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.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken publicly for the first time about the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) question paper leak, calling it a grave wrongdoing and pledging the harshest punishment for those involved. Speaking at the NDA parliamentary meeting in Delhi’s Parliament Library building, Modi urged lawmakers to guide the youth responsibly and avoid incitement. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Prime Minister called for a flawless and transparent examination system through collective effort.

The remarks came a day after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) led a massive “Parliament March” in Delhi demanding the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Around 20,000 protesters, mostly students and youth, clashed with police near Parliament, prompting tear gas and baton charges. Activist Sonam Wangchuk continued his hunger strike from hospital, condemning police action and demanding dialogue with lawmakers.

In response, the government held talks with CJP leaders, with Health Minister J.P. Nadda receiving written demands. However, both the CJP and Wangchuk remain firm on their call for ministerial accountability.

Crowds continued to swell at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday morning as members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) declared they would not leave the protest site. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement, which began after the leak of the NEET examination paper, has now expanded beyond India, with solidarity protests reported in New York, San Jose, London, and Dublin.

According to reports, members of an advocacy group in the United States organized demonstrations in support of fasting activist Wangchuk. Meanwhile, opposition alliances in India have also joined the streets. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi protested outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday, condemning police action against students in Delhi and presenting a five-point demand while in detention.

Both the CJP and opposition leaders have accused the police of using repressive measures against peaceful protesters. The ongoing unrest poses a growing challenge to the government as the movement gains international visibility.

On July 22, 2026, reports surfaced that top Bangladeshi business leaders had expressed lifelong support for Sheikh Hasina during the 2024 student-led quota reform protests, which were violently suppressed. The report describes how, amid nationwide unrest and government crackdowns, business associations publicly urged Hasina to act more harshly against demonstrators, labeling them as terrorists and anti-state elements. A meeting organized by Hasina’s advisers gathered leading industrialists who pledged allegiance to her leadership.

Following this support, the government’s repression reportedly intensified, leading to mass casualties and Hasina’s eventual ouster on August 5, 2024. Many of the business figures who had backed her remained active or sought alignment with subsequent administrations. On January 13, 2026, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement filed a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office against 24 business leaders, accusing them of aiding in mass killings during the protests. The investigation is ongoing, with the tribunal expected to file formal charges once the inquiry concludes.

BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey stated in Dhaka that comparing the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) with SAARC is misleading and unjustified, as it undermines BIMSTEC’s interests. He emphasized that regional cooperation is essential for ensuring development and security in the Bay of Bengal region and described BIMSTEC as a dynamic and effective platform for realizing the shared aspirations of its member states.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB), Pandey highlighted BIMSTEC’s growing importance and urged that it be evaluated based on its own mandate, achievements, and potential rather than through the lens of other regional organizations. He noted that Bangladesh, as the current chair since April 2025, is focusing on making BIMSTEC more effective, results-oriented, and people-centered.

Pandey also mentioned that member states are considering a visa facilitation scheme to boost trade, travel, and tourism, and expressed optimism about progress in finalizing several trade agreements, including discussions under a Free Trade Agreement framework.

Journalist Khaja Main Uddin’s article, published on July 22, 2026, revisits the violent events of July 2024 in Bangladesh, when student protests over government job quota reforms turned deadly. The piece recalls how demonstrations demanding merit-based recruitment were met with police force and political labeling, leaving many students injured and at least one killed. The author highlights the July 16, 2024, incident in which a student from Rangpur’s Begum Rokeya University was shot dead during protests.

The article criticizes the government’s reaction, noting that ruling party leaders framed protesting students as “razakars,” deepening social divisions. It argues that the quota reform movement was a legitimate expression of youth frustration over unemployment, corruption, and inequality. The writer questions the moral stance of those who remain silent in the face of state violence and compares the suppression of dissent to historical authoritarianism.

The commentary concludes that the quota system, even if well-intentioned, has become a tool for favoritism and political control, warning that imposed narratives cannot indefinitely suppress demands for justice and democratic rights.

Bangladesh marks the second anniversary of the July 2024 mass uprising amid rising political tension over unfulfilled reform promises. The uprising, which cost over 1,500 young lives, had aimed not just to topple a government but to establish justice, accountability, and a democratic system free from authoritarianism. Two years later, the country has seen a return to participatory elections, with the BNP forming government after the February 2026 polls, while Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party (NCP) lead the opposition. Yet, frustration grows over the slow pace of justice for victims and delays in implementing the ‘July Charter’ of reforms.

Opposition leaders accuse the ruling party of ignoring the people’s referendum-backed mandate for structural reforms, while the government insists it remains committed to the charter’s full implementation. The dispute has fueled nationwide protests and political polarization. Analysts warn that both sides risk undermining the uprising’s spirit if reform pledges become tools of partisan rivalry.

The article urges all parties to prioritize justice for victims, transparent reform timelines, and constructive parliamentary debate to prevent renewed instability and uphold the uprising’s democratic ideals.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called on the US federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a video message posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, Mamdani said the city administration lacks the legal authority to execute ICC warrants independently, urging Washington to act instead.

Mamdani described Netanyahu as a war criminal responsible for atrocities in Gaza, alleging that over 73,000 people were killed under his leadership and that hospitals and humanitarian aid routes were targeted. He said the United States shares responsibility because American-funded weapons were used in the attacks. Mamdani emphasized that Netanyahu and any fugitive war criminals are not welcome in New York City.

The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Netanyahu would not be arrested while in the United States.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that the United States has spent 37.5 billion dollars so far in the ongoing war with Iran. He said the figure includes some operational and maintenance costs through the end of September but did not provide further details. The Trump administration had earlier estimated the war cost at 29 billion dollars in May.

During the hearing, Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane supported a proposed 1.5 trillion dollar defense budget, including about 70 billion dollars allocated for the Iran war. Moody’s Analytics estimated that indirect economic effects, such as rising fuel prices, could push total US costs to as high as 150 billion dollars.

Hegseth added that the war has strained US weapons stockpiles, requiring extra funding to boost production of high-demand ammunition and arms. He warned that delays in budget approval could force cuts in future military training programs. Democratic Senator Patty Murray questioned the logic of combining various spending areas in the proposed defense budget.

Jamalpur-3 Member of Parliament Mostafizur Rahman Babul has called on journalists to publish both positive and negative news without fear or obstruction. He made the appeal on Tuesday afternoon during the monthly meeting of the Upazila Law and Order Committee held at the Madarganj Upazila Parishad conference room, where he attended as the chief guest.

Babul stated that journalists should report freely even if their news goes against the government, himself, the UNO, or the police, emphasizing that such reporting benefits the people of Madarganj, the country, and the government. He also urged the media to highlight both the government’s development activities and issues such as injustice, irregularities, corruption, and anti-public interest actions with objectivity and responsibility.

The meeting, chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Suman Chowdhury, discussed local law and order, crime prevention, drug control, public safety, improvement of government services, and ongoing departmental activities. Several local officials, political leaders, and journalists were present at the event.

On July 22, 2026, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met with top business leaders at her office amid intense nationwide protests over the government’s quota reform policy. During the meeting, she dismissed rumors of fleeing the country, declaring, “Sheikh Hasina does not flee.” Business leaders, including heads of major industrial groups, expressed full support for her. The meeting followed days of violent clashes and a government crackdown that left hundreds dead and thousands detained.

The unrest began after a July 2024 government order approved a 7 percent quota in public service jobs, reserving 5 percent for freedom fighters’ families, 1 percent for ethnic minorities, and 1 percent for persons with disabilities and the third gender. Student protesters rejected the order, demanding full merit-based recruitment. The government responded with internet shutdowns, curfews, and forceful suppression across major cities.

The United Nations expressed concern over the reported use of UN-marked armored vehicles by the Bangladesh Army during the crackdown. Law enforcement leaders later visited affected areas, vowing legal action against those involved in the violence.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday presented a five-point demand to India’s central government, calling for the resignations of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The move followed widespread student protests over alleged government repression and police action during demonstrations against the NEET exam paper leak. The opposition intensified its agitation in the capital, where several Congress leaders, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained by Delhi Police near the Prime Minister’s residence and later released.

In a video message recorded before his release, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of mistreating students and outlined his demands. These included the resignation of the two ministers, action against police involved in attacks on students, withdrawal of cases filed against protesters, a public apology from the Prime Minister for police operations, a full parliamentary debate on the issue, and urgent reforms in the education and competitive examination systems.

According to Rahul Gandhi, the opposition alliance plans to press for detailed discussions on the matter in both houses of Parliament on Wednesday.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced plans to intensify its protest in Delhi demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation for families of deceased examinees, and the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk. CJP leader Abhijit Dipak said the movement would continue at Jantar Mantar despite police restrictions. The protests follow violent clashes on Monday when police dismantled the protest stage and used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, leaving over 100 injured, including a critically hurt young woman.

The Indian National Congress expressed solidarity by staging a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, where several senior leaders, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, were detained. Rahul Gandhi accused the government of suppressing students’ voices and demanded the resignation of Modi and the Home Minister. Meanwhile, Modi ordered strict action against those involved in the exam leak, and officials said dialogue with protesters remains open though no schedule is set.

Analysts noted that widespread student support and opposition involvement have intensified pressure on Modi’s government, signaling a potential escalation of the crisis.

Indian opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were released by police hours after being detained for participating in a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence. The detention occurred on Tuesday morning when Rahul Gandhi joined a sit-in demonstration and announced plans to continue the protest overnight. Delhi Police detained him shortly afterward.

Following his detention, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi visited the Mandir Marg police station. Rahul Gandhi was later released from Chhatrasal Stadium, after which Sonia Gandhi left the station. Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and other opposition figures detained during the protest were also freed the same night.

The Congress party organized the protest demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over issues including the alleged leak of NEET exam questions and police action against student demonstrators in Delhi.

Hasan Mahmud Shuvo, a student of Dhaka International Medical College and resident of Hazariganj Union in Charfassion, Bhola, continues to suffer from leg pain caused by police torture during the 2024 July uprising. He was arrested and beaten by police near Dhaka College on July 27, 2024, leaving him with a lasting knee injury.

Shuvo was an active participant in the 2024 mass movement, joining rallies, writing in media and social platforms, and advocating against injustice. He described witnessing deadly violence on July 19 in Uttara’s BNS Center area, where several protesters were shot. He said he believed silence in the face of oppression was unacceptable and viewed writing as a form of resistance to awaken public conscience and preserve history.

Reflecting on his experience, Shuvo urged the younger generation to remember the sacrifices made for freedom, justice, and democracy, emphasizing that such values never come without struggle.