BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has pledged to transform Bangladesh into a democratic welfare state through the upcoming elections. Speaking at a meeting with leaders from the 12-party alliance, LDP, and Labour Party on Friday, he said the fall of fascism in July came through a student-people uprising after years of struggle. “The upcoming election must cement a democratic welfare state as chosen by the people,” he asserted.

Egypt has signed a historic $35 billion natural gas export agreement with Israel despite the ongoing Gaza conflict. The deal, the largest of its kind between the two nations, involves the supply of 130 billion cubic meters of gas to Egypt through 2040. Gas delivery will begin in 2026 in two phases, including pipeline upgrades and new infrastructure. While Israel hails the agreement as a boost to its economy, critics warn it could increase Egypt’s dependence on Israeli gas amid regional instability.

Students at Dhaka University continued their protests late into Friday night after JCD announced committees for all 18 halls. Marching from almost every hall to TSC, protesters chanted slogans such as “Hall politics no more,” “No to partisan student politics,” and “No to small group politics.” Women students were seen leading anti-politics demonstrations on campus from the evening. Earlier, a group from Rokeya Hall submitted a memorandum to the administration demanding a ban on student politics in the hall.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) announced committees for 18 Dhaka University halls on Friday, triggering controversy over the inclusion of disputed leaders. Following an internal investigation, JCD found six leaders guilty of concealing information and removed them from their posts. The accused include Mosaddeq Al Haque Shanto (Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah Hall convener), Rakibul Hasan Sourav (senior joint convener), Nitu Rani Saha (Shamsunnahar Hall senior joint convener), Raju Sheikh (Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall joint convener), Ahmed Jabir Maham, and NS Saiman (Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall members). A probe committee has been formed for further investigation.

Imran Haider has officially assumed his role as Pakistan’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, arriving in Dhaka on Friday morning. Previously serving as ambassador to Myanmar and Tajikistan, Haider replaces Syed Ahmed Maroof, who left Dhaka on leave in May and did not return. Haider has held various diplomatic roles in Tehran, Madrid, Delhi, the UAE, and New York since joining Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry in 1996. His appointment comes ahead of a planned visit by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka on August 23.

Amid intense speculation surrounding their visit, top leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) left Cox’s Bazar just after midnight on Thursday. They had arrived on August 5, coinciding with the anniversary of the July mass uprising. On Thursday morning, Sergis Alam went sightseeing in Bandarban with his wife, while four other leaders stayed at their hotel. The five-member delegation—Hasnat Abdullah, Sergis Alam, Tasnim Zara, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Khalid Saifullah—along with Alam’s wife Ayesha Khanom, had sparked political gossip and internal unrest during the trip.

The Pakistani government has suspended mobile internet services in Balochistan for at least three weeks due to escalating attacks by separatist groups demanding a share in mineral profits. Recent violence, including a deadly bomb blast that killed three security personnel, has been linked to the Baloch Liberation Army. The decision aims to curb militant coordination. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but poorest province, has a long history of conflict with the central government, and incidents of violence remain frequent in the region.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a new population census that excludes undocumented immigrants, challenging constitutional norms. He directed the Commerce Department to base the count on data from the 2024 election and modern records. The move revives Trump’s earlier attempt to alter census procedures, previously blocked in 2020. Critics warn this could negatively impact cities with large immigrant populations. The White House has not confirmed if an early census will be conducted before the next official one in 2030.

Gana-Adhikar Parishad leader Muhammad Rashed Khan claims the people's revolution has lost its way due to the failure to form a National Revolutionary Government. In a Facebook post on August 8, he criticized the interim government for lacking transparency, accountability, and reform. He alleged that corruption persists, with no major changes in key sectors like education, healthcare, or law enforcement. According to him, the interim setup only replaced faces, not systems, and betrayed public expectations after a year in power.

Advisor Nurjahan Begum praised China’s provision of robotic hands and legs to those injured in the July Revolution, stating that China is not only a development partner but also a reliable, long-standing friend who stands by Bangladesh in times of disaster. She revealed that with Chinese support, a fully equipped 1,000-bed hospital is being constructed in the Rangpur region, staffed with modern machinery and trained medical professionals. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with China to establish a rehabilitation center for July movement injured fighters. Nurjahan noted that the government is committed to creating an investor-friendly environment, encouraging Chinese medical equipment manufacturers to invest in Bangladesh for mutual benefit. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen expressed a desire to build a sustainable healthcare system in partnership with Bangladesh and extended condolences for the recent Milestone accident.

Student League President Jahidul Islam lamented that the July Declaration did not fulfill their aspirations and pointed out that the nine-point demands of the July movement were not included. Speaking at a prayer event commemorating martyr Raihan Ali on his first death anniversary, Jahidul expressed unity in upholding the spirit of the July movement but acknowledged political divisions during speeches. He called for resolving these rifts to build a better Bangladesh. He also criticized the declaration for omitting the contributions of remittance workers, journalists, and online activists, suggesting a more comprehensive declaration would better capture the July movement’s essence. Jahidul condemned the killing of journalists as tragic and demanded swift arrest and justice for those responsible.

Khelafat Majlis Amir Mamunul Haque cautioned that without a genuine, meaningful reform of the parliament (Jatiya Sangsad), introducing proportional representation (PR) could turn it into merely a “rehabilitation center for the unemployed,” adding unnecessary burden on the state. Addressing BNP, he said the current largest political party’s opposition to the PR system will prevent effective reform. He blamed the interim government for failing to implement needed electoral reforms to curb corruption, muscle power, black money, and terrorism. Mamunul urged the creation of a level playing field for elections and insisted that recognition and legal backing must be given to the legacy of the 1996 Shapla Square bloodshed, the BDR mutiny, and the national conspiracy cases to ensure justice.

Satellite images show Israel gathering troops and military equipment along the Gaza border, signaling potential preparations for a large-scale ground offensive. U.S. officials reviewing the images suggest this could lead to a new military campaign targeting Hamas, possibly to rescue hostages and deliver humanitarian aid. The buildup follows tense exchanges between U.S. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over aid issues. Israel’s ground operations in Gaza have continued since October 2023, with pauses during ceasefires.

The court has directed the seizure of assets valued at 200 crores BDT belonging to S. Alam Group until the pending loan recovery case is resolved. Islami Bank filed the case to recover a defaulted loan of 2800 crores BDT given to S. Alam Cold Rolled Steels Limited for raw material imports. The court ordered the seizure of land and flats in Dhaka and Sutrapur, along with lien money held in Pubali Bank, to secure the loan repayment.

BNP leader Goyeshwar Chandra Roy warned that communal riots might be orchestrated in Bangladesh to serve the political interests of the ruling Awami League and India, potentially derailing upcoming elections. He urged vigilance to protect national interests. Goyeshwar recalled how Sheikh Mujibur Rahman allegedly instigated conflicts between Biharis and Bengalis to secure an overwhelming majority in the 1970 election, asserting that the Awami League is skilled at creating such turmoil, even to the extent of setting fire to its own house. He explained that communal violence is often used as a political tool to divert public attention, citing similar incidents during Ershad’s rule in 1988. Goyeshwar stressed that no religion or community is inherently communal, but political actors exploit tensions. He also noted that in the subcontinent, communal violence is a recurring political phenomenon, often ongoing in India. He controversially claimed that Hindus themselves cause harm within their community. BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of masterminding anti-Bangladesh activities from India.