The National Olama Alliance alleged that its human chain outside the National Press Club in the capital was attacked on Saturday under the leadership of Aminul Islam Imon, a Dhaka South leader of Swechchhasebak Dal. In a statement, the organisation said its convener Ashraf Uddin Mahdi, Dhaka South convener Mahmud Hasan and several central leaders were attacked.

The previously announced programme was held to protest the gouging out of Alif's eye in Habiganj, attacks on National Citizen Party activists in different parts of the country, and alleged attacks on the alliance's Dinaj Minhaz in Kurigram and Shah Alam in Netrokona. The report said video footage showed Chhatra Dal leader Hadis Hawlader and Swechchhasebak Dal leader Farhad Islam leading the attack.

Sources said that after the human chain began following Asr prayers, a group led by Imon held a daytime torch procession drill carrying sticks. They later approached participants while chanting slogans including “bhua bhua.” Mahdi alleged the attack occurred in the presence of police and said a press release was snatched. Mahmud Hasan urged the administration to ensure the right to peaceful programmes and expression.

Liberation War Affairs State Minister Ishraq Hossain said Sheikh Hasina’s stated plan to return to the country in December this year was intended only to energise party workers. He described it as political posturing by the banned Awami League. Ishraq made the remarks on Saturday as chief guest at a mock parliament titled “Responsibility for the July Killings” at FDC.

At the event organised by Debate for Democracy, Ishraq said the Awami League had pursued flawed political strategies and moved toward fascism rather than democracy. He alleged that the party had suffered political, social and moral defeat over the July killings and lost international acceptability. He also said that, after August 5, 2024, its allies remained active in the administration, business and cultural spheres.

Ishraq urged all anti-fascist groups to remain united, warning that divisions could create conditions for fascist forces to rise again. Debate for Democracy chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron also described the July uprising as the Awami League’s political and moral defeat. In the debate competition, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology defeated Gono Bishwabidyalay, with trophies, crests and certificates awarded afterward.

Bangladesh have been drawn with Sri Lanka and Bhutan in Group A of the SAFF Championship. The 15th edition of the regional tournament will be held in Dhaka from November 4 to 17. Nepal could also join Bangladesh’s group if its FIFA suspension is lifted by September 30.

The SAFF authorities have not formally announced anything regarding Nepal’s potential participation. Nepal remains under a FIFA ban, and its place in Group A depends on being cleared before the stated deadline. Group B includes the defending champions, Maldives and Pakistan.

Bangladesh have won the SAFF Championship only once, in 2003. The red-and-green side hopes to lift the trophy again with Hamza and Shamit. Under the announced grouping, Group A consists of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while Group B features India, Maldives and Pakistan.

Suvendu Adhikari, described as West Bengal’s chief minister, spoke about India’s Citizenship Amendment Act at the launch of the state’s 16th digital census on Saturday. He said Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians entering India from neighbouring countries are not infiltrators but refugees. Muslims were not included in the categories he described.

The disputed CAA provides for faster citizenship for six religious minority communities, including Hindus, arriving from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, while excluding Muslims. Critics and human rights groups say the law conflicts with Article 14 of India’s Constitution, which provides equality before law, as well as with secular principles.

Adhikari cited a September 1, 2025 government notification, saying refugees who arrived by December 31, 2014 to save their religion or lives cannot face cases or police harassment. He said illegal infiltrators would be identified through legal procedures and returned. Referring to an earlier error in Birbhum in which an Indian citizen faced difficulties before being brought back, he said his government would ensure that no genuine Indian citizen suffers in the process.

A report published by Amar Desh Online on August 1, 2026, citing Al Mujtama, outlines five major challenges facing Muslim minorities living in non-Muslim-majority societies. It says these challenges threaten their existence, citizenship, demographic standing and basic rights. The report cites the loss of full citizenship for Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar as an example of citizenship deprivation.

The first two challenges identified are alleged manipulation of Muslim population statistics and a lack of reliable data. The report argues that inaccurate or incomplete counts can understate Muslims’ demographic strength and narrow discussions of rights and equality. It describes the global Muslim population as nearly two billion, or about 24 percent of the world population, and cites estimates concerning Nigeria, India, France, Germany and the United States.

The remaining challenges are described as dispersing concentrated Muslim demographic communities, depriving people of political, economic and educational rights, and installing governing groups portrayed as hostile to Islam. The report calls for continued research using reliable, updated data. It also urges scientific institutions in the Islamic world to cooperate with neutral international organizations on determining Muslim population figures, with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation taking a leading role with support from Muslim governments.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu called for united action to eliminate drugs at a sapling distribution event in Lalmonirhat on Saturday afternoon. Speaking as chief guest at the district council hall, he said a drug-free society requires joint efforts by the government, volunteer groups, social and political leaders, and the public. The event, held under the theme “Let us decorate the country through tree planting, Bangladesh first,” distributed saplings to members of 25 volunteer organisations.

Dulu said unrestricted drug entry through the border during the previous government had harmed a large section of the country’s youth. He stressed the need to raise public awareness and build social resistance to overcome the situation. Addressing young people, he urged them to reject drugs and develop resistance against narcotics, describing them as the tools for building a new Bangladesh.

The minister said volunteers should play a leading role not only in tree planting but also in preventing drug use, gambling, casinos, child marriage and dowry. Leaders of several volunteer organisations spoke at the event. District Commissioner HM Rashedul Haque Pradhan attended, while district council administrator AKM Mominul Haque chaired the programme.

Professor Kamrul Islam Tarfadar’s panel secured a sweeping victory in the election of the Jalalabad Association, a social organisation of people from greater Sylhet living in Dhaka. Voting was held throughout Friday and results were announced at night. Tarfadar was elected president with 989 votes, while his nearest rival, C M Kays Sami, received 588 votes.

Advocate Jasim Uddin Ahmed won the general secretary post with 832 votes, defeating Dr Ziaul Islam Munna, who received 721. The elected vice-presidents include Md Ehsane Elahi for Jalalabad, Tofail Khan for Sylhet, Abdul Majid Chowdhury for Moulvibazar, Akbar Hossain Manju for Sunamganj, Anwar Hossain Chowdhury for Habiganj, and Dr Samia Mubin for women’s affairs.

Ripon Kabir Laskar was elected treasurer, while Zakir Hossain and Advocate Abul Kalam were elected joint general secretaries. Other elected office-bearers include Shafiqul Islam Sajal, Barrister Syeda Sima Karim, Nesar Ali, Captain Mizanur Rahman, Barrister Nasrin Akter Sheela, Mizanur Rahman, Dr Abul Kalam Chowdhury and Syed Tanzil Muktadir. Multiple members were also elected from Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sunamganj and the Jalalabad region.

Dhaka University has begun repainting and rewriting July graffiti on walls across its campus to preserve the works while retaining their original characteristics, spirit and significance. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam inaugurated the initiative at the main gate of the vice-chancellor’s residence on Saturday morning. The university’s public relations office said the programme will run for three days, from August 1 to 3.

The preservation work will cover graffiti at different locations from the vice-chancellor’s building to Rokeya Hall. At the opening event, Obaidul Islam said the graffiti carry memories of what he described as the misrule of the fallen fascist government and the oppression and persecution of that period. He said the preservation initiative was intended to keep those memories alive among the public.

The vice-chancellor said students drew images on walls during July and August depicting Sheikh Hasina’s oppression, torture and anger, and described the graffiti as living history of the country. He called on people to remain vigilant so that fascism does not rise again in the future and urged cooperation with the current government’s efforts to build a society without discrimination. Senior university officials, teachers and students attended the event.

Former Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir central president Zahidul Islam said the July movement united people against oppression under a shared identity as the oppressed. He made the remarks on Friday as chief guest at the “July Awakening Cultural Evening” at the Central Shaheed Minar premises in Feni town.

Islam said genuine justice could not be established until what he described as the “deep state” was removed from Bangladesh. He said martyr Osman Hadi had begun public discussion about invisible and subtle forces within the state. Referring to the July movement, he cited the image of martyr Abu Sayed standing with both arms outstretched, saying protesters were prepared to risk their lives but did not bow to injustice.

He said members of martyrs’ families place greater emphasis on ending impunity than on their personal grief, and seek justice for those involved in killings. Raising the issue of a Chhatra League procession in Feni, he criticized its participants and urged the administration not to favour any side or encourage muscle politics. Several Jamaat leaders, relatives of martyrs, injured protesters and Chhatra Shibir activists attended the event.

A construction worker was killed and two others were injured after a wall of an under-construction septic tank collapsed at Gulisakhali Fazil Madrasa in Morrelganj, Bagerhat. The accident occurred at about 1pm on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Md Atiar Rahman, 45, son of Md Badruddin from Ashrail village in Jashore district. The injured workers, Nayan and Mominul, received local treatment.

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, several workers were working inside the septic tank when one of its walls suddenly collapsed. Three workers were trapped under the debris. Local residents heard their cries and informed police and the fire service.

Police and fire service personnel conducted a joint rescue operation and recovered all three workers, but Atiar Rahman was found dead. Morrelganj police station Officer-in-Charge Mahamudur Rahman said the body was sent to the morgue of Bagerhat 250-bed District Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Legal procedures related to the incident are ongoing.

BNP local leader Mizan Mia, 45, was killed in a clash over a land dispute and the cutting of a roadside tree in Barachapa Purba Para village of Monohardi upazila, Narsingdi, on Saturday. Mizan, son of Safur Uddin, was vice-president of the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal in Ward 4 of Barachapa Union.

The victim's family said the two sides had been in a long-running dispute over a road beside their homes. Although the matter had been brought to arbitration several times, no permanent settlement was reached. Relatives said an argument began on Saturday afternoon over cutting a tree beside the road, after which Shahidullah and his son Jibon Mia allegedly struck Mizan on the head with sticks.

Shahidullah is identified as vice-president of the Awami League in Ward 4 of Barachapa Union. Mizan was taken to Monohardi Upazila Health Complex, where he was declared dead. The resident medical officer said he had been brought to the hospital dead and that the precise cause of death would be known after the autopsy. Police sent the body to the morgue and said legal action was under process.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan called for a universal philosophy grounded in humanity, tolerance and mutual respect to help establish world peace. He made the remarks on Saturday as chief guest at the Bangladesh Philosophical Society’s second international conference at the Teachers-Students Centre of the University of Dhaka. State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam attended as an honoured guest.

Swapan said philosophy is a major basis of the fundamental difference between humans and other animals, arguing that humanity and civilisation cannot fully develop without a clear philosophy. He said philosophy emerged when people found space beyond their basic struggle for survival to ask where they came from and where they would go. Religions later became major fields of philosophical inquiry, he added.

The minister said every religion carries teachings of human welfare, while differing interpretations and schools of thought have produced philosophical diversity. He cited the existence of multiple philosophies in Sanatan religion and varied thought and interpretations in Islam. Swapan said approaches to problems substantially shape their solutions, and urged thoughtful people to build a common philosophical platform to address the global peace crisis.

A commemorative plaque for a road renovation project disappeared within hours of its inauguration in Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, according to the report. Nilphamari-3 lawmaker Maulana Obaidullah Salafi formally inaugurated the work at 5pm on Friday on a road beside Bhabanchur Girls School in Golmunda Union. The plaque installed at the site was later reportedly removed under unexplained circumstances.

A visit to the location found the concrete pillar built for the plaque standing empty. Local student Ariful Islam said the plaque vanished only hours after the inauguration. Mason Md Arif, who built the pillar, said a former bank officer and BNP activist from a nearby area had remarked during construction that the plaque would not remain there. That comment has prompted discussion locally after the disappearance.

Contractor representative Abu Bakkar Siddique said the project has faced problems from the outset, including theft of stored bricks and sand being dumped into the road drain. Local Jamaat leader Rafiqul Alam called for those responsible to be identified and brought under the law. Residents also demanded a proper investigation and action against the offenders.

AB Party Secretary General Asaduzzaman Fuad sharply criticized attacks on National Citizen Party, or NCP, leaders and activists at a discussion meeting organized by Odhikar in the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Hall of the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday, August 1. He challenged claims that NCP could be prevented from holding marches or other programs and criticized what he described as displays of bravery by people who had remained silent during the Awami League period.

Fuad expressed anger over an incident in Habiganj in which an NCP worker lost an eye and questioned why those accused had not been arrested. He described campaigning against Nasiruddin Patwary and Salahuddin Ammar as preparation for hatred and killing, calling on those involved to exercise restraint. He also criticized attacks on vehicles associated with NCP figures.

He said parties that supported the mass uprising do not want the BNP government to fall and instead want it to succeed. However, he argued that the government was making itself open to criticism by breaking its own promises. Fuad urged the government to use common sense in pursuing justice and reform, which he called fundamental to the July mass uprising, and said people with greater power should be more humble.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon said July would never disappear from the memory of Bangladesh’s people, speaking at a July mass uprising memorial event at Dhaka Government Polytechnic Institute on August 1. He said the younger generation brought the country back during July and August, and that Bangladesh had been regained through the sacrifices of hundreds of martyrs.

Milon said the country must move beyond conventional ideas of education, arguing that technical education has no alternative for building an advanced Bangladesh. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has adopted a plan to turn the country’s large population into human resources. Skilled technical workers are in demand worldwide, he added, and training migrant workers before sending them abroad could further strengthen the economy.

The minister announced plans to establish four more engineering colleges in Bangladesh and pledged to develop Dhaka Government Polytechnic Institute as a model institution. He urged students to build greater innovative capacity and work toward a better Bangladesh. At the event, he presented commemorative plaques to relatives of two polytechnic students killed in the July uprising and draped shawls over injured students from the institute.