Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed reaffirmed that the court-issued death sentence against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be executed once she is brought back to the country from India, where she is reportedly taking refuge. Speaking on Wednesday at a discussion organized by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at Dhaka University’s TSC auditorium, he emphasized the government’s determination to prevent any resurgence of fascism and to strengthen national unity formed through the anti-autocracy movement.

The minister said arrest warrants had been issued through Interpol to bring back fugitive ministers, MPs, and officials of the former government, citing the arrest of former IGP Benazir Ahmed as an example. He criticized the Awami League for showing no remorse over past violence and accused the party of attempting to re-enter politics. Ahmed also stated that legal amendments now allow both Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League to face trial under the International Crimes Tribunal Act and anti-terrorism laws.

He urged all citizens, especially the youth, to work together to build a safe, democratic, and autocracy-free Bangladesh, in line with the “National July Charter” signed by political parties.

Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central president Nurul Islam has said that the sacrifices of those who were martyred, injured, or disabled in the July uprising made it possible to dream of a new Bangladesh and to restore the people’s political rights. He emphasized that without the July movement, the current political reality would not exist, and therefore, realizing the aspirations of July is now everyone’s main responsibility. He made these remarks on Tuesday at the closing session of the organization’s second general meeting of the central executive council held at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the event was attended by senior leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, including opposition leader and Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP, and other former Shibir presidents. The meeting reviewed the central committee’s half-yearly report, approved district setups, analyzed campus and national political situations, and outlined future plans. Nurul Islam also announced the names of 12 newly elected members of the 2026 executive council and administered their oath.

He called for strengthening national unity and building skilled, ethical, and responsible manpower through training to achieve the vision of an equitable and prosperous Bangladesh.

President Md. Shahabuddin stated that the July uprising was an outburst of long-suppressed public anger against inequality, corruption, enforced disappearances, killings, and fascist misrule. In a message marking July Martyrs’ Day, he recalled the events of July 16 in Rangpur, where Abu Sayeed was shot dead, and similar sacrifices by several young people across the country that gave new momentum to the movement.

The president said the uprising began through the detention and repression of public university students and the active participation of private university students and the general public. He paid deep respect to the martyrs and injured participants of the 2024 July uprising, emphasizing that the movement was not the achievement of any single person or group but a collective struggle for democracy and justice.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring recognition, welfare, and rehabilitation for the martyrs and injured, as well as justice for related killings. The president urged all citizens to work together to build a democratic, accountable, and equitable Bangladesh inspired by the spirit of July.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the blood of the July martyrs will never go in vain, describing the spirit of the July uprising as both a source of national pride and inspiration for building the future. In a message issued on Wednesday ahead of the historic July Martyrs’ Day on Thursday, he paid deep respect, sorrow, and gratitude to those who died during the 2024 anti-fascist movement.

The Prime Minister recalled that on July 16, 2024, at least six people, including Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed and Chattogram college student Mohammad Wasim Akram, were killed by police gunfire during protests that evolved from quota reform demands into a movement against fascism. He said the uprising united the nation against oppression, corruption, and the denial of voting rights, ultimately forcing the autocratic ruler to flee the country.

Rahman emphasized that the government remains committed to honoring the martyrs’ sacrifice by strengthening democracy and building a safe, humane, and self-reliant Bangladesh. He prayed for the souls of the martyrs and wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the uprising.

Nasiruddin Patwari, the chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), and Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer for the northern region, visited the graves of the July martyrs in Bogura. The visit took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Namazgarh cemetery in the city, where they offered prayers for the souls of the martyrs.

Several central and regional NCP leaders were present during the visit, including joint member secretary Saif Mostafiz, joint chief organizer Sakib Mahdi, joint member secretary Gazi Salahuddin Tanvir, Rajshahi divisional organizational secretary Imran Imon, Bogura district convener Engineer M S A Mahmud, and district member secretary Sultan Mahmud. Also attending were joint member secretary Abdus Sabur Sumon, National Student Power Bogura district convener A M Z Shahriar Juhin, member secretary Soikat Ali, and other party activists from district and upazila levels.

The gathering reflected the party’s respect for the July martyrs and its continued engagement in commemorative activities in the Bogura region.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been deployed in Gopalganj to reinforce security measures ahead of July 16. From Wednesday morning, BGB members began patrolling key areas of the city. Police checkpoints have been set up at several important points, and plainclothes law enforcement officers are also on duty to maintain order.

The heightened security comes in anticipation of possible unrest linked to the anniversary of the July 16, 2025 NCP march, during which clashes between law enforcement and Awami League activists left five youths dead. Authorities have taken precautionary steps to prevent any recurrence of violence or deterioration of law and order.

Officials expect the increased presence of security forces to deter potential disturbances and ensure public safety throughout the city during the sensitive period.

HSC students in Pirojpur staged a protest on Wednesday demanding the resignation of Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon. The demonstration began around 2 p.m. after the examination at Pirojpur Government Women's College center. Students marched through several streets of the town and later blocked the road at the Sadar Upazila premises, chanting slogans calling for the minister’s resignation.

To maintain law and order, additional police forces were deployed at the scene. The situation remained under control as security personnel monitored the protest. Around 3 p.m., Pirojpur District Chhatra Dal president Salauddin Talukder Kumar and other leaders intervened and persuaded the students to calm down and disperse peacefully.

The protest ended without reports of violence, and normalcy was restored in the area following the intervention of local student leaders and law enforcement.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that the current government has initiated the process of preparing a complete and impartial list of martyrs from Bangladesh’s Liberation War. He made the statement in parliament on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, while responding to a question from ruling party MP Ruhul Amin Dulal. The Prime Minister said that those responsible after independence failed to prepare an accurate list and instead politicized the process. The government now considers this task a sacred responsibility.

Rahman explained that the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has already begun work to fulfill the government’s election pledge by organizing expert meetings, consulting stakeholders, and drafting a detailed action plan. He emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure proper recognition and honor for all who sacrificed their lives during the war.

In related parliamentary discussions, the Prime Minister also addressed questions about verifying fake freedom fighters and confirmed that a committee of experts is working to identify genuine ones. He reiterated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government is committed to honoring the Liberation War and its martyrs.

Security measures at the Bangladesh Secretariat were intensified as HSC examinees launched a long march toward the complex demanding the resignation of Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon and two other conditions. The protest, held on Wednesday, followed a brief road blockade at the Science Laboratory intersection before students began marching toward the Secretariat.

Authorities deployed additional police personnel at gates 1, 2, and 5, enforcing stricter identity checks and searches. Law enforcement remained on alert throughout the area, while Secretariat staff continued their regular duties under heightened security. The students’ three-point demand includes postponing HSC and equivalent exams until weather conditions normalize, arranging retests for those unable to attend the July 13 exam due to adverse weather, and the minister’s resignation.

As of the latest reports, law enforcement maintained a vigilant stance around the Secretariat, continuing necessary measures to keep the situation under control.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman began his speech in the national parliament on Wednesday by remembering the Shapla martyrs. Before delivering his main address, he paid tribute to them and acknowledged the opposition for supporting the government’s family card project. He emphasized that to resist authoritarianism in the future, the nation must strengthen its political and economic capacities.

Earlier in his remarks, Rahman reflected on the sacrifices made during the Liberation War, noting that countless people were victims of genocide. He criticized the failure of those responsible after independence to prepare a neutral and complete list of the martyrs, saying that political interests had interfered with the process. He added that despite repeated attempts, the compilation of an accurate list has faced persistent obstacles.

The Prime Minister’s comments linked the historical struggle for independence with the need for unity and institutional strength to safeguard democracy and national progress.

The fifth death anniversary of Advocate Maulana Mohammad Nazrul Islam, a senior lawyer of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, was observed on July 15, 2026. He passed away on this day in 2021 at the age of 81. Colleagues and well-wishers from the legal community prayed for his departed soul and called for remembrance of his contributions to the country's judicial system.

Nazrul Islam was known for his efforts to promote the Islamization of law in Bangladesh. He played a key role in founding the Islamic Lawyers Council and the Bangladesh Islamic Law Research and Legal Aid Center, serving as president and founding general secretary respectively. Born in 1940 in Chauhali, Sirajganj, he studied at Pabna Edward College and later earned postgraduate and law degrees from Karachi University. He was imprisoned several times during his student activism.

Beyond law, he was involved in education and social service institutions such as Ibn Sina Trust, Tamirul Millat Trust, and Bangladesh Publications Limited. Politically, he served as the Narayanganj district chief of Jamaat-e-Islami and contested several national elections.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced that any Israeli citizen found in Malaysia will be immediately expelled. The statement came after allegations surfaced that an Israeli individual was involved in the operations of a private residential community in Forest City, located in the southern state of Johor. Authorities are currently investigating the matter, and Anwar emphasized that the government will not compromise if the allegations are proven true.

According to local media reports, Malaysia’s Home Ministry has launched an investigation into claims related to a Johor-based startup community called Network School. The Immigration Department stated that all 266 foreigners inspected in the Forest City international community possessed valid immigration documents. Malaysia does not recognize Israel as a state, and Israeli passport holders are generally prohibited from entering the country without special government approval.

Forest City is a large mixed-use development built on artificial islands near the Singapore border in Johor, and the investigation is ongoing.

HSC examinees in Dhaka continued their second day of demonstrations on July 15, 2026, demanding the resignation of the education minister and changes to the examination schedule. The students began a long march toward the Secretariat from several key points, including Uttara, Science Laboratory intersection, and Mirpur, after staging sit-ins and road blockades. They said the current exam routine was hastily prepared and placed severe mental pressure on them.

As the march advanced toward the Ministry of Education, law enforcement agencies tightened security around the Secretariat. Witnesses reported that all entry gates were locked and reinforced with heavy chains, while large numbers of police officers were deployed at Zero Point and near the Press Club. The heightened security and student march caused temporary traffic paralysis across major city routes, leaving commuters stranded.

The students also presented six demands, including opportunities to retake exams disrupted by disasters, fair grading for re-examinations, full marks for flawed questions, a short break before exams to reduce stress, reconsideration of sudden question format changes, and ensuring a student-friendly environment at exam centers.

Two top leaders of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) have termed the rejection of the referendum mandate as political deception. In a joint statement on Wednesday, July 15, JSD President A S M Abdur Rob and General Secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan made the remark following the formation of a constitutional amendment committee in the National Parliament.

The statement said that, in light of the July uprising, the people’s sovereign aspirations, and the national charter and referendum, fundamental reform of Bangladesh’s state system has become an inevitable demand. The leaders criticized the government for forming a parliamentary committee for so-called amendments instead of implementing the people’s mandate for a constitutional reform council. They argued that the constitution is a document of the people’s sovereign consent, not of any government or parliamentary majority, and that ignoring the direct mandate undermines the people’s sovereign decision.

The JSD demanded the immediate formation of a representative constitutional reform council to implement the referendum-approved mandate and warned that the government would bear responsibility for any future political, constitutional, or legal crises arising from ignoring the people’s verdict.

Students in Uttara resumed road blockades on Wednesday afternoon demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon. The protest began around 1:30 p.m. in front of the BNS Center, halting traffic toward both Dhaka and Gazipur. Police were present with water cannons but avoided confrontation. The students said they would continue their movement until all demands were met.

Their three-point demand includes postponing HSC and equivalent exams until flood and waterlogging conditions improve, arranging retests for students who missed exams on July 13 due to bad weather, and the resignation of the education and primary education ministers. The minister had earlier apologized for his remarks about examinees and announced a retake of the July 13 physics exam.

In parliament, Milon explained that heavy rain disrupted several exams and that retests would be arranged for affected subjects. He said the ministry was monitoring the situation closely and had already suspended exams in flood-affected areas such as Chattogram. Despite his assurances, student protests have continued in Dhaka.