Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan called for a universal philosophy grounded in humanity, tolerance and mutual respect to help establish world peace. He made the remarks on Saturday as chief guest at the Bangladesh Philosophical Society’s second international conference at the Teachers-Students Centre of the University of Dhaka. State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam attended as an honoured guest.

Swapan said philosophy is a major basis of the fundamental difference between humans and other animals, arguing that humanity and civilisation cannot fully develop without a clear philosophy. He said philosophy emerged when people found space beyond their basic struggle for survival to ask where they came from and where they would go. Religions later became major fields of philosophical inquiry, he added.

The minister said every religion carries teachings of human welfare, while differing interpretations and schools of thought have produced philosophical diversity. He cited the existence of multiple philosophies in Sanatan religion and varied thought and interpretations in Islam. Swapan said approaches to problems substantially shape their solutions, and urged thoughtful people to build a common philosophical platform to address the global peace crisis.

A commemorative plaque for a road renovation project disappeared within hours of its inauguration in Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, according to the report. Nilphamari-3 lawmaker Maulana Obaidullah Salafi formally inaugurated the work at 5pm on Friday on a road beside Bhabanchur Girls School in Golmunda Union. The plaque installed at the site was later reportedly removed under unexplained circumstances.

A visit to the location found the concrete pillar built for the plaque standing empty. Local student Ariful Islam said the plaque vanished only hours after the inauguration. Mason Md Arif, who built the pillar, said a former bank officer and BNP activist from a nearby area had remarked during construction that the plaque would not remain there. That comment has prompted discussion locally after the disappearance.

Contractor representative Abu Bakkar Siddique said the project has faced problems from the outset, including theft of stored bricks and sand being dumped into the road drain. Local Jamaat leader Rafiqul Alam called for those responsible to be identified and brought under the law. Residents also demanded a proper investigation and action against the offenders.

AB Party Secretary General Asaduzzaman Fuad sharply criticized attacks on National Citizen Party, or NCP, leaders and activists at a discussion meeting organized by Odhikar in the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Hall of the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday, August 1. He challenged claims that NCP could be prevented from holding marches or other programs and criticized what he described as displays of bravery by people who had remained silent during the Awami League period.

Fuad expressed anger over an incident in Habiganj in which an NCP worker lost an eye and questioned why those accused had not been arrested. He described campaigning against Nasiruddin Patwary and Salahuddin Ammar as preparation for hatred and killing, calling on those involved to exercise restraint. He also criticized attacks on vehicles associated with NCP figures.

He said parties that supported the mass uprising do not want the BNP government to fall and instead want it to succeed. However, he argued that the government was making itself open to criticism by breaking its own promises. Fuad urged the government to use common sense in pursuing justice and reform, which he called fundamental to the July mass uprising, and said people with greater power should be more humble.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon said July would never disappear from the memory of Bangladesh’s people, speaking at a July mass uprising memorial event at Dhaka Government Polytechnic Institute on August 1. He said the younger generation brought the country back during July and August, and that Bangladesh had been regained through the sacrifices of hundreds of martyrs.

Milon said the country must move beyond conventional ideas of education, arguing that technical education has no alternative for building an advanced Bangladesh. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has adopted a plan to turn the country’s large population into human resources. Skilled technical workers are in demand worldwide, he added, and training migrant workers before sending them abroad could further strengthen the economy.

The minister announced plans to establish four more engineering colleges in Bangladesh and pledged to develop Dhaka Government Polytechnic Institute as a model institution. He urged students to build greater innovative capacity and work toward a better Bangladesh. At the event, he presented commemorative plaques to relatives of two polytechnic students killed in the July uprising and draped shawls over injured students from the institute.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman described a meeting in Dhaka between US special envoy Sergio Gor and Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi as unexpected. He made the remarks on Saturday morning while answering journalists’ questions at a gathering in Sylhet’s Bandar Bazar marking the Daily Jalalabad newspaper’s 34th year.

Rahman said the matter would be different if the government knew about and approved it in an independent, sovereign country. He said a purely courtesy meeting would also be different, but any discussion involving issues concerning two countries should take place with the government and the opposition as well. He said such engagement with a diplomat from a particular country was not desirable.

He also raised concern over what he called a process of appointing party loyalists to the Election Commission, saying the nation and his party would not accept a staged election. Rahman urged the prime minister to take responsibility for stopping corruption and extortion. At the event, he stressed the role of independent, objective and responsible media, urging Daily Jalalabad to remain a voice of the public rather than any political party.

US President Donald Trump is seeking a way out of the ongoing conflict with Iran amid mounting pressure, according to a CNN report cited by Tasnim and Pars Today. The report, published on August 1, 2026, said Trump continues to express hope for a possible agreement while receiving conflicting messages from key US allies in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged continued pressure on Iran and consideration of further military options. Saudi Arabia, however, has stressed the need to reduce tensions and end the conflict. During an unannounced visit to Washington, Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman delivered a message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Trump and J.D. Vance.

Riyadh said it wants tensions with Iran reduced and believes continued conflict could create serious risks. The Saudi meeting came a day after Netanyahu met Trump at the White House, where the Israeli leader voiced doubts about the success of diplomatic efforts with Iran and discussed ways to increase pressure on Tehran. CNN said the meetings highlighted strategic differences among US allies, leaving Trump to choose between intensifying military pressure and pursuing de-escalation.

Bogura district Chhatra Dal held a protest march on Saturday, August 1, alleging that social media comments about BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman were offensive. The march began around 1:15pm at Altafunnesa playground, travelled through city streets and ended at Satmatha, where a brief rally was held. Afterward, activists tore down and burned a banner displaying photographs of National Citizen Party, or NCP, leaders, and also burned an effigy.

District Chhatra Dal president Habibur Rashid Sandhan alleged that several responsible NCP leaders had made vulgar comments about Tarique Rahman online. He said the remarks were obstructing the goals of unity, equality and a humane Bangladesh associated with the July movement. He also alleged that comments by Gazi Salauddin Tanvir had hurt the feelings of the Zia family and people of Bogura.

General secretary M R Hasan Palash alleged that Gazi Salauddin made the comments to gain attention. Chhatra Dal leaders demanded his swift arrest and legal action, and called on the NCP to issue a public apology. Palash warned that an unpleasant situation could arise if the demands were not met.

National Parliament Acting Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal said Bangladesh’s current parliament faces high public expectations, with 180 million people and “360 million eyes” focused on its work. In a special interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha published on August 1, 2026, he said citizens expect lawmakers to meet public aspirations through informed debate, constructive criticism and reasoned argument. He added that farmers, workers and labouring people in villages watch parliamentary proceedings daily through mobile phones.

Kamal described the legislature as a “parliament of the oppressed,” saying nearly 99 percent of its 350 members had experienced execution platforms, enforced disappearance, Aynaghar, torture, exile or imprisonment in the past. He said he would seek to maintain justice and maximum neutrality while overseeing parliament. He also called on both the government and opposition to act responsibly to institutionalise democracy.

The acting speaker said parliament should be the centre of national development and political and democratic practice, allowing the government to speak and the opposition to offer unrestricted constructive criticism. He said the February 12, 2026 parliamentary election was among Bangladesh’s most peaceful and fair elections and its most participatory, marking the beginning of a new democratic journey.

US President Donald Trump announced an agreement on disarming Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups based in Gaza. The understanding was reached by the Gaza Board of Peace as part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan. The United Arab Emirates welcomed the announcement in a report published on August 1, 2026, describing it as a major step toward ending the Gaza conflict.

Citing a UAE Foreign Ministry statement, state news agency WAM said the ministry viewed the agreement as important for resolving the conflict, strengthening regional security and stability, and creating conditions needed to begin a political process leading to lasting peace. The ministry said it hoped the deal would reinforce security and stability.

The proposed agreement outlines a phased curbing of weapons alongside the withdrawal of Israeli forces. It also details the establishment of a new Palestinian police force and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force, known as the ISF. The UAE said it expects the arrangement to help end the suffering of Palestinian civilians and create a favorable environment for rebuilding the devastated Gaza Strip.

US Democratic Representative John Larson has sharply criticized President Donald Trump over the ongoing US military operation in Iran and said he introduced legislation to immediately stop all funding for it. The report, published on August 1, 2026, says Larson described the Trump-led Iran war as illegal and called for Congress to enforce its decisions.

In a message on X, formerly Twitter, Larson said Congress could not remain passive while more US troops were being killed in Iran and gas prices were rising rapidly. He linked the operation to both casualties and increasing fuel costs.

Larson alleged that the Trump administration was disregarding decisions adopted by Congress despite the deaths and higher energy prices. He said Congress had voted twice in favor of ending what he called an extremely costly conflict. He argued that it was now time to enforce the law by cutting off every form of funding and financing for the military operation.

NCP central joint convener and Kurigram-2 lawmaker Dr Atik Mujahid said Bangladesh should not see politics of terrorism and pledged that terrorists would be brought to justice. He spoke to journalists while visiting NCP, Jubo Shakti and Chhatra Shakti activists injured in an alleged attack by BNP leaders and activists in Fulbari, at Kurigram Sadar Hospital on the night of August 1.

Mujahid questioned who was bringing such violence to Kurigram, saying the district’s people were not particularly violent. He said there could be no political compromise with terrorists and that his group did not want to see terrorists in Bangladesh, even if its members were killed while standing beside working people.

He said people in post-July Bangladesh no longer wanted to see bloodshed and would reject unrest and terrorist politics. Kurigram district Jamaat-e-Islami president Azizur Rahman Swapan condemned what he called a brutal assault on NCP members and urged the government to take strict and effective action. He said people would collectively take to the streets otherwise.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dinajpur district branch held a large rally and procession in Dinajpur demanding implementation of the July Charter and the referendum verdict. The gathering was held at the local Institute field at 11am on Saturday, August 1. After the meeting, a procession left the field, travelled through several city streets and returned to the same venue.

Aftab Uddin Molla, former amir of Dinajpur district Jamaat and a member of the central Majlis-e-Shura, attended as chief guest. District amir Principal Anisur Rahman chaired the event. District secretary Muhaddis Dr Enamul Haque, assistant secretaries Rajibur Rahman Palash and Maulana Saidul Islam Soikat, and other party leaders addressed the gathering.

Speakers alleged that the current government did not want to implement the July Charter because doing so would prevent the laundering of thousands of crores of taka from the country. They said 70 percent of people had voted in the referendum and that reform proposals had still not been implemented despite time spent on them. They urged the government to respect the referendum mandate and implement the July Charter. A large number of Jamaat leaders and activists joined the rally and procession.

Lyricist, composer and music director Prince Mahmud sharply criticised National Citizens Committee chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary after Patwary’s recent comments about BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. In a Facebook post from his verified account, reported on August 1, 2026, Mahmud said Patwary needed treatment and condemned his manner of political commentary.

Mahmud wrote that Mirza Fakhrul’s qualifications need not be judged through remarks from Patwary. He described Patwary’s statements as habitually beginning with personal attacks and stressed the importance of courtesy in politics. Mahmud also made strongly personal comments about Patwary’s behaviour and physical condition in the post.

The post spread rapidly on social media and prompted broad discussion, the report said. Patwary’s various recent remarks about Mirza Fakhrul and several other BNP leaders had already generated intense controversy in political circles. No direct response to Mahmud’s post had yet been received from Patwary or the relevant organisation, according to the report.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque visited Alif at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Dhaka at 11pm on July 31. Alif was injured in an attack on the National Citizen Party’s July march in Habiganj, according to the report.

During the visit, Mamunul Haque inquired about Alif’s physical condition and wished for his swift recovery. He also discussed necessary matters with doctors treating Alif. The Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis leader consoled the injured person and prayed to Allah for his early recovery.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Joint Secretary General Maulana Ataullah Amin was present during the hospital visit. Maulana Murshid Siddiqui, general secretary of the party’s Dhaka Metropolitan North branch, also attended. Mufti Sanaullah, general secretary of the National Ulama Alliance, was among those present.

Iranian Parliament Speaker and senior nuclear negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has claimed that Iran won a recent war, according to a report by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. He made the remarks during a meeting of the Iranian Parliament Coordination Council, as reported on August 1, 2026.

Ghalibaf said the claimed victory must now be preserved and consolidated over the long term. He also said the entire nation should remain hopeful in pursuit of a bright and prosperous future. The report did not specify the conflict, its opponent, its duration, or evidence supporting his assertion of victory.

Addressing Iranian officials, Ghalibaf called for strengthening the supreme leader's executive authority and capacity before taking any action. He stressed that all efforts to build a strong Iran should begin from that point. The report provided no additional details on war-related measures or immediate plans beyond his comments.