At least 83 students of Bijoy-24 Hall at Rajshahi University fell ill after consuming food served during a ‘Victory Feast’ organized to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising. The hall administration has formed a two-member investigation committee and distributed oral saline among affected students.

Students had purchased meal tokens for Tk 50 each. Following the incident, many expressed outrage on Facebook over the poor quality of the food. Resident student Sagor Ahsan shared, “I had stomach pain after eating and couldn’t have dinner. I had to visit the medical center the next morning.”

Chief Medical Officer Mafruha Siddika Lipi confirmed that around 15 students sought medical treatment for stomach-related issues.

Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has assured that the upcoming national election will receive all the necessary funding. "There will be no issues with financing the election," he said. On U.S. tariff changes, he noted, "What the U.S. has done is not exactly comforting, but compared to other countries, Bangladesh is not in a dire position."

Dr. Ahmed added that the country's garment and knitwear sectors can adapt quickly to the new regulations, although the textile weaving sector may face some challenges. Regarding further negotiations with the U.S., he confirmed talks are ongoing, including discussions with the Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who reportedly expressed a positive outlook.

"A formal agreement is yet to be signed. We'll need to examine which tariffs to reduce and which imports to allow," he said. "This isn't a multilateral negotiation; it’s sensitive and strategic—so not everything can be disclosed. Countries like Vietnam, China, North Korea, South Korea, India, and Pakistan are also competitors."

Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman has ordered that trials for high-risk prisoners—including militants, dangerous criminals, and those accused of political corruption—be conducted via digital platforms.

To address ongoing security concerns, a virtual courtroom has been established. “Transporting these prisoners to court often poses serious security risks, especially given the public outrage against some of them,” the court stated. The hearings will be conducted via Zoom at the Metropolitan Magistrate Court-28, with all relevant authorities directed to cooperate.

India has condemned the United States for imposing an additional 25% tariff on its exports over alleged continued oil imports from Russia. The executive order, issued by Donald Trump, adds to previous sanctions.

In a statement, New Delhi called the move “unjust, unreasonable, and unacceptable,” adding that India’s energy policies are guided by the need to ensure security for its 1.4 billion citizens. “Several nations are importing oil from Russia in their national interest—singling out India is regrettable,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi is set to visit China later this month. No trade deal has yet been signed with the U.S.

Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul emphasized the need to permanently preserve the spirit of the July mass uprising. “Our foremost duty is to honor the martyrs and the injured who stood against injustice,” he said. According to Nazrul, the uprising demonstrated unprecedented unity across all religious, ethnic, and political lines. However, he lamented recent attempts to divide the forces that once stood together.

Dr. Nazrul credited NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain for initiating the event and said he was moved by the untold stories of the prisoners who suffered during the uprising. Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan added that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had effectively turned the entire country into a prison, stating, "Even prisons became halls of reflection."

The Detective Branch (DB) has detained Sumaiya Zafrin, wife of army officer Major Sadik, over her alleged involvement in guerrilla training activities involving Awami League members. The training reportedly occurred at the KB Convention Hall in Dhaka.

According to DC Mohammad Talebur Rahman, Sumaiya was taken into custody for her role in the incident. Earlier, 22 members of the banned Awami League and affiliated student organizations were arrested during a secret meeting near Bashundhara residential area. Major Sadik was also taken into custody after preliminary investigations confirmed his involvement in organizing guerrilla-style training.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam has announced that appointments of Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Officers-in-Charge (OCs) during the upcoming national election will be determined by lottery in the presence of the media, to ensure transparency.

Speaking after a meeting on election logistics, Jahangir stated that this decision aims to prevent political candidates from influencing the deployment of law enforcement officials to their constituencies. The lottery will take place shortly before the election schedule is announced. Once the schedule is declared, transfer authority shifts to the Election Commission.

The Public Administration Ministry will determine whether a similar approach will be applied to Deputy Commissioners (DCs), though the adviser hopes they too will opt for a lottery system.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has successfully completed the hot and cold tests of the steam supply pipeline for its first unit, marking a major milestone toward operational readiness. The tests confirmed the safety and reliability of the turbine and pipeline systems, using high-pressure steam in a blow-down procedure. Conducted by Bangladesh’s NPCBL and Russian contractor Atomstroyexport, the process created loud noises, which were pre-communicated to locals. The plant, supported by Russia, aims to generate 2,400 MW using cutting-edge VVER-1200 reactors.

The re-evaluation results of this year’s SSC and equivalent exams will be published on August 10 at 10 AM. Students can check their updated results on their respective education board websites or via SMS. Applications for re-evaluation were accepted between July 11–17 with a fee of BDT 150 per subject. Over 92,000 students applied to recheck more than 223,000 answer scripts, a significant increase from last year. The highest number of applications came for Mathematics, followed by English and Physics.

Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam has expressed “deep disappointment and shock” over the July Declaration’s failure to mention justice for the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre. In a statement, the group said that the uprising was largely fueled by the spirit of that protest, with many clerics and madrasa students joining the July movement for that reason.

They noted that the silence on such a critical issue will not be forgotten and accused past governments of brutal suppression, particularly during Sheikh Hasina's rule. They further alleged that even today, witnesses are too afraid to testify due to the lack of administrative and intelligence reform. Hefazat called for justice and recognition of their sacrifices and contributions.

Microsoft and Amazon are planning to transform aging coal and gas power plants across Europe into AI data centers. These facilities offer ideal infrastructure, such as electricity and water access, crucial for cooling and power stability. With AI's rising energy needs, European energy companies like RWE, Engie, and Enel see this as a profitable opportunity. Repurposing old plants avoids costly shutdowns and supports long-term green energy contracts. This approach could ensure reliable power for tech firms while aiding the transition to sustainable infrastructure.

Hafezzi Charitable Society of Bangladesh is delivering crucial medical, food, and water assistance to four government hospitals in Gaza since August 1. With official permission from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the organization supports hospitals across Gaza’s regions, providing aid from refugee camps to damaged hospital verandas. It also runs a school for over 300 children who crossed into Egypt. The charity ensures funds reach Gaza through the Bank of Palestine, emphasizing humanity and courage amid conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, bringing the total tariff to 50%. The decision is reportedly in response to India's continued direct and indirect import of Russian oil.

This additional tariff adds to a previously announced 25% duty, doubling the pressure on India. Trump had earlier warned of harsher economic penalties if President Putin failed to take meaningful steps toward ending the war in Ukraine. The new tariffs are expected to strain U.S.-India relations further.

The development comes shortly after reports from Indian government sources indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to visit China later this month—his first visit in nearly seven years.

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s eastern coast on July 30, prompting widespread tsunami alerts. Satellite images cited by The New York Times reveal damage to a floating nuclear submarine base at Rybachiy in the Kamchatka Peninsula. Though a section appears to have shifted, major visible destruction was not confirmed. The quake also triggered a rare volcanic eruption and caused a tsunami that hit Russia’s Severo-Kurilsk port. Despite structural damage, no casualties have been reported so far.

Malaysia's Immigration Department has detained 306 Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly abusing their work permits. The arrests were made during a raid at a factory on Wednesday.

Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, Director-General of Immigration, stated that documents of 749 individuals were inspected during the operation. Of them, 307 were found violating immigration laws, including misuse of sector-specific permits, working at unauthorized locations, holding expired permits, or lacking valid travel documents. The detained individuals are aged between 20 and 40 and include one Nepali national in addition to the 306 Bangladeshis.