Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of BNP, will hold a virtual meeting with top leaders of the 12-Party Alliance this Friday at 3 PM at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka.

Jatiya Party (Zafar faction) Chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider confirmed the meeting during a press briefing, stating that the coalition partners of the simultaneous movement have been invited to discuss future strategies.

To address rising energy demands, the interim government has approved the import of 50,000 metric tons of gasoline. It also granted policy approval for purchasing a small research vessel, a pontoon jetty, gangway, and two speedboats to bolster maritime research.

These decisions were made during the 24th meeting of the Advisory Committee, chaired by the Finance Advisor. Other approved proposals include:

A ropeway project in India under the conversion of wet to dry cement processing.

Two sea and ship-related proposals from the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Procurement of 400,000 metric tons of rice under urgent public interest, with reduced tender deadlines.

Amid speculation and criticism, Sarzis Alam went live on Facebook from Cox’s Bazar, highlighting climate concerns listed as the 21st point in the NCP’s 24-point charter. He stressed the urgent need for government action to protect coastal communities from rising sea levels, stating, “We fear many homes may be lost to the sea. The government has a key responsibility here.”

Alam condemned unregulated construction near the coastline and urged citizens to become more aware of environmental and climate issues. “Our ocean is a resource—let’s not let it become a threat.”

Leaders of the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy have issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Election Commission, demanding the revision of recently released media guidelines ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

During a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), journalists highlighted several restrictive clauses that they believe hinder press freedom. A memorandum outlined four major concerns: lack of consultation with media stakeholders; unrealistic restrictions on journalist access to polling centers; bans on interviews and live coverage inside booths; and the inclusion of punitive clauses without ensuring reporter safety.

Forum President Kazi Jebell warned that if the rules are not revised, journalists will boycott election coverage and announce further action.

Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul emphasized the need to permanently preserve the spirit of the July mass uprising. “Our foremost duty is to honor the martyrs and the injured who stood against injustice,” he said. According to Nazrul, the uprising demonstrated unprecedented unity across all religious, ethnic, and political lines. However, he lamented recent attempts to divide the forces that once stood together.

Dr. Nazrul credited NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain for initiating the event and said he was moved by the untold stories of the prisoners who suffered during the uprising. Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan added that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had effectively turned the entire country into a prison, stating, "Even prisons became halls of reflection."

BNP Standing Committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy stated that while the July Uprising was a significant first step toward change, the ultimate victory will come only through timely elections.

He warned against any attempts to delay the election under the pretense of reforms and called for unity among all democratic forces committed to the spirit of the Liberation War. Goyeshwar reaffirmed confidence in the Chief Advisor’s election promises but cautioned that vested interests may try to sabotage them.

He also criticized past atrocities and demanded justice for war crimes and state repression. Goyeshwar urged BNP activists to prevent anyone from fleeing the country in exchange for money and advised student leaders to stay out of the spotlight to avoid government crackdowns.

Maulana Mamunul Haque, the Ameer of Khelafat Majlis, has criticized the recently announced July Declaration and the decision to set the date for the next national election based solely on discussions with one political party. “This clearly shows a disregard for the sacrifices, opinions, and organizational contributions of Islamist groups,” he said. Haque expressed frustration that the roles of Islamic scholars, madrasa teachers and students, expatriates, and online activists in the July uprising were completely ignored.

He also condemned the lack of reference to major historical incidents such as the 1947 independence, the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre, and the Pilkhana tragedy—events he deemed pivotal in Bangladesh’s political evolution. While he refrained from welcoming the election date announcement, Haque emphasized the importance of a level playing field and demanded legal validation of the July Charter.

BNP leader Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin has claimed that some members of the Advisory Council are displeased with the election announcement, as are certain political parties with little public support and a history of opposing the 1971 Liberation War.

Speaking at a rally in Rajshahi, Hafiz accused these groups of enjoying their time in power without accountability. He thanked the Chief Advisor for honoring commitments made during the London meetings and clarified that BNP is not obsessed with power, but is ready to take responsibility if elected through a fair vote. “This is Ziaur Rahman’s party,” he said. “We do politics for the welfare of the people.”

The Detective Branch (DB) has detained Sumaiya Zafrin, wife of army officer Major Sadik, over her alleged involvement in guerrilla training activities involving Awami League members. The training reportedly occurred at the KB Convention Hall in Dhaka.

According to DC Mohammad Talebur Rahman, Sumaiya was taken into custody for her role in the incident. Earlier, 22 members of the banned Awami League and affiliated student organizations were arrested during a secret meeting near Bashundhara residential area. Major Sadik was also taken into custody after preliminary investigations confirmed his involvement in organizing guerrilla-style training.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam has announced that appointments of Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Officers-in-Charge (OCs) during the upcoming national election will be determined by lottery in the presence of the media, to ensure transparency.

Speaking after a meeting on election logistics, Jahangir stated that this decision aims to prevent political candidates from influencing the deployment of law enforcement officials to their constituencies. The lottery will take place shortly before the election schedule is announced. Once the schedule is declared, transfer authority shifts to the Election Commission.

The Public Administration Ministry will determine whether a similar approach will be applied to Deputy Commissioners (DCs), though the adviser hopes they too will opt for a lottery system.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has successfully completed the hot and cold tests of the steam supply pipeline for its first unit, marking a major milestone toward operational readiness. The tests confirmed the safety and reliability of the turbine and pipeline systems, using high-pressure steam in a blow-down procedure. Conducted by Bangladesh’s NPCBL and Russian contractor Atomstroyexport, the process created loud noises, which were pre-communicated to locals. The plant, supported by Russia, aims to generate 2,400 MW using cutting-edge VVER-1200 reactors.

BNP’s Acting Chairman Tareque Rahman held a private meeting in London with Tracy Ann Jacobson, the Acting US Ambassador to Bangladesh, in the second week of July. The meeting focused on BNP’s plans for the upcoming national elections and the party’s vision for governance if elected. Key topics included electoral strategies and how the BNP intends to shape the future of Bangladesh. The meeting was confirmed by both the US Embassy and Rahman’s foreign affairs advisor, Humayun Kabir.

The re-evaluation results of this year’s SSC and equivalent exams will be published on August 10 at 10 AM. Students can check their updated results on their respective education board websites or via SMS. Applications for re-evaluation were accepted between July 11–17 with a fee of BDT 150 per subject. Over 92,000 students applied to recheck more than 223,000 answer scripts, a significant increase from last year. The highest number of applications came for Mathematics, followed by English and Physics.

Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam has expressed “deep disappointment and shock” over the July Declaration’s failure to mention justice for the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre. In a statement, the group said that the uprising was largely fueled by the spirit of that protest, with many clerics and madrasa students joining the July movement for that reason.

They noted that the silence on such a critical issue will not be forgotten and accused past governments of brutal suppression, particularly during Sheikh Hasina's rule. They further alleged that even today, witnesses are too afraid to testify due to the lack of administrative and intelligence reform. Hefazat called for justice and recognition of their sacrifices and contributions.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, in a virtual speech marking the anniversary of the July Uprising, declared that a rare opportunity has arisen to establish democracy by permanently ending fascism through national unity. He warned that without utilizing this moment, fascist forces could re-emerge.

He expressed support for the July Declaration and the proposed interim government roadmap, stating that it offers a path to reclaim democratic and political rights. He highlighted the repressive past under fascist rule, marked by widespread political persecution, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations. Tarique emphasized that true peace and safety are impossible without democracy and the rule of law.

He reiterated BNP's 31-point outline for governance, promising a democratic, reformed state if the party is elected. He appealed for public support to implement these reform agendas. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also addressed the rally, stating that BNP activists have never bowed to oppression but have always stood tall in the struggle.