In the wake of the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, an anti-corruption campaign by the interim administration has prompted the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to freeze several high-value properties in London linked to Hasina’s close associates. These assets—worth hundreds of crores of Bangladeshi taka—were allegedly purchased using illicit funds siphoned through government contracts and the banking sector. Many individuals are now scrambling to liquidate their properties. While some label the crackdown as politically motivated, joint investigations by The Guardian and Transparency International have uncovered substantial evidence of corruption. Bangladesh has requested the UK to freeze more properties as investigations continue.

The International Crimes Tribunal has directed investigators to submit reports by October 15 in seven separate cases involving genocide and crimes against humanity committed during July-August 2024. A total of 45 individuals are accused, including prominent political figures such as Obaidul Quader, Anisul Huq, Dipu Moni, Amir Hossain Amu, Salman F Rahman, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak. The list also includes 23 former law enforcement officials. On Sunday, July 20, 39 of the accused were presented before the tribunal.

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal, famously known as Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’, has passed away at the age of 36 after spending nearly two decades in a coma.

He fell into a coma following a severe brain injury from a car accident in London at the age of 15. Since then, he had been on life support at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. His death has sparked emotional reactions globally. His father mourned his loss by sharing a Quranic verse. Funeral prayers were held on Sunday, with the family declaring a three-day mourning period.

Professor Ali Riaz, Vice Chair of the National Consensus Commission, announced that political parties have reached an agreement on the caretaker government framework. He expressed hope that a national charter can be finalized by July 31.

Speaking on the 15th day of the second phase of national dialogue, Riaz said discussions also touched on the Prime Minister holding multiple portfolios. While no final decision has been made on the proposed upper parliamentary chamber, an announcement is expected soon. He confirmed that the ongoing dialogue will conclude by the end of this week.

Zohran Mamdani, Democratic leader and candidate for New York City Mayor, has strongly criticized the BBC’s reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict, accusing the outlet of biased language.

"Why does the BBC use terms like ‘Iran-backed Houthis’ or ‘Hamas-controlled hospitals’ but not ‘US-backed IDF’ or ‘accused war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu’?" Mamdani questioned.

An outspoken critic of Israeli aggression, Mamdani also referenced the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu and called for his arrest if he visits New York. He emphasized protecting all civilian lives and pledged to increase the budget for combating hate crimes.

Renowned economist Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya has warned that despite the end of what he called Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule, freedom of expression remains constrained in Bangladesh. Speaking at the launch of his book “Economy of Scandals”, he noted that the country is still run for the powerful, not for the people.

Dr. Bhattacharya highlighted the growing influence of an aggressive segment of readers attempting to impose “moral censorship” on journalists, calling them a third, non-governmental force restricting press freedom. SANEM Executive Director Dr. Selim Raihan added that the government has shown little interest in reform, ignoring key task force reports while an anti-reform coalition is gaining ground.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Jasim Uddin, the Chief Returning Officer for the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election, announced that the official election schedule will be released on July 29, with voting likely to take place in the second week of September.

While the exact election date is yet to be finalized, discussions with student organizations and hall representatives have led to a preliminary decision to set up six voting centers across the campus. These centers include Curzon Hall, Physical Education Center, TSC, Dhaka University Club, Senate Building, and Udayan School & College, each serving designated residence halls.

The Taliban government has condemned Iran for forcibly deporting Afghan refugees despite previous commitments. Deputy Finance Minister Enayat Alkozai stated that Afghan migrants in Iran are living in constant fear, accusing Tehran of acting contrary to its promises to the Islamic Emirate.

Abdul Latif Nazari, another senior Taliban official, criticized the mass deportations, while Afghan migrants in Pakistan have also reported increasing pressure, especially in Punjab province. Over 820,000 Afghan refugees have been deported from Iran in just one month — the highest in recent times.

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck northern Iran on Sunday, with a shallow depth of just 3 kilometers, increasing the intensity of surface tremors and potential damage. The same day, Tajikistan experienced a 4.0-magnitude quake, with an epicenter 160 kilometers deep. Two days earlier, on July 18, a 3.8-magnitude quake struck Tajikistan at a depth of 10 kilometers. Experts warn that Tajikistan's mountainous terrain and glacier-fed rivers make it highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, droughts, and floods.

The United States has revoked the visas of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his allies, and relatives over alleged political persecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the move is part of the Biden administration’s stance against the suppression of free speech. Brazilian courts have placed Bolsonaro under surveillance, barred him from contact with foreign officials, and restricted his use of social media. Bolsonaro has called the legal proceedings politically motivated. The U.S. has also threatened tariffs on Brazil amid rising tensions.

At least 34 people have died after a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, due to severe weather conditions. The boat, "Wonder Seas," was carrying 53 passengers, mostly families from Hanoi. A sudden storm with hail and lightning caused the tragedy. So far, 11 survivors have been rescued, including a 14-year-old boy found in an air pocket inside the overturned vessel after four hours. At least eight of the dead are children. Despite heavy rain, rescue operations are ongoing. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed condolences and ordered an investigation.

The campus of Islamic University (IU) was gripped by protests following the recovery of student Sajid Abdullah’s body from a campus pond. Students demanded a thorough investigation and improved campus security. Expressing dissatisfaction with the administration’s response, they blocked the main gate and administration building while presenting a 15-point demand list. Authorities have promised to release the investigation report promptly, prompting the students to temporarily suspend their movement.

Unidentified miscreants set fire to a VIP Paribahan bus near the Maternity Hospital in Azimpur, Dhaka, in the early hours of Saturday. Around 2:30 AM, two individuals on a motorcycle reportedly threw petrol through the bus window targeting the rear seats, igniting a fire. The bus conductor, who was asleep inside, managed to douse the flames using water before the fire could cause major damage. Eyewitnesses reported seeing two motorcycles circling the area prior to the incident. Police from Lalbagh Thana have launched an investigation, though no suspects have been identified yet.

China has commenced construction of a massive hydropower project on the Tibetan stretch of the Brahmaputra River, despite international objections. The project was inaugurated by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. While China claims the project aligns with its carbon neutrality goals and Tibetan development, India has raised concerns over downstream water flow disruptions. Costing approximately 1.2 trillion yuan, it is expected to be one of the world’s largest dams. Experts warn it could severely impact livelihoods and ecosystems in northeast India and southern Bangladesh.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Tawhid Hossain, at the first meeting of the Hill Tracts Peace Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee in Rangamati, affirmed the interim government’s genuine commitment to executing the accord. He said the government would identify and address both minor and major issues step by step. The meeting was attended by key figures including Santu Larma, Sudatta Chakma, Supradeep Chakma, and senior government officials. Further meetings are planned to ensure progress.