The National Unity Commission has agreed that emergency declarations should require approval from the Cabinet rather than just the Prime Minister’s signature. A proposal to amend Article 141 of the Constitution has been made to reduce the emergency duration from 120 to 90 days and replace terms like ‘internal conflict’ with ‘state sovereignty, independence, and pandemic.’ The Cabinet decided to ensure the presence of the parliamentary opposition leader or their deputy at meetings.

Dr. Ali Riaz, co-chair of the National Unity Commission, announced ongoing three-day talks this week aiming to reach a reasonable consensus by July, fulfilling the commission’s responsibility toward the martyrs of the July-August movement. The agenda includes emergency declarations, appointment of the Chief Justice, and formation of a caretaker government. He emphasized that the public is closely watching the dialogue and expects rapid progress. Political parties are participating earnestly, and the commission hopes to complete the process by July 30, including resolving critical issues like the Chief Justice appointment and emergency status.

Following nationwide outrage over the murder of a man named Sohag near Mitford Hospital, for which BNP has been blamed, a video circulated defaming BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. In response, law advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul shared an old Facebook post titled “The Exceptional Sector Commander” praising Ziaur Rahman as his favorite personality. Nazrul said that whenever the Awami League tried to belittle Ziaur Rahman, he would publish writings defending him — and even though the Awami League has now left power, he finds himself compelled to do so again.

Iranian state-affiliated media Fars News reported that during a Supreme National Security Council meeting in Tehran on June 15, Israel attempted to assassinate Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the parliament speaker, and the head of the judiciary. The president sustained minor injuries to his leg, while other officials escaped the missile attack. Investigations are underway to determine if Israeli intelligence obtained details of the meeting through espionage. The attack resembled previous strikes targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. Israel has not commented, though Pezeshkian recently confirmed he had survived an assassination attempt.

Job seekers have presented an 11-point demand list to reform the Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitment process to ensure transparency and accountability. At a press conference at Dhaka University, they stated that merit-based and impartial recruitment remains unfulfilled, prompting renewed protests. Key demands include preventing question paper leaks in BCS exams, ensuring transparency in final results, extending age limits, allowing answer script rechecking, publishing oral exam scores, revising online preferences, and forming a judicial inquiry committee within the commission. They have given a 48-hour ultimatum to act or face intensified protests.

On Kashmir Martyrs Day, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to providing political, diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle for self-determination. Remembering the 22 Kashmiris killed by Dogra forces on July 13, 1931, he praised their courage and resilience as symbols of resistance against Indian occupation. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to resolving the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN resolutions.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs, announced the start of a nationwide “comb” operation targeting criminals and terrorists in all districts starting today. Law enforcement agencies will continue regular and special operations based on the security situation. The Sohag murder case, which occurred near Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka, is being fast-tracked to a speedy trial tribunal. He assured that no political or other biases will influence the process.

In an interview with Fox News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons and only U.S. and Israeli interventions have delayed it. He said Iran must halt its ballistic missile program, terrorism, and regional threats before any deal can be considered. Netanyahu suggested that Iran should be left to collapse under its own instability if it continues on its current path. He praised former President Donald Trump’s policies and recommended him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

A group of 59 Labour MPs in the UK has sent a letter to the Foreign Secretary demanding recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state and an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza. Organized by “Labour Friends of Palestine,” the letter denounces Israeli plans to build a tent city in Rafah under the guise of humanitarian aid as a form of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. The MPs called for the reinstatement of UNRWA funding, the release of hostages, and a trade embargo on Israeli goods from the West Bank, arguing that failure to recognize Palestine undermines the UK's two-state policy.

Japan has lodged a strong diplomatic protest after Chinese fighter jets came dangerously close—twice within a week—to its reconnaissance aircraft over the East China Sea.
According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, Chinese JH-7 jets flew as close as 30 meters and 60 meters in two separate incidents lasting about 15 and 10 minutes, respectively.
Tokyo has demanded assurances that such incidents will not be repeated. In response to increasing Chinese aggression, Japan is deploying 17 V-22 Osprey aircraft to a new military base in the southwest region.

Prominent civil society figure Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar said that a draft “National Consensus Charter” has been developed to prevent the resurgence of authoritarian rule.
Speaking at a civic dialogue in Dinajpur, Majumdar said the charter includes proposals for reforms in elections, governance, and the Constitution.
The National Consensus Commission, headed by Dr. Muhammad Yunus and composed of leaders from six of eleven reform committees, is currently holding talks with political parties.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam stated that a final decision regarding the potential pardon of former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun will be made after the tribunal completes its proceedings.
Mamun has expressed willingness to testify and admit wrongdoing. The court will then assess his statement and decide whether to grant full pardon, a reduced sentence, or full punishment.
Tajul dismissed rumors that Mamun has already been pardoned, calling them misleading and inaccurate.

In court testimony related to the Sohag murder case, accused Tarek Rahman Robin denied political motives and claimed the killing stemmed from a business rivalry in the scrap industry. He asserted he was not present at the crime scene and distanced himself from the perpetrators. Robin claimed the accused, including Mohin, dominated the scrap trade under political protection from Haji Selim during the Awami League era. After the regime change, they joined the Jubo Dal to maintain their control. He noted that the victim, Sohag, was also affiliated with the Jubo Dal before his death.

The Nobel Committee has reported that Iranian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has received direct and indirect death threats from Iranian government agents. The threats warn of “physical elimination” if she continues her international advocacy for democracy and human rights. Mohammadi has long opposed the widespread use of the death penalty and mandatory dress codes for women in Iran. She has faced repeated arrests and imprisonment for her activism.

Fayez Ahmed Tayyeb has accused the ruling Awami League of destabilizing the telecommunications sector by issuing over 3,400 licenses during its tenure. He claims this created unnecessary bureaucratic layers and fostered a "toll collection culture," eroding trust in the ecosystem. "Unless license holders compromise their own interests and reach internal consensus, even the best government policy will fail," he said. Tayyeb further argued that allowing new entrants with just BDT 500 crore in investment, against an existing BDT 50,000 crore ecosystem, cannot be considered fair competition.