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.

The State Dialogue Forum, or SDF, has called for organizational action against people in Bangladesh’s film and cultural sectors accused of supporting mass killings and repressive actions against students and the public during the 2024 uprising. On July 28, the organization submitted a memorandum to the president of the Bangladesh Film Artists Association. The memorandum was delivered by SDF central member secretary A N M Ayas.

SDF said art and culture are powerful means of promoting justice, human values and democratic consciousness. It called for an impartial investigation to determine responsibility of artists, filmmakers, producers and others accused of supporting human rights violations, violence or mass killings. The memorandum named various actors, actresses, filmmakers, producers, cultural figures and related individuals and sought investigations into the allegations.

If allegations are proven, SDF urged organizational bans at the Artists Association and Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, alongside necessary legal action. It also demanded an investigation committee, permanent policies to prevent artists’ involvement in human rights violations, violence and activities contrary to democratic values, and a clear, effective stance by the Artists Association on human rights, professional ethics and cultural responsibility. SDF said fair, impartial and lawful investigations are consistent with democracy and the rule of law.

An article by Ahmad Sabbir, published in Amar Desh on July 25, 2026, portrays Syed Ali Ahsan as a multidisciplinary figure in Bengali literature. It says literature and teaching remained his central interests despite administrative and institutional responsibilities. His first printed work was the English poem “The Rose,” published in a school magazine while he was in class ten. He later developed a literary profile through poetry, fiction, essays and criticism.

In 1938, Azad published his essays “Hindu-Muslim Problem” and “Democracy and Dictatorship.” Mohammadi later published “On the Way to Mecca Muazzama” and the long poem “Chahar Darbesh.” As editor of Purbo Pakistan Sahitya Sangsad in 1943, he advocated Bengali as the literary language of East Pakistan and opposed the imposition of Urdu. After moving to Dhaka in 1947, he wrote “Our Heritage” and the “Steps to English” textbooks while working at radio.

The article highlights his teaching, literary history, translation and research, including “Bangla Sahityer Itibritta,” “Kabi Madhusudan,” “Madhumalati,” and “Rabindranath: Kabya Bicharer Bhumika.” He also taught art history, wrote books on art, and later produced “He Prabhu Ami Upasthit” and “Mahanabi.”

An essay by Khorshed Mukul assesses “Bangali Musalmaner Shatrumitra,” an anthology of Al Mahmud’s essays edited by Muhim Mahfuz, as an important intellectual document of Bengali Muslim self-identification and cultural resistance. Published on July 25, 2026, the article notes the collection’s subtitle, “Selected Essays to Confront Cultural Autocracy,” and describes it as evidence of an intellectual struggle extending across several decades.

The writer says Al Mahmud wrote for four decades against cultural autocracy, intellectual monopolisation, and tendencies to marginalise the history and heritage of the Bengali Muslim majority. The article links renewed attention to his work with the July 2024 mass uprising, when several of his poems were recited and used in wall writing.

The volume contains 78 essays, prioritising writings in which Al Mahmud directly addressed Bangladesh, Bengali Muslims, culture, literature, history and political rights. The essay characterises his prose as poetic, sharp and resolute, bringing together history, culture, literature and contemporary issues. It argues that readers need not agree with all his views, but that reading him is important for understanding post-independence Bangladesh’s cultural debates and the history of identity formation.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, called for preserving the memory of the July Revolution while opening Mufachchir Ahmad Fayezi’s solo calligraphy exhibition at the National Museum in Dhaka on July 24. Speaking as chief guest, he described July as a major chapter in Bangladesh’s history and said the revolution remained ongoing. He also referred to the fall of recently resigned president Sahabuddin Chuppu.

Rahman said young people had fought the weapons of fascism with ink, pens, graffiti and slogans. He paid tribute to those killed and injured during the movement, and alleged that a group was trying systematically to erase, discredit and demean the July Revolution. He said Fayezi’s artwork presented the revolution’s story of courage.

In his remarks, Rahman recalled accounts involving a child who called Abu Sayeed her brother, as well as Anas, Yamin and Nafis. He said July’s history should be communicated through speeches, literature, drama, cinema and visual art. He also called for stronger calligraphy practice and further research and discussion on contributions from Bangladesh’s Muslim ruling era.

Bangladesh is marking the anniversary of the July uprising through public events, media discussions, and artistic expressions. Yet, despite widespread remembrance, the article warns that the most vital task—preserving the living memories of ordinary people who made the uprising possible—remains dangerously neglected. The author calls for an urgent national oral history archive to document the experiences of those who participated in or witnessed the events across neighborhoods, campuses, and communities.

The piece argues that the July uprising was not merely a political transition but a profound civic awakening involving students, workers, and families who faced violence and repression. It stresses that official histories often overlook the human depth of such movements, while unrecorded memories risk distortion or erasure by vested interests. The author proposes a professional, collaborative effort involving ministries, universities, historians, journalists, and survivors to collect and preserve testimonies.

According to the article, this archive would safeguard the uprising’s democratic and reformist spirit, ensuring that future generations understand it as a people’s movement rather than a partisan event. The author concludes that Bangladesh must act now, while witnesses and memories are still alive.

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will honor internationally acclaimed singer Runa Laila with a special award on July 24. The ceremony will take place at the National Theatre Hall at 6:30 p.m., where she will also perform a solo concert. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to support flood victims.

The event, organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, aims to pay national tribute to Runa Laila for her lifelong contribution to music. Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury will attend as chief guest, with State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyum and Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman as special guests. The session will be chaired by Cultural Affairs Secretary Kaniz Mowla, with welcome remarks by Shilpakala Academy Director General Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed and closing thanks by Secretary Mohammad Zakir Hossain.

Runa Laila, one of South Asia’s most celebrated vocalists, will perform songs in multiple languages, reflecting her cross-cultural influence and enduring contribution to Bangladesh’s musical heritage.

The Integrated Cultural Parliament (SASAS) organized a discussion and prayer meeting in memory of martyr artist Abdullah Al Tahir on the occasion of his second death anniversary. The event took place on Wednesday afternoon at the World Literature Center auditorium in Banglamotor, Dhaka. Speakers recalled Tahir’s role in the 2024 July mass uprising, noting that he joined the student and public movement against inequality and sacrificed his life while protesting against tyranny and injustice.

Tahir’s mother, Shirin Begum, attended the event and shared emotional memories of her son’s ideals, patriotism, and dedication to cultural practice, moving the audience deeply. The session was conducted by SASAS literary editor Tanbir Ahmad Shibli and chaired by executive director Zakir Hossain, with several cultural figures including H.M. Abu Musa, Dr. Monowarul Islam, and others in attendance.

Speakers emphasized that Tahir’s sacrifice remains a lasting inspiration for ethical and value-based cultural movements in Bangladesh. The event concluded with special prayers for his soul and for the nation’s cultural progress.

Dhaka University authorities have announced a plan to repaint and rewrite the July Uprising-themed graffiti across the campus, beginning on July 26, 2026. The initiative follows criticism from various quarters, with the administration assuring that the original spirit and significance of the artwork will remain intact. The program will start from the Vice-Chancellor’s building to Rokeya Hall, coordinated by the Dean of Fine Arts, the university proctor, and the director of the Arbory Culture Center. Artists who created the original graffiti and other interested participants have been invited to register by July 25.

The restoration effort is part of a month-long series of events marking the second anniversary of the July Uprising. Activities include discussions, essay and quiz competitions, poetry recitations, cultural programs, and documentary screenings across different halls. A seminar titled “July Uprising 2024: Aspirations of Students and Citizens and the Future of Bangladesh” will be held on July 26 at the Faculty of Science conference room, with the Vice-Chancellor and other senior academics in attendance.

Several halls, including Rokeya, Sufia Kamal, and Jagannath, will host commemorative programs through early August, featuring exhibitions, candle lighting, and prayer sessions for the victims of the uprising.

The Bijoypur Rudrapal Pottery Cooperative Society in Comilla Sadar Dakshin, Bangladesh, has expanded its traditional pottery production to international markets, exporting terracotta items to the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Established in 1961 as Progoti Sangha with only 15 members, the cooperative was renamed under the guidance of Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan. After being destroyed in 1971, it was revived in 1972 with government financial support. Today, around 150 families across seven villages are engaged in pottery, with 50 families directly involved in the cooperative.

The cooperative’s assets are now valued at about 10 crore taka. However, production has been hampered since 2015 due to a severe gas shortage, forcing artisans to revert to traditional firing methods using clay, wood, straw, and paper. This has increased costs and reduced profits, leaving workers with monthly wages between 6,000 and 8,000 taka. Despite these challenges, both men and women continue to produce a wide range of terracotta goods, including household utensils, decorative pieces, and cultural models.

The cooperative’s craftsmanship sustains a long-standing heritage while contributing to rural livelihoods and Bangladesh’s export earnings.