After nearly four decades, two Bangladeshi swimmers — Nazmul Haque Himel from Kishoreganj and Mahfizur Rahman Sagar from Pabna — have successfully crossed the English Channel. The duo completed the 12-hour swim on Tuesday after training for ten days in the UK. This marks the first such achievement by Bangladeshis since Mosharraf Hossain in 1987. Prior to that, Brojen Das, the first Asian to cross the channel, did it six times between 1958 and 1961, followed by Abdul Malik in 1965.

Students, teachers, and guardians in Narayanganj protested against a government directive that restricts the primary scholarship exam participation to only government school students. The move excludes private, kindergarten, and MPO-registered school students, causing disappointment and claims of rights violation. Organizers demanded immediate cancellation of the directive to ensure equal opportunity for all primary students. They warned of a stronger movement if their demands are ignored, emphasizing the importance of inclusive education for the future of children.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has mandated that individuals with more than 10 SIM cards registered under one national ID must de-register the extra SIMs by October 30. Previously, up to 15 SIMs were allowed, but the limit has been reduced to 10 to align with international standards and enhance national security. Customers can check their registered SIMs by dialing *16001#. Around 2.6 million users will need to deactivate a total of 6.7 million SIMs as part of this new regulation.

Md. Khairul Bashar, chairman of Cambrian Education Group and BSB Global Network, was sent to jail after a 10-day remand in a money laundering case. He was arrested by the CID from Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area on July 14. Bashar and his associates are accused of defrauding 448 victims out of over BDT 530 million through fake overseas education schemes. No lawyer represented him during the hearing, and the court ordered his detention. Multiple fraud cases are filed against him at Gulshan Police Station.

The government is forming a seven-member committee to address the longstanding conflict between the Saad and Zubair factions of Tabligh Jamaat. The committee, led by an additional secretary from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, will include two representatives from each group. The decision came after a meeting at the Secretariat involving top government advisers and leaders from both sides. The initiative aims to ensure peaceful relations, especially ahead of the upcoming Bishwa Ijtema. The committee will work on resolving disputes and maintaining harmony within the group.

Dutch Foreign Minister Kasper Veldkamp announced that Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will no longer be welcome in the Netherlands due to accusations of inciting violence and supporting ethnic cleansing.

Veldkamp stated that their actions endanger any prospects for peace and violate fundamental principles of international law.

In response, the far-right minister Ben-Gvir declared, “Even if I am banned from the entire continent of Europe, I will continue to serve my country.”

Additionally, the Dutch Foreign Minister revealed that since October 7, 2023, the Dutch government has revoked 11 export licenses related to Israeli military equipment and dual-use goods. However, two licenses connected to components of the Iron Dome missile defense system have been approved.

Furthermore, the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands will be summoned for urgent discussions.

Political analyst Professor Ali Riaz announced that a list of consensus-based agreements will be shared with political parties by the end of today. “We hope to present a coordinated and acceptable draft charter to all parties by tomorrow,” he said. While Tuesday’s session opened discussions on women’s representation, they were not concluded. Deliberations on presidential powers are also pending. Riaz noted that all parties had initially agreed in principle to expand citizens' fundamental rights by amending Sections II and III of the Constitution. However, consensus was not reached on five key proposals put forward by the commission.

Security Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has assured that there is no threat of sabotage related to the upcoming Uprising Day celebrations on August 5. “There are no security concerns. Everything is under the control of law enforcement agencies,” he said. He noted that any special operations undertaken by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) are internal matters, and the DMP can act at any time to maintain security. In response to questions about recent attacks on minorities in Gangachara, Rangpur, he affirmed that no one involved would be spared.

Election Commission (EC) official Anwarul Islam Sarkar announced that a technical committee has proposed reducing one parliamentary seat in Bagerhat due to a lower voter count, and adding one in Gazipur, where voter numbers have significantly increased. “According to Articles 119–124 of the Constitution, the EC is responsible for delimiting constituencies. This process considered expert input and data from the 2022 census,” he explained. Based on voter averages, each constituency should represent approximately 420,000 voters. While Gazipur exceeds this average, Bagerhat falls short — justifying the proposed adjustments.

A Dhaka court has granted a 7-day remand for former Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque in a verdict forgery case filed at Shahbagh Police Station. Police had initially requested a 10-day remand. Notably, Haque appeared in court without legal representation. He was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence on July 24 and later shown arrested in connection with a separate murder case filed at Jatrabari Police Station. This marks the first time a former Chief Justice has been arrested and jailed in connection with a murder case.

Forty Ansar personnel stationed at Benapole Land Port have been transferred following allegations of extorting money from truck drivers. The decision was made to uphold internal discipline and protect the image of the force, according to Benapole Ansar Camp Commander Ashit Kumar.

Currently, 163 Ansar members are deployed at the port. While the first phase of transfers involves 40 individuals, further personnel changes are expected in the coming days.

The move follows an investigative report aired by Jamuna TV on July 28, which revealed that Ansar members were collecting unauthorized fees—ranging from 20 to 40 taka per truck—at various entry gates of the port under the guise of "tips."

Saudi Arabia and France have jointly called for “clear, time-bound, and irreversible” steps toward implementing a lasting two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestine conflict.

In a joint declaration, the two countries proposed forming an interim administrative committee in Gaza immediately after a ceasefire. This body would operate under the Palestinian Authority. They also suggested deploying an international stabilization mission under a UN Security Council mandate.

The statement urged Israeli leadership to publicly commit to the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state. Additionally, it called for an end to settlement expansion, land annexation, and violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—describing these actions as critical obstacles to peace and regional stability.

The road on the Syed Masud Rumi Bridge over Kushtia’s Gôrai River was repaired two weeks ago at a cost of 6.5 million taka. However, shortly after completion, the asphalt peeled off and potholes appeared, making the busy Kushtia-Rajbari regional road unsafe. Locals accuse the contractor and officials of embezzlement, while the Roads and Highways Department acknowledges some faults but blames weather conditions. The government has ruled out further funding for repairs. Attempts to reach the contractor for comment failed.

An agreement between the Bangladesh Tea Board (BCS), Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA), and the Bangladesh Tea Estate Staff Association has been finalized. Starting January 1, 2024, basic salaries for tea industry workers will increase by 5% through December 31, 2025. The deal also includes enhanced financial benefits. The signing ceremony was held at the BTA office in Dhaka, with key representatives from all parties present to formalize the new wage and benefit structure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that "no one is starving in Gaza," asserting that Israel has allowed humanitarian aid throughout the conflict. "If we hadn’t, no one would be left alive there," he stated.

However, former U.S. President Donald Trump responded by pointing to widely circulated images of emaciated children in Gaza, saying, “Those kids look very hungry.”

Despite international pressure leading to temporary humanitarian pauses, Gaza residents report that little to no real change has occurred on the ground. Israel blames Hamas for obstructing aid deliveries, alleging the group seizes relief supplies to consolidate power. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to support this claim.