Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), said President Mohammad Sahabuddin should not only resign but be arrested and brought to trial. He made the remarks on Thursday evening at a rally organized by the district NCP at the Fouzdari Chowk in Jamalpur city, saying the president had supported the July movement's violence and faced corruption allegations.

Nahid Islam said the people of Bangladesh want a capable, neutral and guardian-like figure as president and warned that appointing an unqualified person would erode any remaining public trust in the government. He criticized the government for failing to deliver an earlier promise to secure employment within 18 months, saying it had not created any jobs in five months and accused it of extortion, land grabbing and looting instead.

At the rally he demanded implementation of the referendum result, creation of youth employment and assurance of basic rights; NCP leaders also participated in a student rally at Jamalpur University of Science and Technology and later led a procession through the city ending at Fouzdari Chowk.

Global fuel markets surged after renewed escalation of conflict in the Middle East, pushing Brent crude to $100 per barrel — the first time since May. Prices climbed sharply after the United States intensified military action against Iran and following attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on oil tankers in the Red Sea, which also threatened alternative export routes that avoid the Strait of Hormuz. Natural gas benchmarks rose alongside oil, with UK gas near 150 pence per therm, up from about 98 pence in late June.

Economists warn the Middle East fighting could sharply increase inflationary pressures worldwide because higher oil prices raise petrol and diesel costs, which in turn lift transport and food prices. The article notes recent impacts in developed countries: UK petrol and diesel prices have risen over the past two weeks to about £1.56 and £1.72 per litre respectively, and US average gasoline has surpassed $4 per gallon after being $3.92 a month earlier. US officials signalled a return to heightened tensions after a temporary ceasefire earlier reduced prices.

US Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh told Congress that prolonged high inflation would not be tolerated and the Fed remains committed to restoring price stability, while Fed policy rates were left unchanged in a recent meeting at 3.5–3.75 percent.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the northern region, said that no one should be allowed to cross limits and that restraints must be applied to keep Bangladesh on the right path. He spoke on Thursday, July 23, at an exchange with students of Jamalpur University of Science and Technology (Jabiprbi) as part of the July Awakening and July March 2026, urging the new generation — including public and private university students — to enforce these restraints.

During the discussion he also addressed the country's current education system and various infrastructural problems at Jabiprbi. Other speakers at the meeting included Jahid Ahsan, central president of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti; Lutfur Rahman, joint secretary of the NCP; and Liton Akand, convener of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti at Jabiprbi. Local leaders from NCP and Jatiya Jubo Shakti and ordinary university students were present.

Police arrested Saidur Rahman, superintendent of Kamat Angariya Dakhil Madrasa in Bhorungamari, Kurigram, on Thursday over allegations he appointed a teacher using a forged certificate. The arrest followed a case filed in the public interest by one Rafiqul Islam at the Kurigram court; the court ordered a CID investigation. After the CID submitted its final report, the court issued a summons for Saidur Rahman to appear, and when he did not, an arrest warrant was issued and police in plain clothes took him into custody.

The report notes that Saidur Rahman had previously been arrested in a recruitment fraud case. It also states that he had claimed to be a journalist for a daily newspaper called Shiromoni to conceal his misconduct. Assistant Superintendent of Police Muntasir Mamun said the arrest was made following the court-issued warrant in the filed case.

India's central government moved Education Secretary Vinit Joshi out of the education ministry and transferred him to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj amid intense student protests over leakage of medical entrance exam question papers. The administrative change occurred last Thursday, and Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed as the new education secretary after serving as secretary in the fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy production ministry.

The transfer did not appease protesting students, who remain firm in demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and an impartial investigation into the unified medical entrance test (NEET) paper leak. The Facebook-based group 'Cocoroch Janata Party' (CZP) has been protesting since June 6, and notable activist Sonam Wangchuk, who began a hunger strike on June 28 in solidarity, broke his fast after the transfer and is currently hospitalized at Medanta. Reports in the source say at least 12 examinees have died by suicide across states in reaction to the paper leak incident.

On July 20 thousands of students staged protests outside the Indian parliament in New Delhi demanding the education minister's resignation over repeated exam paper leaks, and police used force to disperse them. Eighteen-year-old Avantika Singh filmed tear gas and baton charges and posted edited footage on Instagram; dozens of students were reportedly injured and many captured scenes of alleged police brutality on mobile phones.

The footage has spread across social media, turning platforms once used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party into tools for opposition by Gen Z. Videos show alleged beatings, use of pellet guns, pleas to police from family members, and officers knocking students down; protests then spread to major cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Patna, Lucknow and Aizawl. A student pressure group called 'Kakaroch Janata Party' is leading peaceful demands that include the education minister's resignation, no legal action against protesters and compensation for families of students who committed suicide due to paper leaks.

Under pressure, Modi announced on social media that fast‑track courts would be formed to punish those responsible for paper leaks, while students continue to amplify their resistance through memes and viral video edits online.

The United States military carried out its 13th consecutive night of strikes across multiple targets in Iran, including military installations, coastal surveillance centers and residential areas, according to the report. The attacks reportedly shook Tehran and several other cities and hit strategic coastal locations and drone storage facilities; US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iran's military command center, drone storage, communications systems, coastal monitoring centers and naval capabilities.

Iranian state media and news agencies reported loud explosions in several mainland cities and strategic coastal towns, including Khondab outskirts, Khorramabad, Konarak and the port city of Jask near the Strait of Hormuz. Reports said residential areas were struck and at least two people were injured in a strike on a residential neighborhood in Bandar Abbas. Iranian air defenses were reported on high alert in eastern Tehran to intercept incoming targets.

Iranian officials warned that if US attacks do not cease, Tehran will respond with progressively more destructive and severe reprisals, including actions aimed at US military installations across the Middle East as a deterrent measure.

Jhenaidah police arrested three active members of an inter-district armed robbery gang, including the gang leader Altaf, in connection with a robbery on the Kotchandpur-Safdarpur road. The arrests followed the July 9 attack near Kushokuri where masked robbers created a barricade with date-palm trees, looted cash and phones from motorcyclists and truck drivers, and seriously wounded a Grameen Bank manager, according to a district police press release.

The detainees are identified as gang leader Altaf (also called Altaf Dakat) from Pangsha, Rajbari; Surat Ali (Surat Dakat) arrested from Bheramara, Kushtia; and local informant and agent Ariful arrested from Chuadanga Sadar. Police said items stolen in the robbery were recovered from Surat and that Surat and Altaf confessed to involvement in court, while Ariful has been remanded for interrogation; the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell led the probe.

Jhenaidah’s superintendent of police, Mia Mohammad Ashis bin Hasan, said operations continue to apprehend remaining and absconding members, and patrols have been strengthened around the Kushokuri field area to ensure security.

Sonam Wangchuk, an environmental activist and educator, ended a 27-day hunger strike late Friday at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Central ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Jitendra Singh were present when Wangchuk broke his fast on his hospital bed, and his wife Geetanjali Jain Angmo was also at his side.

Modi had issued a video statement at 11:53pm promising tougher legal action over exam paper leaks, calling the issue a matter of deep distress for millions of students and parents. He said the government has taken steps including arrests over the past two and a half months and has held re-examinations involving about 2.2 million candidates; he proposed fast-track courts and will seek to pass related legislation in the ongoing parliamentary session.

After Wangchuk ended his hunger strike, those present draped him in a shawl and offered congratulations, and Modi later sent him well-wishes on social media urging a speedy recovery following medical advice.

A local BNP leader, Mohammad Obaidur Rahman, was expelled from his party post and primary membership after an explicit video of him with a woman circulated on Facebook in Faridpur. The disciplinary action was announced late Thursday night by Faridpur district BNP leaders, including convener Advocate Syed Modarres Ali Isha and member secretary A K M Kibria Swapon, in a party notice.

The notice said the decision followed the spread of a 5 minute 37 second objectionable video and described the act as a moral transgression warranting removal from party positions. District BNP member secretary A K M Kibria Swapon confirmed the video's circulation and said the party held a meeting Thursday night that decided on the expulsion. A copy of the dismissal letter was initially posted on his personal Facebook account.

Repeated calls to Obaidur Rahman’s mobile went unanswered and his phone was found switched off according to the report, leaving no immediate comment from him.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged tougher action to curb exam paper leaks amid nationwide controversy and protests. In a late-night post and video on X on Thursday, he said the central government will take stricter decisions at Friday’s cabinet meeting and outlined steps already taken over the past two-and-a-half months to address exam-related fraud and criminal networks.

Modi said many suspects involved in the crime have been arrested and sent to jail, and the government has prioritized protecting students’ futures. He said about 2.2 million students should be able to receive re-evaluation or re-examination promptly, noting that final results were published on the 19th and successful candidates have been reported nationwide. He added that fast-track courts have been set up to ensure speedy trials.

He said the cabinet will discuss the matter in detail on Friday and final decisions will follow colleagues’ views, and the government will push to rapidly pass a tough legal bill on paper leaks in parliament’s second week starting Monday.

A man known locally as a militant, identified as Jitu (35), died after being seriously wounded during an incident at a house in Barandipara, Fulthala Mor, Jashore late Wednesday night when the homeowner resisted an alleged extortion and attempted sexual assault. Police received a 999 emergency alert and found Jitu injured; he was admitted to Jashore General Hospital and later referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment before dying en route in Tularampur, Narail.

Two other victims, Sukuran Begum (52) and her son Sumon Hossain (28), were also injured during the confrontation and remain under treatment at Jashore General Hospital. Sukuran told hospital staff that Jitu forced his way into their home, demanded money from her son, attacked Sumon with a sharp weapon when refused, and later attempted to sexually assault her daughter-in-law, prompting her to strike him with a cleaver in self-defense. Police say Jitu had multiple cases pending and was listed in police records as a local terrorist.

The body has been kept at the hospital morgue for postmortem and will be released to the family after legal procedures; Kotwali police say a thorough investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.

U.S. President Donald Trump added a new condition to the US-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation agreement on Thursday, saying its activation will depend entirely on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing relations with Israel. The agreement, signed by Washington and Riyadh to develop a peaceful civilian nuclear program, still requires congressional approval and full details have not been publicly released.

The announcement by the U.S. energy department said the deals included a multi-billion dollar peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement and a bilateral security protection pact to enable Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program. Trump also denied that the agreement would allow uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia, while nonproliferation groups and some U.S. lawmakers expressed concern that enrichment could spark a regional arms competition.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it is aware of the U.S.-Saudi plans but has not yet received a formal safeguards request; it would carry out necessary checks and inspections if an application arrives.

Los Palacios y Villafranca, a small tomato-producing town in Seville province, publicly honored world champion Spanish players Fabián Ruiz and Gavi by weighing them and gifting fresh local tomatoes equal to their body weight. The ceremony, reported on 24 July 2026, presented 85 kg of tomatoes to Fabián Ruiz and 68.5 kg to Gavi, totaling 153.5 kg, as part of the town's unique celebratory tradition.

The town has long been known for high-quality tomato production and established the custom of gifting weight-equivalent tomatoes to successful athletes as a mark of civic pride. Los Palacios has produced three international stars, including Jesús Navas, who began the tradition after his World Cup and Euro successes. The municipality said it will also rename two main football fields after Fabián Ruiz and Gavi and dedicate the sports complex to Jesús Navas, plus erect a commemorative statue in the town center.

Officials and residents view the practice as linking local agriculture and culture with international sport and as an inspiration for younger generations seeking football success in the town.

President Mohammad Sahabuddin Chuppu may resign from the presidency as early as Friday, according to Reuters and local sources cited by Amar Desh. The report says he has decided to step down for health reasons and may leave Bangabhaban this month. He plans to travel to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he previously received bypass and cardiac care.

Bangabhaban officials and close aides have been informed of the president's personal decision and medical plans, Amar Desh reported. In response to the resignation news, Speaker of Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmed cut short his Thailand trip and will return home on Friday; the speaker had been scheduled to return on July 26. Under the constitution, a president must submit a resignation to the speaker, and the speaker becomes acting president if the office is vacant or the president is unable to perform duties.

Constitutional provisions require a new president to be elected by members of parliament within 90 days of the vacancy, during which the speaker would serve as acting president.