A court in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, has granted a two-day remand for Nazim Uddin, the main accused in a case filed over an attack and attempted murder of three journalists. The order was issued on Wednesday by Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Farhan Sadiq after hearing both sides. The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Farid Hossain of Chakaria Police Station, had sought remand for interrogation, which the court approved.

According to the case statement, on February 22 this year, three senior journalists went to Ichhachhari area of Harbang Union’s Ward 9 to collect news on alleged illegal sand extraction. They were reportedly attacked by an armed group led by Nazim Uddin, leaving them seriously injured. The victims later filed a case naming Nazim as the prime accused along with ten others and several unidentified individuals, accusing them of assault, attempted murder, and obstruction of professional duties.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Nazim Uddin was brought to the Chakaria court from Cox’s Bazar District Jail under tight security before the remand hearing took place at noon.

A Dhaka court has postponed the charge framing hearing against former law minister Anisul Huq in an arms case filed under Banani Police Station. The hearing, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was deferred to August 23 by Judge Moin Uddin Chowdhury of the Dhaka Fourth Special Tribunal. The defense lawyer, Md. Suman Hossain, requested the delay citing the sudden illness of the main counsel, which prevented his attendance. The court granted the request after hearing both sides, with Huq being produced from prison before the session.

According to the case, a licensed pistol registered under Anisul Huq’s name was not surrendered within the government’s stipulated deadline following the 2024 student and public uprising that led to the government’s fall. The Home Ministry had suspended all firearm licenses issued between January 6, 2009, and August 5, 2024, and ordered their submission by September 3, 2024. Police later found neither the weapon nor any related information at Huq’s address.

The case was filed by Banani Police Sub-Inspector Md. Jane Alam Dulal, and the charge sheet was submitted on August 29, 2025. Huq remains in custody facing multiple other criminal charges.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi sharply criticized the country’s education system, calling it completely corrupt and collapsed. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday while wearing a black badge, he claimed that 152 government and competitive exam papers had been leaked over the past ten years, yet not a single offender had been punished. Gandhi wore a black cloth on his arm in protest against police action on Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demonstrators and demanded the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for failing to prevent repeated leaks.

He alleged that millions of students and their families were paying the price for a broken system, with some students driven to suicide due to repeated leaks and immense pressure. Gandhi said around 75 million students and their families had been affected, as families’ hard-earned money was wasted on education undermined by corruption. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologize to students and emphasized that their demands for a fair education system should remain the focus.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed Gandhi’s protest as childish and accused him of trying to create chaos during the parliamentary session, organizing counter-protests in response.

A human chain was held at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Wednesday afternoon demanding the withdrawal of the expulsion order against two Chhatra Dal leaders. The protest took place in front of Administrative Building-1, with participation from students of the Political Studies and Statistics departments along with several Chhatra Dal activists.

During the event, students including Sabbir Hossain and Hridoy Hasan urged the university administration to reconsider the punishment on humanitarian grounds. They acknowledged that the July 18 incident involving a student from the Sociology department was an unfortunate altercation, and the accused students had already expressed remorse and sought forgiveness. The speakers appealed for leniency, emphasizing the impact of the decision on the students’ education, careers, and families.

On July 21, the university’s emergency syndicate meeting expelled Chhatra Dal leaders Tarek Rahman and Hasibur Rahman for four semesters and banned them from entering the campus for assaulting a student. Tarek Rahman also lost his residential seat at Shah Paran Hall and was permanently barred from applying for future accommodation.

Bangladesh’s largest retail chain, Shwapno, has received international recognition for promoting equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The company was named winner in the category of ‘SDG Brand Champion in Sustainable Partnerships and Institutions – Employment for Differently-Abled Individuals’ at the fourth SDG Brand Champion Awards. The announcement was made on Tuesday through a company press release highlighting Shwapno’s long-term efforts to ensure inclusive and equitable workplaces.

According to Shwapno, the award reflects its commitment to inclusive employment, diversity, and social responsibility. The company stated that it will continue expanding job opportunities for persons with disabilities while ensuring a safe, respectful, and discrimination-free work environment. Organizers said this year’s awards aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, receiving 472 nominations across 19 categories. A seven-member grand jury panel of 27 experts selected 34 winners and 25 honorable mentions.

Shwapno also received an honorable mention in the ‘Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Farm-to-Shelf’ category, recognizing its role in improving agricultural supply chains and innovation. The company reaffirmed its goal to contribute to social and economic development through responsible business practices and sustainable initiatives.

The Italian Football Federation is reportedly making a strong push to appoint Pep Guardiola as the new head coach of the national team. Federation president Giovanni Malagò confirmed holding talks with the Spanish tactician and stated that Italy has the financial capacity to hire him. According to Sky in Italy, technical director Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo met Guardiola in Barcelona for three days to discuss a master plan to rebuild the four-time world champions.

If the 55-year-old accepts, he would become Italy’s second foreign coach and the first since the 1960s. Guardiola, who played in Serie A for Brescia and Roma between 2001 and 2003, is fluent in Italian. Other candidates reportedly include Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo. Italy’s football program is in crisis after failing to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, most recently losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 playoff semifinals, which led to Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation.

The new coach’s main goal will be to restore Italy’s footballing pride and prepare the team for the 2028 European Championship. Italy’s next match is scheduled for September 25 in Rome against Belgium in the Nations League.

Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku announced that the government plans to hand over Bangladesh’s electricity distribution system to the private sector. Speaking at a policy conclave on energy security and transition in Dhaka, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed with the proposal and urged all stakeholders to prepare for the transition. The minister argued that private management would enhance transparency, improve service quality, and lessen the government’s operational responsibilities, while electricity generation would remain under state control.

Tuku criticized the previous Awami League government, accusing it of corruption and mismanagement that left the energy sector without proper planning or gas exploration. He cited recent disruptions in LNG supply following a fire at an FSRU facility, which caused gas shortages in several regions. The minister emphasized the need to boost domestic gas exploration and strengthen LNG infrastructure to ensure long-term energy security.

He also highlighted new renewable energy policies, including incentives for rooftop solar installations and plans to reach 10,000 megawatts of solar power with international cooperation.

Heavy rainfall and mountain runoff from India have caused the Teesta River to swell, flooding large parts of Rangpur’s Gangachara upazila. Although the river is now flowing six centimeters below the danger level, many low-lying areas remain waterlogged. Students are forced to wade through knee-deep water to reach schools, disrupting education and raising health concerns. Roads remain submerged, and farmers fear crop losses as agricultural lands stay underwater.

In Noheli Union, severe river erosion has already swallowed at least eight houses and hundreds of bighas of farmland. The erosion has also damaged about 200 meters of the embankment protecting the Gangachara-Mahipur Second Teesta Bridge, threatening road connectivity between Rangpur and Lalmonirhat. Around 50,000 residents are living in fear as the river continues to erode its banks.

Local officials said the situation is alarming. The union chairman reported the losses to authorities, while the upazila administration and Water Development Board are preparing damage lists and planning urgent measures to prevent further erosion and assist affected families.

Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that union parishad or local government elections will be held either later this year or at the beginning of next year. He made the statement on Wednesday at a discussion meeting organized by the Bangladesh Union Chairman Member Association at the Diploma Institute in Kakrail, Dhaka.

The minister’s remarks indicate that preparations for the upcoming local government polls are under consideration, though no specific date has been confirmed. The event served as a platform for discussing local governance issues and the timing of the elections.

Further details about the election schedule and procedures are expected to be released later, as the minister noted that more information will follow.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has summoned 63 college-level teachers accused of using fake certificates for personal hearings. The decision was made after the teachers failed to provide satisfactory responses to earlier show-cause notices. According to an office order signed by Deputy Director Shafi Mahmud, the hearings will take place on July 26, 27, 28, 30, and August 2 at 10 a.m. in Room 317 of the Education Bhaban.

Both the accused teachers and their respective principals have been instructed to appear in person at the office of the DSHE Director (College and Administration). They must bring original certificates, appointment documents, and two sets of attested photocopies. If any teacher has resigned, been dismissed, or passed away, the principal must attend with supporting documents.

The hearings aim to determine whether the accused teachers’ MPO (Monthly Pay Order) benefits should be canceled or suspended, following unsatisfactory explanations in the initial inquiry.

Bangladesh National Parliament Whip Alhaj Md. Akhteruzzaman Mia MP stated that the government is implementing development programs nationwide by ensuring the best use of limited resources. He emphasized that improving rural communication networks is one of the government’s top priorities to enhance the quality of life in remote areas. He made these remarks on Tuesday evening at a ceremony marking the foundation laying of the road from Alokdihi Union Parishad to Pirerhat in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur.

Akhteruzzaman Mia said rural infrastructure development is a key pillar of the country’s overall economic progress, as modern road connectivity supports agriculture, education, healthcare, and trade. He added that the government aims to create equal development opportunities in all regions and is working sincerely to sustain the pace of sustainable growth.

Earlier in the day, the Whip visited and inaugurated several development projects in Chirirbandar, including new school buildings and paved road construction in multiple unions, reflecting the government’s continued focus on rural infrastructure expansion.

The European Union’s naval mission ‘Aspides’ has advised commercial vessels linked to the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia to avoid the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The warning, reported on July 22, 2026, follows a sharp rise in the risk of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in these waters. The advisory urged ships connected to those three nations to steer clear of the region until the threat level decreases.

According to the EU mission, vessels associated with the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia face the highest risk of being targeted by the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The warning came shortly after the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, claiming it was a response to Riyadh’s blockade of Yemen and airstrikes on its international airport.

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the Houthi move and stated that it will take all necessary measures under international law to protect its commercial ships and national interests.

Bangladeshi journalists, political analysts, writers, and online activists based in France have called for united efforts to build a democratic, accountable, and just Bangladesh inspired by the spirit of July. The call came during a roundtable discussion titled “Implementation of the July Charter and Referendum,” held on Tuesday at a restaurant conference room in Paris. The event was organized by the socio-cultural organization Franco Bangla to discuss the July movement’s ideals and the vision for Bangladesh’s future.

Franco Bangla president Shahidul Islam delivered the welcome speech, while journalist and columnist Tanvir Ahmad Toha presented the keynote paper, highlighting the background and significance of the July movement and citizens’ roles in establishing democracy. Speakers emphasized strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring human rights, and upholding the rule of law to prevent any return to authoritarianism. They also underscored the importance of reforms and the active role of civil society, journalists, intellectuals, and expatriates in safeguarding Bangladesh’s democratic progress.

Participants included representatives from various Bangladeshi media outlets, community leaders, and activists living in France, reflecting broad engagement from the expatriate community.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has said that the world stands at the end of one civilization and the dawn of another. Speaking on July 16 at the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, he argued that the current civilization has failed in its fundamental responsibilities. He identified environmental destruction and growing wealth concentration as the two main causes of this decline.

Dr. Yunus challenged the belief that new technologies will solve these problems, warning instead that artificial intelligence could accelerate wealth concentration and deepen inequality. He said the real issue is not job loss but a system that reduces people to job seekers, stressing that humans are inherently creative and not born to follow orders. Calling today’s youth the most powerful generation in human history, he urged them to define the world they wish to build.

The assembly brought together Nobel laureates, former heads of state, religious leaders, and youth delegates. Participants signed a joint declaration warning that the combined development of AI and nuclear weapons poses an unprecedented threat to humanity’s future.

The Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) has announced three private Hajj packages for 2027, with the lowest-priced package set at Tk 513,545. The announcement was made in Dhaka by HAAB President Syed Golam Sarwar, accompanied by Secretary General Farid Ahmed Majumdar. The special package (Package-1) will cost Tk 791,060, the general package (Package-2) Tk 595,580, and the affordable package (Package-3) Tk 513,545. Agencies may also offer an additional special package based on pilgrim demand. Package prices were calculated at an exchange rate of Tk 33.20 per Saudi Riyal and will be adjusted if the rate changes.

Compared to the current year, the 2027 packages show slight increases in cost. The 2026 special package cost Tk 750,000, the general package Tk 550,000, and the affordable package Tk 510,000. HAAB stated that the new packages were prepared based on estimated expenses, as final Saudi-side costs are yet to be confirmed. The packages include meals and mandatory Qurbani payments through the Nusuk platform.

A three-day Hajj and Umrah fair will be held from July 30 at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Center to facilitate direct bookings. The 2027 Hajj is expected to take place on May 15, subject to moon sighting, with around 127,198 pilgrims participating.