Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not visit India for now, focusing instead on upcoming trips to Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Senior officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Rahman will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the end of September 2026, with preparatory work already underway. His potential visits to Tokyo and Riyadh are under active discussion, with Japan seeking to host him soon and Saudi Arabia having extended a formal invitation through its ambassador in Dhaka.

Diplomatic sources said Japan and Bangladesh will hold a foreign secretary-level meeting in Dhaka on August 12 to discuss Rahman’s possible visit. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan may travel to Dhaka soon or meet Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman in New York to finalize details of the Saudi trip. Analysts have welcomed Rahman’s decision to delay his India visit, citing strained bilateral relations and urging caution to preserve strategic ties with China.

Sources indicated that unless relations with New Delhi improve, a visit to India this year remains unlikely.

Andy Burnham formally assumed leadership of the UK Labour Party on Friday, paving the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister. According to a New York Times report, King Charles III is expected to invite Burnham to form a government on Monday, after which he will take office as the United Kingdom’s 59th prime minister. The former mayor of Greater Manchester takes charge at a time when the nation faces slow economic growth, high public debt, a strained National Health Service, and deep political divisions.

In his speech at a special Labour Party conference in central London, Burnham pledged to confront long-ignored national issues and to challenge political and economic systems that fail ordinary citizens. He emphasized restoring public hope, empowering local communities, and building a business-friendly yet distinctly Labour government focused on practical solutions rather than internal divisions.

Burnham also criticized the economic policies of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, promising a new path for governance that departs from the direction followed over the past four decades.

In Tehran’s Friday sermon, Imam Mohammad Jawad Haji Ali Akbari called for punishing those he described as the 'criminals' behind the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Speaking during the sermon, he said the first step in taking revenge should be to ensure justice for the perpetrators.

Akbari stated that the next steps should include expelling the United States from the region, erasing the Zionist regime from the map of West Asia, and ending America’s dominance in global affairs. He emphasized that the demand for revenge was not driven by emotion but was based on logic, Islamic law, and rights.

He added that the Supreme Leader’s message had endorsed the nation’s collective demand for justice, which has now become one of the main demands of the Islamic nation, according to the sermon reported by Al Jazeera.

Prominent lawyer Mohammad Tajul Islam has clarified the distinction between constitutional reform and amendment, stating that certain fundamental pillars of the constitution cannot be altered even by parliament. He explained during a television talk show on Thursday night that while the Supreme Court protects these core structures through its rulings, reforms can still be undertaken. He warned that major changes made solely through parliamentary amendments could face future legal challenges, citing the annulment of the Fifth Amendment as an example.

Tajul Islam emphasized that amendments bring only superficial changes and cannot address the nation’s deep-rooted issues. He recalled that the July revolution aimed for a complete overhaul of the state system, leading to proposals for forming a Constitutional Reform Council or Constituent Assembly. According to him, the current government, formed after a violent uprising outside the existing constitutional framework, required a separate order for reform, which has gained moral and political legitimacy through a public referendum.

He added that the BNP prefers the amendment route instead of supporting the proposed Reform Council, opposing its name and approach.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has renewed allegations of Israeli influence over U.S. foreign and domestic policy, criticizing Washington for allowing such sway. In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi claimed that Israel uses American taxpayers’ money to silence its critics and accused the U.S. administration of being drawn into an unwinnable conflict due to Israeli influence.

He referred to a Time magazine report alleging that former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale ran a pro-Israel operation targeting supporters of the “Make America Great Again” movement. Araghchi asserted that the situation was even worse because Israel was allegedly using U.S. funds to suppress dissenting voices, adding that the truth would soon be revealed.

According to the report, neither the United States nor Israel has issued an immediate response to Araghchi’s accusations, which were reported by Al Jazeera.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that any Israeli citizen found in Malaysia will be immediately expelled. Authorities are currently investigating allegations of Israeli involvement in a private residential community in the southern state of Johor. The statement was reported by Anadolu Agency and Free Malaysia Today on July 17, 2026.

Anwar stated that relevant agencies are conducting the investigation and that the government will not show leniency if the allegations are proven true. He emphasized that Malaysia does not recognize Israel and therefore does not allow Israeli passport holders to enter the country without special permission.

The investigation was initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs after the Johor state government called for a federal probe into the alleged involvement of an Israeli individual in a Johor-based startup community network related to a school project.

Comilla Police Superintendent Md. Anisuzzaman stated that he had been involved with the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in Dhaka long before others, during a discussion meeting held on July 16 in the district commissioner’s conference room to mark National July Martyrs’ Day. His remark came in response to comments from former Comilla Metropolitan JCD president Fakhrul Islam Mithu, who accused the police of not arresting alleged fascists in the area.

In reply, Superintendent Anisuzzaman said the meeting was not a political platform and that criticism of the police force was inappropriate. He added that some people were labeling their own rivals as fascists. The superintendent further commented on the state of the police and government, noting that the current administration was only four months old and needed time to stabilize.

The event was attended by Comilla Deputy Commissioner Rozi Akter, City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu, CDA Chairman Udbatul Bari Abu, BNP leader Ashiqur Rahman Mahmud Wasim, and other political and administrative representatives.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has decided not to visit India for now, according to senior officials of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic sources. The visit was considered highly important and sensitive, but the current lack of trust between Dhaka and Delhi has halted all discussions. The Modi government has not responded to Bangladesh’s request to extend the Ganges water-sharing treaty, which expires in December, nor taken steps to advance bilateral cooperation. Reports also cite India’s negative reaction to Rahman’s recent China visit and incidents at the border as contributing factors.

Diplomatic and political analysts have welcomed the decision, saying the prime minister made the right call given India’s perceived interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. A senior diplomat noted that unresolved issues such as border killings, trade imbalance, and water-sharing disputes make the relationship politically challenging. The source added that India’s recent actions, including alleged pressure tactics and attempts to influence domestic politics, have made it impossible for the visit to proceed under current conditions.

The postponement underscores the fragile state of Bangladesh-India relations and the growing complexity of regional geopolitics.

Rear Admiral Khondker Misbah Ul Azim has been appointed as the 18th Chief of the Bangladesh Navy. According to a Ministry of Defence notification, he will assume office on July 23, 2026, after being promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral. His tenure will continue until July 22, 2029, succeeding the current Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) confirmed the appointment in a press release on Friday.

Azim joined the Bangladesh Navy on January 1, 1987, and was commissioned in the Executive Branch on July 1, 1989, after completing naval training with distinction at the Royal Malaysian Navy. He holds a PhD in Maritime Governance from the Bangladesh University of Professionals and multiple master’s degrees in strategic, defense, and operational studies. Over nearly four decades, he has held key command and staff positions, including Commander of Chattogram and Dhaka Naval Areas, Commander Submarine, and Commandant of the Bangladesh Naval Academy.

He has also served in UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo and most recently as Bangladesh’s ambassador to Oman, contributing to bilateral relations and expatriate welfare.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir observed 'Anti-Terrorism Day' on July 17 at Dhaka University by organizing a 'League Dhar' marathon and a three-day art exhibition titled 'Roktakkhore July'. The events commemorated the July 17, 2024 incident when the group claims students expelled Chhatra League from the campus. The marathon began at 6 a.m. from Curzon Hall and ended at the Faculty of Arts, followed by the exhibition’s inauguration under the banyan tree at 8 a.m. Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem inaugurated the exhibition.

The exhibition, running from July 17 to 19, features photographs, documents, and memorabilia related to the so-called July movement and alleged fascist oppression. Shibir leaders including DUCSU General Secretary S.M. Farhad, International Secretary Asif Abdullah, and DU Shibir Secretary Kazi Ashik attended the opening. Speakers emphasized preserving the memory of July’s martyrs, resisting historical distortion, and upholding the spirit of the movement.

Organizers invited students, teachers, and citizens to visit the exhibition, which will include daily cultural performances and remembrance sessions throughout its three-day run.

Authorities have imposed a ban on prayers at the 136-year-old Gauripur Jama Masjid, located near the second runway of Kolkata Airport. The restriction led former state minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury to call for demonstrations on Friday. To maintain order, Section 163 was enforced in the airport area from Friday morning, with additional police and central forces deployed, along with water cannons.

The Bidhannagar Police announced through loudspeakers that gatherings of more than four people would not be allowed, warning of legal action for violations. Security forces have cordoned off the mosque’s entrance and surrounding areas, preventing any unauthorized assembly. The situation has created tension in nearby localities such as Birati and Bankra.

Airport authorities have claimed that the mosque’s location within the airport premises poses a risk to aircraft operations, which reportedly prompted the restriction on prayers.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah began a three-day visit to West Bengal on July 17, 2026, to review security arrangements in the Siliguri corridor, a narrow stretch connecting mainland India to the northeastern states. His agenda includes meetings on border protection, prevention of illegal infiltration, and progress in constructing barbed-wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. Shah is also scheduled to visit the Jumagachh border outpost near Siliguri on Saturday.

The visit focuses on assessing security in the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ area, a 60-kilometer-long corridor located between Nepal and Bangladesh, with its narrowest section only 20 to 22 kilometers wide. The region holds strategic importance as it links India’s northeast to the rest of the country and lies close to the borders of China and Bhutan. During his stay, Shah will interact with Border Security Force personnel and inaugurate several development projects related to border safety.

High-level meetings will also address the current security situation along the India-Bangladesh border, underscoring the government’s emphasis on strengthening surveillance and infrastructure in this sensitive zone.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for the revival and greater effectiveness of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). He made the appeal during a meeting with outgoing SAARC Secretary-General Ambassador Golam Sarwar at the Prime Minister’s residence in Islamabad, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The statement said Sharif praised Sarwar’s leadership in advancing regional cooperation during his tenure and reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to the SAARC Charter. He emphasized the importance of revitalizing regional collaboration to promote connectivity, sustainable development, and shared prosperity among the people of South Asia. Sarwar expressed gratitude to Sharif for Pakistan’s support during his term.

The report also noted that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had made a similar call for SAARC’s revival a day earlier. Established in 1985 to promote socio-economic and cultural development across South Asia, SAARC has faced significant challenges in recent years, largely due to tensions between India and Pakistan, and has not held a summit since 2014.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has distributed humanitarian aid to 2,000 families affected by recent floods and landslides in Lama upazila of Bandarban district. Acting under the directive of party leader Tarique Rahman, the relief effort covered seven unions and the municipal area. The distribution, organized by the upazila and municipal BNP units, took place on Thursday afternoon at the upazila parishad premises and was inaugurated by Javed Reza, member secretary of the Bandarban district BNP convening committee.

Several BNP leaders, including Jasim Uddin Tushar, Riton Biswas, and Abdur Rob, attended the event. Party representatives assured continued support for those impacted by the disaster while visiting affected communities. Recipients such as Ali Akbar, Banu Begum, and Luna Akter expressed gratitude, noting that many families had lost homes and livelihoods due to the disaster and were facing food shortages.

Former upazila BNP president Abdur Rob confirmed the initiative, describing it as a humanitarian duty and pledging that similar assistance efforts would continue in the future.

A commentary published on July 17, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh examines why certain groups seek to label the July 2024 uprising in Bangladesh as a failure. The author argues that the uprising, which led to the fall of Hasina Shahi’s rule and the end of Awami League governance, was inherently successful. The piece compares the event to a cyclone, describing its prelude, impact, and aftermath as stages of political transformation.

The analysis identifies three main groups attempting to depict the uprising as unsuccessful. The first group consists of supporters of Mujibist politics who must discredit the uprising to preserve the legitimacy of Awami League rule. The second includes participants whose unrealistic post-uprising expectations were unmet. The third group, described as the urban secular elite, is said to resent not leading the movement themselves. The author contrasts this with the 1990 anti-Ershad movement, which is widely celebrated because its leaders were visible in that struggle.

The article concludes that the emergence of a political party from the uprising demonstrates its success, calling the July 2024 movement the most successful mass uprising in Bangladesh’s 54-year history.