Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has publicly expressed concern about the lack of professional dedication and responsibility among many lawyers in Bangladesh. Speaking on Monday at a memorial and prayer meeting organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association, he said that lawyers must show commitment to the cases they take on and ensure proper preparation before appearing in court.

The event was held in memory of former Acting President and Speaker of the National Parliament, Muhammad Jamir Uddin Sarkar. The Chief Justice emphasized that litigants place their greatest trust in their lawyers after God, yet many lawyers appear in court without adequate preparation. He urged lawyers to accept only as many cases as they can handle responsibly, noting that serving clients fairly is both a legal and moral duty.

He praised Jamir Uddin Sarkar as a disciplined and dedicated lawyer whose professionalism should serve as an example for others. The event was attended by senior judges, lawyers, and political figures, including the Deputy Speaker and the Law Minister.

The Bangladesh government has ordered the compulsory retirement of Additional DIG of Tourist Police Md. Moniruzzaman for attending an Awami League nomination submission event in police uniform. The decision, approved by the President and issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, followed an internal investigation that found him guilty of misconduct and violating official discipline. The Public Service Commission (PSC) endorsed the decision before final approval.

According to the ministry’s circular, Moniruzzaman had accompanied his brother, an Awami League nomination aspirant for the Jhenaidah-1 by-election, to the party’s Dhanmondi office on April 29, 2024, while in uniform. His actions were deemed to have breached professional decorum and harmed the police’s public image. Despite being given multiple opportunities to respond, he failed to attend hearings or submit explanations.

In a separate order, former DMP Deputy Commissioner Rifat Rahman Shamim was dismissed for prolonged absence without permission and disobeying official orders. The PSC also supported this decision, which was finalized with presidential approval under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Md Nahid Islam has called for official recognition of madrasa students’ contributions to the July movement and other anti-fascist protests. Speaking on Monday at a seminar titled “The Bloody Robe of July: Contribution of Madrasa Students” at the BMA Bhaban auditorium in Dhaka, he said madrasa and private university students revived the movement when it had slowed on July 17–18. He urged the government to honor madrasa students’ sacrifices at the national level.

Nahid Islam criticized the home minister’s comment that July should not be commercialized, arguing that the movement represented aspirations for change. He accused the ruling Awami League of undermining democracy and exploiting the spirit of the Liberation War. He also claimed that the July movement’s outcomes benefited the BNP disproportionately, while his party was left with responsibility but no power.

He demanded immediate implementation of promised reforms, asserting that the recent election was unconstitutional and that the government must interpret post-August 5 developments through the people’s revolutionary aspirations for a new Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with allied political parties and coalitions for the first time since forming the government five months ago, hosting a dinner and exchange of greetings at the state guesthouse Jamuna. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the gathering as a new chapter in the country’s democratic journey and state reform process. He paid tribute to those killed in the July 2024 student uprising, saying their sacrifice paved the way for restoring democracy.

Fakhrul outlined the interim government’s activities, including waiving agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka, distributing family and farmer cards, providing allowances to religious leaders and athletes, and launching canal excavation programs. He said the government inherited a collapsed state and economic structure and has begun rebuilding institutions such as the banking sector.

On state reform, Fakhrul reaffirmed that the 31-point program announced during the joint movement and the July Charter signed by all political parties will be fully implemented. He added that the prime minister will continue regular meetings with allied leaders to strengthen coordination and national unity.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the use of tear gas and baton charges by Delhi Police against students protesting in New Delhi. The students were marching toward Parliament on July 20, 2026, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities in various examinations. Gandhi said the students were only demanding their legitimate rights and that the police action was undemocratic.

In a video message released after the incident, Gandhi stated that the protesting youth were not criminals and described the government and police behavior as disgraceful. He emphasized that such actions could not be considered part of Indian democratic traditions. Gandhi also said the country’s youth were angry about the current education system and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the students’ demands seriously.

The incident has added to the political tension in Delhi, where protests over education-related issues have been intensifying.

Andy Burnham delivered his first national address after formally becoming the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister on Monday, July 20, 2026, following an invitation from the King at Buckingham Palace. In his speech, Burnham promised the most significant political and economic reforms in four decades, aiming to rebuild public trust after years of leadership changes.

He acknowledged that repeated changes in government over the past decade had eroded public confidence and admitted that previous administrations had failed to meet citizens’ expectations. Burnham pledged to decentralize state power beyond London, strengthen oversight of essential goods to reduce living costs, and expand employment opportunities for young people. He also announced plans to improve mental health services, increase public housing construction, and release a ten-year national development plan by the end of the year.

As his first priority, Burnham vowed to tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping. Before entering Downing Street, he urged citizens to unite beyond divisions and move Britain forward with renewed trust and hope.

More than 50 security personnel were injured and over 70 protesters detained during demonstrations organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in India. The clashes occurred across multiple locations as security forces confronted protesters, according to a report by India Today citing internal sources on Monday.

Police sources said that the injured included members of the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces deployed for security duties. Authorities have begun filing separate First Information Reports (FIRs) based on complaints received from various sites of the protests. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and mobile phone videos to identify those involved and to reconstruct the sequence of events.

The incidents mark a significant escalation of political unrest in Delhi, with law enforcement focusing on tracing participants and determining responsibility for the violence.

Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, said that communal politics in India has now turned its hostility not only toward Muslims but also toward Islam itself. Speaking as the chief guest at a Hindu-Muslim Unity Conference organized by Uttar Pradesh Jamiat Ulema, he warned that the politics of hatred has plunged the country into a deep crisis with no clear path forward.

Madani urged people of all faiths who believe in human values to unite against communalism and hatred. He emphasized that real initiatives are needed at every level to build a collective voice against intolerance. Citing history, he recalled that the first call for protest against British rule came from Delhi scholar Abdul Aziz Muhaddis Dehlvi, inspiring the uprisings of 1832 and 1857. Madani reaffirmed that Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind is a religious organization with no political ties and has long worked to strengthen Hindu-Muslim harmony.

He also expressed concern over recent exam paper leaks affecting students and warned that demolishing Rampur’s Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University infrastructure could jeopardize thousands of students’ futures.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and opposition chief whip, warned that if the government fails to implement the aspirations of the July Revolution through a national referendum, a broader street movement will be launched. Speaking on Monday at a seminar titled 'Roktochitto Jubba' organized by the National Olama Alliance at the BMA Auditorium in Dhaka, he said the movement had already begun but could still be resolved through parliamentary discussion if the government wished.

He emphasized that the July Revolution sought state reform, equality, and the establishment of people's rights, accusing the government of benefiting from the revolution but failing to meet public expectations. Nahid Islam highlighted the contributions of students from private universities and madrasas during the revolution and linked their activism to earlier student movements. He also accused the Awami League government of labeling Islamic scholars and madrasa students as extremists.

Calling for official recognition of those killed or injured in various movements, he criticized the government’s contradictory stance on constitutional and electoral issues, asserting that the 2026 election did not reflect the people’s mandate.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar met with the French ambassador in Dhaka on Monday afternoon at the French Embassy. During the meeting, he formally handed over a letter of greetings and congratulations from opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman to the President of France on the occasion of the country’s 237th National Day.

The letter extended sincere congratulations to the French government and people, highlighting the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and France. It expressed hopes for further strengthening of mutual respect, democratic values, economic cooperation, trade, education, culture, and collaboration in various international fields.

The meeting also included discussions on issues of mutual interest, bilateral relations, and future cooperation opportunities. The ambassador received the letter warmly and expressed thanks. The meeting was described as cordial and friendly, with the opposition leader’s foreign affairs adviser Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem Arman MP and committee member Ali Ahmad Mabrur present.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman held a meeting with top leaders of political parties allied in the joint movement against the so-called fascist government. The meeting, which began at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka, marks the first formal gathering with these allies since the formation of the government, according to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.

Sources indicated that the discussions were expected to include exchanges of greetings, the current political situation, and progress on the BNP’s earlier pledge to form a national government before the upcoming election. The meeting was also likely to address dissatisfaction among allied parties regarding seat distribution for the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Leaders were also expected to deliberate on future strategies to achieve the goals and objectives of the joint movement. Senior figures from various coalitions and political parties involved in the movement attended the meeting.

A delegation from the Karoch Janata Party (CJP) met Indian Health Minister and former BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday to present three key demands. The meeting coincided with protests in New Delhi, where demonstrators marched toward Parliament demanding government accountability over the NEET-UG medical entrance exam paper leak. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Nadda requested time to discuss the demands with senior government leaders.

The CJP’s demands include the unconditional release of social activist Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation or removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and compensation of 10 million rupees for families of students who died by suicide following the exam leak. Another spokesperson, Saurabh Das, stated that Nadda assured them the issues would be raised at the appropriate level but gave no firm commitments. He also said the peaceful movement would continue until the demands are met.

Nadda described the meeting as cordial and urged protesters to withdraw their sit-in and restore normalcy. Meanwhile, Education Minister Pradhan held a separate three-and-a-half-hour meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, though its contents were not disclosed.

Prominent journalist Md. Saidur Rahman has been appointed as Minister (Press) at the Press Wing of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, India. The appointment was made on a contractual basis for one year, effective from his joining date, according to a notification issued Monday by the Contract and Foreign Recruitment Branch of the Ministry of Public Administration.

The notification states that Saidur Rahman must relinquish any professional ties with other occupations, businesses, or institutions, whether public or private, as a condition of his appointment. He currently serves as the Political and Election Affairs Editor at the daily Ittefaq and holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Dhaka.

Throughout his career, Rahman has worked for several newspapers and held leadership roles in journalist organizations, including serving as president of the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy. He received the RFED Best Reporting Award in 2025 for his contributions to journalism.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has revoked the licenses of 49 recruiting agencies previously involved in sending workers to Malaysia. The decision was announced through a government notification issued on Sunday, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Rashida Akter. The ministry cited violations of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Act, 2013, and the Foreign Employment and Migrants (Amendment) Act, 2023, as well as criminal charges filed under sections of the Penal Code.

According to the ministry, the affected agencies were accused in court of embezzling money by forming syndicates to send workers to Malaysia. Investigators filed charge sheets against these 49 agencies following cases lodged against 100 agencies in total. The ministry stated that the license cancellations were made under Section 13 of the 2013 Act in the public interest.

The decision marks a significant enforcement action aimed at curbing irregularities in overseas employment recruitment and ensuring compliance with migration laws.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized Rabbi Dov Lando, leader of the ultra-Orthodox party Degel HaTorah, for his recent comments about the Israeli military. Lando had claimed that members of religious communities serving in the army incite to kill. In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu described the rabbi’s remarks as “astonishing.”

Netanyahu emphasized that both secular and Haredi soldiers leave their homes, jobs, and families to defend the State of Israel, its citizens, and the entire nation, risking their lives in the process. He added that these soldiers deserve deep appreciation, gratitude, and full support from all sectors of society, including the Torah world.

Rabbi Lando’s comments came amid ongoing debate in Israel over mandatory military service for Haredi Jews. His statements have sparked renewed discussion and criticism within the country, highlighting the sensitivity of the issue.