The investigation into the Shapla Chattar massacre case in Dhaka’s Motijheel area has been completed, according to Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal. He stated that after verification, formal charges will be submitted to the tribunal on July 21. The announcement was made to journalists on Wednesday.

Aminul Islam said that the accused in the case include former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power, as well as several former heads of security forces, some journalists, and former ministers. The case concerns the killings that occurred during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar. No further details about the investigation findings or the number of accused were disclosed.

The completion of the investigation marks a significant step toward formal legal proceedings, with the tribunal expected to receive the charges later in July.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan told Parliament that the government does not support unauthorized, unprofessional, or unethical activities under the name of mobile journalism. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring media freedom, professionalism, accountability, and responsible journalism. The minister made these remarks while responding to a parliamentary question on Wednesday.

He said a proposal has been made to amend the 1974 Press Council Act to make the council stronger, more effective, and media-friendly. The proposed amendments include setting minimum educational qualifications for journalists, introducing a registration system similar to the Bar Council, imposing financial penalties for false or unethical reporting, and empowering the council to investigate and act on fake news, hate speech, or content against national interest. The minister also noted that the government is reviewing policies on electronic media advertising and digital content to align with technological changes and international standards.

Swapan added that the government is considering a balanced policy framework for podcasts, blogging, and influencer-based digital content, ensuring harmony between freedom of expression and public interest.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of being responsible for the recent escalation of attacks between the two sides. He claimed that during the week-long funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian leaders requested a 'timeout' from the United States, asking that no attacks be carried out during the ceremonies.

Trump stated that the Iranian side wanted to attend Khamenei’s funeral, and he agreed to allow them that opportunity. However, he alleged that soon after, Iran launched missile strikes. He described the situation as 'madness' but added that the killing of Khamenei should also be considered in understanding the events.

According to Trump, Iranian leaders also asked the United States not to target or kill them during the funeral period, and he said the U.S. had assured them that no such action would be taken.

The youth wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP), known as National Youth Power, has strongly condemned the arrest of its central joint organizational secretary Arif Moon along with five other activists. According to a statement released to the media on Wednesday, the arrests were made in connection with a case filed on Monday at Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station. The organization described the case as baseless and intended for harassment.

In its statement, National Youth Power said such actions go against citizens’ legitimate rights, democratic practices, and the freedom of political activities. The group called for an impartial review of the case and demanded that the legal rights of the detained activists be ensured in the interest of justice and the rule of law.

The organization further expressed hope that all concerned parties would handle the situation with respect for the constitution, law, and democratic values, and take effective measures to ensure justice.

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. A K M Shamsul Islam on Wednesday afternoon at the adviser’s office in Dhaka Cantonment. The meeting focused on enhancing defense cooperation, modernizing military training, and expanding mutual experience sharing between Bangladesh and Italy.

Both sides recalled the longstanding friendly and sincere bilateral relations between the two countries. They discussed expanding opportunities for Bangladeshi armed forces personnel to receive training at Italian military institutions and explored potential Italian support for the modernization of Bangladesh’s armed forces. The discussion also highlighted the significant contributions of both nations to United Nations peacekeeping missions and their shared commitment to global peace and security.

According to an ISPR press release, the defense adviser emphasized Bangladesh’s high regard for its military and diplomatic ties with Italy and expressed optimism about further cooperation. The Italian ambassador praised the professionalism of Bangladesh’s armed forces and voiced confidence that defense collaboration would become more effective in the future.

The Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh’s National Parliament, Kaiser Kamal, suspended the ministerial question-and-answer session midway on Wednesday after three ministers were found absent. The suspension occurred shortly after the Asr prayer break, when the session resumed at 5:26 p.m. The absent ministers were Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, and Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. The Deputy Speaker announced that the question session would be tabled and moved on to the next agenda item under Rule 71.

Earlier in the day, the parliamentary session began at 3:30 p.m. under Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, with the Prime Minister’s question session followed by ministerial questions. Before the Asr break, the three ministers had been present and responded to multiple questions from members of parliament. After the suspension, the floor was given to several MPs to speak on points of order, including issues such as waterlogging in Chattogram and disaster management.

The incident highlighted procedural challenges in maintaining ministerial participation during parliamentary question sessions.

A new partial convening committee of the National Chhatra Shakti has been announced at Jamalpur University of Science and Technology (Jabiprabi). The one-year approved committee names Liton Akand, a student of the Management Department (2020–21 session) and central co-coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, as convener. Mamunur Rashid has been appointed as member secretary, and Monir Ahmed as chief organizer. The approval was confirmed through a notice signed by the organization’s central president Zahid Ahsan and general secretary Abu Bakar Mojumdar on Monday, July 6.

According to the notice, Liton Akand played a significant role in organizing movements at the university during the July 2024 mass uprising. Mamunur Rashid is a student of the Fisheries Department (2022–23 session), while Monir Ahmed studies in the Computer Science and Engineering Department (2021–22 session). The committee also includes Riyad Hasan and Tariful Islam Sharif as senior joint conveners, Ananta Ashraf Uddin and Mujahid Sarkar as senior joint member secretaries, Sajib Islam as joint member secretary (office), and Limon Bhuiyan as joint member secretary (media).

The newly formed committee has been instructed to submit a full committee to the central council for approval within seven working days.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told Parliament on Wednesday that the government is actively considering establishing communication and dialogue with all relevant parties, including Myanmar’s main junta, to facilitate the repatriation of displaced Rohingya people. He said the verification of Rohingya data is progressing regularly, and efforts for their repatriation or resettlement in third countries are ongoing. The Prime Minister described the repatriation process as complex and dependent on security in Rakhine State, international pressure, and cooperation from Myanmar authorities.

He added that the government is pursuing strong diplomatic initiatives on bilateral, regional, and multilateral fronts to achieve a sustainable and dignified solution. Rahman also discussed labor market expansion efforts in Thailand, South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia, and said the government continues diplomatic efforts to reopen the Malaysian labor market. On the economy, he said investigations into past stock market manipulation are ongoing, with fines imposed and further legal actions under review.

The Prime Minister emphasized restoring investor confidence and ensuring transparency in the capital market, while also pledging to strengthen both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges based on expert recommendations.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced in parliament on Wednesday that the government plans to gradually increase the honorarium of primary and secondary school teachers. Responding to a question from NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah during the question-answer session, he acknowledged that many teachers are compelled to take second jobs or engage in agriculture to support their families. He emphasized the need to raise their honorarium to ensure they can focus fully on teaching.

The Prime Minister stated that the current budget allocates 2 percent of GDP to the education sector, with a target to raise it to 5 percent within five years. He highlighted that improving teacher training and financial conditions is essential for enhancing education quality. Rahman also criticized past regimes for focusing only on infrastructure rather than developing human resources.

He confirmed that the government will implement training and honorarium increases for teachers in phases, aiming to reduce their financial hardship and improve the overall standard of education.

During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Madaripur’s reserved seat MP Helen Zerin Khan asked Prime Minister Tarek Rahman whether the government would take steps to upgrade Eden Mohila College to a university. In response, the Prime Minister said that the education minister would have the appropriate answer on the matter. He added that one of the main priorities of the previous BNP government was promoting women’s education and that the current administration continues to emphasize both educational and economic empowerment for women through initiatives such as the family card program.

The Prime Minister further noted that former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s government had made education free for girls up to the intermediate level, and the current government now aims to extend free education for women up to the honors level. He also mentioned plans to introduce scholarships for female students who achieve good academic results, emphasizing the government’s commitment to advancing women’s education and participation in national development.

The session was attended by many female students in the gallery, who observed the proceedings directly.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Dr. Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed has advised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman not to spend nights outside Dhaka. He made the suggestion on Wednesday afternoon during a seminar of eleven political parties held at the Diploma Engineers Auditorium. Addressing the Prime Minister, Oli Ahmed said that foreign spies operating in Bangladesh are harming both the leader and the country, and urged him to take reform initiatives as the son of Begum Khaleda Zia.

Oli Ahmed further stated that the Prime Minister is surrounded by enemies, claiming that those appearing close to him are his real adversaries. He alleged that foreign spies have infiltrated key positions in the government and the ruling party, warning that they could cause serious harm to Tarique Rahman at any time. He advised removing such individuals from the party.

He also commented on the country’s deteriorating law and order situation, rising extortion, and weak economic conditions, noting that new investments are not coming in and that the Prime Minister is not in a strong position.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to end all trade relations with Spain, a move that Madrid has described as a normal business occurrence. According to Spain’s Prime Minister’s Office, the country views such comments as part of regular commercial interactions. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera on July 8, 2026.

In an official statement, the Prime Minister’s Office emphasized that Spain maintains excellent social, cultural, and economic relations with the United States and has no intention of altering them. The response came after Trump’s remarks during a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he told reporters that he had instructed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent to immediately sever all trade and commercial ties with Spain.

Trump justified his position by criticizing Spain’s role in NATO, claiming the country neither participates adequately nor contributes financially. Madrid’s calm response suggests it does not expect immediate disruption in bilateral relations despite the U.S. president’s comments.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah announced that the Election Commission (EC) will develop both short- and long-term plans for election observation based on numerous recommendations received. He made the remarks on Wednesday while inaugurating a two-day stakeholder dialogue in a Dhaka hotel focused on observation-related suggestions. Sanaullah said the EC had gathered opinions from observer groups and stakeholders before and after the election and hoped the dialogue would generate ideas to make future elections more inclusive.

The dialogue, jointly organized by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), aims to discuss observation recommendations, reform priorities, and implementation strategies. Over fifty participants, including local observers, civil society representatives, and election officials, are attending. European Union Ambassador Michael Miller highlighted that the EU had already presented 19 specific recommendations and expected further input from the workshop to guide future priorities.

Following the thirteenth parliamentary election in February, the EC is preparing for upcoming local government elections and is consulting stakeholders on regulatory reforms. The commission plans to apply the dialogue’s outcomes to strengthen democratic processes.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has sent a gift to Abdus Salam, a security guard stationed at an ATM booth near the old Ramna police station in Dhaka. Salam, who works twelve-hour shifts despite health issues, had a habit of standing with a sheaf of paddy to greet the prime minister’s motorcade as it passed by. The gesture caught the attention of the prime minister, who then instructed his Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Ruman, to meet Salam and deliver gifts on his behalf.

During the visit, the official inquired about Salam’s health and family. Originally from Nagarbari Ghat in Pabna, Salam had previously worked as a driver before a stroke forced him to change professions. His consistent display of respect and affection moved the prime minister, prompting this personal response.

Local residents have praised the prime minister’s gesture as a rare example of compassion and recognition of a common citizen’s sincere respect. Salam expressed deep gratitude, calling it the happiest day of his life and saying he never imagined the prime minister would notice him.

Public support for Israel has declined in the United States, according to a survey conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research between June 11 and 17. The poll found that about one-third of American adults believe Israel committed genocide against Palestinians during the Gaza war. Among Democrats, nearly half agreed with this view, while only about 20 percent of all respondents rejected the accusation. Roughly half said they lacked enough information to form an opinion.

The survey also revealed divisions among American Jews, with around 30 percent believing Israel carried out genocide. The most significant political shift appeared among Democrats: 58 percent now think the United States gives Israel excessive support, up from 45 percent in January 2024. Meanwhile, 62 percent of Democrats believe the US does not provide enough support to Palestinians, compared with 49 percent two years earlier.

These findings indicate a growing partisan and generational divide in US attitudes toward Israel and the Palestinian issue.