André Karstens, Head of Mission at the Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka, presented a self-composed song about the July Uprising during his farewell meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The melody of the song is based on George Harrison's iconic track "Bangladesh." Karstens recorded the song along with a video and gifted it to Professor Yunus as a token of appreciation.

During the meeting, the Dutch envoy praised Yunus’s leadership over the past year and called the "July Declaration" a significant milestone. He remarked that it bridges the aspirations of the July uprising with the country’s historical context. Karstens also described the timing of the election announcement as appropriate. Additionally, the two discussed plans for an upcoming Rohingya conference.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – British multinational oil and gas company BP has announced the discovery of the largest oil and gas field off the Brazilian coast in the past 25 years. Located 404 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro and 2,372 meters below sea level, this marks BP’s tenth discovery this year.

Following the announcement, BP’s shares rose by over 1% on the London Stock Exchange. The company plans to drill around 40 wells globally over the next three years, including up to 15 in 2025 alone. BP has set an ambitious target of producing between 2.3 and 2.5 million barrels of oil per day by 2030.

Dhaka, Bangladesh – Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has pledged to continue reforming Bangladesh’s financial sector as long as the current administration remains in power. Speaking at the national tree plantation campaign launch at the Krishi Bank Staff College in Mirpur, he said, “The scale of money laundering and banking sector looting in Bangladesh is unparalleled globally.”

Dr. Salehuddin noted that, compared to other banks, the state-run Krishi Bank remains in relatively good shape and has played a major role in the country’s agricultural revolution. He emphasized the need for ongoing reform to restore stability and public trust in the financial system.

On the one-year anniversary of the historic July-August 2024 mass movement, France has expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh.

In a statement posted on the French Embassy’s official Facebook page in Dhaka, it said:
"Today is dedicated to remembering the tragic events of July and August 2024. August 5 marked the beginning of a new chapter in Bangladesh’s history."

France reiterated its unwavering support for a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic future in Bangladesh.

On the first anniversary of Bangladesh’s mass uprising, the United Kingdom has expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, remembering the injured and those who lost their lives during the movement. A statement posted on the official Facebook page of the British High Commission in Dhaka read:

"The United Kingdom stands with the interim government and the people of Bangladesh in their journey towards a democratic, inclusive, and prosperous future."

This statement is being viewed as a significant diplomatic recognition of the events referred to as the “mass uprising.”

Brac Bank has introduced a collateral-free loan facility at a market-lowest 13.75% interest rate for entrepreneurs in the Cottage, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (CMSME) sector. The offer is valid from August 1 to September 30 under the “SME Means Brac Bank” campaign. Two new solutions—“Probrton” for online entrepreneurs and “BizPay” for large transactions—have also been launched. With over 2 million SME clients and BDT 2 trillion disbursed, Brac Bank reaffirms its leadership in SME financing in Bangladesh.

Following a report by the daily Amar Desh alleging that six senior Bangladesh Air Force officers were forcibly retired due to links with foreign intelligence agencies, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement rejecting the claims as baseless. The officers—Air Vice Marshals M. A. Awal Hossain, Zahidul Saeed, Mohammad Aminul Haque, Abdullah Al Faruq, Mohammad Shamim, and Syed Mohammad—retired naturally upon reaching the service age limit through regular procedures. ISPR dismissed similar accusations concerning two other officers and urged the media to ensure accurate reporting.

Bangladesh’s demand for dollars has dropped despite improved supply, largely due to a sharp decline in capital machinery imports. LC openings rose by only 0.18% in FY 2024-25, with June hitting a 4.5-year low. Economists link this to reduced investment, economic stagnation, and falling consumption. Remittance and exports have surged, stabilizing the exchange rate. The central bank is now buying dollars to build reserves. Experts say boosting imports and ensuring political stability are essential to revive economic momentum and meet long-term growth needs.

India’s suspension of visas for Bangladeshis since August 2024 has severely impacted Kolkata’s tourism-dependent economy. Areas like New Market and Free School Street—popular among Bangladeshi visitors—have suffered most. Businesses in these zones report over ₹5,000 crore in combined losses. Hotels, restaurants, transport, and currency exchanges face closures and layoffs. Informal workers are also struggling. The visa halt followed the fall of Bangladesh’s previous government and rising diplomatic tensions. Local businesses now hope for renewed bilateral ties and quick resolution.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his delegation have concluded a state visit to Pakistan, during which 12 cooperation agreements were signed between Tehran and Islamabad. Meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude, calling Pakistan his "second home." He commended Pakistan’s support during the recent Israeli-American aggression against Iran and stated that current bilateral trade stands at $3 billion, with potential to reach $10 billion. Both nations also discussed enhanced security cooperation to combat cross-border terrorism.

Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA, has stated that the government is committed to positioning Bangladesh as a regional hub for halal products by fostering an enabling environment for the halal economy. Highlighting the $7 trillion global halal market, he pointed out that most halal products are currently produced by non-Muslim countries, which presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Bangladesh. The government is working on improving infrastructure and attracting investment in this sector, and Mahmud emphasized the need for strong public-private partnerships to realize the full potential of the halal economy.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to visit Dhaka in the third week of August on an official bilateral trip. Several agreements are expected to be signed during his visit, aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations. According to diplomatic sources in Islamabad, the visit is now scheduled for August 22 or 23, after a previously planned visit in April was postponed due to tensions on the Pakistan-India border following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow later this week, confirmed U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker. The visit follows a scheduled trip to Israel and Gaza on August 1.

Trump’s team hopes the envoy’s visit will help facilitate constructive dialogue between the U.S. and Russia. Witkoff has visited Moscow multiple times and met with President Vladimir Putin. With U.S.-Russia relations currently tense, Trump has even ordered deployment of two nuclear submarines to strategic areas.

Journalists and employees of Janakantha have issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding over Tk 60 million in unpaid wages. At a protest outside the office on Sunday, members of the new editorial board—including Sabrina Binte Ahmed—denounced the management for exploiting staff and aligning the paper with the ruling party during the July Uprising.

They demanded justice for laid-off pro-July revolution journalists and announced a two-day suspension of the paper’s print edition. Editorial board member Zainal Abedin Shishir accused the management of unlawfully terminating 20 journalists, calling it a violation of press freedom.

Adviser Sakhawat Hossain has acknowledged that Bangladesh's export sector remains narrowly focused and lacks diversification. Speaking at an event, he highlighted the country’s missed opportunities in sectors like shipbuilding, which holds great potential as an export industry.

"We still haven’t made significant progress in this sector. Many industrialists prioritize their own interests over the welfare of workers. Without ensuring workers’ rights and benefits, our dreams of industrial development will remain unfulfilled," he said.

Hossain also criticized past labor ministry leadership, citing conflicts of interest that undermined labor rights. He pointed out increasing international pressure from the European Union and the United States due to labor rights concerns.

He urged trade union leaders to act responsibly and avoid inciting unnecessary unrest that could harm industries. "A balance must be maintained between workers' rights and industrial stability," he concluded.