The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched investigations against five additional officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on charges of accepting bribes and facilitating tax evasion. This brings the total number of NBR officials under scrutiny in recent days to 16. Allegations suggest these officials personally profited from reducing tax liabilities and filed false cases against those who refused to pay bribes. Many of the accused are members of the NBR Reform Unity Council and were involved in the recent shutdown movement.

An Iranian missile strike on June 15 reportedly "completely destroyed" the Weizmann Institute of Science, a prominent Israeli military-affiliated research facility located south of Tel Aviv. The attack damaged at least 45 laboratories, causing an estimated financial loss of $300–570 million. The targeted strike destroyed valuable research data and samples, affecting the work of over 100 researchers.

BNP Joint Secretary General Advocate Abdus Salam has warned party members of domestic and international conspiracies being hatched under the guise of promoting proportional representation (PR) elections. Speaking at a blood donation drive organized by Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) in Narayanganj, he claimed these efforts are aimed at installing an unelected government. He reaffirmed that the movement is ongoing and will continue until a democratically elected government is established, as clearly stated by party leader Tarique Rahman.

Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, has stated that nearly 20 critical issues remain unresolved and require in-depth discussion. Speaking at a session held at the Foreign Service Academy on Thursday, he said that while preliminary discussions were held on many topics, further dialogue was paused to allow political parties to deliberate independently. He emphasized the importance of using past challenges as motivation and urged all stakeholders not to squander this opportunity for constructive consensus.

The symbolic one-minute internet blackout planned to mark the anniversary of the July coup has been canceled by the interim government. Cultural advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki shared the update in a verified Facebook post on Thursday, stating there had been reservations about the initiative from the outset, and after further discussions, it was decided to cancel it. The blackout was part of the broader "July Remembrance" campaign running from July 1 to August 5. All other planned programs will continue as scheduled.

At the beginning of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh’s warehouses hold a combined reserve of 1.764 million metric tons of rice and wheat—an increase of nearly 300,000 tons compared to the same period last year. According to the Press Wing of the Chief Advisor, the reserve stood at 1.473 million tons at the start of the previous fiscal year. Rice stocks have risen to 1.541 million tons, while wheat reserves have decreased to 223,000 tons due to higher distribution than procurement.

Saudi Arabia has deployed the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system to enhance its air defense capabilities and secure strategic zones. The system, stationed after training in Jeddah, is capable of intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. However, questions have been raised about its effectiveness, especially in countering missile threats from Iran and Yemen.

The interim government has decided to officially recognize Rohingya youth Noor Mostafa, who was killed during a popular uprising, as a martyr. Media and Information Advisor Mahfuz Alam confirmed that the proposal was presented during the June 22 Cabinet meeting and that a formal gazette notification is in process. Noor Mostafa was shot dead in front of Eidgaon Police Station in Cox’s Bazar on August 5, 2023. Despite being born and educated in Bangladesh, he had not previously been recognized as a martyr due to his parents' lack of official identity documents. The family has yet to receive any state support.

India has taken a firm stance against China’s claim that it must approve the Dalai Lama's successor. Speaking at an event in Dharamshala, Indian Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju asserted that the Dalai Lama alone holds the right to determine his spiritual successor. “It is a purely religious matter, and any political interference is unacceptable,” Rijiju said. India reaffirmed that the decision would be made either by the Dalai Lama himself or the Gaden Phodrang Trust, his designated institution.

BNP has expressed serious concern over the proposed "Telecom Network and Licensing Reform Policy 2025." At a press conference in Gulshan, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that while the policy ostensibly aims to promote digital inclusion and technological progress, it appears to favor large corporations and poses risks to the SME sector. He criticized the timing of the policy rollout ahead of national elections and demanded broader public consultation and impact analysis. Fakhrul also flagged ambiguities regarding ownership caps, cross-ownership, and the integration of emerging technologies.

The Advisory Council has approved the draft of the Public Service (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. The proposal was tabled by the Ministry of Public Administration during a meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Thursday. According to a Cabinet Division statement, the ordinance received final approval following vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.

Nahid Islam, Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), declared that his party would not participate in any election unless the July Charter is implemented. Speaking after visiting the grave of 'July Martyr' Sajjad Hossain in Syedpur, Nilphamari on Thursday, Nahid announced a nationwide march that has already received a strong response in the northern regions. He emphasized the importance of inclusive, countrywide development—not just Dhaka-centric growth—and said that even after the fall of the fascist regime, a mafia culture remains. He called for preserving the legacy of the resistance movement.

Hundreds of BNP leaders and activists, along with affiliated groups, marched in Pekua on Thursday demanding the death penalty for former MP and Chakaria Upazila Awami League President Jafar Alam. The rally started at 10 AM from Pekua Chowmuhani and ended with a gathering at the same location. Upazila BNP President M. Bahadur Shah led the protest, calling for maximum punishment for Jafar Alam. According to police, Alam is currently in seven-day remand in connection with three cases, including one related to vote rigging and ballot fraud during the 2018 elections.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has warned that implementing the proposed Proportional Representation (PR) system in Bangladesh will eliminate the emergence of local leaders and instead pave the way for more autocrats. Speaking at an event in Rangpur on Thursday, Rizvi said that under the PR system, parties—not the people—would choose MPs, weakening democratic values. He also paid tribute to the martyrs of the July-August movements, claiming that their sacrifices helped shape a new Bangladesh. Rizvi labelled the current government under Sheikh Hasina as fascist and highlighted the issues of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. He urged democratic forces to unite in the national interest.

As part of a proposed ceasefire deal, Hamas has agreed to release 10 living Israeli hostages and return the bodies of 18 others over a 60-day truce, to be implemented in five phases. However, Hamas insists on a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu stated the group is serious and ready for a full end to the war. While negotiations continue, the proposal has raised hopes for a potential breakthrough, though no final agreement has been reached yet.