Iran has added new equipment to its military, particularly in air defense, Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminía said in a report published on July 26, 2026. He said the armed forces used the recent ceasefire period to rebuild and strengthen their military capabilities, with a particular focus on air defense.

Akraminía said damaged systems that could be repaired had been restored to service. He also said newly acquired equipment had been incorporated into the army's operational structure, which he claimed had increased Iran's air defense capability many times over.

The spokesman described the three-month ceasefire as a major opportunity for defense planning, especially in the air defense sector. He said Iran's armed forces were fully prepared for any situation. Akraminía also said the United States had failed to achieve its objectives in what he described as an aggressive war against Iran.

The Public Works Department, University of Dhaka, Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Dhaka South City Corporation conducted a joint eviction drive against illegal structures and shops at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital. The operation was led by DSCC Executive Magistrate Mohammad Aminul Islam on Sunday afternoon.

During the drive, all illegal structures and shops inside the park were removed, and the park area was fully cleared, according to the report. Members of the University of Dhaka’s proctorial body were present during the operation.

Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad, executive engineer of the Dhaka Urban Public Works Division of the Public Works Department, also attended, along with an adequate number of law enforcement personnel. Authorities said DSCC will continue such eviction operations in the future in the public interest and to maintain the park’s normal environment.

Educational institutions will observe a total of 23 days of leave across August and September, combining weekly holidays and day-based public holidays, according to an analysis of the Education Ministry’s holiday calendar published on July 26, 2026. Teachers and students will receive three day-based public holidays in each of the two months.

Institutions will remain closed for 12 days in August, including nine weekly holidays and three public holidays. The public holidays are July Mass Uprising Day on August 5, Akheri Chahar Somba on August 12, and Eid-e-Miladunnabi on August 26. Classes are scheduled to be held for 19 days during August.

In September, educational institutions will be closed for 11 days when weekly and day-based holidays are combined. Class activities will also continue for 19 days in that month. The source does not specify the dates or occasions of September’s three day-based holidays. Optional closures may also be implemented at institutions in consideration of adverse weather or special circumstances.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleged that foreign-backed Islamist fundamentalist groups may have been involved in recent violence surrounding protests over an alleged NEET question-paper leak. Speaking to journalists on July 26, he said most people involved in the violence were not students but Jamaat-aligned fundamentalists. He said investigating agencies would examine whether foreign forces had supported them.

Clashes occurred last Friday between police and left-backed protesters at a demonstration over the alleged NEET paper leak. Police used baton charges and tear gas to control the situation. Adhikari had earlier told the assembly that none of about 70 people identified from the protest were students or connected to the anti-paper-leak movement. He also alleged that journalists were deliberately targeted during the protest and that attempts were made on their lives.

The administration has announced that the state’s newly enacted anti-gunda law will be applied against those accused of violence. Meanwhile, the central government is preparing to introduce a 2026 amendment bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday, proposing fast-track courts, two-month investigations, prison terms of five to 10 years, and fines up to 5 million rupees. CJP announced on Saturday that it was withdrawing its 36-day movement.

Organizers have announced plans for Shiva worship and Rudrabhishek near the historic Adina Mosque in Pandua, Malda district, West Bengal. They said a Shivling would be installed within 50 metres of the roughly 653-year-old monument on Monday. District authorities have strengthened security around the site amid the renewed dispute.

The issue gained fresh attention after BJP Rajarhat legislator Tarunjyoti Tewari described Adina Mosque as Adinath Temple during the West Bengal assembly's monsoon session. Archaeological department information says Sultan Sikandar Shah built the mosque in 1373. Some local groups cite Hindu imagery in its carvings and claims of excavated Shiva and Durga idols, while architectural historians generally attribute such carvings to reused materials from earlier structures.

The Adinath Shiv Mandir and Mela Committee said this year's rituals would remain at a nearby temple and any future claims over the monument would be pursued through courts. The monument is under the Archaeological Survey of India and protected by a 1958 law, police said, warning against unauthorized religious activity or alterations. A case over the mosque's historical identity and ownership remains pending, with no final ruling issued.

Police arrested two men in separate alleged child sexual abuse attempts in Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, and Ashulia, Dhaka, after relatives and local residents sought help through the National Emergency Service 999. The incidents occurred on the same night, according to a report published on July 26, 2026. In both cases, the children’s cries prompted people nearby to intervene and seek assistance.

In Jagannathpur, a five-year-old girl was allegedly subjected to an attempted inappropriate touch by a distant uncle while playing alone. A relative called 999 at 9:08 pm on Saturday, and Jagannathpur police arrested Sabbir Mia, 40. The child’s father filed a case. Constable Joy received the call and ASI Sirajul Islam supervised the response.

At 9:10 pm, a second call came from Falguni Housing in Ashulia, where another five-year-old child was allegedly targeted during a power outage. Residents rescued the child after she cried. Following instructions from 999 personnel, Ashulia police arrested Md Selim, 31, at the scene. The child’s mother filed a case with Ashulia police station.

Rangpur-4 lawmaker and National Citizen Party member secretary Akhtar Hossain said university hall seizure politics would not be allowed to return. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at a discussion meeting under the banyan tree at ইসলামী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, where Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s campus branch hosted an event on recalling the monsoon revolution and building a new political trend.

Hossain said the culture of hall seizures at universities had declined after 5 August, allowing ordinary students to speak about their rights and protest. He said Jatiya Chhatra Shakti would never engage in hall seizure politics. If anyone attempted to seize halls, he said, the organisation’s activists would be among the first to protest, adding that halls should remain with students and campuses should be safe for them.

He warned that incidents at several universities could again create fear and instability, urging responsible action to prevent the return of torture and restrictions on freedom of speech. Hossain also called for the arrest of recently resigned President Md Shahabuddin and an investigation into allegations he raised. NCP leaders Sarwar Tushar and Dr Mahmuda Alam Mitu, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti president Zahid Ahsan, teachers, students and participants in the July movement attended.

Iran announced it was temporarily suspending retaliatory military operations against US allies in the Middle East after the United States stopped attacks on Iran for the past two nights. The announcement, reported on July 26, came after Washington temporarily paused a war that had been nearing five months. Iranian army spokesman Mohammad AkraminIA said Iran's strategy had been to strike back in response to hostile or offensive actions.

The conflict, centered on the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, had disrupted diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. It later expanded beyond a major energy corridor to attacks involving US bases in the Middle East, regional shipping and US-allied Gulf countries. The reported pause has raised hopes of a return to diplomatic talks, while US media reports said pressure to maintain supplies of defensive weapons, including Patriot interceptors, may have contributed to the halt.

CNN, citing a Pentagon source, reported that US military operations against Iran were currently paused. President Donald Trump nevertheless threatened much larger attacks if necessary on Friday. The New York Times reported that plans to escalate had been put on hold because weapons stocks were declining. At a White House meeting, Vice President JD Vance and General Dan Caine voiced concern about the risks of wider conflict, and Caine warned Trump about possible consequences.

A van entered a crowd during an annual gay pride gathering in Berlin, Germany, killing one person and injuring at least 16 others, police said. The incident occurred at about 10 p.m. local time on Ahornsteig Road in Tiergarten Park. Police identified a suspect as Abdul B. and said a large-scale search was under way to arrest him.

Police spokesperson Florian Nath told ABC News that the suspect had been identified but had not yet been detained. Several of those injured were reported to be in critical condition. Nath said the suspect’s full role in the incident had not yet been established and was being examined through an investigation.

Authorities advised the public not to confront the suspect and to promptly inform law enforcement if they have information. Following the incident, people were instructed to avoid the affected area for security reasons. The scheduled gay pride procession was also cancelled.

Kuwait has denied allegations that it was involved in any military operation against Iran, saying no party was permitted to use Kuwaiti territory, airspace or waters to attack Iran. The government issued the formal clarification after a report in The Wall Street Journal, according to Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA. The article was published on July 26, 2026.

The Wall Street Journal report alleged that Kuwait and Bahrain secretly conducted airstrikes in response to Iranian drone and missile attacks on US military bases in the Persian Gulf region. It said the strikes, carried out earlier this month, targeted Iranian military sites as well as drone and missile storage facilities. The report also alleged that the United Arab Emirates provided intelligence support for the operation.

Kuwait’s ambassador to the United States, Sheikha Al-Zein Al-Sabah, sent a letter to The Wall Street Journal editorial board calling the allegations entirely false and baseless. She said Kuwait had not participated in military operations against Iran and had not authorized any party to use its territory, airspace or waters for offensive action. No official statement from Bahrain had been reported.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said preliminary registration for the 2027 Hajj will begin on July 27 and continue until September 24. The timetable was announced in line with a Hajj operations roadmap declared by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Applicants using either government or private channels must deposit Tk350,000 for preliminary registration, after completing mandatory pre-registration with Tk30,000.

People who complete preliminary registration must pay the remaining package price by December 10 to finalize their registration. Government-channel applicants can register through the e-Hajj system and designated offices, including Union Digital Centers, Islamic Foundation offices, model mosques, the Baitul Mukarram office and the Dhaka Hajj Office. Government applicants must deposit funds through a Sonali Bank branch, while private applicants must use their agency’s designated account.

Those under 15 cannot travel for Hajj. The ministry also barred people with specified serious illnesses, including heart, lung, liver or kidney disease, neurological or mental disorders, dementia, certain ongoing therapies and active infectious diseases. Women in the final two months of pregnancy or with high-risk pregnancies will not receive fitness certificates. Applicants must select training and vaccination districts, Hajj type and package, and hold passports valid until December 31, 2027.

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said a new president will be appointed within 90 days if the presidency becomes vacant, in line with the Constitution. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a training programme for junior lawyers at the Chattogram District Bar Association auditorium on July 26, he said Article 123(2) makes the appointment a constitutional obligation and that the process will be completed within the stipulated period.

Asked whether action would be taken against outgoing President Md Shahabuddin (Chuppu), the minister said the government would decide after reviewing all matters. He said people should place trust in the head of government and the administration. In his address as chief guest, he claimed that $234 billion had been illicitly transferred abroad through documented channels from Bangladesh over the past 16 years.

Citing information from a Time magazine report, Asaduzzaman said about $16 billion was transferred abroad annually on average. He also alleged widespread looting in the name of development projects during the previous government. Referring to an LGED project in Pirojpur worth about Tk3,500 crore, he claimed paperwork showed completion but no work had been carried out in reality. He called for coordinated efforts by the judiciary, lawyers and state institutions against corruption and for rule of law and accountability.

An investigation report has been submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal against 11 people, including ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in the murder case of former Teknaf municipal councillor Ekramul Haque in Cox’s Bazar. Following a hearing, the tribunal issued arrest warrants for eight accused people and ordered that three defendants already detained in other cases be produced before the court. The report was published on July 26, 2026.

Other accused include Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, Badiur Rahman Badi, former Rapid Action Battalion director general Benazir Ahmed, and several current or former military officers. Abdur Rahman Badi, retired Colonel Anwar Latif Khan and Brigadier General Mahbub Alam are currently detained in other cases, according to the report.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said the investigating officer filed the report after finding their involvement, and formal charges were submitted on that basis. He said the tribunal took cognisance of the allegations, showed the detained accused as arrested, and issued warrants against those at large. Islam alleged that Badiur Rahman Badi was the behind-the-scenes figure in the killing. The tribunal set August 25 for the next hearing.

State Dialogue Forum (SDF) has filed a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal against 27 people, including actors Meher Afroz Shaon, Rokeya Prachy and Mahiya Mahi, alleging involvement in killings during the July Revolution. The organisation submitted the complaint to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on Sunday afternoon, according to the report published and updated on July 26, 2026.

SDF said the roles of various individuals, including several figures from the cultural arena, during the July movement or the related period should be investigated lawfully. Its published list also includes Ferdous Ahmed, Riaz Ahmed, Aruna Biswas, Shomi Kaiser, Nipun Akter, Hero Alom, Simon Sadiq, Zayed Khan, Asaduzzaman Noor and Anis Alamgir, among others.

The organisation said the possible roles of the named individuals require an impartial and lawful investigation. It urged the International Crimes Tribunal to verify the allegations in accordance with the law and take necessary action. SDF said such steps should ensure justice for those killed and injured in the July Revolution.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain made surprise visits to three health facilities in Satkhira on July 26, inspecting medical services, cleanliness and staff attendance. Two doctors were dismissed over allegations of prolonged absence from duty without leave, while a night guard was dismissed over a theft incident. The sites visited were Satkhira Medical College Hospital, Satkhira Sadar Hospital and Tala উপজেলা Health Complex.

At Tala উপজেলা Health Complex, Dr. Tonni was dismissed over allegations of being absent from the workplace for a long period without leave. A night guard there was also dismissed in connection with a theft incident. At Satkhira Medical College Hospital, the minister visited the kitchen, washrooms and wards and spoke with admitted patients. Dr. Sohana Selim was dismissed over allegations of being absent without leave for more than a month.

The minister said the country has too few doctors relative to patients and alleged that insufficient recruitment over the past 17 years created staffing shortages. He described Satkhira’s overall medical services as satisfactory and issued guidance on service quality at Satkhira Sadar Hospital. He also announced initiatives to upgrade 50-bed hospitals to 100 beds, install 50 dialysis machines at each district and medical college hospital, and begin distributing health cards nationwide soon.