Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir shared positive news regarding recent trade negotiations. He noted that the U.S. had initially imposed a 35% tariff on Bangladeshi exports, which would raise prices significantly and hurt sales. Thanks to discussions led by the Foreign Ministry and advisers, the tariff was successfully reduced to 20%.

Fakhrul expressed gratitude to the interim government for their role in negotiating this reduction, calling it a major responsibility well-handled.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stated that complete liberation from fascism will only be possible if the Awami League is politically wiped out. He emphasized the need for unity to ensure that Sheikh Hasina never returns to power in the country. Fakhrul declared, "There can be no compromise with looters. We have temporarily escaped a terrifying fascist regime, but this freedom will be final only when we completely eliminate them politically."

He expressed disappointment that the government has not yet finalized the rehabilitation for families of martyrs within a year, but acknowledged ongoing efforts. Fakhrul expects a comprehensive reform report to be released soon. He stressed the necessity of holding elections by February and expressed anticipation for Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh, highlighting the public’s trust in him. Fakhrul added that Tarique Rahman has plans to build a ‘New Bangladesh’ with social welfare initiatives like ‘Pharma Cards,’ ‘Health Cards,’ and ‘Family Cards’ aimed at marginalized communities.

Despite the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government following mass protests in 2024, Human Rights Watch reports that the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has failed to protect human rights effectively. Arbitrary arrests, continued abuses by security forces, and rising violence against minorities and political opponents persist. Although several reform commissions were formed, implementation remains slow. HRW urges urgent security sector reforms, accountability for abuses, and stronger support from international bodies to ensure lasting human rights improvements in Bangladesh.

About 110 meters of the protective embankment at the Padma Bridge construction yard in Shariatpur’s Jajira area collapsed due to strong river currents, causing at least 30 homes to be washed away. Locals are relocating amid fear of further erosion. The Water Development Board is dumping geobags and geotubes to halt the damage, but heavy currents and rain hinder efforts. Authorities plan permanent embankment repairs before the next rainy season and will assist affected families.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime a carbon copy of Mussolini’s fascist rule. Speaking at an event in Mexico City, he likened Chhatra League to Mussolini’s Blackshirts and accused Hasina of creating a culture of fear and flattery. He praised student protesters and opposition alliances for bringing down her regime and demanded justice for victims of state violence. He warned that conspiracies will grow if national unity weakens and stressed the need for democratic reforms.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized recent Western recognitions of Palestine, calling them irrelevant without Israel’s consent. In a Fox Radio interview, he argued that no country has the authority to establish a Palestinian state and warned such moves harm peace efforts. Rubio claimed Hamas still holds hostages and accused pro-recognition states of siding with Hamas. He said these decisions encourage Hamas to resist ceasefires and delay hostage releases, driven more by domestic politics than concern for regional stability.

A massive power outage hit Habiganj district after a fire at the Shahjibazar power grid burned three transformers and a circuit breaker. Eight upazilas were left without electricity for nearly 20 hours, while Bahubal remained unaffected. Authorities began restoring supply gradually from Friday morning by rotating power between areas. Water shortages worsened public suffering. Officials repaired one transformer and expect another to be fixed soon. Full restoration will take time due to the cost and complexity of replacing damaged equipment.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the US did not impose any unique conditions on Bangladesh in the recent tariff negotiations, aligning the terms with those applied to other nations. He noted that the US is seeking to reduce its trade deficit, and Bangladesh is also interested in importing goods such as agricultural products and cotton. Alam welcomed the outcome of the negotiations, highlighting improved access for Bangladeshi exports to the US market.

Bangladesh has reported one new COVID-19 death and one confirmed case in the past 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The deceased was a male aged between 21 and 30. A total of 48 samples were tested, resulting in a positivity rate of 2.08%. So far in 2025, the country has recorded 30 deaths and 720 infections from COVID-19.

Microsoft’s market value crossed $4 trillion following better-than-expected earnings in Q2 (April–June). The tech giant reported a 24% increase in profit to $27.23 billion and an 18% rise in revenue to $76.44 billion. Cloud services, particularly Azure, grew 39%, boosting server and cloud revenue by 27%. Office, LinkedIn, and search advertising also contributed to growth. Despite strong core performance, Microsoft incurred $1.71 billion in non-core expenses, including losses from equity investments like OpenAI.

Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP, has announced a rally at Shahbagh on August 3 and issued six directives to maintain order. Participants are prohibited from carrying banners, placards, or festoons. All units must remain within designated areas from start to finish. Emergency vehicles must be allowed access between Katabon, Aziz Super Market, and Hotel Intercontinental. No Chhatra Dal vehicles will be allowed on Dhaka University grounds. No individual showdowns or separate processions will be permitted. Units must clean their assigned spaces after the event. Tarique Rahman will address the rally as chief guest.

Economic Adviser Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan praised Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin for his role in the US tariff negotiations, saying he had proven his competence. “May Allah bless him with a long, purposeful life to continue serving the nation,” Kabir said. Recounting an early meeting with Bashiruddin, Kabir highlighted his patriotism, analytical prowess, and principled stance, noting he even politely declined refreshments out of modesty. Kabir recommended him to the chief adviser, who later appointed him.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed gratitude to both the Trump administration and the Bangladesh government for securing the tariff reduction. He said, “We hope future national leaders, including Dr. Muhammad Yunus if he assumes leadership, will uphold national dignity and excel in global diplomacy.” Dr. Rahman also extended appreciation to all parties involved in the successful negotiation.

BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury termed the reduction of countervailing tariffs on Bangladeshi exports to the US—from 35% to 20%—as a "satisfactory development" for the export sector. “With Pakistan at 19%, Vietnam at 20%, and India at 25%, Bangladesh is now in a competitive position,” he said. However, Khasru noted that without full transparency on the negotiation terms and what Bangladesh had to offer in return, the overall impact remains unclear. He added that the US imposed the higher tariffs to protect its own exports and urged for a clear explanation from the interim government.

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari warned that Islamists in Bangladesh are once again being marginalized under the label of "right-wing." He said, “Sheikh Hasina normalized the oppression of Islamic scholars. If right-wing forces bring down fascism, why should anyone object?” He also accused two influential leaders from a certain party of acting like “godfathers” in ports and truck stands following the recent political upheaval. Patwari emphasized the need to improve working conditions and wages for laborers and insisted on labor representation in Parliament. He also revealed that 92 new members have joined the NCP’s labor wing.