Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish has announced its plans to field candidates in 223 constituencies in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The party’s Ameer, Mamunul Haque, made the announcement at a press conference held in Paltan. Highlighting the need for electoral reform, he advocated for a bicameral parliamentary system, proposing full proportional representation in the upper house and partial proportional representation in the lower house. Criticizing the current one-party dominance, he termed proportional representation as the "demand of the time." Mamunul also condemned the recent attack on the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) in Gopalganj, noting that the army’s intervention prevented further escalation. Expressing hope that the people of Gopalganj will organize resistance, he called for unity among all anti-fascist forces.

Obayed Ullah Al Masud, chairman of Islami Bank, resigned on July 17 after being asked to step down by Bangladesh Bank’s Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmad. The Central Bank had restructured Islami Bank’s board following the government change in August, appointing Al Masud based on recommendations. Recently, allegations against him surfaced, prompting urgent calls for his resignation. Independent director Professor Zobaidur Rahman is expected to replace him as chairman.

Ambassador Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari emphasized that the united forces which compelled dictator Sheikh Hasina into exile must continue working together to build a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh. Speaking at a virtual event organized by Save Bangladesh in Washington, he highlighted the role of expatriates and the ongoing need for tolerance, justice, and unity. He warned against divisions and conspiracies, urging all to protect the nation’s hard-earned dignity and rights. The event honored July’s martyrs and called for continued solidarity.

Suruzzaman, potential parliamentary candidate for Gaibandha-3 (Sadullapur-Polashbari) constituency from the People's Rights Council, held an election dialogue session on Thursday at West Damodarpur village. The event saw the participation of district branch president Samsuzzaman Siddiqui, general secretary Samiul Islam, and other local leaders.

Suruzzaman stressed that the People's Rights Council is the sole alternative for securing citizens’ rights. If elected, he pledged to prioritize improvements in education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

A coordinated Awami League-affiliated group circulated old and unrelated images on social media, falsely linking them to the recent Gopalganj clashes, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing revealed. The misinformation aimed to distort public perception, claiming opposition violence and law enforcement involvement. Investigations confirmed these photos stemmed from earlier unrelated incidents dating back to 2022 and 2023. The clashes erupted after an attack on National Citizens Party leaders, resulting in four deaths and a strict curfew in Gopalganj.

The Supreme Court is hearing the state’s appeal against the High Court verdict that acquitted Tarique Rahman, Lutfozzaman Babar, and others in the August 21 grenade attack case. The trial court had earlier sentenced 19 to death and 19 to life imprisonment. The High Court overturned those verdicts in January 2024, declaring the trial legally flawed. A six-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed began the hearing on July 17, with top BNP lawyers present in court.

The Advisory Council, chaired by Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus, approved three key ordinances during its 34th meeting held on July 17. The approved ordinances include the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, the Voter List (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, and the Human Organ Transplantation Ordinance 2025. These drafts received final approval pending vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. The decisions were announced in a press release by the Cabinet Division following the meeting.

The interim government has established a three-member high-level committee to investigate the violence and fatalities that occurred during the National Citizens' Party (NCP) rally in Gopalganj. Led by Nasimul Ghani, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the committee includes additional secretaries from the Ministries of Public Administration and Law and Justice. It has been directed to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry and submit its findings to the Chief Adviser’s office within two weeks.

Facing a labor shortage, Japan is expanding recruitment efforts beyond ASEAN to countries like Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. Economic growth in Southeast Asia has reduced interest among youth there to work abroad, prompting Japan to seek new sources. The government plans language and skills training programs, including partnerships with agencies in Uzbekistan and Bangladesh. Sectors like nursing, food service, and construction are prioritized. Worker numbers from South and Central Asia remain low but are expected to rise significantly soon.

Nasiruddin Patwari, Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), declared that the Awami League has no place in Gopalganj and vowed a strong response to recent attacks on party members. He said NCP is committed to freeing Gopalganj from Awami League influence and asserted that there will be no room for Mujibist politics in the country. Following a rally, party leaders inaugurated the Faridpur district office and met with families of political victims.

Jamaat-e-Islami is set to hold its national rally on July 19 at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, with attendees expected from across the country. Secretary General Prof. Mia Golam Porwar stated that key issues like proportional representation in elections and reforms in local government elections will be addressed. Preparations include field leveling, deployment of 6,000 volunteers across 20 checkpoints, and arrangements for water and medical services. However, no women will participate. Senior party leaders will be present at the event.

Indonesia has signed a trade deal with the U.S. that imposes a 19% tariff on Indonesian goods entering America while granting duty-free access to U.S. products. As part of the agreement, Indonesia will purchase 50 Boeing jets, $15 billion in American energy products, and $4.5 billion in agricultural goods. The deal was finalized ahead of an August 1 deadline previously set under Trump's 32% tariff plan. Analysts suggest Indonesia may be exempted from a new 50% copper tariff starting next month.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has issued a stern warning of renewed protest actions if the perpetrators behind the attacks on Nahid and Sarjis in Gopalganj are not swiftly brought to justice. Nahid Islam, the party's convener, declared that they will not return home until Gopalganj is freed from “Mujibism.”

On Thursday, NCP leaders organized a rally and street meeting in Faridpur town, condemning the current government led by Sheikh Hasina as fascist. They accused the administration of turning Gopalganj into a den of terror. The meeting also featured speeches from key NCP leaders, including Akhtar Hossain, Nasir Uddin Patwary, Mazharul Islam, and Advocate Tarikul. The event concluded with the chant: “Long live revolution, down with Mujibism.”

Gopalganj, July 16 — Former State Minister for Home Affairs, Sohel Taj, has accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of orchestrating an attack on four individuals — Nahid, Sarjis, Hasnat, and Zara — in Gopalganj. In a social media post, he referred to the Prime Minister as the "Devil Queen," claiming she was the mastermind behind the assault.

According to Sohel Taj, the attack was a targeted attempt to suppress the leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement and the broader July-August mass uprising. He described it as a "cowardly attempt to eliminate voices of dissent."

In the same statement, he further alleged that instead of self-reflection or accountability, Prime Minister Hasina has been engaged in destructive policies, including money laundering and issuing nationwide crackdowns through authoritarian tactics.

Sohel Taj's remarks have sparked sharp political debate, with critics viewing them as a bold accusation against the highest level of government.

The BNP has accused the government of deliberately destabilizing law and order to derail the upcoming national election scheduled for February. Condemning the recent attack and violent clashes at an NCP rally in Gopalganj, the party described the incident as part of a larger conspiracy to undermine the democratic process. According to the BNP, the ruling party seeks to cling to power by suppressing opposition groups and denying people their right to vote. The BNP blamed the government’s failure—and in some cases, direct involvement—for the deteriorating security situation across the country.