Bangladesh Bank has introduced major reforms in the internal audit system of all scheduled banks through a new directive issued on Tuesday. The Internal Control Management System (ICMS) replaces the 2016 guidelines on internal control and compliance. Under the new rules, internal audit, compliance, and risk management functions are separated to ensure greater independence. For the first time, a whistleblower mechanism is made mandatory, allowing internal auditors to confidentially report corruption or serious irregularities by a bank’s board or managing director directly to Bangladesh Bank without prior approval from management.

The directive requires each bank to establish secure channels such as hotlines, email, or sealed written submissions for receiving complaints while ensuring whistleblower anonymity. Bangladesh Bank will take action against any bank that retaliates against whistleblowers. The new system also introduces forensic, concurrent, and virtual audits to strengthen oversight. Banks must adopt technology-based monitoring to detect trade-based money laundering, credit and market risks, cyber threats, and fraud.

All scheduled banks have been instructed to complete necessary organizational changes and implement the new directive by December 31.

The United States and Jordan have signed a new bilateral trade agreement in Washington aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. Under the deal, the United States will cap reciprocal tariffs on Jordanian imports at a maximum of 10 percent. The agreement was signed by Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yarub Qudah, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The accord grants Jordanian apparel and textile industries greater preferential access to the U.S. market, while easing entry for American agricultural and automotive products into Jordan. It builds upon the 2001 U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement and follows nearly a year of negotiations. Jordan will maintain duty-free access for U.S. goods under the earlier framework and expand market access by enforcing environmental laws, protecting labor rights and intellectual property, and modernizing customs procedures.

Recent commercial deals between the two nations include Royal Jordanian Airlines’ purchase of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners worth $1.4 billion, a $500 million aircraft leasing agreement, Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ $1 billion U.S. investment pledge by 2030, and annual Jordanian purchases of over $300 million in U.S. raw materials.

Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, legal adviser to the interim government and a faculty member of Dhaka University’s law department, stated that Bangladesh is now reaping the benefits of reforms made to the Legal Aid Act during the interim administration. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, he said the Ministry of Law had implemented several reforms, one of which expanded and partially mandated pre-trial dispute resolution while tripling the number of judges.

Nazrul noted that as a result of these changes, the number of cases filed under legal aid dropped by an average of 62 percent within a year. He described the initiative as a pilot project that included provisions for further expansion. He expressed confidence that current Law Minister Asaduzzaman, whom he described as a skilled legal expert, would ensure the project’s full implementation.

Nazrul added that the continued execution of these reforms could significantly reduce the country’s longstanding case backlog, marking a major step toward improving access to justice.

Six people have died in wildfires sweeping across several provinces of Algeria amid an ongoing heatwave, according to the country's Interior Ministry. The ministry confirmed that fires are still burning in some areas, and emergency teams have been deployed with necessary personnel and equipment to bring the situation under control.

In a statement cited by AFP from Algiers, the ministry said that a comprehensive operation has been launched across all provinces to survey and list damages, ensuring proper compensation for affected residents. The fires have spread widely in northern Algeria, where extreme heat has triggered hundreds of blazes in recent days.

The Interior Ministry’s announcement reflects growing concern over recurring wildfires in the region, which have caused multiple deaths in recent years. Authorities are focusing on damage assessment and relief coordination as firefighting efforts continue.

Iran and Pakistan have agreed to open a new border crossing to enhance trade cooperation between the two neighboring countries. The decision was announced following a meeting in Rawalpindi between Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Iran’s Interior Minister Iskandar Momeni. The discussions covered bilateral relations, mutual interests, regional and border security, and effective management of their shared frontier.

During the meeting, both sides pledged to strengthen collaboration in regional security and border management. Momeni stated that the new crossing aims to facilitate trade and that both countries have set an initial goal to increase bilateral trade from about three billion to ten billion dollars. He emphasized that achieving this target will require significant investment in border infrastructure.

Momeni also praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in easing regional tensions and promoting peace. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to closer coordination and operational cooperation to ensure regional stability and shared prosperity. During his Islamabad visit, Momeni also met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

At an ASEAN meeting held in the Philippines, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran’s economy and military capacity have been severely damaged by the ongoing US-Israel war. Citing information reported by Al Jazeera, Rubio claimed that for the past 20 years Iran has prioritized missile development over spending for its citizens. He also noted that US casualties are increasing, adding that risks are inevitable in a war zone.

Rubio further alleged that Iran’s military infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, yet the government has long focused its resources on strengthening military capabilities rather than public welfare. Responding to a question about Tehran’s ability to launch attacks, he said this situation demonstrates Iran’s consistent investment in its missile and drone programs over the last two decades.

The remarks came amid continuing US strikes in Iran and heightened regional tensions, with related developments including Saudi-US nuclear cooperation and Houthi missile attacks on Saudi vessels.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has ordered former Dhaka-5 Member of Parliament Kazi Monirul Islam and three other accused to appear before the court on August 3 in connection with a case over crimes against humanity committed during the July Revolution in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area. The order was issued on Wednesday by a three-member judicial panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with judges Md Manjurul Basid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir as members.

According to prosecutor Faruk Ahmad, eight people were killed in Jatrabari on July 18, 2024, and nine more on July 20, 2024, during the July mass movement. The tribunal directed the appearance of the four accused in relation to these killings. The other accused are former Jatrabari Police Station officer-in-charge Abul Hasan, Jatrabari Thana Awami League general secretary Harunur Rashid Munna, and former Dhaka South City Corporation Ward 63 councillor Shafiqul Islam Khan.

Abul Hasan is already detained in another tribunal case, while the remaining three are in custody in separate police cases. The tribunal’s directive pertains to the alleged killing of 17 people in Jatrabari on July 18 and 20, 2024.

Bangladesh Bank has simplified foreign currency transaction procedures for freelancers and individual service exporters. According to a circular issued on Wednesday, inward remittances up to 20,000 US dollars will no longer require a formal declaration. Additionally, freelancers can now receive up to 10,000 US dollars per transaction through online payment gateway service providers, provided the earnings are repatriated within the stipulated time.

The initiative aims to support the country’s growing digital service sector. The circular allows freelancers to use platform statements, emails, invoices, or other digital communications as valid proof of income, reducing dependence on traditional export documentation. It also introduces a dual-currency “freelancer card” and expands the use of mobile financial service and payment service providers to make digital transactions more efficient.

Under the new rules, IT freelancers may retain up to 50 percent of their export earnings in foreign currency under the Exporters’ Retention Quota, while other service exporters may retain up to 30 percent. Stakeholders believe the move will encourage more freelancers to bring foreign income through formal channels, increase foreign exchange inflows, and enhance transparency in the digital trade sector.

Individual taxpayers in Bangladesh can now file their income tax returns for the 2026–27 fiscal year through the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) e-return system. Acting NBR Chairman Ahsan Habib formally inaugurated the program on Wednesday. The board has introduced a new incentive for early filers: those submitting returns between July and September 30 will receive a 5 percent rebate on net payable tax or up to 25,000 taka. Returns filed after the deadline will not qualify for this benefit, and submissions after December will incur penalties.

The NBR first launched the online return system in 2021 and made it mandatory last year. However, senior citizens aged 65 or above, physically challenged taxpayers, Bangladeshis residing abroad, representatives of deceased taxpayers, and foreign nationals working in Bangladesh may still file paper returns. In the 2025–26 fiscal year, a record 4.7 million individuals filed returns through the e-return system.

Taxpayers can pay taxes via bank transfer, cards, or mobile financial services such as bKash, Rocket, and Nagad. The NBR call center offers assistance during office hours on working days.

Bangladesh has ranked 97th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, jointly with North Korea, according to the London-based firm Henley & Partners. The index, released on Tuesday, measures how many destinations passport holders can visit without a prior visa. Bangladesh passport holders can now travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access to 35 destinations, down from 37 last year. Only Nepal, Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan rank below Bangladesh.

The index evaluated 199 passports and 227 travel destinations this year. Singapore retained its top position, allowing visa-free access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates with 188 destinations each. Sweden ranked third with access to 187 destinations. Henley & Partners noted that the average passport now allows visa-free entry to 108 destinations, compared to 58 when the index was first published in 2006.

The report highlighted that global travel access has expanded over two decades, though geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts continue to affect international mobility. The gap between the strongest and weakest passports has widened, with Afghanistan offering visa-free access to only 22 destinations.

Member of Parliament S. M. Faisal for Habiganj-4 (Madhabpur-Chunarughat) stated that the government is taking strict measures to curb drugs, theft, robbery, and other crimes to maintain normal law and order across the country. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning while addressing the Upazila Law and Order Committee meeting as the chief guest. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies have been directed to work with utmost priority to build a crime-free, safe, and peaceful society.

Faisal described drugs as a destructive social disease and urged the administration, public representatives, and conscious citizens to work together to protect the youth from addiction. He said police and related forces are conducting regular drives against theft, robbery, and other crimes, and strict legal action is being taken against offenders. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring public safety and warned that no criminal or terrorist would be spared.

The meeting, chaired by Upazila Executive Officer Md. Mehedi Hasan, was attended by local officials, law enforcement representatives, and political leaders, who discussed ways to maintain peace and order in the area.

The Chhagalnaiya upazila administration in Feni demolished a former Awami League office building that had been constructed illegally on a public sidewalk. The demolition took place on Wednesday afternoon using heavy machinery as part of the second phase of an eviction drive in the municipal area.

Earlier, on Monday, the first phase of the operation removed more than two hundred illegal structures from the market area, but the Awami League office remained untouched, sparking anger among local traders and residents. Social media users also criticized the inaction, questioning the building’s legality and lease process. Local sources claimed the property, originally allocated to a cooperative, had been partitioned into rooms and rented out for deposits of up to six lakh taka, with new shops recently under construction.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Omar Faruk, who led the operation, stated that drives against illegal establishments would continue and warned that stronger actions would follow if the cleared areas were reoccupied.

Dhaka University authorities have announced a plan to repaint and rewrite the July Uprising-themed graffiti across the campus, beginning on July 26, 2026. The initiative follows criticism from various quarters, with the administration assuring that the original spirit and significance of the artwork will remain intact. The program will start from the Vice-Chancellor’s building to Rokeya Hall, coordinated by the Dean of Fine Arts, the university proctor, and the director of the Arbory Culture Center. Artists who created the original graffiti and other interested participants have been invited to register by July 25.

The restoration effort is part of a month-long series of events marking the second anniversary of the July Uprising. Activities include discussions, essay and quiz competitions, poetry recitations, cultural programs, and documentary screenings across different halls. A seminar titled “July Uprising 2024: Aspirations of Students and Citizens and the Future of Bangladesh” will be held on July 26 at the Faculty of Science conference room, with the Vice-Chancellor and other senior academics in attendance.

Several halls, including Rokeya, Sufia Kamal, and Jagannath, will host commemorative programs through early August, featuring exhibitions, candle lighting, and prayer sessions for the victims of the uprising.

Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, also known as Tawhid Islam, has been shown arrested in a fraud case by the Mymensingh Joint District and Sessions Judge (Finance and Loan) Court after previously being detained in a money laundering case. The court ordered his transfer to jail. Earlier, he had been sentenced to one year in prison in a separate fraud case filed under the Negotiable Instruments Act and had been absconding for a long time.

On Wednesday, around 40 victims and dozens of residents held a human chain protest in front of the Mymensingh Press Club, accusing Haridas of defrauding people by promising jobs, government housing, and irrigation pumps. They also alleged he was an agent of India’s intelligence agency and demanded maximum punishment. Several new fraud and check dishonor cases have recently been filed against him, including one involving unpaid construction materials worth over 1.4 million taka.

The CID’s Financial Crime Unit continues to investigate his financial transactions, assets, and alleged money laundering activities, claiming to have found suspicious transactions totaling about 93.5 million taka.

The United States has fallen to 10th place in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, losing its former position among the world’s most powerful passports. In 2006, the U.S. passport was among the strongest globally, offering travel freedom comparable to Denmark and Finland. The latest report shows that American citizens can now travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access to 180 destinations, up from 130 in 2006.

Singapore holds the top spot in 2026, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates share second place, each allowing travel to 188 countries. Sweden ranks third, while Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain jointly occupy fourth place. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, though its visa-free access has increased from 12 to 22 destinations since 2006.

According to the report, passport strength reflects international trust, diplomatic relations, economic capacity, and political stability, with many peaceful nations appearing among the top-ranked countries.