Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that the current government has initiated the process of preparing a complete and impartial list of martyrs from Bangladesh’s Liberation War. He made the statement in parliament on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, while responding to a question from ruling party MP Ruhul Amin Dulal. The Prime Minister said that those responsible after independence failed to prepare an accurate list and instead politicized the process. The government now considers this task a sacred responsibility.

Rahman explained that the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has already begun work to fulfill the government’s election pledge by organizing expert meetings, consulting stakeholders, and drafting a detailed action plan. He emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure proper recognition and honor for all who sacrificed their lives during the war.

In related parliamentary discussions, the Prime Minister also addressed questions about verifying fake freedom fighters and confirmed that a committee of experts is working to identify genuine ones. He reiterated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government is committed to honoring the Liberation War and its martyrs.

Security measures at the Bangladesh Secretariat were intensified as HSC examinees launched a long march toward the complex demanding the resignation of Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon and two other conditions. The protest, held on Wednesday, followed a brief road blockade at the Science Laboratory intersection before students began marching toward the Secretariat.

Authorities deployed additional police personnel at gates 1, 2, and 5, enforcing stricter identity checks and searches. Law enforcement remained on alert throughout the area, while Secretariat staff continued their regular duties under heightened security. The students’ three-point demand includes postponing HSC and equivalent exams until weather conditions normalize, arranging retests for those unable to attend the July 13 exam due to adverse weather, and the minister’s resignation.

As of the latest reports, law enforcement maintained a vigilant stance around the Secretariat, continuing necessary measures to keep the situation under control.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman began his speech in the national parliament on Wednesday by remembering the Shapla martyrs. Before delivering his main address, he paid tribute to them and acknowledged the opposition for supporting the government’s family card project. He emphasized that to resist authoritarianism in the future, the nation must strengthen its political and economic capacities.

Earlier in his remarks, Rahman reflected on the sacrifices made during the Liberation War, noting that countless people were victims of genocide. He criticized the failure of those responsible after independence to prepare a neutral and complete list of the martyrs, saying that political interests had interfered with the process. He added that despite repeated attempts, the compilation of an accurate list has faced persistent obstacles.

The Prime Minister’s comments linked the historical struggle for independence with the need for unity and institutional strength to safeguard democracy and national progress.

The fifth death anniversary of Advocate Maulana Mohammad Nazrul Islam, a senior lawyer of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, was observed on July 15, 2026. He passed away on this day in 2021 at the age of 81. Colleagues and well-wishers from the legal community prayed for his departed soul and called for remembrance of his contributions to the country's judicial system.

Nazrul Islam was known for his efforts to promote the Islamization of law in Bangladesh. He played a key role in founding the Islamic Lawyers Council and the Bangladesh Islamic Law Research and Legal Aid Center, serving as president and founding general secretary respectively. Born in 1940 in Chauhali, Sirajganj, he studied at Pabna Edward College and later earned postgraduate and law degrees from Karachi University. He was imprisoned several times during his student activism.

Beyond law, he was involved in education and social service institutions such as Ibn Sina Trust, Tamirul Millat Trust, and Bangladesh Publications Limited. Politically, he served as the Narayanganj district chief of Jamaat-e-Islami and contested several national elections.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced that any Israeli citizen found in Malaysia will be immediately expelled. The statement came after allegations surfaced that an Israeli individual was involved in the operations of a private residential community in Forest City, located in the southern state of Johor. Authorities are currently investigating the matter, and Anwar emphasized that the government will not compromise if the allegations are proven true.

According to local media reports, Malaysia’s Home Ministry has launched an investigation into claims related to a Johor-based startup community called Network School. The Immigration Department stated that all 266 foreigners inspected in the Forest City international community possessed valid immigration documents. Malaysia does not recognize Israel as a state, and Israeli passport holders are generally prohibited from entering the country without special government approval.

Forest City is a large mixed-use development built on artificial islands near the Singapore border in Johor, and the investigation is ongoing.

HSC examinees in Dhaka continued their second day of demonstrations on July 15, 2026, demanding the resignation of the education minister and changes to the examination schedule. The students began a long march toward the Secretariat from several key points, including Uttara, Science Laboratory intersection, and Mirpur, after staging sit-ins and road blockades. They said the current exam routine was hastily prepared and placed severe mental pressure on them.

As the march advanced toward the Ministry of Education, law enforcement agencies tightened security around the Secretariat. Witnesses reported that all entry gates were locked and reinforced with heavy chains, while large numbers of police officers were deployed at Zero Point and near the Press Club. The heightened security and student march caused temporary traffic paralysis across major city routes, leaving commuters stranded.

The students also presented six demands, including opportunities to retake exams disrupted by disasters, fair grading for re-examinations, full marks for flawed questions, a short break before exams to reduce stress, reconsideration of sudden question format changes, and ensuring a student-friendly environment at exam centers.

Two top leaders of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) have termed the rejection of the referendum mandate as political deception. In a joint statement on Wednesday, July 15, JSD President A S M Abdur Rob and General Secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan made the remark following the formation of a constitutional amendment committee in the National Parliament.

The statement said that, in light of the July uprising, the people’s sovereign aspirations, and the national charter and referendum, fundamental reform of Bangladesh’s state system has become an inevitable demand. The leaders criticized the government for forming a parliamentary committee for so-called amendments instead of implementing the people’s mandate for a constitutional reform council. They argued that the constitution is a document of the people’s sovereign consent, not of any government or parliamentary majority, and that ignoring the direct mandate undermines the people’s sovereign decision.

The JSD demanded the immediate formation of a representative constitutional reform council to implement the referendum-approved mandate and warned that the government would bear responsibility for any future political, constitutional, or legal crises arising from ignoring the people’s verdict.

Students in Uttara resumed road blockades on Wednesday afternoon demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon. The protest began around 1:30 p.m. in front of the BNS Center, halting traffic toward both Dhaka and Gazipur. Police were present with water cannons but avoided confrontation. The students said they would continue their movement until all demands were met.

Their three-point demand includes postponing HSC and equivalent exams until flood and waterlogging conditions improve, arranging retests for students who missed exams on July 13 due to bad weather, and the resignation of the education and primary education ministers. The minister had earlier apologized for his remarks about examinees and announced a retake of the July 13 physics exam.

In parliament, Milon explained that heavy rain disrupted several exams and that retests would be arranged for affected subjects. He said the ministry was monitoring the situation closely and had already suspended exams in flood-affected areas such as Chattogram. Despite his assurances, student protests have continued in Dhaka.

A meeting of the cabinet committee formed to review and finalize the draft of the Cyber Security (Amendment) Act 2026 was held on Wednesday at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The session took place in the conference room of the Posts and Telecommunications Division and was chaired by Fakir Mahbub Anam, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology, and convener of the committee.

The meeting discussed various sections of the draft law, focusing on strengthening cyber security, protecting citizens’ rights, and ensuring a safe digital service environment amid rapid technological changes. Participants exchanged views on necessary amendments and recommendations to make the law more effective and relevant.

Following the discussion, several suggestions were made to make the draft more practical and up to date. The committee decided to hold another meeting after incorporating these recommendations to finalize the draft law.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the newly enacted Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Prevention and Suppression Act, 2026 will play a strict and effective role in preventing the misuse of digital platforms and technology by organized criminal networks. He made the remarks at a national dissemination event held at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka, organized jointly by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Justice and Care, Bangladesh.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling through a robust legal framework, institutional coordination, and a victim-centered justice system. The new law clearly defines human trafficking and migrant smuggling as separate crimes, strengthens investigation and prosecution powers, enhances protection for victims and witnesses, and expands international cooperation in line with global standards. It also upholds the principle of non-punishment for victims.

Participants from law enforcement, judiciary, ministries, diplomatic missions, and international organizations discussed the law’s key provisions and implementation priorities, emphasizing coordination across all stages of the criminal justice process and the need for sustained national and international collaboration.

On 15 July 2024, campuses across Bangladesh, including Dhaka University, turned into battlegrounds as members of the banned Chhatra League launched armed attacks on students participating in the quota reform movement. At least 297 students were injured in Dhaka University alone, with over 400 wounded nationwide. Witnesses reported assaults even inside Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where injured students sought treatment. Videos of female students being beaten circulated widely on social media.

The violence followed remarks made on 14 July labeling quota reform activists as descendants of collaborators, sparking mass protests across universities. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain later vowed a strong response, after which coordinated attacks occurred on multiple campuses. Student leaders accused police of inaction and condemned the brutality, while university authorities held emergency meetings and deployed additional police.

In response, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced nationwide demonstrations for 16 July, rejecting the Prime Minister’s comments and calling for public solidarity. The attacks significantly intensified the quota reform movement, spreading protests across the country.

US Senate Democrats have blocked a motion to begin debate on the Trump administration’s annual defense policy bill. The vote, held on Tuesday, ended 50–46, falling short of the 60 votes required to proceed. As a result, approval of the proposed $1.15 trillion military budget has been temporarily halted.

Democratic senators opposed the bill not only because of President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran but also due to provisions that would deepen military and intelligence cooperation between the United States and Israel. They accused the administration of intensifying military actions against Iran without congressional authorization and objected to the overall size of the Pentagon’s proposed budget.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated before the vote that passing the bill would effectively grant the Trump administration permission to continue military operations against Iran without congressional oversight.

Professor Dr. Ainul Islam, a controversial teacher and leader of the pro-Awami League 'Blue Panel' at Jagannath University, has been appointed as the new dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The appointment, announced in mid-July 2026, has sparked widespread anger across the campus due to his alleged involvement in advising former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a violent crackdown on student protests in August 2024.

According to reports, Dr. Islam attended a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office during the 2024 student movement, where he allegedly supported the use of force against demonstrators. He has also faced previous allegations of unethical conduct, including a 2010 incident that led to his removal as proctor and a 2022 case involving false accusations against students. In August 2024, he was accused of attempting to remove official documents while serving as acting registrar.

Student leaders from various organizations have condemned the appointment, calling for its immediate cancellation and threatening strong protest actions if their demands are not met.

Bus operations between Rajshahi and the rest of Bangladesh resumed on Tuesday night after a 25-hour suspension. Services had been halted from 8 p.m. Monday following a dispute between two groups over the district motor workers’ union election. The stoppage caused severe travel disruptions, forcing many passengers to pay extra for alternative transport or cancel their trips.

The suspension stemmed from disagreements over forming the election management committee for the Rajshahi District Motor Workers’ Union. The district administration held separate meetings with both sides throughout Tuesday, eventually reaching a compromise. Under the agreement, the election will be held under the supervision of the district administration, with a nine-member convening committee including six worker representatives and three from the administration. It was also decided that Nazrul Islam (Helal) would not be part of the election committee, as demanded by the workers.

Following the resolution, bus services from Rajshahi to Dhaka and other destinations returned to normal on Tuesday night, easing the hardship faced by thousands of passengers.

Hasnat Abdullah, Member of Parliament for Comilla-4 and chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region, said that Bangladeshis will again take to the streets if the country falls under fascism or fails to uphold the rule of law. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a roadside rally in Nimtala, Sirajdikhan, along the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, as part of the NCP’s “July March to Build the Nation” program.

During his speech, Abdullah accused the current government of deceiving the people and criticized the Home Minister as a failed leader. He alleged that state institutions, including the police and educational establishments, have been politicized. He also questioned the government’s promise to create employment for ten million people, claiming that instead of jobs, the unemployed are being driven toward drugs. Abdullah further stated that 70 percent of citizens support structural reforms and accused the ruling party of selective adherence to the constitution.

At the event, Abdullah introduced Ali Newaz as the NCP candidate for the upcoming Sirajdikhan upazila election, urging public support for him.