French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, denouncing it as "ethnic cleansing." In an interview with CNN, Macron called for respecting Palestinians and their Arab neighbors. He stated, "You cannot simply tell two million people to relocate. This is not real estate; this is a political operation." He further expressed opposition to large-scale military actions against civilians.

According to a United Nations report on Wednesday, rebuilding war-torn Gaza and addressing the "humanitarian catastrophe" in the region will require an estimated $53 billion. The report, cited by Al Jazeera, states that $20 billion is needed in the first three years alone. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency of restoring Gaza’s infrastructure, as nearly 85% of Palestinians in the enclave have been displaced, with 60% of buildings damaged or destroyed. The Israeli offensive has resulted in over 48,000 deaths, with more than 13,000 people missing.

Thirteen police officers, including two sub-inspectors, two assistant sub-inspectors, and nine constables, have been suspended for extorting money from stone-laden trucks in Sylhet’s Companiganj. The decision was announced on Monday in an order signed by Additional SP Russellur Rahman. The suspension followed viral social media videos showing officers demanding money from truck drivers.

Rajshahi police recovered the body of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Aminul Islam (35), who was found hanging in his government quarters in Helenabad. His wife discovered the body around 3 AM on Monday night and notified authorities. Police suspect that Aminul committed suicide following a dispute with his wife. Investigations are ongoing.

Hasnat Abdullah, Convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has urged adviser Asif Nazrul to address the struggles of Bangladeshi migrant workers. He highlighted syndicate fraud in the labor migration sector, where airfare to Saudi Arabia has doubled from 35,000-40,000 BDT to 80,000-90,000 BDT. The number of flights has been reduced from 98 to 44, leading to an artificial ticket crisis and black-market sales. Additionally, workers are harassed at airports, causing them to miss flights. Abdullah demanded immediate intervention to resolve these issues.

On Tuesday evening, AIG Enamul Haque Sagar of the police headquarters reported that 607 people were arrested in the past 24 hours under "Operation Devil Hunt," bringing the total number of detainees to 1,775 nationwide. The crackdown also led to the seizure of two foreign pistols, one LMG, a one-shooter gun, a pipe gun, multiple rounds of ammunition, and various bladed weapons. This operation was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs to restore law and order following attacks on students at the home of Mozammel Haque in Gazipur on January 7.

Indian Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has called on the Indian government to closely monitor the situation in Bangladesh, warning that an unfavorable government in Dhaka could pose risks to India. As Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, he stressed that India must commit to the welfare of all Bangladeshis rather than appearing biased towards any particular political party or group. Additionally, he supported the idea of granting asylum to Sheikh Hasina in India if necessary.

On Tuesday, Mohammad Shishir Monir, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, alleged that the Awami League government obstructed the investigation and destroyed crucial evidence on high-level orders. Runi’s brother and case plaintiff, Nausher Alam Roman, accused the previous government of involvement in the murder. Journalists present at the event expressed outrage over the prolonged delay in justice, vowing to submit a memorandum to the Chief Adviser.

Indian actor and Trinamool Congress MP Dipak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, has raised concerns in the Lok Sabha about the lack of barbed-wire fencing along large stretches of the India-Bangladesh border. According to an ABP report, Dev submitted questions about the total unfenced border area and the reasons behind it. The Indian government responded that 864.482 km of the border remains unfenced, with 174.514 km being impossible to fence due to opposition from Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB), land acquisition issues, water bodies, and landslides.

Speaking at a seminar titled "Tarique Rahman’s 31-Point Reform Agenda and Public Engagement," BNP leader Mirza Abbas urged authorities to focus on corrupt officials hidden within government offices rather than searching for "devils" in jungles. He claimed that pro-Awami elements still occupy key positions in government institutions and misguide the administration. Addressing criticism over BNP’s demand for elections, he asserted that the party has been fighting for voting rights for decades and welcomed the shift in focus from local to national elections.

Following the withdrawal of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director Kazi Sayemuzzaman from investigating corruption allegations involving former Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury and Bangladesh Bank officials, he has now been transferred to the NSI and ENCAC focal point division. Mohammad Morshed Alam has replaced him. The Bangladesh Bank had sent a letter to the ACC chairman objecting to Sayemuzzaman’s disclosure of investigation details on social media. Subsequently, he was issued a show-cause notice and later reassigned.

At an event in front of the National Press Club on Tuesday, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, President of Nagorik Oikya, emphasized the need for national unity in the fight for democracy and freedom. He stated that the nation must overcome division and hostility to remain united in the long run. He assured that efforts to change the country have already begun. The event was a symbolic hunger strike organized by the families of those killed and injured during the 2024 mass uprising, demanding proper medical treatment and state rehabilitation for the wounded. After three hours of fasting, Manna, as the chief guest, ended the strike by offering water to the protesters.

During the mass uprising, Abdul Mannan served as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Sylhet. Allegations surfaced that he allowed members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) to store weapons in his office. Last Friday, the Rangpur Metropolitan Police arrested Abdul Mannan, who was then serving as SP of the Rangpur Range. He was later presented before a Sylhet court and placed in custody. Mannan has also been accused of being involved in a promotion trading scheme. On August 4, six people were killed by law enforcement gunfire in Sylhet’s Gopalganj Upazila, which was under his jurisdiction. He is also alleged to have been involved in land fraud and acting as an armed protector for the BCL.

In a shocking revelation, sources have confirmed that 105 children lost their lives due to gunfire during protests against Sheikh Hasina’s regime. The figures have intensified calls for justice and accountability from the interim government and international human rights organizations.

Irish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Kevin Kelly, met with Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus in Tejgaon today. During the meeting, Kelly affirmed Ireland’s full support for Bangladesh’s interim government, democratic restoration, and reform programs. He expressed Ireland’s interest in increasing imports from Bangladesh and mentioned the possibility of sending an Irish delegation to assist in democratic transformation. Additionally, Ireland pledged continued humanitarian support for Rohingya refugees.