President Trump’s plan to finalize 90 trade deals in 90 days is faltering, with only a few deals progressing and the deadline extended to August 1. Markets remain calm, anticipating Trump’s usual last-minute delays. However, global resistance is mounting, with Japan and South Korea openly opposing U.S. demands. While U.S.-China trade falls, China is expanding trade elsewhere. The dollar’s value is dropping, and new tariffs may worsen the situation. Meanwhile, other countries are strengthening trade ties, bypassing the increasingly isolated U.S.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the government to ensure the highest level of medical care for iconic Lalon singer Farida Parveen, even if it requires treatment abroad.

Visiting her at Ayesha Memorial Hospital in Dhaka on Wednesday, he described her as a peerless artist in the subcontinent. Currently battling severe kidney complications, Farida Parveen, he said, deserves the nation's full support. Fakhrul urged the chief adviser to take personal initiative if necessary and to form a special medical board for her care.

The BNP has extended financial and moral support to the mother of Bangladesh women’s football team member Rituparna Chakma, who is battling breast cancer. On Wednesday, BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi visited the remote village of Magai Chhari in Rangamati to meet the family.

Acting on the directive of party leader Tarique Rahman, Rizvi handed over a total donation of BDT 200,000—half from the “We Are BNP Family” fund and half from the local BNP unit. He also spoke about the region’s infrastructural neglect and reiterated the demand for early national elections.

The BNP has expelled Abdul Kaiyum Sarkar, Member Secretary of the party’s Alokbali Union unit in Narsingdi, citing serious allegations including murder, illegal sand trading, land grabbing, and extortion. A statement signed by BNP Assistant Office Secretary Advocate Md. Taiful Islam Tipu confirmed the expulsion due to breaches of party discipline and ethical misconduct. Local leaders welcomed the decision, calling it a positive move for party integrity.

In Shahidnagar, Lalbagh, Dhaka, army personnel arrested former Jubo Dal ward president Chan Mia on charges of illegal land grabbing and extortion. He allegedly ran a rickshaw garage on government land and collected money from locals. The operation, conducted by the Azimpur Army Camp, uncovered evidence of extortion. Chan Mia has been handed over to Lalbagh Police, who confirmed legal proceedings are underway.

During the National Citizens Party’s (NCP) “Build the Nation July March” in Chuadanga’s Alamdanga upazila, local students joined the event in school uniforms to greet party leaders. However, regional organizer Sarjis Alam expressed dissatisfaction over them skipping classes. While criticizing their absence from school, he also praised their passion and said he was “grateful for their love” and ready to sacrifice his life for the cause.

Nahid Islam, convenor of the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), has warned that extortion is spreading across Bangladesh like a pandemic. Speaking at gatherings in Meherpur and Kushtia, he emphasized that small changes at the local level can trigger large-scale national transformation.

He called for a new constitution, judicial reforms, and institutional overhaul in line with the dreams of martyr Abrar Fahad and others who stood against Indian hegemony. "If political parties continue to act under foreign dominance, the people will rise in resistance," he declared.

A high-level delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is set to visit China, following a similar trip last month by a major BNP delegation at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Ahead of the visit, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen hosted a reception in Dhaka, where Jamaat's Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman, addressed attendees. Earlier this year, two other BNP delegations also visited China, indicating growing political engagement between the CPC and opposition forces in Bangladesh.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stated that the responsibility for mass killings in Bangladesh does not rest solely on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but that the ruling Awami League as a party must also be held accountable. He made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking to journalists after visiting ailing BNP leader Abdul Kuddus at the Neuroscience Hospital in Dhaka.

"BNP has been the primary victim of the Awami League’s and Sheikh Hasina’s crackdown. In the latest massacre, Sheikh Hasina was directly involved," Fakhrul said. He also noted that reform and elections are not contradictory, urging those advocating election delays to reconsider their stance, as the public clearly desires to vote.

According to a BBC investigation citing a leaked audio recording, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allegedly authorized the use of deadly force against anti-government protesters. In a conversation dated July 18 with a senior official at Ganabhaban, she is heard instructing security forces to open fire on protesters. The recording has been forensically verified by British firm Earshot, which found no signs of editing or manipulation. Human rights lawyer Toby Cadman has called the tape critical evidence of Hasina’s direct involvement. The Awami League has questioned the recording’s authenticity, stating no illegal instructions were given.

BNP Joint Secretary General Abdus Salam Azad has asserted that national elections in Bangladesh must be held under a non-partisan caretaker government. Speaking at the biannual conference of the Bhola Municipal BNP, he said free and fair elections are not possible under the current administration. He also suggested the caretaker government could consider a Proportional Representation (PR) system. Azad accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of usurping power in the dead of night and suppressing the people’s voting rights. He reiterated BNP’s commitment to restoring democracy under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.

Nazrul Islam Sohel, a senior leader of the Pabna District Awami League and a panel mayor of the local district council, has been arrested in Ranitola, Murshidabad, West Bengal. He was detained late Monday night by Indian police. Sohel reportedly fled Bangladesh due to fears for his life and entered India illegally, seeking political asylum. He claimed, “Since Sheikh Hasina once took shelter in India, I am following the same path.” Multiple cases have been filed against him under India’s Foreigners Act and Passport Act. The arrest has sparked significant interest among law enforcement and intelligence agencies in both countries.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has questioned the use of the term "Honourable" for government officials, suggesting that such language fosters autocratic mindsets. Speaking at the closing ceremony of "Civil Discourse Nationals-2025" held at the Bangla Academy, Fakhrul said ministers in Bangladesh often adopt authoritarian behavior once they take office. He criticized the entitlement that comes with official privileges like salutes and motorcades. Fakhrul also emphasized the importance of bridging generational and rural-urban gaps, and urged greater engagement of youth in national discourse.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on supporters to make the upcoming 'National Rally' on July 19 at Suhrawardy Udyan a success. The event aims to honor the sacrifices of protesters during the July–August 2024 uprising and to press for seven major demands. In a central meeting, party leaders discussed preparations for the rally and expressed confidence that public support would make the event a success.

BNP nomination aspirant for Narayanganj-1, Sharif Ahmed Tutul, has pledged to eliminate corruption and restore voting rights if nominated by the party. He claimed grassroots activists have long suffered repression in the area and asserted that BNP is a people’s party that remains rooted in public support. Former Chhatra Dal leader Masudur Rahman praised Tutul as a clean politician and said his nomination would secure BNP's victory in Rupganj. The meeting also highlighted the ongoing political repression under authoritarian rule.