Islamic University authorities unveiled a plaque featuring a letter martyred student Shahriyar Khan Anas wrote to his mother, marking the second anniversary of the July mass uprising. The plaque was unveiled on Monday, August 3, at the university’s Shaheed Anas Hall. A drawing competition in memory of those killed in the uprising was then held in room 116 of the university’s TSCC.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A K M Matinur Rahman inaugurated both the plaque and the competition. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Emtaz Hossain, Treasurer Professor Dr. Md. Idris Ali, Anas’s father Shahriyar Khan Palash and grandfather Saidur Rahman Khan attended. Committee leaders, deans, hall provosts, department heads, teachers, officials and student organization leaders were also present.

The competition had three divisions, with themes including Abu Sayed, a call for water, and police brutality during the July uprising. The vice-chancellor said the plaque would allow hall residents to read Anas’s letter and learn about his patriotism. On August 5, 2024, Anas, then a tenth-grade student, left his rented home in Gendaria after writing to his mother and was killed by police gunfire in Chankharpul.

The second day of “July Jagaran Season-2,” a four-day cultural festival organized by Saimum Shilpigosthi under the title “July Through Children’s Eyes,” was held Sunday at the main auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum. The programme began at 11am with Quran recitation, July-themed songs and recitations by child performers, followed by a range of cultural presentations.

The programme screened “The Mirror Game,” directed by Tahsin Prince and Oraka Bin Bashar, along with several documentaries about July. The main afternoon session began with Quran recitation at 2:30pm. Guests addressed the gathering, while invited members of martyrs’ families spoke and shared memories. The presence and remarks of the mother of Abdullah Al Tahir and the father of Jabir Ibrahim created an emotional atmosphere.

Speakers called for preserving the spirit of the July mass uprising among younger generations. They urged the use of graffiti, painting, short films and cinema to build a new cultural environment and sustain awareness of July’s historical events. Former chief prosecutor Advocate Tajul Islam stressed healthy, indigenous culture. Hafiz Niamul Hossain directed the event, with child presenters hosting. The festival will continue for two more days.

A memorial meeting and honours ceremony for martyrs, injured July fighters and their family members is scheduled for August 3 at 6:30 pm at the National Music and Dance Centre auditorium. The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Organisers said it aims to pay respect and gratitude to those whose sacrifice, blood, pain and courage elevated the July mass uprising in history.

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roychowdhury, MP, is expected to attend as chief guest. State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, MP, and Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, adviser on policy and strategy for the information and broadcasting and cultural affairs ministries, will attend as special guests. Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Kaniz Mowla will chair the meeting, while Shilpakala Academy Director General poet Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, known as Rezauddin Stalin, will deliver the welcome address.

The programme will open with a collective instrumental rendition of “Muktir Mondir Sopan Tole,” followed by a minute of silence for those killed in the July uprising and a documentary screening. Performers include Ethun Babu and Friends, Monir Khan, Pial Hasan and Yusuf Ahmed Khan. Recitations will be presented by Enamul Haque Jewel, Sima Islam, Iqbal Ahmed, Farzana Eli and Tito Munsi, before Academy vocalists perform a collective song.

A four-day cultural festival, July Jagaran Season 2, opened on Saturday afternoon at the National Museum’s main auditorium under the theme “July Through Children’s Eyes.” Organised by Saimum Shilpigosthi, the programme began with Quran recitation, July-themed songs and poetry recitation by child performers. The mother of July uprising martyr Anas formally declared the event open.

In her opening remarks, she remembered Anas and all martyrs, urging young people to uphold the vision of a new, discrimination-free country for which their children gave their lives. Saimum Shilpigosthi chairman Nurul Islam Saddam said the organisation supports healthy, ethical and truth-based culture. Special guest and lawmaker Nurul Islam Bulbul called for joint efforts to spread what he described as healthy cultural practice.

Vice chairman Sibagatullah Sibga said 133 children were martyred in the July mass movement and called on young people to play a leading role in building a new Bangladesh. AB Party secretary general Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad and cultural figure Tafazzal Hossain Khan also spoke. The event featured group and solo songs, poetry recitation and a special July Jagaran cultural performance by child artists.

QawmiPedia, a Qawmi madrasa-based information repository, has published a list of the country’s five most influential speakers. The list, released on July 29 and reported by Amar Desh Online on August 1, places Sheikh Ahmadullah first. Mawlana Mizanur Rahman Azhari ranks second, followed by Mawlana Enayetullah Abbasi, Mufti Rezaul Karim Abrar and Mawlana Ali Hasan Usama.

The report describes Ahmadullah as a widely known Islamic speaker whose As-Sunnah Foundation runs education, humanitarian assistance and social welfare activities. Azhari’s sermons, religious discussions and comments on contemporary issues are widely circulated on social media. Abbasi is noted for television talk-show appearances, comments on current issues and an active online presence.

According to QawmiPedia’s assessment, Abrar remains in discussion for his clear positions on religious differences and contemporary matters, and has gained notable recognition at a relatively young age. He is general secretary of Bangladesh Ulama Samity. Usama drew extensive discussion and criticism after leaving Khelafat Majlish to join Jamaat-e-Islami; QawmiPedia says his changed political and religious positioning, along with later remarks, made him a prominently discussed Islamic speaker.

Dhaka University has begun repainting and rewriting July graffiti on walls across its campus to preserve the works while retaining their original characteristics, spirit and significance. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam inaugurated the initiative at the main gate of the vice-chancellor’s residence on Saturday morning. The university’s public relations office said the programme will run for three days, from August 1 to 3.

The preservation work will cover graffiti at different locations from the vice-chancellor’s building to Rokeya Hall. At the opening event, Obaidul Islam said the graffiti carry memories of what he described as the misrule of the fallen fascist government and the oppression and persecution of that period. He said the preservation initiative was intended to keep those memories alive among the public.

The vice-chancellor said students drew images on walls during July and August depicting Sheikh Hasina’s oppression, torture and anger, and described the graffiti as living history of the country. He called on people to remain vigilant so that fascism does not rise again in the future and urged cooperation with the current government’s efforts to build a society without discrimination. Senior university officials, teachers and students attended the event.

Brick Lane Jame Mosque in east London held a “Meet the Press” event on Friday, July 31, as preparations continue for its golden jubilee celebrations. The two-day programme is scheduled to take place at the mosque on September 5 and 6. Mohammad Hormuz Ali read a written statement on behalf of the jubilee celebration committee, while Hamidur Rahman Chowdhury and Helal Uddin spoke for the mosque committee.

Hafiz Sazzadur Rahman recited from the Holy Quran at the opening of the event, and the mosque’s imam and khatib, Mawlana Nazrul Islam, led a prayer. Attendees included representatives and figures from the London Bangla Press Club, NTV Europe, the UK Bangla Reporters Unity and the wider community. Hormuz Ali answered journalists’ questions during the session.

Hormuz Ali said the building has more than two centuries of history and has served different religious communities. It was built as a French Protestant church in 1743, later became a Methodist chapel and was converted into a synagogue in 1898. Brick Lane Jame Mosque was established there in 1976. Organisers have sought cooperation from all sections of the community for the September celebrations.

Writer Taslima Nasrin arrived in Kolkata after nearly two decades, drawing dissatisfaction in several quarters, according to the report. She reached Kolkata airport at about 12:50 p.m. on Friday and was welcomed with conch sounds, ululation and chants of “Jai Shri Ram” from some people. Disorder reportedly developed upon her arrival, and she quickly left the area in a vehicle described as belonging to the BJP government.

The report says some BJP supporters celebrated her arrival, with some calling her the “new mother of Modi devotees.” It also reports strong irritation and criticism among ordinary social-media users. The article characterizes much of the reaction as focused more on Nasrin’s personal life and publicity than on her literary work, while presenting extensive critical commentary about her views and private life.

Nasrin is expected to attend an event organized by Secular Mission and HRBFF at Rabindra Sadan on Saturday. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari may also attend, the report says. It adds that she had to leave Kolkata in 2007 amid controversy over her novel “Dwikhandito” during Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s tenure, and says no steps were taken for her return during Mamata Banerjee’s 15 years in power.

A new law has taken effect in Connecticut requiring the state education board to develop curriculum materials on Islam and Arab studies for schools. Published on August 1, 2026, the report said the provision was added as a small part of a broader bill. The State Board of Education will provide the curriculum to local school boards and encourage schools to teach the subjects.

The curriculum will not be mandatory for schools to include in their programs. Schools that choose to offer the subjects may use the state-developed materials. Farhan Memon, chairman of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the law does not mean every school will teach Arabic or Islamic studies next year.

Connecticut already has provisions for developing similar curricula on African American and Black history, Puerto Rican and Latino studies, Native American studies, Asian American and Pacific Islander studies, and Holocaust and genocide awareness. Another provision in the same bill calls for a 15-member working group to address antisemitism in public schools and create guidance and support resources affecting students, families, teachers and school staff.

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organized a music programme titled “Gane Gane July” to mark the anniversary of the July mass uprising, under an initiative of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The event was held on the evening of July 30 at the National Music and Dance Art Centre auditorium. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki attended as chief guest, while the ministry’s secretary chaired the programme. Academy officials and prominent cultural figures were also present.

In his address, the adviser prayed for the souls of those killed in the uprising and expressed deep sympathy for people left permanently disabled. He said efforts were under way to use the new possibilities created after the fall of the fascist government to elevate the country’s arts and culture to a distinctive level.

The academy’s vocal artists opened the cultural segment with “Dhan Dhanya Pushpa Bhara,” “Chal Chal Chal,” and “Durgam Giri, Kantar-Maru.” ULAB students and Srijoni artists also performed group songs. Zakir Hossain Akher, Mita Mallik, Fuad Naser Babu and Momtaz Rahman Laboni performed solo pieces, while students from Jagannath University and Government Music College presented ensemble performances.

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.

Writer Josh Sheldon’s new book, “The Zionists Who Hate Jews,” makes contested claims about the history and aims of the Zionist movement. In a report published on July 30, 2026, Sheldon is described as arguing that leaders of a movement presented as protecting Jews historically held hostility toward Jews themselves. The book runs to more than 300 pages and is organized in 11 chapters.

The report says Sheldon draws on material from historians Tom Segev, Avi Shlaim and Ella Shohat. It attributes derogatory descriptions of Jews to Theodor Herzl, Ze’ev Jabotinsky and Moses Hess, and presents Sheldon’s view that Zionism and antisemitism are two sides of the same coin. It also says writer Karl Kraus warned in 1898 that Herzl’s movement represented Jews’ own antisemitism.

The book also addresses the Holocaust, including an alleged agreement involving Hungarian Zionist official Rudolf Kastner and Nazi officials. The report further cites statements attributed to David Ben-Gurion to support Sheldon’s claim that Zionist leaders prioritized state-building over saving Jews. According to the report, the book has prompted renewed discussion of Zionism’s historical foundations and underlying purpose.

Mahmudur Rahman, joint convener of the National Editors Council and editor of Amar Desh, said winning the cultural struggle is essential to winning the political struggle. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s National Theatre Hall during the day-long “July Revolution Theatre Festival and July Revolution Photography Exhibition,” organized by Mahanagar Natya Sangsad. He said cultural activities must be expanded to free Bangladesh’s cultural sphere from what he described as the control of rivals since independence.

Rahman stressed the role of films, theatre, songs, music, poetry, stories and novels in carrying history to ordinary people. Referring to the film Spartacus, Che Guevara imagery and the drama Sultan Suleiman, he said cultural works can keep historical narratives alive across generations. He expressed hope that future generations would tell the stories of Abu Sayeed, Mugdha, Anas, Osman Hadi and other martyrs alongside figures such as Spartacus and Che.

He said remembering martyrs and making them part of Bangladesh’s history was more important than justice, while also saying justice must be pursued. Rahman called for many films and narratives about the July Revolution. Three plays on the July Revolution were staged at the event, where actor Abdul Aziz, Delwar Hossain, Sharif Bayezid Mahmud and Abedur Rahman also spoke.

Salahuddin Future Academy, a Muslim organization, has bought a Baptist church property in Richardson, Texas, and plans to convert the site into an Islamic school, seminary and mosque. The report, published on July 29, 2026, said the project moved forward after legal complications over the transfer were resolved. SAFA is a K-12 institution that says it aims to integrate Quran and Hadith teachings with the Common Core curriculum.

The property was purchased from Korean World Mission Baptist Church, which had owned it since 1992. SAFA and Authentic Ilm Mission plan to jointly establish the Dawah Academy and Seminary at the site. It has been described as America’s first national residential dawah seminary, offering courses including a bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies. The organization said it is committed to developing qualified, ethical leaders who represent Islam with wisdom.

According to The Dallas Express, SAFA signed a $3.8 million purchase agreement last October and paid a $38,000 deposit. It sued the church in February after a dispute over the planned May transfer, seeking enforcement of the contract and more than $1 million in damages. The case was settled in April without a final ruling, clearing the way for the purchase.

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury said Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq envisioned the establishment of a democratic state for the people. He made the remarks on Tuesday as chief guest at a posthumous tribute and review meeting at the Kabi Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room of Bangla Academy.

Chowdhury described Fazlul Huq as a great teacher who consistently sought liberation for the country’s workers, farmers and labouring people. Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam called him a liberal humanist intellectual, saying concern for the welfare of the country and nation remained central to his thought throughout his life.

Researcher Professor Suchita Sharmin said Fazlul Huq spread his own philosophy through writing and kept patriotism alive through his work. Meeting chair Professor Mansur Musa described him as secular and free-thinking, urging preservation of his memories. The programme began with a one-minute silence in his memory, and several essayists, researchers and a translator also took part in the discussion.