Unprecedented plundering in Bangladesh’s banking sector under the Awami League government has left banks facing liquidity shortages, slowing industrial growth. Machinery imports fell 25% in FY2024-25, while LC openings dropped similarly, limiting future industrial imports. Raw material imports for export industries rose, boosting exports, but non-export sectors saw declines. Political instability, rising interest rates, and reduced private sector credit have prolonged nearly five years of industrial slowdown, affecting production growth, credit availability, and loan recovery across multiple sectors.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned Israel’s plans to build thousands of new settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, calling them illegal under international law. He warned that such settlements deepen occupation, heighten tensions, and threaten the viability of a future Palestinian state. The UN urged Israel to immediately stop all settlement activities, reaffirming obligations highlighted in the International Court of Justice advisory opinion. The Palestinian Authority also criticized the move as part of the “Greater Israel” vision.

Saudi Arabia has strongly criticized Israel’s plan to build over 3,000 homes in the occupied West Bank, calling it a provocative move that obstructs the long-standing process of establishing an independent Palestinian state. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said such illegal actions threaten the peace process and the two-state solution. According to Peace Now, around 700,000 Jews live in 160 settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, lands Palestinians hope to use for a future sovereign state.

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur has demanded that the activities of the Jatiya Party be banned ahead of the upcoming national elections.

Speaking in Brahmanbaria, Nur said, “Even after banning fascism, we still see its allies flaunting their presence. For 16 years, the 14-party alliance kept the Awami fascism alive, and one of its key partners was the Jatiya Party.”

He added, “Awami League may be banned, but we still witness the arrogance of the Jatiya Party. The interim government must prohibit their activities.” Nur also urged the authorities to take similar action against other political groups aligned with the Awami League before the elections.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has transferred 29 Assistant and Deputy Commissioners from Chattogram Customs House in an unprecedented move, citing recent shutdowns and work stoppages that disrupted trade and caused major losses. DCs must vacate posts by 14 August, ACs by 21 August. The shake-up follows the dismissal of the Customs Commissioner over similar allegations. Officials say the mass transfer may slow operations initially, but replacement officers are set to join soon to ensure work continuity.

Tensions flared in Joypurhat as rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) student wing clashed over the council session of the Government College unit. The confrontation left seven people injured, including a police officer.

Eyewitnesses reported that from Friday morning, a faction led by Joint Conveners Sagar Chowdhury and Ahad Hossain staged a sit-in on the college premises, chanting slogans against the planned council. Their protest delayed the scheduled council session, which central leaders had intended to begin at 3:00 PM.

Around 4:30 PM, another group led by college unit leader Habibur Rahman marched toward the main gate. The rival sides then engaged in chase-and-counter-chase, escalating into violent clashes that left several injured.

Police in Sylhet’s Balaganj area have recovered the partially decomposed, headless body of an Indian national from a canal.
Local residents spotted the body floating on Thursday afternoon and alerted authorities. Police believe the remains were carried downstream from the Indian side of the border via the Kushiyara River.
Items found in the victim’s pockets included a mobile phone, a set of keys, a wallet, Indian currency, photographs, and an Indian national identity card identifying the deceased as Gouranga Ghosh.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Kanon Kumar Das confirmed that the body has been sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie has accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of transforming the Awami League into an authoritarian, non-political entity since coming to power.
Speaking on August 15, Annie alleged that Hasina’s rule over the past 17 years had been marked by oppression, even targeting women. He claimed she came to power primarily to avenge her father’s assassination, not to serve the country’s interests.
Annie said that neither Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, nor the Mujib family had a place in the hearts of the people, and that the post-independence government ruled through “fascist brutality” rather than popular support.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan has said that the late President Ziaur Rahman replaced the BAKSAL system with democracy, and later, Khaleda Zia defended democracy against military autocracy.
Speaking at a milad mahfil marking Khaleda Zia’s 81st birthday, he expressed confidence that democracy would once again be restored under BNP leadership.
Nazrul criticized the repeated imprisonments of Khaleda Zia and alleged that she had been deliberately subjected to inadequate medical treatment. He urged party members to win the hearts of the public and avoid actions that cause fear or dissatisfaction among citizens.

BNP leader Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu has claimed that his party will secure more than 250 parliamentary seats in the upcoming February elections. Speaking at a memorial prayer gathering for his father, Nasir Uddin Talukdar, Dulu said the polls would be held in line with discussions between party leader Tarique Rahman and the chief adviser.
He asserted that election plans would be unveiled within days, warning that a few political parties, fearing BNP’s victory, were engaging in conspiracies. “No conspiracy can stop this election — the people of Bangladesh have been waiting too long,” he added, urging unity against any attempts to derail the democratic process.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested six leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations in separate operations across the capital.
Deputy Police Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman said on Friday that the arrests took place within the past 24 hours as part of an ongoing crackdown on the outlawed political group.

In a striking departure from tradition, there were no official commemorations at Dhanmondi 32 on the 50th death anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Instead, music blared from loudspeakers outside his residence, featuring songs like “Killer Hasina” and “Bhalo Hoye Jao Masud Tumi,” while Hindi music videos played on a digital screen. The day saw tensions as several visitors attempting to pay floral tribute were harassed — including rickshaw-puller Azizur, who was beaten by a mob. Police barricades restricted access to the site, allowing only journalists inside, while activists from various political groups, including Chhatra Dal, gathered nearby.

Nationalist Citizens’ Platform convener Nahid Islam has rejected the title of “Father of the Nation” for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, while acknowledging his role in independence. In a statement, he accused Mujib’s rule of turning Bangladesh into an Indian dependency, imposing an unpopular constitution, and laying the foundations for corruption, political killings, and one-party dictatorship under BAKSAL. Nahid argued that the “Mujib cult” and partisan glorification of the Liberation War were used as political weapons to exploit and divide the people, likening it to a “modern feudalism in disguise.” He asserted that no single individual can claim ownership of Bangladesh’s birth or future.

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas has vowed that those responsible for torturing party chairperson Khaleda Zia in prison will face justice. Speaking at a prayer gathering for her recovery, Abbas hailed her political steadfastness, saying she remains in the country and leads the people, while those who tried to “kill her slowly” are gone. Party leader Nazrul Islam Khan urged BNP activists to avoid actions that instill fear among the public.

GOP leader Rashed Khan has sharply criticized Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus for what he described as poor team selection upon returning from France.

"We are overjoyed whenever we hear promises of justice and reform — as if Hasina will be hanged tomorrow and the massacres will be avenged. But as the saying goes, ‘When time is gone, no remedy works,’" Rashed remarked.

He argued that Yunus’s chosen advisers are akin to “intern doctors” attempting major political surgery, which, instead of curing the disease of fascism, has allowed it to spread throughout the state.

According to Rashed, the first duty after the uprising should have been to remove and prosecute Awami League beneficiaries who had institutionalized the fascist structure. "Their sweet talk about justice and reform is unbelievable to me. This NGO-circle advisory group may be eloquent, but in reality, they are indifferent and inexperienced when it comes to execution," he said.

"Our fighters keep sacrificing their lives for dreams of change, yet the state sees no real structural or qualitative transformation," he concluded.