Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump at the White House and described the meeting as “one of the best ever,” according to a report published on July 29, 2026. Netanyahu also rejected suggestions of strains in relations between the United States and Israel.

Speaking to Fox News after the meeting, Netanyahu said the two countries shared the same goal of preventing Iran’s nuclear programme. He said those waiting to find a crack in the alliance would instead see a relationship as strong as a granite wall.

Addressing Iran, Netanyahu said they did not want Tehran’s “extremist government” to possess nuclear weapons that could threaten Americans, world peace and Israel’s existence. Since Trump returned to office for a second term in January 2025, Netanyahu has visited the White House eight times, more than any other foreign leader, the report said.

A Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami delegation met the Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin on Wednesday, July 29. The meeting began at about 11:30am in the meeting room of the Election Building.

The delegation was led by Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former member of parliament Mia Golam Porwar. Election commissioners and other Election Commission officials also attended the meeting.

The report did not provide details on the meeting’s agenda, discussions, decisions or statements from either side. It said the meeting between the commission and the Jamaat delegation was under way.

In an opinion article published by Amar Desh on July 29, 2026, Md. Rahel Islam argues that the July movement was not limited to changing a government or holding elections. He describes it as an expression of public expectations over the state system, politics and citizens’ rights, shaped by sacrifice, courage and participation. The article says its central aspiration was a just, accountable and unequality-free state.

Islam argues that an electoral change of government cannot by itself make a state genuinely democratic if impunity, corruption, partisan administration, human-rights violations, economic inequality and accountability crises remain. Under the existing system, the candidate receiving the most votes wins a seat even without more than half of all votes, he writes. Therefore, parliamentary majorities do not necessarily equal full political consent from the public.

The article calls for an independent judiciary, an administration free from political influence, law-enforcement bodies that protect citizens’ rights, and effective action against corruption. It also identifies employment, price control, banking governance, energy-sector transparency, workers’ and farmers’ rights, and social security as key concerns. Islam says elections should be viewed as the beginning of democracy, not its conclusion.

India’s chief justice Surya Kant reportedly called unemployed young people “cockroaches” in May, prompting widespread anger and the formation that month of the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP. The group has gained online popularity among young Indians while protesting exam paper leaks, weak accountability in competitive examinations, and alleged irregularities and corruption in education. The article says the movement has created significant pressure on Narendra Modi’s government.

From June 6, CJP and several nationwide student organisations held a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Environmentalist and social activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike in support; police took him to hospital on the 21st day. Protesters demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation marched toward Parliament, breached police barricades and entered the Parliament complex, where violence occurred.

According to the article, pressure from CJP forced the education minister to resign, while the prime minister promised to meet several additional youth demands. It links the protest to unemployment, rising living costs, exam disruptions and frustration among educated young people. The article also says more than 800 million Indians depend on state food assistance and describes sharp concentration of income and wealth among the top 1%.

According to the report, Bangladesh’s Anti-Discrimination Student Movement rejected a government decision to observe state mourning on July 30, 2024. The decision was made at a cabinet meeting on July 29, amid the quota reform movement and reported killings nationwide. The movement called the mourning declaration a “cruel mockery” and announced a July 30 programme asking people to wear red cloth over their faces and eyes, photograph themselves and circulate the images online.

The report said Facebook turned visibly red from midnight on July 29 as students, teachers, intellectuals and some celebrities changed profile images in solidarity. During a writ hearing that day, a High Court bench questioned the state side and said, “Do not make a mockery of the nation.” Transparency International Bangladesh was reported to have condemned the detention of coordinators in DB custody as “unethical” and “illegal.”

The report also described obstruction and attacks against student protesters in Dhaka and elsewhere, saying at least 50 students were detained in Dhaka. Teachers described the violence of the preceding month as the “July killings” and demanded an end to disappearances, arrests and harassment. It said a National People’s Investigation Commission was formed by prominent citizens to seek independent investigations into reported deaths.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has warned it will resume protests across India unless all cases filed against NEET anti-question-leak demonstrators are withdrawn. The warning followed Tuesday hearings on petitions alleging excessive force against students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and elsewhere. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ordered that peaceful protesters face no coercive action and that detained people with no prior criminal record be released.

The court also said the Delhi government and other state governments could continue investigating FIRs already filed, while barring harsh action against peaceful student protesters. CJP spokesperson Saurabh Das said the government had promised on July 25 to withdraw all FIRs and prevent direct or indirect harassment of those who joined peaceful protests. He said CJP had withdrawn its nationwide movement on the basis of that assurance.

Das said CJP feared the central government and BJP-ruled states could use the court order to retain cases and harass protesters. He called for withdrawal of all FIRs and guarantees against future punitive action. CJP began continuous protests at Jantar Mantar on June 20, held a “March to Parliament” on July 20, and later withdrew its movement after assurances and Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

Bangladesh’s Appellate Division said elected and sworn-in Chattogram-2 lawmaker Sarwar Alamgir faces no bar to attending sessions of the Jatiya Sangsad. A four-member bench led by the chief justice issued the order on Wednesday morning, July 29.

Nurul Amin had applied to the Appellate Division against a High Court verdict that declared the Election Commission’s decision regarding Sarwar Alamgir valid. He sought a stay on the High Court ruling and an injunction preventing Alamgir from joining parliamentary sessions until the appeal was resolved. The Appellate Division heard the application on July 27 and 28 before setting the date for its order.

Before the election, Nurul Amin appealed to the Election Commission alleging loan default after the returning officer declared Alamgir’s candidacy valid. The commission cancelled his nomination on January 18, but the High Court later allowed him to contest. Alamgir was unofficially declared winner on February 12, though publication of the result was stayed by court order. On June 16, the Appellate Division directed the High Court to dispose of the rule quickly.

The Habiganj district administration imposed Section 144 across the municipal area on July 29, citing fears of deteriorating law and order over rival programmes by the National Citizen Party, or NCP, and BNP-linked groups. The order, signed by District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Dr G M Sarfaraz, took immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice.

The directive bans gatherings of five or more people, public meetings, rallies, processions, sit-ins, picketing, microphone use, slogans, loud campaigning and other activities that could disrupt public order. NCP had announced a protest meeting and march, while Habiganj Sadar Upazila BNP, Habiganj municipal BNP and district Chhatra Dal announced a peace meeting and sit-in at the same time and place.

The order followed clashes on July 28 near Thana Mor, where NCP alleged BNP-linked activists attacked its march. At least 10 NCP members, including Sarjis Alam and Nasiruddin Patwary, were reported injured and several vehicles vandalised. Chhatra Dal denied involvement. Police fired rubber bullets to control the situation and took the two NCP leaders into the Circuit House.

A Facebook post by Nadimur Rahman Shishir, former president of Cumilla South district Chhatra Dal, has gone viral after he urged leaders to do something for their workers instead of enriching themselves. Shishir published the post from his verified Facebook account at 11 pm on Tuesday. Leaders from various Chhatra Dal units in Cumilla South district commented in agreement.

In the post, Shishir said leaders remember workers when they need them but questioned whether they ever check how those workers are managing. He said there was still time to act for workers rather than making personal pockets heavier. Chhatra Dal leader Atikur Rahman Bhuiyan commented that workers were dying without food while leaders lived luxurious lives.

Another commenter, Sohag Hossain, said workers were like unpaid labourers and that he heard discussion of workers only from Shishir. Shishir served as president of Cumilla South district Chhatra Dal during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Central Chhatra Dal left them out when it formed a new committee last year. Several former district leaders said they had not received proper recognition despite 17 years of movement and struggle.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has called nationwide protest rallies for Wednesday, July 29, over an alleged attack on its march in Habiganj. In a statement issued by the party’s office cell on Tuesday night, NCP said the protest programme was in response to an attack on the motorcade of chief organiser Sarjis Alam and chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary during a peaceful march.

The party instructed all of its metropolitan, district, upazila and police-station branches to organise local protests and rallies. It also asked relevant organisational units to make necessary preparations for orderly implementation of the programme and ensure that party leaders and activists attend on time.

Sarjis Alam said two marches scheduled in Moulvibazar on Wednesday under the northern region’s July march roadmap would be temporarily suspended in protest. He said a protest procession and rally would instead be held in Habiganj town at 3 pm. NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam, member secretary Akhtar Hossain, Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, joint convener Dr Atiq Mujahid MP, Sarwar Tushar and other central leaders were listed as expected attendees.

A 211-page report by Bangladesh’s National Independent Investigation Commission into the Pilkhana killings has not been officially released eight months after its submission, according to Amar Desh. The seven-member commission, led by retired Major General A L M Fazlur Rahman, submitted the report to then interim chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on November 30, 2025. The commission chief had said the report was unclassified and could be made public.

The report reportedly alleges evidence of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s “green signal,” a parallel command structure and direct Indian involvement. The commission worked for 114 days, took testimony from more than 300 witnesses, imposed travel restrictions on 33 people and sought information from six countries’ embassies and the UN resident coordinator. Commission member Professor Shariful Islam said passport records showed 827 Indian passport holders had been present at Pilkhana.

The commission made more than 70 specific recommendations, but the report says none has been implemented. It also says no judicial commission has been formed and no criminal cases have been brought against those accused. Families of slain army officers have demanded full publication of the report, criminal proceedings, a special tribunal, an official response from India, and security for witnesses and bereaved families.

National Citizen Party chief organiser Sarjis Alam announced a protest march and rally in Habiganj town at 3pm on Wednesday over what he described as an attack on the NCP in Habiganj. In a Facebook post made late Tuesday night, he said two planned marches in Moulvibazar district would be temporarily suspended under the northern region’s July march roadmap.

Sarjis described the incident as a “shameful terrorist attack” by the BNP and directed strong remarks at BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. He wrote that they wanted to see how much blood could be shed, how many teenagers’ eyes could be gouged out, and how many lives could be taken by what he called Rahman’s “terrorist force.”

According to the post, NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam, member secretary Akhtar Hossain, Sarjis Alam and southern region chief organiser Hasnat Abdullah are expected to attend the Habiganj programme. Central joint convener Dr Atik Mujahid MP, Sarwar Tushar and leaders from various central levels are also expected to be present.

Sylhet metropolitan NCP, Jubo Shakti and Chhatra Shakti activists held a torch procession and protest rally against an attack on central leaders Sarjis Alam and Nasiruddin Patwary in Habiganj. The leaders were travelling to join the National Citizen Party’s July Awakening march. The procession began Tuesday night from in front of the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar in Chouhatta.

The march moved through major city roads before ending in a brief rally in the Zindabazar area. Participants chanted slogans protesting the attack and demanded the swift arrest and trial of those responsible. Metropolitan NCP convener Advocate Md Abdur Rahman Afzal said an attack on central leaders during a peaceful political programme was an assault on democratic rights and political tolerance.

Afzal said tougher programmes would be announced with public participation if those involved were not brought under the law and given exemplary punishment. In a separate joint statement, Sylhet district NCP convener Juned Ahmed and member secretary Kamrul Arif demanded the arrest of attackers, planners and instigators within 24 hours. They also called for an impartial investigation, including scrutiny of the role of law enforcement agencies.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned and protested an alleged attack on National Citizen Party’s July March in Habiganj, involving senior party figures Sarjis Alam, Nasiruddin Patwary and other activists. The position was announced in a joint statement on Tuesday, July 28, by the organisation’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah.

The group alleged that BNP and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal cadres carried out a surprise attack on the NCP’s peaceful programme. It said an NCP media team microbus, several journalists’ vehicles and state facilities inside the district circuit house were vandalised. The statement also alleged that journalists’ mobile phones and cameras were taken and that journalists were attacked and injured.

Chhatra Shibir also cited an earlier alleged egg-throwing and attack on Nasiruddin Patwary in Jhenaidah, as well as a bomb explosion at an NCP post-march rally in Savar. It called on BNP and Chhatra Dal senior leaders to identify those involved and take strict organisational action. The organisation also demanded exemplary punishment under existing law.

The National Citizen Party, or NCP, held a protest march in Dhaka against an alleged attack on its leaders and activists in Habiganj. The march began at Bangla Motor around 10pm on Tuesday and ended at Shahbagh intersection. Central leaders, including Zainal Abedin and Tarikul Islam, led the procession.

NCP leaders blamed Jubo Dal activists for the attack on Nasiruddin Patwary, Sarjis Alam and other party members. They said the government had failed to ensure the security of July’s heroes and warned of tougher protest programmes if those involved in the incident were not arrested quickly.

The party also called for protest rallies across the country on Wednesday. In a letter sent by its office cell on Tuesday night, NCP condemned what it described as a BNP terrorist attack on the vehicle convoy of chief organiser Sarjis Alam and chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary during a peaceful march in Habiganj. Metropolitan, district, upazila and thana units were instructed to organise local demonstrations and ensure disciplined implementation of the programme.