The article by Maskawath Ahsan, published on July 20, 2026, discusses India’s expanding political and cultural influence in South Asia following the post-9/11 geopolitical shifts. It describes how the United States, after toppling the Taliban government in Afghanistan, aligned with India for reconstruction efforts, while Pakistan’s stance on Afghan self-governance strained its ties with Washington. The piece claims that India’s involvement extended to Bangladesh during the so-called ‘war on terror,’ influencing political outcomes and narratives around extremism.

The author argues that India used education and cultural diplomacy in Afghanistan to build long-term goodwill, sending teachers who fostered pro-India sentiment among Afghan students. The article further alleges that India later leveraged militant groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan to destabilize Pakistan, particularly in regions linked to Chinese investments. It portrays India’s actions as part of a broader strategy to assert dominance and counter Pakistan and China simultaneously.

The commentary concludes that the enduring India-Pakistan rivalry benefits both nations’ political and military elites, sustaining defense spending and nationalist rhetoric while masking governance weaknesses.

Delhi Police has denied permission for supporters of the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party to march toward Parliament, though protesters have refused to withdraw their plan. The ban comes amid rising tension and fears of a standoff, as demands grow for the resignation of India’s education minister over a major exam paper leak. The protest gained new momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalized on Saturday.

Hundreds of supporters have already gathered near the protest site on the first day of Parliament’s monsoon session. The Cockroach movement began in May after a massive exam paper leak affected millions of students, quickly spreading from social media to nationwide demonstrations. Wangchuk described the planned march as India’s “second freedom movement,” calling it a fight against injustice and fear.

Police cited security concerns and restrictions on gatherings of more than five people in New Delhi during the parliamentary session. Despite this, the Cockroach Janata Party said the march would proceed as planned, with final details still being arranged.

On July 20, 2024, during a student movement demanding nine reforms, police opened fire on demonstrators in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area, killing 19-year-old Imam Hasan Bhuiyan Taim. Taim, the son of a police sub-inspector, had joined the protest with friends when officers allegedly forced them out of a shop and shot him as he tried to flee. Witnesses said he identified himself as a police officer’s son before being shot multiple times at close range. Videos of the incident later spread widely on social media.

The protests erupted after the government imposed a curfew to suppress the student movement, which had called for a “complete shutdown.” Eyewitnesses described police using tear gas, sound grenades, and live ammunition. Taim’s father, a long-serving officer, and his family later identified his body at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. His brother demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.

The viral footage and the father’s emotional phone call questioning the number of bullets used to kill his son intensified public anger and further energized the protest movement.

Abdul Halim Babu, a member of the Dhaka District Volunteer Party, held a press conference on Sunday at a restaurant in the Palli Bidyut area of Ashulia, Savar, protesting what he described as false and fabricated propaganda against him on social media. During his speech, he became emotional and cried, asserting that he was being falsely labeled as a drug dealer and 'drug lord.'

In a written statement, Babu claimed that a group angered by his anti-drug activities was behind the smear campaign. He said he and local residents had dismantled CCTV cameras used by drug dealers and destroyed drug spots, prompting retaliation through online propaganda and coerced video confessions. He alleged that individuals linked to the ruling Awami League were orchestrating the conspiracy due to his affiliation with the Volunteer Party and his long involvement in political movements.

Babu demanded an impartial investigation and vowed to take full responsibility if found guilty. He emphasized that his actions were for the party and the country, rejecting any attempt to tarnish his party’s image.

The Socialist Students’ Front, Dhaka College unit, organized a student rally on Sunday evening at the college’s Bakultala premises to press for five demands, including resolving the housing crisis, providing subsidies in canteens and dining halls, and ensuring sanitation and safe drinking water. The event was conducted by General Secretary Moshiur Rahman and attended by President Nahiyan Rehman Rahat, Office Secretary Abu Bakar, and other members of the organization.

Speakers at the rally criticized the administration for failing to address long-standing student issues such as inadequate dormitory facilities, lack of potable water, poor food quality due to insufficient subsidies, and limited transportation options. They argued that these problems reflect broader state neglect of education and insufficient budget allocations for public institutions.

The organization’s five-point demand includes constructing new multi-storey dormitories, improving food quality and pricing through subsidies, expanding transport routes, appointing full-time medical staff, and ensuring proper sanitation and safe water across all departments.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Md. Nahid Islam said that the people of Uttara would be the first to resist any attempt to rehabilitate the Awami League. He made the remarks on Sunday at the 'Roktokto July' event held at Mir Mughdo Mancha in Uttara, Dhaka, organized by NCP Dhaka North to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of the people during the July uprising.

During his speech, Nahid Islam recalled Uttara’s role as a key center of resistance during the uprising and claimed that the movement from Uttara and Jatrabari had forced the then leader Hasina to flee. He demanded justice for victims of abductions and repression, calling for trials of autocrats and their associates to prevent future tyranny. He also criticized the BNP for obstructing the implementation of the July Charter and urged unity to build an Uttara free from extortion and drugs.

The event was attended by families of martyrs, injured fighters of July, and NCP leaders including Ariful Islam Adib, Rokeya Begum MP, and others.

The district administration of Bogura has announced new names for three unions in the Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituency, represented by State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam. District Commissioner Md. Taufiqur Rahman declared the new names—Betgari, Jagannathpur, and Rahbal unions—during a meeting at his office on Sunday morning, where a resolution approving the changes was passed. The proposal will now be sent to the Ministry of Local Government for final approval and gazette publication.

Earlier, a government notification on June 14 had created four new unions named Mirbari, Simanta, Diganta, and Swarnagram. The first three names drew criticism because they matched the minister’s family names—his ancestral home and his two sons. The issue sparked public and online criticism and was raised in Parliament by Jamaat-e-Islami MP Shafiqul Islam Masud.

Following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive, local authorities held public hearings on June 23 and 25 to rename the unions. The new names were selected based on those hearings to address public concerns and ensure administrative neutrality.

A 'Unity Conference' marking Qaumi Madrasa Resistance Day 2026 was held on Sunday at the Economic Reporters Forum auditorium in Dhaka’s Paltan area. Organized by the Qaumi Madrasa Resistance Day Implementation Committee, the event was themed 'Memory, Struggle, and Future Aspirations.' Speakers paid tribute to the teachers, students, and scholars of Qaumi madrasas for their role and sacrifices during the July uprising. They called for official state recognition of Qaumi contributions and demanded that July be declared as Qaumi Madrasa Resistance Day.

Liberation War State Minister Engineer Ishraq Hossain attended as chief guest and announced August 2 as the tentative date for the observance, expressing hope that the Prime Minister would attend. He also assured sincere efforts to implement the conference’s logical demands. The event featured discussions on the heritage, struggles, and educational contributions of Qaumi madrasas, emphasizing the need for proper evaluation and national acknowledgment of their role.

Representatives from around 17 Qaumi organizations participated, including leaders from various student and religious groups, highlighting unity within the Qaumi community.

Gono Odhikar Parishad President and State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur has said that the rise of Jamaat-e-Islami poses a threat to Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty, and future. Speaking on Sunday at a discussion titled “Blood-soaked July: Context, Debt of Blood and Which Way Bangladesh” at the National Press Club in Dhaka, he urged young people to remain alert to Jamaat’s politics and alleged conspiracies. The event was attended by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed as chief guest and Liberation War Minister Ishraq Hossain as special guest.

Nur claimed that after the July uprising, Jamaat sympathizers were appointed to key state institutions during the interim government, influencing sectors such as police, universities, energy, and civil service. He alleged that social media was used to create a false impression of Jamaat’s political strength and that some young activists became dependent on Jamaat before forming their own political base.

He warned that Jamaat’s resurgence could lead to instability and urged national consensus to safeguard independence and sovereignty. Nur also cautioned against foreign powers exploiting Bangladesh’s political situation for their own interests.

Two people were killed within a week in separate shootings by U.S. immigration officers, triggering widespread protests across the country. Demonstrators questioned the tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demanded an end to raids in populated areas. The first victim, 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was shot in Houston, Texas, while driving to work. Six days later, 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Duran Guerrero was killed in Biddeford, Maine, near a local laundromat.

Protesters accused ICE of conducting militarized operations under President Donald Trump’s mass arrest and deportation policies. According to The Trace, ICE officers have been involved in 30 shooting incidents since Trump took office, resulting in eight deaths. Investigations revealed that neither of the two recent victims were the intended targets of the operations.

Reports also noted that another person died in Florida while fleeing ICE officers, and 22 people have died this year in ICE custody or detention centers. The incidents have intensified scrutiny of ICE’s enforcement methods and the human toll of U.S. immigration policies.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that the national unity formed against fascism and in support of Hasina must be strengthened to ensure democracy in Bangladesh. Speaking at a discussion titled “Blood-soaked July: Context, Debt of Blood and the Path for Bangladesh” organized by Gana Adhikar Parishad at the National Press Club on Sunday, he declared that fascism would never again be allowed to rise and that the country must avoid any situation requiring bloodshed for democracy.

Ahmed emphasized that July belongs to everyone and should not be used for personal or political gain. He recalled that those who sacrificed their lives during the July movement sought a free and equal society. He urged unity on national issues to prevent the return of autocracy and called for strengthening parliamentary and democratic politics.

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain and Gana Adhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur also spoke, warning against actions that could endanger democracy or national sovereignty and calling for vigilance regarding Jamaat’s political influence.

The Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister stated that ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent for public welfare remains a core commitment of the government. Speaking on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at an event in Magura District Auditorium organized by Sadar Upazila Parishad, he distributed bicycles to students, sewing machines to rural women, and saplings to local residents.

The minister said that in the past, funds allocated for public welfare were often lost to corruption and irregularities, but the current administration has established accountability for every taka and is delivering government assistance directly to genuine beneficiaries. He reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption and ongoing investigations into misappropriated development funds, with legal action being taken against those responsible.

He added that the government is steadily implementing its electoral pledges, including initiatives such as family, agriculture, and imam cards to extend financial and social support. The minister emphasized the government’s determination to uphold the rule of law, prevent judicial corruption, and build an equitable, prosperous, and inclusive Bangladesh through public participation.

National Citizen Party (NCP) South Regional Organizer and Member of Parliament Hasnat Abdullah stated that those who enter parliament with businessmen’s money do not represent the people. He made the remarks on Sunday evening at a rally in Rajapur, Jhalakathi, where he recalled the July movement that saw participation from all sections of society, including students, professionals, and workers. Abdullah urged citizens to take responsibility for national reform just as they had once removed long-standing authoritarian rule.

Addressing Rajapur residents, Abdullah reminded them of the NCP’s election promise to represent the people in parliament and said voters should judge whether the party had fulfilled that pledge. He claimed that NCP representatives had spoken in parliament against media manipulation, vote rigging, and bank corruption without fear or pressure.

Other NCP leaders, including Md. Ali Ahsan Junaid, Dr. Mahmuda Alam Mitu, and Advocate Tarikul Islam, also spoke at the event, which was attended by local party officials and activists.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for Iran to be added to a proposed sanctions bill aimed at Russia. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump wrote that Republicans should include Iran in the Russia sanctions bill, noting that former Senator Lindsey Graham had intended to do so. The bill, introduced by Graham, currently has the support of more than 60 senators from both parties.

According to the proposal, countries purchasing Russian oil and natural gas would face 100 percent secondary sanctions. The bill also seeks to target the so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers allegedly used to evade restrictions on Russian energy exports. Trump’s latest statement signals his support for extending similar tough measures against Iran under the same legislative framework.

The report, citing the Times of Israel, indicates that Trump’s position aligns with efforts to expand the scope of U.S. sanctions beyond Russia to include Iran’s energy and trade networks.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has questioned the government's decision to retain the Tk 50,000 maintenance allowance for vehicles purchased through interest-free loans by entitled officials, despite a clear directive from the Prime Minister to reduce the cost. In a statement issued on Sunday, TIB suggested that undue influence from privileged bureaucrats may have led the government to abandon its earlier cost-cutting stance.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said the Prime Minister’s earlier decision to halve the maintenance cost to Tk 25,000 and cancel the interest-free loan facility was a commendable move aimed at reducing inequality and preventing misuse of public funds. He warned that reversing such a decision under pressure from vested interests undermines fiscal discipline and fairness in public administration.

He further noted that the preferential classification of certain officials was discriminatory and harmful to inter-cadre balance. TIB also reiterated its earlier recommendation for mandatory asset declarations by officials, expressing concern that the new salary scale may not ensure corruption-free public service without such transparency measures.