The Chattogram metropolitan unit of the National Citizen Party (NCP) held a protest march and rally against an attack on the party’s top leaders in Habiganj. The programme took place on Wednesday afternoon outside Chattogram Press Club in Jamalkhan as part of a centrally announced nationwide action. After the rally, participants marched through Cheragi Pahar and Momin Road.

NCP Chattogram metropolitan member secretary Arif Moin Uddin alleged that several youths led by Jubo Dal leader Shahed Boks tried to stop slogans during the programme. He said they identified themselves as activists of Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal. An argument and scuffle followed between the two sides. No statement from Shahed Boks was available.

Witnesses said police stood between the groups and separated them after tensions rose, while both sides exchanged slogans. Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Abu Zayed Nazmun Nur said police quickly reached the site and brought the situation under control, with no major untoward incident reported. Rally speakers condemned the Habiganj attack and demanded that those involved be identified within 24 hours and face exemplary punishment.

National Citizen Party (NCP) activists held a protest march and rally in Cumilla over an alleged attack on the party’s central leaders in Habiganj. The programme was held at Pubali Chattar in the city at 5pm on Wednesday, with participation from NCP activists from the Cumilla district, metropolitan unit and educational institutions, according to a report published on July 29.

The march began at Pubali Chattar, moved through major city roads and returned to the same location for a brief rally. NCP Cumilla metropolitan joint coordinator Masumul Bari Kawsar led the programme. Among those present were Kazi Md. Zayed, district committee member Abdus Samad, metropolitan Chhatra Shakti convener Mostofa Jihan, chief organiser Kazi Muhib and former organiser Abdullah Araf.

Speakers alleged that district BNP leaders and activists of its affiliated bodies carried out a planned attack on an NCP peaceful march in Habiganj. They claimed the central leaders’ vehicle convoy was damaged and several activists were injured, including a student whose eye was seriously affected. Protesters demanded the prompt arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved, as well as security for peaceful political programmes. Kawsar said NCP would be compelled to announce tougher nationwide protests if a fair investigation and justice were not ensured.

Three rocket-like objects were found while workers dug a trench for a municipal water pipeline beside the road of A S M Abdur Rab Government College in Ramgati, Lakshmipur. The discovery was made on Wednesday morning. Sub-engineer Rifat Hasan informed the local police station after the objects emerged from the soil, and curious residents gathered at the site.

Ramgati police officer Liton Dewan said three “rocket launchers” were found during the digging work for the water line. The report described them as objects resembling rockets, while noting that it was not yet clear what they contained.

Police recovered the objects and kept them in station custody. The report described a rocket launcher as a type of temporary firearm that functions as an unguided object.

US President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran forcefully after allegations that Iran launched ballistic missiles targeting US troops in Jordan. In an interview with Fox News cited by Al Jazeera, Trump said US forces in the Middle East intercepted multiple ballistic missiles aimed at American personnel. The report was published on July 29, 2026.

Trump said troops had only minutes to respond during the missile attack but successfully intercepted the missiles. He said Iran would face a “big price” and warned that the United States would hit it hard. The article attributes a summary of Trump’s remarks to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst.

Trump also commented on joint US-Saudi air strikes in Iraq against Iran-aligned armed groups, saying the operations were coordinated with the Iraqi government. Calling Iran-backed militias “a cancer for the world,” he said his administration was considering further action against armed groups allied with Iran. The report said the incident raised concerns that tensions among the United States, Iran and their allies in the Middle East could intensify further.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said building a clean and green Dhaka is among the current government’s priorities, calling for visible progress in field-level work. He made the remarks on 29 July at a review meeting in the Local Government Division conference room at the Secretariat, covering tree planting, beautification, waste removal and bin replacement in areas under Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations.

Presentations at the meeting outlined the two city corporations’ overall progress, ongoing programmes and future work plans. Officials said non-governmental organisations and volunteer groups were being involved in a coordinated approach to urban cleanliness and greening. The minister said work should be planned so residents can experience the results of each initiative, and directed officials to accelerate ongoing activities.

He said pilot projects should be evaluated before new large projects are undertaken, with successful initiatives expanded gradually. He also ordered updated records of locations for tree planting, beautification, cleaning activities and waste-bin installation, with specific information preserved and submitted to the ministry. The minister stressed regular supervision and effective field monitoring to maintain continuity in the clean-city initiative.

Bangladesh Medical University held a video documentary screening and discussion on July Martyrs’ Day 2026, calling for a discrimination-free and anti-fascist Bangladesh. The event took place on Wednesday at the university’s Shaheed Dr Milon Hall. BMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A F M Siddiqui chaired the programme, while Dental Faculty Dean Dr Sakhawat Hossain Sayonth moderated it.

The vice-chancellor said the July movement showed that no government can endure for long through authoritarian and fascist conduct, attacks and repression. He said people who committed visible wrongdoing under the previous fascist period should not receive current benefits or opportunities. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Nazrul Islam described the July mass uprising as the result of a movement by all people of the country, rather than any individual or party.

Shafiqul Alam, father of martyr Wasim, said respect for the martyrs’ sacrifice requires building a discrimination-free Bangladesh and ensuring honesty, merit and qualifications are valued in employment. He also called for an end to an unethical practice of obtaining jobs with money. Participants held prayers for the martyrs and for the country’s development and prosperity.

Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam has described a Human Rights Watch report questioning the standards of International Crimes Tribunal trials as biased. Speaking to journalists at his tribunal office on Wednesday, he said no HRW representative had approached the prosecution or made necessary inquiries with the investigation agency. He said the report appeared to have been influenced by an accused person.

HRW published its report on Tuesday night, raising questions about the international standards of the tribunal’s proceedings. Responding to claims that prosecutors repeatedly brought similar allegations against defendants, Aminul Islam said statements and charges can be similar when separate cases concern killings at the same location. He said lethal weapons and shootings were used in a planned, similar manner across the country.

Aminul Islam said a prosecutor accused of seeking a bribe was removed immediately. He alleged that the person who made the offer had spoken with the prosecutor 24 times and may have intended to make the tribunal’s trials controversial. He also said 24 senior officials work at the investigation agency and questioned reports by HRW and other organisations that he said were issued without verification.

Former minister and former Awami League presidium member Abdul Latif Siddiqui has been arrested in a case over killings and crimes against humanity linked to a Hefazat-e-Islam gathering at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on May 5, 2013. A Detective Branch police team arrested him from the Gulshan area of the capital on Wednesday, July 29. DMP media division Additional Deputy Commissioner Niaz Mehdi confirmed the arrest.

An arrest warrant had been issued against Siddiqui by the International Crimes Tribunal. The case alleges that a crackdown during the Hefazat-e-Islam gathering at Shapla Chattar resulted in widespread deaths, enforced disappearances, torture and crimes against humanity. Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others have also been named as accused in the case.

The tribunal has taken cognizance of the allegations and directed necessary legal action against the accused. According to lawyers and court-related sources, Siddiqui will be placed under subsequent legal procedures in line with the tribunal’s order. The investigating agency may seek permission to question him if necessary.

Iran-aligned armed group Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba has threatened retaliation after reported joint US and Saudi airstrikes across several Iraqi provinces. In a Wednesday statement cited in a report published July 29, 2026, the group said US and Saudi interests in the region would face serious consequences following what it described as deadly attacks.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iraqi government-recognized coalition of Shiite armed groups also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, said at least 20 of its fighters were killed and 32 wounded in overnight strikes. It said the attacks were carried out simultaneously in seven provinces, including Baghdad, Basra, Karbala, Kirkuk and Nineveh.

According to the coalition, several of its buildings, military vehicles and important equipment were severely damaged. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi convened an emergency security meeting to review the situation. The report said Nujaba's warning has raised concerns about a widening Middle East conflict and possible retaliatory attacks against Washington and Riyadh.

Two female Israeli soldiers died by suicide this week, bringing the number of active-duty Israeli military personnel who have died by suicide in 2026 to 16, according to a report published July 29. One soldier from the Bardelas Battalion, deployed on the Egypt-Israel border, died Tuesday morning at a military base in southern Israel after being taken to hospital in critical condition.

Another female soldier died by suicide on Sunday at the Glilot military base near Ramat Hasharon in central Israel, Haaretz reported. She was a member of Israel’s military intelligence division and held a confidential role. Israeli military police have opened investigations into the circumstances of both deaths, according to the newspaper.

Haaretz’s collected data also showed that nine additional regular and reserve personnel who took part in the Gaza war died by suicide while off duty. The newspaper had previously reported that 22 active-duty Israeli soldiers died by suicide in 2025, the highest annual total in 15 years. Concerns have grown over prolonged psychological pressure and military mental health, although the Israeli military has made no official comment on a direct link to the war.

Bangladesh Army’s Bandarban Army Zone has moved to support patients receiving treatment amid a measles outbreak in Bandarban. Zone Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Humayun Rashid, psc, visited Bandarban Sadar Hospital at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. He checked on measles patients in different hospital wards and asked about their physical condition.

During the visit, the commander spoke with patients’ relatives to learn about treatment-related matters. He also met duty doctors and hospital authorities. He issued necessary guidance to help ensure more effective overall treatment services for patients and assured them of all types of assistance from the army.

The commander said patients requiring advanced or specialised treatment would receive necessary medical support through the Bandarban Army Zone’s Main Dressing Station, or MDS. Army ambulances will remain ready around the clock for emergency patient transfers. He said the army would coordinate with the local administration and health department to provide needed support for public medical services. After the visit, he wished all patients a speedy and full recovery.

Iran seriously considered retaliating against Ukraine after an alleged Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea, but has stepped back from action for now following urgent diplomacy, The New York Times reported, citing Iranian and Western sources. The report, published July 29, said an Iranian civilian sailor was killed in the attack last Saturday.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the incident a violation of the UN Charter and said it could not go unanswered. Western intelligence sources indicated Iran might have considered a symbolic response using ballistic missiles with low-yield warheads against Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. Analysts said any missile strike from Iran directly into Ukrainian territory could have expanded existing tensions into a major war.

The situation shifted after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha spoke by phone with Araghchi on Tuesday. Araghchi said Sybiha described the vessel attack as an unintentional incident, while Iran demanded appropriate compensation. Araghchi also discussed ways to reduce regional tensions with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Tehran-based analyst Mehdi Rahmati said some Iranian officials opposed opening a new military front against Ukraine.

The Jute Mill Protection United Citizens’ Council has urged the government to reverse its decision to hand over 25 state-owned jute mills to the private sector. At a news conference at Khulna Press Club on Wednesday at 11:30am, the group questioned why state-run mills were incurring losses while private jute mills operated profitably. It demanded an investigation into the losses, action against those responsible, and guarantees of fair wages, benefits and rights for workers.

Council member Sutapa Bedoggo read the written statement. Convenor Advocate Kudrat E Khuda, member secretary M A Rashid and joint convenor Janardan Dutta Nantu were among those present. The statement said nearly 90,000 workers became unemployed after production at 25 state-owned jute mills was shut on July 2, 2020, citing losses. It blamed administrative inefficiency, red tape, BJMC corruption and limits on independent local management.

The group also called plans to transfer 44 industrial establishments, including state-owned sugar mills, through BIDA to private ownership self-destructive. Its 10 demands include reopening closed mills under skilled management, administrative restructuring, diversifying jute products, implementing the Mandatory Packaging Act, paying workers’ arrears and ensuring comparable benefits for private mill workers. Leaders warned unemployed workers could return to street protests if the demands are not met.

Israeli and United Arab Emirates officials have held several secret meetings on their strategic positions regarding Iran and possible joint initiatives at international forums, Israel’s Channel 12 reported. The report, published on July 29, 2026, said the meetings took place in a third country whose identity was withheld for security reasons, during a period of rising tension between the United States and Iran.

According to Channel 12, Emirati officials voiced deep concern over a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. They argued that such an arrangement could allow Iran to delay matters and gain economic benefits without making significant concessions. Western diplomats cited by the channel said the UAE has adopted a tougher stance on Iran than several other Gulf countries and believes Tehran’s current policies do not provide sufficient grounds for improving bilateral relations.

The discussions also covered possible coordinated diplomatic action internationally over Iran. Both sides agreed that any such move should be coordinated beforehand with President Donald Trump’s administration. Diplomats said Abu Dhabi does not trust Iranian tactics that delay negotiations, while alternative oil and gas export capacity bypassing the Strait of Hormuz has increased the overlap in Abu Dhabi’s and Tel Aviv’s strategic interests.

Authorities in Raipura, Narsingdi, have formed a five-member committee to investigate two secondary schools operating for years under the same name and Educational Institute Identification Number. The dispute involves Kohinoor Jute Mills High School in Gouripur and an institution called Kohinoor Jute Mills High School Ghagtia. Local sources alleged that seven teachers at the Ghagtia institution receive salaries and allowances without conducting classes.

The Gouripur school was established in 1981 and became MPO-listed with five teachers in 1995. After an internal dispute, two teachers who were dismissed after 2005 were reinstated through court proceedings and began operating the Ghagtia institution in 2006 using the same name and EIIN, the report said. Gouripur has a four-storey building and several hundred students, while Ghagtia operates from three tin-roofed rooms.

Upazila Secondary Education Officer Md Samalgir Alam said the Gouripur school is the original institution, while Ghagtia is being operated under a court order. UNO Masud Rana said the committee’s report will be sent to the relevant ministry, which will make the necessary decision. The report also said the lone MPO-listed teacher in Gouripur has not received pay for more than one and a half years.