Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain will leave Dhaka for the United States on Sunday to attend a high-level United Nations conference focused on the peaceful resolution of the Palestine crisis and the implementation of the two-state solution.

The two-day ministerial conference will be held on July 28–29 at the UN headquarters in New York. France and Saudi Arabia are jointly organizing the event in line with the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/79/81 adopted in December 2024.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adviser Hossain will reiterate Bangladesh’s unwavering support for peace in the Middle East, the rights of the Palestinian people, and the realization of a sustainable two-state solution.

Despite progress in political reform under the Yunus administration, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed ongoing concerns about religious freedom in Bangladesh.

In its report, USCIRF noted that although the Constitution guarantees religious freedom, laws such as Section 295A of the Penal Code—relating to blasphemy—are still in effect. Moreover, certain provisions of the 2023 Cyber Security Act criminalize content that may hurt religious sentiments.

The report also labeled BNP as a conservative party due to its past affiliations with Jamaat-e-Islami and its constitutional push to include “absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah.” Some women have reported increased visibility of conservative Islamist ideologies on university campuses. Barriers faced by the Women's Commission were also mentioned.

Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus held discussions with Hefazat-e-Islam leaders. According to the press wing, the meeting focused on compensation for victims of the Shapla Square crackdown and collecting and preserving all related documentation.

The possibility of initiating an investigation into the Shapla incident through the United Nations was also discussed. Additionally, the progress of withdrawing what Hefazat claims to be false cases against their leaders was reviewed. Key participants included Maulana Khulil Ahmad Quraishi, Maulana Sajedur Rahman, Maulana Mamunul Haque, Religious Affairs Advisor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, Energy Advisor Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, and Industry Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan, among others.

Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka has extended its closure by two more days following a tragic plane crash on July 21 that killed 35 people, most of them children, and injured over 150. The school was initially set to reopen on Sunday, July 27, but authorities have now announced closures for Sunday and Monday. A final decision about reopening will be made on Monday. The crash involved a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that hit one of the school’s buildings.

At least five people were killed in a grenade attack on a judicial building in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, including a one-year-old child and their mother. Security forces later engaged the assailants in a shootout, killing three of them.

Deputy police commander Alireza Daliri stated that the attackers entered the building disguised as visitors and launched the assault shortly afterward. A Pakistan-based group, Jaish al-Adl, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The region has long been home to Iran’s Sunni Baluch minority, who frequently allege political marginalization and systemic discrimination.

Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, emphasized the need for modern, competency-based curricula, innovative teaching methods, and robust assessment systems to build a skilled workforce for the future.

Speaking at the 11th convocation of the University of Asia Pacific held at Sena Prangan in Dhaka, he stressed the importance of technological and vocational education. During the ceremony, the Chancellor's and Vice Chancellor’s Gold Medals were awarded to outstanding graduates.

Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, announced that the Chief Advisor has begun a third round of political consultations in Jamuna. Among the political leaders attending the dialogue are Tipu Biswas (Coordinator, National People's Front), Mustafa Jamal Haider (Leader, 12-Party Alliance), Maulana Abdul Majed Athari (Vice President, Nizam-e-Islam Party), Maulana Yusuf Ashraf (Senior Deputy Emir, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish), Fariduzzaman Farhad (Chairman, NPP), Syed Ehsanul Huda (Chairman, Jatiya Dal), Dr. Mushtaq Hossain (Bangladesh JASAD), and Bobby Hajjaj (Chairman, Nationalist Democratic Movement).

Professor Asif Nazrul, legal advisor to the interim government, stated that regular changes in power through elections are essential to democracy. “Governments become monstrous when they lose fear of losing power—Sheikh Hasina is a prime example,” he said at the 11th Human Rights Conference organized by the Dhaka University Human Rights Society. Nazrul highlighted the increasing challenges to protecting human rights and urged reforms not just in law, but in mindset and institutional behavior. He stressed the importance of embedding human rights education at every level of society.

Economist and former central bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed stated that Bangladesh currently lacks well-functioning institutions. At a book launch event in Dhaka, he said that 80% of the country’s banking resources are misallocated and that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates $35 billion will be required to restructure the sector. He added that both legal integrity and procedural systems have deteriorated. Mirza Fakhrul Islam, Secretary General of the BNP, also spoke at the event, claiming that corruption has increased fivefold. Both speakers called for urgent democratic reforms and structural changes in political power.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported that at least 652 children have died from malnutrition and hunger in Nigeria’s Katsina State between January and June 2025. The crisis has been exacerbated by a significant reduction in international aid, particularly from the US, UK, and EU. MSF noted a 208% increase in the number of severely malnourished children compared to last year. The UN World Food Programme has already announced the suspension of aid to 1.3 million people by the end of July. Insecurity, armed robbery, and mass displacement have further complicated the humanitarian situation in Katsina.

Following the intelligence failure on October 7, 2023, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have decided to mandate Arabic language and Islamic studies training for all members of their military intelligence branch, Aman. According to The Jerusalem Post, the move aims to enhance analytical capabilities within the force. By 2025, 100% of personnel will be trained in Islamic studies, and at least 50% will be proficient in Arabic, including dialects used in Yemen and Iraq. A senior IDF official admitted their current knowledge of local languages, cultures, and religions is insufficient. To address this, a new training division will be established, and the previously defunct “Telem” learning center will be revived.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin emphasized the Election Commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability ahead of the upcoming national election. Speaking at a discussion in Khulna, he stated, “We want all electoral activities to take place in broad daylight, not in secrecy.” The CEC also warned against the misuse of artificial intelligence and the spread of disinformation on social media, calling AI “a modern threat more dangerous than weapons.” He confirmed that operations to recover illegal firearms and suppress political violence will be conducted before the election. Regarding the Proportional Representation (PR) system, he noted that the Commission has yet to receive any formal directive. The overarching goal, he added, is to restore public trust and increase voter participation.

More than 220 Members of the UK Parliament—including members of the ruling Labour Party—have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. In a joint letter signed by MPs from nine different parties, they called for the UK to support Palestinian statehood during the upcoming UN summit in New York on July 28–29. The letter referenced Britain’s historical role in the Balfour Declaration and the creation of Israel, stating the time has come to recognize Palestine. While Starmer has yet to respond, experts believe this mounting parliamentary pressure could influence future foreign policy.

Two more victims of the recent plane crash at Milestone School & College in Dhaka’s Uttara area—13-year-old student Zarif Farhan and 32-year-old office assistant Masuma—died on Saturday morning from severe burns. According to the Burn Institute, a total of 17 people have now died from injuries sustained in the crash. Four others remain in critical condition. Zarif had suffered 40% burns, while Masuma had 90% of her body burned. Aiman and Makin, two other students, died the previous day.

Israel has permitted foreign nations to send humanitarian aid into Gaza’s blockaded areas, according to a report from the Israeli Army Radio citing military officials. However, restrictions remain to prevent the aid from reaching Hamas. Aid flow into Gaza had been halted since March, resulting in widespread hunger and the deaths of over 100 people. UNICEF reported that 5,000 children received treatment for severe malnutrition in the first two weeks of July, while 48 more people died from starvation that month. The World Health Organization has labeled the situation a "man-made famine."