Southern University Bangladesh in Chattogram has been accused of disregarding government directives, University Grants Commission rules and court decisions. The report says its Board of Trustees filed at least eight writ petitions against various government orders over the past three and a half years. Brigadier General Md Faruk was appointed administrator by presidential order on May 25, 2025; although a court later upheld the appointment, the university is accused of not facilitating his duties.

The university website currently presents Treasurer Dr Sharif Ashrafuzzaman as acting vice-chancellor. Following allegations raised by former vice-chancellor Professor Mozammel Haque, a five-member UGC committee found evidence of financial irregularities and certificate forgery against Sarwar Jahan and Israt Jahan, according to the report. An Anti-Corruption Commission case against the two is pending trial.

The education ministry had said Mozammel Haque could not legally be removed before his term ended by anyone other than the president. Sources cited in the report fear that about 2,000 certificates issued during Sharif Ashrafuzzaman’s tenure could be cancelled. Administrator Md Faruk said he received no cooperation and could not begin work on his plans. Sarwar Jahan and Sharif Ashrafuzzaman did not respond to calls or messages.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, said judges in Bangladesh bore greater responsibility than Sheikh Hasina for the establishment of fascism. He made the remarks on July 25 at a seminar on human rights violations and victims’ right to justice, organised by Odhikar at the CIRDAP auditorium on Topkhana Road in the capital. He said the judiciary created the environment on which fascism was established.

Rahman identified personality cults, sycophancy and changing positions with power as major causes of Bangladesh’s state crisis. Recounting his own experiences, he cited 125 cases filed against him, an attack in a Kushtia court compound, and travel to courts in different districts. He alleged that judges did not accept his request to transfer the cases to Dhaka and said a judge made an insulting remark when he sought anticipatory bail.

He said future recurrence could be prevented through justice for offenders regardless of political affiliation, genuine democracy and an environment for reasoned, objective criticism of the government. Rahman said he had testified before the International Crimes Tribunal and urged others to provide truthful testimony. He also said the current government should remember its past experience as victims and avoid becoming new oppressors.

Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has been diagnosed with typhoid but said the ongoing movement demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation will not stop. In a video message posted on social media on Saturday, Dipke said he had been unwell for several days and was receiving treatment after medical test results confirmed typhoid.

Dipke thanked supporters he called “cockroaches” for continuing the movement peacefully across the country. He said their peaceful participation had kept the campaign going despite his illness. The report did not provide further details about his treatment or condition.

Congratulating supporters for expanding the movement, Dipke said he was confident that continuing the peaceful protests could secure Pradhan’s resignation. The report did not specify the movement’s next programme, schedule, or any response from the education minister.

India’s satirical political group Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, celebrated the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, according to a report published on July 25. On Saturday, the group posted on X, “Long live student power.” After news of the resignation, CJP shared a video from Jantar Mantar showing its founder Abhijit Dipke and thousands of gathered protesters celebrating.

Since June this year, CJP had been holding a sit-in at Jantar Mantar, demanding Pradhan’s resignation over alleged question leaks and other irregularities in the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026, or NEET-UG 2026. The group also demanded an impartial investigation. In the video, Dipke described the resignation as democracy and called for compensation of 10 million rupees for each family of students who died by suicide in connection with the alleged leak.

Dipke also urged action against police officers involved in baton charges on protesters during the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” programme. Hours before resigning, Pradhan said on X that he had sent his resignation to the prime minister so that “anti-national forces” could not exploit the situation at Jantar Mantar and across the country. The exam, initially scheduled for May 3, was postponed over leak allegations and held again on June 21.

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said any cases filed against recently former president Shahabuddin Chuppu would be examined, including whether they were motivated. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at a human rights consultation meeting at CIRDAP in the capital. The minister did not specify whether any such case currently exists.

He also addressed cases filed against eight people injured during the July movement in Chattogram. Asaduzzaman said those cases would be withdrawn if they were found to be false. His comments indicated that the status of those cases would depend on verification of their allegations.

The minister said extrajudicial killings had now fallen to zero. He also stated that rape cases would not be withdrawn, regardless of how prominent a political leader might be. The remarks covered the possible review of cases involving Chuppu, the potential withdrawal of false cases against the eight injured people in Chattogram, and the government’s stated position on rape allegations.

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after widespread protests over irregularities in national-level examinations and an alleged leak of the medical admission test question paper. According to a report published on July 25, he submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. Protesters at Jantar Mantar in Delhi erupted in celebration as news of the resignation emerged.

The protests began over the NEET question-paper leak and spread to several cities across India in recent days. The issue became one of the most discussed matters in national politics, the report said. Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, posted on social media in support of the students, saying, “Long live the strength of students.”

CJP founder Abhijit Dip said from the Jantar Mantar stage that the protesters had succeeded. He said many people had believed nobody resigned under the current government, but the movement had made it possible. The report cited NDTV as its source.

Prime Minister’s political adviser and BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said he had not expected the president to resign. He made the remarks on Saturday after paying tribute at the graves of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia with 12 BNP leaders appointed to important positions in government, semi-government and autonomous institutions. Rizvi said media discussion and coverage of the issue had ultimately been followed by the resignation.

According to Rizvi, the president wrote in his resignation letter that his health had deteriorated and that he had become seriously ill. He said BNP knew only this information and would remain within those limits. Asked who would become the next president, Rizvi said the matter would be decided by the party’s top policymaking forum and executive committee, adding that he had no personal knowledge of it. He also said BNP had no official information regarding media discussions about the president.

Rizvi said the newly assigned BNP leaders had long been involved in party politics and were qualified for their posts. He expressed hope they would work with honesty, dedication and efficiency. He also referred to commitments on family, farmer and health cards, as well as programmes aimed at expanding employment opportunities for young people.

A total of 160 students from private universities, described as leaders of the July uprising and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, formally joined the National Citizen Party (NCP). The joining took place at a National Youth Power convention at 4 pm on Friday, July 24. The students, including conveners, member secretaries and other leaders of the July movement at different private universities, joined together under the leadership of Omar Faruk Jubo Raj.

National Youth Power president Tarikul, general secretary Farhad Sohel and organising secretary Rifat welcomed the new members with flowers. NCP central leaders present included Akhtar Hossain, Nusrat Tabassum, Hannan Masud, Gazi Salahuddin Tanvir, Mahin Sarkar and Nasir Uddin Patwary, along with other party leaders.

Speaking for the joining students were Omar Faruk Jubo Raj, Rabiul Alam Akamin, Badsha, Tajrian Mahmud and Mahmud Hasan Tuhin. They said they had begun a new political journey through the NCP to build a non-discriminatory, democratic and accountable state while carrying the spirit of the July uprising. A press release claimed Jubo Raj played an important role in organising private university students, leading the July movement and coordinating among universities.

Khelafat Majlis has decided to leave the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance. The decision was taken on Saturday at the third general session of the party’s central Majlis-e-Shura at the Diploma Engineers Institute auditorium. The decision was announced in a statement signed by central publicity secretary Engineer Abdul Hafiz Khasru after the meeting.

The party said the 11-party alliance was primarily an electoral understanding and that its effectiveness had effectively ended after the election. Khelafat Majlis nevertheless participated in some alliance programmes after the election. It has now decided to refrain from all programmes of the 11-party alliance.

After the 11-party divisional rally in Chattogram on June 13, Khelafat Majlis formally told the alliance not to use the party’s name or its leaders’ names on banners or promotional materials for future rallies. When its name was used at a rally in Rangpur, it was withdrawn following objections. The party said it would continue efforts to build a broader unity if needed for the country, nation and Islam.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee may join an ongoing protest in Delhi alongside the Kokroach Janata Party, according to a report citing Hindustan Times. She is expected to travel to Delhi next Monday to express solidarity with protesting students. The report also says her Trinamool Congress is set to join the demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

In a post on X, Banerjee said she had stood firmly with students and their movement from the beginning. She described their struggle as one not only for justice over the NEET scandal, but also for protecting the future of every young person in the country. She added that the entire opposition camp and the country's people were standing with students and youth.

The report describes the Delhi action as one of the biggest student movements in recent times. Congress marched toward the prime minister's residence in New Delhi on Tuesday to protest police baton charges and water cannon use against students. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior Congress leaders participated. Political analysts said Banerjee's participation could also highlight Trinamool Congress's political position.

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after widespread protests over irregularities in national-level examinations and an alleged leak of the NEET medical entrance examination paper. He submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, July 25, according to the report. Pradhan announced the decision in a social media post hours before a third round of talks.

Students led by the Kokroch Janata Party, or CJP, had protested for more than a month at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Pradhan’s resignation was among their key demands. On Saturday morning, the group said it would not take part in any discussions unless the government agreed to remove the education minister.

The protesters also demanded that no legal action be taken against participating students and that compensation be provided to families of students who died by suicide in connection with the NEET paper leak. The central government had reportedly assured protesters on Friday that it would accept the latter two demands, but had not stated a position on Pradhan’s resignation. Protesters celebrated at Jantar Mantar after the announcement.

Cockroach Janata Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media reels would not halt the student movement. In remarks reported on July 25, Ranka called for concrete action to meet students’ demands before making videos. He also demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and said the government had begun talking with students.

Ranka alleged that Delhi Police were preventing protesters from reaching the demonstration site at Jantar Mantar. Sharing screenshots of several messages on social media, he said authorities could not stop people from coming to Jantar Mantar, delivering food to protesters or assisting them. He further alleged that police were visiting restaurants and intimidating them to prevent food orders from reaching the site.

In a Saturday statement, CJP said Delhi Police’s authoritarian actions were increasing in and around Jantar Mantar. The party urged the administration to stop illegally detaining, harassing or obstructing citizens who wished to go there and to avoid creating an intimidating environment. Security was tightened in several parts of Delhi as participation grew in the CJP-led protest.

India’s Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi met students fasting for 23 consecutive days at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Saturday and criticised the central government. The students, protesting under the leadership of the “Cockroach Janata Party,” are demanding the dismissal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Gandhi told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that students want action rather than video messages or assurances.

Gandhi described Pradhan as a symbol of corruption and destruction in India’s education system. He said reports of a plan to move the minister from the education portfolio to another ministry would not be acceptable, arguing that protesters want him removed from the government altogether. Gandhi said the students would not be satisfied with any outcome short of the education minister’s removal.

Referring to alleged police attacks, pellet firing and baton charges against protesters, Gandhi demanded punishment for those responsible and said the prime minister should apologise to students allegedly abused at Jantar Mantar. AISA leader Neha Bora said discussions with Gandhi on India’s education system were productive. Bora, who has fasted with fellow activists for 23 days, also called for Pradhan’s immediate resignation.

Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu has decided to resign after serving three years and three months as Bangladesh’s president, ending his tenure during the BNP government. He administered oaths to heads of three different administrations: the Awami League, the interim government and the elected BNP government. Although he remained in office after the BNP’s victory in the 2026 election, his resignation came five and a half months after the BNP government was formed.

During the interim government, the BNP supported Chuppu’s continued tenure on grounds of constitutional continuity, and an effort to remove him was not implemented. Ten days after the BNP’s election victory, Chuppu said in an interview that the party and its senior leadership had stood by him during difficult times, describing BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman as sincere. The report says relations later became strained, while Bangabhaban sources said senior BNP figures conveyed a message asking him to resign.

Chuppu took oath as the country’s 22nd president on April 24, 2023. His political background and the legality of his appointment drew debate. His conflicting statements in 2024 over Sheikh Hasina’s resignation letter also triggered criticism. In a December 2025 Reuters interview, he said he felt humiliated by the government led by Muhammad Yunus.

BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party’s National Standing Committee, led by acting chairman Tarique Rahman, will make the final decision on Bangladesh’s next president. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon after Md Sahabuddin Chuppu resigned, prompting discussion over who will succeed him.

Citing multiple sources in the Parliament Secretariat and the ruling party, the report said the process for electing a new president will begin when the next parliamentary session starts. Discussions have begun within BNP over possible candidates. Names under discussion include Fakhrul, Standing Committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan, as well as acting president and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

Former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Professor Dr Anwarullah Chowdhury and Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, who is serving on a contract basis, were also mentioned as possible candidates. Party policymakers said the nomination would be based on the decision of the prime minister and senior party leadership. Political analysts cited in the report said BNP’s parliamentary majority would make the party’s choice decisive in the presidential election.