Writer Umama Fatema responded to the recent extortion scandal in Gulshan by questioning the public's shocked reaction. “It’s amusing how everyone pretends to be surprised,” she said. “This is just the first time one of these guys got caught.”

She shared a personal experience, identifying one of the accused—named Riyad—as having behaved aggressively toward her at Rupayan Tower in December. “When we tried to stop him, he turned on us,” she wrote. “After digging, I found multiple accusations already existed against him for threats and extortion. Sadly, people like him have long been embedded in elite circles.”

NCP leader Sarjis Alam highlighted the humanitarian role of the Bangladesh Army in supporting those injured and the families of those martyred in the July uprising.

“Let’s acknowledge some unpopular facts,” he wrote. “Since August 5, the Army Chief has visited CMH every Saturday to see the injured—more than all advisers combined. The most critical patients received high-quality treatment at CMH with the highest per-person expenses. After the July Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation and the Ministry of Health, the Army and its chief have done the most in terms of financial aid and rehabilitation.”

At a rally in Kishoreganj, National Constitution Party (NCP) convenor Nahid Islam accused the current regime of failing to protect basic rights. “The people of Kishoreganj once gave the country a president, but they never got access to proper education or healthcare,” Nahid said.

He alleged that the former "fascist" president dismantled democracy and handed it over to Sheikh Hasina. Echoing this sentiment, Hasnat Abdullah added, “The days of corrupt leaders are numbered. If we can unite, corruption will be eradicated permanently. No one should be spared, not even if it's your own father.”

Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, has sparked controversy by saying that to keep Dhaka's rivers—especially the Buriganga—clean, mayors, administrators, and politicians should be required to bathe in the river at least twice a year.

In response, environmental activist Rizwana Hasan remarked, “I must admit, this idea never crossed my mind. With all due respect, it is ultimately the responsibility of politicians to solve the nation’s problems. If our political system worked as it should, civil society wouldn't need to intervene during times of crisis. But in the end, lasting solutions must come from the political leadership.”

During a rally in Bhairab, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Akhtar Hossain declared, “We overthrew Hasina in July—not to replace her with another dictator, but to restore justice.” He emphasized that the long-standing demand to declare Bhairab a district remains unmet. “This demand must now be fulfilled,” he added. Akhtar condemned the widespread corruption under previous governments, citing massive embezzlement in the name of infrastructure projects and illicit financial outflows. He also honored those injured or killed during mass uprisings, stating, “Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.” He warned that any opposition to the new vision for Bangladesh will be met with resistance from the people of Bhairab.

Following their arrest over an extortion attempt, three student leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Movement have been permanently expelled for engaging in “disciplinary violations.” The expelled individuals are Dhaka Metropolitan Convenor Ibrahim Hossain Munna, and members Md. Sakadoun Siam and Sadman Sadab.

A formal statement from the organization urged all members to cease any organizational contact with the expelled individuals.

Two local leaders affiliated with the Awami League were mistakenly appointed to the BNP's newly approved convening committee for the Bardal South Union in Tahirpur, Sunamganj. Their names were later removed following backlash on social media.

The appointments had been approved via an official BNP letterhead signed by Upazila BNP Convener Badol Mia and Joint Convener Junab Ali. The controversy involved Jila Sramik League's Welfare Secretary Zillur Rahman and party worker Hannan Munshi. Allegations surfaced that a BNP leader had recommended Zillur for the post — an accusation that has been officially denied.

Revolutionary Workers Party leader Junaid Saki has called for a major constitutional overhaul, criticizing the centralization of power in the hands of the Prime Minister. “Bangladesh can no longer afford a parliament where MPs simply raise their hands in agreement,” he said, pointing to Article 70 as a legal straitjacket.

He proposed a bicameral legislature and shared authority over constitutional appointments, involving both government and opposition parties. Saki further criticized state-controlled livelihoods, saying, “Even street vendors now depend on ruling party approval — often enforced through extortion.”

The newly launched Bangladesh Muslim Council held its inaugural event with the unveiling of a biography series of 313 Bangladeshi Islamic scholars. Addressing the event, Religious Affairs Advisor Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain emphasized the need for laws rooted in the country's cultural, historical, and religious heritage.

He noted that the “July Revolution” has created an opportunity for Islamic scholars to actively engage in state-building and called on them to prepare themselves to lead responsibly. “The stronger and more united the scholars are, the greater their positive impact on society,” he said.

BNP leader Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has warned that true democracy in Bangladesh cannot be realized without timely elections. Speaking on the current interim government's performance, he said, “Though formed through significant sacrifices and supported by all major parties including the BNP, the interim council appears to be delaying elections to stay in power longer.”

Hafiz also commented on the current proportional representation (PR) voting system, arguing that it distances voters from candidates. “BNP supports a system where individuals, not parties, are held accountable. Voters should be able to choose candidates based on merit, not just party affiliation.”

A recent Al Jazeera documentary titled “36 Days of July: Uncovering Sheikh Hasina’s Secret Directives” has sparked controversy, particularly regarding the portrayal of political activist Sadik Kayem. AHM Shaheen, writing critically about the film, argued that Sadik was strategically presented as a frontline leader of the July uprising, overshadowing others like Nahid and Asif, who, according to him, played more prominent roles.

The post was shared by Nazifa Jannat, who added strong criticism, stating: “The journalists behind this Al Jazeera report deserve serious accountability — if not a slap in the face, at least a call to responsibility. How can someone hiding under the Student League’s umbrella be framed as a key figure of the July uprising? Shame!”

Police have arrested five individuals accused of attempting to extort money from the residence of a former Member of Parliament by falsely claiming to be "coordinators." The suspects — Md. Siam, Sadman Sadab, Md. Aminul Islam, Ibrahim Hossain, and Abdur Razzak Riad — are currently in custody, with a formal case under process.

Among those detained, Abdur Razzak Riad is reported to be the acting convener of the Combined Private University Chapter of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and a member of the Democratic Student Union. The others are affiliated with various ranks of the anti-discrimination movement. According to Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hafizur Rahman, the group demanded Tk 10 million from former MP Shammi Ahmed. They had allegedly already taken Tk 1 million earlier and were caught when they returned to collect the remaining amount. Shammi Ahmed alerted the police, leading to their arrest.

In an exclusive interview with Turkish media outlet Yeni Şafak, Sadik Kayem revealed that during the July uprising, Dhaka was divided into ten strategic zones. He claimed that after internet shutdowns, curfews, and a wave of killings post-July 18, he assumed the central role of coordinating the movement. He named key contributors including Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, and Mahfuz Alam. Dr. Mirza Galib was described as the intellectual architect of the revolution, with notable contributions from Zulkarnain Sayer, journalist Elias Hossain, and Pinaki Bhattacharya. Sadik also emphasized the importance of August 4 as a turning point in the mass uprising and expressed hope for a people-powered Bangladesh.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $566.5 million loan package during his two-day visit to the Maldives and initiated discussions on a bilateral free trade agreement. Modi aims to deepen development cooperation amid growing competition with China for influence in the island nation. Despite recent political tensions, India has supported the Maldives economically. The financial aid will enhance security, health, housing, and education in the Maldives. Modi also inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo airport expansion project remotely.

Microsoft has accused Chinese state-linked hacker groups of exploiting vulnerabilities in its SharePoint server software to carry out cyberattacks targeting global organizations. The attackers, identified as Lilin Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603, infiltrated on-premises servers to steal sensitive data. Microsoft confirmed its cloud-based SharePoint was not breached and has released security updates, urging users to patch systems immediately. The hackers reportedly used encryption to maintain ongoing access. Investigations continue as Microsoft warns of potential repeat attacks on unpatched systems.