Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has reaffirmed that Iran will not relinquish its sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz, describing the waterway as one of the country’s main strategic assets. In a televised interview on Tuesday, Ghalibaf said that a recently signed memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States only temporarily exempts maritime service fees in the strait, without altering Iran’s sovereignty stance.

He emphasized that the strait lies within Iran’s regional waters and that the country will never retreat from this position under any circumstances. Ghalibaf referred to the waterway as a divine gift granted during wartime and a key instrument of Iran’s power.

The speaker also reiterated that Iran will not abandon its nuclear rights, asserting that uranium enrichment remains a legitimate and inalienable right of the nation.

US Vice President JD Vance described Iran’s refusal to join the planned talks in Doha, Qatar, as a “Persian bargaining tactic.” Speaking on The Michael Knowles Show, Vance said that technical-level discussions between Washington and Tehran were already underway and scheduled to continue the next day. He noted that the talks were part of an ongoing process rather than a new negotiation.

Vance commented that Iran’s public statements appeared both interesting and frustrating, as Iranian officials publicly denied peace talks while acknowledging technical discussions on a peace agreement with the United States. He characterized this dual approach as a rhetorical style he found difficult to interpret.

Responding to criticism over US engagement with Iran, Vance added that President Donald Trump had demonstrated readiness to use military force if necessary but preferred to do so only to achieve specific objectives.

US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has declared that the United States should not spend any more money on what she described as Israel’s genocide in Palestine. She announced her support for a bill seeking to end approximately $3.3 billion in annual US military assistance to Israel.

In a post on social media platform X, Tlaib said that the US should not fund an army accused of committing genocide in Palestine, ethnic cleansing in Lebanon, and war crimes in Iran. She added that most Americans and a large majority of Democrats favor ending military aid to Israel and urged lawmakers to listen to their constituents.

Other Democratic lawmakers who have expressed support for the bill include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Greg Casar, and Ilhan Omar. The bill was introduced by Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie, known for opposing US military interventions abroad, including potential conflict with Iran.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has accused the ruling BNP of misleading the nation by reviving a political issue that was resolved half a century ago. Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club on Tuesday, he said the government and its party were creating confusion over a settled matter. During the event, Parwar also announced a month-long program marking the second anniversary of the July uprising.

Parwar questioned BNP’s past political decisions, including its alliances and appointments, and alleged that the party was attempting to return fascist forces to power. He criticized the BNP government for excluding key dissent notes from the July Charter and for misrepresenting the results of a national referendum. He also accused certain corporate-backed newspapers of acting as BNP mouthpieces and urged the media to uphold truth and responsibility.

Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad added that if the government did not abandon what he called fascist behavior, the party would launch a renewed movement against it.

Former information minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) president Hasanul Haq Inu has been sentenced in a case over the killing of six people during the July Revolution in Kushtia. The verdict has sparked anger among families of the victims, July fighters, and several political leaders, who expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision.

Sujon Mahmud Farazi, son of slain businessman Bablu Farazi, said the verdict failed to include those directly involved in the shooting, including police and local Awami League activists. July fighter Shoaib Hasan Rayan called the ten-year prison sentence an insult to the martyrs and demanded Inu’s execution. Leaders from the National Citizens Party and the local BNP unit also criticized the ruling, urging the government to appeal for a harsher sentence.

In contrast, JASAD’s Kushtia district leadership rejected the verdict, calling it politically motivated and claiming that prosecutors failed to prove Inu’s involvement in the killings. The case relates to the August 5 incident when police opened fire on protesters in Kushtia, killing six people and injuring many others.

Mahmudur Rahman, writing in *Amar Desh* on July 1, 2026, reflected on the second anniversary of the July Revolution that ousted Sheikh Hasina’s government. He recounted his exile in Istanbul during the 2024 quota reform protests that evolved into a broader anti-fascist movement. Rahman described how the uprising forced the former prime minister to flee to India and expressed disappointment that post-revolution politics had devolved into power struggles rather than unity against authoritarianism.

He criticized both ruling and opposition parties for reviving factionalism and warned that such divisions could delegitimize the revolution’s achievements. Rahman accused political leaders of ignoring corruption and aligning with pro-India and former Awami League elements, thereby enabling the return of fascist narratives. He argued that denying the revolutionary nature of July 36 would endanger Bangladesh’s sovereignty and the people’s rights.

Rahman urged current leaders to uphold the spirit of the revolution and avoid rhetoric that mirrors Awami or leftist propaganda. He cautioned that failure to preserve the revolution’s legitimacy could reverse the gains of the movement and threaten national independence.

An investigative report published on July 1, 2026, describes a growing wave of civilian resistance along Bangladesh’s northern border, where local residents are joining Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) patrols to counter alleged unilateral push-in attempts by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). From June 20 to 24, field visits across several northern districts revealed that villagers, including women and youth, are standing guard at night with torches, microphones, and whistles, forming a human barrier against incursions. BGB officials confirmed that this spontaneous public participation has significantly helped prevent unwanted incidents.

Diplomatic sources cited a sharp rise in forced push-ins of ethnic Bengali groups, including women and children, from India’s West Bengal and Tripura states. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that such actions, conducted without legal or bilateral procedures, violate international border laws and harm bilateral relations. Human Rights Watch also reported that India’s actions breach international norms.

Despite the community’s vigilance, the report highlights severe infrastructural limitations on the Bangladeshi side, including poor border roads that hinder rapid BGB response. Officials and local representatives called for urgent road improvements to strengthen border defense and coordination.

Bangladesh today observes the third anniversary of the July Revolution, which began on July 1, 2024, as a student-led uprising demanding reform of the government job quota system. The movement, initially peaceful, escalated after violent crackdowns by law enforcement and ruling party activists, leading to widespread protests across the country. The uprising culminated in early August 2024 with the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, ending more than sixteen years of her rule.

The roots of the July Revolution trace back to 2018, when students under the Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Council demanded quota reform. Although the government initially abolished quotas for first- and second-class jobs, a 2024 High Court ruling reinstated them, reigniting protests. Students from major universities, including Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, Rajshahi, and Chittagong, organized demonstrations and set deadlines for the government to act. The newly formed Anti-Discrimination Student Movement coordinated nationwide actions, calling for the cancellation of the reinstated quota system.

The July 2024 protests evolved into a mass movement that reshaped Bangladesh’s political landscape, marking a turning point in the country’s struggle against authoritarianism.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has ordered the cancellation of the traditional post-budget dinner for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The decision, confirmed by Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, was made to reduce government expenditure. The cancellation is expected to save approximately 5 million taka. The dinner, usually hosted by the Ministry of Finance at the Parliament complex on the night of the budget’s passage, typically includes the prime minister, opposition leaders, cabinet members, lawmakers, senior officials, and journalists.

According to the press secretary, previous administrations under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spent between 3 to 5.5 billion taka annually on hospitality, with additional costs of 1 to 1.2 billion taka each year. The Bangladesh Tourism Corporation had supplied meals for the Prime Minister’s Office, and outstanding dues from those years are still being repaid by the current government.

Rumman added that since taking office, Prime Minister Rahman has reduced hospitality allowances. In the current month, the Prime Minister’s Office spent 1.69 million taka on hospitality, while around 9 million taka was spent on two Eid events at the state guesthouse Jamuna.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has canceled the candidacy of BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury, who was elected from Chattogram-4 in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, citing loan default. As a result, he will not be able to take oath as a Member of Parliament. The decision on whether a re-election will be held or a rival candidate will be declared winner will be known after the release of the full verdict.

In a video message following the June 30 ruling, Aslam Chowdhury stated that the Election Commission had earlier validated his nomination, which was later upheld by the High Court. He said he participated in the election under court directives and was elected by voters, but the latest Supreme Court ruling created a new legal situation. He expressed respect for the judiciary and said a review petition would be considered after receiving the full verdict.

Legal experts noted that the case has passed through the Election Commission, High Court, and Appellate Division, and that the full verdict will clarify the legal interpretations and determine the basis for any review petition.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said the July-August mass uprising represented the culmination of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s 17-year-long movement against what he called Awami misrule. He made the remarks early Wednesday, July 1, at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka during a candlelight event titled “Aloy Smriti Somujjol,” organized by the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal to mark the second anniversary of the uprising. Participants lit candles and sang the national anthem in memory of those killed in the July-August events.

Rizvi praised the sacrifices of the movement’s martyrs, saying their memory would continue to inspire resistance to injustice and authoritarianism. He criticized the Awami League government, alleging corruption in major infrastructure projects and urging students to remain vigilant. He also commended BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s leadership, describing it as a unifying force for nationalism.

JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib said the organization would continue to commemorate the uprising annually, honoring the 142 JCD members and supporters who died. Other leaders reaffirmed their commitment to democracy, justice, and national sovereignty.

The High Court has granted bail to former Chief Justice Khairul Haque in the Khoyeb murder case filed at Jatrabari Police Station in Dhaka. The bench of Justice K M Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher issued the order on Tuesday. Lawyers for Haque stated that with this decision, there are no remaining legal barriers to his release. Senior lawyers Monsurul Haque Chowdhury, Motahar Hossain Saju, Saeed Ahmed Raza, and Md Jahangir Hossain represented him during the hearing.

According to the case details, Khoyeb was killed on August 5, 2024, during an anti-discrimination student movement near the Jatrabari footbridge. The case was filed on November 16, 2024, by Khoyeb’s brother Zubair Ahmed, naming former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 79 others as accused. Haque had previously been granted bail in seven other cases on May 23, 2026, but was later shown arrested in this new case.

Haque was initially detained by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police from his Dhanmondi residence on July 24, 2025. Following this latest bail order, his lawyers confirmed that his release is now legally unobstructed.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman has urged Bangladeshi media outlets to comply with a court order prohibiting the broadcast of statements by fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Speaking at a regular press briefing at the Department of Information on Tuesday, he said some local media had recently aired an interview with Hasina despite the ban, which he described as a violation of court directives. He added that the concerned outlets would initially be cautioned, and the ministry would formally notify them.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that while foreign or online platforms may share such content, it does not make domestic broadcast lawful as long as the court’s restriction remains in force. He hinted that the government could consider further action if necessary. Responding to questions, he also clarified that the ban on political activities of the Awami League remains effective under the amended Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009, and any attempt to operate under new names would not be permitted.

He further noted that current local government elections are being held without party symbols, meaning no political party is officially participating.

In Texas, a surge of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment has followed a contentious Republican primary runoff election. Local Muslims report growing hostility in daily life, from schools and universities to public spaces. Incidents include a man burning the Quran near praying students at the University of Houston and verbal harassment of women wearing traditional attire. Muslim delegates at the Texas GOP convention were told to convert to Christianity or leave the country, while a viral video showed two Muslim women being abused in a grocery store. The woman involved received significant online fundraising support, endorsed by Republican Congress member Nancy Mace.

At the Texas Republican Party convention, delegates added a “Don’t Shariah Our Texas” clause to their legal priorities, calling for criminalizing Shariah law. Experts note that no one is attempting to implement Shariah in Texas. Muslim leaders and activists, including Dr. Suleman Lalani and Nayla Syed, have voiced concern over the normalization of hate speech and the politicization of religion. They warn that such rhetoric fosters fear and division within communities.

The state’s education board also approved a new social studies draft that reduces lessons on slavery and civil rights, prompting further concern about marginalization of minority perspectives.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has emerged as a key opposition force, shifting from confrontational politics to a more policy-oriented approach. In a recent parliamentary session, the party supported a motion thanking Prime Minister and Parliament Leader Tarique Rahman for his successful foreign visits, signaling a cooperative yet critical stance. The party’s leader, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, emphasized principled opposition, supporting positive government actions while openly criticizing deviations.

At its central Majlis-e-Shura meeting, Jamaat presented a seven-point proposal addressing issues such as rising commodity prices, law and order, judicial reform, administrative neutrality, border security, local government elections, and teachers’ welfare. The party’s most significant demand is implementing referendum results and forming a constitutional reform council. Analysts note that Jamaat’s focus on local elections reflects its strategy to strengthen grassroots organization and test its political strength.

The article highlights Jamaat’s attempt to redefine itself beyond ideological boundaries by presenting alternative governance policies. It argues that both government and opposition must act responsibly, as citizens now expect concrete plans rather than slogans. The seven-point proposal may mark the beginning of a new phase of policy-based political competition in Bangladesh.