An auto-rickshaw driver, Ramzan Munshi (28), succumbed to gunshot wounds early Friday at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, bringing the death toll from the recent Gopalganj clashes to five. Ramzan was shot while passing the court area during a protest march by the National Citizen Party (NCP). Earlier casualties include Dipto Saha, Ramzan Kazi, Sohel, and Imon Talukdar. Authorities have deployed military forces and partially lifted curfews, arresting 20 more individuals, raising the total arrests to 45.

To commemorate the historic July-August People's Uprising Day, the Ministry of Youth and Sports organized a symbolic marathon in Dhaka, starting from the old trade fair grounds in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Advisor to the ministry, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, participated in the event, which saw enthusiastic turnout across all age groups. The initiative aimed to educate the younger generation about the significance of the mass uprising through active engagement.

The UK government has announced plans to grant voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds, marking a significant shift in the country’s democratic structure, pending parliamentary approval. Currently, these age groups can vote in local elections in Scotland and Wales. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the move aims to broaden democratic participation. The proposal also includes acceptance of digital voter IDs, stricter checks on political donations to prevent foreign interference, and closing loopholes related to shell companies. Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus had earlier suggested lowering Bangladesh's voting age to 17 in a similar spirit.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 94 Palestinians were killed and 367 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from the ongoing offensive to 58,677, with nearly 139,974 injured. Officials warn that the actual numbers could be significantly higher due to victims still trapped under rubble. Additionally, 26 more civilians were killed and 32 injured by Israeli gunfire while attempting to collect aid. Since May 27, a total of 877 people have died and 5,666 have been injured while seeking humanitarian assistance.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to preserving Syria’s territorial integrity. Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Thursday, Erdoğan condemned Israel, calling it a “bloodthirsty terrorist state” that is using the Druze community in Syria as a pretext to carry out cross-border attacks. He accused Israel of arrogance, lawlessness, and committing atrocities through military aggression. Emphasizing that Syria's stability is crucial for peace in the region, Erdoğan said Turkey is not an enemy to any nation and stands for an honorable and just peace policy.

After a deadly 12-day war with Israel, Iran’s military leadership, including IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour and Armed Forces Chief Amir Hatami, convened on Thursday, declaring their readiness to resume resistance if war resumes. General Pakpour described the war as one of the most complex conspiracies in Iran’s history and emphasized the IRGC’s enhanced unity. Hatami labeled Israel the greatest threat to the Muslim world and honored fallen martyrs. Both leaders affirmed that the army and IRGC will jointly protect Iran’s sovereignty and dignity.

Iran has dismissed US CENTCOM’s accusations of sending large shipments of weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen, calling them baseless propaganda. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Bagheri on Thursday said the allegations are meant to justify the continued US military presence in the region and to distract from US-Israeli aggression. CENTCOM had earlier claimed to have seized over 750 tons of military equipment en route to Yemen.

To mark July Uprising Day, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has declared July 18 as ‘Free Internet Day.’ All mobile users in Bangladesh will receive 1GB of free data, valid for 5 days. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has directed all operators to implement this. Users can claim their data by dialing: Grameenphone: 1211807# Robi: *41807# Banglalink: 1211807# Teletalk: 1111807#

At an event commemorating ‘Jatrabari Resistance Day,’ Industrial Affairs Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan said fascism, even when defeated, attempts to return—hence it must be actively resisted. He praised the sacrifices of students and madrasa youth during past protests in Jatrabari, calling it a foundation of today’s resistance. He said the cries of martyr families will turn into prayers, and young people's courage will build a new Bangladesh. Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gono Adhikar Parishad, stressed the importance of political unity to prevent further incidents like Gopalganj.

In a protest rally on July 17, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders condemned the attack on an NCP rally in Gopalganj, calling it a sign of government weakness and the Home Advisor's failure. Naib-e-Ameer Dr. Taher labeled the advisor as "Mr. Helpless" and demanded his removal. Party Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the attack aimed to sabotage the upcoming national rally on July 19. They warned that both assailants and complicit elements within the administration must face justice. Jamaat also hinted at a possible long march and urged public participation in the July 19 rally.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced a target to enroll 10 million new members across the country. Speaking at the launch of a membership drive in Savar on July 17, he instructed party activists to recruit 20,000–25,000 members per upazila. He called for the inclusion of honest, law-abiding, and socially accepted individuals while warning against giving shelter to criminal elements. Rizvi also labeled the proportional representation (PR) electoral system as misleading and a barrier to grassroots leadership. He accused the ruling Awami League of denying voting rights and fostering insecurity among the population.

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed warned that the absence of meaningful and sustainable judicial independence threatens the establishment of rule of law and democracy. Speaking at a memorial for Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed on July 17, he reaffirmed the importance of the Masdar Hossain case, which advocated for judicial separation. He raised concerns about Articles 109, 116, and 116(a) of the Constitution, warning against dual authority. He also pointed out that political interference and bureaucratic complexities remain major obstacles to judicial reform—stressing that real change depends on political will.

On July 17, during a rally at Rafiq Square in Manikganj, NCP Convener Nahid Islam declared the need for a new constitution based on justice, human dignity, and people’s rights. He emphasized that the sacrifices of NCP activists would not be in vain, particularly in the wake of recent violence in Gopalganj. Criticizing the gap between activism and development in Manikganj, Nahid pledged that the five-month-old party would identify real issues rather than make false promises.

At a street rally in Rajbari, Dr. Tasnim Zara, Senior Joint Secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), criticized the current constitution for enabling enforced disappearances and political killings under the Prime Minister's unchecked power. She stated that the NCP is fighting to rewrite the constitution and establish a people-oriented, accountable state. Praising past citizen bravery on the streets, Dr. Zara emphasized that the NCP will push for essential reforms to transform the country.

On July 18, 2024, Bangladesh witnessed one of its most controversial days when internet access across the country was deliberately shut down under a state-led plan. The shutdown began with mobile networks, followed by broadband, initially justified by a fire incident. However, later investigations revealed it was a government-orchestrated move. Then-State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak later admitted the decision was intentional. The internet blackout caused severe disruptions to the IT and e-commerce sectors, prompting many freelancers to leave the country. To commemorate the incident, the current government has declared July 18 as ‘Free Internet Day’, during which all users will receive 1GB of free mobile data. Additionally, Starlink satellite internet has entered the Bangladeshi market, promoting unrestricted access. The Mobile Subscribers Association has demanded that the day be recognized as a ‘Digital Black Day’ and has called for symbolic, peaceful protests. There are also growing calls to declare internet access a fundamental right in the Constitution.