The National Professionals Alliance, or NPA, held a discussion titled “July Awakening of Professional Society” in memory of fallen revolutionaries and with a pledge to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh. The event took place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka. Member of Parliament and National Citizen Party member secretary Akhtar Hossain attended as chief guest, while NPA convener Navid Nowroz Shah chaired the programme.

Speakers described the July mass uprising as a milestone in the struggle for people’s rights, justice and a discrimination-free state. They said the professional community should play a leading role in building an efficient, accountable, humane and welfare-oriented state while upholding the sacrifices of those killed. Akhtar Hossain called for united participation by professionals in national development, good governance, job creation, a corruption-free administration and meeting public expectations.

Navid Nowroz Shah alleged that the current government was overlooking merit in appointments in several sectors in favour of partisan considerations. Representatives from professions including private employment, freelancing, development work, medicine, engineering, teaching, law, journalism, business and information technology pledged to work together for a modern, equitable and prosperous Bangladesh. The programme concluded after discussions and preparation of future work plans.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) held a symbolic march toward Petrobangla in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Saturday, carrying empty pots and pans to protest a proposed gas price increase amid an acute supply crisis. The Dhaka North unit warned that it would blockade the Petrobangla building if authorities moved to raise prices, preventing officials from entering or leaving. The march began at SAARC Fountain and ended at the gate of the Petrobangla building.

At the rally, NCP senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib alleged that Petrobangla and Titas had become institutions of plunder. He said gas shortages were preventing families from cooking and warned of a broader movement seeking the resignation of the energy minister and other relevant people if the crisis was not resolved quickly. Abdullah Al Mansur said people would surround gas offices if the shortage remained unresolved by August 10.

Petrobangla has sought policy approval to propose a 67 percent price increase for gas used in electricity generation and a 51 percent increase for CNG used in transport. Its letter also mentioned higher distribution charges for six gas distribution companies. If approved, an application would be submitted to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, followed by a public hearing and decision.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said responsibility for deciding the party’s position on the presidential election has been entrusted to BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He disclosed the decision to journalists after a meeting of the party’s standing committee at the BNP chairman’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Saturday night.

The announcement followed the resignation of President Sahabuddin Chuppu, who cited physical illness at the age of 76. The report said his early departure marked a new turn in Bangladesh’s politics. In the period after the 2024 uprising, he had been the final bearer of the constitutional continuity of the previous governing system.

Under Article 123 of the Constitution, a new head of state must be elected by members of parliament within 90 days of the presidency becoming vacant. BNP currently holds a single-party majority in parliament, and the report said its nominee is therefore set to become the next president.

Jamaat-e-Islami reserved-seat lawmaker Nazmunnahar Nilu said Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 but achieved political freedom through the 2024 mass uprising. She made the remarks on Saturday as chief guest at a women workers’ rally in the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club. The event was organised by the Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation.

Remembering women’s contributions to the July movement, Nilu said the present state stands on the blood of 1,500 martyrs, including two women workers, during the events of “36 July,” or 5 August. She named fish seller Shahinur Begum, 57, and domestic worker Mosammat Liza, saying they were shot dead on their home balconies and describing the incidents as a brutal example of violence against women.

The rally demanded implementation of the July Charter and the referendum verdict, safe working conditions for women workers, fair wages and an end to workplace discrimination. Nilu called for respect for workers and said the state has responsibilities toward martyrs and injured people. Federation joint general secretary Rozina Akter chaired the gathering, attended by labour, political and media representatives.

Abdus Sattar, the Nilphamari district amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a lawmaker for Nilphamari-1, alleged that the current government is moving toward the emergence of “new fascism.” He made the remarks while presiding over a public rally at Nilphamari DC Mor on Saturday afternoon, organized by the party’s district unit to mark the second anniversary of the July mass uprising.

Sattar said people could not be kept away from all political activities until the public verdict of a referendum was implemented and reforms under the July Charter took effect. He said the country’s people were prepared to make sacrifices again if necessary. He also claimed that various actions by the current government had created public concern.

He said people would not accept efforts to develop the state structure while ignoring elected lawmakers from opposition parties. Sattar called for elected representatives to be involved in national development and state administration, and for the country to be governed through democratic processes that give importance to public opinion. After the rally, participants held a protest procession through major roads in Nilphamari town, ending at Bazar Traffic Mor.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central assistant secretary general Maulana ATM Masum criticised the current government at a rally in Bandarban town on Saturday afternoon demanding implementation of the July Charter. Speaking as chief guest, he alleged that the government had failed to provide treatment and proper recognition for fighters wounded in the July uprising. Jamaat later organised a mass procession through the town.

Masum said the government had not taken any visible official measures for treatment of injured July fighters and alleged that they were being mocked and ridiculed. He also claimed that despite 70 percent support for a yes vote, the government had disregarded the verdict and taken a position against the public. He alleged that it was following the Awami League’s path and seeking one-party BNP rule.

Saying public confidence in the government had eroded, Masum claimed democracy, human rights, peace and security were not safe under it. He pledged to continue supporting July movement fighters and warned against allowing anyone to become authoritarian. Central, district and municipal Jamaat leaders attended the rally, while Jamaat-Shibir activists and members of the public joined the procession.

Dhaka-12 lawmaker Saiful Alam Khan Milon said any conspiracy to erase the history and spirit of the July movement would be resisted with the people. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon, August 1, 2026, at the National Museum’s main auditorium in Shahbagh, Dhaka. Milon was chief guest at the unveiling of eight books on the July movement, organized by ICS Publications, the publication division of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Milon said attempts had begun to conspire around July and weaken its spirit. He identified efforts to place the July movement in opposition to the 1971 Liberation War as one such attempt, saying it was not beneficial for the country. He described July as a movement of ordinary people, involving teachers, students and people from diverse occupations.

Chhatra Shibir central president Nurul Islam Saddam paid tribute to those killed in the July movement and urged the government to quickly complete fair and impartial trials over various past incidents. He said the event aimed to present the movement’s history using accurate information and evidence, and to carry its memory to future generations through research, literature and intellectual practice. Eight books were unveiled at the event.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Faridganj upazila branch held a mass procession in Faridganj, Chandpur, demanding implementation of the referendum verdict and the July Charter. The procession began at Faridganj bus stand at 10am on Saturday, following a roadside meeting. It later marched through key roads in Faridganj market.

Speakers at the meeting included Chandpur district Jamaat amir Mawlana Billal Hossain Miahji, Faridganj upazila amir Mawlana Muhammad Yunus Helal and municipal Jamaat amir Mawlana Mizanur Rahman. Upazila secretary Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain, assistant secretary Mawlana Abu Taher, Mawlana Siddiqur Rahman and other organisational leaders also addressed the gathering.

The speakers said the referendum verdict and July Charter must be implemented, warning of tougher programmes if the demands are not met quickly. They called for initiatives toward state reform and justice that give weight to public opinion, arguing that decisions ignoring public demands would not remain acceptable in the long term. They also demanded accountability for alleged injustices under the previous government and steps to establish a democratic environment. Party leaders, activists and supporters joined the march and chanted slogans.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar demanded implementation of the referendum verdict and swift trials for those involved in killings during the July mass uprising. He made the demands on Saturday afternoon as chief guest at a large protest rally organized by Dhaka North Jamaat in front of the Cholera Hospital in Mohakhali, Dhaka.

Addressing the prime minister, Porwar said he had not been in London or Shillong but had remained in the country, questioning why he was called “secret.” He urged the prime minister not to be misled by incorrect statements from surrounding ministers and MPs. He also said Jamaat had never been secret and that the public would assess claims about Jamaat-Shibir involvement in different movements.

Porwar alleged that the BNP, despite benefiting from the July uprising, had moved away from its spirit. He said the BNP and other political parties had signed 84 reform proposals in the July charter but had since retreated from that commitment. He also alleged attempts to rehabilitate fascism under the name “Reform Awami League” through legal amendments and claimed partisan people were being appointed across different levels of the administration.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman said effective mediation could significantly reduce the backlog of about 4.5 million cases pending in Bangladesh’s courts. He made the remarks on Saturday at a hotel in the capital while addressing the closing ceremony of a two-day basic mediation training programme for legal professionals. The programme was organized under a project on expanding access to justice and improving civil case management.

The minister described mediation as an effective dispute-resolution method that can reduce litigants’ time, costs and mental hardship while ensuring faster, affordable justice. He said ensuring justice for poor, marginalized and underprivileged people, as well as victims of human rights violations, is among the government’s priorities. The National Legal Aid Services Organization is working to bring justice closer to such people, he added.

Asaduzzaman said a culture of resolving most disputes through discussion should be developed, except murder and other serious cognizable offences. Under the project, one female and one male mediator with the best performance will receive advanced training in Japan. Representatives from JICA Bangladesh, Japan’s Ministry of Justice and Bangladesh’s National Legal Aid Services Organization also spoke at the event.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged that some people were misleading the prime minister and pushing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, toward fascism. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon as chief guest at a large protest rally organized by Dhaka Metropolitan North Jamaat in front of the Cholera Hospital in Mohakhali, Dhaka. The gathering demanded implementation of the public verdict in a referendum and swift trials for those involved in killings during the July mass uprising.

Porwar said reforming the fundamental structure of the constitution was the only way to prevent a resurgence of fascism. He claimed that although BNP benefited from the July uprising, it had moved away from its spirit. He said BNP and other parties had signed 84 reform proposals in the July Charter but were now retreating from that commitment.

He also alleged efforts to rehabilitate fascism under the name “Reform Awami League” through legal amendments. Rally chair Mohammad Selim Uddin called on activists to be ready to protect votes and demanded an end to attacks on July movement activists. A procession later marched from the Cholera Hospital area to Tejgaon Tibet intersection, with thousands of activists participating.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami held a mass procession in Hajiganj, Chandpur, demanding implementation of the July Charter, enforcement of the referendum verdict, and trials for those accused of involvement in the July genocide and human rights violations. The procession began after Asr prayers on Saturday, 1 August 2026, from the historic Hajiganj Boro Mosque field. More than a thousand party leaders, activists and supporters took part, according to the report.

Participants carried national flags and placards calling for the July Charter while chanting slogans. The procession travelled from the Boro Mosque field through Hajiganj Bazar on the Chandpur-Comilla regional highway and ended at West Bazar. A brief protest gathering was then held there.

Speakers included Chandpur district Jamaat assistant secretary Md Jahangir Alam Pradhan, Hajiganj upazila amir Maulana B M Kalim Ullah, deputy amir Maulana Mozammel Haque Poran and municipal amir Abul Hasanat Patwary, along with local leaders. They urged the government to quickly implement the July Charter and make the judicial process effective, saying the movement would continue if the demands were not met.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman MP said the BNP could not be called a democratic party after allegedly disregarding the verdict of a referendum in which, he said, 70 percent of people voted. He made the remarks on August 1, 2026, at a rally held at Baitul Mukarram North Gate in Dhaka to mark the second anniversary of the July mass uprising.

Mujibur Rahman said a democratic party accepts public opinion and accused the BNP of pursuing partisan politics. He said Jamaat would continue its movement until the referendum verdict was implemented through the July Charter. He added that the party was pursuing its demands in parliament, but the struggle would move to the streets if the government did not accept the referendum result and implement the charter.

Other speakers, including Dhaka South Ameer Md Nurul Islam Bulbul MP and Mobarak Hossain, also called for implementation of the July Charter. Bulbul said people wanted constitutional reform rather than constitutional amendment. After the rally, participants marched from Baitul Mukarram North Gate through Paltan, the National Press Club and the High Court area before concluding in front of Matsya Bhaban.

All India Students’ Association president Neha said demands for Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation will continue following alleged police repression of an anti-question-paper-leak protest in Delhi on July 20. She also called for the removal of Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and the release of arrested students, saying nationwide programmes would continue. In an interview with PTI, Neha said the campaign had expanded beyond exam paper leaks to demand accountability over policing and the central government’s conduct.

After a 23-day hunger strike, Neha said action against lower-level officials would not be sufficient, arguing that political responsibility lay with Shah and the police commissioner. She alleged that police used excessive force, including pellet guns, tear gas and baton charges, during a march towards Parliament. Delhi Police denied the allegations, while the central government said security personnel acted according to law.

The movement initially sought an investigation into alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Its first phase was suspended on July 25 after Pradhan resigned and assurances were given on several demands. A government bill aimed at preventing paper leaks and examination irregularities was later passed in the Rajya Sabha on July 30 amid an opposition walkout.

At a discussion marking the second anniversary of the July Revolution, National Citizen Party convener and opposition chief whip Md Nahid Islam said strong democracy is essential to ensure communal harmony. The event, titled “Harmony in July: Contributions of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian Communities in the July Uprising,” was held at the DRU auditorium in the capital on August 1. He said the party still upholds the vision of a discrimination-free and inclusive society raised during the uprising.

Islam said people of all religions and communities participated in the uprising, which he described as secular in character from its beginning. He said at least nine people from minority communities were martyred. He accused the former fascist government of using minority communities as a political card and said minorities should maintain relations with all political parties rather than being linked to one party.

He urged the government to seriously consider the demands of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities and ensure justice for disappearances, killings, land grabbing and other attacks. Islam also said institutional reforms and an independent, impartial judiciary would benefit everyone. Leaders from Buddhist and Christian organizations, NCP representatives and leaders of various communities attended the meeting.