On 10 July 2024, a nationwide blockade demanding the abolition of what protesters called irrational and discriminatory quotas in all grades of government jobs brought transport across Bangladesh to a standstill. Rail, road, and highways were blocked, effectively isolating Dhaka from the rest of the country. The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division issued a status quo order the same day after hearing an appeal over the legality of quotas in grades 9 to 13, keeping the previous decision intact. Despite the order, the movement continued, and new protest programs were announced.

Students under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement blocked major intersections across Dhaka, including Shahbagh, Farmgate, and Mohakhali, from morning until evening. Rail communication between Dhaka and other regions was suspended for several hours, delaying at least 22 trains. Outside the capital, highways in multiple districts were also blocked.

Movement coordinators Asif Mahmud and Sarjis Alam declared that their only demand was the abolition of quotas in all grades, limiting reservations to a maximum of five percent through parliamentary legislation. The ruling party’s general secretary Obaidul Quader urged protesters to suspend disruptive programs until the Supreme Court’s final hearing in early August.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for northern Bangladesh, declared that the Awami League’s downfall had occurred and that its political end had been sealed in Delhi. He made the remarks on Thursday night at the ‘July March’ event held at Baluchar field in Chatmohar, Pabna. Alam urged citizens to support political forces aligned with Bangladesh’s interests and to reject corruption, extortion, and political influence in public services.

He criticized the country’s education and healthcare sectors, blaming political interference for poor management and irregularities in school and hospital operations. Alam also alleged that unqualified individuals were being appointed to educational committees and called for the elimination of drugs, extortion, and abuse of power from society. Addressing allegations of embezzlement against the NCP, he dismissed them as baseless political propaganda.

Alam further accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration of politicizing the bureaucracy and engaging in repression. The event concluded with the announcement of Akhtar Hossain Lebu as the NCP’s mayoral candidate for Chatmohar municipality.

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a deepening crisis over his Iran policy following renewed American airstrikes in the Hormuz Strait last Wednesday. The attacks came after an assault on ships in the area, leaving Trump with two difficult choices: escalate the conflict, risking major human, economic, and political costs, or attempt to revive a flawed memorandum of understanding with Tehran that has already collapsed. The memorandum, signed just three weeks earlier and drafted by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, has been criticized for its vagueness and lack of enforceable terms.

As Trump travels to a NATO summit in Turkey, he has declared the Iran memorandum “finished” and called Iran “crazy,” though he left open the possibility of further talks. Analysts cited by CNN say expanding the war would be costly and risky, while economic pressure might be a more viable path. Critics within the U.S. have questioned the administration’s lack of consultation with experienced officials, and experts warn that either escalation or withdrawal could damage U.S. interests and global energy stability.

Trump’s social media threats and unverified claims of Iranian eagerness for a new deal have further fueled uncertainty about Washington’s next move.

The Bangladeshi government has finalized the dismissal of 80 police officers accused of involvement in killings and abuses during the July–August 2024 uprising. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs and intelligence sources, the officers, ranging from Deputy Inspector General to Assistant Superintendent of Police, were identified as loyalists of the former Awami League government. Three officers—Mishu Biswas, Jewel Chakma, and Mahmudul Hasan—have already been formally dismissed through a ministry order issued on Thursday.

The list includes several high-profile former officials such as Biplob Kumar Sarkar, Harun-or-Rashid, Proloy Kumar Jowardar, Syed Nurul Islam, and K.M. Ehsanullah, many of whom are reported to be fugitives. They are accused of ordering or participating in shootings against protesters and opposition activists, as well as other human rights violations. Cases under murder and explosives laws have been filed against many of them.

Home Ministry Additional Secretary Kazi Mohammad Saiful Islam confirmed that legal proceedings are ongoing against the 80 officers and that further dismissals will follow in phases. Some of the accused are also under investigation for alleged corruption and illegal wealth accumulation.

Bangladesh’s Appellate Division on Thursday upheld a High Court verdict restoring the non-partisan caretaker government system and referendum provisions to the constitution. The ruling confirmed that these clauses, removed by the 15th Amendment in 2011, will be reinstated. Government policymakers, politicians, and lawyers described the decision as historic and reflective of public expectations. Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said the verdict blocks any return to fascism and ensures that the next national election will be held under a caretaker administration.

The 15th Amendment, passed by the former Awami League government, had abolished the caretaker system and referendum provisions, altering 54 constitutional articles. Following the fall of that government in August 2024, petitions were filed challenging the amendment’s legality. The High Court declared several sections unconstitutional, including those abolishing the caretaker system and referendum, a decision now affirmed by the Appellate Division.

According to the Attorney General, the remaining constitutional changes introduced by the 15th Amendment will now be subject to parliamentary decision, while the restored provisions mark a return to the earlier democratic framework.

Member of Parliament Dipen Dewan for the Rangamati-299 constituency stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist government remains dedicated to supporting citizens during crises and in development efforts. He emphasized that the current administration is determined to fulfill all electoral promises made to the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Dewan made these remarks on Thursday afternoon while visiting the Kaptai High School shelter center.

During the visit, he distributed food among those staying at the shelter. The event was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Raihanul Islam, Officer-in-Charge Mahamud Hasan Rubel, and several senior leaders of the district and upazila units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organizations, including Saiful Islam Ponir, Dildar Hossain, Abu Bakkar Siddique Abu, Lokman Ahmed, Yasin Mamun, and others.

The visit highlighted the government’s ongoing engagement with local communities in the hill district, focusing on both disaster response and development commitments.

Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump over the ongoing military conflict with Iran. In a post on social media platform X, Panetta described the administration’s actions as a major failure of diplomacy and strategic planning. He warned that renewed US strikes and Iranian drone attacks show that current negotiations are flawed and the ceasefire is ineffective.

Panetta argued that the crisis continues because the administration engaged in conflict without a clear strategy, congressional approval, or public consensus. He urged Congress to keep working to end the Iran war, ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, and lower oil prices for American citizens, regardless of whether the Speaker supports such efforts.

The report also notes that Jimmy Panetta is the son of Leon Panetta, who served as US Defense Secretary and CIA Director under the Obama administration.

The Islamic University (IU) branch of the National Chhatra Shakti formally began its organizational activities by visiting the grave of martyr Abdullah Al Mustakin, recognized as the youngest July fighter in Kushtia. The program took place on Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Kushtia municipal graveyard, where members of the organization offered prayers and paid tribute to the martyr.

Present at the event were IU branch convener Fuad Hasan, member secretary Iftehar Uddin Md Tamim, chief organizer Zayed Bin Osman, and the martyr’s father Md Lokman Hossain, along with local dignitaries. In their remarks, the student leaders described the initiative as a pledge to uphold the ideals and sacrifices of the martyrs, emphasizing commitment to justice, equality, and student rights.

They also expressed their intention to build a discrimination-free, safe, and student-friendly campus, free from coercive practices such as guestroom culture, and affirmed readiness to make sacrifices to achieve these goals.

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit flood and landslide-affected areas in Chattogram on Friday morning. The visit aims to assess the situation in regions severely impacted by continuous rainfall and hill torrents that have caused widespread devastation.

According to Jamaat’s central publicity department, heavy rains and hill torrents have triggered severe landslides and flash floods across Chattogram and nearby hilly areas. The disaster has resulted in multiple casualties and left numerous families stranded in waterlogged conditions, disrupting normal life and causing extensive damage.

During his visit, Dr. Rahman will meet affected families, hold discussions with local administration officials, organizational leaders, and other concerned parties, and review the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the region.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with teachers and students from Lalmai upazila of Comilla on Thursday night, July 9, 2026, at the National Parliament Building after concluding a long day of official duties, including a cabinet meeting. The students, who had come from remote areas, expressed joy and excitement at the unexpected opportunity to meet the head of government and witness a parliamentary session in person.

During the meeting, the prime minister inquired about the students’ studies and encouraged them to focus on education to become responsible citizens. He urged teachers to remain dedicated in shaping the next generation into ideal and capable individuals. The visit was part of an ongoing initiative allowing students and teachers from various institutions to observe parliamentary activities firsthand.

In this round, 127 students from grades six to ten and 43 teachers from 45 institutions in Lalmai participated. They toured the parliament complex, including the South Plaza, LD Hall, and library, and observed the ongoing budget session. The prime minister’s engagement underscored his emphasis on nurturing future leadership alongside state governance.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in his birthplace Mashhad. The funeral took place at the Imam Reza shrine, where thousands gathered from early morning to attend the final prayers and mourning procession, according to Reuters.

Before the burial, Khamenei’s body was taken through several cities for ceremonies. After a large mourning procession in Qom, his coffin was transported to Iraq’s Najaf, where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Khamenei’s eldest son Mostafa Hosseini Khamenei, and senior Iraqi officials received it. Another procession was held in Karbala at the shrines of Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas before the body returned to Iran.

The funeral occurred amid escalating tensions following mutual attacks between the United States and Iran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed drone and missile strikes on 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for earlier American attacks. Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli airstrike in Iran, according to Reuters and Press TV.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region, accused the BNP of failing to provide electricity and instead leaving citizens dependent on lanterns and candles. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the opening rally of NCP’s ‘July March’ in Sonagazi municipality square, Feni, organized to demand a referendum, job creation, and price control.

During his speech, Abdullah acknowledged that the July movement’s goals had not been fully achieved, citing persistent issues such as drug abuse, corruption, extortion, unemployment, and high commodity prices. He claimed that despite a change of government through a mass uprising, divisive politics still exists in society and the state.

Abdullah further alleged that while people demanded an end to corruption and extortion, only the beneficiaries had changed. He criticized the government for failing to deliver on its promise of one crore jobs, saying employment generation in the past six months had not met expectations.

Harichur Rahman Harich, general secretary of the Gournadi Upazila Awami League and former mayor of Gournadi municipality, was released from Barishal Central Jail on Wednesday evening after securing bail in all ten cases filed against him. He had been imprisoned for about 21 months since his arrest in October 2024 from Dhaka’s Rampura area. Prison officials confirmed that he received bail in eight cases from local courts and in the remaining two from the High Court before his release.

Rahman, known locally for his controversial role during the previous government, had faced multiple charges related to alleged abuses against political opponents. His release has stirred political reactions in Gournadi, with several BNP leaders expressing dissatisfaction over the decision. They criticized the manner and timing of his bail, describing it as undeserved given his alleged past actions.

The development has reignited political debate in Barishal, highlighting ongoing tensions between Awami League and BNP supporters in the region.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam stated that there is no shortfall in diplomatic efforts to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday afternoon, she said the process is continuing through established diplomatic channels and that such procedures take time. She emphasized that the repatriation process began during the interim government and resumed after the current government took office following the national election.

Shama Obaid explained that the process of returning a convicted person under an extradition treaty or other legal framework must follow established procedures and international regulations. She noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs is also actively involved, and the legal aspects are being reviewed by the Law and Home ministries. From the foreign ministry’s perspective, she said, all required diplomatic steps are being followed.

She further remarked that comments made by a fugitive and convicted individual are irrelevant to the ongoing legal and diplomatic process. Communication with the Indian government on this matter has been ongoing since the interim government period.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that his country will not respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s provocative and offensive comments. He rejected calls from within Iran for a strong verbal reaction, stating that Iran would not learn policies from someone whose hands are stained with children’s blood. His remarks appeared to reference a U.S. attack on an Iranian school that reportedly killed more than a hundred children.

Pezeshkian added that anyone unable to express thoughts without using insulting language reveals the offensive nature of their own ideas. He emphasized Iran’s determination to defend its rights firmly. His comments came after Trump, speaking at a NATO summit in Ankara, declared that the ceasefire with Iran was “over” and described Iranian leaders as “liars,” “filthy,” and “violent and sick people.”

The exchange highlights renewed verbal tensions between Washington and Tehran following Trump’s statements at the NATO meeting.