The Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh’s National Parliament, Kaiser Kamal, suspended the ministerial question-and-answer session midway on Wednesday after three ministers were found absent. The suspension occurred shortly after the Asr prayer break, when the session resumed at 5:26 p.m. The absent ministers were Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, and Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. The Deputy Speaker announced that the question session would be tabled and moved on to the next agenda item under Rule 71.

Earlier in the day, the parliamentary session began at 3:30 p.m. under Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, with the Prime Minister’s question session followed by ministerial questions. Before the Asr break, the three ministers had been present and responded to multiple questions from members of parliament. After the suspension, the floor was given to several MPs to speak on points of order, including issues such as waterlogging in Chattogram and disaster management.

The incident highlighted procedural challenges in maintaining ministerial participation during parliamentary question sessions.

A new partial convening committee of the National Chhatra Shakti has been announced at Jamalpur University of Science and Technology (Jabiprabi). The one-year approved committee names Liton Akand, a student of the Management Department (2020–21 session) and central co-coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, as convener. Mamunur Rashid has been appointed as member secretary, and Monir Ahmed as chief organizer. The approval was confirmed through a notice signed by the organization’s central president Zahid Ahsan and general secretary Abu Bakar Mojumdar on Monday, July 6.

According to the notice, Liton Akand played a significant role in organizing movements at the university during the July 2024 mass uprising. Mamunur Rashid is a student of the Fisheries Department (2022–23 session), while Monir Ahmed studies in the Computer Science and Engineering Department (2021–22 session). The committee also includes Riyad Hasan and Tariful Islam Sharif as senior joint conveners, Ananta Ashraf Uddin and Mujahid Sarkar as senior joint member secretaries, Sajib Islam as joint member secretary (office), and Limon Bhuiyan as joint member secretary (media).

The newly formed committee has been instructed to submit a full committee to the central council for approval within seven working days.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told Parliament on Wednesday that the government is actively considering establishing communication and dialogue with all relevant parties, including Myanmar’s main junta, to facilitate the repatriation of displaced Rohingya people. He said the verification of Rohingya data is progressing regularly, and efforts for their repatriation or resettlement in third countries are ongoing. The Prime Minister described the repatriation process as complex and dependent on security in Rakhine State, international pressure, and cooperation from Myanmar authorities.

He added that the government is pursuing strong diplomatic initiatives on bilateral, regional, and multilateral fronts to achieve a sustainable and dignified solution. Rahman also discussed labor market expansion efforts in Thailand, South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia, and said the government continues diplomatic efforts to reopen the Malaysian labor market. On the economy, he said investigations into past stock market manipulation are ongoing, with fines imposed and further legal actions under review.

The Prime Minister emphasized restoring investor confidence and ensuring transparency in the capital market, while also pledging to strengthen both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges based on expert recommendations.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced in parliament on Wednesday that the government plans to gradually increase the honorarium of primary and secondary school teachers. Responding to a question from NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah during the question-answer session, he acknowledged that many teachers are compelled to take second jobs or engage in agriculture to support their families. He emphasized the need to raise their honorarium to ensure they can focus fully on teaching.

The Prime Minister stated that the current budget allocates 2 percent of GDP to the education sector, with a target to raise it to 5 percent within five years. He highlighted that improving teacher training and financial conditions is essential for enhancing education quality. Rahman also criticized past regimes for focusing only on infrastructure rather than developing human resources.

He confirmed that the government will implement training and honorarium increases for teachers in phases, aiming to reduce their financial hardship and improve the overall standard of education.

During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Madaripur’s reserved seat MP Helen Zerin Khan asked Prime Minister Tarek Rahman whether the government would take steps to upgrade Eden Mohila College to a university. In response, the Prime Minister said that the education minister would have the appropriate answer on the matter. He added that one of the main priorities of the previous BNP government was promoting women’s education and that the current administration continues to emphasize both educational and economic empowerment for women through initiatives such as the family card program.

The Prime Minister further noted that former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s government had made education free for girls up to the intermediate level, and the current government now aims to extend free education for women up to the honors level. He also mentioned plans to introduce scholarships for female students who achieve good academic results, emphasizing the government’s commitment to advancing women’s education and participation in national development.

The session was attended by many female students in the gallery, who observed the proceedings directly.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Dr. Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed has advised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman not to spend nights outside Dhaka. He made the suggestion on Wednesday afternoon during a seminar of eleven political parties held at the Diploma Engineers Auditorium. Addressing the Prime Minister, Oli Ahmed said that foreign spies operating in Bangladesh are harming both the leader and the country, and urged him to take reform initiatives as the son of Begum Khaleda Zia.

Oli Ahmed further stated that the Prime Minister is surrounded by enemies, claiming that those appearing close to him are his real adversaries. He alleged that foreign spies have infiltrated key positions in the government and the ruling party, warning that they could cause serious harm to Tarique Rahman at any time. He advised removing such individuals from the party.

He also commented on the country’s deteriorating law and order situation, rising extortion, and weak economic conditions, noting that new investments are not coming in and that the Prime Minister is not in a strong position.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to end all trade relations with Spain, a move that Madrid has described as a normal business occurrence. According to Spain’s Prime Minister’s Office, the country views such comments as part of regular commercial interactions. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera on July 8, 2026.

In an official statement, the Prime Minister’s Office emphasized that Spain maintains excellent social, cultural, and economic relations with the United States and has no intention of altering them. The response came after Trump’s remarks during a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he told reporters that he had instructed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent to immediately sever all trade and commercial ties with Spain.

Trump justified his position by criticizing Spain’s role in NATO, claiming the country neither participates adequately nor contributes financially. Madrid’s calm response suggests it does not expect immediate disruption in bilateral relations despite the U.S. president’s comments.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah announced that the Election Commission (EC) will develop both short- and long-term plans for election observation based on numerous recommendations received. He made the remarks on Wednesday while inaugurating a two-day stakeholder dialogue in a Dhaka hotel focused on observation-related suggestions. Sanaullah said the EC had gathered opinions from observer groups and stakeholders before and after the election and hoped the dialogue would generate ideas to make future elections more inclusive.

The dialogue, jointly organized by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), aims to discuss observation recommendations, reform priorities, and implementation strategies. Over fifty participants, including local observers, civil society representatives, and election officials, are attending. European Union Ambassador Michael Miller highlighted that the EU had already presented 19 specific recommendations and expected further input from the workshop to guide future priorities.

Following the thirteenth parliamentary election in February, the EC is preparing for upcoming local government elections and is consulting stakeholders on regulatory reforms. The commission plans to apply the dialogue’s outcomes to strengthen democratic processes.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has sent a gift to Abdus Salam, a security guard stationed at an ATM booth near the old Ramna police station in Dhaka. Salam, who works twelve-hour shifts despite health issues, had a habit of standing with a sheaf of paddy to greet the prime minister’s motorcade as it passed by. The gesture caught the attention of the prime minister, who then instructed his Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Ruman, to meet Salam and deliver gifts on his behalf.

During the visit, the official inquired about Salam’s health and family. Originally from Nagarbari Ghat in Pabna, Salam had previously worked as a driver before a stroke forced him to change professions. His consistent display of respect and affection moved the prime minister, prompting this personal response.

Local residents have praised the prime minister’s gesture as a rare example of compassion and recognition of a common citizen’s sincere respect. Salam expressed deep gratitude, calling it the happiest day of his life and saying he never imagined the prime minister would notice him.

Public support for Israel has declined in the United States, according to a survey conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research between June 11 and 17. The poll found that about one-third of American adults believe Israel committed genocide against Palestinians during the Gaza war. Among Democrats, nearly half agreed with this view, while only about 20 percent of all respondents rejected the accusation. Roughly half said they lacked enough information to form an opinion.

The survey also revealed divisions among American Jews, with around 30 percent believing Israel carried out genocide. The most significant political shift appeared among Democrats: 58 percent now think the United States gives Israel excessive support, up from 45 percent in January 2024. Meanwhile, 62 percent of Democrats believe the US does not provide enough support to Palestinians, compared with 49 percent two years earlier.

These findings indicate a growing partisan and generational divide in US attitudes toward Israel and the Palestinian issue.

Several hundred workers of the ‘China Hardware’ factory blocked the Dhaka-Paturia highway at Nobogram bus stand area in Shibaloy, Manikganj, on Wednesday morning. The blockade began around 9 a.m. as the workers demanded payment of wages and allowances according to the government gazette. The protest caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.

According to the workers, multiple meetings had previously been held with the factory management over the same demand, including one on Tuesday, but no effective resolution was reached. As a result, they refrained from entering the factory on Wednesday and instead took position on the highway. The officer-in-charge of Shibaloy Police Station said police arrived at the scene and were in discussions with both the workers and the company management to restore normal traffic and resolve the issue peacefully.

Efforts were underway to reopen the highway and bring the situation under control, according to local authorities.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs in Bangladesh has identified around 200 fake applications among more than 3,000 new submissions from individuals claiming to have been injured during the July Uprising. According to ministry sources, the Special Branch (SB) and Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) verified 2,388 applications, confirming the authenticity of 1,590. The process to officially recognize these individuals as July fighters is underway. Approximately 600 other applications showed inconsistencies, including duplicate submissions and false claims under the names of deceased persons.

The ministry stated that the verification was conducted through intelligence agencies to prevent controversy similar to earlier disputes over published gazettes. Previously, names of 13 martyrs and 219 injured fighters were removed from the official list due to irregularities. The ministry emphasized that anyone found to have been listed through false information would be removed. The investigation also revealed that most new applications came from Dhaka Division.

Under existing regulations, fraudulent listing as a martyr or July fighter carries a maximum two-year prison sentence and a fine of up to two lakh taka.

Bangladesh is reconsidering its earlier Look East Policy as China has proposed a new transport corridor linking Kunming in Yunnan province to Chattogram through Myanmar. The proposal emerged during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Beijing, where China suggested establishing road and rail connectivity via Lashio, Mandalay, and Sittwe. The corridor would give China direct access to the Bay of Bengal and potentially transform Bangladesh into a key regional trade hub.

The Look East Policy was first adopted in 2002 by Bangladesh’s four-party coalition government to reduce dependence on India and strengthen ties with ASEAN and East Asian economies. However, the initiative stalled after Myanmar withdrew under Indian pressure. The new Chinese proposal revives that vision but faces strong geopolitical resistance from both India and the United States, who view deeper Bangladesh-China cooperation as a strategic threat.

If implemented, the corridor could reshape South and Southeast Asian geopolitics, enhance Bangladesh’s connectivity, and reduce Indian dominance. However, the article cautions that Bangladesh must safeguard its sovereignty, economic independence, and security while engaging with China and managing regional rivalries.

An NCP leader was killed in a road accident on the Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Flyover in Chattogram city on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. near the GEC area when Faiyaz Tajrian, 25, a member of the Chattogram Metropolitan National Citizen Party (NCP), collided with a stationary covered van while riding his motorcycle. Locals took him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body was later kept in the hospital morgue.

Police said the covered van had broken down and was standing on the flyover when the collision occurred. According to NCP city office secretary Riduan Hridoy, the road was slippery due to rain and the streetlights in that section were off, making it difficult for Faiyaz to see the vehicle ahead. He added that Faiyaz was an active party member and had attended a human chain program just hours before the accident.

The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns on the city’s flyovers, particularly during adverse weather and poor lighting conditions.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the era of making demands through threats and coercion has ended. He warned that Iran would not bow to pressure and said that intimidation would no longer yield results. His comments were made in a post on social media platform X, where he also accused the United States of serious violations of a ceasefire agreement.

According to Ghalibaf, the United States breached the truce by reinstating oil sanctions, coordinating attacks against Iran, continuing threats of further assaults, and supporting ongoing Zionist aggression in Lebanon. He also provided a list of instances where he claimed the memorandum of understanding had been violated.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, underscore rising tensions between Iran and the United States over compliance with ceasefire terms and regional military actions.