The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has ordered the immediate withdrawal of eight products from four companies after laboratory tests found they failed to meet Bangladesh Standards (BDS). The products contained excessive preservatives, harmful microorganisms, or lower-than-required ingredient levels. BSTI warned that legal action would be taken if the directive is ignored. The order was announced in a press release issued on Monday.

According to the release, the affected products include Fresh Garden Agro Resources’ mango pickle, Kazi Food Industries’ Bellissimo Rotondo Hazelnut Coated Chocolate Ice Cream, four skincare and haircare items from Olive Bangladesh’s Labannya brand, and Deco Foods’ Deco Fruit Funda soft drink powders. BSTI has already sent rejection letters to the companies and suspended production, sales, and distribution until further approval.

BSTI emphasized that consumer safety and public interest are its top priorities. The agency will closely monitor compliance and take strict legal measures if the withdrawal order is violated. BSTI’s director general urged consumers to verify product labels, including BSTI marks and expiry dates, before purchase.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has completed the inventory of luxury goods seized from two Gulshan flats belonging to former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed. The operation, conducted under court order, took place over two days and was led by ACC Deputy Director Md. Mosiur Rahman. The ACC team listed 269 types of items totaling over 1,500 pieces, including more than 300 coats, 532 ties, eight watch boxes with four Rolex watches, pearl jewelry, chandeliers, and various household appliances.

The ACC began investigating Saifuzzaman in August 2024 following a change in government. Multiple corruption cases have been filed against him, his wife Rukmila Zaman, and several United Commercial Bank officials. In July 2024, the ACC took control of his two Gulshan flats for management and preservation. Earlier, courts ordered the seizure of hundreds of his overseas properties and froze 39 bank accounts containing over 52 million taka.

A Chattogram court in March 2026 initiated trial proceedings against Saifuzzaman and 36 others for allegedly laundering 250 million taka abroad under the guise of loans from United Commercial Bank.

Police arrested a man named Russel at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after he allegedly killed his wife, Shampa Akter, in the Safipur area of Kaliakoir upazila, Gazipur. The arrest took place on July 19, 2026, when Russel attempted to leave the country for Singapore. Police said the incident occurred on Friday night following a family dispute.

According to police and local sources, Russel reportedly killed his wife and then took her body to a local hospital, claiming she had committed suicide. He informed her relatives of the supposed suicide, but the family found the situation suspicious and alerted police. Investigators visited the scene and began an inquiry into the death.

Kaliakoir Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahidul Islam stated that Russel was detained with the help of immigration police based on secret information. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the motive and full details of the killing before sending the suspect to court.

The Indian government has advised its citizens to postpone travel to Iran due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. In a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Tehran, citizens currently in Iran were urged to consider temporarily leaving the country using available commercial flights until the situation improves.

The advisory follows a surge in regional tensions marked by continued U.S. airstrikes in Iran for the ninth consecutive day. Iran has reported that two oil tankers were disabled following explosions near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key energy transport routes. The incident has heightened global concerns over the security of this strategic waterway.

The renewed conflict between the United States and Iran intensified after the collapse of a month-old interim ceasefire agreement. The ongoing confrontation over control of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy supplies and raised fears of further increases in fuel prices and inflation worldwide.

Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has publicly expressed concern about the lack of professional dedication and responsibility among many lawyers in Bangladesh. Speaking on Monday at a memorial and prayer meeting organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association, he said that lawyers must show commitment to the cases they take on and ensure proper preparation before appearing in court.

The event was held in memory of former Acting President and Speaker of the National Parliament, Muhammad Jamir Uddin Sarkar. The Chief Justice emphasized that litigants place their greatest trust in their lawyers after God, yet many lawyers appear in court without adequate preparation. He urged lawyers to accept only as many cases as they can handle responsibly, noting that serving clients fairly is both a legal and moral duty.

He praised Jamir Uddin Sarkar as a disciplined and dedicated lawyer whose professionalism should serve as an example for others. The event was attended by senior judges, lawyers, and political figures, including the Deputy Speaker and the Law Minister.

The Bangladesh government has ordered the compulsory retirement of Additional DIG of Tourist Police Md. Moniruzzaman for attending an Awami League nomination submission event in police uniform. The decision, approved by the President and issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, followed an internal investigation that found him guilty of misconduct and violating official discipline. The Public Service Commission (PSC) endorsed the decision before final approval.

According to the ministry’s circular, Moniruzzaman had accompanied his brother, an Awami League nomination aspirant for the Jhenaidah-1 by-election, to the party’s Dhanmondi office on April 29, 2024, while in uniform. His actions were deemed to have breached professional decorum and harmed the police’s public image. Despite being given multiple opportunities to respond, he failed to attend hearings or submit explanations.

In a separate order, former DMP Deputy Commissioner Rifat Rahman Shamim was dismissed for prolonged absence without permission and disobeying official orders. The PSC also supported this decision, which was finalized with presidential approval under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.

A daylong job fair jointly organized by the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU) and Excellence Bangladesh was held at Chittagong University on Monday. Around 5,000 students submitted their CVs to nearly 30 local and private organizations, including Meghna Group, Islami Bank, Ibn Sina, Pran, and City Bank. The event took place at the university’s Buddhijibi Chattar and Central Shaheed Minar premises, drawing participants from both the university and other institutions in Chittagong.

Organizers said the participating companies could offer around 500 full-time, part-time, and internship opportunities. Company representatives interacted directly with students, collecting CVs based on their qualifications and interests. Alongside the fair, a career summit for final-year and master’s students was held at the Faculty of Business Administration auditorium, focusing on job preparation, career planning, and professional skill development.

ChakSU officials reported positive feedback from students and noted that future editions may be expanded, despite this year’s one-day limit due to monsoon weather. Organizers expressed hope that such fairs will strengthen links between students and industries, easing their transition into professional life.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Md Nahid Islam has called for official recognition of madrasa students’ contributions to the July movement and other anti-fascist protests. Speaking on Monday at a seminar titled “The Bloody Robe of July: Contribution of Madrasa Students” at the BMA Bhaban auditorium in Dhaka, he said madrasa and private university students revived the movement when it had slowed on July 17–18. He urged the government to honor madrasa students’ sacrifices at the national level.

Nahid Islam criticized the home minister’s comment that July should not be commercialized, arguing that the movement represented aspirations for change. He accused the ruling Awami League of undermining democracy and exploiting the spirit of the Liberation War. He also claimed that the July movement’s outcomes benefited the BNP disproportionately, while his party was left with responsibility but no power.

He demanded immediate implementation of promised reforms, asserting that the recent election was unconstitutional and that the government must interpret post-August 5 developments through the people’s revolutionary aspirations for a new Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with allied political parties and coalitions for the first time since forming the government five months ago, hosting a dinner and exchange of greetings at the state guesthouse Jamuna. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the gathering as a new chapter in the country’s democratic journey and state reform process. He paid tribute to those killed in the July 2024 student uprising, saying their sacrifice paved the way for restoring democracy.

Fakhrul outlined the interim government’s activities, including waiving agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka, distributing family and farmer cards, providing allowances to religious leaders and athletes, and launching canal excavation programs. He said the government inherited a collapsed state and economic structure and has begun rebuilding institutions such as the banking sector.

On state reform, Fakhrul reaffirmed that the 31-point program announced during the joint movement and the July Charter signed by all political parties will be fully implemented. He added that the prime minister will continue regular meetings with allied leaders to strengthen coordination and national unity.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the use of tear gas and baton charges by Delhi Police against students protesting in New Delhi. The students were marching toward Parliament on July 20, 2026, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities in various examinations. Gandhi said the students were only demanding their legitimate rights and that the police action was undemocratic.

In a video message released after the incident, Gandhi stated that the protesting youth were not criminals and described the government and police behavior as disgraceful. He emphasized that such actions could not be considered part of Indian democratic traditions. Gandhi also said the country’s youth were angry about the current education system and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the students’ demands seriously.

The incident has added to the political tension in Delhi, where protests over education-related issues have been intensifying.

Andy Burnham delivered his first national address after formally becoming the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister on Monday, July 20, 2026, following an invitation from the King at Buckingham Palace. In his speech, Burnham promised the most significant political and economic reforms in four decades, aiming to rebuild public trust after years of leadership changes.

He acknowledged that repeated changes in government over the past decade had eroded public confidence and admitted that previous administrations had failed to meet citizens’ expectations. Burnham pledged to decentralize state power beyond London, strengthen oversight of essential goods to reduce living costs, and expand employment opportunities for young people. He also announced plans to improve mental health services, increase public housing construction, and release a ten-year national development plan by the end of the year.

As his first priority, Burnham vowed to tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping. Before entering Downing Street, he urged citizens to unite beyond divisions and move Britain forward with renewed trust and hope.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia following a series of retaliatory attacks between the two sides last week. The announcement was made by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sari, who said the blockade would take effect immediately under the principle of 'an eye for an eye.' The statement was reported by Al Jazeera on Monday.

Sari accused Saudi Arabia of maintaining an unacceptable blockade on Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport and said such actions would no longer be tolerated. He stated that the blockade would be met with a blockade and that every act of escalation would be answered with greater intensity. The Houthis claimed Saudi Arabia was responsible for an attack on Sanaa airport last week, prompting their retaliatory strike on Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Sari added that Yemen’s armed forces were fully prepared for all possible scenarios and warned that any reckless Saudi move would be met with an appropriate response. He also called on Yemenis to mobilize and support fighters on the battlefield.

More than 50 security personnel were injured and over 70 protesters detained during demonstrations organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in India. The clashes occurred across multiple locations as security forces confronted protesters, according to a report by India Today citing internal sources on Monday.

Police sources said that the injured included members of the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces deployed for security duties. Authorities have begun filing separate First Information Reports (FIRs) based on complaints received from various sites of the protests. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and mobile phone videos to identify those involved and to reconstruct the sequence of events.

The incidents mark a significant escalation of political unrest in Delhi, with law enforcement focusing on tracing participants and determining responsibility for the violence.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that energy security has become a major challenge amid the current global situation. Speaking on Monday at a workshop titled “Voice of Development: Bridging Dialogues, Policies and Partnerships for Sustainable Development” at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, he emphasized the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and expand renewable energy, particularly solar power in rural areas. He noted that NGOs could play a key role by installing rooftop solar panels and using net metering to collect payments.

The minister said that fossil fuel imports have become increasingly difficult, with the government spending about USD 2 billion in two months on energy imports, putting pressure on foreign reserves. He highlighted growing gas shortages and reliance on imported LNG, whose prices are also rising. The government is providing large subsidies to the energy sector, which he described as unsustainable for the long term.

Tuku added that the government plans to raise solar power generation to 10,000 megawatts during its current term, reducing import dependency and saving funds for other development sectors.

Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, said that communal politics in India has now turned its hostility not only toward Muslims but also toward Islam itself. Speaking as the chief guest at a Hindu-Muslim Unity Conference organized by Uttar Pradesh Jamiat Ulema, he warned that the politics of hatred has plunged the country into a deep crisis with no clear path forward.

Madani urged people of all faiths who believe in human values to unite against communalism and hatred. He emphasized that real initiatives are needed at every level to build a collective voice against intolerance. Citing history, he recalled that the first call for protest against British rule came from Delhi scholar Abdul Aziz Muhaddis Dehlvi, inspiring the uprisings of 1832 and 1857. Madani reaffirmed that Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind is a religious organization with no political ties and has long worked to strengthen Hindu-Muslim harmony.

He also expressed concern over recent exam paper leaks affecting students and warned that demolishing Rampur’s Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University infrastructure could jeopardize thousands of students’ futures.