More than 130 prominent Jordanians have called for the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Jordan and for the cancellation or restriction of the existing military cooperation agreement with the United States. Politicians, academics, cultural figures, labor leaders and tribal representatives made the appeal in a joint statement reported on July 31.

The signatories said Jordan is not a party to any regional war and argued that using its territory for foreign military deployment or regional conflict poses risks to national security and sovereignty. They said the foreign military presence could make Jordan a potential target for attacks amid the current situation in the Middle East.

The statement urged a swift review of the defense cooperation agreement signed with the United States in 2021. It said the deal should be cancelled if necessary, or amended to fully protect Jordan's independent decision-making capacity and national interests. Jordan's government has previously said US forces operate under bilateral defense cooperation arrangements for counterterrorism activities and joint security cooperation, while respecting Jordanian sovereignty.

An angry crowd in Nishchintapur Mahirakhain village, Ward 9 of Jiri Union in Patiya upazila, Chattogram, set fire to an alleged drug den and handed a suspected dealer to police around midnight on Thursday. Patiya police arrived after being informed and detained Md. Eskandar, also known as Esk, taking him to the police station.

Local residents and police sources said the operation had allegedly been running for a long time from a dilapidated room under the leadership of Mahmudul Haque. Residents had grown angry over the alleged drug trade and surrounded the site. Haque escaped, while Eskandar was detained. The report said 10 yaba pills were recovered from him and more yaba pills were found at the location.

Local BNP leader Forkan and Chhatra Dal leader Latif said political activists from different parties and residents had united because drug dealing had increased in the area. Resident Md. Halim said warnings had failed to stop the activity. Patiya police sub-inspector Kamal Hossain said legal action was being taken against Eskandar and he would be sent to jail through a court. Residents demanded Haque's prompt arrest.

A farm worker, Md Mostakim, 35, died after being electrocuted while planting rice seedlings in Fatikchhari, Chattogram. The incident occurred at about 8:30am on Friday in Shahnagar village, Ward No. 6 of Lelang Union. Mostakim, son of Riyaz Uddin from Netrokona district, had come to Fatikchhari to work as an agricultural labourer.

According to local sources, Mostakim and two other workers entered farmland near Sannyasirhat to transplant rice seedlings. A broken electric wire had already fallen into the water in the field, but the workers did not notice it. Mostakim came into contact with the electrified water during work and died at the scene. The other workers accompanying him narrowly escaped.

Local Union Parishad member Mohammad Azam confirmed that a broken electric wire was lying in the field and that the workers began working without seeing it. Fatikchhari police station Officer-in-Charge Robiul Alam Khan said police had been sent to the scene after receiving information about the death. He said the body would be handed over to the family after legal procedures are completed.

US President Donald Trump is reviewing a military proposal for 10 to 14 days of intensive airstrikes against Iran after four US troops were killed, according to a Wall Street Journal report published July 31. The plan was presented by Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, and calls for the use of overwhelming force to disable Tehran’s missile and drone capabilities.

A senior US official said Trump is inclined to escalate the conflict but is still considering the scope of the response. Cooper argues that Washington must increase the intensity of airstrikes to significantly neutralize Iran’s threat and break the current deadlock. He said destroying Tehran’s offensive military infrastructure could reduce the need for US forces to rely only on defensive weapons.

Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine has taken a cautious position, warning the White House that stocks of air-defense interceptors and defensive missiles are declining. He said a major operation is possible, but ammunition shortages could expose US forces and regional allies to substantial risk. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denied reports of internal discord, saying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Cooper and Caine are united on carrying out the mission.

A high-level delegation led by Sergio Gore, the US president’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, arrived in the Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Friday afternoon. The delegation is set to inspect humanitarian activities and projects in the camps and speak directly with Rohingya refugees about living conditions, security, education, healthcare and other humanitarian concerns.

According to sources, the delegation will also exchange views with officials from UN agencies and international humanitarian organisations. Their discussions are expected to cover the current state of the Rohingya crisis, international assistance and issues related to repatriation. Gore had arrived in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon and later met Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman at the state guest house Padma.

Bangladesh-US bilateral relations, the Rohingya crisis and strengthening international cooperation received importance at that meeting. The foreign affairs adviser said relations with the current government have been positive and are becoming stronger, while Bangladesh also called for increased US humanitarian assistance for Rohingyas. APBn commander Riaz Uddin Ahmed said maximum security measures were taken in the camp area for the visit, coordinated with other law-enforcement agencies.

District Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal filed a complaint at Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station on Thursday night, naming 10 central and district-level National Citizen Party leaders and 40 to 50 unidentified people over a Tuesday attack incident. The complaint was filed by district Chhatra Dal joint convener Iqbal Hossain Rukun, and Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Haque confirmed the matter.

Those named include NCP chief coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary and northern region chief organiser Sarjis Alam, along with several other party leaders. The Chhatra Dal complaint remains under process, while a case filed by NCP was registered on Thursday. Earlier, NCP district Jubo Shakti convener Tanmoy Tanvir Ruel filed a case naming 11 Chhatra Dal figures and 100 unidentified people.

NCP alleged in its case that equipment worth about Tk20 lakh and Tk5 lakh in cash were taken during the attack. The party said several of its activists were injured when BNP, Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal activists allegedly attacked them while returning after a programme on July 28. It also alleged that vehicles of several media outlets were vandalised. Police later rescued Patwary and Alam after they took shelter in a city bank for security.

Bangladesh could capture 12 percent of the projected $375 billion global man-made fiber, or MMF, apparel market by 2030 if policy reforms, increased domestic and foreign investment, and stronger industrial capacity are ensured, according to a Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute study. The report says such a shift could reduce the garment sector's dependence on cotton, diversify exports, and strengthen Bangladesh's position in the global apparel market.

The study says the global apparel industry is rapidly moving from cotton-based products toward synthetic and blended-fiber garments, creating an opportunity for Bangladesh to diversify its export products and improve international competitiveness. Although Bangladesh is described as the world's second-largest apparel exporter, its exports remain mainly dependent on cotton-based goods. The report identifies MMF expansion as an economic necessity for maintaining competitiveness in the post-LDC trade environment.

The roadmap recommends rationalising tariffs on MMF raw materials, speeding foreign direct investment approvals, expanding domestic polyester staple fiber and synthetic yarn production, improving access to finance, and developing skilled workers. It also calls for expanded bonded warehouse facilities, specialised loan programmes, technology transfer incentives, and increased production of higher-value activewear, sportswear, and technical textiles.

A farm worker, Md Mostakim, 35, died after being electrocuted while planting rice seedlings in Fatikchhari, Chattogram. The incident occurred at about 8:30am on Friday in Shahnagar village, Ward No. 6 of Lelang Union. Mostakim, son of Riyaz Uddin from Netrokona district, had come to Fatikchhari to work as an agricultural labourer.

According to local sources, Mostakim and two other workers entered farmland near Sannyasirhat to transplant rice seedlings. A broken electric wire had already fallen into the water in the field, but the workers did not notice it. Mostakim came into contact with the electrified water during work and died at the scene. The other workers accompanying him narrowly escaped.

Local Union Parishad member Mohammad Azam confirmed that a broken electric wire was lying in the field and that the workers began working without seeing it. Fatikchhari police station Officer-in-Charge Robiul Alam Khan said police had been sent to the scene after receiving information about the death. He said the body would be handed over to the family after legal procedures are completed.

A report published by Amar Desh Online on July 31, 2026, lists 12 countries described as Muslim-friendly destinations for international students seeking higher education. The list includes the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Turkey, Qatar and Oman. It says international Muslim students seek opportunities to study, work and travel while being able to practise their religion freely.

The report cites access to halal food, prayer rooms, ablution facilities, religious infrastructure and anti-discrimination protections as factors supporting students. It says Malaysia offers halal food and separate prayer spaces, while Taiwan has prayer rooms in public transport and tourist sites. Singapore has halal food approved by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, and the United Kingdom has laws aimed at preventing religious discrimination and online harassment.

According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, 8,683 discrimination complaints against Muslims were documented in the United States in 2025, the highest figure in 30 years. The report also says Islamophobia has recently increased in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Citing various studies, it says racism and discrimination can adversely affect students' mental health, making safety and religious freedom strategic priorities when choosing a destination.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has said Bangladesh’s fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina cannot conduct political activities from Indian soil. The position was reported by The Indian Express on Friday after Hasina said she intended to return to Bangladesh by the end of this year. In a statement to the Lok Sabha’s parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, the ministry said Dhaka’s request for her return was being examined under Indian laws and rules.

The committee, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, said Hasina had been allowed to remain in India under the country’s long humanitarian tradition of sheltering people facing serious danger or threats to life. It said India nevertheless follows a strict principle that its territory cannot be used for political activity against another country. Citing Bangladesh Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, the report said Hasina could be arrested immediately upon returning from India to Bangladesh.

In its report on the future of India-Bangladesh relations, the committee recommended maintaining this principled and humanitarian position while handling the matter sensitively. It also urged a quicker normalization of visas for Bangladeshi citizens, prompt talks on renewing the Ganges water-sharing treaty due to expire in 2026, and continued diplomatic focus on protecting minority communities in Bangladesh.

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan has risen to 34, local authorities confirmed on Friday. The 7.1-magnitude quake struck near Uki city on Kyushu island on Tuesday. Kumamoto prefectural authorities said six additional people were seriously injured in the disaster.

About 40,000 households lost electricity, rail services were widely disrupted, and emergency tsunami warnings were issued across southern areas of Japan. Nearly half of the deaths occurred in two major incidents: the collapse of an administrative structure at a Nippon Paper Industries paper mill and a possible gas explosion at an Aeon store.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged local residents to remain alert for the possibility of stronger aftershocks. Severe heat has also caused an acute shortage of food and drinking water in affected areas, disrupting rescue work and the delivery of relief supplies. Japan is among the world's most earthquake-prone countries; nearly a decade ago, a devastating earthquake in the Kumamoto region killed 275 people.

At least 32 mine workers were killed in a devastating explosion at a coal mine on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, on Thursday. At least 10 more workers remain trapped inside the mine, while the provincial disaster management authority said rescue operations are continuing in the mine’s depths.

Government mine inspector Ghani Baloch said preliminary investigators believe toxic methane gas accumulated inside the mine and caused the explosion. Rescue teams initially recovered seven bodies, then retrieved another 25 during further searches. Local authorities fear the chances of finding survivors are very low because oxygen levels inside the mine fell rapidly after the methane explosion, requiring rescuers to work with extreme caution.

Balochistan’s mines and minerals minister Shoaib Nosherwani pledged full provincial government support for the rescue effort and announced compensation of 500,000 Pakistani rupees for each victim’s family. Authorities have ordered an investigation committee to determine the precise cause and review mine safety arrangements. The Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation blamed serious safety negligence and demanded action against those responsible and strict enforcement of mine safety rules.

The Gaza Board of Peace has announced a framework to disarm Hamas and transfer Gaza’s governance to a non-political civilian body. The US-based international organization is chaired for life by US President Donald Trump. The plan is presented as a structure for postwar stability, reconstruction and administration in the Gaza Strip.

The Board of Peace will oversee high-level strategic planning, stability and reconstruction funding. A seven-member Founding Executive Board, led by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, will implement the board’s objectives and set its agenda. Potential members named in the report include Jared Kushner, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Middle East representative Steve Witkoff and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

A Gaza Executive Board will directly manage reconstruction and coordinate with regional diplomats. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a Palestinian technocratic and non-political committee, will run daily civilian administration without Hamas participation. A multinational International Stabilization Force will support security alongside a new local police force. The New Gaza Police Force will police areas Hamas leaves, though criteria for recruiting and selecting its members remain unclear.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the current government has lost the moral right to run the country because it failed to stop corruption. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon as chief guest at the triennial national conference of the Bangladesh Transport Workers Federation at the National Press Club. The federation’s central president, Kabir Ahmad, chaired the conference.

Rahman cited remarks by a senior leader that corruption had increased during the government’s five months in office, questioning why it was not stopped if the prime minister did not want it. He said an open admission of failure removed the government’s moral basis for remaining in power. He also criticized comments by officials about extortion and alleged that transport workers face extortion, assaults and vehicle vandalism.

Addressing the federation’s 12-point demands, Rahman said they were being raised because rights had not been established in society. He described July’s achievement as belonging to 180 million people and called for due respect for martyrs and their families. He said the verdict of 70 percent of people in a referendum must be accepted and urged workers to pledge not to commit or allow wrongdoing.

Advocate Sheikh Wahiduzzaman Dipu, nominated by the Democratic Lawyers Panel, was elected president of the Bagerhat District Bar Association with 241 votes. Advocate Jalal Uddin Mallik, nominated by the General Lawyers Unity Council, won the secretary post with 250 votes. Voting for the annual election was held without interruption from 10am to 4pm on Thursday, July 30, and the Election Commission announced results after midnight.

A total of 38 candidates contested 17 positions, including nine editorial posts and eight executive member posts. Abdul Oli won the senior vice-president post with 233 votes, Sheikh Md. Sahibur Rahman Saheb won junior vice-president with 220 votes, and SM Mahbub Morshed Lalon was elected joint general secretary with 245 votes.

Sheikh Moniruzzaman won the finance and accounts secretary post with 265 votes, while Sazzad Hossain won the sports assistant secretary post with 256 votes. Eight executive members were also elected. Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Samarendra Nath Dutta said the election concluded in a peaceful environment, with candidates and voters behaving responsibly despite close competition.