Bangladesh's Appellate Division has scheduled a hearing for this Thursday in the appeal against the verdicts in the August 21 grenade attack case. The appeal challenges the acquittal of all accused, including the life sentence for BNP’s Tarique Rahman and the death sentence for Lutfozzaman Babar. A five-member bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed will hear the case. Senior BNP lawyers including Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarkar and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon will represent the defendants.

A growing number of young people globally, including in Bangladesh, are losing interest in marriage and parenthood due to career pressures, financial instability, and the desire for personal freedom. According to a recent UNFPA and YouGov survey revealed during the 2025 World Population Day observance, 40% of youth no longer desire children, and 18% lack access to family planning services. Health Adviser Noorjahan Begum and other speakers called for youth empowerment, improved education, gender equality, and awareness. Experts also forecast that the global population may begin to decline by 2098.

The World Bank provided over $3 billion in funding to Bangladesh in the last fiscal year and has committed to maintaining similar support over the next three years. During a meeting in Dhaka with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Vice President for South Asia Johannes Zutt praised the interim government's financial sector reforms and reaffirmed the Bank’s support for inclusive growth in Bangladesh. Zutt commended Yunus's leadership in youth engagement and women’s empowerment. Yunus emphasized harnessing youth for industrial growth and envisioned Bangladesh as a major economic force.

An Israeli soldier has died by suicide at a military base in the occupied Golan Heights, marking the third such incident in just 10 days. The soldier had reportedly participated in military operations against Palestinians in Gaza. The spate of suicides has raised concerns within the Israeli Defense Forces. Opposition leader Yair Lapid described it as a result of an “unbearable reality.” So far in 2025, at least 15 Israeli soldiers have taken their own lives. Since Israel’s assault on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, with over 100,000 injured.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed authorities to urgently fill over 32,000 vacant head teacher positions in government primary schools across Bangladesh. In a meeting held Monday at the Jamuna State Guest House, he emphasized the need for a transparent recruitment process, categorization based on experience and age, and hiring qualified individuals. He also instructed authorities to clarify transfer policies and prioritize gender-friendly school infrastructure, involvement of women engineers, and the integration of internet and multimedia classrooms.

Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, Vice Chair of the National Consensus Commission, has urged political leaders to cooperate in finalizing a national charter by the end of July. Speaking on the 14th day of the Commission’s second round of dialogues with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, he emphasized the urgency of swift decision-making due to limited time. Representatives from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and other parties participated. Key discussion topics included the introduction of a bicameral legislature, constitutional amendments, and ensuring greater female representation. Dr. Riaz stressed that failure is not an option and called political cooperation essential to deliver the national charter.

The Teesta Master Plan is expected to be finalized by the end of 2025, according to Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser on Water Resources and Environment in Bangladesh's interim government. Responding to journalists’ questions in Saidpur on July 15, she said the project requires joint approval from China and Bangladesh, though fieldwork has been completed. A final round of discussions with experts on five key issues is scheduled for July 17, after which the plan will be submitted to the Chinese authorities for approval. Implementation will begin after the approval process is complete.

From June 26 to July 13, ongoing monsoon rains and flash floods have killed at least 105 people in Pakistan and injured over 211. The dead include 49 children, 38 men, and 18 women. Punjab province is the worst affected, with 44 deaths and 134 injuries. The extreme weather has damaged over 10 kilometers of roads, nine bridges, and hundreds of homes. Incidents include building collapses, lightning strikes, electrocutions, and drowning. Government agencies continue rescue and relief operations and have urged the public to remain vigilant.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday morning during his visit to China for the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. According to Mehr News Agency, Araghchi met Xi for a brief bilateral discussion ahead of the main group meeting. The meeting is seen as part of strengthening diplomatic ties between Iran and China.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed that Iran will use every available diplomatic and political resource to protect its people's rights and remove the shadow of war. Addressing Iranians abroad, he said, “Iran stands for peace and diplomacy, not war.” Condemning recent Israeli and U.S. aggressions, Pezeshkian said Israel has continued killing innocent Iranians even during negotiations. He reiterated Iran’s commitment to its peaceful nuclear program and readiness for talks but warned that while Iranians are peace-loving, they will not submit to external pressures.

At least 78 Palestinians were killed in Gaza in a single day of Israeli strikes, many of them while trying to collect aid. In Rafah, five people were killed near a relief center, while the total death toll around the GHAF-operated center has now reached 838. In Khan Younis, nine people died in a camp for displaced persons, while four more were killed in Bureij refugee camp. Another 24 people died in attacks on Gaza City. Meanwhile, three Israeli soldiers were killed by a rocket attack on a tank. Since October 7, the total death toll in Gaza has surpassed 57,800.

Farida Akhtar, Adviser on Fisheries and Livestock, has warned that any attempt to suppress women will be met with resistance, saying, “Remember, July will return again.” Speaking at the closing ceremony of a rickshaw rally marking ‘July Girls' Day,’ she emphasized the need for collective efforts to build a safer country for women and children. Akhtar pointed out that patriarchy still hinders women’s progress, and failure to ensure women’s safety would be a failure of the state. She also acknowledged and thanked rickshaw pullers for their contributions.

Leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP) visited the Charmonai Pir’s shrine in Barishal as part of their ongoing July March. On Monday night, the delegation, led by Nahid Islam, was welcomed by leaders of Islami Andolon Bangladesh. Later, the NCP leaders held a courtesy meeting with the party’s Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer, Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim. Faizul Karim remarked that their movement still upholds the spirit of the July Movement. Nahid Islam stated that visiting historically significant sites is a key part of their journey.

Bangladesh’s High Court has overturned the corruption convictions of Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman, highlighting serious procedural irregularities in the trial. The full verdict criticized the acceptance of 42 witnesses within just two months and four days, and the delivery of the verdict in eight days, terming it judicial bias. It also noted legal violations, including the failure to serve notice to Zubaida. As a result, the court acquitted Tarique from a 9-year sentence and Zubaida from a 3-year sentence. The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the case in 2007, and the trial court convicted them in 2023.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) President Rakibul Islam Rakib warned that if attempts to establish mob rule in Bangladesh persist and law and order do not improve, they will launch direct action against the interim government. He accused the non-partisan interim administration of fostering secret groups that disrupt educational institutions. General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir warned underground groups against spreading disinformation and conspiracies. Protests and rallies in Dhaka saw demands for immediate government action.