A protest rally was held in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira demanding the expulsion and removal of Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam from his party and parliament following the circulation of a viral video involving him and a young woman. The demonstration, organized under the banner of the Conscious Citizens’ Society, took place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and drew participation from political and social activists as well as local residents.

Speakers at the rally, including several BNP leaders, alleged that the incident had deeply angered the public and undermined the moral standing of an elected representative who had campaigned on religious values. They declared Gazi Nazrul Islam unwelcome in Shyamnagar and urged Jamaat-e-Islami to take disciplinary action within 24 hours. The protesters also called on the Speaker of the National Parliament to intervene and cancel his parliamentary membership.

Following the rally, demonstrators burned an effigy of Gazi Nazrul Islam in front of the Shyamnagar Press Club. The viral video has sparked widespread discussion and criticism across local political and social circles.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved eight development projects with a total expenditure of Tk 14,041.21 crore. Of this, Tk 10,494.21 crore will come from government funding and Tk 3,550.44 crore from project loans. The approval was given at an ECNEC meeting held on Wednesday at the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman. Among the approved projects, three are new and five are revised.

The approved projects include three under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, one under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, one under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, two under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and one under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Additionally, the meeting was informed about 11 smaller projects costing less than Tk 50 crore that had already been approved by the Planning Minister.

These smaller projects cover areas such as regional offices for the National University, road upgrades, mobile network installation at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal, and infrastructure development for power transmission and vocational training centers.

India’s Supreme Court has rejected a plea for an urgent hearing in a case concerning police baton charges on participants of the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest. The request was made on Wednesday before a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who declined to take up the matter. When the lawyer attempted to justify the protest as being in the public interest and related to alleged exam paper leaks, the Chief Justice interrupted, saying, “Thank you very much,” and refused to watch videos presented as evidence of police brutality.

The Delhi High Court had also refused to conduct an emergency hearing on Tuesday, stating that the judiciary should not be drawn into such matters. The protests, held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, are being led by the Cockroach Janata Party and its supporters, demanding education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Cockroach Janata Party was formed after Chief Justice Surya Kant once referred to unemployed youth as “cockroaches,” a remark that sparked widespread criticism and inspired the group’s name.

The second death anniversary of Hafiz Monayel Ahmed Imran, one of the youngest martyrs of the anti-discrimination movement, was observed on Tuesday at his home in Lakhai, Habiganj, in deep mourning and respect. Family members expressed anger that even after two years, justice, accountability, and security for the martyr’s family have not been ensured. They also demanded immediate implementation of the July Charter.

Imran, a 16-year-old madrasa student, was shot during the anti-discrimination movement on July 21, 2024, near the Signboard area of the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway. His family alleged that police delayed the ambulance carrying him by about half an hour at Jatrabari’s Rayerbag area, during which some companions were beaten and their phones confiscated. They believe this delay contributed to his death from excessive bleeding.

At the commemoration, local leaders from BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami pledged continued support for martyr families and called for justice, state recognition, and protection. Relatives and residents urged that true respect for the martyrs lies in ensuring justice and security for their families.

Abdullah Al Minhaj, then vice president of the Tamirul Millat Central Students’ Union, has described his experiences during the July 2024 movement in Bangladesh. He detailed how students from the madrasa joined demonstrations near the Uttara BNS Center, where security forces and ruling party groups allegedly carried out violent crackdowns. Minhaj reported that five students from Tamirul Millat were killed and more than three hundred injured during the protests. He himself was wounded by rubber bullets and treated at a local hospital that provided free care.

The account describes the intense confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement, the community’s support for injured protesters, and the emotional toll on participants. Minhaj recalled the trauma of witnessing deaths, the solidarity among students, and the assistance from doctors and local residents. He also recounted the final days of the movement, when large crowds celebrated what they saw as victory after reports of the government’s collapse.

The narrative concludes with a reflection on unity and sacrifice, portraying the July events as a struggle for freedom and a call to preserve national solidarity.

The High Court has issued a rule seeking to ensure that candidates contesting for the position of Union Parishad chairman possess at least a graduate-level educational qualification. The rule was issued on Wednesday afternoon following a preliminary hearing of a writ petition filed by two Supreme Court lawyers before the bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar.

Lawyer Kazi Ferdousul Hasan confirmed the issuance of the rule. The court directed the Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) Secretary, the Law Ministry Secretary, and the Chief Election Commissioner to respond to the rule. The High Court asked why Section 26 of the Union Parishad Act, which does not specify educational qualifications, should not be declared inconsistent with the Constitution.

The court also questioned why an order should not be given to ensure a minimum educational qualification of a graduate degree for candidates contesting the Union Parishad chairman elections under Section 26 of the Union Parishad Act, 2009.

Abdullah Al Noman, general secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at Chittagong University, described in detail the events of July 16 during an anti-discrimination student protest at Chattogram’s Muradpur and Sholoshahar areas. He recounted how activists gathered following a directive from BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to remain on the streets. As rival groups from the Chhatra League and Jubo League reportedly took armed positions, clashes erupted when the protesters began chanting slogans. Noman said the students split into groups to resist attacks and that Wasim Akram, a fellow activist, joined the protest before being shot.

According to Noman’s account, Wasim was taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead. The narrative portrays Wasim as a courageous participant whose call to gather at Sholoshahar inspired others to join the movement. Noman expressed deep grief over Wasim’s death, describing him as a younger brother figure and symbol of sacrifice for the student movement.

The article concludes with Noman’s reflection that Wasim’s bravery and sacrifice will be remembered by future generations as part of the broader struggle for equality and justice.

On July 15, 2024, violent clashes erupted at Dhaka University when members of the Chhatra League allegedly attacked students participating in the quota reform movement. The assault left many students injured, including female students, and videos of the incident quickly spread across social media, triggering widespread anger and calls for resistance across the country.

In response, the Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a counter-mobilization. Its then central president, Manjurul Islam, directed members to support the general students, leading to the formation of a coordinated operation named “Operation Hasbunallah.” Under the leadership of Dhaka Metropolitan East branch president Mojabber Hossain, Shibir activists gathered near the campus and joined students in repelling Chhatra League members from key university halls, including Shahidullah Hall and Amar Ekushey Hall.

Following the confrontation, Shibir members reportedly maintained overnight patrols around the campus to ensure student safety. The events marked a turning point as Chhatra League’s dominance in several university halls began to weaken, and the student movement regained momentum nationwide.

The Bijoypur Rudrapal Pottery Cooperative Society in Comilla Sadar Dakshin, Bangladesh, has expanded its traditional pottery production to international markets, exporting terracotta items to the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Established in 1961 as Progoti Sangha with only 15 members, the cooperative was renamed under the guidance of Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan. After being destroyed in 1971, it was revived in 1972 with government financial support. Today, around 150 families across seven villages are engaged in pottery, with 50 families directly involved in the cooperative.

The cooperative’s assets are now valued at about 10 crore taka. However, production has been hampered since 2015 due to a severe gas shortage, forcing artisans to revert to traditional firing methods using clay, wood, straw, and paper. This has increased costs and reduced profits, leaving workers with monthly wages between 6,000 and 8,000 taka. Despite these challenges, both men and women continue to produce a wide range of terracotta goods, including household utensils, decorative pieces, and cultural models.

The cooperative’s craftsmanship sustains a long-standing heritage while contributing to rural livelihoods and Bangladesh’s export earnings.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering new measures that could effectively ban or restrict the use of advanced Chinese artificial intelligence models in the United States. According to sources cited by Axios, internal discussions have resurfaced following the rapid rise of the Chinese open-source model Kimi. The Commerce Department, National Security Agency, and White House cyber offices previously explored actions such as adding Chinese AI labs to the Entity List, issuing advisories, or requiring U.S. companies to assume liability for hosting Chinese models. Although earlier efforts were halted to avoid stifling innovation, renewed momentum is building among national security officials.

The administration’s current approach appears to favor indirect pressure rather than an outright ban. Sources described strategies including procurement rules, public warnings about security risks, and campaigns to encourage reliance on domestic AI ecosystems. Pro-competition advocates, including outside adviser David Sacks, have warned that such measures could entrench dominant U.S. firms like OpenAI and Anthropic while undermining open-source innovation.

The debate reflects a broader struggle between national security priorities and market competition as Chinese AI capabilities advance and U.S. policymakers weigh how to respond.

Iran’s military has carried out drone attacks on US bases located in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. According to a statement released by Iran’s armed forces, the strikes were conducted as retaliation for what it described as US military aggression. The attacks targeted multiple facilities including housing, welfare buildings, and equipment depots used by American forces.

The statement detailed that drones struck the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, Jordan, and the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, hitting storage areas and aircraft maintenance hangars. In Kuwait, the Iranian military targeted ammunition depots and ground force supply facilities at Camp Doha. The semi-official Tasnim news agency published the statement outlining these operations.

The report did not mention any casualties or the extent of damage caused by the attacks. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the United States in the region.

A 22-kilogram Katla fish was caught in the Padma River at Goaland, Rajbari, and sold for Tk 50,600 through a video call. The fish was caught early Wednesday by fisherman Jahurul Haldar of Pangsha upazila at the confluence of the Padma and Jamuna rivers. It was brought to the Daulatdia Ghat market, where it weighed 22 kilograms on a digital scale. In an open auction, fish trader Md. Samrat Shahjahan Sheikh bought it for Tk 46,200 and later sold it to a Rajshahi businessman for Tk 50,600 using online communication.

The trader said large Katla fish from the Padma River are always in high demand, and online platforms now make it easier to find good buyers quickly. Goaland Upazila Fisheries Officer Md. Anwarul Islam Pilot noted that a seasonal ban on Hilsa fishing has increased the catch of other species like Katla, Rui, and Boal. He added that establishing permanent sanctuaries in the river could help sustain larger fish populations.

Local residents gathered to see the rare large fish, as such big Katla catches are uncommon in the area.

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit arrested five individuals in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area while they were allegedly preparing for a mugging. The arrests took place around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday during a targeted operation under Tejgaon Police Station. The detainees were identified as Raihan (20), Md. Nur Alam (25), Md. Hridoy (26), Md. Mehedi Hasan (38), and Md. Jewel (30).

According to CTTC sources, the Transnational Division received information that a group of miscreants was planning a mugging in the Karwan Bazar area. Acting on this intelligence, a team conducted a raid and apprehended the suspects before the crime could occur. The operation was part of ongoing efforts to curb street crimes in the capital.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the suspects’ backgrounds or whether any weapons or materials were seized during the operation.

US President Donald Trump reportedly wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to serve as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to a report by The New York Post published on July 22, 2026. The report states that the two became close during this year’s World Cup, and their relationship deepened after Infantino presented Trump with the FIFA Peace Award last December.

Citing sources close to Trump, the report describes Infantino as a globally respected figure with a strong ability to unite people around shared goals. The current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, is set to complete his term in December this year. It remains unclear whether Infantino is interested in the position or how much Trump has discussed the matter with him.

According to the report, the UN Secretary-General is appointed following a recommendation from the Security Council and approval by the General Assembly. Other names reportedly under discussion include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

A 24-year-old man named Iqbal Hasan was arrested by the Department of Narcotics Control while transporting 1.5 kilograms of heroin from Chapainawabganj to Rajshahi. The operation took place around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the Sarail area of Godagari upazila, Rajshahi. The seized heroin, packed in fifteen 100-gram packets wrapped in scotch tape, was found inside a schoolbag and has an estimated market value of about Tk 15 million.

According to Mehedi Hasan, Deputy Director of the Rajshahi District Office of the Department of Narcotics Control, the arrest followed a tip-off. During initial questioning, Iqbal said an unknown person handed him the heroin consignment in Chapainawabganj, which he was supposed to deliver to another unidentified person in Rajshahi. Communication between the parties took place via WhatsApp.

Officials said the smuggling used a “cut-out” method, where carriers, suppliers, and receivers do not know each other, making it difficult to trace the main network. A case was filed under the Narcotics Control Act, and Iqbal was sent to jail through court. The department will investigate further to identify the masterminds behind the operation.