Bangladesh Bank will release a new Tk 100 banknote with a fresh design on August 12, bearing the signature of Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur. The note is part of a new series themed “Historic and Archaeological Architecture of Bangladesh,” featuring images of the Sixty Dome Mosque and the Sundarbans. Initially available from the Motijheel office, the note measures 140mm by 62mm, has a blue color scheme, and includes a watermark of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur has revealed that printing, storing, transporting, and distributing banknotes nationwide costs around Tk 20,000 crore annually. Speaking at a CPD dialogue, he urged reducing reliance on physical cash and expanding cashless transactions.
The central bank is promoting QR code-based payments, making it mandatory for all licensed institutions. Mansur said this would make transactions faster, safer, and more transparent for both businesses and consumers. He also announced efforts to make quality smartphones available for Tk 6,000–7,000, enabling universal smartphone access to support digital payments.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has issued a stern warning to India over the Indus River dispute. Speaking at an event in Florida during his second visit to the US in just two months, Munir declared, “If Pakistan’s existence is threatened and we are pushed to the brink of destruction, we will not fall alone—we will take half the world with us.”
Following India’s cancellation of the Indus Water Treaty after a Kashmir attack and a four-day conflict in May, Munir said, “We will wait for the dam to be completed. Once it’s built, we’ll destroy it with 10 missiles. The Indus River is not India’s private property, and we have no shortage of missiles.” The treaty, brokered with World Bank assistance, dates back to the 1960s.

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), announced that the government intends to finalize the recruitment of foreign operators for the country’s major ports by December this year.

Speaking after inaugurating the agent desk at Chattogram port, he said ongoing port reforms are expected to reduce corruption and harassment. The port’s capacity is projected to multiply several times by 2030. Since the Navy-run Dry Dock Limited took over management of the New Moring Container Terminal, container handling has increased by 30%, and ship waiting times have dropped by 13 hours.

India’s Ministry of Defence has officially begun the procurement process for 200 modern light multi-role helicopters—120 for the Army Aviation Corps and 80 for the Air Force. The aircraft will support quick day-and-night missions, border surveillance, troop and equipment transport, weapon and casualty evacuation, search and rescue, and disaster relief. The purchase aims to replace aging Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. A Request for Information has been issued, with tenders and negotiations to follow. While Russia’s Kamov Ka-226T was initially considered, the ministry is now also evaluating the domestically produced Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

At a CPD seminar on Sunday, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Munsur said political stability has yet to be achieved in the country, making it unrealistic to expect a sudden surge in investment. He expressed optimism that inflation will drop below 5% this year and announced that a new directive on digital banks will be issued this month, enabling interested institutions to apply. Speakers at the event stressed that inflation remains high, urging immediate relief measures for low-income families. They noted public expectations of the government, including the long-promised universal health insurance scheme, which has yet to be implemented. Concerns were also raised over the impact of new U.S. tariff policies, with calls to diversify export products.

The Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has expressed grave concern over the recent wave of attacks and killings targeting journalists in Bangladesh. The organization called for the immediate formation of a Judicial Commission to investigate all journalist murders, including those of Sagar and Runi.
While acknowledging initial optimism for press freedom under the interim government, DRU warned that the safety of journalists remains precarious. Attacks, false cases, torture, and killings of journalists have surged alarmingly. The brutal hacking to death of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin last Thursday night was described as a direct assault on press freedom and free expression. DRU said impunity and lack of security are key factors fueling such violence.

The Government of Bangladesh has appointed young academic Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam as the country’s new Ambassador to the Maldives on a contractual basis. At just 33 years old, he becomes the youngest person in Bangladesh’s history to hold this position.
Hailing from Noakhali district, Dr. Islam studied Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Dhaka (2009–10 session) and completed his master’s degree in 2014. He later earned his PhD from Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Turkey, under a government scholarship and went on to serve there as an Associate Professor. He also worked with the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute in South Asia. Dr. Islam has represented Bangladesh at key events organized by the United Nations, the OIC, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. His diplomatic and academic contributions have been notable in addressing the Rohingya crisis and minority rights issues in several countries.

Australia has urged Israel not to assume military control over Gaza, warning that such action would worsen the humanitarian crisis.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated, “Australia has called on Israel to avoid steps that would further exacerbate Gaza’s humanitarian disaster.” She emphasized that forced displacement violates international law and reiterated calls for a ceasefire, unhindered aid access, and the release of hostages taken by Hamas in October 2023.

While Australia has not joined countries like the UK, Canada, and France in recognizing Palestine, it says it will make that decision “at an appropriate time.”

After over three decades of conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia are set to sign a historic peace agreement at the White House today, with former U.S. President Donald Trump acting as mediator.

Under the proposed deal, Armenia will grant Azerbaijan a special corridor through its territory to connect Nakhchivan with mainland Azerbaijan. Additional energy cooperation agreements may also be signed.

The two nations have been at odds since the collapse of the Soviet Union over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, where ethnic Armenians have long held control. A turning point came in September 2023 when separatist forces in Karabakh surrendered, allowing Azerbaijan to regain full sovereignty. By March 2025, both countries had agreed on a peace framework.

Facing a steep 50% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Indian goods, leading Indian apparel manufacturer Pearl Global is relocating its production from India to four other countries, including Bangladesh. The company, which supplies to major U.S. retailers like Gap and Kohl's, has received urgent concerns from buyers about the tariff impact.

CEO Pallab Banerjee stated that to avoid the high tariffs, production will now be shifted to 17 factories across Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Guatemala. "Some buyers are still interested in Indian products," Banerjee said, "but they want us to share the burden of the increased tariffs — which we cannot afford."

Asaduzzaman Tuhin (38), a journalist with Dainik Protidiner Kagoj, was hacked and killed in broad daylight Thursday night in the Chandana Chowrasta area of Gazipur.
He had posted a video on Facebook moments before the attack, criticizing pedestrian behavior in the city. Soon after, masked assailants attacked him with sharp weapons at a tea stall and slit his throat before fleeing.
Eyewitnesses say the attack followed Tuhin filming a group allegedly brandishing weapons. His body has been sent to the morgue, and police have opened an investigation.

Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has assured that the upcoming national election will receive all the necessary funding. "There will be no issues with financing the election," he said. On U.S. tariff changes, he noted, "What the U.S. has done is not exactly comforting, but compared to other countries, Bangladesh is not in a dire position."

Dr. Ahmed added that the country's garment and knitwear sectors can adapt quickly to the new regulations, although the textile weaving sector may face some challenges. Regarding further negotiations with the U.S., he confirmed talks are ongoing, including discussions with the Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who reportedly expressed a positive outlook.

"A formal agreement is yet to be signed. We'll need to examine which tariffs to reduce and which imports to allow," he said. "This isn't a multilateral negotiation; it’s sensitive and strategic—so not everything can be disclosed. Countries like Vietnam, China, North Korea, South Korea, India, and Pakistan are also competitors."

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, bringing the total tariff to 50%. The decision is reportedly in response to India's continued direct and indirect import of Russian oil.

This additional tariff adds to a previously announced 25% duty, doubling the pressure on India. Trump had earlier warned of harsher economic penalties if President Putin failed to take meaningful steps toward ending the war in Ukraine. The new tariffs are expected to strain U.S.-India relations further.

The development comes shortly after reports from Indian government sources indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to visit China later this month—his first visit in nearly seven years.

Political analyst Dr. Ali Riaz has criticized the lack of civil society-led review of the last 16 years of political developments in Bangladesh. Speaking at a recent event, he questioned why journalist unions haven’t mobilized broader civil society efforts to examine this period.

Riaz stressed that politicians—not interim governments—should lead the country. “That’s the whole point of calling it an interim government,” he said. He also challenged journalists to reflect on their roles, asking whether they act as reporters or political agents.

He referenced a meeting held by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the July movement with selected journalists, questioning the ethics of such interactions. “When media is used as a shield to protect business interests, independent journalism becomes impossible,” he added.

He criticized the partisan divide among journalists’ unions and noted that a politically motivated alternative to the Editors’ Council has emerged. Riaz also remarked that globally, transitions from authoritarianism to democracy often give rise to new social forces, sometimes leading to violent conflict—but Bangladesh, he noted, has experienced less violence by comparison.