Nepal’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, has announced that a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Nepal and Bangladesh will be signed soon. Speaking at a CPD roundtable in Dhaka, he highlighted strong prospects for trade expansion and ongoing discussions to import 40 MW of electricity from Nepal, potentially scaling up to 9,000 MW. CPD Fellow Mostafizur Rahman emphasized the need for India's support, as Indian transit routes and grid access are essential for boosting bilateral trade and energy cooperation between the two nations.

BNP leader Kaysar Kamal has initiated a humanitarian project aimed at restoring vision for helpless and impoverished people, under the guidance of BNP’s Tareq Rahman.

Providing free medical services to those on the brink of blindness due to lack of treatment, the program has successfully operated on 182 patients across four phases. On Monday, the fourth phase saw 45 individuals undergo successful eye surgeries.

Kamal personally covers all expenses, including surgeries, transportation, accommodation, and medication for the patients. Beneficiaries have expressed deep gratitude for this compassionate service.

On Monday, Additional Superintendent of Police KN Rai of RAB-4 confirmed the arrest of Mashrikul Islam Imon (32), one of the main coordinators behind the clashes and attacks on law enforcement during the NCIP rally in Gopalganj.

Imon is a banned student league leader, serving as the Deputy Legal Secretary of Dhaka District North and General Secretary of the People's University. He is also one of the prime accused in the high-profile murder case of Suman in Baipayl, along with other murder cases.

In a separate operation, RAB arrested two leaders affiliated with the Awami League and its youth wing from Manikganj — Samir Moulik (35) and Mohammad Mahamudul Hasan Munna Dewan (45).

NCP leader Abdul Hannan Masud expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of invitations to 158 key coordinators and co-coordinators of the July uprising. In a Facebook post at 2 AM Tuesday, he announced he may boycott the July Declaration event if these individuals are not given due respect.

“I received an invitation, but many legitimate coordinators did not. Will there be seats for the families of martyrs?” he questioned. He stated that unless his fellow revolutionaries and the families of the fallen are honored, he will personally boycott the program.

On the first anniversary of the mass uprising that toppled the Awami League government, Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus will present the much-anticipated “July Declaration” this afternoon. Later in the evening, he is expected to address the nation, during which he may announce the tentative month for the 2026 national election.

Sources indicate the speech will also highlight the interim government’s achievements over the past year, progress in the July massacre trials, and ongoing reform initiatives. However, official confirmation of the election timeline could not be obtained from the press wing.

A proposal to establish a modern Hilsha fish landing center in Chandpur was presented by the District Commissioner during the February District Commissioners’ Conference. The project was approved as a mid-term development initiative.

Following this, the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) has expressed interest and begun work to implement the project. The proposed modern Hilsha landing center will include facilities such as a state-of-the-art ice factory, auction sheds, market halls, a mini dry dockyard, water purification filters, and a pontoon. It will also feature modern fish freezing and packaging units, a fisheries museum, fisheries-based corporate office spaces, banking facilities, and restaurants.

This initiative is expected to transform the lives of nearly 10 million people across six districts in southern Bangladesh, including Chandpur, bringing widespread enthusiasm among locals.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain stated that if necessary, Bangladesh would seek international cooperation to bring fugitive Sheikh Hasina in India to justice. However, at present, he sees no such need. He emphasized that the government has never hidden its intention and has always wanted her to be extradited to face trial.

He added that no positive response has yet come from India, and they are still awaiting a reply. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings have already begun, and whether or not she returns does not halt the judicial process.

After much anticipation, the interim government is set to officially unveil the July Declaration today (Tuesday) at Manik Mia Avenue. A five-member delegation from the BNP, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, is expected to attend the event.

BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan confirmed that the delegation will include Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, and Salahuddin Ahmed. The decision was finalized during a meeting held at the BNP Chairperson's office in Gulshan on Monday.

For the first time, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft utilized the boarding bridge and Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) at the newly constructed Terminal 3 of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. On Monday morning, flight BG-356, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner arriving from Rome, marked this milestone by docking at Terminal 3.

Following passenger disembarkation, tests were conducted from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM on systems including the VDGS, external power supply, air conditioning, and water supply. Biman officials stated that this trial marks the beginning of a new era in both domestic and international passenger services.

Following a report by the daily Amar Desh alleging that six senior Bangladesh Air Force officers were forcibly retired due to links with foreign intelligence agencies, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement rejecting the claims as baseless. The officers—Air Vice Marshals M. A. Awal Hossain, Zahidul Saeed, Mohammad Aminul Haque, Abdullah Al Faruq, Mohammad Shamim, and Syed Mohammad—retired naturally upon reaching the service age limit through regular procedures. ISPR dismissed similar accusations concerning two other officers and urged the media to ensure accurate reporting.

BNP leader Begum Selima Rahman reflected on the July uprising, expressing disappointment over unfulfilled anti-discrimination hopes after one year. She accused Dr. Muhammad Yunus, brought into the interim government to maintain neutrality, of failing to do so and aligning with one-sided views, attempting to form a new political party that caused public discontent. She criticized the ruling Awami League for selling out the Liberation War spirit and monopolizing the uprising’s credit. Selima stressed the need for a people's government and lamented the silence over workers who died, with only some students raising voices.

On the second day of testimony in the International Crimes Tribunal regarding crimes against humanity during the July uprising, two witnesses completed their statements against Sheikh Hasina. Both witnesses, Imran (a Dhaka College student) and day laborer Parvin, lost sight and mobility due to the attacks. They held Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal responsible for their injuries and the deaths of others. The next hearing is scheduled for August 6.

Following claims by Janakantha’s editor and publisher Shamima Akhter in a leaked audio that political activists had taken over the newspaper, staff and journalists refuted these as unfounded. Shamima also stated she never ordered the template to be blackened, but rather red. The journalists presented eight demands: punishment of owners involved in disrespecting July revolution martyrs by blackening the template, reinstatement of all sacked journalists with dignity, a full print strike on August 6-7 protesting owners’ fascist behavior, immediate payment of nearly 150 million BDT in unpaid salaries, appointment of a government administrator, and swift arrest of those charged in pending cases.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has initiated legal proceedings against a KFC franchise, its oil supplier, and two other food business owners over allegations of cooking with substandard oil. Metropolitan Magistrate Nusrat Sahara Beethy accepted the case and issued arrest warrants for four accused. The complaint states that oil samples collected from KFC’s Paltan branch on July 27 and 29 tested below standards and were harmful to consumers’ health. Additionally, Paltan’s Kasturi Restaurant was found using fake BSTI codes on yogurt, and ‘Ma Sweets’ was caught adulterating sweets.

After receiving assurances from the district administration to meet three demands, Sunamganj district transport workers’ union ended their indefinite blockade after 16 hours. A joint meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office involving transport owners, workers, university authorities, police, and administration led to the decision. Earlier clashes between university students and bus drivers had triggered the protest. The demands include taking action against those who vandalized vehicles and assaulted drivers, securing bail for a bus driver jailed for five months, and arresting perpetrators who fractured Anwar’s bones in an attack.