foreign Service cadre, Jashim assumed the role on Sept 8.

Plaintiff withdraws case against Hasina, 192 others in Tangail within 48 hoursThe plaintiff who filed a case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 192 others over alleged vote rigging in the 2024 so-called “dummy election” has withdrawn the complaint just 48 hours after submitting it to a court in Tangail. Following dramatic developments on Tuesday, plaintiff Kamrul submitted a no-objection letter in court to remove the five journalists from the case. Kamrul later said Bhuyapur BNP President Golam Mostafa had asked him to drop the case. “There are questions about why the case was filed in the first place and why it was later dropped. District BNP President Hasanuzzaman Shaheen said, “A case like this should’ve been filed in consultation with the district BNP.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has finally sent a stern message to interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus: hold early elections, stop interfering with military matters, and keep the military in the loop on key issues like the proposed Rakhine Corridor. He wants to take the army back to the barracks, playing the role of a saviour, not a usurper. By calling it a “bloody corridor”, the army chief made it clear he is firmly against dragging Bangladesh into the festering Burmese civil war. Bangladesh military sources say the General will likely push Yunus to remove Hassan and a few other officers he believes are not loyal to him. Kamrul Hassan's meeting with senior US diplomats last week, without prior clearance from the army chief, was the tipping point.