A human chain was held at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Wednesday afternoon demanding the withdrawal of the expulsion order against two Chhatra Dal leaders. The protest took place in front of Administrative Building-1, with participation from students of the Political Studies and Statistics departments along with several Chhatra Dal activists.

During the event, students including Sabbir Hossain and Hridoy Hasan urged the university administration to reconsider the punishment on humanitarian grounds. They acknowledged that the July 18 incident involving a student from the Sociology department was an unfortunate altercation, and the accused students had already expressed remorse and sought forgiveness. The speakers appealed for leniency, emphasizing the impact of the decision on the students’ education, careers, and families.

On July 21, the university’s emergency syndicate meeting expelled Chhatra Dal leaders Tarek Rahman and Hasibur Rahman for four semesters and banned them from entering the campus for assaulting a student. Tarek Rahman also lost his residential seat at Shah Paran Hall and was permanently barred from applying for future accommodation.

Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that union parishad or local government elections will be held either later this year or at the beginning of next year. He made the statement on Wednesday at a discussion meeting organized by the Bangladesh Union Chairman Member Association at the Diploma Institute in Kakrail, Dhaka.

The minister’s remarks indicate that preparations for the upcoming local government polls are under consideration, though no specific date has been confirmed. The event served as a platform for discussing local governance issues and the timing of the elections.

Further details about the election schedule and procedures are expected to be released later, as the minister noted that more information will follow.

Bangladesh National Parliament Whip Alhaj Md. Akhteruzzaman Mia MP stated that the government is implementing development programs nationwide by ensuring the best use of limited resources. He emphasized that improving rural communication networks is one of the government’s top priorities to enhance the quality of life in remote areas. He made these remarks on Tuesday evening at a ceremony marking the foundation laying of the road from Alokdihi Union Parishad to Pirerhat in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur.

Akhteruzzaman Mia said rural infrastructure development is a key pillar of the country’s overall economic progress, as modern road connectivity supports agriculture, education, healthcare, and trade. He added that the government aims to create equal development opportunities in all regions and is working sincerely to sustain the pace of sustainable growth.

Earlier in the day, the Whip visited and inaugurated several development projects in Chirirbandar, including new school buildings and paved road construction in multiple unions, reflecting the government’s continued focus on rural infrastructure expansion.

Bangladeshi journalists, political analysts, writers, and online activists based in France have called for united efforts to build a democratic, accountable, and just Bangladesh inspired by the spirit of July. The call came during a roundtable discussion titled “Implementation of the July Charter and Referendum,” held on Tuesday at a restaurant conference room in Paris. The event was organized by the socio-cultural organization Franco Bangla to discuss the July movement’s ideals and the vision for Bangladesh’s future.

Franco Bangla president Shahidul Islam delivered the welcome speech, while journalist and columnist Tanvir Ahmad Toha presented the keynote paper, highlighting the background and significance of the July movement and citizens’ roles in establishing democracy. Speakers emphasized strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring human rights, and upholding the rule of law to prevent any return to authoritarianism. They also underscored the importance of reforms and the active role of civil society, journalists, intellectuals, and expatriates in safeguarding Bangladesh’s democratic progress.

Participants included representatives from various Bangladeshi media outlets, community leaders, and activists living in France, reflecting broad engagement from the expatriate community.

The government has assigned 50 officers from the BCS (Administration) cadre to the Ministry of Land for their upcoming postings as Assistant Commissioners (Land), commonly known as AC Land. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Wednesday confirming the decision and directing the officers to join the Land Ministry.

According to the notification, the officers will undergo a basic land management course at the Dhaka Land Administration Training Centre before being formally appointed to AC Land positions. Their postings will follow the 'Posting Policy for Employees under the Ministry of Public Administration, 2022.' The move is part of the regular administrative process to prepare officers for field-level land administration responsibilities.

The directive emphasizes that the officers must complete the required training before assuming their new roles, ensuring compliance with the ministry’s procedural and policy framework.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expelled Gazi Nazrul Islam, the Member of Parliament for Satkhira-4, following an internal investigation that found him guilty of moral misconduct. The decision was made under Article 62 of the party’s constitution during an emergency meeting of the central executive council held at the official residence of the opposition leader on Minto Road, Dhaka. The meeting was chaired by party Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and attended by central executive members. The party stated it would immediately notify the Election Commission about the expulsion.

The expulsion follows the circulation of a video on social media showing Gazi Nazrul Islam with a young woman in a private room, which local Jamaat leaders claimed involved his second wife. The party’s organizational investigation reportedly confirmed the authenticity of the incident as previously reported by the newspaper Amar Desh.

The report notes that if a political party formally requests the Speaker to revoke an expelled member’s parliamentary seat, the seat is typically vacated. However, if no such request is made, the member may retain the position, as seen in earlier cases.

US Ambassador Brent Christensen led a delegation that met with top leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP), including convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam, at the party’s temporary central office in Dhaka’s Banglamotor on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting focused on political dialogue, participatory processes, and advancing democratic reforms through engagement of all stakeholders.

According to the NCP, discussions covered Bangladesh’s political future, democratic transition, the party’s political philosophy, bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States, and recent trade agreements. The NCP leaders raised public concerns about aspects of the trade deal, to which the US delegation responded with clarifications and urged careful review. Both sides emphasized strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation amid global economic and geopolitical challenges.

The meeting also addressed progress on implementing referendum outcomes and the July Charter reforms. NCP leaders expressed concern over the government’s constitutional amendment committee formed without opposition participation. Following the meeting, Nahid Islam voiced optimism about continued constructive dialogue and friendship between the two nations.

Authorities in New Delhi have temporarily closed 16 major metro stations due to security risks arising from ongoing demonstrations by the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP). The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced the closures around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, affecting key routes on the Blue, Yellow, and Violet lines. The sudden move caused confusion among commuters as train routes were altered and access to several stations was restricted.

The affected stations include Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Tirth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, and Shivaji Stadium. Interchange facilities remain operational at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat. However, DMRC has not specified when the stations will reopen.

The closures led to disorder at several stations, with passengers unable to exit due to police barricades. Long queues and arguments with police were reported at Mandi House, and additional police forces were deployed to maintain control.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expelled Gazi Nazrul Islam, the Member of Parliament for Satkhira-4, following allegations of involvement in a scandal involving women. The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the party’s central executive council held on Wednesday afternoon at the official residence of the opposition leader on Mintu Road in Dhaka, chaired by party Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP. The party also decided to formally notify the Election Commission about the expulsion.

According to a Jamaat press release, an internal investigation confirmed Nazrul Islam’s moral misconduct, leading to his expulsion under Article 62 of the party constitution. The decision followed the circulation of videos on social media related to the allegations, after which a probe committee was quickly formed and its report reviewed by the executive council. Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim stated earlier that the party would take strict action against any unethical or criminal behavior.

Once the Election Commission is officially informed, the Satkhira-4 parliamentary seat may be declared vacant, potentially triggering a by-election.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan stated that the philosophy of Bangladeshi nationalism represents an inclusive national identity encompassing all languages, religions, cultures, and ethnic groups within the country. He made these remarks on Wednesday at a seminar titled “Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and Bangladeshi Nationalism,” organized by the University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB), Jagannath University branch.

The minister highlighted that while Pakistan was founded on religious identity, long-term unity in a diverse state cannot rely solely on religion. He recalled the historical continuity from the 1952 Language Movement to the 1971 Liberation War, emphasizing Ziaur Rahman’s decisive leadership during the war and his role in articulating a citizen-based concept of nationalism after independence. This philosophy, he said, ensures equal dignity and rights for every citizen regardless of language, faith, or ethnicity.

Swapan added that Bangladeshi nationalism strengthens national unity, territorial integrity, and pluralism, reflecting modern state principles based on shared interests, constitutional commitments, and collective aspirations for the future.

An opinion essay by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, published on July 22, 2026, explores why India experiences frequent protests but not mass uprisings. The author argues that India’s functioning electoral system, institutional balance, and decentralized power structure allow public anger to be released through elections rather than revolutions. He contrasts this with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where blocked political channels and institutional collapse led to uprisings.

The essay identifies several factors behind India’s stability: co-optation of protest movements by the state, vast social and linguistic diversity preventing unified national movements, and the dominance of identity politics over class-based solidarity. It also discusses the rise of the BJP and RSS, the marginalization of Muslims and Dalits, and the cultural influence of Bollywood in maintaining state legitimacy. The author references political theorists such as Huntington and North to explain India’s “limited access order.”

The piece concludes that India’s youth remain aware and critical despite propaganda, and that a genuine uprising could occur only if electoral legitimacy collapses and co-optation loses credibility.

Outgoing Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hasan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat on Wednesday, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. During the meeting, they discussed national sovereignty, maritime security, modernization of the Bangladesh Navy, and other issues of national interest.

The Prime Minister praised Admiral Hasan’s leadership and contributions to strengthening and modernizing the Navy, highlighting his role in enhancing the force’s professionalism and operational capacity. In response, Admiral Hasan expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s guidance, cooperation, and support throughout his tenure.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister hosted a luncheon in honor of the outgoing Navy Chief. Admiral Hasan, who took charge as Chief of Naval Staff on July 24, 2023, has served in various key operational, instructional, and command roles during his long career, including as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and Director of Naval Intelligence.

Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest at Islamic University (IU) on Wednesday afternoon demanding the implementation of the July Charter, justice for the July 24 massacre, and execution of the referendum verdict. The demonstration, led by branch president Yusuf Ali, began from the university’s Bottola area and marched through key campus roads before holding a brief rally at the main gate. Participants chanted slogans calling for the government to fulfill its earlier promises regarding the July Charter and referendum.

During the rally, branch organizational secretary Zakaria Hossain accused the government of backing away from its pre-election commitments to implement the July Charter and referendum verdict. He stated that the movement would continue until justice was ensured and alleged that the ruling party was following authoritarian practices. Branch president Yusuf Ali added that despite the fall of fascism through the July movement, the expected changes had not materialized.

Several other branch leaders, including general secretary Md. Rashedul Islam, were present at the event, reaffirming their commitment to continue the movement on the streets until their demands were met.

Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, legal adviser to the interim government and a faculty member of Dhaka University’s law department, stated that Bangladesh is now reaping the benefits of reforms made to the Legal Aid Act during the interim administration. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, he said the Ministry of Law had implemented several reforms, one of which expanded and partially mandated pre-trial dispute resolution while tripling the number of judges.

Nazrul noted that as a result of these changes, the number of cases filed under legal aid dropped by an average of 62 percent within a year. He described the initiative as a pilot project that included provisions for further expansion. He expressed confidence that current Law Minister Asaduzzaman, whom he described as a skilled legal expert, would ensure the project’s full implementation.

Nazrul added that the continued execution of these reforms could significantly reduce the country’s longstanding case backlog, marking a major step toward improving access to justice.

Member of Parliament S. M. Faisal for Habiganj-4 (Madhabpur-Chunarughat) stated that the government is taking strict measures to curb drugs, theft, robbery, and other crimes to maintain normal law and order across the country. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning while addressing the Upazila Law and Order Committee meeting as the chief guest. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies have been directed to work with utmost priority to build a crime-free, safe, and peaceful society.

Faisal described drugs as a destructive social disease and urged the administration, public representatives, and conscious citizens to work together to protect the youth from addiction. He said police and related forces are conducting regular drives against theft, robbery, and other crimes, and strict legal action is being taken against offenders. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring public safety and warned that no criminal or terrorist would be spared.

The meeting, chaired by Upazila Executive Officer Md. Mehedi Hasan, was attended by local officials, law enforcement representatives, and political leaders, who discussed ways to maintain peace and order in the area.