Since the July revolution, drug traffickers have increasingly used the Gomati River in Comilla as a covert and cost-effective route to smuggle narcotics from India into Bangladesh. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) frequently recovers sacks and bottles containing drugs floating in the river, marked with specific signs for easy identification. Local involvement aids traffickers in collecting shipments. Authorities are boosting patrols to curb the rising river-based smuggling, emphasizing cooperation between BGB, police, and political will to tackle this growing menace.

Chattogram’s regional food office is on track to meet its 2024–25 Boro season target of 226,342 tonnes of paddy and rice, achieving 95.5% so far. Paddy and Atap rice targets are already complete, with parboiled rice purchases to finish within days. Higher prices and faster payments have boosted farmer participation. In contrast, previous seasons fell short due to quality issues, delays, and low prices. Nationwide, the government aims to procure 1.75 million tonnes this season to strengthen food reserves.

Chandpur, famed for its hilsa, will soon have a modern fish landing center at Boro Station Fish Wharf. The Tk 25 crore project, led by BFDC, will feature a cold storage, ice plant, auction sheds, dockyard, and fish museum, along with facilities for freezing, packaging, and tourism. Proposed by the Deputy Commissioner, it will be built at the Padma-Meghna-Dakatia confluence and is expected to finish within two years, boosting fish preservation, export, and attracting local and foreign visitors.

The six-lane upgrade of the 48 km Jessore–Jhenaidah Highway, launched in 2021 with a Tk 48 billion budget, faces delays due to government changes, incomplete land acquisition, and rising construction costs. The deadline has been extended to late 2026, with land acquisition costs tripled. Large portions of the road are riddled with potholes, severely disrupting transport between Khulna, Rajshahi, and southern districts. Locals and drivers report frequent vehicle damage and delays, while authorities promise repair work will accelerate as monsoon rains recede.

Saudi Arabia has regained its position as Bangladesh’s top remittance source following a central bank correction of source-country data. The change revealed that many remittances routed through U.S.-based gateways actually originated from Middle Eastern and other countries. As a result, U.S. remittance figures halved, dropping it to fifth place. In April–June 2024–25, Saudi Arabia sent $1.49 billion, followed by the UAE, UK, and Malaysia, while the U.S. recorded $792.7 million. Officials expect further declines as transparency improves.

The results of the 2025 SSC and equivalent examinations’ recheck process will be published today at 10:00 AM. Students under the country’s nine general education boards, as well as the Madrasa and Technical Education Boards, can check their results using their roll numbers on their respective websites. According to Dhaka Board Exam Controller Professor S.M. Kamal Uddin, applications for rechecking were accepted from July 11 to July 17 via Teletalk mobile service. A record 92,863 students applied to recheck a total of 223,664 exam scripts, with mathematics being the most challenged subject—42,936 scripts. The recheck process does not involve re-evaluating answers but verifies whether marks were correctly added, if any question was left unmarked, and if OMR sheet entries were accurate.

The Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has expressed grave concern over the recent wave of attacks and killings targeting journalists in Bangladesh. The organization called for the immediate formation of a Judicial Commission to investigate all journalist murders, including those of Sagar and Runi.
While acknowledging initial optimism for press freedom under the interim government, DRU warned that the safety of journalists remains precarious. Attacks, false cases, torture, and killings of journalists have surged alarmingly. The brutal hacking to death of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin last Thursday night was described as a direct assault on press freedom and free expression. DRU said impunity and lack of security are key factors fueling such violence.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju has claimed that most Awami League leaders are linked to massacres and plunder and are widely despised. He warned that if they contest elections, they will face mass public outrage that could spiral out of control. Speaking at a parliamentary debate, Manju said the Election Commission must have the courage to show a “red card” to any party or candidate that commits electoral violations.
He criticized the creation of a perception that a certain party would win power unopposed even before the elections, calling it a dangerous signal for fair polls.

BNP Standing Committee member Moin Khan said the democratic gains of the July uprising must not be reversed. Paying tribute to the movement’s veterans, he recalled Ziaur Rahman’s discipline, punctuality, and integrity, citing an incident where Zia delivered a scheduled speech to an empty venue rather than delay it.
Moin Khan noted that while the Awami League mocks Zia as an “unknown major,” it was this very man who risked his life to declare Bangladesh’s independence and later brought back “dictator” Sheikh Hasina, granting her the right to engage in politics. He described BNP as a centrist party and criticized the Awami League for persecuting opponents, stressing that the people of Bangladesh reject extremist politics.

In the central executive committee elections of the Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), Professor Dr. Harun Al Rashid has been elected president, and Dr. Zahirul Islam Shakil has been elected general secretary. Dr. Harun secured 1,369 votes, defeating Professor Dr. A.K.M. Azizul Haque, who received 1,202 votes. Dr. Shakil won the general secretary race with 1,458 votes, ahead of Dr. Abdus Shakur Khan’s 1,079.
Other winners include Dr. Md. Mehedi Hasan (treasurer) with 1,312 votes and Dr. A.K.M. Khalequzzaman Dipu (senior joint general secretary) with 1,316 votes. Election commissioner Professor Lutfur Rahman stated that voting was conducted with great enthusiasm.

The International Crimes Tribunal has released the full verdict sentencing fugitive Sheikh Hasina and another individual in a contempt of court case. The court observed that Hasina’s remarks were intended to obstruct judicial proceedings. A copy of the verdict has been handed to the Inspector General of Police.
Prosecutor Tamim warned that continued “hate speech” could lead to fresh contempt charges. Among the cited evidence was an audio clip in which Hasina allegedly said she had “obtained a license to kill 226 people,” which forensic analysis by the CID confirmed as her voice. On July 2, the tribunal sentenced Hasina to six months’ simple imprisonment, while co-accused Shakil Akand Bulbul of Gobindaganj received a two-month simple imprisonment term.

Adviser Asif Mahmud has said the ban on student politics in Dhaka University halls could have been avoided if student organisations had reached an internal agreement and prepared a student-friendly framework. He urged student groups to now work on such a roadmap for the future. Mahmud also announced plans to decentralise the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) by holding matches in Rajshahi in the north and either Khulna or Barishal in the south by next year.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Barrister Shamim Haider Patowary has vowed to defeat all conspiracies against the party, saying history shows those who tried to damage the party from outside the mainstream have disappeared. He said grassroots leaders and activists remain united under GM Quader’s leadership, which will enable the party to play a positive role in national politics and serve as a trusted platform for the people.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has distanced the party from reports quoting a former secretary alleging corruption among eight advisers to the interim government. Fakhrul said the statement was entirely personal and not connected to BNP. “We hold the Chief Adviser and all advisers in the highest respect and have full confidence in their integrity,” he said. Earlier, ABM Abdus Sattar, president of the Anti-Discrimination Employee Unity Forum, claimed to have proof of corruption against eight advisers.

The engine and a coach of the Dhaka-bound Padma Express from Rajshahi derailed near Joydebpur Railway Station on Saturday night at 8:40 PM. The derailment temporarily halted train operations on the Dhaka–Mymensingh and Dhaka–Rajshahi–Khulna routes, and also blocked traffic on the Gazipur Chowrasta–Rajbari road. Station officials said the accident occurred when the train was mistakenly diverted from a broad-gauge to a meter-gauge track. No casualties were reported as the train was moving at low speed.