Outgoing Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hasan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat on Wednesday, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. During the meeting, they discussed national sovereignty, maritime security, modernization of the Bangladesh Navy, and other issues of national interest.

The Prime Minister praised Admiral Hasan’s leadership and contributions to strengthening and modernizing the Navy, highlighting his role in enhancing the force’s professionalism and operational capacity. In response, Admiral Hasan expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s guidance, cooperation, and support throughout his tenure.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister hosted a luncheon in honor of the outgoing Navy Chief. Admiral Hasan, who took charge as Chief of Naval Staff on July 24, 2023, has served in various key operational, instructional, and command roles during his long career, including as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and Director of Naval Intelligence.

Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest at Islamic University (IU) on Wednesday afternoon demanding the implementation of the July Charter, justice for the July 24 massacre, and execution of the referendum verdict. The demonstration, led by branch president Yusuf Ali, began from the university’s Bottola area and marched through key campus roads before holding a brief rally at the main gate. Participants chanted slogans calling for the government to fulfill its earlier promises regarding the July Charter and referendum.

During the rally, branch organizational secretary Zakaria Hossain accused the government of backing away from its pre-election commitments to implement the July Charter and referendum verdict. He stated that the movement would continue until justice was ensured and alleged that the ruling party was following authoritarian practices. Branch president Yusuf Ali added that despite the fall of fascism through the July movement, the expected changes had not materialized.

Several other branch leaders, including general secretary Md. Rashedul Islam, were present at the event, reaffirming their commitment to continue the movement on the streets until their demands were met.

Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, legal adviser to the interim government and a faculty member of Dhaka University’s law department, stated that Bangladesh is now reaping the benefits of reforms made to the Legal Aid Act during the interim administration. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, he said the Ministry of Law had implemented several reforms, one of which expanded and partially mandated pre-trial dispute resolution while tripling the number of judges.

Nazrul noted that as a result of these changes, the number of cases filed under legal aid dropped by an average of 62 percent within a year. He described the initiative as a pilot project that included provisions for further expansion. He expressed confidence that current Law Minister Asaduzzaman, whom he described as a skilled legal expert, would ensure the project’s full implementation.

Nazrul added that the continued execution of these reforms could significantly reduce the country’s longstanding case backlog, marking a major step toward improving access to justice.

Member of Parliament S. M. Faisal for Habiganj-4 (Madhabpur-Chunarughat) stated that the government is taking strict measures to curb drugs, theft, robbery, and other crimes to maintain normal law and order across the country. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning while addressing the Upazila Law and Order Committee meeting as the chief guest. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies have been directed to work with utmost priority to build a crime-free, safe, and peaceful society.

Faisal described drugs as a destructive social disease and urged the administration, public representatives, and conscious citizens to work together to protect the youth from addiction. He said police and related forces are conducting regular drives against theft, robbery, and other crimes, and strict legal action is being taken against offenders. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring public safety and warned that no criminal or terrorist would be spared.

The meeting, chaired by Upazila Executive Officer Md. Mehedi Hasan, was attended by local officials, law enforcement representatives, and political leaders, who discussed ways to maintain peace and order in the area.

The Chhagalnaiya upazila administration in Feni demolished a former Awami League office building that had been constructed illegally on a public sidewalk. The demolition took place on Wednesday afternoon using heavy machinery as part of the second phase of an eviction drive in the municipal area.

Earlier, on Monday, the first phase of the operation removed more than two hundred illegal structures from the market area, but the Awami League office remained untouched, sparking anger among local traders and residents. Social media users also criticized the inaction, questioning the building’s legality and lease process. Local sources claimed the property, originally allocated to a cooperative, had been partitioned into rooms and rented out for deposits of up to six lakh taka, with new shops recently under construction.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Omar Faruk, who led the operation, stated that drives against illegal establishments would continue and warned that stronger actions would follow if the cleared areas were reoccupied.

A protest rally was held in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira demanding the expulsion and removal of Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam from his party and parliament following the circulation of a viral video involving him and a young woman. The demonstration, organized under the banner of the Conscious Citizens’ Society, took place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and drew participation from political and social activists as well as local residents.

Speakers at the rally, including several BNP leaders, alleged that the incident had deeply angered the public and undermined the moral standing of an elected representative who had campaigned on religious values. They declared Gazi Nazrul Islam unwelcome in Shyamnagar and urged Jamaat-e-Islami to take disciplinary action within 24 hours. The protesters also called on the Speaker of the National Parliament to intervene and cancel his parliamentary membership.

Following the rally, demonstrators burned an effigy of Gazi Nazrul Islam in front of the Shyamnagar Press Club. The viral video has sparked widespread discussion and criticism across local political and social circles.

India’s Supreme Court has rejected a plea for an urgent hearing in a case concerning police baton charges on participants of the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest. The request was made on Wednesday before a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who declined to take up the matter. When the lawyer attempted to justify the protest as being in the public interest and related to alleged exam paper leaks, the Chief Justice interrupted, saying, “Thank you very much,” and refused to watch videos presented as evidence of police brutality.

The Delhi High Court had also refused to conduct an emergency hearing on Tuesday, stating that the judiciary should not be drawn into such matters. The protests, held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, are being led by the Cockroach Janata Party and its supporters, demanding education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Cockroach Janata Party was formed after Chief Justice Surya Kant once referred to unemployed youth as “cockroaches,” a remark that sparked widespread criticism and inspired the group’s name.

The second death anniversary of Hafiz Monayel Ahmed Imran, one of the youngest martyrs of the anti-discrimination movement, was observed on Tuesday at his home in Lakhai, Habiganj, in deep mourning and respect. Family members expressed anger that even after two years, justice, accountability, and security for the martyr’s family have not been ensured. They also demanded immediate implementation of the July Charter.

Imran, a 16-year-old madrasa student, was shot during the anti-discrimination movement on July 21, 2024, near the Signboard area of the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway. His family alleged that police delayed the ambulance carrying him by about half an hour at Jatrabari’s Rayerbag area, during which some companions were beaten and their phones confiscated. They believe this delay contributed to his death from excessive bleeding.

At the commemoration, local leaders from BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami pledged continued support for martyr families and called for justice, state recognition, and protection. Relatives and residents urged that true respect for the martyrs lies in ensuring justice and security for their families.

Abdullah Al Minhaj, then vice president of the Tamirul Millat Central Students’ Union, has described his experiences during the July 2024 movement in Bangladesh. He detailed how students from the madrasa joined demonstrations near the Uttara BNS Center, where security forces and ruling party groups allegedly carried out violent crackdowns. Minhaj reported that five students from Tamirul Millat were killed and more than three hundred injured during the protests. He himself was wounded by rubber bullets and treated at a local hospital that provided free care.

The account describes the intense confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement, the community’s support for injured protesters, and the emotional toll on participants. Minhaj recalled the trauma of witnessing deaths, the solidarity among students, and the assistance from doctors and local residents. He also recounted the final days of the movement, when large crowds celebrated what they saw as victory after reports of the government’s collapse.

The narrative concludes with a reflection on unity and sacrifice, portraying the July events as a struggle for freedom and a call to preserve national solidarity.

The High Court has issued a rule seeking to ensure that candidates contesting for the position of Union Parishad chairman possess at least a graduate-level educational qualification. The rule was issued on Wednesday afternoon following a preliminary hearing of a writ petition filed by two Supreme Court lawyers before the bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar.

Lawyer Kazi Ferdousul Hasan confirmed the issuance of the rule. The court directed the Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) Secretary, the Law Ministry Secretary, and the Chief Election Commissioner to respond to the rule. The High Court asked why Section 26 of the Union Parishad Act, which does not specify educational qualifications, should not be declared inconsistent with the Constitution.

The court also questioned why an order should not be given to ensure a minimum educational qualification of a graduate degree for candidates contesting the Union Parishad chairman elections under Section 26 of the Union Parishad Act, 2009.

Abdullah Al Noman, general secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at Chittagong University, described in detail the events of July 16 during an anti-discrimination student protest at Chattogram’s Muradpur and Sholoshahar areas. He recounted how activists gathered following a directive from BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to remain on the streets. As rival groups from the Chhatra League and Jubo League reportedly took armed positions, clashes erupted when the protesters began chanting slogans. Noman said the students split into groups to resist attacks and that Wasim Akram, a fellow activist, joined the protest before being shot.

According to Noman’s account, Wasim was taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead. The narrative portrays Wasim as a courageous participant whose call to gather at Sholoshahar inspired others to join the movement. Noman expressed deep grief over Wasim’s death, describing him as a younger brother figure and symbol of sacrifice for the student movement.

The article concludes with Noman’s reflection that Wasim’s bravery and sacrifice will be remembered by future generations as part of the broader struggle for equality and justice.

On July 15, 2024, violent clashes erupted at Dhaka University when members of the Chhatra League allegedly attacked students participating in the quota reform movement. The assault left many students injured, including female students, and videos of the incident quickly spread across social media, triggering widespread anger and calls for resistance across the country.

In response, the Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a counter-mobilization. Its then central president, Manjurul Islam, directed members to support the general students, leading to the formation of a coordinated operation named “Operation Hasbunallah.” Under the leadership of Dhaka Metropolitan East branch president Mojabber Hossain, Shibir activists gathered near the campus and joined students in repelling Chhatra League members from key university halls, including Shahidullah Hall and Amar Ekushey Hall.

Following the confrontation, Shibir members reportedly maintained overnight patrols around the campus to ensure student safety. The events marked a turning point as Chhatra League’s dominance in several university halls began to weaken, and the student movement regained momentum nationwide.

US President Donald Trump reportedly wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to serve as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to a report by The New York Post published on July 22, 2026. The report states that the two became close during this year’s World Cup, and their relationship deepened after Infantino presented Trump with the FIFA Peace Award last December.

Citing sources close to Trump, the report describes Infantino as a globally respected figure with a strong ability to unite people around shared goals. The current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, is set to complete his term in December this year. It remains unclear whether Infantino is interested in the position or how much Trump has discussed the matter with him.

According to the report, the UN Secretary-General is appointed following a recommendation from the Security Council and approval by the General Assembly. Other names reportedly under discussion include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

Members of India’s opposition alliance staged a protest in black attire at the Parliament complex, condemning the government’s alleged repression of demonstrators. The protest followed an earlier demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s residence, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in solidarity with student protesters. On Wednesday, Congress lawmakers appeared in black clothing and demonstrated outside the Parliament gates.

Lawmakers from several other opposition parties joined the protest, demanding the resignations of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Members of the Samajwadi Party wore black scarves to show support, while party chief Akhilesh Yadav had earlier joined the Congress-led protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence, where he and several Congress leaders were detained. The opposition demanded a parliamentary discussion on the alleged leak of the NEET exam paper and the police use of force against protesters in the capital.

Congress MP Pawan Khera told NDTV that the education minister should resign before any discussion takes place, citing the police action against students as unacceptable.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has decided to take strict disciplinary action against Gazi Nazrul Islam, the Member of Parliament for Satkhira-4, following his alleged involvement in a scandal. The party formed an investigation committee immediately after a video related to the incident surfaced on social media. The committee has already submitted its report, and the party’s executive council convened a meeting today to decide on further steps.

According to Jamaat sources, multiple teams were deployed to verify the authenticity of the allegations, and evidence of moral misconduct was reportedly found. Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim stated that the party would take firm action against any unethical or criminal behavior, regardless of a person’s political position. Discussions among party leaders confirmed that Gazi Nazrul Islam was involved in actions deemed morally unacceptable.

Party insiders also indicated that pressure had mounted from within the organization, including from leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Islami Chhatri Sangstha, demanding immediate action. The role of the Satkhira district Jamaat unit is also under review. A final decision regarding the MP is expected soon, according to the party’s central media secretary.