A strong earthquake measuring 5.73 on the Richter scale shook southern Iran on August 5. The quake originated just 10 kilometers below the surface, intensifying its impact. Despite the strength, no immediate casualties or damage have been reported. Over the past year, Iran has experienced several medium to strong tremors, including a 5.6 magnitude quake in June that disrupted power and communication systems in the southwest region.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines successfully used the boarding bridge and Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s new Terminal 3 for the first time. Flight BG-356 from Rome, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner piloted by Captain Ishtiaq Hossain, landed there on August 4 at 10:30 AM. Following passenger disembarkation, tests were conducted on VDGS, external power, air conditioning, and water supply systems. Senior Civil Aviation Authority officials monitored the trial operations onsite.

A record 10,202 taxpayers submitted their income tax returns online on the first day of the 2025–26 fiscal year, nearly five times more than the previous year’s opening day. The NBR has made e-return filing mandatory for all individual taxpayers, with exceptions for senior citizens, differently-abled individuals, expatriates, and legal heirs of deceased taxpayers. Paper returns may be allowed with special permission. Taxpayers can pay from home and instantly access acknowledgement slips and tax certificates online.

Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said that justice for killings, abductions, and state violence will inevitably happen in tribunals — but that is not the only forum.

"The July Museum will serve as a place where visitors will symbolically hold these perpetrators accountable every day," he announced.

Farooki highlighted that the museum would commemorate the brutal murder of Abrar, the betrayal of national sovereignty, the cries of families of the disappeared, and the theft of voting rights.

"This museum will be one of the most significant acts against fascism," he said, adding that the space will offer an engaging and experiential journey for visitors.

He clarified that current displays are not final: "What you see now are conceptual interpretations. The main content is still under construction."

Dhaka, August 5, 2025 — Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam has expressed disappointment over the absence of any mention of the 2013 Shapla Square crackdown in the recently unveiled July Declaration, a foundational document recognizing the 2024 uprising and outlining future reforms for Bangladesh.

Junaid Habib, Senior Joint Secretary General of Hefazat-e-Islam, stated that the May 5, 2013 incident, in which “over a hundred thousand rounds were reportedly fired in a single night” during their rally at Shapla Chattar, was a defining moment in the fight against authoritarianism. According to Habib, thousands of scholars and religious leaders sacrificed their lives in that protest — an episode that deserved a place in the declaration.

He further criticized the lack of a Qur’an recitation at the beginning of the July Declaration ceremony, saying it hurt the sentiments of over 92% of the country's Muslim population. "This omission is not just a procedural oversight; it's a symbolic disregard for the religious identity of the majority," Habib said.

The July Declaration, which was formally read out today by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the National Parliament’s South Plaza, was attended by top leaders of various political parties. However, Hefazat’s absence from the content of the document and its ceremonial protocols has triggered backlash from the group.

The Dhaka University administration has removed a controversial banner displayed on the university campus during ‘Anti-Autocracy Day,’ which featured images of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders convicted of war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War and judicially executed individuals. The banner was put up by the Dhaka University chapter of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Following protests from students, the university's proctorial team intervened and removed the banner.

Assistant Proctor and Associate Professor Rafiqul Islam said, “Some students brought the matter to our attention. We spoke to members of Shibir, and they cooperated in removing the banners.”

Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, another university proctor, stated, “We had no prior knowledge that such a display would be put up. As soon as it came to our notice, I contacted Shibir and sent an assistant proctor to resolve the issue.”

The banner also reportedly included an image of BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who was convicted and executed for crimes against humanity.

Dr. Yunus warned that a certain group is actively working to sabotage the democratic process from both inside and outside the country. In his speech, he called for vigilance to prevent any attempts to incite unrest during the electoral process.

He reminded the nation that defeated forces may try to reassert themselves but stressed that a free, fair, and peaceful election would ensure their ultimate defeat.

On August 5, 2025, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus officially presented the "July Declaration" at the South Plaza of the National Parliament during the ‘July Reawakening’ event, marking the anniversary of the historic July Uprising. The 28-point declaration formally recognizes the July Uprising as a constitutionally significant movement and designates those who died in the struggle as National Heroes.

The declaration traces Bangladesh’s political evolution — from anti-colonial resistance, struggles against Pakistani authoritarian rule, the BAKSAL era, the 1990 mass uprising, and the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024. It condemns electoral fraud and authoritarian abuses, and pledges commitment to popular sovereignty, democracy, good governance, justice, human rights, and inclusive development.

In a social media post, Advisor and filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki reflected on the public's emotional response to the uprising.

“Rickshaw drivers shouted, ‘We are free!’ Young people claimed it as their Victory Day. Hundreds of people proclaimed their liberation. No one coached them—yet they knew they had been under oppression and felt the meaning of freedom,” Farooki wrote.

He criticized certain intellectual elites for failing to grasp what the masses inherently understood:
“Why couldn’t some PhDs comprehend what the common people did? Why does their ‘academic mind’ fail to understand the concept of a ‘second independence’?”

Farooki urged skeptics to listen to the joyful chants of the people on that day. “They were speaking against enforced disappearances, killings, and the humiliation of living in their own country without freedom. Underneath it all beat the name Abrar Fahad,” he wrote.

He ended his post with a message of unity and defiance:
"Today we began the day with ‘You failed to kill Abrar Fahad.’ All day long, Abrar will be with us at Manik Miah Avenue—along with thousands of martyrs and the joy of liberation from oppression. Listen well, establishment—we are many."

At a special event titled “July Reawakening” to mark the anniversary of the 2024 people’s uprising, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus publicly read the much-anticipated “July Declaration.”

The program began with the national anthem, after which Dr. Yunus delivered the declaration, which is regarded as a formal document emerging from the historic uprising. Political groups have reportedly reached consensus on giving this declaration official constitutional recognition.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has issued a statement commemorating the first anniversary of the July uprising, honoring the memory of those martyred and injured.

“This is an unforgettable day in the history of Bangladesh,” the statement reads. “Exactly one year ago, through the blood of thousands of martyrs and wounded protesters, the nation was freed from the grip of nearly 15 years of fascism under the tyrannical rule of Hasina.”

The statement emphasizes that the uprising, led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and joined by people from all walks of life, sought the complete dismantling of fascist structures and the establishment of a new political order.

It also lamented the lack of progress in investigating the July killings, pointing out that “many fascist elements remain embedded within the state machinery.” However, the movement expressed cautious optimism, noting that some progress has been made, even if full justice and structural reform remain elusive.

The group welcomed the upcoming release of the “July Declaration” and thanked all those involved in its formulation.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus called for the establishment of a democratic, humane, and equitable society during his address at the July Declaration event.

"We will never bow to oppression. The sacrifices of the martyrs of July will not go in vain," he declared. Dr. Yunus also paid tribute to the 1971 freedom fighters and highlighted that justice and democracy remained elusive even after liberation.

He described the events of July 2024 as a crucial turning point — the result of 16 years of accumulated public frustration. Dr. Yunus condemned the corruption and repression under the former regime and emphasized the government’s commitment to rehabilitate victims of past atrocities.

A four-member delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will participate in the July Declaration event, following an official invitation from the interim government.

The delegation will be led by Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher. Other members include Secretary Mia Ghulam Parwar, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, and Hamidur Rahman Azad.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus will deliver the July Declaration speech at 5:00 PM at the South Plaza of the National Parliament.

To mark the first anniversary of the ouster of the former authoritarian government, over a hundred colorful helicopter-shaped balloons were released into the sky at Manik Mia Avenue.

Organizers stated the event was meant to commemorate the exact moment of Sheikh Hasina’s departure from power last year. The celebration peaked at 2:25 PM with the crowd chanting “No fear, only victory.”

The event was tightly secured and coordinated by volunteers, with each batch of balloons released in a structured, timely manner under the watchful eyes of the security forces.

Participants of the anti-discrimination movement blocked the railway tracks in Rajshahi on Tuesday after expressing dissatisfaction with the train allocated for their journey to Dhaka to attend the July Declaration event.

The disruption halted train services to and from Rajshahi for nearly an hour. Protesters argued that the designated special train was unsuitable for long-distance travel and would delay their arrival in Dhaka.

The movement later split into two groups: one boarded the assigned train, while the other opted for the Silk City Express to reach the capital.