A 65-year-old woman named Rowshan Ara was brutally beaten to death in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh area, allegedly over a longstanding personal feud. Her daughter, Runa Akter, reported that around 4 AM on Friday, several individuals attacked her mother with sticks following a heated argument outside their home.

She was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where doctors declared her dead upon arrival. Police are investigating the incident.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Gaza on Friday to inspect food distribution efforts. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Witkoff will be accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. They will meet with local Palestinians to hear directly about the humanitarian crisis and evaluate plans to increase aid. Witkoff also met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for what was described as a “productive” meeting.

Chattogram Port Authority is reducing the number of approved vessels to enhance operational efficiency, citing increased waiting times at outer anchorage due to excess traffic. Currently, 118 approved ships are causing delays of up to 10 days, especially for gearless vessels. Businesses argue the root problems lie in customs delays, outdated infrastructure, and poor coordination among agencies. Industry leaders call for digitalization and management reforms instead of limiting vessel numbers, warning that the current approach may raise shipping costs and hurt trade competitiveness.

Despite its legacy as the “Oxford of the East,” Dhaka University is facing a serious decline in academic quality, research output, and teacher-student engagement. Political interference, unmeritocratic faculty recruitment, and administrative neglect have weakened its core functions. While infrastructure projects have expanded, efforts to improve education and research remain minimal. Experts argue that without prioritizing teacher training, updated curricula, and research integrity, sustainable development is impossible. Dhaka University’s future depends on restoring academic excellence over politicized development.

Myanmar’s military has formally handed power to a civilian interim government ahead of planned national elections in December. However, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will continue to serve as acting president. The military has also repealed martial law decrees. Government spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said the next six months will be used to prepare for the elections. Western governments have already dismissed the upcoming election as a sham.

India’s state-owned oil refineries have stopped purchasing Russian crude following a reduction in price discounts and stern warnings from Donald Trump. Reuters reported that Indian companies made no purchases from Russia in the past week, turning instead to alternatives like Murban oil from the UAE and West African crude. However, private firms like Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy—partly owned by Russian entities—continue sourcing under annual contracts. On July 14, Trump warned of a 100% tariff on countries buying oil from Russia if no major peace deal is reached with Ukraine.

National Security Advisor Dr. Khalilur Rahman stated that Bangladesh has successfully avoided a potential 35% tariff, a development he described as crucial for the country's garment sector and millions of workers. He emphasized that the negotiations maintained Bangladesh’s global competitiveness and expanded access to the world’s largest consumer market. Bangladesh agreed to import more U.S. agricultural products as part of the deal. The new 20% tariff aligns Bangladesh with competitors like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Pakistan—while India now faces a 25% tariff after failing to secure a similar agreement.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus praised Bangladesh’s negotiation team for securing a historic trade deal with the U.S., calling it a significant diplomatic achievement. He commended the team’s strategic skill in reducing tariffs by 17 percentage points—from 37% to 20%. Yunus said the deal preserves Bangladesh’s competitive edge and protects national interests, describing it as a strong step toward a robust economic future.

Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin confirmed that the U.S. has reduced tariffs on Bangladeshi imports to 20%, down from the previous 35%. He noted that Bangladesh had hoped for a rate lower than 20% but emphasized that exports to the U.S. will remain unaffected. Bashir Uddin, who is leading Bangladesh’s negotiating team currently in the U.S., said the new rate keeps Bangladesh competitive in global markets.

Reacting to former U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of India's economy, Rahul Gandhi said, "I'm glad President Trump told the truth—something everyone knows except Modi and his Finance Minister." Trump recently said, “India and Russia can sink their dying economies together for all I care,” and pointed out India's high tariff rates and limited trade relations with the U.S. Rahul accused Prime Minister Modi of destroying India's economy. However, his comments have drawn strong criticism, even from within his own party.

A Narayanganj court has sentenced two brothers—Pappu (40) and Shukkur (37)—to life in prison for the murder of businessman Sirajul Islam over extortion demands. The incident occurred in Siddhirganj, where the brothers and others had repeatedly demanded money from Sirajul, who was supervising the construction of a building. After a verbal altercation, Sirajul was brutally beaten with sticks and later died on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The convicts were also fined BDT 10,000 each, with an additional year of imprisonment in case of non-payment.

The White House has announced a reduction in import tariffs on Bangladeshi goods. The tariff rate has been cut from 35% to 20%. In contrast, the U.S. has imposed a 15% tariff on imports from countries including Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia, Cameroon, Chad, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, and Guinea. Algeria now faces a 30% tariff, Canada 35%, India 25%, and South Korea 15%. Meanwhile, EU member countries will enjoy zero tariffs. Thailand will face a 19% tariff, and Brazil the highest at 50%.

A court in Chandpur has sentenced Bishwanath Chandra Das to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk 20,000 in a case involving the kidnapping and rape of a college student.

On September 24, 2013, the accused and his associates abducted the student on her way home. Her family filed a missing person report on September 28. On October 9, the victim managed to contact her uncle and informed him that she had been abducted and held captive at Bishwanath's residence.

In a sweeping move, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) transferred 49 officials in one day, including 25 Additional Commissioners and 24 Joint Commissioners.

While officials describe it as part of a routine administrative process, sources suggest that many of the transferred individuals were involved in movements demanding the dissolution of the NBR and removal of its chairman. Some were members of the NBR Reform Unity Council. Notably, multiple officers have already been suspended over similar allegations, and 16 are currently under ACC investigation.

Professor Ali Riaz has said that out of 166 reform recommendations, 19 were identified as fundamental by the commission. Broad consensus was reached on most of these, though a few dissent notes were recorded.

For instance, BNP expressed dissent on Article 70 of the Constitution, specifically regarding money bills and confidence votes. The party also proposed involving the Supreme Court in discussions about judicial decentralization. Multiple parties, including BNP, opposed allowing the Prime Minister to hold multiple positions simultaneously. “Our goal was to conclude discussions by July 31, and we have successfully done so,” Riaz stated.