Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association President Chowdhury Mazhar Ali, known as Shiva Shanu, said he feels ashamed when artists mock July, emphasizing that true artistry requires emotion, conscience, and awareness. He made the remarks on Thursday at the National Film Archive in Agargaon, Dhaka, during a discussion organized by the July Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation to mark July Martyrs’ Day.

Shanu assured the families of July martyrs that many artists, including himself, remain committed to supporting the nation, its people, and the families of those who sacrificed their lives. He recalled his participation in anti-autocracy movements, saying that although many activists faced imprisonment or persecution, they stood firm for democracy and human rights. He urged everyone to uphold the spirit of the martyrs by working for a just and democratic Bangladesh.

Calling for a corruption-free and autocracy-free nation, Shanu said the change must begin within individuals. He pledged to dedicate the rest of his life to serving the July fighters and their families, expressing deep emotion over memories of the movement and its sacrifices.

Former state minister Sohel Taj has alleged that a powerful family and its associates have destroyed Bangladesh’s democratic system through repression, corruption, and large-scale money laundering. He made the remarks on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in a post on his personal Facebook account, claiming that the group is now abroad inciting ordinary party members.

In his post, Sohel Taj wrote that the family and its close circle have harmed the nation through killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, particularly during the July-August uprising, which he said resulted in numerous deaths, injuries, and permanent disabilities. He further alleged that massive sums of money were smuggled abroad, weakening the Awami League as an organization.

According to his statement, those currently living overseas are monitoring the situation from afar, sitting on the wealth they allegedly laundered, and attempting to reassert control over the country through local supporters.

Professor Dr. Md. Ainul Islam, newly appointed dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Jagannath University, left his office on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following protests by several student organizations and general students. Demonstrators from the JnU units of Chhatra Dal, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, and others staged a sit-in outside the dean’s office, demanding the cancellation of his appointment, which they described as a “rehabilitation of fascism.” Amid slogans and growing tension, Dr. Islam exited the office, escorted by university proctors.

Protesting students alleged that Dr. Islam had taken a controversial stance during the July 2024 movement and criticized the decision to appoint him to a key administrative post. Leaders of the student groups argued that his past actions were inconsistent with the university’s values and the spirit of the July movement. University Proctor Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin confirmed that the administration would review the allegations.

Dr. Islam stated that his appointment was legally valid and that the accusations were old and politically motivated. He said he left the office respectfully, considering the situation, and expressed confidence that an investigation would clarify the facts.

Md. Riazul Islam, vice president of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JCC), has been appointed as the central student rights secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir. At the same time, JCC general secretary and Jagannath University branch Shibir president Abdul Alim Arif has been selected as a member of the organization’s central executive council. The announcement was confirmed on Thursday, July 16, by the university branch of the organization following a partial update of the central secretariat’s leadership list earlier in the week.

According to organizational sources, the appointments are part of a new distribution of responsibilities within the central body. Riazul Islam said the central leadership of Islami Chhatra Shibir changes annually through a systematic process and sought prayers to fulfill his new duties with honesty and dedication. Abdul Alim Arif described his appointment as a trust and a test from God, expressing his intention to perform his responsibilities with accountability.

The new appointments reflect the continuation of the organization’s internal leadership rotation process, as confirmed by its representatives.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said Bangladesh does not want a return to political violence where people die from gunfire. He made the remarks on Thursday at the National Film Archive in Agargaon, Dhaka, during a discussion organized by the July Martyrs Memorial Foundation to mark July Martyrs Day. He emphasized that the nation cannot forget the July martyrs and described the current government as one that upholds the spirit of July and the Liberation War.

Dr. Rahman said the government has a moral responsibility to stand beside the families of those killed or injured during the July uprising. He added that the struggle for human dignity and social justice, envisioned during the Liberation War, remains incomplete. Other speakers, including JSSF CEO Kamal Akbar and Professor Dr. Shah Md. Nistar Jahan Kabir, highlighted the need to preserve the memory of the martyrs and warned against external conspiracies.

Cultural figures such as actor Helal Khan and Film Artists Association President Chowdhury Mazhar Ali also spoke, urging artists to uphold national consciousness and respect the July movement’s legacy.

The Bangladesh Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, approved a proposal to celebrate National Youth Day on November 1 and International Youth Day on August 12 each year. The decision was made during the 13th cabinet meeting held on Thursday afternoon at the Bangladesh Secretariat. A press release from the Cabinet Division confirmed the approval and outlined the reasoning behind the change.

Previously, both days were observed separately until an interim government advisory council decided to merge them into a single celebration on August 12. The first joint observance took place in 2025. However, due to monsoon conditions, organizing youth rallies, assemblies, and fairs proved difficult, limiting opportunities for youth entrepreneurs to display and sell their products.

The Cabinet noted that holding youth fairs outside the National Youth Day period failed to attract sufficient public participation or commercial success. Considering these factors, the government decided to revert to separate observances to ensure better organization and engagement.

A commotion broke out at Khulna’s Shaheed Suhrawardy College during a July Martyrs’ Day discussion meeting after a teacher’s remarks on freedom of speech. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in the college’s teachers’ lounge. Lecturer Moniruzzaman Morol from the Management Department said that the July uprising restored freedom of speech that was absent under fascist rule. Some teachers reportedly mocked his comments, leading to a heated exchange.

Moniruzzaman alleged that Assistant Professor Imran Hossain Azam Khan from the Accounting Department criticized him loudly and that two other teachers, Raihan Hossain and Ayesha Abu Bakkar, supported Imran with inappropriate remarks. He further claimed Imran was a former leader of a banned student organization and had avoided the college for months after the July uprising. Imran denied the allegations, saying Moniruzzaman often provokes disputes and personally insults him.

Principal Ruma Nandi stated that the dispute was personal and not related to the July discussion, describing the incident as minor. She added that since August, the college has avoided assigning Imran to speak at events.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman said the July uprising represented a united public resistance against oppression, injustice, and autocracy. Speaking on Thursday evening at the party’s Dhaka North office in Baridhara during a discussion and prayer meeting marking July Martyrs’ Day, he emphasized that Islam teaches protest against injustice and called for building a justice-based Bangladesh inspired by the spirit of July.

Professor Mujibur Rahman stated that Jamaat achieved victory when it refused to bow to injustice and accepted the gallows instead. He alleged that the Awami League destroyed democracy through the 2024 election and committed mass killings in July. He urged all political parties claiming to be democratic to implement the verdict of the July uprising, warning that any government ignoring the people’s verdict would lose public acceptance.

Dhaka North Jamaat Ameer and DNCC mayoral candidate Mohammad Selim Uddin said the people would never abandon the ideals of July and vowed to resist all conspiracies against it. The event concluded with prayers for the martyrs and the recovery of the injured.

Leaders and participants in Rangpur observed July Martyrs’ Day on Thursday by paying tribute at the July Memorial and calling for unity to strengthen democracy and advance national prosperity. The event was attended by the Minister for Liberation War Affairs, the State Minister for Water Resources, and representatives from political, administrative, and social organizations. The Liberation War Affairs Minister said the spirit of the July martyrs would inspire democratic consolidation and national progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

At Babonpur village in Pirganj, Dhaka North Jamaat-e-Islami leader S.M. Khaliduzzaman visited the grave of July Movement martyr Abu Sayeed, expressing concern that the country was again moving toward authoritarianism. He alleged that the ideals of the July Movement remained unfulfilled. Later, local Jamaat leaders held prayers and a rally at the site. Leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Students’ Party and Islami Chhatra Shibir also paid tribute, urging justice for past killings and warning of protests if delays continued.

Throughout the day, various programs in Rangpur honored the martyrs, emphasizing justice, democracy, and equality as guiding principles for the nation.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahid Ur Rahman stated that the BNP embodies the spirit of July and the ideals of the Liberation War. He made the remarks on Thursday at a discussion organized by the July Martyrs Memorial Foundation (JSSF) at the National Film Archive in Agargaon, Dhaka, marking July Martyrs’ Day. He emphasized that the nation cannot forget the July martyrs and that Bangladesh should not return to a time when protests led to bloodshed.

Dr. Rahman said the current government, which came to power after the July events, was actively involved in that movement and continues to uphold the values of the Liberation War. He stressed that the government has a moral responsibility to support the families of the martyrs and the injured, noting that the July Martyrs Memorial Foundation is facing financial hardship and its staff have not received salaries for a long time.

He pledged to personally work toward resolving the foundation’s financial problems, calling the situation painful and shameful, and reiterated that gratitude alone is not enough without concrete action.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam said it is the nation’s duty to build a just and equitable Bangladesh following the ideals of martyr Abu Saeed. He made the remarks on Thursday in Rangpur after visiting Abu Saeed’s grave, describing him as the spiritual leader of the July Revolution and the first martyr of that movement. Nahid Islam recalled that Abu Saeed’s sacrifice in 2024 sparked the student and public uprising that led to the revolution.

He stated that the July Revolution had three main demands—justice, state reform, and elections—but only elections have been held so far. Referring to the Abu Saeed murder case, he said the verdict has been delivered but not yet implemented due to an ongoing appeal. Nahid Islam alleged that Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death in the case, should be brought back to face justice. He also criticized the government for failing to implement the July Charter and the reform mandate supported by 70 percent of voters in a referendum.

Nahid Islam added that if the government sincerely pursues reforms, the NCP will fully cooperate to realize the revolution’s goals.

The Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU) organized a prayer gathering on Thursday after Asr prayers at the university’s central mosque, seeking forgiveness for the souls of all martyrs of the July uprising. The event was conducted by ChakSU’s Liberation War and Democratic Movement Secretary Monayem Sharif and attended by former Rangamati Science and Technology University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Atiar Rahman, Chittagong University Associate Professor of Philosophy Mozammel Haque, ChakSU Vice President Ibrahim Hossain Roni, General Secretary Saeed Bin Habib, and other leaders.

During the event, Professor Atiar Rahman emphasized the importance of revisiting the events of July to preserve their historical significance. He criticized past government subservience to foreign influence and recalled the role of student leader Osman Hadi in anti-imperialist movements. Rahman also reflected on the lack of faculty support during the uprising and mentioned past attacks on his residence. ChakSU Vice President Roni recounted the sacrifices of students in Chittagong and Rangpur on July 16, describing the day as one of courage and revolutionary spirit.

The gathering concluded with special prayers for the martyrs, the recovery of the injured, and the welfare of the nation.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam MP said the Prime Minister’s recent visit to China brought no achievement regarding the Teesta mega project. Speaking at a farmers’ rally and the launch of the National Farmers’ Power in Kurigram Sadar on Thursday, he alleged that the northern region has long suffered from development disparity and that the government deliberately reduced major development allocations because most opposition MPs represent the area.

Nahid Islam criticized the national budget for failing to address regional and economic inequality in northern Bangladesh, saying people are being deprived of their rights. He pledged to ensure voting and economic rights for the region’s residents. NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain highlighted farmers’ debt-related suicides, contrasting them with large-scale loan defaulters. Kurigram-2 MP Dr. Atik Mujahid said the district received only 0.22 percent of national development funds over 17 years, while Gopalganj got 5 percent, calling for equal development opportunities.

The event concluded with the announcement of a partial convening committee for the National Farmers’ Power, naming Said Uzzal as convener and agriculturist Golam Mortuza Selim as member secretary.

The Eleven-Party Alliance held a rally and assembly at Shahbagh Square in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon to mark July Martyrs’ Day, demanding justice for the July massacre. The event was attended by families of martyrs and injured July fighters. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar presided over the rally, accusing the BNP of denying the July Revolution and betraying its revolutionaries. He alleged that BNP ministers and MPs had called the July Revolution unnecessary despite benefiting from it.

Speakers including Jamaat leaders, MPs, and representatives from allied parties criticized the BNP for rejecting the referendum results and failing to implement the July Charter. They claimed that nearly 70 percent of voters supported the charter, which aimed to build a just and discrimination-free Bangladesh. Several speakers urged the government to form a constitutional reform council and finalize the list of July martyrs, citing the UN’s figure of 1,400 victims.

The rally concluded with a procession from Shahbagh to the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) gate, where participants reiterated their demand for justice and implementation of the July Charter.

Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hasan paid a farewell courtesy call on Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman at the Army Headquarters on Thursday. During the meeting, the Bangladesh Army extended a guard of honor to the Navy Chief, and senior officers from the Army Headquarters were present. The discussion focused on strengthening mutual trust, professionalism, and inter-service cooperation between the two forces. The information was shared through the verified Facebook page of the Bangladesh Army.

Admiral Nazmul Hasan assumed the role of Navy Chief on July 24, 2023. He was commissioned into the Bangladesh Navy on July 1, 1986, and has served in various staff, instructional, and command positions. His previous roles include Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel), Director of Naval Operations and Naval Intelligence, and Director General of the Civil-Military Relations Directorate at the Armed Forces Division.

The farewell meeting highlighted the continuity of cooperation between the Bangladesh Army and Navy as leadership transitions take place within the armed forces.