US President Donald Trump has announced plans to significantly increase tariffs on Indian products within 24 hours, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Trump criticized India as an unfair trading partner, imposing a 25% tariff earlier and now threatening to raise it further. The executive order issued on July 31 includes additional fines related to Russia oil imports, effective August 7. Despite US pressure, India has not stopped its oil imports from Russia amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is initiating a countrywide protest on August 5 demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, imprisoned on corruption charges last year. The party vows to continue demonstrations until the current government is removed. Despite government-imposed Section 144 restrictions and arrests of PTI members, rallies and awareness campaigns are planned nationwide. PTI accuses the government of political oppression, while Punjab officials condemn the protests as destabilizing and claim PTI has transformed into a fascist group.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Indian goods, blaming India for buying cheap oil from Russia amid the Ukraine war. India's Foreign Ministry called the threat unfair and unreasonable, pointing out that the U.S. and EU still import from Russia despite sanctions. India emphasized its right to secure energy at fair prices, citing national interest. A 25% tariff is already set to take effect from August 7 under Trump’s new trade measures.

The Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party has welcomed the announcement of general elections to be held in February 2026, ahead of the month of Ramadan.

In a prompt response, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju called for the creation of an environment conducive to fair elections. He emphasized the need for visible justice and demanded that elections be held based on the principles of the July Charter.

Earlier, in a national address, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus confirmed the February election timeline and reflected on recent progress since the July political shift.

“We have come a long way since the July transition. Peace and order have returned to our national life, the economy has regained momentum, and the crisis has been resolved,” he stated.

SM Farhad, President of DU Shibir, accused the political left in Bangladesh of introducing mob justice and claimed they continue to support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s alleged conspiracies.

He termed the executions of war criminals like Nizami as “state-sponsored murders,” blaming not just Hasina but also the Shahbagh movement activists.

Farhad said the 1971 war was a glorious chapter, but the legacy was tainted by the formation of BAKSAL. He accused Shahbagh of turning Awami League into a fascist force.

He also alleged that Hindus who testified in favor of Delwar Hossain Sayeedi were abducted or trafficked to India and blamed the Hasina government for enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and corruption.

Nasir Uddin Nasir, General Secretary of the Chhatra Dal, has strongly condemned Islami Chhatra Shibir for displaying photos of convicted war criminals Nizami, Mujahid, and Ghulam Azam at Dhaka University’s TSC. Nasir stated this act insulted the spirit of Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

He emphasized that Dhaka University played a foundational role in Bangladesh’s independence, being the place where the nation’s first flag with the country’s map was hoisted.

Nasir further alleged that Shibir once fielded a known Al-Badr commander as a candidate for DUCSU VP and used party publications to dishonor freedom fighters. He also accused the DU administration, including the Vice-Chancellor and Proctor, of enabling Shibir’s activities.

Citing past incidents like the murders of Tofazzal and Samya, graffiti vandalism targeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and administrative inaction, Nasir argued that students are deeply frustrated by the situation.

Mahmudur Rahman Manna emphasized that the goal of the pro-uprising coalition was always the fall of fascism, not just the removal of a leader.

"We do not want yet another sham election like the last three. Necessary reforms must begin immediately."

Manna criticized the Chief Advisor for failing to complete even a single reform so far, and expressed concern over retaining the police force without any restructuring.

"If the government suddenly insists, ‘No election without this,’ we will face a crisis," he warned.

He also noted that constitutional reform requires parliamentary approval, and yet, many of the winning parties oppose the necessary changes, rejecting 10 of the 19 core reform points.

"Has anyone asked the BNP whether they will uphold the reforms they disagreed with if they come to power?" Manna asked. He stressed the need for a clear reform agenda and accountability from this point forward.

BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that while Sheikh Hasina may be gone, the legacy of petty authoritarianism remains embedded in the system.

"I am not the owner of this country," he declared. "The people of Bangladesh are. A democratic mindset must replace the culture of control."

He argued that elections and democratic processes are mechanisms of correction, and warned that those who demand blind obedience are no different from the former regime.

"Trust must lie in the hands of the people who hold the mandate," Khasru said. "It is not about personal mandates — it is about the people's will."

He urged for complete democratization, not partial efforts: "No half-democracy, no three-quarter democracy. We must also democratize the economy, not just politics."

NCP leader Samanta Sharmin raised a pressing question:
"Yes, the fascist Hasina may have fled in August, but can we truly speak freely now? Have we established a society free from fear and rooted in justice? The answer is no."

She emphasized that the journey for justice and democracy is far from over and that the nation must continue to fight its battles.

"If we laid the bodies of those martyred in this struggle in one room," she said, "there would be no space left. We must remember their sacrifices to truly grasp our responsibilities."

Sharmin questioned the intent of the liberation movement: "Did we sacrifice so many lives just for a parliamentary election?"
She criticized the current administration, including the Chief Advisor, for failing to comprehend the depth of the sacrifices made, and called for transparency about how officials from the old regime remain in power.

NCP leader Sarjis Alam has said that August 5 represents a divine trust bestowed upon us, and only a lifelong commitment to that trust can guide the nation toward the Bangladesh we truly desire.

In a critical reflection on society, Sarjis lamented:
"People abuse power in proportion to their capacity. A rickshaw-puller who raises fares unjustly, a bureaucrat who indulges in influence-peddling, civil society members blinded by self-interest, or a media that serves personal and corporate agendas — there's little difference between them."

He further noted that even after one year has passed, the nation has yet to realize the vision of a just Bangladesh, though no single individual can be held solely responsible.

"Sheikh Hasina may have fled," Sarjis added, "but the toxic system and mindset she created will not vanish overnight. We must continue to fight this broken structure and the people who uphold it."

He concluded by saying: "If we remain committed to this struggle, even if delayed, the dream of a just Bangladesh is still attainable."

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has welcomed the announcement of the election timeline by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In an immediate reaction, BNP Standing Committee members Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Nazrul Islam Khan expressed their appreciation, stating that the Chief Advisor has kept his promise.

“We thank the Chief Advisor for honoring his commitment,” said Tuku.

Earlier, Dr. Yunus announced in a televised address that he would formally request the Chief Election Commissioner to organize the next general elections before Ramadan, specifically in February 2026.

“We have restored peace and stability in our national life, revived momentum in the economy, and overcome crisis,” he added during his address.

GOP President Nurul Haque Nur expressed dissatisfaction that most of his proposals were not included in the July Declaration. Nonetheless, he welcomed the declaration in the interest of national unity.

Nur emphasized the need for immediate implementation of the July Charter and legal clarity on its binding authority. He also noted that the declaration contains overly broad historical context, missing the focus on recent youth-led movements like the 2018 quota and road safety protests, which led to the 2024 uprising.

Jamaat leader Prof. Mia Golam Parwar criticized what he called a partisan version of the July Declaration, warning that it ignores national aspirations. He argued that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, the nation hoped for a new, reformed Bangladesh.

Parwar reiterated Jamaat’s call for comprehensive reforms, justice for past atrocities, and transfer of power through free, fair, and inclusive elections. He claimed Jamaat supported the reform commissions, but accused one faction of acting as if it owned the state. He also denounced corruption and criticized the controversial London Meeting, demanding a referendum on the declaration’s legitimacy.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has voiced disappointment over the July Declaration, citing its lack of a clear implementation framework. Party leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated the declaration should have been incorporated into the constitution, and expressed concern that no date has been set for implementation.

He also noted the absence of provisions for the families of martyrs and those disabled during the movement, such as state recognition or compensation. Taher confirmed the party would issue a detailed response following its executive meeting.

On Tuesday at 10:30 AM, student demonstrators under the banners ‘Awakened July’ and ‘July Unity’ staged a symbolic execution of Sheikh Hasina in front of the National Press Club, protesting her alleged involvement in the BDR massacre, the Shapla Square crackdown, and the 2024 mass killings.

Tanjina Ferdous announced the symbolic verdict; Rayhan Madrazi monitored the "health" before the mock execution; Alif Jaufi enacted the role of the hangman; Mustafa Hossain led prayers; Aziz Saifullah directed the performance; and Munshi Borhan Mahmud Ray presided over the event. Speakers emphasized that while symbolic today, such acts reflect a demand for real accountability.