Continuous rains and flash floods have submerged thousands of hectares of char land in Comilla’s Gomati River area, destroying farmers’ crops just days before harvest. Despite water levels remaining below the danger mark, rising floodwaters have inundated agricultural fields and homes between embankments, causing heavy losses. Farmers, many already affected by last year’s floods, are struggling to recover as their vegetables and produce lie underwater. Authorities are assessing the damage and seeking government aid for the affected farmers.

The United States has set two key conditions for Bangladesh during ongoing talks to waive the 35% tariff effective from August 1: investing in the U.S. manufacturing sector and ensuring labor rights in Bangladesh. Bangladesh aims to reduce the trade deficit by increasing imports of cotton, wheat, fuel, and purchasing Boeing aircraft. Despite challenges, both sides agree on most trade aspects. Discussions continue to finalize a bilateral trade agreement to protect Bangladesh’s interests amid growing U.S. tariff pressures.

NS Kamil Madrasa in Jhalokathi has emerged as the top performer in the Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board Dakhil exam this year. Out of 427 candidates, 227 achieved the highest GPA-5, with an impressive 99.77% pass rate. Founded by Islamic scholar Hazrat Azizur Rahman Qayed Sahib, the madrasa outperformed prominent institutions like Darunnajat Alia and Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa. Meanwhile, other local schools showed varied results, with some achieving high pass rates and GPA-5 scores, while others lagged behind.

Jessore district has secured the highest pass rate in the SSC exams under the Jessore Education Board, covering 10 districts of Khulna Division. Meherpur remains at the bottom with the lowest pass rate. This year’s overall pass rate dropped by 20% compared to last year, and GPA-5 achievers decreased by nearly 5,000. Higher failure rates in English and Mathematics impacted the results. Among 2,575 institutions, 75 achieved 100% pass, while two schools recorded a 100% failure rate.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has proposed regaining the authority to cancel voting across an entire constituency in cases of electoral irregularities. It currently holds the power to nullify votes at specific centers only. The EC also decided to allow expatriate Bangladeshis to vote through an IT-based postal ballot system, allocating Tk 48 crore for the project. Additionally, it will no longer use EVMs in elections and plans to revise voter lists, redefine constituency boundaries, and enforce stricter affidavit requirements for candidates.

Preparations for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election are underway. Chief Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmed will oversee the voting process, while Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah will be responsible for election-time security. The interim government has directed law enforcement to be fully prepared by December. If reforms are completed on time, elections could take place before Ramadan next year.

The US Embassy in Dhaka has issued a notice requiring applicants for F, M, and J visa categories to list all social media handles used in the past five years in their DS-160 application forms. The embassy stressed that failure to provide accurate information could result in visa denial and affect future eligibility. The reminder was posted on the embassy's official Facebook page.

The advisory council of the interim government has officially abolished the practice of addressing female officials and the Prime Minister as “Sir”—a rule that had been enforced during Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year tenure. A statement from the Chief Advisor’s press wing confirmed that this controversial protocol has been repealed and all related directives are under review.

Two more people have died from dengue in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll this year to 54, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). During this period, 337 new patients were hospitalized, raising the cumulative number of hospital admissions to 13,931. One of the latest victims was from Dhaka, and the other from the Chattogram division. Monthly dengue-related deaths stand at 12 in July, 19 in June, 10 in January, 3 in February, 7 in April, and 3 in May.

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi criticized the push for a Proportional Representation (PR) voting system, stating, “It’s the politically orphaned parties that advocate for PR.” He argued that PR confuses voters, as it requires voting for party-nominated lists rather than individual candidates. Rizvi accused the reform advocates of plotting to delay elections after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina succeeded in conducting one-sided polls. He added, “Reforms must be implemented by an elected parliament—how can you renovate without a building?” At the event, BNP leader Aminul Haque called on party workers to stay connected with the people and announced a symbolic tree-planting campaign.

Nahid Islam, the convenor of the National Change Platform (NCP), has demanded the implementation of the July Declaration and the July Charter by August 3. "If the government fails to meet this deadline, we will take to the streets once again, joined by students and citizens across the country," he warned. He further stated that despite a popular uprising in July, the country continues to face deep-rooted crises. "To rebuild Bangladesh, we need justice for those involved in fascism, fundamental reforms, and a new constitution," he emphasized. NCP plans to hold a mass gathering at Dhaka’s Shaheed Minar on August 3.

The second phase of discussions by the National Consensus Commission ended without a final decision on the proposed caretaker government system. Jonayed Saki stated that past experiences with caretaker government heads and judicial involvement were not fruitful. He noted that political parties have proposed a seven-member committee, elected by Parliament, to choose the chief advisor before national elections. Another suggestion was made to select the Chief Justice from a pool of two candidates rather than automatically appointing the senior-most judge. Concerns were raised over political influence in past judicial appointments, with calls for a more transparent and revised process for appointing the Chief Justice.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has welcomed the interim government’s directive to prepare for elections by December, calling it a positive and promising step. Speaking at a discussion at the National Press Club, he said the BNP has submitted its July Declaration to the government, underscoring the importance of the July uprising. Fakhrul supported political reforms but stressed the need to acknowledge the repression faced by BNP members over the past 17 years. He also highlighted issues including border killings, unresolved water-sharing with India, the potential imposition of a 35% U.S. tariff, and the need for national unity to restore democratic governance. Jamaat leader Mia Ghulam Parwar echoed the need for synergy among political parties, the public, and the media.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a meeting with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Advisor Tawhid Hossain in Kuala Lumpur, reaffirmed China's support for a peaceful and fair national election in Bangladesh. He stressed that China stands by Bangladesh as a trustworthy neighbor and development partner. In light of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, Wang described this as a historic milestone. He reiterated China’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh in pursuing development based on its own needs and realities and expressed China’s interest in working with South Asian countries toward modernization and contributing to Asia’s resurgence.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Tawhid Hossain has clarified that Bangladesh has not formally joined any regional or global military or economic alliance and that trade policy negotiations with the United States remain ongoing. Speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia, he emphasized that Bangladesh evaluates each proposal based on national interest and aims to build a long-term, balanced, and mutually beneficial partnership with the U.S. He also addressed Bangladesh's economic cooperation with Russia, bilateral ties with China, and its growing role in the ASEAN region.