BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stated that the responsibility for mass killings in Bangladesh does not rest solely on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but that the ruling Awami League as a party must also be held accountable. He made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking to journalists after visiting ailing BNP leader Abdul Kuddus at the Neuroscience Hospital in Dhaka. "BNP has been the primary victim of the Awami League’s and Sheikh Hasina’s crackdown. In the latest massacre, Sheikh Hasina was directly involved," Fakhrul said. He also noted that reform and elections are not contradictory, urging those advocating election delays to reconsider their stance, as the public clearly desires to vote.

The United States has rejected India's assertion that the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire was a purely bilateral decision. At a press briefing in Washington, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that the U.S. played a direct role in de-escalating tensions. She credited President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance for their active involvement. This contradicts Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishra’s claim that no foreign parties were involved. Bruce also referenced American efforts in resolving conflicts in Gaza and between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

An investigation by BBC Eye has revealed that at least 52 civilians were killed in indiscriminate police firing in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area on August 5, 2024. The incident occurred during the final day of protests following the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. The report is based on over 100 videos, photographs, eyewitness accounts, and on-the-ground verification. According to BBC, the shooting began at 2:43 PM and lasted for approximately 30 minutes. One protester, Miraj Hossain, captured the moment he was shot in a video that has since been authenticated. Hospital records and social media posts corroborate the death toll. While police admitted to excessive force and unprofessional conduct, they have promised accountability and justice.

According to a BBC investigation citing a leaked audio recording, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allegedly authorized the use of deadly force against anti-government protesters. In a conversation dated July 18 with a senior official at Ganabhaban, she is heard instructing security forces to open fire on protesters. The recording has been forensically verified by British firm Earshot, which found no signs of editing or manipulation. Human rights lawyer Toby Cadman has called the tape critical evidence of Hasina’s direct involvement. The Awami League has questioned the recording’s authenticity, stating no illegal instructions were given.

The United States has invited Bangladesh for the second round of discussions on the 2025 tariff agreement. Talks are set to begin Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The Bangladeshi delegation is being led in person by Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin, with National Security Advisor Dr. Khalilur Rahman participating virtually. Senior trade ministry officials have already arrived in the U.S. Bangladesh is among the first nations to respond following President Trump’s July 7 letters to 14 countries about tariff revisions. Following initial talks on June 27, Dhaka is hopeful for a swift finalization of the agreement.

Israeli airstrikes killed 52 more Palestinians in Gaza over the past 24 hours, pushing the total death toll to approximately 57,575 since the conflict began. Another 262 people were injured, bringing the total number of wounded to 136,879. Rescue efforts remain hampered as many bodies are trapped under rubble and inaccessible due to security concerns. Even during the distribution of humanitarian aid, eight people were killed and over 74 injured in the past day alone. Since May 27, at least 766 civilians have died while attempting to receive aid, with over 5,000 others wounded.

Youssef Missibih, imam of the Bilal Mosque in Alkmaar, Netherlands, has been dismissed after attending a cordial meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The meeting took place on July 7 and included 15 European imams, led by French imam Hassen Chalghoumi. During the meeting, Missibih was seen singing Israel’s national anthem in Arabic. The Bilal Mosque authorities announced his dismissal, citing his recent political actions as grounds for severing all ties with him.

A 60-day ceasefire in Gaza may be reached by the end of this week, according to U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Under the proposed agreement, Hamas is expected to release 10 living hostages and return the bodies of nine more. Former President Trump, who was present during recent negotiations, said he would consult with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, emphasizing that all parties want to move past the war. Meanwhile, Netanyahu told Congress that Israel's mission in Gaza is not yet complete, as they continue efforts to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure and rescue hostages.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing war in Ukraine, condemning the loss of lives caused by the conflict. Trump said he is considering imposing new sanctions on Moscow. On the same day, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed Europe’s unwavering support for Ukraine, stating that both France and the UK will continue to stand by Kyiv. Trump also announced plans to resume the supply of defensive weapons to Ukraine, which had been temporarily paused. Meanwhile, the Kremlin said it is awaiting a proposed date for the next round of peace talks.

BNP Joint Secretary General Abdus Salam Azad has asserted that national elections in Bangladesh must be held under a non-partisan caretaker government. Speaking at the biannual conference of the Bhola Municipal BNP, he said free and fair elections are not possible under the current administration. He also suggested the caretaker government could consider a Proportional Representation (PR) system. Azad accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of usurping power in the dead of night and suppressing the people’s voting rights. He reiterated BNP’s commitment to restoring democracy under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.

Nazrul Islam Sohel, a senior leader of the Pabna District Awami League and a panel mayor of the local district council, has been arrested in Ranitola, Murshidabad, West Bengal. He was detained late Monday night by Indian police. Sohel reportedly fled Bangladesh due to fears for his life and entered India illegally, seeking political asylum. He claimed, “Since Sheikh Hasina once took shelter in India, I am following the same path.” Multiple cases have been filed against him under India’s Foreigners Act and Passport Act. The arrest has sparked significant interest among law enforcement and intelligence agencies in both countries.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has questioned the use of the term "Honourable" for government officials, suggesting that such language fosters autocratic mindsets. Speaking at the closing ceremony of "Civil Discourse Nationals-2025" held at the Bangla Academy, Fakhrul said ministers in Bangladesh often adopt authoritarian behavior once they take office. He criticized the entitlement that comes with official privileges like salutes and motorcades. Fakhrul also emphasized the importance of bridging generational and rural-urban gaps, and urged greater engagement of youth in national discourse.

For the first time, Israel has officially acknowledged that Iranian missiles struck its military installations and caused damage. However, the Israeli government has not disclosed the exact locations or extent of the impact. Officials claim that the missiles hit “very few” sites and that the affected facilities remain operational. Previously, British media published satellite imagery suggesting Iranian missiles struck at least five Israeli military bases during a 12-day conflict. Israel has yet to release information on military casualties and maintains that Iran primarily targeted civilian areas and infrastructure.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on supporters to make the upcoming 'National Rally' on July 19 at Suhrawardy Udyan a success. The event aims to honor the sacrifices of protesters during the July–August 2024 uprising and to press for seven major demands. In a central meeting, party leaders discussed preparations for the rally and expressed confidence that public support would make the event a success.

BNP nomination aspirant for Narayanganj-1, Sharif Ahmed Tutul, has pledged to eliminate corruption and restore voting rights if nominated by the party. He claimed grassroots activists have long suffered repression in the area and asserted that BNP is a people’s party that remains rooted in public support. Former Chhatra Dal leader Masudur Rahman praised Tutul as a clean politician and said his nomination would secure BNP's victory in Rupganj. The meeting also highlighted the ongoing political repression under authoritarian rule.