President Donald Trump has announced that the United States is close to finalizing a new trade agreement with India. Talks are progressing rapidly, with Indian commerce officials currently in Washington. India aims to secure better terms than Indonesia recently received. However, issues remain over tariffs on agricultural, dairy, steel, and automotive products. While the U.S. trade deficit with India grew to $45.7 billion in 2024, both countries are optimistic about enhanced market access through tariff reforms and an eventual deal.

Rashed Khan, a prominent leader of the 2018 quota reform movement, also played a key role in the nationwide uprising of July 2024. He stated that after the High Court verdict, observing students’ reactions allowed him to foresee the potential for mass protests. He then helped coordinate with BNP and other political groups to amplify the movement’s impact.

According to Rashed, the joint student-public protest gained strength with the backing of political parties, ultimately contributing to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. He believes that years of repression led to an eruption of public anger, and it was the unity, sacrifice, and spontaneous participation of students and the general public that made this historic movement successful.

The Advisory Council has approved the draft of the Voter List (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, allowing eligible citizens to register as voters up to the announcement of the election schedule. Previously, only those who turned 18 by December of the previous year could vote in the upcoming election. The new ordinance ensures that citizens who become 18 within a reasonable time before the schedule announcement can be included in the voter list, expanding voter eligibility and enabling broader participation.

A curfew in Gopalganj will remain in effect until 11 AM Friday following deadly clashes sparked by an attack on a National Citizens Party (NCP) rally, allegedly by the banned Awami League. The government will pause the curfew for three hours from 11 AM to 2 PM, after which it will resume indefinitely. At least four people have died, and hundreds, including police and journalists, are injured. Section 144 remains in place, and the NCP has issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding arrests of the attackers.

An old video from Brahmanbaria has been falsely circulated as footage from a recent violent incident in Gopalganj. The video shows a dead body being loaded into a police vehicle, with claims that the person was shot by police during a clash on July 16. However, investigations confirmed the video originated in June 2024 and depicts a mob handing over a suspected mugger to police. Social media users shared it with misleading captions to spread misinformation.

BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Zainul Abdin Farroque has alleged that the recent attack on National Citizens’ Party (NCP) leaders in Gopalganj is part of a conspiracy to delay the upcoming election. Speaking at a human chain event at the National Press Club, Farroque said the plot surfaced soon after BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman initiated dialogue on elections from London. He criticized the government, saying its failure to hold elections even after 11 months reflects incompetence. Farroque urged Jamaat-e-Islami to apologize to the nation for its past mistakes, adding that allies of the ruling Awami League still dominate the administration.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced nationwide prayer sessions and silent marches in memory of those killed and for the recovery of those injured during the July-August Uprising. In a statement issued on July 17, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi informed that prayers will be held at mosques across Dhaka and all districts and metropolitan areas on Friday, alongside silent marches. BNP leaders, activists, and the general public have been invited to participate.

BNP’s Organizing Secretary for the Faridpur Division, Shama Obaid, strongly condemned the attack on NCP's “March to Gopalganj” program and called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible. She claimed the attack was part of a broader effort to destabilize the country. The BNP’s media cell published her statement on Facebook, which also included wishes for a speedy recovery of the injured police officers.

Central leaders of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) have reached Manikganj as part of their ongoing ‘July Uprising’ campaign and the ‘July March to Rebuild the Nation’ program. On July 17 at around 9 PM, district leaders welcomed them at Bhasha Shaheed Rafiq Chattar in Khalpar area, where a public gathering was held. Prior to arriving in Manikganj, the leaders had marched through Faridpur and Rajbari. Law enforcement, including uniformed police, detectives, and plainclothes officers, were deployed in multiple security layers to ensure order during the event. Traffic police also worked to prevent congestion along the route.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish has announced its plans to field candidates in 223 constituencies in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The party’s Ameer, Mamunul Haque, made the announcement at a press conference held in Paltan. Highlighting the need for electoral reform, he advocated for a bicameral parliamentary system, proposing full proportional representation in the upper house and partial proportional representation in the lower house. Criticizing the current one-party dominance, he termed proportional representation as the "demand of the time." Mamunul also condemned the recent attack on the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) in Gopalganj, noting that the army’s intervention prevented further escalation. Expressing hope that the people of Gopalganj will organize resistance, he called for unity among all anti-fascist forces.

Obayed Ullah Al Masud, chairman of Islami Bank, resigned on July 17 after being asked to step down by Bangladesh Bank’s Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmad. The Central Bank had restructured Islami Bank’s board following the government change in August, appointing Al Masud based on recommendations. Recently, allegations against him surfaced, prompting urgent calls for his resignation. Independent director Professor Zobaidur Rahman is expected to replace him as chairman.

Ambassador Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari emphasized that the united forces which compelled dictator Sheikh Hasina into exile must continue working together to build a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh. Speaking at a virtual event organized by Save Bangladesh in Washington, he highlighted the role of expatriates and the ongoing need for tolerance, justice, and unity. He warned against divisions and conspiracies, urging all to protect the nation’s hard-earned dignity and rights. The event honored July’s martyrs and called for continued solidarity.

Suruzzaman, potential parliamentary candidate for Gaibandha-3 (Sadullapur-Polashbari) constituency from the People's Rights Council, held an election dialogue session on Thursday at West Damodarpur village. The event saw the participation of district branch president Samsuzzaman Siddiqui, general secretary Samiul Islam, and other local leaders.

Suruzzaman stressed that the People's Rights Council is the sole alternative for securing citizens’ rights. If elected, he pledged to prioritize improvements in education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

A coordinated Awami League-affiliated group circulated old and unrelated images on social media, falsely linking them to the recent Gopalganj clashes, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing revealed. The misinformation aimed to distort public perception, claiming opposition violence and law enforcement involvement. Investigations confirmed these photos stemmed from earlier unrelated incidents dating back to 2022 and 2023. The clashes erupted after an attack on National Citizens Party leaders, resulting in four deaths and a strict curfew in Gopalganj.

The Supreme Court is hearing the state’s appeal against the High Court verdict that acquitted Tarique Rahman, Lutfozzaman Babar, and others in the August 21 grenade attack case. The trial court had earlier sentenced 19 to death and 19 to life imprisonment. The High Court overturned those verdicts in January 2024, declaring the trial legally flawed. A six-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed began the hearing on July 17, with top BNP lawyers present in court.