Major Mozzafar Hossain, sentenced to death by a military court for direct involvement in the 1981 assassination of President Ziaur Rahman, was transferred from Dhaka Cantonment to Chattogram Cantonment’s military custody last Friday. He was later flown back to Dhaka by military aircraft on Sunday. Sources said the transfer was made because the original incident and case jurisdiction were centered in Chattogram, allowing investigators to review details and visit the crime scene more effectively.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police officials stated they were not informed about the transfer, as the Dhaka Detective Branch handed Mozzafar directly to the army. According to military and Home Ministry sources, his trial under the Army Act will proceed in two stages—first for desertion after the 1981 incident, and then for enforcing the previously declared death sentence. The General Court Martial will determine whether any separate judicial review is necessary.

Observers noted that military trials are not usually public, raising interest about how transparent Mozzafar’s proceedings will be. His arrest reportedly followed leads from the phone records of recently detained former Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury.

Owners of CNG filling stations in Bangladesh have announced an indefinite strike starting August 23, 2026, demanding an increase in their sales commission. The announcement came at a press conference held in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, on Tuesday, organized by the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association. As a preliminary step, the owners plan a symbolic one-day strike on July 30 from 6 a.m. to midnight if their demands are not met.

According to the association, the current commission rate of Tk 8 per cubic meter has remained unchanged for about 11 years, despite rising inflation, higher minimum wages, increased dollar value, and growing operational costs. The owners argue that continuing operations under the existing rate has become financially unsustainable.

The association presented four demands to the government: raising the commission to at least Tk 13.96 per cubic meter, introducing an automatic adjustment mechanism for future fuel price changes, abolishing the practice of collecting additional deposits from old customers, and reducing various government license and renewal fees to reasonable levels.

Prime Minister’s adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman announced that a case will be filed against Hasina for allegedly violating customs and immigration laws during her escape. He made the statement on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference held at the Department of Information in the Secretariat, where the government’s Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad was also present.

The adviser said that false information, misinformation, and fake videos are being spread to defame many innocent and respected individuals in the country. To counter this, the government is determined to act and has initiated the formation of a panel of lawyers and experts to address the issue.

He further stated that cyberbullying through digital platforms and social media has become a concern, and the government has a responsibility to protect citizens. The government will ensure proper enforcement of the law in this regard.

The government of Bangladesh has announced a firm commitment to curb cyberbullying, misinformation, and fake videos that harm innocent and respected individuals. Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Zahedur Rahman disclosed that a panel of lawyers and experts will be formed to address these issues. He made the announcement on Tuesday during a press conference at the Department of Information in the Secretariat, where the government’s Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad was also present.

Dr. Rahman stated that social media and digital platforms are being used to conduct cyberbullying, and it is the government’s responsibility to protect citizens from such acts. He emphasized that the government will ensure proper enforcement of laws to prevent these offenses.

The initiative reflects the government’s growing focus on digital safety and accountability in online spaces, aiming to strengthen legal and institutional measures against cyber harassment and misinformation.

Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad on an official visit amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included the governor general of Sistan and Baluchestan province, the deputy interior minister, deputy minister of urban development and transport, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company, and a special representative of the agriculture minister.

Momeni told the media that the main purpose of his visit was to strengthen mutual relations between the two neighboring countries and expand cooperation in key sectors. He also noted that Iran and Pakistan had previously agreed to more than triple their bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars annually.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister expressed eagerness to further expand bilateral relations with Iran and support efforts to ease regional tensions.

The Bangladesh Army has proposed constructing several internal and connecting roads in the Jungle Salimpur area of Sitakunda, Chattogram, including two routes passing through the CDA’s Silimpur residential area. However, the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) has not approved the proposal, citing concerns that it could disrupt security and order within the residential community. Instead, the CDA advised the army to consider alternative routes.

According to CDA sources, Jungle Salimpur is a sensitive zone, and linking it directly with a quiet, protected residential area could pose safety risks. Following consultations with local plot owners, the CDA suggested building the roads elsewhere. CDA Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossain visited the proposed sites with army officials and confirmed that a temporary route along the canal bank could be allowed, but no permanent road should pass through the residential zone.

During a meeting with residents, the CDA chairman pledged to develop Silimpur as a modern, eco-friendly neighborhood and assured solutions to long-standing water and gas shortages in coordination with Chattogram WASA.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a missile attack that allegedly destroyed Amazon’s central data infrastructure in Bahrain. The claim was reported by Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. According to the IRGC statement, its aerospace forces used multiple cruise missiles to carry out the strike.

The IRGC said the attack was a response to a recent U.S. strike on civilian infrastructure in Iran’s Darkhovin area. However, the authenticity of Iran’s claim could not be independently verified. Neither Amazon nor Bahraini authorities have issued any immediate comment on the reported incident.

The absence of confirmation from independent or official sources leaves uncertainty about the extent of the damage or whether the attack occurred as described.

Bangladesh’s Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Anisul Haque stated that mandatory pre-case mediation is producing encouraging results in reducing new case filings and facilitating faster dispute resolution. Speaking virtually from Dhaka at the inauguration of the program in ten districts on Tuesday, he said the initiative has already shown significant progress in lowering the number of cases filed under various laws.

According to the minister, around 4.5 million cases are currently pending in the country’s courts, creating heavy pressure on the judiciary. A pilot project in 20 districts demonstrated that between February–May 2025 and the same period in 2026, case filings dropped by an average of 62.02 percent across several legal categories. He urged judges to refer suitable pending cases for mediation through district legal aid offices to accelerate proceedings and called on the media to raise public awareness about free legal aid services.

The minister inaugurated the program in Bogura, Thakurgaon, Patuakhali, Bhola, Natore, Jashore, Shariatpur, Cox’s Bazar, Panchagarh, and Tangail under the Legal Aid (Amendment) Act 2026. He emphasized zero tolerance for corruption in mediation and praised the support of JICA, GIZ, and UNDP.

Multiple allegations have been brought against Muktadul Alam, the Officer-in-Charge of Khetlal Police Station in Joypurhat, for allegedly extorting money, demanding monthly payments, and abusing his authority. Victims claim that within months of his appointment, complaints began circulating locally. One small business owner, Shubha Saha, alleged that the officer visited his puffed rice factory late at night under the guise of a magistrate-led operation, interrogated him, and later demanded money at the station. Saha said he paid 10,000 taka to settle the matter but was subsequently asked for regular monthly payments.

Another woman, Rabeya Bashori, alleged that after she posted a video about her ex-husband online, the officer threatened her with a cybercrime case and possible imprisonment. Additionally, Rumi Khatun claimed her attempted rape complaint was not accepted by police and that a counter-complaint was filed against her in exchange for money.

Officer-in-Charge Muktadul Alam denied all allegations, stating he had no involvement in the incidents. Joypurhat Superintendent of Police Shahnaz Begum said appropriate action would be taken if the allegations are proven true.

Iran has intensified attacks on military and civilian infrastructure in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan in response to continued US air and missile strikes. Analysts told Al Jazeera that Tehran’s strategy aims to pressure US President Donald Trump without directly targeting American naval fleets or Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly struck airports, power plants, and water treatment facilities after US attacks severely damaged Iran’s railways, power grids, telecommunications, and water systems.

Lebanese analyst Elias Hanna explained that Iran avoided US naval targets due to their advanced air defenses and the risk of severe retaliation. Tehran University’s Atife Taghiani argued that Iran has the legal right to strike territories used for attacks against it, while Kuwait University’s Abdullah Al-Shayji dismissed this as propaganda, asserting that US strikes originated from warships stationed offshore. Al-Shayji criticized Iran for endangering civilians by targeting essential infrastructure.

The conflict began after joint US-Israeli strikes in late February, followed by a failed ceasefire agreement in June. Experts believe Iran’s current actions reflect both fear of direct confrontation and an attempt to manage domestic discontent.

Dr. Sajib Sarkar, a 30-year-old lecturer at Brahmanbaria Medical College, was shot dead on July 18, 2024, during the July Revolution protest in Uttara, Dhaka. He had traveled from Narsingdi to join the nationwide 'complete shutdown' program and was assisting a mobile medical team providing first aid to injured demonstrators. Witnesses said he was targeted by police and ruling party supporters while treating wounded protesters under the Azampur overbridge. He was taken to Uttara Modern Medical Hospital, where he died.

Family members told Amar Desh that Sajib had been deeply affected by earlier attacks on students and had prayed on social media for justice before joining the protest. His sister Sumaiya Sarkar Swarna was also injured that day, while his father, Halim Sarkar, described receiving threats to bury the body quickly. Sajib was buried in his family village in Raipur, Narsingdi, after funeral prayers led by his younger brother.

Halim Sarkar urged authorities to name a medical or state institution after his son and called for justice for those killed in the July Revolution.

A new project worth Tk 685.86 crore to protect Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan upazilas from severe erosion of the Meghna River is set to be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday. The project, fully funded by the government, aims to reduce risks of erosion, tidal surges, and waterlogging through riverbank protection, coastal embankment rehabilitation, slope protection, and drainage infrastructure construction.

Before submission to ECNEC, the Planning Commission’s Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) raised objections, particularly over the high cost of Tk 505 crore for only four kilometers of riverbank protection, calling for a cost review. After minor adjustments, the cost was reduced to Tk 503.77 crore, and a revised proposal was resubmitted. The project, to be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board under the Water Resources Ministry, is scheduled from March 2026 to June 2030.

The feasibility study by the Institute of Water Modelling found the project economically viable, with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.56 and an internal rate of return of 17.85 percent. The Planning Commission recommended approval, noting it would protect key infrastructure and strengthen coastal resilience.

Portugal’s parliament has approved a new law mandating that all ride-sharing drivers must know the Portuguese language, creating uncertainty for thousands of Bangladeshi migrants working in the sector. The legislation, passed on July 17 with support from the Social Democratic Party and the right-wing Chega party, is expected to affect drivers in Lisbon and Porto who rely on Uber and Bolt for their main source of income.

Under the new rules, drivers must complete at least 50 hours of driving training and score a minimum of 27 out of 30 on the final licensing exam. Passengers will also be able to select Portuguese-speaking drivers through the app, which could disadvantage those lacking language proficiency. The law further introduces permanent digital stickers for ride-sharing vehicles to prevent fraud and mandates video-only recording for passenger safety.

The changes are likely to disrupt the livelihoods of many Bangladeshi expatriates who entered the ride-sharing industry seeking better earnings in Portugal.

Thousands of protesters gathered unexpectedly at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday, overwhelming police and security forces despite strict measures and an internet shutdown. The demonstrators, mostly students and young people, broke through multiple barricades and advanced toward India’s Parliament, prompting police to fire tear gas and use batons to disperse the crowd. The situation unfolded just as the Indian Parliament’s monsoon session began.

According to a senior government official cited in The Hindu, around 3,000 security personnel had been deployed, but they failed to contain the massive, leaderless crowd. Protesters filled all roads leading to Parliament, moving along Raisina Marg with little initial resistance from police. Authorities eventually blocked the route with buses about 100 meters from the Parliament complex.

The unprecedented breach near Parliament highlighted the scale and intensity of the unrest in the capital, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing security arrangements during major political sessions.

Supporters of Yemen’s Houthi movement held a large rally in Sanaa on July 21, 2026, endorsing the group’s declaration of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. The demonstration took place at Sabin Square, where participants described the move as a response to what they called years of Saudi-imposed restrictions on Yemen. Protester Mujib al-Bulaihi told Reuters that the blockade decision was a direct reply to Saudi Arabia’s long-standing blockade, while another supporter, Abdullah al-Asuli, said the Yemeni armed forces acted after repeated calls to reopen airports and seaports.

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the Houthis’ announcement, rejecting accusations of imposing a blockade on Yemen. Riyadh stated that it has consistently worked with Yemen’s legitimate government to ease civilian suffering, including maintaining development projects, supporting the national budget, and ensuring fuel supplies for power plants. Saudi officials also reported that more than 300 ships carrying food, goods, fuel, and construction materials docked at Hodeidah, As-Salif, and Ras Isa ports during the first half of 2026.

The opposing statements highlight the continuing strain between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, with both sides trading accusations over humanitarian and economic conditions in Yemen.