BNP Joint Secretary General Advocate Abdus Salam Azad has called on Jamaat-e-Islami to abandon what he described as its "misguided path." Speaking to reporters, he criticized the party for its controversial role during the Liberation War and accused it of political opportunism, citing its shifting alliances with the Awami League, Jatiya Party, and BNP.

Azad also lashed out at Chormonai Pir, condemning his recent remark: “Money is raised at Paltan and sent to London.” He labeled the statement as “completely false and baseless,” and urged the Pir to publicly repent in front of his followers for spreading misinformation.

Azad further accused Jamaat of trying to delay national elections under the pretext of prioritizing local polls and pushing for a Proportional Representation (PR) system as part of a broader political conspiracy.

A violent clash broke out between two rival factions of the BNP in Sujanagar, Pabna, leaving at least 25 people injured, including five with gunshot wounds. Among the injured is Sheikh Abdur Rouf, a local BNP leader.

The conflict occurred between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM on the Nandita Cinema Hall Road. Long-standing tensions between supporters of Sheikh Abdur Rouf and his rival Mujibur Khan escalated into a deadly confrontation, with both groups engaging in chase and counter-chase before violence erupted.

To control the situation, police were joined by members of the army and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Law enforcement sources have claimed that the incident stemmed from personal enmity rather than political rivalry.

Nahid Islam also alleged that more than 1,200 Bangladeshis have been killed over the past 25 years, attributing many of these incidents to India's Border Security Force (BSF), which he called a “murderous and rights-violating force.” Speaking during a march in Jhenaidah demanding judicial reform and a new constitution, Islam urged the Indian government to treat Bangladeshis with dignity. He stressed that while Bangladesh may have overcome dictatorship, it has yet to be freed from anti-people governance. The NCP continues to demand free elections under a reformed legal and constitutional framework.

Nahid Islam, convenor of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that the relationship between Bangladesh and India must be based on equality and mutual respect. Speaking in Chuadanga, he claimed that the fall of the “authoritarian Hasina regime” came through public uprising, alleging via a BBC report that Sheikh Hasina had directly ordered violence. He accused India of sheltering her and demanded accountability. Islam asserted that India is as dependent on Bangladesh as Bangladesh is on India. He called for public resistance against corruption and extortion, comparing current governance to past autocratic eras.

Germany has summoned China’s ambassador following an incident where a Chinese warship used a laser to target a German aircraft during an EU maritime security mission in the Red Sea. The laser targeting endangered the pilot and forced the aircraft to land safely in Djibouti, suspending the mission temporarily. Germany condemned the act as unacceptable. Similar accusations were previously made by the US in 2020. The Chinese embassy in Berlin and Beijing have yet to respond to the latest incident.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party, warned that postponing the national election could lead to serious multidimensional security risks. He cited rising lawlessness, mob violence, and social unrest as signs of deepening political instability. Haque criticized the Election Commission’s failure to announce an election schedule and dismissed local elections held before national polls as irrelevant. He also advocated for reforms and a proportional representation system in the upper house. Haque expressed hope that a national charter could be signed by the end of July.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mahsud announced that political parties will no longer be allowed to use the national flower ‘Shapla’ (Water Lily) as an election symbol. The decision stems from its status as part of Bangladesh’s national emblem. Applications by parties such as Nagorik Oikya and the newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP) requesting the symbol were rejected. Although 69 symbols are currently scheduled, the EC plans to expand this list to over 100 ahead of the next general election. A proposal to amend the official symbol list will soon be sent to the Ministry of Law for approval.

President Trump’s plan to finalize 90 trade deals in 90 days is faltering, with only a few deals progressing and the deadline extended to August 1. Markets remain calm, anticipating Trump’s usual last-minute delays. However, global resistance is mounting, with Japan and South Korea openly opposing U.S. demands. While U.S.-China trade falls, China is expanding trade elsewhere. The dollar’s value is dropping, and new tariffs may worsen the situation. Meanwhile, other countries are strengthening trade ties, bypassing the increasingly isolated U.S.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the government to ensure the highest level of medical care for iconic Lalon singer Farida Parveen, even if it requires treatment abroad.

Visiting her at Ayesha Memorial Hospital in Dhaka on Wednesday, he described her as a peerless artist in the subcontinent. Currently battling severe kidney complications, Farida Parveen, he said, deserves the nation's full support. Fakhrul urged the chief adviser to take personal initiative if necessary and to form a special medical board for her care.

The BNP has extended financial and moral support to the mother of Bangladesh women’s football team member Rituparna Chakma, who is battling breast cancer. On Wednesday, BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi visited the remote village of Magai Chhari in Rangamati to meet the family.

Acting on the directive of party leader Tarique Rahman, Rizvi handed over a total donation of BDT 200,000—half from the “We Are BNP Family” fund and half from the local BNP unit. He also spoke about the region’s infrastructural neglect and reiterated the demand for early national elections.

The BNP has expelled Abdul Kaiyum Sarkar, Member Secretary of the party’s Alokbali Union unit in Narsingdi, citing serious allegations including murder, illegal sand trading, land grabbing, and extortion. A statement signed by BNP Assistant Office Secretary Advocate Md. Taiful Islam Tipu confirmed the expulsion due to breaches of party discipline and ethical misconduct. Local leaders welcomed the decision, calling it a positive move for party integrity.

In Shahidnagar, Lalbagh, Dhaka, army personnel arrested former Jubo Dal ward president Chan Mia on charges of illegal land grabbing and extortion. He allegedly ran a rickshaw garage on government land and collected money from locals. The operation, conducted by the Azimpur Army Camp, uncovered evidence of extortion. Chan Mia has been handed over to Lalbagh Police, who confirmed legal proceedings are underway.

During the National Citizens Party’s (NCP) “Build the Nation July March” in Chuadanga’s Alamdanga upazila, local students joined the event in school uniforms to greet party leaders. However, regional organizer Sarjis Alam expressed dissatisfaction over them skipping classes. While criticizing their absence from school, he also praised their passion and said he was “grateful for their love” and ready to sacrifice his life for the cause.

Nahid Islam, convenor of the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), has warned that extortion is spreading across Bangladesh like a pandemic. Speaking at gatherings in Meherpur and Kushtia, he emphasized that small changes at the local level can trigger large-scale national transformation.

He called for a new constitution, judicial reforms, and institutional overhaul in line with the dreams of martyr Abrar Fahad and others who stood against Indian hegemony. "If political parties continue to act under foreign dominance, the people will rise in resistance," he declared.

A high-level delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is set to visit China, following a similar trip last month by a major BNP delegation at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Ahead of the visit, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen hosted a reception in Dhaka, where Jamaat's Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman, addressed attendees. Earlier this year, two other BNP delegations also visited China, indicating growing political engagement between the CPC and opposition forces in Bangladesh.