Journalist Khaja Main Uddin’s article, published on July 22, 2026, revisits the violent events of July 2024 in Bangladesh, when student protests over government job quota reforms turned deadly. The piece recalls how demonstrations demanding merit-based recruitment were met with police force and political labeling, leaving many students injured and at least one killed. The author highlights the July 16, 2024, incident in which a student from Rangpur’s Begum Rokeya University was shot dead during protests.

The article criticizes the government’s reaction, noting that ruling party leaders framed protesting students as “razakars,” deepening social divisions. It argues that the quota reform movement was a legitimate expression of youth frustration over unemployment, corruption, and inequality. The writer questions the moral stance of those who remain silent in the face of state violence and compares the suppression of dissent to historical authoritarianism.

The commentary concludes that the quota system, even if well-intentioned, has become a tool for favoritism and political control, warning that imposed narratives cannot indefinitely suppress demands for justice and democratic rights.

Akram Khan Rabbi, a 28-year-old student of Crown University in Dhaka, was shot dead by police on July 19, 2024, during a protest in Mirpur-10. He had joined the anti-discrimination student movement after Friday prayers and was struck by bullets in the chest and abdomen near Shahid Abu Taleb School. His father, Faruk Khan, said Rabbi worked at a showroom to support fellow protesters with food and was deeply patriotic.

According to the family, Rabbi’s body remained in the morgue for three days as authorities refused to release it without higher approval. Despite paying for cold storage, the body was not preserved and was returned in a decomposed state on July 21. His mother, Beauty Akter, said she was not allowed to see her son’s face before burial. Police reportedly attempted to arrest Faruk Khan during the funeral, but locals prevented it.

Rabbi’s parents expressed grief and demanded justice, urging that those responsible for the killings be barred from political activity in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh marks the second anniversary of the July 2024 mass uprising amid rising political tension over unfulfilled reform promises. The uprising, which cost over 1,500 young lives, had aimed not just to topple a government but to establish justice, accountability, and a democratic system free from authoritarianism. Two years later, the country has seen a return to participatory elections, with the BNP forming government after the February 2026 polls, while Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party (NCP) lead the opposition. Yet, frustration grows over the slow pace of justice for victims and delays in implementing the ‘July Charter’ of reforms.

Opposition leaders accuse the ruling party of ignoring the people’s referendum-backed mandate for structural reforms, while the government insists it remains committed to the charter’s full implementation. The dispute has fueled nationwide protests and political polarization. Analysts warn that both sides risk undermining the uprising’s spirit if reform pledges become tools of partisan rivalry.

The article urges all parties to prioritize justice for victims, transparent reform timelines, and constructive parliamentary debate to prevent renewed instability and uphold the uprising’s democratic ideals.

Bangladesh Bank has decided to withdraw administrators from five merged Islamic banks by mid-August 2026. The decision was made during a meeting between Governor Mostakur Rahman and the boards of the five banks at the central bank’s headquarters. The process will be implemented gradually, starting with EXIM Bank next week. Some central bank officials, however, believe administrators should remain longer due to incomplete implementation of the core banking system.

The five banks—EXIM, Social Islami, First Security Islami, Union, and Global Islami—were merged last year into the ‘Combined Islami Bank’ after severe financial irregularities under previous private control. The government injected Tk 20,000 crore into the new entity, while depositors were promised shares worth Tk 15,000 crore. Additionally, Tk 12,000 crore from the deposit insurance fund is being used to repay small depositors.

As of now, 822,000 depositors have received Tk 3,887 crore in repayments. Despite these efforts, the merged banks still face high non-performing loans, totaling Tk 170,500 crore, or 87.43 percent of total loans, raising concerns about their financial stability.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called on the US federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a video message posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, Mamdani said the city administration lacks the legal authority to execute ICC warrants independently, urging Washington to act instead.

Mamdani described Netanyahu as a war criminal responsible for atrocities in Gaza, alleging that over 73,000 people were killed under his leadership and that hospitals and humanitarian aid routes were targeted. He said the United States shares responsibility because American-funded weapons were used in the attacks. Mamdani emphasized that Netanyahu and any fugitive war criminals are not welcome in New York City.

The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Netanyahu would not be arrested while in the United States.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) began on Wednesday morning under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman. The session started at 10 a.m. in the Cabinet Division conference room at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

The meeting is set to review nine development projects with a combined estimated cost of Tk 14,800 crore. Among these, four are new projects and five are revised ones. Of the total expenditure, Tk 11,180.17 crore will come from government funds, while Tk 3,550.44 crore will be financed through project loans.

The projects include initiatives such as a Tk 685 crore plan for protecting Bhola and the Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway project, which has overcome earlier uncertainties. The meeting also comes as the National Board of Revenue deploys a special team to monitor tax deduction at source.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that the United States has spent 37.5 billion dollars so far in the ongoing war with Iran. He said the figure includes some operational and maintenance costs through the end of September but did not provide further details. The Trump administration had earlier estimated the war cost at 29 billion dollars in May.

During the hearing, Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane supported a proposed 1.5 trillion dollar defense budget, including about 70 billion dollars allocated for the Iran war. Moody’s Analytics estimated that indirect economic effects, such as rising fuel prices, could push total US costs to as high as 150 billion dollars.

Hegseth added that the war has strained US weapons stockpiles, requiring extra funding to boost production of high-demand ammunition and arms. He warned that delays in budget approval could force cuts in future military training programs. Democratic Senator Patty Murray questioned the logic of combining various spending areas in the proposed defense budget.

Jamalpur-3 Member of Parliament Mostafizur Rahman Babul has called on journalists to publish both positive and negative news without fear or obstruction. He made the appeal on Tuesday afternoon during the monthly meeting of the Upazila Law and Order Committee held at the Madarganj Upazila Parishad conference room, where he attended as the chief guest.

Babul stated that journalists should report freely even if their news goes against the government, himself, the UNO, or the police, emphasizing that such reporting benefits the people of Madarganj, the country, and the government. He also urged the media to highlight both the government’s development activities and issues such as injustice, irregularities, corruption, and anti-public interest actions with objectivity and responsibility.

The meeting, chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Suman Chowdhury, discussed local law and order, crime prevention, drug control, public safety, improvement of government services, and ongoing departmental activities. Several local officials, political leaders, and journalists were present at the event.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is set to review nine development projects worth about Tk 14,800 crore at its meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday. The session, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman, will consider four new projects and five revised ones. Of the total cost, Tk 11,180 crore will come from government funds and Tk 3,550 crore from project loans.

According to the Planning Ministry, the projects span multiple sectors including agriculture, water resources, rural institutions, physical infrastructure, and energy. Key proposals include riverbank protection in Bhola, integrated development in greater Dinajpur, rural road maintenance, and expansion of kidney dialysis centers in medical college and district hospitals. Other projects involve the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, disaster shelter construction, and energy exploration wells in Begumganj and Sunetra.

Additionally, 11 other projects from various ministries will be presented for information only, covering education, textiles, telecommunications, road transport, power, industry, and fisheries. The meeting marks a significant round of development planning under the government’s ongoing infrastructure and social service initiatives.

The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) administration has expelled two student leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing for four semesters after they were accused of assaulting a fellow student who had raised concerns about hall food quality. The decision, announced in an office notice signed by the registrar late Tuesday night, also bans the two from entering or staying on campus for the next two years.

The expelled students are Hasibur Rahman, communication secretary of the student organization and a Political Studies student of the 2021–22 session, and Tarek Rahman, office secretary and a Statistics student of the same session. Their residential hall seats have been permanently canceled. The syndicate meeting that made the decision was held on an emergency basis.

A syndicate member stated that the university will ensure the physical and mental safety of the assaulted student and cover all medical expenses related to the incident.

On July 22, 2026, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met with top business leaders at her office amid intense nationwide protests over the government’s quota reform policy. During the meeting, she dismissed rumors of fleeing the country, declaring, “Sheikh Hasina does not flee.” Business leaders, including heads of major industrial groups, expressed full support for her. The meeting followed days of violent clashes and a government crackdown that left hundreds dead and thousands detained.

The unrest began after a July 2024 government order approved a 7 percent quota in public service jobs, reserving 5 percent for freedom fighters’ families, 1 percent for ethnic minorities, and 1 percent for persons with disabilities and the third gender. Student protesters rejected the order, demanding full merit-based recruitment. The government responded with internet shutdowns, curfews, and forceful suppression across major cities.

The United Nations expressed concern over the reported use of UN-marked armored vehicles by the Bangladesh Army during the crackdown. Law enforcement leaders later visited affected areas, vowing legal action against those involved in the violence.

Iran has carried out a drone attack on a US military installation at Camp Doha in Kuwait, targeting an ammunition depot and ground force supplies. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iran’s armed forces described the strike as a response to US aggression. In its statement, the Iranian military said it remains united and ready to counter any new conspiracies by its enemies, identifying Camp Doha as a key support hub for US personnel and equipment in the region.

Following the incident, Kuwait has begun conserving electricity amid fears of power outages during the summer heatwave. The precaution comes after Iranian attacks on power infrastructure raised concerns about energy stability in the country.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not specify the extent of damage or casualties from the drone strike, leaving the immediate impact on US operations in Kuwait unclear.

U.S. President Donald Trump has formally approved a historic agreement allowing Saudi Arabia to establish a civilian nuclear program. According to The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. administrative officials, the 30-year deal could eventually open the way for uranium enrichment within Saudi territory. The multibillion-dollar initiative aims to prioritize American technology companies in building Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure while reducing the influence of foreign competitors.

Trump administration officials stated that direct U.S. involvement would help prevent potential misuse of nuclear technology and ensure oversight of Saudi nuclear activities to prevent any weaponization. The agreement is designed to maintain transparency and safeguard peaceful use of nuclear energy in the region.

Some U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern over the spread of nuclear technology in the Middle East, warning that expanding Saudi nuclear capabilities could pose new security risks. The agreement is expected to be sent to the U.S. Congress within days for review and debate.

Two years after the July uprising, police have yet to apprehend most of the armed Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League members accused of shooting at students and protesters across Bangladesh. Law enforcement agencies identified around 200 armed cadres involved in the attacks but have arrested only 25 so far. Many of the suspects reportedly fled to India after the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024. Police confirmed that several of the armed participants were local leaders, including former councillors and party officials, who were seen firing weapons in multiple cities.

Footage from various locations, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Savar, and Feni, showed ruling party affiliates using firearms against demonstrators. Among those identified are former councillors Asif Ahmed Sarkar and Tarequzzaman Rajib, as well as former MP S.M. Zahid. Police said investigations and arrests are ongoing, though many suspects remain fugitives.

Authorities also reported that over 1,300 firearms looted from police stations during the unrest are still missing, raising concerns that these weapons could be used in future violence. Police continue operations to recover the arms and detain those responsible.

At least 143 refugees are feared dead after a Europe-bound boat capsized off the coast of Mauritania, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). In a statement on Tuesday, the agency expressed deep sorrow over the incident. The boat had departed from Bafouloto in Gambia and drifted at sea for 25 days before being rescued on July 18. When it reached the port of Nouadhibou, 38 survivors and several bodies were found on board.

UNHCR spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh told reporters in Geneva that two children among the survivors had lost all their family members during the journey and were receiving hospital treatment. The agency also reported that another person died after disembarking from a separate vessel that arrived in Mauritania on July 14. All the victims were citizens of various African countries.

Mauritania’s coast guard said the boat carried 160 passengers and that the accident occurred after it ran out of fuel. UNHCR described the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands as one of the world’s deadliest migration paths and urged expanded education and employment opportunities to reduce such perilous journeys.