India’s Supreme Court on Monday, July 13, 2026, suspended a Madras High Court directive that had imposed a statewide ban on the slaughter of cows and calves in Tamil Nadu, including during Eid al-Adha. The apex court stated that certain aspects of the High Court’s ruling required reconsideration. The decision came after the Tamil Nadu government, led by Thalapathy Vijay, filed a special leave petition challenging the earlier order issued on May 27.

The state government argued that existing national laws already regulate animal slaughter under specific conditions and locations, and that a blanket judicial ban conflicted with these provisions. The Madras High Court’s earlier order, based on a 1976 government directive, aimed to boost milk production and strengthen the rural economy. The bench had also cited Article 48 of the Constitution, emphasizing the duty of states to prevent the slaughter of milch animals.

Several religious and social groups opposed the High Court’s ban, arguing that restricting slaughter only to licensed abattoirs during major festivals like Eid was impractical due to limited capacity. The Supreme Court’s suspension now allows time for further legal review of the issue.

A debate arose in Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Monday regarding the territorial responsibilities of MPs from reserved women’s seats. NCP lawmaker Akhtar Hossain questioned whether assigning BNP’s reserved women MPs to opposition constituencies indicated a move toward one-party rule. He raised concerns about the legality and scope of such ‘additional responsibilities,’ asking for clarification from the government. The issue followed remarks by BNP MP Jiba Amina Khan, who mentioned visiting Pirganj and Mithapukur as part of her additional duties.

Responding to the query, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed clarified that reserved women MPs do not have specific regional constituencies. He stated that under Article 65 of the Constitution, they represent the entire country and can perform parliamentary duties anywhere in Bangladesh. The minister emphasized that these MPs are full members of Parliament and may allocate resources to any region.

Ahmed further explained that if any reserved woman MP identifies a particular area as her own, it is a self-imposed limitation, as the Constitution grants them nationwide jurisdiction.

The Narayanganj City Corporation (Nasik) has extended financial and employment support to the families of two political leaders who died in a road accident. On Monday afternoon, Nasik Administrator Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan handed over financial assistance of 1 million taka to each family, totaling 2 million taka. Additionally, two family members were given jobs within the city corporation.

Masum Billah’s father, Badsha Mia, was appointed as an office assistant in Nasik’s legal department, while Abdul Kadir Jilani’s wife, Sohana, received a position in the health department. Sakhawat Hossain Khan stated that the initiative followed directives to stand by distressed citizens and ensure their livelihood security. The event was attended by district Jubo Dal member secretary Moshiur Rahman Roni.

The two leaders, Masum Billah (27) and Abdul Kadir Jilani (26), were killed on June 9 when a Narayanganj City Corporation waste truck ran over their motorcycle in Siddhirganj’s Jalkuri Dashpipe area.

Nepal has been gripped by renewed unrest as economic hardship, unemployment, and uncertainty over young people’s futures spark widespread protests. Over the past three days, three young men attempted self-immolation, resulting in two deaths and one person critically injured. Demonstrations have spread across the country, with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The main opposition Nepali Congress accused the government of failing to restore youth confidence or take effective action for their future.

Youth organization Gen-Z Nepal alleged that the government is running the country with an authoritarian mindset, ignoring public welfare. The group said there are no realistic measures in the budget or policies to create jobs, raise incomes, or ensure economic security for young people. The 2023 self-immolation of Prem Acharya has resurfaced in public discussion, as Shah, then Kathmandu mayor, had called it a symbol of state failure. His current silence has drawn criticism from opposition parties and protesters.

Analysts warned that the crisis has deepened concerns over youth mental health, unemployment, and policy effectiveness, urging swift government action to prevent further deterioration.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paused his motorcade in Barishal on Monday, July 13, 2026, to take selfies with schoolchildren. The event occurred near Shishuniketan Secondary School adjacent to Barishal Cadet College campus in the Satmail area along the Dhaka–Barishal highway. Rahman was returning from a tree-planting program and family card distribution in Gournadi when students requested a photo opportunity. He stopped his convoy, exchanged greetings, and distributed sports equipment among the children.

Teachers, students, parents, and local BNP leaders had gathered along the highway from Gournadi to Barishal to see the prime minister. Witnessing the crowd, Rahman interacted with local residents and grassroots party members. The students expressed excitement and welcomed him with applause as he took selfies using a student’s mobile phone.

The spontaneous interaction created a festive atmosphere among the students and locals, marking a moment of enthusiasm during the prime minister’s visit to Barishal.

Relief distribution was carried out in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar under the leadership of central Chhatra Dal president Rakibul Islam Rakib. On Monday, he visited homes of affected residents and assured them of continued support. The initiative aimed to assist families impacted by recent natural disasters.

During the third day of the program, dry food and emergency supplies were distributed among 500 families in different areas of South Mithachhari Union. The relief packages included rice, lentils, potatoes, dry food, purified water, and purification tablets. Rakibul Islam Rakib said the effort was driven by humanitarian responsibility to ease the suffering of disaster-affected people.

District Chhatra Dal president Fahimur Rahman, general secretary Saeed Anwar, organizational secretary Ashraf Imran, and district Jubo Dal vice president Javed Iqbal, along with local leaders and volunteers, participated in the program.

Sadik Kayem, the outgoing International Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir and Vice President of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), has posted an emotional message following his formal departure from the organization. The announcement came on Monday, July 13, during Shibir’s biannual setup meeting, where nine central secretaries, including Kayem, officially stepped down, according to the group’s publicity secretary S M Forhad.

In his personal Facebook post, Kayem described Shibir as his beloved organization and expressed gratitude for the years he spent there. He reflected on his experiences, saying the organization taught him leadership, courage, and spiritual growth. He also prayed for the continued success of Shibir’s movement and for its members to remain steadfast in their mission.

The other departing secretaries include Mu’tasim Billah Shahedi, Sharif Mahmud, Muhibur Rahman Muhib, Riazul Islam, Nurul Huda, Arafat Hossain Milon, Habibur Rahman Arman, and Shaheen Ahmed.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament on Monday that the ministry will be directed to investigate how the cost of model mosque projects rose from 130 million to 210 million taka during the previous Awami government. He described the actions taken in the name of Islam and mosques as reprehensible and said other government agencies might also be involved. The statement came during a parliamentary question session chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal, where Salahuddin responded on behalf of the Religious Affairs Minister.

Earlier, ruling party MP Zainul Abedin Faruk had raised concerns about wasteful spending on model mosques, citing examples of poor construction and unusable facilities. The Deputy Speaker supported his remarks, noting similar issues in his own constituency. In response, the Home Minister reiterated that while the model mosque initiative was good in principle, the cost escalation and project delays warranted scrutiny.

The Religious Affairs Minister also informed parliament about the recovery of 27.53 acres of illegally occupied Waqf property and the government’s ongoing program to provide honorariums to religious leaders across different faiths.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sharply criticized India’s central government for failing to restore full statehood to the region, even two years after the national elections. Speaking at a public rally in Jammu on Sunday, Abdullah questioned the Modi government’s repeated delays and shifting explanations. Expressing frustration, he rhetorically asked whether the demand for statehood should now be taken to U.S. President Donald Trump and whether a protest should be staged outside the White House.

Abdullah announced that his party would hold demonstrations in the national capital until the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government clarifies its position on the issue. He said protests would begin in New Delhi on the first day of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled for July 20.

Jammu and Kashmir lost its statehood on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was revoked, splitting the region into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The central government had promised to restore statehood at an appropriate time, but the pledge remains unfulfilled.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has formed a new subcommittee focusing on media, publicity, and branding. The announcement was made on Sunday night, July 12, through a notice signed by Sadia Farzana Dinar from the party’s office cell. The subcommittee is led by Sarowar Tushar, who serves as the party’s joint convener and a member of its political council.

According to the notice, NCP convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossain approved the formation of the subcommittee to make the party’s public communication, publicity activities, branding, media coordination, and digital communication system more organized, effective, and modern. The committee includes members responsible for various areas such as print and web media, electronic media, social media, branding, fact-checking, AI, and digital investigation.

The new subcommittee is expected to enhance the NCP’s outreach and coordination across traditional and digital platforms, aligning its communication strategy with contemporary needs.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s visit to Barishal created a festive atmosphere across Madaripur on July 13, 2026. Despite continuous monsoon rain, thousands of BNP leaders, activists, and supporters gathered along the Dhaka-Barishal highway from early morning to greet him. Carrying flowers and national and party flags, they waited to see and welcome their leader as his motorcade entered the district through Kathalbari in Shibchar upazila.

As the motorcade passed through areas including Panchchar, Bandarkhola, Sannyasirchar, Dattapara, and Suryanagar, crowds showered flowers and cheered. The Prime Minister waved from his car, prompting loud applause and slogans. The entire route turned vibrant with music, chants, and mobile recordings by attendees. Similar scenes were reported in Rajair, Sadar, and Kalkini upazilas, where banners and flags lined the roads.

Local MPs Jahandar Ali Mia, Helen Jerin Khan, and Anisur Rahman Khokon Talukder joined supporters in welcoming the Prime Minister. The participation of BNP’s affiliated organizations transformed the district into a colorful celebration.

A debate arose in Bangladesh’s National Parliament on Monday over the territorial responsibilities of BNP’s reserved women members of parliament. NCP MP Akhtar Hossain questioned whether assigning BNP’s reserved women MPs to constituencies held by opposition members signaled an attempt to establish a one-party system. He raised the issue after BNP MP Jiba Amina Khan mentioned visiting Pirganj and Mithapukur as part of her additional duties.

Responding to the query, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that reserved women MPs do not have specific regional constituencies and can perform parliamentary duties across the entire country. He cited Article 65 of the Constitution, explaining that while general MPs are elected from defined territorial constituencies, the reserved women MPs’ jurisdiction covers the whole of Bangladesh. The minister emphasized that they are full members of parliament with authority to allocate resources anywhere in the country.

Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal presided over the session, allowing both Akhtar Hossain and the Home Minister to address the matter formally in parliament.

A Seoul district court has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to two years in prison for violating the country’s political funding law. According to the court ruling, Yoon accepted public opinion polling services worth about 270 million won (approximately 179,800 US dollars) from a political broker without payment. The court found that he benefited from 14 such polls and later used his political influence to secure a party nomination for a former lawmaker in return. Yoon has consistently denied the allegations, claiming he neither requested the surveys nor made any promises in exchange.

The verdict contrasts with earlier court decisions involving former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, where no evidence of mutual benefit or exchange was found. The court noted that Yoon retains the right to appeal the latest ruling to a higher court.

Yoon, aged 65, is currently facing multiple legal cases. He was previously sentenced to life imprisonment in February for involvement in a 2024 coup-related case and received a separate seven-year sentence for obstructing an arrest attempt, which the Supreme Court recently upheld.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam indicated in Parliament that bridge tolls under the Road Transport and Highways Division and the Bridges Division will not be waived. He stated that toll collection follows an established policy and that the Communication Ministry has limited authority to halt toll collection. The minister made this remark on Monday while responding to a question from reserved seat MP Shawkat Ara Akter under Rule 71 concerning urgent public importance.

Sheikh Robiul Alam explained that although many lawmakers had promised toll exemptions before elections, such decisions fall under the jurisdiction of the Finance Division, as toll revenues are part of national revenue. He emphasized that without revenue collection, the government’s financial operations would be hampered. The minister added that any relaxation of toll policies would require policy-level discussions with the Finance Division.

He also addressed demands for intercity train stoppages and four-lane road construction, noting that both are guided by existing policies and traffic considerations, and that not all requests can be accommodated.

Abul Hashem, accused of occupying land allocated to a landless individual and constructing a multistoried building there, has been appointed convener of the newly formed Cumilla North District BNP committee. The announcement was made on Monday through a notice signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The new eight-member convening committee replaces the previous 41-member body approved in May 2022 under Akteruzzaman Sarkar and A.F.M. Tarek Munshi.

The new committee includes seven joint conveners: Syed Toufiq Ahmed Mir, Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Md. Mohiuddin, Advocate Touhidul Islam Babu, Barrister Rizvi Ul Ahsan Munshi, Osman Gani Bhuiyan, and Sufia Khatun. Former member secretary Tarek Munshi criticized the appointment, alleging Hashem’s involvement in land grabbing and questioning the inclusion of a newcomer in leadership. In contrast, new joint convener Advocate Touhidul Islam Babu expressed gratitude to BNP leadership for the appointment.

According to party directives, the new committee must form a full district committee within three months through a conference. Local administration confirmed an investigation report verifying the land dispute involving Hashem and landless beneficiary Masud Alam.