Dr. Md. Abu Jafar, Director General of the Health Directorate, announced plans for a 1,000-bed hospital in Nilphamari, funded by the Chinese government. He noted that despite limited resources, healthcare professionals are serving tirelessly. “We must be even more attentive to patient care,” he said. The health cadre currently has 37,000 positions, but only one is in Grade One. An additional 7,000 supernumerary posts have been created, and recruitment and promotions will begin soon. Moreover, files for the promotion of 3,000 doctors have been approved and will be implemented swiftly.

Advisor Farida Akhter has called for accountability over the construction of the so-called “all-weather” road in Mithamain, citing severe environmental damage in the Haor region. She criticized the switch from traditional local rice varieties, which required minimal pesticides and fertilizers, to high-yield ones that heavily rely on chemicals. “ACI is now introducing fully mechanized harvesters due to a labor shortage, but these machines could devastate the region’s fish population,” she warned. Akhter also expressed concern about fisherfolk being deprived of access due to leasing practices and advocated for sustainable, organic agricultural practices in the region.

Following India’s discontinuation of transshipment facilities, Bangladesh is rapidly expanding its air cargo infrastructure. The government is taking urgent measures to enhance capacity, reduce transportation costs, and ensure uninterrupted export of key products, particularly readymade garments. The Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority stated, “We are working together to revise existing civil aviation and ground-handling tariffs to make air cargo more cost-effective.” He emphasized that top-level directives have been issued to maintain cargo operations despite external disruptions. Recruitment of additional personnel has already been completed, and reduced handling charges are expected to be announced soon.

A group of indigenous students held a press conference demanding the immediate and unconditional release of five University of Chittagong students kidnapped from Khagrachhari. The victims include students from Fine Arts, Drama, International Relations, and Zoology departments. Activist Jallang Enrico Kubi claimed the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) was behind the abductions, and criticized the lack of visible action from university and local authorities.

Two officials of Montrim Garments in Kaliakair have been dismissed following the suicide of a worker, 23-year-old Idris Ali. Before ingesting toxic chemicals inside the factory, he posted on Facebook alleging humiliation and job insecurity. The factory claimed Idris consumed aluminum phosphide, a chemical not found on their premises. Production has continued amid ongoing investigations.

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain emphasized that a unified stance by Islamic scholars could compel the state to reverse misguided decisions. He envisioned a future where 50 religious scholars sit in Parliament and several serve as ministers. “If we can connect with the people, we can ensure the correct propagation of Islamic principles and Quranic teachings,” he said.

Parvez Mosharraf (23), a student of Textile Engineering at Primeasia University, was stabbed to death during a clash between student groups in Banani. The altercation reportedly involved students from the university’s Textile and English departments. The incident took place in the evening and left Parvez fatally injured with a stab wound to the chest.

The US State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Bangladesh, warning citizens to reconsider travel. A complete travel ban was placed on the Chittagong Hill Tracts—Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Bandarban—due to risks including communal violence, kidnapping, and criminal activity. The advisory noted that both family disputes and religious targeting have led to abductions, and travelers require prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs to visit these areas.

The U.S. government has recently revoked the visas of nearly 5,000 international students, including many from India and Bangladesh. Around 50% of the cancellations are due to violations related to visa conditions, including fraud and misrepresentation. Officials have warned students to avoid agents and ensure they meet all academic and legal requirements.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam visited a local police station to inspect the living and dining arrangements for lower-ranking officers. He described the conditions as very poor and said the Chief Adviser had directed them to find solutions. He also mentioned efforts to improve law and order, including a new initiative to assign police officers to their home districts, allowing them more time with family, especially given their limited leave allowances.

At a memorial event for Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, Sharmin S Murshid reflected on the failures of post-1971 politics. She said that freedom fighters were neither utilized nor rehabilitated after independence, and democracy, equality, and justice remained elusive. “That’s why events like July 24 happened,” she said. Murshid called for a cultural shift within political parties and warned young people against adopting outdated political practices. She urged them to follow the idealistic path set by Dr. Zafrullah.

Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Ray Podder emphasized the importance of school-level autonomy to improve primary education. He called for empowering school heads and officials to ensure children’s literacy in language and mathematics. He said the ideal scenario would be for primary schools to be autonomous with their own budgeting and accountability mechanisms. Though not currently feasible, he announced that mid-day meals will soon be introduced in all primary schools in 165 upazilas under two ongoing projects.

The Women’s Reform Commission has recommended that sex workers and domestic workers be recognized as laborers under the country’s existing labor laws. Among its proposals is increasing the number of parliamentary seats to 600, with each constituency having one general seat and one reserved seat for women — both to be filled through direct elections. The commission believes this reform can be implemented under the interim government. If a bicameral system is introduced, the commission also recommends that 50% of the upper house seats be equally nominated by all parties with an equal number of men and women, and the remaining 50% be allocated on a non-partisan basis, ensuring representation from five women’s rights movements.

Hafiza Akhter Jhumur has publicly accused Ahidul Islam Durjoy, a field officer of the National Intelligence Agency, of defrauding her of Tk 2 million under the false promise of marriage. She alleged that they met in 2020 while working for CODEC NGO, during which time Durjoy took inappropriate photos of her and used them to blackmail her into a relationship. He reportedly took large sums of cash from her under various pretexts and issued a fake cheque worth Tk 2 million. Durjoy is currently in prison in connection with the case.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus stated that the recommendations which can be quickly implemented should be carried out through the current process, as women around the world are watching and will evaluate it. Emphasizing that this is not solely a women’s issue but a broader societal concern, he said the report will be printed like a textbook and made accessible to the public rather than kept as a mere office document. The recommendations from the Women’s Reform Commission will also be brought to political parties through the National Consensus Commission. Commission Chairperson Shirin Parvin Huq added that the proposals have been divided into three categories: actions the current government can take, those for the next elected government, and separate reflections of the hopes and demands of the women’s movement. Earlier, the report was submitted to the Chief Advisor.