BNP-aligned lawyers claimed that the commotion during the bail hearing of ABM Khairul Haque was deliberately staged to destabilize the judiciary. At a protest rally in Dhaka, leaders of the Nationalist Lawyers’ Forum accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of plotting from Delhi—spending billions and involving outsiders—to disrupt the judiciary and the country. They alleged that several senior lawyers were aiding this effort.
They demanded justice for an alleged assault on a state counsel inside the courtroom and urged the Chief Justice to ensure lawyers’ safety. The incident followed Monday’s heated altercation between pro-Awami League lawyers and state prosecutors during the bail and case dismissal hearing.

AB Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju urged political parties to evaluate their own activities over the past year, alongside reviewing the government’s performance, in a fascism-free environment. He stressed the need to examine why larger political parties retain greater public support despite criticism, while reform-oriented smaller parties remain less popular despite a good reputation.
Manju said his party had tried to understand the state crisis deeply but had seen little initiative from political parties toward self-reform. He identified the government’s greatest weakness as its inability to set proper priorities. He also criticized the interim government for failing to maintain national unity and for poor coordination in state-funded medical care for the injured.

Islamic Movement leader Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim declared that the July uprising was not merely about holding elections. “We want reforms, justice for criminals, and elections under a proportional representation (PR) system. Under PR, all parties can enter parliament—there is no alternative,” he told a mass rally in Kishoreganj.
Faizul Karim criticized the ruling Awami League, the Jatiya Party, and the BNP for failing to govern the country effectively. “But Islam has not been given a chance yet. Test it once,” he urged. He promised that under his leadership, extortion, terrorism, and looting would end, development would take place, people would have food, clothing, and education, and all faiths could live in peace. “We will ensure an independent media free from mafia influence, and no one will be forced to live under the open sky,” he added.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged to deepen bilateral ties into a future-focused strategic partnership. In talks in Putrajaya, they discussed trade, investment, migration, energy, education, and the Rohingya crisis. Agreements were signed on defense, LNG supply, trade, halal industry, and higher education. Malaysia will extend social security to Bangladeshi workers and allow Bengali-language complaints. Both sides aim to finalize a free trade deal, expand skilled labor recruitment, and enhance ASEAN cooperation.

Julius Caesar Talukdar, a former leader of the banned student organization Chhatra League, has submitted his nomination form for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election 2025. Camp leader Sadik Qayem has raised concerns over this development.

According to Qayem, Caesar Talukdar, who was elected as General Secretary through rigged votes from the Chhatra League panel in Salimullah Muslim Hall, is also linked to several violent attacks against anti-fascist activists. Despite clear documentary evidence of Caesar’s criminal involvement, allowing him to contest in the DUCSU election has left students deeply disappointed and outraged.

Qayem demanded an immediate investigation into the previous DUCSU election incidents, including assaults on rival candidates and violent attacks orchestrated by various political groups. He urged prompt legal action against those responsible.

Furthermore, Qayem called for strict punishment for the identified banned Chhatra League militants who appear on voter lists across different halls. He warned that failure to address these issues would make the university administration accountable for not creating a fascism-free campus.

The July 17 Movement has issued a warning to besiege the Secretariat next week unless all secretaries and officials appointed during the Awami League government are removed. In a press conference at Dhaka University, the group’s spokespersons accused the current advisory council and secretariat of harboring beneficiaries of the "fascist era," who they claim are undermining a fair national election and conspiring to destabilize the country. They criticized the interim government for failing to fulfill public aspirations and warned of intensified protests if their demands are not met promptly.

Former LDP President Colonel Dr. Oli Ahmad called on political parties to stop creating obstacles related to the proportional representation (PR) system to delay elections. Emphasizing that a free and fair election is the nation’s immediate priority, he said mobilizing voters would resolve many ongoing crises. Ahmad urged Jamaat-e-Islami not to create problems over PR discussions. He also thanked the government for announcing the election schedule. However, he expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation nationwide and criticized the lottery-based transfer system in the police and administration, calling for transfers to be made based on merit and importance.

Illegal Israeli settlers and military forces have forced 30 Palestinian families from the Al-Jahalin Bedouin community to leave their homes in Ain Ayoub, northwest of Ramallah in the West Bank. The settlers reportedly used intimidation, threats, and destruction of property to displace these families. Human rights groups call it systematic forced displacement. Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank have intensified, resulting in numerous casualties and displacements. The International Court of Justice recently declared Israeli settlements illegal.

India’s shrimp export sector, a major agricultural industry, faces a severe crisis after the US doubled retaliatory tariffs from 25% to 50%. Exports to the US have sharply declined, with this year’s shipments stuck at $50 million compared to $2.8 billion in 2024. Competitor countries like China and Vietnam benefit from lower tariffs. Indian exporters seek urgent government aid, including loans and subsidies. Experts warn that without swift action, the industry’s future and millions of coastal jobs are at risk.

The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its military wing, the Majid Brigade, as terrorist organizations. Despite being listed as a global terrorist group since 2019, the BLA has continued attacks, including a 2024 suicide bombing near Karachi airport and a 2025 train hijacking that killed 31 people. The designation freezes BLA assets in the US, bans transactions with Americans, and enables legal action against supporters. This move intensifies efforts to combat terrorism linked to long-standing unrest in Balochistan.

At least nine Pakistani soldiers were killed in an armed attack in Washuk district of Balochistan. In a separate operation, 33 Afghan terrorists linked to the Pakistani Taliban group were eliminated. Following a recent bomb attack that killed three soldiers, mobile internet services have been suspended in the province for at least three weeks due to rising tensions. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated, underdeveloped, and poverty-stricken province, continues to face separatist insurgency and ongoing security challenges.

A total of 331 local observer organizations have applied to the Election Commission (EC) for registration ahead of upcoming elections. By August 10, 318 organizations had submitted applications, with 13 more following afterward. The EC recently introduced new guidelines, canceling previous registrations and policies to regulate observer groups more effectively. Historically, observer registrations began in 2008, with thousands of observers monitoring national elections. The move aims to ensure transparent and well-regulated election observation under the new rules.

India’s Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has, for the first time, officially called Hamas a terrorist organization, highlighting ongoing security concerns. While India had previously avoided this designation to maintain diplomatic balance, recent developments—including Hamas’s involvement in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and global militant activities—have prompted this shift. The move signals a broader counter-terrorism stance post-Operation Sindoor, extending India’s focus beyond South Asia to include groups operating internationally and connected to Kashmir’s conflict.

Top opposition leaders protested in Delhi against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, accusing the BJP-led government of targeting only opposition-ruled states. Trinamool Congress’ Abhishek Banerjee demanded the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and the resignation of the central government, calling the current voter list flawed. He accused the BJP of using the Election Commission as a tool to suppress democratic votes, warning of mass protests if voting rights are compromised in Bengal. Tensions between opposition and authorities are expected to escalate.

A high-level European and South Asian delegation arrives in Dhaka today for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation. Organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the group includes German Bundestag members, business leaders, and civil society representatives. Their agenda includes meetings with government officials, NGOs, and regional bodies, as well as visits to a garment factory in Savar. Discussions will focus on labor rights, regional security, media freedom, climate change, and enhancing Bangladesh-Germany relations.