Bangladesh recorded 36 dengue deaths and 9,206 hospital admissions during July, according to a July 31, 2026 bulletin from the Directorate General of Health Services' Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room. In the previous 24 hours, one person died and 153 patients were admitted to hospital. The day before, three deaths and 467 admissions were reported.

From 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday, Chattogram division outside city corporation areas reported 69 admissions, while Dhaka division outside city corporation areas reported 50. Dhaka North City Corporation recorded 11 admissions, Dhaka South City Corporation 15, and Barishal and Khulna divisions four each. During the same period, 154 patients were discharged after recovery.

Since January, total dengue admissions have reached 15,310 and deaths have risen to 54. Deaths included two each in January and February, one in May, 13 in June and 36 in July. Dhaka division has recorded the highest death toll, with 25 deaths. Barishal division has the most patients, at 3,312. Men account for 61.5 percent of infections and women 38.5 percent.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman visited teenager Alif at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital after he was seriously injured and lost one eye in an attack during the NCP’s “July March” programme in Habiganj. Rahman, identified as the parliamentary opposition leader, went to the hospital at about 4pm on July 31.

During the visit, he inquired about Alif’s physical condition and spoke with doctors treating him. The report said Alif suffered serious injuries in the attack on the NCP march in Habiganj, including severe trauma to his eye.

Alif was initially treated locally after the injury, but his condition later deteriorated. He was then admitted to the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment. Doctors were unable to save one of his eyes.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, or DUCSU, held a seminar on July 31 to recall the media’s role in the July uprising, the struggle to publish the truth, and the contributions of journalists killed while performing their professional duties. The event began at 11 a.m. in the DUCSU conference room and was titled “The Role of Media in the July Mass Uprising and Our Martyred Journalists.” DUCSU Assistant General Secretary Mohiuddin Khan chaired the seminar, while Fatima Tasnim Juma moderated it.

Participants included Shamsi Ara Jaman, mother of slain journalist Tahir Jaman Priyo, along with representatives from media outlets, the Bangladesh Free Press Initiative, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, and the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association. Speakers said journalists worked amid pressure, threats and risks to present factual information to the public during the uprising. They said many journalists were injured and some gave their lives, describing their sacrifices as a lasting chapter in Bangladesh’s media history.

Shamsi Ara Jaman demanded justice for her son’s killing and called for implementation of the July charter and necessary constitutional reforms. Journalist Rajib Ahmed urged self-criticism and reconciliation over media errors and limitations before and after July. Speakers also emphasized media freedom, responsible journalism, accurate and unrestricted information during crises, and effective measures to preserve the memory of slain journalists.

The government has reconstituted the executive committee of the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust to make its welfare activities more effective and dynamic. Freedom Fighters Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan has been named chair of the new committee, according to a report published on July 31, 2026. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs recently issued a notification on the reconstitution.

The notification said the committee was reformed under Section 13 of the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust Act, 2018. Members include State Minister for Liberation War Affairs and Dhaka-6 lawmaker Ishraq Hossain, Kishoreganj-4 lawmaker Md Fazlur Rahman, Cumilla-6 lawmaker Md Monirul Haque Chowdhury, and Noakhali-2 lawmaker Zainul Abdin Farroque.

The secretaries of the Finance Division, Ministry of Industries, and Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will serve as ex-officio members. The Trust's managing director will act as member-secretary. The committee will oversee Trust operations, prepare and implement development plans for subordinate commercial and industrial entities, review project progress, audit accounts, set future work plans, and implement Trustee Board decisions.

Prime Minister’s political assistant Rashed Khan said BNP activists would cooperate with NCP political programs if NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari is excluded. He made the remarks on Friday morning while speaking to journalists after inaugurating a tree fair at the Old DC Court premises in Jhenaidah town.

Referring to NCP’s recent political activities, Khan alleged that NCP leaders, particularly Hasnat Abdullah and Nasiruddin Patwari, had made objectionable remarks about Law Minister Advocate Asaduzzaman during visits to different districts. He said people in Jhenaidah would not accept such comments, adding that local residents would naturally become angry if provocative statements were made with Patwari present.

Khan said opposition parties could conduct politics and receive cooperation, but called on NCP to leave Patwari out of its travels around the country. He also said Asaduzzaman was working for equal development across all upazilas of Jhenaidah and for establishing the rule of law. The event was attended by the law minister, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rasheduzzaman Millat, and local officials.

The Justice and Democracy Party, or JDP, warned that Bangladesh could move toward an economic recession if the ongoing gas crisis is not resolved quickly. JDP convener Naim Ahmad made the warning at a human chain in Shahbagh, Dhaka, on July 31, calling for an end to the severe shortage and adequate gas supplies. He said the public does not have confidence in government assurances and statements on the crisis.

Ahmad described gas as a key driver of industry, agriculture, power generation and the wider economy. He said shortages are disrupting factory output, creating investment uncertainty and threatening employment. He called for interest on bank loans to affected businesses to be waived or suspended, alongside necessary incentives, until gas supplies return to normal.

He also highlighted cooking-gas difficulties faced by low-income women workers in the garment sector. Ahmad said disruptions to irrigation and fertilizer production could threaten food output, food security and inflation. JDP member secretary Advocate Abdul Alim said the government should take effective action before public anger over daily disruptions turns into mass protests.

Qawmi Parishad Bangladesh has expressed concern, condemnation and protest over an alleged same-sex wedding event at the Dhakeshwari Temple premises. In a statement published on July 31, its president, Mufti Imranul Bari Siraji, also khatib of Gulistan Pir Yemeni Jame Mosque in the capital, demanded an impartial investigation and action against those involved under existing laws.

Siraji said Bangladesh’s constitution, social values and religious traditions place importance on family structures and morality. He claimed that homosexuality is punishable under the country’s existing laws. According to the statement, organising an event publicly in the name of a same-sex wedding would show disregard for the law and could create moral decline and disorder in society.

He further said that Islam and the country’s major religions do not legitimise homosexuality. Holding such a programme around a religious place of worship or sacred site could hurt religious sentiments and harm social harmony, he said. The statement urged relevant ministries, law-enforcement agencies and the administration to investigate how the incident occurred, who was involved and whether there was any negligence in carrying out duties, while taking steps to prevent similar events.

Bangladesh’s ninth national pay-scale process is in its final stage, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on July 31 while speaking to media at the Secretariat. He said the process to issue a gazette notification for the new salary structure would begin quickly after cabinet approval. However, no final announcement of the ninth pay scale has yet been made.

Bangladesh has announced eight pay scales for public employees since independence, with the latest introduced in 2015. Under that structure, the minimum basic salary rose 101 percent to Tk8,250 and the maximum salary rose 95 percent to Tk78,000. Since then, employees have received annual increments at a fixed rate, currently five percent, but no new formal salary structure has been announced.

In July 2025, the Ninth National Pay Commission recommended salary increases of 100 to 140 percent, proposing a minimum basic salary of Tk20,000 and a maximum of Tk160,000. After taking office, the new government formed a separate committee on April 21 to review recommendations. The minister also said the new pay structure had no connection with obtaining a new IMF loan.

Police in Tongi, Gazipur, arrested madrasa teacher Ibrahim Khalil, 35, over allegations of molesting and sexually abusing two nine-year-old students. Tongi West police station officer-in-charge Md Arifur Rahman said Khalil was sent to jail through a Gazipur court on Friday afternoon. The reported incidents occurred at Haji Kalu Mia Mohila Madrasa in the Mudafa Bishartek area of Tongi on Thursday night.

Residents said Khalil, a teacher at the madrasa, had allegedly often harassed underage children. They alleged that on Wednesday he took a first-grade student into his room, molested her and threatened her not to disclose the matter. They further alleged that at about 8pm on Thursday, he molested and sexually abused another girl from the same class.

After the second child told her guardian about the allegation after returning home from the madrasa, local residents became angry, staged protests, surrounded the institution and carried out vandalism. Police arrested Khalil at about 1am Thursday night. A case was filed under the নারী ও শিশু নির্যাতন আইনে on Friday afternoon before he was sent to court. Police said no remand request was filed against him.

A new border crisis has emerged in Ceuta, the Spanish-administered autonomous territory in North Africa, after thousands of migrants entered from Morocco within hours. Local sources said about 49,000 people crossed the border by swimming, using sea routes and climbing or breaking through border fences. At least 18 people were reported dead amid the disorder.

The crisis escalated on Thursday after large numbers of people broke the border fence, prompting Ceuta’s local authorities to request additional troops from Madrid. Spain deployed the army, extra police and special security forces. Rashid Sabihi, head of Spain’s Civil Guard association serving at the border, described the situation as extremely chaotic and said thousands were crossing, though he could not provide an exact total.

Spain’s Interior Ministry called it the largest migrant entry into Ceuta in recent years. The local administration said reception centres were already overflowing. Spain and Morocco reached a policy-level understanding on returning people who entered illegally, while Morocco pledged to strengthen border security. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska was expected to visit Ceuta on Friday.

Resigned President Md. Sahabuddin Chuppu was called a “thief” as he left a mosque in Gulshan, Dhaka, after Friday prayers, according to a report published on July 31, 2026. The incident occurred while he was getting into a vehicle with state protection. One person was heard saying, “A thief is being given protection.”

A video published by media outlets showed Chuppu leaving the mosque wearing a light olive-green panjabi, white pajama and a cap. As he entered the vehicle, one person greeted him, while another said he had deprived “180 million people” of their rights. The report did not identify the people making the remarks or describe any action following the incident.

The report said Chuppu resigned from the presidency last Friday afternoon after serving for three years and eight months. After signing his resignation letter, he told Amar Desh that he was seriously ill and could not continue his duties because of physical complications. He became the country’s 22nd president on February 13, 2023. The report also said protesters had demanded his resignation outside Bangabhaban during the interim government period.

National Citizen Party (NCP) chief organizer Nasiruddin Patwary said lawsuits and attacks would not suppress the party’s movement. Speaking to journalists at Sylhet Circuit House on July 31 before joining a march and rally in Companiganj upazila under the “Desh Gorte July Jagoron” programme, he said the party would not leave politics out of fear. He said he would go to jail if detained and to the grave if killed.

Patwary was responding to questions about a complaint filed after a case over an attack on NCP leaders and activists in Habiganj. The complaint named Patwary, northern region chief organizer Sarjis Alam and seven others, while listing 50 additional people as unidentified accused. He said NCP was conducting normal political programmes and described allegations of assault, harassment and snatching as baseless.

He alleged that the cases were being filed on instructions from BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Patwary also alleged a culture of gang activity, terrorism and extortion in politics, while condemning what he described as such activities. On the question of a counter-case, he said NCP had filed a case over attacks on its activists and the other side later filed a counter-case. He called the iPhone-snatching allegation embarrassing.

Bangladesh is pursuing airport service reforms, modernization of flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, expanded aviation infrastructure and a regional aviation hub strategy, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said in an interview published on July 31, 2026. She said the government had taken steps after passenger complaints over baggage handling, airport disorder and immigration services, with the aim of establishing a new service culture at airports.

Codes of conduct have been introduced at the country’s three international airports, while executive magistrates are conducting regular field supervision, Khanam said. Baggage measures include vigilance teams, body-worn cameras, CCTV monitoring and a baggage reconciliation system. She also cited faster baggage delivery, international-standard training, modern ground-handling equipment, additional staff and stronger coordination among immigration, customs, airlines and other airport agencies.

The government has decided to add 24 aircraft to Biman’s fleet, including 14 Boeing and 10 Airbus planes, and aims to lease five aircraft this year; 40 companies have applied to supply aircraft through leasing. The third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is targeted for full opening by December 16, 2026. The government also plans gradual e-visa implementation and has set a 2030 goal for Bangladesh to become a safe, modern, internationally standard aviation and tourism destination.

The appointment of Aslam Habib as personal secretary to Jasim Uddin Ahmed, the ruling BNP member of parliament for Chattogram-14 (Chandanaish), has triggered political discussion and criticism. A report published on July 31, citing party sources, said Habib is the publicity and publications secretary of Sitakunda উপজেলা Awami League and previously served as personal secretary to two former Awami League MPs and Awami League-backed MP SM Al Mamun.

Some party activists have raised dissatisfaction and security concerns over the appointment. They alleged that Habib had been involved in cases, arrests and abuse against BNP and Jamaat activists in the past, though the report provided no independent verification of those claims. Unnamed BNP leaders also claimed that Subrata Barua, a former aide to ex-Awami League MP Nazrul Islam, is working as Ahmed’s Dhaka-based second personal secretary.

Habib said he had worked for two Awami League MPs previously but now assists the BNP lawmaker with official work, adding that he had not engaged in illegal activities. A video from a relief distribution event showing money being handed over drew further online criticism. Ahmed said he was abroad for medical treatment and would speak later.

Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, or JAGPA, president Barrister Tasmia Pradhan MP said Bangladesh had not changed because the July Charter had not been implemented. Speaking on July 31 at the National Press Club’s VIP Lounge, she said a solution would be sought on the streets if the charter was not enacted in parliament in line with the public mandate from a referendum.

The remarks came at a student-public roundtable titled “July National Charter and Referendum: Government’s Responsibility and Our Duties,” organized by JAGPA Chhatra Kafela. Pradhan said BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had acknowledged that corruption and bribery had not stopped over the past five months, and she said she agreed with that assessment.

At the meeting, Rashed Pradhan accused the BNP of seeking to obstruct opposition parties and dissenting views. Shibir president Saddam Hossain alleged that Awami League members remained in parts of the administration while the BNP was pursuing partisan appointments. He said threats of attacks, cases, imprisonment and repression would not deter efforts to secure public demands. JAGPA Chhatra Kafela president Abdur Rahman Faruqi chaired the event, while acting general secretary Muhammad Lutfor Rahman moderated it.