BNP Joint Secretary General and Narsingdi-1 MP Khairul Kabir Khokon announced that any party member involved in extortion from contractors will be expelled and face legal action. He made the statement on Wednesday afternoon at the Narsingdi Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium during a program distributing allowance books to elderly, widowed, and disabled persons, as well as cash and corrugated sheets to families affected by natural disasters.

Khokon emphasized that contractors must complete their work according to schedule and that no irregularities or corruption will be tolerated. He said elected representatives are accountable to the people and must work for public welfare, not personal gain. Those who have looted public funds have already been rejected by the people, he added.

The event, chaired by Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Asma Jahan, was attended by local officials and BNP leaders. A total of 21 beneficiaries received cash and corrugated sheets, while 150 elderly, widowed, and disabled individuals received allowance books.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is scheduled to visit Iran tomorrow with a ministerial delegation, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). The visit, made at the invitation of the Iranian government, will focus on cooperation in the gas sector and discussions on the regional situation, Al Jazeera reported.

Government spokesperson Haidar al-Aboudi stated that the issue of keeping weapons under state control has been discussed only in Baghdad and will not be raised abroad, emphasizing it as an internal matter. He added that energy and gas cooperation will be key topics in bilateral talks, reflecting Iraq’s national interests. Al-Aboudi also noted that Iraq is pursuing diplomacy-based initiatives to address current regional challenges.

He further mentioned that Iraq has signed several agreements with the United States, including plans to develop alternative oil export routes to ensure secure exports amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Al-Aboudi said Iraq seeks broader foreign relations based on economic interests while avoiding involvement in conflicts.

Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced that the death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck the country last month has risen to 5,346. In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, Rodríguez said a total of 16,740 people were injured in the disasters. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit the South American nation on June 24.

According to Rodríguez, authorities have provided assistance to 128,324 affected families and established 107 temporary camps to shelter displaced residents. Currently, 17,907 people are living in these camps. He added that 856 buildings were damaged, including 190 that completely collapsed.

The updated figures highlight the extensive human and structural toll of the twin earthquakes, as emergency support and recovery operations continue across the affected regions.

In Narsingdi’s Palash upazila, Ghorashal municipal BNP joint general secretary Mohiuddin Chishtia, the main accused in a case involving extortion and assault of a sand trader, appeared publicly at a rally on July 19. The event, held near Charpara Raushan General Hospital and the Palli Bidyut office, drew thousands of people. Chishtia declared his intention to build a drug-free municipality and denied all allegations against him, calling them false and politically motivated. Police said they are trying to arrest the accused but could not detain Chishtia as he left the scene quickly after a brief appearance.

According to the case filed by district JCD vice president Sajib Bhuiyan, a group allegedly abducted trader Md. Sakhawat Hossain on July 13, detained him at Chishtia’s house, and demanded five lakh taka in extortion. The complaint states that Chishtia bit the victim’s ear during the assault. Locals expressed surprise that the accused could organize and lead a large rally while still wanted by police, and videos of the event have circulated on social media.

The incident has sparked local criticism and fear, with some residents unwilling to comment publicly due to security concerns.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned police action against students protesting question paper leaks across the country. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he said the agitating students have made three key demands: the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, strict punishment for those who ordered and carried out attacks on protesters, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the students.

Gandhi was detained by police on Tuesday while marching toward Modi’s residence during the protest. He later recounted that a police officer privately expressed frustration with the government. Highlighting what he called a collapse of the education system, Gandhi alleged that at least 152 incidents of question paper leaks have occurred over the past decade without a single perpetrator being brought to justice.

The ongoing protests reflect growing anger among students and opposition groups over repeated exam irregularities and the government’s handling of accountability in the education sector.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that attempts are being made to create new divisions in the country’s politics. Speaking on Wednesday at a discussion organized by the Bangladesh Union Parishad Chairman Member Association in Dhaka, he said that although Islam is the majority religion, all faiths must be treated equally and no religion should be demeaned. He emphasized that upcoming local government elections will be neutral and that candidates must earn public trust through service.

Fakhrul highlighted several government initiatives under the prime minister’s leadership, including the introduction of family cards for 4.1 million families, farmer cards, loan waivers up to 10,000 taka, and allowances for imams and muezzins. He said these programs aim to benefit ordinary citizens and that grassroots representatives should be involved in all development activities to strengthen the state structure.

He also criticized the Awami League, claiming it has harmed democratic institutions since 1971, and said efforts are underway to ensure that elected representatives are not unfairly dismissed and receive fair allowances.

A trainee lawyer named Sabiha Sultana was reportedly injured when a judge threw a glass paperweight during a court session at Gopalganj Judicial Magistrate Court-2 on Wednesday afternoon. The paperweight allegedly struck her head, causing bleeding, and she was admitted to Gopalganj Medical College Hospital for treatment. The incident occurred when the presiding judge, Md. Sujon Mia, became angry after lawyers continued talking despite his warning to remain silent in the courtroom.

Former general secretary of the Gopalganj District Lawyers’ Association, Advocate Julkadar Rahman, condemned the incident, calling it unprecedented in the court’s history and demanding justice. The association’s current general secretary and government pleader, Advocate M A Alam Selim, also expressed outrage, describing the act as disgraceful and urging a proper investigation and fair trial.

Attempts to contact Judge Md. Sujon Mia by phone and messaging applications were unsuccessful, and no official statement from him was available at the time of reporting.

The Cumilla Department of Narcotics Control has come under discussion after allocating a budget for establishing a 'Bangabandhu Book Corner'. According to reports, the allocation was made under an expenditure head signed in July 2025 by Deputy Director Bazlur Rahman. The budget, part of the 2025–2026 fiscal year, included instructions to purchase books for the corner by June 30, along with a separate allocation of 1 million taka for narcotics control and awareness activities.

Following the political change in July 2024, several groups have questioned the continuation of government programs named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Critics, including those linked to the July Movement, argue that such initiatives reflect misuse of public funds and political bias. Abu Raihan, convenor of the anti-discrimination student movement in Cumilla, said similar practices persist in government offices and called for accountability.

Deputy Director Bazlur Rahman stated that the inclusion of the book corner was unintentional and would be removed, suggesting that internal office politics may have caused the issue.

U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to a New York Post report published on July 22, 2026. Trump believes Infantino’s leadership of world football’s governing body demonstrates his ability to lead a global institution. He particularly praised Infantino’s role in successfully organizing the 2026 World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

A source close to Trump told the New York Post that the president views Infantino as a respected global figure capable of uniting people across nations and cultures. Neither the White House nor FIFA has made any official comment on the matter. The next UN Secretary-General is expected to be chosen later this year, with the new term beginning on January 1, 2027, after Antonio Guterres’s tenure ends in December.

However, Infantino’s path may be difficult, as UN rules require Security Council and General Assembly approval, and any veto from the five permanent members could block his candidacy. It also remains unclear whether Infantino himself is interested in the position.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized that Bangladesh’s housing industry is a key driver of the national economy and essential for overall economic growth. During a meeting with representatives of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) at the Secretariat on Wednesday, July 22, he said the government is working to create a transparent, accountable, and investment-friendly environment to ensure planned, sustainable, and corruption-free development in the housing sector.

The meeting discussed the current state of the housing industry, challenges of planned urbanization, practical issues arising from Detailed Area Plan (DAP) implementation, and long-term development strategies. The REHAB delegation requested a rational reduction in land, plot, and flat registration fees and stressed the need for full digitalization of government services related to housing. They also highlighted the importance of vertical urbanization to optimize limited land use in the capital.

The Prime Minister stated that reforms have already been introduced to prevent irregularities in the sector and that further effective measures are underway. He also underscored the need for balanced urban development beyond Dhaka while protecting agricultural land.

The White House announced that US President Donald Trump will attend a dignified transfer ceremony this evening at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The event will honor four American soldiers killed during the Iran war, whose flag-draped coffins are being returned to the United States, according to Al Jazeera.

The report said domestic discontent is rising in the United States over the Trump administration’s military campaign against Iran. The war has cost the US 37.5 billion dollars, with 18 soldiers killed and more than 450 injured. Among the dead are First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, Sergeant Angel S. Ramparsad, and Private Isabella Gonzalez, who were killed last Friday when an Iranian missile struck their barracks at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton was killed last Sunday in Erbil, Iraq, when a drone-controlled explosion occurred.

The ceremony underscores the human toll of the ongoing conflict and comes amid growing scrutiny of the administration’s military spending and strategy.

Former Chapainawabganj-3 MP and District Council Administrator Harunur Rashid said that any member of parliament proven to be involved in adultery or fornication should face the death penalty. He made the statement on Wednesday afternoon while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the 'Hospital Automation System' at the 250-bed district hospital in Chapainawabganj.

Rashid referred to a recent viral video allegedly showing misconduct by an MP from Satkhira and criticized those who use religion for political purposes, calling them hypocritical. He argued that such behavior spreads immorality in society and urged the government to enforce existing laws prescribing capital punishment for adultery if proven.

During the event, Rashid also highlighted the district council’s initiative to digitalize hospital services within a week. The system will store patients’ medical histories, integrate the hospital pharmacy, and automate test reports for doctors and patients, aiming to improve service efficiency and transparency.

U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his threat to bomb key Iranian infrastructure if Tehran attacks any ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump warned that every time Iran fires missiles, rockets, drones, or other weapons at ships in the strait, the United States will destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant, even if located near or inside Tehran.

This marks Trump’s latest warning against Iran, following several previous statements concerning maritime security and rising military tensions in the region. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes, carrying vast quantities of oil and gas.

According to the report, Trump’s remarks have raised fears of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, with potential implications for global energy stability and regional security.

Mufti Syed Rezaul Karim, the Amir of Islami Andolon Bangladesh and Charmonai Pir, stated that Jamaat-e-Islami’s involvement in war crimes is well established and widely discussed. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon while addressing the party’s Comilla North District conference at the Debidwar Upazila Parishad auditorium, where he attended as the chief guest.

Rezaul Karim said Jamaat lost its ideological foundation after removing the phrase ‘Akimuddin’ from its logo, arguing that the party’s identity was once rooted in Islam but has since become unclear. He criticized Jamaat for aligning with different political parties at different times and claimed that other Islamic groups associated with Jamaat have also lost their moral authority to represent Islam. He added that Jamaat had declared it would govern under democratic principles rather than Islamic Sharia if it came to power.

The conference was presided over by Qari Md. Saiful Islam Sarkar, with senior party leaders including Maulana Muhammad Nesar Uddin and Maulana Nurul Karim Akram also addressing the event.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a landslide warning for hilly areas in the Chattogram Division following forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall. The alert, announced on July 22, 2026, identifies Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban as moderately vulnerable to landslides. The forecast predicts rainfall between 150 and 300 millimeters over the next 48 hours in many districts of the Chattogram and Barishal divisions.

Light to very heavy rain is also expected across most districts in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barishal, and Sylhet divisions under the influence of the monsoon. The weather office further noted that rainfall is likely to persist across much of the country for the next five days.

The advisory comes alongside warnings of gusty winds and thunderstorms in several regions, with river ports instructed to hoist cautionary signal number one. The extended rainfall period raises concerns about potential flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.